cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Modified Price-Sales Ratio: A Useful Tool For Investors?

This study compares returns for stock portfolios using low price-to-earnings, price-to-book, price-to-sales, and price-to-sales ratios modified for profitability of sales and long-term debt. Non-financial companies with fiscal years ending on December 31 were included in a sample covering a 17-year period (1988-2004). The resulting sample was sub-divided into six groups by level of market capitalization. A 25 stock portfolio was then compiled for each of six valuation ratios at each level of market capitalization. An index portfolio was also computed for each level of market capitalization. First, the results of this study showed that additional expected returns based on firm size, measured by the market value of equity, is found only at the micro-cap level (less than $25 million market capitalization). The index portfolios of mini-caps ($25-100 mill.), small caps ($100-500 mill.), and mid-caps ($500-$1 bill.) did not show any additional returns in comparison to the large-cap index portfolio. Second, no "value" portfolio for mid-caps provided significant returns above the index portfolio, suggesting a much greater level of market efficiency at this level of market capitalization. Finally, the most significant findings of our study were that the portfolios constructed from low price-to-sales and modified price-to sales ratios performed as well or better than the more traditional price-to-earnings and price-to-book ratios. The price-to-sales ratio adjusted for profit margin (based on the prior three years) was statistically significant in three of six portfolios in comparison to the more traditional valuation ratios.
Central Precocious Puberty

Background: Central precocious puberty occurs in 0.2 % of young girls and is officially defined as the presence of pubertal signs or characteristics in girls under the age of 7 years. This condition occurs as a result of early activation of the hypothalamic pituitary axis. The most common type is idiopathic, although this is diagnosis of exclusion. Purpose: To alert providers about the warning signs and when to intervene as if left untreated, central precocious puberty will result in progressive sexual characteristic development, early menstrual onset and rapid skeletal maturation, resulting in early epiphyseal stimulation. Conclusions: Central precocious puberty is an important condition to recognize. It is important to screen when advanced pubertal characteristics are seen under age 7 years. Once idiopathic precocious puberty has been confirmed there are many options for treatment with good long-term outcomes, which allow for attainment of predicted genetic height.
Magnetic Properties of Friction Stir Processed Composite

Of the many existing inspection or monitoring systems, each has its own advantages and drawbacks. These systems are usually comprised of semi-remote sensors that frequently cause difficulty in reaching complex areas of a component. This study proposes to overcome that difficulty by developing embedded functional composites, so that embedding can be achieved in virtually any component part and periodically can be interrogated by a reading device. The “reinforcement rich” processed areas can then be used to record properties such as strain, temperature, and stress state, to name a few, depending on the reinforcement material. Friction stir processing was used to fabricate a magnetostrictive composite by embedding galfenol particles into a nonmagnetic aluminum matrix. The aim was to develop a composite that produces strain in response to a varying magnetic field. Reinforcements were distributed uniformly in the matrix. Magnetization curves were studied using a vibrating sample magnetometer. A simple and cost-effective setup was developed to measure the magnetostrictive strain of the composites. Important factors affecting the magnetic properties were identified and the processing route was modified to improve the magnetic response.
Diagnosis of Bacterial Meningitis by Gas-Liquid Chromatography. II. Analysis of Spinal Fluid

The feasibility of gas-liquid chromatographic analysis of spinal fluid from dogs with experimental meningitis and from patients with meningitis was evaluated. Normal canine and human spinal fluid contained consistent levels of palmitic and stearic acids, glucose, and trace amounts of glycerol. Pneumococcal meningitis in dogs and humans was characterized by a complex fatty-acid pattern in spinal fluid similar to that seen in pneumococcal cells. Spinal fluid from dogs with Haemophilus influenzae meningitis yielded several saturated fatty acids as well as rhamnose, xylose, and glucosamine; four of five spinal fluid specimens from patients with H. influenzae meningitis gave similar results. Fatty-acid profiles of spinal fluid from dogs with staphylococcal meningitis were complex, with branched-chain and straight-chain fatty acids. Spinal fluid specimens from Neisseria meningitidis-infected dogs yielded 16- and 18-carbon fatty acids and sialic acid. Gas-liquid chromatographic analysis of spinal fluid proved valuable as a tool for identifying bacterial infections and differentiating between common spinal fluid pathogens. Because appropriate antibiotic therapy is a crucial factor in the treatment of patients with bacterial meningitis, rapid and accurate identification of the infecting agent is critical in the initial evaluation and management of these patients. Tradition
Quadratic Posylognomials: An Extension of Posynomial Geometric Programming

