cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The NLRP3 Inflammasome and its Role in Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Age related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of blindness among people of 65 years and older in developed countries (Klein and Klein, Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 54:7395-7401, 2013). Recent advances in dry AMD research points towards an important role of the inflammatory response in the development of the disease. The presence of inflammatory cells, antibodies, complement factors and pro-inflammatory cytokines in AMD retinas and drusen indicates that the immune system could be an important driving force in dry AMD. The NLRP3 inflammasome has been proposed as an integrator of process associated with AMD and the induction of inflammation. Herein we summarize the most recent studies that attempt to understand the role of the NLRP3 inflammasome in AMD.
“Correction: Practical aspects in the management of hypokalemic periodic paralysis”

After the publication of this work, we noticed and error in Table 1. The dosage of potassium citrate monohydrate should be 1622mg, not 540mg as originally stated. The corrected table is included below.
Biphasic protein kinase C translocation in PC12 cells in response to short-term and long-term ethanol exposure.

Short-term and long-term effects of ethanol on protein kinase C (PKC) activity and PKC translocation from cytosol to membrane were examined in PC12 cells, a clonal cell line of neural crest origin. Treatment of PC12 cells with ethanol (30–100 mM) for 2 hr had no effect on PKC activity and PKC translocation. When PC12 cells were treated with 100 mM ethanol for 18, 44 and 74 hr, there was a biphasic effect on PKC translocation. At 18 and 44 hr ethanol treatment, PKC translocation was significantly ( P < 0.001) increased, at 74 hr ethanol treatment, there was a significant decrease ( P < 0.05). Less than 100 mM of ethanol had no effect on PKC activity and PKC translocation. Cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase had no effect on PKC translocation. These findings indicate that biphasic PKC translocation from cytosol to membrane forms the basis of acute and chronic effects of ethanol on neurotransmission.
Postcriterion overlearning reduces the effectiveness of the method of adjusted learning

One goal of the method of adjusted learning (“dropout procedure”) is to equate the strength of different Items for subsequent retention. Some studies have yielded results in accord with this goal while others have not, with no known reason for the discrepancy. We manipulated the number of postcriterion overlearning trials and found that the adjusted learning procedure was effective in equating items for subsequent retention when learning terminated after one correct response per item but ineffective when postcriterion overlearning trials occurred. This finding is especially important for those versions of the adjusted learning procedure, such as the frequently utilized variant developed by Battig (1965), that incorporate overlearning of the to-be-equated items.
Conducting Evaluation Research in the Clinical Setting: “Know before You Dig”

Unexpected, yet intriguing, artifacts were unearthed while working with clinician-researchers to examine the potential benefits of an interprofessional-interdepartmental intervention introduced at a local hospital. This brief commentary is a reflection on those specific issues. The phrase “Know before You Dig” should be taken as an advisement to those interested in expanding their social research into the clinical setting to not only engage in preliminary field work (i.e. observations or semi-structured interviews) before embarking on the full thrust of data gathering, but also to consult with those on their research team that are familiar with or active in the field before actually entering that field. Although primarily aimed towards green medical sociologists and interested clinician-researchers, this commentary may speak to various types of social science scholars involved in research in and of the clinical health arena.
Towards a Model of Question Generation for Promoting Creativity in Novice Writers

Automated question generation has been explored for a broad range of tasks. However, an important task for which limited work on question generation has been undertaken is writing support. Writing support systems, particularly for novice writers who are acquiring the fundamentals of writing, can scaffold the complex processes that bear on writing. Novice writers face significant challenges in creative writing. Their stories often lack the expressive prose that characterizes texts produced by their expert writer counterparts. A story that is composed by a novice writer may also lack a compelling plot, may not effectively utilize a story’s setting, characters, and props, and may describe events that play out in an unpredictable or confusing order. We propose an automatic question generation framework that is designed to stimulate the cognitive processes associated with creative writing. The framework utilizes semantic role labeling and discourse parsing applied to the initial drafts of the writer’s passage to generate questions to promote creativity.
Critical Geopolitics and the Framing of the Arab Spring Through Late‐Night Humor

Objective The role of popular culture, particularly humor, is of increasing importance in critical geopolitics and international relations scholarship. This article examines how humor is used to frame the events described as the Arab Spring and U.S. government response. Methods Sifting through the jokes for references to places, events, and significant actors, the selected jokes were interpreted through critical discourse analysis to identify the themes invoked by the comedians. Results The Arab Spring countries most mentioned were Libya, Egypt, and Syria. The majority of the jokes about these can best be understood through the lens of incongruity theory and the exploitation of extant caricatures of leaders. Additionally, the jokes reflected concerns over U.S. actions in the region and, simultaneously, U.S. leadership's seeming inability to craft a coherent plan to address the events. Conclusions We establish the link to humor and geopolitical imagination noting that the themes of American policy, American leadership, regional corruption, and caricatures of leaders composed many of the jokes, reflecting a particular worldview of the region as intractable.
A Femtosecond Absorption Study of Urocanic Acid

