cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
DBC&#8212;A Database Computer for Very Large Databases

Design considerations of a database computer are presented in this paper. The overall architecture of the computer as well as the organization of its individual components are discussed. Several key concepts which are vital to database management are incorporated in the design and organization of the components. The concepts of tracks-in-parallel read-out and logic-per-some-track processing are provided in an on-line database store for the purpose of achieving high-volume content-addressability. The use of auxiliary information about the database for access precision and control has resulted in the design of a structure memory, an array of content-addressable memory and processor pairs, for large collections of indices. The choice of technologies for the implementation of these components is considered in terms of their cost and performance. Modified moving-head disk technology is chosen in order to support the very large on-line database store. Emerging technologies such as magnetic bubbles and CCD's are chosen for the structure memory on the basis of their matching performance with the on-line database store and their capability for parallel-in-blocks-and-serial-within-block processing. Five other important components are also disdissed in the paper. Their role in the database computer and relationship with the structure memory and on-line database store are delineated.
Aberrator integration error in adaptive imaging

Tissue speed of sound inhomogeneities cause significant degradation of medical ultrasound images. In some cases these inhomogeneities may be modeled as a thin time delay screen located at the face of the transducer. The effects of such near-field aberrations can be reduced by adding compensating time delays to the normal system focusing delays. Unfortunately array elements are generally large in at least one dimension when compared to variations in the aberrator, thus correction of the mean time delay on an element leaves residual variations in the time delay profile across that element. This paper presents theoretical expressions and simulation results describing the magnitude of this aberrator integration error. Simulations results are also presented which show the distortion of received pulses and degradation of point spread functions which results from aberrator integration error. These results indicate that aberrator integration error may be the dominant source of error in the implementation of adaptive imaging techniques and in phase aberration measurements. Thus, correction of near-field aberrations may be significantly more difficult than previously suspected.
Service use and barriers to care among heroin users: results from a national survey.

Background: Heroin use is associated with many serious consequences.While effective treatments exist, barriers to services persist. Understanding service use and barriers to treatment can structure treatment practice and target interventions for those who are most at risk. Objectives: To describe patterns and correlates of substance abuse service utilization and treatment barriers among a nationally representative sample of heroin users. Methods: Data for this study were derived from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions. This study focused on lifetime heroin users (N = 150). Results: Fifty-nine percent of heroin users reported receiving at least one treatment service. The most common services used were 12-step programs, detoxification, and rehabilitation. Approximately 44% reported at least one barrier to treatment. The most common were lack of motivation and beliefs that it could be managed alone. In a multivariate logistic regression, having a heroin use disorder was assoc...
Cloud condensation nucleus-sulphate mass relationship and cloud albedo

Analysis of previously published, simultaneous measurements of cloud condensation nucleus number concentration and sulfate mass concentration suggest a nonlinear relationship between the two variables. This nonlinearity reduces the sensitivity of cloud albedo to changes in the sulfur cycle.
BLOCKADE OF NERVE SPROUTING AND NEUROMA FORMATION MARKEDLY ATTENUATES THE DEVELOPMENT OF LATE STAGE CANCER PAIN

For many patients, pain is the first sign of cancer and, while pain can be present at any time, the frequency and intensity of pain tend to increase with advancing stages of the disease. Thus, between 75 and 90% of patients with metastatic or advanced-stage cancer will experience significant cancer-induced pain. One major unanswered question is why cancer pain increases and frequently becomes more difficult to fully control with disease progression. To gain insight into this question we used a mouse model of bone cancer pain to demonstrate that as tumor growth progresses within bone, tropomyosin receptor kinase A (TrkA)-expressing sensory and sympathetic nerve fibers undergo profuse sprouting and form neuroma-like structures. To address what is driving the pathological nerve reorganization we administered an antibody to nerve growth factor (anti-NGF). Early sustained administration of anti-NGF, whose cognate receptor is TrkA, blocks the pathological sprouting of sensory and sympathetic nerve fibers, the formation of neuroma-like structures, and inhibits the development of cancer pain. These results suggest that cancer cells and their associated stromal cells release nerve growth factor (NGF), which induces a pathological remodeling of sensory and sympathetic nerve fibers. This pathological remodeling of the peripheral nervous system then participates in driving cancer pain. Similar to therapies that target the cancer itself, the data presented here suggest that, the earlier therapies blocking this pathological nerve remodeling are initiated, the more effective the control of cancer pain.
Expression of heat shock protein 70 is altered by age and diet at the level of transcription