Abstract The theory of geometric programming is extended to include a new function with logarithmic exponents. The function, defined as a Quadratic Posylognomial (QPL), is a series of nonlinear product terms with positive coefficients and positive variables. A QPL may be created by adding a linear function of the logarithms of the variables to the constant exponents of a posynomial. The logarithm of each nonlinear term is a quadratic form in the logarithms of the primal variables, whereas the logarithm of a general term of a posynomial is linear in the logarithms of the variables. The primal-dual relationships and necessary conditions are developed, and special cases where sufficient conditions exist are derived. The theory is the basis for solution of a machining economics problem using a more accurate QPL tool life equation and has the potential for solution of other engineering problems where a posynomial formulation is inadequate. The extended theory may also prove useful for condensing posynomial geo...
Mechanisms of Bacterial Resistance

Antibiotic resistance is an increasing problem in pediatric pathogens. This article lays a framework for an understanding of the biochemical mechanisms and a genetic basis of bacterial resistance. The biochemical mechanisms of antibiotic resistance including inactivating enzymes, altered antibiotic targets, and decreased drug access are reviewed and examples are given. The genetic mechanisms will aid the pediatric practitioner in the rational use of antibiotics.
MIMO-VSAR: A high resolution radar system for imaging moving scenes

The Velocity SAR (VSAR) is a SAR-based sensor system for high resolution imaging of moving scenes such as the ocean surface. VSAR utilizes data collected by a multi-element SAR system, to extract information not only about the radar reflectivity of the observed area, but also about the radial velocity of the scatterers in each pixel. This is accomplished by making use of the phase information contained in multiple SAR images, and not just the magnitude information as in conventional SAR. Using this velocity information, the VSAR is able to compensate for the velocity distortion inherent in conventional SAR. MIMO-VSAR is an extension of VSAR employing multiple transmit antennas using orthogonal waveforms. The operating principle and basic design tradeoffs of MIMO-VSAR are presented herein.
The Comedies: Until They Became Impossible

Rattigan wrote only four comedies after the great success of French Without Tears, the last one in 1953, The Sleeping Prince, because he could no longer express through his plays the optimistic vision required by comedy as a genre. In the first of them, While the Sun Shines (1943), Rattigan draws on A Midsummer Night’s Dream, but as if rewritten by Oscar Wilde. Its topicality, suggesting as it does that prewar class distinctions will not survive the war, does not limit it, however, for Rattigan includes some of his key themes, for example, the (mild) sexual humiliation of the secondary female lead. In some respects it also seems to resemble the contemporary American comedy The Philadelphia Story. The theme of intense and fraught father–son relations appears in Rattigan’s next comedy, Love in Idleness, where a wealthy and conservative businessman clashes with his rebellious, socialist stepson. It is a heavier comedy than its two predecessors. In Who is Sylvia? Rattigan painted an indulgent portrait of his philandering father while drawing on the myth of Apollo and Daphne to suggest his, Rattigan’s, views on art, but as its title suggests, Rattigan also draws on Shakespeare’s Two Gentlemen of Verona to acknowledge his father’s betrayals of his mother. The last comedy is the darkest of his five full-length comedies, for The Sleeping Prince ends with its heroine, having reconciled a father and son, departing from an empty stage for a future life of loneliness and sadness.
Update on Early Speech and Language Intervention for Children With Craniofacial Conditions

This article discusses the current evidence for early intervention for children with craniofacial conditions. The article describes the evidence-based intervention approaches, strategies, and paren...
Theater and Controversy in Museums

(1998). Theater and Controversy in Museums. Journal of Museum Education: Vol. 23, Too Hot to Handle? Museums and Controversy, pp. 13-15.
Trauma to the Pelvis and Extremities

Pelvic fractures account for 3% to 8% of all skeletal injuries.1, 2, 3 Two distinct patient populations sustain pelvic fractures: those involved in high-energy trauma, frequently motor vehicle or pedestrian versus motor vehicle collisions, and those who sustain a low-energy event, commonly an elderly patient with osteoporosis who sustains a fall resulting in a pelvic fracture with a stable pelvic ring and minimal concomitant injuries. High-energy mechanisms are involved in 13 % to 18 % of all pelvic fractures1,4 and are often accompanied by bony pelvic instability and severe soft tissue injuries, both locally and in remote systems. Injuries to the genitourinary and gastrointestinal system as a direct result of a pelvic fracture are frequent.5, 6, 7 Despite advances in organized trauma systems and intensive care, these fractures continue to present treatment dilemmas acutely and are a major source of morbidity and of mortality, which ranges from 7% to 50%.4,5,8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 Appropriate assessment and management by a multidisciplinary team are crucial to maximize the chance of survival of these patients and their return to preinjury function.
Addressing the Technical in Socio-Technical Systems Research: A Review of Social Informatics Literature

