cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
SYPHILITIC AORTITIS PRESENTING WITH ACUTE ISCHEMIC STROKE AND LARGE ASCENDING AORTIC THROMBUS

Comprehensive evaluation including imaging for a cardioembolic etiology is indicated in the workup of acute ischemic stroke. A 57 year old male presented with a 2 day history of aphasia and right hemiparesis. He underwent transthoracic echocardiogram, which was normal except for a mildly dilated
Solar-neutrino relatedM1 transition in6Li

A two-cluster model is devised for the hypothetical 0+, T=1 level at 11.5 MeV in6Be which was proposed to explain the low value of the observed flux of high-energy solar neutrinos. It is used to show that searches for this level as carried out by means of inelastic electron scattering have not been conclusive, and could be improved to a limited degree only.
An Investigation of the Distribution of the Protein Content of Samples of Corn, Meat and Bone Meal, and Soybean Meal

Abstract This study examines the critical assumption of a normal distribution for protein content in feedstuffs. Data were collected from broiler feed mills on the nutrient content of corn, meat and bone meal, and soybean meal. Tests of normality for protein within each feedstuff were performed by each of two methods: 1) the Shapiro-Wilk test (n 50); and 2) the D’Agostino-Pearson K2 test. Results indicate that protein is non-normally distributed in corn and in meat and bone meal, but protein is normally distributed in soybean meal.
Detection and evaluation of occupational hazard factors in technical reformation project of making methanol by coke oven gas in Jiexiu City

[Objective]To detect and evaluate the occupational hazard factors and protective effects in the technical reformation project of making methanol by coke oven gas in Jiexiu City. [Methods]The field investigation and detection methods were taken to make the qualitative and quantitative evaluation. [Results]The existing occupational hazard factors in the project included dust,noise,high temperature,thermal radiation,power-frequency electric fields,whole-body vibration,ultraviolet radiation,hand-transmitted vibration and chemicals. The detective results showed that the dust detection accorded with occupational exposure limit. The physical detective results of noise and power-frequency electric fields were partially out of limits. The noise hazard mainly existed in the boiler fan,air separation plants,coke-oven gas compressor. The noise was generated during the operation of the primary and the secondary fans of boiler,as well as the air compressing in the air separation plants. The site of power-frequency electric fields where noise was out of limit was on the 110KV substation. The chemicals detection all accorded with the occupational health limits.[Conclusion]The workshop has taken the effective control measures against the dust,chemicals,high temperature,thermal radiation,whole-body vibration,hand-transmitted vibration and ultraviolet radiation,but the occupational control measures for the noise and power-frequency electric fields are still to be perfected.
Shadi Abdessalem: Le Tout en Un

‘The historical movie presents the bedrock of all the other arts’ Shadi Abdessalem Interview with the Egyptian TV Ref.4 Shadi Abdessalam is, at the same time: cineaste, historian, educator, designer, decor advisor, pharaonic garments’ stylist, and painter; which leads any researcher, who aims to study his case, to be lost between those titles, in order to choose the most adequate one, which describes and recognises, all that Shadi Abdessalam has afforded, as an artistic history, to his beloved homeland: Egypt. Thus, due to his multi qualities, we decided to label this essay, Shadi Abdessalem: An all in one.
Layering authentication channels to provide covert communication

We argue the need for providing a covert back-channel communication mechanism in authentication protocols, discuss various practical uses for such a channel, and desirable features for its design and deployment. Such a mechanism would leverage the current authentication channel to carry out the covert communication rather than introducing a separate one. The communication would need to be oblivious to an adversary observing it, possibly as a man-in-the-middle. We discuss the properties that such channels would need to have for the various scenarios in which they would be used. Also, we show their potential for mitigating the effects of a number of security breaches currently occurring in these scenarios.
Description Of A New Species of Pectinid Bivalve From The Juan Fernandez Islands, Chile

Summary Chlamys phalara, sp. nov., is described from material trawled off Juan Fernandez Island in 80–200 metres. What is apparently the same species was previously recorded from the Chilean mainland under the erroneous identification, Ch1amys amandi (Hertlein, 1953). The holotype of the latter species is discussed.
Turnover Intention of Technology Professionals: A Social Exchange Theory Perspective

ABSTRACTRetaining skilled professionals is a critical concern for organizations because employee turnover can affect the quality of service provided by the organization and create considerable expense. Using a framework of social exchange theory, this study develops a model to investigate the interrelationships between turnover intentions, organizational commitment, and constructs of particular importance to information technology (IT) professionals. Field survey data from a large US federal agency empirically test these associations. The results confirm that IT professionals’ perceptions of their skill obsolescence, work overload, and the fairness of the rewards they receive directly influence their organizational commitment. Furthermore, their organizational commitment, perceived work overload, and fairness of rewards significantly affect turnover intention. Employees’ commitment toward the organization is an essential mediator between the perception that their skills are becoming obsolete and intention...
Nevoid Basal Cell Carcinoma Syndrome and Hairy Skin Patches

