cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Medical Registry Data Collection Efficiency: A Crossover Study Comparing Web-Based Electronic Data Capture and a Standard Spreadsheet.

Background: Electronic medical records and electronic data capture (EDC) have changed data collection in clinical and translational research. However, spreadsheet programs, such as Microsoft Excel, are still used as data repository to record and organize patient data for research. Objective: The objective of this study is to assess the efficiency of EDC as against a standard spreadsheet in regards to time to collect data and data accuracy, measured in number of errors after adjudication. Methods: This was a crossover study comparing the time to collect data in minutes between EDC and a spreadsheet. The EDC tool used was Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap), whereas the spreadsheet was Microsoft Excel. The data collected was part of a registry of patients who underwent coronary computed tomography angiography in the emergency setting. Two data collectors with the same experience went over the same patients and collected relevant data on a case report form identical to the one used in our Emergency Department (ED) registry. Data collection tool was switched after the patient that represented half the cohort. For this, the patient cohort was exactly 30 days of our ED coronary Computed Tomography Angiography registry and the point of crossover was determined beforehand to be 15 days. We measured the number of patients admitted, and time to collect data. Accuracy was defined as absence of blank fields and errors, and was assessed by comparing data between data collectors and counting every time the data differed. Statistical analysis was made using paired t -test. Results: The study included 61 patients (122 observations) and 55 variables. The crossover occurred after the 30th patient. Mean time to collect data using EDC in minutes was 6.2±2.3, whereas using Excel was 8.0±2.0 (P <.001), a difference of 1.8 minutes between both means (22%). The cohort was evenly distributed with 3 admissions in the first half of the crossover and 4 in the second half. We saw 2 (<0.1%) continuous variable typos in the spreadsheet that a single data collector made. There were no blank fields. The data collection tools showed no differences in accuracy of data on comparison. Conclusions: Data collection for our registry with an EDC tool was faster than using a spreadsheet, which in turn allowed more efficient follow-up of cases. [J Med Internet Res 2016;18(6):e141]
Chemotherapy-Induced Toxicities

Chemotherapy toxicity is a common and unfortunate consequence of therapy that can occur even at usual doses. Chemotherapy acts by damaging cancer cells; however, normal cells are susceptible to damage as well, and when this occurs chemotherapy toxicity ensues. Often these toxicities warrant emergency care. Timely recognition and appropriate management of chemotherapy toxicity is imperative.
Multi-level Cognitive Cybernetics in Human Factors

Cybernetics provides a framework for understanding the behavior of closed-loop systems, including the feedback control intrinsic to cognitive systems (Smith and Smith in continuing the conversation: a newsletter of ideas in cybernetics. Greg and Pat Williams, Gravel Switch, KY, [1]). We propose adopting our interpretation of the cybernetics concept of feedback control of cognition by integrating across metacognition, performance, computational cognitive modeling, and physiological levels of analysis. To accomplish this objective, we tie cognitive variables to each level of analysis, including: (1) metacognition—self-evaluation of cognition; (2) performance—objective measures of progress toward a goal state; (3) physiology—indications of cognitive function (e.g., heart rate variability as an index of the level of task engagement); and (4) cognitive models—prediction and understanding of empirical results using sequences of cognitive steps. We call this integrative approach, Multi-Level Cognitive Cybernetics (MLCC). In this paper, we define the MLCC framework, discuss how MLCC can inform the design of adaptive automation technologies, and discuss the benefits of the MLCC approach in human factors.
Novel chalcogenide optical materials: Linking optical performance-tailoring with manufacturability — A tutorial

Chalcogenide glass and glass ceramic materials are being integrated into diverse photonic platforms and optical systems. Discussed in this tutorial are strategies to design material chemistry, (micro)structure and properties to enable optical performance and manufacturing compatibility.
Dutch Coastal Engineering Projects: Past Success and Future Challenges

The Netherlands is situated in a low lying delta region along the North Sea coast in Western Europe. Over many centuries the Dutch have fought against flooding from both the rivers and the sea. Failures resulted in losses of land and a desire to reclaim these lost lands. Successes resulted in the development of new technologies. Two projects of the 20th century epitomize the success of the Dutch in the areas of flood protection and land reclamation: the Zuiderzee reclamation and the Delta Project. The progress is being threatened by future climate change and sea level rise. The Dutch Deltacommissie has recently presented a plan that seeks to “flood proof” the country.
Marine Turbulent Boundary Layer Fluxes of Water Vapor, Sensible Heat and Momentum During Gate

