cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Generalized master equation with non-Markovian multichromophoric Förster resonance energy transfer for modular exciton densities.

A generalized master equation (GME) governing quantum evolution of modular exciton density (MED) is derived for large scale light harvesting systems composed of weakly interacting modules of multiple chromophores. The GME-MED offers a practical framework to incorporate real time coherent quantum dynamics calculations of small length scales into dynamics over large length scales, and also provides a non-Markovian generalization and rigorous derivation of the Pauli master equation employing multichromophoric Forster resonance energy transfer rates. A test of the GME-MED for four sites of the Fenna-Matthews-Olson complex demonstrates how coherent dynamics of excitonic populations over coupled chromophores can be accurately described by transitions between subgroups (modules) of delocalized excitons. Application of the GME-MED to the exciton dynamics between a pair of light harvesting complexes in purple bacteria demonstrates its promise as a computationally efficient tool to investigate large scale exciton dynamics in complex environments.
Signaling in the Aftermath of Wrongdoing: Investor Reactions to Turnover at the Top

If an organization’s management is caught in the act of inappropriate behavior, it may call for a changing of the guard. Surprisingly, though, there is little empirical evidence examining the presu...
Integrative Design of an Multi-Information Airborne Digital Information Recording System

An airborne multi-information digital recording system( ACIRS) was designed to capture and record different information synchronously according to the integration requirement of audio-video data and flight parameters. The ACIRS consists of Airborne Information Recording System( AIRS) and Ground Information Playback System( GIPS). The AIRS is used for recording the air combat information includes videos of HUD, FDO, MFD and flight data. The mated GIPS integrates the multi-channel videos playback, the analysis of the flight data and the 3D flight simulation display and has the advantages of multifunction, high fidelity and portability. The ACIRS can be used to evaluate the aviators' flying technique and the operational training effectiveness as well as analyze the aircraft accidents, thus can improve the training effect.
Aortic valve replacement in the presence of Hufnagel valve in the descending aorta: One-stage valve replacement and resection of the Hufnagel valve: Report of a case

Replacement of the aortic valve in the presence of a Hufnagel prosthesis in the descending aorta will result in equilibration of diastolic pressure above and below the distal prosthesis with subsequent thrombosis of the latter. This case report illustrates the technical feasibility of a one-stage aortic valve replacement, removal of the Hufnagel valve from the descending aorta, and resection of a false aneurysm. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of this type of combined procedure.
Inhibition of RORα/γ suppresses atherosclerosis via inhibition of both cholesterol absorption and inflammation.

Objective Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of mortality in Western countries. Atherosclerosis is a multi-step inflammatory disease characterized at early stages by accumulation of cholesterol in the arterial wall followed by recruitment of immune cells. We sought to determine if pharmacological suppression of RORα/γ activity is beneficial in treatment of atherosclerosis.
The numerical analysis of the thermal pulse experiment

1. The thermal pulse experiment can be put into a quantifiable form. 2. With proper technique, at least ten Fourier coefficients can be obtained for the polarization distribution. This allows changes in polarization that occur within 1/10 of the sample thickness to be seen. 3. For the method used here, all parts of the sample are examined with good resolution. 4. The experiment can reveal meaningful results that can lead to understanding of the poling process in polymers.
Effects of the dose and viability of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. 1. Diversity of ruminal microbes as analyzed by Illumina MiSeq sequencing and quantitative PCR

This study was conducted to examine effects of the dose and viability of supplemental Saccharomyces cerevisiae on the ruminal fermentation and bacteria population and the performance of lactating dairy cows. Four ruminally cannulated lactating cows averaging 284±18d in milk were assigned to 4 treatments arranged in a 4×4 Latin square design with four 21-d periods. Cows were fed a total mixed ration containing 41.7% corn silage, 12.1% brewer's grains, and 46.2% concentrate on a dry matter basis. The diet was supplemented with no yeast (control) or with a low dose of live yeast (5.7×107 cfu/cow per day; LLY), a high dose of live yeast (6.0×108 cfu/cow per day; HLY), or a high dose of killed yeast (6.0×108 cfu/cow per day; HDY). Microbial diversity was examined by high-throughput Illumina MiSeq sequencing (Illumina Inc., San Diego, CA) of the V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene. The relative abundance of select ruminal bacteria was also quantified by quantitative PCR (qPCR). Adding LLY to the diet increased the relative abundance of some ruminal cellulolytic bacteria (Ruminococcus and Fibrobacter succinogenes) and amylolytic bacteria (Ruminobacter, Bifidobacterium, and Selenomonas ruminantium). Adding live instead of killed yeast increased the relative abundance of Ruminococcus and F. succinogenes; adding HDY increased the relative abundance of Ruminobacter, Bifidobacterium, Streptococcus bovis, and Selenomonas ruminantium. The most dominant (≥1% of total sequences) bacteria that responded to LLY addition whose functions are among the least understood in relation to the mode of action of yeast include Paraprevotellaceae, CF231, Treponema, and Lachnospiraceae. Future studies should aim to speciate, culture, and examine the function of these bacteria to better understand their roles in the mode of action of yeast. A relatively precise relationship was detected between the relative abundance of F. succinogenes (R2=0.67) from qPCR and MiSeq sequencing, but weak relationships were detected for Megasphaera elsdenii, Ruminococcus flavefaciens, and S. ruminantium (R2≤0.19).
Canadian neutrino lab branches out

