cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Simultaneously modelling censored survival data and repeatedly measured covariates : A Gibbs sampling approach

Recent methodologic developments in the analysis of longitudinal data have typically addressed one of two aspects: (i) the modelling of repeated measurements of a covariate as a function of time or other covariates, or (ii) the modelling of the effect of a covariate on disease risk. In this paper, we address both of these issues in a single analysis by modelling a continuous covariate over time and simultaneously relating the covariate to disease risk. We use the Markov chain Monte Carlo technique of Gibbs sampling to estimate the joint posterior distribution of the unknown parameters of the model. Simulation studies showed that jointly modelling survival and covariate data reduced bias in parameter estimates due to covariate measurement error and informative censoring. We illustrate the methodology by application to a data set that consists of repeated measurements of the immunologic marker CD4 and times of diagnosis of AIDS for a cohort of anti-HIV-1 positive recipients of anti-HIV-1 positive blood transfusions. We assume a linear random effects model with subject-specific intercepts and slopes and normal errors for the true log and square root CD4 counts, and a proportional hazards model for AIDS-free survival time expressed as a function of current true CD4 value. On the square root scale, the joint approach yielded a mean slope for CD4 that was 7 per cent steeper and a log relative risk of AIDS that was 35 per cent larger than those obtained by analysis of the component sub-models separately.
Using prior shape and intensity profile in medical image segmentation

In this note we present a coupled optimization model for boundary determination. One part of the model incorporates a prior shape into a geometric active contour model with a fixed parameter. The second part determines the 'best' parameter used in the first part by maximizing the mutual information of the image geometry between the prior and an aligned novel image over all the alignments that are the solutions of the first part corresponding to different parameters. We also present an alternative method, which generates an intensity model formed as the average of a set of aligned training images. Experimental results on cardiac ultrasound images are presented. These results indicate that the proposed model provides close agreement with expert traced borders, and the parameter determined in this model for one image can be used for images with similar properties. The existence of a solution to the proposed minimization problem is also discussed.
Disaggregating Operating and Financing Activities: Implications for Forecasts of Profitability

Researchers, practitioners, and standard setters emphasize the importance of disaggregating financial statements into operating and financial activities. However, there is a lack of research demonstrating that this disaggregation improves forecasts of profitability. In this study, we consider whether and when the operating/financial disaggregation improves forecasts of profitability. Contrary to the use of an ‘aggregate’ forecasting approach by most related prior research, we first show that the operating/financial disaggregation only provides forecast improvement over a benchmark model incorporating aggregate information when the ‘components’ forecasting approach is used. We also compare the operating/financial disaggregation to the unusual/infrequent disaggregation currently required by U.S. GAAP. We find that the operating/financial disaggregation yields less accurate forecasts than the unusual/infrequent disaggregation. However, when using the ‘components’ forecasting approach, we find that the co bination of both disaggregations improves forecasts of profitability. Finally, we document that the incremental usefulness of the operating/financial disaggregation relative to a benchmark model incorporating aggregate information is a function of growth and accounting conservatism. Overall, our study provides timely evidence concerning how analysts and investors might best use the operating/financial disaggregation for forecasting profitability.
Histologic subtypes of breast cancer following radiotherapy for Hodgkin lymphoma

ABSTRACT Background The purpose of the study was to determine whether breast cancers (BCs) that develop in women previously irradiated for Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) are biologically similar to sporadic BC. Materials and methods We retrospectively reviewed the charts of patients who developed BC after radiotherapy (RT) for HL. Tumors were classified as ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) or invasive carcinoma. Invasive carcinomas were further characterized according to the subtype: hormone receptor (HR)+/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-, HR+/HER2+, HR-/HER2+, and HR-/HER2-. BCs after HL were compared with four age-matched sporadic, non-breast cancer (BRCA) I or II mutated BCs. Results One hundred forty-seven HL patients who were treated with RT between 1966 and 1999 and subsequently developed BCs were identified. Of these, 65 patients with 71 BCs had complete pathologic information. The median age at HL diagnosis was 23 (range, 10–48). The median age at BC diagnosis was 44 (range, 28–66). The median time to developing BC was 20 years. Twenty cancers (28%) were DCIS and 51 (72%) were invasive. Of the 51 invasive cancers, 24 (47%) were HR+/HER2-, 2 (4%) were HR+/HER2+, 5 (10%) were HR-/HER2+, and 20 (39%) were HR-/HER2-. There were no differences in BC histologic subtype according to the age at which patients were exposed to RT, the use of chemotherapy for HL treatment, or the time from RT exposure to the development of BC. In a 4 : 1 age-matched comparison to sporadic BCs, BCs after HL were more likely to be HR-/HER2- (39% versus 14%) and less likely to be HR+/HER2- (47% versus 61%) or HR+/HER2+ (4% versus 14%) (P = 0.0003). Conclusion(s) BCs arising in previously irradiated breast tissue were more likely to be triple negative compared with age-matched sporadic invasive cancers and less likely to be HR positive. Further studies will be important to determine the molecular pathways of carcinogenesis in breast tissue that is exposed to RT.
Spatial soliton pixels from partially incoherent light

