cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Solid state lighting for industrial locations

Advances in LED (light emitting diode) technology are creating broader applications in general illumination. Customer requirements, including long life, high brightness and reliability for industrial, harsh and hazardous locations can be achieved with current LED technology.
Computer-Aided Reconstruction of Serial Sections

Thin sectioning probably has been used more than any other method to prepare biological specimens for transmission electron microscopy. The enduring popularity of this technique is hardly surprising, considering its ability to reveal intracellular features at high resolution and its compatibility with a wide range of sophisticated staining procedures. Yet, an inherent drawback of thin sectioning is the fact that a single section represents only a very small portion (essentially a two-dimensional plane) of each cell through which it passes. The information provided by such a section can be deceptive or misleading if it is not interpreted within the context of the entire cell and in view of the direction in which the section traveled through that cell. This is especially true if (as in most thin sectioning studies) one views only a limited number of randomly cut sections. For example, the micrograph in Figure la shows a section that appears to pass through four independent cells. Subsequent serial sections (Figure lb,c), on the other hand, demonstrate that two of these “cells” actually are portions of a single spiral-shaped cell that was transected twice. Similar, but often far more intricate, deceptions may be encountered when randomly cut sections are used to examine intracellular ultrastructure.
Replacement of protogen by lipoic acid in the growth of Tetrahymena.

SummaryLipoic acid is capable of completely replacing protogen in the growth of Tetrahymena geleii.
A curse-of-dimensionality-free numerical method for a class of HJB PDE's

Abstract Max-plus methods have been explored for solution of first-order, nonlinear Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman partial differential equations (HJB PDEs) and corresponding nonlinear control problems. These methods exploit the max-plus linearity of the associated semigroups. Although these methods provide advantages, they still suffer from the curse-of-dimensionality. Here we consider HJB PDEs where the Hamiltonian takes the form of a (pointwise) maximum of linear/quadratic forms. We obtain a numerical method not subject to the curse-of-dimensionality. The method is based on construction of the dual-space semigroup corresponding to the HJB PDE. This dual-space semigroup is constructed from the dual-space semigroups corresponding to the constituent Hamiltonians.
Utilization of Digital Imaging Techniques in Hysterosalpingography

Objective To evaluate the clinical value and technical advantages of digital imaging techniques in hysterosalpingography(HSG). Method 10 ml Lipiodol was injected slowly under fluoroscopic monitoring, and the 1st X-ray image was taken when the cavity of uterus was filled;Lipiodol injection was stopped when the contrast media was into pelvic cavity,and another image was taken 24 h later.All the visualization was exposed under television, collected by IP boards, processed and stored by CR system. Results Of he 220 patients with infertility, 50 cases were diagnosed with duodenal ampulla dropsy, 38 cases with fimbriae tubae, 27 cases with infantile uterus, 20 with uterine tube adhesion, and 15 with pelvic cavity adhesion. Conclusion Digital imaging techniques applied in HSG have many advantages including short examination time, dynamic observation under fluoroscopic monitoring, high definition of contrastographic picture, and image taken at optimistic time. Compared with traditional HSG techniques, it can also support image postprocessing, reduce the waste of negative film, and can be transmitted through network.
Long-Term Radiographic Changes of the Kidney Following the Ileal Ureter Operation

AbstractA long-term retrospective evaluation was done on the preoperative and postoperative radiographic studies from patients who had undergone the ileal ureter operation. The comparative studies demonstrated decreased or stable pelviocaliceal dilatation, no measurable parenchymal loss, frequent high pressure vesico-ileac reflux and decreased number of renal calculi. Radiographically there was no evidence of renal morphological deterioration.
Development and Validation of the Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale–Brief

Twenty-five years ago, one of the first empirically validated measures of perfectionism, the Frost et al. Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (F-MPS) was published. Since that time, psychometric studies of the original F-MPS have provided a plethora of evidence to support the potential development of a shorter yet still psychometrically robust version of the measure. Using confirmatory factor analyses across community and clinical samples, the current study identifies an eight-item F-MPS-Brief with two dimensions (i.e., striving and evaluative concerns) that evidences good internal consistency, measurement equivalence across ethnicities, and concurrent and convergent validity. This new, short version of the F-MPS captures well the bidimensional model of perfectionism that has emerged across studies over the past two decades and is suggested for use when a short yet high-performing assessment tool for this model is desired.
Dry skin, water, and lubrication.

Understanding the management of dry skin is more important than ever. The aging of our population and workplace problems associated with distressed, xerotic skin require the use of emollients. Health professionals and patients with dry skin should be educated to handle the situation properly. Regular lubrication is indispensable in the control of dry skin and problems associated with it.
TIME-INVARIANT PROPERTIES OF PLANAR MOTIONS

This paper illustrates the use of canonical coordinates and instantaneous invariants to derive geometric properties from time-based motions. It is shown how, for a given mechanism, the same geometric trajectories can be generated by different actuator motions. Relationships are derived between those parameters that define a time-dependent motion and the parameters that define its equivalent time-independent motion. These relationships are used to determine all time-dependent motions that generate trajectories with identical geometric properties. The numerical example determines the actuator motions for open-loop, series, R-R-R, planar kinematic chains.
Drug fever induced by piperacillin/tazobactam in an elderly patient with underlying human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.

