cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Getting Closer or Drifting Apart

Advances in communication and transportation technologies have the potential to bring people closer together and create a ‘global village’. However, they also allow heterogenous agents to segregate along special interests which gives rise to communities fragmented by type rather than geography. We show that lower communication costs should always decrease separation between individual agents even as group-based separation increases. Each measure of separation is pertinent for distinct types of social interaction. A group-based measure captures the diversity of group preferences that can have an impact on the provision of public goods. An individual measure correlates with the speed of information transmission through the social network that afiects, for example, learning about job opportunities and new technologies. We test the model by looking at coauthoring between academic economists before and during the rise of the Internet in the 1990s.
Parental Use of Electronic Cigarettes.

Abstract Objective To describe parental use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigs) to better understand the safety risks posed to children. Methods Between June 24 and November 6, 2014, parents completed a self-administered paper survey during an office visit to 15 pediatric practices in a Midwestern practice-based research network. Attitudes towards and use of e-cigs are reported for those aware of e-cigs before the survey. Results Ninety-five percent (628 of 658) of respondents were aware of e-cigs. Of these, 21.0% (130 of 622) had tried e-cigs at least once, and 12.3% (77) reported e-cig use by ≥1 person in their household (4.0% exclusive e-cig use, 8.3% dual use with regular cigarettes). An additional 17.3% (109) reported regular cigarette use. Most respondents from e-cig-using homes did not think e-cigs were addictive (36.9% minimally or not addictive, 25.0% did not know). While 73.7% believed that e-liquid was very dangerous for children if they ingested it, only 31.2% believed skin contact to be very dangerous. In 36.1% of e-cig-using homes, neither childproof caps nor locks were used to prevent children's access to e-liquid. Only 15.3% reported their child's pediatrician was aware of e-cig use in the home. Conclusions E-cig use occurred in 1 in 8 homes, often concurrently with regular cigarettes. Many parents who used e-cigs were unaware of the potential health and safety hazards, including nicotine poisoning for children, and many did not store e-liquid safely. Pediatricians could provide education about e-cig associated safety hazards but are unaware of e-cig use in their patient's homes.
Financial Closing Time And Cost Of Equity: The Role Of Senior Information Systems Executives

Financial closing time is the time lag between a firm’s fiscal year end and earnings announcement. In this study, we first find an association between longer financial closing time and higher implied cost of equity. Improving financial closing time can help firms raise equity capital more efficiently. We posit that senior information executives can help improve firms' IT capabilities and reduce financial closing time. The empirical result suggests that firms having senior information executives (as measured by executive compensation) can reduce financial closing time for more than four days. We contribute by showing that senior IS executives are important for a public company to satisfy investors' information needs in the fast and competitive modern capital markets.
The Effect of Collaborative Forecasting on Supply Chain Performance

We consider a cooperative, two-stage supply chain consisting of two members: a retailer and a supplier. In our first model, called local forecasting, each member updates the forecasts of future demands periodically, and is able to integrate the adjusted forecasts into his replenishment process. Forecast adjustments made at both levels of the supply chain can be correlated. The supply chain has a decentralized information structure, so that day-to-day inventory and forecast information are known locally only. In our second model, named collaborative forecasting, the supply chain members jointly maintain and update a single forecasting process in the system. Hence, forecasting information becomes centralized. Finally, we consider as a benchmark the special case in which forecasts are not integrated into the replenishment processes at all. We propose a unified framework that allows us to study and compare the three types of settings. This study comes at a time when various types of collaborative forecasting partnerships are being experimented within industry, and when the drivers for success or failure of such initiatives are not yet fully understood. In addition to providing some managerial insights into questions that arise in this context, our set of models is tailored to serve as building blocks for future work in this emerging area of research.
Aquaporin water channels and lung physiology

Fluid transport across epithelial and endothelial barriers occurs in the neonatal and adult lungs. Biophysical measurements in the intact lung and cell isolates have indicated that osmotic water pe...
The Šilov Boundary, Symmetric Ideals, and Gleason Parts of ΔM(G)

In this chapter we shall study the algebra M(G) of all regular Borel measures on the locally compact abelian group G, with particular emphasis on the maximal ideal space ΔM(G) of M(G). We shall sometimes write Δ, Δ o , ∂, ∂ o , Σ, and Σ o , for ΔM(G), ΔM o (G), ∂M(G), ∂M o (G), ΣM(G), and ΣM o (G). We remind the reader that Δ o ⊇ Δ and ∂ o ⊇ ∂, because M o (G) is an ideal in M(G).
Horse Power: Equestrian Ensembles and Bariba Identity at the Court of Nikki, Benin

