cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Enterprise Resource Planning for Construction Business Management

Enterprise resource planning ~ERP! was originated in the manufacturing industry. It provides a general working environment for an enterprise to integrate its major business management functions with one single common database so that information can be shared and efficient communications can be achieved between management functions. This paper first briefs the ERP technology, its origin, and its current development in general. Based on the needs of running a construction enterprise, ERP shows its potential for the construction industry. However, the unique nature of the industry prevents a direct implementation of existing ERP systems, which are primarily developed for the manufacturing industry. This paper underlines the importance of the establishment of the basic theory for developing construction enterprise resource planning systems ~CERP!. A CERP must address the nature of the general industry practice. Fundamental features are identified and discussed in the paper. A three-tiered client/server architecture is proposed, with discussions on the functions and major components of each tier. Needed research issues are discussed, including CERP architectures, project management functions, advanced planning techniques, standardization of management functions, and modeling human intelligence. Construction management examples are incorporated into the discussions. DOI: 10.1061/~ASCE!0733-9364~2003!129:2~214! CE Database subject headings: Construction management; Construction industry; Planning.
Effects of grapefruit juice on the pharmacokinetics of the enantiomers of methadone.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4 is the main CYP isozyme involved in methadone metabolism. We investigated the influence of grapefruit juice, which contains inhibitors of intestinal CYP3A, on the steady-state pharmacokinetics of methadone. METHODS: For 5 days, 8 patients undergoing methadone maintenance treatment received 200 mL water or grapefruit juice 30 minutes before and again together with their daily dose of methadone. Blood sampling for R-, S-, and R,S-methadone plasma determination was performed over a 24-hour period. CYP3A activity was determined by measuring the plasma 1'-hydroxymidazolam/midazolam ratio. RESULTS: A decrease in the midazolam ratio was measured in all patients after grapefruit juice (mean +/- SD before grapefruit juice, 9.3 +/- 5.9; mean +/- SD after grapefruit juice, 3.9 +/- 1.2; P <.05). Grapefruit juice led to a mean 17% increase in the area under the curve extrapolated to 24 hours for both enantiomers of methadone (range, 3% to 29% [P <.005]; range, -4% to 37% [P <.05]; and range, 1% to 32% [P <.01]; for R-, S-, and R,S-methadone, respectively). A similar increase in peak level and decrease in apparent clearance were measured with grapefruit juice, whereas time to peak level, terminal half-life, and apparent volume during the terminal phase of R-, S-, and R,S-methadone were not affected by grapefruit juice. No symptom of overmedication was either detected by the clinical staff or reported by the patients. CONCLUSIONS: Grapefruit juice administration is associated with a modest increase in methadone bioavailability, which is not expected to endanger patients. However, it cannot be excluded that a much stronger effect may occur in some patients, and thus grapefruit juice intake is not recommended during methadone maintenance treatment, in particular in patients initiating such a treatment.
Parity Violation in the NN System

We brieﬂy review the apparent experimental discrepancies that sustain interest in the ﬁeld of lowenergy few-nucleon parity violation. We argue that it is not possible to determine whether present experimental measurements are consistent unless each is understood in terms of a complete EFT with consistent power counting. Towards this end, we present the EFT that describes very low energy parity violating observables associated with two-nucleon scattering and photon-deuteron interactions.
Evaluations and the Advancement of Knowledge about Criminality: An Illustration from Evaluation of a Volunteer Program

Rigorous evaluations of social action projects in general and crime or delinquency control projects in particular frequentl/ reveal little measurable effect of the projects or effects equal to some alternative program. While these evaluation efforts must continue simple to prevent the w aste of social resources, the nearly universal lack oJ'effect revealed suggests that we still need basic research on causes of problems to determine what variables social control efforts should seek to control. Sincefunds are more likely to be availablefor evaluation research thanfor basic research, this evaluation research itself must regularly be used to test theory. Certain steps are suggested by which tests of theory may be designed using evaluation research data, and this process is illustrated by a test of containment theory using data from the evaluation of a volunteer probation project. A wide/v applicable method oJ'computing Time Unit Qffense Experience Scores for evaluating crime and delinquency control programs ...
A precision CMOS amplifier using floating-gates for offset cancellation

A long-term offset cancellation scheme that enables continuous-time amplifier operation is described. Offset cancellation is achieved by programming floating-gate transistors that form an integral part of the amplifier's architecture. The offset voltage of a single-stage folded cascode amplifier is reduced to plusmn25 muW in a 0.5mum digital CMOS process. The offset voltage drift is 0.5 muV over a period of 10 years at 25degC and varies by a maximum of 130muV over a temperature range of 170degC
Postnatal Neurogenesis Of Mice, Men, and Macaques

