cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Interquantile tests for dispersion in skewed distributions

The estimation and testing of variability in data is an important problem in almost all areas of business and science, especially in the area of quality control. Most parametric and nonparametric tests for differences in scale require that the underlying distributions be approximately symmetric when location is unknown. In fact choice of location estimator will influence the distribution of the test statistics. The common two sample F-test for difference in variances is unreliable in all situations except when the population distributions are normal. Nonparametric tests are useful when the underlying distributions are heavy tailed, but most are unreliable when the distributions are skewed. The exception to this is when location is known. This paper introduces a class of tests for heterogeneous spreads which is valid for a variety of both skewed and symmetric distributions when location is known or unknown. In addition, the tests have intuitive estimators of spread associated with them.
Care for children with special health care needs in disasters.

There are approximately 80 million children in the United States of America. 12 million are children with special special health care needs(CSHCN) [14]. Problems caused by a disaster, including access to shelter, food, water, and supervision, are only the beginning. These children are also dependent on medications, specialized equipment (which frequently requires a source of electricity to operate), and the knowledge and skill of their family and/or health professional caregivers to keep them alive and healthy. CSHCN have an amplified vulnerability due to the identified problems in organizing and providing care for these populations in recent disasters (e.g. hurricane Katrina) [4]. Therefore, only preparation at all levels of health care and government will mitigate the risk of (or even prevent) instability and mortality in CSHCN as a result of a disaster situation. The pediatric rehabilitation team can have an important role to play by providing guidance and education to families of children with CSHCN on appropriate and meaningful preparedness, participating in community and health care planning, performing primary care, and providing expertise to other care providers during an event. All members of the team, including physical, occupational, and speech therapists, social workers, nursing, etc., should encourage parents of CSHCN to be aware of the issues regarding the care of their child in case of a disaster. 2. Overview of CSHCN and TAC (Technologically Assisted Children)
Dispersion and polar contributions to surface tension of poly(methylene oxide) and Na‐treated polytetrafluoroethylene

Average values for dispersion γsd and polar γsd contributions of the solid surface tension γs γsd + γsp for poly(methylene oxide) (PMO) and Na-treated polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) are determined by a new computational analysis of wettability data. PMO displays γsd equals; 21.8 ± 0.9 and γsp = 11.5 ± 1.5 dyn/cm while Na-treated PTFE displays γsd = 36.1 ± 3.0 and γsp = 14.5 ± 2.9 dyne/cm. These surfaces present the highest fractional surface polarity ps = γsp/γs = 0.29-0.35 yet encountered for organic polymers or oriented monolayers. These unusual surface tension properties are correlated with surface chemistry and adhesion phenomena.
Problem Solving Style and Beliefs about Teaching, Learning, and Problem Solving

Seventy-four pre-service teachers in an urban graduate school of education were administered VIEW: An Assessment of Problem Solving Style and a questionnaire in which they were asked to rate the importance of numerous principles of learning, teaching, and problem solving. Judges had previously classified these principles according to the six different VIEW problem solving styles (Explorer, Developer, External, Internal, Person-oriented, Task-oriented). Participants categorized by a particular style rated more highly those principles that matched their style. Implications for instruction and the development of problem solving skills are discussed.
Intrauterine Coadministration of ERK1/2 Inhibitor U0126 Inhibits Interferon TAU Action in the Endometrium and Restores Luteolytic PGF2alpha Pulses in Sheep

In ruminants, prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2alpha) is synthesized and released in a pulsatile pattern from the endometrial luminal epithelial (LE) cells during the process of luteolysis. Interferon tau (IFNT) is a Type 1 IFN secreted by the trophoblast cells of the developing conceptus. IFNT acts locally on endometrial LE cells to inhibit pulsatile releases of PGF2alpha and thus establish an endocrine environment for recognition of pregnancy. Cell signaling pathways through which IFNT stimulates expression of multiple genes or proteins in endometrial LE are largely unknown. Results of the present investigation indicate that intrauterine administration of IFNT inhibits pulsatile release of PGF2alpha, while coadministration IFNT and ERK 1/2 inhibitor U0126 restores luteolytic PGF2alpha pulses in sheep. IFNT increases phosphorylation of ERK1/2 proteins and increases its interaction with PGT proteins in endometrial LE. Blockade of ERK1/2 pathways inhibits IFNT action, decreases pERK1/2 and PGT protein interactions, and re-establishes the spatial expression of the oxytocin receptor protein completely and the estrogen receptor protein partially without modulating the expression of interferon regulatory factor-2 (IRF-2) protein in endometrial LE. IFNT does not decrease expression of COX-2, PGDH, or PGT protein in endometrial LE. Our results provide important new insights into IFNT signaling and the molecular endocrine control of PGF2alpha release at the time of establishment of pregnancy in ruminants. This novel IFNT-ERK1/2 signaling module needs to be explored in future studies to understand molecular and cellular mechanisms of IFNT action in endometrial LE in ruminants.
Association of Race and Insurance Type with Delayed Assessment for Kidney Transplantation among Patients Initiating Dialysis in the United States