My paper focuses on the visual culture of the horse in the Bariba Kingdom of Nikki, Benin. I conceptualize the elaborately adorned horse, a defining feature of this West African region, as an aesthetic and material stage upon which Bariba identity is expressed. Speicifically, I study horse gear such as saddlecloths, brass stirrups, and leather amulets using art historical and ethnographic approaches to investigate the historical processes of cross-cultural appropriation and exchange between the Bariba kingdom and its neighbors. Ultimately, I show how foreign and local tailors, blacksmiths, leatherworkers, and their aristocratic patrons jointly shaped Bariba identity through the material forms used to dress the horse. Based on 16 months of fieldwork and archival research, my analysis of equine visual culture at the court of Nikki conveys the historical, socio-cultural, and political factors that contribute to the construction of Bariba identity.
Computer modeling of time-dependent SBS in two and three dimensions

We have developed computer software for solving the equations satisfied by time-dependent stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS). The coupled equations satisfied by the pump field, Stokes field, and mass density of the acoustic wave are solved in the slowly varying envelope approximation in which the second derivatives with respect to time and longitudinal propagation distance are neglected.
Guide to Development and Use of Electronic Computer Programs: Introduction

This paper serves to introduce the scope of computer applications to civil engineering problems. The concept of a program, that is, the segmentation of problem-solving into a procedure phase and execution phase, is described. The effect of this segmentation on all levels of engineering work is examined, with emphasis on the changing role and responsibility of management. The development of a computer program is outlined and divided into the following steps, namely, planning, analysis, programming, coding, checking, documentation, and production.
Health and medical news on the Web: comparing the results of news-providing Web resources.

Abstract News changes constantly. That change and the abundance of Web-based news resources available complicate finding the news. This paper reviews sixteen different online news sources for their coverage of recent health and medical issues; both general-interest and medical news sites are included. Three health-related news stories were searched in all resources within set timeframes to provide a comparison of coverage. Features and types of resources are described. The use of RSS feeds and weblogs to find news is also discussed with suggestions for using news aggregators to control the flow of information.
The inequality factor: skewness and kurtosis as a measure of set-class cohesion

Building on current set-theoretic research, including similarity measures and ‘maximal evenness’, as well as findings in diatonic set theory and our own work on salience, we examine the interval-class content of set classes based on internal consistency (related to ‘cohesion’ and ‘regularity’) and inconsistency (‘skewness’). By systematically comparing one member tone of a set to the others, we posit abstract hierarchies between members based on salience, rather than the presence of specific interval classes or tonal function. Quantifying these factors allows us to hypothesize (1) what gives certain set classes the potential to function in a tonal way; (2) a ‘set-class-sensitive’ method to gauge the level of ‘dissonance’ in a composition (without presuppositions about the quality of specific interval classes); and (3) how different set classes might be deployed compositionally in order to achieve a variety of results.
The Clinical Detective

Copyright: © 2013 Aly FF. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. And so it starts again! The cycle continues–as it has done for years. Thousands of 4th yr medical students are graduating this month. They have gone through medical school and acquired extensive medical knowledge. They have studied hard, worked equally hard and observed other physicians and residents in their chosen fields. Now it is their chance to practice medicine.
An Approach To Enhance the Safety Culture of an Academic Chemistry Research Laboratory by Addressing Behavioral Factors

Safety culture is often divided into three domains, which include personal, environmental, and behavioral factors. In order to improve the behavioral components of the safety culture in the research group of the authors (the Garcia-Garibay group, or GG research group), we implemented three safety practices intended to sensitize group members on the importance of best practices that depend on simple actions taken by individual researchers. These best practices include (1) a rotating twice-daily safety inspection to enhance an appreciation for the value of safety regulations that may be considered less significant and are frequently overlooked, (2) frequent safety discussions followed by quizzes to give researchers an opportunity to assess their safety knowledge on a range of topics, and (3) the use of an overnight reaction form that is posted on lab entryways as a safety communication best practice to ensure that other researchers in the laboratory and emergency responders are aware of the potential hazard...
Epidemiological Study of Rabies in Guangzhou between 2004 and 2006

Objective To analyze the epidemiological data of rabies in Guangzhou between 2004 and 2006, and to provide the measures for rabies prevention. Methods Epidemiological data of 53 767 people who attended our out-patient clinic for rabies vaccination were analyzed. Results The incidence of animals bite rose significantly in the past 3 years. Among the 53 767 individuals receiving rabies vaccine,1.2%(1 560) had previous history of rabies vaccination. Most of the victims bitten by dogs and cats had no previous history of rabies vaccination. Most of the victims were able to attend clinic on the same day and completed the whole course of vaccination. Only 2.6% of the victims with class Ⅲ bites received a combined treatment with rabies vaccine and human anti-rabies immunoglobulin. Conclusion Education on the proper management of animals such as dogs and cats should be provide. Victims with class III bites should receive human anti-rabies immunoglobulin. To further reduce the incidence of rabies, people of the high-risk groups should be immunized with rabies vaccine.
Mechanism of action of methylphenidate: insights from PET imaging studies.

