cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Catalytic Conversion of Biofuel Components: Product Analysis by Multidetector Gas Chromatography

Catalytic upgrading of bio-oils formed in the pyrolysis of biomass represents a promising approach to the production of renewable fuels and platform chemicals. Development of fundamental information needed for commercialization of bio-oil upgrading requires analytical methods for characterization of complex mixtures. We report data characterizing the conversion of a prototypical bio-oil product, 2-butanone, catalyzed by the zeolite HZSM-5 at 300 °C and a quantitative analysis of the products by a multiple-detector gas chromatographic technique complemented by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. 2-Butanone was chosen as the reactant because it is converted into a wide range of compounds representing functional groups characteristic of products of bio-oil conversion; 140 products were identified. Among those in the liquid phase for which standards were available, linear (correlation coefficient R > 0.998) calibrations were obtained over concentration ranges typically found in bio-oil products. Results wer...
Physical Design Methodologies for Soft Error Mitigation Using Redundancy

This paper demonstrates methodologies for designing soft-error hardened logic on commercial foundry processes. Physical design flows employ standard CAD tools to provide spatial separation that alleviates risk of multiple node charge collection upsets. To demonstrate and compare the proposed techniques, an advanced encryption standard (AES) encryption engine is implemented with the proposed methodologies. The methodologies incur an area overhead of 3.4× for a self-correcting, transient immune TMR design and 1.6× for a design using TMR flip-flops with non-redundant logic providing only single-event upset mitigation, over a non-redundant design. Power dissipation increases to 4.82× and 2.4×, respectively.
Identifying S100B as a Biomarker and a Therapeutic Target For Brain Injury and Multiple Diseases

The calcium binding protein S100B has attracted great attention as a biomarker for a variety of diseases. S100B is mainly expressed in glial cells and functions through intracellular and extracellular signaling pathways. The biological roles of S100B have been closely associated with its concentrations and its physiological states. The released S100B can bind to the receptor of advanced glycation end products and induce the initiation of multiple cell signaling transductions. The regulation of S100B bioactivities has been suggested through phosphoinositide 3 kinase/Akt, p53, mitogen-activated protein kinases, transcriptional factors including nuclear factor-kappaB, and cyclic adenosine monophosphate. The levels of S100B in the blood may function to predict the progress or the prognosis of many kinds of diseases, such as cerebrovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, motor neuron diseases, traumatic brain injury, schizophrenia, depression, diabetes mellitus, myocardial infarction, cancer, and infectious diseases. Given that the activity of S100B has been implicated in the pathological process of these diseases, S100B should not be simply regarded as a biomarker, it may also function as therapeutic target for these diseases. Further elucidation of the roles of S100B may formulate innovative therapeutic strategies for multiple diseases.
Heterophilic Antibodies in Serum Disease: Third Report

an increase in the aforementioned antibodies was based on a comparison of the titers found for the blood of these serum-treated patients with the titers found for the blood of 810 control persons who had never had an injection of horse serum. The average titers were considerably higher for the blood of the persons who reacted to the injection with serum disease than for the blood of those who did not respond in this manner. The rise of the agglutinin was more regular than the rise of the hemolysin, and it preceded the onset of the symptoms in a number of cases in which repeated observations were made. Agglutinins for the red blood cells of the ox, guinea-pig and rabbit were also found somewhat increased following treatment with horse serum, but the rise was rather insignificant, particularly when compared with the high titers found for normal control persons who were not treated with serum.
Novel Solution to Oil Spill Recovery: Using Thermodegradable Polyolefin Oil Superabsorbent Polymer (Oil–SAP)

This paper discusses a novel approach that may provide a complete solution to combating oil spills. The technology is centered on a cross-linked polyolefin terpolymer (x–OS–DVB), containing 1-octene, styrene, and divinylbenzene units, which is an oil superabsorbent polymer (oil–SAP) with aliphatic and aromatic side chains that have similar solubility parameters (oleophilic and hydrophobic properties), with the hydrocarbons in crude oil. Some x–OS–DVB terpolymers, with desirable morphology (amorphous, low Tg, and high free volume) and lightly cross-linked (complete network) structure, show rapid oil absorption and swelling to reach a capacity 45 times their weight. The capacity of oil uptake (swelling) is inversely proportional to the cross-linking density. The combination of selective oil absorption (without water) and tough mechanical strength offers buoyancy, stability, and easy recovery on water surfaces. The recovered oil-swelled gel, containing more than 98% oil and 2% x–OS–DVB, is suitable for regul...
Abstract LB-424: A genome-wide association study identifies a locus on chromosome 14q21 as a predictor of leukocyte telomere length and as a marker of susceptibility to bladder cancer

