cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Real Exchange Rates in Advanced Transition Economies

The recent evidence from Eastern Europe suggests that one of the major obstacles towards the adoption of euro may lie in the impact that the recession of 2008 exerted on the trajectory of real exchange rates in new member countries (European Commission, 2015). This paper aims to establish and explain the relationship between the external shocks derived from the global financial crisis and recession of 2008 and equilibrium real exchange rate in advanced transition economies of Eastern Europe. The interplay between the external and internal balances is explained by developing an inter-temporal optimizing model of the real exchange rate determination in a small open economy with structural distortions. The results of our model suggest that, in the aftermath of recession, if the Eastern European economies attempt to restore and maintain the balance between the consumption, saving, and investment, the equilibrium real exchange rate will tend to reverse its trajectory from appreciation to depreciation over time in order to encourage a greater production in the future. The equilibrium real exchange rate depreciation in the future may obtain either as a result of an increase in the direct subsidies on investment or as a result of reduced subsidies on the "net-of-investment" income. The deprecation of countries’ real exchange rate, however, may continue to act as an effective constraint against the adoption of euro.
The Disclosure and Valuation of Environmental Capital Expenditures

This paper examines the decision to disclose and the market valuation of environmental capital expenditures made by 250 S&P 500 manufacturing firms over the period 1989-91. Current accounting rules suggest that in general expenditures associated with abatement prevention and compliance activities should be capitalized while expenditures associated with remediation of hazardous waste should be expensed. I find no evidence that firms are improperly capitalizing remediation expenditures. However consistent with claims by institutional investors that environmental expenditure data is difficult to interpret in the absence of detailed information about a firm's environmental regulatory burden I find that not all expenditures associated with abatement prevention and compliance activities are valued by the market as providing future benefits. In particular expenditures by firms with an above-average (but legal) level of toxic releases are viewed as a current period expense. I also find that a firm's decision to disclose but not the amount it discloses is associated with its financial performance its political costs and the sensitivity of its stakeholder base to the creation of pollution externalities.
Professional socialization experiences of early career urban physical educators

The purpose of this research was to examine how three physical education (PE) teachers’ professional socialization programmes influenced their early careers in urban schools in the US. Using cultur...
A Semi-Structured MODFLOW-USG Model to Evaluate Local Water Sources to Wells for Decision Support

In order to better represent the configuration of the stream network and simulate local groundwater-surface water interactions, a version of MODFLOW with refined spacing in the topmost layer was applied to a Lake Michigan Basin (LMB) regional groundwater-flow model developed by the U.S. Geological. Regional MODFLOW models commonly use coarse grids over large areas; this coarse spacing precludes model application to local management issues (e.g., surface-water depletion by wells) without recourse to labor-intensive inset models. Implementation of an unstructured formulation within the MODFLOW framework (MODFLOW-USG) allows application of regional models to address local problems. A "semi-structured" approach (uniform lateral spacing within layers, different lateral spacing among layers) was tested using the LMB regional model. The parent 20-layer model with uniform 5000-foot (1524-m) lateral spacing was converted to 4 layers with 500-foot (152-m) spacing in the top glacial (Quaternary) layer, where surface water features are located, overlying coarser resolution layers representing deeper deposits. This semi-structured version of the LMB model reproduces regional flow conditions, whereas the finer resolution in the top layer improves the accuracy of the simulated response of surface water to shallow wells. One application of the semi-structured LMB model is to provide statistical measures of the correlation between modeled inputs and the simulated amount of water that wells derive from local surface water. The relations identified in this paper serve as the basis for metamodels to predict (with uncertainty) surface-water depletion in response to shallow pumping within and potentially beyond the modeled area, see Fienen et al. (2015a).
Dynamic Effects of Trailing Vortex with Turbulence & Time-Varying Inertia Properties in Aerial Refueling

This paper describes the dynamic modeling of a receiver aircraft undergoing an aerial refueling, including the effect of time-varying mass and inertia properties associated with the fuel transfer, the tanker’s vortex induced wind effect and atmospheric turbulence. Three significant refueling effects due to the fuel transfer that have been studied in our model are (i) the continuous mass change (ii) the change in the location of the receiver’s center of mass and (iii) the change in the inertia matrix. A new set of nonlinear, 6DOF, rigid body equations of motion including the wind effect in addition to the above mentioned effects of fuel transfer, are derived for the receiver aircraft. The assumption of the existence of plane of symmetry is also relaxed for the receiver aircraft, to cater to situations of asymmetric fuel loading. The effect of the aerodynamic disturbances induced on the receiver, due to the tanker’s vortices as well as turbulence, are modeled using an averaging technique that computes the effective wind components and gradients from the induced wind velocity distribution. Engine and actuator dynamics are also incorporated into our aircraft dynamic model. The receiver aircraft before fuel transfer is treated as a rigid body made up of ‘n’ particles. The dynamic effects due to fuel transfer are modeled by considering the mass change to be confined only to a finite number (‘k’) of lumped masses. These lumped masses would normally represent the fuel tanks on the receiver aircraft. Hence, once the refueling begins, the mass of the individual lumped masses and the location of the CM of the whole receiver aircraft are calculated using the design parameters such as the shape, size, location of the individual fuel tank and the rate of fuel flowing into it.
Sexual Characters of Species of Diabrotica (Chrysomelidae: Coleoptera)