One of the major objectives of the GARP Atlantic Tropical Experiment (GATE)* was to estimate effects of small-scale tropical weather systems on synoptic-scale circulations (Rasmussen and Murray, 1976). The scales of motion in the 10–5000 m band were measured by aircraft. They complement the coverage of time and space scales by other measurements from buoys, ships and satellite. The gust probe measurements of the means and extremes of temperature, moisture and eddy fluxes in the boundary layer are described. (The entire GATE Program is described by the International and Scientific Management Group for GATE, 1974). A GATE Workshop on data intercomparisons and analysis was recently held in Boulder, Colorado (July-August 1977). One conclusion reached from aircraft intercomparisons was that atmospheric variability was as large as that between aircraft for scales under about 100 m while agreement between aircraft for scales greater than a few hundred meters were well determined by each aircraft in the intercomparison flights. This then means that the results presented below, although based on data most familiar to the authors, would be expected to be the same as those obtained for any one of the aircraft or from a composite of all aircraft data.
Collection of adverse events data for the supplemental indications in cancer clinical trials: Is it needed?

e18233Background: Safety data collected for supplemental indications is usually similar to the safety data collected in support of the initial approval of the agent. It is unknown if comprehensive ...
Generation of superoxide radical by human cytochrome b5 reductase is modulated by cytochrome b5

Cytochrome b5 reductase (CYB5R) plays a central role in many diverse metabolic reactions by coupling NAD(P)H oxidation to reduction of proteins, such as cytochrome b5 (CYB5). Together, CYB5R and CYB5 transfer electrons to terminal oxidases, such as the mitochondrial amidoxime reducing component (mARC) or hemoglobin. Previous studies have demonstrated that nitric oxide (NO) production by the mARC/CYB5/CYB5R system is quenched by molecular oxygen (O2) and suggested that superoxide radical production was involved, as the addition of Cu,Zn-superoxide(SOD1) dismutase partially recovered NO production. Flavin proteins are known to generate superoxide, suggesting that the CYB5R was the likely site of superoxide radical production. However, the direct formation of superoxide by human CYB5R had not been studied. Here, studies were performed to understand the related mechanisms of radical generation by CYB5R in the absence and presence of CYB5. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spin trapping studies using 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (DMPO) were performed with CYB5R and NADH. An EPR spectrum corresponding to the superoxide radical adduct of DMPO (DMPO-OOH) was obtained. This EPR signal was quenched by the addition of the SOD1. The amount of DMPO-OOH formed from the oxidation of NADH by the CYB5R increased with NADH concentration. Importantly, the formation of DMPO-OOH was abrogated in the presence of CYB5. Spectral kinetics demonstrate that NADH consumption is O2-dependent, as no NADH consumption was observed in the absence of O2. From these results, we propose a mechanism in which NADH-reduced CYB5R catalyzes superoxide radical formation. Our results demonstrate that human CYB5R catalyzes the O2-dependent oxidation of NADH to generate superoxide radical. Additionally, CYB5 may protect biological targets from oxidative damage, by inhibiting CYB5R superoxide radical production. The ability of CYB5R to catalyze superoxide radical production in response to O2 has potential pathophysiological implications for the ischemia/reperfusion induced damages, endothelial dysfunction, and cardiovascular and neurological diseases.
Catheter ablation for treatment of atrial fibrillation in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background Atrial fibrillation (AF) among patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) is associated with adverse clinical outcomes. Our primary aim was to evaluate patient-centered outcomes and surrogate outcomes following catheter ablation (CA) of AF among patients with HFrEF compared to standard medical therapy with or without device therapy (atrioventricular node ablation and cardiac resynchronization therapy). Methods A systematic literature review was performed limiting our searches to randomized control trials reporting outcomes of CA compared to standard medical therapy with or without device therapy were included. Patient-centered outcomes were relative reduction in all-cause mortality, heart failure readmissions, and recurrence of AF. Surrogate outcomes of interest were change in ejection fraction, change in peak oxygen consumption, reduction in brain natriuretic peptide levels, change in 6-minute walk distance, and change in Minnesota living with heart failure score. Results Seven randomized control trials (Patient n = 721) met our inclusion criteria. All trials used radiofrequency energy for CA of AF. CA for AF was associated with significantly lower all-cause mortality (Risk ratio [RR] = 0.52, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.35-0.76, P = 0.001, I2 = 0%), lower rate of heart failure readmission (RR = 0.58, 95% CI = 0.46-0.74, P < 0.001, I2 = 0%) and lower rate of AF recurrence (RR = 0.33, 95% CI = 0.22-0.50, P < 0.001, I2 = 68%) as compared to standard medical therapy. Surrogate outcomes showed a similar benefit favoring CA. Conclusion and Relevance Catheter ablation for AF in HFrEF is associated with improvement in patient-centered outcomes and surrogate outcomes when compared to standard medical therapy with or without device therapy.
Dynamic optical contrast imaging (DOCI): system theory for rapid, wide-field, multispectral optical imaging using fluorescence lifetime contrast mechanism