Telomeres play a critical role in maintaining genome integrity. Telomere shortening is associated with the risk of many aging-related diseases. Classic twin studies have shown that genetic components may contribute up to 80% of the heritability of telomere length. In the study we report here, we used a multi-stage genome-wide association study (GWAS) to identify genetic determinants of telomere length. The mean telomere length in peripheral blood leukocytes was measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. We first analyzed 300,000 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 459 healthy controls, finding 15,120 SNPs associated with telomere length at P P -values of −5 ). The variant alleles of these SNPs were associated with longer telomere length. We then analyzed the association of these SNPs with the risk of bladder cancer in a large case-control study. The variant allele of rs398652 was associated with a significantly reduced risk of bladder cancer (odds ratio = 0.81; 95% confidence interval, 0.67–0.97; P = 0.025), consistent with the correlation of this variant allele with longer telomeres. We then conducted a mediation analysis to examine whether the association between rs398652 and reduced bladder cancer risk is mediated by telomere length, finding that telomere length was a significant mediator of the relationship between rs398652 and bladder cancer ( P = 0.013) but that it explains only 14% of the effect. In conclusion, we found that the SNP rs398652 on 14q21 was associated with longer telomere length and a reduced risk of bladder cancer and that a small portion of the effect of this SNP on bladder cancer risk was mediated by telomere length. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-424. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-LB-424
Adding Derivatives to Absolute Return Attribution

This article develops a methodology to incorporate the return to derivative positions into the recently developed absolute return attribution framework of Cooper and Li. This innovation greatly broadens the scope of use for this attribution model. The positions are integrated into the attribution primarily by breaking their return into effects due to movements in the underlying equities and arbitrage effects. For derivative positions held longer, a time effect is also introduced. The exposures are expressed in terms of option pricing quantities commonly known as the Greeks, and their equivalent in the futures market.
REGIONAL FACTORS AND FDI TECHNOLOGY SPILLOVER EFFECT——EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS OF ZHEJIANG

Based on the spatial non-equilibrium phenomenon of FDI inflow value of Zhejiang cities,the paper utilizes 11 cities' industrial dates to test the relation between technology spillover effect of FDI and regional factors of Zhejiang cities,as well as verifies the spillover channels with an empirical approach.The regression results suggest that the overall technology spillover effect of FDI on provincial economy is little obvious,and local R D investment,human capital,infrastructure,heavy industry ratio,stated economy proportion increase the magnitude of spillover;opening index and equipment renewals do not pass the examination.Finally,strategies and advices based on the analysis are brought forward.
Unlike the Stochastic Events That Determine Ageing, Sex Determines Longevity

Contrary to popular belief, very little research is done on the fundamental etiology of biological ageing. Most research is done on longevity determinants or on age associated diseases, neither of which will provide insights into the fundamental cause of ageing. Although my research did not intend to answer questions in biogerontology the accidental discoveries that we made did. The phenomenological finding we made in 1961 that normal human cells have a finite replicative capacity torpedoed a dogma held since the invention of cell culture technology in 1907. The belief since then that cultured cells were immortal, mislead researchers to believe that ageing was caused by extracellular phenomena. Our findings focused attention on intracellular events as the origin of ageing. Twenty years later the discovery of telomere attrition and the enzyme telomerase explained the molecular basis for our findings and in 2009 their discoverers were awarded a Nobel Prize in Medicine or Physiology. The most likely cause of ageing in both animate and inanimate objects is based on the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics which underlies all other theories of ageing. For decades the failure to define key words and fundamental concepts in the field of biogerontology has thwarted progress in understanding the basic cause of ageing and this failure shows little sign of change.
Deleuze and Beckett edited by S. E. Wilmer and Audronė Žukauskaitė

In Deleuze and Beckett, scholars stage a colloquy between Gilles Deleuze and Samuel Beckett based on the similarity of their ideas and their interests in the works of other figures. The discussions...
Preoperative chemotherapy for operable breast cancer.

During the past 25 years, there has been a significant change in the way in which operable breast cancer is managed. As a result of laboratory and clinical investigations conducted during the 1960s, evidence was obtained that challenged Halstedian principles of tumor dissemination and provided support for an alternative hypothesis.1 Findings from subsequent randomized clinical trials demonstrated that the extent of surgical resection had no effect on the patient’s outcome2 and that the administration of systemic therapy after surgery significantly improved the disease-free survival (DFS) and survival of such patients.3 Consequently, there was a shift in emphasis away from surgery as the sole treatment for breast cancer, and systemic therapy became an integral part of the management of the disease.
Safety and Efficacy of a Novel "Hybrid Closure" Technique in Large-Bore Arteriotomies.