A decade after it opened, the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory Laboratory (SNOLAB) in Ontario, Canada, is undergoing a C$65m facelift, adding two underground chambers that will house four new experiments, including two designed to study dark matter.
Team Writing for Team Building: A Collaborative Writing Approach for Use in Traditional and Online Classrooms of English Language Learners

This article explores the possibilities of team writing for team building activities in classes of second language learners. Both face-to-face and online collaborative writing activities are discussed. These activities stem from a whole language approach to literacy acquisition including process writing and other interactive collaborations among learners. Team writing for team building activities include the characteristics of cooperation and collaboration among learners, the use of the four language skills, peer editing and reviewing, publication and display, both online and offline are presented. A step-by-step detailed example of one such activity is given, for use either in the classroom or through distance learning.
Effect of inpatient palliative care during hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT) hospitalization on psychological distress at six months post-HCT.

10005Background: Patients’ experience during HCT hospitalization leads to significant psychological distress post-HCT. Inpatient palliative care integrated with transplant care improves patient-reported QOL and symptom burden during hospitalization for HCT. We assessed the impact of the inpatient palliative care intervention on patients’ QOL, mood, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) at 6 months post-HCT. Methods: We randomized 160 patients with hematologic malignancies admitted for autologous or allogeneic HCT to an inpatient palliative care intervention (n=81) integrated with transplant care compared to transplant care alone (n=79). At baseline and 6 months post-HCT, we assessed QOL, mood, and PTSD symptoms using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Bone Marrow Transplant (FACT-BMT), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), and the PTSD checklist, respectively. To assess symptom burden during HCT hospitalization, we used the Edmonton Symptom...
Computational insights into charge transfer across functionalized semiconductor surfaces

Photoelectrochemical water-splitting is a promising carbon-free fuel production method for producing H2 and O2 gas from liquid water. These cells are typically composed of at least one semiconductor photoelectrode which is prone to degradation and/or oxidation. Various surface modifications are known for stabilizing semiconductor photoelectrodes, yet stabilization techniques are often accompanied by a decrease in photoelectrode performance. However, the impact of surface modification on charge transport and its consequence on performance is still lacking, creating a roadblock for further improvements. In this review, we discuss how density functional theory and finite-element device simulations are reliable tools for providing insight into charge transport across modified photoelectrodes.
Taurine, Cysteinesulfinic Acid Decarboxylase and Glutamic Acid in Brain

Despite the intensive studies of many investigators the role of taurine in mammals, other than as a component of taurocholate, is still unknown (2,3,11). The difficulty in assigning a function to taurine results from the large number of organs, actions and conditions with which the compound has been associated, such as neurotransmission (18,29), epilepsy (46,47), development (6,42), nutrition (30), retinal function (23), feline blindness (10,36), mongolism (8), adrenal function (21), cardiac function (9) and others. In addition, specific pharmacologic agonists and antagonists have not been identified, and pathologic changes, other than feline blindness, have not been associated with taurine deficiency or excess. Thus, conclusions cannot be made as yet concerning the function of taurine, and discussions of the importance of this compound still depend upon extrapolation from the descriptive data that are currently available.
A 20-year review of outcome reporting bias in moderated multiple regression

Moderated multiple regression (MMR) remains the most popular method of testing interactions in management and applied psychology. Recent discussions of MMR have centered on their small effect sizes and typically being statistically underpowered (e.g., Murphy & Russell, Organizational Research Methods, 2016). Although many MMR tests are likely plagued by type II errors, they may also be particularly prone to outcome reporting bias (ORB) resulting in elevated false positives (type I errors). We tested the state of MMR through a 20-year review of six leading journals. Based on 1218 MMR tests nested within 343 studies, we found that despite low statistical power, most MMR tests (54%) were reported as statistically significant. Further, although sample size has remained relatively unchanged (r = − .002), statistically significant MMR tests have risen from 41% (1995–1999) to 49% (2000–2004), to 60% (2005–2009), and to 69% (2010–2014). This could indicate greater methodological and theoretical precision but leaves open the possibility of ORB. In our review, we found evidence that both increased rigor and theoretical precision play an important role in MMR effect size magnitudes, but also found evidence for ORB. Specifically, (a) smaller sample sizes are associated with larger effect sizes, (b) there is a substantial frequency spike in p values just below the .05 threshold, and (c) recalculated p values less than .05 always converged with authors’ conclusions of statistical significance but recalculated p values between .05 and .10 only converged with authors’ conclusions about half (54%) of the time. The findings of this research provide important implications for future application of MMR.
Stratified Morse theory

Suppose that X is a topological space, f is a real valued function on X, and c is a real number. Then we will denote by X ≤c the subspace of points x in X such that f(x)≤c. The fundamental problem of Morse theory is to study the topological changes in the space X ≤c as the number c varies.
Development and preliminary validation of a brief behavioral measure of psychotic propensity.