Because heat shock proteins have been shown to play a critical role in protecting cells from hyperthermia and other types of physiological stresses, it was of interest to determine what effect age and caloric restriction have on the ability of cells to regulate the expression of heat shock protein 70 (hsp70), the most prominent and most evolutionarily conserved of the heat shock proteins. Caloric restriction is the only experimental manipulation known to retard aging and increase survival of mammals. The ability of hepatocytes isolated from young/adult (4- to 7-month-old) and old (22- to 28-month-old) male Fischer F344 rats fed ad libitum or a caloric restriction diet (60% of the content of the ad libitum diet) to express hsp70 was determined after a mild heat shock (42.5 degrees C for 30 min). We found that the induction of hsp70 synthesis and mRNA levels by heat shock was 40 to 50% lower in hepatocytes isolated from old rats than in hepatocytes isolated from young rats. Using in situ hybridization, we found that essentially all hepatocytes from the young/adult and old rats expressed hsp70 in response to heat shock; therefore, the age-related decrease in the induction of hsp70 expression was not due to an age-related accumulation of cells that do not respond to heat shock. Measurements of hsp70 mRNA stability and hsp70 transcription demonstrated that the age-related decline in hsp70 expression arose from a decline in hsp70 transcription. Interestingly, the age-related decline in the induction of hsp70 expression was reversed by caloric restriction; e.g., the induction of hsp70 synthesis, mRNA levels, and nuclear transcription were significantly higher in hepatocytes isolated from old rats fed the caloric restricted diet than in hepatocytes isolated from old rats fed ad libitum. The levels of the heat shock transcription factor in nuclear extracts isolated from heat-shocked hepatocytes were measured in a gel shift assay. Binding of the heat shock transcription factor to the heat shock element decreased with age and was significantly higher in hepatocyte extracts isolated from old rats fed the caloric restriction diet than in those from old rats fed ad libitum. Thus, our study demonstrates that the ability of hepatocytes to respond to hyperthermia and express hsp70 decreases significantly with age and that this decrease occurs at the transcriptional level. In addition, caloric restriction, which retards aging, reversed the age-related decline in the induction of hsp70 transcription in hepatocytes.
An incremental version of iterative data flow analysis

A technique is presented for incrementally updating solutions to both union and intersection data-flow problems in response to program edits and transformations. For generality, the technique is based on the iterative approach to computing data-flow information. The authors show that for both union and intersection problems, some changes can be incrementally incorporated immediately into the data-flow sets while others are handled by a two-phase approach. The first phase updates the data-flow sets to overestimate the effect of the program change, enabling the second phase to incrementally update the affected data-flow sets to reflect the actual program change. An important problem that is addressed is the computation of the data-flow changes that need to be propagated throughout a program, based on different local code changes. The technique is compared to other approaches to incremental data-flow analysis. >
Leadership Lessons of Triangular Desire from René Girard

Rene Girard examined famous novels depicting something he called displaced desire, in which a follower emulates someone believed to be exemplary. These relationships can become problematic, twisted, and even contagious, as people affect desires only because someone else exhibits them. This often results in inauthentic choices and rivalry, which Girard diagnoses. In the last section of the paper are some implications for the practice and study of leadership.
Maternity leave duration and full-time/part-time work status are associated with US mothers' ability to meet breastfeeding intentions.

Background:Breastfeeding provides numerous health benefits for infants and mothers; however, many infants are not breastfed as long as recommended or desired by mothers. Maternal employment is frequently cited as a barrier to breastfeeding.Objective:This study aimed to assess whether maternity leave duration and return status (full-time [FT], part-time [PT]) were associated with not meeting a mother’s intention to breastfeed at least 3 months.Methods:We used data from the Infant Feeding Practices Study II, a cohort study. Analyses were limited to women employed prenatally who intended to breastfeed 3 months or longer (n = 1172). Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the relationship between maternity leave duration and return-to-work status (< 6 weeks/FT, < 6 weeks/PT, 6 weeks-3 months/FT, 6 weeks-3 months/PT, not working by 3 months) and meeting a mother’s intention to breastfeed at least 3 months.Results:Overall, 28.8% of mothers did not meet their intention to breastfeed at least 3 month...
The probability distribution under a population divergence model of the number of genetic founding lineages of a population or species

The composition of genetic variation in a population or species is shaped by the number of events that led to the founding of the group. We consider a neutral coalescent model of two populations, where a derived population is founded as an offshoot of an ancestral population. For a given locus, using both recursive and nonrecursive approaches, we compute the probability distribution of the number of genetic founding lineages that have given rise to the derived population. This number of genetic founding lineages is defined as the number of ancestral individuals that contributed at the locus to the present-day derived population, and is formulated in terms of interspecific coalescence events. The effects of sample size and divergence time on the probability distribution of the number of founding lineages are studied in detail. For 99.99% of the loci in the derived population to each have one founding lineage, the two populations must be separated for X9:9N generations. However, only � 0:87N generations must pass since divergence for 99.99% of the loci to have o6 founding lineages. Our results are useful as a prior expectation on the number of founding lineages in scenarios that involve the evolution of one population from the splitting of an ancestral group, such as in the colonization of islands, the formation of polyploid species, and the domestication of crops and livestock from wild ancestors.
A Human IgG Receptor of Group A Streptococci Is Associated with Tissue Site of Infection and Streptococcal Class

