cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pharmacotherapy Treatment Patterns, Outcomes, and Health Resource Utilization Among Patients with Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction at a U.S. Academic Medical Center

tudy Objective To assess clinical characteristics, pharmacotherapy treatment patterns, resource utilization and associated charges, and morbidity and mortality outcomes among a real-world cohort of patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) in an academic medical center setting. Design Retrospective analysis. Data Source Electronic health record database that includes clinical, laboratory, and administrative data for all facilities of the University of Utah Health Care System. Patients A total of 989 adults with prevalent (preexisting) HFrEF, identified by using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification code 428.x (heart failure) between January 1, 2007, and June 30, 2013, and who had a left ventricular ejection fraction of 40% or lower. Measurements and Main Results The cohort had a mean age of 64 ± 15 years and was predominantly white (71%) and male (74%). Patients received β-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) or angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs), and aldosterone receptor antagonists (ARAs) at rates of 79%, 69%, and 29%, respectively. Patients achieved target doses of β-blockers, ACEIs, and ARBs at rates of only 24%, 31%, and 13%, respectively. Overall, 58% of patients were prescribed dual therapy with a β-blocker and an ACEI or ARB, and 19% were prescribed triple therapy (β-blocker, an ACEI or ARB, and an ARA). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to assess the association between baseline characteristics with the presence of triple therapy. Two variables were statistically significant in both models: increasing age was associated with a lower odds of triple therapy (univariate: odds ratio [OR] 0.760, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.673–0.857; multivariate: OR 0.768, 95% CI 0.625–0.942), whereas receipt of an implantable cardiac device was associated with a 2-fold increase in the odds of triple therapy (univariate: OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.4–3.1; multivariate: OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.3–3.5). During a mean ± SD follow-up of 36 ± 27 months, all-cause mortality was 0.12 per person-year. There were 1311 all-cause hospitalizations of which 611 (47%) were for worsening heart failure. The rate of all-cause and heart failure–specific hospitalizations was 0.44 and 0.21 per person-year of follow-up, respectively. The median length of stay was 6.4 ± 8.8 days, and the median charge was $22,310. The 30-day all-cause readmission rate was 20%, and the primary reason for readmission was heart failure in 65% of cases. Conclusion This study demonstrates the continuing significant disease and economic burden for patients with HFrEF. Challenges remain in utilization of established disease-modifying therapy and in the treatment of patients with HFrEF and multiple comorbidities.
Central oxytocin inhibition of angiotensin-induced salt appetite in rats

In several models of salt appetite in the rat, stimulated NaCl intake can be severely blunted by treatments associated with pituitary release of oxytocin (OT). Central administration of the potent dipsogen angiotensin II (ANG II) is known to elicit a limited salt appetite as well as thirst, but it has also been reported to stimulate pituitary OT secretion. These results suggest the possibility that the expression of ANG II-induced salt appetite in rats may be inhibited by a simultaneous central release of OT in response to this stimulus. To investigate this possibility, rats were given intracerebroventricular injections of OT-receptor antagonists before administration of 5 ng ANG II intracerebroventricularly in a 1-h two-bottle (water and 0.3 M NaCl) drinking test. This pretreatment resulted in a three- to fourfold potentiation of ANG II-induced saline ingestion, which was most prominent during the first 15 min of the test. OT-receptor antagonism did not, however, interfere with the dipsogenic properties of ANG II, nor did it stimulate saline ingestion alone in the absence of ANG II. Immunocytochemical studies demonstrated that central administration of ANG II at this dose caused pronounced c-fos expression in hypothalamic magnocellular OT and vasopressin neurons and also in OT neurons in parvocellular subdivisions of the paraventricular nucleus. These results therefore demonstrate that central administration of small doses of ANG II activates both magnocellular and parvocellular OT neurons in rats and indicate that some of the activated central OT pathway(s) may mediate an inhibitory effect that limits the salt ingestion induced by this treatment.
MANAGING LIQUIDITY IN RESEARCH-INTENSIVE FIRMS: SIGNALING EFFECTS OF PATENTS & MANAGERIAL OWNERSHIP.

This article discusses a research study done to prove the hypothesis that managerial ownership is negatively related to the liquidity of assets, and will negatively moderate the R&D-liquidity relat...
Extra-Articular Lipoma Arborescens of the Dorsal Aspect of the Wrist with Invasion of the Extensor Tendons: A Case Report.