The “preclose” technique employing two Perclose (P) devices is well established for large-bore artery (LBA) hemostasis. Occasionally, only one Perclose deploys successfully during the initial preclose because of arterial calcification necessitating the use of the crossover balloon technique to achieve hemostasis at the LBA. We sought to determine if the combined use of one Perclose and either one Angioseal or one Mynx vascular closure device (VCD) is a safe alternative closure technique large-bore arteriotomy closure. In total, 40 patients underwent high-risk percutaneous coronary intervention (HRPCI) with Impella support, of whom 38 had common femoral artery (CFA) arteriotomies and 2 underwent percutaneous axillary arteriotomy (AA). Prior to Impella insertion, one Perclose device was predeployed. At the end of HRPCI, Impella was removed and a 0.035″ wire was inserted through the Impella sheath. This sheath was then withdrawn over the wire, and partially deployed Perclose was fully deployed. A 6-Fr sheath was advanced over a 0.035″ wire into the CFA or AA, achieving hemostasis and reducing the LBA to a 6-Fr size. The 6-Fr arteriotomy was closed with a 6-Fr Mynx or Angioseal VCD. Patients were followed at day 1 and day 30. Hybrid closure was successful in 38 of 40 cases. In one case of Mynx balloon rupture, hemostasis was achieved with heparin reversal and manual compression. In the case of Perclose failure, crossover balloon tamponade at arteriotomy site and external manual compression achieved hemostasis. Patients were free of complications at day 1 and day 30. Hybrid closure with one Perclose and either one Mynx or one Angioseal VCD is safe and effective for LBA closure.
High-Order Divergence-Conforming Constrained Bases for Triangular Cells

This paper presents an algebraic technique for generating arbitrary-order divergence-conforming bases for curvilinear triangular cells. The bases are constructed by enforcing appropriate constraints on a linear combination of general functions and then extracting the desired bases using singular value decompositions. Koornwinder–Dubiner polynomials are chosen as the general function set. Basic constraints are presented to obtain divergence-conforming bases, and additional constraints are presented to further enforce the bases to be Nedelec. Results from a variety of problems are given to show that the bases exhibit high-order convergence and also produce systems that are relatively well conditioned compared to other basis sets.
CEO Power: Relinquish or Withhold?

CEO succession is an important event in the life of an organization. It is unavoidable. CEO succession researchers have linked the smooth transition of leadership between CEOs to the positive post ...
Language and Cognition in the Affective Disorders

Kraepelin (1896) introduced the term manic-depressive psychosis to designate a series of attacks of elation and depression with intervals of relative normality and a generally favorable prognosis. He regarded manic-depressive psychosis as an organic illness, which he distinguished from the less severe disturbances of mood that were later identified as neurotic, a distinction that traditionally rested on the factor of reality contact. What was called “neurotic depression” could be characterized as deep dysphoria, but the individual retained awareness of the surroundings and did not lose the capacity to carry on some semblance of normal daily activities. Psychotic depression, on the other hand, featured hallucinatory and delusional experiences and extreme withdrawal to the point of immobilization.
Coupled lateral and axial soil-pipe interaction and lateral buckling Part I: Formulation

Abstract This paper presents techniques for constructing numerical solutions for some of the problems formulated in Part I. An algorithm to search for periodic solutions is developed and implemented in software. It is shown that there exist a finite number of discrete well defined periodic solutions for the lateral buckling problem of a straight pipeline under constant pressure and temperature. It is also shown that periodic solutions are unstable. A second numerical algorithm is developed for solving lateral buckling problem for an initially straight semi-infinite pipeline terminating at a sliding manifold under constant or varying temperature profiles. The resulting boundary value problem requires special numerical methods due to the stiffness of the governing differential equations. Algorithm is applied to find the solutions of problems for three different size pipelines; an 8.625 inch, a 16 inch, and a 32 inch diameter. Multiple stable chaotic solutions corresponding to distinct but extremely close initial conditions are revealed. The characteristics of these solutions match with the characteristics of the periodic solutions. This suggests that unstable periodic solutions act as separatrix between narrow zones containing stable chaotic solutions. It is seen that chaotic solutions can relieve a significant portion of the thermal and pressure loads without inducing excessive pipeline displacements. The results show that the pipeline end expansion is significantly less than the value given by common engineering methods. It is also shown that pipeline operating conditions and soil-pipe interaction parameters influence the stability and bifurcations of solutions.
Disparities and Uncertainties: Reflections on Communist and Post-Communist Eastern Europe

(1998). Disparities and Uncertainties: Reflections on Communist and Post-Communist Eastern Europe. Journal of Social Sciences: Vol. 2, Open-Ended History: Dangers and Dilemmas of Transmition, pp. 91-103.
Subtracted, Unique-Sequence, In Situ Hybridization: Experimental and Diagnostic Applications