We report what is to our knowledge the first observation of pixellike spatial solitons from partially spatially incoherent light. We created an array of as many as 32×32 soliton pixels by launching a spatially modulated incoherent light beam into a noninstantaneous self-focusing photorefraction medium. These solitons were stable and robust, forming a steady-state two-dimensional waveguide array in which optical coupling and control of local waveguide channels could be realized.
The American people and the national forests: the first century of the US Forest Service

The American people and the national forests: the first century of the US Forest Service, by Samuel P. Hays, Pittsburgh, PA, University of Pittsburgh Press, 2009, 198 pp., US$27.95 (paperback), US$...
Vegetables and Vegetable Products

The word “vegetable” is not used technically. Webster’s Third New International Dictionary defines a vegetable as: “1. A usually herbaceous plant that is cultivated for an edible part which is used as a table vegetable. 2. An edible part of a plant (as seeds, leaves or roots) that is used for human food and usually eaten cooked or raw as the main part of a meal rather than as a dessert—contrasted with fruit.”
Strategically Speaking: A New Analysis of Presidents Going Public

A new approach to studying the presidency has recently emerged from the formal theory of American politics that is being applied to a variety of presidential activities including vetoes, unilateral action, and appointments. We use the phenomenon of presidential public activities to illustrate the contribution this new approach for our understanding of the presidency. We argue that it is a mistake to undertake an analysis of presidential activities like public speeches without considering both the political environment - specifically the preferences of important congressional actors - and the policy change being pursued (i.e., the location of the status quo policy). Abstracting away from the idiosyncratic features of individual presidents and embedding presidential public activity in the larger separation of powers system illuminates three different logics undergirding public activity, namely changing legislator preferences, claiming credit for the passage of legislation, and making veto threats credible. Examining presidential activity without accounting for the different possible motivations for going public or the fact that presidents are a single actor in the policymaking process operating under both institutional and political constraints risks overestimating presidential influence. We conclude that the new approach to the study of the presidency can illuminate important theoretical insights and improve empirical analysis.
Perceived azimuth direction is exaggerated: Converging evidence from explicit and implicit measures.

Recent observations suggest that perceived visual direction in the sagittal plane (angular direction in elevation, both upward and downward from eye level) is exaggerated. Foley, Ribeiro-Filho, and Da Silva's (2004) study of perceived size of exocentric ground extent implies that perceived angular direction in azimuth may also be exaggerated. In the present study, we directly examined whether perceived azimuth direction is overestimated. In Experiment 1, numeric estimates of azimuth direction (−48° to 48° relative to straight ahead) were obtained. The results showed a linear exaggeration in perceived azimuth direction with a gain of about 1.26. In Experiment 2, a perceptual extent-matching task served as an implicit measure of perceived azimuth direction. Participants matched an egocentric distance in one direction to a frontal extent in nearly the opposite direction. The angular biases implied by the matching data well replicated Foley et al.'s finding and were also fairly consistent with the azimuth bias function found in Experiment 1, although a slight overall shift was observed between the results of the two experiments. Experiment 3, in which half the observers were tilted sideways while making frontal/depth extent comparisons, suggested that the discrepancy between the results of Experiment 1 and 2 can partially be explained by a retinal horizontal vertical illusion affecting distance estimation tasks. Overall the present study provides converging evidence to suggest that the perception of azimuth direction is overestimated.
Research Ethics and Medical Education

Research ethics should be included in the medical school curriculum so students and residents can fully understand the ethical implications of medical research. Virtual Mentor is a monthly bioethics journal published by the American Medical Association.
Abstract 375: Knockdown of (Pro)renin Receptor and Wnt3a Improves Diabetic Albuminuria Via (Pro)renin Receptor-TGF{beta}1-Wnt3a Signaling Pathways

Recently we demonstrated involvement of (pro)renin receptor (PRR) in renal inflammation of diabetic rats. We hypothesized that in presence of hyperglycemia, PRR upregulates renal Wnt3a and the extracellular matrix component fibronectin (FN) via TGFβ1 signaling pathway, leading to development of albuminuria. Rats underwent unilateral nephrectomy of right kidneys. Diabetes (DM) was induced by IP streptozocin 65 mg/kg. Lentiviral particles constructed with shRNA of PRR or Wnt3a were injected under the capsule of left kidneys of diabetic rats (n=6 each group) respectively. Control shRNA lentiviral particles were also delivered to the kidneys of normal (n=6) and diabetic (n=6) rats. Studies were conducted for 4 weeks. At the end of study, we monitored renal expressions of PRR, TGFβ1, Wnt3a and FN by quantitative RT-PCR and Western blotting, and 24h urine albumin to creatinine ratio (UACR). Compared to control, DM rats had increases in renal mRNA and protein expressions of PRR by 65% and 40% (p
Silica Nanoparticles as Supports for Regenerable CO2 Sorbents

