cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Measuring and optimizing a system for persistent database sessions

High availability for both data and applications is rapidly becoming a business requirement. While database systems support recovery, providing high database availability, applications may still lose work because of server outages. When a server crashes, any volatile state associated with the application's database session is lost and the application may require an operator-assisted restart. This exposes server failures to end-users and always degrades application availability. Our Phoenix/ODBC system supports persistent database sessions that can survive a database crash without the application being aware of the outage, except for possible timing considerations. This improves application availability and eliminates the application programming needed to cope with database crashes. Phoenix/ODBC requires no changes to the database system, data access routines or applications. Hence, it can be deployed in any application that uses ODBC to access a database. Further, our generic approach can be exploited for a variety of data access protocols. In this paper, we describe the design of Phoenix/ODBC and introduce an extension to optimize the response time and to reduce overhead for OLTP workloads. We present a performance evaluation using the TPC-C and TPC-H benchmarks that demonstrate Phoenix/ODBC's extra overhead is modest.
STAT1-Activating Cytokines Limit Th17 Responses through Both T-bet–Dependent and –Independent Mechanisms

Given the association with autoimmune disease, there is great interest in defining cellular factors that limit overactive or misdirected Th17-type inflammation. Using in vivo and in vitro models, we investigated the molecular mechanisms for cytokine-mediated inhibition of Th17 responses, focusing on the role of STAT1 and T-bet in this process. These studies demonstrate that, during systemic inflammation, STAT1- and T-bet-deficient T cells each exhibit a hyper-Th17 phenotype relative to wild-type controls. However, IL-17 production was greater in the absence of T-bet, and when both STAT1 and T-bet were deleted, there was no further increase, with the double-deficient cells instead behaving more like STAT1-deficient counterparts. Similar trends were observed during in vitro priming, with production of Th17-type cytokines greater in T-bet(-/-) T cells than in either STAT1(-/-) or STAT1(-/-) T-bet(-/-) counterparts. The ability of IFN-γ and IL-27 to suppress Th17 responses was reduced in T-bet-deficient cells, and most importantly, ectopic T-bet could suppress signature Th17 gene products, including IL-17A, IL-17F, IL-22, and retinoic acid-related orphan receptor γT, even in STAT1-deficient T cells. Taken together, these studies formally establish that, downstream of IFN-γ, IL-27, and likely all STAT1-activating cytokines, there are both STAT1 and T-bet-dependent pathways capable of suppressing Th17 responses.
A simple bipedal walking model reproduces entrainment of human locomotion

Robotic studies have suggested a contribution of limit-cycle oscillation of the neuro-mechanical periphery to human walking by demonstrating stable bipedal robotic gaits with minimal actuation and control. As behavioral evidence of limit-cycle oscillation in human walking, we recently reported entrainment of human gaits to mechanical perturbations. We observed synchronization of human walking with mechanical perturbation only when the perturbation period was close to the original walking period. In addition, the entrainment was always accompanied by phase locking at the end of double-stance. A highly-simplified state-determined walker reproduced these salient features: 1) entrainment to periodic perturbations with a narrow basin of entrainment and 2) phase-locking at the end of double stance. Importantly, the model required neither supra-spinal control nor an intrinsic self-sustaining neural oscillator (like a rhythmic central pattern generator), which suggests that prominent features of human walking may stem from simple afferent feedback processes that produce limit-cycle oscillation of the neuro-mechanical periphery without significant involvement of the brain or rhythmic central pattern generators. One limitation of that model was that it entrained only to perturbations faster than the unperturbed walking period. In the study reported here, we modified the model to have two independent steps per stride. The revised model reproduced entrainment to perturbations both slower and faster than the unperturbed cadence, as observed experimentally in human walking.
Fluoro-deoxy-glucose positron emission tomography for evaluation of indeterminate lung nodules: assigning a probability of malignancy may be preferable to binary readings.

Objective To assess the diagnostic value of fluorine-18 fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) using standard uptake values (SUV) in the differential diagnoses of indeterminate pulmonary nodules. Specifically, we assessed the probability of malignancy for various SUV ranges, and compared the diagnostic efficacy of SUV with and without correction for partial volume effects on the basis of lesion size.
High School Biology Today: What the Committee of Ten Actually Said.

