cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Predicting use of effective vegetable parenting practices with the Model of Goal Directed Behavior.

Objective Increasing a parent’s ability to influence a child’s vegetable intake may require reducing the parent’s use of ineffective vegetable parenting practices. The present study was designed to understand the psychosocial influences on ineffective vegetable parenting practices. Design A cross-sectional web-based survey was conducted to model use of ineffective vegetable parenting practices using validated scales from a Model of Goal Directed Vegetable Parenting Practices. Setting The dependent variable was a composite ineffective vegetable parenting practices index. The independent variables included validated subscales of intention, habit, perceived barriers, desire, competence, autonomy, relatedness, attitudes, norms, perceived behavioural control and anticipated emotions. Models were analysed using block regression with backward deletion. Subjects Parents of 307 pre-school children (3–5 years old). Results Variables significantly positively related to ineffective vegetable parenting practices in order of relationship strength included habit of controlling vegetable practices (standardized β=0·349, P<0·0001) and desire (standardized β=0·117, P=0·025). Variables significantly negatively related to ineffective vegetable parenting practices in order of relationship strength included perceived behavioural control of negative parenting practices (standardized β=–0·215, P<0000), the habit of active child involvement in vegetable selection (standardized β=–0·142, P=0·008), anticipated negative parent emotional response to child vegetable refusal (standardized β=–0·133, P=0·009), autonomy (standardized β=–0·118, P=0.014), attitude about negative effects of vegetables (standardized β=–0·118, P=0·015) and descriptive norms (standardized β=–0·103, P=0·032). The model accounted for 40·5 % of the variance in use of ineffective vegetable parenting practices. Conclusions The present study is the first report of psychometrically tested scales to predict use of ineffective vegetable parenting practices. Innovative intervention procedures will need to be designed and tested to reduce ineffective vegetable parenting practices.
Effects of a formulary change from granulocyte colony-stimulating factor to granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor on outcomes in patients treated with myelosuppressive chemotherapy.

Study Objective. To evaluate the effects on efficacy and safety of a formulary change from granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) to granulocyte-macrophage CSF (GM-CSF). Design. Retrospective chart review. Setting. Single-center academic institution. Patients. Fifty-six patients aged 18 years or older with breast cancer, lung cancer, melanoma, Hodgkin's lymphoma, or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma who developed neutropenia within 4 weeks after treatment with myelo-suppressive chemotherapy and who had been given five or more doses of CSF as primary or secondary prophylaxis from January 1995–March 2002. Twenty-nine patients treated before January 2000 were given G-CSF; after the formulary change in January 2000, 27 patients were primarily given GM-CSF. Measurements and Main Results. The primary efficacy end point was time to an absolute neutrophil count of 1.5 times 103/mm3 or greater after treatment with CSF. Second and third efficacy end points, respectively, were frequency of febrile neutropenia and effect of CSF treatment on schedule and dose intensity of subsequent chemotherapy cycles. Primary and secondary safety end points, respectively, were frequency of adverse events and use of resources used to manage these events. The time to neutrophil recovery was similar with G-CSF and GM-CSF. Febrile neutropenia was more common in the patients given GM-CSF. Chemotherapy dose delays also were more common in patients treated with GM-CSF, as was the frequency of fever. Use of resources (platelet and red blood cell transfusions, intravenous antibiotics, and hospitalizations) was greater in the patients treated with GM-CSF. Conclusion. The formulary change to GM-CSF was associated with a higher frequency of febrile neutropenia, resultant chemotherapy dose delays, more adverse events, and greater use of resources to manage the adverse events. These results suggest that G-CSF and GM-CSF are not therapeutically equivalent, with G-CSF having a superior safety and efficacy profile for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced neutropenic events.
CD30-dependent degradation of TRAF2: implications for negative regulation of TRAF signaling and the control of cell survival

CD30 is a cell-surface receptor that can augment lymphocyte activation and survival through its ability to induce the transcription factor NF-kappaB. CD30, however, has also been implicated in the induction of apoptotic cell death of lymphocytes. Here we show that one of the effects of CD30 signal transduction is to render cells sensitive to apoptosis induced by the type 1 tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR1). This sensitization is dependent on the TRAF-binding sites within the CD30 cytoplasmic domain. One of the proteins that binds to these sites is TRAF2, a signal transduction molecule that is also utilized by TNFR1 to mediate the activation of several downstream kinases and transcription factors. During CD30 signal transduction, we found that binding of TRAF2 to the cytoplasmic domain of CD30 results in the rapid depletion of TRAF2 and the associated protein TRAF1 by proteolysis. These data suggest a model in which CD30 limits its own ability to transduce cell survival signals through signal-coupled depletion of TRAF2. Depletion of intracellular TRAF2 and its coassociated proteins also increased the sensitivity of the cell to undergoing apoptosis during activation of death-inducing receptors such as TNFR1. Consistent with this hypothesis, expression of a dominant-negative form of TRAF2 was found to potentiate TNFR1-mediated death. These studies provide a potential mechanism through which CD30, as well as other TRAF-binding members of the TNFR superfamily, can negatively regulate cell survival.
On the combination of spatial diversity and multiuser diversity