Our search of the literature revealed no detailed case reports about drug fever induced by piperacillin/tazobactam in a patient with HIV infection although there were a few case reports about drug fever due to piperacillin/tazobactam with other comorbidities. A 63-year-old male patient with HIV positive was admitted for acute cholecystitis. He was started on piperacillin/tazobactam. For the next 8 days, he had intermittent fever up to 103°F (39.4°C) with relative bradycardia although he showed clinical improvement. There was no laboratory or imaging findings suggestive of another infectious source and drug fever was suspected. The antibiotics were stopped and after 48 hours no fever was observed until the day of discharge. Piperacillin/tazobactam can induce fever in patients with cystic fibrosis and in patients with other conditions. Drug fever may be more prevalent in patients with HIV infection. It has no characteristic pattern and may not be associated with eosinophilia.
Calligraphic solar cells: acknowledging paper and pencil

We demonstrate fabrication and characterization of photovoltaic (PV) devices made using pencil, paper, and commonly available economical chemicals with a power conversion efficiency of ∼1.8%. The current collecting electrode of the device composed of multilayered graphene (MuLG) was hand-drawn on the cellulosic paper using an H2B pencil. CdSe quantum dots (QD) were used for charge generation, and 3,4,9,10-perylenetetracarboxylic dianhydride (PTCDA) as a bridging molecule to facilitate transfer of the photo-induced charges to the electrodes through MuLG. MuLG acted both as charge carrier and current collector electrode. The device fabrication and testing were accomplished in a wet lab under ambient conditions with minimum use of sophisticated instrumentation. The materials and devices were characterized using UV–visible, fluorescence, x-ray diffraction spectroscopy, and scanning and transmission electron microscopy. I–V characteristics of the PV devices fabricated on paper and polyester transparency substrates were performed using a solar simulator (AM 1.5) under ambient wet laboratory conditions. The use of pencil and paper makes the device fabrication simple, environmentally responsible, and accessible to layperson thus opening a new window for low cost PV and opto-electronic devices.
Spectral Analysis of Stationary Processes

Let {ξ(t);t ∈ R} be a wide sense stationary, complex-valued random process with E{ξ(t)} = 0 and $$ C\left( t \right) = E\left\{ {\xi \left( s \right)\overline {\xi \left( {s + t} \right)} } \right\}. $$ (7.1.1)
Myocardial Infarction and Aortic Root Mycotic Aneurysm Complicating Aortic Valve Endocarditis: Utility of Cardiac CT

Aortic mycotic aneurysms are a rare but life-threatening potential complication of infective endocarditis. Rapid deterioration of the vascular wall in highly focal areas makes these pseudoaneurysms particularly prone to rupture, resulting in uncontrolled aortic hemorrhage. While computed tomography angiography (CTA) is the imaging modality of choice for the evaluation of mycotic aneurysms, it is not routinely performed in patients with known or suspected infective endocarditis (IE). However, current valvular heart disease guidelines support the use of cardiac CTA in cases of IE and suspected perivalvular extension when there is inadequate or ambiguous visualization on echocardiography. Here, we describe a case of IE in which cardiac CTA was used for two purposes: to assess perivalvular complications and to define coronary anatomy in a patient with a suspected embolic myocardial infarction. Subsequent detection of an aortic root mycotic aneurysm not previously demonstrated on transthoracic or transesophageal echocardiography allowed for timely and uncomplicated surgical intervention, while avoiding invasive coronary angiography.
Chest Wall Deformity in the Radiation Oncology Clinic.

Background/Aim: To determine the incidence of pectus excavatum (PE) and define anatomical chest wall metrics predictive of elevated mean heart dose (MHD) in patients with left-sided breast cancer receiving adjuvant radiotherapy. Patients and Methods: We reviewed 273 consecutively simulated patients from 1/2013-12/2014. Physical examination identified patients with clinically identifiable PE. Characteristics were compared between patients with and those without PE. Predictors of MHD were evaluated using linear regression. Results: The average MHD for the entire cohort was 172 cGy. Of 273 patients, 10 (3.7%) were found to have clinically significant PE. Increase in the Haller Index was correlated with higher MHD (p<0.001). Through the use of individually optimized patient positioning and respiratory gating, MHD was not statistically different in patients with PE compared to those without (p=0.093). Conclusion: Although PE deformity is associated with unfavorable geometry in patients undergoing left-sided breast irradiation, carefully selected treatment technique can maintain acceptable MHD.
Ghostwriting: Lewis Theobald’s Double Falsehood as Adaptation

