cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Improving Operations Strategy: Application Of TOC Principles In A Small Business

This paper demonstrates how small business managers can create and sustain competitive advantage by applying basic principles of Theory of Constraints (TOC) using a case study on a small family-owned pizza restaurant. TOC five focusing steps were used to reveal the business constraints and practical recommendations were provided that significantly improved throughput, resource utilization, and customer satisfaction without incurring any significant expenses. TOC performance measures encourage small business managers to find innovative ways of increasing throughput instead of simply cutting costs. Positive outcomes in this study demonstrate how small businesses effectively manage their operations and realize benefits using TOC principles.
Enhancing Business Students International Capabilities Through Global Education Programs

Today, the development of a global vision is the cornerstone that guarantees personal, economic and social development, improves competitiveness, and strengthens democracy. Future business professionals will need to understand international business patterns and cultures in order to successfully work in corporations in either the United States or abroad. One way to achieve these goals is through the use of study abroad programs. Study abroad programs develop cross-cultural awareness as well as the interpersonal and professional skills necessary to operate in a changing business environment. A common perception of North Americans is that they are in general ethnocentric and resist efforts to internationalize. While this may or may not be true for all those who reside in the United States, it is undeniable that future college graduates require a better education in international business and cross-cultural differences. The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International (AACSB) has risen to this challenge by requiring participating schools to include a global perspective in their business education programs. In accordance with AACSB accreditation, colleges and universities must incorporate into their mission a focus on “strong and growing global economic forces” (AACSB Standards for Business Accreditation, 1991). For business schools, this entails covering topics that convey to students the United States’ role in the global environment and understanding economic and cultural dynamics that play a role in transactions between businesses in other countries. Teaching the intricacies of international business law and the difficulties associated with marketing to individuals of a different language cause can lead to a diminished learning environment in traditional classroom settings. In response to AACSB’s charge to improve education on international issues, some schools have stepped out of the classroom and literally moved courses into the global marketplace (Pretzels & Curico, 1996). This paper discusses the rationale for experiential education programs, the benefits of these initiatives to students, and current trends in international study abroad programs.
The Dawning of a New Day in CKD Anemia Care

Oxygen first appeared in the Earth’s atmosphere around 2–2.5 billion years ago, and with it, eukaryotic (mitochondria–containing) organisms emerged. As oxygen levels rose further, the relative efficiency of aerobic metabolism permitted the development of increasingly complex organisms. In
The impact of the inclusion of clinical data review on overall radiographic response and progression in oncology clinical trials as assessed by blinded independent central review

6511 Background: The United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) advocates blinded independent central review (BICR) of radiographic exams for oncology registration studies when the primary ...
Capillary Pressure and Mineral Wettability Influences on Reservoir CO2 Capacity

The movement of injected CO2 through permeable pore networks determines its distribution and stability within reservoirs used for carbon sequestration (Fig. 1), and this process is dependent on capillary interactions with the displaced brine (IPCC 2005; Benson and Cole 2008). Capillary phenomena controlling the distribution of CO2 and reservoir brine depend on pore size (from mm to nm), wetting and interfacial properties. The pressure of the usually nonwetting CO2 phase relative to that of the native brine is the capillary pressure, P c , which in combination with pore size, wettability, and interfacial properties determines the saturation of each fluid phase. In typically reservoirs used for geologic carbon sequestration, CO2 exists as a supercritical (sc) fluid because pressures and temperatures associated with storage depths exceed the critical point values for CO2 (7.38 MPa, 31.1 °C). Thus, predicting carbon sequestration in reservoirs require understanding of interfacial tension, mineral surface wettability, and the capillary pressure dependence on saturation, for interactions between scCO2, brine, and reservoir mineral surfaces. Investigations into these aspects of scCO2 behavior, especially at elevated pressures and temperatures characteristic of geologic carbon sequestration, have largely only recently begun. Given the fairly early stage of research, many models for CO2 transport in reservoirs rely heavily on the better understood capillary characteristics of other immiscible fluid pairs such as air-water, oil-water, and oil-gas, supplemented with properties of scCO2. However, a growing number of experimental studies are being published on the behavior of scCO2 under reservoir conditions, leading to better understanding of C sequestration while also giving rise to new questions. In this chapter, we review aspects of the current (mostly laboratory-based) understanding of equilibrium capillary interactions between scCO2 and brines, and their implications for scCO2 behavior in …
Real-Time X-Ray Scattering Study of Surface Dynamics on Au(111) During Ar+ Ion Irradiation