Methylphenidate (MPH) is the most commonly prescribed drug for the treatment of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). We have used Positron Emission Tomography (PET) to investigate the mechanism of action of MPH in the human brain. We have shown (a) that oral MPH reaches peak concentration in the brain 60–90 minutes after its administration, (b) that therapeutic doses of MPH block more than 50% of the dopamine transporters (DAT), and (c) that of the two enantiomers that compose MPH, it is d-threo-methylphenidate (d-MPH) and not l-threo-methylphenidate (l-MPH) that binds to the DAT. We have also shown that therapeutic doses of MPH significantly enhance extracellular dopamine (DA) in the basal ganglia, which is an effect that appears to be modulated by the rate of DA release and that is affected by age (older subjects show less effect).Thus, we postulate (a) that MPH's therapeutic effects are in part due to amplification of DA signals, (b) that variability in responses is in part due to differenc...
Transurethral resection in a patient with a dysfibrinogen: fibrinogen cleveland I.

Abstract A case of a congenitally abnormal fibrinogen that resulted in surgical wound dehiscence is reported. The patient underwent successful transurethral resection for benign prostatic hypertrophy while being treated with epsilon aminocaproic acid to prevent fibrinolysis of the abnormal fibrin clot.
Response of the adrenal to adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) in hyperandrogenic women treated chronically with low doses of prednisone

A group of 43 women of reproductive age with clinical signs of hyperandrogenism was treated with a low dose (7.5 mg daily) of prednisone. An acute dexamethasone (DEX) suppression-adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation test was performed before and after a minimum of 2 months of prednisone administration. The therapy produced a significant decrease of plasma testosterone (T) levels in a majority of patients. During the treatment period DEX failed to induce further suppression, while ACTH caused a significant rise in plasma T levels. The cortisol (F) levels were suppressed during treatment, but their response to ACTH stimulation was similar to that observed prior to initiation of therapy.
A parametric elliptical arc algorithm

Publisher Summary Sometimes an arc of a circle or of an ellipse is a better choice than a cubic spline for representing a particular curved shape. Circles and ellipses are inherently simpler curves than cubics, so the algorithms for generating them should also be simpler. This is chiefly why conic splines are popular in applications such as the generation of font outlines, where drawing speed is of critical importance. This chapter describes an algorithm for generating points along an elliptical arc. The points are separated by a fixed angular increment specified in radians of elliptical arc. The algorithm is based on a parametric representation of the ellipse. It is particularly inexpensive in terms of the amount of computation required. Only a few integer shifts, additions, and subtractions are needed to generate each point—without compromising accuracy. Defining an ellipse in terms of its conjugate diameters is equivalent to defining the ellipse in terms of an enclosing parallelogram. The chapter illustrates affine transformation of a unit circle inscribed in a square into an ellipse inscribed in a parallelogram.
Introduction to Stereotactic Radiosurgery and Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy

Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) have an established but evolving role in the management of malignant and benign conditions. They have altered the way clinicians think about fractionation, and therefore they rank among the most important advances in radiation oncology, along with the development of megavoltage treatment machines, imaging-based treatment planning, and intensity-modulated radiation therapy. This chapter outlines the historical foundations and development of these technologies.
Serious Illness and End-of-Life Care in the Homeless: Examining a Service System and a Call for Action for Social Work

Der vorliegende Artikel stellt eine qualitative Studie vor, welche in einer Stadt mittlerer Grose im mittleren Westen der Vereinigten Staaten mit dem Ziel durchgefuhrt wurde, das Dienstleistungsnetzwerk zur Bereitstellung von Gesundheitsversorgung in den Fallen von schweren Erkrankungen und Sterbebegleitung bei Obdachlosigkeit zu untersuchen. Zu diesem Zweck wurden zehn Schlusselpersonen interviewt, die als Reprasentant_innen entscheidender Gesundheitsdienstleistungen und Einrichtungen, welche im Falle niedriger Einkommen und Obdachlosigkeit Hilfe anbieten. Daruber hinaus wurden zwei Frauen und zwei Manner aus einer Obdachlosenunterkunft befragt. Basierend auf diesen ausfuhrlichen Interviews konnten folgende Problemstellungen herausgearbeitet und in der Analyse einbezogen werden: Mangel an Dienstleistungen bei schwerwiegenden, chronischen und lebensbedrohlichen Krankheiten, verschiedene Hurden beim Zugang zu Dienstleistungen, Stigmatisierung und Sterbebegleitung. Zum Schluss wurden Folgerungen fur die sozialarbeiterische Praxis prasentiert und diskutiert.
Spatio-temporal analysis of foraging behaviors of Anelosimus studiosus utilizing mathematical modeling of multiple spider interaction on a cooperative web

In this paper, we develop a model for predation movements of a subsocial spider species, Anelosimus studiosus. We expand on a previous model to include multiple spider interaction on the web as well as a latency period during predation. We then use the model to test different spatial configurations to determine the optimal spacing of spiders within a colony for successful capture during predation. The model simulations indicate that spiders uniformly spacing out along the edge of the web results in the most successful predation strategy. This is similar to the behavior observed by Ross (2013) in which it was determined to be statistically significant that during certain times of the day, spiders were positioned along the edge more than expected under complete spatial randomness.
FTN, a fault tolerant network architecture for all N, theory and applications

The author has developed a network architecture called FTN which is highly fault tolerant and can be designed for any number of processors N. The network possesses many other desirable properties, cumulatively not possessed by any other network. An FTN-network-based parallel/distributed system can tolerate up to (log/sub 2/N)-1 failed processors. In a fault configuration it is easy to generate secondary paths; the corresponding algorithms are developed and proven correct. The network can be constructed using simple rules for an arbitrary N>or=2. To increase the number of processors in the system by one is possible and easy. It is shown that in general the connectivity (log/sub 2/N) >
Sensitivity and Specificity of OCT Angiography to Detect Choroidal Neovascularization.

