cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Social Transition and Crime in China: An Economic Motivation Thesis

Perspectives on crime and social change are limited because few studies have examined the transition from state socialism to a market economy. This article proposes an economic motivation thesis, a...
Global Brand Equity

What is the payoff of successful global brand building and management activities? Higher brand equity. In accounting terms, brand equity is the goodwill adhering to the brand—the positive (or negative!) outcomes that a company realizes from a product with its name on it. Say you wanted to offer a new brown, carbonated soft drink, “You Cola.” Customers could prefer the taste of your brand, recommend You Cola to others, support your global water replenishment initiative, put your visitor center on their vacation itinerary, buy You Cola merchandise, become willing to pay you a price premium, name you their exclusive vendor, and strike other long-term deals for such rights as licensing, production, and distribution of You Cola, all resulting in greater or more stable profits. Coca-Cola realizes all of the above outcomes. When I work with executives, I talk about these outcomes in three categories of equity: customer-based brand equity, sales-based brand equity, and profit-based brand equity. These components are critical for global leaders to understand as they analyze the economics of their brand. This chapter discusses the components and provides tools and frameworks to quantify them.
Trust Dynamics in Human Autonomous Vehicle Interaction: A Review of Trust Models

Several ongoing research projects in Human autonomous car interactions are addressing the problem of safe co-existence for human and robot drivers on road. Automation in cars can vary across a continuum of levels at which it can replace manual tasks. Social relationships like anthropomorphic behavior of owners towards their cars is also expected to vary according to this spectrum of autonomous decision making capacity. Some researchers have proposed a joint cognitive model of a human-car collaboration that can make the best of the respective strengths of humans and machines. For a successful collaboration, it is important that the members of this human - car team develop, maintain and update each others behavioral models. We consider mutual trust as an integral part of these models. In this paper, we present a review of the quantitative models of trust in automation. We found that only a few models of humans’ trust on automation exist in literature that account for the dynamic nature of trust and may be leveraged in human car interaction. However, these models do not support mutual trust. Our review suggests that there is significant scope for future research in the domain of mutual trust modeling for human car interaction, especially, when considered over the lifetime of the vehicle. Hardware and computational framework (for sensing, data aggregation, processing and modeling) must be developed to support these adaptive models over the operational phase of autonomous vehicles. In order to further research in mutual human - automation trust, we propose a framework for integrating Mutual Trust compu- tation into standard Human - Robot Interaction research platforms. This framework includes User trust and Agent trust, the two fundamental components of Mutual trust. It allows us to harness multi-modal sensor data from the car as well as from the user’s wearable or handheld device. The proposed framework provides access to prior trust aggregate and other cars’ experience data from the Cloud and to feature primitives like gaze, facial expression, etc. from a standard low-cost Human - Robot Interaction platform.
Religiosity: A Personal Control Against Delinquency

The role of religiosity, a cognitive-level personality variable, was examined in relation to other personality attributes (values, attitudes, and beliefs) and to involvement in normative transgressions (early sexual experience, marijuana use, delinquent-type behavior) in samples of high school and college youth. An eight-item measure of religiosity was construct validated and then correlated with the measures in the personality, perceived environment, and behavior systems of Problem Behavior Theory. Results showed that variation in religiosity was significantly related to variation in involvement in problem behavior, and that religiosity serves as a personal control against such involvement.
High-Dimensional Mutant and Modular Thermodynamic Cycles, Molecular Switching, and Free Energy Transduction.

Understanding how distinct parts of proteins produce coordinated behavior has driven and continues to drive advances in protein science and enzymology. However, despite consensus about the conceptual basis for allostery, the idiosyncratic nature of allosteric mechanisms resists general approaches. Computational methods can identify conformational transition states from structural changes, revealing common switching mechanisms that impose multistate behavior. Thermodynamic cycles use factorial perturbations to measure coupling energies between side chains in molecular switches that mediate shear during domain motion. Such cycles have now been complemented by modular cycles that measure energetic coupling between separable domains. For one model system, energetic coupling between domains has been shown to be quantitatively equivalent to that between dynamic side chains. Linkages between domain motion, switching residues, and catalysis make nucleoside triphosphate hydrolysis conditional on domain movement, c...
Daylight-linked synchronized shading operation using simplified model-based control