Members of the genus Diabrotica are readily sexed. Males possesses an extra sclerite at the abdominal apex that females lack. In side view the male abdomen appears blunt, whereas the female abdomen appears point-ed. Living beetles can be easily sexed with a hand lens.
Low Temperature Hydrogen Plasma Cleaning Processes of Si (100), Ge (100), and SixGe1−x (100)

Wet chemical and in situ hydrogen plasma cleaning processes were studied and a low temperature cleaning process was developed for Si (100), Ge (100) and Si x Ge 1−x (100) surfaces. A uv-ozone and HF based spin etch were used to initially remove contaminants and oxides from the Si (100) and Si x Ge 1−x (100) surfaces. The Ge (100) surfaces were treated with deionized water prior to entry to UHV. Residual gas analysis (RGA) was used in the investigation of the surface removal process of the in situ H-plasma cleaning. Low Energy Electron Diffraction (LEED) and angle resolved UV-Photoemission Spectroscopy (ARUPS) were used to examine the surface structure and electronic states. The 2×1 LEED patterns were obtained for Si (100), Ge (100) and Si x Ge 1−x (100) after cleaning at a maximum processing temperature of 300°C. By varying process conditions, the LEED showed the 1×1 and 2×1 surface diffraction patterns. The ARUPS spectra showed the electronic states and the chemistry of the cleaned surfaces.
Immunologic Mechanisms in Allergic Disease

Allergic reactions must no longer be looked upon as mysterious phenomena but must be considered as part and parcel of the organism’s response to substances recognized as foreign. Consideration of clinical reactions in terms of the mechanisms involved in their reproduction allows for more rational treatment.
THE COORDINATE SYSTEM—FUNDAMENTAL RELATIONS

This chapter presents the geometric background from the algebraic point of view, such as directed lines, Cartesian coordinates, slope of a line, parallel and perpendicular lines. In elementary geometry, a line segment is a portion of a line defined by the two points that mark its extremities. If the two end points are designated by A and B, one labels a line segment AB or BA, making no distinction between the two notations. When the processes of algebra are applied to the problems of geometry, as they are in analytic geometry, it is useful to define directed lines. Coordinate system attaches a numerical property to points, and this makes it possible to apply the processes of algebra to the study of geometric problems. This is the distinguishing characteristic of analytic geometry. It is described that if two lines are parallel, their inclinations are equal, and, thus, their slopes are equal. Conversely, if the slopes of two lines are equal, their inclinations are equal and, consequently, the lines are parallel. Therefore, lines parallel to the y-axis are exceptional cases as their slopes are undefined.
A 'busy day' effect on perinatal complications of delivery on weekends: a retrospective cohort study.

Objective To evaluate whether busy days on a labour and delivery unit are associated with maternal and neonatal complications of childbirth in California hospitals, accounting for weekday/weekend births. Design This is a population-based retrospective cohort study. Setting Linked vital statistics/patient discharge data for California births between 2009 and 2010 from the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development. Participants All singleton, cephalic, non-anomalous California births between 2009 and 2010 (N=724 967). Main outcomes The key exposure was high daily obstetric volume, defined as giving birth on a day when the number of births exceeded the hospital-specific 75th percentile of daily delivery volume. Outcomes were a range of maternal and neonatal complications. Results Several maternal and neonatal complications were increased on high-volume days and weekends following adjustment for maternal demographics, annual hospital birth volume and teaching hospital status. For example, compared with low-volume weekdays, the odds of Apgar Conclusions Our findings suggest that weekend delivery is a consistent risk factor for a range of perinatal complications and there may be variability in how well hospitals handle surges in volume.
Tensor Product Bézier Surfaces

This chapter discusses Bezier patches to demonstrate the tensor product approach to surface patches. In an analogous fashion, one can base the theory of tensor product Bezier surfaces on the concept of bilinear interpolation. While linear interpolation fits the simplest curve between two points, bilinear interpolation fits the simplest surface among four points. Instead of evaluating the bilinear interpolant directly, one can apply a two-stage process that will be employed later in the context of tensor product interpolation. A tensor product surface is thus degree elevated in the u -direction by treating all columns of the control net as Bezier polygons of m th degree curves and degree elevating each of them. In the curve case, taking derivatives was accomplished by differencing the control points. The derivatives that one can consider are partial derivatives. A partial derivative is the tangent vector of an isoparametric curve, and can be found by a straightforward calculation.
Rigid-Plastic Analysis of Bore Expanding and Flange Drawing with Anisotropic Sheet Metals by the Matrix Method