Nonrandom chromosomal aberrations, particularly in cancer, identify pathogenic biological pathways and, in some cases, have clinical relevance as diagnostic or prognostic markers. Fluorescence and colorimetric in situ hybridization methods facilitate identification of numerical and structural chromosome abnormalities. We report the development of robust, unique-sequence in situ hybridization probes that have several novel features: 1) they are constructed from multimegabase contigs of yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) clones; 2) they are in the form of adapter-ligated, short-fragment, DNA libraries that may be amplified by polymerase chain reaction; and 3) they have had repetitive sequences (eg, Alu and LINE elements) quantitatively removed by subtractive hybridization. These subtracted probes are labeled conveniently, and the fluorescence or colorimetric detection signals are extremely bright. Moreover, they constitute a stable resource that may be amplified through at least four rounds of polymerase chain reaction without diminishing signal intensity. We demonstrate applications of subtracted probes for the MYC and EWS oncogene regions, including 1) characterization of a novel EWS -region translocation in Ewing's sarcoma, 2) identification of chromosomal translocations in paraffin sections, and 3) identification of chromosomal translocations by conventional bright-field microscopy.
Conformation and electrostatic potential surfaces of opiates: Relationship to µ- and λ-site binding

Molecular mechanics energy minimization and electrostatic potential surface calculations have been used to examine a series of opioid compounds that interact with the µ opoid receptor and a recently discovered high-affinity naloxone binding site (the λ site). The compounds studied include members of the morphinan, 4,5-epoxymorphinan, and benzomorphan families. All compounds bind with a high affinity at the µ opiate receptor site, but only the 4,5-epoxymorphinans bind tightly at the λ site. The results suggest that conformational differences in the various families do not satisfactorily explain the observed trends in binding affinity at the λ site. However, electrostatic potential surfaces for a representative subset of these opioids exhibit patterns that allow us to classify members as high-affinity or low-affinity λ-site ligands in good agreement with the experimental results. The procedures used in this work may be useful in defining characteristics that impart selectivity for opiate receptor subtypes such as the µ, δ, and κ receptors.
Truth Telling and Journalism

This article shows how truth telling is essential to responsible democratic journalism and a key principle of journalism ethics. The article reviews how truth telling has played an evolving and continuing role in the history of journalism. It explains how the practice of journalism has for too long been content with common sense realism about truth and a narrow notion of objectivity as just the facts. The article argues that more sophisticated theories of truth telling need to be developed for today’s journalism ethics. The article outlines one such theory called pragmatic truth. The article concludes with a discussion of why truth matters in journalism.
Analysis of Eddy Current Response due to Flaws in Imperfectly Conducting Materials

The fundamental theory for the prediction of eddy current response due to the presence of conducting samples of rather simple geometries has been well established. However, for any practical case the mathematics of the problem often preclude an exact analytical solution from being attained. Techniques based solely on numerical methods [1,2] have proven to be quite valuable, but have the disadvantage of concealing the dependence of the basically simple eddy current response on the physical parameters of the test-coil and material configuration. Several approximations can be made to simplify the mathematics of the problem, and thus allow solutions to be found that illustrate the fundamental functional relationships of the physical problem. A loss of generality is an inherent shortcoming of this approximate technique, but utilization of practical values of conductivities, permeabilities, dimensions, and frequencies of operation allow the results to remain meaningful.
Status Report on Harvard, Purdue, Wisconsin Proton Decay Experiment

In the past year, since the First Grand Unification Theory Workshop, considerable progress has been made toward the installation of the Harvard, Purdue, Wisconsin (H.P.W.) detector. There have also been significant modifications in its design. In this report I will restrict myself to the progress and modifications made since the previous workshop. For a discussion of the motivation behind our particular design approach see the report by D. Winn at the previous workshop.
Viral Infection "Interferes" with Glucose Tolerance.

In this issue of Immunity, Sestan et al. (2018) show that viral-induced inflammation leads to insulin resistance in skeletal muscle, followed by compensatory hyperinsulinemia, which promotes the anti-viral effector response of CD8+ T cells. Interestingly, this leads to persistent glucose intolerance and the progression of type 2 diabetes in pre-diabetic animals.
Reduced Order Modeling with Slow Actuators with Application to Leader-Follower Satellite Constellations

This paper addresses reduced order modeling of dynamic systems that are under the influence of a slow actuator, that is, a system for which a subset of the states evolve on a slower time scale than the rest of the system. Using concepts from singular perturbation theory, a new method of generating an asymptotically valid reduced order model for such systems is proposed. As an example, the method is used to model the behavior of a non-homogeneous constellation of satellites under a leader-follower control law.
Effects of herbivore damage and nutrient level on induction of iridoid glycosides in Plantago lanceolata

Damage by larvae of the buckeye butterfly (Junonia coenia) resulted in removal of 15–25% of Plantago lanceolata leaf area. Plants grown under high nutrients were larger than those grown under low nutrients. Twenty-eight days after herbivory, plants grown under high nutrients were still larger than those grown under low nutrients, and plants exposed to herbivores were significantly smaller than those not exposed to herbivores, regardless of the nutrient treatment. Damage by larvae also increased the iridoid glycoside content in the leaves and reproductive tissues of these Plantago lanceolata relative to undamaged controls. Whether damaged or undamaged, the iridoid glycoside content of P. lanceolata was highest in the reproductive tissues and lowest in the roots. Although initial concentrations of iridoid glycosides were significantly higher in plants grown under low nutrient conditions than in plants grown under high nutrient conditions, nutrient availability did not alter the phytochemical response of plants to herbivore damage. These results provide additional support for the defensive role of the iridoid glycosides in Plantago lanceolata by demonstrating that phytochemical variation is not always an incidental effect of nutrient stress but can be a direct response to damage by herbivores.
Comparison of image and data domain methods for three-material decomposition in dual-energy CT