Dynamic Optical Contrast Imaging (DOCi) is an imaging technique that generates image contrast through ratiometric measurements of the autouflorescence decay rates of aggregate uorophores in tissue. This method enables better tissue characterization by utilizing wide-field signal integration, eliminating constraints of uniform illumination, and reducing time-intensive computations that are bottlenecks in the clinical translation of traditional fluorescence lifetime imaging. Previous works have demonstrated remarkable tissue contrast between tissue types in clinical human pilot studies [Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery 157, 480 (2017)]. However, there are still challenges in the development of several subsystems, which results in existing works to use relative models. A comprehensive mathematical framework is presented to describe the contrast mechanism of the DOCi system to allow intraoperative quantitative imaging, which merits consideration for evaluation in measuring tissue characteristics in several important clinical settings.
Sex differences in song and plumage color do not evolve through sexual selection alone: new insights from recent research

Recent studies show that traits long recognized as sexually selected ornaments, such as the bright plumage colors and melodious vocal displays of songbirds, have evolved in surprising ways. Male plumage colors are generally more elaborate and diverse than female colors, and in many species only males sing, so both of these dimorphisms are widely presumed to have evolved through sexual selection on males. Yet, in multiple widely divergent songbird clades, sexual differences in colors and songs have evolved through losses in females rather than gains in males. Indeed, changes in female phenotypes may be the principle driving factor affecting such sexual dimorphisms in most songbirds. Sexual dichromatism and song dimorphism also tend to be associated with life history traits other than mating system, such as seasonal migration or territorial behaviors. Altogether, these recent findings support the view that sexual dimorphism is an evolutionary byproduct of multiple, different selection pressures acting on each sex rather than just sexual selection on males. Researchers should therefore be cautious to avoid assuming that dimorphism itself is a character solely reflecting levels of sexual selection in species.
Planar Orientation Control and Torque Maximization Using a Swarm With Global Inputs

This paper studies the torque applied by a large number of particles on a long aspect-ratio rod. The particles are all pushed in the same direction by a global signal. We calculate the force and torque generated by three canonical position distributions of a swarm: uniform, triangular, and normal. The model shows that for a pivoted rod the uniform distribution produces the maximum torque for small swarm standard deviations, but the normal distribution maximizes torque for large standard deviations. In the simulation, we use these results to design proportional-derivative controllers to orient rigid objects. We conclude showing the experiments with up to 97 hardware robots to evaluate our theory in practice. Note to Practitioners —Workspace clutter can prevent large steered particles from being able to manipulate objects and maneuver, while smaller particles can pass through this clutter. A small particle produces less force than a big particle, so to produce the same force, more are needed. Their small size makes onboard sensing and computation hard. Therefore, they are often controlled by a shared control input. Manipulating objects with a swarm of particles actuated by a shared control input is a challenging task, but it is even more challenging when the object’s final orientation needs to be set. Many applications including assembly and delivery require a specific orientation of the object. Torque control with only one steered particle is easy: maximize torque by pushing on the object at a location as far from the pivot point as possible. However, a swarm of particles contributes force at different places on the object. This paper studies how to maximize torque using a swarm of particles shaped in three canonical position distributions. The work is limited by assuming each particle touching the object transmits equal force, but hardware experiments validate the necessity to consider swarm distribution when applying torque. In the future work, we will investigate how stochastic contacts between particles effects force and torque transmission, and examine control in 3-D space.
Circumstantial Powers of “Special Fire Police” in Pennsylvania: Statutory Consequences and Recommendations:

Volunteer police have been an instrumental part of Western policing since the inception of the concept of police. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania utilizes volunteer police under the title of “Spec...
The Viral Reformer and the Virtual Body of Christ: Learning From (and Moving Beyond) Luther in the Digital Age

Recent scholarship on sixteenth-century reformer Martin Luther has been increasingly interested in making connections between Luther’s use of the social media and networked communities of his day a...
Suppression of single-surface multipactor discharges due to non-sinusoidal transverse electric field

It is of importance to suppress single-surface multipactor discharges in high power microwave devices. In this work, both particle-in-cell (PIC) and Monte-Carlo simulations demonstrate that multipactor discharges can be significantly suppressed by a temporal Gaussian-type transverse electric field waveform. Decreasing the half peak width of the Gaussian electric field can reduce the time-averaged positive charge density on the surface, corresponding to the strength of the multipactor, by an order of magnitude at fixed time-averaged input power. The underlying physical mechanism is revealed by examining the electron impact energy and angle distribution in detail, as well as the dynamic secondary electron yield (SEY) from PIC simulation. For the smaller half peak width and fixed average input power, more electrons striking the surface have energies either below the first crossover or higher than the second crossover of the SEY curve, giving rise to weaker secondary electrons emission and finally resulting in a weaker multipactor discharge. In addition, we give the analytical expressions of the frequency spectrum and phase shift needed to recover a Gaussian-type waveform, which is in excellent agreement with numerical calculations.
Symmetric Planar and Stacked Millimeter-wave Transformers Using a Single Thick Metal