This essay describes how in the 1890s the Committee of Ten arrived at their recommendations about the organization of the high school biological sciences and seeks to correct the frequently held, but erroneous view that the Committee of Ten was the initiator of the Biology-Chemistry-Physics order of teaching sciences prevalent in high schools today. The essay details the factors underlying the changing views of high school biology from its “natural history” origins, through its “zoology, botany, physiology” disciplinary phase to its eventual integration into a “general biology” course. The simultaneous parallel development of the “Carnegie Unit” for measuring coursework is highlighted as a significant contributor in the evolution of the present day high school biology course. The essay concludes with a discussion of the implications of the grade placement of the sciences for the future development of high school biology.
Iontophoresis in medicine: Possible applications in urology

SummaryElectrical current for therapy (iontophoresis) has been applied to many aspects of medicine for centuries. Many specialities are routinely using this technology, but its applications in urology have not been extensively studied. We review the literature on the uses of iontophoresis in medicine, and summarize its possible applications in urology.
Crystal plasticity with Jacobian-Free Newton---Krylov

The objective of this work is to study potential benefits of solving crystal plasticity finite element method (CPFEM) implicit simulations using the Jacobian-Free Newton---Krylov (JFNK) technique. Implicit implementations of CPFEM are usually solved using Newton's method. However, the inherent non-linearity in the flow rule model that characterizes the crystal slip system deformation on occasions would require considerable effort to form the exact analytical Jacobian needed by Newton's method. In this paper we present an alternative using JFNK. As it does not require an exact Jacobian, JFNK can potentially decrease development time. JFNK approximates the effect of the Jacobian through finite differences of the residual vector, allowing modified formulations to be studied with relative ease. We show that the JFNK solution is identical to that obtained using Newton's method and produces quadratic convergence. We also find that preconditioning the JFNK solution with the elastic tensor provides the best computational efficiency.
How one bad family member can undermine a family firm: Preventing the Fredo effect

Abstract Family owned and managed firms represent a large proportion of businesses operating domestically and globally. Dynamics introduced by family members can develop into significant problems for the family-owned firm, and have far-reaching implications for its performance. One challenge entails coping with a family member employee who, for various reasons, behaves in ways that have toxic and damaging effects on the business. We label this phenomenon ‘the Fredo effect,’ referencing the incompetent brother from The Godfather books and movies. Herein, we discuss the Fredo effect in a family firm context, why the Fredo effect is unique to family firms, and how the effect develops over time in family relationships. We further analyze how the Fredo effect hurts family firms in terms of leadership succession and performance, and what family firm leaders can do to address it.
Advanced Surface Finishes for Ceramic Electronics for Soldering, Conductive Adhesive, Aluminum- , Gold-, and Copper Wire Bonding.

Surface finishes for ceramic electronics are an important feature. . The suitable surface finish allows the appropriate assembly technology to be performed on the ceramic substrate. The paper will present the possible surface finish options for ceramic substrates and include the advantages and challenges of each surface finish. Furthermore it will show the potential of a new surface finish called “Direct EPAG”. The demand for these new finishes is based on needs for new assembly technologies like copper wire bonding and for high frequency applications. Furthermore Nickel which the main layer of many surface finishes like ENIG or ENEPIG, is more and more regarded as an unpleasant element due to several disadvantages. All these concerns are supporting the introduction of a new surface finish called “direct EPAG” (Electroless Palladium, Autocatalytic Gold) finish. In particular, its suitability for copper wire bonding and its fine line capability makes it very attractive from a cost standpoint. In addition, ...
Combined Cisplatin and Concomitant Continuous Infusion 5-Fluorouracil and Accelerated Radiation in Advanced Head and Neck Cancer

Advanced, unresectable stage III and IV squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck has a 2-year mortality of over 70% when standard treatment with conventional radiation therapy is employed (Million et al. 1984; Marcial et al. 1985). The control of locoregional disease remains a major therapeutic challenge since morbidity and mortality relate primarily to local invasion and lymph node metastases. Among the various new approaches that are being explored in an effort to improve the therapeutic ratio, combinations with adjunctive chemotherapy have attracted major interest.
Plasma Protein Changes in Parakeets with Pituitary Tumors.

SummaryThe first recognized manifestation of a primary or transplanted pituitary tumor in the parakeet is a marked increase in a plasma protein component, tentatively identified as a globulin. Analysis by optical ultracentrifugation suggests that this protein is qualitatively different from any present in normal plasma. Several weeks after appearance of the abnormal protein there is often an associated hyperglycemia and obesity. It is suggested that all these changes express the response of target tissues to one or several hormones secreted by the tumor.
Selection of fungi by candidate cover crops