The intention of this letter is to clarify various aspects related to the combined use of spatial diversity and multiuser diversity in a mobile network. We consider a system with one base station and K users, and study five different spatial diversity transmission modes. We show that in general, the multiuser diversity benefit is not reduced by the proper use of spatial diversity. Numerical examples are provided.
Three dimensional finite element modeling and simulation of quasi-shear mode resonator based on c-axis-titled ZnO film

Three dimensional finite element model for solidly mounted film bulk acoustic resonator (SMFBAR) devices with 23° c-axis-tilted ZnO film is developed and simulated using CoventorWare™. Electromechanical coupling coefficient for 23° c-axis-tilted ZnO film calculated as high as 19% in quasi-shear mode. The particle vibration of the device at resonant frequency was measured in both quasi-shear and quasi-longitudinal modes. The impedance characteristic of the device was also analyzed using Mason's transmission line model. As device was operated in water medium the quality factor of 136 with effective electromechanical coupling of 3.61% was obtained for in quasi-longitudinal mode while the quality factor of 283 with effective electromechanical coupling of 9.37% was registered for quasi-shear mode. The quasi-shear mode of the device showed better performance than quasi-longitudinal in liquid sensing application.
Mapping the molecular axes of pentacene-d14 doped in p-terphenyl single crystal using pulsed epr technique in near zero magnetic field

The pulsed electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) technique using computer controlled three-dimensional (3D) near-zero fields (NZF, 0–1.5 mT) have previously been reported. This paper reports on a comprehensive NZF pulsed EPR study of pentacene-d 14 doped in p-terphenyl (PDPT) single crystals. Molecular symmetry axes are determined from the analyses of these NZF EPR spectra.
Optimization of migration method to locate buried object in lossy medium

We present an optimized frequency-wavenumber (F-K) migration method to localize buried objects such as landmines in lossy medium. F-K migration has been proposed to find the location of a buried object using ground penetrating radar (GPR) data. This approach makes use of a wave equation in the Fourier domain to back-propagate the received wavefield. For GPR applications however, standard F-K migration assumes that the ground surface is flat and the medium is loss-free which are not true in reality. When implemented in the Fourier domain, the wave equation becomes the Helmholtz equation. It is then straightforward to incorporate a complex index of refraction in the Helmholtz equation to describe wave phenomenon in lossy medium. We generalize F-K migration to the case of rough ground surface and lossy medium. In the framework of Tikhonov regularization, we develop an algorithm that optimally alters the wave propagation velocity and the complex index of refraction to take into account of the ground roughness and lossy medium. In the process of searching the optimal velocity and complex index of refraction, the algorithm is constrained to produce an image of minimum entropy. By minimizing the entropy of the resulting image, better results are obtained in terms of enhanced mainlobe, suppressed sidelobes, and reduced noise. We use examples from field data to demonstrate the performance of our method.
Comparison of Affect and Cardiorespiratory Training Responses Between Structured Gym Activities and Traditional Aerobic Exercise in Children

Physical activities (PA) that are pleasurable are likely to be repeated. Structured gym activities (SGA) are defined as dodging, chasing, and fleeing games. Traditional aerobic exercises (TAE) are defined as treadmill, cycle ergometer, and elliptical exercise. The purpose of this investigation was to compare affect and cardiorespiratory training responses between SGA and TAE in children. Thirty-two participants (9.3±0.2) were randomized to either the SGA or TAE group. Exercise training was seven weeks, with two sessions per week, for 35 minutes per session. Affect was measured by the (+5 (pleasurable) to -5 (displeasurable)) feelings scale. Affect was recorded at the mid-point and end of each exercise session. The 20-meter pacer test was used to assess cardiorespiratory fitness at baseline and post intervention. Affect responses and heart rates were averaged across all exercise sessions. The SGA group scored 2.77±0.2 affect units higher than the TAE group (p < 0.0001). The TAE group significantly increased cardiorespiratory fitness (baseline 47.8±3.8; post 49.1±3.1 ml·kg-1·min-1; p = 0.023) with no change in the SGA group (baseline 46.3±3.5; post 47.2±2.7 ml·kg-1·min-1; p = 0.127). SGA reported more positive affect, suggesting they experienced greater pleasure during the exercise sessions than the TAE participants. SGA activities promote more positive affect, and therefore may increase children's PA participation.
Subjective Social Status and Adolescent Health: The Role of Stress and Sleep.

