cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS OF LEAF MORPHOLOGY AND MORPHOGENESIS: A CONTRIBUTION TO THE INTERPRETATION OF MOLECULAR GENETIC MUTANTS

As an older and more established discipline, plant morphology is an important but relatively underutilized resource for the interpretation of mutants. Plant morphology has the potential to provide the context for molecular genetic investigations, especially those concerned with leaf morphogenesis. This article first reviews the basic organization of vascular plants and the relationship of anatomy to morphology in interpreting gene expression. It demonstrates that these two levels of organization are relatively independent of one another and that anatomy cannot be substituted for morphology in analyzing the effects of genes on leaf development. Morphological principles are then applied to two aspects of leaf development, transectional symmetry and leaf dissection. According to this perspective, so‐called organs in plants are simply regional expansions that carry specific cell and tissue types in a particular orientation in space. Rather than considering specific genes as determining particular organ types,...
HETEROCHRONY AND PAEDOMORPHIC MORPHOLOGY OF SPRINKLEOCYSTIS EKTOPIOS, NEW GENUS AND SPECIES, (RHOMBIFERA, GLYPTOCYSTIDA) FROM THE MIDDLE ORDOVICIAN (CARADOC) OF TENNESSEE

Abstract The glyptocystitoid rhombiferan Sprinkleocystis ektopios new genus and species is described from the Middle Ordovician (Caradoc) Benbolt Formation of Tennessee. This species is characterized by having four ambulacra bearing only terminal brachioles, the absence of lateral 5, and protuberant pectinirhombs and periproct. Many of its features are considered typical of the family Cheirocrinidae whereas others are more characteristic of the Glyptocystitidae. Its small size and simple ambulacral and pectinirhomb structures suggest a paedomorphic evolutionary origin, and its thecal morphology further suggests that the validity of a separate Cheirocrinidae and Glyptocystitidae may need reevaluation.
Vertical Distribution of Aerosol Extinction Cross Section and Inference of Aerosol Imaginary Index in the Troposphere by Lidar Technique

The paper reports on vertical profiles of aerosol extinction and backscatter in the troposphere which were obtained from multi zenith angle lidar measurements. It is reported that a direct slant path solution was found to be not possible due to horizontal inhomogeneity of the atmosphere. Attention is given to the use of a regression analysis with respect to zenith angle for a layer integration of the angle dependent lidar equation in order to determine the optical thickness and aerosol extinction-to-backscatter ratio for defined atmospheric layers and the subsequent evaluation of cross-section profiles.
Abstract 381: Clinical Outcomes Following Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement Among US Hospitals

Background: Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) demonstrated excellent outcomes in clinical trials of inoperable/high-risk patients. Subsequent approval by the Food and Drug Administration and National Coverage Determination by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services established unique volume requirements for institutions and physicians to perform TAVR. Diffusion of prior cardiovascular interventions has involved less stringent policies and exhibited significant institutional variation in clinical outcomes. Our objective is to compare risk-standardized procedural outcomes across US hospitals performing TAVR to identify hospitals with outlying post-procedure mortality rates. Methods: All Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries who underwent TAVR between January 1, 2011 and November 30, 2012 were identified. Thirty-day risk-standardized mortality rates (RSMR) were calculated using the Hospital Compare statistical method, a well-validated hierarchical generalized linear model. Results: Claims were examined from 5044 patients undergoing TAVR at 199 hospitals, with a crude 30-day mortality rate of 5.97%. RSMRs modeled using patient-level predictors varied from 4.5 % to 9.0 % (Figure 1). One hospital had a RSMR statistically lower than the national mean (4.5%, P<0.05), and two hospitals had RSMRs statistically higher than the national mean (8.5% and 6.9%, P<0.05). Conclusions: Clinical outcomes among TAVR hospitals in high-risk/inoperable patients demonstrated very little variability, few outliers, and excellent outcomes comparable to pre-approval clinical trials. This may be the result of the unique policy and regulatory environment governing the CMS coverage determination for TAVR institutions. As TAVR disseminates to additional hospitals and other new cardiovascular interventions are inevitably introduced, risk-standardized outcome comparisons across hospitals may facilitate ongoing surveillance to ensure high quality outcomes at all active centers. ![][1] [1]: /embed/graphic-1.gif
Neurilemomas of the extremities.

Thirty-two patients operated upon for forty-five histologically confirmed neurilemomas of the extremities had pain, tenderness, and paresthesias more frequently than had been reported by other investigators. Multiple neurilemomas were also frequent and occurred in six of the thirty-two patients studied. The hand was the site of ten of the forty-five tumors and the foot the site of four. The clinical and operative manifestations of these smooth, glistening, white encapsulated tumors suggest that the proper diagnosis should be made more often preoperatively. Neurilemomas are always benign lesions. Local removal is the only treatment indicated.
Persistent axial neck pain after cervical disc arthroplasty: a radiographic analysis.