In this work we propose a novel three-material decomposition method in the data domain which is based on a conservation of volume constraint. We compare the approach with an image-based decomposition method using a recently proposed polyenergetic reconstruction algorithm to generate the reconstructed images. Our preliminary results indicate that the image-based decomposition using polyenergetic reconstruction provides better image quality than the data-domain approach.
Preschoolers’ Self-Regulation in Context: Task Persistence Profiles with Mothers and Fathers and Later Attention Problems in Kindergarten

Task persistence is related to attentional regulation and is needed for the successful transition to school. Understanding preschoolers’ task persistence with caregivers could better inform the development and prevention of attention problems across this transition. Preschoolers’ real-time task persistence profiles during problem-solving tasks with mothers (N=214) and fathers (N=117) were examined as antecedents of teacher-rated attention problems in kindergarten, accounting for child temperament, parenting, and preschool attention problems. Group-based trajectory modeling identified five profiles with mothers and four with fathers; more children showed high task persistence with mothers than fathers. With mothers, when persistence started low and increased over time, children had lower inhibitory control, higher verbal skills, and received more directives. This increasing profile had the highest-rated attention problems, followed by the stable low persistence profile; both groups showed higher attention problems than children who started high and declined slowly in persistence over time. Results implied children who start tasks low in persistence may require the most maternal effort to get on task, and whether those efforts are successful (increasing persistence) or not (stable low persistence), may be the same children teachers perceive as having the most attention problems. Profiles with fathers were not associated with attention problems but pointed to the importance of father-child affective processes (child negative emotion, paternal praise) in children’s task persistence. Findings suggest mothers and fathers play different roles in regulatory development and that person-centered profiles of self-regulation in context may inform the prevention of children’s regulatory problems.
Fundamentals in Sheet and Tube Forming: Material Characterization, Conventional and Novel Processes and Involved Mechanics

This chapter introduces the ways to characterize the materials for both sheet and tube materials. This mostly includes the tensile test for sheet metal, and tensile and ring test for tube metal. This also includes in providing the direction of inputting the material data in finite element simulations. The chapter further discusses the conventional method to form sheet and tube metal to the desired shape. Further, it will walk through the formability of metal and then introduce the novel techniques such as hydroforming, rubber forming, electric forming, incremental forming, roll forming, tailor welded blanks, and some high speed forming such as electromagnetic and explosive forming. In addition, conventional and rotational flaring, Reuleaux forming were discussed for tube forming. Further, some of the common challenges were discussed.
Movement of the Neonicotinoid Seed Treatment Clothianidin into Groundwater, Aquatic Plants, and Insect Herbivores

Agricultural use of the neonicotinoid clothianidin (CLO) as a seed treatment of corn and soybeans has been linked to contamination of waterways and irrigation water. By analyzing samples collected from field lysimeters with liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS), this study reports the highest CLO concentrations within leachate following planting, with maximum concentrations occurring 4 weeks post-planting (3370 ng L–1). This concentration is approximately 10× greater than previously reported CLO concentrations in streams/rivers and prairie wetlands, likely the result of reduced dilution and photolysis impacts. To document nontarget vegetation translocation dynamics, the macrophyte Lemna gibba was exposed to varying CLO concentrations for 12 h within a laboratory setting. Quantification of CLO uptake occurred every 4 h. Finally, trophic level impacts were investigated by exposing the water lily aphid Rhopalosiphum nymphaeae to L. gibba grown in CLO-contaminated water. Aphids lived and fed ...
Famous women yearn for Putin, and other unlikely tales: Glamorizing right-wing populist actors in the Bulgarian editions of Cosmopolitan and Elle

This analysis identifies the dominant media frames in the coverage of four right-wing populist actors — Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump, Silvio Berlusconi, and Roman Abramovich — by the Bulgarian editions of Elle and Cosmopolitan. Although the political platforms of these men are not, in fact, anti-establishment, which is the core characteristic of populism, they are referred to as populist actors because of their use of populist tools and discourses to practice so-called “neo-populism from above.” The four men were framed as: a carriers of a “golden touch”; b sources of profound/problematic wisdom; and c admirable collectors of “trophy” women. The findings are discussed as illustrative of the tabloidization of U.S. women’s magazine brands in the post-communist context of Bulgaria.
Analgesic effect of topical and subconjunctival morphine in dogs after phacoemulsification: A pilot study.