Lipoma arborescens is a rare, benign proliferative condition affecting synovial-lined anatomic spaces. It is characterized by proliferation of subsynovial fat, responsible for its characteristic imaging findings: fronds of fat-containing villi projecting into a synovial space1-3. It is unclear whether this condition is postinflammatory, neoplastic, or metaplastic4-6. Since it is typically limited to the synovium without invasion of other structures, treatment is simple debridement with synovectomy. Lipoma arborescens commonly affects the knee and to a lesser extent the ankle and hip4-8. It is usually monoarticular, but there are reports of multiple sites involved synchronously and metachronously9-11. Lipoma arborescens rarely affects the upper extremity; a review of the published literature revealed only one previous case reporting the condition as an extra-articular lesion affecting the extrinsic tendons of the hand and wrist11-15. To the best of our knowledge, aggressive growth and invasion of structures outside of the synovium have been reported only twice. Both reports noted osseous erosion of the tumor: one in the shoulder joint and the other in the knee13,16. Disease has also been reported in the subacromial-subdeltoid bursa with an associated rotator cuff tear12. We present a case of extra-articular lipoma arborescens with direct invasion of the extensor tendons in a young patient with a chronic mass on the dorsal aspect of the wrist. The patient was informed that data concerning the case would be submitted for publication, and she provided consent. A twenty-four-year-old right-hand dominant woman presented to our office with a mass that was localized to the dorsum of the right wrist and hand. The mass had been present but asymptomatic for eight years. A month prior to presentation, the mass had …
Physical Properties of HCFO-1233zd(E)

A new low global warming potential (GWP) fluid hydrochlorofluoroolefin trans-isomer of 1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoro-propene (HCFO-1233zd(E)) has been developed in our laboratory. HCFO-1233zd(E) has a very short atmospheric lifetime of 26 days and a global warming potential (GWP) of less than 5 (Wong et al., http://www.honeywell-solsticelba.com.product-info/environmental-regulatory/#atmospheric-impact, 2012). This makes it an excellent environmentally friendly candidate for many applications including refrigeration, foam expansion agents, and as solvents. In this work we have presented our measurements of physical properties like the boiling point, critical temperature, vapor pressure, liquid density, and surface tension of HCFO-1233zd(E). We have also provided our calculated ideal gas heat capacity at constant pressure using quantum mechanical theory. Temperature-dependent properties are correlated with standard forms of equations and described in the paper.
Management of Hypertension

To provide maximal protection against the cardiovascular complications that accompany hypertension, the disease must be managed in ways to minimize the total cardiovascular risk burden. These involve five major steps: (1) careful monitoring of the blood pressure in response to appropriate therapy; (2) assessment of concomitant cardiovascular risk factors; (3) institution of life-style modifications needed to control both hypertension and other risk factors; (4) use of antihypertensive drugs, chosen to best manage the individual patient's overall risk burden and provided in a manner that will lower the pressure gently while avoiding adverse reactions; and (5) identifying and reaching the goal of therapy: levels of blood pressure that are neither too high to avoid increased risks for cerebral and renal damage nor too low to avoid increased risks for coronary ischemia. This monograph builds on the 30-year experience of one of the leading clinical investigators in the field to translate the multiple advances made in the management of hypertension into practical guidelines for improved care of the many millions of patients with this disease. Particular emphasis is directed toward certain therapeutic challenges, including the elderly, diabetic patients, and resistant hypertensive patients.
Endoscopic resection of a venous hemangioma of the optic nerve sheath.

Abstract We describe a case of a venous hemangioma that arose in the optic nerve sheath of the orbital apex in a 28-year-old man who presented with progressive vision loss. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of a venous hemangioma occurring at this location. A definitive diagnosis and partial excision was achieved via an endoscopic transsphenoethmoid approach with interactive, computer-assisted, frameless stereotactic surgical navigation. The intervention resulted in minimal morbidity, demonstrating yet again that this surgical approach is a safe and effective way to treat lesions of the orbital apex.
Fecal Blood Testing or Colonoscopy: What Is the Best Method for Colorectal Cancer Screening?

The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has updated its evidence review and continues to recommend colorectal cancer (CRC) screening for persons between the ages of 50and75 to reduceCRCmortality.1TheUSPSTFdeclined,however, to express a preference in screening methods, stating “Multiple screening strategies are available to choose from, with different levels of evidence to support their effectiveness, as well as unique advantages and limitations, although there are no empirical data to demonstrate that anyof the reviewed strategies provide a greater net benefit.”1 Nonetheless, theUSPSTF evidence reviewoffers an opportunity to compare the benefits and risks of different screening methods, which is the focus of this editorial.
Territorial issues and international conflict