Abstract Background Context There is very little literature examining optimal radiographic parameters for placement of cervical disc arthroplasty (CDA), nor is there substantial evidence evaluating the relationship between persistent postoperative neck pain and radiographic outcomes. Purpose We set out to perform a single-center evaluation of the radiographic outcomes, including associated complications, of CDA. Design This is a retrospective review. Patient Sample Two hundred eighty-five consecutive patients undergoing CDA were included in the review. Outcome Measures The outcome measures were radiological parameters (preoperative facet arthrosis, disc height, CDA placement in sagittal and coronal planes, heterotopic ossification [HO] formation, etc.) and patient outcomes (persistent pain, recurrent pain, new-onset pain, etc.). Methods We performed a retrospective review of all patients from a single military tertiary medical center from August 2008 to August 2012 undergoing CDA. Preoperative, immediate postoperative, and final follow-up films were evaluated. The clinical outcomes and complications associated with the procedure were also examined. Results The average radiographic follow-up was 13.5 months and the rate of persistent axial neck pain was 17.2%. For patients with persistent neck pain, the rate of HO formation per level studied was 22.6%, whereas the rate was significantly lower for patients without neck pain (11.7%, p=.03). There was no significant association between the severity of HO and the presence of neck pain. Patients with a preoperative diagnosis of cervicalgia, compared to those without cervicalgia, were significantly more likely to experience continued neck pain postoperatively (28.6% vs. 13.1%, p=.01). There were no differences in preoperative facet arthrosis, pre- or postoperative disc height, segmental range of motion, or placement of the device relative to the posterior edge of the vertebral body.However, patients with implants more centered between the uncovertebral joints were more likely to experience posterior neck pain (p=.03). Conclusions We found that posterior axial neck pain is relatively frequent after CDA, and patients with persistent neck pain were significantly more likely to have preoperative cervicalgia and develop HO postoperatively. We also found that patients with implants that were placed off-centered were less likely to also complain of neck pain, although the reasons for this finding remain unclear.
How Do Black Men Succeed in IT Careers? The Effects of Capital

While most of the literature on Black men prescribe to a deficit model that focuses on academic failures and poverty, this work focuses on the positive by profiling Black men who have successfully entered information technology (IT) majors. Here we reveal various capitals, their accumulation, and their effects using Bourdieu's framework to inductively uncover that Black men succeed in IT careers by accumulating five forms of capital -- Cultural, Social, Symbolic, Technical, and Economic -- that mold their habitus. The accumulated capital affects IT Career Choices, General Skills, IT Skills, Institutional Benefits, Symbolic Benefits, Financial Benefits, Self-efficacy, Ambition, Expectations, Extra Burden, The Black Experience, and Sense of Service. These effects are well aligned with the rules of playing in the IT field.
An update on traumatic brain injuries.

Severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) represents a major cause of neurological mortality and morbidity throughout the world. Several challenges have been faced in the conduct of clinical research in TBI in past decades, including inclusion of a broad heterogeneity of injuries, difficulties with standardization and consistency of complex medical management, and lack of sophisticated outcomes measures to sufficiently detect differences in outcomes. Consequently, evidence-based guidelines for targeted therapeutic approaches remain for the most part at the level of Class II or III evidence. Harnessing the power of computing is paramount to our understanding of different prognostic groups in order to devise treatments of the future. Multimodality bedside monitoring of various physiological parameters and events can be deployed in the intensive care unit (ICU) but better data repositories and analytics are required. Recent developments in neuroimaging and definition of potential genetic and biological markers in TBI are also aiding in the sub-categorization of patients into finer diagnostic and prognostic groups. Using mathematical prediction models incorporating the plethora of data gathered, future research will provide means of tailoring therapies to individuals based upon best evidence in populations similar to them, and according to their own biological and physiological situation. Language: en
Measuring the Degree of Financial Market Efficiency

This paper compares, first, two competing hypotheses of market efficiency: the classical Efficient Market Hypothesis (EMH) of Samuelson (1965) and Fama (1970), and the Fractal Market Hypothesis (FMH) of Mandelbrot (1968) and Peters (1994). The market-neutral EMH risk depends on the empirically uncorroborated i.i.d. (= independence & stationarity) assumption of market innovations. The non-neutral FMH risk depends on the length of the investment time horizon: its degree of horizon dependence, or Long Memory (LM), is measured by the Hurst exponent. Next, it is demonstrated that an empirically better measurable definition of financial market risk is needed by all market participants. This new definition of market risk should allow for a measurement of the degree of market efficiency, which is both horizon and time dependent. The proposed definition of market risk is the time - frequency distribution P, where the shape of the P function is determined not only by second-order moments, differentiated by investment asset return categorization, but also by the length of the investment horizon, and by time t. In other words, the new definition of financial market risk embodied by the function P(s,w,t) should be able to account for the empirically observable strict non-stationarity to be scientifically acceptable. Such a categorized, horizon-dependent, time-varying, time - frequency distribution P(s,w,t) can be measured and identified by modern forms of time - frequency signal processing analysis, like wavelet multiresolution analysis. Two possible consistent diffusion models to generate such empirical time-frequency distributions P(s,w,t) are the non-arbitrage-neutral Fractional Brownian Motion and the, theoretically more acceptable) arbitrage-neutral Multifractional Model of Asset Returns.
Infectious complications after cardiac transplantation in patients bridged with mechanical circulatory support devices versus medical therapy.