Objective To determine the efficacy of a single treatment of topical and subconjunctival 0.1% preservative-free morphine sulfate (PFMS) in providing analgesia following phacoemulsification in dogs. Animals studied Ten diabetic and ten non-diabetic client-owned dogs treated with bilateral phacoemulsification. Procedures A prospective, randomized, masked, negative-controlled clinical trial was performed. All dogs received topical (0.2 mL) and subconjunctival (0.1 mL) 0.1% PFMS in one eye following phacoemulsification. The other eye received an equal volume and mode of administration of balanced salt solution (BSS). Ophthalmic examination, blinking rates, tearing, conjunctival hyperemia, aqueous flare, and central corneal esthesiometry (CCE) were evaluated in all eyes 1 day prior to surgery and at 4, 24, and 48 hours after surgery. Complete physical examination, ocular ultrasound, electroretinogram, hemogram, and serum biochemistry panel were performed in all dogs prior to phacoemulsification. All dogs received the standard of care treatment before and after surgery, including uniform anesthetic protocol. Results Baseline ophthalmic exams were unremarkable, except for the presence of cataracts, in all dogs. The mean CCE (±SD) at 4 hours post-operatively was 1.76 ± 1.27 g/mm2 and 1.85 ± 1.5 g/mm2 for the negative control and PFMS groups, respectively. There were no statistical differences in blepharospasm, conjunctival hyperemia, tearing, aqueous flare, blinking rates, CCE, or intraocular pressure (IOP) between the treatment groups for any of the time points for the non-diabetic and diabetic dogs, or for all dogs combined (P > .05). Conclusions Topical and subconjunctival 0.1% PFMS did not affect the evaluated parameters after phacoemulsification in the study dogs at the timepoints assessed.
A cross-national test of propositions from the neo-pluralist perspective on Social Security expenditures.

Abstract Much of the existing literature on cross-national differences in retirement wage policy has focused on the inception of programs and the factors leading to their introduction. The explanations may be less adequate in accounting for post-war changes in social security programs. To interpret the evolution of programs in the postwar period, we stress the importance of divisions among workers themselves. We argue here that such divisions may occur along three fault lines: (1) ethnic, racial, and linguistic differentiation (2) the split between heavily urbanized and other segments of the working population and (3) fractionalization brought about by domination of a single industry. Using a longitudinal design to measure changes in social security expenditures in 34 nations between 1965 and 1983, we test hypotheses asserting that fragmentation among workers is inversely correlated with expanded investment in benefits for workers. We find general support for these hypotheses.
UKBCC: a cohort curation package for UK Biobank

SummaryThe UK Biobank (UKB) has quickly become a critical resource for researchers conducting a wide-range of biomedical studies (Bycroft et al., 2018). The database is constructed from heterogeneous data sources, employs several different encoding schemes, and is disparately distributed throughout UKB servers. Consequently, querying these data remains complicated, making it difficult to quickly identify participants who meet a given set of criteria. We have developed UK Biobank Cohort Curator (UKBCC), a Python tool that allows researchers to rapidly construct cohorts based on a set of search terms. Here, we describe the UKBCC implementation, critical sub-modules and functions, and outline its usage through an example use case for replicable cohort creation. AvailabilityUKBCC is available through PyPi (https://pypi.org/project/ukbcc) and as open source code on GitHub (https://github.com/tool-bin/ukbcc). Contactisa.kiral@gmail.com
Classification, Categorization, and Algorithms for Articular Cartilage Defects.

There is a critical unmet need in the clinical implementation of valid preventative and therapeutic strategies for patients with articular cartilage pathology based on the significant gap in understanding of the relationships between diagnostic data, disease progression, patient-related variables, and symptoms. In this article, the current state of classification and categorization for articular cartilage pathology is discussed with particular focus on machine learning methods and the authors propose a bedside–bench–bedside approach with highly quantitative techniques as a solution to these hurdles. Leveraging computational learning with available data toward articular cartilage pathology patient phenotyping holds promise for clinical research and will likely be an important tool to identify translational solutions into evidence-based clinical applications to benefit patients. Recommendations for successful implementation of these approaches include using standardized definitions of articular cartilage, to include characterization of depth, size, location, and number; using measurements that minimize subjectivity or validated patient-reported outcome measures; considering not just the articular cartilage pathology but the whole joint, and the patient perception and perspective. Application of this approach through a multistep process by a multidisciplinary team of clinicians and scientists holds promise for validating disease mechanism-based phenotypes toward clinically relevant understanding of articular cartilage pathology for evidence-based application to orthopaedic practice.
Normative Measurements of Temporal Bone Structures on Imaging

This chapter reviews the normative measurements of the temporal bone anatomical structures. Referencing measurements can potentially increase recognition of abnormalities on imaging. Examples of how these measurements can be used to evaluate congenital and acquired abnormalities are depicted in this chapter.
Networks of Place Cells for Representing 3D Environments and Path Planning