Diversified cropping systems that incorporate year-round ground cover, are known to maintain healthy soils. Information is available for producers regarding the benefits of specific cover crop species for soil fertility, weed and pest management. Even though it is widely recognized that cover crops promote microbial biomass and activity, the specific responses of particular microbial groups to specific cover crop treatments are yet to be understood. In this work we determined differences in diversity and relative abundance of root endophytic fungi recovered by four potential cover crop species grown in a microbe-rich soil inoculum. For this, a trap culture approach was used, were plants of four species were grown in the greenhouse until maturity in a soil mix originating from a prairie remnant. Root endophytic fungi were surveyed through amplicon sequencing of total root DNA, targeting universal fungal and arbuscular mycorrhizae (AM) – specific ribosomal markers. Each host species studied enriched for different fungal community assemblages, with particular fungal lineages being differentially abundant across hosts. In general, wheat enriched for the greatest diversity of fungi, whereas vetch and clover were best for enrichment of AM fungi and oat for saprotrophs. Specific groups of fungi more abundant in wheat roots included members of the Sordariomycetes, mainly represented by the families Lasiosphaeriaceae, Magnaporthaceae and the order Pleosporales; whereas vetch recovered greater abundance of Hypocreales-like sequences, highly represented by the genus Ilyonectria. Within AM fungi differences in taxa recovery were observed between the orders Glomerales and Diversisporales across hosts, being these groups more abundant in wheat and vetch roots, respectively. From a fungal perspective, the direct benefits of the cover crop species (or species mix) in the cash crop will relate to the life history characteristics of the fungal communities preferentially colonizing each cover crop host.
HOW SIMILAR ARE GENETIC CORRELATION STRUCTURES? DATA FROM MICE AND RATS

An integral assumption of many models of morphometric evolution is the equality of the genetic variance-covariance structure across evolutionary time. To examine this assumption, the quantitative-genetic aspects of morphometric form are examined for eight pelvic traits in laboratory rats (Rattus norvegicus) and random-bred ICR mice (Mus musculus). In both species, all traits are significantly heritable, and there are significant phenotypic and genetic correlations among traits, although environmental correlations among the eight traits are low. The size relations among the pelvic variables are isometric. Three matrix-permutation tests are used to examine similarity of phenotypic, genetic, and environmental covariance and correlation matrices within and between species. Independent patterns of morphometric covariation and correlation arise from genetic and environmental effects within each species and from environmental effects between species. The patterns of phenotypic and genetic covariation and correlation are similar within each species, and the phenotypic and genetic correlations are also similar between these species. However, genetic covariance matrices show no significant statistical association between species. It is suggested that the assumption of equality of genetic variance-covariance structures across divergent taxa should be approached with caution.
Domain-specific reports of visual imagery vividness are not related to perceptual expertise

Just as people vary in their perceptual expertise with a given domain, they also vary in their abilities to imagine objects. Visual imagery and perception share common mechanisms. However, it is unclear whether domain-specific expertise is relevant to visual imagery. Although the vividness of visual imagery is typically measured as a domain-general construct, a component of this vividness may be domain-specific. For example, individuals who have gained perceptual expertise with a specific domain might experience clearer mental images within this domain. Here we investigated whether perceptual expertise for cars relates to visual imagery vividness in the same domain, by assessing the correlations between a widely used domain-general measure of visual imagery vividness (the Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnaire; Marks in British Journal of Psychology, 64, 17-24, 1973), a new measure of visual imagery vividness specific to cars, and behavioral tests of car expertise. We found that domain-specific imagery relates most strongly to general imagery vividness and less strongly to self-reported expertise, while it does not relate to perceptual or semantic expertise.
Research and Application of Cloud Computing in Power Informatization Construction

As a major trend in today’s IT industry development, cloud computing imposes an increasingly significant impact on power informatization construction. This paper introduces the concepts of cloud computing, points out that the data center is a right place integrating cloud computing with power informatization based on the situation of power enterprises informatization construction, which will be helpful to solve the issues of low utilization of resources, high energy consumption, and high management cost for data centers. By analyzing virtualization technology and resource unified schedule management technology in detail, a cloud computing supporting system architecture of green data centers is built.
The application of magnetic resonance imaging in the infantile congenital clubfoot

Objective To evaluate the application of MRI in infantile congenital clubfoot.Meth- ods Twelve patients (7 boys and 5 girls;Age range from 5 months to 24 months,mean 12 months) diagnosed CCF by clinical characters,included 8 unilateral clubfeet and 4 bilateral clubfeet.The true transverse,sagittal and coronal images were taken in all patients.Talocalcaneal and tibiocalcaneal an- gle in the sagittal and coronal images were measured.Results The average value of talocalcaneal and tibiocalcaneal angle of the normal feet were 36.6°,73.4°respectively in the sagittal images and 38.4°, 13.9°in the coronal images;those of the CCF were 14.5°,102.1°,15.2°and 2.2°.There were sig- nificant differences between clubfeet and normal feet.The MRI manifestations of CCF included rota- tional deviation of talus and calcaneus and a delayed ossification of the navicular and cuboid bones as well as form deviations in the talus.The development of ossification center was more delayed com- pared with normal feet,and ossification position was often deformed,small,and eccentrically located, especially in the talus.The length of talus and calcaneus was smaller than that in normal feet.Conclu- sions MRI can clearly visualize both the ossification centers and surrounding cartilage of growing bones.It is a useful imaging modality for assessment of the bony,cartilaginous and soft-tissue struc- tures of the infantile clubfoot and an excellent tool for CCF treatment and follow-up.
Jissom on the Reports: A Thoroughly Post-Modern Pynchon