This paper describes the capture of CO2 by polyethylenimine (PEI) physically adsorbed on the surface of silica nanoparticles. The resulting material proved to be not only regenerable but also havin...
Future Tests of Motivated Distance Perception From Multiple Perspectives

In response to comments, I repeat and further support the proposal that valence and arousal cannot serve as independent factors of motivated distance perception, but can be incorporated into the model as features of motivational direction. I articulate the importance of eliciting experiences to predict the direction of motivational direction, suggest additional ways to measure motivational direction, and direct the reader to extensive literatures that have illustrated conditions that give rise to approach and avoidance. Finally, I conjecture on how the motivated distance perception model can be further developed.
Influence of pteroylglutamic acid administration upon fecal riboflavin values in human subjects.

SummaryAs a part of long-time experiments in this laboratory on riboflavin metabolism in human subjects on weighed diets of known riboflavin content, it was noted that with the daily administration of 10 mg of synthetic pteroylglutamic acid for 25 to 40 days there was a striking decrease in fecal riboflavin values as compared to basal periods.
Assessment of Variation In Age, Growth, and Prey of Freshwater Drum (Aplodinotus grunniens) In the Lower Missouri River

Abstract Freshwater drum (Aplodinotus grunniens) are native to wide, slow, meandering rivers of North America. Drastic habitat changes along with the expansion of metropolitan areas may have an impact on the growth rates or population structure of this species. To characterize these populations, we collected freshwater drum (n = 83) during the months of June and July 2013, using hook and line methods. We used analysis of variance to compare age, physical measurements, and volume of prey items consumed by fish, among sample sites. We used analysis of covariance to examine differences in growth among sample sites and sexes. Although we observed no significant variations in growth rates, there were differences in weight, relative weight, and prey among sites. Invasive Corbicula fluminea and Dreissena polymorpha were found in the guts of many drum and comprised all identifiable bivalve shells found in this study.
Fixed Broadband Communications Systems

Three fixed‐line media are of main interest to broadband telecommunications: twisted pair copper wires traditionally used for the telephony system; coaxial copper cables used for inter‐exchange links and cable TV broadcasting; and optical fibre systems used for international and long‐distance telephony and telecommunications backhaul. This chapter presents a chronological account of major milestones in fixed‐line data and digital voice systems. The performance of twisted pair copper wire systems is affected by interference from other telephone connections. This interference is generally known as crosstalk, and exists in two main types: near end crosstalk (NEXT) far end crosstalk (FEXT). While much of additive noise is random and therefore difficult to remove, the crosstalk interference signals are deterministic and therefore it is possible to calculate and remove them from the received signal. Asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL)/very‐high‐bit‐rate DSL (VDSL) standards have evolved to deliver higher transmission rates in both upstream and downstream.
Effects of Racecadotril on Acute Dirrhea of 125 Infants

Objective:To observe effect and security of racecadotril granules on acute diarrhea in infants.Methods: One hundred and twenty five infants with acute diarrhea who were hospitalized from October 2007 to May 2008 were divided randomly into an observation group and a control group.The infants in the control group accepted comprehensive treatment with Smectite powder,Medilac-Vita and fluid replacement and so on.The observation group was added with racecadotril granules,with a dosage of 1.5 mg/kg,three times a day.The curative effect and total efficiency were observed three days later.Results: The total effective rate of the observation group was 94.1%(64/68),significantly higher than that 77.2%(44/57) in the control group(P0.05).Conclusions: Racecadotril can significantly shorten the course of disease.The curative effect of racecadotril granules for acute diarrhea in infants is significant and safe,with no adverse effects found.
Mechanisms of compartment formation: evidence that non-proliferating cells do not play a critical role in defining the D/V lineage restriction in the developing wing of Drosophila

The dorsoventral (D/V) lineage boundary in the developing wing disc of Drosophila restricts growing cells to the prospective dorsal or ventral compartments of the wing blade. This restriction appears along the prospective margin of the wing some time during the middle to late stages of wing disc growth. It has been proposed that the restriction is established and maintained by the formation of a zone of non-proliferating cells that acts as a barrier between cells in the dorsal and ventral compartments (O9Brochta and Bryant, Nature 313, 138–141, 1985). In the adult, however, no group of barrier cells has been identified between the compartments. This study will show the following. (1) A group of cells does exist that lies between the dorsal and ventral rows of margin bristle precursors; these cells, which express cut in the late third instar wing disc, are thus in an ideal position to act as barrier cells. (2) This cut-expressing region is split into dorsal and ventral regions by the expression of the dorsal-specific gene apterous. (3) The D/V lineage restriction defined by marked dorsal and ventral clones lies in the middle of the cut-expressing region and is exactly congruent with the boundary of apterous expression. (4) No group of barrier cells is observed between dorsal and ventral clones. (5) Clones often run along the boundary for long distances, suggesting that they can grow along the D/V boundary without crossing it. These results thus do not support the existence of a groups of cells acting as a barrier between dorsal and ventral compartments. Nor do they support a critical role for division rates near the D/V boundary in establishing or maintaining the lineage restriction.
A daughter who won't let her mother go.