Abstract Extensive research demonstrates that the dimensional assessment of psychotic manifestations is a primary strength of the Rorschach inkblot task, which provides an in vivo sample of problem-solving behavior and normative standards concerning the logic and coherence of thought processes and the typicality of perceptual representations. This article presents foundational research for the Thought and Perception Assessment System (TPAS), a Rorschach-based system designed to assess solely for disordered thinking and perceptual aberrations using either the standard 10-card set of inkblots or alternative 3-, 4-, and 5-card short forms. Using data from three patient samples (ns = 61, 93, and 133) and one nonpatient sample (n = 118), we document the equivalence of mean scores across the full and short-form card sets. We also document satisfactory interrater reliability and validity for the full and short forms, as well as strong part-whole reliability coefficients between the short forms and the full form. Consistent with psychometric theory and the principle of aggregation, each type of coefficient decreased as a function of decreasing the number of cards. We discuss implications and future applications in research and clinical assessment.
Investigating Intraoperative and Intraprofessional Handoffs in Anesthesia

Handoffs occur frequently in healthcare systems, and miscommunications and critical omissions within handoffs have been linked to serious medical errors. Handoff quality is a priority of patient sa...
A Patient with Severe Hyperkalemia.

A 19-year-old man with newly diagnosed T-cell acute lymphocytic leukemia was found to have the following changes in laboratory results shortly after chemotherapy with daunorubicin and vincristine (Table 1). Dialysis was initiated for the treatment of life-threatening hyperkalemia. View this table: Table 1. Key laboratory analytesa 1. Why were potassium, …
Functionalized Antimicrobial Electrospun Poly (vinyl alcohol) Nanowebs

Electrospun poly (vinyl alcohol) [PVA] nanowebs functionalized with a commercially available microbiocidal solution Reputex™ 20 were prepared. The active ingredient of Reputex™ 20 is polyhexamethyl...
Improved Calibration of Cygnss Measurements for Downbursts in the Intertropical Convergence Zone

CYGNSS is a space borne GNSS-R mission that uses the GPS L1 signal which usually has negligible attenuation due to rain. However, under heavy precipitation its effects need to be properly accounted for. In this paper, we characterize the effects of precipitation on the CYGNSS Normalized Bistatic Radar Cross Section (NBRCS) resulting from propagation losses, from rain induced surface roughening, and from increased near-surface wind associated with the presence of rain. Proper accounting for these effects is necessary to accurately retrieve ocean surface wind speed under heavy precipitation and, for example, to resolve the horizontal wind shear present in the rain bands of the ITCZ.
The absence of retinal input disrupts the development of cholinergic brainstem projections in the mouse dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus

The dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (dLGN) of the mouse has become a model system for understanding thalamic circuit assembly. While the development of retinal projections to dLGN has been a topic of extensive inquiry, how and when nonretinal projections innervate this nucleus remains largely unexplored. In this study, we examined the development of a major nonretinal projection to dLGN, the ascending input arising from cholinergic neurons of the brainstem. To visualize these projections, we used a transgenic mouse line that expresses red fluorescent protein exclusively in cholinergic neurons. To assess whether retinal input regulates the timing and pattern of cholinergic innervation of dLGN, we utilized the math5-null (math5−/−) mouse, which lacks retinofugal projections due to a failure of retinal ganglion cell differentiation. Cholinergic brainstem innervation of dLGN began at the end of the first postnatal week, increased steadily with age, and reached an adult-like pattern by the end of the first postnatal month. The absence of retinal input led to a disruption in the trajectory, rate, and pattern of cholinergic innervation of dLGN. Anatomical tracing experiments reveal these disruptions were linked to cholinergic projections from parabigeminal nucleus, which normally traverse and reach dLGN through the optic tract. The late postnatal arrival of cholinergic projections to dLGN and their regulation by retinal signaling provides additional support for the existence of a conserved developmental plan whereby retinal input regulates the timing and sequencing of nonretinal projections to dLGN.
Preface to the National Lawyers Guild Review, 67-2

Introduces: 1. Tribal Court Jurisdiction and Native Nation Economics: A Trip Down the Rabbit Hole by Ryan Dreveskracht; 2. 'We are Already Dead': The Thirteenth Amendment and the Fight for Workers' Rights after EFCA by James Gray Pope, Peter Kellman & Ed Bruno; 3. Mega-Corporatism and the Authorization State by Nathan Goetting.
First-Order Estimates of Coastal Bathymetry in Ilulissat and Naajarsuit Fjords, Greenland, from Remotely Sensed Iceberg Observations.

