cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Formation of the effectiveness of public and private sector companies of the maritime industry based on an integrated analysis of financial results

The maritime industry in Lithuania is based on the public, state, and private sectors, and on the interests, activities and partnership of business companies operating in the aforementioned sectors. Despite the management of the public sector in Lithuania being criticized for showing performance shortcomings, the state of Klaipeda's seaport management and performance results refutes this criticism. The overall result of partnerships and co-operation is obtained – it reflects the port's competitiveness level in the region. According to a report conducted by the International Monetary Fund, the potential output growth in 2014–2015 has declined since the global financial crisis. Policy actions are required to boost the productivity levels, and to foster capital growth. In order to achieve these objectives, it is essential to know the company's financial situation better, because the better the financial state of the company, the more new port service users, cargo owners, shipping lines, and investors it attracts. The standard analysis of financial indicators is insufficient. Hence the method of integrated analysis is applied. The results of it might be considered as guidelines for both the state seaport authorities in order to improve the port's competitive position in the region, and for the private companies for their business development.
Robust decision making using a general utility set

Abstract We address the problem of ambiguity and inconsistency in a decision maker’s (DM) assessed utility function by using a maxmin framework. In this framework DM’s utility function belongs to a set of functions. The member functions of the set are nondecreasing, and satisfy additional boundary and auxiliary conditions. The maxmin framework provides robustness in decision making. Alternatively, it allows us to perform sensitivity or parametric analysis for the optimal decision when a reference utility function is known. For this purpose we use a cost of ambiguity concept, and show that this cost is increasing and concave when extent of ambiguity is parametrically increased. Next we develop a Lagrangian based solution approach for the decision problem. We show that under suitable conditions a Sample Average Approximation (SAA) of the Lagrangian model can be solved using a mixed integer linear program (MILP). We also show that the set of optimal solutions of the SAA converges to that of its true counterpart, and the optimum objective value of the SAA converges to the true objective value at an exponential rate. We use this convergence property to develop a heuristic for identifying a solution of the SAA MILP with increasing sample size. We illustrate the properties of the maxmin model using two examples of portfolio investment and streaming bandwidth. We provide a discussion on the performance of a commercial solver used to solve SAA MILPs, and the quality of solutions generated by the proposed heuristic.
Baryon number conservation and the cumulants of the net proton distribution

We discuss the modification of the cumulants of the net baryon and net proton distributions due to the global conservation of baryon number in heavy-ion collisions. Corresponding probability distributions and their cumulants are derived analytically. We show that the conservation of baryon number results in a substantial decrease of higher order cumulants. Based on our studies, we propose an observable that is insensitive to the modifications due to baryon number conservation.
Evidence for a common evolutionary rate in metazoan transcriptional networks

The genetic information that makes each individual unique is encoded in DNA molecules. Cells read this molecular instruction manual by a process called transcription, in which proteins called transcription factors bind to DNA in specific places and regulate which sections of the DNA will be expressed. These 'transcripts' are active molecules that determine the cell’s – and ultimately the individual’s – characteristics. However, it is not well understood how alterations in the DNA of different individuals or species can lead to changes in where the transcription factors bind, and in which transcripts are expressed. Carvunis, Wang, Skola et al. set out to determine if there is a relationship between how often DNA changes and how often transcription changes during the evolution of animals. The experiments examined the abundance of transcripts in the cells of a variety of animal species with close or distant evolutionary relationships. For example, the house mouse was compared to a close relative called the Algerian mouse, to another species of rodent (rat) and to humans. The experiments show that the changes in transcript abundances are happening at similar rates in mammals, birds and insects, even though DNA changes at very different rates in these groups of animals. This similarity was also observed for other aspects of transcription, such as in changes to where transcription factors bind to DNA. The next challenges are to find out what makes transcription evolve at such similar rates in these groups of animals, and whether these findings extend to other species and to other processes in cells.
Huffman coding analysis of XOR filtered images