Introduction Territorial issues are incredibly conflict-prone. These difficult-to-resolve issues account for more disputes and wars, at a higher rate of escalation, than any other type of issue. This conclusion is well documented, and I describe the empirical basis for the claim very early in this chapter. However, the purpose of this chapter actually rests with developing the ways in which previous studies have treated the domestic political implications of territorial conflict. As I describe, almost all explanations of conflict rely on the salience of territorial issues to generate a domestic political environment that makes international conflict initiation likely. Relying mostly on the strong empirical connection between territory and war, studies search for the factor that makes the land valuable to the conflictinitiating state. An association of ethnic lands, resources, or strategic territory, with territorial conflict, also offers proof of the domestic political argument. There is little development, if any, of how territorial issues actually structure the domestic political bargaining within the state. There are two exceptions to this pattern. First, the Steps-to-War explanation, offered by Vasquez (1993, 2009), finds the relationship between territorial conflicts and domestic politics to be somewhat recursive. Territorial conflicts affect the composition of the leadership by promoting the ascendance of hardliners, and these leadership changes make war more likely.Asecond exception concerns the growing number of studies that examine the ability of democratic institutions to mollify territorial conflict.
Prognose und Behandlung der Verbrennung beim alten Patienten

Patienten mit Verbrennungen und einem Lebensalter uber 65 Jahren wurden retrospektiv nachuntersucht. Die Anzahl betrug n=40, bei einem Durchschnittsalter von 77 Jahren. In 95% war ein hauslicher Unfall wie Kleiderbrand, Wohnungsbrand und Verbruhungen mit Badewasser die Ursache. Die verspatete Einweisung in die Verbrennungseinheit nach durchschnittlich 4,4 Tagen war mit einer Wundinfektrate von 50% verbunden. 81,5% aller Patienten hatten gravierende Vorerkrankungen, welche sich unter der infizierten Verbrennung oft verschlechtern. Die Letalitatsrate betrug 24%, wobei in fast allen Fallen die Ursache in einer Verschlechterung der cardiopulmonalen Vorerkrankung zu sehen war. 95% aller Patienten wurden nach erfolgreicher Therapie wieder in ihre ursprungliche hausliche Umgebung entlassen. Als Fazit wurde eine verstarkte Pravention durch Rauchmelder und Heiswasser-Temperaturbegrenzer gefordert.
REGIONAL DIFFERENCES IN SAFETY BEHAVIOUR AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY, FINLAND 2013-2015

Background Local authorities need a health and well-being monitoring system, that gives information on current safety behaviour and environmental safety and changes in them. Methods The study is based on a nationally and regionally representative cross-sectional questionnaire (postal or web) survey entitled “The Regional Health and Well-being Study” (ATH) carried out in 2013−2015 in Finland. Respondents aged 20 years or more (n = 89 779) were included. The indicators used were: 1) use of helmet always when cycling, and 2) slippery footpaths in winter near of respondents’ home bother the respondents. Prevalence estimates with 95% confidence intervals were calculated. The results were presented by different population groups. Results There were considerable differences in safety behaviour between educational groups, and they were most often unfavourable for the less-educated groups. These differences could generally be observed also at regional level. Use of helmet when cycling was most common in the highest educational group among both men and women. In the region of Uusimaa about 35% of cyclists reported always wearing a helmet when cycling whereas in Western Finland the corresponding prevalence was about 15%. Slippery footpaths in winter were most common in the region of Uusimaa where over half of respondents reported that slippery footbaths bothered them, compared to 40% in Central and South-Eastern Finland. Conclusions There were regional differences in both safety behaviour and environmental safety. In safety behaviour there were also sociodemographic differences. The ATH -study provides local authorities with the necessary tools to monitor their residents’ health and well-being together with the factors affecting them. It is also an important tool for the monitoring of safety behaviour and environmental safety and their long- and short-term changes in the adult population. The results are reported in an interactive online service (in Finnish): www.thl.fi/ath.
Cratering in the Classroom

The SEMS Project (Science Education in Middle School) in Michigan is a cooperative science education improvement effort by several universities, hundreds of school districts, and the state department of education. Upper elementary and middle/junior high school teachers have been targeted for improvement of science instruction. Although the initial area of focus included teachers of grades five through nine, the project has been successfully extended to early elementary grades. While there are many excellent teachers at these grade levels, research findings indicate that 49 per cent of all middle school science teachers are teaching without a major or minor in science! The situation is even more critical at the upper elementary levels.
Optical Music Recognition for Interactive Score Display

Optical music recognition (OMR) is the task of recognizing images of musical scores. In this paper, improved algorithms for the first steps of optical music recognition were developed, which facilitated bulk annotation of scanned scores for use in an interactive score display system. Creating an initial annotation by OMR and verifying by hand substantially reduced the manual effort required to process scanned scores to be used in a live performance setting.
Ndlovu-Gatsheni, Sabelo J. The Decolonial Mandela: Peace, Justice, and the Politics of Life New York: Berghahn Books 186 pp., $27.95, ISBN 9781785332968 Publication Date: March 2016

Sabelo J. Ndlovu-Gatsheni's book The Decolonial Mandela: Peace, Justice and the Politics of Life is, in the words of Sabelo himself, “an elongated obituary” (xix) written in memory of Nelson Mandel...
Health literacy in the urgent care setting: What factors impact consumer comprehension of health information?