Writing Pynchon (hereafter WP) proclaims itself the first and so far only critical work to approach Pynchon's texts from the standpoint of "CLT." CLT is the authors' abbreviation for "contemporary literary theory," by which they mean deconstruction. The identification is tendentious to say the least, since the authors of WP (hereafter MW) must know that contemporary literary theory is a near-chaotic hodgepodge of reader-response views, new historicism, new pragmatism, French and other Freudianisms, several varieties of Marxism and feminism, structuralism, hermeneutics, and a welter of other non-deconstructive models and methodologies. But never mind. Convinced that a deconstructive reading of Pynchon was long overdue, I entered WP with sanguine expectations. A first reading dashed my hopes, so I read it again. The second reading confirmed the first. MW seem breathlessly eager to display their own deconstructive ingenuity (look what we can do with texts!) and rather lackadaisical about understanding Pynchon. No doubt they would insist that "understanding Pynchon" is a misunderstanding from the p. o. v. of CLT. But I am not so easily intimidated.
Gastrointestinal tumors of childhood

Tumors of the gastrointestinal tract in children are divided into tumors involving the solid organs that bud from the gastrointestinal tract, principally the liver, and tumors intrinsic to the alimentary tract. This article presents a review of the current state of understanding of solid tissue tumors. The human genome project and better understanding of human genetics have led to remarkable changes in the classification and description of tumors of the alimentary tract. This article attempts to summarize these changes to a current classification of the gastrointestinal polyposis syndromes.
Sustainable smallholder poultry interventions to promote food security and social, agricultural, and ecological resilience in the Luangwa Valley, Zambia

In Zambia's Luangwa Valley, highly variable rainfall and lack of education, agricultural inputs, and market access constrain agricultural productivity, trapping smallholder farmers in chronic poverty and food insecurity. Human and animal disease (e.g. HIV and Newcastle Disease, respectively), further threaten the resilience of poor families. To cope with various shocks and stressors, many farmers employ short-term coping strategies that threaten ecosystem resilience. Community Markets for Conservation (COMACO) utilizes an agribusiness model to alleviate poverty and food insecurity through conservation farming, market development and value-added food production. COMACO promotes household, agricultural and ecological resilience along two strategic lines: improving recovery from shocks (mitigation) and reducing the risk of shock occurrence. Here we focus on two of COMACO's poultry interventions and present data showing that addressing health and management constraints within the existing village poultry system resulted in significantly improved productivity and profitability. However, once reliable productivity was achieved, farmers preferred to sell chickens rather than eat either the birds or their eggs. Sales of live birds were largely outside the community to avoid price suppression; in contrast, the sale of eggs from community-operated, semi-intensive egg production facilities was invariably within the communities. These facilities resulted in significant increases in both producer income and community consumption of eggs. This intervention therefore has the potential to improve not only producers' economic resilience, but also resilience tied to the food security and physical health of the entire community.
MEG Measurement of Auditory Sensory Memory Persistence via the M100 in Children and Adults

There have been several papers linking the auditory evoked field (AEF) component M100 to the auditory sensory memory trace, or echoic memory [1,2,3]. Recently, a preliminary effort to describe the AEF in children has been reported [4]. It is apparent that children do not show the same component structure as adults when presented with the same stimuli. The most striking finding of this report was the apparent lack of M100 response in the younger children, a finding which we have also replicated (see below). One possible explanation, proposed by Paetau, et al. [4], is that the M100 refractory period is longer in children than adults. Thus, the field strength of the M100 would be much weaker than adults at similar interstimulus intervals. Also, if the refractory period is longer in children than adults, then the echoic memory trace duration would also be longer, assuming that M100 indexes the trace duration, as proposed by Lu, et al. [1]. As this possibility is theoretically important to both psychology and MEG research, two experiments were undertaken in children and adults to explore the development of the AEF M100 component.
The Size of the Economy and Its Relation to Stability and Steady Progress: I

A casual glance at National Income data for various national economies seems to provide all the evidence we need for an answer — though it is, perhaps, an unexpected one — to the question: ‘How is a nation’s stability related to its size?’ Comparing the record for the period beginning in the 1920s and ending in 1952 (with the war years and those immediately following omitted) for the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Sweden, and the United States, we find a reasonably clear-cut relationship: the greatest instability was found in the largest economies; and vice versa. The United States, by any standard the largest of all, showed itself to be the most unstable, with its instability symptomized by the Great Depression which was deepest in that country; Sweden, the smallest of the five, displayed remarkable stability, with a depression decline of only 9 per cent, or less than a third of that experienced by the United States. The United Kingdom, which also suffered a comparatively small decline in income, seemed to be only a little less stable than Sweden, while Germany and France showed less instability than the United States but much more than Sweden and the United Kingdom.
Measurement of the Ocean Economy From National Income Accounts to the Sustainable Blue Economy