Despite adolescence being a period marked by significant social changes, research on social status focuses largely on adults. This study examined whether school and societal subjective social statu...
Survey & analysis of present situation of mining websites in china internet

Nowadays when the internet develops very quickly,the mining industry is also combining with new technologies ceaselessly as a traditional industry,and these mining websites of various functions emerge unceasingly which greatly promoted the overall development of mining industry and also brought access to a new platform and space for the development of mining industry in China.This thesis makes survey and analysis of present situation of mining websites in China internet from the view of mining industry combining with internet for promoting better combination and development of mining industry and internet.
Simultaneous determination of 116 kinds of semi-volatile organic compounds in water by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry with solid phase extraction

Objective:To establish a method for simultaneous determination of 116 kinds of semi-volatile organic compounds in water by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry with solid-phase extraction.Methods:Water sample was extracted on Cl8 solid phase column and eluted with dichloromethane ethyl acetate then separated by GC with an DB-5 MS capillary column.The interest analyses were analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry used all scan mode.Selective ion masses were used in quantitative measurement.Results:Enable to easily and effectively separate and determinate 116 kinds of semi-volatile organic compounds in water.In this method,broad linearity range,good linearity which correlation coefficient was greater than 0.9961,RF RSD was less than 4.92%,the average recoveries rates were between 81.6% and 119.8%.Conclusion:This method established was so selective,sensitive and exact.It has good adaptility to various water samples.It is suitable for simultaneous determination of 116 kinds of semi-volatile organic compounds in water.
Novel Interaction Strategies for Learning from Teleoperation.

The field of robot Learning from Demonstration (LfD) makes use of several input modalities for demonstrations (teleoperation, kinesthetic teaching, marker- and vision-based motion tracking). In this paper we present two experiments aimed at identifying and overcoming challenges associated with using teleoperation as an input modality for LfD. Our first experiment compares kinesthetic teaching and teleoperation and highlights some inherent problems associated with teleoperation; specifically uncomfortable user interactions and inaccurate robot demonstrations. Our second experiment is focused on overcoming these problems and designing the teleoperation interaction to be more suitable for LfD. In previous work we have proposed a novel demonstration strategy using the concept of keyframes, where demonstrations are in the form of a discrete set of robot configurations. Keyframes can be naturally combined with continuous trajectory demonstrations to generate a hybrid strategy. We perform user studies to evaluate each of these demonstration strategies individually and show that keyframes are intuitive to the users and are particularly useful in providing noise-free demonstrations. We find that users prefer the hybrid strategy best for demonstrating tasks to a robot by teleoperation.
Open-Angle Glaucoma: Diagnosis and Therapy

Open-angle glaucoma is not a benign disease; untreated, it can lead to total blindness. If intraocular tension is controlled early, the prognosis is good.
Taxol (paclitaxel) in the treatment of lung cancer: the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group experience.

Two phase II studies of paclitaxel involving patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have been completed. The first study, conducted by the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG), involved 25 previously untreated patients who received intravenous (i.v.) paclitaxel 250 mg/m2 over 24 hours every 3 weeks. Among 24 evaluable patients with stage IV disease, 5 partial responses (21%) were observed, median survival was 24.1 weeks, and 1-year survival was approximately 45%. Common toxicities included leukopenia (66% grade 4), neurotoxicity (28% grade 3), and cardiotoxicity (12.5% grade 3). The second trial, conducted at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, yielded similar results. Twenty-seven previously untreated patients with stage IV disease received paclitaxel 200 to 250 mg/m2 i.v. over 24 hours every 3 weeks, yielding 1 complete response and 5 partial responses (24%) in 25 evaluable patients. The major toxicity was leukopenia. No cardiac toxicity was seen. For the past several years ECOG has tested several agents against previously untreated NSCLC, and none has demonstrated a response rate greater than 10%, other than paclitaxel. Given these results, the ECOG plans to conduct a three-arm phase III study involving patients with advanced NSCLC comparing 'standard' cisplatin/etoposide chemotherapy to two paclitaxel-containing arms: (1) paclitaxel 135 mg/m2 i.v. over 24 hours plus cisplatin 75 mg/m2 i.v.; (2) paclitaxel 250 mg/m2 i.v. over 24 hours plus cisplatin 75 mg/m2 i.v. plus recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Keynes, Bentham and the Nature of Economics

In Chapter 1 we noted how throughout the nineteenth century Jeremy Bentham was the focus of criticism from such different thinkers as Carlyle and Ruskin, Arnold and Morris, and from the pedagogists and dons who laid out the philosophy of responsibility at Eton and Cambridge. In this chapter we will see that Keynes, too, was a critic of Bentham, speaking from an economic and a cultural perspective.
Anesthesia Intraoperative Handoffs: Is Decision Ownership Compatible With Transitions of Care Providers?

Clinical care in the operating room provides a practical model for the challenges associated with maintaining patient care decision ownership (as described by Dubov and colleagues 2016) in the face...
Exploring Deep Features with Different Distance Measures for Still to Video Face Matching

Still to video (S2V) face recognition attracts many interests for researchers in computer vision and biometrics. In S2V scenarios, the still images are often captured with high quality and cooperative user condition. On the contrary, video clips usually show more variations and of low quality. In this paper, we primarily focus on the S2V face recognition where face gallery is formed by a few still face images, and the query is the video clip. We utilized the deep convolutional neural network to deal with the S2V face recognition. We also studied the choice of different similarity measures for the face matching, and suggest the more appropriate measure for the deep representations. Our results for both S2V face identification and verification yield a significant improvement over the previous results on two databases, i.e., COX-S2V and PaSC.
Highly Efficient Luminescent Metal-Organic Framework for the Simultaneous Detection and Removal of Heavy Metals from Water.