Background An increasing number of Americans are using urgent care (UC) clinics due to: improved health insurance coverage, the need to decrease cost, primary care offices with limited appointment availability, and a desire for convenient care. Patients are treated by providers they may not know for episodic illness or injuries while in pain or not feeling well. Treatment instructions and follow-up directions are provided quickly. Purpose To examine health literacy in the adult UC population and identify patient characteristics associated with health literacy risk. Methods As part of a larger cross-sectional study, UC patients seen between October 2013 and January 2014 completed a demographic questionnaire and the Newest Vital Sign. Descriptive, nonparametric analyses, and a multinomial logistic regression were done to assess health literacy, associated and predictive factors. Results A total of 57.5% of 285 participants had adequate health literacy. The likelihood of limited health literacy was associated with increased age (p < .001), less education (p < .001), and lower income (p = .006). Conclusions/implications Limited health literacy is common in a suburban UC setting, increasing the risk that consumers may not understand vital health information. Clear provider communication and confirmation of comprehension of discharge instructions for self-management is essential to optimize outcomes for UC patients.
Analysis of bronopol (2-bromo-2-nitropropan-1, 3-diol) residues in rice (Oryza sativa L.) by SPE using Bond Elut Plexa and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

A novel method has been developed for the direct, sensitive, and rapid detection of bronopol in rice using a simple solid-phase extraction (SPE) procedure followed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), with electrospray ionization (ESI). Bronopol was stable under acidic conditions, and an acidic environment was thus needed before sample loading to ensure the stability of bronopol. Rice extracts containing bronopol were pretreated using a hydrophilic-lipophilic balanced (Bond Elut Plexa) cartridge to reduce the matrix effect. An XDB-C18 column (150 mm × 2.1 mm, 3.5 μm) was used for chromatographic separations, with a mobile phase comprising methanol and aqueous ammonium formate (5 mM). The linearity of the method was satisfactory with regression coefficient (R 2) = 0.9992. The limit of quantification was 3.3 μg kg−1. Three spiked levels (25, 125 and 625 μg kg−1) were used to determine the recovery of bronopol, which was found to be 73.3–96.7%, with relative standard deviations (RSD) in the range 1.2–7.9%. The RSD for intra-day precision (n = 7) was 7.6% and the RSD for inter-day precision (n = 15) was 8.3%. The newly developed analytical method was successfully used to quantify bronopol in rice samples.
Comparison of clinical features of refractory asthma and Churg-Strauss syndrome

Background: A minority of patients with difficult-to-control asthma was eventually diagnosed with CSS. Difference of clinical symptoms between refractory asthma and CSS is hardly identifiable. We aimed at providing evidence for the early diagnosis of CSS by comparing and analyzing the differences of clinical features and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) between refractory asthma and CSS patients. Methods: Retrospective analysis was made on the clinical data of 14 patients with refractory asthma and 23 with CSS, and the differences in terms of demographics, fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), pulmonary function, cell count differential in peripheral blood and BALF were compared respectively during Jan 1st, 2015 to Dec 31st, 2016. SPSS was used to perform the statistical analysis. Results: There are no obvious differences in age, gender and body mass index between two groups. However, the patients in CSS group are statistically longer in diagnosis period than patients in refractory asthma group; The patients with CSS show statistically higher level of FeNO, eosinophil in peripheral blood and BALF; The number for FEV1/FVC and FEV1% in patients with CSS are lower than those in refractory asthma. Conclusions: Clinicians should be alert to the patients with refractory asthma who have a higher level of eosinophil both in blood and BALF when diagnosing the possibility of CSS. Keywords Refractory asthma; Churg-Strauss syndrome; Eosinophil; Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid
Sexuality and Adolescents with Autism

Appropriate education in sexuality is critical to the development of a person's positive self-esteem. The development of a healthy self-image may overcome potential feelings of depression and loneliness for the person with autism. This paper addresses the need for and challenges to providing sexuality education to individuals with autism. It summarizes teaching methods and approaches which have proven to be successful with this population.
Comments on Lewis

(i) These comments are concerned primarily with Lewis’ treatment of what he calls the first paradox (Theaetetus 188A-C). I will argue, contrary to Lewis, that if Plato had assumed that epistemic contexts are ‘transparent’ (i.e., that substitution of identicals does not alter their truth value), his position would have been inconsistent. Whether this is an objection to Plato or to Lewis is hard to say. The texts do not show conclusively whether Plato’s position was consistent and free from the assumption that epistemic contexts are transparent, or inconsistent because it includes the assumption. But I think the point I argue for is of some interest despite this because so many readers have felt that Plato’s argument in the first and some of the later paradoxes would be furthered by the assumption that epistemic contexts are transparent.
Economics and Theology after the Separation