Summary Background and objectives The extent to which racial and socioeconomic disparities in access to kidney transplantation are related to not being assessed for transplant suitability before or shortly after the time of initiation of dialysis is not known. The aims of this study were to determine whether there were disparities based on race, ethnicity, or type of insurance in delayed assessment for transplantation and whether delayed assessment was associated with lower likelihood of waitlisting and kidney transplantation. Design, setting, participants, & measurements This retrospective cohort study used data from the US Renal Data System and included 426,489 adult patients beginning dialysis in the United States between January 1, 2005 and September 30, 2009 without prior kidney transplant. Results Overall, 12.5% of patients had reportedly not been assessed for transplantation. Patients without private insurance were more likely to be reported as not assessed (multivariable adjusted odds ratio=1.33, 95% confidence interval=1.28–1.40 for Medicaid), with a pronounced racial disparity but no ethnic disparity among patients aged 18 to P Conclusions Racial and insurance-related disparities in transplant assessment potentially delay transplantation, particularly among younger patients.
Deadweight loss of bacterial resistance due to overtreatment.

Widespread use of antibiotics is considered the major driving force behind the development of antibiotic resistance. The benefits of exceeding the welfare-maximizing level of antibiotic use are below the costs of resistance created by this excess quantity of antibiotics used, thereby resulting in a welfare deadweight loss. This paper uses a simple economic model to examine the theoretical and empirical aspects of the welfare loss generated by resistance and analyzes its policy implications. The annual deadweight loss associated with outpatient prescriptions for amoxicillin in the United States is estimated at $225 million. Published in 2002 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Prescription opioid guidelines and the emergency department.

On January 10, 2013, Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced a set of recommendations intended to guide opioid analgesic prescribing in New York City emergency departments. The intent and scope of these guidelines are discussed through an interview bu an emergency medicine fellow with an expert in emergency medicine pain management and one of the authors of the guidelines. The guidelines are appended to the commentary.
Marginal product pricing in the ecosystem.

Through an analogy with economics, a comparative static theory is developed for ecological systems. The basic assumption is that components of the ecosystem behave in such a way as to maximize their storage with respect to their material flows over a particular period of time. This concept leads to the theory that a biological component will adjust its marginal productivity with respect to each of its energy flows to be equal to the energy intensity (price) of that flow. The result is additional information about the relationships between energy and mass flows in the ecosystem. Equilibrium and cropping conditions are included and a connection with input-output theory is made. Example systems are developed to illustrate the theory.
Repair versus Checkpoint Functions of BRCA1 Are Differentially Regulated by Site of Chromatin Binding

The product of the Brca1 tumor-suppressor gene is involved in multiple aspects of the cellular DNA damage response (DDR), including activation of cell-cycle arrests and DNA double-stranded break (DSB) repair by homologous recombination. Prior reports demonstrated that BRCA1 recruitment to areas of DNA breakage depended on RAP80 and the RNF8/RNF168 E3 ubiquitin ligases. Here, we extend these findings by showing that RAP80 is only required for the binding of BRCA1 to regions flanking the DSB, whereas BRCA1 binding directly to DNA breaks requires Nijmegen breakage syndrome 1 (NBS1). These differential recruitment mechanisms differentially affect BRCA1 functions: (i) RAP80-dependent recruitment of BRCA1 to chromatin flanking DNA breaks is required for BRCA1 phosphorylation at serine 1387 and 1423 by ATM and, consequently, for the activation of S and G(2) checkpoints; and (ii) BRCA1 interaction with NBS1 upon DSB induction results in an NBS1-dependent recruitment of BRCA1 directly to the DNA break and is required for nonhomologous end-joining repair. Together, these findings illustrate that spatially distinct fractions of BRCA1 exist at the DSB site, which are recruited by different mechanisms and execute different functions in the DDR.
Implementing deletion in B+-trees

This paper describes algorithms for key deletion in B+-trees. There are published algorithms and pseudocode for searching and inserting keys, but deletion, due to its greater complexity and perceived lesser importance, is glossed over completely or left as an exercise to the reader. To remedy this situation, we provide a well documented flowchart, algorithm, and pseudo-code for deletion, their relation to search and insertion algorithms, and a reference to a freely available, complete B+-tree library written in the C programming language.
LINK BETWEEN LOW-DOSE ENVIRONMENTALLY RELEVANT CADMIUM EXPOSURES AND ASTHENOZOOSPERMIA IN A RAT MODEL