The excited state dynamics of trans-urocanic acid in vitro were studied with femtosecond and picosecond transient absorption spectroscopy.
Diffuse Air Space Opacities

Diffuse bilateral confluent air space opacities with air bronchograms may result from alveolar edema, pneumonia, or hemorrhage. Associated findings such as cardiac enlargement and pleural effusions help confirm the diagnosis of congestive heart failure; clinical findings of high fever, elevated white blood count, and productive cough favor pneumonia; and a history of hemoptysis may confirm pulmonary hemorrhage. This appearance is also seen in noncardiac edema from a variety of causes, including near-drowning, drug reactions, or acute respiratory distress syndrome. Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis is one of the few chronic diseases that causes this pattern.
Sound Propagation in Superfluid He 3 near the Polycritical Point

We report studies of 20-MHz sound propagation in the $A$ and $B$ phases above the polycritical point, and in the $B$ phase below the polycritical point. Some striking features are observed which were not seen heretofore.
Magnetic fano resonances in all-dielectric nanocomplexes under cylindrical vector beams excitation

Abstract We report on the study of magnetic responses of azimuthally and radially excited all-dielectric symmetric and antisymmetric nanoassemblies. Our studies show that magnetic Fano resonances (FRs) in the optical wavelengths can be excited in silicon nanoparticle assemblies when illuminated by cylindrical vector beams. We present the underlying mechanism by investigating the generation of hot and coldspots in the gap regions between silicon particles. This work proposes promising methods to induce various types of magnetic resonant modes in all-dielectric nanostructures with high efficiency and without breaking the symmetry under the illumination of cylindrical vector beams.
Clinical manifestations of neuroblastoma with head and neck involvement in children.

Abstract Objective The purpose of our study is to review our 15-year experience with pediatric patients who have been diagnosed with neuroblastoma, and to determine their most frequent head and neck manifestations and symptoms. Study design Retrospective chart review of electronic medical record. Setting An academic, tertiary care pediatric hospital. Subjects and Methods IRB approval from the Office of Research Integrity at Children's Mercy Hospital was obtained. The hospital tumor database was analyzed to identify patients with neuroblastoma, ganglioneuroblastoma, and esthesioneuroblastoma diagnosed between 1997 and 2012. We recorded the various clinical signs and symptoms these patients displayed at their initial presentation, focusing on patients with head and neck involvement. We then determined the relative incidence of these various findings. Results Our review yielded 118 patients diagnosed with neuroblastoma, ganglioneuroblastoma, or esthesioneuroblastoma over our 15 year study period. 7 of the 118 patients were diagnosed with primary tumors of the head and neck. Another 19 patients had metastatic head and neck involvement. For those with primary disease, presence of a neck mass and signs of Horner's syndrome were the most common findings. For metastatic disease, craniofacial bony metastasis was the most frequent finding in our study. Conclusions Based on our data, there are a handful of findings that occur frequently in pediatric head and neck neuroblastoma. Any persistent neck mass, unexplained Horner's syndrome, or periorbital ecchymosis should be carefully evaluated. This study should serve as an aid for the otolaryngologist to be aware of the possible manifestations of this malignancy in children.
Clinical and Echocardiographic Correlates of Left Atrial Function Index: The Framingham Offspring Study

Background Left atrial (LA) remodeling is a predictor of cardiovascular disease (CVD). We performed measurement of the LA function index (LAFI), a composite measure of LA structure and function, in a community-based cohort and here report the distribution and cross-sectional correlates of LAFI. Methods In 1,719 Framingham Offspring Study participants (54% women, mean age 66 ± 9 years), we derived LAFI from the LA emptying fraction, left ventricular (LV) outflow tract velocity time integral, and indexed maximal LA volume. We used multivariable linear regression to assess the clinical and echocardiographic correlates of LAFI adjusting for age, sex, anthropometric measurements, and CVD risk factors. Results The average LAFI was 35.2 ± 12.1. Overall, LAFI declined with advancing age (β = −0.27, P P = .038), prevalent atrial fibrillation (β = −4.46, P = .001), heart failure (β = −5.86, P = .008), and coronary artery disease (β = −2.01, P = .046). In models adjusting for echocardiographic variables, LAFI was directly related to LV ejection fraction (β = 14.84, P P Conclusions LAFI was inversely associated with antihypertensive use and prevalent CVD and was related to established echocardiographic traits of LV remodeling. Our results offer normative ranges for LAFI in a white community-based sample and suggest that LAFI represents a marker of pathological atrial remodeling.
Entry of Salmonella into Epithelial Cells

