cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Tax Policy under Nongeometric Physical Depreciation

This article takes into account most important features of the U.S. corporation income tax structure in the derivation of the user cost of capital from a model that allows for nonstatic expectation...
Air-Coupled Ultrasonic Beam Transmission Applied to Material Characterization

Lamb waves have been widely used in ultrasonic NDE to characterize material properties or assess material quality [1], Of the previous work on materials using phase-matched fluid-loaded coupling, most has been performed in water-coupled testing [2]. With the development of efficient non-contacting ultrasonic air-coupled transducers [3], it has become feasible to apply air-coupled ultrasonic methods to NDE. Because of the low signal noise ratio resulting from the large impedance mismatch between the air and the solid object, most work of air-coupled (AC) ultrasound is qualitative, with defects in plates and C-scan imaging being the principal objectives. As demonstrated by Safaeinili, et al. [4], however, it is possible to characterize elastic plates, both isotropic and anisotropic, by using AC ultrasound, despite the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) penalty.
A Novel Use of Rehydrated, Lyophilized Platelets Increases Recombinant FVIIa Procoagulant Activity in a Model of Hemophilia.

Abstract The anti-bleeding therapy recombinant factor VIIa (rFVIIa) is used to abrogate bleeding in hemophiliacs with inhibitors, bypassing the need for replacement factors. RFVIIa is hypothesized to work by increasing Xa generation on the platelet's surface. However, high plasma levels of rFVIIa are required, in part due to the weak binding of rFVIIa to platelets. We hypothesized that the efficacy of the therapy could be improved by administering rFVIIa already bound to platelets. One platelet preparative that may be used in this application is rehydrated, lyophilized (RL) platelets. RL platelets are fixed with paraformaldehyde, which allows them to be frozen and lyophilized while retaining their hemostatic capabilities. Previously, we have shown RL platelets are capable of supporting rFVIIa-mediated thrombin generation and that thrombin generation is increased in a rFVIIa dose-dependent manner (Blood , 106:4057, 2005). In this current study, we have characterized the ability of RL platelets to modulate rFVIIa-mediated thrombin generation and fibrin clot formation in a cell-based complete model of hemophilia. The addition of RL platelets with 50 nM rFVIIa increased the thrombin generation rate in hemophilia 2.8-fold more than 50 nM rFVIIa, alone. Further, the addition of RL platelets with 50 nM rFVIIa normalized clot formation and stability in a fibrinolytic environment, which did not occur in the presence of rFVIIa, alone. In contrast, the addition of RL platelets, alone, to hemophilic conditions had minimal to no effect on thrombin generation rate or the onset of clot formation, suggesting that the effects were due to a specific interaction between rFVIIa and RL platelets. When rFVIIa plus RL platelets were added to platelet-rich plasma from patients with hemophilia A in the presence of tissue-type plasminogen activator, clot formation and stability were improved more than the addition of either agent alone. To examine the mechanism of RL platelets' augmentation of rFVIIa activity, we titrated the phosphatidylserine (PS) binding protein, annexin V, into reactions with RL platelets in the presence of factors Xa, Va, and prothrombin and measured thrombin generation. The addition of annexin V reduced thrombin generation equally in reactions that contained RL platelets stimulated with or without SFLLRN. Further, thrombin generation was similar on RL platelets simulated with or without SFLLRN in the absence of annexin V. These data suggest that RL platelets already have PS exposed on their surface. We conclude that RL platelets can support rFVIIa-mediated thrombin generation in the absence of factor IX and may enhance rFVIIa activity in part due to PS exposure on the RL platelet surface. We hypothesize that co-administration of RL platelets with rFVIIa may increase the efficacy of rFVIIa, at lower doses of rFVIIa than are currently required to achieve hemostasis.
Economics of Joint Costs in Agriculture

HE ECONOMICS of joint costs in agriculture may be studied in two ways. The economic behavior of numerous farms sufficiently different with respect to problems of joint production may be studied statistically or the economics of joint costs may be studied analytically for a representative farm-in the Marshallian sense. It is almost commonplace to say that induction and deduction have to work hand in hand in agricultural economics as elsewhere in scientific pursuits. In themselves useful, statistical investigations of the mass behavior of farms have become dominant in modern agricultural economics. Significance of their results, however, often suffers from a lack of theoretical analyses of the economics of the individual farm. It seemed justified, therefore, to confine this study to the latter. A few paragraphs or, less frequently, a whole chapter is devoted to the economics of joint production in most texts on economic theory; but few studies go beyond the rather elementary textbook level.l Thus far they have had little influence upon the thinking in agricultural economics. The objective here is to narrow this gap between agricultural economics and some recent developments of general cost theory, and to treat more minutely certain aspects of joint costs that have been overlooked or discussed only in passing. The more theoretical first and third sections are applicable with slight modifications to agriculture as well as other industries in which problems of joint production occur.2 Although the remaining
Ideale Ordnungsgebilde und Ethik