Objective To define the mechanism(s) underlying an association between asthenozoospermia and elevated blood, seminal plasma, and testicular cadmium levels in infertile human males using a rat model of environmentally relevant cadmium exposures. Setting University medical center andrology research laboratory. Animal(s) Male Wistar rats (n = 60), documented to be sensitive to the testicular effects of cadmium. Intervention(s) Rats were given ad libitum access to water supplemented with 14% sucrose and 0 mg/L, 5 mg/L, 50 mg/L, or 100 mg/L cadmium for 1, 4, or 8 weeks beginning at puberty. Main Outcome Measure(s) Testicular cadmium levels were determined by atomic absorption, cauda epididymal sperm motility by visual inspection, and testicular gene expression by DNA microarray hybridization. Result(s) Chronic, low-dose cadmium exposures produced a time- and dose-dependent reduction in sperm motility. Transcription of genes regulated by calcium and expression of L-type voltage-dependent calcium channel mRNA splicing variants were altered by cadmium exposure. Expression of calcium binding proteins involved in modulation of sperm motility was unaffected. Conclusion(s) A causal relationship between elevated testicular cadmium and asthenozoospermia was identified. Aberrrant sperm motility was correlated with altered expression of L-type voltage-dependent calcium channel isoforms found on the sperm tail, which regulate calcium and cadmium influx.
Elucidating Internucleosome Interactions and the Roles of Histone Tails

The nucleosome is the first level of genome organization and regulation in eukaryotes where negatively charged DNA is wrapped around largely positively charged histone proteins. Interaction between nucleosomes is dominated by electro- statics at long range and guided by specific contacts at short range, particularly involving their flexible histone tails. We have thus quantified how internucleosome interactions are modulated by salts (KCl, MgCl2) and histone tail deletions (H3, H4 N-terminal), using small-angle x-ray scattering and theoretical modeling. We found that measured effective charges at low salts are ~1/5th of the theoretically predicted renormalized charges and that H4 tail deletion suppresses the attraction at high salts to a larger extent than H3 tail deletion.
The basic and applied biology of tooth eruption

The dentition and the alveolar process of each jaw develop simultaneously so that, by the time the crown is completed and eruption begins, the crown is enclosed in a crypt within alveolar bone. Thus, the eruption of a tooth to its functional position involves discretely localized, bilaterally symmetrical bone resorption to produce an eruption pathway and bone formation to fill in the space previously occupied by the crown and growing roots. Studies of crypt surfaces during eruption confirm this polarization of alveolar bone metabolism around a tooth with respect to both bone cells and mineralized surface topography. Experimental studies of tooth eruption have shown that the dental follicle, the dense connective tissue investment of the tooth, is necessary for eruption and that neither bone resorption nor bone formation occur without the adjacent part of the dental follicle. Early in eruption the coronal part of the follicle accumulates mononuclear cells which have cytochemical and ultrastructural features of osteoclasts and the apical part of the follicle, a site of intense cell proliferation, binds epidermal growth factor (EGF). The dental follicle contains a variety of proteins and the concentration of several change during eruption. Prominent among them are a reduction in matrix metalloproteinases and an increase in protoglycans as eruption proceeds. The contribution of these changes to those in cell proliferation, migration and differentiation during tooth eruption present experimental opportunities for developmental biologists. The rate-limiting factor of the earliest (intraosseous) stage of tooth eruption is bone resorption and eruption can be accelerated or retarded by the local delivery of factors which increase or decrease the activity of osteoclasts.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Host–parasite interactions and competition between tubificid species in a benthic community

Summary 1. Parasites can be important determinants of host community structure while host community structure can influence the success of parasites, although both are often overlooked. In two laboratory experiments, we examined interactions among Myxobolus cerebralis syn Myxosoma cerebralis Hofer, the myxozoan parasite that causes salmonid whirling disease, and two coexisting tubificid species: Tubifex tubifex (Muller), which is the alternate host of the parasite, and Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri Claparede, which is not susceptible. In the first experiment, we examined T. tubifex infection prevalence when exposed to nine doses of spores. In the second experiment, we examined tubificid and parasite success under three spore doses when tubificids were combined in a response surface experimental design used to detect interactions among species. 2. The outcomes of interactions between tubificid species were complex. The number and biomass of offspring of both tubificid species were density dependent when in monoculture or in combination with the other species. Adult growth of T. tubifex was also density dependent in monoculture, but when L. hoffmeisteri replaced one-half of the T. tubifex in the high-density treatment, adult growth of T. tubifex was higher than in monoculture. Adult growth of L. hoffmeisteri was always density independent. Whether T. tubifex was exposed to the parasite or not did not change the outcome of these interactions. However, adult growth of T. tubifex, but not L. hoffmeisteri, was highest when M. cerebralis was present. 3. Infection prevalence of T. tubifex increased with increasing spore dose. Infection prevalence was lowest in the high-density T. tubifex monoculture and highest in the low-density T. tubifex monoculture and when T. tubifex was in combination with L. hoffmeisteri. 4. Both intraspecific and interspecific competition influenced tubificid success, but T. tubifex gained some competitive advantage through increased adult growth when in combination with L. hoffmeisteri. Whether T. tubifex was exposed to the parasite or not did not change the outcome of the interactions between the tubificid species. 5. The presence of L. hoffmeisteri did not decrease the prevalence of infection in T. tubifex, suggesting that parasite success was unaltered by the presence of this non-susceptible species.
An Epidemiology of Neighborhood Poverty: Causal Factors of Infant Mortality Among Blacks and Whites in the Metropolitan United States*