In experimental animal infection, ingested Salmonella are seen to enter intestinal epithelial cells (Takeuchi, 1967; Worton et al., 1989). The bacteria are able to enter both absorptive epithelial cells as well as specialized microfold (M) cells that lay over gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) (Heffernan et al., 1987). Bacterial contact results in localized disruption of the epithelial microvilli, accumulation of filamentous actin at the site of entry and enclosure of Salmonella within membrane-bound vacuoles. Presumably, invasion of the intestinal epithelium allows Salmonella access to systemic sites of infection and also stimulates mucosal immunity. It is not known if bacterial entry into absorptive cells, M cells or both is important for Salmonella pathogenesis. So in order to understand the role of invasion in pathogenesis as well as understand the mechanism of invasion, Salmonella genes have been identified that are involved in the invasion process (Elsinghorst et al., 1989; Finlay et al., 1988; Galan and Curtiss, 1989; Lee et al., 1992). The identification of invasion genes is made possible due to the ability to study the invasion process in vitro. Salmonella can enter both polarized and non-polarized cultured epithelial cells (Finlay and Falkow, 1990; Finlay et al., 1988). In fact, entry of Salmonella into polarized Caco-2 cells morphologically resembles the entry of bacteria into absorptive epithelial cells in vivo (C. L. Francis and S. Falkow, unpublished results). Unfortunately, at this time, there is no in vitro model for entry of bacteria into the specialized M cells.
Content analysis of e-cigarette products, promotions, prices and claims on Internet tobacco vendor websites, 2013–2014

Objective To identify the population of Internet e-cigarette vendors (IEVs) and conduct content analysis of products sold and IEVs’ promotional, claims and pricing practices. Methods Multiple sources were used to identify IEV websites, primarily complex search algorithms scanning over 180 million websites. In 2013, 32 446 websites were manually screened, identifying 980 IEVs, with the 281 most popular selected for content analysis. This methodology yielded 31 239 websites for manual screening in 2014, identifying 3096 IEVs, with 283 selected for content analysis. Results While the majority of IEVs (71.9%) were US based in 2013, this dropped to 64.3% in 2014 (p Reflecting the retail market, IEVs are transitioning from offering disposable and ‘cigalike’ e-cigarettes to larger tank and “mod” systems. Flavored e-cigarettes were available from 85.9% of IEVs in 2014, with fruit and candy flavors being most popular. Most vendors (76.5%) made health claims in 2013, dropping to 43.1% in 2014. Some IEVs featured conflicting claims about whether or not e-cigarettes aid in smoking cessation. There was wide variation in pricing, with e-cigarettes available as inexpensive as one dollar, well within the affordable range for adults and teens. Conclusions The number of Internet e-cigarette vendors grew threefold from 2013 to 2014, far surpassing the number of Internet cigarette vendors (N=775) at the 2004 height of that industry. New and expanded regulations for online e-cigarette sales are needed, including restrictions on flavors and marketing claims.
Utilizing Latent Semantic Analysis to Provide Automated Educational Support

The traditional in-class methodology was developed for small classrooms of 15-20 students. Low student to teacher ratios, typically under 20 students per teacher, have been preferred and recommended to maximize student achievement, engagement, and retention from research starting in the 1970's [1] [2] [3]. Actual classroom sizes for K-12 vary depending on a variety of factors [4]. Today, some undergraduate Engineering courses consist of more than ten times that many students: some who are interested, some who just want a passing grade, and others who are not yet ready for college and do not properly prepare to study material. In fact, according to a national survey consisting of 560 colleges and universities in 2016, 20% of first-year college students had difficulty learning and getting help with coursework [5] [6]. As classroom sizes increase and varying levels of experiences of students, this situation will only exacerbate existing problems and deficiencies utilizing current teaching methodologies and tools.An automated tool that can provide similar recommendations would free up all that time and allow for more meaningful discussions. Also, students would save hours individually in terms of getting stuck, waiting for responses, and then spending time to get back to where they were later when they got stuck. This is potentially even more beneficial for students who do not typically ask questions when they get stuck, hoping that attending lecture or discussion will answer their questions. Utilizing latent semantic analysis (LSA), a natural language processing algorithm, recommendations can be created through mathematical searching and categorizing sources using singular value decomposition (SVD). The automated tool can pre-emptively suggest additional reading and viewing material, allowing the student to continue their studies without a long wait interval.
The rani project: A socio-normative intervention to reduce anemia in Odisha, India: A formative research protocol

Background: More than half of women of reproductive age in India are anemic. Anemia is associated with increased risk of preterm delivery, higher maternal mortality and contributes to fatigue, which affects women’s work productivity. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends daily oral iron and folic acid (IFA) supplements during pregnancy and weekly supplements for women of reproductive age. Government programs and global donors have distributed and promoted IFA supplements in India for over four decades. However, initial intake and compliance remain inadequate. Objectives: This protocol describes the formative research phase of a larger study, called the Reduction in Anemia through Normative Innovations (RANI) Project, which will test, through a randomized controlled trial, the hypothesis that a social norms-based behavioral intervention in Odisha, India will improve uptake of IFA supplements and reduce anemia among reproductive age women as compared to usual care. The focus of this paper is on the formative research required to develop a sound intervention. We will examine socio-normative barriers to and facilitators of IFA supplement uptake. Methods and analysis: Based on the Theory of Normative Social Behavior, we will adopt a mixed-method, multilevel approach. We will collect data using focus groups, in-depth interviews, observations, Rapid Participatory Ethnographic Evaluation and Research (PEER) techniques, and perceptual mapping methods. Our sample includes reproductive age women (pregnant and not pregnant), their husbands, their mothers/in law and key stakeholders. Before collecting the data, and after analyzing the results, we will hold convenings in India to engage key stakeholders in collaborative design. Following the intervention design, we will test components of the intervention, gather user feedback and fine-tune as necessary. Impact: This study will contribute to the social norms and behavioral intervention research and inform policymakers about the value of adopting a socio-normative approach.
Lesson Planning with Engagement in Mind: Proactive Classroom Management Strategies for Curriculum Instruction.