Damit sind die idealen Ordnungsgebilde nach Struktur, Grundlagen und Erkenntnisweise hinreichend dargestellt. Wenn auch die weiterreichende und allgemeine ontologische Frage nach der Stellung dieser Gegenstandlichkeiten im Ganzen der Welt hier nicht beantwortet werden kann, sei doch auf das Verhaltnis dieser Ordnungsgebilde zu den Gegenstanden der Ethik abschliesend kurz eingegangen.
A framework for adaptive differential privacy

Differential privacy is a widely studied theory for analyzing sensitive data with a strong privacy guarantee—any change in an individual's data can have only a small statistical effect on the result—and a growing number of programming languages now support differentially private data analysis. A common shortcoming of these languages is poor support for adaptivity. In practice, a data analyst rarely wants to run just one function over a sensitive database, nor even a predetermined sequence of functions with fixed privacy parameters; rather, she wants to engage in an interaction where, at each step, both the choice of the next function and its privacy parameters are informed by the results of prior functions. Existing languages support this scenario using a simple composition theorem, which often gives rather loose bounds on the actual privacy cost of composite functions, substantially reducing how much computation can be performed within a given privacy budget. The theory of differential privacy includes other theorems with much better bounds, but these have not yet been incorporated into programming languages. We propose a novel framework for adaptive composition that is elegant, practical, and implementable. It consists of a reformulation based on typed functional programming of privacy filters, together with a concrete realization of this framework in the design and implementation of a new language, called Adaptive Fuzz. Adaptive Fuzz transplants the core static type system of Fuzz to the adaptive setting by wrapping the Fuzz typechecker and runtime system in an outer adaptive layer, allowing Fuzz programs to be conveniently constructed and typechecked on the fly. We describe an interpreter for Adaptive Fuzz and report results from two case studies demonstrating its effectiveness for implementing common statistical algorithms over real data sets.
Cues filtered in, cues filtered out, cues cute, and cues grotesque: Teaching mediated communication with emoji Pictionary

ABSTRACTCourses: Any course that examines mediated and/or online communication, including but not limited to: Computer-Mediated Communication, Communication Theory, Interpersonal Communication, Introduction to Communication, and Organizational CommunicationObjectives: In this single-class activity, students apply their knowledge of mediated communication theory by playing a twist on the classic party game Pictionary. Students attempt to communicate messages using only emojis. In doing so, they refine their understanding of how individuals adapt their mediated messages to account for the lack of nonverbal cues in many online environments.
A mixed-integer formulation of OLTC dynamics to minimize distribution and subtransmission tap changes induced by wind and solar power variations

Transformers equipped with an on-load tap-changer (OLTC) are the primary voltage regulators in sub-transmission and distribution networks. As the size of variable generation grows in respect to local feeder demand, the varying bidirectional flow of active power in the feeders interferes with the operation of the OLTC transformers. Currently most grid codes require utility-scale wind and PV plants to strictly regulate the voltage at the point of interconnection. This is typically achieved by installing dynamic reactive support in the form of STATCOM or SVC with instantaneously controllable setpoints and no switching cost. An effective and robust voltage coordination scheme would rely on voltage setpoints of these devices as the primary control input. Thus it is crucial to coordinate these new Volt/VAr controllers with the OLTC transformers to eliminate unnecessary tap changes and consequently reduce substation failure risk and maintenance cost. This paper introduces a centrally coordinated voltage control scheme that determines the optimal voltage setpoint based on variation of wind and solar generation in a given time window with the objective of reducing tap-change operations and resistive losses. Later the paper introduces an equivalent mixed-integer programming formulation that finds the same optimal control output but at a higher computational efficiency. Finally the paper discusses the results of the implementation of the MIP-formulation of the voltage control scheme on the DTE/ITC system serving Eastern Michigan.
Left Behind: The Case Study

The product in this case study is the film Left Behind: The Movie—a screenplay about the end-time rapture. It was produced by Cloud Ten Pictures in partnership with Namesake Entertainment. The events that form the basis of this case occurred between 1996 and March 2001. This case study places the teaching-learning experience in the context of the marketing management process for a consumer entertainment product. The emphasis is on distribution management and promotion.
Declarative Memory System: Amnesia