X-ray scattering is used to investigate the surface dynamics on Au(111) during Ar + ion irradiation. During 500 eV Ar + ion irradiation, we observe the three regimes of step retraction, quasi-layer-by-layer removal and three dimensional rough erosion, analagous to molecular beam epitaxy. The quasi-layer-by-layer sputtering regime has been studied to identify similarities and differences in surface evolution during ion irradiation and molecular beam epitaxy. X-ray measurements suggest that 500 eV Ar + ion irradiation does not lead to stable adatom island formation. Also, in contrast to molecular beam epitaxy, adatom detachment and diffusion seems important in describing the surface kinetics during ion irradiation.
In Vivo Approaches to Assessing the Toxicity of Quantum Dots

The small size and heavy metal composition of quantum dots (QDs) combined with their growing consumer product and biomedical research applications have generated concern over their safety. In an occupational setting where QD-enabled products are being manufactured, inhalation is a likely route of exposure. Since current research indicates that QDs could cause inflammation and toxicity in the respiratory tract, it is important that a variety of methods be available to further characterize this potential respiratory hazard. This chapter focuses primarily on in vivo methods for modeling the inhalation and assessing the pulmonary toxicity of QDs.
Marxism, Postcolonial Theory, and the Specter of Universalism:

Following recent debates between Vivek Chibber and leading postcolonial theorists, I probe into what is missing in these exchanges. I focus on the figure of the ‘tribal’ in modern India in Ranajit Guha’s Elementary Aspects of Peasant Insurgency in Colonial India and Alpa Shah’s In the Shadows of the State, both of which claim to offer emic perspectives on subaltern politics and history. Yet both works, despite their undeniable differences, display a striking universalism that puts them, paradoxically, in the company of Chibber. This universalism, which we may call the resisting subject, is about the Other and about us simultaneously, the former constituted by the latter as an abstract object of analysis and as a key symbol of intellectual vanguardism. Are we not better off abandoning such universalisms and searching for ways in which Marxist theories of culture can be melded with postcolonial theories of capitalism?
A cecal angiodysplastic lesion is discovered during diagnostic colonoscopy performed for iron-deficiency anemia associated with stool positive for occult blood. What therapy would you recommend?

Les ectasies vasculaires du caecum decouvertes fortuitement ne doivent etre ni biopsiees ni traitees, sauf si elles provoquent des hemorragies. Dans ces cas l'electrocoagulation endoscopique est le traitement de choix
WE-FG-202-02: Exploration of High-Resolution Quantitative Ultrasonic Micro-Vascular Imaging for Early Assessment of Radiotherapy Tumor Response

Purpose: Currently, we cannot predict an individual patient's response to a given radiotherapy which normally is not detected for weeks to months post-treatment. As a result, precious time is wasted for patients with unresponsive tumors who could have switched to an alternative treatment much earlier. Presently, no early treatment response detection method exists that is effective, low-cost, non-invasive, and safe. We hypothesize that changes in tumor microvasculature predict tumor response to radiotherapy earlier than tumor volume changes. Recent radiobiology research suggests tumors undergo vascular remodeling in response to radiation well before manifesting changes in tumor volume. We propose monitoring tumor microvasculature post-radiation using Acoustic Angiography (AA), a novel ultrasound imaging modality developed and patented in-house. In this study, we investigate whether changes in tumor microvasculature, measured using AA, can be an early indicator of high-dose radiotherapy success, compared to changes in tumor volume. Methods: Fibrosarcoma xenograft tumor tissue was subcutaneously implanted into rodent flanks (N=10). Animal tumors (N=8) were irradiated with a single treatment of 15Gy using a clinical LINAC at 100SSD and 2×2cm field size. Two untreated rats were left as tumor controls. AA imaging was performed immediately posttreatment and every third day thereafter for 30 days, or until tumors disappeared. Tumor volumes and vascular densities were measured from anatomical b-mode ultrasound and AA images, respectively. Results: Statistical differences in vascular density between treatment responders and non-responders were observed on Day 10 (p=0.005), whereas statistical differences in tumor volume were not observed until Day 19 (p=0.02). Conclusions: Tumor vascularity differences may be observed substantially earlier than differences in tumor size. In addition, significant early increases in vascular density were observed in non-responding tumors. This data is consistent with a similar study we completed using the same tumor and animal models (N=10) at 20Gy. The project described was supported by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), National Institutes of Health, through Grant Award Number UL1TR001111. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH.
The possibility of using selective embryo transfer in the oocyte donation programmes

The aim of the study was to analyze the outcomes of donation programmes with selective embryo transfer and double embryo transfer using native and vitrified donor oocytes.
Spatial Patterns and Trends in Energy Use and Consumption in Africa

Energy lies at the core of every human activity and can be described as having a pervasive influence on all aspects of development making it one of the most important resources that belies the development of any given country. Developing countries on the other hand are constantly faced with the daunting task of providing its industries and citizens with energy in its various forms. The resulting effect is limiting economic development and by extension limited social development. In meeting this need, the Ghanaian populace have and continue to rely on traditional biomass amid associated risks and health complications. This article analyzes the factors accounting for the heavy reliance on traditional biomass in Sub Saharan Africa ( SSA ) with particular reference to Ghana and to determine if these factors promote a spatial pattern formation in energy use.
Tectonics: Changing of the plates

