cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An ecological account of language evolution! Way to go!. Commentary on “Modeling the cultural evolution of language” by Luc Steels

Luc Steels [1] has just demonstrated how useful modeling can be to investigations on language evolution, including both language change and the phylogenetic emergence of language. He shows that language must have evolved gradually, by successive co-options of hominines’ mental capacities and anatomical structures, at different stages of the human phylogeny, in response to ever-increasing communicative pressures arising from social interactions. Selfscaffolding appears to have played a central role: the same mind that helped hominines evolve conspecific cooperation and a more complex social organization than other primates also helped them produce a more complex culture, including a wider range of tools and, particularly, more complex communicative means for more explicit exchanges of information, viz., languages. (As explained below, they need not have emerged monogenetically.) Languages may be conceived of as hybrid technologies (like computers, consisting of hardware and software) produced by the gradual domestication of the hominine anatomy by the mind since Homo erectus. In the case of speech, this involved co-opting the lungs and the buccopharyngeal structure for the production of phonetic sounds, the hardware that left no choice but to manipulate the ensuing linear structure toward producing rich vocabularies and complex utterances. An important question has been how to account for the transition from vocalizations to phonetic communication. As hypothesized long ago by Jean-Jacques Rousseau [2], pressures for a larger vocabulary would have evolved vocalic differentiation followed by syllabic variegation [3], which enhanced perception and the potential for large numbers of symbols. Syntax as rule-governed compositionality would have started at the word level, with culture-specific principles regulating how sounds could combine to produce acceptable words. The technology also breaks the linear sequencing of sounds with pauses to mark boundaries first between words and, at a higher level, between larger chunks construed as constituents and sentences. Principles that are partly culture-specific and partly universal regulate how words can combine into longer and complex utterances: sentences and narratives. Pace Steels, constituent structure facilitates mental processing. Internal word structure (morphology, which forgoes pauses) would have emerged later to facilitate vocabulary growth. Module-specific “rules” and “constraints” would have emerged both to systematize the production of words and longer utterances. Mutual accommodations between interactants produced communal norms, minimizing communication failure. Steels is correct in underscoring the significance of variation, a normal state of affairs in populations,
An Overview of Trade Books that Warned of the 2008 Real Estate and Financial Meltdown

In contrast to high-level U.S. government officials and advisors who failed to anticipate the real estate and financial crisis of 2008, at least 17 trade books from 2002 to 2008 warned of an impending crash. The book authors were a minority in the finance and business community, which for the most part was also unprepared for the events. Academic economists failed to provide checks on flawed policies. This suggests greater emphasis on broader understanding of and practical application of economics to national affairs in academic research and curricula.
How Families Affect Illness

A basic premise of the biopsychosocial model is that various subsystems (biological, individual, family, community, etc.) impact each other in ways that affect both health and illness. Clinical experience supports the premise that families influence and are influenced by the health of their members and that family-oriented primary care can lead to better care and improved health for both the individual and the family as a whole. However, assumptions and experiences that point toward a new approach to medical care should be scientifically validated through empirical research. This chapter will examine some important lines of research on the family’s impact on health. While much of the family and health research suffers from conceptual and methodological problems (1), there is now a body of well-designed studies and randomized controlled trials (see Table 2.1) which demonstrate that the family has a powerful influence on health. The clinical implications of this research are presented in the Protocol section of the chapter. This research lends support to the contention of family-oriented medical care that a partnership among physician, patient, and family may provide the most effective and efficient form of health care.
Riedel’s Thyroiditis

Riedel's thyroiditis is a rare chronic inflammatory disease of the thyroid gland first recognized by Bernhard Riedel in 1893. In order to clarify the clinical and pathologic features of this rare disorder, a recent case of Riedel's thyroiditis is presented, 6 additional cases from the surgical pathology files of the Cleveland Clinic Foundation are reported, and the 178 cases previously reported in the English literature are reviewed. The mean age at presentation has been 47.8 years, and 83% of patients have been female. Sixty-four percent were euthyroid, 32% hypothyroid, and 4% hyperthyroid. Antithyroid antibodies have been detected in 16 of the 25 patients tested. Since 1960, 34% of the published cases of Riedel's thyroiditis have reported the development of multifocal fibrosis. Immunohistologic study of the inflammatory infiltrate reveals a mixed population of B- and T-cells. Comparison with the infiltrate in Hashimoto's thyroiditis shows similar proportions of CD4- and CD8-positive lymphocytes. The relationship and origin of multifocal fibrosing lesions has not been defined, but an immunologic origin seems most likely. The finding of antithyroid antibodies in 67% of patients supports an autoimmune mechanism of injury.
Induced Autism: The Legal and Ethical Implications of Inoculating Vaccine Manufacturers from Liability