We have designed and synthesized an isoreticular series of luminescent metal–organic frameworks (LMOFs) by incorporating a strongly emissive molecular fluorophore and functionally diverse colinkers into Zn-based structures. The three-dimensional porous networks of LMOF-261, -262, and -263 represent a unique/new type of nets, classified as a 2-nodal, (4,4)-c net (mot-e type) with 4-fold, class IIIa interpenetration. All compounds crystallize in a body-centered tetragonal crystal system (space group I41/a). A systematic study has been implemented to analyze their interactions with heavy metals. LMOF-263 exhibits impressive water stability, high porosity, and strong luminescence, making it an excellent candidate as a fluorescent chemical sensor and adsorbent for aqueous contaminants. It is extremely responsive to toxic heavy metals at a parts per billion level (3.3 ppb Hg2+, 19.7 ppb Pb2+) and demonstrates high selectivity for heavy metals over light metals, with detection ratios of 167.4 and 209.5 for Hg2+/...
Robustness of adaptive control for three-dimensional curve tracking under state constraints: Effects of scaling control terms

In a recent SIAM Journal on Control and Optimization article, our team analyzed the robustness of a class of adaptive three-dimensional curve tracking controls for free moving particles, using penalty functions and robustly forward invariant sets with maximum allowable perturbation bounds. This allowed us to track curves, identify unknown control gains, and provide predictable tolerance and safety bounds. In this work, we provide a variant of our SIAM article. We provide a new method to maintain robust forward invariance of compact regions in the state space, under arbitrarily large perturbation bounds. Our new technique entails scaling certain control components. It provides a substantially different algorithm from our SIAM article and is suitable for real time applications.
Effects of Thickness and pH of Pulp Sheets on the Properties of Pulp Bleached with Ozone.

The effects of thickness and pH of pulp sheets on the properties of pulp bleached with ozone were studied to obtain the fundamental informations on the ozone bleached kraft pulp.The results obtained are as follows : (1) In ozone bleaching, the increasing degree of brightness of pulp in thinner sheets, basis weight of which was beyond approximately 95cm2/g, was greater than that of thicker sheets below that value. The brightness of the latter sheets decreased with thickness of sheets.This is presumably explained by the fact that bleach of sheets proceeded only in the surfaces because of poor air-permeability of pulp and high reactivity of ozone.(2) The efficiency of ozone consumption was independent of thickness of pulp sheets.(3) The brightness of bleached pulp decreased with increasing pH of pulp in ozone bleaching.The efficiency of ozone consumption increased with increasing pH of pulp. On the other hand, both yield and viscosity of bleached pulp decreased with increasing pH of pulp.(4) The effect of pH of pulp on ozone bleaching is probably attributed to the variation of oxidation potentials, rate of self-decomposition of ozone, and difference of reactivity of carbohydrates (such as cellulose and hemicellulose) with ozone.
Making Noise Intentional: A Study of Servo Sound Perception

How do sounds shape interaction with robots? The present study explores aural impressions associated with servo motors commonly used to prototype robotic motion. This exploratory analysis constructs a framework to objectively and subjectively characterize sound using acoustic analyses and novice evaluators on Amazon Mechanical Turk. Participants evaluated unfamiliar sounds through pairwise comparison, resulting in subjective ratings of servo motor sounds. In this study, subjective measures of sound correlated well internally, but correlated weakly with objective measures. Moreover, qualitative commentary offered by participants suggests both anthropomorphic associations with sounds as well as negative impressions of the sounds overall. We conclude with a roadmap for exploration into the field of consequential sonic interaction design.
Bortezomib and interferon alpha-2b in metastatic melanoma.

e20018 Background: Preclinical studies revealed that bortezomib and interferon-α (IFN-α ) induce synergistic apoptosis in human melanoma cells. Combined treatment with bortezomib and IFN-α led to s...
Source diversity for transport of intensity phase imaging.

The transport of intensity equation (TIE) is a phase retrieval method that relies on measurements of the intensity of a paraxial field under propagation between two or more closely spaced planes. A limitation of TIE is its susceptibility to low frequency noise artifacts in the reconstructed phase. Under Kohler illumination, when both illumination power and exposure time are limited, the use of larger sources can improve low-frequency performance although it introduces blurring. Appropriately combining intensity measurements taken with a diversity of source sizes can improve both low- and high-frequency performance in phase reconstruction.
Optogenetic silencing of a corticotropin-releasing factor pathway from the central amygdala to the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis disrupts sustained fear.