In this paper, planar and stacked transformers with enhanced symmetry across both primary and secondary are proposed for mm-wave applications. A 0.13 μm BiCMOS technology using a single thick metal is used for comparison. Trade-offs involving symmetry and insertion loss (IL) of the transformer are demonstrated using silicon measurements upto 50 GHz. Measurements show 8.6 % (0.944 - 1.026) and 13.3% (1.162 - 1.317) increase in IL at 28 GHz for planar and stacked configurations, respectively while achieving enhanced symmetry.
Multi-Material Capability of Laser Induced Plasma Micromachining

Presently surface micro-texturing has found many promising applications in the fields of tribology, bio-medical engineering, metal cutting, and other functional or topographical surfaces. Most of these applications are material-specific, which necessitates the need for a texturing and machining process that surpasses the limitations posed by a certain class of materials that are difficult to process by laser ablation, owing to their optical or other surface or bulk characteristics. Laser Induced Plasma Micromachining (LIPMM) has emerged as a promising alternative to direct laser ablation for micro-machining and micro-texturing, which offers superior machining characteristics while preserving the resolution, accuracy and tool-less nature of laser ablation. This study is aimed at understanding the capability of LIPMM process to address some of the issues faced by pulsed laser ablation in material processing. This paper experimentally demonstrates machining of optically transmissive, reflective and rough surface materials using LIPMM. Apart from this, the study includes machining of conventional metals (Nickel and Titanium) and polymer (Polyimide), to demonstrate higher obtainable depth and reduced heat affected distortion around micro-features machined by LIPMM, as compared to laser ablation.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
Evaluation of Apparent Diffusion Coefficient as a Predictor of Grade Reclassification in Men on Active Surveillance for Prostate Cancer.

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE To evaluate the association between apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) on initial multiparametric MRI (mpMRI) and biopsy grade reclassification (GR) to grade group (GG) ≥2 prostate cancer (CaP) in men on active surveillance (AS) with GG 1 CaP. METHODS We retrospectively identified 242 AS patients with reported ADC values on their initial mpMRI. ADC value from the index lesion was assessed as an independent predictor of GR using a Cox model. To ease clinical interpretation, we used a log-rank test to establish an ADC cutoff of 1128 × 10−6 mm2/s for Kaplan-Meier analysis. RESULTS Of the 242 men, 70 underwent GR following initial mpMRI, of which 26 (37%) had GR at the index lesion. There was no significant difference in the median interval between biopsies for men with and without GR (P >.9). Men with GR had significantly lower median ADC than those without GR (P = .01). In multivariable analysis adjusting for age, prostate-specific antigen density, and National Comprehensive Cancer Network risk group, a 100-unit decrease in ADC was associated with a 12% increase in the risk of GR (HR = 1.12, 95% CI: 1.01–1.22, P = .03). Two- and 4-year rates of freedom from GR were significantly lower for men with ADC CONCLUSION For AS patients, lower ADC on initial mpMRI index lesion is associated with increased risk of GR to GG ≥2 CaP and would be a useful component of multivariable risk prediction tools.
Rural Families in the U.S.: Theory, Research, and Policy

Families in the rural United States face a number of unique social and economic challenges. Although researchers may have explored these problems in other contexts, how they influence family life is relatively understudied. Research regarding rural families and communities is confronted with data limitation issues that must be remedied by changes to existing social science data sources, as well as development of new rural-focused data sets. There is also a lack of rural-specific theoretical frameworks for scholars to employ. Finally, policies at all levels of government must be evaluated for the impact on the rural population, especially in light of ever-changing social and economic conditions.
Spatial nematic fluctuation in BaFe 2 ( As 1 − x P x ) 2 revealed by spatially and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy

Nematicity, where rotational symmetry is broken while translational symmetry is conserved, is prevalent in high-temperature superconductors. In particular, nematic quantum critical point has been universally found near the optimum doping of the superconducting dome of several iron-based superconductor families. In such a regime, evidence for strong nematic fluctuations have been observed. As the precursor to this order, nematic fluctuations emerge before nematicity, providing favorable ground to study how nematic order modifies the electronic structure in the absence of structural distortion. Here we use spatially resolved angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy to investigate the correlation between the onset of nematic fluctuations and electronic structure in an optimally doped ${\mathrm{BaFe}}_{2}{({\mathrm{As}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{P}}_{x})}_{2}$ ($x\phantom{\rule{0.222222em}{0ex}}\ensuremath{\sim}\phantom{\rule{0.222222em}{0ex}}0.3$) superconductor. We reveal a strong spatially varying anisotropy of the Fermi surface on a length scale of tens of microns with strong correlation between the changes in the hole and electron Fermi pockets, consistent with the variations expected in the presence of fluctuating nematic order. These results provide direct evidence for spatial nematic fluctuations in the optimal doping regime of iron-based superconductors.
Chapter 3 – Information Technology Security Management