For many parents of autistic children, the pain and heartbreak experienced in learning that their child is afflicted with an incurable disorder would likely be eclipsed only by the horror of knowing that it may have been prevented. A growing body of evidence suggests that many children may have developed autism from exposure to toxic concentrations of mercury contained in vaccines routinely administered as part of the government's mandatory vaccination program. More disturbing, perhaps, is the fact that mercury is an unnecessary component that does not contribute to the efficacy of a vaccine; it is added only as a means to prolong a vaccine's shelf life and to maximize profit for vaccine manufacturers. This article considers the link between compulsory childhood vaccination and the prevalence of autism in the United States, and comments on the current legal and regulatory framework that shields vaccine manufacturers from liability for vaccine-induced injuries. Part I provides an overview of the etiology of autism and its dramatic increase in the United States. Part II considers the history of compulsory vaccination and its benefits to society. Part III provides an overview of mercury and its known harm to humans, and includes a summary of the actions taken by the federal government to limit human exposure to mercury. Part IV discusses mercury and vaccines and considers the link between mercury in vaccines and the development of childhood autism. Part V provides an overview of the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program and the unique problems faced by claimants seeking relief for mercury-induced autism. Part VI discusses the federal government's response to the proposed link between mercury exposure and autism. Finally, Part VII provides analysis and recommendations.
Analysis of the Economic Benefits on the Snail Control Project through Environmental Modification Supported by World Bank Loan Project for Schistosomiasis Control in Hubei Province

Objective To analyze the economic benefits of the 160 snail control projects. These projects were supported by World Bank Loan Project for Schistosomiasis Control in Hubei province in order to provide scientific plan for the snail control project through environmental modification in the future. Method Cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness analysis were carried out to analyze the economic benefits of these snail control projects. Result The unit cost for the snail control was 0.81 yuan/m2. The cost of reducing 1% of the snail-covered area was 116.62 yuan. The ratio of cost to effectiveness was 1.10, and the net ratio of cost to net benefit was 0.10 in the 160 snail control projects. Conclusion Outcome of the snail control project through environmental modification was influenced by several factors depending on the methods used in environmental improvement. All of the cities are benefited from these engineering projects.
On the overall viscoelastic behavior of graphene/polymer nanocomposites with imperfect interface

Abstract Determination of the time-dependent behavior of graphene/polymer nanocomposites is a highly complicated issue, for there are many factors that could affect the effectiveness of graphene reinforcement. In particular, it is greatly known that condition of imperfect load transfer at the graphene–polymer interface can have a significant impact on the overall response of nanocomposite. In this paper, we intend to uncover how the interface condition affects the fundamental viscoelastic characteristics of graphene/polymer composites. To do so, we first call upon a homogenization theory for determining the viscoelastic response of nanocomposites with perfect interface. Next, we develop two different models to address the issue of imperfect interface condition within the framework of our effective medium theory. In the first approach, a diminishing layer of interphase with weakened viscoelastic properties is introduced between the graphene filler and surrounding matrix to build a thinly-coated inclusion system. Through the second methodology, the condition of imperfect load transfer is modeled by a displacement jump, say interfacial sliding, at the graphene–polymer interface. At the end, a comparison of our theoretical results with experimental data for real examples of graphene/polymer nanocomposites (i.e. graphene/Polystyrene and graphene/Polylactide materials) serves to verify the applicability and robustness of our effective medium theory at various concentrations and aspect ratios of graphene fillers. In the process of numerical studies, we show that the experimental creep data cannot be satisfactorily modeled under assumed condition of perfect interface; however, the measured creep curves can be well captured by adopting the imperfect interface models developed in this paper. The calculated results also demonstrate that the interface condition has a profound influence on the stress relaxation and stress–strain relation of graphene/polymer nanocomposites under a constant strain-rate loading. While the surface functionalization for the improvement of interface condition is currently a very active area of research, all of our findings point to the urgency of this process in order to fully realize the potential of graphene nanocomposites.
Mass spectrometric analysis of the cell surface N-glycoproteome by combining metabolic labeling and click chemistry.

Cell surface N-glycoproteins play extraordinarily important roles in cell–cell communication, cell–matrix interactions, and cellular response to environmental cues. Global analysis is exceptionally challenging because many N-glycoproteins are present at low abundances and effective separation is difficult to achieve. Here, we have developed a novel strategy integrating metabolic labeling, copper-free click chemistry, and mass spectrometry (MS)-based proteomics methods to analyze cell surface N-glycoproteins comprehensively and site-specifically. A sugar analog containing an azido group, N-azidoacetylgalactosamine, was fed to cells to label glycoproteins. Glycoproteins with the functional group on the cell surface were then bound to dibenzocyclooctyne-sulfo-biotin via copper-free click chemistry under physiological conditions. After protein extraction and digestion, glycopeptides with the biotin tag were enriched by NeutrAvidin conjugated beads. Enriched glycopeptides were deglycosylated with peptide-N-glycosidase F in heavy-oxygen water, and in the process of glycan removal, asparagine was converted to aspartic acid and tagged with 18O for MS analysis. With this strategy, 144 unique N-glycopeptides containing 152 N-glycosylation sites were identified in 110 proteins in HEK293T cells. As expected, 95% of identified glycoproteins were membrane proteins, which were highly enriched. Many sites were located on important receptors, transporters, and cluster of differentiation proteins. The experimental results demonstrated that the current method is very effective for the comprehensive and site-specific identification of the cell surface N-glycoproteome and can be extensively applied to other cell surface protein studies.
Inference on the ratio of two coefficients of variation of two lognormal distributions

