cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Inferences on ultralow-velocity zone structure from a global analysis of SPdKS waves

[1] Anomalous boundary layer structure at the core-mantle boundary (CMB) is investigated using a global set of broadband SKS and SPdKS waves from permanent and portable broadband seismometer arrays. SPdKS is an SKS wave that intersects the CMB at the critical angle for ScP, thus initiating a diffracted P wave (Pdiff) along the CMB at the core entry and exit locations. The waveshape and timing of SPdKS data are analyzed relative to SKS, with some SPdKS data showing significant delays and broadening. Broadband data from several hundred deep focus earthquakes were analyzed; retaining data with simple sources and high signal-to-noise ratios resulted in 53 high-quality earthquakes. For each earthquake an empirical source was constructed by stacking pre-SPdKS distance range SKS pulses (∼90°–100°). These were utilized in our synthetic modeling process, whereby reflectivity synthetic seismograms are produced for three classes of models: (1) mantle-side ultralow-velocity zones (UVLZ), (2) underside CMB core rigidity zones, and (3) core-mantle transition zones. For ULVZ structures, ratios of P-to-S velocity reductions of 1:1 and 1:3 are explored, where 1:3 is appropriate for a partial melt origin of ULVZ. Over 330 unique CMB boundary layer models have been constructed and tested, corroborating previous work suggesting strong trade-offs between the three model spaces. We produce maps of inferred boundary layer structure from the global data and find evidence for extremely fine-scale heterogeneity where our wave path sampling is the densest. While uncertainties are present relating to the source versus receiver sides of the SPdKS wave path geometry, our data are consistent with the hypothesis that ULVZ presence (or absence) correlates with reduced (or average) heterogeneity in the overlying mantle.
A model-based fault prognostics scheme for uncertain non-linear discrete-time systems with multiple distinct faults

In this paper, an online prognostics framework is proposed for a class of uncertain non-linear discrete-time systems with multiple faults affecting the system state with all the states being consid...
Frequent EVI1 translocations in myeloid blast crisis CML that evolves through tyrosine kinase inhibitors

Clinical variables associated with ecotropic viral integration site 1 (EVI1) translocations were evaluated in 42 consecutive chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients in myeloid blast crisis (MBC). Translocations were confirmed with fluorescence in situ hybridization, and Western blot analysis demonstrated EVI1 expression. Translocations of EVI1 were present in 3 of 24 (12%) patients whose disease evolved MBC before tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) exposure, and 7 of 18 (39%) patients who had received one or more TKIs. Univariate analysis showed that prior TKI therapy was the only clinical variable that was significantly associated with EVI1 translocation (P = 0.047). TKI-resistant BCR-ABL1 mutations were present in 71% of MBC patients with EVI1 translocations at the time of disease progression. These observations suggest that EVI1 overexpression collaborates with BCR-ABL1 in the evolution of TKI-resistant MBC. Inhibition of c-ABL kinase-mediated DNA double-strand repair by TKIs may predispose to EVI1 translocation in this setting.
Bounds for fourth-order [0, 1] difference equations

This note examines bounds for fourth-order linear difference equations with coefficients restricted to the unit interval. It is shown that all solutions are of order strictly less than (3/2)^n. The bound is shown to be nearly best possible. Applications to zero-one banded matrices are also discussed.
Promoting Civil Discourse Through Search Engine Diversity

The ability of modern web services such as news aggregators and search engines to tailor their results to the tastes of individuals, together with people's preference for reading opinions which reinforce their own viewpoints, have raised concerns that people are nowadays exposed to a narrow range of view-points, a phenomenon referred to as the âfilter bubbleâ. In this paper we focus on increasing exposure to varied political opinions with a goal of improving civil discourse. We develop a method to algorithmically encourage people to read diverse political opinions and test it when people actively seek information. First, analyzing data from a popular search engine we show that people are indeed more likely to read opinions consistent with their own. Interestingly, they are more likely to read news from opposing sites when the language model of a particular news item is close to the language model of their own political leaning. Based on this finding, we describe a method for assisting people to read divergent opinions by choosing documents of opposing viewpoints that have a language model closer to their own language model. We test our method on a number of web searchers and show that pages of the opposing side which were more similar than the average persons' own language model tended to be clicked 38% more than those below. We also describe the long-term effects of our method, showing that people who were shown more diverse results continued reading more diverse results and overall became more interested in news.
Regulation of natriuretic peptide receptors by thyrotropin in FRTL-5 rat thyroid cells: evidence for nonguanylate cyclase atrial natriuretic factor-binding sites in cells lacking the natriuretic peptide receptor C.