How can we discuss Lewis Theobald’s Double Falsehood as an adaptation when we have no extant source? Rather than focusing on the question of authorship, this chapter considers Double Falsehood within the context of the eighteenth-century dramatic repertoire, especially adaptations of Shakespeare and Theobald’s own output. The treatment of the female characters, Leonora and Violante, is compared to the representation of women in popular tragedies of the period. Henriquez’s rape of Violante presents the most concrete example of Theobald combining contemporary dramatic formulas with the plot of an earlier source in which the ravished woman does not die but is rewarded with marriage, a resolution contrary to the standard conventions of Restoration and eighteenth-century drama.
A Novel 3-Base Pair 1834–1836 AAG-Deletion (Lys570Del) Mutation In Factor XIII A Subunit Associated with Factor XIII Deficiency

Abstract 1412 Factor XIII is a transglutaminase that cross-links proteins in plasma, vascular matrix, endothelial cells, platelets and monocytes, and plays a role in atherosclerosis, wound healing, and inflammation. Plasma FXIII molecule is a hetero-tetramer consisting of two catalytic A-subunits and two B-subunits that act as carrier molecules. The gene encoding FXIII A subunit comprises of 15 exons spanning 160 kb and the mature protein contains 731 amino acids. FXIII deficiency is a rare autosomal recessive disorder affecting ∼1 in 1–3 million people. It is characterized by bleeding, impaired wound repair and spontaneous abortions. We report studies from a family where two children son (13 yrs) and daughter (11 yrs) have had a lifelong bleeding tendency and spontaneous intracranial hemorrhages. Both parents were asymptomatic and there was no consanguinity. The results of routine laboratory tests, prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time were normal in all subjects. The plasma FXIII activity by a commercially available chromogenic assay was 5% in the son and . The mother also had a known A/C polymorphism at 1119 nt position for a synonymous Pro332Pro change. We also found 3 other variations in FXIII A chain in this family. The daughter has Glu216Gly and Asp267Asn change in the protein corresponding to alterations at nucleotide 773 (A/G) and 925 (A/G), respectively. The son and mother had a substitution at 1442 nt (T/C) leading to a Leu439Pro change. These variations, Glu216Gly, Asp267Asn and Leu439Pro found in the two children (Leu439Pro also in mother) are present in the catalytic core domain of the Factor XIII A chain. All of the polymorphisms or mutations reported in this study were heterozygous in the studied subjects. FXIII gene mutations and polymorphisms result in a high level of heterogeneity of disease presentation. Other point mutations in the FXIII A catalytic core as well as mutations in s-barrel 1 region have been described in association with a hemorrhagic state in FXIII deficiency. Our study documents a new 3-bp 1834–1836 nt AAG-deletion (Lys570Del) in association with FXIII deficiency. We suggest that compound heterozygosity for Lys570Del and Tyr204Phe is the cause of FXIII deficiency in our patients. Further structure-function studies will aid in understanding the impact of these amino acid substitutions or deletions on FXIII function and on the associated bleeding diathesis. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Capital Punishment: Deflecting Abolition

Capital punishment is an issue fraught with controversy and competing opinions. Recently, media stories of wrongful convictions and the use of DNA technology have emerged. Reports about death row defendants freed after discovery of exculpatory evidence are causing some in the public to doubt that continued use of the death penalty is justified. Despite these problems, opinion polls show that the public favors capital punishment; if the public did not, there would be little reason for its continued use. This paper contends that wrongfully convicted defendants and state governments have entered into a “race” to the U.S. Supreme Court. Unless the present problems are fixed, the Supreme Court will be justified in ending the death penalty. The Innocence Project assists inmates seeking exoneration by using DNA evidence. State legislators are revising death penalty statutes to incorporate language about DNA evidence. DNA technology has made it possible for error to be substantially reduced. To test this argument, the paper applies the theories of Charles Epp (1998) and Idit Kostiner (2003). The paper answers the question of whether it will be innocent defendants or state legislators who win the “race” and explains why they will win.
Partial sum processes and continued fractions

Abstract Given { X i } i = 1 ∞ , a sequence of real valued random variables, we define S 0 = 0 , S n = ∑ i = 1 n X i , and define the normalized partial sum process { Y n ( t ) : 0 ≤ t ≤ 1 } by linear interpolation of Y n i n = S i S n (assuming P ( S n = 0 ) = 0 for all n ≥ 1 ). In this note the convergence of Y n ( ⋅ ) in [ 0 , 1 ] is investigated under various assumptions on { X i } i = 1 ∞ . Of particular interest is the special case where the X i are the coefficients in the continued fraction expansion of a point x ∈ [ 0 , 1 ] chosen according to Gauss measure.
Exposure to Ambient Particulate Matter during Specific Gestational Periods Produces Adverse Obstetric Consequences in Mice.