Abstract Purpose To determine the sensitivity and specificity of OCT angiography (OCTA) in the detection of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Design Prospective case series. Subjects A prospective series of 72 eyes were studied, which included eyes with treatment-naive CNV due to AMD, non-neovascular AMD, and normal controls. Methods All eyes underwent OCTA with a spectral domain OCT. The 3-dimensional angiogram was segmented into separate en face views including the inner retinal angiogram, outer retinal angiogram, and choriocapillaris angiogram. Detection of abnormal flow in the outer retina served as candidate CNV with OCTA. Masked graders reviewed structural OCT alone, en face OCTA alone, and en face OCTA combined with cross-sectional OCTA for the presence of CNV. Main Outcome Measure The sensitivity and specificity of CNV detection compared to the gold standard of fluorescein angiography and OCT was determined for structural spectral domain OCT alone, en face OCTA alone, and with en face OCTA combined with cross-sectional OCTA. Results Of 32 eyes with CNV, both graders identified 26 true positives with en face OCTA alone, resulting in a sensitivity of 81.3%. Four of the 6 false negatives had large subretinal hemorrhage and sensitivity improved to 94% for both graders if eyes with subretinal hemorrhage were excluded. The addition of cross-sectional OCTA along with en face OCTA improved the sensitivity to 100% for both graders. Structural OCT alone also had a sensitivity of 100%. The specificity of en face OCTA alone was 92.5% for grader A and 97.5% for grader B. The specificity of structural OCT alone was 97.5% for grader A and 85% for grader B. Cross-sectional OCTA combined with en face OCTA had a specificity of 97.5% for grader A and 100% for grader B. Conclusions Sensitivity and specificity for CNV detection with en face OCTA combined with cross-sectional OCTA approaches that of the gold standard of fluorescein angiography with OCT, and it is better than en face OCTA alone. Structural OCT alone has excellent sensitivity for CNV detection. False positives from structural OCT can be mitigated with the addition of flow information with OCTA.
Measurement of Mitochondrial Mass by Flow Cytometry during Oxidative Stress

Properly assessing mitochondrial health is crucial to understand their role in disease. MitoTracker green (MTG) and nonylacridine orange (NAO) are fluorescent probes which have been commonly used to assess mitochondrial mass. This is based on the assumption that both MTG and NAO accumulate in mitochondria regardless of the mitochondrial transmembrane potential (ΔΨm). Here, we utilized flow cytometry to evaluate the performance of these probes for assessment of mitochondrial mass relative to forward (FSC) and side scatter (SSC) in human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL). In isolated mitochondria, two subpopulations were identified by FSC and SSC measurements which were matched to subpopulations stained by MTG and NAO. The performance of these dyes was examined under oxidative and nitrosative stress induced by rotenone and NOC-18 while N-acetylcysteine (NAC) was employed as an antioxidant. Production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and ΔΨm were monitored in parallel. With respect to representation of mitochondrial mass, neither MTG nor NAO was affected by ΔΨm. However, MTG showed significant correlation with cytosolic and mitochondrial ROS production and nitrosative stress. Our data suggest that NAO may be more suitable than MTG for assessment of mitochondrial mass by flow cytometry during oxidative stress.
Reliability of warning light device applications

To increase the safety of the passengers, modern transport system is transforming into an Intelligent Transport System, adopting several components like Road Site Units (RSU) and Warning Light Devices (WLD). The On-board unit in the vehicle will transmit Basic Safety Messages (BSM) periodically to other vehicles and RSUs to prevent collisions and improve traffic flow. WLDs are embedded into road to alert a speeding vehicles by communicating with RSUs. Out of several available short range communication protocol options, it is important to pick the most efficient and reliable one between WLDs and RSUs as they perform critical operations. In this paper, reliability of short range communication protocols such as Bluetooth, ZigBee, Wi-Fi and DSRC are analyzed with respect to the Intelligent Transport System (ITS) infrastructure. Consequently, the reliability of the chosen protocol topologies are evaluated in this paper.
Oxidative Stress-Related Molecular Biomarker Candidates for Glaucoma.