The matrix method of analysis for rigid-plastic materials was applied to the problems of plane-stress bore expanding and flange drawing. The analysis was performed for two materials: one in which the anisotropy exists only in the direction of sheet thickness (normal anisotropy.); and the other possessing the two mutually perpendicular axes of anisotropy in the plane of the sheet and the other axis in the direction of thickness (planar anisotropy.). The results revealed the effect of the state of anisotropy on the deformation characteristics in these processes, assuming that the coefficient of anisotropy remains constant and the axes of anisotropy do not rotate during the deformation.
Abstract P252: Rates of Anticoagulation in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation and Flutter in the Kentucky Women's Health Registry

Introduction: Therapy with warfarin has been shown to decrease the risk of stroke associated with atrial fibrillation and flutter. Current guidelines recommend warfarin therapy for patients with atrial fibrillation who are at intermediate to high risk of thromboembolism. Multiple studies have shown that increasing age and female gender have been associated with underutilization of warfarin. We evaluated women in the Kentucky Women's Health Registry (KWHR) with self-reported atrial fibrillation to determine the rates of warfarin utilization in this population. Methods: Between November 2009 and June 2010, we administered electronic or mailed surveys to KWHR participants who reported an arrhythmia on the Registry questionnaire. Survey questions targeted arrhythmia identification and treatment, medical and social history, pregnancy history and demographics. Herein we analyze the data to determine baseline characteristics of the atrial fibrillation (and flutter) group, including CHADS2 score and use of antico...
Next generation sequencing technologies

The next generation sequencing technologies represent a major revolution in genome sequencing which has made large scale genome sequencing feasible. Consequently, they are currently sequencing platforms of choice for both research and clinical applications. These technologies use a wide variety of approaches for sequencing to achieve a common end-point which is massive parallel sequencing of the genome. A detailed description of these technologies and the molecular process they employ to sequence the DNA has been discussed here. The approaches for validating these technologies for clinical application and their utility in clinical genomics, drug discovery, and development have also been discussed.
BEHAVIOR OF CLOSTRIDIUM PERFRINGENS IN PRECOOKED CHILLED GROUND BEEF GRAVY DURING COOLING, HOLDING, AND REHEATING1

The suitability of handling practices used in school kitchens was evaluated using ground beef gravy that was contaminated with Clostridium perfringens. Cooked gravy was cooled to 110 F (43.5 C) and inoculated with a mixture of vegetative cells and spores of C. perfringens NCTC 8239 to provide approximately 10,000 organisms/g. After inoculation, gravy was packed in bags, refrigerated for 16 h, held for 5 h at 82 F (28 C) or 42 F (5.5 C), and then heated in a compartment steamer for 35 min or until the temperature of the gravy at the center of the pan reached 165 F (74 C). C. perfringens was enumerated at intervals during cooling, holding, and heating of the gravy. The number of viable cells after 16 h of refrigeration at 42 F (5.5 C) was influenced by the first 6 h of cooling when the temperature of the gravy was in the range that permitted growth of C. perfringens (65–122 F; 18.5–50 C). Plate counts of gravy held for 5 h at 82 F (28 C) or 42 F (5.5 C) indicated stablization of the C. perfringens populatio...
Biomarker Analysis in Petroleum Exploration

The accumulation of economic volumes of petroleum (oil and/or gas) in the subsurface requires that several essential geological elements and processes be present in time and space.i Source rocks generate and expel petroleum when sufficient thermal energy is imparted to the sedimentary organic matter (kerogen) to break chemical bonds. This heating is induced usually by burial by overburden rock. Once expelled, petroleum migrates either along faults and/or highly permeable strata. Accumulations form only when high porosity strata (reservoir rocks) are charged with migrating petroleum and the petroleum is prevented from further migration. These petroleum traps are formed only when geologic movements result in subsurface topographies (structural and stratigraphie) that block migration and when the reservoir rocks are covered by low permeability strata (seal rocks). The mere presence of these geologic elements is insufficient to form petroleum reserves. Traps must be available at the time of oil expulsion and once charged, their integrity must be preserved until exploited. These elements and processes constitute the Petroleum System (Figure 1).
High-temperature materials

Abstract There are many similarities between the high-temperature materials issues for supercritical CO2 (sCO2) and conventional coal-fired steam boilers with the major difference being compatibility or environmental issues in steam versus CO2. Likewise, for high-efficiency (>700°C) sCO2 systems, recent work has addressed many of the mechanical properties issues as well as joining and fabrication for Ni-base alloys and particularly the strongest precipitation-strengthened alloys 740 and 282. Therefore, this chapter focuses on the unique environmental issues including a thermodynamic analysis of oxidation in sCO2, which suggests there could be internal carburization that could degrade mechanical properties. There is not a large database available on compatibility in sCO2, particularly above 650°C and many issues remain to be addressed. However, if system pressure does not significantly impact compatibility, a large database of performance in 0.1–4 MPa CO2 has been developed over the past 50 years.
A Response to “The Legacy of the Witch-Hunt Narrative”:

The article provides an overview of and commentary on the last chapter of Cheit’s book, The Witch-Hunt Narrative: Politics, Psychology and the Sexual Abuse of Children. The chapter is divided into two sections called “Recent Developments” and “The Legacy of the Witch-Hunt Narrative.” We respond to the key assertions in each of those sections, providing discussion points of agreement and disagreement with Cheit, and note some areas Cheit does not cover, including important advances in the aftermath of the witch-hunt narrative (WHN). The article takes the position that there is cause for optimism with these advances in systems responses, child forensic interviewing research, and multidisciplinary team and training approaches; some of these advances are related to the WHN. The conclusion warns of the need to be vigilant about continuing Cheit’s work, we suggest this could take place in six key areas: (a) enhanced teacher training, (b) improved court responses to child sexual abuse (CSA) victims, (c) expanded...
DAI Another Way: Necroptotic Control of Viral Infection

Interrogation of murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV)-encoded cell-death suppressors revealed that necroptosis functions as a trap door to eliminate virally infected cells. This crucial host defense pathway is orchestrated by the sensing of infection by DAI/ZBP-1, engagement of the kinase RIPK3, and subsequent membrane permeablization by the pseudokinase MLKL.
Discovery of Rich Resources

In the mid-twentieth century, constant diplomatic pressure during the Cold War by the Soviets against neighboring Afghanistan finally led to governmental acceptance of a major effort by some 250 Russian geologists to map the overall geology of the country, and to find valuable mineral resources that could be exploited, perhaps to the benefit of Afghanistan, but certainly to reward the finder Soviets. The two decades of Soviet mapping and analysis that took place in the 1960s and 1970s led directly to the discovery of resources that were rich by any standard. Valuable deposits of natural gas, oil, coal, cement, copper, and iron ores were all discovered and plans made for their future major exploitation.
Applications of Synthetic Organic Tetrasulfides as H2S Donors

In an effort to expand the availability of simple polysulfides for H2S donation, we report here the synthesis and H2S release profiles of bis(aryl) and bis(alkyl) tetrasulfides. The tetrasulfide donors release H2S in a first-order dependence on reduced glutathione (GSH) and release more H2S than the commonly used trisulfide DATS.
Connected Coverage in Three-Dimensional Wireless Sensor Networks Using Convex Polyhedral Space-Fillers

The coverage problem of a three-dimensional (3D) space has similarity with the tiling problem in the same space, which can be formulated as follows: How can a 3D space be tiled by replicas of tiles? This is an instance of the second part of Hilbert's eighteenth problem [14], which is stated as follows: "What convex polyhedra exist for which a complete filling of all space is possible by juxtaposition of congruent copies?" In this paper, we propose a polyhedral framework to investigate the connected coverage problem in 3D homogeneous wireless sensor networks. First, we restrict the sensors' sensing sphere to a variety of convex polyhedral space-fillers. Our study aims to find the largest enclosed convex polyhedron space-filler in the sensors' sensing sphere, with a goal to maximize their utilized sensing volume. Second, based on this analysis, we select a minimum number of sensors to cover a 3D space for deterministic and random sensor deployment strategies. Third, we compute the ratio of the communication range to the sensing range of the sensors to ensure network connectivity. Fourth, we corroborate our analysis with various simulation results.
Writer's Workshop: A (Re)Constructive Pedagogy for English Learners and Their Teachers.

This longitudinal qualitative inquiry examines the possibilities that writer’s workshop created for two experienced teachers and their English learners (EL) as they came to know and see each other ...
Subtle Differences in Symbiont Cell Surface Glycan Profiles Do Not Explain Species-Specific Colonization Rates in a Model Cnidarian-Algal Symbiosis.

Mutualisms between cnidarian hosts and dinoflagellate endosymbionts are foundational to coral reef ecosystems. These symbioses are often re-established every generation with high specificity, but gaps remain in our understanding of the cellular mechanisms that control symbiont recognition and uptake dynamics. Here, we tested whether differences in glycan profiles among different symbiont species account for the different rates at which they initially colonize aposymbiotic polyps of the model sea anemone Aiptasia (Exaiptasia pallida). First, we used a lectin array to characterize the glycan profiles of colonizing Symbiodinium minutum (ITS2 type B1) and non-colonizing S. pilosum (ITS2 type A2), finding subtle differences in the binding of lectins EEL and UDA that distinguish between high-mannoside and hybrid-type protein linked glycans. Next, we enzymatically cleaved glycans from the surfaces of S. minutum cultures and followed their recovery using flow cytometry, establishing a 48-72 hour glycan turnover rate for this species. Finally, we exposed aposymbiotic host polyps to cultured S. minutum cells masked by EEL or UDA lectins for 48 hours, then measured cell densities the following day. We found no effect of glycan masking on symbiont density, providing further support to the hypothesis that glycan-lectin interactions are more important for post-phagocytic persistence of specific symbionts than they are for initial uptake. We also identified several methodological and biological factors that may limit the utility of studying glycan masking in the Aiptasia system.
Vector analysis of high (≥3 diopters) astigmatism correction using small-incision lenticule extraction and laser in situ keratomileusis.