We report a case of an increasing number of discrete patches of darkly pigmented terminal hair in a patient with nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome. This case adds to a small case series of three patients which have previously reported this observation. We report this case to highlight hairy patches as an important clinical feature associated with nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome.
A toolbox for multi-objective planning in non-deterministic environments with simulation validation

Mobile robots are often subject to several costs and tasked with multiple objectives with different priorities when operating in realistic situations. We recently proposed and theoretically analyzed a planner handling multiple costs and multiple tasks expressed as syntactically co-safe linear temporal logic formulas. In this paper, we present an easy-to-use toolbox which is capable of solving multi-objective planning in non-deterministic environments where multiple tasks have to be accomplished. We experimentally evaluate this planner in a simulation scenario, and we moreover analyze its robustness to modeling errors in the underlying motion models. We show how this theoretical framework can be instantiated in a practical scenario and demonstrate its robustness.
General Type-2 Fuzzy Systems

This chapter explores many aspects of the general type-2 fuzzy system that was introduced in Chap. 1. As was done for interval type-2 fuzzy systems, it provides a very comprehensive and unified description of the two major kinds of general type-2 fuzzy systems that may be used in real-world applications—GT2 Mamdani and GT2 TSK fuzzy systems. Importantly, it also distinguishes between GT2 fuzzy systems that include type-reduction followed by defuzzification and those that bypass type-reduction and use direct defuzzification.
Electrochemical Substrate and Assay for Esterolytic Activity of Human White Blood Cells

The ester 4-((tosyl-l-alanyl)oxy)phenyl tosyl-l-alaninate (TAPTA) was synthesized and tested as a substrate for leukocyte esterase (LE), an enzyme produced by leukocytes (white blood cells). In the presence of LE, TAPTA released a redox-active fragment whose oxidation at an electrode provided a direct numerical measure of LE activity. The assays showed that LE recognized TAPTA as its substrate with the Michaelis constant Km and Imax equal to 0.24 mM and 0.13 mA cm–1, respectively. The esterolytic activity of leukocyte suspensions was determined by using the internally calibrated electrochemical continuous enzyme assay (ICECEA). One activity unit (U) of LE catalyzed the hydrolysis of 1.0 μmol of TAPTA per minute in a pH 7.40 phosphate buffer saline solution containing 10% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) at 21 °C. The measured units were directly proportional to the number of leukocytes in the range of 0.028–4.2 U L–1 (9–690 μg L–1 LE protein). One white blood cell displayed the average esterolytic activity of 0....
Linked Data in Libraries’ Technical Services Workflows

Linked Data for Production (LD4P) is a collaborative project between six institutions (Columbia, Cornell, Harvard, the Library of Congress, Princeton, and Stanford) to begin the transition of the production workflows of their libraries Technical Services Departments to ones rooted in Linked Open Data (LOD). Each institution is focused on a different domain or facet of the problem to move us together as a group more quickly. As a whole, the six institutions will focus on four main areas of development. First will be the establishment of the ability to create linked open data communally. Second, in collaboration with external standards organizations such as the Program for Cooperative Cataloging and linked data projects such as BIBFLOW, will be the establishment of common procedures and protocols for the creation of library metadata as linked data. Third will be the expansion of the BIBFRAME ontology to better encompass subject domains such as art and music. And last will be the transition of a selection of current library workflows to ones based in linked open data. The projects will make use of a collection of preliminary tools and adopt them for production work in their individual environments and, through feedback, assist in the development of the tools.
Undergraduate Statistics Education: An Introduction and Review of Selected Literature

A recent symposium on “Improving the Work Force of the Future: Opportunities in Undergraduate Statistics Education” was held to focus attention on the importance of undergraduate statistics education. The symposium and the approval of curriculum guidelines for undergraduate degrees by the Board of Directors of the American Statistical Association have done much to define the current state of undergraduate education in statistics and suggest directions for improvement. This article summarizes the activities leading up to the symposium and provides a brief summary of six papers from the symposium that have been published. The article concludes with a discussion of some of the outstanding issues that remain to be addressed.
Zika Virus Exhibits Lineage-Specific Phenotypes in Cell Culture, in Aedes aegypti Mosquitoes, and in an Embryo Model

Zika virus (ZIKV) has quietly circulated in Africa and Southeast Asia for the past 65 years. However, the recent ZIKV epidemic in the Americas propelled this mosquito-borne virus to the forefront of flavivirus research. Based on historical evidence, ZIKV infections in Africa were sporadic and caused mild symptoms such as fever, skin rash, and general malaise. In contrast, recent Asian-lineage ZIKV infections in the Pacific Islands and the Americas are linked to birth defects and neurological disorders. The aim of this study is to compare replication, pathogenicity, and transmission efficiency of two historic and two contemporary ZIKV isolates in cell culture, the mosquito host, and an embryo model to determine if genetic variation between the African and Asian lineages results in phenotypic differences. While all tested isolates replicated at similar rates in Vero cells, the African isolates displayed more rapid viral replication in the mosquito C6/36 cell line, yet they exhibited poor infection rates in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes compared to the contemporary Asian-lineage isolates. All isolates could infect chicken embryos; however, infection with African isolates resulted in higher embryo mortality than infection with Asian-lineage isolates. These results suggest that genetic variation between ZIKV isolates can significantly alter experimental outcomes.
A privileged perspective: How a racially conscious White male teacher interacts with his students

The goal of this interpretive study was to further research in the field of Whiteness studies by empirically analysing how a racially conscious white male teacher interacts with his minoritised and...
Measurement of human testicular consistency by tonometry.