Over the past 20 years, the conception of brain development has radically changed from a fixed and limited hierarchical process to a more plastic and continuous one. Most surprising, the field has learned that postnatal neurogenesis is not just a seasonal phenomenon in songbirds but a process that occurs across species and seasons. Astrocytes, whose primary role in the central nervous system was thought to be strictly supportive, have emerged as a heterogeneous population, a subset of which is the neural stem cell. Postnatal neurogenesis persists in specialized niches within the rostral subventricular zone and hippocampal dentate gyrus and, for a limited period, within the white matter tracts and external granular layer of the cerebellum. These specialized microenvironments are influenced by factors in the blood, cerebrospinal fluid, and local extracellular matrix. This article reviews the current understanding of adult neurogenesis, which is conserved across many vertebrate species, underscoring the value of animal models in past and present studies of human neurogenesis and neurogenic disease.
Orbital Dynamics of Earth-orbiting Particles under Perturbing Forces

of solar radiation pressure (SRP) and drag. The numerical model developed here will expand on that work, but will use Hamiltonian equations of motion instead of Gauss equations. It incorporates perturbations due to SRP, drag, J2 and Moon’s gravity, while also accounting for the ecliptic angle. None of the eects are averaged, thus this model can provide optimal initial orbits where the eects of the forces will negate each other to cause minimal changes in orbital elements. Sample Monte-Carlo simulation results are presented. By running the simulation for a large number of points, a set of initial orbital elements conducive to a long lifespan can be determined, not only for Earth-orbiting bodies, but also for lunar satellites.
Neural Fuzzy Systems Techniques and Applications for Production Quality Control

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews some applications of neural networks in quality control and introduces a combined system that integrates neural networks and fuzzy set theorems for control charting. An artificial neural network (NN) is designed to emulate structures of biological neural systems to store learned tasks, such as classification, prediction, and decision-making. The chapter applies neural networks and fuzzy sets for two-dimensional, part-geometry inspections via imaging processing and discusses the reasons for choosing either technique or the combined system. The chapter presents mixed neural fuzzy models that apply both neural networks and fuzzy sets to provide human-like decisions based on measurable inputs for solving quality-related problems. The chapter illustrates an example to show how the proposed model could be used for control charting to monitor process mean shifts.
Clinical and radiologic features of extraskeletal myxoid chondrosarcoma including initial presentation, local recurrence, and metastases

Objective: To evaluate the clinical and imaging features of extraskeletal myxoid chondrosarcoma (EMC) including initial presentation, recurrence, and metastases. Materials and Methods: In this IRB-approved retrospective study, imaging features of 13 patients with pathologically proven EMC seen from August 1995 to December 2011 were analyzed. The group included 3 women and 10 men and the mean age was 54 years (range 29-73 years). Imaging studies were evaluated by two radiologists in consensus. Location, size, and imaging features of primary tumors were recorded as well as the presence of recurrent disease and location of metastases. Results: Among 13 patients, 3 died during the timeframe of this study. Nine patients had primary tumor in the lower extremity, and average tumor size was 9.3 cm (range 3.3-18 cm). On MRI, primary tumors were hyperintense on T2, isointense to muscle on T1, and demonstrated peripheral/septal enhancement. Three patients had local recurrence and 12 had metastatic disease, with lung involvement being the most common. Tumor density on contrast enhanced CT ranged from 8.2 to 82.9 HU. FDG-PET/CT imaging was performed in 3 patients. One patient had no FDG avid disease and 2 patients had metastatic disease with SUV values of 2.8 and 7.4. The patient with intense FDG uptake demonstrated more solid appearing tumor burden and had the shortest survival. Conclusion: EMC is a rare tumor that often occurs in the lower extremities and frequently metastasizes to the lungs. Increased tumor density and increased FDG uptake may be related to more aggressive disease. Key Words: Extraskeletal myxoid chondrosarcoma; CT; MRI; FDG-PET/CT
A meta‐analysis of mycorrhizal responses to nitrogen, phosphorus, and atmospheric CO2 in field studies

Summary • Numerous field studies have measured mycorrhizal dynamics under additions of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), or atmospheric CO 2 to test the hypothesis that plants should invest in mycorrhizal fungi when soil nutrients are limiting. • Here meta-analyses were used to integrate nutrient responses across independent field-based studies. Responses were compared between ecto- and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, and among fertilizer types, methods of measurement, biomes, and lead investigators. Relationships between degree of response and study length, fertilization rates, total amounts of nutrients applied, and numbers of replicates were also tested. • Across studies, mycorrhizal abundance decreased 15% under N fertilization and 32% under P fertilization. Elevated CO 2 elicited a 47% increase. Nitrogen effects varied significantly among studies, and P effects varied significantly among lead investigators. Most other factors did not affect mycorrhizal responses. • These results support the plant investment hypothesis, and suggest that global standing stocks of mycorrhizal fungi may increase substantially under elevated CO 2 but decline moderately under P additions. Effects of N deposition may be difficult to predict for individual ecosystems, with a slightly negative influence overall.
Competitive hydrogenation of poly-aromatic hydrocarbons on sulfur-resistant bimetallic Pt-Pd catalysts