Purpose To compare the astigmatic correction in high myopic astigmatism between small-incision lenticule extraction and laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) using vector analysis. Setting Hong Kong Laser Eye Center, Hong Kong. Design Retrospective case series. Methods Patients who had correction of myopic astigmatism of 3.0 diopters (D) or more and had either small-incision lenticule extraction or femtosecond laser–assisted LASIK were included. Only the left eye was included for analysis. Visual and refractive results were presented and compared between groups. Results The study comprised 105 patients (40 eyes in the small-incision lenticule extraction group and 65 eyes in the femtosecond laser–assisted LASIK group.) The mean preoperative manifest cylinder was −3.42 D ± 0.55 (SD) in the small-incision lenticule extraction group and −3.47 ± 0.49 D in the LASIK group (P = .655). At 3 months, there was no significant between-group difference in uncorrected distance visual acuity (P = .915) and manifest spherical equivalent (P = .145). Ninety percent and 95.4% of eyes were within ± 0.5 D of the attempted cylindrical correction for the small-incision lenticule extraction and LASIK group, respectively (P = .423). Vector analysis showed comparable target-induced astigmatism (P = .709), surgically induced astigmatism vector (P = .449), difference vector (P = .335), and magnitude of error (P = .413) between groups. The absolute angle of error was 1.88 ± 2.25 degrees in the small-incision lenticule extraction group and 1.37 ± 1.58 degrees in the LASIK group (P = .217). Conclusion Small-incision lenticule extraction offered astigmatic correction comparable to LASIK in eyes with high myopic astigmatism.
Genetics of Insect Vector Competence for Arboviruses

Ever since arthropods were first incriminated as vectors of disease, medical and veterinary entomologists have recognized that identification of the particular arthropod species transmitting a disease agent is critical for understanding disease epidemiology and for effective disease control. As a result of this recognition, between or interspecies variation in vector ability is well accepted. As a first step, it remains critically important to identify those species that are vectors of different pathogens.
Suture materials and suture techniques used in tendon repair

Immediately after a tendon repair, the tendon contributes nothing to the strength of repair. During that time, the suture itself and suture technique are the sole contributors to the strength of repair. Although stainless steel is the strongest material that can be used at the time of repair, it has serious disadvantages. It is difficult to work with and makes a bulky knot. Conversely, all absorbable sutures become too weak too soon to be of value. At this time, nonabsorbable, synthetic fibers that are relatively strong, such as Supramid or prolene, are the most desirable materials available. Regarding suture techniques, the lateral trap and end-weave techniques produce the strongest repairs; however, the end-weave technique can only be used with tendon grafts and the lateral trap, though it can be used for end-to-end primary repairs. It is too bulky for use in the fingers and hand but is ideal for the forearm and wrist. In the hand and fingers, the strongest repair techniques available are the Bunnell, Kessler, and Mason-Allen; however, the Bunnell stitch is more strangulating to the microcirculation of the tendon than the latter two stitches; thus, it contributes to tendomalacia and gap formation. The simplest and least traumatic suture technique, though weakest at first, will allow tendon healing to proceed more rapidly. If such a repair is protected from tension by splinting the wrist and metacarpophalangeal joints in flexion during healing (while allowing controlled passive motion of the finger joints), there will be a rapid increase in tensile strength of the tendon juncture with minimal gap formation, as the repaired hand is progressively stressed up until about 90 days postrepair. At that point, strength plateaus and maximum stress can be applied to the repaired tendon. Somewhere between three and six weeks post-tendon repair, the suture material and technique become secondary to tendon healing as the primary provider of tensile strength to the tendon wound. The less traumatic suture techniques facilitate closure of the tendon sheath, which not only acts as a mechanical barrier to the ingrowth of extrasheath adhesion, which produces fibroblasts, but also re-establishes the continuity of the synovial fluid system, which is a major source of nutrition to the tendon. The healing tendon then can be thought of as a delicate structure, one not to be overmanipulated, traumatized, strangulated, or stretched.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Cryptococcus neoformans infections in patients with lymphoproliferative neoplasms.

Cryptococcosis is a rare opportunistic infection increasingly associated with lymphoproliferative disorders. The clinical course and outcomes in these patients have not been extensively studied. We retrospectively reviewed charts of adult patients with lymphoproliferative disorders diagnosed with cryptococcal infections. A total of 34 patients were identified; 31 (91%) had a B-cell neoplasm and 3 (9%) had a T-cell neoplasm. The most frequent clinical syndrome was disseminated cryptococcal infection (38%), followed by pneumonia (29%). 74% received prior chemotherapy and the overall mortality in this group was nearly six-fold higher than chemotherapy naive patients; 26% were chemotherapy naive. After a median follow-up of nine months from the date of infection, 24 patients had died (71%). The overall mortality at 30-days and one year was 18% and 46%, respectively. The high mortality warrants future studies to identify those at highest risk. Clinicians should remain vigilant as early diagnosis and treatment are of utmost importance.
‘Reading the ads in al-Daʿwa magazine: commercialism and Islamist activism in al-Sadat’s Egypt’

This article probes the return of the Muslim Brotherhood to prominence in 1970s Egypt through a systematic analysis of advertisements in the organization’s flagship periodical, al-Daʿwa (The Call)....
Oligodendrogliomas: Basic techniques in surgery