Social informatics (SI) is a socio-technical approach for studying information and communication technologies (ICT) that makes explicit the interconnectedness of technical artifacts and their social contexts. However, there have been claims that limited attention has been paid to the technical in SI research. Using a modified framework for studying technological artifacts in information systems literature (Orlikowski and Iacono 2001; Sawyer and Chen 2003), this review of SI literature explores how technology has been viewed, how its material and structural natures have been considered, and at what levels of analysis technology has been studied. This study finds that further work is needed in SI for studying ICT as socio-technical ensembles; that attention should be paid to ICT development and use at macro- and individual-levels of analysis; and that it should engage with approaches from other sociotechnical domains for studying the technical and non-technical material components of ICT.
Backward Stochastic Differential Equations

This is the first chapter which deals with the main topic of the book: the backward equations. In this chapter we shall establish the well-posedness, a priori estimates, and comparison principle for BSDEs. Some important applications of BSDEs will also be presented.
Wideband distributed RF photonic frequency converters for satellite communications applications

Satellite communications are providing higher data rates through the use of higher frequency bands and higher order modulation schemes [1]. There may be a need to distribute antennas over hundreds of meters to kilometers, for example in a goniometric system for direction finding applications [2]. Radio frequency (RF) photonics may be used as a distributed gateway to access these high frequency bands while maintaining the signal quality needed to recover higher order modulations. We report the improvement of an all-electronic satellite communication terminal with high performance remoting RF photonic frequency converters.
Mining Software Aging Patterns by Artificial Neural Networks

This paper investigates the use of Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) to mine and predict patterns in software aging phenomenon. We analyze resource usage data collected on a typical long-running software system: a web server. A Multi-Layer Perceptron feed forward Artificial Neural Network was trained on an Apache web server dataset to predict future server swap space and physical free memory resource exhaustion through ANN univariate time series forecasting and ANN nonlinear multivariate time series empirical modeling. The results were benchmarked against those obtained from non-parametric statistical techniques, parametric time series models and other empirical modeling techniques reported in the literature.
Alpha-blocker and apoptosis.

The manuscript entitled “α–blockade, apoptosis and prostate shrinkage: how are they related?” published in this issue reviews the recent literature that links alpha–1 adrenoreceptor antagonists with apoptosis and reduction of prostate size [1]. Alpha–1 adrenoreceptor antagonists have been linked with reducing prostate vascularity in both benign and malignant cells in–vitro. This has also been demonstrated experimentally in–vitro by inducing apoptosis. This is only applicable with quinazoline based alpha blockers such as doxazosin and not sulphonamide based alpha blockers such as tamsulosin. The authors review the pathways that lead to apoptosis though the Tumor Necrosis Factor receptors (TNFR) pathways. The confounding finding of why in in–vitro experiments there is both apoptosis and decrease in prostatic vascularity in specific cell lines, though clinically no such findings are seen. The authors discuss the roles of the epithelial and mesenchymal interplay with the specific role of stem cells and their resistance to apoptosis through the use of quinazoline based pathways. Further the authors discuss the inherent flaws in current in–vitro experiments on specific immortalized or tumor cell lines that lack the complex interaction between the epithelial and mesenchymal elements of the prostate. This manuscript addresses some very important questions about the complex cellular interplay of the first line agents used in the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia. These medications are commonly used to reduce the tone of the smooth muscle of the prostate. Based on in–vitro experiments, these medications should also reduce prostate volume however they do not. The regenerative nature of stem cells within the prostate seems to counter–act this effect, once again highlighting the complexities of drug–target interactions within the prostate gland.
Foundations for Momentum Transfer

We begin this chapter by looking at the implications of Euler’s first and second laws at phase interfaces. Our emphasis is upon the forces that appear to act within a dividing surface. We have long been familiar with interfacial forces in static problems, where we speak of surface tension. Here we study the forms that these forces may take in dynamic problems.
Where do animals covered by the US Animal Welfare Act live? Analysis of USDA licensed and registered entities

Nonhuman animals are housed in captivity for a range of purposes in the US and other countries. The regulation, oversight, and public transparency of decisions related to the care and use of those animals varies by species and activity. The goals of this paper are 1) to provide a concise and accessible summary of the number and types of facilities either registered or licensed by the USDA and overseen by the federal agency; and 2) to provide concise comparisons of the relative proportion of different types of use of nonhuman animals that fall under the AWA (Animal Welfare Act). Analysis of the publicly-available list of USDA certificate holders produced descriptive data for each state and the US overall. Licensed exhibitors (N=2,640; 33% of total) and breeders (N=2,701; 34% of total) comprise two-thirds of the 8,002 USDA certificate holders. Registered research facilities (N=1,110) account for 14% of the total USDA certificates. The final 19% consists of licensed dealers (N=763; 9%) and registered carriers or interim handlers (N=788; 10%). The number and distribution of types of certificates varies across states. The largest number of exhibitors and dealers are in Florida, while the largest number of breeders are in Missouri. California has the largest number of research registered facilities. Finally, a comparison of the estimated number of animals in the US that are pets, used in agriculture, exhibition, and research suggests that animals in research are between 0.07-2.3% of the total. The comparison also highlights areas in which public information about captive animals in the US is uneven or missing altogether. Together, the current report provides a concise view of basic information and data relevant to public consideration and policy decisions about animals housed in the set of captive settings to which the AWA applies.
Quantification of Phenolic Compounds from Fadogia agrestis and Dietary Supplements using UHPLC-PDA-MS.