Information technology security management can be defined as processes that supported enabling organizational structure and technology to protect an organization’s IT operations and assets against internal and external threats, intentional or otherwise. The principle purpose of IT security management is to ensure confidentiality, integrity, and availability (CIA) of IT systems. Fundamentally, security management is a part of the risk management process and business continuity strategy in an organization.
Teachers’ Interpretation of the Cultural Relevancy of MoneySKILL®:

A comprehensive approach to financial literacy education necessitates an understanding of the degree to which curriculum is relevant for students from various cultural backgrounds. The purpose of t...
Greater baseline subjective attentional complaints predict poorer 8-week antidepressant response in late-life depression

Introduction Late-life depression (LLD) is characterized by both subjective cognitive complaints and objective cognitive deficits, most notably in executive functions. Worse cognitive performance, including in the executive function domain, is associated with poor antidepressant treatment outcomes. While executive-based cognitive complaints are similarly associated with poor treatment outcomes, the relationship between other subjective cognitive complaints and antidepressant response is not as clear. This may be particularly relevant for subjective attentional complaints, a common finding and clinical diagnostic criterion for Major Depressive Disorder. Methods Eighty-eight adults with LLD were recruited (mean age = 66.07 ± 4.49, 61% female, baseline mean Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) = 26.38 ± 5.46) and underwent an 8-week antidepressant trial. Subjective cognitive complaints were assessed with the following scales: Attentional Control Scale (ACS, focusing in-depth on attention), the WHODAS 2.0, domain 1 (focusing largely on attentional abilities), and the PROMIS Cognitive Abilities and Concerns (focusing on general / broad-based cognitive abilities). Antidepressant response was determined via the change in MADRS scores from baseline to week 8. Separate linear regressions examined the relationship between subjective cognitive complaints and change in MADRS scores, controlling for age, sex, baseline MADRS, and treatment arm. Results After covariate adjustment, ACS and WHODAS scores significantly predicted antidepressant response (s = -0.42, p = 0.02 and s = 0.57, p = 0.03, respectively), such that greater subjective attentional complaints at baseline were related to less improvement in MADRS scores. General cognitive complaints via the PROMIS were not significantly associated with antidepressant response. Follow-up analyses decomposing the ACS into its two subscales found that the change in MADRS scores was significantly related to attentional shifting (s = -0.79, p = 0.01), but not focusing (s = -0.57, p = 0.06), complaints. Conclusions Results highlight the importance of assessing for subjective cognitive complaints in LLD, particularly in the domain of attention, as their presence at baseline may be related to treatment response. Further research is needed to better understand the relationship between subjective and objective cognition in LLD, their relationship with treatment response and other outcomes, as well as underlying mechanisms. Funding R01MH102246
Nitrous oxide emissions from manured, no-till corn systems

Using dairy manure and legumes in crop rotations can reduce inorganic N inputs for corn (Zea mays L.), yet these practices can also contribute to nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions. In two crop rotations we investigated how different (i) organic and inorganic N amendments and (ii) prior legume crops with broadcast manure influenced direct N2O emissions from silt-loam soils planted to no-till corn. We measured N2O fluxes from April to December for two years using closed vented chambers from soils planted to corn with no spring residue to compare inorganic N fertilizer (S-UAN) and two liquid dairy manure application methods: surface broadcasted (S-BM) and injected (S-IM). Emissions were also measured to compare the effect of crop residue of perennial forages, a green manure legume, or soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) from soils all amended with liquid dairy manure. Nitrous oxide emissions were greatest during the 15–45 days after manure was injected compared to broadcasting, and cumulative N2O emissions were larger from S-IM (2.8–2.5 kg ha−1) than S-BM (1.4–0.7 kg ha−1) and S-UAN (0.3 kg ha−1). Cumulative and yield-scaled N2O emissions did not differ among the prior legume treatments. A ranking approach based on random forests, identified the most important variable contributing to N2O emissions in both comparisons as corn growing degree days, indicative of the asynchrony of spring legume termination and manure application with corn planting and N use; and changing environmental conditions for N mineralization and denitrification.
“Who was scared?”: Entering into Reflection Toward Change as Critical Social Educators

This article discusses how an elementary teacher facilitated critical conversations about race and racial injustice with her first-grade students. Our collaborative teacher-researcher team closely examined the whole-class read-aloud events with two picturebooks focused on race and racial injustice. We point to the need for reflection toward change among critical social educators to enhance critical literature discussion among young children. In this article, we highlight how we encountered successes and missteps in our efforts to engage young children in critical literature discussion and how that process is deeply ingrained in the work of decentering whiteness. Whether experienced or novice, entering into a stance of reflection toward change is a powerful classroom practice for any critical social educator interested in moving toward an antiracist pedagogy.
Regulatory Convergence and Organizational Culture