The composition of Earth's crust depends on the style of plate tectonics and of the melting regimes in the mantle. Analyses of the oldest identified rocks suggest that these styles and the resulting crust have changed over Earth's history.
Progress in CMUTs for HIFU ablation of upper abdominal cancer

High intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) guided by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a noninvasive treatment that can potentially reduce morbidity, lower costs, and widen accessibility for patients with upper abdominal cancers. Traditionally, piezoelectric transducers are used for HIFU, but recent developments in capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducers (CMUTs) have made them competitive. Previously, we designed, fabricated, and tested HIFU CMUTs for use under MRI guidance and demonstrated successful unfocused heating of a HIFU phantom. In this paper, we use this CMUT design in the construction of an 8-element, equal area, concentric ring array for ablation of upper abdominal cancers. We report on the measurement of the beam profile of the transducer and compare it to models; in addition, we report on the effects of acoustic crosstalk on this array.
Microcavity enhanced second harmonic generation in 2D semiconductors

Second harmonic generation (SHG) from a monolayer MoS 2 is enhanced by embedding within an all-dielectric microcavity resonant at the pump wavelength. Power dependency shows a 10-fold increase in SH emission matching theoretical estimate.
Review of prospects for H+ in non-SUSY multi Higgs models in view of ATLAS and CMS results

In this talk, prospects for the charged Higgs in non-SUSY models are reviewed, in view of LHC results (as of October, 2012). The four models (Type I, Type II, lepton-specific and flipped) without tree level flavor-changing neutral currents are discussed. Updates for the case in which the charged Higgs is lighter than the top, leading to production in top decays, are presented along with expectations for the future. If the charged Higgs is heavier than the top quark, detection may be possible through the τν decay mode. In addition, it is pointed out that the decay of the charged Higgs into Wh, where h is the 125 GeV state, may be dominant. Charged Higgs phenomenology in models which do contain tree level flavor-changing neutral currents, as well as the inert doublet model and others, are also briefly reviewed.
Equitable distribution of green stormwater infrastructure: a capacity-based framework for implementation in disadvantaged communities

This study seeks to understand the factors that influence the variability in distribution of public and private sector investments in green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) projects across the diver...
Steroids and cAMP in follicles of postpartum beef cows treated with norgestomet.

To determine time of occurrence of follicular changes that may be associated with the length of the subsequent luteal phase, follicles were collected at different times before ovulation from cows expected to have corpora lutea of short (control) or normal (norgestomet-treated) life span. Beginning on d 20 to 23 postpartum (d 0 of study), 34 crossbred beef cows received either a 6-mg implant of norgestomet for 9 d or served as untreated controls. Ovaries were removed from norgestomet-treated cows on d 6 (N6; n = 9), d 8 (N8; n = 8), or the day after implant removal (N10; n = 8). Control cows were ovariectomized on d 6 (C6; n = 4) or d 10 (ClQ n = 5). The largest and second largest follicles > 8 mm (F1 and F2, respectively) were dissected from the ovaries. Granulosal and thecal layers and follicular fluid were separated and assayed for estradiol-l7P, progesterone, androstenedione, and testosterone. Cyclic 3‘5’adenosine monophosphate (CAMP) was determined in thecal and granulosal tissue. Diameters of the F1 (14.6 f .4 mm) and F2 (10.6 f .4 mm) did not differ due to treatment. A greater proportion (P 1 in follicular fluid. Contents of estradiol, androstenedione, and testosterone in theca and granulosa and estradiol in follicular fluid were greater in the F1 than in the F2. An interaction of duration of norgestomet treatment with follicle occurred for contents of estradiol in granulosa and follicular fluid, androstenedione in theca, and testosterone in theca and follicular fluid (all P < .05). In each case, steroid content in the F1 was higher for N8 and N10 than for N6, but content in the F2 was lower for N8 and N10 than for N6. Neither thecal nor granulosal contents of cAMP differed due to treatment. Follicular changes associated with normal luteal function, expected after norgestomet treatment, would seem to include a divergence in steroidogenic activity of the F1 and F2 between d 6 and 8 of treatment.
Increased Computed Tomography Utilization in the Emergency Department and Its Association with Hospital Admission.