Abstract The impact of glass facades and dynamic shading controls on energy use for lighting and air-conditioning should be carefully investigated to determine ways of saving energy while maintaining comfortable conditions for the occupants. Automated control of interior roller shades may result in improved conditions and reduced energy use if advanced algorithms are used, however recent studies have shown that proper control set points are not easily applied in practice. This paper presents details of a simplified model-based shading control using as a variable criterion the “effective daylight” transmitted into the space; shades move to intermediate positions, aiming to maximize daylight utilization while satisfying visual comfort restrictions. Shade properties and control are linked in this approach, with control operation varying depending on the shade optical properties and facade orientation. The method was implemented in full-scale offices and experimental results are presented in terms of daylight metrics, lighting energy use and visual comfort performance. Furthermore, the control strategy was implemented in an integrated lighting model, validated with experimental data, to investigate the annual daylighting performance of perimeter spaces with one or multiple exterior facades. The method is generalized and can be applied to any shading/glazing properties, location, orientation and room configuration, as well as to spaces with multiple exterior facades equipped with roller shades. Overall, this study presents the principle of synchronized control of multiple window shades on different facades (orientations) of commercial buildings. Integrated with efficient lighting and HVAC controls, it can lead to improvement of daylighting conditions and reduced energy use.
Sensitivity analysis for best-estimate thermal models of vertical dry cask storage systems

Abstract Loading requirements for dry cask storage of spent nuclear fuel are driven primarily by decay heat capacity limitations, which themselves are determined through recommended limits on peak cladding temperature within the cask. This study examines the relative sensitivity of peak material temperatures within the cask to parameters that influence both the stored fuel residual decay heat as well as heat removal mechanisms. These parameters include the detailed reactor operating history parameters (e.g., soluble boron concentrations and the presence of burnable poisons) as well as factors that influence heat removal, including non-dominant processes (such as conduction from the fuel basket to the canister and radiation within the canister) and ambient environmental conditions. By examining the factors that drive heat removal from the cask alongside well-understood factors that drive decay heat, it is therefore possible to make a contextual analysis of the most important parameters to evaluation of peak material temperatures within the cask. The goal of this analysis is to afford modelers the ability to develop best-estimate thermal models for vertical dry cask storage systems useful for material degradation studies. In contrast to more conservative bounding analyses used for safety and licensing studies (which are primarily intended to illustrate that recommended temperature limits are not exceeded), material degradation phenomena are frequently temperature-dependent, requiring best-estimate thermal models to properly evaluate. The canister-level parameters that have the greatest impact on peak fuel material temperatures drive convective heat transfer in the cask annulus (comprised of the region between the storage canister and the concrete overpack) and within the canister basket. These parameters include the ambient air temperature, the canister fill gas pressure, and the pressure drop between the annular region inlet and outlet. Other cask design parameters which would be expected to contribute substantially to the peak clad temperature were overall proved to be of marginal significance, including material properties such as the fuel basket thermal conductivity and emissivity, along with frictional flow losses from the spacer grid. Meanwhile, factors that drive conduction from the fuel basket region and material properties which drive radiative transport between the fuel and basket likewise exhibit low sensitivity for peak clad temperature estimates. Fuel irradiation history parameters that drive decay heat (such as the discharge burnup and average moderator density) nevertheless dominate peak clad temperature sensitivity. While the assembly power history significantly influences short-term decay heat post-discharge, it manifests minimal sensitivity for cooling times over 10 years and is thus of negligible importance for assemblies stored in wet storage for at least this time.
Relative Activity of Commercial Formulations of Bacillus thuringiensis Against Selected Noctuid Larvae (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Diet incorporation and spray chamber assays compared the activity of three commercial formulations of Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner against Heliothis virescens (F.), Helicoverpa zea (Boddie), Pseudoplusia includens (Walker), and Spodoptera exigua (Hubner). The commercial products evaluated were Condor OF® (Ecogen Inc., Langhorne, PA), Dipel ES® (Abbott Laboratories, North Chicago, IL), and Javelin WG® (Sandoz Crop Protection Corp., Des Plaines, IL). Variation in results of the diet incorporation studies illustrated the importance of including a standard reference formulation in the design of the studies and suggested that some standardization of insect strains used in such assays may be important also. Overall results of the diet incorporation studies were similar to those obtained in the spray chamber studies where insects were assayed on sprayed cotton and soybean. Dose-mortality regressions were developed for each B. thuringiensis formulation applied against each insect species on cotton and soybean ...
Why strabismus surgery works: the legend of the dose-response curve.

Background The dose–response relationship has historically been regarded as an important approach to improve the success of strabismus surgery. The purpose of this study was to explore the role of preoperative deviation, in addition to the amount of surgery, as a predictor of the response to strabismus surgery. Methods Dose–response data from a variety of sources are analyzed in a multiple linear regression model with both preoperative deviation and surgical dose as independent variables. P values and partial correlations from these regressions are used to investigate the relative contribution of each factor. Results These analyses consistently show that preoperative deviation is statistically a better predictor of the response to surgery than the amount of surgery. In data sets where one factor is constant, preoperative deviation alone accounts for 78%, and the amount of surgery alone accounts for 46% of the variance of the surgical response. Conclusions The importance of preoperative deviation as an independent variable implies a biologic response to strabismus surgery that tends to produce more change in alignment when the deviation is large and less when it is small. The strong association of amount of surgery with surgical outcome in bivariate analysis studies may be an artifact of making the amount of surgery a strict function of the preoperative deviation. Because of its lesser role as a predictor, accuracy of preoperative deviation measurement upon which the amount of surgery is based, refinement of the dose–response curve, or use of adjustable sutures may have less potential to improve surgical outcome than generally believed.
MagicTorch: A Context-aware Projection System for Asymmetrical VR Games