Teacher success is critical to student success, yet teachers are challenged daily to meet their students’ diverse learning and behavioral needs. Of major concern is the time many teachers spend man...
Key EMU Predicaments and Outlook

This final chapter identifies the key integration predicaments and provides insight into EMU’s likely future. The following issues are discussed: (i) the impact of the common monetary policies on EMU participants; (ii) EU financial centers: gains and losses; (iii) the “City” of London and the EMU; (iv) EMU and the global financial markets; (v) the “ERM II”; (vi) the meeting of the Maastricht Treaty convergence criteria in 1997; (vii) the British dilemma, (viii) the German predicament; (ix) the Franco-German alliance and its impact on the EMU; (x) the 1996–97 IGC negotiations; (xi) prospective EMU impediments; and (xii) the EMU blueprint for the year 2002.
Growth curve analysis applied to ammunition deterioration

Ammunition deterioration during storage has considerable economic consequences. Thus, a reliable prediction model for the ammunition deterioration rate is necessary for long-term procurement and maintenance planning. The purpose of this paper is to form..
Using dynamic time warping to find patterns in time series

Knowledge discovery in databases presents many interesting challenges within the context of providing computer tools for exploring large data archives. Electronic data repositories are growing quickly and contain data from commercial, scientific, and other domains. Much of this data is inherently temporal, such as stock prices or NASA telemetry data. Detecting patterns in such data streams or time series is an important knowledge discovery task. This paper describes some preliminary experiments with a dynamic programming approach to the problem. The pattern detection algorithm is based on the dynamic time warping technique used in the speech recognition field.
Aman Resorts (B)

Aman Resorts (B) describes how employees are rewarded and compensated which is used to supplement Aman Resorts (A). Learning Objective: Stimulating employee initiative to deliver high levels of customer satisfaction across geographic, religious, and cultural boundaries.
A reassessment of the energy requirements for neutrophil migration: adenosine triphosphate depletion enhances chemotaxis.

In view of previous studies demonstrating a significant correlation between adenosine triphosphate (ATP) depletion and impairment of chemotaxis (CTX) during granulocyte (PMN) storage, we sought to quantitate the relationship between CTX and PMN energy metabolism. We incubated PMNs at 37 degrees C with 2-deoxyglucose (2-dg) in the presence of 5 mmol/L glucose. As expected, ATP inhibition by 2-dg was time-dependent (T 1/2, 18 minutes) and dose-dependent, with half- maximal inhibition of ATP (ID50) with 1.3 +/- .3 mmol/L 2-dg. Similar concentrations of 2-dg inhibited lactate generation, phagocytosis, superoxide anion generation, and degranulation. The random migration of PMNs was inhibited by somewhat higher concentrations of 2-dg (ID50, 12 mmol/L). In contrast, up to 40 mmol/L 2-dg did not inhibit CTX toward synthetic peptides or activated serum. In fact, 2-dg consistently increased the CTX of PMNs toward 10(-8) mol/L f-Met-Leu-Phe (fMLP), to a maximum of 450% of control CTX using 15 mmol/L 2-dg. Half-maximal stimulation (ED50) of CTX occurred at 6.3 +/- 1.0 mmol/L 2-dg. Although maximal CTX toward optimal concentrations of fMLP was consistently increased with 2-dg, the ED50 of CTX to fMLP was unchanged (ED50 with glucose, 2.0 +/- 0.6 nmol/L fMLP; ED50 with 2-dg 2.2 +/- 0.7 nmol/L fMLP), and 2-dg did not increase fMLP receptors. In the absence of glucose, 2-dg exerted similar effects on ATP and CTX, but at doses 30- to 50-fold lower than in the presence of glucose. Other glycolytic inhibitors (iodoacetamide and sodium fluoride) exerted similar effects. Additional studies indicated that CTX enhancement by 2-dg (a) required Mg++ but not Ca++, (b) occurred with PMNs from a patient with chronic granulomatous disease, (c) was unaltered in the presence of inhibitors of proteolysis, (d) was not due to generation of a soluble agent, (e) was not due to alterations in PMN adherence, and (f) was not due to inhibition of glycosylation. We conclude that the chemotaxis, but not the random migration, of PMNs is surprisingly resistant to inhibition of energy metabolism and depletion of ATP, since concentrations of 2-dg that decreased ATP and other cell functions by more than 50% not only did not inhibit, but actually stimulated, CTX. These studies also indicate that the previously reported correlation between ATP depletion and CTX impairment observed in stored PMNs are not causally related.
Development and validation of a new MRI simulation technique that can reliably estimate optimal in vivo scanning parameters in a glioblastoma murine model