ABSTRACTThe coefficient of variation (CV) can be used as an index of reliability of measurement. The lognormal distribution has been applied to fit data in many fields. We developed approximate interval estimation of the ratio of two coefficients of variation (CsV) for lognormal distributions by using the Wald-type, Fieller-type, log methods, and method of variance estimates recovery (MOVER). The simulation studies show that empirical coverage rates of the methods are satisfactorily close to a nominal coverage rate for medium sample sizes.
Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy

While out-of-town visiting family, a 54-year-old female previously diagnosed with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) presented to the clinic as a new patient to be evaluated for a recent exacerbation, manifesting with abrupt onset of constant, mild vertigo, and increasingly frequent falls, with progressive deterioration over the last 6 weeks. She also had some mild nausea, but denied any emesis or weight loss. There were no cognitive, personality, or behavioral changes reported.
Feeding of Rh and Ag isomers in fast-neutron-induced reactions

Background: In ($n,{n}^{\ensuremath{'}}$) reactions on stable Ir and Au isotopes in the mass $A=190$ region, the experimentally established feeding of the isomers relative to the feeding of the corresponding ground states increases with increasing neutron energy, up to the neutron energy where the ($n,2n$) reaction channel opens up, and then decreases.Purpose: In order to check for similar behavior in the mass $A=100$ region, the feeding of isomers and ground states in fast-neutron-induced reactions on stable isotopes in this mass region was studied. This is of especial interest for Rh which can be used as a radiochemical detector.Methods: Excited states were studied using the ($n,{n}^{\ensuremath{'}}\ensuremath{\gamma}$), ($n,2n\ensuremath{\gamma}$), and ($n,3n\ensuremath{\gamma})$ reactions on $^{103}\mathrm{Rh}$ and $^{109}\mathrm{Ag}$. A germanium detector array for $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray detection and the broad-spectrum pulsed neutron source of the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center's Weapons Neutron Research facility were used for the measurement. The energy of the incident neutrons was determined using the time-of-flight technique.Results: Absolute partial $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray cross sections were measured for 57 transitions feeding isomers and ground states in $^{101,102,103}\mathrm{Rh}$ and $^{107,108,109}\mathrm{Ag}$. The feeding of the isomers was found to be very similar in the corresponding reaction channels and it is compared to the feeding determined for the ground states.Conclusions: The opening of reaction channels at higher neutron energies removes angular momentum from the residual nucleus and reduces the population of the higher-spin isomers relative to the feeding of the lower-spin ground states. Similar behavior was observed in the mass $A=190$ region in the feeding of higher-spin isomers, but the reverse behavior was observed in $^{176}\mathrm{Lu}$ with a lower-spin isomer and a higher-spin ground state.
Effects of dispersion in tsunami Green's functions and implications for joint inversion with seismic and geodetic data: A case study of the 2010 Mentawai Mw 7.8 earthquake

Tsunami observations play an important role in resolving offshore earthquake slip distributions. Nondispersive shallow-water models are often used with a static initial sea surface pulse derived from seafloor deformation in computation of tsunami Green's functions. We compare this conventional approach with more advanced techniques based on a dispersive model with a static initial sea surface pulse and with the surface waves generated from kinematic seafloor deformation. These three sets of tsunami Green's functions are implemented in finite-fault inversions with and without seismic and geodetic data for the 2010 Mentawai M_w 7.8 tsunami earthquake. Seafloor excitation and wave dispersion produce more spread-out waveforms in the Green's functions leading to larger slip with more compact distribution through the inversions. The fit to the recorded tsunami and the deduced seismic moment, which reflects the displaced water volume, are relatively insensitive to the approach used for computing Green's functions.
High levels of IC manufacturability: one of the necessary prerequisites of the 1997 SIA Roadmap vision

The SIA Roadmaps promote aggressive decrease in minimum feature size, which is likely to result in a severe contradiction between acceptable die cost and achievable manufacturing cost. In this paper such a contradiction is discussed in detail along with its likely negative consequences. Efficient Design for Manufacturability is indicated as one of a few remedies, which may help the IC industry in relaxing the implications of the cost contradiction, generated by the SIA Roadmaps.
Extensional rheometry with a handheld mobile device