The lateral central nucleus of the amygdala (CeAL) and the dorsolateral bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNSTDL) coordinate the expression of shorter- and longer-lasting fears, respectively. Less is known about how these structures communicate with each other during fear acquisition. One pathway, from the CeAL to the BNSTDL, is thought to communicate via corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), but studies have yet to examine its function in fear learning and memory. Thus, we developed an adeno-associated viral-based strategy to selectively target CRF neurons with the optogenetic silencer archaerhodopsin tp009 (CRF-ArchT) to examine the role of CeAL CRF neurons and projections to the BNSTDL during the acquisition of contextual fear. Expression of our CRF-ArchT vector injected into the amygdala was restricted to CeAL CRF neurons. Furthermore, CRF axonal projections from the CeAL clustered around BNSTDL CRF cells. Optogenetic silencing of CeAL CRF neurons during contextual fear acquisition disrupted retention test freezing 24 h later, but only at later time points (>6 min) during testing. Silencing CeAL CRF projections in the BNSTDL during contextual fear acquisition produced a similar effect. Baseline contextual freezing, the rate of fear acquisition, freezing in an alternate context after conditioning and responsivity to foot shock were unaffected by optogenetic silencing. Our results highlight how CeAL CRF neurons and projections to the BNSTDL consolidate longer-lasting components of a fear memory. Our findings have implications for understanding how discrete amygdalar CRF pathways modulate longer-lasting fear in anxiety- and trauma-related disorders.
Designed α-sheet peptides suppress amyloid formation in Staphylococcus aureus biofilms

Nosocomial infections affect hundreds of millions of patients worldwide each year, and ~60% of these infections are associated with biofilm formation on an implanted medical device. Biofilms are dense communities of microorganisms in which cells associate with surfaces and each other using a self-produced extracellular matrix composed of proteins, polysaccharides, and genetic material. Proteins in the extracellular matrix take on a variety of forms, but here we focus on functional amyloid structures. Amyloids have long been associated with protein misfolding and neurodegenerative diseases, but recent research has demonstrated that numerous bacterial species utilize the amyloid fold to fortify the biofilm matrix and resist disassembly. Consequently, these functional amyloids, in particular the soluble oligomeric intermediates formed during amyloidogenesis, represent targets to destabilize the extracellular matrix and interrupt biofilm formation. Our previous studies suggested that these amyloidogenic intermediates adopt a non-standard structure, termed “α-sheet”, as they aggregate into soluble oligomeric species. This led to the design of complementary α-sheet peptides as anti-α-sheet inhibitors; these designs inhibit amyloidogenesis in three unrelated mammalian disease-associated systems through preferential binding of soluble oligomers. Here we show that these anti-α-sheet peptides inhibit amyloid formation in Staphylococcus aureus biofilms. Furthermore, they inhibit aggregation of pure, synthetic phenol soluble modulin α1, a major component of Staphylococcus aureus functional amyloids. As it aggregates phenol soluble modulin α1 adopts α-helix then α-sheet and finally forms β-sheet fibrils. The binding of the designed peptide inhibitors coincides with the formation of α-sheet. Small protein fragments called peptides can be designed to interfere with the folding of proteins in biofilms and disrupt biofilm formation. Valerie Daggett and colleagues at the University of Washington in Seattle, USA, focused their attention on a type of folded proteins called amyloids. Some amyloid proteins are well known for their role in neurodegenerative diseases, but others can protect biofilms from degradation, making them resistant to treatment or to removal from medical devices. The researchers made peptide molecules, composed of linked amino acids, that were designed to physically interfere with the folding processes that create amyloids in biofilms. These peptides were shown to inhibit amyloid formation in biofilms produced by Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, which cause many clinically significant infections. The results may offer a novel approach to combat biofilm formation.
Jewish Liturgy: A Guide to Research: by Ruth Langer. Lanham, MD: Rowman and Littlefield, 2015. 280 pp. Hardcover. $89.00. ISBN 978-0-8108-8616-2.

Ruth Langer brings to bear her deep academic background in the critical study of rabbinic Judaism in general, and keen grasp on Jewish liturgy, in particular. Langer's devotion to Judaic studies at...
Homotopy actions and cohomology of finite groups

Let X be a connected topological space, and let H(X) be the monoid of homotopy equivalences of x . The group of self-equivalences of X , E(X) , is defined to be z H(X) . A homomorphism o : G ~ E(X) is called a homotopy action of G on X . Equivalently, the assignment of a self-homotopy equivalence ~(g) : X ~ X to each g 6 G such that ~(glg2 ) ~ ~(gl)e(g2) and ~(I) % I X is also called a homotopy action. Since it is easier to construct self-homotopy equivalences rather than homeomorphisms of X , it is natural to consider the questions of existence of actions first on the homotopy level, (i.e. homotopy actions) and then try to find an equivalent topological action. A topological G-action ~ on Y is said to be equivalent to a homotopy action ~ on X , if there exists a homotopy equivalence f : Y ~ X which commutes with ~ and e up to homotopy, i.e. f is homotopy equivariant (for short, f is an h-G-map). This is the point of view taken in [16] and the motivation for G . Cooke's study of the question:
Stimulant Formulations for the Treatment of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.