Natriuretic peptide receptors (NPR) are expressed in thyroid-derived cells, including the rat FRTL-5 thyroid cell line. We have previously demonstrated that atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) binding consistent with the NPR-A receptor is significantly increased in FRTL-5 cells cultured in the presence of TSH. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether TSH treatment, therefore, results in higher levels of ANF-induced intracellular cGMP, and whether TSH elicits similar effects on cGMP signaling through the NPR-B receptor. We now show that contrary to expectation, long term exposure to 1 mIU/ml bovine TSH (6H medium) does not significantly alter maximal ANF-induced cGMP formation. Moreover, TSH treatment decreased C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP)-induced cGMP generation in FRTL-5 cells, suggesting a down-regulation of NPR-B. A similar effect of TSH on ANF- and CNP-induced cGMP was observed in FRTL cells, the precursor of the FRTL-5 cell line. Scatchard analysis of [ 125 I]ANF binding in TSH-treated (6H) FRTL-5 cultures indicated a 5.6-fold increase in high affinity ANF-binding sites compared with TSH-deficient (5H) cultures [binding capacity (Bmax )o f 6H cells, 227.2 6 33.7 fmol/mg protein; Bmax of 5H cells, 40.2 6 4.7 fmol/mg protein]. The effect of TSH on [ 125 I]ANF binding was mimicked by forskolin and (Bu)2cAMP, indicating receptor up-regulation via a cAMP pathway. High affinity [ 125 I]CNP-binding sites were present in much lower abundance (Bmax of 5H, 0.80 6 0.06 fmol/mg protein), and no effect of TSH treatment on them could be demonstrated. However, low affinity [ 125 I]CNP binding was increased by TSH. RT-PCR confirmed the presence of both NPR-A and NPR-B transcripts in FRTL-5 cells and showed that TSH treatment significantly decreased NPR-B, but not NPR-A. NPR-C transcript was not detectable by RT-PCR in FRTL-5 cells cultured in high TSH medium, suggesting that the ANF-binding sites increased by TSH are not NPR-C. Both CNP and ANF transcript were also expressed in FRTL-5 cells, and CNP was increased by TSH. Together the data support the down-regulation of functional NPR-B and no change in functional NPR-A by TSH. The vast majority of ANF-binding sites in FRTL-5 cells, therefore, are not coupled to cGMP production and may represent a novel or altered form of NPR that is regulated by TSH independently of NPR-A and NPR-B. (Endocrinology 140: 1365‐1374, 1999)
The internal information of IBM

The ability to utilize data as an enterprise asset is central to every enterprise transformation initiative. This ability is critical for reusing data consistently throughout the enterprise and deriving actionable knowledge from it. Accurate and high-quality data must consistently propagate meaning and value throughout the enterprise and comply with the policies and processes of the enterprise. For a variety of reasons, large enterprises manage data at a local level (e.g., for each department and location), resulting in information "silos" where data is redundantly stored, managed, and processed, each with its own policies and processes, leading to inconsistency. IBM has begun a transformation process to establish a program for the management of its critical data, beginning with the creation of an enterprise data strategy that is aligned with IBM business strategy. In this paper, we describe the progress, to date, of the IBM transformation process. We focus on the activities of the IBM Enterprise Business Information Center of Excellence (EBI CoE), which is responsible for establishing, implementing, and deploying the enterprise data architecture program. The EBI CoE uses leading-edge information management technology and services from IBM and its partners to address enterprise data challenges. We present lessons learned and best practices derived from this ongoing internal transformation process that can be useful for enterprises facing similar data challenges as they transform their operations and business models.
Maximum disjoint bases and constant-weight codes

The following lower bound for binary constant weight codes are derived by an explicit construction: A(17,4,5)/spl ges/441. The construction exploits maximal sets of bases in the four-dimensional binary vector space pairwise intersecting in at most two vectors.
Mother or market? Effects of maternal employment on the intellectual ability of 4-year-old children.

This article uses the 1986 Children of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth data set to investigate the impact of maternal employment on children's intellectual ability, as measured at the age of 4 by using the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (PPVT). Results from multivariate regression analysis show a statistically significant adverse effect of mother's employment on children's intellectual ability, but only for boys in higher income families. Furthermore, the negative impact was related to the timing of maternal employment: employment during the boys' infancy had a statistically significant negative effect on PPVT scores at the age of 4. This pattern was not found for girls, for children in low-income families, or for families in which mothers resumed their employment after the child's first year of life. The impact of other demographic trends in recent years—declining fertility and rising marital instability—are also investigated. The results show an adverse effect of the presence of other siblings on children's PPVT scores; but holding family income constant, the effect of the parents' marital status on children's intellectual ability is not statistically significant. In addition, several family background factors are highly correlated with children's test scores.
Four forearm flexor muscles of the horse, Equus caballus: anatomy and histochemistry.