The on-site characterization of complex fluids is important for a number of academic and industrial applications. Consequently, a need exists to develop portable rheometers that can provide in the field diagnostics and serve as tools for rapid quality assurance. With the advancement of smartphone technology and the widespread global ownership of smart devices, mobile applications are attractive as platforms for rheological characterization. The present work investigates the use of a smartphone device for the extensional characterization of a series of Boger fluids composed of glycerol/water and poly(ethylene oxide), taking advantage of the increasing high-speed video capabilities (currently up to 240 Hz capture rate at 720p) of smartphone cameras. We report a noticeable difference in the characterization of samples with slight variations in polymer concentration and discuss current device limitations. Potential benefits of a handheld extensional rheometer include its use as a point-of-care diagnostic tool, especially in developing communities, as well as a simple and inexpensive tool for assessing product quality in industry.
Allosteric regulation of epigenetic modifying enzymes

Epigenetic enzymes including histone modifying enzymes are key regulators of gene expression in normal and disease processes. Many drug development strategies to target histone modifying enzymes have focused on ligands that bind to enzyme active sites, but allosteric pockets offer potentially attractive opportunities for therapeutic development. Recent biochemical studies have revealed roles for small molecule and peptide ligands binding outside of the active sites in modulating the catalytic activities of histone modifying enzymes. Here we highlight several examples of allosteric regulation of epigenetic enzymes and discuss the biological significance of these findings.
Composite Fibers from Recycled Plastics Using Melt Centrifugal Spinning

New methods are being developed to enable the production of value-added materials from high-volume, low-cost feedstocks arising from domestic recycling streams. In this work, recycled bottle-grade polyethylene terephthalate, polystyrene, and polypropylene were spun into fibers from the melt using a centrifugal spinning technique. Mono-component fibers and 50/50 blends of each polymer and a 33/33/33 blend of all three polymers were evaluated. Fiber morphology, chemistry, thermal, and mechanical properties were probed. Fiber diameters ranged from ca. 1 to over 12 µm, with polypropylene fibers having the smallest fiber diameters. Mono-component fibers were generally defect-free, while composite fibers containing polypropylene were beady. Fibers made from polyethylene terephthalate had the highest tensile strength, and the addition of polyethylene terephthalate to the other polymers improved the mechanical properties of the blends. Nano- and micro-fibers from both pure and mixed waste streams are expected to have applications in myriad areas such as ultra/micro-filtration, composites, and insulation.
Elevated plasma 8-iso-prostaglandin F2α levels in human smokers originate primarily from enzymatic instead of non-enzymatic lipid peroxidation.

Abstract It is widely accepted that free radicals in tobacco smoke lead to oxidative stress and generate the popular lipid peroxidation biomarker 8-iso-prostaglandin F2α (8-iso-PGF2α). However, 8-iso-PGF2α can simultaneously be produced in vivo by the prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthases (PGHS) induced by inflammation. This inflammation-dependent mechanism has never been considered as a source of elevated 8-iso-PGF2α in tobacco smokers. The goal of this study is to quantify the distribution of chemical- and PGHS-dependent 8-iso-PGF2α formation in the plasma of tobacco smokers and non-smokers. The influences of gender and hormonal contraceptive use were accounted for. The distribution was determined by measuring the 8-iso-PGF2α/prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) ratio. When comparing smokers (n = 28) against non-smokers (n = 30), there was a statistically significant increase in the 8-iso-PGF2α concentration. The source of this increased 8-iso-PGF2α was primarily from PGHS. When stratifying for gender, the increase in 8-iso-PGF2α in male smokers (n = 9) was primarily from PGHS. Interestingly, female smokers on hormonal contraceptives had increased 8-iso-PGF2α in both pathways, whereas those not on hormonal contraceptives did not have increased 8-iso-PGF2α. In conclusion, increased plasma 8-iso-PGF2α in tobacco smokers has complex origins, with PGHS-dependent formation as the primary source. Accounting for both pathways provides a definitive measurement of both oxidative stress and inflammation.
Physical Interpretations of Nyquist Plots for EDLC Electrodes and Devices

Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) consists of plotting so-called Nyquist plots representing negative of the imaginary versus the real parts of the complex impedance of individual electrodes or electrochemical cells. To date, interpretations of Nyquist plots have been based on physical intuition and/or on the use of equivalent RC circuits. However, the resulting interpretations are not unique and have often been inconsistent in the literature. This study aims to provide unequivocal physical interpretations of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) results for electric double layer capacitor (EDLC) electrodes and devices. To do so, a physicochemical transport model was used for numerically reproducing Nyquist plots accounting for (i) electric double layer (EDL) formation at the electrode/electrolyte interface, (ii) charge transport in the electrode, and (iii) ion electrodiffusion in binary and symmetric electrolytes. Typical Nyquist plots of EDLC electrodes were reproduced numerically for d...
Generating Correlation Matrices With Specified Eigenvalues Using the Method of Alternating Projections