Once economics came to be understood as the scientific investigation of the operation of markets, economic theorists pushed ethical and metaphysical concerns outside their realm of study. After the separation, the claims of Christian theology had no more jurisdiction over the discipline of economics than they did over other scientific disciplines. On one side, you had the empirical investigations of systems and processes, with their attendant scientific explanations; on the other, the interpretation of meaning and moral value, with their attendant theological explanations. For the past two hundred years, the scientific and the theological have, for the most part, been understood to be separable realms. That separation has often been understood as part of secularization, yet, economics and theology have often intersected since the separation. In some cases, these intersections have been directly connected to developments in economic analysis; in others, they have strengthened the different modes by which the two fields understand their contributions to human flourishing. We will conclude with a restatement of the apparent modes of contribution, and a reconsideration of the connection between the separation and secularization.
Neurologic Correlates of Anomia

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses anomia and outlines involved neuroanatomical structures and pathways. Anatomical-clinical correlations for the varieties of anomia described are suggested and a neurologic framework for the word-finding process described. Almost every individual with aphasia has some reduction in the repertoire of words available for speech and requires more time than normal to produce words in response to either pictures or questions. The problem of producing words appears to be universal in aphasia, but word-finding problems also occur in normal individuals and in many types of cerebral dysfunction. Anomia is a state in which a person has a problem with word-finding. The presence of anomia may be conspicuous in spontaneous or conversational speech. In aphasia output, one of two distinctly different naming problems may be apparent. In one, the patient appears to have a problem saying the word while in the second he appears to have a problem knowing the word desired. There is another word-finding problem that is noted in the conversational speech of fluent aphasia. These patients produce a rambling, noninformative output, containing many words but conveying comparatively little information. A pure anomic aphasia—one with no other disturbance of output and no problems in comprehension, repetition, reading, or writing—can be called word selection anomia. The patient fails to name objects on confrontation, but readily explains or demonstrates their use, proving that he recognizes the object but cannot produce the verbal symbol. In clinical practice, a mixture of several varieties of anomia is frequent, but differentiation can often be made, particularly when related clinical signs are taken into account.
Sensitization of recombinant human tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand-resistant malignant melanomas by quercetin.

Malignant melanoma is the most commonly diagnosed skin cancer associated with a high rate of metastasis. Low-stage melanoma is easily treated, but metastatic malignant melanoma is an extremely treatment-resistant malignancy with low survival rates. The application of recombinant human tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (rhTRAIL) for the treatment of metastatic malignant melanoma holds considerable promise because of its selective proapoptotic activity towards cancer cells and not nontransformed cells. Unfortunately, the clinical utilization of rhTRAIL has been terminated due to the resistance of many cancer cells to undergo apoptosis in response to rhTRAIL. However, rhTRAIL-resistance can be abrogated through the cotreatment with compounds derived from ‘Mother Nature’ such as quercetin that can modulate cellular components responsible for rhTRAIL-resistance. Here, we show that rhTRAIL-resistant malignant melanomas are sensitized by quercetin. Quercetin action is manifested by the upregulation of rhTRAIL-binding receptors DR4 and DR5 on the surface of cancer cells and by increased rate of the proteasome-mediated degradation of the antiapoptotic protein FLIP. Our data provide for a new efficient and nontoxic treatment of malignant melanoma.
Invasive species denialism: a reply to Ricciardi and Ryan

This paper offers a defense against ad hominem aspersions cast in this journal by Ricciardi and Ryan (Biol Invasions 20(3):549–553, 2018) who allege that several articles I wrote represent “invasive species denialism” and “science denialism.” I summarize the arguments found in those articles. They are (1) science cannot define ecological “harm” and thus cannot measure its risk; (2) invasion biologists rely on tautologies, i.e., definitions of concepts like “biodiversity” and “ecosystem intactness,” that exclude exotic species; (3) no empirical evidence shows that introduced plants have been significant causes of extinction; (4) biologists cannot tell by observing a species whether it is native or a naturalized alien; and (5) debates over the meanings and measurements of key concepts in invasion biology have passed the point of diminishing returns. These arguments may be wrong but none is “similar to the denialism that has affected climate science and medical science” as Ricciardi and Ryan aver.
Key factors influencing the purchase intention of activewear: an empirical study of US consumers

In recent years, activewear is no longer contained to the gym. It is visible in places such as grocery store, movie theatre, and classroom. To better understand this phenomenon of activewear purcha...
The JCP: A Perpetual Spoiler?