Abstract Despite overall declines in infant mortality over the past few decades, racial disparities between blacks and whites have persisted in the United States. This article considers the argument that racial differences in infant mortality are partially the result of the disproportionate concentration of blacks within extremely poor neighborhoods relative to whites. Using race-specific measures of neighborhood-level poverty, combined with metropolitan-wide measures of infant mortality, it was determined that trends in infant mortality for both blacks and whites reflect the impact of an intergenerational effect associated with prolonged exposure to extremely poor neighborhoods. Racial disparities in infant mortality in the early 1980s can be accounted for by black – white differences in neighborhood poverty exposure. Results suggest, however, that black infant mortality during the early 1990s was much more strongly influenced by high-risk natality behaviors among black women than by economic status or n...
Knowledge Spillovers in Biotechnology

The geographic localization of knowledge spillovers in biotechnology is largely driven by the ways in which knowledge produced in public-sector research laboratories is transferred to and absorbed by firms. Spillovers in this sector therefore entail transfers of valuable knowledge across the boundaries of very heterogeneous organizations—namely, university or other public-sector research laboratories and private firms. The heterogeneity of the organizations involved anchors innovation in biotechnology in very localized processes of knowledge exchange that shows a great deal of geographic variation. The United States is unique in fostering the emergence of a new industrial sector, populated by entrepreneurial firms, from the basis of scientific discovery. In this chapter, I study differences in institutions governing the transfer of knowledge from laboratories to firms to explain why two countries, United States and France, have had such different experiences in innovating in commercial biotechnology.
Altitudinal Distribution of Bryoflora at Chandragiri Mountain Forest of Kathmandu District, Central Nepal

Chandragiri Mountain forest in Kathmandu borders Makwanpur district to the west was least known for bryophytes till this study was conducted. This mountain forest with varying elevation ranges from 1365 to 2300 m offered different habitat types for diverse bryofloral species which included 58 species of 39 genera categorized under 27 families and nine orders. Of the recorded species 18 species were rare and five new records to country’s list. Sauteria spongiosa (Kashyap) S. Hatt., a rare moss species was not recorded in this study though was reported for the fi rst time at 2250 m of this mountain in 1982. The habitat of this moss has completely been destroyed now due to expansion of the road in this part. J. Nat. Hist. Mus. Vol. 28, 2014: 81-92
Familial Renal Cell Carcinoma

Recent advances in molecular genetics have elucidated the biological mechanisms of familial renal cell carcinoma (RCC), which have been responsible for the development and introduction of novel targeted agents that continue to change and refine the management of advanced disease. The genetic pathways have been well characterized and defined for several hereditary kidney cancer syndromes, including von Hippel–Lindau, hereditary papillary RCC, Birt–Hogg–Dube, and hereditary leiomyomatosis RCC. Each of these hereditary kidney cancer syndromes has distinct clinical manifestations and treatment challenges. In this context, our objective is to provide an overview of the molecular genetics, clinical syndromes, and management strategy of hereditary kidney cancer syndromes.
Hydrogen Abstraction Energies and Ammonia Binding to BEA, ZSM-5, and α-Quartz Doped with Al, Sc, B, or Ga

Density functional theory is used to determine differences in hydrogen abstraction and ammonia binding energies between two zeolites (BEA and MFI-type) and two α-quartz surfaces doped with Al, B, Sc, or Ga. One of the questions we wanted to answer is whether the fact that zeolite cages are made of a silica monolayer plays any role in their catalytic activity. We find no important difference. Doped α-quartz has acid hydroxyls such as those in zeolites; however, their density is very low, and doped quartz is not a shape selective catalyst. Therefore, the doped silica examined here is an inferior acid catalyst when compared to BEA or MFI.
Combined MCD/DFT/TDDFT Study of the Electronic Structure of Axially Pyridine Coordinated Metallocorroles