This article describes a new algorithm for generating correlation matrices with specified eigenvalues. The algorithm uses the method of alternating projections (MAP) that was first described by Neu...
Moving FORWARD in Space: The Temple University Workshops

Abstract The benefits and drawbacks of different workshop formats are compared through the examination of two Moving FORWARD in Space workshops for early career women in planetary science. The first workshop featured a longer program that required travel support, while the second was a single-day workshop attached to a major conference. In both cases, attendees thought that the workshop was a valuable experience and offered suggestions for improving content in the future. The primary benefit in both workshops was the opportunity for those scientists that are isolated at their institutions to network with the larger community.
Test Compaction with Dynamic Updating of Faults for Coverage of Undetected Transition Fault Sites

An earlier work observed that the effectiveness of using several fault models for test generation is increased if the existence of an undetectable fault in one model does not imply that a fault in the same site but from a different model is also undetectable. Based on this observation, a bridging fault model that requires two-cycle tests was defined to provide additional coverage for lines with undetected transition faults, and a set of bridging faults corresponding to undetected transition faults was selected prior to test generation. This paper observes that the effectiveness of this approach is increased if the target faults are updated dynamically during test generation. This creates fewer cases where faults are targeted unnecessarily, or faults that should be targeted are not. The result is 100% coverage of bridging faults corresponding to undetected transition faults, which is not achieved with the earlier approach.
Crime and natural resource booms: evidence from unconventional natural gas production

The USA has experienced a sudden expansion of oil and natural gas production due to the combination of hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling. The energy extraction boom has had many localized impacts, most notably in areas with substantial shale gas reserves. This paper exploits a natural experiment in the Marcellus region to examine one channel of the so-called resource curse, the effect of resource extraction on local crime. The results show that areas experiencing a natural gas extraction boom suffer an increase in overall violent crimes, while property crimes remain similar to non-boom areas. Furthermore, the violent crime increase appears to be driven primarily by increases in aggravated and sexual assaults.
Optimal Parsing Strategies for Linear Context-Free Rewriting Systems

Factorization is the operation of transforming a production in a Linear Context-Free Rewriting System (LCFRS) into two simpler productions by factoring out a subset of the nonterminals on the production's righthand side. Factorization lowers the rank of a production but may increase its fan-out. We show how to apply factorization in order to minimize the parsing complexity of the resulting grammar, and study the relationship between rank, fan-out, and parsing complexity. We show that it is always possible to obtain optimum parsing complexity with rank two. However, among transformed grammars of rank two, minimum parsing complexity is not always possible with minimum fan-out. Applying our factorization algorithm to LCFRS rules extracted from dependency treebanks allows us to find the most efficient parsing strategy for the syntactic phenomena found in non-projective trees.
Investigation of the contribution of aquatic humus to the transport of DDT in the environment

The fate and transport of insoluble, hydrophobic organic pollutants in the aquatic environment constitutes a prominent area of concern. It is thought that pollutants of this nature may exist in association with organic carbon, which is predominantly aquatic humus. This type of association could significantly affect the kinetics of such transformation processes as volatilization or chemical and biological degradation of the pollutant. While dissolved organic matter (DOM) comprises the bulk of organic carbon (or aquatic humus) in natural waters, the interact·io',\ between naturally occurring DOM and insoluble organic pollutants has not been quantified. The work presented in thi s di ssertation is an effort to quantify the, effect of dissolved organic matter on the solubility in water and, hence, the transport of hydrophobic organic compounds (specifically, DDT) in the environment. Saturated aqueous solutions of DDT were generated by a method that is different from those used by other workers. Within a closed system, an excess of sol id DDT was allowed to vaporize and enter an aqueous solution through the gas phase. The concentraction of DDT in solution increased with time, 1 eve 1 i ng off when equil i bri urn and a saturated solution was established. The solubility of p,p'-DDT in distilled water was determined to be 1.87 ± .01 ppb. The solubility of the o,p'-DDT isomer in distilled water was determined to be 4.88 ± .03 ppb. The concentrations of p,pl-
Synergistic Effect of Dam and Forecast on Flood Probabilities: A Bayesian Analysis

A Bayesian Processor of Forecasts (BPF) characterizes uncertainty about flood occurrence and crest height, given a river forecast. This characterization provides a basis for optimal operation and performance evaluation of a flood warning system. When a flood warning system is coupled with a flood control dam upstream, a synergistic effect is created: the dam changes not only (i) the natural regime of flood flows (and hence the prior distribution in the BPF), but also (ii) the predictability of flood flows (and hence the likelihood function in the BPF). A Bayesian framework is presented for analyzing such changes and modeling the synergistic effect of a dam and a forecast on the posterior probability of flood occurrence and the posterior distribution of the flood crest. The unique contribution of the framework is an analytic form of this posterior distribution for any prior distribution. The analysis is illustrated with a case study.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Constipation