This chapter examines the electoral performance of the Japanese Communist Party (JCP) in the 2017 general election. The JCP lost about 30% of proportional representation (PR) votes relative to the previous election, and the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDP) appears to be the main recipient of the voters who left the JCP. The JCP reduced its number of single-seat district (SSD) candidates in this election, but still ran candidates in 71% of SSDs. The presence or absence of a JCP candidate in SSDs, however, does not seem to have substantially influenced the overall results.
Direct test of the Gaussian auxiliary field ansatz in nonconserved order parameter phase ordering dynamics.

The assumption that the local order parameter is related to an underlying spatially smooth auxiliary field, u(r[over ],t), is a common feature in theoretical approaches to non-conserved order parameter phase separation dynamics. In particular, the ansatz that u(r[over ],t) is a Gaussian random field leads to predictions for the decay of the autocorrelation function which are consistent with observations, but distinct from predictions using alternative theoretical approaches. In this paper, the auxiliary field is obtained directly from simulations of the time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau equation in two and three dimensions. The results show that u(r[over ],t) is equivalent to the distance to the nearest interface. In two dimensions, the probability distribution, P(u), is well approximated as Gaussian except for small values of u/L(t), where L(t) is the characteristic length-scale of the patterns. The behavior of P(u) in three dimensions is more complicated; the non-Gaussian region for small u/L(t) is much larger than that in two dimensions but the tails of P(u) begin to approach a Gaussian form at intermediate times. However, at later times, the tails of the probability distribution appear to decay faster than a Gaussian distribution.
The molecular map of tomato

Cultivated tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) is a member of the nightshade family (Solanaceae) which includes several other crop plants including potato (Solanum tuberosum), pepper (Capsicum annuum), eggplant (S. melongena), and tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum). Of these solanaceous species, tomato is the most amenable to genetic analysis as it is diploid (2n = 2x = 24), autogamous and has a relatively small nuclear genome of approximately 950Mb (Arumuganathan and Earle 1991). The tomato genome contains nearly 80% single copy sequences as determined by high stringency hybridization conditions (Zamir and Tanksley 1988), a characteristic which also facilitates genetic analysis. The remainder of the genome is comprised of repetitive DNA. Repetitive elements that have been characterized and mapped in tomato include ribosomal DNA (Bernatzky and Tanksley 1986; Vallejos et al. 1986; Lapitan et al. 1991), the tomato genomic repeats TGRI, TGRII and TGRIII (Ganal et al. 1988; Lapitan et al. 1989), minisatellites (Broun and Tanksley 1993; Broun and Tanksley 1996), and microsatellites (Broun and Tanksley 1996; Vosman and Arens 1997).
Long-term Glycemic Control and Dementia Risk in Type 1 Diabetes

OBJECTIVE Individuals with type 1 diabetes have experienced an increase in life expectancy; yet, it is unknown what level of glycemic control is ideal for maintaining late-life brain health. We investigated the association of long-term glycemic control with dementia in older individuals with type 1 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We followed 3,433 members of a health care system with type 1 diabetes, ages ≥50 years, from 1996 to 2015. Repeated measurements of hemoglobin A 1c (HbA 1c ), dementia diagnoses, and comorbidities were ascertained from health records. Cox proportional hazards models were fit to evaluate the association of time-varying glycemic exposure with dementia, with adjustment for age, sex, race/ethnicity, baseline health conditions, and frequency of HbA 1c measurement. RESULTS Over a mean follow-up of 6.3 years, 155 individuals (4.5%) were diagnosed with dementia. Patients with ≥50% of HbA 1c measurements at 8–8.9% (64–74 mmol/mol) and ≥9% (≥75 mmol/mol) had 65% and 79% higher risk of dementia, respectively, compared with those with 1c 8–8.9% adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 1.65 [95% CI 1.06, 2.57] and HbA 1c ≥9% aHR 1.79 [95% CI 1.11, 2.90]). By contrast, patients with ≥50% of HbA 1c measurements at 6–6.9% (42–52 mmol/mol) and 7–7.9% (53–63 mmol/mol) had a 45% lower risk of dementia (HbA 1c 6–6.9% aHR 0.55 [95% CI 0.34, 0.88] and HbA 1c 7–7.9% aHR 0.55 [95% CI 0.37, 0.82]). CONCLUSIONS Among older patients with type 1 diabetes, those with majority exposure to HbA 1c 8–8.9% and ≥9% had increased dementia risk, while those with majority exposure to HbA 1c 6–6.9% and 7–7.9% had reduced risk. Currently recommended glycemic targets for older patients with type 1 diabetes are consistent with healthy brain aging.
Apolipoproteins as context-dependent regulators of lung inflammation