The distribution of receptors for immunoglobulins of several different isotypes was examined for group A streptococcal isolates derived from skin and nasopharyngeal sites. Although human IgG-Fc receptor activity was a variable property of group A streptococci, found among 61% of all isolates tested, it was largely restricted to well-defined subpopulations. Human IgG-binding activity was observed among nearly all impetigo isolates examined. In addition, the expression of the class II M protein molecule (one of two broad antigenic classes of the major virulence factor) and opacity factor (a lipoproteinase) was almost invariably accompanied by human IgG binding, regardless of tissue site of infection. In contrast to class I impetigo isolates, class I nasopharyngeal isolates were relatively devoid of human IgG-binding activity. The data suggest that the presence or absence of human IgG-binding activity correlates with certain diseases caused by group A streptococci.
Electrotherapy Explained: Principles and Practice, ed 4

Robertson V, Ward A, Low J, Reed A. Philadelphia, PA 19106, Elsevier, 2006, paperback (with CD-ROM), 448 pp, illus, ISBN: 0-7506-8843-7, $64.95. This is the fourth edition of this text, which was first published in 1990. Although the types of physical agents that are used in the clinic today are essentially unchanged, the technology used to deliver physical agents, the way this technology is used, and the knowledge necessary for their use has changed significantly over the years. The authors state that the purpose of the new edition remains the same as that of the first edition: “to keep on explaining electrotherapy and electrophysical agents (EPAs).” Although the purpose remains the same, the fourth edition is directed at a significantly broader audience than the previous editions. This fourth edition is designed for current and beginning practitioners, as well as physical therapists, dentists, veterinary surgeons, podiatrists, …
Wide temperature range cw operation of vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers with a GRINSCH structure and continuously graded mirror heterointerfaces

A systematic and comparative study of the temperature dependence of the threshold current, threshold voltage, and output power of vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) is presented to discuss the factors that limit their temperature range for cw operation. To achieve high-performance for VCSELs, the position of the lasing mode must be in close proximity to (within +/- 5nm of) the gain peak under cw operation. In addition, by introducing continuously graded hetero-interfaces throughout the VCSEL structure, the effect of thermal self-heating is reduced. The combination of low thermal dissipation and alignment of the cavity mode to the gain peak resulted in VCSELs with excellent operating characteristics over a broad range of temperatures, including a thermally stable threshold voltage, and a very wide temperature range for both pulsed (100K to 540K) and cw (100K to 410K) operation.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Multitasking in multistage interconnection network machines

Cubic and noncubic task allocation algorithms for multistage-interconnection-network (MIN)-based multiprocessors are presented. Conflicts in passage through the network and inability to partition the system effectively are the main bottlenecks in a MIN-based system. To solve both problems, a renaming scheme called bit reversal (BR) matching pattern is proposed. This matching pattern minimizes conflicts and partitions the system completely into subsystems. Simulation results that show the advantage of allocation algorithms using the proposed matching pattern in terms of system efficiency, delay, and task miss ratio are presented. >
Some Properties of Laplacians on Fractals

Abstract Kigami has defined an analog of the Laplacian on a class of self-similar fractals, including the familiar Sierpinski gasket. We study properties of this operator. We show that there is a maximal principle for solutions of certain nonlinear equations of the form Δu ( x )= F ( x , u ( x )). We discuss the extension of the Laplacian to non-compact fractal blow-ups, and show that it is essentially self-adjoint, and we prove an analog of Liouville's theorem in some cases. We also give an explicit algorithm for solving the Dirichlet problem for certain domains in the Sierpinski gasket and give a characterization of all harmonic functions on those domains.
Children's vocational development: A research rationale.