The family physician submitting this case is to be commended for wrestling with a very difficult problem. The patient's family physician has taken an appropriate first step in the management of this situation by setting boundaries through a verbal contract about limits in providing care for the mother.
Ezrin Regulates Hematopoietic Stem/Progenitor Cell Motility

Abstract 1282 Ezrin is a member of the ERM (ezrin, moesin and radixin) protein family that links plasma membrane proteins to the actin cytoskeleton. Ezrin in other in vitro cell systems has been hypothesized to participate in cell-cell contact and could have a role in stem/ progenitor cell mobilization and adhesion. To test this hypothesis, we crossed ezrinflox/flox mice with Mx1 cre transgenic mice to generate an inducible ezrin knock out mouse model. Inducible disruption of the ezrin gene in hematopoietic cells was achieved by the administration of polyIC. Ezrin knock out HSPCs exhibited a 30–40% decrease in baseline and chemokine stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) stimulated motility in transwell migration assays in vitro. In addition, loss of ezrin led to a 60% decrease in the homing capacity of HSPCs in lethally irradiated recipient mice following transplantation. There was a 40–55% decrease in colony forming cells in peripheral blood and spleen of the mice following ezrin knock out, suggesting that ezrin knock out HSPCs may be deficient in egressing out of the bone marrow. To further understand the cause of the impaired motility of ezrin knock out HSPCs, we examined F-actin level of HSPCs at baseline and in response to SDF-1. Ezrin knock out HSPCs displayed 1.5 to 2 fold higher level of F-actin at baseline when compared with wild type cells. Following stimulation with SDF-1, wild type HSPCs that migrated to the bottom compartment of the transwell demonstrated a 2 time greater decrease in F-actin level when compared with ezrin knock out cells, suggesting that ezrin may participate in the regulation of F-actin depolymerization in HSPCs. In summary, we demonstrate that ezrin modulates HSPC migration and homing likely through its regulation on F-actin organization. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Rapid differential forensic imaging of mobile devices

Commercial mobile forensic vendors continue to use and rely upon outdated physical acquisition techniques in their products. As new mobile devices are introduced and storage capacities trend upward, so will the time it takes to perform physical forensic acquisitions, especially when performed over limited bandwidth means such as Universal Serial Bus (USB). We introduce an automated differential forensic acquisition technique and algorithm that uses baseline datasets and hash comparisons to limit the amount of data sent from a mobile device to an acquisition endpoint. We were able to produce forensically validated bit-for-bit copies of device storage in significantly reduced amounts of time compared to commonly available techniques. For example, using our technique, we successfully achieved an average imaging rate of under 7źmin per device for a corpus of actively used, real-world 16źGB Samsung Galaxy S3 smartphones. Current commercially available mobile forensic kits would typically take between one to 3źh to yield the same result. Details of our differential forensic imaging technique, algorithm, testing procedures, and results are documented herein.
Effects of Working Memory Capacity, Task Switching, and Task Difficulty on Multitasking Performance:

Multitasking requires human operators to handle the demands of multiple tasks through task switching at the same time and this ability is required in many jobs. Previous studies showed that different levels of working memory capacity (WMC) and task switching abilities can lead to differences on multitasking performance. With increased complexity of tasks, maintaining task performance is challenging. This study sought to find the relations of WMC, task switching, task difficulty, and multitasking performance. Multi-Attribute Task Battery II (MATB-II) was employed in this study as a platform to assess multitasking. Automated OSPAN and Trail Making Tasks (TMT) were used to assess WMC and the task switching ability, respectively. Results indicated that there were significant effects of these three parameters on multitasking performance. Other dimensions of multitasking performance will be addressed in future studies.
Comparison of noise reduction of earplugs between fit test and coal mine work and observed variability of real-time noise reduction in coal mine work.

BACKGROUND The coal mining industry relies heavily on a hearing protector (HP) for noise protection. Researchers suggested that individual HP fit tests be conducted to estimate the noise attenuation. OBJECTIVE This study examined whether individual fit tests accurately predicted workers' ear plug noise protection while working and whether the real-time noise reduction (NR) remained constant in mining work while an ear plug was worn. METHODS A total of 11 subjects from 3 coal mines each was fit tested using the microphone-in-real-ear (MIRE) technique on their E-A-Rtrademark earplugs in a typical mine office. The same fit tested miners each wore the same type of earplugs in his usual manner doing his normal work. The minute-by-minute real-time NRwork values were determined continuously during full shifts of work. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS Results showed there was a modest prediction relationship (R2 = 0.53) between NRfit and NRwork. NRwork values of each miner's earplug fluctuated over 20 dBA while the earplug was worn. However, each was still able to achieve an average NRwork of more than 10 dBA, indicating the earplug was somewhat effective in reducing noise, if worn. Refitting was an important cause of the low NRwork values. Low-frequency noise sources might be also important causes.
A Tamil-speaking Heroine:

Most actresses who play heroine roles in the contemporary Tamil film industry are not considered, by audiences or industry insiders, to be either ethnolinguistically Tamil or competent Tamil speake...
A Swing-Contract Market Design for Flexible Service Provision in Electric Power Systems

The need for flexible service provision in electric power systems has dramatically increased due to the growing penetration of variable energy resources, as has the need to ensure fair access and compensation for this provision. A swing contract facilitates flexible service provision with appropriate compensation because it permits multiple services to be offered together in bundled form with each service expressed as a range of possible values rather than as a single point value. This paper discusses a new swing-contract market design for electric power systems that permits swing contracts to be offered by any dispatchable resource. An analytical optimization formulation is developed for the clearing of a swing-contract day-ahead market that can be implemented using any standard mixed-integer linear programming solver. The practical feasibility of the optimization formulation is demonstrated by means of a numerical example.
Signal averaging for noise reduction

In stable conditions, signals in cardiology contain a great deal of redundancy. If everything is working right, one beat should be very similar to the beats that occur around the same time. This redundancy can be used for the purposes of improving the accuracy of estimated values in the presence of noise. In this chapter, we will explore how this redundancy is used to improve signal-to-noise ratio in the signal processing technique of signal averaging.
Unusual Escherichia coli PBP 3 Insertion Sequence Identified from a Collection of Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae Tested In Vitro with a Combination of Ceftazidime-, Ceftaroline-, or Aztreonam-Avibactam.

ABSTRACT Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae isolates (n = 110) from health care centers in central Indiana (from 2010 to 2013) were tested for susceptibility to combinations of avibactam (4 μg/ml) with ceftazidime, ceftaroline, or aztreonam. MIC50/MIC90 values were 1/2 μg/ml (ceftazidime-avibactam), 0.5/2 μg/ml (ceftaroline-avibactam), and 0.25/0.5 μg/ml (aztreonam-avibactam.) A β-lactam MIC of 8 μg/ml was reported for the three combinations against one Escherichia coli isolate with an unusual TIPY insertion following Tyr344 in penicillin-binding protein 3 (PBP 3) as the result of gene duplication.
Site-specific regulation of histone H1 phosphorylation in pluripotent cell differentiation

Structural variation among histone H1 variants confers distinct modes of chromatin binding that are important for differential regulation of chromatin condensation, gene expression and other processes. Changes in the expression and genomic distributions of H1 variants during cell differentiation appear to contribute to phenotypic differences between cell types, but few details are known about the roles of individual H1 variants and the significance of their disparate capacities for phosphorylation. In this study, we investigated the dynamics of interphase phosphorylation at specific sites in individual H1 variants during the differentiation of pluripotent NT2 and mouse embryonic stem cells and characterized the kinases involved in regulating specific H1 variant phosphorylations in NT2 and HeLa cells. Here, we show that the global levels of phosphorylation at H1.5-Ser18 (pS18-H1.5), H1.2/H1.5-Ser173 (pS173-H1.2/5) and H1.4-Ser187 (pS187-H1.4) are regulated differentially during pluripotent cell differentiation. Enrichment of pS187-H1.4 near the transcription start site of pluripotency factor genes in pluripotent cells is markedly reduced upon differentiation, whereas pS187-H1.4 levels at housekeeping genes are largely unaltered. Selective inhibition of CDK7 or CDK9 rapidly diminishes pS187-H1.4 levels globally and its enrichment at housekeeping genes, and similar responses were observed following depletion of CDK9. These data suggest that H1.4-S187 is a bona fide substrate for CDK9, a notion that is further supported by the significant colocalization of CDK9 and pS187-H1.4 to gene promoters in reciprocal re-ChIP analyses. Moreover, treating cells with actinomycin D to inhibit transcription and trigger the release of active CDK9/P-TEFb from 7SK snRNA complexes induces the accumulation of pS187-H1.4 at promoters and gene bodies. Notably, the levels of pS187-H1.4 enrichment after actinomycin D treatment or cell differentiation reflect the extent of CDK9 recruitment at the same loci. Remarkably, the global levels of H1.5-S18 and H1.2/H1.5-S173 phosphorylation are not affected by these transcription inhibitor treatments, and selective inhibition of CDK2 does not affect the global levels of phosphorylation at H1.4-S187 or H1.5-S18. Our data provide strong evidence that H1 variant interphase phosphorylation is dynamically regulated in a site-specific and gene-specific fashion during pluripotent cell differentiation, and that enrichment of pS187-H1.4 at genes is positively related to their transcription. H1.4-S187 is likely to be a direct target of CDK9 during interphase, suggesting the possibility that this particular phosphorylation may contribute to the release of paused RNA pol II. In contrast, the other H1 variant phosphorylations we investigated appear to be mediated by distinct kinases and further analyses are needed to determine their functional significance.
Satanic Sensibilities in Paradise Lost