Abstract Apolipoproteins play key roles in normal lipid homeostasis by transporting cholesterol and lipids between cells. Apolipoproteins, such as apolipoprotein E (apoE), apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I), and clusterin (apolipoprotein J), are expressed in the lung where they modify pulmonary inflammation in a context-dependent fashion. For example, apoE and apoA-I primarily have protective functions in the lung, such as the direct binding and neutralization of bacterial lipopolysaccharide, which attenuates neutrophilic lung inflammation and acute lung injury. Furthermore, apolipoprotein mimetic peptides can suppress inflammation in murine models of asthma and acute lung injury. However, apoE can also directly bind and facilitate the receptor-mediated endocytosis of mycobacterial lipid antigens into cells, which induces adaptive immune responses, whereas apoA-I can augment Toll-like receptor pathways in macrophages to promote innate host defenses against bacterial pneumonia. Here, the emerging roles of apoE, apoA-I, and clusterin as context-dependent regulators of lung inflammation will be reviewed.
One Anthropologist's Answer to Glenn D. Paige's Question Challenging Peace Studies.

Glenn D. Paige pioneered in the revolutionary development of a far-reaching transformation of science, academia, and society from a killing to a nonkilling worldview, values, and attitudes. For six...
Shar Pei Larynx: Supraglottic and Postcricoid Mucosal Redundancy and Its Association With Medical Comorbidities

Objectives:The aim of this study is to describe a clinical entity the authors term “Shar Pei larynx,” characterized by redundant supraglottic and postcricoid mucosa that the authors hypothesize coe...
Scalable kNN Search Approximation for Time Series Data

k Nearest Neighbor ( $k$ NN) is a widely used classifier in time series data analytics due to its interpretability. $k$ NN is often referred to as a lazy learning algorithm as it does not learn any discriminative function nor does it generate any rules from the training data. Instead, kNN classifier requires a search over all the training data for classifying a single test sample which makes it computationally demanding and hard to adopt for real world application. These applications are, sometimes, time-critical such as solar flare prediction which might have irreversible impacts on Earth. Therefore, scaling the nearest neighbors search to large datasets is crucial. In this paper, we propose a new scalable methodology to mitigate the problem of kNN high computational cost by approximating the nearest neighbor(s) with the help of clustering as a preprocessing step. We tested our idea on a comprehensive set of datasets with varying sizes and labels. Our results show that the performance of our approximate technique is comparable to the exact $k$ NN classifier with up to 10x speed-up.
Examination of Dendritic Growth During Solidification of Ternary Alloys via a Novel Quantitative 3D Cellular Automaton Model

A three-dimensional (3D) quantitative cellular automaton (CA) model was developed to simulate dendritic growth during solidification processing of ternary alloys. A detailed method was proposed to solve solute diffusion and calculate the solid fraction for ternary alloys during solidification. The present model has been shown to accurately predict dendrite morphologies and solute distributions of both single equiaxed dendrite and columnar dendrites during solidification. The model was also used to study the influence of the concentration of a third component (Mg in the Al-Si-Mg system) on dendritic growth. With increasing Mg concentration, the steady-state dendrite tip growth velocity was shown to decrease, resulting in a shorter primary dendrite length. The 3D CA simulation results agree well with the prediction of the LGK theoretical model. Multi-columnar dendrite growth was simulated with different cooling rates. Primary and secondary dendrite morphology was shown to have little variation at low cooling rates (1.0 to 2.0 K/s) and a constant undercooling. The average secondary dendrite arm spacing was shown to decrease with the increase of cooling rate within this range. The 3D CA simulation results are in good agreement with the experimental directional solidification experiments of a commercial A356 (Al-7 wt pct Si-0.3 wt pct Mg).
Behavior of kernelrazzo floor finish in aggressive chloride environment

Abstract The rising cost of building materials in Nigeria has made it necessary to source for cheaper and locally available materials to be used in construction. Palm kernel shell (PKS) obtained from the seed of oil palm tree in the western and southern part of the country is in great abundance in such quantity that it possesses environmental threat in waste management. In this paper, the behavior of floor finish made with PKS (termed Kernelrazzo) as a replacement for coarse aggregate was studied for thermal conductivity, water absorption and impact resistance by varying the percentages of PKS, marble chippings and granite dust. The concrete floor finish was exposed to 2.5–5.0% concentration of NaCl (Sodium Chloride) solution for seven days to simulate the expected service conditions of houses built along the coastline of the country. It was revealed that the thermal conductivity decreased as the percentage of PKS increases, the water absorption increased with increasing percentage of PKS while the impact resistance decreased with increasing percentage of PKS. The optimum replacement level of PKS was found to be 20% in combination with 30% granite dust and 50% marble chippings.
From positivism to conventionalism: Comte, Renouvier, and Poincaré.