Introduction: Our goal was to investigate trends in computed tomography (CT) utilization in emergency departments (EDs) and its association with hospitalization. Methods: We conducted an analysis of an administrative claims database of U.S. privately insured and Medicare Advantage enrollees. We identified ED visits from 2005 through 2013 and assessed for CT use, associated factors, and hospitalization after CT, along with patient demographics. We used both descriptive methods and regression models adjusted for year, age, sex, race, geographic region, and Hwang comorbidity score to explore associations among CT use, year, demographic characteristics, and hospitalization. Results: We identified 33,144,233 ED visits; 5,901,603 (17.8%) involved CT. Over time, CT use during ED visits increased 59.9%. CT use increased in all age groups but decreased in children since 2010. In propensity-matching analysis, odds of hospitalization increased with age, comorbidities, male sex, and CT use (odds ratio, 2.38). Odds of hospitalization over time decreased more quickly for patients with CT. Conclusion: CT utilization in the ED has increased significantly from 2005 through 2013. For children, CT use after 2010 decreased, indicating caution about CT use. Male sex, older age, and higher number of comorbidities were predictors of CT in the ED. Over time, odds of hospitalization decreased more quickly for patients with CT.
Legomotion: scalable walking-based virtual locomotion

Using real walking for virtual navigation generally delivers the most natural and immersive virtual reality experience, but its usage is generally bounded by available tracking space. To navigate beyond the confines of available tracking space, users need to switch to an artificial locomotion technique, such as controller input. However, having to switch from leg-based input to hand-based input is considered to break presence. We present a hybrid handsfree locomotion technique called legomotion that lets users seamlessly switch between real walking input and walking-in-place input to enable navigation at scale. A user study with 18 participants compared legomotion to full locomotion using a controller. Legomotion led to higher presence as switching to controller input was found to be more tedious. Because controller input is also faster than walking, we observed most users to abandon positional tracking input altogether and primary use a controller for navigation - which then led to a lower presence. This finding could have major implications for the design of VR locomotion.
Protein Binding Kinetics in Multimodal Systems: Implications for Protein Separations

In this work, quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D) was employed to study the kinetic processes involved in the interaction of proteins with self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of multimodal (MM) ligands. SAMs were fabricated to mimic two chromatographic multimodal resins with varying accessibility of the aromatic moiety to provide a well-defined model system. Kinetic parameters were determined for two different proteins in the presence of the arginine and guanidine and a comparison was made with chromatographic retention data. The results indicated that the accessibility of the ligand's aromatic moiety can have an important impact on the kinetics and chromatographic retention behavior. Interestingly, arginine and guanidine had very different effects on the protein adsorption and desorption kinetics in these MM systems. For cytochrome C, arginine resulted in a significant decrease and increase in the adsorption and desorption rates, respectively, while guanidine produced a dramatic increase in the desorption rate, with minimal effect on the adsorption rate. In addition, at different concentrations of arginine, two distinct kinetic scenarios were observed. For α-chymotrypsin, the presence of 0.1 M guanidine in the aromatic exposed ligand system produced an increase in the adsorption rate and only a moderate increase in the desorption rate, which helped to explain the surprising increase in the chromatographic salt elution concentration. These results demonstrate that protein adsorption kinetics in the presence of different mobile phase modifiers and MM ligand chemistries can play an important role in contributing to selectivity in MM chromatography.
Defending the Realm: The Appointment of Female Defense Ministers Worldwide

Though the defense ministry has been a bastion of male power, a growing number of states have appointed women to this portfolio. What explains men's dominance over these positions? Which factors predict women's appointments? With comprehensive cross‐national data from the post–Cold War era, we develop and test three sets of hypotheses concerning women's access to the defense ministry. We show that women remain excluded when the portfolio's remit reinforces traditional beliefs about the masculinity of the position, particularly in states that are engaged in fatal disputes, governed by military dictators, and large military spenders. By contrast, female defense ministers emerge when expectations about women's role in politics have changed—that is, in states with female chief executives and parliamentarians. Women are also first appointed to the post when its meaning diverges from traditional conceptions of the portfolio, particularly in countries concerned with peacekeeping and in former military states with left‐wing governments.
High Growth Rate Deposition of Hydrogenated Amorphous Silicon-Germanium Films and Devices Using ECR-PECVD