Fadogia agrestis is used in traditional African medicine as an analgesic and for anti-inflammatory and aphrodisiac activities. An ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography method was developed for the determination of 11 chemical constituents from roots and aerial parts of F. agrestis. The separation was achieved within 7 min by using C-18 column material and a water/acetonitrile mobile phase, both containing 0.1% formic acid gradient system with a temperature of 45 °C. The method was validated for linearity, repeatability, limits of detection, and limits of quantification. The limits of detection of phenolic compounds were found to be in the range from 0.025 to 0.1 µg/mL. The wavelengths used for quantification with the photodiode array detector were 238, 254, 291, and 325 nm. Twelve of 17 dietary supplements contained phenolic compounds in the range from 0.3 to 2.7 mg/d. The phenolic compounds were not detected in five dietary supplements. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry coupled with electrospray ionization interface method is described for the identification and confirmation of compounds from plant samples and dietary supplements claiming to contain F. agrestis. This method involved the use of [M + H]+ and [M + Na]+ ions in the positive mode and [M − H]− ions in the negative mode with extractive ion monitoring. The developed method is simple, economic, rapid, and especially suitable for quality control and chemical fingerprint analysis of F. agrestis.
Pruning Leads to Increased Incidence of Freezing Damage in Abelia Hybrids

Abstract North of USDA hardiness zone 7B, abelia suffers from freeze damage. Cultural factors may impact abelia's level of cold hardiness. To determine whether mid-season pruning affects the level of freeze damage, six abelia genotypes were tested in Griffin, GA. Plants were established in replicated field plots in 2001 and on July 3–4, 2003, half the individuals of each genotype were severely pruned. Laboratory freeze tests were conducted monthly on pruned and unpruned plants of each genotype from October 2003 to April 2004. Over the winter, all genotypes with exception of ‘Canyon Creek’ were significantly more cold tolerant in unpruned compared to pruned treatments. Analysis of each month independently revealed a significant difference among genotype-pruning treatment combinations from December 2003 to February 2004. Results for October and November 2003 and March and April 2004 were not significant due to an absence of cold hardiness. These results indicate that mid-season pruning of abelia may signifi...
Patterns of Opioid Administration Among Opioid-Naive Inpatients and Associations With Postdischarge Opioid Use: A Cohort Study

Background Patterns of inpatient opioid use and their associations with postdischarge opioid use are poorly understood. Objective To measure patterns in timing, duration, and setting of opioid administration in opioid-naive hospitalized patients and to examine associations with postdischarge use. Design Retrospective cohort study using electronic health record data from 2010 to 2014. Setting 12 community and academic hospitals in Pennsylvania. Patients 148 068 opioid-naive patients (191 249 admissions) with at least 1 outpatient encounter within 12 months before and after admission. Measurements Number of days and patterns of inpatient opioid use; any outpatient use (self-report and/or prescription orders) 90 and 365 days after discharge. Results Opioids were administered in 48% of admissions. Patients were given opioids for a mean of 67.9% (SD, 25.0%) of their stay. Location of administration of first opioid on admission, timing of last opioid before discharge, and receipt of nonopioid analgesics varied substantially. After adjustment for potential confounders, 5.9% of inpatients receiving opioids had outpatient use at 90 days compared with 3.0% of those without inpatient use (difference, 3.0 percentage points [95% CI, 2.8 to 3.2 percentage points]). Opioid use at 90 days was higher in inpatients receiving opioids less than 12 hours before discharge than in those with at least 24 opioid-free hours before discharge (7.5% vs. 3.9%; difference, 3.6 percentage points [CI, 3.3 to 3.9 percentage points]). Differences based on proportion of the stay with opioid use were modest (opioid use at 90 days was 6.4% and 5.4%, respectively, for patients with opioid use for ≥75% vs. ≤25% of their stay; difference, 1.0 percentage point [CI, 0.4 to 1.5 percentage points]). Associations were similar for opioid use 365 days after discharge. Limitation Potential unmeasured confounders related to opioid use. Conclusion This study found high rates of opioid administration to opioid-naive inpatients and associations between specific patterns of inpatient use and risk for long-term use after discharge. Primary funding source UPMC Health System and University of Pittsburgh.
Religious/spiritual struggles and perceived parenting style in a religious college-aged sample