A tonometer was used for objective assessment of testicular consistency in a group of 83 men. Testicular measurements in three dimensions were also obtained using calipers. The testicular tonometry value was found to be significantly correlated with the clinical impression of testicular consistency and with testicular size. The testicular tonometry value for the right testicle was significantly larger than the tonometry value for the left testicle in all men except those with a zoospermia. The difference in tonometry values between the right and left testicles was most significant in the group of men with left varicocele. The men with varicoceles also had left testicles which were significantly smaller than the paired right testicle in two of three dimensions. In the group with varicocele there was a significant positive correlation between the tonometry value and sperm concentration in the semen. In men with no history of varicocele there was a significant positive correlation between the tonometry value and the percentage of oval sperm.
OPTIMAL DESIGN OF CROWDSOURCING CONTESTS

This paper provides a game theoretic model of a crowdsourcing contest. Special attention is given to the asymptotic behavior of the contest outcome. We show that all significant outcomes of crowdsourcing contests will be determined by contestants in a small neighborhood (core) of the most efficient contestant type; in particular, the asymptotic structure of the crowdsourcing contests is distribution-free. Our formal analysis yields a managerially implementable and easily understood rule of thumb for the optimal division of the contest budget among multiple prizes. When agents are risk-neutral, the principal should optimally allocate all of its budget to the top prize even if it values multiple submissions. In contrast, if agents are sufficiently risk-averse, the principal may optimally offer more prizes than the number of submissions it desires. Our paper represents the first general analysis of the economics of crowdsourcing contests, provides a simple rule of thumb for determining the optimal prize structure for practitioners who are considering designing such contests, and also discusses the welfare implications of organizing production or R&D as a Web-based contest of this kind.
Simplified Method for the Determination of Total Dietary Fiber and its Soluble and Insoluble Fractions in Foods

Since its adoption by the Association of Official Analytical Chemists in 1985 (1, 2), an enzymatic-gravimetric procedure has been widely used for the determination of total dietary fiber (TDF), particularly, in the United States. Compared to other published methods (3, 4) the AQAC/TDF method is relatively rapid, not so tedious and does not require highly skilled analysts nor sophisticated instruments. However, its procedure still calls for three separate enzyme hydrolysis steps and three periodic pH adjustments.
Origins of Order in Evolution

This article is written as prolegamena both to a research program and a forthcoming book, discussing the same issues in greater detail, (1). The suspicion that evolutionary theory needs broadening is widespread. To accomplish this, however, shall not be easy. The new framework I shall discuss here grows out of the realization that complex systems of many kinds exhibit high spontaneous order. This implies that such order is available to evolution and selective forces for further molding. But it also implies, quite profoundly, that the spontaneous order in such systems may enable, guide and limit selection. Therefore, the spontaneous order in complex systems implies that selection may not be the sole source of order in organisms, and that we must invent a new theory of evolution which encompasses the marriage of selection and self organization.
Crystal Identification and Optical Principles

This book is concerned with the use of the polarizing or polarized light microscope and the elements of crystal optics that make its use effective. The treatment is practical rather than theoretical. Crystal optics continues to be a developing branch of physics, and has many ramifications beyond determinative work. The nature of light and its behavior have formed a central part of physics since its earliest days, from Snell in 1621 through such celebrated figures as Fermat, Huygens, Newton, Biot, Fresnel, Cauchy, Maxwell, and Fraunhofer to Planck, Dirac, and Einstein. The contributions of these people to optics and to physics are concisely summarized by Born and Wolf (1964) in the historical introduction to their comprehensive treatise on optics. We shall later mention many of these and others in the context of their individual contributions.
Network ties and interaction rituals: an examination of social drinking

The use of rituals to bolster social cohesion is well-established theoretically, but alternative outcomes of rituals—when individuals or groups fail to gain, or actively lose, social capital – have...
Impact of DAT-SPECT on Management of Patients Suspected of Parkinsonism.