Follow this and additional works at: http://cbe.miis.edu/joce Part of the Climate Commons, Economic Policy Commons, Environmental Indicators and Impact Assessment Commons, Environmental Monitoring Commons, Growth and Development Commons, Natural Resource Economics Commons, Natural Resources Management and Policy Commons, Public Economics Commons, Regional Economics Commons, and the Sustainability Commons
Invariant Relations, Coherent Configurations and Generalized Polygons

A high point in the combinatorial approach to the theory of finite permutation groups is Wielandt’s theory of invariant relations, culminating in his theorem on groups of degree p2 [16]. In section 1 we give a few rudiments of Wielandt’s theory in the context of the theory of G-spaces, illustrating the concepts by a proof, which seems first to have been made explicit by R. Liebler [12], of a theorem of Alperin [1].
Modeling Urban Growth and Land Use Change in Albuquerque using SLEUTH

This research examines the impact of urban development on three major development areas (Mesa del Sol, Volcano Mesa, and Santolina) in Albuquerque, New Mexico, based on the past pattern of urban gr...
Innovative nano-accuracy surface profiler for sub-50 nrad rms mirror test

In order to promote the measurement accuracy to sub-50 nrad rms for both spherical and plane mirror tests and to resolve the difficulty in testing strongly curved mirror by use of the NOM, the Nano-accuracy Surface Profiler (NSP) was developed. The NSP system applies scanning sampling beam in fixed scanning distance combined with non-tilted reference beam for removing pitch error of scanning slide to ensure sub-50 nrad rms accuracy measurement. The NSP takes the advantage of the NOM in using precise autocollimator (Elcomat 3000) for both sampling and reference beams. In preliminary test, this NSP scheme verifies it has at least the same measurement accuracy as the NOM for plane mirror test. The NSP system scheme significantly reduces test error than the NOM for sphere test, and it also ensures the capability using single calibration curve to further correct systematic error in reaching sub-50 nrad rms accuracy for spherical mirror test.
Gating Aware Error Injection

Error injection is one of the most commonly used techniques for estimating the reliability of a given hardware design. While error injection in dynamic simulation is widely used in the industry, other methods exist as well, e.g. hardware error injection and fault-tolerance analysis using formal verification. As covering the entire space of all possible fault injections is impractical, nearly all workload-based error injection methods (e.g. simulation or emulation techniques) use a statistical approach for error injection, i.e. they only inject a fraction of all possible faults. As a result, the statistical fault injection approach is much more efficient in characterizing the overall reliability of the design than in finding particular reliability-related bugs. On the other hand, the formal-based approach guarantees full coverage of the design space, including under all possible faults, granted the formal analysis can be completed. However, performing formal verification on design hierarchies with error detection and recovery logic is usually unfeasible. To address the challenge of effectively finding reliability-related bugs on large industrial designs, this paper proposes a novel approach which is aimed at finding a particular kind of design bugs related to gating conditions which correspond to error detection logic. We present an automated method for identifying those gating conditions and generating a gating-aware fault injection module. Experimental results on a real microprocessor arithmetical unit demonstrates the effectiveness of our method in finding real design bugs using relatively small amount of error injection tests.
What Did Consumers Pay for 2016's Hot Toy? A Descriptive Analysis of Hatchimal Prices in Ebay Auctions during the 2016 Holiday Shopping Season

While it is undisputed that 2016’s “hot toy” was the Hatchimal, it is unclear how much shoppers paid for the toy in the secondary market or how resellers fared. Using data on 34,657 completed successful Hatchimal eBay auctions by 16,726 sellers between October 13 and December 24, 2016, I find that shoppers paid an average of $143.67 for the $60 toy. Hatchimal prices varied considerably over this time period. They were lowest ($65.24) on October 16 and highest ($185.22) on November 24, Thanksgiving Day. 62.1% of eBay shoppers paid between $125 and $175, and just over 3% paid more than $200 for a Hatchimal. The Toys R Us exclusive Bearakat was the most sought after Hatchimal version, earning a price premium of 23%. In contrast, the Walmart and Target exclusive Hatchimal versions earned rather modest price premiums of 4-5%. Most sellers were amateurs, listing one or two Hatchimal auctions and earning an estimated $150 of total profit from their endeavor. Shoppers paid higher prices in Hatchimal auctions with high shipping fees ($10 ) and those listed by experienced eBay sellers. Based on the findings from this descriptive analysis, I conclude this report with specific recommendation to shoppers about how to shop smart for a hot toy during the holiday shopping season.
Honey bees preferentially consume freshly-stored pollen