Hydrogenated amorphous silicon germanium films (a-SiGe:H) and devices have been extensively studied because of the tunable band gap for matching the solar spectrum and mature the fabrication techniques. a-SiGe:H thin film solar cells have great potential for commercial manufacture because of very low cost and adaptability to large-scale manufacturing. Although it has been demonstrated that a-SiGe:H thin films and devices with good quality can be produced successfully, some issues regarding growth chemistry have remained yet unexplored, such as the hydrogen and inert-gas dilution, bombardment effect, and chemical annealing, to name a few. The alloying of the SiGe introduces above an order-of-magnitude higher defect density, which degrades the performance of the a-SiGe:H thin film solar cells. This degradation becomes worse when high growth-rate deposition is required. Preferential attachment of hydrogen to silicon, clustering of Ge and Si, and columnar structure and buried dihydride radicals make the film intolerably bad. The work presented here uses the Electron-Cyclotron-Resonance Plasma-Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition (ECR-PECVD) technique to fabricate a-SiGe:H films and devices with high growth rates. Helium gas, together with a small amount of H{sub 2}, was used as the plasma species. Thickness, optical band gap, conductivity, Urbach energy, mobility-lifetime product, I-V curve, and quantum efficiency were characterized during the process of pursuing good materials. The microstructure of the a-(Si,Ge):H material was probed by Fourier-Transform Infrared spectroscopy. They found that the advantages of using helium as the main plasma species are: (1) high growth rate--the energetic helium ions break the reactive gas more efficiently than hydrogen ions; (2) homogeneous growth--heavy helium ions impinging on the surface promote the surface mobility of the reactive radicals, so that heteroepitaxy growth as clustering of Ge and Si, columnar structure are reduced; (3) surface hydrogen removal--heavier and more energetic helium ions break the Si-H much easier than hydrogen ions. The preferential attachment of Si-H to Ge-H is reduced. They also found that with the small amount of hydrogen put into the plasma, the superior properties of a-(Si,Ge):H made from pure hydrogen dilution plasma were still maintained. These hydrogen ions help to remove the subsurface weakly bonded hydrogen and buried hydrogen. They also help to passivate the Ge-dangling bond.
A Usability Model for Government Web Sites

A usability model is proposed for developers of government Web sites. The model is based on the findings of a study to identify potential usability barriers of state government Web sites when accessing information on government accountability. The model was then applied during a heuristic evaluation of fifty government Web sites. The model is based on four core usability components consisting of readability, reading complexity, navigation and supportability. The model is discussed in terms of its practical application for improving state government Web sites for the purposes of enhancing the usefulness and ease of use in navigating state government Web sites.
The Use of Test Anxiety Assessment and Anxiety Reduction Training to Predict and Improve Performance of Collegiate Pilot Trainees

Written, oral, and practical flight tests, along with challenging flying tasks, place pilot trainees in stressful situations. The initial goals of this research were to determine assessment tools for identifying pilot trainees who might perform poorly in stressful flight testing environments, and measure the efficacy of a test anxiety (TA) workshop on anxiety levels and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) knowledge assessments of pilot trainees. The researchers determined that: Scholastic Achievement Test (SAT) scores marginally predict facilitating anxiety levels, and FAA knowledge tests, taken in authentic testing environments, correlate significantly with debilitating anxiety, facilitating anxiety, and FAA exam scores. The researchers recommend continuing longitudinal assessment of freshman flight students that potentially links anxiety and performance on low-risk assessments with these measures on higher-risk practical flight tests. Further study is needed to determine if a more intense anxiety treatment can lower debilitating anxiety, raise facilitating anxiety, or improve performance on FAA exams.
Special Populations: Labor and Delivery

Planning for the care of a pregnant patient and fetus is an important facet of clinical care. This chapter will provide a framework for clinical, social, and ethical topics that every facility should consider prior to caring for pregnant patients infected with highly hazardous communicable diseases (HHCD). Pregnancy and fetal care teams include labor health nursing, neonatal nursing, obstetricians, pediatricians, anesthesiologists, and the specialists of maternal fetal medicine and neonatology. All must be included as part of the planning process as each will have unique roles, needs, and perspectives in developing an optimized area and system for care of infected patients. This chapter further details background to help understand emergencies as well as associated complications, fears, and specific solutions to previously encountered challenges.
Influencing green technology use behavior in the hospitality industry and the role of the "green champion".

ABSTRACTFacilities managers are tasked not only with the responsibility of maintaining the building systems to sustain the revenue potential of an operation, but also to adopt and implement green technologies related to a hospitality organization’s sustainability program. In this qualitative study, data were collected during semi-structured interviews with multi-level facilities managers from hotels, resorts, and convention centers in the United States. Drawing upon technology acceptance constructs, the findings from this research demonstrated green facilitating conditions and formal green leadership as the primary drivers influencing green technology use behavior in the hospitality industry. In addition, the presence of a green informal leader, or “green champion,” also emerged as a critical influence, revealing nuances in sustainability initiatives undetected in previous research. Theoretical insights are provided as well as operational strategies for successful green technology adoption and use at the ...
VENTOS: Vehicular Network Open Simulator with Hardware-in-the-Loop Support.