Conventional methods for motion control and path planning in robots are nowhere near as reactive and flexible as in nature. Brains solve navigation using place cells - neurons that provide a cognitive representation of a specific environment. Neural techniques for path planning in 2D have been developed for years, however, to allow their application for robotic tasks beyond locomotion, a transmission to 3D is required. We present an implementation for path planning via a propagating wavefront on 3D environments. The algorithm operates on a Spiking Neural Network of excitatory place cells structured as a grid. A wavefront travelling through the network is initiated by activating the goal place cell. The wave strengthens synapses in the direction of the propagation using STDP, as a synaptic learning rule. By interpreting the synaptic weights as a vector field, a path can be derived from any place cell, reached by the wave, to the destination. We demonstrate, using a neural simulator, that our algorithm works well on maps with multiple obstacles. Our method allows fast simulation and query times and we expect to considerably improve the network creation time by using dedicated hardware, allowing massive parallelism. Our algorithm applies bio-inspired techniques and is especially interesting for Human-robot interaction, which requires reactive flexible motion planning.
Socialism from the Bottom Up: Where Lawson and Powell Meet Hayek and Buchanan

What explains the recent resurgence of appeal and popularity of socialism in the United States? Why especially do people today like socialism when history and economics are clear that socialism as actually practiced has had disastrous consequences? These questions are taken up in the book Socialism Sucks: Two Economists Drink Their Way Through the Unfree World by Benjamin Powell and Robert Lawson. After an entertaining and insightful read through the authors’ journeys, Lawson and Powell conclude that people today don’t favor actual socialism, not socialism as properly understood by economists. Socialism properly understood is the abolition of private property and the central planning of all economic activity. F. A. Hayek in his 1949 paper, “The Intellectuals and Socialism,” raises the same question, and concludes that a biased intellectual class manipulates public opinion to support socialism. I then put Lawson, Powell, and Hayek in the context of James Buchanan’s 2005 paper, “Dependency as Desideratum,” which defines and categorizes four distinct but interrelated definitions of socialism. The most fundamental of these is a form of bottom-up socialism, which does not concern itself with collectivizing property rights, but which nonetheless feeds Leviathan.
Severity of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis is not linked to testosterone concentration in patients with type 2 diabetes

Background Hypogonadism is reported to occur in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), but earlier studies used low-sensitivity diagnostic techniques (CT, ultrasound), for NAFLD diagnosis. We hypothesized that if hypogonadism was due to NAFLD, and not solely attributable to underlying obesity/diabetes, it would be more severe in the presence of steatohepatitis (NASH). To examine the influence of liver disease on testosterone in males with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), we used gold-standard liver imaging with MR-spectroscopy (1H-MRS), and performed liver biopsies to grade/stage the NAFLD. Methods In this cross-sectional study, we measured in 175 males with T2DM total and free testosterone, markers of insulin resistance, and intrahepatic triglyceride content (IHTG) by 1H-MRS. Those with NAFLD on imaging underwent a liver biopsy. Results Total testosterone was higher in the group without NAFLD ("No-NAFLD"; n = 48) compared to isolated steatosis (IS; n = 62) or NASH (n = 65) (385 ± 116 vs. 339 ± 143 vs. 335 ± 127 ng/ml, ptrend 0.03). Testosterone was also lower in obese vs. non-obese subjects in both the No-NAFLD and IS groups (p = 0.06 and p = 0.11, respectively), but not in obese vs. non-obese patients with NASH (p = 0.81). IHTG was independently associated with total testosterone (s = -4.8, p = 0.004). None of the liver histology characteristics were associated with lower testosterone. Conclusions NAFLD is linked to lower total testosterone in patients with T2DM, but likely given a common soil of insulin resistance/obesity and not from the severity of liver necroinflammation or fibrosis. Nevertheless, clinicians should consider screening patients with T2DM and NAFLD for hypogonadism.
Higher Baseline Lateral Habenula Firing Rate Negatively Correlates with Increase in Ethanol Intake over Days in Adult Long Evans Rats