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is defined as a functional gastrointestinal (GI) disorder. Functional bowel disorders are disorders of the GI tract in which an organic or structural lesion responsible for symptom development cannot be identified. IBS is defined using the Rome criteria, and in its latest iteration (Rome III), IBS is defined as a symptom complex characterized by abdominal pain or discomfort associated with disordered defecation (either constipation [IBS-C], diarrhea [IBS-D], or mixed symptoms of alternating constipation and diarrhea [IBS-M]). IBS is a common disorder that affects approximately 10–15 % of the US population, which includes people of all ages, races, socioeconomic classes, and religions. In the community, IBS is more likely to affect women than men with a ratio of approximately 1.5–1; the cause of this gender disparity is unknown. For most patients, IBS is a chronic disorder; nearly 75 % of patients remain symptomatic 5 years after the diagnosis is first made. Although IBS does not alter an individual’s lifespan, it does impose a significant impact on patients’ quality of life. In addition, IBS has a negative economic impact on the health care system. IBS can be accurately and confidently diagnosed using the Rome III criteria in combination with a careful history and physical examination and the absence of warning signs which include anemia, unintentional weight loss, and evidence of GI bleeding. A number of treatments are available to improve symptoms. This chapter will review the epidemiology, pathophysiology, and diagnosis and treatment of IBS with constipation.
Abstract B093: Development and validation of a novel automated Gleason grade and molecular profile that define a highly predictive prostate cancer progression algorithm-based test

Background: Postoperative risk assessment remains an important variable in the treatment of prostate cancer. We aimed to develop and validate a tissue-based on-slide prognostic risk model test to identify which patients would benefit most from early intervention. Methods: Prospectively designed retrospective study utilizing 892 patients, post radical prostatectomy, followed for a median of 8 years. We constructed a matched 50:50 training and test cohort to identify compound features using protein multiplex immunofluorescence combined with novel morphometry generated by advanced image analysis and machine learning tools. The primary endpoint was the development of a postoperative clinical failure (CF) including PSA rise post-adjuvant treatment, or metastasis or prostate cancer specific mortality. Time to event C-index and Kaplan-Meier were used to assess accuracy. Results: The Precise postop model in training (n=306) selected 4 compound imaging features and one clinical variable to predict CF with a performance C-index of 0.82, [95%CI: 0.76-0.86], HR:6.7, [95%CI: 3.59-12.45], p Conclusion: Patients with high Precise postop scores had a higher likelihood of having disease progression within 8 years with a reduced durable response to androgen-deprivation therapy. The Precise postop algorithm-based model guided by machine learning replaces subjective Gleason grading with novel image features that combine morphometry with biologic attributes that more accurately reflect disease potential. Citation Format: Michael Joseph Donovan, Gerardo Fernandez, Richard Scott, Jack Zeineh, Giovanni Koll, Faisal Khan, Nataliya Gladoun, Elizabeth Charytonowicz, Ash Tewari, Carlos Cordon-Cardo. Development and validation of a novel automated Gleason grade and molecular profile that define a highly predictive prostate cancer progression algorithm-based test [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference: Prostate Cancer: Advances in Basic, Translational, and Clinical Research; 2017 Dec 2-5; Orlando, Florida. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(16 Suppl):Abstract nr B093.
Radio ranging with ultrahigh resolution using a harmonic radio-frequency identification system

The accurate sensing of the location of specific objects in an indoor setting is critical for applications including robotic feedback control and non-intrusive structural integrity monitoring. Current optical and ultrasound approaches often suffer from insufficient accuracy, obstruction by other objects, and ambiguous identification. Alternatively, conventional radar-like radio-frequency (RF) methods can suffer from problems such as multipath ambiguity, small time of flight, and limited item recognition. Attachment of a passive RF identification (RFID) tag can provide a unique marker by modulating the backscattering signal, but current systems struggle with high interference and noise, and thus have poor ranging accuracy. Here we show that a 1 GHz harmonic RFID system can provide a ranging resolution of less than 50 micrometres with a sampling rate of greater than 1 kHz. The fundamental limits on ranging precision in our system are traced to the phase noise of the RF source and the aperture jitter of the data converter. The small passive tag required for the approach can be embedded in indoor or underwater objects, as well as within building structures. A 1 GHz harmonic radio-frequency identification system can provide a ranging resolution of less than 50 μm with a sampling rate of greater than 1 kHz.
Two Cases of Worsening Psoriasis After Switching From Ustekinumab to Guselkumab

Introduction:Guselkumab is an Interleukin-23 inhibitor that has been shown to be effective for the treatment of psoriasis even in patients with an inadequate response to ustekinumab. At this time, ...
Book Review: What Will I Be: American Music and Cold War Identity by Philip Gentry

Philip Gentry. What Will I Be: American Music and Cold War Identity . New York: Oxford University Press, 2017. 187 pp. Philip Gentry’s What Will I Be is a book that takes on some very big questions in a compact way. In his introduction Gentry outlines the stakes of his project, announcing his
Costly information acquisition

Abstract We provide revealed preference characterizations for choices made under various forms of costly information acquisition. We examine nonseparable, multiplicative, and constrained costly information acquisition. In particular, this allows the possibility of unknown time delay for acquiring information. The techniques we use parallel the duality properties in the standard consumer problem.
Stem Cell-Derived Endothelial Cell Model that Responds to Tobacco Smoke Like Primary Endothelial Cells.