Significant information about how memory is organized has come from the study of patients with memory disorders (amnesia). Amnesia refers to difficulty in acquiring new declarative (conscious) knowledge and in remembering the recent past. This condition results from bilateral damage to the medial temporal lobe or the diencephalic midline. Declarative memory impairment can occur as a well-circumscribed disorder against a background of otherwise intact intellectual and cognitive functions. Older memories that have undergone a process of consolidation and reorganization are usually intact in amnesic patients and are stored in the neocortex independently of the medial temporal lobe. Amnesic patients retain the ability to learn nondeclaratively (unconsciously), as in the case of habits and skills for which memory is expressed through performance rather than remembrance.
Aqueous Dissolution of the Constituents of Composite Non-Aqueous Phase Liquid Contaminants

Environmentally important nonaqueous phase liquids (NAPLs) are commonly composite mixtures comprised of similar classes of organic compounds. Such composite NAPLs (CNAPLs) are also usually variable in composition and incompletely characterized in terms of constituents and property values. Coal tars, creosotes, and other oily residuals from the combustion of hydrocarbon fuels, for example, usually include a wide array of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (Mueller et al. 1989; Luthy et al. 1994). Because many of the constituents of such CNAPLs are considered toxic and carcinogenic (Neff 1979), knowledge of their aqueous dissolution rates and dissolution equilibria is crucial for predicting environmental impacts and for assessing the effectiveness of water-based remediation technologies.
First Generation Behavioral Economists on Rationality, and Its Limits

The foundations of neoclassical theory came under sustained attack beginning in the 1940s. The foundations are rationality, maximization, and (allocative) efficiency. The sustained attack came from “first generation behavioral economists.”
Angel Unaware and Down Syndrome Awareness.

* Abbreviation: DS — : Down syndrome On August 26, 1950, Dale Evans Rogers, wife of Roy Rogers, gave birth to a daughter, Robin. Known as the “King of the Cowboys” and the “Queen of the West,” the Rogers were film, television, and rodeo megastars whose brand rivaled Disney in popularity. Overjoyed at Robin’s arrival, Roy announced the good news that day to 90 000 people attending a rodeo.1 Their happiness, however, turned to worry, when a nurse urged Dale to “tell your doctor to tell you the truth about her.”2 The truth was that Robin had Down syndrome (DS), or “Mongolism” as it was commonly called throughout most of the 20th century.3 Little did they know that their infant would play a key role in altering the perception of children with DS across America. Fearing the negative publicity and shame surrounding DS, Roy and Dale initially kept Robin’s diagnosis secret. Many midcentury Americans felt that a child with intellectual disability indicated deeper inherited problems. The stigma was so strong that most pediatricians recommended early or even immediate institutionalization for affected newborns. Dale recalled 1 doctor advising them “to put the baby in a ‘home’; they’d have to give the child up sometime, anyway, and it was easier … Address correspondence to H. Hughes Evans, MD, PhD, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University, 1760 Haygood Dr NE, HSRB W417, Atlanta, GA 30322. E-mail: hughes.evans{at}emory.edu
On Principals and Agency: Reassembling Trust in Indian Ocean Commerce

The role of trust in long-distance trade has been a topic of inquiry and debate among economists, sociologists, and historians. Much of this literature hinges on the social, legal, and economic structures that undergird, if not obviate, the concept of trust. This article draws on assemblage theory to suggest that trust in Indian Ocean trade is better understood as a key component of a commercial assemblage. Laws or social mores are not external to but rather enrolled within an assemblage constituted by people, commodities, profits, and “feelings,” as well as judicial systems. This conceptualization of trust is demonstrated through a close analysis of one trading relationship between a Somali merchant and an Indian merchant based in Aden and trading in the Idrisi Emirate of Asir. They established a partnership to exploit elevated prices in Asir during the First World War. After several months of trading, accusations of fraud and embezzling unraveled the partnership and entangled both men in years of legal battles. By tracing the changing socio-material assemblage of this partnership, the article demonstrates how trust should be understood as a dynamic and contingent factor in the operation of commercial agency.
Adult Day Service Use Decreases Likelihood of a Missed Physician's Appointment Among Dementia Caregivers