Warm water masses circulating at depth off the coast of Greenland play an important role in controlling rates of mass loss from the Greenland Ice Sheet through feedbacks associated with the melting of marine glacier termini. The ability of these warm waters to reach glacier termini is strongly controlled by fjord bathymetry, which was unmapped for the majority of Greenland’s fjords until recently. In response to the need for bathymetric measurements in previously uncharted areas, we developed two companion methods to infer fjord bathymetry using icebergs as depth sounders. The main premise of our methods centers around the idea that deep-drafted icebergs will become stranded in shallow water such that estimates of iceberg surface elevation can be used to infer draft, and thus water depth, under the assumption of hydrostatic equilibrium. When and where available, surface elevations of icebergs stranded on bathymetric highs were extracted from digital elevation models (DEMs) and converted to estimates of iceberg draft. To expand the spatial coverage of our inferred water depths beyond the DEM footprints, we used the DEMs to construct characteristic depth–width ratios and then inferred depths from satellite imagery-derived iceberg widths. We tested and applied the methods in two fjord systems in western Greenland with partially constrained bathymetry, Ilulissat Isfjord and Naajarsuit Fjord, to demonstrate their utility for inferring bathymetry using remote sensing datasets. Our results show that while the uncertainties associated with the methods are high (up to ±93 m), they provide critical first-order constraints on fjord bathymetry.
Acute Pancreatitis in Advanced Chronic Kidney Disease and Kidney Transplant Recipients: Results of a US Nationwide Analysis.

Abstract Objective To study the prevalence, etiology, and outcome of acute pancreatitis (AP) in kidney transplant and stage 5 chronic kidney disease (CKD) populations in comparison to a non-CKD cohort. Patients and Methods Using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database, we identified patients with acute pancreatitis as the primary discharge diagnosis, after which propensity scores were used to create 2 cohorts of patients: 1 with CKD (n=13,425) and 1 without CKD (n=13,425). The CKD group was subsequently subdivided into dialysis-independent stage 5 CKD (n=690), dialysis-dependent stage 5 CKD (n=11,415), and kidney transplant recipients (n=1320). Patients younger than 18 years old, those who received a kidney transplant during the incident admission, and pancreas transplant recipients were excluded. Results The adjusted odds ratios (ORs) of AP were comparable between the no CKD, stage 5 CKD, and kidney transplant populations. Adjusted inpatient mortality was highest in patients with dialysis-dependent stage 5 CKD (OR, 2.72; 95% CI, 2.2-3.3; P Conclusion Despite comparable adjusted prevalence of AP among the stage 5 CKD, transplant, and non-CKD populations, mortality, morbidity, and resource utilization were higher in the patients with stage 5 CKD and transplant recipients. Hypercalcemia is the most common cause of AP in the stage 5 CKD population irrespective of dialysis requirement.
The Weighted Nonnegative Least-Squares Problem with Implicitly Characterized Points

In “The Weighted Nonnegative Least-Squares Problem with Implicitly Characterized Points,” A. Fattahi, S. Dasu, and R. Ahmadi study a new variation of nonnegative least-squares problem when the disc...
Severe asthma phenotypes and endotypes

Current management of severe asthma relying either on guidelines (bulk approach) or on disease phenotypes (stratified approach) did not improve the burden of the disease. Several severe phenotypes are described: clinical, functional, morphological, inflammatory, molecular and microbiome-related. However, phenotypes do not necessarily relate to or give insights into the underlying pathogenetic mechanisms which are described by the disease endotypes. Based on the major immune-inflammatory pathway involved type-2 high, type-2 low and mixed endotypes are described for severe asthma, with several shared pathogenetic pathways such as genetic and epigenetic, metabolic, neurogenic and remodelling subtypes. The concept of multidimensional endotyping as un unbiased approach to severe asthma is discussed, together with new tools and targets facilitating the shift from the stratified to the precision medicine approach.
State evaluation of relay protection system for state maintenance

Relay protection is the first line of defense for power systems. Its reliable operation is an important guarantee for the safety and stability of power system. At present, Chinese relay protection system has long been implemented with regular planned maintenance and repaired supplemented by after-accident maintenance. This maintenance system has greatly caused the loss and waste of manpower, material resources and financial resources. It is urgently necessary to adopt a reasonable maintenance strategy based on the actual operating state of relay protection. The state maintenance of the relay protection system can formulate the maintenance strategy based on the actual operating state of the relay protection system, which can effectively improve the reliability of the relay protection system. Therefore, this paper studies the state evaluation of the relay protection system for state maintenance. Develop maintenance strategy based on the evaluation results of the current operating state of the protection system. It is of great significance to strengthen the reliability and operation level of the relay protection system and ensure the safe operation of the power grid.
Exploring the Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease Bacterial Pathobiome