Background: Epidemiological studies associate inhalation of fine-sized particulate matter (PM2.5) during pregnancy with preterm birth (PTB) and low birth weight (LBW) but disagree over which time f...
Interventions to Improve Management of Chronic Conditions Among Racial and Ethnic Minorities

Digital and mhealth interventions can be effective in improving health outcomes among minority patients with diabetes, congestive heart failure, and chronic respiratory diseases. A number of electronic and digital approaches to individual and population-level interventions involving telephones, internet and web-based resources, and mobile platforms have been deployed to improve chronic disease outcomes. This paper summarizes the evidence supporting the efficacy of various behavioral and digital interventions targeting intermediate outcomes and hospitalizations with particular emphasis on studies examining the effects of these interventions on racial and ethnic minority population.
Collaborating with interventional pulmonology in managing a massive tracheoesophageal fistula that extends from cricoid to carina: a case report.

Tracheoesophageal fistulas (TEF) present a perioperative management challenge. A 62 year-old man with esophageal carcinoma presented with a large tracheoesophageal fistula extending most of the trachea. Previously, the patient had two overlapping esophageal and one tracheal stent placed, but he developed progressive tracheal disruption due to esophageal stent perforation near the level of the cricoid. This case describes the anesthetic management of tracheal stent placement for an expanding TEF. Management included a spontaneous breathing inhalation induction followed by ventilation through a supraglottic device—laryngeal mask airway (LMA). Finally, during rigid bronchoscopy, a combination of bag ventilation and jet ventilation was utilized.
Reichenbach on Indeterminism and Becoming

On first inspection, there would appear to be a close connection between the thesis of indeterminism and the belief that, while the past and present are real, the future is not real.1 The claim that the future is indeterminate sits nicely with the claim that the state of the world at the present time (together with the laws of nature) does not determine what the state of the world will be at a later time. This intuitively plausible connection between indeterminism and a dynamic view of the world has been suggested by a number of philosophers, some of whom believed that indeterminism is both a necessary and a sufficient condition for the world to be a dynamic one. Hans Reichenbach is widely taken to have defended this position, and a number of authors — including Michael Tooley (1997; § 1.4), Richard Healey (1981; § 3) and Adolf Grunbaum (1963; § ch. 10) — have criticised Reichenbach for this view. In this paper, I will argue that each of these critics has, in one way or another, seriously misrepresented Reichenbach’s views, and that their criticisms are therefore almost entirely misdirected.
Obesity Is Independently Associated With Higher Annual Burden and Costs of Hospitalization in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

Background & Aims Approximately 15%–40% patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are obese. There is an inconsistent association between obesity and IBD phenotype and course. We conducted a nationally representative cohort study to estimate and compare the burden, costs, and causes for hospitalization in obese vs non-obese patients with IBD. Methods Using the Nationwide Readmissions Database 2013, we identified obese (based on administrative claims code) and non-obese patients who had been hospitalized at least once, from January through June 2013, and followed them for re-hospitalization until December 2013. We compared annual burden (total days spent in hospital), costs, causes, and outcomes of hospitalization between obese and non-obese patients after 1:1 propensity score matching. Results We identified 42,285 patients with IBD, of which 12.4% were obese. After propensity score matching, we included 5128 obese and 5128 non-obese IBD patients in our analysis. Compared to non-obese patients, obese patients spent more days in hospital annually (median, 8 vs 5 days) (P Conclusions In an analysis of data on patients with IBD from the Nationwide Readmissions Database 2013, we found obesity to be independently associated with higher burden and costs of hospitalizations. Strategies should be considered to target obesity as adjunctive therapy for patients with IBD.
Embolization of Head and Neck Vascular Malformations using Serial Arterial Embolization Followed by Dominant Arterial Embolization with Two Microcatheter Technique.

Purpose: Head and neck arteriovenous malformations (AVM) and fistulae treatment without reflux and with nidal penetration is challenging. We describe a case series including adult and pediatric patients utilizing a specific two microcatheter technique using Onyx with strategic embolization of small feeding branches prior to dominant branch embolization. We aim to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of this technique. Methods: Patient selection: Head and neck vascular malformation cases were reviewed from 2010-2017. 11 patients between 2010 and 2017 were treated with serial embolization along with Onyx embolization utilizing a two microcatheter technique. 5 patients had cerebral arteriovenous malformations, 3 had dural arteriovenous fistulae, 2 had mandibular arteriovenous malformations, and 1 had a posterior neck arteriovenous malformation. Vascular anatomy, location, and procedural details were recorded. Technique: During 1-4 procedures smaller arterial feeders were embolized first to maximally decrease the intranidal pressure at the time of the embolization of the major residual feeder. The dominant residual feeder was then embolization using two microcatheters. Coils followed by Onyx were initially deployed through the proximal catheter to form a dense plut. The plug was allowed to solidify for 30 minutes. Aggressive embolization of the nidus was then performed through the distal catheter. Results: All 11 patients had excellent treatment results with complete(6) or near complete(5) obliteration of the vascular malformation nidus. No procedural complications were noted, specifically no strokes, hemorrhages, or unintentionally retained catheter fragments occurred. Conclusion: AVMs and fistulae are challenging to treat. A two microcatheter technique for Onyx embolization with prior embolization of smaller arterial feeders is a safe and efficacious treatment option. This technique allos for maximal nidus penetration while minimizing the risk of non-target embolization/reflux. In all cases we achieved excellent results with complete or near complete obliteration of the vascular nidus.
Influencing Western Gorilla Nest Construction at Mondika Research Center