ABSTRACTParent–child interactions shape children’s internal working models (IWMs) i.e., their understanding of themselves, others, and close relationships, including with the Divine. Positive IWM a...
Singular points of Hölder asymptotically optimally doubling measures

We consider the question of how the doubling characteristic of a measure determines the regularity of its support. The question was considered by David et al. (Commun Pure Appl Math 54:385–449, 2001) for codimension 1 under a crucial assumption of flatness, and later by Preiss et al. (Calc Var PDE’s 35:339–363, 2009) in higher codimension. However, these studies leave open the question of what can be said about the geometry of the support of such measures in a neighborhood about a nonflat point. Here we answer the question for codimension-1 Holder doubling measures in $$\mathbb {R}^4$$ by constructing parametrizations in a neighborhood of a nonflat point by the Kowalski–Preiss cone. These parametrizations extend to be $$C^{1,\beta }$$ diffeomorphisms on an open set. Some of our parametrization techniques build on ideas from: David et al. (Mem AMS 215, 2012; Commun Pure Appl Math 54:385–449, 2001), Preiss et al. (Calc Var PDE’s 35:339–363, 2009) and Taylor (Annals Math 103:489–539, 1976).
Graft Preparation with Intraoperative Vancomycin Decreases Infection After ACL Reconstruction: A Review of 1,640 Cases.

BACKGROUND Reported infection rates following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction are low, but infections are associated with high morbidity including reoperations and inferior clinical outcomes. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the rate of infection after ACL reconstruction with and without graft preparation with a vancomycin irrigant. METHODS All ACL reconstructions performed between May 2009 and August 2018 at a single academic institution were reviewed and categorized based on vancomycin use. Patients with <90-day follow-up, intraoperative graft preparation with an antibiotic other than vancomycin, or previous ipsilateral knee infection were excluded. Infection was defined as a return to the operating room for irrigation and debridement within 90 days after ACL reconstruction. Descriptive and inferential statistical analysis using t tests and Poisson regression were performed, with significance defined as p < 0.05. RESULTS In total, 1,640 patients (952 males; 58.0%) with a mean age (and standard deviation) of 27.7 ± 11.4 years underwent ACL reconstruction (1,379 primary procedures; 84.1%) and were included for analysis. Intraoperative vancomycin was used in 798 cases (48.7%), whereas 842 ACL reconstructions (51.3%) were performed without intraoperative vancomycin. In total, 11 reconstructions (0.7%) were followed by infection, which occurred in 10 (1.2%) of the patients in whom the graft was not soaked in vancomycin and in 1 (0.1%) of the patients in whom the graft was soaked in vancomycin (p = 0.032). Age (p = 0.571), sex (p = 0.707), smoking (p = 0.407), surgeon (p = 0.124), and insurance type (p = 0.616) were not associated with postoperative infection risk. Autograft use was associated with decreased infections (p = 0.045). There was an 89.4% relative risk reduction with the use of intraoperative vancomycin. An increased body mass index (BMI) (p = 0.029), increased operative time (p = 0.001), and the absence of ACL graft preparation with vancomycin (p = 0.032) independently predicted postoperative infection. CONCLUSIONS The use of vancomycin-soaked grafts was associated with a 10-fold reduction in infection after ACL reconstruction (0.1% versus 1.2%; p = 0.032). Other risk factors for infection after ACL reconstruction included increased BMI and increased operative time. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Characteristics of significant events identified by pharmacy students while on early immersion pharmacy practice experiences.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to characterize and classify significant events of pharmacy students who completed an early practice experience. Methods: Significant event analyses (SEAs) were reflections submitted by students about events that they found impactful during their early practice experiences. An online repository has stored 287 SEAs submitted by first year pharmacy students for later use in a pharmacy course. For this study, all significant events were read and coded according to the pre-specified themes and tones (positive, negative, neutral, hybrids) of the event. Themes used were derived from prior literature characterizing major themes from other health professional students’ experiences. Additional themes were added by authors for those that did not fit into the pre-set categories. All themes of the narratives were subsequently categorized. To assure confirmability, the investigators conferred to discuss new themes that emerged and events that were ambiguous. To assure credibility, an external audit of a sample of the coded SEAs was completed. Upon reaching consensus between primary reviewer and secondary reviewers, data were reported as frequencies and percentages. This study received ethics clearance from the Office of the University Registrar and was deemed exempt by the University Institutional Review Board. Results: A total of 1,055 coded responses were analyzed. The majority of SEAs were positive in tone (n=190, 66.2%) and many were hybrids of negative-turned-positive emotions (n=62, 21.6%). The most common major content theme was “patients and the provision of patient care” (n=412, 39.1%), followed by “pharmacy students and their behavior” (n=260, 24.6%). The most prevalent subthemes were “learning by doing” (n=134, 12.7%) and “feelings of usefulness or uselessness” (n=111, 10.5%). Conclusions: The majority of students framed significant events in their pharmacy practice experiences in a positive light, even from challenging interactions. The events that resonated most frequently with these students centered around patient interactions and providing patient care. These results will be useful for pharmacy educators developing pharmacy school curriculums to better prepare students to excel and feel more comfortable in direct patient care experiences.
Laser-assisted high-energy proton pulse extraction for feasibility study of co-located muon source at the SNS