Background Mechanical circulatory support (MCS) is increasingly used as a bridge to heart transplantation. It is not known whether patients who receive MCS as bridge to transplantation (BTT) have more frequent and severe infectious complications in the first transplant year. Methods Using a retrospective cohort in a single large transplant center from 2009 to 2014, we compared rates of post-transplant infections among patients bridged to transplantation with medical therapy ( n = 134) or MCS ( n = 178) over the first post-transplant year. Serious infections necessitated >14 days of continuous intravenous antibiotic therapy. Results Pre-transplant device infections were common in the MCS group (32.6%). The proportion of patients with any infection (74.2% vs 60.5%; p = 0.01, relative risk 1.23 [1.04 to 1.44]) or serious infections (45.5% vs 31.3%; p = 0.01, relative risk 1.45 [1.08 to 1.96]) in the first post-transplant year was significantly higher in the MCS group than in the medical therapy group, respectively. MCS patients but not medical therapy patients had significantly higher 1-year all-cause mortality in the presence of post-operative infections (16.7% vs 4.3%, p = 0.04). Device-related infections occurred in 67 (37.6%) MCS patients up to 337 days post-transplant, including 26 (14.6%) patients without a known or active pre-operative device infection. In multivariable analyses, age, intensive care unit length of stay, presence of pre-transplant device infection and use of an anti-thymocyte agent were associated with increased rates of infection. Conclusion More infectious complications are experienced by patients who receive MCS as BTT, with a significant occurrence of device-related infections. MCS patients with post-transplant infections have higher mortality at 1 year compared with uninfected MCS patients.
Decreased expression of microRNA-29 family in leiomyoma contributes to increased major fibrillar collagen production

Objective To determine the expression and function of the microRNA-29 family (miRNA-29a, miRNA-29b, miRNA-29c) in human leiomyoma and myometrium. Design Basic science experimental design. Setting Academic medical center. Patient(s) Women undergoing surgery for symptomatic uterine fibroids. Intervention(s) Overexpression and knockdown of miRNA-29a, miRNA-29b, and miRNA-29c in primary leiomyoma and myometrial cells. Main Outcome Measure(s) [1] Expression of the miRNA-29 family members in vivo in leiomyoma versus myometrium; [2] Major fibrillar collagen (I, II, III) expression in leiomyoma and myometrial cells with manipulation of miRNA-29 species. Result(s) Members of the miRNA-29 family (29a, 29b, 29c) are all down-regulated in leiomyoma versus myometrium in vivo. The expression of the miRNA-29 family can be successfully modulated in primary leiomyoma and myometrial cells. Overexpression of the miRNA-29 family in leiomyoma cells results in down-regulation of the major fibrillar collagens. Down-regulation of the miRNA-29 species in myometrium results in an increase in collagen type III deposition. Conclusion(s) The miRNA-29 family is consistently down-regulated in leiomyoma compared to matched myometrial tissue. This down-regulation contributes to the increased collagen seen in leiomyomas versus myometrium. When miRNA-29 members are overexpressed in leiomyoma cells, protein levels of all of the major fibrillar collagens decrease. The miRNA-29 members are potential therapeutic targets in this highly prevalent condition.
"Magic Bullet": Eccentric Macular Hole as a Complication from Dexamethasone Implant Insertion.

Introduction. Intravitreal drug injections and implants are generally safe but do carry some risk, from both the procedure itself and adverse effects of the medications. We report a case of an eccentric macular hole after dexamethasone implant (Ozurdex®) administration. Ex vitro force testing was performed to evaluate dexamethasone implant injection force. Methods. Five dexamethasone implant (Ozurdex) applicators were placed 16 mm from a force plate and the force of the injected dexamethasone pellet was recorded in Newtons. Four dexamethasone implant applicators were placed 16 mm from a force plate in a basic saline solution and the force of the pellet was recorded. Results. Average maximum force in air was 0.77 N and 0.024 N in a basic saline solution (BSS). Conclusion. We present a case report of an eccentric macular hole after dexamethasone implant administration. We hypothesize a mechanical injury to the retina during insertion caused the macular hole. Force testing done in air demonstrated sufficient force from the pellet injection to cause retinal damage though injections done in BSS showed reduced forces.
Photoacoustic-imaging-based temperature monitoring for high-intensity focused ultrasound therapy

Temperature monitoring during high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) application is necessary to ensure effective therapy while minimizing thermal damage to adjacent tissue. In this study, we demonstrate a noninvasive approach for temperature measurement during HIFU therapy based on photoacoustic imaging (PAI). Because of the dependence of photoacoustic (PA) signal amplitude on temperature of the source tissue and the linearity of the PAI system, changes in temperature will cause changes in PA image intensity. Experiments have been conducted in ex-vivo bovine tissue to characterize the linear dependence of PA image pixel values on temperature and subsequently to convert the PA image to a real-time temperature map.
Deep face liveness detection based on nonlinear diffusion using convolution neural network