We collected nesting data from 512 fresh nest sites, including 3725 individual nests, of western gorillas at the Mondika Research Site, Central African Republic and Republic of Congo from 1996 through mid-1999. The mean count of nests of weaned individuals is 7.4 per nest site. Nest types included bare earth with no construction (45% of total), partial to full ground construction (34%), and arboreal (21%). Females, blackbacks, and juveniles as a combined age-sex class built significantly more arboreal nests (21% of total) than silverbacks did (2%). Proximate rainfall (independent of temperature) is significantly correlated with nest construction, i.e., as rainfall increased, silverbacks built more ground nests, and non-silverbacks built more ground and arboreal nests. Maximum daily temperature (independent of rainfall) is significantly negatively correlated with nest construction, i.e., as temperature increased, gorillas slept more often on bare earth without constructing a nest. Accordingly, we conclude that although nest building in gorillas may have innate components shared with other great apes, it is a flexible behavioral pattern that in some western populations is often not exhibited. It appears that when gorillas in this population build nests, they do so in response to both wet and cool conditions, and independently of diet, ranging, or group size.
Farm Fresh Food Boxes: Relationships in Value Chain Partnerships

The Farm Fresh Food Box (F3B) project is a mar­ket innovation that aims to capitalize on successful characteristics of direct-to-consumer (DTC), values-based supply chains (VBSCs), and tradi­tional supply chains with the goals of expand­ing producer sales and improving rural food access. In the F3B model, farmers sell boxes of fresh pro­duce in rural retail outlets to bring food to custo­mers with limited access to locally grown foods. We present pilot findings on indicators of relation­ship quality, communication of embedded value, and food environment, and compare these with extant research to assess whether F3B behaves like a DTC, VBSC, a traditional supply chain, or some­thing else entirely. Unlike much of the previous value-chain research, this work places a unique emphasis on the importance of the farmer-retailer relationship. We merge existing knowledge of DTC strategies and barriers with those of VBSCs and traditional supply chains to understand better the process of expanding into new outlets and con­sumer populations. We find that while the F3B model reduces some resource constraints, it adds a layer of complexity that requires time and expertise to develop a quality relationship between producers and retailers. Additionally, it is apparent that the F3B model must be tailored to fit local contexts of farmers and retailers participating in F3B market innovations.
Evaluating the effectiveness of a police department’s early intervention system

Police departments around the country are implementing Early Intervention Systems (EIS) to identify officers who may be exhibiting problematic or unprofessional behaviors. The goal of EIS is to minimize officer misconduct and increase officer accountability. To evaluate whether EIS can actually differentiate “problem” from “non-problem” officers, we analyzed the performance of officers from incident reports of police–citizen interactions. Using a blind scoring method, we evaluated performance from 1000 police reports; 500 randomly selected reports from EIS-flagged officers (treatment group) and 500 randomly selected reports from non-flagged officers (control group). Six hundred and sixty-seven reports contained relevant performance data. The interval-level metrics used to score officer performance were developed by Vila and colleagues (2016, 2018) to assess performance—expressed as a percentage—across a range of police–citizen encounters. The overall performance score assigned to officers across all 667 incident reports was 80.46% (SD = 8.75%). When separated into EIS-flagged and non-EIS–flagged incidents, performance scores were 80.63% (SD = 8.58%) compared to 80.27% (SD = 8.95). There was not a statistically significant difference between EIS-flagged and non-EIS–flagged performance. The EIS evaluated does not appear to be differentiating between problem behavior and non-problem behavior. This suggests that the “thresholds” used to identify problem officers are not working effectively.
Performance Evaluation of Secure Multi-party Computation on Heterogeneous Nodes

Secure multi-party computation (MPC) is a broad cryptographic concept that can be adopted for privacy-preserving computation. With MPC, a number of parties can collaboratively compute a function, without revealing the actual input or output of the plaintext to others. The applications of MPC range from privacy-preserving voting, arithmetic calculation, and large-scale data analysis. From the system perspective, each party in MPC can run on one compute node. The compute nodes of multiple parties could be either homogeneous or heterogeneous; however, the distributed workloads from the MPC protocols tend to be always homogeneous (symmetric). In this work, we study a representative MPC framework and a set of MPC applications from the system performance perspective. We show the detailed online computation workflow of a state-of-the-art MPC protocol and analyze the root cause of its stall time and performance bottleneck on homogeneous and heterogeneous compute nodes.
What Is Responsible for Heterogeneity in Mantle Cell Lymphoma Biology and Outcomes