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE Adult day services (ADSs) that provide community-based supervised support for persons with dementia (PWD) may also function as a respite for familial caregivers to attend to self-care needs. Guided by a revised version of the Andersen Healthcare Utilization Model, the objective of this study was to identify the association between use of ADSs and a missed physician's appointment among family caregivers for community-dwelling familial PWD. A secondary objective was to identify other predisposing, enabling, and need factors associated with a missed physician's appointment. DESIGN Secondary analysis of baseline, cross-sectional data from two randomized controlled trials (Advancing Caregiver Training, n = 272; and Care of Persons With Dementia in Their Environments, n = 237). SETTING Community. PARTICIPANTS Community-dwelling caregivers for PWD (n = 509). MEASUREMENTS Missed physician's appointment was measured using the caregivers' self-report of one or more missed physician's appointments (yes/no) in the past 6 months. ADS use was measured using the caregivers' self-report of ADS use (yes/no). RESULTS Over a third of the caregivers utilized ADSs for their PWD. Caregivers who utilized ADSs for their familial PWD were 49% less likely (95% confidence interval = 0.32-0.81) to miss a physician's appointment in the past 6 months. More black compared to white caregivers missed appointments regardless of ADS use. Caregivers with increased chronic health conditions were more likely to miss a physician's appointment compared to those with fewer conditions. CONCLUSION ADSs' provision of respite enables caregivers the time to address self-care needs by decreasing the likelihood that caregivers miss a physician's appointment. Findings suggest that ADSs may promote positive health behaviors for caregivers and should be expanded as part of comprehensive dementia care for families. Factors associated with missed physician appointments need further examination and intervention to support black caregivers.
Urinary concentrations of phenols in association with biomarkers of oxidative stress in pregnancy: Assessment of effects independent of phthalates

Abstract Background Maternal exposure to environmental phenols is common in pregnancy and has been linked to preterm birth, preeclampsia, and reduced fetal growth. One potential mechanism may be through increased maternal oxidative stress. Objective We examined the associations between a panel of 10 urinary phenols, including dichlorophenols, benzophenone-3, parabens, triclosan and triclocarban, and bisphenol-S, and two urinary oxidative stress biomarkers, 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and 8-isoprostane. All exposure and outcome biomarkers were measured at 4 time points in pregnancy. Methods We used repeated measures models to examine the association between repeated exposure and outcome biomarkers. Additionally, we used adaptive elastic net (AENET) to identify non-null associations accounting for the correlation structure of exposures, both for phenols and urinary phthalate metabolites that were previously associated with the oxidative stress biomarkers in our study population. Results In adjusted repeated measures models, we observed that dichlorophenols, benzophenone-3, triclosan, and some parabens were associated with increases in both oxidative stress biomarkers. The greatest effect estimates were observed for 2,5-dichlorophenol; an interquartile range (IQR) increase in this compound was associated with a 15.2% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 11.0, 19.6) increase in 8-OHdG and a 16.7% (95% CI = 9.66, 24.2) increase in 8-isoprostane. Bisphenol-S detection was associated with a clear increase in 8-isoprostane (18.5%, 95% CI = 7.68, 30.5) but a more modest increase in 8-OHdG (6.18%, 95% CI = −0.27, 13.1). However, AENET models did not consistently select any of the phenols as predictors of 8-OHdG or 8-isoprostane when phthalate metabolites were included in the model. Conclusion Overall, urinary phenols were associated with increases in biomarkers of oxidative stress in pregnancy but either to a lesser extent, or due to correlation with, urinary phthalate metabolites.
Gender Trends in Authorship of Foot and Ankle Academic Literature Over 24 Years.

Abstract Underrepresentation of females in surgery is reflected in research productivity across academic medicine, with male faculty being more likely to publish research than their female counterparts. In this study, we aimed to describe the representation and longevity of female investigators among the authors of articles in 3 foot and ankle research journals from 1993 to 2017. In this retrospective bibliometric analysis, authors from 3 prominent foot and ankle research journals (Foot and Ankle International, The Journal of Foot and Ankle Surgery, and Foot and Ankle Clinics) were identified. The proportion of female authors who were first, middle, and senior authors and the total publication count per author were determined. From 1993 to 2017, 8132 original articles were published and a total of 6597 (81.1%) had an accessible author list. This allowed us to identify 25,329 total authors, of whom 22,961 (90.7%) were successfully matched to a gender. A total of 9273 unique authors were identified (females, 19.2%). Female representation increased for first and senior authors over the years from 6.5% and 5.9% (1993 to 1997) to 16.9% and 13.1% (2013 to 2017, p 2-fold over the past 2 decades. But despite these advances, compared to male authors, female authors are less likely to continue publishing 5 years after initial publication, and on average publish fewer articles.
Monasticism: A Very Short Introduction

In Monasticism: A Very Short Introduction, Stephen J. Davis adds another worthy contribution to the Oxford University Press Very Short Introductions series. It is a broad yet concise introduction t...
Personalized training pathways for translational science trainees: Building on a framework of knowledge, skills, and abilities across the translational science spectrum.