Two of the forearm flexors of the horse, the superficial and deep digital flexor muscles, are critical to support the digital and fetlock joints, exhibit differing insertions, and are passively supported by the proximal and distal check ligaments, respectively. These two muscles differ in histochemical composition and architecture. The differences are correlated with the different stress levels transmitted through their tendons, and the different frequencies of clinical breakdown that have been reported. Both muscles contain type I and type IIa fibers. A few type IIb fibers occurred in the deep digital flexor. The superficial digital flexor contained approximately 56% type I fibers, extremely short muscle fibers, and extensive connective tissue investment. In contrast, the deep digital flexor had three muscle heads: ulnar, radial, and “long” and “short” regions of the humeral head. The “long” and “short” regions of the humeral head contained 33% and 44% type I fibers, respectively, fiber lengths three to four times as long as those in the superficial digital flexor, and relatively less connective tissue investment. Flexor carpi radialis and flexor carpi ulnaris compared most closely with the humeral head of the deep digital flexor. These data suggest a correlation of the unique architecture of superficial digital flexor with its proposed elastic storage properties during locomotion in horses, and an explanation for the frequent breakdown of the superficial digital flexor in athletic horses. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Buckling analysis of tri-axial woven fabric composite structures subjected to bi-axial loading

The buckling behavior of several simple tri-axial woven composite structures is studied. These structures include basic tri-axial structure, modified tri-axial structure and enlarged tri-axial structure. The structure is subjected to bi-directional loading. Approximate analytical method using equivalent anisotropic plate theory is presented in this paper. Its confirmation is obtained by non-linear finite element solution. Approximate analytical method provides a simpler way to obtain the buckling load, while the non-linear finite element method gives the numerical results and detailed analysis of buckling behavior of the tri-axial structures. The non-linear finite element analysis results reveal that the structures investigated in the paper approximately have the same buckling behavior, but with different values of buckling load. When more X-crossovers are involved in the tri-axial structures, their buckling loads increase and tend to approach a certain value. The results show that techniques used for approximate analytical solution can be used to obtain the buckling load of a real life tri-axial structure. The sensitivity of the buckling behavior of the basic tri-axial structure to the change in the boundary conditions and to the imperfection due to initial configuration is investigated.
The truth never stands in the way of a good story: The distortion of stories in the service of entertainment.

People are often motivated to be entertaining. Past work has shown that those given entertainment goals tell stories differently than those given accuracy goals (e.g. Dudukovic, Marsh, & Tversky, 2004). In three studies we investigate the influence of the motive to entertain on story distortion. In each study, we found that the motive to entertain was related to story distortion. For instance, participants who opened a cockroach-infested container of food exaggerated the size of cockroaches when describing the event to a confederate, and participants telling a group of peers about the first time they got drunk claimed to have been more drunk than when they told the same story to a tape recorder. Furthermore, it was also the case the distorting influence of the motive to tell a good story occasionally occurred without awareness, influencing not only their descriptions of the events but their memories of them as well.
Optimum Design of Trusses for Ultimate Loads

Based on the results of this study, it can be concluded that the nonlinear formulation of the truss design problem is superior to the linear formulation. In design of typical transmission towers a very large number of members must be selected subject to the action of a number of load conditions. In the linear formulation a very large problem results. Running times are large. In addition, numerical difficulties were encountered in seeking the solution to the linear program using the usual methods. The nonlinear method produced more efficient solutions and, in addition, included at least an elementary treatment of buckling. This method has been used in the design of large truss structures.
Apps, Apps, and More Apps: Motivations and User Behaviours

This paper explores the reasons millions of people use stand-alone, task-oriented software programs designed for use on mobile devices, commonly known as "apps." This study uses a survey with a probability sample of 576 app users. Consistent with the uses and gratifications approach, respondents were asked about their attitudes, interests, and opinions regarding apps. Theses measures were reduced to five factors. Then, regression analyses considered the factors as well as app use statistics and demographics to predict app use. The motivations of entertainment, convenience, and instrumentality are consistent with previously studied gratifications of the Internet and the mobile phone. However, the constant availability gratification for apps is unique because they provide quick access to information anytime and anywhere. Regression analysis showed these motivations predicted patterns of app use.
Low-Inoculum Model of Clean Wound Infection