A face-spoofing attack occurs when an imposter manipulates a face recognition and verification system to gain access as a legitimate user by presenting a 2D printed image or recorded video to the face sensor. This paper presents an efficient and non-intrusive method to counter face-spoofing attacks that uses a single image to detect spoofing attacks. We apply a nonlinear diffusion based on an additive operator splitting scheme. Additionally, we propose a specialized deep convolution neural network that can extract the discriminative and high-level features of the input diffused image to differentiate between a fake face and a real face. Our proposed method is both efficient and convenient compared with the previously implemented state-of-the-art methods described in the literature review. We achieved the highest reported accuracy of 99% on the widely used NUAA dataset. In addition, we tested our method on the Replay Attack dataset which consists of 1200 short videos of both real access and spoofing attacks. An extensive experimental analysis was conducted that demonstrated better results when compared to previous static algorithms results. However, this result can be improved by applying a sparse autoencoder learning algorithm to obtain a more distinguishable diffused image.
Improved specimen holder for use at temperatures up to 500°C

A specimen holder and associated equipment were required which would permit the accurate measurement of the dielectric constant and dissipation factor of dielectric materials at temperatures up to 500°C and over as wide a frequency range as possible. Holders have been designed for use at elevated temperatures (l, 2, 3), hut none were found which would cover the temperature and frequency ranges required.
Li-ion site disorder driven superionic conductivity in solid electrolytes: a first-principles investigation of β-Li3PS4

The attractive safety and long-term stability of all solid-state batteries has added a new impetus to the discovery and development of solid electrolytes for lithium batteries. Recently several superionic lithium conducting solid electrolytes have been discovered. All the superionic lithium containing compounds (β-Li3PS4 and Li10GeP2S12 and oxides, predominantly in the garnet phase) have partially occupied sites. This naturally begs the question of understanding the role of partial site occupancies (or site disorder) in optimizing ionic conductivity in these family of solids. We find that for a given topology of the host lattice, maximizing the number of sites with similar Li-ion adsorption energies, which gives partial site occupancy, is a natural way to increase the configurational entropy of the system and optimize the conductivity. For a given topology and density of Li-ion adsorption sites, the ionic conductivity is maximal when the number of mobile Li-ions are equal to the number of mobile vacancies, also the very condition for achieving maximal configurational entropy. We demonstrate applicability of this principle by elucidating the role of Li-ion site disorder and the local chemical environment in the high ionic conductivity of β-Li3PS4. In addition, for β-Li3PS4 we find that a significant density of vacancies in the Li-ion sub-lattice (∼25%) leads to sub-lattice melting at (∼600 K) leading to a molten form for the Li-ions in an otherwise solid anionic host. This gives a lithium site occupancy that is similar to what is measured experimentally. We further show that quenching this disorder can improve conductivity at lower temperatures. As a consequence, we discover that (a) one can optimize ionic conductivity in a given topology by choosing a chemistry/composition that maximizes the number of mobile-carriers i.e. maximizing both mobile Li-ions and vacancies, and (b) when the concentration of vacancies becomes significant in the Li-ion sub-lattice, it becomes energetically as well as entropically favorable for it to remain molten well below the bulk decomposition temperature of the solid. This principle may already apply to several known superionic conducting solids.
Abstract 5133: The RNA-binding protein HuR facilitates proliferation and metastasis in human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

Background: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) is the fourth most common cause of cancer-related death in the Unites States, with an overall 5-year survival rate of Methods: Stable MiaPaCa2 cell lines were generated that produce two different shRNAs against the HuR coding sequence (labeled Mia.sh290 and Mia.sh700) in response to doxycycline (DOX) induction. HuR silencing was validated by RT-qPCR and Western blotting. Similarly, a DOX-inducible MiaPaCa2 cell line that overexpresses HuR cDNA (Mia.HuR) was generated and validated. Sustained ∼50% knockdown and 1.5-2-fold overexpression were achieved, respectively. Following characterization of HuR expression in these cell lines under ±DOX conditions, we performed a 7-day cell proliferation (PicoGreen) assay and assessed anchorage-independence over a 4-week period by soft agar colony formation assay. Metastatic potential was measured by Matrigel invasion and in vitro scratch test assays. Results: Upon DOX induction, Mia.sh290 and Mia.sh700 cell lines showed significantly reduced cell proliferation over 7 days (22% and 15% reduction compared to non-induced in sh290 and sh700 respectively, p Conclusion: Taken together with our previous findings, our work demonstrates that manipulation of HuR expression affects key characteristics of tumorigenesis (i.e. proliferation, invasion, and migration). These findings, along with ongoing in vivo work, continue to support the notion that targeting HuR in PDA cells may be a promising therapeutic strategy. Citation Format: Masaya Jimbo, Fernando F. Blanco, Brad Screnci, Gabriela Cosma, Vitali Alexeev, Yu-Hung Huang, Jordan M. Winter, Charles J. Yeo, Janet A. Sawicki, Jonathan R. Brody. The RNA-binding protein HuR facilitates proliferation and metastasis in human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 5133. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-5133
Atmospheric corrosion of splat cooled aluminum alloy foils

One aspect of pollution frequently ignored in studies is that of its influence on today’s industry. For additional information on pollution and control, see pages 41–47 in this issue.
Utility of the CBCL DSM-Oriented Scales in Assessing Emotional Disorders in Youth with Autism.