Mantle cell lymphoma, despite its common derivation from a t(11;14) error that occurs in a naive B-cell leading to overexpression of cyclin D1 protein, is characterized by substantial heterogeneity in biology and clinical outcome. Unlike other non-Hodgkin lymphoma types, it is more common in men. Clinical presentation patterns vary from nodal to splenomegaly with leukemia to gastrointestinal involvement. Biological variability is linked to tumor cell proliferation. Increased monocyte/macrophages and their associated proinflammatory cytokines are associated with inferior outcomes. These clues mandate that new treatments should target signal pathways that contribute to these adverse outcomes.
Demand Uncertainty and the Production of Audit Services

Economic theory suggests that demand uncertainty should influence producer behavior. In this study, we empirically examine the impact of demand uncertainty on the production of audit services. Auditors must make resource allocation decisions in advance of exact demand being known, and because a large portion of an auditor’s capacity-related commitments are fixed and therefore difficult to adjust in the short run, uncertainty in client demand outcomes likely imposes costs on auditors. Consistent with auditors being compensated for these costs, our results indicate that both audit price and audit production timing are affected by a client’s uncertainty in demand for audit services. We also find that these compensation mechanisms act as substitutes used by auditors to alleviate the costs imposed by demand uncertainty. Our study contributes to the growing literature on the underlying economics of the audit market and answers recent calls for analysis of demand-side factors that influence the audit industry.
A novel dynamic simulation methodology for high temperature packed-bed thermal energy storage with experimental validation

Abstract Packed-bed thermal energy storage (TES) is a cost-effective storage option for high temperature applications. This study aims to accurately model the behavior of a packed-bed TES system during transient operation while maintaining low computation time. This is realized through the development of a novel 1D × 1D model accounting for intra-particle conduction – the first dimension representing the overall device in the axial direction, and the second dimension representing spherical storage particles in the radial direction. An experimental system was constructed to validate the simulation model. Temperatures at the system outlet and in the center of the storage bed were predicted within 3.75% and 3.54% of experimental results, respectively. The validated model was then used to predict the behavior of different materials suitable for large-scale applications, such as stone, concrete, and steel. The potential error due to applying the uniform temperature approximation was investigated on different Biot number configurations. A relative error greater than 55% between surface and particle center temperatures was identified for a system with a Biot number of 3. The novel modeling methodology realized computation times similar to models not accounting for this phenomenon, an 87% improvement upon previous work investigating similar methods, with prediction accuracy remaining unaffected.
Science Communication in the Context of Reproducibility and Replicability: How Nonscientists Navigate Scientific Uncertainty

Scientists stand to gain in obvious ways from recent efforts to develop robust standards for and mechanisms of reproducibility and replicability. Demonstrations of reproducibility and replicability may provide clarity with respect to areas of uncertainty in scientific findings and translate into greater impact for the research. But when it comes to public perceptions of science, it is less clear what gains might come from recent efforts to improve reproducibility and replicability. For example, could such efforts improve public understandings of scientific uncertainty? To gain insight into this issue, we would need to know how those views are shaped by media coverage of it, but none of the emergent research on public views of reproducibility and replicability in science considers that question. We do, however, have the recent report on Reproducibility and Replicability in Science issued by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, which provides an overview of public perceptions of uncertainty in science. Here, I adapt that report to begin a conversation between researchers and practitioners, with the aim of expanding research on public perceptions of scientific uncertainty. This overview draws upon research on risk perception and science communication to describe how the media influences the communication and perception of uncertainty in science. It ends by presenting recommendations for communicating scientific uncertainty as it pertains to issues of reproducibility and replicability.
You Can Look it Up: The Use of Dictionaries in Interpreting Statutes

Justice Antonin Scalia's well-known preference for using dictionaries rather than legislative history to interpret statutes is the jumping off point for an examination of the tools of textual analysis. The brief article offers common-sense rules for scientifically selecting dictionaries to interpret statutory language. First, the author describes the most respected unabridged dictionaries and their history. Next, there is a discussion of the principle that the dictionary selected should be relatively contemporaneous with the text interpreted. Finally, the use of specialized dictionaries to interpret the unique terminology of a trade or profession is detailed.
xbx-4, a homolog of the Joubert syndrome gene FAM149B1, acts via the CCRK and MAK kinase cascade to regulate cilia morphology