Publisher Summary This chapter presents a guinea-pig model that closely simulates the conditions associated with clean and clean-contaminated surgery. Albino Hartley guinea pigs of either sex, weighing 500±50 g, have been used in all experiments involving this model. Two poorly absorbable antibiotics, gentamicin, and polymyxin B, are added to the drinking water of the guinea-pigs, 24 hours before the procedure if the study involves antimicrobial prophylaxis. This reduces mortality to less than 10%. Only staphylococci have been evaluated in this model although it should be suitable for other bacterial species. The guinea pig possesses a well-developed panniculus carnosus (skin muscle) that overlies the superficial trunk musculature. The infection is initiated by injecting the bacterial-strain-microbead suspension into the potential space between the fascia surrounding these two muscle groups. Materials used on the day of bacterial inoculation include anesthetic, hair clippers, depilatory agent, disinfectant, tuberculin syringes with 23 G needles, markers, towels, and sterile gauze. Three to four days following inoculation, the guinea-pigs are sacrificed and the presence or absence of viable bacteria on material recovered from each of the inoculation sites is determined. Logistic regression is used to plot the infection rate as a function of the number of bacteria inoculated and to determine the statistical significance of differences between bacterial-strain-prophylactic-regimen combinations. For investigations into pathogenetic mechanisms, histologic sections of lesions can be prepared to evaluate enabling or preventing variables of the infecting process.
Nuclear "speckling" in thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura proerythroblasts.

Cytochemical studies were performed on histones of properythroblasts obtained from three patients with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. A network of coarse green histone threads was observed when the nuclei of these proerythroblasts were stained with alkaline fast green. “Knob-like” structures were seen at crossing points of these threads. Ammoniacal silver staining of the nuclei of the thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura proerythroblast revealed a black “speckled” pattern similar to that seen in proerythroblasts obtained from patients with the DiGuglielmo syndrome.
The Ontogeny of the Sclerotia of Pyronema Domesticum

Pyronema domesticum (Sow. ex Gray) Saccardo is a small, pyrophilous discomycete of the family Pezizaceae of the Pezizales. This organism occurs frequently on steam-sterilized soil and has been collected from greenhouses at Cornell University. This fungus is easily confused with P. omphalodes (Bull. ex St.-Amans) Fuckel [= P. confluens (Pers. ex Pers.) Tul.] (Moore and Korf, 1963). The apothecia may be easily recognized by the hairy margins of the relatively discrete, pink or white fructifications. The dark sclerotia are extremely difficult to find under natural conditions due to their minute size (approximately 0.3 mm). In culture, both apothecia and sclerotia are produced in abundance. The ontogeny of the apothecia is reported elsewhere (Moore, 1963). No sclerotia are produced by P. omphalodes, on which a great deal of work has been done. Robinson (1926), who assumed he was working with P. omphalodes, reported the formation of sclerotia-like bodies which, unlike the sclerotia of P. domesticumn, would not germinate. The description of these structures corresponds in some respects to the sclerotia produced by P. domesticum, and it is apparent that he was not working with P. omphalodes. Rosinski and Korf (1954) studied the germina'ion of an "apparently undescribed species of Pyronema" on medium containing coconut milk. This was the same organism on which this investigation was carried out. A comparative study of sclerotial development in various fungi was made by Townsend and Willetts (1954) in which they described a "Botrytis type" which apparently shares a certain number of similar features with P. domesticum.
Integral Textile Ceramic Composites for Turbine Engine Combustors

Integrally formed ceramic matrix composite structures are being developed for a range of hot-structure applications involving active cooling. In this paper, some advantages of integral textile approaches are summarised and design possibilities for turbine engine combustors are suggested. Advantages of integral textile structures include: 1) joints between ceramic and other materials in hot zones can be avoided; 2) thin skins (< 1 mm) can be formed that are strong and tough, enabling tolerance of higher heat fluxes; 3) compliant structures can be designed, which can limit the development of thermal mismatch stresses; and 4) fabrication costs can be lowered by reducing part counts and steps in processing. This paper discusses some of the non-traditional design and fabrication challenges that must be met to exploit integral textile ceramic structures and offers a preliminary assessment of their viability for handling the thermomechanical loads of an advanced combustor.© 2002 ASME
The Computer-Based Patient Record as a CQI Tool in a Family Medicine Center

Article-at-a-Glance Background In 1994 the Department of Family Medicine (DFM) at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) developed an innovative infrastructure for continuous quality improvement (CQI) which capitalized on its existing computer-based patient record (CPR) system. CQI program The CPR is a key element in all components of the DFM patient care CQI activities. Computerized record reviews, online queries, and special reports provide the background information needed to establish CQI projects and, in some cases, diagnose the cause. Any data entered into the CPR, including progress notes text, is searchable for use by the quality improvement teams. The most compelling aspect of DFM's CPR-based CQI system is the use of quality control charts that are regularly generated by the research division from CPR data. These charts allow the CQI teams to determine whether any changes in the process measurements are due to chance causes or are caused by specific interventions introduced to improve the process. Ongoing improvement projects Four ongoing improvement projects that rely on CPR data and use electronically created control charts are discussed—optimizing the treatment of acute bronchitis, improving adherence to practice guidelines for patients with adult onset diabetes mellitus, improving the recognition and treatment of tobacco abuse, and improving blood pressure control in patients with hypertension. Each improvement project has a unique set of goals and objectives, against which the project's success is measured. Conclusion A CPR system can be used to provide fast, organized access to large amounts of patient information to support structured quality improvement activities.
A knot in the heart