A series of metallocorroles were investigated by UV–vis and magnetic circular dichroism spectroscopies. The diamagnetic distorted square-pyramidal main-group corrole Ga(tpfc)py (2), the diamagnetic distorted octahedral transition-metal adduct Co(tpfc)(py)2 (3), and paramagnetic distorted octahedral transition-metal complex Fe(tpfc)(py)2 (4) [H3tpfc = tris(perfluorophenyl)corrole] were studied to investigate similarities and differences in the electronic structure and spectroscopy of the closed- and open-shell metallocorroles. Similar to the free-base H3tpfc (1), inspection of the MCD Faraday B-terms for all of the macrocycles presented in this report revealed that a ΔHOMO < ΔLUMO [ΔHOMO is the energy difference between two highest energy corrole-centered π-orbitals and ΔLUMO is the energy difference between two lowest energy corrole-centered π*-orbitals originating from ML ± 4 and ML ± 5 pairs of perimeter] condition is present for each complex, which results in an unusual sign-reversed sequence for π–π* ...
Global strategies for domestic firms in emerging economies in a world of multinationals: toward a model

Un tema poco estudiado en el campo de la gerencia estrategica global es el de las estrategias que deben adoptar las empresas locales en economias emergentes para enfrentar con eficacia los desafios de una economia globalizada repleta de multinacionales. Este articulo explora dimensiones clave de las estrategias de empresas locales, revisa los principales elementos de las estrategias empresariales, la estrategia corporativa, la orientacion global y la mixtura de enfoques competitivos. Luego integra estas dimensiones y elementos estrategicos en un marco conceptual que permite identificar tipos de estrategias viables para que las empresas locales en economias emergentes puedan competir eficazmente con sus contrapartes poderosas y ricas en recursos. La investigacion considera contribuciones anteriores, limitaciones y lineas futuras de investigacion. An issue little studied in the field of global strategic management is that of the strategies that local companies in emerging economies must adopt to effectively face the challenges of a globalized economy replete with multinationals. This article explores key dimensions of local business strategies, reviews the main elements of business strategies, corporate strategy, global orientation and the mixture of competitive approaches. It then integrates these dimensions and strategic elements into a conceptual framework that identifies viable types of strategies so that local companies in emerging economies can compete effectively with their powerful and resource-rich counterparts. The research considers previous contributions, limitations and future lines of research.
Eating behaviors and quality of life in preadolescents at risk for obesity with and without abdominal pain.

OBJECTIVES We evaluated eating behaviors and quality of life (QOL) in preadolescent children at risk for obesity, with and without abdominal pain (AP). METHODS Participants were parent-child dyads enrolled in a randomized, controlled obesity prevention trial. The children were between 5 and 10 years of age and at risk for obesity (70th-95th percentile of body mass index, n = 420). Parents completed measures of their child's eating behaviors, QOL, AP, and bowel function and their own depression status, concern about child weight, and feeding practices. Children's height and weight were also measured. RESULTS Children with frequent AP (≥2/month, n = 103) were compared with children reporting infrequent AP (<2/month, n = 312). Age and body mass index did not differ between groups, but AP was more prevalent in girls. Child emotional overeating and parental depression scores were higher in the frequent AP group (P < 0.01), and child QOL was lower (P < 0.01). In multivariable analysis, female gender (odds ratio [OR] 2.18, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.20-3.97), emotional overeating (OR 2.28, 95% CI 1.37-3.81), and parental depression (OR 1.23, 95% CI 1.12-1.35) were associated with more frequent AP. Secondary analyses were completed for children who met Rome III criteria for irritable bowel syndrome. CONCLUSIONS Clinicians working with children with AP at risk for obesity should consider assessing for and, when appropriate, addressing parent and child factors that could exacerbate AP.
Magnetic Reconnection, a Key Self-Organization Process in Laboratory and Astrophysical Plasmas: Recent Research Progress

Magnetic reconnection is a phenomenon of nature in which magnetic field lines change their topology and convert magnetic energy to plasma particles by acceleration and heating. The process can stretch out over time or occur quite suddenly. It is one of the most fundamental processes at work in laboratory and astrophysical plasmas. Magnetic reconnection occurs everywhere: In solar flares; coronal mass ejections; the earth’s magnetosphere; in the star forming galaxies; and in plasma fusion devices. This paper reviews the most recent progress in the research of magnetic reconnection.
Pertinence of the recent school-based nutrition interventions targeting fruit and vegetable consumption in the United States:a systematic review

Background: Schools are the major locations for implementing children’s dietary behavior related educational or interventional programs. Recently, there has been an increase in school-based nutrition interventions. The objective of this systematic review was to overview the evidence for the effectiveness of school-based nutrition intervention on fruit and vegetable consumption. Methods: PubMed was used to search for articles on school-based nutrition interventions that measured students’ fruit and vegetable consumption. Our search yielded 238 articles.The article was included if published in a peer-reviewed journal, written in English language,administered in the United States, and conducted among a population-based sample of children in Kindergarten through eighth grade. A total of 14 publications met the inclusion criteria. Results: Eight articles successfully showed the positive effect on increasing fruit and or vegetable consumption while the other six did not. Several factors, including (but not limited to) intervention duration, type of theory used, style of intervention leadership, and positively affecting antecedents of fruit and vegetable consumption were compared; however, no dominant factor was found to be shared among the studies with significant findings. Given that the criteria for selection were high, the lack of consistency between interventions and positive outcomes was surprising. Conclusion: With high levels of scrutiny and budget constraints on school nutrition, it is imperative that more research be conducted to identify the effective intervention components.
Healthcare Informatics Schemata: A Paradigm Shift over Time.