Abstract The hydrogenation of tetralin, naphthalene, and phenanthrene as individual feed components and in diesel model feeds has been studied over a series of mono- and bimetallic Pt and Pd supported on γ-alumina at 300 °C and 500 psig in excess of H2. The influence of fluorine on activity level and sulfur resistance was evaluated in the presence of controlled concentrations (0–1000 ppm) of dibenzothiophene (DBT). Among the most significant results, a strong inhibition of the tetralin conversion to decalin has been observed when either phenanthrene or naphthalene is present in the feed. Reversible drops in tetralin conversion of almost two orders of magnitude were observed when the 2- and 3-ring aromatics were present in the reactor, even in minute concentrations. That is, tetralin conversion could only be achieved after essentially all the 2- and 3-ring aromatics were converted. The addition of F has a positive impact on the activity under sulfur. Significantly higher activity was observed on the F-promoted catalyst than on the unpromoted Pt-Pd catalyst when the feed contained 1000 ppm S. Interestingly, the inhibition by sulfur compounds strongly depended on the space velocity. At high space velocities and low DBT conversions, the inhibition by sulfur was reversible. At low space velocities and high DBT conversions, the poisoning was irreversible. Under those conditions of low space velocity, EXAFS analysis showed further evidence of the beneficial role of F. No PtS bonds were formed on the F-containing catalyst, contrasting with the unpromoted catalysts, on which PtS bonds were clearly observed.
Real-Time QoS in Enhanced 3G Cellular Packet Systems of a Shared Downlink Channel

We propose a call (user) admission control (CAC) algorithm and a scheduling framework for real-time services in the enhanced third-generation (3G) cellular systems, e.g., WCDMA HSDPA or cdma2000 HDR systems, where multiple IP users share a time-slotted downlink packet channel in each cell. At the user or flow level, the CAC algorithm maximizes user accommodations under the QoS constraint, e.g., per-user expectation of profile rate, and the constraint of location-dependent resource availability. At the packet level, our scheduling framework, named maximum cost deduction (MCD), derives two algorithms - both are QoS-aware and channel-dependent: One is called real-time MCD (rt-MCD), which minimizes a delay-derived cost function of backlogged packets at the smallest timescale; the other is called non-real-time MCD (nrt-MCD), which balances between the real-time delay deduction and the non-real-time (i.e., large-timescale) per-user fairness. The cross-layer designed CAC and MCD algorithms exploit multi-user diversity based on online measured radio resource allocation. Together they provide high system efficiency and a balance between flow-level QoS (e.g. the aggregate goodput and the blocking rate of newly arrived users) and packet-level QoS (e.g., the packet queueing delay or loss). Extensive simulations and comparisons with the prior art show that our algorithms can deliver efficient real-time services and remain robust to different load scenarios that vary according to system dynamics and/or user mobility
Middle‐Class Parents, Urban Schooling, and the Shift From Consumption to Production of Urban Space

Dominant approaches to the study of gentrification tend to attribute this process either to the production of urban space by elites or to the consumption of urban space by individual consumers. In this article, we take a preliminary step toward bridging this gap by illustrating how these groups may, in some cases, be the same actors. Drawing on in-depth interviews with middle-class parents in Boston, we explore the transitions that gentrifiers undergo as they age and have children. As young singles and childless couples, our respondents interacted with the city mainly as passive consumers. Years later, however, facing pressures to relocate in search of high-quality educational options, these parents emerged as active producers of the urban landscape through their substantial involvement in their children's public elementary schools. This school-based engagement reinforced their loyalties to their neighborhoods, dissuading them from moving to the suburbs. Since it is based on intense interactions with small local institutions, though, this strategy will likely be more difficult for parents to sustain in larger, less personal high schools. Thus, these parents may reconsider their dedication to city living as their children age. We discuss the implications of this research for urban theory and policy.
Weighting Factor for Seasonal Subgrade Resilient Modulus

Subgrade resilient modulus is highly dependent on water content, which can vary significantly with a number of seasonal environmental factors. Because the determination of seasonal resilient modulus is cumbersome, it is difficult to include environmental factors in pavement design. The use of a weighting factor for flexible pavement design to include the effects of monthly changes in the subgrade resilient modulus is described. The weighting factor, which was derived from Miner's linear damage concept and the 1993 AASHTO design equation for flexible pavements, is used to designate a design season. Instead of using multiple values of resilient modulus in the pavement design process, the pavement design may be performed with a single value of subgrade modulus corresponding to this design season. A pavement design based on this design season then is assumed to reflect the seasonal variations in subgrade modulus and the corresponding relative damage that the pavement would sustain over al seasons of the year....
Employers and the Persistence of Centralized Wage Setting The Case of Norway