Abstract Considered in its historical context, conventionalism is quite different from the way in which it has been caricatured in more recent philosophy of science, that is, as a conservative philosophy that allows the preservation of theories through arbitrary ad hoc stratagems. It is instead a liberal outgrowth of Comtean positivism, which broke with the Reidian interpretation of the Newtonian tradition in France and defended a role for hypotheses in the sciences. It also has roots in the social contract political philosophy of Renouvier, who explicitly drew the analogy between conventions in political life and the conventional acceptance of hypotheses in the sciences, and conceived a philosophy that permits scientists to set aside foundational worries and explore new ideas. Although Poincare and Renouvier may have hesitated to accept certain then recent developments in mathematics and the sciences such as non-Euclidean geometries, this conservatism cannot necessarily be attributed to their conventionalism. It may instead reflect the engineering background they shared with Comte, which emphasizes practical applications. Although Renouvier and Poincare may have seen no practical use for these new ideas, unlike Comte they did not prohibit others from pursuing them, reflecting conventionalism's more liberal attitude toward recent developments in the sciences.
A bibliometric analysis of the top 50 NIH-Funded colleges of pharmacy using two databases

Abstract Background Scholarly productivity is an essential component of college of pharmacy activities and may depend on university rank, faculty type, faculty rank and department. Bibliometric measures provide a means to analyze scholarly productivity from colleges of pharmacy while accounting for these various factors. Objectives To analyze bibliometric data from two databases based on Carnegie Research Classification and NIH-funding rank; provide descriptions of bibliometric data based on department type and faculty classification; and examine the distribution of publications in the top 50 NIH-funded Colleges of Pharmacy. Methods Faculty rosters were gathered for the top 50 NIH-funded colleges of pharmacy, and names were searched in Scopus and Web of Science to establish bibliometric records. Bibliometric indices were compared based on Carnegie Basic Classification and between the NIH funding ranks 1–25 versus 26–50 using WOS bibliometric data. Descriptive statistics were presented, and Pareto distributions were developed for total publications across all schools included. Results Schools in the top 25 for NIH funding and schools with a Carnegie R1 classification had significantly higher bibliometric measures compared to schools ranked 26–50 and schools classified as R2, respectively. For faculty members with a bibliometric record (i.e., at least one publication), 20% provide approximately 60% of the publications. Additionally, approximately 90% of publications are provided by 50% of faculty records. Faculty records from basic science departments, as compared to clinical pharmacy departments, represent the highest contributing groups in the Pareto analysis. Conclusion Bibliometric indices are higher at colleges of pharmacy with greater NIH funding or an R1 Carnegie classification. A minority of faculty provides most publications in colleges of pharmacy, which is composed of members from basic science departments. The descriptive data provided here is useful for understanding readily available bibliometric data based on department type and faculty classification and rank.
Learning State-Dependent, Sensor Measurement Models for Localization

A robot typically relies on sensor measurements to infer its state and the state of its environment. Unfortunately, sensor measurements are noisy, and the amount of noise can vary with state. The literature provides a collection of methods that estimate and adapt measurement noise over time. However, many methods do not assume that measurement noise is stochastic, or they do not estimate sensor measurement bias and noise based on state. In this paper, we propose a novel method called state-dependent, sensor measurement models(SDSMMs). This method: 1) learns to estimate measurement probability density functions directly from sensor measurements and 2) stochastically estimates an expected measurement (which includes measurement bias) and a measurement noise, both of which are conditioned upon the states of a robot and its environment. Throughout this paper, we discuss how to learn an SDSMM and use it with the Extended Kalman Filter (EKF). We then apply our method to solve an EKF localization problem using a real robot dataset. Our localization results showed that at least one of our proposed methods outperformed a standard EKF in all 15 cases for 2D position error and 10 of 15 cases for 1D orientation error. Our methods had a mean improvement of 39% for position and 15% for orientation.
Chapter 54 Health over the Life Course

Abstract In recent years, significant advances have been made in better understanding the complex relationships between health and development. This reflects the combined effects of methodological innovations at both the theoretical and empirical level, the integration of insights from the biological and health sciences into economic analyses as well as improvements in the quantity and quality of data on population health and socio-economic status. To provide a foundation for discussing these advances, we describe static and dynamic models of the evolution of health over the life course in conjunction with the inter-relationships between health, other human capital outcomes and economic prosperity. Facts about health and development at both the aggregate and individual levels are presented along with a discussion of the importance of measurement. We proceed to review the empirical literature with a goal of highlighting emerging lines of scientific inquiry that are likely to have an important impact on the field. We begin with recent work that relates health events in early life, including in utero, to health, human capital and economic success in later life. We then turn to adult health and its relationship with socio-economic success, exploring the impact of health on economic outcomes and vice versa as well as the links between health and consumption smoothing. Recent evidence from the empirical literature on the micro-level impacts of HIV/AIDS on development is summarized. We conclude that developments on the horizon suggest a very exciting future for scientific research in this area.