MagicTorch is a context-aware projection mapping system connecting virtual reality (VR) head-mounted display (HMD) users, non-HMD users, together with the tangible physical space. Around this system, we create an asymmetrical multiplatform game CatEscape, where the players have distinct game mechanics and perspectives based on the devices they use: a survival game for VR player, an explorer game for augmented reality (AR) player, and a strategy game for tablet player. We use MagicTorch, a positional tracked portable projection system, to superimpose virtual objects onto physical environment, where the AR player can actively unveil the hidden dimension in the real world. This spatial AR system opens up novel possibilities of presentation methods.
Entrepreneurial Frugality: A New Measure

This paper creates and validates a new construct to measure attitudes toward resource use during the venture creation process, which is labeled entrepreneurial frugality. A definition of the constr...
Cord blood klotho levels are inversely associated with leptin in healthy Latino neonates at risk for obesity.

BACKGROUND Klotho serum levels reflect nutritional state in adults including obesity and anorexia. The relationship between cord blood klotho levels at birth and parameters of growth including anthropometrics are not known. METHODS We evaluated the relationship between cord blood klotho, leptin and adipocyte hormones and infant, child and maternal anthropometrics and maternal depression in a cohort of 73 children. Non-parametric tests were used to assess differences between dichotomous and categorical predictors and klotho levels and Spearman's rank coefficients were used to assess the relationship between klotho levels and continuous predictors. A multivariable log transformed linear regression model was used to test for independent predictors of serum klotho levels. RESULTS Mean klotho levels were 2864.9±1409.7 (pg/mL) in cord blood and we found no relationship with infant sex, delivery specifics including gestational age or anthropometrics at birth. There was similarly no association between klotho levels at birth and future obesity at age 2. Leptin levels at birth were inversely associated with klotho levels in multivariable models after adjusting for other covariates (p<0.01). Similarly, in multivariable models insulin levels were inversely correlated with klotho levels (p=0.03). Leptin levels in our cohort of at-risk infants were more than 50% higher than other studies with neonates. CONCLUSIONS We found no associations between weight or length at birth or obesity in early childhood and cord blood klotho levels. Cord blood klotho levels were inversely correlated with leptin and insulin levels at birth and should be further investigated to better understand the inter-relationship between this hormone and key regulators of growth and adiposity.
Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire (MBSRQ) 1990

In the early 1980s, this author, in collaboration with colleague Barbara Winstead, conceived a new approach to the assessment of body image. Drawing upon the extant social psychological literature on attitudes, the guiding perspective for this self-report assessment regarded body image as a reflection of affective, cognitive, and behavioral dispositions toward one’s own body. Affective elements concern one’s feelings about the body. Cognitive elements pertain to beliefs about and attention toward one’s body. Behavioral elements refer to one’s overt actions in relation to the body. Moreover, the authors proposed that self-attitudes are held vis-a-vis three physical domains: physical aesthetics or “appearance,” physical competence or “fitness,” and biological integrity or “health/illness.” A research team began to generate potential items for the initial version of this instrument, which was termed the Body–Self Relations Questionnaire (BSRQ). The team made conscious efforts to generate content that was not gender biased. The adopted response format was a fully anchored, 5-point Likert-type scale, from “definitely disagree” to “definitely agree.” This preliminary questionnaire contained 294 items to represent content in the cells of a proposed matrix of three dimensions for each of the three physical domains. The dimensions were (1) evaluation (i.e., evaluative beliefs and feelings about one’s body), (2) attention importance (i.e., cognitions indicating the extent of one’s paying attention to and placing importance on one’s body), and (3) behavior (i.e., purposeful actions directed toward the selfmanagement of that physical domain). A pilot study with college students identified items that were highly redundant, produced skewed distributions and/or inadequate variability, or were poorly worded. After removal of these problematic items, the BSRQ consisted of 140 items, with nine internally consistent subscales. Further data collection and psychometric analyses produced a more practical version of the BSRQ, six items for each of the nine subscales. Moreover, given the understandably moderate-to-strong correlations of the attention importance and behavior dimensions within each of the three physical domains, these two dimensions were collapsed to comprise 12-item subscales that reflect the cognitive–behavioral importance of or psychological investment in that domain. The authors termed this construct “orientation.” The resultant six BSRQ scales are described (with exemplary items) as follows:
Evaluation of a Novel System to Enhance Clinicians' Recognition of Preadmission Adverse Drug Reactions.