Abstract Background Youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are at risk for one or more emotional disorders (ED) including depressive and anxiety conditions. DSM-5 diagnostic guidelines indicate that co-occurring ED must be specified when present. While ED may be evaluated for during initial diagnostic assessment, routine monitoring and screening is needed to identify emerging ED in later childhood and adolescence, a period of high risk. Method Confirmatory factor analysis, convergent and divergent validity analyses, criterion-related validity, and diagnostic accuracy analyses of the CBCL's Affective Problems and Anxiety Problems DSM-oriented scales was completed on 93 well-characterized youth, ages 6 to 18 years with ASD (6:1 M:F), with and without intellectual impairment. These youth were from predominately white, middle-class backgrounds. Results Each scale measured a single construct reliably (depressive and anxiety disorders), neither scale measured symptoms of ASD, and youth with a depressive disorder had other ED co-morbidities. Conclusions Findings demonstrate the DSM-Oriented Affective and Anxiety Problem Scales can be used to screen for depression and anxiety in youth with ASD. Replication is needed with various subgroups representing gender, age, developmental level, autism, and mental health severity differences and with groups across a broader set of demographics.
Covariance-Based Structural Equation Modeling in the Journal of Advertising: Review and Recommendations

In this article, we review applications of covariance-based structural equation modeling (SEM) in the Journal of Advertising (JA) starting with the first issue in 1972. We identify 111 articles from the earliest application of SEM in 1983 through 2015, and discuss important methodological issues related to the following aspects: confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), causal modeling, multiple group analysis, reporting, and guidelines for interpretation of results. Moreover, we summarize some issues related to varying terminology associated with different SEM methods. Findings indicate that the use of SEM in the JA contributes greatly to conceptual, empirical, and methodological advances in advertising research. The assessment contributes to the literature by offering advertising researchers a summary guide to best practices and a reminder of the basics that distinguish the powerful and unique approach involving structural analysis of covariances.
EFFECTS OF SPEECH PASSAGE LENGTH ON ACCURACY OF PREDICTING METABOLIC THRESHOLDS USING THE TALK TEST

The Talk Test (TT) is a simple technique for prescribing exercise training intensity, based on the ability to ‘speak comfortably’ after reciting a standard speech provoking stimulus. This study compares the length of the speech provoking stimulus on Power Output (PO) at standard TT speech comfort markers (Last Positive (LP), Equivocal (EQ), Negative (NEG)) in relation to objective markers of exercise intensity, the ventilatory (VT) and respiratory compensation (RCT) thresholds. Eighteen healthy subjects performed incremental (25W/2 min) exercise with concomitant gas exchange to measure VT and RCT. They also performed (random order) incremental exercise without gas exchange while repeating standard speech provoking stimuli of 31, 62 and 93 words to allow identification of the LP, EQ & NEG stages of the TT. The mean (+sd) PO at LP (139+38, 117+39 & 103+38 W), EQ (164+38, 142+38 & 128+33 W) & NEG (196+42, 189+43, & 174+39 W) stages of the TT were analyzed for 31, 62 & 93 word passages, in relation to the PO at VT (128+43 W) & RCT (175+39W). PO@EQ and PO@NEG stages of the TT, with the 93 word speech provoking stimulus were not significantly different than the PO@ VT and PO@RCT, respectively. The mean error for predicting PO@VT approximated zero with the longer (93 word) speech passage duration for EQ (0.1+37 W) and for predicting the PO@ RCT for NEG (0.1+29 W). The results suggest that a longer duration speech provoking passage optimizes the accuracy of the TT estimation of VT and RCT. Key words: exercise prescription, exercise test, cardiorespiratory test
Adolescent Ingestions: Recent National Trends

Abstract Adolescent ingestions are common reasons for calls to poison centers in United States. As opposed to younger children who mostly have unintentional exposures, adolescent ingestions often result from intentional use. This manuscript reviews recent reports on adolescent ingestions related to intentional abuse, self-harm, and use of opioid medications.
On the Optimal Mix of Active and Passive Investments

A modified version of the appraisal ratio developed by Treynor and Black in 1973 identifies a unique mix of active and passive investments that is optimal for every investor, regardless of his or her preferences for risk and return. This result suggests that financial advisors can consider recommending specific dollar amounts for clients to allocate to active investment strategies, rather than simply recommending qualitative assessments regarding such opportunities. The article identifies corresponding implications for services that provide estimates of analytic measures that are used to evaluate active investments, as well as for institutions that manage active portfolios on behalf of individuals.
Impact of U.S. federal government budget deficits on the ex ante real interest rate yield on ten-year treasury notes during the post-Bretton Woods (1972–2016) era