Few diagnostic modalities in medicine have been the subject of greater debate for as long after their inception as the pulmonary artery catheter. Placement of a Swan-Ganz catheter is associated with various complications, one of which is knotting. Complications of usage of these catheters are numerous and can have devastating effects. Knotting of Swan-Ganz catheters is a rare complication that can often be managed successfully using interventional radiological techniques. The case reported is a rare case of Swan-Ganz catheter knotting resulting from inserting an excessive length of Swan-Ganz catheter into the heart. Knotting can be prevented by following the principle rule in floating Swan-Ganz catheters by correlating the inserted length of pulmonary artery catheter (PAC) with the expected change in waveform.
Motor Experience Reprograms Development of a Genetically-Altered Bilateral Corticospinal Motor Circuit

Evidence suggests that motor experience plays a role in shaping development of the corticospinal system and voluntary motor control, which is a key motor function of the system. Here we used a mouse model with conditional forebrain deletion of the gene for EphA4 (Emx1-Cre:EphA4tm2Kldr), which regulates development of the laterality of corticospinal tract (CST). We combined study of Emx1-Cre:EphA4tm2Kldr with unilateral forelimb constraint during development to expand our understanding of experience-dependent CST development from both basic and translational perspectives. This mouse develops dense ipsilateral CST projections, a bilateral motor cortex motor representation, and bilateral motor phenotypes. Together these phenotypes can be used as readouts of corticospinal system organization and function and the changes brought about by experience. The Emx1-Cre:EphA4tm2Kldr mouse shares features with the common developmental disorder cerebral palsy: bilateral voluntary motor impairments and bilateral CST miswiring. Emx1-Cre:EphA4tm2Kldr mice with typical motor experiences during development display the bilateral phenotype of “mirror” reaching, because of a strongly bilateral motor cortex motor representation and a bilateral CST. By contrast, Emx1-Cre:EphA4tm2Kldr mice that experienced unilateral forelimb constraint from P1 to P30 and tested at maturity had a more contralateral motor cortex motor representation in each hemisphere; more lateralized CST projections; and substantially more lateralized/independent reaching movements. Changes in CST organization and function in this model can be explained by reduced synaptic competition of the CST from the side without developmental forelimb motor experiences. Using this model we show that unilateral constraint largely abrogated the effects of the genetic mutation on CST projections and thus demonstrates how robust and persistent experience-dependent development can be for the establishment of corticospinal system connections and voluntary control. Further, our findings inform the mechanisms of and strategies for developing behavioral therapies to treat bilateral movement impairments and CST miswiring in cerebral palsy.
Effects of impurities and secondary phases on the performance of CdZnTe radiation detectors

CdZnTe (10 % Zn) crystals for nuclear radiation detectors were grown using modified vertical Bridgman growth technique. Analyses of the effects of impurities and secondary phases on the detector properties were performed. We have attempted to establish a correlation between total impurities and μτe. Also presented are the effects of volume % of secondary phases on the CdZnTe detector performance. μτe values of 1E-2 cm2/V have been obtained from ingots with lower volume % of Te secondary phases. However, no correlation was observed between the volume % of secondary phases and μτe indicating that both impurities and secondary phases effect the μτe value. Results documenting the simultaneous avoidance of impurities and secondary phases are presented. We have shown that post processing CdZnTe is an effective means of reducing volume % of secondary phases.
Carrier relaxation dynamics and ultrafast optical nonlinearities in semiconductor quantum dots

We use a variety of femtosecond nonlinear optical techniques to study carrier relaxation and mechanisms for resonant optical nonlinearities in semiconductor quantum dots. Combining femtosecond inter- and intra-band probes we are able to separate electron and hole relaxation paths and to resolve single exponential dynamics of different multiparticle states.
High Performance Architecture Synthesis System

The High Perfonnance Architecture Synthesis System (Hi-PASS) is a CAD system for DSP architecture synthesis. Hi-PASS generates maximally parallel architectures to support DSP applications where the sample rate is too high for time sharing of hardware to be feasible. Such applications cannot be implemented on a single DSP microprocessor. Real-time execution demands either a multiprocessor implementation or dedicated hardware where multiple operations are happening concurrently. It is the latter solution which Hi-PASS generates using a combination of compiler and optimization techniques.
Nonnegotiable Demands: A Microstory

Most of the Black Studies units that currently exist were established in the period from 1968 to 1972. Chapter 1 details the history of two such programs—one on a small, rural college campus and the other on a large, urban university campus—from the standpoint of the author. The influence of changing campus demographics and administrative structure is emphasized. Global political instability and the rise of identity politics serve to distinguish this period from previous eras and create the environment for the rise of a new field—Black Studies.
Pan-Asian Sports and the Emergence of Modern Asia 1913-1974, by Stefan Huebner

Stefan Huebner has written an engaging and sophisticated history of sports events in twentieth-century Asia, covering modernization through two world wars and then another two decades. A historian ...
The Role of Sprouty Family Members in Hematopiesis in Zebrafish and Mammals.