ABSTRACT A devastating novel coral disease outbreak, referred to as Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD), was first described in 2014. It is thought to have originated offshore of Miami-Dade County, FL, but has persisted and spread, affecting new reefs along the Florida Reef Tract and reefs of at least 8 other Caribbean jurisdictions. We investigated the microbial communities of clinically normal and diseased specimens of five species of affected corals using targeted 16S ribosomal DNA sequencing (Illumina MiSeq). Fifty-nine bacterial sequences were identified using contrast analysis that had enriched abundance in diseased coral host microbiomes relative to the microbiomes of clinically normal hosts. Several sequences from known bacterial pathogens were identified in this group. Additionally, we identified fifty-three bacterial species that had differentially elevated numbers in clinically normal coral host samples relative to samples from diseased host corals. The bacterial consortia composing the clinically normal and diseased coral microbiomes were clearly distinct taxonomically. Predicted functional profiles based on taxonomy, however, were found to be quite similar. This indicates a high level of functional redundancy among diseased and clinically normal microbiome members. Further examination of the direct sequencing data revealed that while some bacteria were differentially distributed according to disease status, others were not. Fifty-one bacterial species were found in both diseased and clinically normal coral host samples and not differentially abundant in either disease state. These still may be important in explaining the presentation of disease. IMPORTANCE Determining causation is a management top priority to guide control and intervention strategies for the SCTLD outbreak. Towards this goal we examined bacterial taxa that were differentially elevated in numbers in diseased corals as compared to clinically normal corals at Looe Key, FL in August 2018. Many of the bacterial species we detected are known to be pathogenic to humans, animals, and (or) plants, and some of these have been found associated with diseased corals in other studies. Microbes that were present (or conspicuous by their absence) in both diseased as well as clinically normal corals were also examined because “healthy” corals from a diseased location such as Looe Key may have been exposed but may not have been showing overt disease at the time of sampling. Although untangling of causation is not possible currently, certain bacterial cliques and excess nutrients appear to be potential risk factors in SCTLD pathology.
Hybrids and Viruses: Reflections on Golden Past and Less Certain Future1

I am still rather puzzled why biologists show such a strong antisexual bias in the consideration of somatic cells. On the other hand, I think I would have been the first to ridicule the fantasy that viruses might carry bits of genetic material from one cell to another in a transductive process, and yet suggestions of this kind seem to be accepted with great gullibility. Projections for future experimentation on somatic cells have invoked transductive phenomena almost to the exclusion of mating. After all, if we combine Stern's discussion with Hauschka's, we will see that every single one of the unit processes needed for the technical handling of mating has been documented in somatic cells. True, they have not been serially documented on a given set of cells under experimental control. But we have reports of the fusion of somatic cells. We know that nuclei of binucleate cells can fuse, if only by coalescence of the spindles at the next mitosis. We know we can have somatic segregation as well as mitotic crossing over. Fifteen years ago we had a much more negative outlook with regard to the possibility of Mendelian analysis with such organisms as bacteria, viruses, and Penicillium than we now have for somatic cells.
Unpacking Adolescent Masculinity: Relations between Boys’ Sexual Harassment Victimization, Perpetration, and Gender Role Beliefs

Adherence to rigid masculine gender role beliefs is often a significant predictor of violence perpetration; additionally, there is a consistent link among adolescent boys between experiencing victimization and perpetrating violence. This study examines the nuances in those associations specifically for sexual harassment victimization, perpetration, and masculine gender role beliefs in a rural sample of adolescent boys. A convenience sample of 236 boys’ responses to an electronic survey completed at school were examined using multiple regression analysis to explore the relation of perpetration with victimization and four gender-related attitudes, specifically male power, relationship control, acceptability of violence, and apathy toward others. Consistent with prior research, victimization was strongly related to perpetration; however, this link was true only when attitudes on male power and apathy toward others were also high. Findings indicate that certain attitudes within hegemonic masculinity may be more involved than other beliefs in the victim-to-perpetration adolescent violence cycle. Prevention programming that incorporates content on masculinity may be more effective if focused intentionally on these aspects of gender role beliefs. Implications are also discussed in the context of how rural boys may engage with ideas of masculinity.
Digital City Testbed Center: Using campuses as smart city testbeds in the binational Cascadia region