Organizational culture is deeply embedded in most firms, affecting nearly all aspects of organizational life. Notwithstanding deep-seated cultural norms, financial services regulators are moving along a path toward regulatory convergence or regulatory harmonization, which will require certain financial services firms to reform. Cultural differences, however, cannot easily be erased by legislative or regulatory fiat, and regulators often do not consider whether culture is a barrier to convergence. This Symposium contribution addresses convergence in the area of the regulation of investment advice. Brokers and advisers both provide advice to retail investors about securities but they are regulated differently, and regulators are deciding whether to harmonize the duties imposed on these firms. The article maintains that brokers and advisers have a different history and a different culture, which present an underappreciated challenge to regulatory convergence. Cultural differences help explain the resistance to convergence, and recognizing these differences can help inform more effective regulation. This contribution reviews the debate over whether to harmonize the duties imposed on brokers and advisers and discusses key differences in the culture of brokerage and advisory firms. It addresses how culture can be barrier to convergence and whether changes in the law can ultimately change the very culture that also acts as a barrier to legal change.
Model of Assimilation / Integration of Immigrants

The article aims to familiarize the scientific community with one of the results of a qualitative case study investigation that employed ethnographic methods of gathering data on Russian-speaking immigrants in the Brisbane region, Queensland, Australia, conducted in 2016-2017. The study, titled "Perceptions of Russian-speaking immigrants: A case study in Australia," was held in response to one of the most pressing and challenging questions on the agenda of many public administration offices around the world –"What can be done for better integration/assimilation of immigrants into host communities?" It set itself to identify factors affecting the processes of assimilation and integration of Russian-speaking immigrants into Australian society. The research not only pointed out alleged obstacles such as (1) employment, (2) education, (3) healthcare, (4) government assistance, and (5) discrimination but also suggested the theoretical Model of Assimilation/Integration of Immigrants (MAI). The proposed model could explain not only why immigrants cannot integrate easily into the host society but also some other futures of their behavior. The model indicates the possibility forquantification of assimilation/integration itself and thus, provides an opportunity for further comparison of degrees of assimilation in between population groups.
Response to the Paper of Dr. Moore

I should begin by stating that I am very sorry that I could not attend the workshop in which Dr. Morton kindly invited me to participate. As a consequence of my absence I must indicate my appreciation to Drs. Morton and Crow, as organizer and moderator-editor, for asking me to respond to Dr. Moore’s remarks, and especially to express my sincerest thanks to Dr. Moore in sending me a copy of his paper and, subsequently, a copy of his addendum.
Consistent Measures and Bounds For Control Policies

Numerous solutions to control problems cannot be directly compared because the comparison measures depend upon solution specific quantities. Information theoretic approaches use entropy as a consistent measure which is independent of implementation specifics. This paper use state entropy, control entropy, and average work ? measures inspired by Source Coding Theory ? to characterize the environment complexity, solution complexity, and solution performance in an implementation independent fashion. The paper demonstrates that a trade-off exists between a solution's complexity and its performance. It further presents the Shannon Bound which characterizes the relationship between solution complexity and performance and describes the realization of the bound using Blahut's Algorithm. Finally, it demonstrates that Blahut's Algorithm may be useful in computing optimal policies subject to system constraints.
Pooling Private Technologies: Improving upon Autarky

When n agents decide to pool their private, decreasing returns technologies, single-path methods are a natural way to share joint output because of their strong incentives properties (Friedman, 2002). They are a non-anonymous generalization of the serial rule (Moulin and Shenker, 1992) sharing a production function along a prespecified path. We show that only one of these methods satisfies voluntary participation; its generating path is entirely determined by the n production functions. This yields a bijection between single-path methods and distributions of property rights on a single technology. Also, we show that these methods are characterized by their incentives properties in the 2-agent case, but not for n >= 3.
Traditional Indirect Methods for Estimation of Water Content: Measurement of °Brix

Refractometric and hydrometric measurements have long been used as means of estimating solution concentrations. The effectiveness of their use to measure equivalent concentration (°Brix) is discussed. The approximations inherent in the use of such traditional methods to estimate water content are highlighted. Keywords: Refractometry; hydrometry; °Brix
A Learning Classifier System for Three-Dimensional Shape Optimization

A learning classifier system complex is developed in order to accomplish the broader goal of developing a methodology to perform generalized zeroth-order two- and three-dimensional shape optimization. Specifically, the methodology has the objective of determining the optimal boundary to minimize mass while satisfying constraints on stress and geometry. Even with the enormous advances in shape optimization no method has proven to be satisfactory across the broad spectrum of optimization problems facing the modern engineer. Similarly the available software in the field of learning classifier systems is so embryonic that a new software package had to be developed for this application. The shape optimization via hypothesizing inductive classifier system complex (SPHINcsX) instantiates the methodology in a software package overcoming many of the limitations of today's conventional shape optimization techniques, while advancing the state-of-the-art in classifier system software tools.
Effects of dietary calcium and fat on cholesterol in tissues and feces of young goats