Objective Clinicians have access to a variety of formulations of methylphenidate and amphetamine to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, due to new emerging formulations, clinicians may lack up-to-date knowledge about all available stimulant formulations. Presented here is a comprehensive guide to13 formulations of methylphenidate and 10 formulations of amphetamine that have US Food and Drug Administration approval to treat ADHD. Data sources PubMed was searched using the following MeSH terms: attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, ADHD, stimulant, amphetamine, and methylphenidate. Inclusion criteria were randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews published through 2017. Study selection and extraction Forty-eight articles were identified; however, these included analyses using product labels and anecdotal or uncontrolled reports of apparent clinical inequivalence. Thus, 34 articles were included in the final review to provide a thorough evidence-based guide. Results Each formulation has a unique pharmacokinetic profile. Clinically, one formulation may not be suitable for all patients. To select the most appropriate formulation, clinicians should consider the individual patient's preferences such as dosing schedule, time required to reach peak plasma concentration and duration of action, and tolerability. Conclusion This review provides clinical guidance to help clinicians prescribe the most suitable treatment for an individual.​​​.
The use of psychoactive plants by ancient indigenous populations of the North Andes

This investigation focuses on the North Andes and includes discussion of monumental stone sculpture in the environs of San Agustin, Colombia, as well as Muisca, Quimbaya, and Darien (Sinu) goldwork...
A case of hypercalcemia in a heifer presumably due to mammary carcinoma bovine hypercalcemia of malignancy.

Mammary carcinoma is rare in cattle with only a handful of cases found in the literature, and none have reported an associated hypercalcemia. An 8-year-old Holstein-Friesian heifer was presented to the Purdue University Veterinary Teaching Hospital's Large Animal Hospital with a 3-month history of lethargy. Laboratory abnormalities included ionized hypercalcemia and hypophosphatemia (2.28 mmol/L and 1.8 mg/dL, respectively). Physical examination revealed a mammary mass that was cytologically described as a suspected mammary carcinoma, which was later confirmed by histologic evaluation. On surgical removal of the mass, calcium initially decreased rapidly, and within a few days was within the RI, further supporting a diagnosis of hypercalcemia of malignancy in a heifer. However, attempts to confirm this using hormone profiles (parathyroid hormone [PTH], parathyroid hormone-related protein [PTHrp], and calcitriol) were inconclusive due to the lack of validated assays and RIs for cattle. Immunohistochemical staining for PTHrP showed scattered cytoplasmic staining among the neoplastic cells, suggesting PTHrP production by these cells.
Risk of Chronic Opioid Use in Opioid-Naïve and Non-Naïve Patients after Ambulatory Surgery.

Chronic postoperative opioid use has been demonstrated after surgery, but there is a paucity of data on whether the amount of opioids given at discharge is a significant contributor to the risk of prolonged use. The purpose of this study was to determine if higher amounts of opioids prescribed after ambulatory surgery increases chronic opioid use in opioid-naive and non-naive patients. Using the Institutional Data Warehouse, 15,220 adult patients were identified who underwent ambulatory elective surgeries at our institution between January 2014 and July 2018 and received a perioperative opioid prescription. Multivariate logistic regression was used to characterize the relationship between amount of perioperative opioids prescribed and chronic opioid use. The study population consisted of 14,378 (94%) opioid-naive and 842 (6%) non-naive patients. Seven hundred fifty-seven (5%) patients received a new opioid prescription 90 to 365 days after surgery. Patients that had a lower amount of total perioperative opioids (0-150MMEs, 151-300MMEs, or 301-450MMEs) had 44–54% lower risk of persistent opioid use after surgery compared to those who received > 450 MMEs or > 60 pills of 5 mg oxycodone (p < 0.0001). This relationship was especially prominent on subset analysis of opioid non-naive patients, a group that has thus far been left out of opioid-related studies. Persistent opioid use is a known complication after surgery. A higher number of opioid pills on discharge after ambulatory surgery is associated with increased risk of chronic opioid use. Surgeons should consider limiting the number of opioid pills prescribed after ambulatory surgery for both opioid-naive and non-naive patients.
Autonomous Imaging and Mapping of Small Bodies Using Deep Reinforcement Learning

The mapping and navigation around small unknown bodies continues to be an extremely interesting and exciting problem in the area of space exploration. Traditionally, the spacecraft trajectory for mapping missions is designed by human experts using hundreds of hours of human time to supervise the navigation and orbit selection process. While the current methodology has performed adequately for previous missions (such as Rosetta, Hayabusa and Deep Space), as the demands for mapping missions expand, additional autonomy during the mapping and navigation process will become necessary for mapping spacecraft. In this work we provide the framework for optimizing the autonomous imaging and mapping problem as a Partially Observable Markov Decision Process (POMDP). In addition, we introduce a new simulation environment which simulates the orbital mapping of small bodies and demonstrate that policies trained with our POMDP formulation are able to maximize map quality while autonomously selecting orbits and supervising imaging tasks. We conclude with a discussion of integrating Deep Reinforcement Learning modules with classic flight software systems, and some of the challenges that could be encountered when using Deep RL in flight-ready systems.
Shear strength of fly ash-based geopolymer reinforced concrete beams