Abstract We have experimentally demonstrated the first non-intrusive 1-GeV proton beam extraction for the generation of muons with a temporal structure optimized for Muon Spin Relaxation/Rotation/Resonance ( μ SR) applications. The proton pulses are extracted based on the laser neutralization of 1 GeV hydrogen ion ( H − ) beam in the high energy beam transport of the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) accelerator. The maximum flux of the extracted proton beam based on laser neutralization causes only 0.2% reduction of the total proton beam used for neutron production, a marked difference from the 20% reduction at other co-located muon and neutron facilities, and thus the proposed method will result in negligible impact on the SNS operation. This paper describes the development of a fiber/solid-state hybrid laser system that has high flexibility of pulse structure and output power, initial experiments on laser neutralization of H − beam and separation of H0 beam from the existing SNS accelerator beam line, conversion of H0 to proton at the SNS linac dump, and measurement results of 30 ns/50 kHz proton pulses. This system conclusively demonstrates the feasibility of laser-based proton beam extraction to power a world-leading μ SR facility at the SNS.
Delays in Hospital Discharge for Children in Foster Care: Reasons and Recommendations from a Multisite Study

Background: The American Academy of Pediatrics classifies all children in foster care as children with special health care needs based on their high prevalence of health problems and unmet healthcare needs. As such, these children interact frequently with the healthcare system, including the inpatient hospital setting. Caring for children in foster care poses unique challenges to the hospital system and providers, including delays in discharge. Yet, little is known about drivers of delayed discharge or …
A relationship between temperature, oxygen dissolved in blood and viral infections

An investigation is made on the environmental factors that may determine the seasonal cycle of respiratory affections. The driving role of temperature is examined, for its inverse synergism with the dissolution of oxygen in human plasma. Two best-fit equations are discussed to interpolate the experimental data about the oxygen solubility and the saturation levels reached at various temperatures, referring to the value of the basic alveolar temperature. A vulnerable condition is when the airways temperature is lowered, e.g. breathing cold air, or increasing the breathing frequency. In winter, the upper airways reach lower temperatures and greater oxygen concentrations; the opposite occurs in summer. As low temperatures increase the dissolution of oxygen in plasma, and blood oxidation favours viral activity, an explanation is given to the seasonality of infections affecting the respiratory system.
Deep Learning-based Subcellular Phenotyping of Protrusion Dynamics Reveals Fine Differential Drug Responses at Subcellular and Single-Cell Levels

Abstract Intracellular processes such as cytoskeletal organization and organelle dynamics exhibit massive subcellular heterogeneity. Although recent advances in fluorescence microscopy allow researchers to acquire an unprecedented amount of live cell image data at high spatiotemporal resolutions, the traditional ensemble-averaging of uncharacterized subcellular heterogeneity could mask important activities. Moreover, the curse of dimensionality of these complex dynamic datasets prevents access to critical mechanistic details of subcellular processes. Here, we establish an unsupervised machine learning framework called DeepHACKS (Deep phenotyping of Heterogeneous Activities in the Coordination of cytosKeleton at the Subcellular level) for “deep phenotyping,” which identifies rare subcellular phenotypes specifically sensitive to molecular perturbations. DeepHACKS dissects the heterogeneity of subcellular time-series datasets by allowing bi-directional LSTM (Long-Short Term Memory) neural networks to extract fine-grained temporal features by integrating autoencoders with conventional machine learning outcomes. We applied DeepHACKS to subcellular protrusion dynamics in pharmacologically perturbed epithelial cells, revealing fine differential responses of leading edge dynamics specific to each perturbation. Particularly, DeepHACKS in conjunction with blebistantin treatment revealed the emergence of rare subcellular and single-cell phenotypes driven by “bursting” protrusion. This suggests that the temporal features directly learned from leading edge dynamics enable fine-grained identification of drug-related phenotypes, which may not be accessible from static cell images. In summary, our study provides an analytical framework for detailed and quantitative understandings of molecular mechanisms hidden in their heterogeneity. DeepHACKS can be potentially applied to analyze various time-series data measured from other subcellular processes.
Hormonal pleiotropy structures genetic covariance