Honey bees (Apis mellifera) collect and store both honey and pollen in preserved forms. Pollen storage involves the addition of honey or nectar and oral secretions to pollen granules. It is controversial whether the duration of pollen storage alters the palatability or nutritive value of the pollen storage medium. We examined how bees utilize different-aged stored pollen during an extended pollen flow. The deposition of pollen into wax cells and subsequent consumption were monitored daily on 18 brood frames from 6 colonies over an 8d observation period. Despite a greater abundance of older stored pollen cells on brood frames, bees showed a marked preference for the consumption of freshly-stored pollen. Two to four day-old pollen cell contents were significantly more likely to be consumed, while pollen cell contents more than seven days old were eaten at much lower rates. Similar experiments that controlled for cell abundance and spatial effects using cage assays yielded the same result. One day-old stored pollen was consumed approximately three times more often than 10d-old stored pollen, and two times more often than 5d-old stored pollen. These consumption preferences for freshly-stored pollen occurred despite a lack of clear developmental advantages. Young adult workers reared for 7 days on 1d-, 5d-, or 10d-old stored pollen showed no difference in body mass, stored pollen consumption, hindgut fecal material accumulation, or hypopharyngeal gland (HPG) protein titers, suggesting that different-aged pollen stores did not vary in their nutritional value to adult bees. These findings are inconsistent with the hypothesis promoting a period of microbially-mediated, "beebread maturation" that results in greater palatability or nutritive value for aged pollen stores. Rather, stored pollen that is not eaten in the first few days accumulates as excess stores preserved in a less preferred, but nutritionally-similar state.
Theories in Distributed Decision Fusion

Abstract Some fundamental results related to binary and multi-level decision logic distributed decision (evidence) fusion (DD(E)F) are presented. New asymptotic performance results for binary and multi-level Neyman-Pearson (N-P) DD Farederived. Acomparative resultbetween N-P DDF and Dempster-Shafer DEF in the framework of the Generalized Evidence Processing (GEP) theory is presented under a specific decision rule at the fusion.
Higher Education Henchmen: Vicarious bullying and underrepresented populations

This study is an original examination of the overlooked phenomenon of vicarious bullying in higher education. While researchers have brought attention to direct bullying, vicarious bullying—which results when a third party acts as the aggressor or henchman—can also create destructive environments that lead to employee disengagement and turnover. The findings reported in this analysis were obtained through a meta-analysis of 317 American institutions of higher education, thus including both four-year and two-year colleges. The purpose of this analysis was to consider the frequency of vicarious bullying as reported by the study participants. The participants invited to engage the instrument were from 317 colleges and universities. Of these study respondents 35% of them ( n = 197) reported being the target of vicarious bullying. Participants from underrepresented backgrounds involving race, gender, and sexual orientation also reported vicarious bullying with higher frequency than the 35% frequency reported from the general sample.
Efficiency of using the day-of-implant CT for planning of SAVI APBI

Abstract Purpose The purpose of the study was to develop an optimized, efficient workflow for using the day-of-implant (DOI) CT for treatment planning of accelerated partial breast irradiation brachytherapy using the strut-adjusted volume implant (SAVI) device. Methods and Materials For 62 consecutive SAVI patients, a DOI CT was acquired and used for treatment planning. A “verification” CT was acquired 24–72 h after implant and immediately before the first fraction, then registered to the DOI CT. If the DOI CT–based plan was no longer optimal, a replan was performed. An array of metrics describing the geometry of the device and its relative position in the patient from the DOI CTs for these patients was collected. These metrics from the DOI CT were evaluated to determine what features could predict for the need to replan before the first treatment fraction. Logistical regression analysis including χ2 tests was used to determine if different factors correlated with replanning. Results Twenty-two of 62 patients (35%) required replanning. Only the presence of splayed struts, where splay was toward the skin, and the use of a nine strut (“8-1”) SAVI were significantly correlated (p Conclusions For strut-based accelerated partial breast irradiation brachytherapy, it was feasible to treat with a plan based on the DOI CT for a majority (65%) of patients. Some factors correlate to needing replanning; recognizing these could be used to optimize treatment workflow for certain patients, increasing clinical efficiency while enhancing the quality of patient care.
Convolution-Based Approaches for in Vivo-in Vitro Correlation Modeling

One approach to in vivo-in vitro correlation (IVIVC) for extended release (ER) oral dosage forms is to directly model the relationship between the time courses of in vitro release and plasma drug concentrations. For drugs that exhibit linear, time-invariant disposition this can be done using models based on the convolution integral. Advantages of this approach relative to deconvolution-based IVIVC approaches include the following: The relationship between measured quantities (in vitro release and plasma drug concentrations) is modeled directly in a single stage rather than via an indirect two stage approach. The model directly predicts the plasma concentration time course. As a result: The modeling focuses on the ability to predict measured quantities (not indirectly calculated quantities such as the cumulative amount absorbed). The results are more readily interpreted in terms of the effect of in vitro release on conventional bioequivalence metrics. It is easier to construct methods that do not require the administration of an IV, oral solution, or IR reference dose.
Syntax–Semantics Interface