Recent research indicates that centralized collective bargaining institutions are more resilient than predicted by the conventional wisdom, which viewed them as incompatible with new competitive conditions and newproduction strategies. Drawing on a case study of Norway, the author argues that one reason for this resilience is that centralized wage setting may be actively supported by employers because it serves important employer interests. It has helped moderate wage growth, reduced transaction costs, contributed to stable industrial relations, and provided political leverage for employer organizations. The author also argues that institutional change must be viewed in terms of its economic and institutional context. There has been some formal devolution of bargaining capacity to the level of the individual firm in Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. However, these changes have been accompanied by institutional changes, instigated by employers, that have increased the coordinating capacity of labor market actor...
ON THE PLAUSIBILITY OF THE SUPPLY—DRIVEN INPUT‐OUTPUT MODEL: A THEORETICAL BASIS FOR INPUT‐COEFFICIENT CHANGE

ABSTRACT. Oosterhaven (1988) labels the supply-driven input-output model “theoretically implausible” and criticizes the straightforward use of the model for impact studies. This comment extends and corrects some of the issues addressed by Oosterhaven. We derive the characteristics which industry production relations must possess to be consistent with the implied changes in industry inputs and outputs when supply-side input-output models are employed for impact analysis. First, it is shown that an implicit assumption is the characteristic of perfect substitutability among all inputs in each industry production function. This is the polar opposite of the Leontief assumption of zero elasticity of factor substitution among all inputs, and is very unrealistic for large changes from the initially observed solution since it implies that all inputs are non-essential in the production process and that any input can be substituted for all others simultaneously. Second, it is shown that the model may still be reasonable for approximating the effect of small changes since the implied production relation may be interpreted as a cost minimizing choice for a standard constant-returns-to-scale production function linearized around the initial solution under the assumption that relative prices are unchanged. Under this alternative interpretation, the supply-side model may be expected to provide a reasonable approximation, useful for analyzing changes in the neighborhood of the initial solution, but would appear to be inappropriate for analyzing large changes.
Cholinergic atrial fibrillation: IK,ACh gradients determine unequal left/right atrial frequencies and rotor dynamics

Objective: We tested the hypothesis that left atrial (LA) myocytes are more sensitive to acetylcholine (ACh) than right atrial (RA) myocytes, which results in a greater dose-dependent increase in LA than RA rotor frequency, increased LA-to-RA frequency gradient and increased incidence of wavelet formation during atrial fibrillation (AF). Methods and results: AF was induced in seven Langendorff-perfused sheep hearts in the presence of ACh (0.1–4.0 μM) and studied using optical mapping and bipolar recordings. Dominant frequencies (DFs) were determined in optical and electrical signals and phase movies were used to identify rotors and quantify their dynamics. DFs in both atria increased monotonically with ACh concentration until saturation, but the LA frequency predominated at all concentrations. Rotors were also seen more often in the LA, and although their life span decreased, their frequency and number of rotations increased. Patch-clamp studies demonstrated that ACh-activated potassium current ( I K,ACh) density was greater in LA than RA sheep myocytes. Additionally, ribonuclease protection assay demonstrated that Kir3.4 and Kir3.1 mRNAs were more abundant in LA than in RA. Conclusions: A greater abundance of Kir3. x channels and higher I K,ACh density in LA than RA myocytes result in greater ACh-induced speeding-up of rotors in the LA than in the RA, which explains the ACh dose-dependent changes in overall AF frequency and wavelet formation.
Escherichia coli hydrogenase 3 is a reversible enzyme possessing hydrogen uptake and synthesis activities

In the past, it has been difficult to discriminate between hydrogen synthesis and uptake for the three active hydrogenases in Escherichia coli (hydrogenase 1, 2, and 3); however, by combining isogenic deletion mutations from the Keio collection, we were able to see the role of hydrogenase 3. In a cell that lacks hydrogen uptake via hydrogenase 1 (hyaB) and via hydrogenase 2 (hybC), inactivation of hydrogenase 3 (hycE) decreased hydrogen uptake. Similarly, inactivation of the formate hydrogen lyase complex, which produces hydrogen from formate (fhlA) in the hyaB hybC background, also decreased hydrogen uptake; hence, hydrogenase 3 has significant hydrogen uptake activity. Moreover, hydrogen uptake could be restored in the hyaB hybC hycE and hyaB hybC fhlA mutants by expressing hycE and fhlA, respectively, from a plasmid. The hydrogen uptake results were corroborated using two independent methods (both filter plate assays and a gas-chromatography-based hydrogen uptake assay). A 30-fold increase in the forward reaction, hydrogen formation by hydrogenase 3, was also detected for the strain containing active hydrogenase 3 activity but no hydrogenase 1 or 2 activity relative to the strain lacking all three hydrogenases. These results indicate clearly that hydrogenase 3 is a reversible hydrogenase.
Status and status inconsistency of parents on alcohol consumption of teenage children

In a secondary analysis of data obtained from a national probability sample of junior and senior high school students, two hypotheses derived from previous research were tested. Significant support was found for the hypothesis that the educational and occupational status of working parents is inversely related to the quantity of alcohol consumed per drinking occasion by sons and daughters. The hypothesis that status inconsistency of working parents is positively associated with the quantity of alcohol consumed per drinking occasion by teenage children was found to be supported for sons only.
Nonintrusive monitoring of electric loads

The authors describe how the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) commissioned an implementation and commercialization of a nonintrusive appliance load monitoring system (NIALMS) based on EPRI-developed intellectual property. The system determines the energy consumption of individual appliances being turned on and off within a whole building's electric load.
A novel mouse model to study the virulence of and host response to Porphyromonas (Bacteroides) gingivalis.