Abstract Geopolymer concrete (GC) is a synthetic material that combines sustainability and appropriate engineering properties, and it is relatively cost-effective compared to Portland cement-based concrete, its traditional competitor. Most GC studies have analyzed the microstructure and the chemical composition of GC. However, studies on the structural behavior of GC are limited. Thus this research focuses on the shear behavior of fly ash-based GC beams. Four GC beams and one conventional concrete beam were experimentally investigated to determine their shear strengths. The test variables included the shear span-to-effective depth ratio and the transverse reinforcement ratio of the investigated beams. The strength, strains, deformations, and mode of failure of the investigated beams are presented. The shear strengths of the investigated beams are comparable to those of conventional concrete beams.
A Polynomial Time Algorithm for Log-Concave Maximum Likelihood via Locally Exponential Families

We consider the problem of computing the maximum likelihood multivariate log-concave distribution for a set of points. Specifically, we present an algorithm which, given $n$ points in $\mathbb{R}^d$ and an accuracy parameter $\eps>0$, runs in time $\poly(n,d,1/\eps),$ and returns a log-concave distribution which, with high probability, has the property that the likelihood of the $n$ points under the returned distribution is at most an additive $\eps$ less than the maximum likelihood that could be achieved via any log-concave distribution. This is the first computationally efficient (polynomial time) algorithm for this fundamental and practically important task. Our algorithm rests on a novel connection with exponential families: the maximum likelihood log-concave distribution belongs to a class of structured distributions which, while not an exponential family, ``locally'' possesses key properties of exponential families. This connection then allows the problem of computing the log-concave maximum likelihood distribution to be formulated as a convex optimization problem, and solved via an approximate first-order method. Efficiently approximating the (sub) gradients of the objective function of this optimization problem is quite delicate, and is the main technical challenge in this work.
Developments in lithium-loaded plastic scintillators with pulse shape discrimination (Conference Presentation)

The development of efficient, robust plastic scintillators with pulse shape discrimination (PSD) has been of much interest in recent years. As is the case with many new technologies, initial formulations for PSD plastics provided new capabilities that have required in-depth research to refine. Herein we describe continued results from extensive optimization studies that have led to the development of PSD plastics with improved scintillation performance and physical properties. Improvements in the formulation for PSD plastics provide a groundwork from which element-loaded PSD plastics can be further advanced. Two separate approaches for incorporating lithium compounds into plastic scintillators are explored based on the identity of the lithium salt used. Aliphatic and aromatic lithium compounds require different methods of incorporation, resulting in different mechanisms of light quenching and reduction in PSD. These quenching mechanisms are explored and discussed for each type of lithium salt. Since at large size physical and scintillation characteristics are much more sensitive to preparation conditions, performance characterization of scaled plastics is described and compared among different formulations. This work was performed under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory under Contract DE-AC52-07NA27344.
Machine learning with sparse nutrition data to improve cardiovascular mortality risk prediction in the USA using nationally randomly sampled data.

Objectives We aimed to test whether or not adding (1) nutrition predictor variables and/or (2) using machine learning models improves cardiovascular death prediction versus standard Cox models without nutrition predictor variables. Design Retrospective study. Setting Six waves of Survey (NHANES) data collected from 1999 to 2011 linked to the National Death Index (NDI). Participants 29 390 participants were included in the training set for model derivation and 12 600 were included in the test set for model evaluation. Our study sample was approximately 20% black race and 25% Hispanic ethnicity. Primary and secondary outcome measures Time from NHANES interview until the minimum of time of cardiovascular death or censoring. Results A standard risk model excluding nutrition data overestimated risk nearly two-fold (calibration slope of predicted vs true risk: 0.53 (95% CI: 0.50 to 0.55)) with moderate discrimination (C-statistic: 0.87 (0.86 to 0.89)). Nutrition data alone failed to improve performance while machine learning alone improved calibration to 1.18 (0.92 to 1.44) and discrimination to 0.91 (0.90 to 0.92). Both together substantially improved calibration (slope: 1.01 (0.76 to 1.27)) and discrimination (C-statistic: 0.93 (0.92 to 0.94)). Conclusion Our results indicate that the inclusion of nutrition data with available machine learning algorithms can substantially improve cardiovascular risk prediction.
The effects of time living away from home and family support on intention to host a destination wedding

Abstract Limited research has been done on destination weddings, although they play a significant role in tourism and hospitality. This study examined the antecedents of intention to host a destination wedding within the framework of theory of planned behavior. In addition to subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control, family support was a significant predictor of intention to host a destination wedding. How long a bride/groom has lived away from their hometown was used as a moderator and the interactions between attitude and subjective norms and time were significant. The longer a bride/groom lived away from home, the less they were influenced by friends and family, and the more influence the bride/groom's attitude had on the intention to host a destination wedding.
Risks of requiring a dedicated molecular specimen for HIV diagnosis and a potential strategy for mitigation.