To clarify how smoking leads to heart attack and stroke, we developed an endothelial cell model (iECs) generated from human induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSC) and evaluated its responses to toba...
Measurement of thermal conductivity of millimeter-sized wires using the fin effect

Abstract Measurement of thermal conductivity of thin wires is critical for multiple engineering applications that involve heat transfer in thin wires. While well-established experimental methods are available for thermal conductivity measurements on large as well as microscale samples, these methods do not work well for thin wires of around a few mm diameter. This paper presents a comparative method for measuring thermal conductivity of a thin wire. The method is based on infrared thermography of the wire of interest suspended from a high temperature base. Through comparison of thermal response of the wire with that of a standard wire of known properties, thermal conductivity is measured for a number of wires in a broad range of thermal conductivity. Measurements are reported for both low thermal conductivity polymer wires and high thermal conductivity metal wires. Results are found to be in good agreement with expected values of thermal conductivity. The effect of wire diameter and base temperature on the accuracy of measurements is investigated. The method is used for measurement of thermal conductivity of solder wires. Results presented in this work contribute towards addressing an important thermal metrology need, and may help improve thermal design of a broad range of engineering applications that utilize thin wires.
Performance Evaluation of MPI vs. Apache Spark for Condition Based Maintenance Data

This paper presents the results of an exploratory research program to compare the performance of typical data analysis patterns following two approaches: one an MPI-based code in a classical HPC Linux cluster with a Lustre parallel file system and the other, a Hadoop environment over HDFS parallel file system. The selected analysis patterns relate to the requirements for building a system for condition-based maintenance (CBM) to efficiently evaluate daily files from thousands of vehicles. A similar rate of reading HDF5 files from Lustre as reading parquet files from HDFS is observed. However, the first results indicate much better performance of an MPI implementation in Python than the equivalent implementation using SparkR, with its built-in functions, in the Hadoop environment. This result is surprising, but consistent with the results reported by other authors. Furthermore, the scalability of the MPI code has been tested, indicating a good performance of the Lustre file system.
Contextualizing Firearms in Mass Shooting Incidents: A Study of Guns, Regulations, and Outcomes

The current study provides a quantitative examination of 634 firearms used in 348 mass shootings (1966–2018) through a unique firearm-level database. Specifically, this work identifies the relation...
Advisors as Fiduciaries

This Article provides the first sustained account of advice-giving as a fiduciary activity, and it demonstrates that the dominant approach to defining fiduciary relationships is flawed. Leading academic commentators assert that fiduciary relationships only arise when one party has discretion over the assets or affairs of another. Yet, many advisors — such as lawyers, doctors, and investment professionals — lack discretion over a principal’s assets or affairs, but are nonetheless considered fiduciaries by the courts. The dominant academic view of fiduciary relationships is therefore incomplete because it does not account for purely advisory relationships. Drawing on the interdisciplinary literature on trust and the normativity of advice, the Article demonstrates that imposing a fiduciary duty on certain advisors is not only consistent with contemporary judicial practice, it is also normatively correct. In addition, the Article builds a framework for assessing which advisors should be subject to fiduciary responsibility. Not everyone who provides advice should be subject to fiduciary liability. Thus, the Article proposes factors to determine which advisors should be subject to fiduciary duties. The Article addresses a matter of widespread importance. Most people rely on fiduciary advisors to aid with critical decision-making. Yet, the dominant academic approach would wrongly denude these advisors of fiduciary responsibility merely because they lack discretionary authority over their clients’ assets or affairs. This result would have adverse consequences for the advisory relationships on which most people rely.
Concordance of the Adaptive Behavior Assessment System, second and third editions