Quantitative genetic theory proposes that phenotypic evolution is shaped by G, the matrix of genetic variances and covariances among traits. In species with separate sexes, the evolution of sexual dimorphism is also shaped by B, the matrix of between-sex genetic variances and covariances. Despite considerable focus on estimating these matrices, their underlying biological mechanisms are largely speculative. We experimentally tested the hypothesis that G and B are structured by hormonal pleiotropy, which occurs when one hormone influences multiple phenotypes. Using juvenile brown anole lizards (Anolis sagrei) bred in a paternal half-sibling design, we elevated the steroid hormone testosterone with slow-release implants while administering empty implants to siblings as a control. We quantified the effects of this manipulation on the genetic architecture of a suite of sexually dimorphic traits, including body size (males are larger than females) and the area, hue, saturation, and brightness of the dewlap (a colorful ornament that is larger in males than in females). Testosterone masculinized females by increasing body size and dewlap area, hue, and saturation, while reducing dewlap brightness. Control females and males differed significantly in G, but treatment of females with testosterone rendered G statistically indistinguishable from males. Whereas B was characterized by low between-sex genetic correlations when estimated between control females and males, these same correlations increased significantly when estimated between testosterone females and either control or testosterone males. The full G matrix (including B) for testosterone females and either control or testosterone males was significantly less permissive of sexually dimorphic evolution than was G estimated between control females and males, suggesting that natural sex differences in testosterone help decouple genetic variance between the sexes. Our results confirm that hormonal pleiotropy structures genetic covariance, implying that hormones play an important yet overlooked role in mediating evolutionary responses to selection.
Relationship Between COVID-19 Cases and Vaccination Rates in New York State Counties.

Introduction Vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 have been developed with unprecedented speed. The phased introduction of vaccines may be serving to offset the impact of new viral variants and policy relaxation. In order to assess the impact of vaccination, we examined a snapshot of vaccination rates across counties in a single state, at a single time point, comparing them with population-adjusted case counts. Methods We calculated descriptive statistics and bivariate correlations for vaccination rates and cases across counties in New York State (NYS). We conducted a linear regression using cases/100K population per NYS county, frozen at a single snapshot in time, as the outcome variable, predicted by percentage of each county's population (completed series/two doses), controlling for county population. Results Percentages with one dose and with two doses were highly correlated (r=.935, P<.001) with one another. Both the one dose and two dose z rates were negatively correlated with cases per 100K population (not significant). Population size was strongly correlated with cases per 100K (r=.715, P<.001). The two-dose vaccination rate was a significant negative predictor of cases per 100K population in NYS counties (β= -.866, P=.031), with each percentage point of completed vaccination nearly equating to one case less in the daily count when controlling for county population size (β =2.732, P<.001). Conclusion While variants may impact vaccine effectiveness, current vaccination efforts are helping forestall some cases in NYS. Widespread vaccination is still an important goal. Primary care providers, public officials, and public health scientists should continue to urgently promote and support vaccination efforts.
Towards Policy-based Task Self-Reallocation in Dynamic Edge Computing Systems

Innovations and novel applications in the area of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) are driven by the technical possibilities of digitalization and edge computing. This leads to rapid advancements and enormous time pressure in the development and operation of new functionalities. Edge computing systems with self-x functionalities are able to react independently to changes in operation and thus mitigate this time pressure problem. The autonomous response during the operation of the self-x system must nevertheless remain compliant with the original system design requirements. A distributed edge computing system has complex requirements in different components and at different levels of the system. This leads to a major challenge when describing these requirements and constraints in such a way that they can be automatically checked and fulfilled during operation. This paper proposes a model-based description of policies that is used as a basis for reallocation of services during operation. The approach was tested and evaluated using an IIoT use case of a camera-based monitoring system for smart construction sites. Our results show that, based on the policy description, it is possible to automatically compute the reallocation when changes occur in the system, without any intervention from the developer. With this self-x capability, the system can remain in operation longer. Overall, this helps to reduce time pressure in the development, deployment and maintenance of new innovations and applications in the field of the Industrial Internet of Things.
Life on the Range: Quine’s Thesis and Semantic Indeterminacy

This paper explores the ramifications of Quine’s Thesis that ontological commitment is determined on the basis of the range of quantified variables in light of a non-standard semantics for the first-order quantifiers analogous to Henkin’s general interpretations for second-order logic. On such a general semantics, the specification of the meaning of the first-order quantifiers requires, besides the selection of a first-order domain D of objects (as is customary), also the further identification of a second-order domain of subsets of D. In the absence of such a further identification, the semantics of “there is” and “for all” is radically indeterminate. Moreover, the general semantics might well be “transparent” in that no semantic facts might be available to discriminate the general from the standard interpretation. The general semantics is rich in consequences for Quine’s thesis: the paper shows how the two halves of the thesis, i.e., the symmetric claims that being the value of a bound variable is necessary or, respectively, sufficient for ontological commitment fail, albeit in interestingly different ways. The result undermines the prospects of philosophical ontology construed as the quintessentially armchair project of extracting ontological commitments from the semantic analysis of quantified statements.
Social and behavioral problems among five gambling severity groups