The centuries-old critical debate about Paradise Lost has traditionally placed John Milton’s poetic impulses in opposition to his theological principles. This chapter shows how understanding Milton’s piety, which includes aesthetic and affective components, can lead to a more productive analysis of the poem. Milton prepares the reader’s sensibilities through his treatment of Satan, whose attractiveness and gradual degeneration elucidate the poem’s interweaving of moral and aesthetic concerns. By attending to Satan’s own changing aesthetic perspectives, the poet develops the productive potential—and the dangers—of a serious aesthetic engagement with the infernal.
Interorganizational Business Interactions: Contracts, Processes, Evolution

Business process management in open environments remains a stubborn and important challenge. In open environments, autonomous organizations having heterogeneous information systems interact in an ever-evolving manner. The nature of the contractual relationships among such organizations has a significant bearing on the modeling of the business processes in which they participate. Conventional approaches are not suitable for open environments because (1) they lack support for modeling and management of contracts among organizations, (2) the modeling abstractions they offer do not afford crucial software engineering desiderata such as reuse, refinement, aggregation, and verification, and (3) they fail to provide the designers with guidelines on adapting the models should the underlying requirements change. We propose a novel approach for engineering interorganizational business interactions. Contractual relationships are modeled via commitments and the interactions for enacting the contracts are captured via the modular abstraction of protocols. Relative to how organizations value the various terms of the contracts and how the contracts are played out via protocols, safety and benefit of the contracts are reasoned about. A protocol specifies rules that govern the interactions among the organizations. Protocols can be published to a repository, shared, reused, refined, and aggregated. We propose a methodology—Amoeba—that guides software designers in the face of evolving requirements on how the protocols and contracts can be adapted. We evaluate protocols as an abstraction by applying it to model foreign exchange interactions. We find that not only can protocols precisely and adequately capture the necessary interactions, but also that novel interactions having serious business significance can be discovered during modeling. We propose and evaluate algorithms for checking the correctness properties of the contracts theoretically. We find that our method is sound with respect to pure-strategy Nash equilibria. Lastly, we evaluate Amoeba via a real-life insurance claim processing case study to handle three important kinds of changes in requirements: transactional, structural, and contextual. We find that via Amoeba, the changes can be accommodated simply by composing existing process models with new requirements.
Speculation, Correlation, Interpretation, Conclusion

Tuning, Timbre, Spectrum, Scale began with a review of basic psychoacoustic principles and the related notion of sensory dissonance, introduced the dissonance curve, and then applied it across a range of disciplines. Most of the book stays fairly close to “the facts”, without undue speculation. This final chapter ventures further.
Surgical Alternatives in Anal Sphincter Reconstruction

This chapter outlines the surgical alternatives in the management of the incontinent patient, detailing the results of stimulated and unstimulated graciloplasties and gluteus muscle transposition. Muscle transpositions have documented effectiveness as reconstructive procedures in the treatment of fecal incontinence. These procedures are technically challenging and carry a distinct probability of morbidity, although there is a significant body of literature that finds an equivalent quality of life for patients with a colostomy versus imperfect anorectal function after reconstructed sphincter preservation. The coloproctologist must incorporate the range of muscle transpositions in selected (often reoperated) cases as part of their surgical armamentarium.
Kinodynamic Motion Planning With Continuous-Time Q-Learning: An Online, Model-Free, and Safe Navigation Framework

This paper presents an online kinodynamic motion planning algorithmic framework using asymptotically optimal rapidly-exploring random tree (RRT*) and continuous-time Q-learning, which we term as RRT-Q⋆. We formulate a model-free Q-based advantage function and we utilize integral reinforcement learning to develop tuning laws for the online approximation of the optimal cost and the optimal policy of continuous-time linear systems. Moreover, we provide rigorous Lyapunov-based proofs for the stability of the equilibrium point, which results in asymptotic convergence properties. A terminal state evaluation procedure is introduced to facilitate the online implementation. We propose a static obstacle augmentation and a local replanning framework, which are based on topological connectedness, to locally recompute the robot’s path and ensure collision-free navigation. We perform simulations and a qualitative comparison to evaluate the efficacy of the proposed methodology.
A Biodata Acquisition Recording System (BIDARS)

Workers in the fields of chronobiology, the clinical sciences, biological and biomedial research all have needed the means to observe pre-selected parameters in their subjects for extended periods of time (chronic studies). To date, instrumentation which will acquire such data for weeks or months (or longer) and which is appropriate for use with free-roaming subjects, particularly humans, has not been available. BIDARS addresses this problem area.
Solidification of Icosahedral Quasicrystals: Viewpoint Based on a Quaternion Orientational Order Parameter and the Formation of the E8 Lattice