Vocational development research and interventions have focused primarily on adolescents and young adults. The lack of attention to career development antecedents in children has led to a serious neglect of this period of life when the foundation is laid for career choices and outcomes in later life. A harmful by-product is the frequent preclusion of gender-atypical occupational pathways by boys and especially by girls. To address this situation, the authors recommend identifying a core set of constructs that describe children's vocational development and developing sound instruments to measure them, leading to a longitudinal study ranging from childhood to early adulthood.
Assessment of field hazards to birds from methiocarb applications to fruit crops

Methiocarb, a broad-spectrum carbamate insecticide, has shown efficacy in repelling birds from a variety of crops, especially fruit. To evaluate the hazards posed to wildlife, we reviewed laboratory studies of methiocarb toxicity and repeilency to birds and mammals and field studies of methiocarb treatments to fruit and sweet corn. Calculations revealed that birds encountering typical maximum residue levels found in treated crops would have to eat extremely large amounts of treated food to die and would in almost all cases be repelled or immobilized long before a lethal dose could be ingested. Results from feeding tests in laboratories support these calculations, as do the findings from 33 field studies in 28 locations. In spite of extensive searches and observations, only 14 dead birds were found in treated fields. Based on estimates from 26 studies, treated plantings averaged 15% loss of fruit to birds compared with 36% for nearby untreated plantings. We conclude that methiocarb, applied to fruit crops at 1–7 kg a.i. ha −1, will not adversely affect birds.
Current Methodological Considerations in Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analysis

Researchers must make numerous choices when conducting factor analyses, each of which can have significant ramifications on the model results. They must decide on an appropriate sample size to achieve accurate parameter estimates and adequate power, a factor model and estimation method, a method for determining the number of factors and evaluating model fit, and a rotation criterion. Unfortunately, researchers continue to use outdated methods in each of these areas. The present article provides a current overview of these areas in an effort to provide researchers with up-to-date methods and considerations in both exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. A demonstration was provided to illustrate current approaches. Choosing between confirmatory and exploratory methods is also discussed, as researchers often make incorrect assumptions about the application of each.
Radiologic diagnosis of a newborn with cloaca

When a female is born and has only a single perineal orifice on the newborn clinical examination, a diagnosis of cloaca type of anorectal malformation is made. Along with associated malformations which may initiate the ordering of radiologic imaging, there are a finite number of radiologic tests that are performed to help in the immediate management of the patient with cloaca. The following discussion will outline the most important radiologic tests and demonstrate examples of images from newborn females with cloaca.
Microbes and Water Quality in Developed Countries

Safe drinking water has been a concern for mankind throughout the world for centuries. In the developed world, governments consider access to safe and clean drinking water to be a basic human right. Government regulations generally address the quality of the source water, adequacy of treatment, regular monitoring, and public notification of contamination. Pathogenic microorganisms in drinking water can include bacteria, viruses, and protozoa. Some human pathogens occur naturally in source waters, whereas others are the result of fecal contamination. Some bacterial pathogens are capable of growing within biofilm communities attached to pipe walls in distribution systems. Pathogens can enter a drinking water distribution system via inadequately treated source waters. Most drinking water contamination events occur, however, because of either intrusion of untreated waters into water pipes during periods of low or negative pressure or cross connections with other nonpotable water pipes. Treatment technologies used to remove or inactivate pathogenic microorganisms include coagulation, flocculation, filtration, and disinfection. The presence of a disinfectant residual in the distribution system is critical in maintaining a safe drinking water supply.
Ethical Management: Problems in Decision Making

In Chapter 1, we identified the focus of this book as the examination of the social responsibility of business through the perspective of individual managers in ethical problem situations. The historical analysis of the different moral and social influences on modern personal values presented in the preceding chapter showed just how complex one’s ethical heritage can be. The situation is further complicated by the additional fact, easily observable, that the business executive of today faces problems and dilemmas not understood or provided for by earlier philosophical frameworks; there is something of a confrontation between traditional value systems and contemporary norms. Thus, the serious executive has to try to make sense out of the new and to reconcile it with the old.
Re-examining current breast cancer screening: An analysis of the 2009 U.S. Preventive Services Task Force guidelines for breast cancer screening

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) released new mammography screening guidelines in November 2009. The panel's comprehensive review of evidence for this preventive service concluded that the net benefit of screening mammography was too small to justify universal screening for women younger than 50 years of age but advocated continuing universal screening, though biennially rather than annually, for women ages 50-74 years. Under these new recommendations, it is possible undetected early breast cancers may increase and result in increases in breast cancer morbidity. This policy analysis assessed the impact of the new guidelines regarding whether the policy changes have affected breast cancer detection and treatment in the ensuing 5 years, and whether these guidelines may affect morbidity and mortality from breast cancer in the future. Trade-offs are present in cost-effectiveness and earlier detection with better treatment for women ages 40-49 years. Follow-up studies will be crucial to monitor changes in outcome for mortality and surgical intervention and ascertain the full impact of the new guidelines for women younger than 50 years.
Paying for green energy: The case of the Chilean Patagonia

We survey and assess the willingness to pay (WTP) for environmentally-friendly sources of energy, in the context of the proposed construction of five hydroelectric dams in the Chilean Patagonia. We then compare the estimated WTP to the real costs of generating electricity with different currently available technologies for renewable sources of energy. Overall, we find that the WTP of Chilean citizens would be more than enough to pay for greener sources of energy. We also find that the WTP is affected by age and gender of the respondents, but surprisingly not by income.
Illustrations of Fungi—XXXIII