Background Often unrecognized by providers, adverse drug reactions (ADRs) diminish patients' quality of life, cause preventable admissions and emergency department visits, and increase health care costs. Objective This article evaluates whether an automated system, the Adverse Drug Effect Recognizer (ADER), could assist clinicians in detecting and addressing inpatients' ongoing preadmission ADRs. Methods ADER uses natural language processing to extract patients' medications, findings, and past diagnoses from admission notes. It compares excerpted information to a database of known medication adverse effects and promptly warns clinicians about potential ongoing ADRs and potential confounders via alerts placed in patients' electronic health records (EHRs). A 3-month intervention trial evaluated ADER's impact on antihypertensive medication ordering behaviors. At the time of patient admission, ADER warned providers on the Internal Medicine wards of Vanderbilt University Hospital about potential ongoing preadmission antihypertensive medication ADRs. A retrospective control group, comprised similar physicians from a period prior to the intervention, received no alerts. The evaluation compared ordering behaviors for each group to determine if preadmission medications changed during hospitalization or at discharge. The study also analyzed intervention group participants' survey responses and user comments. Results ADER identified potential preadmission ADRs for 30% of both groups. Compared with controls, intervention providers more often withheld or discontinued suspected ADR-causing medications during the inpatient stay (p Conclusion Results indicate that ADER helped physicians recognize ADRs and reduced ordering of suspected ADR-causing medications. In hospitals using EHRs, ADER-like systems could improve clinicians' recognition and elimination of ongoing ADRs.
An Optimal Nuclear Fuel Management Model for Fast Reactors

A utility system operational planning model of a Liquid Metal Fast Breeder Reactor is developed together with an in-core optimization algorithm to minimize the fuel cost of each cycle. The optimiza...
Salamander paedomorphosis: linking thyroid hormone to life history and life cycle evolution

Many salamanders have biphasic life cycles with aquatic larval and terrestrial adult phases. In these species, the transition between phases-metamorphosis-requires thyroid hormone (TH) activation of transcriptional programs that cause regression of larval traits and development of adult traits. During salamander evolution, TH signaling pathways have been altered in biphasic species to yield paedomorphic salamanders that retain larval traits and attain sexual maturity in larval aquatic habitats. We review literature concerning the ecology, evolution, and hormonal regulation of metamorphic, paedomorphic, and facultative salamander life histories. We then discuss recent microarray results that detail gene expression signatures of metamorphosis and paedomorphosis, and genetic results that establish TH responsiveness as a continuous trait with a quantitative trait locus (QTL) basis. TH-responsive QTL from ambystomatid salamanders explain variation in metamorphic timing, expression of metamorphosis versus paedomorphosis, and adult fitness traits. We propose a model for salamander life history evolution that links adaptation to aquatic habitats with TH-responsive loci that pleiotropically alter metamorphic timing and adult body size. Future studies that adopt genetic and genomic approaches will further establish salamanders as ideal models for investigating TH signaling mechanisms that regulate postembryonic development and the expression of alternate life histories.
International relations theory and Japanese pacifism: Why didn’t Tokyo go ballistic over North Korean nukes?

Seen from the perspectives of the various Western theories of international relations, Japan’s peculiar armed pacifism can appear very different. Prominent neorealists have predicted that Japan will inevitably develop nuclear weapons; prominent liberals have cited Japan as the model pacifist nation of the future. Over the last five years, it became clear to Japan that North Korea either possessed, or was on the brink of acquiring, nuclear weapons. How would the Japanese government respond to such a critical threat to its security? The case of North Korean nukes suggests that policymakers should be wary of the grim expectations of Western neorealists, at least in regard to Japan.
Computers and Continuing Education in the Health Sciences

Methods of continuing medical education have centered around reading, attending courses and conferences, and informal conversations with colleagues. Computer technology now makes it possible to link education to real events in practice. Current efforts to develop physician profiles, provide information at the time and place it is needed, and provide guidance in difficult cases should be extended.
Pulmonary Hypertension and Right Ventricular Failure: Lung Transplant Versus Heart-Lung Transplant

Pulmonary arterial hypertension is a highly morbid disease with limited treatment options that improve survival and currently the only curative treatment is transplantation. There is a small body of literature comparing the efficacy of lung and heart-lung transplantation in this population. The bulk of evidence suggests that most patients with severe right ventricular failure undergoing transplant will have recovery of right ventricular function after lung transplantation. Existing data suggest that, in the absence of complex congenital heart disease or significant left ventricular dysfunction, double-lung transplant is the surgical procedure of choice.
Modified electrospun chitosan membranes for controlled release of simvastatin.