In this article, the solidification phase transition between isotropic liquids and icosahedral quasicrystalline structures is classified by the application of a quaternion orientational order parameter. We suggest that the formation of the E8 lattice in 8-dimensions, from which three-dimensional icosahedral quasicrystals derive by projection, occurs without dimensionally restricting the degrees of freedom of the quaternion orientational order parameter to the quaternion plane. This is different from the development of regular crystalline solids in three-dimensions, which occurs in "restricted dimensions" and requires topological-ordering, as previously discussed by the authors. In other words, herein, the formation of lattices in eight-dimensions is considered as a higher-dimensional analogy to the formation of "bulk" superfluidity. It follows that, the solidification of lattices in 8-dimensions (and derivative icosahedral quasicrystalline solids) should occur without the necessity of topological defects.
Abstract 2175: Synthetic antigen receptor mesenchymal stem cells (SAR-MSCs) targeting perlecan for drug delivery to ovarian cancer

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can be engineered with polymeric nanoparticles for tumor-targeted delivery of small molecule drugs. Such nano-engineered MSCs have demonstrated exciting anticancer activity in multiple ovarian cancer models. Despite significantly improved delivery of chemotherapeutics to tumor tissues, non-specific accumulation of MSCs in clearance organs remains a concern. Paralleling the concept of CAR-T cells, we advance here a strategy for synthetic modification of MSCs with antibodies targeting specific antigens overexpressed on cancer cells. Our approach consists of stably incorporating recombinant protein G (PG) on the surface of MSCs, followed by binding of a full-length IgG to the PG handle. Because protein G binds to the Fc region of IgG, antigen-binding affinity of the antibody is conserved. We have previously shown the overexpression of perlecan (HSPG2) on ovarian cancer cells and its correlation to poor patient survival. In the current study, we investigated the incorporation of anti-perlecan antibody on the surface of nano-engineered MSCs. The anti-perlecan IgG antibody was first derivatized with palmitic acid (PA), which was then used to insert PG on MSCs cell membrane. We characterized the PAPG derivative by LC/Q-TOF/MS. Flow cytometry and confocal microscopy were used to confirm the incorporation of fluorescently labeled PAPG handle on MSC surface. Similarly, the binding of fluorescently labeled anti-perlecan IgG to PAPG-functionalized MSCs was confirmed by flow cytometry. We are currently investigating the anticancer efficacy of paclitaxel-loaded, anti-perlecan SAR-MSCs using in vitro and mouse models of ovarian cancer. Citation Format: Susheel Kumar Nethi, Dristhi Sehgal, Shen Cheng, Jayanth Panyam, Swayam Prabha. Synthetic antigen receptor mesenchymal stem cells (SAR-MSCs) targeting perlecan for drug delivery to ovarian cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 2175.
Female Power in Verreaux’s Sifaka (Propithecus verreauxi) Is Based on Maturity, Not Body Size

Conflicts between individuals are common among animals, with power dynamics often biased toward a particular sex. However, individuals across species exert power differently depending on the primary source of that power. Dominance-based power depends on fighting ability (e.g., greater body size) whereas leverage-based power depends on resources that cannot be taken by force (e.g., mating opportunities). Both can change in relative importance during development. We examined the development and base of female-biased power structures in Verreaux’s sifaka (Propithecus verreauxi) by analyzing the effects of reproductive maturity and body mass on intersexual conflict outcomes. We used data on four social groups at Ankoatsifaka Research Station in Kirindy Mitea National Park collected from 2007 to 2016, which included 483 decided agonistic encounters with both behavioral and morphometric data available. We used generalized linear mixed models to examine the effects of age, body mass, and female reproductive maturity on conflict outcome. Power relationships between mature females and males were unambiguously female biased. Female reproductive maturity, and not body mass, predicted intersexual conflict outcomes. Once reproductively mature, females almost never lost to males, except when females had not yet had an infant survive past weaning. Our results are thus consistent with the hypothesis that female leverage characterizes social structures of adult Verreaux’s sifaka more than female dominance. Future studies are needed to explore the influence of other sources of leverage and dominance, however. Similar studies in other primate species will clarify the role of what is often called “dominance” but may actually be leverage-based power.
Comprehensive Evaluation of Household Energy Consumption Based on Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator Method

With the continuous improvement of household living conditions in China, energy consumption has increased rapidly. However, it is still nearly blank in the study of estimating the comprehensive energy consumption directing at household. This paper researches the method of comprehensive energy consumption estimation for community and household under the influence of multiple factors. It is proposed that the adjusted energy consumption calculating by least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) method. In order to prove the superiority of this way, the data of comprehensive energy consumption in Changzhou City is analyzed as an example. Finally, it is found that LASSO method has higher fitting degree, smaller annual average error and smaller monthly average error. It is proved that the LASSO method is feasible.
Defining the Relationship Between Human Rights and Corruption