Abstract We describe here the development of a mouse subcutaneous chamber model that allows for the examination of host-parasite interactions as well as the determination of gross pathology with Porphyromonas (Bacteroides) gingivalis challenge. When inoculated into stainless-steel chambers implanted subcutaneously in female BALB/c mice, P. gingivalis W83, W50, and A7436 (10(8) to 10(10) CFU) caused cachexia, ruffling, general erythema and phlegmonous, ulcerated, necrotic lesions, and death. P. gingivalis W50/BEI, HG405, and 33277 (10(10) CFU) produced localized abscesses in the mouse chamber model with rejection of chambers at the injection site. Analysis of chamber fluid from 33277-, HG405-, and W50/BEI-infected mice by cytocentrifugation revealed inflammatory cell debris, polymorphonuclear leukocytes, and high numbers of dead bacteria. In contrast, fluid from A7436-, W50-, and W83-infected mice revealed infiltration predominantly of polymorphonuclear leukocytes and live bacteria. Bacteria were found primarily associated with polymorphonuclear leukocytes in the fluid from W50-, HG405-, and W83-infected mice but not from A7436-infected mice. Viable isolates were recoverable from the chamber fluid through day 3 for W50/BEI, day 5 for 33277, day 6 for HG405, day 7 for W50, day 14 for W83, and day 26 for A7436. All strains induced a systemic immunoglobulin G response in serum and chamber fluid samples. The use of this model will allow us to examine the virulence of P. gingivalis as defined by the interaction of host response to localized infection with P. gingivalis.
Make Yourself Indispensable: Skills Employers Desperately Need to Succeed in the Knowledge Economy

Many college graduates find themselves underemployed or even unemployed because they lack necessary skills. Moreover, many firms are finding it difficult to thrive, or even survive, in the knowledge economy because they have not hired the right kind of employees. This paper describes six basic skills students need to acquire in order to become indispensable to any organization in today’s fast-changing business environment.
Rousseau's Revaluation of Compassion

Rousseau's interest in compassion is well known; decidedly less familiar are the epistemological foundations of this interest. The aim of this paper is to reconstruct Rousseau's arguments on behalf of sentimental other-directedness and to demonstrate that his efforts to recover such other-directedness are the consequence of his reconsiderations of traditional epistemological commitments. This claim will be developed in three parts. The paper's first part will examine how the transcendence of egocentrism and the recovery of other-directedness not only unifies the two parts of the Second Discourse but also ties together several portraits of ethical perfection found in Emile, Social Contract, and Reveries. Its second part will argue that this attachment to other-directedness is the consequence of Rousseau's reconsideration of the traditional foundations of virtuous concern for the well-being of others - from classical conceptions of nobility to theological conceptions of divinity - as a consequence of his sentimental epistemological commitments. These commitments, I argue, culminate in the 'skepticism' and the 'essential worship of the heart' of the 'reed of the Savoyard Vicar' of Emile IV, and my specific aim in this section will be to demonstrate how Rousseau's three 'maxims' on the cultivation of pity developed in Emile IV follow from the specific revaluations proposed in the vicar's creed The final section of the paper will examine the political and philosophical legacy of Rousseau's revaluation of compassion. It will specifically examine the sorts of epistemological commitments that Rousseau deems necessary to prevent compassion from degenerating into an egocentrism as destructive as the egocentrism it seeks to combat. Through such an analysis I hope to extend a line of inquiry developed in key recent investigations of Rousseau's concept of pity and compassion by other political theorists (esp. Clifford Orwin, Richard Boyd, and Jonathan Marks), and thereby call attention to the crucial but underappreciated relationship of Rousseau's ethical revaluations to his epistemological commitments.
Overcoming interference in short-term memory through distinctive mental contexts

An exploratory series of investigations was carried out with a very experienced hypnotic S to determine whether manipulations of his mental context could lead to mastery of a seemingly impossible recall task, i.e., lists of six trigrams all drawn from the pool of letters JKQWXZ. Dramatic successes were eventually achieved when prior hypnotic programming served to fractionate the contexts within which trigrams were perceived and remembered. Transfer of this acquired capacity to insulate items contextually was noted in the waking state.
Mechanistic Insights on Sulfide-Adsorption Enhanced Activity of Methanol Electro-Oxidation on Pt Nanoparticles