This exploratory empirical study adopts an open-economy loanable funds model to investigate the impact of post-Bretton Woods U.S. federal government budget deficits on the ex ante real interest rate yield on ten-year Treasury notes. Autoregressive, two stage least squares (AR/2SLS) estimation for the 1972–2016 study period reveals that the ex ante real interest rate yield on these notes has been an increasing function of the federal budget deficit (expressed as a percent of GDP). It follows that elevating the federal budget deficit appears to elevate the real cost of borrowing in the U.S. Given the implications of higher longer-term ex ante real interest rates on investment in new plant and equipment and other economic variables, this finding is one that responsible policy-makers should not overlook.
How coherent Ising machines push circuit design in silicon photonics to its limits (Conference Presentation)

Coherent Ising machines are a type of optical accelerators that can solve different optimization tasks by encoding the problem in the connection matrix of the network. So far, experimental realizations have been limited to time multiplexed solutions, in which one nonlinear node is present in a feedback loop. In Hewlett Packard Labs, we investigate the implementation of a spatially multiplexed solution, with an array of nominally identical nonlinear nodes. As this avoids the need for a long delayline, this makes the system more suitable for integration and hence mass production. HPE investigated two material platforms with good bulk nonlinearity properties: a-Si and GaAs. For the CMOS compatible a-Si platform, HPE demonstrated a design approach that allows to fabricate 1000 component all-optical computational circuits in a scalable way. In addition, to be able to do layout of Ising machines with ~1000 components, HPE developed highly capable photonic layout that will help across interconnects, sensors, and computation. In the GaAs platform, we focused on reducing the energy per elementary operation down to 1 fJ. The optical gates are designed with a bus-waveguide connectivity using a multi-level layered architecture design that allows waveguide connectivity between optical gates. This allows to separate computation and communication into their own dedicated layers increasing overall performance. Finally, we will highlight how both drastic automation at the layout stage and a tight integration between the electronic control layer (used for tuning of resonances and phase-shifters) and the photonic layer are key to achieve actual scalability to larger circuits.
Asymptomatic Bilateral Patella Alta After Surgical Repair of Traumatic, Sequential Bilateral Patellar Tendon Rupture: A Case Report.

Bilateral patellar tendon rupture is rare, and usually occurs in patients with ligamentous laxity, a predisposing rheumatologic disorder, chronic renal failure, or exogenous corticosteroid use1-3. We describe a patient who sustained traumatic bilateral patellar tendon ruptures nearly ten years apart. Surgical repair of each knee was successfully performed with use of an open technique, and the patient was followed for more than two years after each procedure. The most recent radiographs demonstrated bilateral patella alta; however, the patient was asymptomatic. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of an individual with asymptomatic bilateral patella alta after surgical repair of bilateral patellar tendon rupture. The patient was informed that data concerning the case would be submitted for publication, and he consented. A forty-seven-year-old man sustained a patellar tendon rupture in each knee, with the ruptures occurring ten years apart. Both tendon ruptures were repaired surgically. No previous knee problems were reported. He had no other medical conditions or surgical procedures and was on no medication. He had no personal or family history of ligamentous laxity. He denied using corticosteroids, tobacco, alcohol, and recreational drugs. He was physically active regularly and worked on his feet daily as a manual laborer. The right patellar tendon ruptured in 2000, after a fall from a standing height; it was repaired acutely at another institution with use of nonabsorbable sutures tied superiorly through transpatellar bone tunnels with no operative or postoperative complications. The patient wore a knee immobilizer for eight weeks postoperatively, and was fully compliant with weight-bearing as tolerated. After eight weeks, he was allowed full active and passive knee motion and experienced no pain. Physical examination ten years later revealed full active knee extension and lower-extremity strength. He was able to actively flex the hip and lift the …
Exploring student study behaviours in engineering: how undergraduates prepared textbook problems for online submission

While textbooks serve as a primary source of content material and problem-solving practice for undergraduates in engineering, studies that investigate how engineering students prepare assignments b...
Compact low cost 5G NR n78 band pass filter with silicon IPD technology

A low cost and compact 1608 size Silicon integrated passive device (IPD) band pass filter design for the new 5G New Radio (NR) n78 band is discussed in this paper. Top coupled filter topology with transmission zeroes is selected to give low insertion loss (IL) 30dB attenuation at 2.7 GHz and 4.9 GHz. Therefore, this design can effectively filter out adjacent ISM, 5G NR n41, and WLAN bands. Model correlation is verified with Silicon IPD wafer measurements. Variation study and Flip Chip die level performance is also discussed.
Scientific and Medical Careers: Gender and Diversity

Women students and employees are underrepresented in scientific contexts. Similarly, though the number of women medical students is quickly reaching parity with men, women are still underrepresented in the most lucrative medical specialties and at the top of medical hierarchies. Women’s experiences in both of these contexts are very similar, yet scholars rarely explore or describe this similarity. In this chapter, we begin to fill this gap by examining the role of the “leaky pipeline”, tokenism, the “chilly climate,” and career/family concerns for women in both science and medicine.
Vom Wert sozialer Diplomatie

Vermutlich denken Sie bei dieser Uberschrift zunachst nicht unbedingt an Ratten – und vermutlich fragen Sie sich auserdem gerade, was uns Ratten denn wohl uber den Wert sozialer Verhandlungen lehren konnen.
Meat buying practices of Caucasians, Mexican-Americans and Negroes.