Abstract Vehicular Ad-hoc Network (VANET) simulators have been gaining widespread attention in recent years and are crucial for conducting vehicular research. The fact that VANET simulators can simulate near real life scenarios to evaluate driver-safety applications without endangering human lives vastly contributes to their popularity. In this paper, we present the VEhicular NeTwork Open Simulator (VENTOS), a closed-loop VANET simulator that combines the capabilities of both communication network and vehicular traffic simulators. More specifically, VENTOS comprises of Simulation of Urban Mobility (SUMO) and Objective Modular Network Testbed in C++ (OMNET++). As an alternative to current proprietary Vehicular Ad-hoc Network (VANET) simulators, VENTOS is a free, open-source simulator that is designed for vehicular traffic flow analysis and can incorporate new control logic, such as intelligent traffic controller, collaborative driving, dynamic routing, and self-driving capability. VENTOS also allows for V2X (Vehicle-to-Vehicle or Vehicle-to-Infrastructure) communication through dedicated short-range communication (DSRC) integration. We discuss about the VENTOS architecture as well as various example applications that use VENTOS.
On sharp constants for dual Segal–Bargmann Lp spaces

Abstract We study dilated holomorphic L p space of Gaussian measures over C n , denoted H p , α n with variance scaling parameter α > 0 . The duality relations ( H p , α n ) ⁎ ≅ H p ′ , α hold with 1 p + 1 p ′ = 1 , but not isometrically. We identify the sharp lower constant comparing the norms on H p ′ , α and ( H p , α n ) ⁎ , and provide upper and lower bounds on the sharp upper constant. We prove several suggestive partial results on the sharpness of the upper constant. One of these partial results leads to a sharp bound on each Taylor coefficient of a function in the Fock space for n = 1 .
A New Model for Strategic Leadership in Healthcare: The A–G Model

Healthcare systems around the globe face the common challenges of rising medical costs, lagging quality and limited access. Improving medical care worldwide will require new leadership and innovative solutions. This article sets forth a brave leadership strategy designed to help clinicians overcome their fears of change and embrace the best solutions for their patients. The A-G model presented in this article gives leaders a powerful tool to help achieve meaningful transformation within a healthcare organization by allowing them to articulate a bold vision, generate the trust of their colleagues and demonstrate the courage needed to overcome the inevitable resistance they will encounter.
Effects of Escalated Exposure to Information on Accuracy of Personality Judgment

Abstract In an investigation of the effects of increasing exposure to information on accuracy of personality trait judgments, judges rated a single target on three successive occasions, each of which involved the introduction of a novel piece of personal information. Varying the order in which types of information were presented allowed us to jointly examine the effects of information quality and quantity on accuracy in personality judgment. We found that (a) in general, more information led to higher accuracy, (b) some types of information led to greater gains in distinctive or normative accuracy, and (c) introduction of lower quality information did not negatively affect accuracy.
The association of infant feeding patterns with food allergy symptoms and food allergy in early childhood

The role of infant feeding for food allergy in children is unclear and studies have not addressed simultaneous exposures to different foods. The goal of this study was to analyze existing data on feeding practices that represent realistic exposure and assess the risk of food allergy symptoms and food allergy in children. The Infant Feeding Practices Study II conducted by the CDC and US-FDA enrolled pregnant women and collected infant feeding information using nine repeated surveys. Participants were re-contacted after 6 years. Food allergy data were collected at 4, 9, 12, and 72 months. In total, 1387 participants had complete infant feeding pattern data for 6 months and information on food allergy symptoms and doctors’ diagnosed food allergy. Feeding patterns constituted six groups: 3-months of feeding at breast followed by mixed feeding, 3-months of breast milk and bottled milk followed by mixed feeding, 1-month of feeding at breast followed by mixed feeding, 6-months of mixed feeding i.e., concurrent feeding of breast milk, bottled milk and formula, 2–3 months of formula followed by formula and solid food, and formula and solid food since the first month. To estimate risks of food allergy, we used linear mixed models, controlling for potential confounders. Of the 328 children with food allergy symptoms in infancy and at 6 years, 52 had persistent symptoms from infancy. Children exposed to mixed feeding had a higher risk of food allergy symptoms (Risk Ratio [RR] 1.54; 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 1.04, 2.29) compared to 3-months of feeding at breast adjusted for confounding. No statistically significant risk of infant feeding patterns was found for doctors’ diagnosed food allergy. Paternal allergy posed a higher risk for food allergy symptoms (RR 1.36; 95% CI 1.01, 1.83). Prenatal maternal smoking increased the risk for doctors’ diagnosed food allergy (RR 2.97; 95% CI 1.53, 5.79). Analysis of this prospective birth cohort suggest that introduction of multiple feeding source may lead to food allergy symptoms. Future efforts are needed to determine acceptable approaches to improve the ascertainment of food allergy in children and the role of infant feeding.
Compressing gene expression data using multiple latent space dimensionalities learns complementary biological representations