The field of lossless image compression studies the various ways to represent image data in the most compact and efficient manner possible that also allows the image to be reproduced without any loss. There are many ways that this is accomplished and the most efficient strategy is to leverage the fundamental concepts of entropy reduction through decorrelation. The application of decorrelation methodologies prior to entropy coding is a modeling-coding strategy that produces significant results. This study focuses on the usage of the exclusive-or logic operator as a decorrelation filter. The exclusive-or logic operator is simply and reversibly applied to continuous-tone images for the purpose of extracting differences between neighboring pixels. The results of the exclusive-or operator based decorrelation filter are then processed through entropy encoding using Huffman coding. Experiments indicate that the exclusive-or operator based decorrelation filter has a significant impact on reducing entropy and therefore compression results.
Conditional Diffusion: Cigarette Taxation, Smoke Free Air Regulation, and Political Ideology in the United States 1971-2006

This article shows how diffusion of the two policy instruments “cigarette taxation” and “smoke free air regulation” across state borders in the United States is influenced and changed by the ideology of state governments. Developing and applying the concept of conditional diffusion I show 1) that the cigarette taxes in states with liberal governments are positively related to the cigarette taxes in adjacent states, while very conservative governments lower taxes in a high-tax environment and 2) that liberal governments increase the restrictiveness of smoke free air policies if confronted with the diffusion influence from highly restrictive states while conservative governments, under the same circumstances, employ laxer regulation. Taken unconditionally, the ideological positions of governments reveal no influence in an interdependent policy environment. Beyond its subject matter, the article therefore generally calls for a careful specification of cross-jurisdictional influences in models with unit interdependence.
Ensemble Learning for Low-Level Hardware-Supported Malware Detection

Recent work demonstrated hardware-based online malware detection using only low-level features. This detector is envisioned as a first line of defense that prioritizes the application of more expensive and more accurate software detectors. Critical to such a framework is the detection performance of the hardware detector. In this paper, we explore the use of both specialized detectors and ensemble learning techniques to improve performance of the hardware detector. The proposed detectors reduce the false positive rate by more than half compared to a single detector, while increasing the detection rate. We also contribute approximate metrics to quantify the detection overhead, and show that the proposed detectors achieve more than 11x reduction in overhead compared to a software only detector 1.87x compared to prior work, while improving detection time. Finally, we characterize the hardware complexity by extending an open core and synthesizing it on an FPGA platform, showing that the overhead is minimal.
EVOLUTIONARY RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ENTOMOPHILOUS PLANTS AND ANTHOPHILOUS INSECTS

Most students of floral ecology and insect behavior agree today that bees and flowers are closely and mutually interrelated in evolution as reciprocal selective factors (Frisch, 1950, 1954; Grant, 1949; Schneirla, 1951; Butler, 1954, p. 6). But neither the evolution of flower types to their present perfection of colors and symmetry, nor the sensory development of insect pollinators, which might have caused the gradual floral differentiation, are yet satisfactorily explained. So far, no attempt has been made to present theories or speculations on how the flowering plants, which form the main part of the vegetation on earth, have come to be as we see them today. Almost all recent writers hold the view that the evolution of the flowering plants is still as great a mystery as ever (Just, 1952; Good, 1956; Thomas, 1956). It is urgently important, therefore, to explore the expected parallelism between the development of flowers and of insects, and to establish its evolutionary significance.
Highlights in medical ophthalmology. The Schneider Foundation eye presentation.

Important eye symptoms in diagnosis of eye conditions having general causes are discussed. Eye lesions in diseases of the kidney, thyroid gland and blood vessels and infections are described. A closer alliance between the general physician and specialist with particular emphasis on the early diagnosis of glaucoma is stressed in the interest of preventing unnecessary blindness.
Place-based and data-rich citizen science as a precursor for conservation action