While many adults consume alcohol, yet only some individuals are at a risk to develop alcohol use disorder (AUD). Variability in the risk for alcohol abuse is multifactorial and includes differences in behavioral and neuronal traits. The lateral habenula (LHb) has been shown to mediate aversive state-related behavioral responses. Interestingly, in both humans and rodents, depression-like symptoms are associated with high LHb activity. Additionally, there is a high co-morbidity between major depressive disorder and AUD. However, LHb lesions in rodents increase ethanol intake over time. Thus, we wanted to determine how baseline LHb activity correlates with ethanol intake over days. Specifically, we wanted to test whether individual variation in baseline LHb activity in ethanol-naive rats is related to home-cage ethanol drinking patterns. Hence, in this study, we determined the correlation between individual variability in baseline LHb neural activity, the negative-affective state-related ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs; 22-28 kHz), and the extent of ethanol intake over days. We first surgically implanted a unilateral 16-wire electrode array in the LHb of adult male Long Evans rats (n=11). Following recovery from surgery, rats were placed in sound-insulated chambers for two hours, where they were free to explore while we simultaneously recorded neuronal signals from their LHb and the USVs emitted by them. Next, these rats underwent an intermittent access to ethanol (IAE) paradigm, where they received 20% ethanol for 24 hours on alternate days (Monday-Wednesday-Friday) and ad-libitum water in their home cages for four weeks. The change in ethanol intake over days differed between rats, with some rats escalating their ethanol intake in the four weeks, while other rats showing no meaningful change in ethanol intake over days as compared to the first session. We found a significant negative correlation between average baseline LHb firing rates in rats and the changes in ethanol intake in the first week of IAE. Specifically, rats with higher baseline LHb firing rats, unlike rats with lower baseline firing rates, did not escalate their ethanol intake from the first session to the second and fourth ethanol sessions of the IAE paradigm. We also found a moderate positive correlation between the number of 22-28 kHz USVs and the average LHb firing rates of these rats. These results indicate that higher baseline LHb neuronal activity in normal adult ethanol naive rats is associated with decreased motivation to seek and consume ethanol during the early stages of ethanol consumption.
String correlators on AdS3: four-point functions

We propose a closed-form formula for genus 0 four-point functions in AdS3 string theory with pure NS-NS flux including arbitrary amounts of spectral flow. Our formula passes many non-trivial consistency checks and has intriguing connections to Hurwitz theory. This paper is the second in a series with several instalments.
tmParallel implicit navier-stokes solvers on the intel paragon supercomputer

Publisher Summary Recent advances in the architectures of scalable or massively parallel processors have provided a cost-effective way to achieve high-performance computational fluid dynamics computation. In the compressible viscous flow, both explicit and implicit schemes are widely used. The explicit codes, such as the FLO57, the MDNS3D, and the RAMPANT, based on the Runge–Kutta marching scheme with structured or unstructured grids are almost parallel. Near linear speed-up, efficiency of 96% performance has been achieved. Partitioning strategies of unstructured grids are still ongoing research topics. The implicit solvers, such as the ARC3D, based on the Beam–Warming scheme can be effectively parallelized. The parallelization strategies are discussed in this chapter. It also presents results on one of the NAS parallel benchmarks—block tridiagonal (BT). The NAS-BT represents the computations associated with the ARC3D code. In the incompressible flow, the chapter illustrates the pressure-correction SIMPLEC algorithm with a modified QUICK scheme. In the transient flow, time parallelism is introduced in the chapter into the fully implicit time-stepping algorithm using Womble's parallel time-stepping.
Adapting genotype-phenotype-mapping by using redundant real representation

A concept of adapting genotype-phenotype-mapping is proposed. The concept is that a neighborhood in a genotype space that is mapped into separated areas around global and local optima in a phenotype one is evolutionally obtained. Two things are required to realize an optimization method according to the concept. One is a genotype-phenotype-mapping, which can map a neighborhood in a genotype space into several areas in the phenotype one. Another is a search method, which can preserve search areas in the genotype space as structures. The genotype-phenotype-mapping and the search method that satisfy with those requirements are proposed. The numerical optimization method combining those proposed methods is applied to artificial simple test functions, and it is shown that the method realizes the concept of adapting genotype-phenotype-mapping.
Evaluation of Malingering and Related Response Styles

This chapter provides an updated conceptual framework for understanding malingering and feigning. It contextualizes issues of malingering and identifies common yet harmful misassumptions, including the laser-accuracy myth of cut scores. Research designs for feigning are reviewed, including two that are deficient (differential prevalence and partial-criterion). As a key component of the chapter, detection strategies are summarized for two important and distinct domains: feigned mental disorders and feigned cognitive impairment. For feigned mental disorders, detection strategies include unlikely (e.g., rare symptoms) and amplified (e.g., symptom severity) categories. Featured measures include the MMPI-2/MMPI-2-RF, the PAI, and the SIRS/SIRS-2. For feigned cognitive impairment, strategies are organized into two categories: unlikely presentations (e.g., performance curve and magnitude of error) and excessive impairment (e.g., floor effect). Featured measures include the TOMM, VIP, and specialized scales of the MMPI-2. Keywords: malingering; defensiveness; feigned mental disorders; feigned cognitive impairment; response styles
Learning by Single Function Agents during Spring Design

This paper reports on some initial experiments on learning in multi-agent design systems. These experiments have several goals. The first is to study the ease with which simple learning techniques fit into the multi-agent paradigm we are using. The second is to determine the performance of these techniques. The third is to study the application of the multi-agent paradigm we use to “real” problems, as its development has mostly been concerned with a more theoretical view.