Abstract Chitosan nanofibrous membranes have immense potential in tissue engineering and drug delivery applications because of their increased surface area, high degree of biocompatibility, and their ability to mimic the extracellular matrix. However, their use is often limited due to their extreme hydrophilic nature causing them to lose their nanofibrous structure in vivo. In the present study, chitosan membranes were modified either by acylation reactions using fatty acids of different chain lengths or tert-butyloxycarbonyl (tBOC) protecting groups to increase the hydrophobicity of the membranes and protect the nanofibrous structure. The modified membranes were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, water contact angle and elemental analysis to confirm the addition of the modification groups. These membranes were then evaluated to control the release of a hydrophobic osteogenic drug-simvastatin (SMV). The interaction between SMV and the polymer was determined using molecular modeling. Pure SMV and SMV loaded membranes were examined for their in vitro cytotoxicity and osteogenic potential using preosteoblast mouse bone marrow stromal cells. From results, it was evident that as the fatty acid chain length increased from two to six methylene groups, the hydrophobicity of the membranes increased (59.2 ± 8.2° to 94.3 ± 8.5° water contact angle). The amount of drug released from the membranes could be controlled by changing the amount of initial drug loaded and/or the type of modifications. After 4 weeks, for a 500 μg loading, the short chain fatty acid modified membranes released 17.8 ± 3.2% of the drug whereas a long chain fatty acid released only 4.8 ± 0.8%. Similarly, for a 50 μg loading, short chain modified membranes released more (73.3 ± 33.3%) of the loaded drug as compared to the long chain membranes (43.0 ± 3.5%). The long chain fatty acid membranes released SMV for extended time periods of up to 90 days. This data was further supported by molecular modeling, which revealed that SMV was more compatible with more hydrophobic membranes. Cell studies showed that pure SMV from 75 to 600 ng/ml range possessed osteogenic potential in a dose dependent manner and the amount of SMV released from the most hydrophobic FA treated membranes was not cytotoxic and supported osteogenic differentiation. Therefore, this study demonstrates our ability to control the release of a hydrophobic drug from modified chitosan membranes as per the clinical need.
Inhibition of a triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 (TREM-1) with an extracellular cold-inducible RNA-binding protein (eCIRP)-derived peptide protects mice from intestinal ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Abstract Background Intestinal ischemia-reperfusion injury results in morbidity and mortality from both local injury and systemic inflammation and acute lung injury. Extracellular cold-inducible RNA-binding protein is a damage associated molecular pattern that fuels systemic inflammation and potentiates acute lung injury. We recently discovered a triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 serves as a novel receptor for extracellular cold-inducible RNA-binding protein. We developed a 7-aa peptide, named M3, derived from the cold-inducible RNA-binding protein, which interferes with cold-inducible RNA-binding protein’s binding to a triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1. Here, we hypothesized that M3 protects mice against intestinal ischemia-reperfusion injury. Methods Intestinal ischemia was induced in C57BL/6 mice via clamping of the superior mesenteric artery for 60 minutes. At reperfusion, mice were treated intraperitoneally with M3 (10 mg/kg body weight) or normal saline vehicle. Mice were killed 4 hours after reperfusion and blood and lungs were collected for various analysis. A 24-hours survival after intestinal ischemia-reperfusion was assessed. Results Serum levels of organ injury markers aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, and lactate were increased with intestinal ischemia-reperfusion, while treatment with M3 significantly decreased their levels. Serum, intestinal, and lung levels of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines were also increased by intestinal ischemia-reperfusion, and treatment with M3 significantly reduced these values. Intestinal ischemia-reperfusion caused significant histological intestinal and lung injuries, which were mitigated by M3. Treatment with M3 improved the survival from 40% to 80% after intestinal ischemia-reperfusion. Conclusion Inhibition of triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 by an extracellular cold-inducible RNA-binding protein-derived small peptide (M3) decreased inflammation, reduced lung injury, and improved survival in intestinal ischemia-reperfusion injury. Thus, blocking the extracellular cold-inducible RNA-binding protein-triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 interaction is a promising therapeutic avenue for mitigating intestinal ischemia-reperfusion injury.
The Effectiveness of Spinal Cord Stimulation for the Treatment of Axial Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review with Narrative Synthesis.