To examine the effects of amount of calcium and type of fat in the diet on distribution of cholesterol in plasma, several tissues and feces, 4-week-old goats (6 females and 18 males) were fed isocaloric diets consisting of goat milk supplemented with cholesterol and 1) soybean oil, 2) tallow, 3) soybean oil and CaCO3 or 4) tallow and CaCO3 for 20 weeks. Plasma cholesterol increased initially in all animals; plasma and lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations, however, were not affected by dietary fat or calcium. Goats fed CaCO3 excreted more calcium and ash in their feces and had greater cholesterol and fat concentrations in their livers. Neutral steroid, but not bile acid, excretion was greater in soybean oil-fed goats than in goats fed tallow. Soybean oil-fed goats had greater cholesterol concentrations in the viscera (minus liver) and tended to have greater cholesterol concentrations in the carcass and whole body. Aortas of soybean oil-fed goats exhibited greater fat deposition. In summary, dietary fat, but not calcium, significantly altered cholesterol disposition in young goats by affecting cholesterol deposition in tissues and excretion in feces, without a concomitant change in plasma cholesterol.
Simple Isolation of Antimycin A1 and Some of Its Toxicological Properties

An unidentified actinomycete, RTI 246, was found to produce antimycin A1 in high yield on a high protein cereal medium. The antibiotic compound was extracted from the cells and isolated in pure form by crystallization. It was identified by ultraviolet, infrared, nuclear magnetic resonance, and mass spectroscopy and by alkaline hydrolysis to antimycic acid and a neutral lactone. The intravenous LD50 was 1.0 mg/kg in white mice, whereas the intraperitoneal LD50 was 1.50 ± 0.19 mg/kg. Animals receiving an intraperitoneal injection displayed an incoordination of the hind limbs and impaired reflexes before showing signs of respiratory distress. These findings indicated that antimycin A1 possesses a neurotoxic property separate from its well-documented property as a respiratory poison.
Accumulator Compression Testing

A new test data reduction technique called accumulator compression testng (ACT) is proposed. ACT is an extension of syndrome testing. It is shown that the enumeration of errors missed by ACT for a unit under test is equivalent to the number of restricted partitions of a number. Asymptotic results are obtained for independent and dependent error modes. Comparison is made between signature analysis (SA) and ACT. Theoretical results indicate that with ACT a better control over fault coverage can be obtained than with SA. Experimental results are supportive of this indication. Built-in self test for processor environments may be feasible with ACT. However, for general VLSI circuits the complexity of ACT may be a problem as an adder is necessary.
Between One‐Nation Toryism and Neoliberalism: The Dilemmas of British Conservatism and Britain's Evolving Place in Europe

Prime Minister David Cameron's ambivalence about Britain's role in the European Union stems from dilemmas within his Conservative Party. Since the nineteenth century, British Conservatism had represented a comfortable synthesis of a soft Burkean traditionalism and class-based paternalism with an effort to expand the party's appeal to the working class. Thatcher's aggressive neoliberal challenge to this tradition never truly displaced the older paternalistic sense of noblesse oblige or the preference for societal consensus and incremental change. Instead, the two elements came into an uneasy coexistence that has informed Tory ambivalence about the EU. This article argues that Cameron's gradual distancing of Britain from the EU has paralleled his championing of economic austerity at home. It argues further that Cameron's policy-making response to the post-2007 economic downturn and European debt crisis can best be understood as a reflection of unresolved tensions within British Conservative thought.
Novel Glutamatergic Treatments for Severe Mood Disorders

All currently approved antidepressant medications for major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorder act primarily on the monoaminergic system and have varying affinities for serotonergic, norepinephrine-ergic, and/or dopaminergic receptors. Unfortunately, these drugs are only effective in approximately two-thirds of patients. Glutamate is the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, and the glutamatergic system has been implicated in the pathophysiology of MDD. Here, we review the putative involvement of the glutamate receptor subtypes-N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA), α-amino-3-hydroxyl-5-methyl-4-isoxazoleproprionic acid (AMPA), kainate, and the group I, II, and III metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs)-in the development of novel and more effective treatments for MDD as well as preclinical and clinical trials of drugs targeting these receptors. The rapid and robust antidepressant effects of ketamine-an NMDA receptor antagonist-have been consistently replicated in multiple trials. Other glutamatergic drugs have been investigated with varying success. Here, we highlight some of the most interesting results, including: 1) repeated oral, intramuscular, and sublingual ketamine appears to be less robustly effective than intravenous ketamine, but also causes fewer significant adverse effects; 2) the glycine partial agonist GLYX-13 appears to be effective both as monotherapy and adjunctive treatment in the treatment of MDD. An oral analogue, NRX-1074, is currently under investigation; and 3) mGluR modulators targeting mGluR5 have demonstrated convincing preclinical results.
Stretchable Chemical Patterns for the Assembly and Manipulation of Arrays of Microdroplets with Lensing and Micromixing Functionality