Background Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) relies on optimal scanning parameters to achieve maximal signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and high contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) between tissues resulting in high quality images. The optimization of such parameters is often laborious, time consuming, and user-dependent, making harmonization of imaging parameters a difficult task. In this report, we aim to develop and validate a computer simulation technique that can reliably provide "optimal in vivo scanning parameters" ready to be used for in vivo evaluation of disease models. Methods A glioblastoma murine model was investigated using several MRI imaging methods. Such MRI methods underwent a simulated and an in vivo scanning parameter optimization in pre- and post-contrast conditions that involved the investigation of tumor, brain parenchyma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) CNR values in addition to the time relaxation values of the related tissues. The CNR tissues information were analyzed and the derived scanning parameters compared in order to validate the simulated methodology as a reliable technique for "optimal in vivo scanning parameters" estimation. Results The CNRs and the related scanning parameters were better correlated when spin-echo-based sequences were used rather than the gradient-echo-based sequences due to augmented inhomogeneity artifacts affecting the latter methods. "Optimal in vivo scanning parameters" were generated successfully by the simulations after initial scanning parameter adjustments that conformed to some of the parameters derived from the in vivo experiment. Conclusion Scanning parameter optimization using the computer simulation was shown to be a valid surrogate to the in vivo approach in a glioblastoma murine model yielding in a better delineation and differentiation of the tumor from the contralateral hemisphere. In addition to drastically reducing the time invested in choosing optimal scanning parameters when compared to an in vivo approach, this simulation program could also be used to harmonize MRI acquisition parameters across scanners from different vendors.
Assessing Stress Factors and Coping Strategies among Primary Schools Adolescents in Moshi District, Tanzania

The purpose of the study was to determine factors attributed to primary schools adolescents’ stress and common stress coping strategies they use. Four research questions guided this study. The study employed mixed research approach. Descriptive cross-sectional design was used. Participants were 225 primary schools’ adolescents and 15 primary class teachers and five primary heads of schools. Data were collected through structured questionnaire, semi structured interviews and focus group discussion. Data were analysed using both content and thematic analysis. The findings of the study reveal that, most of adolescents had experienced stress even though some of them were not sure whether they were stressed or not due to lack of knowledge regarding stress and the sources of stress. Furthermore, the study found that two thirds of primary school adolescents often experienced symptoms of stress implying that they had high stress levels. Similarly, the study found that majority of the pupils often employed positive coping strategies. The study concludes that primary school adolescents in Moshi municipality were subjected to high levels of stress which affects their psychological wellbeing although they had not been able to address the sources of stress. Adolescents lacked the awareness of signs and symptoms of stress which increased the level of stress among them. Moreover, the pupils reported nervousness, anger, anxiety, sickness and lack of concentration during class hours. Primary schools adolescents were not able to device relevant coping strategies against stress. The Ministry of Education should put more emphasis on the issue of stress and coping strategies in primary schools by introducing well-structured formal support systems. The family should learn to support and be helpful for adolescents faced with stress, no matter how they are adapting to the stress. Moreover, schools should pay attention to students’ trouble with learning and apply appropriate strategies to enhance their learning effectiveness
BIM-based benchmarking system for healthcare projects: Feasibility study and functional requirements

Abstract While project benchmarking based on key performance indicators is regarded as a crucial technique for mature project delivery in the construction industry, incorporating it into an organization's routine is a cumbersome and time-consuming endeavor as it entails considerable time and human efforts for collecting and providing project information, and validating the quality of collected data. To overcome this challenge, this paper introduces an approach that leverages Building Information Modeling (BIM), which allows for a more streamlined benchmarking process. The approach presented in this paper focuses on healthcare projects which have been benchmarked using a comprehensive set of cost, schedule, dimension, and planning performance metrics through a mature sector-specific benchmarking program at Construction Industry Institute (CII). As an initial step in the formulation of such a tool, this paper investigates the potential of leveraging BIM for benchmarking through close scrutiny of contents embedded in real-world models collected from six healthcare projects. Functional requirements were, then, established to realize a BIM-based benchmarking tool for healthcare projects by developing conceptual process flow, use cases, and data flow diagrams. The requirements are further illustrated in mock-ups of a prototype system.
Cross Chain Bribery Contracts: Majority vs Mighty Minority

Bribery is a perilous issue in the real world, especially in an economical aspect. This fraudulence is unavoidable, and more importantly, it is more difficult to trace in case smart contracts are utilized for bribing on a distributed public blockchain. In our paper, we propose a new threat to the security of a blockchain system, cross-chain bribery using smart contracts. An arbitrary wealthy briber can utilize cross-chain smart contracts to manipulate a consensus mechanism on a victim’s blockchain or to disgrace a victim’s blockchain. To better understand this threat, our paper proposes a framework to analyze bribery using cross-chain smart contracts. We analyze the amount of incentive to bribe rational miners in a victim’s blockchain and also a full cost of conducting a cross-chain bribery attack. The result is that such attacks can be carried out with a reasonable amount of money or cryptocurrencies.
DBLOC: Density Based Clustering over LOCation Based Services