Objective To evaluate the value of I-2β-carbomethoxy-3β-(4-iodophenyl)-N-(3-fluoropropyl) nortropane (I-FP-CIT) dopamine transporter single photon emission computed tomography (DAT-SPECT) to change management strategies of patients suspected of parkinsonism. Method This was an institutional review board-approved, retrospective study. DAT-SPECT scans ordered by movement disorder specialist and neurologists from 2011-2014 were reviewed. Clinical data and radiological reports of 173 patients suspected of parkinsonism were reviewed. The DAT-SPECT scan results were correlated with clinical assessment and treatment changes. Results A total of 173 patients (104 male and 69 female subjects; age, 64.4 ± 12.6 years) suspected of parkinsonism were included. Median duration of symptoms was 36 months (range, 1-480 months). Scans were most often requested when there was diagnostic uncertainty in clinical features (59.6%, 103/173) or to differentiate one other disease from parkinsonism such as Parkinson disease (PD) versus essential tremor (23.7%, 41/173), PD versus drug-induced parkinsonism (8.7%, 15/173), or PD versus psychogenic (6.4%, 11/173) or vascular (1.7%, 3/173) disorders. Patients were classified, according to the DAT-SPECT scanning results, as those with abnormal DAT-SPECT findings (59%, 102/173) and those with normal DAT-SPECT findings (41%, 71/173). In patients with normal DAT-SPECT findings, follow-up management data were available in 76.1% (54/71). The management changed in 39.4% (28/54) after DAT scan with starting a new appropriate medications or supportive therapy in 4.2% (3/28), withholding inappropriate dopaminergic treatment in 11.3% (8/28), or continuing observation in 23.9% (17/28). In patients with abnormal DAT-SPECT findings, follow-up management data were available in 78.4% (80/102). There was change in management of 37.3% (38/80), a new PD treatment was started in 89.5% (34/38). The dose of medication was adjusted in 5.3% (2/38), although the original treatment was not changed. Parkinson disease treatment was stopped in 2.6% (1/38) and discontinued in 2.6% (1/38) based on clinical decision of neurologists despite abnormal DAT-SPECT findings. Conclusions DAT-SPECT findings impacted treatment decisions in 44.7% of patients suspected of Parkinsonism.
Slugging Percentage Is Not a Percentage—And Why That Matters

In this short note, the asymptotic distribution of slugging percentage (SLG) in baseball is derived under multinomial sampling. It is shown that treating SLG like a binomial random variable divided...
MULTI-SAMPLE FUNCTIONAL STATISTICAL DATA ANALYSIS

ABSTRACT This paper discusses a functional approach to the problem of comparison of multi-samples (two samples or c samples, where c ≥ 2). The data consists of c random samples whose probability distributions are to be tested for equality. A diversity of statistics to test equality of c samples are presented in a unified framework with the aim of helping the researcher choose the optimal procedures which provide greatest insight about how the samples differ in their distributions. Concepts discussed are: sample distribution functions; ranks; mid-distribution function; two-sample t test and nonparametric Wilcoxon test; multi-sample analysis of variance and Kruskal Wallis test; Anderson Darling and Cramer von Mises tests; components and linear rank statistics; comparison distribution and comparison density functions, especially for discrete distributions; components with orthogonal polynomial score functions; chi-square tests and their components.
A 2-in-1 Temperature and Humidity Sensor Achieving 62 fJ·K 2 and 0.83 pJ·(%RH) 2

This paper presents the first reported CMOS 2-in-1 relative humidity (RH) and temperature (Temp) sensor. A unified analog front-end (AFE) interfaces two on-chip transducers and converts the resistance (a Temp) and capacitance (a RH) into a frequency. This conversion occurs with high linearity $(\pm 10$ ppm error) across the industrial temperature range (-40 to + $85^{\circ}\mathrm{C})$ via a frequency-locked loop (FLL). An incomplete-settling switched-capacitor (SC)-based Wheatstone bridge (WhB) is proposed to sense the Rand C in a power-efficient fashion. The FLL output is digitized by a low power, time-to-digital converter (TDC) that has high resolution due to the inherent quantization noise-shaping. This system achieves excellent resolution figure-of-merits (FOMs) when normalized to RH (0.83pJ$\cdot$ (%RH)2) and temperature (62 fJ$\cdot$ K2).
Associations between alcohol, smoking, and cartilage composition and knee joint morphology: Data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative

Summary Objective To determine the cross-sectional associations of alcohol consumption and smoking history with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measures of cartilage composition (T2) and joint structure using data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI). Design Subjects with radiographic Kellgren Lawrence right knee grades 0–2 were selected from the OAI database, and those with previously analyzed MRI cartilage T2 and semi-quantitative joint morphology gradings (WORMS) were included (n ​= ​2061). Alcohol consumption was categorized as: no drinks to 7 drinks/week. Smoking history was categorized as none, current, or former. Linear regression was used to assess the relationships of alcohol consumption and smoking history with both WORMS scores and cartilage T2. Results Subjects who consumed >7 drinks/week had significantly higher cartilage T2 than subjects who consumed Conclusions Alcohol consumption (1–7 drinks/week) was associated with worse cartilage and meniscus joint morphology, and >7 drinks/week was associated with elevated cartilage T2. Compared to non-smokers, current smokers had a more degenerated cartilage matrix as evidenced by greater cartilage T2.
Fracture fixation in the polytrauma patient: Markers that matter