Background In order to conduct translational science, scientists must combine domain-specific expertise with knowledge on how to identify and cross translational hurdles, and insights on positioning discoveries for the next translational stage. Expert educators from the Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) Consortium identified 97 knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) important to include in training programs for translational scientists. To assist educators and trainees to use these KSAs, a conceptual model called "Personalized Pathways" was developed that prioritizes KSAs based on trainee background, research area, or phenotype, and expertise on the research team. Purpose To understand how CTSA educators prioritize specific KSAs when developing personalized training plans for different translational phenotypes and to identify areas of similarity and difference across phenotypes. Methods A web-based, cross-sectional survey of CTSA educators was done. For a selected phenotype, respondents recommended one of four levels of mastery for each of the 97 KSAs. Results were tabulated by frequency, weighted by importance, and divided into tertiles representing high, middle, and lower priority KSAs. Agreement across phenotypes was compared using Krippendorff's alpha. Results Ten KSAs were high training priority for Preclinical, Clinical, and Community-Engaged phenotypes. These address research methods, responsible conduct of research, team building, and communicating research results. Nine KSAs were in the next tertile for priority reflecting KSAs in biostatistics, bioinformatics, regulatory precepts, and translating implications of research findings. Conclusion A smaller set of KSAs can be prioritized for training Preclinical-, Clinical-, and Community-Engaged researchers. Future work should explore this approach for other phenotypes.
Immunotherapy in patients with advanced stage non-squamous (non-Sq) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with activating genetic mutations: Single institution retrospective study.

e21577Background: Immunotherapy has dramatically changed the landscape of lung cancer management. However, its efficacy remains controversial in patients with activating mutations. We report retros...
Highly Effective Model for Implementation of In-House Platelets in a Tertiary Veteran Hospital Setting Without a Trauma Center.

Background Platelet products have a limited shelf life and are costly. Therefore, to balance clinical usage/availability and wastage in a tertiary hospital setting without a trauma center, an innovative system model was established. This system reduced wastage by transferring platelet unit approaching their expiration date to a nearby facility (with the same blood supplier and a trauma center) before expiration, when there is no anticipated need for the product at the original location. Methods A review of data to determine the degree of platelet wastage and wastage costs one year before implementation of this measure in October 2017 and one year after implementation of this measure. Results Since the implementation of this measure, no platelet units have expired on the shelf. In contrast, from October 2016 to October 2017, before implementation of platelet transfer, platelet products expired regularly. Conclusion This new system model is highly effective in maintaining platelet inventory without wastage.
MOLECULAR STUDIES OF RETRODIFFERENTIATION PHENOMENA IN PROLIFERATION-COMPETENT ADULT HEPATOCYTE CULTURES

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the molecular studies of retrodifferentiation phenomena in proliferation-competent adult hepatocyte cultures. Developmental studies of growth-state dependent phenotypes in normal epithelial cells are possible using primary monolayer cultures of adult rat hepatocytes. These studies have focused upon the control of albumin and alpha 1 -fetoprotein (AFP) production. To quantitate the numbers of total cellular mRNA-containing sequences coding for these proteins, total cellular RNA was isolated during the 12-day growth cycle and hybridized under conditions of RNA excess to purified albumin and AFP-specific [ 3 H]- or [ 32 P]-labeled cDNA probes. Specific protein synthesis rates were measured by immunoprecipitation of [ 3 H]-leucine pulse-labeled antigens, overall protein synthesis rates were determined by [H]-leucine uptake into hot acid-insoluble material. Total albumin synthesis and total albumin mRNA-containing sequences per cell followed U-shaped curves during the growth cycle. Total AFP synthesis per cell was undetectable during lag-phase but then increased at least tenfold during lag-phase, whereas total numbers of AFP mRNA containing sequences remained constant throughout at ca. 5–10 sequences per cell.
Limitaciones en la confeccion de la politica exterior de estados unidos

En una epoca donde las decisiones rapidas equivalen a la efectividad, los instrumentos de la politica exterior de EE.UU son considerados por dirigentes en otros paises desconcertantes, ya que estos instrumentos le permiten al Senado despues de varios meses de analisis desaprobar un convenio internacional y decirle al presidente de la Republica que comience de nuevo, lo que resuelta siendo un proceso confuso en esta epoca.
Prevalence of Anxiety and Depression Among Medical Students During the Covid-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study

Purpose:The Covid-19 pandemic is a public health emergency with both physical and mental health risks. Medical students have baseline elevated rates of anxiety, depression and burnout. As such, the...
Spinal Cord Drift Following Laminoplasty Versus Laminectomy and Fusion for Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy

ABSTRACT Background: Cervical laminoplasty and laminectomy and fusion (LF) are posterior-based surgical techniques for the surgical treatment of cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM). Interestingly, the comparative amount of spinal cord drift obtained from these procedures has not been extensively described. The purpose of this study is to compare spinal cord drift between cervical laminoplasty and LF in patients with CSM. Methods: The laminoplasty group consisted of 22 patients, and the LF group consisted of 44 patients. Preoperative and postoperative alignment was measured using the Cobb angle (C2–C7). Spinal cord position was measured on axial T2-magnetic resonance imaging of the cervical spine preoperatively and postoperatively. Spinal cord drift was quantified by subtracting preoperative values from postoperative values. Functional improvement was assessed using the modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association (mJOA) score. Results: Mean spinal cord drift was higher following LF compared to laminoplasty (2.70 vs 1.71 mm, P Conclusions: This study demonstrates that patients who had LF for CSM achieved more spinal cord drift postoperatively compared to those who had laminoplasty. However, the increased drift did not translate into superior functional outcome as measured by the mJOA score. Level of Evidence: 3. Clinical Relevance: Spinal cord drift following LF may differ from laminoplasty in patients undergoing surgery for CSM. This finding should be considered when assessing CSM patients for surgical intervention.
Catamenial haemoptysis in females with cystic fibrosis: a case series with review of management strategies.

Catamenial haemoptysis, the expectoration of blood during menses, has not been extensively reported in the cystic fibrosis (CF) literature. We describe four cases (age range: 25-34 years) of catamenial haemoptysis across four CF centres in the United States. These cases may represent thoracic endometriosis versus hormonal fluctuations in airway inflammation or infection resulting in bronchial artery bleeding. We identify common and nuanced management strategies including use of pro-coagulants, hormone contraceptives, anti-inflammatories, bronchial artery embolization, and use of the newer cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) modulators.
Design and Formative Evaluation of a Voice-based Virtual Coach for Problem-Solving Treatment

Artificial intelligence (AI)-based voice technology offers considerable promise in healthcare; however, its application for behavioral therapy in a real-world or research setting has yet to be determined. We describe the design and evaluation of LumenTM, a fully functional voice-only virtual coach that delivers evidence-based, problem-solving treatment (PST) for patients with mild-to-moderate depression and/or anxiety. Participants (N=26) completed surveys and semi-structured interviews after two therapy sessions with Lumen. Participants found Lumen to provide high pragmatic usability and favorable user experience, with marginal task load during interactions. Participants emphasized its on-demand accessibility and the delivery of a complex PST task with a simplistic structure for achieving therapy goals. Suggestions for improvement included streamlining and improved personalization and pacing of conversations and providing additional context during therapy sessions. Lumen offers a realistic and cognitively plausible verbal interaction that can potentially lead to personalized and accessible mental health care, filling a gap in traditional mental health services.
Why Hong Kong millennial Christians switch from Chinese local churches to international churches: A qualitative study:

In the past few years, there has been an observable phenomenon of Hong Kong millennial Christians moving from Chinese-speaking local churches to English-speaking international churches. To understa...
Educating Future Physicians in Artificial Intelligence (AI): An Integrative Review and Proposed Changes:

BACKGROUNDAs medicine and the delivery of healthcare enters the age of Artificial Intelligence (AI), the need for competent human–machine interaction to aid clinical decisions will rise. Medical st...
Somniloquy: augmenting network interfaces to reduce PC energy usage

Reducing the energy consumption of PCs is becoming increasingly important with rising energy costs and environmental concerns. Sleep states such as S3 (suspend to RAM) save energy, but are often not appropriate because ongoing networking tasks, such as accepting remote desktop logins or performing background file transfers, must be supported. In this paper we present Somniloquy, an architecture that augments network interfaces to allow PCs in S3 to be responsive to network traffic. We show that many applications, such as remote desktop and VoIP, can be supported without application-specific code in the augmented network interface by using application-level wakeup triggers. A further class of applications, such as instant messaging and peer-to-peer file sharing, can be supported with modest processing and memory resources in the network interface. Experiments using our prototype Somniloquy implementation, a USB-based network interface, demonstrates energy savings of 60% to 80% in most commonly occuring scenarios. This translates to significant cost savings for PC users.
Catecholamines and related compounds

Abstract The capacity factors of 32 compounds were measured on octadecyl-silica columns by using neat aqueous phosphate buffer, pH 2.1, as the eluent. The tabulated results allow the estimation of the effect of various substituents on the retention of catecholamines and related compounds under similar chromatographic conditions.
Development of Follicles in the Mammalian Ovary

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the development of follicles in the mammalian ovary. The unresolved issues in follicular development are focused. Folliculogenesis culminates in the production of fully ripe, preovulatory follicles visible to the naked eye as large bulges on the surface of the ovary. Each ripe follicle contains thousands of highly differentiated cells. This complex, functional miniature organ arises from the handful of cells that constitute a simple primordial follicle, a structure so small that it is invisible at the lower magnifications of a light microscope. All regulatory influences can only permit or prevent cells from completing the full maturation process; they cannot change the course of differentiation. A plethora of modulating influences act as permissive inducers, impeding or propelling the committed follicular cells through the process of clonal expansion. As each follicle progresses through its program of limited clonal expansion and maturation, its cells proliferate more and more rapidly. With every passing generation, the proliferative potential of the granulosa and theca cells continues to diminish, while the state of maturation increases.
Book Review: Rhode's Reforms