ABSTRACT Primary cilia are microtubule (MT)-based organelles that mediate sensory functions in multiple cell types. Disruption of cilia structure or function leads to a diverse collection of diseases termed ciliopathies (1–3). Mutations in the DUF3719 domain-containing protein FAM149B1 have recently been shown to elongate cilia via unknown mechanisms and result in the ciliopathy Joubert syndrome (4). The highly conserved CCRK and MAK/RCK kinases negatively regulate cilia length and structure in Chlamydomonas, C. elegans, and mammalian cells (5–11). How the activity of this kinase cascade is tuned to precisely regulate cilia architecture is unclear. Here we identify XBX-4, a DUF3719 domain-containing protein related to human FAM149B1, as a novel regulator of the DYF-18 CCRK and DYF-5 MAK kinase pathway in C. elegans. As in dyf-18 and dyf-5 mutants (11), sensory neuron cilia are elongated in xbx-4 mutants and exhibit altered axonemal MT stability. XBX-4 promotes DYF-18 CCRK activity to regulate DYF-5 MAK function and localization. We find that Joubert syndrome-associated mutations in the XBX-4 DUF3719 domain also elongate cilia in C. elegans. Our results identify a new metazoan-specific regulator of this highly conserved kinase pathway, and suggest that FAM149B1 may similarly act via the CCRK/MAK kinase pathway to regulate ciliary homeostasis in humans.
Influence of low-level-laser therapy on the stability of orthodontic mini-screw implants. A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND The influence of low-level-laser therapy (LLLT) on the stability of orthodontic mini-screw implants (MSIs) has not been systematically reviewed. OBJECTIVES The aim was to assess the influence of LLLT on the stability of orthodontic MSIs. METHODS An unrestricted search of indexed databases was performed. SELECTION CRITERIA Randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs) investigating the influence of LLLT on orthodontic MSI stability. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Two authors independently performed study retrieval and selection, and data extraction. The risk of bias (RoB) of individual studies was assessed using the Cochrane RoB Tool for RCTs. Meta-analyses were performed separately for RCTs using periotest and resonance frequency analysis (RFA) to measure MSI stability; and a random effects model was applied. Subgroup analyses were performed based on the time-points of MSI stability evaluation. The quality of available evidence was evaluated using the Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach. RESULTS Initially, 1332 articles were screened. Six RCTs with a split-mouth design were included. The periotest was used in 4 RCTs and 2 RCTs used RFA to measure MSI stability. All RCTs had a low RoB. Subgroup analyses based on periotest indicated that MSIs treated with LLLT had significantly higher stability than untreated MSIs at 21 and 30 days [weighted mean difference (MD) = -2.76, confidence interval (CI): [-4.17, -1.36], P-value = 0.0001) and at 60 days (weighted MD = -3.47, CI: [-4.58, -2.36], P < 0.00001); and the level of certainty was high. Subgroup analyses based on RFA showed higher stability of MSIs treated with than without LLLT at 56 and 60 days (standardized MD = 0.82, CI: [0.32, 1.32], P = 0.001), and at 70 and 90 days (standardized MD = 0.86, CI: [0.36, 1.36], P = 0.0007); and the level of certainty was moderate. LIMITATIONS Due to limited number of relevant studies, it was not possible to perform sensitivity analysis, subgroup analyses for patient and intervention-related characteristics, and reporting biases assessment. CONCLUSIONS The role of LLLT on the secondary stability of MSIs placed in patients undergoing OT remains debatable. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION PROSPERO (CRD42021230291).
Euler angles and numerical representation of the railroad track geometry

The geometry description plays a central role in many engineering applications and directly influences the quality of the computer simulation results. The geometry of a space curve can be completely defined in terms of two parameters: the horizontal and vertical curvatures, or equivalently, the curve curvature and torsion. In this paper, distinction is made between the track angle and space-curve bank angle, referred to in this paper as the Frenet bank angle. In railroad vehicle systems, the track bank angle measures the track super-elevation required to define a balance speed and achieve a safe vehicle operation. The formulation of the track space-curve differential equations in terms of Euler angles, however, shows the dependence of the Frenet bank angle on two independent parameters, often used as inputs in the definition of the track geometry. This paper develops the general differential equations that govern the track geometry using the Euler angle sequence adopted in practice. It is shown by an example that a curve can be twisted and vertically elevated but not super-elevated while maintaining a constant vertical-development angle. The continuity conditions at the track segment transitions are also examined. As discussed in the paper, imposing curvature continuity does not ensure continuity of the tangent vectors at the curve/spiral intersection. Several curve geometries that include planar and helix curves are used to explain some of the fundamental issues addressed in this study.
A Biographical Sketch of Yerba Mate

This chapter provides an overview of yerba mate’s use, biogeography, history, and current proliferation. In outlining the recent attempts at the “new” commodity’s global spread, I focus on the marketing strategies of several major firms representing various segments of yerba mate’s mature domestic market, as well as its emerging global market. Furthermore, I detail the branding efforts of the Instituto Nacional de la Yerba Mate (an Argentine quasi-governmental organization) and how they help construct meaning.
A New Algorithm for Shortest Paths in Discrete Dynamic Networks

Abstract In this paper we study two shortest paths problems in discrete dynamic hetWorks: the one-to-all for one departure time interval, and the all-to-one for all departure time intervals. Early results are revisited. New properties of these problems are established and exploited in developing solution algorithms. A new and simple solution algorithm for the all-to-one fastest paths problem for all departure time intervals is proposed. It is proved, analytically, that the new solution algorithm has an optimal running time complexity that equals the complexity of the problem. Computer implementations and experimental evaluations of four solution algorithms support analytical results and demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed algorithm. We expect our findings to be of major benefit to research and development activities in the field of dynamic management of large-scale transportation systems.
Phase I dose escalation trial of nitroglycerin in addition to 5-fluorouracil and radiation therapy for neoadjuvant treatment of operable rectal cancer.