Abstract Timing and type of fracture fixation in the multiply-injured trauma patient have been important and controversial topics. Ideal care for these patients come from providers who communicate well with one another in a team fashion and view the whole person, rather than focusing on injury to individual systems. This group encompasses a wide range of musculoskeletal and other injuries, further complicated by the broad spectrum of patients, with variability in age, medical and social comorbidities, all of which may have profound impact upon outcomes. The concept of Early Total Care arose from the realization that early definitive fixation of femur fractures provided pulmonary and systemic benefits to most patients. However, insufficient assessment and understanding of the physiological status of polytraumatized patients at the time of major orthopaedic procedures, potentially with inclusion of multiple other procedures in the same setting resulted in more morbidity, swinging the pendulum of care toward initial Damage Control Orthopaedics to minimize surgical insult. More recently, iterative assessment of response to resuscitation using Early Appropriate Care guidelines, suggests definitive fixation of most axial and femoral injuries within 36 h after injury appears safe in resuscitated patients, as measured by improvement of acidosis.
The Role of Floodplain Geomorphology in Policy and Management Decisions along the Lower Mississippi River in Louisiana

Control of policy and management decisions on the Mississippi River floodplain in Louisiana are shared among the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, state agencies, parish levee boards, and individual landowners. Several examples illustrate how geomorphic expertise can help resolve conflicting issues between different stakeholders while having input into project design and management. These issues include (1) navigable waterways and the ordinary high water mark, (2) the formation of river bars and islands in regards to ownership, (3) the formation of floodplain lakes in regards to determining ownership, and (4) river diversions constructed to control downstream flooding and distribute sediment into adjacent marshlands. The science of fluvial geomorphology concerns the processes controlling river and floodplain development and should be consulted for decisions involving stakeholder disputes and environmental management.
Drug antagonism and single-agent dominance result from differences in death kinetics

Cancer treatment generally involves drugs used in combinations. Most previous work has focused on identifying and understanding synergistic drug–drug interactions; however, understanding antagonistic interactions remains an important and understudied issue. To enrich for antagonism and reveal common features of these combinations, we screened all pairwise combinations of drugs characterized as activators of regulated cell death. This network is strongly enriched for antagonism, particularly a form of antagonism that we call ‘single-agent dominance’. Single-agent dominance refers to antagonisms in which a two-drug combination phenocopies one of the two agents. Dominance results from differences in cell death onset time, with dominant drugs acting earlier than their suppressed counterparts. We explored mechanisms by which parthanatotic agents dominate apoptotic agents, finding that dominance in this scenario is caused by mutually exclusive and conflicting use of Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1). Taken together, our study reveals death kinetics as a predictive feature of antagonism, due to inhibitory crosstalk between cell death pathways. Drug combinations consisting of two cell death-targeting drugs are enriched for antagonism and ‘single-agent dominance’, where the faster-acting drug suppresses the slower-acting drug due to inhibitory crosstalk between cell death pathways.
O-027 MR derived TTP perfusion maps are predictive of the rate of stroke evolution

Introduction Thrombectomy has rates of successful recanalization of nearly 85%1; however, many patients may not be eligible or not have a successful outcome following recanalization if the infarct evolves prior to arriving to the angiosuite. Neuroprotection that ‘freezes’ the penumbra to allow a longer window to receive treatment has become the next critical topic in stroke care2. The canine temporary large vessel occlusion model has been recently developed to allow for assessment of neuroprotectants. A limitation of this model is the rate of stroke evolution tends towards one of two pathways: fast evolution, where more than half the total infarct volume is present within 90 minutes; and slow evolution, where less than half the final volume occurs within 90 minutes. Here we present a novel analysis of MR based Time-to-Peak (TTP) maps, derived from perfusion-weighted MRI (PW-MRI), to classify the canine stroke evolution based on the first PW-MRI. Methods Fourteen dogs were retrospectively analyzed for patterns of stroke evolution. An autologous clot was injected into the MCA in order to cause an occlusion. Once the occlusion was confirmed, the animal was moved to the MRI scanner. MRI protocol included Time of Flight (ToF), Diffusion weighted (DWI) and perfusion weighted (PWI) imaging. For PWI 0.2mmol/kg gadopentetate dimeglumine was injected IV. To calculate the true volume of stroke, ADC maps were generated from the DWI images. The TTP maps were normalized relative to the unaffected contralateral half of the brain. The TTP map was registered to the DWI images to only account for voxels within the stroke volume. Finally, all voxels of the TTP map within the ADC lesion were binned into one of four categories: slight delay (4–8s), moderate delay (9–13s), long delay (14–18s) and extended delay (≥19s). Results Using the DWI evolution as the ground truth, the canines were categorized into two groups of fast and slow evolvers (figure 1A). The binned TTP maps in the slight delay and extended delay groups also accurately predicted the evolution pathway in classifying all the canines in this study (figure 1B, p Conclusions The ability to predict the rate of stoke evolution, at the point of first MRI, will allow for a better understanding of new therapeutics. Here we have shown that by analyzing the degree of delay from the TTP map, the rate of evolution of the stroke can be predicted. References Acute Stroke. Stroke 2017;48:1588–1593. Stroke. 2011;42:3265-3270. Disclosures R. King: None. O. Brooks: None. M. Gounis: None. M. Shazeeb: None.
A Trait-Based Approach to Self-Organized Pattern Formation in Ecology