Abstract In an effort to identify novel regulators of hematopoiesis, we identified a Sprouty family member, SPRY1, significantly enriched (>1.5 fold, p-value
A Little for Me, a Lot for You: The Relationship Between Checkout Charity and Gratuity Size (An Abstract)

Over the past few decades, checkout charity initiatives have spanned numerous retail categories. However, many service retailers, specifically casual sit-down restaurants, have not yet embraced checkout charity. This may be due to the potential impact that money requested for charity has on servers’ gratuities. Thus, this research aims to examine the relationship between checkout charity and service quality and the subsequent effect it has on charitable donation amount and a server’s gratuity. To achieve this objective, this research employs a 2 (donation request: yes/no) × 3 (service quality scenario: excellent/average/poor), between-subjects experimental design. The findings demonstrate that implementing checkout charity does not negatively impact a server’s gratuity when service quality is excellent or average but does so when service is poor. Furthermore, for those consumers who decide to donate money to charity, the donation amount is higher when service quality is poor than when it is excellent or average. This suggests that customers engage in mental accounting when deciding on the amounts to donate to charity and provide to servers via gratuity. These findings have implications for service retailers, as the presence of a charitable donation can have potential negative downstream consequences on management in regard to increased turnover intention and decreased customer willingness to re-patronize the service retailer.
Comprehensive management of congenital choanal atresia

Abstract Objectives To present results of a one-stage minimally invasive surgical procedure for congenital choanal atresia (CCA). Seven outcome measures were applied. Materials and methods Retrospective study conducted between 1999 and 2015. The same endonasal endoscopic approach with multiflaps and no stenting was used on 36 children. The flaps were attached with fibrine glue. There were 50% unilateral and 50% bilateral cases, 70% primary and 30% secondary surgery. The mean age at primary surgery for bilateral atresia was 10 days and for unilateral atresia 4 years. Associated loco-regional disorders were: hypoplasia of the inferior turbinate, rhinopharyngeal stenosis and rhinopharyngeal web. Results The average follow-up time was 6 years, ranging from 1 to 14 years. There was a functionally patent choanae in 94% of children, and 6% showed severe restenosis with a diameter less than 4 mm, which needed one revision surgery each. Charge patients were not associated with worse outcome. There was no external nasal valve stenosis and no permanent Eustachian tube dysfunction. Synechiae occurred in 3 patients with hyperplastic inferior turbinate. No patients showed any disharmonious nasal growth. In neonates with isolated bilateral CCA, breast-suction could be started within 1 day (range 1–2 days), and pain-killers were needed on average for 1.5 days (range 1–4 days). The hospital stay for unilateral isolated CCA was on average 1.5 days (range 1–2 days) and for bilateral isolated CCA, 8 days (range 3–20 days). Postoperative procedures under a short general anesthesia were necessary in 12 cases, 10 of them were infants under 6 months of age. Conclusion Surgery could be performed safely in the newborn in the early stage of life, even for unilateral atresia. Tendency for restenosis can be minimized by: 1. the construction of an as large as possible uni-neochoanae by removing the posterior part of the vomer and by drilling away the medial pterygoid; 2. in case of rhinopharyngeal stenosis, part of the endochondral clivus bone should be resected; 3. all raw surfaces should be covered by multiple mucosal flaps secured with fibrin glue; 4. no stenting; 5. appropriate postoperative care.
For Students on Financial Aid: Does the School's Endowment Matter?

Many of the nation’s top fifty liberal arts colleges claim that the needs of their students on financial aid are fully met. For these elite schools, the authors regress net cost to students on the school’s endowment per capita. The regression results show that only the richest schools can really claim to meet a student’s full demonstrated need. Surprisingly, among the nation’s top liberal arts colleges, the school’s endowment (per capita) matters.
Low-Dose Tirofiban Improves Functional Outcome in Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients Treated With Endovascular Thrombectomy