Objective Determine the effectiveness of spinal cord stimulation (SCS) for the treatment of axial low back pain (LBP) with or without leg pain. Design Systematic review. Subjects Persons aged ≥18 with axial LBP with or without accompanying leg pain. Intervention Traditional low-frequency, burst, or high-frequency SCS. Comparison Sham, active standard of care treatment, or none. Outcomes The primary outcome was ≥50% pain improvement, and the secondary outcome was functional improvement measured six or more months after treatment intervention. Methods Publications in PubMed, MEDLINE, and Cochrane databases were reviewed through September 19, 2019. Randomized or nonrandomized comparative studies and nonrandomized studies without internal controls were included. The Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool and GRADE system were used to assess individual study characteristics and overall quality. Results Query identified 262 publications; 17 were suitable for inclusion. For high-frequency SCS, the only level 1 study showed that 79% (95% confidence interval = 70-87%) of patients reported ≥50% pain improvement. For low-frequency SCS, the only level 1 study reported no categorical data for axial LBP-specific outcomes; axial LBP improved by a mean 14 mm on the visual analog scale at six months. Meta-analysis was not performed due to study heterogeneity. Conclusions According to GRADE, there is low-quality evidence that high-frequency SCS compared with low-frequency SCS is effective in patients with axial LBP with concomitant leg pain. There is very low-quality evidence for low-frequency SCS for the treatment of axial LBP in patients with concomitant leg pain. There is insufficient evidence addressing the effectiveness of burst SCS to apply a GRADE rating.
Politics of Prevention: Reflections From the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic from a prevention science perspective, including research topics, is discussed. Political considerations that influence prevention activities, with examples from the pandemic ...
Quantitative Analysis of Changes in Freight Train Derailment Causes and Rates

AbstractThe mainline freight train derailment rate of major railroads in the United States declined 49% from 2006 to 2015. Nevertheless, derailments remain the leading cause of major railroad accid...
Repeat Revision Hip Arthroscopy Outcomes Match That of Initial Revision But Not That of Primary Surgery for Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome.

Purpose To (1) report on pre- and postoperative patient-reported outcome (PRO) scores for patients undergoing repeat revision surgery in short-term follow-up and (2) compare minimal clinically important difference (MCID) and patient acceptable symptomatic state achievement between primary, revision, and repeat revision hip arthroscopy cohorts. Methods Data from consecutive patients undergoing revision hip arthroscopy from January 2012 to February 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. Hips that underwent 2 revision hip arthroscopic surgeries were identified and matched 1:3 to patients undergoing revision surgery and 1:3 to patients undergoing primary surgery by age, sex, and body mass index. Baseline demographic data, surgical indications, and hip-specific PROs were collected were obtained preoperatively and at minimum 1-year follow-up. MCID was calculated individually for each cohort. Results Twenty patients who underwent repeat revision were matched to 60 patients who underwent revision and 60 primary patients. Patients who underwent repeat revision achieved MCID on all investigated PROs at a similar rate to patients undergoing primary surgery (90.0% vs 91.7%, P = .588) and at a greater rate than patients undergoing first-time revision surgery (90.0% vs 71.7%, P = .045). Patients who underwent repeat revision achieved patient acceptable symptomatic state on all investigated PROs at a similar rate to patients who underwent first-time revision (30.0% vs 55.0%, P = .053) but at a significantly lower rate than primary patients (30.0% vs 76.7%, P .05). Compared with the primary cohort, patients who underwent repeat revision had significantly lower Hip Outcome Score–Activities of Daily Living (77.3 ± 16.7 vs 86.1 ± 14.4; P = .034), Hip Outcome Score–Sports Subscale (60.6 ± 27.2 vs 76.1 ± 23.8; P Conclusions Second-time revision hip arthroscopy, which often requires advanced procedures, results in clinically significant improvement in PROs; however, outcomes for repeat revision cases are similar to first-time revision cases but inferior to those obtained following primary surgeries. Level of Evidence Level III, retrospective case-control study.
Frequency of suicidal ideation and associated clinical features in Lewy body dementia.

Abstract Introduction Neuropsychiatric disturbance is common in individuals with Lewy body dementia (LBD). Despite this, there is minimal research regarding suicide risks in this population. Methods This study was a retrospective review of a prospectively-collected database at a tertiary movement disorders clinic. Database participants with an LBD diagnosis at their most recent visit and at least one complete Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) were included. Additional measures included demographics and measures of cognition, psychiatric symptoms, motor function, and the Parkinson Disease Questionnaire-39. The frequency of suicidal ideation was assessed using question 9 of the BDI-II. Features associated with a BDI-II score greater than zero were assessed using logistic regression. Results The database included 95 individuals with LBD and at least one BDI-II (visit years 2010–2020). Most participants were older men who identified as white. Eighteen individuals (18.9%; 95% CI 12.3%–28.0%) reported thoughts of killing themselves without an intent to carry them out (BDI-II = 1). No participants reported a desire or plan to kill themselves. The presence of SI was associated with measures of depression, anxiety, and emotional well-being, but not with demographics, measures of disease severity, or other psychiatric concerns. Conclusion These findings emphasize the importance of routine screening for psychiatric symptoms in LBD and intervention when such concerns are identified. Interventions could include pharmacologic (e.g. depression treatment) and non-pharmacologic (e.g. firearm screening) approaches. More research is needed to assess suicidal ideation and suicide risks in large and more diverse LBD populations. Prospective studies should include measures of additional potential contributors to suicidality.
Resonant converter power line conditioner