Significant effort in the study of self-organized pattern formation has focused on the physical conditions of the ecosystem. But what about the organisms involved? Can just any species form patterns or are certain traits required? I performed a metadata analysis of pattern-forming species in various patterned ecosystems worldwide and analyzed trait values and other biological characteristics to address this question. Results indicate that some species are more likely to form patterns than others, as a result of their possessing a portfolio of traits conducive to pattern formation. There is a conservation of these traits among species forming vegetation patterns across regions of the world. The degree of conservation is high when regular patterns are formed by the mechanism of scale dependent feedbacks. In contrast, when regular patterns arise from interspecific competition, cross-site variation among pattern-forming species becomes high. Understanding evolutionary implications of pattern formation can be enhanced by this trait-based approach, a perspective that has been lacking to date.
Potential contributors to low dose methotrexate toxicity in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis and pernicious anemia: case report.

Low dose methotrexate toxicity rarely occurs, but may present with severe complications, such as pancytopenia, hepatotoxicity, mucositis, and pneumonitis. Known risk factors for methotrexate toxicity include dosing errors, metabolic syndrome, hypoalbuminemia, renal dysfunction, lack of folate supplementation, and the concomitant use of drugs that interfere with methotrexate metabolism. Vitamin B12 deficiency leads to megaloblastic anemia and may cause pancytopenia, but its role in methotrexate toxicity has not been described. We present a case of a patient with rheumatoid arthritis who was admitted with febrile neutropenia, pancytopenia, and severe mucositis, likely secondary to low dose methotrexate toxicity. She had multiple factors that potentially contributed to the development of toxicity, including concurrent sulfasalazine use for rheumatoid arthritis. An evaluation of the patient’s macrocytic anemia revealed pernicious anemia. The patient’s illness resolved with cessation of methotrexate and sulfasalazine, leucovorin treatment and vitamin B12 repletion. This case illustrates the multiple factors that may potentially contribute to low dose methotrexate toxicity and highlights the importance of testing for vitamin B12 deficiency in rheumatoid arthritis patients with macrocytic anemia. Addressing all the modifiable factors that potentially contribute to low dose methotrexate toxicity may improve outcomes.
Immediate and Subsequent Market Responses to Earnings Announcements

This paper studies the relation between immediate market response to corporate earnings announcements and subsequent stock price movement. By adapting an information signal model from Holthausen and Verrecchia (1988), we develop a new measure — the immediate earnings response coefficient (IERC) — to capture immediate market response. We find that a smaller immediate market reaction to earnings surprise, or a lower IERC, leads to a larger subsequent market response. A trading strategy based on our findings can generate an average abnormal return of 5.21% per quarter.
The brain as an insulin-sensitive metabolic organ.

Abstract Background The brain was once thought of as an insulin-insensitive organ. We now know that the insulin receptor is present throughout the brain and serves important functions in whole-body metabolism and brain function. Brain insulin signaling is involved not only in brain homeostatic processes but also neuropathological processes such as cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease. Scope of review In this review, we provide an overview of insulin signaling within the brain and the metabolic impact of brain insulin resistance and discuss Alzheimer's disease, one of the neurologic diseases most closely associated with brain insulin resistance. Major conclusions While brain insulin signaling plays only a small role in central nervous system glucose regulation, it has a significant impact on the brain's metabolic health. Normal insulin signaling is important for mitochondrial functioning and normal food intake. Brain insulin resistance contributes to obesity and may also play an important role in neurodegeneration.
An elevated serum creatinine in a patient receiving palbociclib

Background:Serum Creatinine (SCr) is the most widely used parameter in clinical practice to estimate glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Various drugs have been reported to cause a reversible and tra...
Ternary quadratic forms and quaternion algebras

Continuing our treatment of quadratic forms, in this chapter we connect quaternion algebras to ternary quadratic forms.
A Layer Image Auditing System Secured by Blockchain

Abstract In Additive Manufacturing (AM), auditing layer-by-layer images can detect infill defective attacks effectively. However, the auditing process itself can become a target of inside or outside attackers in Cyber-Physical Manufacturing System (CPMS) environments because pervasive connection through various types of computer networks in CPMS opens new doors for adversaries to compromise various components in an attack detection system. To maintain an effective attack detection system and prevent data from malicious data injection, this paper presents a Layer Image Auditing System (LIAS) secured by the Blockchain technology in CPMS. LIAS consists of a pre-processing system and a Multilayer Perceptron Neural Network (MLP). To evaluate the prediction accuracy of LIAS, a set of simulated infill images and physical images were used for training and testing. The effectiveness of the Blockchain implementation is demonstrated by presenting the comparative performance analysis of the proposed attack detection system with and without the Blockchain.
An analysis of social media use and neighbor-assisted debris removal in Houston following Hurricane Harvey