The schemata "A paradigm shift over time©" (Sackett & Erdley, 2006) a graphic model, visualizes development and progression of informatics in health over time. The model portrays information technology trends, from computers as resource through computational ubiquity, and the shift to social networking and e-Health. The discrepancy between "real" and "proposed" suggests gaps involving issues such as value, interoperability and ontology requiring attention, development and ultimately adoption, hinging on a universal standards framework. The workshop objective is to review previous and current models of healthcare informatics to springboard revisions of the schemata for current and future use.
Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) in PEF Processing

This chapter describes the hazard analysis and critical control point (HACCP) system as a fundamental concept used in the design, construction, and troubleshooting of a pulsed electric field (PEF) processing facility. The HACCP system is based on the principle that food safety issues can be eliminated or minimized by prevention during production— rather than detection in the finished product—and is used to identify hazardous working conditions in a specific step of a processing system that jeopardizes the safety of employees. Once the HACCP system is developed, commitment to its proper implementation is crucial along with education and training of employees. The first step in the development of an HACCP system is to put together a team of individuals representing each operating department charged with the responsibility of development and implementation of the system. The next step is the hazard analysis, which begins with a current flow chart of the production process. After determining the location of the potential hazards, the next step is to decide where the critical control points (CCPs) exist, establish a safe operating standard, and agree on monitoring procedures, frequencies, and responsibilities for checking the CCPs. Clear deviation responses are also needed when monitoring indicates that the standard is not being met and unsafe processing conditions exist.
Mesh sutured repairs of abdominal wall defects

A new closure technique is introduced, which uses strips of macroporous polypropylene mesh as a suture for closure of abdominal wall defects due to failures of standard sutures and difficulties with planar meshes. Methods Strips of macroporous polypropylene mesh of 2 cm width were passed through the abdominal wall and tied as simple interrupted sutures. The surgical technique and surgical outcomes are presented. Results One hundred and seven patients underwent a mesh sutured abdominal wall closure. Seventy-six patients had preoperative hernias, and the mean hernia width by CT scan for those with scans was 9.1 cm. Forty-nine surgical fields were clean-contaminated, contaminated, or dirty. Five patients had infections within the first 30 days. Only one knot was removed as an office procedure. Mean follow-up at 234 days revealed 4 recurrent hernias. Conclusions Mesh sutured repairs reliably appose tissue under tension using concepts of force distribution and resistance to suture pull-through. The technique reduces the amount of foreign material required in comparison to sheet meshes, and avoids the shortcomings of monofilament sutures. Mesh sutured closures seem to be tolerant of bacterial contamination with low hernia recurrence rates and have replaced our routine use of mesh sheets and bioprosthetic grafts.
Drug Safety and Risk of Adverse Outcomes for Pregnant Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease

The management of the pregnant patient with inflammatory bowel disease is complicated by multiple providers, misinformation, and a disease entity that, particularly when active, can adversely affect pregnancy outcomes. This article seeks to frame the debate on medication safety in pregnancy and lactation using the US Food and Drug Administration's new Pregnancy and Lactation Labeling Rule and the most up-to-date safety information to discuss the risks and benefits of using each class of inflammatory bowel disease medication.
Fabrication of macromolecular gradients in aligned fiber scaffolds using a combination of in-line blending and air-gap electrospinning.

Abstract Although a variety of fabrication methods have been developed to generate electrospun meshes with gradient properties, no platform has yet to achieve fiber alignment in the direction of the gradient that mimics the native tendon-bone interface. In this study, we present a method combining in-line blending and air-gap electrospinning to address this limitation in the field. A custom collector with synced rotation permitted fiber collection with uniform mesh thickness and periodic copper wires were used to induce fiber alignment. Two poly(ester urethane ureas) with different hard segment contents (BPUR 50, BPUR 10) were used to generate compositional gradient meshes with and without fiber alignment. The compositional gradient across the length of the mesh was characterized using a fluorescent dye and the results indicated a continuous transition from the BPUR 50 to the BPUR 10. As expected, the fiber alignment of the gradient meshes induced a corresponding alignment of adherent cells in static culture. Tensile testing of the sectioned meshes confirmed a graded transition in mechanical properties and an increase in anisotropy with fiber alignment. Finite element modeling was utilized to illustrate the gradient mechanical properties across the full length of the mesh and lay the foundation for future computational development work. Overall, these results indicate that this electrospinning method permits the fabrication of macromolecular gradients in the direction of fiber alignment and demonstrate its potential for use in interfacial tissue engineering. Statement of Significance The native tendon-bone interface contains a gradient of properties that ensures stability of the joint. Without this transition, failure can occur due to stress concentration at the bone insertion site. Electrospinning is a method commonly used to produce fibrous grafts with gradient properties; however, no current method allows for gradients in the direction of fiber alignment. This work details a novel electrospinning method to produce gradients in the direction of fiber alignment in order to better mimic transitional zones and improve regeneration of the tendon-bone interface. In addition to the biomechanical gradients demonstrated here, this method may also be used to generate gradients of macromolecular, biochemical, and cellular cues with broad potential utility in tissue engineering.
Boosting Python performance on Intel processors: a case study of optimizing music recognition