The effect of adsorbed sulfide (S2–ads) on methanol (MeOH) electro-oxidation reaction (MOR) taking place on carbon-supported Pt nanoparticles (NPs) was investigated using electrochemical and attenuated-total-reflection (ATR)-FTIR spectroscopic techniques. The observed substantial enhancement in MOR activity per active site was rationalized by an enhanced parallel reaction pathway by the S2– adsorption that did not lead to poisonous CO. Moreover, there were delayed/suppressed adsorption of electrolyte anions and oxygen-containing species and increased amount of isolated free water monomers caused by the sulfide adsorption-induced more negatively charged Pt sites, which led to more available active sites, weakened bonding interaction between the Pt NPs and oxygen-containing species, and more active water species for MOR along the parallel reaction pathway.
Advanced Practice Registered Nurses: Gateway to Screening for Bipolar Disorder in Primary Care.

Objective: The goal of this mixed methods descriptive study was to explore Advanced Practice Registered Nurses’ (APRNs’) knowledge of bipolar disorder (BPD) and their perceptions of facilitators and barriers to screening patients with known depression for BPD.
Secretion Rates of Human Nasal Submucosal Glands from Patients with Chronic Rhinosinusitis or Cystic Fibrosis

BackgroundA majority of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) have chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and/or nasal polyps, both of which may be secondary to reduced fluid secretion from nasal submucosal gla...
Driving Successful Implementation

Strategies are only as good as their execution. Unfortunately, most major change initiatives fail to realize their objectives. This chapter outlines the major barriers to change, and what healthcare leaders can do to improve the likelihood for driving transformational change. There are many parts to execution: from prioritization to team structure, metrics to commitment, and expressed values to embedded culture. All require special focus. Throughout, it is the balance between short-term, tactical goals and longer term, transformational efforts that healthcare leaders need to embrace.
Input Dimension Determination of Linear Feedback Neural Network Applied for System Identification of Linear Systems

In the application of a linear neural network (LNN) to linear system identification and parameter estimation, it is important to determine the input dimension of the LNN so that the identification can be performed efficiently. In the LNN for linear system identification, both the input and output data are taken as input of the LNN. The output data are delayed and are fed-back to input of the LNN. The input dimension determination is to determine the right number of past inputs should be applied to its input and the right number of past outputs should be fed-back to its input also. The sampled input and output data are used to train the LNN. The performance errors are collected during training and are used in the evaluation by Akaike’s Information Criterion to determine the input dimension. The advantage of LNN method is its simplicity and effectiveness. Satisfactory results from simulation are provided to show the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.
Historical and Contemporary Approaches to the Study of Defense in Animals

This article provides an introduction to the study of defense in animals and an overview to the articles in this special issue. After defining the concept of defense, a brief account is presented of the contributions to this field that have been made by various ethologists, comparative psychologists, and learning theorists. Recently, there has been a significant merging of the previously discrepant ethological and experimental approaches to the study of defense. This “ethoexperimental” approach has provided useful, detailed information about the antecedents, consequences, and biological bases of various types of defensive behavior. Finally, a synopsis is given of each of the eight articles appearing in this issue. These articles are based on a series of symposium papers delivered at the 1990 meeting of the International Society for Research on Aggression (ISRA). This summary reveals the wide variety of ethoexperimental approaches and methodologies that are currently being applied to the study of both the behavioral and biological aspects of defense.
Image Representation Using Affine Covariant Coordinates

To achieve affine-invariant image representation and shape recognition, one must rely on a set of affine covariant image coordinates. It is proposed that such coordinates be derived from the second derivatives (Hessian) of a grey-level image. The two eigen-directions of the image Hessian are everywhere orthogonal. Connecting corresponding direction at neighbouring points results in a smooth flow field. Proper parameterization by Lie bracket operation gives rise to two orthogonal flow fields that may serve as the coordinate bases for an arbitrary image. From its construction, this coordinating “net” covaries with affine transforms of the visual manifold. Topological deformation of the image shape can be concisely described as Lie group actions on these curvilinear coordinates.
Chemically induced proximity in biology and medicine

Proximity, or the physical closeness of molecules, is a pervasive regulatory mechanism in biology. For example, most posttranslational modifications such as phosphorylation, methylation, and acetylation promote proximity of molecules to play deterministic roles in cellular processes. To understand the role of proximity in biologic mechanisms, chemical inducers of proximity (CIPs) were developed to synthetically model biologically regulated recruitment. Chemically induced proximity allows for precise temporal control of transcription, signaling cascades, chromatin regulation, protein folding, localization, and degradation, as well as a host of other biologic processes. A systematic analysis of CIPs in basic research, coupled with recent technological advances utilizing CRISPR, distinguishes roles of causality from coincidence and allows for mathematical modeling in synthetic biology. Recently, induced proximity has provided new avenues of gene therapy and emerging advances in cancer treatment.
Pelvic Organ Prolapse and Pregnancy in the Female Bladder Exstrophy Patient