The relationship between corruption and human rights is only beginning to be seriously examined. A major premise of the ongoing research argues that corruption disables a state from meeting its obligations to respect, fulfill, and protect the human rights of its citizens. This Article explores two other relationships between human rights and corruption. First, it shows how individualistic and procedural rights have been used to defeat investigations and prosecutions of corruption by high-level governmental officials. Second, it demonstrates how anti-corruption reforms are inconsistent with the social and economic rights of the poor and marginalized because they have primarily targeted the promotion of market efficiency while reducing spending on basic needs and rights such as health and education. These findings are significant because they show that the relationship between corruption and human rights extends beyond demonstrating that corruption disables states from meeting their human rights obligations. Indeed, human rights can be used in support of or against corruption. The thrust of the recommendations made in this Article are premised on an approach to human rights that offers the maximum potential for the democratization of the Kenyan State through transformative constitutional and institutional reforms. This can be done by expanding human rights concerns to include minority rights and safeguards as well as social and economic rights of the poor and marginalized as central agendas. * Associate Dean for Research and Scholarship and Governor George E. Pataki Professor of International Commercial Law, Albany Law School. This article was supported by a generous Research Sabbatical Grant by the Ford Foundation. 126 U. Pa. J. Int’l L. [Vol. 31:1
Neighborhood Walkability and Crime: Does the Relationship Vary by Crime Type?:

We draw on theoretical insights from criminology in using the Walk Score index to analyze walkability’s relationship to spatial crime patterns on Los Angeles city blocks. Results from our first set...
The Intellectual World of Sixteenth-Century Florence: Humanists and Culture in the Age of Cosimo I

By the sixteenth century, Florence was famous across Europe for its achievements in the arts, letters, and humanist learning. Its intellectual life flourished anew at midcentury with Duke Cosimo and the Accademia Fiorentina. In this study, Ann Moyer provides an overview of Florentine intellectual life and community in the late Renaissance. She shows how studies of language helped Florentines develop their own story as a people distinct from ancient Greece or Rome, trace the rise of the city's medieval government, and explore how the city evolved into a hospitable environment for letters and the arts. Studies of Florentine art gave rise to art history, while those devoted to Florentine traditions and customs inspired broader questions about how to think about cultural change. Demonstrating how the intellectual activity around language, history, and art related and supported each other, Moyer's book documents the origins of the modern narrative of the Renaissance itself.
Strong Aperiodic X-ray Variability and Quasi-Periodic Oscillation in X-ray Nova XTE J1550-564

We report the discovery of strong aperiodic X-ray variability and quasi-periodic oscillation (QPO) in the X-ray light curves of a new X-ray Nova, XTE J1550-564, and the evolution of the observed temporal properties during the rise of the recent X-ray outburst. The power spectral analysis of the first observation reveals strong aperiodic X-ray variability of the source (~28%), as well as the presence of a QPO at ~82 mHz with fractional rms amplitude ~14% over the 2-60 keV energy range. Also apparent is the first harmonic of the QPO with the amplitude ~9%. As the X-ray flux increases, the source tends to become less variable, and the QPO frequency increases rapidly, from 82 mHz to 4 Hz, over the flux (2-50 keV) range of 1.73-5.75 x 10^{-8} ergs cm^{-2} s^{-1}. The amplitude of the fundamental component of the QPO varies little, while that of the harmonic follows a decreasing trend. The fundamental component strengthens toward high energies, while its harmonic weakens. Initially, the power spectrum is roughly flat at low frequencies and turns into a power law at high frequencies, with the QPO harmonic sitting roughly at the break. In later observations, however, the high-frequency portion of the continuum can actually be better described by a broken power law (as opposed to a simple power law). This effect becomes more apparent at higher energies. The overall amplitude of the continuum shows a similar energy dependence to that of the fundamental component of the QPO. Strong rapid X-ray variability, as well as hard energy spectrum, makes XTE J1550-564 a good black hole candidate. We compare its temporal properties with those of other black hole candidates.
Risk and Protective Factors for Frequent Electronic Device Use of Online Technologies

A sample of 10,460 U.S. elementary schoolchildren was analyzed to identify early predictors of frequent use of online technologies (i.e., messaging, online gaming, and social networking). Children (Mage = 67.44 months) at greater risk displayed more externalizing problem behaviors in kindergarten (messaging OR = 1.11; online gaming OR = 1.21; social networking OR = 1.12) or were Black (messaging OR = 1.65; online gaming OR = 1.64; social networking OR = 1.68). Children from higher-income families were at lower risk (online gaming OR = 0.89; social networking OR = 0.89). Boys were more frequent users of online gaming (OR = 3.35) but less frequent users of messaging (OR = 0.62) and social networking (OR = 0.80). Protective factors included specific parenting behaviors.
Beyond Ranking of Nations: Innovative Research on PISA:

In this article, I review and provide comments on the articles that comprise this special issue on research conducted using PISA data. The articles represent a variety of issues and methods related...