Background HIV screening (i.e. antigen/antibody) tests are followed by a supplemental (i.e. antibody-only) if the screen is positive. Discrepant results can result from two scenarios: a false-positive screening test or acute HIV infection. These scenarios can be distinguished by a molecular HIV test, but due to contamination concerns, our laboratory recently implemented a policy requiring a second specimen dedicated for molecular HIV testing. Our objective was to (1) characterize the effect of this policy on the time-to-diagnosis for patients with discrepant screening and supplemental test results, and (2) explore "strength of positivity" as an interim predictor of screening test accuracy while awaiting confirmatory test results. Methods Data from our laboratory information system, electronic health record, and instrument logs were used to collate data for all HIV testing performed at Barnes-Jewish Hospital (BJH) between January 1, 2014 and October 18, 2017. Results Requiring a dedicated specimen for molecular testing significantly increased the time-to-diagnosis for patients with discrepant screening and supplemental HIV tests (p = 0.0084). This policy also contributed to loss-to-followup, with 0/35 discrepant cases lost-to-followup prior to policy implementation compared to 2/10 after implementation. However, by optimizing the signal-to-cutoff (S/CO) ratio of the screening test, we were able to more accurately distinguish false-positives from acute-HIV prior to molecular testing (sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 89%). Conclusions We propose utilizing quantitative fourth-generation assay results (S/CO) ratios as a predictor of infection true positivity in situations where the screening assay is reactive but the supplemental test is negative and confirmatory molecular results are not immediately available.
Corporate governance in negotiated takeovers: the changing comparative landscape

This chapter considers how corporate governance concerns are reflected in the approach to regulating friendly takeover transactions in two countries with similar capital markets and institutional frameworks, the United States (U.S.) and the United Kingdom (U.K.). With respect to friendly transaction, the U.S. and U.K. approach corporate governance concerns and the balance of power between the board of directors and shareholders in increasingly divergent ways. The U.K. is noted for takeover rules that constrain managerial power and favor shareholder voice. Significantly for friendly deals, in 2011 the U.K. revised its rules to dramatically constrain the power of directors to negotiate deal protection mechanisms. A key principle in this new approach is rejection of the idea of the board as chief architect and negotiator of deal protection. The U.S. has historically emphasized the interplay between ex ante protections (i.e. disclosure and shareholder voice) and ex post policing (i.e. litigation) in ways that reflect a significant director-centric approach. Shareholder voice is more constrained than in the U.K. and directors have wide latitude to design deal protection measures. In fact, over the past decade, deal protection mechanisms have become stronger with a proliferation and expansion of a variety of mechanisms that provide management with tools to protect its preferred deal. While directors have wide latitude in designing a deal, historically, U.S. shareholders have been able to check these powers through both fiduciary duty and appraisal litigation. Since the mid-2010s, however, the Delaware courts have moved away from ex-post policing through litigation. Instead, Delaware jurisprudence now emphasizes the value of ex ante methods—such as deal process or deal-requirements like shareholder voting—to address corporate governance concerns. The shifts in Delaware have been depicted as elevating governance and procedure over costly and uncertain litigation. Some commentators have even argued that these moves recognize increased shareholder power in the U.S. and bring Delaware closer to the U.K. model. This chapter argues that once we take into account the significant power and leeway that boards have in designing a deal and putting into place a wide variety of deal protection mechanisms, the U.S. move toward expanding the value of ex ante shareholder voice and devaluing ex-post litigation in reality maintains the centrality of management power. The primacy of directors becomes even more pronounced when one compares the U.S. regime with the U.K.’s which places significant constraints on the board’s ability to negotiate deal protection devices. The question remains open, however, as to which system is better for the corporation, its shareholders, and its stakeholders.
Iroki: automatic customization and visualization of phylogenetic trees

ABSTRACT Phylogenetic trees are an important analytical tool for evaluating community diversity and evolutionary history. In the case of microorganisms, the decreasing cost of sequencing has enabled researchers to generate ever-larger sequence datasets, which in turn have begun to fill gaps in the evolutionary history of microbial groups. However, phylogenetic analyses of these types of datasets create complex trees that can be challenging to interpret. Scientific inferences made by visual inspection of phylogenetic trees can be simplified and enhanced by customizing various parts of the tree. Yet, manual customization is time-consuming and error prone, and programs designed to assist in batch tree customization often require programming experience or complicated file formats for annotation. Iroki, a user-friendly web interface for tree visualization, addresses these issues by providing automatic customization of large trees based on metadata contained in tab-separated text files. Iroki’s utility for exploring biological and ecological trends in sequencing data was demonstrated through a variety of microbial ecology applications in which trees with hundreds to thousands of leaf nodes were customized according to extensive collections of metadata. The Iroki web application and documentation are available at https://www.iroki.net or through the VIROME portal (http://virome.dbi.udel.edu). Iroki’s source code is released under the MIT license and is available at https://github.com/mooreryan/iroki.