Abstract Oligodendrogliomas are a group of glial tumors defined by the 1p/19q chromosomal co-deletion and whose management involves maximal safe resection when possible or, at a minimum, biopsy for definitive diagnosis with subsequent radiation and chemotherapy. Basic preoperative work-up and evaluation includes a detailed neurologic examination, diagnostic imaging and high-resolution imaging for both operative planning and neuronavigation.
A FINANCEIRIZAÇÃO DA EDUCAÇÃO PRIVADA NAS PÁGINAS DE REVISTA: DISCURSOS PUBLICITÁRIOS SOBRE A UNIVERSIDADE BRASILEIRA

RESUMO: Neste artigo, partimos da premissa de que a educacao superior privada brasileira passou por importantes transformacoes, convertendo-se em objeto de consumo e, posteriormente, em ativo financeiro. Sob o vies semiotico da publicidade de instituicoes de educacao superior, fazendo uso da analise de discurso como metodo de pesquisa, buscamos mostrar que essa premissa e comprovada pelos anuncios das instituicoes privadas. Como conclusoes, observamos a bancarizacao da publicidade, com produtos finais a venda que nao sao aulas ou diplomas, mas que contribuem para a oligopolizacao do setor educacional, por meio do fenomeno das fusoes e aquisicoes, retratado e reforcado nos anuncios.
GDM Software mdltm Including Parallel EM Algorithm

This chapter illustrates the use of the software mdltm (von Davier, A general diagnostic model applied to language testing data. ETS Research Report No. RR-05-16, Educational Testing Service, Princeton, 2005), for multidimensional discrete latent trait models. The software mdltm was designed to handle large data sets as well as complex test and sampling designs, providing high flexibility for operational analyses. It allows the estimation of many different latent variable models, includes different constraints for parameter estimation, and provides different model and item fit statistics as well as multiple methods for proficiency estimation. The software utilizes an computationally efficient parallel EM algorithm (von Davier, New results on an improved parallel EM algorithm for estimating generalized latent variable models. In van der Ark L, Wiberg M, Culpepper S, Douglas J, Wang WC (eds) Quantitative psychology. IMPS 2016. Springer Proceedings in Mathematics & Statistics, vol 196. Springer, New York, 2017) that allows estimation of high-dimensional diagnostic models for very large datasets. The software is illustrated by applying diagnostic models to data from the programme for international student assessment (PISA).
Divisible load scheduling of image processing applications on the heterogeneous star and tree networks using a new genetic algorithm

Author(s): Nikbakht Aali, S; Bagherzadeh, N | Abstract: The divisible load scheduling of image processing applications on the heterogeneous star and multi-level tree networks is addressed in this paper. In our platforms, processors and network links have different speeds. In addition, computation and communication overheads are considered. A new genetic algorithm for minimizing the processing time of low-level image applications using divisible load theory is introduced. The closed-form solution for the processing time, the image fractions that should be allocated to each processor, the optimum number of participating processors, and the optimal sequence for load distribution are derived. The new concept of equivalent processor in tree network is introduced and the effect of different image and kernel sizes on processing time and speed up are investigated. Finally, to indicate the efficiency of our algorithm, several numerical experiments are presented.
Angle Anatomy and Glaucoma in Patients With Boston Keratoprosthesis.

PURPOSE To quantitatively analyze the angle anatomy in eyes with a Boston type 1 keratoprosthesis (KPro) using anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) and to assess the diagnostic ability of AS-OCT in KPro-associated glaucoma. METHODS AS-OCT (RTVue) images from KPro eyes with and without glaucoma were reviewed. The angle opening distance at 500 μm from the scleral spur (AOD500), trabecular-iris angle at 500 μm from the scleral spur (TIA500), and trabecular-iris surface area at 500 μm from the scleral spur (TISA500) were measured by 2 observers masked to the diagnosis. The measurements for each visible quadrant were compared between KPro eyes with and without glaucoma. RESULTS Twenty-two eyes with glaucoma and 17 eyes without glaucoma from 39 patients with KPro were included. Of the 4 quadrants imaged, the temporal angle was the most visible (79.5%) and angle measurements of the temporal quadrant were the only ones that differentiated the 2 groups: the mean AOD500, TIA500, and TISA500 were significantly lower in KPro eyes with glaucoma than without glaucoma (388.2 ± 234.4 μm vs. 624.5 ± 310.5 μm, P = 0.02; 26.1 ± 14.0 degrees vs. 39.1 ± 17.1 degrees, P = 0.03; and 0.15 ± 0.09 mm vs. 0.23 ± 0.12 mm, P = 0.03; respectively). The highest area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for detecting glaucoma was 0.75 for temporal TIA500 (95% confidence interval 0.57-0.94, P = 0.02) with 50% specificity at 80% of sensitivity and a cutoff value of 37 degrees. CONCLUSIONS The temporal angle was the most visible on AS-OCT in eyes with a KPro. Significant narrowing of the temporal angle detected on AS-OCT was associated with glaucoma in these eyes.
A practical approach to analytical chemistry of medical devices