Pileus elongated trumpet-shaped to funnel-shaped, closed at the top when very young, becoming deeply infundibuliform, firm, fleshy, gregarious to subcespitose, 5-I4 cm. broad, io-I8 cm. high; surface floccose, with persistent or evanescent scales, bright-yellow when young, some shade of orange when mature, fading at times; margin concolorous, rarely tinged with lilac, undulate, involute when dry; context thin, white, sweet, edible; hymenium cremeous at first, then ochraceous, rarely pale-umber tinged with lilac, finally ochraceous-brown throughout; lamellae thick, close, narrow, decurrent, repeatedly forked, branching or anastomosing; spores ellipsoid, smooth, ochraceous, 14x 7 ; stipe short, glabrous or hairy, whitish at the base when young, becoming cremeous or ochraceous. This species, which was originally described from the Pocono Mountains in Pennsylvania, is large, handsome, and edible. It is to be looked for in damp places in dense woods throughout most of the eastern United States, occurring from Maine to Alabama and west, even to Oregon and Washington. It can not be called common, although I have at times found it fairly abundant in favored spots. The illustration is taken from a handsome photograph made in October, 1921, at Mount Vernon, New York, by Mr. A. W. Dreyfoos, and donated by him to the Garden herbarium. It shows well the peculiar and characteristic appearance of the surface of the pileus in its younger stages. 25
A Synchrotron Radiation Study of Nonlinear Diffusion in Cu-Au

Alternate layers of pure copper and gold were vapor deposited on a sodium chloride substrate, the average concentration of the films being Cu-16at% Au and the layering periodicity (modulation wavelength) being 3.31 nm. The composition modulation gives rise to satellite diffraction peaks around the (200) Bragg reflections. Synchrotron radiation at SSRL was able to detect up to third order satellite intensity the evolution of which was measured as a function of annealing time at 515 K. Although the first order satellite intensity decayed as expected exponentially with time, intensities of both second and third order satellites decreased very rapidly at first, then increased before decaying exponentially. These results are in conformity with theoretical models of satellite evolution during annealing in a onedimensional modulated system governed by a nonlinear diffusion equation.
The Use of the Discriminant in Finding the Singular Solution of f(x, y, p) = 0

(1928). The Use of the Discriminant in Finding the Singular Solution of f(x, y, p) = 0. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 35, No. 10, pp. 529-535.
Dispatch Parameters Analysis of Charging/Discharging and Storage Integrated Station for Electric Vehicles

Compared to electric vehicles charging station with single structural function, in integrative charging/ discharging and storage station such functions as charging/ discharging, battery-exchanging, energy storage and degrade use are integrated, so new demands on dispatching of electric vehicle station are put forward. The structure and functions of the integrative charging/discharging and storage station are presented, including dispatching and monitoring system, charging/discharging system and energy storage system. The information flows among power grid, integrative station and electric vehicles are analyzed, and combining with the structure and functions of the integrative station the core thought of its power dispatching is proposed to clarify the definition of dispatching parameter and the interaction of parameter information, then corresponding dispatching algorithm and constraint conditions are put forward. Based on the feature that at present electric vehicles are mainly used as omnibuses in China and combined with daily load data of Jiading district power network and actual operating condition of three bus lines subordinate to integrative charging/discharging and storage station located in electric vehicle demonstration park of the district, the proposed power dispatching algorithm is validated by simulation, and the comparative analysis on the obtained simulation results and results from other dispatching methods is performed. Comparative result is available for reference to demonstration operation and commercial operation of integrative charging/discharging and storage station.
Colormap Development for Night Vision from Synthetic Imagery

We presented a method for colorizing fused imagery using a synthetic image as the color source. Imagery acquired at night from two sensors with different spectral bands were fused into a single image. We used a color transfer method based on a look-up table approach to change the false color appearance of the fused image to a natural appearance. Because the resulting multiband fused image is highly dependent on the colors is a reference image, we generated a synthetic reference image. We showed that this approach could lead to more realistic color representation for images acquired in dark environments.
Portal hypertension hemodynamics

The syndrome of portal hypertension represents the end point of a number of factors which causes obstruction to portal bood flow. In this paper we review the pathogenic factors associated with portal hypertension and make comments on the new invasive and non invasive techniques used to study portal hemodynamics. Special emphasis is placed on endoscopic and ultrasonographic methods (Doppler. It is now posible to obtain direct variceal pressure determinations by modifying endoscopic assessment and with new ultrasound devices we are able to obtain information by noninvasive techniques of portal patency and portal flow.
The Public Perception of Quality Improvement in Surgery