Abstract Hurricane Harvey was social media's first real stress test. Despite headlines that praise platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Nextdoor for their role in disasters, we still know little about how community resilience differs across these platforms in a single event across a single measure of recovery. With an original dataset from a survey administered in Houston 39 days following Hurricane Harvey, this study explores the community resilience outcomes across users of Facebook, Twitter, and Nextdoor; more specifically, if users agreed that their neighbors engaged in neighborhood-level coordinated recovery efforts in the weeks following the storm. Controlling for collective efficacy, storm impact, amount of aid received, age, gender, income, education attainment, home tenure, and survey modality, findings from two multinomial logistic regression analyses reveal that individuals who used Nextdoor were more likely to receive help from neighbors to collect and pile debris following Hurricane Harvey compared to individuals who indicated they never used the platform, a finding not found among Facebook and Twitter users. This study identifies important differences in the resilience outcomes across these three platforms and discusses implications for future research and resilience policies.
Bulbine natalensis (currently Bulbine latifolia) and select bulbine knipholones modulate the activity of AhR, CYP1A2, CYP2B6, and P-gp

Bulbine natalensis, an emerging medicinal herb on the global market with androgenic properties, is often formulated in dietary supplements that promote perceived sexual enhancement. However, to date, comprehensive safety studies of B. natalensis are lacking, particularly those related to its herb-drug interaction potential. The purpose of this study was to assess the inductive and inhibitory effects of extracts and pure compounds of B. natalensis on human cytochrome P-450 isozymes in vitro. Our findings demonstrated that both water and methanolic extracts of B. natalensis as well as knipholone, bulbine-knipholone, and 6′-O-methylknipholone dose-dependently increased mRNA expression encoded by CYP2B6, CYP1A2, and ABCB1 genes. Functional analyses showed that water (60 to 2.20 µg/mL) and methanolic (30 to 3.75 µg/mL) extracts and knipholones (10 to 0.33 µM) increased CYP2B6 and CYP1A2 activity in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, water extract (60 µg/mL), methanolic extract (30 µg/mL), and knipholone (10 µM) caused activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor up to 11.1 ± 0.7, 8.9 ± 0.6, and 7.1 ± 2.0-fold, respectively. Furthermore, inhibition studies revealed that methanolic extract attenuated the activity of metabolically active CYP1A2 (IC50, 22.6 ± 0.4 µg/mL) and CYP2B6 (IC50, 34.2 ± 6.6 µg/mL) proteins, whereas water extracts had no inhibitory effect on either isoform. These findings suggest that chronic consumption of B. natalensis may affect normal homeostasis of select CYPs with subsequent risks for HDIs when concomitantly ingested with conventional medications that are substrates of CYP2B6 and CYP1A2. However, more in-depth translational studies are required to validate our current findings and their clinical relevance.
Liposorber® LA-15 system for LDL apheresis in resistant nephrotic syndrome patients

Steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS) is a major cause of stage 5 chronic kidney disease (CKD 5) in children. LDL apheresis (LDL-A) is now FDA approved for the treatment of pediatric focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). Effective management of hyperlipidemia with LDL-A in SRNS patients may prevent progression of kidney disease and lead to remission. We report a case series of patients who received LDL-A for treatment of SRNS We describe five children with SRNS who were treated with 12 sessions of LDL-A. Partial remission (PR) is defined as urine protein to creatinine ratio (UPC) of 0.2–2 (g/g) or decrease in UPC ≥ 50%, and complete remission (CR) is defined as UPC < 0.2 (g/g). One patient achieved CR and three achieved PR. One patient did not respond to therapy. The earliest that a patient achieved PR was at treatment #10 and some did not respond until after LDL-A was completed. Those who responded stayed in either CR or PR for extended periods of time. LDL-A was successful at significantly reducing LDL (p < 0.001), total cholesterol (p < 0.001), and triglyceride (p < 0.001). LDL-A was able to significantly decrease the lipid levels in these patients and induce CR and PR in the majority. The current study confirms previous studies showing those with a higher glomerular sclerosis burden were less likely to respond. LDL-A should be considered in patients with treatment-resistant SRNS and should be considered before there is a high burden of glomerular sclerosis to provide the best chance of success.
Patient Characteristics Predicting Readmission Among Individuals Hospitalized for Heart Failure

Heart failure is difficult to manage and increasingly common with many individuals experiencing frequent hospitalizations. Little is known about patient factors consistently associated with hospital readmission. A literature review was conducted to identify heart failure patient characteristics, measured before discharge, that contribute to variation in hospital readmission rates. Database searches yielded 950 potential articles, of which 34 studies met inclusion criteria. Patient characteristics generally have a very modest effect on all-cause or heart failure-related readmission within 7 to 180 days of index hospital discharge. A range of cardiac diseases and other comorbidities only minimally increase readmission rates. No single patient characteristic stands out as a key contributor across multiple studies underscoring the challenge of developing successful interventions to reduce readmissions. Interventions may need to be general in design with the specific intervention depending on each patient's unique clinical profile.
‘Dynamic’ Starling mechanism: effects of ageing and physical fitness on ventricular–arterial coupling