Classic bladder exstrophy (BE) remains one of the most demanding reconstructive challenges encountered in urology. In female BE patients, the long-term sequela of both primary and revision genitoplasty, as well as intrinsic pelvic floor deficits, predispose adult women to significant issues with sexual function, pelvic organ prolapse (POP), and complexities with reproductive health. Contemporary data suggest 30–50% of women with BE develop prolapse at a mean age of 16 years. Most women will require revision genitoplasty for successful sexual function, although in some series over 40% report dyspareunia. Current management for pregnancy includes elective cesarean section with involvement of high-risk obstetrics and urologic surgery. This review encapsulates contemporary concepts of etiology, prevalence, and management of POP and pregnancy in the adult female BE patient.
The Onset of Lactation: Implications For Breast-Feeding Promotion Programs

This paper discusses the implications of the onset of lactation (OL) for breast-feeding (BF) promotion programs. It is noted that a delay in OL may lead to an early introduction of infant formula and an early termination of BF even after controlling for maternal original BF intentions. This is evinced by multivariate analyses performed on samples from different countries which consistently indicate that a delayed OL is a risk factor for poor BF outcomes. A longitudinal study conducted in urban Mexico found that OL was inversely associated with the likelihood of BF at 2 months post-partum (pp). In Honduras a cross-sectional survey among women with children 2 years old or younger indicated that OL > 72 hours pp was positively associated with the use of milk-based prelacteal feeds which was in turn associated with a lower likelihood of BF. A longitudinal study conducted in Hartford Connecticut USA found that the median BF duration among women with OL or = 72 hours pp. These data suggest that the longer it takes for women to perceive OL the more likely it is that they will become stressed and begin using breast milk substitutes. This may further delay OL leading to an early termination of BF. Future studies should emphasize the relationship between biological and psychosocial stress with OL and subsequent infant feeding outcomes.
Processing of ceramic-ceramic composites

ABSTRACT Ceramics show great promise as high temperature structural materials. Ceramic composites offer numerous advantages over monolithic ceramics, especially increased toughness and decreased flaw sensitivity. If net shape manufacturing methods can be developed which produce predictable and controllable microstructures, these ceramic-ceramic composites will rapidly realize their full potential as engineered materials. This paper describes some of the current techniques used to manufacture ceramic matrix composites.
Evapotranspiration for cotton in plain and hilly areas in Chuadanga and Rangamati districts in Bangladesh using Penman method

Water management and its appropriate application for cultivating cotton have been a promising issue to ensure the best quality and quantity of production. Rainfall intensity and pattern, differences in temperature and cloudiness and non-cloudiness during the growing season, will affect crop water requirement. Different studies showed that excess or less water uses result into a lower yield. Evapotranspiration of any crop is predominantly dependent on environmental factors and crop factors. The environmental factors are further critical for energy requirement for crop development where sunshine hours, intensity of sunshine, duration of sunshine, temperature and relative humidity play the vital role. Due to the change in geographical location, the energy availability for contributing in the evapotranspiration is also different. Hence, the water requirement for the same cotton crop may vary for two different locations. A dependable and reliable scheduling system for irrigating is desirable for timeliness and quantity of water to irrigate for potential yield of cotton. In this article, a reliable approach to determine crop water requirement for cotton cultivation is proposed using the Penman method for Chuadanga, representing the flat land and Rangamati, representing hilly areas of Bangladesh.
Towards Reliability in Online High-Churn Edge Computing: A Deviceless Pipelining Approach

Social sensing based Edge Computing (SSEC) is an emerging application paradigm for rich context awareness in sensing applications in which people collaborate in both data acquisition and processing at the edge of the network. While keeping people in the loop can be an immense benefit, the unreliability and churn introduced can pose a dangerous stability threat for long-running SSEC applications. In the past this problem was addressed by offloading these responsibilities to more reliable server hardware in the cloud or a fog layer, however, this does not take full advantage of the power at the edge. In this paper we address the issue of reliable edge computing on dynamic high-churn edge systems. We develop a deviceless pipeline based approach (DPA) to establish workflows in which stages of the analysis pipeline are completed on edge devices, and any devices that leave the system can be replaced without data loss. We evaluate the performance of our system on a real-world edge computing system performing an object detection application and demonstrate that it can provide significant performance gains over traditional computation offloading schemes in terms of throughput and error recovery.
Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy in Breast Cancer Patients Following the Release of a Choosing Wisely Recommendation