The collection and use of digital data by “smart city” programs raise complex operational and ethical questions that can best be addressed through carefully-monitored pilot studies before urban innovations are more widely adopted. We have created a network of single-owner campuses (academic, government, corporate and nonprofit) in the Cascadia megaregion that connects Portland (OR), Seattle (WA) and Vancouver (BC), where smart city products and services can be evaluated before deployment in neighborhoods and business districts. On the five initial campuses, we are co-locating assemblages of up to a dozen technologies through which issues of data interoperability, management, privacy and monopolization can be explored. The initial research and policy goals of this network are to educate the public about smart cities, improve accessibility for populations with disabilities, prepare city residents for natural disasters, and monitor urban tree canopies so they can better mitigate the urban heat island effect. If replicated in other regions, this testing approach can accelerate cities' responsible integration of data science solutions that can address both local and global problems.
Strategic Politicians and the Dynamics of House Elections, 1946-86

Analysis of both district-level and aggregate time-series data from postwar House elections supports the thesis that strategic political elites play a pivotal role in translating national conditions into election results and therefore in holding members of Congress collectively accountable for the government's performance. More high-quality candidates run when prospects appear to favor their party; they also win significantly more votes and victories than other candidates in equivalent circumstances. Thus, strategic career decisions both reflect and enhance national partisan tides. The electoral importance of strategic politicians has grown over time in tandem with the trend toward candidate-centered electoral politics. This has rendered the effects of national forces less automatic, more contingent, thus threatening the capacity of elections to enforce some degree of collective responsibility
NRCS Backscatter Analysis at Low Grazing Angles with LATPROP Radar Data Collected During the CASPER West Research Campaign

Variations of meteorological parameters within the marine atmospheric boundary layer (MABL) influence radar propagation at low grazing angles as well as the backscatter from the sea surface. The backscatter is predominately a function of the wind, radar frequency, polarization, and grazing angle. The grazing angle is a strong function of the refractive conditions present. Analytical models at low grazing angles fail, thus the five existing empirical models will be analyzed with data collected using the lower atmospheric propagation (LATPROP) radar during the Coupled Air-Sea Processes and EM Ducting Research (CASPER) West research campaign that took place from September-October 2017 off the coast of southern California.
Association of Acute Care Surgeon Experience With Emergency Surgery Patient Outcomes and Mortality.

Importance Previous studies comparing emergency surgery outcomes with surgeon experience have been small or used administrative databases without controlling for patient physiology or operative complexity. Objective To evaluate the association of acute care surgeon experience with patient morbidity and mortality after emergency surgical procedures. Design, setting, and participants This cohort study evaluated the association of surgeon experience with emergency surgery outcomes at 5 US academic level 1 trauma centers where the same surgeons provided emergency general surgical care. A total of 772 patients who presented with a traumatic injury and required an emergency surgical procedure or who presented with or developed a condition requiring an emergency general surgical intervention were operated on by 1 of 56 acute care surgeons. Surgeon groups were divided by experience of less than 6 years (early career), 6 to 10 years (early midcareer), 11 to 30 years (late midcareer), and 30 years or more (late career) from the end of training. Surgeons with less than 3 years of experience were also compared with the entire cohort. Hierarchical logistic regression models were constructed controlling for Emergency Surgery Score, case complexity, preoperative transfusion, and trauma or emergency general surgery. Data were collected from May 2015 to July 2017 and analyzed from February to May 2020. Main outcomes and measures Mortality, complications, length of stay, blood loss, and unplanned return to the operating room. Results Of 772 included patients, 469 (60.8%) were male, and the mean (SD) age was 50.1 (20.0) years. Of 772 operations, 618 were by surgeons with less than 10 years of experience. Early- and late-midcareer surgeons generally operated on older patients and patients with more septic shock, acute kidney failure, and higher Emergency Surgery Scores. Patient mortality, complications, postoperative transfusion, organ-space surgical site infection, and length of stay were similar between surgeon groups. Patients operated on by early-career surgeons had higher rates of unplanned return to the operating room compared with those operated on by early-midcareer surgeons (odds ratio [OR], 0.66; 95% CI, 0.40-1.09), late-midcareer surgeons (OR, 0.34; 95% CI, 0.13-0.90), and late-career surgeons (OR, 1.11; 95% CI, 0.45-2.75). Patients operated on by surgeons with less than 3 years of experience had similar mortality compared with the rest of the cohort (OR, 1.97; 95% CI, 0.85-4.57) but higher rates of complications (OR, 2.07; 95% CI, 1.05-4.07). Conclusions and relevance In this study, experienced surgeons generally operated on older patients with more septic shock and kidney failure without affecting risk-adjusted mortality. Increased complications and unplanned return to the operating room may improve with experience. Early-career surgeons' outcomes may be improved if they are supported while experience is garnered.
Such Freedom, If Only Musical: Unofficial Soviet Music During the Thaw

Note on transliteration 1. Introduction 2. The Dam Bursts: The First and Second Conservatories 3. Andrey Volkonsky and the Beginnings of "Unofficial" Music 4. From "Young" to "Unofficial": Denisov's Sun of the Incas 5. "Unofficial" Venues, Performers, and Audiences 6. From Abstraction to Mimesis, from Control to Freedom: Part, Schnittke, Silvestrov, Gubaidulina 7. Denisov's Laments, Volkonsky's Rejoinder 8. Conclusion: The Farewell Symphony Epilogue: Reflections on Memory and Nostalgia Appendices Bibliography Index
Assessing the Reliability of 5S rRNA Sequence Data for Phylogenetic Analysis in Green Plants