The study of the interface between syntax and semantics is the study of the possibly uniquely human ability to put together words to produce ever more complex meanings. It is one of the central areas of research in linguistics. Interfacing syntax and semantics is harder for natural languages than artificial languages because many syntactic structures seem to violate the hypothesis that syntax can be mapped onto semantics through a simple one-to-one correspondence. This article presents three distinct hypotheses on how to resolve the apparent mismatches in the syntax and semantics correspondence that have been explored in the last 30 years. It then discusses recent claims that the semantic output of syntactic processes is underspecified and that syntactic structures, not just lexical items, can carry substantive meanings.
Understanding Fair Value During Liquidity and Credit Crises - Pricing of Corporate Liquidity Risk

Financial crisis of year 2008 suggests that the existing asset pricing models, which are derived under the assumption of investor’s rationality, are not enough to explain the stock performance during market stress and liquidity crunch periods. In this paper, we created four measures of corporate liquidity risk factors and examined the dynamic impact of these risk factors on stock returns, especially during market stress and liquidity crunch periods. We found out that corporate liquidity risks played a significant role in affecting stock returns, especially during the period when market is stressed or liquidity crunched. We also investigate whether the corporate liquidity risk loadings will stayed the same for stocks with different attributes. We believe our analysis significant insights to investors who wish to better understand the impact of risk factors in a more time-sensitive way. In addition, our research about corporate liquidity risk factor loadings for stocks with different attributes will also generate interest to investors as this will help them to better understand how corporate liquidity risk factor is priced in cross-sectionally and thus can better position themselves in terms of their investments.
National Crimes: A New National Data Set of Lynchings in the United States, 1883 to 1941:

Historians are increasingly studying lynching outside of the American Southeast, but sociologists have been slow to follow. We introduce a new public data set that extends existing data on lynching...
Role of angiotensin type 2 receptor in improving lipid metabolism and preventing adiposity.

Recent studies on mice with null mutation of the angiotensin type 2 receptor (AT2R) gene have implicated the involvement of AT2R in regulating adipocyte size and obesity, a major risk factor for metabolic syndrome. However, the outcome from these studies remains inconclusive. Therefore, current study was designed to test whether pharmacological activation of AT2R regulates adiposity and lipid metabolism. Male mice (5-weeks old) were pre-treated with vehicle or AT2R agonist (C21, 0.3 mg/kg, i.p., daily, for 4 days) and fed normal diet (ND). Then these animals were subdivided into ND and high-fat diet (HFD) regimen and concomitantly treated with vehicle or C21 through day 14. Vehicle-treated HFD-fed mice demonstrated an increase in epididymal white adipose tissue (eWAT) weight and adipocyte size, which were associated with increased eWAT expression of the lipogenic regulators, fatty acid binding protein and fatty acid synthase, decreased expression of adipose triglyceride lipase and increased expression of hormone-sensitive lipase. Interestingly, C21 pre-treatment altered HFD-induced changes in lipogenic and lipolytic regulators. C21 pre-treatment prevented decrease in expression of uncoupler protein-1 in brown adipose in HFD-fed mice, which was associated with increased core temperature. In addition, C21 pre-treatment ameliorated plasma-free fatty acids, triglycerides, insulin and tumor necrosis factor-α in HFD-fed mice. Ex-vivo study in isolated primary epididymal adipocytes revealed that C21 inhibits long chain fatty acid transporter, via a nitric oxide synthase/guanylate cyclase/protein kinase G-dependent pathway. Collectively, we propose pharmacological activation of AT2R regulates fatty acid metabolism and thermogenesis and prevents HFD-induced adiposity in mice.
Single-pion production in π + p interactions near 1 GeV

A detailed analysis of the reaction ..pi../sup +/p ..-->.. ..pi../sup +/p..pi../sup 0/ at three different intermediate energies is presented. The final state involves significant production of N*/sup + +/, N*/sup +/, and rho/sup +/. The single-particle distributions for ..pi../sup +/ and ..pi../sup 0/ are presented.
Classification as a Factor in the Scientific Evolution of Entrepreneurship

Taxonomy, or the establishment of meaningful classification schemes, is examined as a major stage in the development of disciplines. The role of classification in the advancement of entrepreneurship is established Approaches to developing classification schemes, and criteria for assessing them, are discussed. Key classification schemes in five different areas within entrepreneurship are evaluated Shortcomings are noted, and priorities are established for taxonomic development. A framework is proposed for developing an integrative classification for the discipline of entrepreneurship.
Seven Roadblocks to Establishing Sustainable Innovation Policies for Pharmaceuticals Post-TRIPS