The chemical properties of a surface are readily controlled using a layer (or layers) of surface-functional groups that can be generated with, for example, self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) or polymer brushes. These methods have enabled rational control over surface chemistry, which directly impacts surface properties, such as wettability, but generally follow a serial approach to building up surface-functional groups (i.e., separate chemical steps are needed for the initial and each subsequent surface modification). This paper describes systems based on soft materials—stretchable chemical patterns—that have surface properties that are easily and reversibly modified using mechanical deformations. These systems couple surface-chemical features such as the density and arrangement of functional groups on elastomeric polymers (e.g., polydimethylsiloxane) to mechanically induced surface deformations. This approach enables rapid and reversible control of surface chemistry and thus surface properties and processes. The behavior of these systems is characterized using fluorescent molecules and their utility illustrated through the organization and manipulation of arrays of micrometer-scale droplets, which have optical and small-volume mixing functionalities applicable to microlens and microreactor technologies, respectively. The capabilities of these systems may be extended to, for example, the control of heterogeneous nucleation, surface reactivity, and micro/nanoscale assembly.
Tools, teamwork, and tenacity: an office system for cancer prevention.

BACKGROUND Despite national priorities in cancer control, the number of people with established ongoing medical care who do not receive indicated preventive services is substantial. Proven strategies to optimize preventive care in community practice are limited. METHODS In the Cancer Prevention in Community Practice Project (CPCP), 50 primary care providers were randomly assigned to receive an "office system" intervention. The intervention led to reorganization of office operations based on four functional core components: identifying patients' needs for services; monitoring their status over time; providing positive reinforcement to patients; and establishing an internal feedback component consisting of a brief audit to assess how the system is operating. Implementation of the CPCP system in each practice was accomplished using trained facilitators, and involved incorporating one or more tools developed to meet the functional components of the practice. RESULTS One hundred percent of the practices were successful in implementing some changes in their office operations that met CPCP office system functional criteria. All study practices implemented customized flow sheets, while use of other office system tools were incorporated at between 32% to 75% of study sites. Identifying patients in need of preventive services was performed most often by the clinical staff (39%), whereas monitoring patients' receipt of preventive services over time and reinforcing positive patient behavior were performed most often by physicians (63% and 46%, respectively). Changes made in practices were maintained for at least 12 months. CONCLUSIONS Primary care practices in community settings can implement significant and lasting changes in their practice environment that will improve their performance of preventive activities. The functional components of the CPCP office system design proposed and tested here are applicable to a wide variety of practice settings.
Flight patterns of foraging bees relative to density of artificial flowers and distribution of nectar.

Flight patterns of honeybees (Apis mellifera ligustica) were quantified as the bees foraged among artificial ‘flowers’ for sugar solution (‘nectar’). Bees exhibited considerable directionality on successive flights which minimized repeat visits to flowers and they usually made short flights to nearby flowers, thus minimizing flight time. The change in direction on successive flights between flowers were independent of the number of immediately preceding consecutive rewarding visits but decreased as the number of non-rewarding visits increased. Flight distances were short after visits to rewarding flowers but increased as the number of immediately preceding non-rewarding visits increased. The bees' rate of caloric intake (calories/time) was highest at the floral arrays having the highest density, and it was greater at arrays with clumped nectar-distributions than at those with randomly distributed nectar. These findings are explained in terms of the observed flight patterns.
Propanolol, a beta-adrenergic antagonist, retards response to MSH in skin of Anolis carolinensis

Abstract Lacking sympathetic innervation, the skin of A. carolinensis , an iguanid lizard, darkens within minutes in response to circulating melanocyte stimulating hormone (MSH) or beta adrenergic agonists such as epinephrine (EPI). This change is produced by dispersion of melanin from a perinculear position within dermal melanophores into superficial dendritic processes. These melanophores possess alpha-2 and beta-2 adrenergic as well as MSH receptors except in a patch of skin behind the eye, the eyespot, which lacks alpha receptors. Activation of beta or MSH receptors leads to stimulation of adenyl cyclase whereas alpha stimulation inhibits the enzyme to override the others. In a series of trials, injection of saline or propranolol was followed after 30 minutes by saline, EPI, or MSH. Propranolol inhibited chromataphore response to EPI. It also, unexpectedly, retarded the response to MSH, increasing latency to eyespot formation and body color change as well as the duration of darkening for both. Alteration of MSH response by a beta blocker could be explained by linkage of both adrenergic receptors and the MSH receptor to a common adenyl cyclase molecule to form a functional unit in the membrane of the melanophore.