Elimination of compensating substitutions in portions of 5S rRNA sequences that exhibit secondary structure and scoring of common gaps as homologous characters affects both the topology of phylogenetic estimates within green plants and measures of their reliability. Allowing for a transition / transversion bias, on the other hand, has little affect. Detailed analysis of these data results in phylogenetic estimates largely congruent with widely accepted hypotheses of relationships among green plants, but bootstrapping provides little statistical support for most of these groupings. The lack of statistical support is a direct result of both the small number of phylogenetically informative sites in the SS rRNA molecule and the high rate of change at those positions that are free to vary. When considered in conjunction with earlier distance-based analyses of phylogeny that use 5s rRNA, these results demonstrate that phylogenetic estimates based only on analyses of 5S rRNA sequences must be viewed with considerable caution.
Gauging Form PF: Data Tolerances in Regulatory Reporting on Hedge Fund Risk Exposures

This paper examines the precision of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s Form PF as an instrument for measuring market risk exposures in the hedge fund industry. We introduce a novel methodology that systematically presents the measurement instrument, Form PF, with a range of simulated portfolios with observable characteristics. We assess the measurement tolerances of Form PF by examining the range of actual market risk exposures – measured directly from portfolio details – that are consistent with a given, fixed presentation on the form. We find that Form PF’s measurement tolerances are sufficiently large to allow private funds with dissimilar actual risk profiles to report similar risks to regulators. We also find that the form’s stratification by value at risk (Form PF Question 40) helps significantly to narrow the measurement tolerances.
Phosphorylation of endogenous protein of rat brain by cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate-dependent protein kinase.

Abstract The ability of proteins in various subcellular fractions of the rat cerebrum to act as substrates for a partially purified cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP)-dependent protein kinase has been studied in vitro. Distribution of substrates generally paralleled the distribution of activity of protein kinase as well as of adenylate cyclase and cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase. Although all particulate subfractions were capable of becoming phosphorylated, highest substrate activities were found in the synaptic plasma membrane, microsomal, and synaptic vesicle fractions. Substrates in the microsomal fraction included both membrane and ribosomal proteins. The synaptic plasma membrane and the microsomal fractions exhibited a high endogenous rate of incorporation of radioactive phosphate from [γ-32P]ATP into phosphoprotein, compared to other subcellular fractions, and this rate was increased by addition of protein kinase and cyclic AMP. Phosphorylation of the synaptic plasma membrane fractions indicated that some membrane proteins were at least comparable to and possibly better than the histones in effectiveness as substrate for the enzyme. The results support other evidence implicating the cyclic AMP system in the molecular events underlying synaptic transmission in the nervous system.
In Defense of Apparently 'Usurious' Interest Rates for Micro Loans: A Pedagogical Note

Existing texts in economic development do not explain why micro credit loans often carry very high interest rates. Since many students are likely to perceive high interest rates on loans to the very poor as unfair or exploitative, I develop a simple model of a lending firm in which the necessity of covering all of the lender's fixed costs necessarily implies that the break even interest rate on loans issued rises as the average size of those loans falls. High interest rates on very small loans reflect the lender's cost structure, not exploitation.
Effect of Prandtl number on buoyancy-induced transport processes with and without solidification

Abstract In studying the transport processes with solidification, various materials such as aqueous solutions, which are of high Prandtl number ( Pr ), have been used to help understand the solidification characteristics of silicon or metal based materials, which are of low Pr . Influences of Pr on the buoyancy-induced transport phenomena are investigated through two-dimensional steady-state computations for flow in a square enclosure at two different vertical wall temperatures, both with and without solidification. With a constant Rayleigh number ( Ra ), the momentum and heat transport characteristics are very insensitive to Pr if Pr > 1, regardless of whether phase change appears or not. The Pr effect becomes more noticeable as it is progressively reduced from one. With respect to phase change, for cases with no solidification, Pr effects on all aspects of the transport process increase with Ra . With solidification, more vigorous convection induced by higher Ra , which coupled with the Stefan number effects, result in stronger Pr influence on maximum streamfunction and Nusselt number, but not on global enthalpy patterns. It is also found that features such as morphology of phase boundaries may be more sensitive to Pr variations than momentum and heat transport are.
Evaluation of Aerodynamic Derivatives from a Magnetic Balance System