While the trade policies of TRIPS and, in particular its strong protection for intellectual property rights in the pharmaceutical sector, continue to drive health costs upwards, potential regulatory doctrines aimed at reducing those costs often remain underutilized or ineffective. This chapter briefly examines seven “roadblocks” that stand in the way of creating effective competitive regulatory mechanisms for controlling pharmaceutical prices in a manner that supports socially just, sustainable innovation. It rejects the “easy” policy solution of price control, achieved through such mechanisms as direct price control regulations, caps on patient costs under health care plans or similar narrowly price-focused alternatives, and argues that price regulation, without regard to its impact on the needs for assuring sustainable innovation, is a recipe for future disaster. Yet efforts to create sustainable and socially just mechanisms to assure reasonable access to medicines may falter as a result of seven often underutilized or inadequately-considered roadblocks. These roadblocks include quick fixes such as compulsory licenses and grey market reforms without consideration of sustainable innovation needs; failure to deal effectively with the lack of transparency in RD hidden competitive barriers unrelated to the pharmaceutical sectors; the positive and negative impacts of Artificial Intelligence on the pharmaceutical costs and drug pricing; the mirage of differential pricing solutions; and the illusion of calm created by proposed industry self-regulation. It suggests potential steps to take to reduce these barriers in order to begin the critical process of reform now. The task of creating a system that supports sustainable innovative development – one that assures both reasonable access to current medical treatments and R&D support for future innovations, including, but not limited to, rational intellectual property protection for the results of such innovation – is not an easy one. This chapter is a modest effort to provide some potential pathways toward that goal.
‘The real indigenous are higher up’: locating race and gender in Andean Peru

This work considers the paradoxes of perceived differences whereby Peruvians frequently assert that those who are more indigenous or authentically Andean live ‘mas arriba,’ or higher up. Historical...
Pedagogical commentary: Teaching through a pandemic

Abstract This commentary considers best practices for teaching in synchronous online spaces through examining pedagogical moves taken within an environmental studies course taught during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, an assignment designed to promote student agency will be examined via an action research approach, which draws upon observation and reflection in order to analyze how theory informed teaching can engage students in intellectual work that treats learning experiences as sites of inquiry and learning. This commentary offers a natureculture (Clary-Lemon, 2019) approach that emphasizes thoughtful and reflexive learning processes both inside and outside the classroom. While online learning, particularly synchronous learning, has been studied widely (Serdyukov, 2020; Zydney et al., 2019; Dlab et al., 2020; Baker & Hjalmarson, 2019; Mahoney & Hall, 2020; etc.) the approach offered herein differs in its attention to the ways that frontloading nature can cultivate student agency (in the classroom) and human agency (outside the classroom).
Antibiotic prescribing for adult bacteriuria and pyuria in community hospital emergency departments

Abstract Objective To describe emergency department (ED) antibiotic prescribing for urinary tract infections (UTIs) and asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB) and to identify improvement opportunities. Methods Patients treated for UTI in 16 community hospital EDs were reviewed to identify prescribing that was unnecessary (any treatment for ASB, duration >7 days for cystitis or >14 days for pyelonephritis) or suboptimal [ineffective antibiotics (nitrofurantoin/fosfomycin) or duration Results Of 250,788 ED visits, UTI was diagnosed in 13,466 patients (5%), and 1427 of these (11%) were manually reviewed. 286/1427 [20%, 95% CI: 18–22%] met criteria for ASB and received 2068 unnecessary antibiotic days [mean (±SD) 7 (2) days]. Mean treatment duration was 7 (2) days for cystitis and 9 (2) days for pyelonephritis. Of 446 patients with cystitis, 128 (29%) were prescribed >7 days (total 396 unnecessary). Of 422 pyelonephritis patients, 0 (0%) were prescribed >14 days, 20 (5%) were prescribed Conclusions Among reviewed patients, poor UTI prescribing in 16 EDs resulted in unnecessary antibiotic days and preventable readmissions. Key areas for improvement include non-treatment of ASB and shorter durations for cystitis.
Joint Spatial and Graph Convolutional Neural Networks - A Hybrid Model for Spatial-Spectral Geospatial Image Analysis

How to efficiently exploit useful information from hyperspectral data by joint analysis of spectral and spatial information is an important problem. In this work, we demonstrate a fusion network that can leverage recent developments in graph convolutional neural networks (GCNs) to effectively analyze reflectance spectra of hyperspectral image pixels and two-dimensional convolutional neural networks (CNNs) which can extract object-specific spatial characteristics from hyperspectral image. To design this fusion model, we study both decision fusion and deep feature fusion approaches and show that the fusion approach outperforms other traditional deep learning methods such as variants of CNNs.
From détente to Revolution: Soviet Solidarity with Chile after Allende, 1973–79

Based on untapped sources from the state and foreign policy archives of the Russian Federation, and bridging the historiographies of human rights, Cold War Latin America, and Second-Third World rel...