Unsupervised compression algorithms applied to gene expression data extract latent or hidden signals representing technical and biological sources of variation. However, these algorithms require a user to select a biologically appropriate latent space dimensionality. In practice, most researchers fit a single algorithm and latent dimensionality. We sought to determine the extent by which selecting only one fit limits the biological features captured in the latent representations and, consequently, limits what can be discovered with subsequent analyses. We compress gene expression data from three large datasets consisting of adult normal tissue, adult cancer tissue, and pediatric cancer tissue. We train many different models across a large range of latent space dimensionalities and observe various performance differences. We identify more curated pathway gene sets significantly associated with individual dimensions in denoising autoencoder and variational autoencoder models trained using an intermediate number of latent dimensionalities. Combining compressed features across algorithms and dimensionalities captures the most pathway-associated representations. When trained with different latent dimensionalities, models learn strongly associated and generalizable biological representations including sex, neuroblastoma MYCN amplification, and cell types. Stronger signals, such as tumor type, are best captured in models trained at lower dimensionalities, while more subtle signals such as pathway activity are best identified in models trained with more latent dimensionalities. There is no single best latent dimensionality or compression algorithm for analyzing gene expression data. Instead, using features derived from different compression models across multiple latent space dimensionalities enhances biological representations.
People Think Alcohol Helps with Sleep

The goal of this chapter is to assist the clinician in the consideration of sleep disorders in patients with substance use disorders (SUD). After developing a differential diagnosis of potential sleep disorders in SUD, the treatment team can then develop an initial plan in order to evaluate and treat the patient appropriately. Patients with SUD are susceptible to all of the sleep disorders that can affect patients without SUD, plus additional SUD-related sleep conditions. Due to this complexity, the diagnostic phase may require more than one diagnostic endeavor and/or treatment trial before proceeding with definitive treatment.
Selection of nitrogen responsive root architectural traits in spinach using machine learning and genetic correlations

The efficient acquisition and transport of nutrients by plants largely depend on the root architecture. Due to the absence of complex microbial network interactions and soil heterogeneity in a restricted soilless medium, the architecture of roots is a function of genetics defined by the soilless matrix and exogenously supplied nutrients such as nitrogen (N). The knowledge of root trait combinations that offer the optimal nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) is far from being conclusive. The objective of this study was to define the root trait(s) that best predicts and correlates with vegetative biomass under differed N treatments. We used eight image-derived root architectural traits of 202 diverse spinach lines grown in two N concentrations (high N, HN, and low N, LN) in randomized complete blocks design. Supervised random forest (RF) machine learning augmented by ranger hyperparameter grid search was used to predict the variable importance of the root traits. We also determined the broad-sense heritability (H) and genetic (rg) and phenotypic (rp) correlations between root traits and the vegetative biomass (shoot weight, SWt). Each root trait was assigned a predicted importance rank based on the trait’s contribution to the cumulative reduction in the mean square error (MSE) in the RF tree regression models for SWt. The root traits were further prioritized for potential selection based on the rg and SWt correlated response (CR). The predicted importance of the eight root traits showed that the number of root tips (Tips) and root length (RLength) under HN and crossings (Xsings) and root average diameter (RAvdiam) under LN were the most relevant. SWt had a highly antagonistic rg (− 0.83) to RAvdiam, but a high predicted indirect selection efficiency (− 112.8%) with RAvdiam under LN; RAvdiam showed no significant rg or rp to SWt under HN. In limited N availability, we suggest that selecting against larger RAvdiam as a secondary trait might improve biomass and, hence, NUE with no apparent yield penalty under HN.
Surgical Management of Chordoma in the Thoracic Spine

This chapter discusses the relevant surgical anatomy to consider when approaching a chordoma of the thoracic spine. The challenges associated with tumors in this region are unique in some ways and shared in others. One of the unique features of thoracic spine chordomas is that some of the tumors, like distal sacral tumors, can be managed from a posterior-only approach. However, combinatorial posterior and anterior approaches are still very common and often safer. The purpose of this chapter is to discuss relevant anatomy that must be considered with either approach. A case example is shown to help further illustrate the anatomy and to prompt the reader to consider various factors when approaching these tumors operatively.
Surface Chemistry, Friction, and Wear of Ni‐Zn and Mn‐Zn Ferrites in Contact with Metals

X-ray photoelectron and Auger electron spectroscopy analysis were used in sliding friction experiments. These experiments were conducted with hot-pressed polycrystalline Ni-Zn and Mn-Zn ferrites, and single-crystal Mn-Zn ferrite in contact with various transition metals at room temperature in both vacuum and argon. The results indicate that Ni2O3 and Fe3O4 were present on the Ni-Zn ferrite surface in addition to the nominal bulk constituents, while MnO2 and Fe3O4 were present on the Mn-Zn ferrite surface in addition to the nominal bulk constituents. The coefficients of friction for the ferrites in contact with metals were related to the relative chemical activity of these metals. The more active the metal, the higher is the coefficient of friction. The coefficients of friction for the ferrites were correlated with the free energy of formation of the lowest metal oxide. The interfacial bond can be regarded as a chemical bond between the metal atoms and the oxygen anions in the ferrite surfaces. The adsorption of oxygen on clean metal and ferrite does strengthen the metal-ferrite contact and increase the friction. The ferrites exhibit local cracking and fracture with sliding under adhesive conditions. All the metals transferred to he surfaces of the ferrites in sliding.
What Affects the Strength of Partisan Identity in Sub‐Saharan Africa?