In 2013, the American Society for Radiation Oncology recommended against the routine use of intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) in breast cancer patients. We evaluated trends in the use of IMRT before and after the release of the recommendation. Using Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Medicare data, we identified 13 457 breast cancer patients diagnosed between 2012 and 2015 who received breast-conserving surgery and postsurgery, whole-breast, IMRT, or three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy. We find that the use of IMRT decreased by 4.6 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 3.6 to 5.6; two-sided P < .001) percentage points in hospital-based clinics. In freestanding radiotherapy clinics, which had baseline rates of IMRT use that were more than 20 percentage points higher than in hospital-based clinics, use of IMRT declined by 6.1 (95% CI = 3.5 to 8.7; two-sided P < .001) percentage points. Use of IMRT declined following the release of the recommendation, but a large share of patients treated in freestanding clinics continue to receive IMRT.
A Machine Learning Based 77 GHz Radar Target Classification for Autonomous Vehicles

77 GHz mmW radar is a powerful essential sensor for the state-of-art and future autonomous vehicles. Besides the traditional intended functionality of mmW radars in target detection and measuring its range and speed, this paper shows that by utilizing the knowledge of targets’ statistical RCS information, over 90% classification accuracy can be achieved for distant targets (range over 50m). For advanced radars with beam-steering capabilities, the classification accuracy can reach to more than 99% in the near range. In this study a machine learning technique based on artificial neural networks (ANN) is used for the data classification problem.
Helmet Prototype Response Time Assessment using NCAA Division 1 Collegiate Football Athletes

Background: With advances in concussion research, an increasing amount of resources are being allocated to advancing football helmet technology. Objective: This study assesses the claim that a new modified helmet prototype provides greater field of view for the user as compared to a commonly worn helmet by players. Method: The helmets—Riddell SpeedFlex and the modified helmet—were compared based on user response time while performing a response test task using the FITLIGHT Trainer system, actual helmet field of view blockage, users’ subjective perception of field of view, and balance tests. Eighteen National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division 1 American football student-athletes completed the response test task and questionnaire. Results: The results demonstrate evidence that the SpeedFlex helmet provided by the equipment staff significantly increases wearers’ response times, F(2,20) = 5.646, p < 0.05. Also, while the quantification of the field of view perception was similar across helmet types, the student-athlete participants perceived the modified helmet to have significantly more field of view while performing the response test task, 1.56 v. 2.56; p < 0.05 for frontal vision and 2.83 v. 5.39; p < 0.05 for peripheral vision. Conclusion: In addition to the findings, this study also lays out a response time test protocol using the FITLIGHT Trainer system that can be used for assessment of response time testing of football and other helmets in future studies.
Built-In Self-Test for Multi-Threshold NULL Convention Logic Asynchronous Circuits

While a number of methods exist for asynchronous circuit synthesis, there are limited applicable test methodologies. This paper presents a Built-In Self-Test (BIST) method for Multi-Threshold NULL Convention Logic (MTNCL) asynchronous circuits, which utilizes standard synchronous tools, and is automated to achieve maximum fault coverage while minimizing area overhead and test time.
New on the Block: Analyzing Network Selection Trajectories in a Prison Treatment Program:

Personal network change is largely driven by transitions between the groups and organizations where people spend their day-to-day lives. But, how do entrants choose which relationships to pursue am...
Is Dell's Business Model Broken?

A candidate for a consulting position prepares an analysis of Dell Corporation. For years, Dell's efficient supply chain innovations and successful leveraging of technology in offering made-to-order computers at competitive prices made it a world leader in market share. But conditions—and profits—seem to have leveled off. To what extent is this a matter of a business model in need of revision, and to what extent is something more fundamental at work?This review of a company's trajectory and strategic hurdles has been used in executive education classes but would serve equally well in first-year MBA courses in strategy or operations management. Excerpt UVA-OM-1416 June 21, 2010 Is dell's Business Model Broken? Danielle McCarren had only a few hours to prepare. She had been given advance notice that her interview at a well-known consulting firm would include questions analyzing Dell Corporation (Dell): What factors had led to Dell's incredible success? What was the business model that had made it happen? More important, was Dell now vulnerable to investors downgrading their evaluation of Dell? Was Dell in trouble, and if so, how should it remedy the situation? McCarren recalled from her MBA program's operations class that Dell's revenue growth had slowed over the previous three years and that net income had dropped in FY2007 and FY2009, although it had grown every other year (Exhibit 1). She knew that, as recently as 2006, Dell had been on Fortune's list of most admired companies, recognized as one of a handful that had consistently outperformed the market over the previous 15 years, but she also was aware that its return on assets had dropped over the previous 3 years and its stock price had stagnated (Exhibit 2). Having researched the firm's history, she sat back and pondered its remarkable trajectory. Dell's Roots . . .
Preclinical evaluation of an engineered oncolytic herpes simplex virus for pediatric osteosarcoma.

10040Background: Osteosarcoma is the most common primary bone tumor in children. For those with relapsed or metastatic disease, the five-year survival rate is approximately 20%, and survivors often...
Un/Making Assets: The Institutional Limits to Financialization

This article contributes to contemporary debates within the financialization and assetization literatures by examining the sale of tax credits in U.S. property markets over the last twenty years. W...