Location Based Services (LBS) have become extremely popular over the past decade. Popular LBS run the entire gamut from mapping services (such as Google Maps) to restaurants reviews (such as Yelp) and real-estate search (such as Zillow). The backend database of these applications can be a rich data source for geospatial and commercial information such as Point-Of-Interest (POI) locations, reviews, ratings, user geo-distributions, etc. However, access to the backend database is often restricted by a public query interface (often web-based) provided by the LBS owners. In most cases the public search interface of these applications can be abstractly modeled as kNN interface, taking a geolocation (i.e., latitude and longitude) as input and returning top-k POI's that are closest to the query point, where k is a small constant such as 50 or 100. Because of this restriction it becomes extremely difficult for third-party users to perform analytics or mining over LBS. We demonstrate DBLOC, a web-based system that enables analytics over the LBS by using nothing but limited access to kNN interface provided by the LBS. Specifically, using DBLOC the users can perform density based clustering over the backend database of LBS. Due to query rate limit constraint - i.e., maximum number of kNN queries a user/IP address can issue over a specific period of time, it is often impossible to access all the tuples in backend database of an LBS. Thus, DBLOC aims to mine from the LBS a cluster assignment function f(.), such that for any tuple t in the database (which may or may not have been accessed), f(.) can produce the cluster assignment of t with high accuracy. We also demonstrate how DBLOC enables the users to further analyze the discovered clusters in order to mine interesting intra/inter cluster information.
Noninvasive Microscopic Imaging Reveals Increased Leukocyte Adhesion and Rolling in Skin of Acute Graft-Versus-Host Disease Patients Compared to Post-Transplant Controls

BACKGROUND. The nature and kinetics of leukocyte migration are intimately connected to the pathophysiology of acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD). Real-time visualization of leukocyte-endothelial interactions in patients post hematopoietic transplantation (HCT) may augment clinical diagnosis and patient management. In this cross-sectional pilot study, we aimed to test the feasibility of parameters characteristic of leukocyte motion in skin capillaries as potential imaging biomarkers to detect aGVHD. STUDY POPULATION. We enrolled 16 post-HCT patients: 8 patients with any organ aGVHD and 8 patients with no organ aGVHD on the day of the imaging. Diagnoses were retrospectively confirmed on day 100 by a transplant physician (MB), who was blinded to the results of the confocal imaging. 7 out of 8 aGVHD patients had only skin involvement: stage 1 (N=2 patients), stage 2 (N=2), and stage 3 (N=3) cutaneous aGVHD, whereas one patient had stage 1 gut aGVHD with no skin involvement. 6 out of 8 aGVHD group patients required systemic therapy with steroids. METHODS. To noninvasively visualize leukocyte motion in the topmost capillaries of post-HCT patients' skin, we used a clinical reflectance confocal microscope (Vivascope 1500, Caliber I.D.). It enables real-time en face view of individual cells at 9 frames per second. We took twenty 30-second videos of different capillaries in the left volar forearm and left upper chest. We counted the number of adherent and rolling leukocytes per 10 minutes of videos per patient. RESULTS. We found increased leukocyte rolling in the aGVHD group (average of 3 rolling leukocytes per patient), compared to post-HCT controls (average of 1 rolling leukocyte). Highest leukocyte rolling (>8 rolling leukocytes) was associated with increased all-cause mortality, but not predictive of transplant-related mortality (TRM). Similarly, we found increased leukocyte adhesion in the aGVHD group (average of 3 adherent leukocytes per patient), compared to post-HCT controls (average of 1 adherent leukocyte). Interestingly, we observed 7 adherent leukocytes in one patient who had isolated gut aGVHD and no skin involvement. DISCUSSION. Our preliminary results show altered leukocyte-endothelial interactions in the skin capillaries of aGVHD patients, suggesting that confocal microscopy may be an important tool in augmenting the clinical diagnosis and managing post-HCT patients. Future studies should test whether there is a difference in the pattern of change in parameter values between patients who did and who did not develop aGVHD. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. This work was supported in part by Career Development Award Number IK2 CX001785 from the United Sates Department of Veterans Affairs Clinical Science RD Kadmon: Consultancy; Incyte: Consultancy. Tkaczyk: Incyte: Consultancy.
Exploring the Relationship between Quality Rating and Improvement System Supports and Global Quality in Family Child Care.

A Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) is one widespread method to provide a framework for quality improvement in early care and education. However, there is little research examining the relationship between QRIS supports and quality changes in family child care programs. This study aims to examine the associations between supports offered through Delaware’s QRIS and global quality changes in family child care programs. Delaware’s QRIS supports included financial incentives and on-site technical assistance. Data were extracted from the administrative database on 139 family child care programs participating in the QRIS. Repeated measures multivariate analysis of covariance was used to examine the effects of time and Delaware’s QRIS supports. Results showed significant relationships between QRIS supports and the improvement of global quality in family child care programs as measured by the Family Child Care Environment Rating Scale-Revised. Specifically, the amount of on-site technical assistance was significantly associated with changes in the Interaction and Program Structure subscale scores. Additionally, grants received through the QRIS were significantly associated with quality improvements in the home environment. Considering that the amount of technical assistance alone was effective in improving the global quality of family child care programs, professional development strategies that aim to articulate and enhance the technical assistance that is provided to programs would be useful. Further, various types of financial incentives are encouraged to assist family child care programs in improving the structural quality of their environments.
The Baptism of the Ethiopian Eunuch: “Look, Here is Water. What Hinders Me From Being Baptized?” (Acts 8:36 OSB)