A power description is given of the operation and design of a power-line conditioner (PLC) utilizing the principles of a resonant converter. The PLC uses an L-C circuit which resonates at a high frequency. The PLC is connected in parallel with a load, and it injects high-frequency resonant current pulses into the supply lines at regular sampling intervals so that the resultant line current closely approximates a sine wave in phase with the supply voltage. Computer simulation results of the PLC for several typical loads indicate a high level of performance. >
Nivolumab in the treatment of advanced melanoma

Introduction: In recent years, a number of novel drugs, such as BRAF inhibitors, MEK inhibitor and anti-cytotoxic T lymphocyte 4 antibody, have been shown to render significant clinical benefit, including improvement in overall survival in patients with advanced melanoma. However, a majority of patients will not be cured with these drugs. Most recently, monoclonal anti-PD-1 antibodies such as nivolumab and pembrolizumab have shown very promising results in patients with advanced melanoma.Areas covered: This article discusses the mechanisms of action, rationale, clinical efficacy, and safety of nivolumab for the treatment of patients with advanced melanoma. Clinical trial data of a nivolumab-containing checkpoint inhibitor combination are also discussed.Expert opinion: Nivolumab, a checkpoint inhibitor, represents a novel class of drugs which are capable of stimulating cytotoxic T lymphocytes, resulting in a high and durable response rate. The currently available clinical data suggest that nivolumab, as we...
Description of the model NCSOIL

NCSOIL simulates C and N (total and tracers) transformations in soils. It is the module of a larger model which computes C and N flows in the soil-water-air-plant system (NCSWAP). As a stand-alone model, NCSOIL was initiated in 1980 and has been validated against several data sets (Barak et al., 1990 a; Barak et al., 1990 b; Hadas et al., 1993 a; Hadas et al., 1993 b; Hadas et al., 1987; Hadas et al., 1992 a; Hadas et al., 1992 b; Hetier et al., 1989–1990; Houot et al., 1989; Molina et al., 1994; Molina et al., 1980; Molina et al., 1983; Molina et al., 1990; Nicolardot et al., 1994 a; Nicolardot et al., 1994 b).
Arthroscopic Approach and Intraarticular Anatomy of the Stifle in South American Camelids

Objective To describe a cranial arthroscopic approach to the stifle of South American camelids and to report our clinical experience with camelid stifle arthroscopy. Study Design Experimental study and retrospective case series. Animals (1) Cadaveric alpaca hindlimbs (n = 18; 9 alpacas); (2) 1 alpaca and 1 llama Methods Polymethylmethacrylate joint casts (n = 2) were made to define stifle joint dimensions. Cadaveric stifle joints (n = 16) were evaluated arthroscopically to determine arthroscopic portal locations, describe the intraarticular anatomy, and report potential complications. An alpaca and a llama with stifle joint disease had diagnostic arthroscopy. Results Successful entry into the stifle joint was achieved in 16 cadaver limbs. Observed structures were: the suprapatellar pouch, articular surface of the patella, femoral trochlear ridges and groove, cranial aspect of the femoral condyles (n = 16); distal aspect of the cranial and proximal aspect of the caudal cruciate ligaments (14); and cranial aspects of the medial and lateral menisci (11), and cranial meniscotibial and intermeniscal ligaments (8). Stifle arthroscopy allowed for joint evaluation and removal of osteochondral fragments in 1 alpaca and 1 llama with naturally occurring stifle disease. Complications of cadaver or live procedures included minor cartilage scoring (3 stifles) and subcutaneous periarticular fluid accumulation (8 stifles). Conclusions Arthroscopy provides a safe approach for diagnosis and treatment of stifle lesions in South American camelids.
Novel arylalkylamine compounds exhibits potent selective antiparasitic activity against Leishmania major

Leishmania major (L. major) is a protozoan parasite causal agent of Leishmaniasis. It is estimated that 12 million people are currently infected and around 2 million infections occur each year. Current treatments suffer of high toxicity for the patient, low efficacy toward the parasite, high cost, and are losing effectiveness due to parasite resistance. Discovering novel small molecule with high specificity/selectivity and drug-like properties for anti-leishmanial activity remains a significant challenge. The purpose of this study is to communicate the design and synthesis strategies of novel chemical compounds based of the arylalkylamine scaffold with selective toxicity towards L. major and less toxicity to human cells in vitro. Here, we have developed a structure activity relationship (SAR) study of arylalkylamine AA1 in order to study their anti-parasitic effect in L. major. Overall, 27 arylalkylamine compounds derived from AA1 were synthesized and purified by silica gel column chromatography. The purity of each analog was confirmed by spectroscopic methods ((1)H, (13)C NMR and LC/MS). Among these analogs, the compound AA9 showed the best toxic activity on L. major (LD50=3.34 μM), which represents a 9 fold higher lethality as compared with its parental AA1 (Fer-1) compound (LD50=28.75 μM). In addition, AA9 showed no significant toxicity at 80 μM on U20S Human Osteoblasts, Raw 264.7 Macrophages or intraperitoneal macrophages. In summary, our combined SAR study and biological evaluation data of AA1-AA27 compounds allow the identification of novel arylalkylamine compound AA9 that exhibits potent cytotoxicity against L. major promastigote with minimum toxic effect on human cells.
Hidden order transition in URu 2 Si 2 : Evidence for the emergence of a coherent Anderson lattice from scanning tunneling spectroscopy