Cardiovascular diseases increase with advancing age, associated with left ventricular and arterial stiffening in humans. In contrast, daily exercise training prevents and/or improves both ventricular and arterial stiffening with ageing. We propose a new approach to quantify the dynamics of the Starling mechanism, namely the beat-to-beat modulation of stroke volume (SV) caused by beat-to-beat alterations in left ventricular filling, which we propose reflects the complex interaction between ventricular and arterial stiffness. We hypothesized that the dynamic Starling mechanism would be impaired with ageing, and that this impairment would be prevented and restored by daily exercise training. Two different approaches were employed: (1) a cross-sectional study to assess the effects of ageing and life-long exercise training; and (2) a longitudinal study to assess the effects of one-year endurance training in the elderly. Spectral transfer function gain between beat-to-beat changes in left ventricular end-diastolic pressure and SV was used as an index of the dynamic Starling mechanism. Gain was significantly lower in the sedentary elderly (70 +/- 3 years) than in both young individuals (27 +/- 6 years) and Masters athletes (68 +/- 3 years), and it was significantly lower in Masters athletes than in young controls (elderly: 0.37 +/- 0.11; Masters athletes: 0.96 +/- 0.55; young: 1.52 +/- 0.42 ml m(-2) mmHg(-1), mean +/- s.d.). Gain increased by 65% after one-year exercise training in the elderly, although the response was quite variable (P = 0.108). These findings suggest that the dynamic Starling mechanism is impaired with human ageing possibly due to ventricular-arterial stiffening. Life-long daily exercise training may minimize this impairment, although the effect may be limited particularly when started later in life.
A local probabilistic prior-based active contour model for brain MR image segmentation

This paper proposes a probabilistic prior-based active contour model for segmenting human brain MR images. Our model is formulated with the maximum a posterior (MAP) principle and implemented under the level set framework. Probabilistic atlas for the structure of interest, e.g., cortical gray matter or caudate nucleus, can be seamlessly integrate into the level set evolution procedure to provide crucial guidance in accurately capturing the target. Unlike other region-based active contour models, our solution uses locally varying Gaussians to account for intensity inhomogeneity and local variations existing in many MR images are better handled. Experiments conducted on whole brain as well as caudate segmentation demonstrate the improvement made by our model.
Education and Qualification for Control and Automation

Engineering education has seen an explosion of interest in recent years, fueled simultaneously by reports from both industry and academia. Automatic control education has recently become a core issue for the international control community. This has occurred in tandem with the explosion of interest in engineering education as a whole. The applications of control are growing rapidly. There is an increasing interest in control from researchers from outside of traditionally control-based fields such as aeronautics, chemical, mechanical, and electrical engineering. Recently control and systems theory have had much to offer to nontraditional control fields such as biology, biomedicine, finance, actuarial science, and the social sciences as well as transportation and telecommunications networks. Complementary, innovative developments of control and systems theory have been motivated and inspired by complex real-world problems. These new developments present huge challenges in control education. Meeting these challenges will require a multifaceted approach by the control community that includes new approaches to teaching, new preparations for facing new theoretical control and systems theory problems, and a critical review of the status quo. This chapter discusses these new challenges as well as new approaches to education and outreach. This chapter starts by presenting an argument towards the future of controls as the application of control theory expands into new and unique disciplines. It provides two case studies of nontraditional areas where control theory has been applied: finance and biomedicine. These two case studies show a high potential for using powerful fundamental principles and tools of automatic control in research with an interdisciplinary nature. The chapter then outlines current and future pedagogical approaches being employed in control education, particularly introductory courses, around the world. It concludes with a discussion about the role of scholarship, teaching, and learning in control education both now and in the coming years.
Computational discrete geometry

In recent years, computers have been used regularly to solve major problems in discrete geometry. The talk at ICMS 2010 will give a survey of the computational methods. The extended abstract that is provided below mentions a few of the problems that will be discussed.
Quantized primitive ideal spaces as quotients of affine algebraic varieties

Given an affine algebraic variety V and a quantization A of its coordinate ring, it is conjectured that the primitive ideal space of A can be expressed as a topological quotient of V. Evidence in favor of this conjecture is discussed, and positive solutions for several types of varieties (obtained in joint work with E. S. Letzter) are described. In particular, explicit topological quotient maps are given in the case of quantum toric varieties.
Supporting declarative programming through analogy

Two of the most frequently used programming languages in teaching Artificial Intelligence (AI) are declarative. Many undergraduates have difficulty in making the transition from the procedural programming language learned in their early years in college to the declarative programming paradigm used in the AI course. This paper presents a methodology that supports declarative programming in an AI course by using analogy. Several classroom examples are presented along with the analogous out of class assignments.