We present a case study of optimizing a Python-based music recognition application on Intel Haswell Xeon processor. With support from Numpy and Scipy, Python addresses the requirements of the music recognition problem with math library utilization and special structures for data access. However, a general optimized Python application cannot fully utilize the latest high performance multicore processors. In this study, we survey an existing open-source music recognition application, written in Python, to explore the effect of applying changes to the Scipy and Numpy libraries to achieve full processor resource occupancy and reduce code latency. Instead of comparing across many different architectures, we focus on Intel high performance processors that have multiple cores and vector registers, and we attempt to preserve both user-friendliness and code scalability so that the revised library functions can be ported to other platforms and require no additional code changes.
A Knowledge-Driven Web Tutoring System Framework for Adaptive and Assessment-Driven Open-Source Learning

Cyberlearning is challenged by the lack of personal and assessment-driven learning, and students are often puzzled by the lack of instructor guidance and feedback; the huge volume and diversity of the learning materials; and the lack of the ability to zoom in from the general concepts to the more specific ones, or the opposite. Knowledge-driven tutoring systems are needed to improve the cyberlearning quality. One of the major difficulties is knowledge representation. The current industry standard uses Web Ontology Language (OWL) for representing knowledge structure as ontologies. But ontology only supports one “first-class” relation, “is-a”, between the concepts, and different knowledge areas usually need different custom relations to describe the relations among the concepts. For example, “part-of” and time dependency are important relations to represent most engineering knowledge bodies. OWL can only use object properties to emulate such custom relations, leading to awkward knowledge representation hard for instructors to code, validate and use domain knowledge.This research contributes an open-source knowledge-driven online tutoring system framework that is easy to be adapted for the teaching of any subject based on open-source learning objects. Pace University’s extension to OWL that supports Knowledge Graph (KG), a generalization of ontology, is used to support knowledge representation with custom relations. The instructors can use Pace University extended Protege IDE to visually declare custom relations and encode domain knowledge of a course in a single document. The instructor teaching experience is also coded in the KG to better support custom learning order by students with different backgrounds. Integrated assessment after each learning object leads to optimized and adaptive learning order and learning resource recommendation. Students can freely navigate the knowledge space from general to specific or the opposite, or follow unique custom relations. A web technology tutorial is used to validate the design and effectiveness of this tutoring system framework.
Internal and External Cost Economies, and Growth

The last chapter explored various cost economies that may be captured in the eTCY measure typically interpreted as a cost-side representation of scale economies. Deviations between short and long run scale economies (due to input fixities), and the impacts of jointness among quasi-fixed inputs and multiple outputs, and of market power in input markets, were elaborated. All these cost economies may be termed “internal”. They involve movements along and shifts in (or movements between) cost curves representing the technology, that stem from decisions made within, or internal to, the firm.
Brain Activity Unique to Orgasm in Women: An fMRI Analysis