Gambling has been associated with various social and behavioral problems, but previous analyses have been limited by sample bias regarding gambling symptom severity range and the role of antisocial personality disorder (ASPD). This study utilized a nationally representative data set and examined various characteristics of behavioral problems and ASPD among five gambling severity groups. Participants were 42,038 individuals who took part in the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC) and provided information on social and behavioral problems, ASPD, and gambling. Using DSM-IV criteria, we derived five gambling groups from the total sample: non-gambling, low-risk, at-risk, problem, and pathological gambling. Associations between all problematic behaviors and nearly every gambling severity level were significant prior to adjustment for sociodemographic variables and ASPD. Following the adjustment, all significant associations persisted, with the exception of sexual coercion. In the adjusted model, the financially oriented behaviors had the strongest associations with gambling. All gambling severity levels were associated with an increased risk for a number of problematic behaviors and social problems in comparison to non-gamblers.Further examination of gambling problems in financial and criminal justice settings is recommended.
Protein Biosynthesis in Escherichia coli PURIFICATION AND CHARACTERISTICS OF A MUTANT G FACTOR

Abstract Five mutant strains of Escherichia coli were selected for resistance to the steroid antibiotic fusidic acid. The protein synthetic activity of the cell-free extracts of only one of these was resistant to the inhibitory effect in vitro of the antibiotic. G factor, one of the soluble proteins required for peptide chain elongation, was purified to virtual homogeneity from both sensitive parent and resistant mutant strains. Aside from their differing sensitivity to fusidic acid inhibition, the two G factors were indistinguishable by conventional immunological, chromatographic, and electrophoretic analyses. The two factors differed, however, in two other respects. The specific activity of the sensitive strain was approximately twice that of the resistant strain throughout purification. In addition, the Michaelis constant for the ribosomal dependent hydrolysis of GTP calculated for the sensitive factor was half that for the resistant. The study, therefore, characterizes this fusidic acid-resistant mutation as one affecting G factor and establishes a biochemical basis for further genetic studies. It also suggests that the active enzymatic site for the ribosome-dependent hydrolysis of GTP is associated with the soluble G fraction.
Games of network disruption and idempotent algorithms

We consider a game on the space of network disruptions. An application in command and control is used as a guide for the development of the model. The outcome of any set of physical actions depends on the information available to the controller. We suppose that information flows along a network of humans and machines. The opposing player may act to intermittently block information flow along the network. This may be combined with physical actions such that our controller might be making decisions based on information that is not as current as would be possible without the induced delays. We find that the model of information delay dynamics is best captured as a controlled min-plus linear system. We also find that the minimax value function may be represented as a min-plus convex functional over the space of delay vectors. This is a max-min linear space. Backward dynamic programming propagation of the value function leads to (max-min) sum and product compositions. This yields a particularly nice solution algorithm. Computational and solution-representation complexity are examined.
Transverse Cooling in SSC Magnets

A new and more efficient cooling method for SSC magnets is presented. The simple cooling-by-diffusion scheme provides adequate cooling only when the synchrotron radiation heat is limited to Sr = 2 W. The mass flow that can pass through the coil passage cannot be increased without an unduly high pressure drop along the magnet. The transverse flow cooling described here allows for large increases in the heat load. This scheme lets cold helium from the upper bypass mix with the lower bypass helium at intervals of 30 cm for instance. This is achieved by introducing channels in the yoke laminations at given intervals using existing gaps between collar packs and using pickup notches in the collars.
Concurrent functional endoscopic sinus surgery and septorhinoplasty: using evidence to make clinical decisions

Background Concurrent septorhinoplasty (SRP) and functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) has been a controversial topic in the literature over the last decade. Warnings and admonitions about the risks of performing these procedures together in a single surgery are both published and voiced at national meetings. Although pros and cons have been discussed in the literature, there have been no guidelines published based solely on a review of the level of evidence. Methods A systematic review of the literature was performed and the Clinical Practice Guideline Manual, Conference on Guideline Standardization (COGS), and the Appraisal of Guidelines and Research Evaluation (AGREE) instrument recommendations were followed. Study inclusion criteria were an adult population >18 years old, description or implication of study design available, concurrent FESS and SRP performed without additional procedures, and report of complications included in the study. Results We identified and evaluated the literature meeting those criteria: 11 retrospective studies. The literature was reviewed for both quality of research design as well as benefit and harm of the proposed interventions. Conclusion If a patient is in need of FESS and SRP, either for functional or cosmetic reasons, and is found on the risk matrix to either have low or moderate risk, that patient is a good candidate for a concurrent procedure. If the patient is found to have higher risk, it is not an absolute contraindication, but the surgeon must use best clinical judgment when deciding to move forward and must counsel the patient preoperatively about possible increased risks.