Purpose Glaucoma-related molecular biomarkers can improve clinical testing to diagnose the disease early, predict its prognosis, and monitor treatment responses. Based on the evidence of increased oxidative stress in glaucomatous tissues, this study analyzed oxidative stress-related biomarker candidates in blood and aqueous humor samples with or without glaucoma. Methods The blood and aqueous humor samples collected from carefully selected groups of 96 patients with glaucoma and 64 healthy subjects without glaucoma were included in the study. The samples were analyzed for protein carbonyls and advanced glycation end products (AGEs) through ELISA-based quantification assays. To allow proper comparisons, the Goldmann-Witmer coefficient that reflects the ratio of aqueous humor to blood values corrected to total protein concentration in individual samples was calculated. Results Blood and aqueous humor levels of protein carbonyls and AGEs were found significantly higher in glaucomatous samples compared with age-matched nonglaucomatous controls (P < 0.001). The glaucoma-related increase in protein carbonyls and AGEs was more prominent in aqueous humor samples than blood samples (2.6-fold versus 1.9-fold for protein carbonyls, and 3.1-fold versus 1.9-fold for AGEs; P < 0.001). Comparison of the Goldmann-Witmer coefficients indicated greater values for protein carbonyls (1.37 ± 0.3 vs. 3.07 ± 0.8) and AGEs (1.2 ± 0.3 vs. 3.2 ± 1.1) in the glaucoma group (P < 0.001). Conclusions Findings of this study encourage further validation studies of oxidative stress-related biomarkers in glaucoma. Analysis of protein carbonyls and AGEs in longitudinal studies of larger and heterogeneous patient cohorts should better assess the value of these promising candidates as molecular biomarkers of glaucoma for clinical predictions.
Self-cleaning surfaces using anisotropic ratchet conveyors

This paper describes an active self-cleaning surface where an optically flat and transparent anisotropic ratchet conveyor (ARC) guides a water droplet under orthogonal vibrations. Droplet transport speed is 32.9 mm/s at frequency 52 Hz and acceleration 4.8 g (g = 9.8 m/s2). ARC surfaces can work with a wide frequency bandwidth at 20∼500 Hz as well as with surface inclination angles up to 15°. Optical transmission measurements show that the loss due to ARC coating is within 1% at visible wavelengths. The self-cleaning surface has potential applications on photovoltaic module cover glass to remove dust accumulation and improve efficiency.
“Good things come in small packages”: application of exosome-based therapeutics in neonatal lung injury

Infants born at very low gestational age contribute disproportionately to neonatal morbidity and mortality. Advancements in antenatal steroid therapies and surfactant replacement have favored the survival of infants with ever-more immature lungs. Despite such advances in medical care, cardiopulmonary and neurological impairment prevail in constituting the major adverse outcomes for neonatal intensive care unit survivors. With no single effective therapy for either the prevention or treatment of such neonatal disorders, the need for new tools to treat and reduce risk of further complications associated with extreme preterm birth is urgent. Mesenchymal stem/stromal cell (MSC)-based approaches have shown promise in numerous experimental models of lung injury relevant to neonatology. Recent studies have highlighted that the therapeutic potential of MSCs is harnessed in their secretome, and that the therapeutic vector therein is represented by the exosomes released by MSCs. In this review, we summarize the development and significance of stem cell-based therapies for neonatal diseases, focusing on preclinical models of neonatal lung injury. We emphasize the development of MSC exosome-based therapeutics and comment on the challenges in bringing these promising interventions to clinic.
Metastatic cervical paravertebral solitary fibrous tumor detected by fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography

Solitary fibrous tumor/hemangiopericytomas (SFT/HPC) are soft tissue tumors that can arising from the abomen, pleura, head and neck, or extremities. We report an unusual case of recurrent hemangiopericytoma in a 67-year-old female presenting with a painless and palpable mass within her right posterior neck. Eight years after initial resection of the mass, a follow-up MRI showed multiple enlarging calvarial lesions. A whole body FDG-PET/CT revealed not only hypermetabolic calvarial lesions but also numerous hypermetabolic axillary node and osseous metastases. Though the majority of these soft tissue tumors exhibit benign behavior and carry a favorable prognosis, patients with these slow growing tumors are at risk for local recurrence and distant metastases which demonstrate substantial FDG avidity. Additional studies are needed to clarify the role of whole body FDG-PET/CT in the surveillance of SFT/HPC to detect recurrent or metastatic lesions.
Grafter: transplantation and differential testing for clones

Code clones are common in software. When applying similar edits to clones, developers often find it difficult to examine the runtime behavior of clones. The problem is exacerbated when some clones are tested, while their counterparts are not. To reuse tests for similar but not identical clones, Grafter transplants one clone to its counterpart by (1) identifying variations in identifier names, types, and method call targets, (2) resolving compilation errors caused by such variations through code transformation, and (3) inserting stub code to transfer input data and intermediate output values for examination. To help developers examine behavioral differences between clones, Grafter supports fine-grained differential testing at both the test outcome level and the internal program state level. Our evaluation shows that Grafter can successfully reuse tests and detect behavioral differences. The tool is available for download at http://web.cs.ucla.edu/~tianyi.zhang/grafter.html and the demo video is available at https://youtu.be/liqAeuM8s3U.
Project Management: A Cultural Literary Review:

This paper describes the methodology and results of content analysis research on culture within the leading project management peer review journals and recent published project management books. A ...
Effects of Sovereign Risk on Duration: Evidence from European and Latin American Sovereign Bond Markets

We examine effects of sovereign risk on bond duration in European and Latin American sovereign bond markets over the period 1996-2011. We compare the sovereign risk-adjusted duration for U.S. dollar-denominated sovereign bonds with their Macaulay duration for both investment- and speculative-grade bonds. We find that the sovereign risk-adjusted duration is significantly shorter than its Macaulay counterpart for all bonds, regardless of the bond rating and maturity. Further, the “shortening” effect of sovereign risk on duration is generally stronger among bonds of lower ratings. During the recent global financial crisis, the “shortening” effect was dampened for quality sovereign bonds. But the sovereign risk effect on duration was intensified for BBB and BB rated bonds, reflecting investors’ perception of increasing likelihood of default by issuing nations. Results are robust when CDS prices are used as a proxy for changes in sovereign risk. Moreover, the regional analysis shows that sovereign risk shortens duration much less for sovereign bonds issued by the EU and Latin American countries than for non-EU member counterparts. Our study demonstrates the importance of, and provides a practical guide for, bond portfolio managers to account for sovereign risk in managing interest rate risk exposure in their investments.
Healthcare Knowledge Management: Incorporating the Tools, Technologies, Strategies, and Process of Knowledge Management to Effect Superior Healthcare Delivery

As medical science advances and the applications of information and communications technologies to healthcare operations diffuse, more and more data and information begin to permeate healthcare databases and repositories. However, given the voluminous nature of these disparate data assets, it is no longer possible for healthcare providers to process these data without the aid of sophisticated tools and technologies. The goal of knowledge management is to provide the decision maker with appropriate tools, technologies, strategies, and processes to turn data and information into valuable knowledge assets. This chapter discusses the benefits to the healthcare arena of incorporating these tools and techniques in order to make healthcare delivery more effective and efficient, and thereby maximize the full potential of all healthcare knowledge assets. To ensure a successful knowledge management initiative in a healthcare setting, the chapter proffers the knowledge management infrastructure framework and intelligence continuum model.
Mammalian Fauna of the Middle Eocene Kishenehn Formation, Middle Fork of the Flathead River, Montana

The Kishenehn Formation is a unit of sedimentary rocks exposed largely in the cutbanks of the Flathead River and its tributaries in and around Glacier National Park in northwestern Montana and adjacent British Columbia. From these rocks along the Flathead's Middle Fork, which range from very fine-grained oil shales to and including pebble-cobble conglomerates, vertebrate and molluscan faunas of middle Eocene age have been collected over nearly 40 years by a combination of prospecting, with access by raft, to screen washing sediment from the most fossiliferous exposures. The mammalian fauna from the formation includes at least twenty-six taxa, ranging in size from tiny rodents and insectivores to a very large brontothere. A radiometic date of ca. 46.2 Ma was obtained from below the fossiliferous deposits. The age of the fauna, presumably within one or two million years younger than the radiometric date, is reinforced by the presence of the Uintan index taxon Amynodon Marsh, 1877, as well as the co-occurrence of an eomyid rodent referred to Metanoiamys Chiment and Korth, 1996, and the sciuravid rodent Pauromys Troxell, 1923. The fauna has a scarcity of Carnivora, which may reflect the real faunal composition. It is striking for its total absence of selenodont artiodactyls. Whether the latter should be attributed to geologic age, which is presumably early after these animals developed in North America or Asia, or is environmentally significant, must remain conjectural. Somewhat widely distributed in the North American west, earlier Uintan and/or Shoshonean mammalian faunas remain difficult to correlate, due at least in part to distinctive endemism or environmental uniqueness. The fauna also has indications of interchange between North American and Asian components at that time.Of the twenty-six mammalian taxa recognized in the fauna, one is established as new, the rodent Microparamys solis, new species.
Balancing robot swarm cost and interference effects by varying robot quantity and size

Designing a robot swarm requires a swarm designer to understand the trade-offs unique to a swarm. The most basic design decisions are how many robots there should be in the swarm and the individual robot size. These choices in turn impact swarm cost and robot interference, and therefore swarm performance. The underlying physical reasons for why the number of robots and the individual robot size affect interference are explained in this work. A swarm interference function was developed and used to build an analytical basis for swarm performance. A swarm cost model was also developed and used with the analytical basis for swarm performance to generate performance cost curves for swarms with different numbers of robots and different robot sizes. The swarm designer can use this analytical basis, cost model, and these curves to weigh how the number of robots in the swarm and the individual robot size can be selected to minimize swarm cost and maximize swarm performance. This work is motivated by the desire to engineer a swarm to collect harmful algae from water. In this foraging application, the robots are not required to deposit algae in a central location. Stepping through the design process for this application has exposed several of the knowledge gaps addressed herein.
Abstract TP542: EEG Detection of Secondary Worsening of Neuronal Function in Malignant MCA Infarction: Development of a Tool to Identify Patients for Decompressive Hemicraniectomy

Hemicraniectomy (HC) improves mortality in Malignant Middle cerebral artery Infarctions (MMI), but patient selection and optimal timing for HC remains unclear. A continuous method to monitor for th...
Subsequent Publication of Radiological Society of North America Education Exhibits After Solicitation by RadioGraphics.