Using a slave-boson approach, we demonstrate that the differential conductance and quasiparticle interference pattern measured in recent scanning tunneling spectroscopy experiments [Schmidt et al., Nature (London) 465, 570 (2010); Aynajian et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 107, 10383 (2010)] in URu${}_{2}$Si${}_{2}$ are consistent with the emergence of a coherent Anderson lattice below the hidden order transition (HOT). Its formation is driven by a significant increase in the quasiparticle lifetime, which could arise from the emergence of a yet unknown order parameter at the HOT.
Manifesting Power: Gender and the Interpretation of Power in Archaeology

Manifesting Power: Gender and the Interpretation of Power in Archaeology. Tracy L. Sweely (editor). New York, NY, and London, UK: Routledge, 1999. xiii. 210 pp., with 34 black and white figures. (Paper US$24.99)
Manipulation of Fgf and Bmp signaling in teleost fishes suggests potential pathways for the evolutionary origin of multicuspid teeth.

SUMMARY Teeth with two or more cusps have arisen independently from an ancestral unicuspid condition in a variety of vertebrate lineages, including sharks, teleost fishes, amphibians, lizards, and mammals. One potential explanation for the repeated origins of multicuspid teeth is the existence of multiple adaptive pathways leading to them, as suggested by their different uses in these lineages. Another is that the addition of cusps required only minor changes in genetic pathways regulating tooth development. Here we provide support for the latter hypothesis by demonstrating that manipulation of the levels of Fibroblast growth factor (Fgf) or Bone morphogenetic protein (Bmp) signaling produces bicuspid teeth in the zebrafish (Danio rerio), a species lacking multicuspid teeth in its ancestry. The generality of these results for teleosts is suggested by the conversion of unicuspid pharyngeal teeth into bicuspid teeth by similar manipulations of the Mexican Tetra (Astyanax mexicanus). That these manipulations also produced supernumerary teeth in both species supports previous suggestions of similarities in the molecular control of tooth and cusp number. We conclude that despite their apparent complexity, the evolutionary origin of multicuspid teeth is positively constrained, likely requiring only slight modifications of a pre-existing mechanism for patterning the number and spacing of individual teeth.
Genetic control of the immune response to myoglobin. IV. Mouse antibodies in outbred and congenic strains against sperm-whale myoglobin recognize the same antigenic sites that are recognized by antibodies raised in other species.

The determination of the entire antigenic structure of sperm-whale myoglobin (Mb) was initially performed with antisera raised in rabbits and goats. Subsequently, we demonstrated that the synthetic antigenic sites were effective in stimulating in vitro mouse T-cell proliferation and that this proliferative response was under genetic control, with each antigenic site being controlled by a unique Ir gene. To determine unambiguously whether T-cells recognize the same molecular features as do B-cells, it was necessary to establish whether mouse antibodies are directed against these same sites. In the present work, using immunoadsorbent titration studies, these synthetic antigenic sites were shown to bind mouse 125I-labelled antibodies against Mb. With each of three outbred mice and four congenic strains, the total amounts of antibodies bound by the five sites accounted quantitatively for the entire antibody response against Mb. Moreover, with the four congenic strains, only the sites that were active in T-cell proliferation bound significant amounts of antibodies. It was concluded that (at least for Mb) the molecular features recognized by B-cells are also recognized by T-cells. These studies also confirm that the antigeniclty of the sites Is Independent of the immunized species and is inherent in their three-dimensional locations.
XML Mapping technology: making connections in an XML-centric world

Extensible Markup Language (XML) has grown rapidly over the last decade to become the de facto standard for heterogeneous data exchange. Its popularity is due in large part to the ease with which diverse kinds of information can be represented as a result of the self-describing nature and extensibility of XML itself. The ease and speed with which information can be represented does not extend, however, to exchanging such information between autonomous sources. In the absence of controlling standards, such sources will typically choose differing XML representations for the same concept, and the actual exchange of information between them requires that the representation produced by one source be transformed into a representation understood by the other. Creating this information exchange "glue" is a tedious and error-prone process, whether expressed as Extensible Stylesheet Language Transformation (XSLT), XQuery, JavaTM, Structured Query Language (SQL), or some other format. In this paper, we present an extensible XML mapping architecture that elevates XML mapping technology to a fundamental integration component that promotes code generation, mapping reuse, and mapping as metadata.