Abstract The importance of materials to the medical device industry cannot be over emphasized and the value of chemical and material characterization in the biological evaluation of medical devices is clearly recognized in the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) harmonized standards. The main theme throughout ISO 10993-1 and the corresponding 2016 FDA guidance document on biocompatibility is that every medical device should be assessed for its specific risk to the end user. Since it is difficult to address all possible risks associated with a medical device, extractable and leachable testing can be used to help fill in gaps and fulfill the risk evaluation. Extractable and leachable testing and a scientifically sound assessment of this data is the main proposed method to minimize unnecessary in vivo testing. When conducted properly, this approach should result in a safe device while at the same time, achieve significant cost savings and decreased time-to-market. Chemistry is very important to medical device evaluations and Parts 18 and 19 of ISO 10993 are receiving greater emphasis as an integral part of the biological evaluation of devices. Considering the intrinsic worth of chemical and materials characterization, it seems likely that both will receive even more attention in the future.
Sensitivity to punishment and eating pathology among undergraduate women: The mediating role of shame.

Punishment sensitivity can contribute to eating pathology, but the mechanisms of this relationship are understudied. In a longitudinal study of undergraduate females (N = 95), results supported an indirect association between sensitivity to punishment and eating pathology via shame. Findings suggest that sensitivity to punishment was associated with greater shame, which in turn predicted greater eating pathology over time. Further, there was an indirect effect of sensitivity to punishment on eating pathology via greater levels of behavioral shame. Future studies may wish to examine the potential role of behavioral shame in the development and exacerbation of eating problems, especially in the context of temperamental traits such as punishment sensitivity.
A Validation Study of PROMIS Sleep Disturbance (PROMIS-SD) and Sleep Related Impairment (PROMIS-SRI) Item Banks in Individuals with Idiopathic Parkinson's Disease and Matched Controls.

Background Parkinson's disease (PD) is associated with sleep disturbance (SD) and sleep-related impairment (SRI). Validation of self-report measures of these problems is needed in PD. The Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) includes tools that assess these problems (PROMIS-SD and PROMIS-SRI, respectively). Objective This study aimed to further validate these measures in individuals with PD and matched controls. Methods Individuals with early-stage PD (n=50) and matched controls (n=48) completed measures of SD including the PROMIS-SD, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Insomnia Severity Index (ISI). They also completed measures of daytime impairment including the PROMIS-SRI, Epworth Sleepiness Scale, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory 2nd edition, and Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire-39. Internal consistency for the PROMIS measures were assessed using Cronbach's α coefficient and item-total correlations in the total sample. Convergent and divergent validity of the PROMIS item banks were assessed using Spearman correlations. Results The PROMIS item banks had excellent internal consistency (α>0.94). Supporting convergent validity, the PROMIS-SD had strong correlations with other measures of SD (ρ>0.70, for PSQI and ISI) and the PROMIS-SRI had moderate to strong correlations with all measures of daytime impairment (ρ=0.41-0.72). Supporting divergent validity within the PD group, the PROMIS-SD correlated more strongly with SRI than with the Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire total score, a metric of PD related impairment. Conclusion In middle-aged and older adults, with and without early-stage PD, the PROMIS-SD and PROMIS-SRI are reliable and valid measures of SD and SRI, respectively.
Calcineurin A-α suppression drives nuclear factor-κB-mediated NADPH oxidase-2 upregulation

A long-term consequence of calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs) is oxidative damage and nephrotoxicity. This study indicates that NF-κB is a novel calcineurin-regulated transcription factor that is activa...
Abstract P439: Mortality After an Arterial Ischemic Event Among Intracerebral Hemorrhage Survivors

Background and Purpose: Emerging data suggest an increased risk of arterial ischemic events after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), but their impact on ICH outcomes is unclear. This study aimed to ev...
Radiative properties of rubidium atoms trapped in solid neon and parahydrogen

It is known from ensemble measurements that rubidium atoms trapped in solid parahydrogen have favorable properties for quantum sensing of magnetic fields. To use a single rubidium atom as a quantum sensor requires a technique capable of efficiently measuring the internal state of a single atom, such as laser-induced fluorescence. In this work we search for laser-induced fluorescence from ensembles of rubidium atoms trapped in solid parahydrogen and, separately, in solid neon. In parahydrogen we find no evidence of fluorescence over the range explored, and we place upper limits on the radiative branching ratio. In neon, we observe laser-induced fluorescence, measure the spectrum of the emitted light, and measure the excited-state lifetime in the matrix. Bleaching of atoms from the excitation light is also reported.
Prediction of quadriceps tendon–patellar bone autograft diameter in adolescents with 2-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging and anthropometric measures