Background Nitric oxide donors decreased cell survival in vitro and tumor load in vivo in models of rectal cancer subjected to ionizing radiation. Nitroglycerin (NTG) transdermal patches, added to chemotherapy, have been shown to improve outcomes in lung cancer patients. Methods This open-label, nonrandomized, multicohort, dose escalation, phase I trial had a primary endpoint to evaluate the safety, tolerability, feasibility, dose-limiting toxicity and maximum tolerated dose of topical NTG in addition to 5-fluorouracil and radiation therapy for neoadjuvant treatment of locoregionally advanced operable rectal cancer. The secondary endpoint was rate of pathologic complete response (pCR). Patients were assigned to 3 sequential cohorts of escalating dose levels of commercially available NTG patches (0.2, 0.4, and 0.6 mg/h), each cohort was intended to consist of 3 patients. Results Thirteen patients were enrolled in the trial as specified in the dose escalation protocol. They were all male with a median age of 59.4 ± 2.5 (SEM) years. The observed toxicities were mild to moderate and manageable. Four patients developed asymptomatic grade 3 lymphopenia during the chemoradiation that resolved promptly upon completion. One patient had a non-ST segment elevation MI and 1 patient developed diarrhea. None of these toxicities were attributed to NTG except for 1 patient who developed a grade 3 headache. This required an additional group of patients at the same dose and no other patient experienced headaches. pCR was 17%. Conclusion NTG patches are well-tolerated and it is feasible to proceed with a phase II trial at the maximum dose examined (0.6 mg/h).
Evaluation of Gianturco coils for closure of large (> or = 3.5 mm) patent ductus arteriosus.

Abstract Objectives. This report evaluates the use of Gianturco coils to close large patent ductus arteriosus (PDAs) (≥3.5 mm) and describes transvenous delivery of 0.052-in. (0.132-cm) Gianturco coils. Background. Coil closure of PDAs has become increasingly popular. However, the technique has significant limitations when used to close large PDAs. This report evaluates patient characteristics, PDA anatomy, hemodynamic variables, delivery technique and coil geometry to determine predictors of success. Methods. Between January 1995 and January 1997, 16 of 118 patients undergoing catheterization for PDA closure were found to have large PDAs. Their median age and weight were 14 months (range 3 months to 43 years) and 8.5 kg (range 3.5 to 73), respectively. The mean PDA diameter was 4.3 mm (range 3.5 to 5.9). Closure of PDAs was attempted using transcatheter delivery of 0.038-in. (0.096-cm) and 0.052-in. coils. Differences in clinical, anatomic, hemodynamic and technical variables between successes and failures were compared. Results. Eleven (69%) of 16 patients had successful closure of their PDA. Failures occurred only in patients 7 mm/m and a pulmonary/systemic flow ratio ≥2.8:1. Use of 0.052-in. coils tended to reduce the incidence of embolization and the number of coils needed for closure. Conclusions. Patients >8 months of age can have successful closure of large PDAs with currently available Gianturco coils. The 0.052-in. Gianturco coils can be used safely to close large PDAs in infants as small as 6 kg. Increased experience and improved coil design may improve closure rates of large PDAs in infants.
AUV-based seabed target detection and tracking

The GOATS (Generic Oceanographic Array Technology Systems) Joint Research Program explores the development of environmentally adaptive autonomous underwater vehicles (AUV) specifically directed toward Rapid Environment Assessment and Mine Counter Measurement (MCM) in coastal environments. As part of the effort, MIT is developing the GOATS multi-static sonar concept which uses a low-frequency source on one AUV to sub-critically insonify the seabed over a wide area, while a formation of multiple AUVs are used for mapping the associated 3D scattered acoustic field in the water column. Based on the significantly different characteristics of the scattered field of various buried targets, an online algorithm has been developed for concurrent detection and tracking the buried seabed targets. The use of subcritical angle isonification essentially results in the measurement of the reception of weak signals from the buried targets. Tracking these targets in such a scenario encounters the difficulties of detecting the targets in the presence of extremely low signal-to-noise ratio. Furthermore, combining with the uncertainties of navigation of AUVs presents another challenge for detection and tracking the targets. The method proposed in this work applies the techniques of Track-Before-Detection (TBD) to solve this problem. This technique tracks the targets first using the slowly changing environment information, and then the weak signal detection is declared after confidence of the track estimation is established. However, enormous possible trajectories of AUVs needed to be searched while the TBD algorithm is applied, which makes direct online implementation of this technique impossible. A dynamic programming (DP) algorithm is introduced to solve the highly interconnected stochastic network which TBD creates in a much more efficient way. Therefore, together with the DP algorithm, the TBD algorithm is feasible to implement online. This new algorithm has been applied on the GOATS 2000 bistatic data. The result shows successful detection of three buried targets where two of those are relatively weak targets. The result also shows the satisfactory performance of the algorithm in simultaneously detecting multiple, mixed strong and weak targets online.