Background Although the literature on imaging of regional brain activity during sexual arousal in women and men is extensive and largely consistent, that on orgasm is relatively limited and variable, owing in part to the methodologic challenges posed by variability in latency to orgasm in participants and head movement. Aim To compare brain activity at orgasm (self- and partner-induced) with that at the onset of genital stimulation, immediately before the onset of orgasm, and immediately after the cessation of orgasm and to upgrade the methodology for obtaining and analyzing functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) findings. Methods Using fMRI, we sampled equivalent time points across female participants' variable durations of stimulation and orgasm in response to self- and partner-induced clitoral stimulation. The first 20-second epoch of orgasm was contrasted with the 20-second epochs at the beginning of stimulation and immediately before and after orgasm. Separate analyses were conducted for whole-brain and brainstem regions of interest. For a finer-grained analysis of the peri-orgasm phase, we conducted a time-course analysis on regions of interest. Head movement was minimized to a mean less than 1.3 mm using a custom-fitted thermoplastic whole-head and neck brace stabilizer. Outcomes Ten women experienced orgasm elicited by self- and partner-induced genital stimulation in a Siemens 3-T Trio fMRI scanner. Results Brain activity gradually increased leading up to orgasm, peaked at orgasm, and then decreased. We found no evidence of deactivation of brain regions leading up to or during orgasm. The activated brain regions included sensory, motor, reward, frontal cortical, and brainstem regions (eg, nucleus accumbens, insula, anterior cingulate cortex, orbitofrontal cortex, operculum, right angular gyrus, paracentral lobule, cerebellum, hippocampus, amygdala, hypothalamus, ventral tegmental area, and dorsal raphe). Clinical translation Insight gained from the present findings could provide guidance toward a rational basis for treatment of orgasmic disorders, including anorgasmia. Strengths and limitations This is evidently the first fMRI study of orgasm elicited by self- and partner-induced genital stimulation in women. Methodologic solutions to the technical issues posed by excessive head movement and variable latencies to orgasm were successfully applied in the present study, enabling identification of brain regions involved in orgasm. Limitations include the small sample (N = 10), which combined self- and partner-induced stimulation datasets for analysis and which qualify the generalization of our conclusions. Conclusion Extensive cortical, subcortical, and brainstem regions reach peak levels of activity at orgasm. Wise NJ, Frangos E, Komisaruk BR. Brain Activity Unique to Orgasm in Women: An fMRI Analysis. J Sex Med 2017;14:1380-1391.
Rethinking Environmental Security

The term ‘environmental security’ is widely used in the academic, policy, and activist communities, but there is little agreement about what it means or how it should be operationalized. This chapter argues that a concise, narrowly focused, and systematic definition would be beneficial for the purposes of policy, research, and environmental rescue. It begins with a brief discussion of how rhetorical and analytical ambitions have been interwoven in the environmental movement, resulting in a ‘gray language of environmental politics’. While this is useful in certain ways, it also poses a number of problems that are exemplified in the term ‘environmental security’. The chapter then provides a critical overview of the various ways in which the term is used. A concise definition is proposed, explained, and defended on the grounds that it provides the basis for both a useful research agenda and a fruitful dialogue with security specialists. Many of the ideas currently associated with the term ‘environmental security’ that are not contained in the narrow definition are important. The chapter concludes with an argument for situating these ideas in the broader context of research and debate on world order.
Entrepreneurship as Expectations Management

Entrepreneurial profits flow from differences in expectations between buyers and sellers regarding the future value of resources. This article investigates whether differences in expectations can be influenced by an entrepreneur to produce greater profits. It is argued that there are several points in the entrepreneurial process where such interventions can occur and that the use of these techniques should be associated with superior wealth creation. The article also explores the ethical implications of influencing stakeholders in this way.
Linking Pornography Consumption to Support for Adolescents' Access to Birth Control: Cumulative Results from Multiple Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal National Surveys

This article reports the results of three meta-samples investigating U.S. adults' pornography consumption, attitudes toward teen sex, and support for teen access to birth control. Findings were bas...
Insights into the complicated SAR signature shapes induced by braking targets

This investigation considers the shapes of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery signature smears that are caused by surface targets that perform braking maneuvers during the SAR collection time. It is known that such maneuvering target signatures can have a wide variety of two-dimensional (2D) shapes, as opposed to the simpler parabolic signatures that are induced by constant velocity targets. The current paper examines the theoretical properties of these 2D signature shapes for cases in which the specific parameters of the target braking maneuver temporal profile are varied, including the rate at which the target decreases speed, the total amount of speed change, and the speed transition time within the SAR collection interval. Furthermore, the current investigation yields new insights regarding the complicated SAR signature shapes that are indicative of targets undergoing such braking maneuvers. This analysis reveals that the SAR signature for a given braking target is effectively a composite of three curved smear portions. One portion is a part of a parabola that is obtained from the constant-velocity target motion at the initial SAR collection time. Next, the second portion is that of a part of a different parabola that is generated from the final constant target velocity segment during the SAR collection interval. The third curved portion of the full moving target signature forms a connection between the parts of the two parabolas that are due to the initial and final constant velocity segments of the full target motion during the SAR measurement interval.
Models in the Social Sciences

We ended the last chapter with a strong methodological statement: in science, one can directly measure the properties of a model in experiments. Models rather than theory are directly experimentally validated. Predictions/prescriptions from a model of a natural object can be compared to experiments. Theory is indirectly validated by experiments, through the models which are constructed within the theory. We saw that quantum theory would be indirectly validated through the Bohr model of the atom (from which the empirical formula of Rydberg’s phenomenological law could be directly derived).
Development of standards for the design of educational software

The ready availability of computers, combined with the advent of sophisticated software development tools, has resulted in a proliferation of dental instructional software. The quality of these products varies widely. Working Group 5 of the Standards Committee for Dental Informatics has published an initial set of guidelines to help course designers develop high-quality instructional materials. In the future, these guidelines will evolve into standards. This article summarizes the guidelines and considers future actions that may be taken once the standards are in place.