The Transatlantic slave trade had a determinative significance for the models and assumptions that set the framework for systems of thought and philosophies that dominated the “Academy” from at lea...
Functional electrical stimulation (FES)-assisted rowing combined with zoledronic acid, but not alone, preserves distal femur strength and stiffness in people with chronic spinal cord injury.

We investigated the effect of 12 months of functional electrical stimulation–assisted rowing with and without zoledronic acid (ZA) on computationally estimated bone strength and stiffness in individuals with spinal cord injury. We found that rowing with ZA, but not rowing alone, improved stiffness at the distal femur, but not the proximal tibia. People with spinal cord injury (SCI) have high fracture risk at the knee after the injury. Therapies that prevent bone loss or stimulate an anabolic response in bone have been proposed to reduce fractures. Zoledronic acid (ZA) is a potent bisphosphonate that inhibits osteoclastic resorption. Functional electrical stimulation (FES)–assisted rowing is a potentially osteogenic exercise involving mechanical stimulation to the lower extremities. Here, we investigated the effect of FES-assisted rowing with and without ZA on bone strength and stiffness in individuals with SCI. Twenty individuals from a cohort of adults with SCI who participated in a clinical trial were included in the study. CT scans of their knees before and after the intervention were converted to finite element models. Bone failure strength (Tult) and stiffness were calculated at the proximal tibia and distal femur. Tult at the distal femur increased 4.6% among people who received rowing + ZA and decreased 13.9% among those with rowing only (p < 0.05 for group). Torsional and compressive stiffness at the femur metaphysis increased in people with rowing + ZA (+ 3 to +4%) and decreased in people with rowing only (− 7 to −8%; p < 0.05). Tult in the proximal tibia decreased in everyone, but the loss was attenuated in the rowing + ZA group. People with initially stronger bone tended to lose more strength. Overall, we observed increases in bone strength at the distal femur but not the proximal tibia, with FES–assisted rowing combined with ZA treatment. Rowing alone did not significantly prevent bone loss at either site, which might be attributed to insufficient mechanical loading.
Speciation of Molybdenum(VI) in Chloride Media at Elevated Mo Concentrations.

Speciation of Mo(VI) in chloride media (0.5–11 M HCl) at elevated Mo concentrations (0.1–300 mM Mo) was investigated using UV spectroscopy. In addition to five major monomeric species, H2MoO4, H3Mo...
Hydrogen- and Halogen-Bonded Binary Cocrystals with Ditopic Components: Systematic Structural and Photoreactivity Properties That Provide Access to a Completed Series of Symmetrical Cyclobutanes

A series of binary cocrystals involving the ditopic hydrogen- and halogen-bond (H- and X-bond, respectively) donors resorcinol (res) and hydroquinone (hq), and 1,3- and 1,4-diiodotetrafluorobenzene...
Coleridge’s Contemplative Philosophy: by Peter Cheyne, Oxford, Oxford UP, 2020, ix + 374 pp., 9 tables.

Readers familiar with Peter Cheyne’s 2017 anthology, Coleridge and Contemplation, and his essay there, “Coleridge’s ‘Order of the Mental Powers’ and the Energic-Energetic Distinction,” will recall ...
Dual Ownership as a Market Solution to Risk Shifting: Evidence from Loan Covenant Violations

This paper studies why creditors simultaneously hold equity in the same firm. We posit that holding both debt and equity can protect the value of debt which may be at risk for expropriation by stockholders. Using a regression discontinuity design and exogenous events that increase the probability of a wealth transfer, we find that creditors respond by purchasing equity. Importantly, this effect is true for bondholders but not for lenders who are already protected via control rights.
A Model-Free Fourier Cosine Method for Estimating the Risk-Neutral Density

In this article, we present a new nonparametric method to extract the risk-neutral density from market-observed options prices. The method is based on novelly combining the Fourier cosine series method and the Carr-Madan spanning formula. In contrast to the seminal Breeden-Litzenberger formula, which is based on twice differentiating the options prices with respect to the strikes, our method is based on integrating the options prices with respect to available strikes at a given maturity. We employ the Black-Scholes model, constant elasticity of variance model, and the Heston model as data-generating processes in the numerical experiments, and real market data in the empirical experiments. They demonstrate that the proposed method is accurate, is highly efficient to evaluate, and compares favorably with existing methods in the literature. TOPICS:Derivatives, options, quantitative methods, statistical methods, performance measurement Key Findings ▪ We present a new model-free method to extract the risk-neutral density from options prices. ▪ The formula is explicit and does not involve interpolation or intermediate numerical procedures. ▪ Numerical and empirical experiments confirm the accuracy of the formula. It also compares favorably with existing literature.
When the Lab Reports Come Back, "Abortion: Cause Undetermined" - What Next?