The dynamic testing of a model in the University of Virginia cold magnetic balance wind-tunnel facility is expected to consist of measurements of the balance forces and moments, and the observation of the essentially six degree of freedom motion of the model. The aerodynamic derivatives of the model are to be evaluated from these observations. The basic feasibility of extracting aerodynamic information from the observation of a model which is executing transient, complex, multi-degree of freedom motion is demonstrated. It is considered significant that, though the problem treated here involves only linear aerodynamics, the methods used are capable of handling a very large class of aerodynamic nonlinearities. The basic considerations include the effect of noise in the data on the accuracy of the extracted information. Relationships between noise level and the accuracy of the evaluated aerodynamic derivatives are presented.
SHARP: Private Proximity Test and Secure Handshake with Cheat-Proof Location Tags

A location proximity test service allows mobile users to determine whether they are in close proximity to each other, and has found numerous applications in mobile social networks. Unfortunately, existing solutions usually reveal much of users’ private location information during proximity test. They are also vulnerable to location cheating where an attacker reports false locations to gain advantage. Moreover, the initial trust establishment among unfamiliar users in large scale mobile social networks has been a challenging task. In this paper, we propose a novel scheme that enables a user to perform (1) privacy-preserving proximity test without revealing her actual location to the server or other users not within the proximity, and (2) secure handshake that establishes secure communications among stranger users within the proximity who do not have pre-shared secret. The proposed scheme is based on a novel concept, i.e. location tags, and we put forward a location tag construction method using environmental signals that provides location unforgeability. Bloom filters are used to represent the location tags efficiently and a fuzzy extractor is exploited to extract shared secrets between matching location tags. Our solution also allows users to tune their desired location privacy level and range of proximity. We conduct extensive analysis and real experiments to demonstrate the feasibility, security, and efficiency of our scheme.
Intrahepatic arterial infusion of chemotherapy: clinical results.

Approximately 60% of patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer (CRC) will go on to develop hepatic metastases. Although surgical resection is the only curative modality, a majority will not be able to undergo surgery. Alternative methods for treating this population have focused on the feasibility of hepatic arterial infusion (HAI) of chemotherapy. Randomized data in this field have been hampered due to small numbers of patients in some trials, or crossover between groups. However, most trials have suggested an improvement in both overall and progression-free survival with HAI therapy. Dose-limiting toxicity associated with HAI is related to hepatobiliary sclerosis, which has been reduced with the use of dexamethasone as part of the treatment. Current research is underway to improve the rate of extrahepatic metastases in patients undergoing HAI.
Michelangelo, Drawing, and the Subject of Art

The emergence of the modern institution of art is often understood as the gradual secularization of the religious image. Yet if secularization is understood as the erosion of conventional subject matter, then the contribution of secular painting need not be disqualified. In Michelangelo's cartoon for The Battle of Cascina (1504), for example, the compositional structure of the cartoon militates against an iconographic analysis, formerly thought to disclose political meaning. The breaking down of iconography, however, did not claim art's pure autonomy here. Instead, the work demonstrated the social and political centrality of the new institution of art.
Impact of Medication Reconciliation on Medication Error Rates in Community Hospital Cardiac Care Units

Background/ObjectiveMedication reconciliation has become a practice standard across the country. We conducted a prospective study to measure the impact of medication reconciliation on the rates of ...
Minimally invasive radio-guided parathyroidectomy in 152 consecutive patients with primary hyperparathyroidism.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the results of minimally invasive radio-guided parathyroidectomy (MIRP) in the treatment of patients with primary hyperparathyroidism, including factors associated with negative technetium-labeled sestamibi scanning. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the findings in a group of 152 consecutive patients encountered during the period 2001 through 2004. The overall accuracy of preoperative sestamibi scanning was assessed, and the success of MIRP was determined on the basis of operative time, duration of hospital stay, and rate of complications. RESULTS: All 152 patients underwent preoperative sestamibi scanning; 118 (78%) had positive scans and were treated with MIRP, whereas 34 (22%) had negative scans and underwent traditional neck explorations. Patients with negative sestamibi scans had 5 times the incidence of concomitant thyroid disease in comparison with those who had positive sestamibi scans (P<0.01), and they had higher rates of parathyroid hyperplasia (26% versus 0%; P<0.01). In comparison with traditional neck dissection, MIRP-treated patients had shorter operative times (38 minutes versus 86 minutes; P<0.01) and shorter hospital stays (0.67 day versus 1.09 days; P<0.01). Among the MIRP-treated patients, 67% were discharged the same day as performance of the outpatient surgical procedure. Correction of hypercalcemia was accomplished in 116 of 118 patients (98%) who underwent MIRP. Complications in the MIRP group were low, including 1 postoperative hemorrhage. No cases of recurrent laryngeal nerve injury occurred. There were 2 false-positive sestamibi scans (1.3%). CONCLUSION: Parathyroid hyperplasia and concomitant thyroid pathologic conditions are associated with negative preoperative sestamibi scans. MIRP is applicable in 78% of patients with primary hyperparathyroidism and is a safe, effective operation that results in shorter surgical time, reduced hospital stay, and minimal complications.