Abstract Rationale and Objectives To determine the rate of subsequent publication of education exhibits solicited by RadioGraphics at the 2013 and 2014 Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) annual meetings in PubMed-indexed journals. Materials and Methods The 2013 and 2014 RSNA meeting programs were reviewed, and all solicited education exhibits were recorded. The PubMed database was searched from 2013 to 2018 to identify peer-reviewed articles published in PubMed-indexed journals that were based upon 2013 and 2014 education exhibits. Results Of 2213 education exhibits at the 2013 meeting, 219 (9.9%) were solicited by RadioGraphics, of which 133 (60.7%) have been subsequently published in 25 PubMed-indexed journals. Of 2151 education exhibits at the 2014 meeting, 190 (8.8%) were solicited by RadioGraphics, of which 132 (69.5%) have been subsequently published in 24 PubMed-indexed journals. Among subsequently published education exhibits, most appeared in RadioGraphics for both the 2013 (n = 82; 61.2%) and 2014 (n = 101; 75.9%) meetings. Conclusions Approximately 65% of education exhibits solicited by RadioGraphics from the 2013 and 2014 RSNA meetings were subsequently published in PubMed-indexed journals within 4-5 years of solicitation. More articles were published in RadioGraphics than in any other journal. These publication rates compare favorably to previously reported scientific abstract subsequent publication rates at major medical society meetings.
Enhanced protonic conductivity and IFET behavior in individual proton-doped electrospun chitosan fibers

A major challenge for biomedical science is developing materials and processing methods to enable creation of devices that can meaningfully translate signals between biology and electronics. Protonics-based devices—devices analogous to electronic devices but which use protons as charge carriers instead of electrons—are a promising strategy for such translation. Proton-conductive materials (PCMs)—the media through which protons are transported in such devices—are an element ripe for improvement, since they dominate the performance of protonic devices. We investigate protonic devices comprising sub-micrometer diameter, chitosan-fiber PCMs and palladium hydride (PdHx) protodes, the proton-injecting contact, to analyze how proton transport depends on the chemistry and ordering of the PCM. Current–voltage (I–V) measurements of single fiber-based devices under hydrogen atmospheres show that fibers electrospun from trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) solutions feature substantially higher proton conductivity, up to two orders of magnitude, compared to chitosan PCM films cast from acetic acid solutions. We further used digital simulation of the I–V data to elucidate the electrochemical and electrical processes that control device operation. The hydrogen oxidation reaction kinetics of the protode interfaces with the electrospun chitosan fibers agree well with those reported previously. Using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), we observed that single chitosan fibers spun from TFA solutions are more highly proton-doped than chitosan cast from acetic acid. Furthermore, I–V measurements on electrospun chitosan fibers vs. spin-cast chitosan films, both derived from TFA solutions, reveal that electrospun chitosan fibers yield ∼10-fold higher proton conductivity, suggesting that local polymer ordering within the electrospun fibers further enhances proton transport for chitosan PCMs. Finally, devices fabricated from single doped chitosan fibers behave as ionic field effect transistors (IFETs) when under a contact gate bias established with a conducting probe AFM tip. Switching characteristics are tuned by the gate bias, with proton conduction of a single fiber increasing by over an order of magnitude under negative bias. The switchable ion currents and enhanced conductivity of the chitosan fiber-based PCMs comprise a means of establishing spatiotemporal control over ionic communication between protonic devices and adjacent biological cells and membranes.
The natural history, treatment pattern, and survival of the patients with micropapillary bladder.

e15015 Background: Micropapillary bladder carcinoma (MPBC) is a rare variant of urothelial carcinoma. The objective of this study was to examine the epidemiology, natural history, and prognostic fa...
Class-switched Primary Cutaneous Marginal Zone Lymphomas Are Frequently IgG4-positive and Have Features Distinct From IgM-positive Cases

Primary cutaneous marginal zone lymphoma (PCMZL) can be subdivided into 2 groups based on immunoglobulin (Ig) heavy chain usage: IgM-positive cases that constitute a less common and more T-helper type 1–driven process, and more common heavy chain class-switched cases that are predominantly T-helper
The Impact of Sorghum Growth Stage and Resistance on Life History of Sugarcane Aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae)