Variation in the quality of health care patients receive is endemic, and medical errors (at both the provider and system levels) now rank as the third leading cause of death in the U.S. An analysis of surgeons performing colectomy procedures over a two-year period in Maryland showed that risk-adjusted complication rates varied between zero and ten times the average complication rate. Given these hazards, the public is eager to receive information to help them navigate the system to find reliable, state-of-the art surgical care.
GaAsP/Si solar cells and tunnel junctions for III-V/Si tandem devices

The field of III-V integration onto Si for high-efficiency, low-cost tandem photovoltaics has advanced rapidly in recent years. While silicon technology is quite mature, GaAsP solar cells have exhibited relatively low efficiencies <10%. In this work, we investigated the effect of temperature on the metamorphic growth of single-junction 1.7 eV GaAsP/GaP/Si solar cells, yielding improvements in solar cell TDD down to 5–6×106 cm−2. Our devices yield efficiencies of 11% without anti-reflection coatings. We additionally investigated the use of Si δ-doping to improve the thermal stability of tunnel junction interconnects. The combination of improved solar cell efficiency and tunnel junction stability is promising for III-V/Si tandem cell development.
Computing the Dixon Resultant with the Maple Package DR

The Maple package DR provides functions for computing the Dixon resultant of a system of parametric multi-variate polynomials. The Dixon resultant constitutes a necessary condition for the polynomials to have a common root after specializing their parameters. The newest version 2 of the package DR includes the new heuristic pivot row detection of factors for extracting the Dixon resultant from the Dixon matrix. It is shown to be efficient on systems of benchmark polynomials, outperforming other heuristics for a majority of systems.
A Preliminary Comparison of Reading Subtypes in a Clinical Sample of Children With Specific Language Impairment

Purpose The purpose of this preliminary study was to (a) compare the pattern of reading subtypes among a clinical sample of children with specific language impairment (SLI) and children with typica...
Predictors of survival and ability to wean from short-term mechanical circulatory support device following acute myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock

Background:Cardiogenic shock following acute myocardial infarction (AMI-CS) portends a poor prognosis. Short-term mechanical circulatory support devices (MCSDs) provide hemodynamic support for patients with cardiogenic shock but predictors of survival and the ability to wean from short-term MCSDs remain largely unknown.Methods:All patients > 18 years old treated at our institution with extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation or short-term surgical ventricular assist device for AMI-CS were studied. We collected acute myocardial infarction details with demographic and hemodynamic variables. Primary outcomes were survival to discharge and recovery from MCSD (i.e. survival without heart replacement therapy including durable ventricular assist device or heart transplant).Results:One hundred and twenty-four patients received extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation or short-term surgical ventricular assist device following acute myocardial infarction from 2007 to 2016; 89 received extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation ...
The impact of mental health disorders on 30-day readmission after bariatric surgery

Abstract Background Mental health disorders are common among bariatric surgery patients. Mental health disorders, particularly depression, have been associated with poorer surgical outcomes, indicating the bariatric surgery patient population warrants special clinical attention. Objective Our study sought to examine the effect of diagnosed mental health disorders on 30-day readmission for those undergoing bariatric surgery in hospitals across Pennsylvania from 2011 to 2014. Methods We used Pennsylvania Healthcare Cost Containment Council data to perform this analysis. Inclusion criteria encompassed patients aged>18 years who underwent bariatric surgery at any hospital or freestanding surgical facility in Pennsylvania between 2011 and 2014. Mental health disorders were identified using predetermined International Classification of Disease, Ninth Revision codes. Logistic regression was used to model the risk of 30-day readmission and estimate the effect of mental health disorders on 30-day readmission. Results Of the 19,259 patients who underwent bariatric surgery, 40.3% had a diagnosed mental health disorder; 6.51% of all patients were readmitted within 30 days. Patients with a diagnosed mental health disorder had 34% greater odds of readmission (odds ratio=1.34, 95% confidence interval: 1.19–1.51) relative to patients with no diagnosed mental health disorder. Patients with major depressive disorder/bipolar disorder had 46% greater odds of being readmitted compared with patients with no major depressive disorder/bipolar disorder diagnosis. Conclusion Study findings imply the need for risk assessment of patients before postoperative discharge. Given that patients with mental health diagnoses are at increased risk of 30-day readmission after bariatric surgery, they may benefit from additional discharge interventions designed to attenuate potential readmissions.
Streamlined ex vivo and in vivo genome editing in mouse embryos using recombinant adeno-associated viruses