Rhode's book, In the Interests of Justice, seeks to educate and reform the bar. She reveals the truth about modern legal practice, and carefully evaluates the lawyer's role in promoting or confounding justice. Her work should provoke a broader examination of how lawyers view the law they administer, and the manner in which it infuses moral accountability into the lawyer's work.
Giving Back in Solidarity

This research note is part of the thematic section, Giving Back in Solidarity, in the special issue titled “Giving Back in Field Research,” published as Volume 10, Issue 2 in the Journal of Research Practice.
Multiple voices and stories: narratives of health and illness, edited by Arima Mishra and Suhita Chopra Chatterjee

Following the lead of Kleinman's 1988 book, The Illness Narrative, and Mattingly and Garro's 2000 edited volume, Narrative and the Cultural Construction of Illness and Healing, Arima Mishra and Suh...
Differentiation between benign and malignant breast lesions detected by bilateral dynamic contrast‐enhanced MRI: A sensitivity and specificity study

The purpose of this study was to apply an empirical mathematical model (EMM) to kinetic data acquired under a clinical protocol to determine if the sensitivity and specificity can be improved compared with qualitative BI-RADS descriptors of kinetics. 3D DCE-MRI data from 100 patients with 34 benign and 79 malignant lesions were selected for review under an Institutional Review Board (IRB)-approved protocol. The sensitivity and specificity of the delayed phase classification were 91% and 18%, respectively. The EMM was able to accurately fit these curves. There was a statistically significant difference between benign and malignant lesions for several model parameters: the uptake rate, initial slope, signal enhancement ratio, and curvature at the peak enhancement (at most P = 0.04). These results demonstrated that EMM analysis provided at least the diagnostic accuracy of the kinetic classifiers described in the BI-RADS lexicon, and offered a few key advantages. It can be used to standardize data from institutions with different dynamic protocols and can provide a more objective classification with continuous variables so that thresholds can be set to achieve desired sensitivity and specificity. This suggests that the EMM may be useful for analysis of routine clinical data. Magn Reson Med 59:747–754, 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Trace multielement analysis using high-flux fast-neutron activation

The intense 14-MeV neutron facility at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory was used for fast-neutron activation analysis (FNAA) of standard fly ash, orchard leaves, and bovine liver supplied by the U.S. National Bureau of Standards. The high flux of 14-MeV neutrons allowed concentration determinations of up to 20 elements from the set of Na, Mg, Al, Si, P, K, Sc, Ti, Fe, Co, Ni, Zn, As, Se, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Mo, Sb, Ba, Ce, Tl, and Pb. Interferences and steep flux-gradients were problems, but the elemental profile we obtained is the most complete analysis using FNAA to date.
Partitioning tasks between a pair of interconnected heterogeneous processors: A case study

With the variety of computer architectures available today, it is often difficult to determine which particular type of architecture will provide the best performance on a given application program. In fact, one type of architecture may be well suited to executing one section of a program while another architecture may be better suited to executing another section of the same program. One potentially promising approach for exploiting the best features of different computer architectures is to partition an application program to simultaneously execute on two or more types of machines interconnected with a high-speed communication network. A fundamental difficulty with this heterogeneous computing, however, is the problem of determining how to partition the application program across the interconnected machines. The goal of this paper is to show how a programmer or a compiler can use a model of a heterogeneous system to determine the machine on which each subtask should be executed. This technique is illustrated with a simple model that relates the relative performance of two heterogeneous machines to the communication time required to transfer partial results across their interconnection network. Experiments with a Connection Machine CM-200 demonstrate how to apply this model to partition two different application programs across the sequential front-end processor and the parallel back-end array.
Excellence in Supply Chain and Logistics Management

This special issue of the Journal of Marketing Channels publishes the best papers from the 2011 Global Supply Chain Management (GSCM) Conference held at the State University of New York, College at...
Extension and enhancement of national agricultural pesticide risk analysis (NAPRA) WWW decision support system to include nutrients