How frustrating and how far too common it is that after a "full" work-up of a case of bovine abortion one ends up with a final report saying, "Abortion: Cause Undetermined". Unfortunately, we frequently think of abortions as the outcome of in utero microbial infections and that submission of samples to a lab should result in determination of cause. In most labs, testing normally will consist of bacterial, viral or fungal culture, serology and gross and histopathology to scrutinize fetal and maternal tissues for clues of cause for the abortion. Endocrinology, toxicology or genetic testing of submitted samples are rarely done and, too frequently, thorough medical examinations of the dam or herdmates are lacking. Solutions for complex clinical problems usually involve a "team effort" approach and failures can result anywhere along this chain. In practical terms laboratory testing is not perfect and our ability to clinically investigate many aspects of pregnancy is limited, if not impossible! When reports come back with no cause determined, the question, "what next?" quickly becomes "what are we missing?" Lists of differential diagnoses for non-infectious causes tend to be shorter, less clear-cut, and less often considered than differentials for infectious bovine abortion. We must, however, also include the possibility that some abortions are caused by infectious agents which are missed. This paper addresses non-infectious conditions that potentially could account for some of the missed, or cause-unknown abortions. Six subject areas are discussed.• Failure to detect infectious causes.• Conditions that disrupt essential supporting endocrine systems.• Unrecognized endometrial or cervical diseases.• Direct or indirect effects of toxic compounds.• Underlying genetic abnormalities.• Potential immune-mediated conditions.
Sequence jobs and assign due dates with uncertain processing times and quadratic penalty functions

This paper considers due date assignment and sequencing for multiple jobs in a single machine shop. The processing time of each job is assumed to be uncertain and is characterized by a mean and a variance with no knowledge of the entire distribution. The objective is to minimize the combination of three penalties: penalty on job earliness, penalty on job tardiness, and penalty associated with long due date assignment. The earliness and tardiness penalties and the penalty associated with long due date assignment are all expressed quadratic functions. Heuristic procedures are developed for the objective function. The due dates and sequences obtained by these procedures depend not only on means but also variances of the job processing times. Our numerical examples indicate that the variance information of job processing times can be useful for sequencing and due date assignment decisions. In addition, the performance of the procedures proposed in this paper are robust and stable with respect to job processing time distributions.
Low cost X-band dual polarization phased array antenna: Scanning performance

In this paper the scanning performance of the X-band phased-array antenna to be used for a solid state weather radar system is discussed. A simple and low-cost antenna array architecture based on series-fed array of dual-polarized aperture coupled microstrip patch antennas was designed, implemented and tested in order to prove the concept of low-cost phased array radar system for metereological applications. The measured results presented indicates a good scanning performnace.
CORTISOL BINDING GLOBULIN(CBG) IS DECREASED IN OBESE MALE ADOLESCENTS

We have measured the concentration of CBG in plasma from adolescents at various stages of pubertal development and assessed the influence of obesity upon plasma CBG levels.
Protein kinase C regulation of corneal endothelial cell proliferation and cell cycle.

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to determine the role of protein kinase C (PKC) in corneal endothelial cell proliferation. METHODS Immunocytochemistry and Western blotting were used to define the PKC isoforms expressed in primary cultures of rat corneal endothelial cells. For proliferation studies, primary cultures of rat corneal endothelial cells were serum-starved for 48 hours and incubated for 2 hours with the PKC inhibitors staurosporine (10(-9) to 10(-7) M), chelerythrine (10(-9) to 5 x 10(-8) M), or calphostin C (10(-9) to 10(-7) M). Individual PKC isoforms were inhibited using PKCalpha antisense oligonucleotide transfection or exposure for 1 hour to myristoylated, pseudosubstrate-derived peptide inhibitors against PKCalpha, -alphassgamma, -epsilon, and -delta (10(-8) to 10(-6) M). Cells were then stimulated with 2.5% serum for 24 hours. Cell proliferation was measured with bromodeoxyuridine (BrDU) and Ki67 immunocytochemistry. Protein level of cyclin E was determined by Western blotting. RESULTS PKCalpha, -ssII, -delta, -epsilon, -iota, -eta, -gamma, and -theta were detected in corneal endothelial cells. Maximum inhibition of PKC with staurosporine, calphostin C, and chelerythrine reduced cell proliferation to 7%, 31%, and 48% of control, respectively. Myristoylated peptide inhibition of PKCalpha and -epsilon reduced cell proliferation to 57% and 59% of control, respectively. PKCalpha antisense oligonucleotide reduced cell proliferation to 35% of control. Cyclin E protein level was decreased to 70%, 38%, 57%, and 43% of control in cells treated with calphostin C, staurosporine, chelerythrine, and PKCalpha antisense, respectively. CONCLUSIONS PKC activity, in particular PKCalpha and -epsilon activity, is important in promoting corneal endothelial cell proliferation. Inhibition of PKC activity prohibits G1/S-phase progression and reduces cyclin E protein levels.