Recent advances using CRISPR-Cas9 approaches have dramatically enhanced the ease for genetic manipulation in rodents. Notwithstanding, the methods to deliver nucleic acids into pre-implantation embryos have hardly changed since the original description of mouse transgenesis more than 30 years ago. Here we report a novel strategy to generate genetically modified mice by transduction of CRISPR-Cas9 components into pre-implantation mouse embryos via recombinant adeno-associated viruses (rAAVs). Using this approach, we efficiently generated a variety of targeted mutations in explanted embryos, including indel events produced by non-homologous end joining and tailored mutations using homology-directed repair. We also achieved gene modification in vivo by direct delivery of rAAV particles into the oviduct of pregnant females. Our approach greatly simplifies the generation of genetically modified mice and, more importantly, opens the door for streamlined gene editing in other mammalian species. CRISPR-Cas9 has been widely adopted for genetically manipulating rodents for scientific research. Here the authors transduce mouse embryos with CRISPR-Cas9 components using rAAVs in explant culture or in vivo to produce gene-edited animals.
Cognitive-psychology expertise and the calculation of the probability of a wrongful conviction.

Cognitive psychologists are familiar with how their expertise in understanding human perception, memory, and decision-making is applicable to the justice system. They may be less familiar with how their expertise in statistical decision-making and their comfort working in noisy real-world environments is just as applicable. Here we show how this expertise in ideal-observer models may be leveraged to calculate the probability of guilt of Gary Leiterman, a man convicted of murder on the basis of DNA evidence. We show by common probability theory that Leiterman is likely a victim of a tragic contamination event rather than a murderer. Making any calculation of the probability of guilt necessarily relies on subjective assumptions. The conclusion about Leiterman’s innocence is not overly sensitive to the assumptions—the probability of innocence remains high for a wide range of reasonable assumptions. We note that cognitive psychologists may be well suited to make these calculations because as working scientists they may be comfortable with the role a reasonable degree of subjectivity plays in analysis.
On Strategyproof Conference Peer Review

We consider peer review in a conference setting where there is typically an overlap between the set of reviewers and the set of authors. This overlap can incentivize strategic reviews to influence the final ranking of one's own papers. In this work, we address this problem through the lens of social choice, and present a theoretical framework for strategyproof and efficient peer review. We first present and analyze an algorithm for reviewer-assignment and aggregation that guarantees strategyproofness and a natural efficiency property called unanimity, when the authorship graph satisfies a simple property. Our algorithm is based on the so-called partitioning method, and can be thought as a generalization of this method to conference peer review settings. We then empirically show that the requisite property on the authorship graph is indeed satisfied in the submission data from the ICLR conference, and further demonstrate a simple trick to make the partitioning method more practically appealing for conference peer review. Finally, we complement our positive results with negative theoretical results where we prove that under various ways of strengthening the requirements, it is impossible for any algorithm to be strategyproof and efficient.
Mathematical Analysis of the Model for Homosexual Men

For systems of linear differential and difference equations, it is possible to find explicit solutions (see introductory differential and difference equations textbooks). The difference equations in Figure 3.2 are nonlinear because the incidences involve products of susceptible fractions and the numbers of infectives. For systems of nonlinear differential and difference equations, it is not generally possible to find explicit solutions, but it is possible to find numerical solutions as a function of time. The numerical solutions of the system of nonlinear difference equations in Figure 3.2 are called the simulations of the HIV transmission dynamics model in Figure 3.1.
Management of Dyslipidemia in the Elderly

This chapter provides an overview of the important factors to be considered during the decision-making process of recommending a lipid lowering medication to an older patient. In the elderly age group, as in the younger age group, lowering of the concentration of cholesterol containing atherogenic particles via lipid lowering therapies, is effective in reducing cardiovascular risk. This chapter summarizes the current knowledge about the factors affecting the decision-making process in patients age 75 years and older, in whom there is no direct evidence of benefit for cholesterol lowering. In these patients, the clinician makes a recommendation to the patient and his/her family based on the evaluation of the risk of atherosclerotic versus non-atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, comorbidity burden, quality of life, survival prognosis, lifestyle/socioeconomic status and presence of frailty. In this group, the ultimate decision for lipid altering therapy is based on the patient’s and the patient’s family preference. In this chapter, we present the clinical trial evidence and knowledge necessary for the evaluation of risk versus benefit for cholesterol lowering in the older elderly age group. For complete coverage of all related areas of Endocrinology, please visit our on-line FREE web-text, WWW.ENDOTEXT.ORG .
Spatial and temporal trend in monthly and annual reference evapotranspiration in Madagascar for the 1980-2010 period