Background and Purpose— Chinese patients largely experience acute ischemic stroke (AIS) because of large artery atherosclerosis rather than cardioembolism, and whether tirofiban is safe and effective in these patients treated with endovascular thrombectomy (ET) is unknown. This study evaluated the safety and efficacy of tirofiban in Chinese patients with AIS treated with ET. Methods— This observational study is based on a single-center prospective registry study. Patients with AIS undergoing ET with second-generation stent retrievers from January 2013 to February 2017 were treated with ET alone or ET plus low dose of tirofiban. The primary outcome was symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH). The secondary outcomes included rate of early reocclusion, any ICH, fatal ICH, and 3-month and long-term functional outcomes. Results— One hundred eighty AIS subjects were included in the analysis, including 90 subjects treated with tirofiban and 90 subjects without tirofiban. Sixty-three subjects (35%) had any ICH, 19 of them (11%) were sICH, and 9 of them (5%) were fatal ICH. Ten subjects (11%) treated with tirofiban experienced sICH and 9 subjects (10%) not given tirofiban experienced sICH, not a significant difference ( P =0.808). Early reocclusion happened in 4 of 90 subjects (4.4%) treated with tirofiban and 8 of 90 subjects (8.9%) not treated with tirofiban ( P =0.370). One hundred sixty-one subjects (89%) completed long-term follow-up, subjects treated tirofiban were associated with lower odds of death (23% versus 44%, P =0.005) when compared with those who were not treated. Additionally, tirofiban was associated with better odds of long-term functional independence (adjusted odds ratio, 4.37; 95% confidence interval, 1.13–16.97; P =0.033). Conclusions— In patients with AIS undergoing ET, tirofiban is not associated with higher sICH, it seems to lead to lower odds of deaths and better odds of long-term functional independence. Further investigations are needed to determine the efficacy of tirofiban in preventing early reocclusion, the underlying mechanisms, and its optimal treatment protocol.
Everolimus (E) plus bevacizumab (B) is effective first-line treatment for patients (pts) with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) with papillary features (PF): Results from a phase II trial.

627Background: We previously reported on a phase II trial of E+B across various non-clear cell RCC histologies and observed significant activity among pts with papillary or unclassified RCC ( uRCC ) with PF (objective response rate [ORR] 39%, median progression-free survival [PFS] 12.9 months [m]; Voss, JCO, 2016). An expansion cohort limited to these two histologies was conducted to confirm the efficacy of E+B. Methods: E + B was administered at standard doses until progressive disease (PD) or intolerance to therapy. The current analysis included 19 pts with pRCC or uRCC with PF in the initial cohort and 20 pts in the expansion cohort (total n=39). The primary endpoint was 6 month PFS with secondary endpoints of ORR, median PFS, and overall survival (OS). Correlative analyses included next generation sequencing (NGS) from tumor and germline across >341 genes of interest. Results: Of 39 pts, 24 had uRCC with PF, 14 had papillary RCC, and 1 had translocation RCC with PF. Among 37 evaluable pts, the ORR was...
Reverse) Price Discrimination with Information Design

A monopolistic seller is marketing a good to a customer whose willingness to pay is determined by both his private type and the quality of the good. The seller can design a menu of both prices and experiments—that reveal information about quality. We show that the optimal mechanism features both price discrimination and information discrimination: buyers with higher private types face lower prices and receive less precise positive signals. Our mechanism remains optimal within a general class of mechanisms satisfying ex post individually rationality. Overall, information design facilitates surplus creation on the extensive margin, but leads to surplus destruction on the intensive margin.
Opioid-related US hospital discharges by type, 1993–2016

Abstract Objective To classify and compare US nationwide opioid-related hospital inpatient discharges over time by discharge type: 1) opioid use disorder (OUD) diagnosis without opioid overdose, detoxification, or rehabilitation services, 2) opioid overdose, 3) OUD diagnosis or opioid overdose with detoxification services, and 4) OUD diagnosis or opioid overdose with rehabilitation services. Methods Survey-weighted national analysis of hospital discharges in the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project National Inpatient Sample yielded age-adjusted annual rates per 100,000 population. Annual percentage change (APC) in the rate of opioid-related discharges by type during 1993–2016 was assessed. Results The annual rate of hospital discharges documenting OUD without opioid overdose, detoxification, or rehabilitation services quadrupled during 1993–2016, and at an increased rate (8% annually) during 2003–2016. The discharge rate for all types of opioid overdose increased an average 5–9% annually during 1993–2010; discharges for non-heroin overdoses declined 2010–2016 (3–12% annually) while heroin overdose discharges increased sharply (23% annually). The rate of discharges including detoxification services among OUD and overdose patients declined (−4% annually) during 2008–2016 and rehabilitation services (e.g., counselling, pharmacotherapy) among those discharges decreased (−2% annually) during 1993–2016. Conclusions Over the past two decades, the rate of both OUD diagnoses and opioid overdoses increased substantially in US hospitals while rates of inpatient detoxification and rehabilitation services identified by diagnosis codes declined. It is critical that inpatients diagnosed with OUD or treated for opioid overdose are linked effectively to substance use disorder treatment at discharge.
Towards a Smart Sustainable City: Air Pollution Detection and Control using Internet of Things