BACKGROUND Adaptive functioning is an important area of assessment with implications for differential diagnosis, educational placement, service eligibility and criminal sentencing. While periodic normative and content updates of adaptive functioning measures are necessary to keep measures relevant, knowledge of equivalence between versions is also required if adaptive measures are to be used to track the stability of adaptive functioning skills over time. METHOD This paper presents two studies that used between-group and within-group comparison designs to examine the equivalence of the second and third editions of the Adaptive Behavior Assessment System (ABAS) in a mixed clinical sample. In study 1, ABAS-2 scores for children assessed between 2014 and 2015 (n = 1036; mean age = 10.24, SD = 3.44) were compared with ABAS-3 scores for children assessed between 2015 and 2016 (n = 1291; mean age = 10.51, SD = 3.70). Study 2 examined a separate sample of clinically referred children (n = 572) for whom parent ratings had been obtained on both the ABAS-2 (mean age = 9.65, SD = 2.80) and ABAS-3 (mean age = 13.33, SD = 2.95) in the course of repeated assessment. RESULTS For Study 1, while no intelligence quotient score differences were observed between the ABAS-2 group (mean Verbal Comprehension Index = 93.67, SD = 16.95) and the ABAS-3 group (mean Verbal Comprehension Index = 93.08, SD = 17.42), ABAS-2 scores were lower than ABAS-3 scores on the Conceptual, Practical, and General Adaptive Composite scales. In study 2, a similar pattern was observed (ABAS-2 < ABAS-3 on the Conceptual, Practical, and General Adaptive Composite scales), and concordance correlation coefficients ranged from 0.54 [0.49, 0.58] (Practical composite) to 0.68 [0.64, 0.72] (Conceptual composite). The Practical composite had the lowest concordance correlation coefficient value and the largest mean score difference between ABAS versions. CONCLUSIONS The ABAS-3 scores may be higher than ABAS-2 scores in clinical populations. Knowledge of these potential discrepancies will be critical when interpreting standard score changes across ABAS versions in the course of clinical, educational and forensic assessments.
Langevin dynamics simulation of protein dynamics in nanopores at microsecond timescales

With rapid advancement in the fields of nanopore analysis of protein, it has become imperative to develop modeling framework for understanding the protein dynamics in nanopores. Such modeling framework should include the effects of electro-osmosis, as it plays significant role during protein translocation in confinement. Currently, the molecular dynamics simulations that include the hydrodynamic effects are limited to a timescale of few 100 ns. These simulations give insight about important events like protein unfolding which occurs in this timescale. But many electrophoresis experiments are limited by a detector resolution of approximately 2.5 microseconds. Analytical theory has been used to interpret protein dynamics at such large timescale. There is a need for molecular modeling of more complex environment and protein shapes which cannot be accounted for by analytical theory. We have developed a framework to study globular protein dynamics in nanopores by using langevin dynamics on a rigid body model of protein and the hydrodynamics is accounted by analytical theory for simple cylindrical nanopore geometry. This framework has been applied to study the dynamics of Ubiquitin translocation in SiNx nanopore by Nir et al. They have reported 7 times decrease in average dwell time of the protein inside the nanopore in response to a small change in pH from 7.0 to 7.2 and the modification of protein charge was attributed for such drastic change. Closer examination using our simulation revealed that the electro-osmotic effects originating due to very small change in the surface electrostatic potential of the nanopore could lead to such a drastic change in protein dynamics.
Improved outcomes with minimally invasive pancreaticoduodenectomy in patients with dilated pancreatic ducts: a prospective study

Little is known about what factors predict better outcomes for patients who undergo minimally invasive pancreaticoduodenectomy (MIPD) versus open pancreaticoduodenectomy (OPD). We hypothesized that patients with dilated pancreatic ducts have improved postoperative outcomes with MIPD compared to OPD. All patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy were prospectively followed over a time period of 47 months, and perioperative and pathologic covariates and outcomes were compared. Ideal outcome after PD was defined as follows: (1) no complications, (2) postoperative length of stay < 7 days, and (3) negative (R0) margins on pathology. Patients with dilated pancreatic ducts (≥ 3 mm) who underwent MIPD were 1:3 propensity score-matched to patients with dilated ducts who underwent OPD and outcomes compared. Likewise, patients with non-dilated pancreatic ducts (< 3 mm) who underwent MIPD were 1:3 propensity score-matched to patients with non-dilated ducts who underwent OPD and outcomes were compared. 371 patients underwent PD—74 (19.9%) MIPD and 297 (80.1%) underwent OPD. Overall, patients who underwent MIPD had significantly less intraoperative blood loss. After 1:3 propensity score matching, patients with dilated pancreatic ducts who underwent MIPD (n = 45) had significantly lower overall complication and 90-day readmission rates compared to matched OPD patients (n = 135) with dilated ducts. Patients with dilated duct who underwent MIPD were more likely to have an ideal outcome than patients with OPD (29 vs 15%, p = 0.035). There were no significant differences in postoperative outcomes among propensity score-matched patients with non-dilated pancreatic ducts who underwent MIPD (n = 29) compared to matched patients undergoing OPD (n = 87) with non-dilated ducts. MIPD is safe with comparable perioperative outcomes to OPD. Patients with pancreatic ducts ≥ 3 mm appear to derive the most benefit from MIPD in terms of fewer complications, lower readmission rates, and higher likelihood of ideal outcome.