The temporal trend and spatial distribution of reference evapotranspiration was investigated across Madagascar for the period of Air temperature relative humidity temperature relative humidity solar radiation and wind speed were collected from weather stations across the country and were used to estimate daily reference evapotranspiration ET by the Penman Monteith equation Monthly average daily ET and the total annual ET were estimated The Mann Kendall test was used for the temporal trend analysis in monthly average daily ET and the total annual ET and the Sen rsquo s method was used to estimate the rate of change in ET during the study period The spline interpolation method was used for spatial interpolation of the variation in annual and monthly average ET The results showed southwest north East trend in ET Reference evapotranspiration was higher at the western semiarid region than the humid eastern region ET peaked during the period of September October Annual total ET varied from mm in Andapa at northeast to mm in Antsohihy at northwestern coastal region Overall there was an increasing trend in annual total ET however the upward trend was significant only at out of weather station sites while monthly ET did not show consistent trends This is one of the first comprehensive studies that investigate spatial and temporal dynamics of ET in Madagascar which can aid in developing appropriate adaptation strategies to improve crop water use and evaporative losses estimates for maintaining or increasing food production while enhancing water use efficiency in the western semiarid regions of Madagascar
Genome replication affects transcription factor binding mediating the cascade of herpes simplex virus transcription

In herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infection, the coupling of genome replication and transcription regulation has been known for many years; however, the underlying mechanism has not been elucidated. We performed a comprehensive transcriptomic assessment and factor-binding analysis for Pol II, TBP, TAF1, and Sp1 to assess the effect genome replication has on viral transcription initiation and elongation. The onset of genome replication resulted in the binding of TBP, TAF1, and Pol II to previously silent late promoters. The viral transcription factor, ICP4, was continuously needed in addition to DNA replication for activation of late gene transcription initiation. Furthermore, late promoters contain a motif that closely matches the consensus initiator element (Inr), which robustly bound TAF1 postreplication. Continued DNA replication resulted in reduced binding of Sp1, TBP, and Pol II to early promoters. Therefore, the initiation of early gene transcription is attenuated following DNA replication. Herein, we propose a model for how viral DNA replication results in the differential utilization of cellular factors that function in transcription initiation, leading to the delineation of kinetic class in HSV-productive infection.
Esophageal Foreign Bodies and Obstruction in the Emergency Department Setting: An Evidence-Based Review.

Abstract Background Patients with esophageal foreign bodies or food bolus impaction may present to the emergency department with symptoms ranging from mild discomfort to severe distress. There is a dearth of emergency medicine–focused literature concerning these conditions. Objective of the Review This narrative review provides evidence-based recommendations for the assessment and management of patients with esophageal foreign bodies and food bolus impactions. Discussion Esophageal foreign bodies and food bolus impaction are common but typically pass spontaneously; however, complete obstruction can lead to inability to tolerate secretions, airway compromise, and death. Pediatric patients are the most common population affected, while in adults, edentulous patients are at greatest risk. Foreign body obstruction and food bolus impaction typically occur at sites of narrowing due to underlying esophageal pathology. Diagnosis is based on history and examination, with most patients presenting with choking/gagging, vomiting, and dysphagia/odynophagia. The preferred test is a plain chest radiograph, although this is not required if the clinician suspects non-bony food bolus with no suspicion of perforation. Computed tomography is recommended if radiograph is limited or there are concerns for perforation. Management requires initial assessment of the patient's airway. Medications evaluated include effervescent agents, glucagon, calcium channel blockers, benzodiazepines, nitrates, and others, but their efficacy is poor. Before administration, shared decision making with the patient is recommended. Endoscopy is the intervention of choice, and medications should not delay endoscopy. Early endoscopy for complete obstruction is associated with improved outcomes. Conclusions This review provides evidence-based recommendations concerning these conditions, focusing on evaluation and management.
Generation of Realistic Social Network Datasets for Testing of Analysis and Simulation Tools

Abstract : Testing large-scale dynamic network simulation packages, such as NetWatch, requires a large quantity of test data to be available for each of the experiments. The test data includes initial topologies of agents' social networks and specification of knowledge networks for each of the agents to fit an empirically derived distribution of knowledge. Testing the software on machine-generated data, as opposed to empirical data only, allows the user to conduct repeatable tests that stress certain aspects of the software and help in debugging and optimization of software performance.
Home Environment and Children’s Development: Age and Demographic Differences

For over 20 years, our professional lives centered around studies of families. Our investigations of family life led us to develop a number of measures of parenting, the most well-known being the Home Observation for Measure­ ment of the Environment (HOME) inventory (Bradley, 1994; Caldwell & Bradley, 1984). More recently, we designed Parental Investment in Children (Bradley, Whiteside-Mansell, Caldwell, & Brisby, 1997), a measure of parents’ attachment to their children. We visited hundreds of homes, and were bom­ barded with questions regarding measurement of the home environment. Two lasting impressions emerged from this experience: the diversity of family life and corresponding challenge of trying to understand its role in children’s development.