Smart cities have become an essential and global need; they enhance the infrastructure to mitigate the problems caused by the rapid pace of the urbanization. The main goal is not only achieving a smart city but to realize a smart sustainable city, to achieve the balance of the environment alongside the balance of the city's technology evolution. The Internet of Things (IoT) technology is the most popular technology used in smart cities due to its efficiency in wide varieties of applications. Although the IoT is yet to fully emerge, the energy demand has proven to be significantly increased and will keep on increasing over the upcoming years, that's why it's crucial to investigate the Green IoT. One of the most challenging issues in cities is pollution especially air pollution. Air pollution will become a catastrophe with technological advancement if cities turned a blind eye to it. It has a direct effect on people’s health as well as the ecosystem. From this point, this paper suggests a green IoT based efficient system that detects and monitor the outdoor air pollution level; the system is powered by renewable energy. The system monitors the pollution level; if the pollution level exceeds the acceptable pollution level, it takes a decision to notify the authorities who can use this data in planning preventive actions and take measures to stop the continuous harmful air pollution effects and prevent the evolution of this phenomenon.
Designing wearable technologies for users with disabilities: Accessibility, usability, and connectivity factors:

The increasing availability of wearable devices (wearables), “smart” home, and other next-generation wirelessly connected devices for work, home, and leisure presents opportunities and challenges f...
From Asylum to prison: deinstitutionalization and the rise of mass incarceration after 1945

Up until the late 1950s, persons with mental illness in the U.S. were characteristically held in state hospitals and subjected to crude or nonexistent treatment, and many lived out the rest of thei...
Microvariation and transfer in L2 and L3 acquisition

This commentary discusses Westergaard (2019), a keynote article in Second Language Research, which presents a comprehensive model of first language (L1), second language (L2), and third language (L...
Variety is the Spice of Internal Hiring: How Pool Diversity Affects Post-Hire Performance and Exit

Although internal hiring is associated with a number of benefits for firms, organizations may only be able to fully capture these benefits when they create complementary person-job matches. This ca...
TremorTrack: A Privacy-Aware Solution for Monitoring Parkinsonian and Essential Tremors

This paper discusses the TremorTrack application and studies its functionality as a home-based monitoring tool to periodically analyze and demonstrate observable differences in tremor severity. Using the application, an individual can record Parkinsonian and essential tremors, devoid of the location and time-sensitivity constraints linked to clinical settings. Tremor-Track combines the accelerometer sensor built into an Android handheld device, a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) algorithm, and Amazon Web Services (AWS) for high-level analysis and data visualization. In contrast to existing work that typically focuses on diagnosis and management, our novel contribution extends this with the monitoring of the tremor's progression. It also includes comparing over multiple timepoints or averaging several readings as opposed to a single point in time. The usability and interactivity of TremorTrack through simple navigation with minimal input, making it accessible to those with impaired hand dexterity. We also report on our validation results that suggest a reliable simulation of a hand tremor that has increased in severity over time, clearly represented by comparing or averaging the associated timepoints.
Vascularized Bone Grafts for Spinal Fusion-Part 1: The Iliac Crest

Background Iliac crest autograft has been the gold standard for harvest of fusion materials in spine surgery. The benefits of a vascularized version of this bone graft-including delivery of stem cells, ability to deliver antibiotics to the fusion bed, and relative ease of harvest-make this technique superior to free bone transfer in the achievement of augmented spinal fusion. Objective To present a brief summary of similar existing concepts before describing the novel technique of this vascularized posterior iliac crest bone graft. Methods Vascularized posterior iliac crest bone graft can be harvested from the same midline lumbar incision used for thoracolumbar spinal fusion, through lateral dissection around the paraspinals to the iliac crest. Recipient sites in the posterolateral bony spinal gutters may be as rostral as T12 and caudal as the sacrum. The ability to cover multiple lumbar levels can be achieved with desired lengths of the donor iliac crest. Results Over 14 vascularized iliac crest bone grafts have been performed to augment lumbar fusion for salvage after pseudoarthrosis. Operative time and bleeding are reduced compared to free flap procedures, and no patients have experienced any complications related to these grafts. Indocyanine green (ICG) angiography has been utilized in a novel way to ensure the vascularity of the bone graft prior to arthrodesis. Conclusion While long-term follow-up will be required to fully characterize fusion rates and patient morbidity, this innovative surgical option augments spinal fusion in patients with, or at increased risk for, pseudoarthrosis.
An anarchist criminology for uncertain times

Anarchist practices of direct action, decentralization, leaderless resistance, and mutual aid animate many forms of progressive activism that today percolate around the globe. For a new generation ...
Teaching About Systemic Ethical Misconduct Increases Awareness of Ethical Principles: A Replication and Extension of Grose-Fifer’s (2017) Tuskegee Role-Play Activity:

Background:Introductory Psychology students rarely learn about unethical biomedical research outside the Tuskegee syphilis study, but these practices were widespread in U.S. public health research ...