The nutrient component of the groundwater loading effects of agricultural management systems (GLEAMS) model was incorporated into the original national agricultural pesticide risk analysis (NAPRA) WWW system to create a nutrient loss decision support system to evaluate the effects of agricultural management systems on surface and subsurface nutrient water quality. The NAPRA WWW system (http://pasture.ecn.purdue.edu/∼napra) was extended to the entire US by adding soil data and weather generator models with supporting input data for the continental US. Thus, the NAPRA WWW system can be run for any location in the US. The nutrient enabled NAPRA WWW system can be accessed from any location with a web browser, and it provides an easy to use interface for model users by simplifying model input preparations. The NAPRA WWW system can be used to identify appropriate nutrient application rates to meet water quality specifications such as total maximum daily loads, and to identify critical watersheds or areas from nutrient management perspectives.
The information loop as a general analytic view

Abstract Current predominant views of information systems (IS) are motivated more by design and engineering aims, than they are by the aims of empirical study. To better support the latter, we advance a general analytic view based on the notion of “information loops” (I-loops) in organizations. An I-loop is understood to be anchored in an information context (I-context) from which it is pulled out conceptually for examination. Information systems (IS) are formal I-loops comprised of information acquisition (I-acquisition), information processing (I-processing), and information employment (I-employment) process. An information store (I-store) provides data, models, and procedures in support of I-processing. We show the usefulness of the I-loop view for empirical studies, both for basic IS description and for IS problem diagnosis and treatment.
Three L = 0 transitions in the 57Fe (p, t) 55Fe reaction

Abstract Three L = 0 transitions are observed in the (p, t) reaction on 57Fe corresponding to 1 2 − states in 55Fe at 0.41, 1.98 and 3.77 MeV. An interpretation of the relative strengths is given.
Image segmentation of trabecular spongiosa by visual inspection of the gradient magnitude

Recent advances in physical models of skeletal dosimetry utilize high-resolution 3-dimensional microscopic computed tomography images of trabecular spongiosa. These images are coupled to radiation transport codes to assess energy deposition within active bone marrow and trabecular endosteum. These transport codes rely primarily on the segmentation of the spongiosa images into bone and marrow voxels. Image thresholding has been the segmentation of choice for bone sample images because of its extreme simplicity. However, the ability of the segmentation to reproduce the physical boundary between bone and marrow depends on the selection of the threshold value. Statistical models, as well as visual inspection of the image, have been employed extensively to determine the correct threshold. Both techniques are affected by partial volume effect and can provide unexpected results if performed without care. In this study, we propose a new technique to threshold trabecular spongiosa images based on visual inspection of the image gradient magnitude. We first show that the gradient magnitude of the image reaches a maximum along a surface that remains almost independent of partial volume effect and that is a good representation of the physical boundary between bone and marrow. A computer program was then developed to allow a user to compare the position of the iso-surface produced by a threshold with the gradient magnitude. The threshold that produces the iso-surface that best coincides with the maximum gradient is chosen. The technique was finally tested with a set of images of a true bone sample with different resolutions, as well as with three images of a cube of Duocell aluminium foam of known mass and density. Both tests demonstrate the ability of the gradient magnitude technique to retrieve sample volumes or media volume fractions with 1% accuracy at 30 µm voxel size.
Network-aware data movement advisor

Next-generation eScience applications often generate large amounts of simulation or experimental data that must be shared and managed by collaborative organizations. Advanced networking technologies and services have been rapidly developed and deployed to facilitate the massive data transport necessary for such data sharing and collaboration. However, these technologies and services have not been fully utilized by application users mainly because their use typically requires significant domain knowledge and in many cases even their existence is not made aware to the public. We design and develop a Network-aware Data Movement Advisor (NADMA) utility to enable automated discovery of network and system resources and advise the user of efficient strategies for fast and successful data transfer. NADMA is primarily a client-end program that interacts with existing data/space management and discovery services such as Storage Resource Management, transport methods such as GridFTP, and network resource provisioning systems such as TeraPaths and OSCARS. NADMA acts as a route planner in a typical vehicle navigation system to provide the user a set of feasible route options along with performance estimations as well as specific steps and commands to authorize and execute data transfer. We demonstrate the efficacy of NADMA in several use cases based on its implementation and deployment in wide-area networks.
Radar detection using sparsely distributed apertures in urban environment

We present a new receiver design for spatially distributed apertures to detect targets in an urban environment. A distorted-wave Born approximation is used to model the scattering environment. We formulate the received signals at different receive antennas in terms of the received signal at the first antenna. The detection problem is then formulated as a binary hypothesis test. The receiver is chosen as the optimal linear filter that maximizes the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the corresponding test statistic. The receiver operation amounts to correlating a transformed version of the measurement at the first antenna with the rest of the measurements. In the free-space case the transformation applied to the measurement from the first antenna reduces to a delay operator. We evaluate the performance of the receiver on a real data set collected in a multipath- and clutter-rich urban environment and on simulated data corresponding to a simple multipath scene. Both the experimental and simulation results show that the proposed receiver design offers significant improvement in detection performance compared to conventional matched filtering.