Meat purchases were observed at supermarket checkout counters, socioeconomic data were obtained by questioning shoppers, and card questionnaires were given to 600 shoppers. Two supermarket chains in each of the three ethnic areas of Lubbock, Texas, were used on two days. Ethnic group was significantly related to the choice of half of the twelve meat cuts bought by the greastest number of shoppers and accounted for more significant effects on meat-buying variables than did chain, area, and day. Returned card questionnaires were 77 per cent accurate concerning meat-buying data.
Studies of Risk, Vulnerability and Resilience in Children

Children of psychotic parents (schizophrenic or manic-depressive) are more susceptible as a group to psychiatric disorders during childhood and to “breakdowns” with hospitalization during adolescence and early adult life than the children of psychiatrically healthy controls. These general findings from a 15-year prospective investigation have been revalued by inter-group and intra-group studies that indicate the high degree of variability in the lifetime reactions of the offspring, differences between the children of schizophrenics and manic-depressives, differences between the children of male and female psychotics, differences between children in relation to the sex of the psychotic parent, differences between the siblings of different ages relative to the onset of psychosis in the parent and differences based on social class and ethnic factors.
Advancements in Broad Area InP Based High Power Lasers Operating from 1100 nm to 2100 nm

Design methodology for InP based high power semiconductor lasers covering wavelength range from 1100 to 2100 nm is presented. A combination of InGaAsP and InAlGaAs/InP alloy provide good carrier confinements for lasers with wavelength around 1200 nm. InGaAsP/InP alloy provides sufficient carrier confinement for all other wavelengths.
Venous thromboembolism risk factors in a pediatric trauma population.

New guidelines have been proposed for venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis in pediatric trauma patients. This paper seeks to evaluate risk factors associated with VTE that might further guide patient selection for prophylaxis. Review of a tertiary children’s academic hospital’s trauma database for VTE events and associated risk factors from 2005 to 2016. 15,306 pediatric trauma patients were identified and reviewed. During this time period there were 6191 admissions (40.4%), of which 20 developed a VTE (0.3%) including two pulmonary emboli. Primary outcome was comparison of risk factors for developing a VTE that were identified in the literature. Age stratification revealed the highest incidence of VTE in children under the age of 2 (0.7%), which increased with CVC placement when compared to children aged 2–12 and 13–15 (0.036 Fisher’s exact test). VTE after pediatric trauma is rare, and may be more uncommon than previously reported. CVC placement was the strongest predictor of VTE, particularly in infant and toddler patients which can explain their higher overall incidence compared to other pediatric age groups. Identifying high-risk patients is important to optimize screening and prophylaxis of VTE in pediatric trauma patients while minimizing risks of anticoagulation.
Photoelectron spectra of Al2O2− and Al3O3−via slow electron velocity-map imaging

High-resolution photoelectron spectra of cryogenically-cooled Al2O2− and Al3O3− cluster anions are obtained using slow electron velocity-map imaging. These spectra show vibrationally-resolved detachment from the (2B3u) ground state of Al2O2− to the 1Ag and a3B3u neutral electronic states, giving an electron affinity of 1.87904(4) eV for neutral Al2O2 and a term energy of 0.4938(4) eV for the triplet excited state. Additionally, there is evidence for autodetachment from photoexcited anions as well as influences from vibronic coupling between excited states of the neutral Al2O2 cluster. Detachment from both the “kite” and “book” isomers of Al3O3− is observed, yielding electron affinities of 2.0626(4) and 2.792(3) eV for the corresponding neutral isomers. Experiments carried out at different anion temperatures suggest that the two anionic isomers are nearly isoenergetic but clearly identify the kite isomer as the global minimum structure, in contrast to prior studies. This finding is supported by density functional theory calculations, which show that the relative ordering of the anion isomers is sensitive to basis set size; calculations for the anion isomers at the B3LYP/aug-cc-pVQZ level find the kite isomer to lie 0.011 eV below the book isomer.
Challenges for learning in complex environments