A longstanding focus of political science scholarship has been on voter studies and, in particular, on the motivations for partisanship. This article examines the intensity of partisan attachments among respondents in twelve sub-Saharan African states (Botswana, Ghana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mali, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe) using data from the Afrobarometer study. Employing a framework derived from both the literature in the West and from newly developing democracies, we test the various explanations put forward for the strength or intensity of partisan attachment in the African context. We find that being a rural voter and support for the governing party are the best predictors for the intensity of partisan attachment among African voters in these twelve sub-Saharan states. These results suggest the continued importance of patronage as a source for party loyalty.
Scattering from coated geometries

The authors present simplified, computationally faster, versions of the dielectric-wedge UTD (uniform geometrical theory of diffraction) coefficients for the case of a wedge with one perfectly conducting face. Expressions for several scattering configurations are considered. Included are plane-wave incidence, far-field observation; cylindrical-wave incidence from a finite distance (/spl rho/'), far-field observation; plane-wave incidence, observation at a finite distance (/spl rho/); and surface-wave scattering with the appropriate transition terms. These variations allow one to incorporate higher-order diffraction terms into the analysis of typical, practical target geometries such as a flat plate or dihedral corner reflector. A model for predicting the RCS (radar cross section) of a flat plate coated with an electrically thin, lossy dielectric using the UTD coefficients for a coated half plane is presented. >
Oscillatory states of mitochondria: III. Ultrastructure of trapped conformational states

Abstract Divalent cation-depleted mitochondria in the presence of an energy source and permeant anions undergo a series of damped oscillations of conformation and electron transfer parameters. The ultrastructure of such mitochondria has been examined during a train of oscillations. A highly condensed inner membrane system in the form of convoluted tubules and vesicles is present at the peak of the light-scattering increment. When the light scattering is minimal, the inner membrane has expanded and cristae form within seconds to produce a conformation usual for mitochondria in vivo. The outer membrane does not contribute to the volume changes. These conformations are repeated during ensuing phases of the oscillatory state, but the populations of condensed or expanded mitochondria become less homogeneous. When the suspension becomes anaerobic, however, the entire population returns to the condensed state.
Sato, Masayuki, The Confucian Quest for Order: The Origin and Formation of the Political Thought of X un Zi

This is the first work in English that extensively looks at the origins of the ideas found in the Xunzi 荀子. The Confucian Quest for Order is an immensely rewarding study of both the evolution of Warring States’ intellectual thought and the Xunzi’s 荀子 all-embracing conception of li 禮 (conventionally translated as “the rites”). Sato demonstrates how XUN Kuang 荀況 (or XUN Qing 荀卿, Xunzi 荀子) systematically combined the ethical discourse of Confucian and Mohist philosophers with the Jixia 稷下 Academy’s analytic discourse; nonetheless, even though his thought was heavily influenced by other schools, Xunzi’s synthesis was still markedly Confucian in tone and nature. Being a historian of intellectual thought rather than a philosopher, Sato is not interested in the Xunzi’s ideas as being ones good to think with; instead, he wants to fully investigate their origins and the contours of Xunzi’s philosophical system. This is a meticulously researched and convincing work; yet despite its overall excellence, it suffers from mechanical problems, infelicitous translations, and a tendency to ignore the stratification of texts. The book is divided into five chapters and sixteen appendices. Logically enough, the first chapter discusses the history of the Xunzi text, from which we derive most of our knowledge of Xunzi’s thought and life. As for the text’s authorship, given the entire book’s emphasis on the concept of li, Sato believes that it is indeed the work of a single author, Xunzi himself. The rest of the chapter attempts to precisely reconstruct the events of his life. Given the fact that most of our information on him comes from records that were written more than 100 years after his death, such as SIMA Qian’s 司馬遷 Historical Records (Shiji 史記), this is not a promising venture. In pegging events to specific periods, Sato is reduced to using logic to dictate what could have or could not have happened; as a result, we see many sentences with phrases such as “it would seem only natural that” or “it would have been unthinkable that.” For example, since the debate between Xunzi and Prince Linwu 臨武君 of Zhao 趙 does not mention Zhao’s crushing defeat at the Battle of Changping 長平, Sato concludes that the discussion must have taken place before 260 B.C. E. (54). Nevertheless, how do we know that this interview actually took place? Even if it Dao (2010) 9:125–128 DOI 10.1007/s11712-009-9150-9