This study evaluates the correlation between the bone end and soft tissue end of the quadriceps tendon–patellar bone autograft (QPA) size and pre-operative MRI measurements of the quadriceps tendon along sections to be included in the graft harvest in adolescents. We also assessed association between graft diameter and anthropometric measures (height, weight, and BMI), age, and sex. Patients (10–18 years) who underwent QPA ACL reconstruction and had a pre-operative MRI were considered for inclusion. Age, height, and weight, tibial and femoral side graft diameter, and patellar bone block dimensions were collected. Using a pre-operative 2D sagittal plane MRI, we measured the quadriceps at 10-mm increments above the patella, up to 40 mm. We assessed correlation between the bone-end graft diameter and the AP measure at 10 mm above the patella, and correlation between the soft-tissue end graft diameter and the most proximal AP measure. A total of 103 patients were included. A significant correlation between the soft-tissue side graft diameter and most proximal AP measurement was observed (rs = 0.51; p < 0.001). However, measurements significantly underestimated the soft-tissue end graft diameter (9.6 ± 0.8 vs. 7.4 ± 1.1; p < 0.001). There was no correlation between the bone-end graft diameter and AP measurement 10 mm above the patella. Anthropometric measures were not associated with graft size. Skeletal maturity was associated with smaller graft size (p = 0.08). Soft-tissue end graft diameter is associated with the AP measure of the quadriceps at 20–40 mm above the superior pole of the patella.
Toward an Organismic Society

We have at the present abundant evidence and symptoms to indicate that the society in general, both East and West, is troubled by the increasingly high incidence of anomie, especially in advanced nations. Needless to say, these symptoms apply equally to the society at large and to its individual members. It seems so easy to understand the symptoms by simply separating the society from its members or vice versa, the members from the society. Most of the time, however, individual members have been singled out or focused on to derive certain insights on the presence of anomie. The separation is unwarranted because the bond between the society and its members is inviolable; despite this fact, however, we still go on to systematically separate them in order to have access to empirical analysis and understanding.
Surface crack analysis applied to impact damage in a thick graphite-epoxy composite

The residual tensile strength of a thick graphite/epoxy composite with impact damage was predicted using surface crack analysis. The damage was localized to a region directly beneath the impact site and extended only part way through the laminate. The damaged region contained broken fibers, and the locus of breaks in each layer resembled a crack perpendicular to the direction of the fibers. In some cases, the impacts broke fibers without making a visible crater. The impact damage was represented as a semi-elliptical surface crack with length and depth equal to that of the impact damage. The maximum length and depth of the damage were predicted with a stress analysis and a maximum shear stress criterion. The predictions and measurements of strength were in good agreement.
Differences in the Enzymatic Digestibility of the Variable and Constant Halves of Bence-Jones Protein with Temperature

Abstract A study of the limited peptic and tryptic fragmentation of intact type K Bence-Jones proteins into the variable and the constant halves showed a strong difference in the subsequent digestibility of the variable half and the constant half at different temperatures. The variable half was much more resistant to enzymatic digestion than the constant half at 37°, whereas the situation was reversed at 55°. This suggests that there is a larger contribution of hydrophobic bonds to the tertiary structure of the constant half than to the tertiary structure of the variable half and perhaps a greater contribution of salt linkages to the tertiary structure of the variable half. The temperature differential permits the easy preparation and isolation of the fragments of the variable and the constant halves since only the variable-half fragment and the remaining intact Bence-Jones protein are found in the digest after digestion at 37° and only the constant-half fragment is found after digestion at 55°.
The Messy Task of Evaluating Proficiency in Online Language Courses

The article looks at evaluating students' development of language proficiency in foreign language classes, focusing on the growing use of online courses in this area. The author notes that language proficiency is a complex concept with multiple definitions and components. Topics include the use of computer-mediated communication to allow for interaction in online language courses and research comparing the learning outcomes in online versus classroom-based language courses.
Defining and computing optimum RMSD for gapped multiple structure alignment

Pairwise structure alignment commonly uses root mean square deviation (RMSD) to measure the structural similarity, and methods for optimizing RMSD are well established. However, multiple structure alignment with gaps cannot use these methods directly. We extend RMSD to weighted RMSD for multiple structures, which includes gapped alignment as a special case. By using multiplicative weights, we show that weighted RMSD for all pairs is the same as weighted RMSD to an average of the structures. Although we show that the two tasks of finding the optimal translations and rotations for minimizing weighted RMSD cannot be separated for multiple structures like they can for pairs, an inherent difficulty and a fact ignored by previous work, we develop an iterative algorithm, in which each iteration takes linear time and the number of iterations is small, to converge weighted RMSD to a local minimum. 10,000 experiments done on each of 23 protein families from HOMSTRAD (where each structure starts with a random translation and rotation) converge rapidly to the same minimum. Finally we propose a heuristic method to iteratively remove the effect of outliers and find well-aligned positions that determine the structural conserved region by modeling B-factors and deviations from the average positions as weights and iteratively assigning higher weights to better aligned atoms.
Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and other commonly used molecular methods for subtyping of foodborne bacteria

Abstract: The application of molecular methods to bacterial subtyping has greatly enhanced the sensitivity with which foodborne disease clusters are detected. This chapter will discuss the basic principles, inherent strengths and weaknesses, and general applicability of each of some of the most commonly used non-gene-specific molecular methods for the subtyping of foodborne bacterial pathogens.