Deep reinforcement learning has rapidly grown as a research field with far-reaching potential for artificial intelligence. Games and simple physical simulations have been used as the main benchmark domains for many fundamental developments. As the field matures, it is important to develop more sophisticated learning systems with the aim of solving more complex real-world tasks, but problems like catastrophic forgetting remain critical, and important capabilities such as skill composition through curriculum learning remain unsolved. Continual learning is an important challenge for reinforcement learning, because RL agents are trained sequentially, in interactive environments, and are especially vulnerable to the phenomena of catastrophic forgetting and catastrophic interference. Successful methods for continual learning have broad potential, because they could enable agents to learn multiple skills, potentially enabling complex behaviors. In particular, while deep learning has shown excellent progress towards training systems to perform with human or superhuman ability on various tasks (domains like vision, speech, and language as well as games such as Starcraft and Go), the resulting systems are still sluggish to respond to new information, or non-stationarities in the environment, compared to humans. Learning algorithms do exist that can quickly adapt to new data, but these are often at odds with large-scale deep learning systems. Meta-learning is one example of a learning paradigm that may not have this dilemma and thus holds promise as a framework for supporting fast and slow learning in a single learner. In this framework, one could view the learning process as having two levels of optimisation: an outer loop, which might adapt slowly towards a "species" level of optimisation, tailored for an environment, a morphology, and a family of skills or tasks; and an inner loop which allows an individual agent to more quickly adapt and diversify in response to a lifetime of experiences. I would argue that model-free deep reinforcement learning is an effective algorithm for optimising the outer loop of this process, but it may not be as successful as an algorithm for effective lifelong learning - the inner loop of the process.
4 RFID and the Internet of Things

Few movies now seem more dated than 1992's Lawnmower Man. The movie was never very good, but its focus on digital bodies wandering through a virtual reality world captured a popular view of how the internet would evolve, a view the last two decades proved to be rather misguided. With visions of the future shaped in no small part by films such as Lawnmower Man and far more acclaimed science fiction novels such as William Gibson's Neuro-mancer and Neal Stephenson's Snow Crash, people in the 1990s often talked about the internet as a space separate from the physical world. The online world was a "cyberspace," an "information super highway" that would negate spatial difference and make it so that, to quote a famous MCI commercial, "there would be no more there. There would only be here." 1 Much early academic thought about the internet took a similar perspective. Technology researcher Nicholas Negroponte wrote about how people would no longer need to socialize in physical spaces. Philosopher Paul Virilio talked about how individuals might soon stop having sex in the physical world. 2 Geographers predicted the "death of cities." 3 Online environments were often viewed as a way to live life through an avatar and ignore the corporeal constraints of the physical world. To summarize Negroponte, life was breaking down into a battle between a “world of bits” and a “world of atoms,” 4 and the bits were winning.
Design Strategies for Efficient Nonstoichiometric Mixed Metal Oxide Electrocatalysts: Correlating Measurable Oxide Properties to Electrocatalytic Performance

Recent advances in the use of nonstoichiometric mixed metal oxides belonging to the perovskite family as cost-effective catalysts for various oxygen-related heterogeneous thermochemical and electro...
Minimally Invasive Gastric Wedge Resection

Laparoscopic wedge resection of cancer has become the standard approach for surgical management of benign and malignant gastric tumors. This chapter describes preoperative considerations for determining patient eligibility and surgical approaches to ensure successful execution of minimally invasive gastric wedge resection. Various techniques are described depending on tumor location, and possible complications are discussed.
Case Study from Afghanistan: Dismounted Complex Blast Injury

Dismounted complex blast injury (DCBI) describes an aggregate of anatomic and physiologic life-threatening injuries. DCBI was not an uncommon injury pattern seen in US military combat casualties during the conflicts in the Iraq and Afghanistan that started in 2002. This injury pattern results from an individual stepping on (or being in close proximity) to a large explosive, most commonly improvised explosive devices (IED). The compilation of injuries is frequently devastating, and casualties will exsanguinate in minutes if rapid actions are not taken for hemorrhage control. The use of tourniquets has been lifesaving in casualties who undergo traumatic amputations, frequently of multiple limbs. Innovations in prehospital care and liberal use of tourniquets have resulted in a decrease in potentially preventable deaths.
Wearable Devices Are Well Accepted by Patients in the Study and Management of Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Survey Study

Wearable devices are designed to capture health-related and physiological data. They may be able to improve inflammatory bowel disease management and address evolving research needs. Little is known about patient perceptions for their use in the study and management of inflammatory bowel disease. The aim of this survey study is to understand patient preferences and interest in wearable technology. Consecutive adult patients who self-reported having inflammatory bowel disease were approached at the Susan and Leonard Feinstein Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center at the Mount Sinai Hospital to complete a 28-question survey. Reponses were analyzed with descriptive statistics. The Pearson Chi-square test and Fischer’s exact test were used to determine the association between demographic and disease-related features and survey responses. Four hundred subjects completed the survey. 42.7% of subjects reported prior or current use of wearable devices. 89.0% of subjects believed that wearable devices can provide important information about their health, while 93.8% reported that they would use a wearable device if it could help their doctor manage their IBD. Subjects identified wrist-worn devices as the preferred device type and a willingness to wear these devices at least daily. Patients with inflammatory bowel disease believe that wearable devices can provide important information about their health and report a willingness to wear them frequently in research studies and as part the routine management of inflammatory bowel disease.