Recent invasion of a new haplotype of sugarcane aphid (Melanaphis sacchari Zehntner) resulted in severe outbreaks of the aphids in sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench [Poales: Poaceae]) across the United States. Previous research and field observations suggested that both sorghum resistance and growth stage were important to their population dynamics in the field and hence effective and timely management to minimize economic losses associated with this pest. To explore this, we designed greenhouse experiments to quantify fecundity, prereproductive period, and longevity of sugarcane aphids across several vegetative and reproductive growth stages of a resistant (DKS 37-07) and susceptible (M77GB52 and DKS 38-88) sorghum hybrids commonly used in sorghum production. We found significant effects of sorghum resistance and growth stage on several life history traits and demographics parameters of sugarcane aphids. We did not, however, note any significant interactive effects of resistance and phenology on any of the response variables. Sugarcane aphids exposed to the susceptible sorghum produced significantly more offspring, had significantly greater intrinsic and finite rates of increase, and significantly shorter population doubling time than the aphids feeding on resistant sorghum. On the other hand, the impact of sorghum growth stage had more variable effects on life history of sugarcane aphids that were most frequently evident at the late reproductive stages. These outcomes support our hypothesis that sorghum in late stages of growth tends to be a better host for sugarcane aphids and highlight the importance of sorghum growth stage to sugarcane aphid life history and population growth potential.
Robust constrained optimization approach to control design for International Space Station centrifuge rotor auto balancing control system

This thesis discusses application of a robust constrained optimization approach to control design to develop an Auto Balancing Controller (ABC) for a centrifuge rotor to be implemented on the International Space Station. The design goal is to minimize a performance objective of the system, while guaranteeing stability and proper performance for a range of uncertain plants. The Performance objective is to minimize the translational response of the centrifuge rotor due to a fixed worst-case rotor imbalance. The robustness constraints are posed with respect to parametric uncertainty in the plant. The proposed approach to control design allows for both of these objectives to be handled within the framework of constrained optimization. The resulting controller achieves acceptable performance and robustness characteristics.
Examining Incivility Through a Moral Lens: Coworker Morality Appraisals, Other-Condemning Emotions, and Instigated Incivility

While much is known about the prevalence and impact of incivility in the workplace, relatively less is known about those who instigate workplace incivility. This research aims to investigate incivility instigation through a moral lens by examining the roles of other-condemning moral emotions (contempt, disgust, and anger) and appraisals of coworkers’ morality as predictors of this behavior at work. In Study 1, we used structural equation modeling to analyze two waves of self-report data collected from a sample of 447 full-time United States (U.S.) working adults. Findings from this study indicate that appraising coworkers as low in morality elicited feelings of contempt, disgust, and anger. However, only contempt predicted incivility instigation and mediated the relationship between appraising coworkers as low in morality and instigating incivility. In Study 2, we collected self-report data from a sample of 309 full-time U.S. workers using a critical incident technique. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data. Results from Study 2 replicated the association between low morality appraisals and contempt, anger, and disgust found in Study 1. However, anger predicted incivility instigation and mediated the relationship between appraising coworkers as low in morality and instigating incivility. Additionally, contempt and perceived civility norms had an interactive effect on instigated incivility. These studies provide insight into the roles of contempt, disgust, and anger in predicting incivility instigation, suggesting that employees may engage in incivility to condemn others who engage in moral transgressions. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
Role of Weak Bases on the Prebiotic Formation of Heterocyclic Compounds

The catalytic action of an alkaline earth metal oxide (MgO) on HCN in aqueous solution has been investigated. The reaction mixture was extracted with ether to give diaminomaleonitrile (DAMN). Acid hydrolysis of this mixture resulted in glycine, alanine, aspartic acid and unidentified ninhydrin-positive compounds. Acid hydrolysis of the material remaining after ether extraction (both water-soluble and water-insoluble components) resulted in adenine, aminoimidazole-carboxyamidine, and the amino acids glycine and alanine.
Acidification Policy in the United States

Abstract Acidification policy in the United States has evolved over the past decade from one that emphasized scientific research and technology development to one that emphasizes pollution reduction through new emission limits on electric utility plants. This paper discusses this evolution, and focuses on a discussion of the acid rain provisions of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990. The U.S.- Canada Air Quality Agreement is also discussed.
Job satisfaction, workplace stress, unhealthy lifestyle choices, and productivity among Canadian nurses: an empirical study

BACKGROUND: Nurses’ occupational stress and job satisfaction can have an affect on lifestyle choices and productivity. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study is to provide a detailed examination of the relationship between job satisfaction, job stress, unhealthy lifestyle choices, and productivity among Canadian nurses. METHODS: This study uses data from the confidential master data files of the 2005 National Survey of the Work and Health of Nurses (NSWHN). Ordinary least squares regressions and binary probit regression models were used to estimate the relationships between job satisfaction and job stress on productivity and unhealthy lifestyle choices. RESULTS: Workplace stress variables have a small effect on lifestyle choices. Job satisfaction has an effect on the probability of smoking, but not on drinking. Workplace stress and job satisfaction do not have statistically significant effects on productivity. DISCUSSION: The study found weak relationships among the work related stress variables and productivity. These findings can allow policy makers to consider efforts to reduce workplace stress which can be beneficial to productivity.