Environmental education strategies have customarily placed substantial focus on enhancing ecological knowledge and literacy with the hope that, upon discovering relevant facts and concepts, participants will be better equipped to process and dissect environmental issues and, therefore, make more informed decisions. The assumption is that informed citizens will become active citizens--enthusiastically lobbying for, and participating in, conservation-oriented action. We surveyed and interviewed and used performance data from 432 participants in the Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team (COASST), a scientifically rigorous citizen science program, to explore measurable change in and links between understanding and action. We found that participation in rigorous citizen science was associated with significant increases in participant knowledge and skills; a greater connection to place and, secondarily, to community; and an increasing awareness of the relative impact of anthropogenic activities on local ecosystems specifically through increasing scientific understanding of the ecosystem and factors affecting it. Our results suggest that a place-based, data-rich experience linked explicitly to local, regional, and global issues can lead to measurable change in individual and collective action, expressed in our case study principally through participation in citizen science and community action and communication of program results to personal acquaintances and elected officials. We propose the following tenets of conservation literacy based on emergent themes and the connections between them explicit in our data: place-based learning creates personal meaning making; individual experience nested within collective (i.e., program-wide) experience facilitates an understanding of the ecosystem process and function at local and regional scales; and science-based meaning making creates informed concern (i.e., the ability to discern both natural and anthropogenic forcing), which allows individuals to develop a personalized prioritization schema and engage in conservation action.
The effect of intraislet somatostatin immunoneutralization on insulin secretion in the isolated perfused rat pancreas.

BACKGROUND There is evidence of a local inhibitory effect of somatostatin on insulin secretion in the isolated human pancreas, but this has not been shown in a rat model. The possible phasic effect of somatostatin on insulin secretion has not been demonstrated. AIMS This study was undertaken to determine if somatostatin has a local regulatory effect on phasic insulin secretion within a rat pancreas model. METHODS The basal and glucose stimulated secretion of insulin was compared with and without immunoneutralization of somatostatin using a somatostatin antibody in an isolated perfused rat pancreas model. High concentration, high affinity monoclonal somatostatin antibody was perfused through isolated rat pancreata. Radioimmunoassay for insulin was performed on the portal effluent. RESULTS Immunoneutralization of somatostatin during basal insulin secretion produced a rise in insulin secretion of 551 +/- 163% that approached significance. Immunoneutralization during glucose stimulated insulin secretion produced a significant rise in insulin secretion compared to the control group of 2,678 +/- 187% vs. 535 +/- 39% (p < 0.05). The phase I vs. the phase II response in the glucose stimulated pancreas was similar in the presence of control antibody, 867 +/- 351% vs. 900 +/- 398% (p = NS). With somatostatin immunoneutralization, the glucose stimulated pancreas had a significantly higher phase II response than phase I; 3,832 +/- 688% vs. 2,516 +/- 431% (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION These data indicate that intraislet somatostatin is an inhibitor of insulin secretion in the isolated perfused rat pancreas. This effect occurs primarily in phase II of insulin secretion.
The relationship between business ethics diffusion, knowledge sharing and service innovation

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to consider business ethics as a concept and behavior that is worthy of attracting more proponents, and to explore how the diffusion of business ethics can effectively promote service innovation in an organization. Design/methodology/approach – This study applies a quantitative research approach to 357 businesses in the travel and tourism industry on both sides of the Taiwan Strait. Findings – The results reveal that the increased visibility of business ethics activities in an organization strengthens its ability to display service innovation, with the condition that knowledge sharing actively occurs as the mediating variable. Originality/value – This study proposes a business ethics diffusion model that is advantageous for industries seeking innovations in service provision.
Association of Montevideo units with uterine rupture in women undergoing a trial of labor.

Objective To determine if an association exists between Montevideo units (MVUs) and uterine rupture in women undergoing trial of labor after cesarean (TOLAC). Study design A case-control study of women who underwent a TOLAC, comparing uterine rupture (n = 9) to successful vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) (n = 48) and failed TOLAC (n = 35). MVUs were calculated in 12 10-minute intervals prior to uterine rupture, cesarean delivery, or complete dilation in the VBAC group. MVUs were compared between groups by Wilcoxon rank sum test. The pattern of change of MVUs over time was examined by linear regression mixed models. Results The MVUs were similar among all groups (medians ranged from 140-175 [VBAC], 145-190 [TOLAC], and 130-195 [ruptures]). The analysis of pattern of change in MVUs over time demonstrated no difference within the VBAC group (p = 0.22) or the failed TOLAC group (p = 0.87), or between groups (VBAC and rupture [p = 0.56], failed TOLAC and rupture [p = 0.37]). A post-hoc power analysis showed a mean difference of 50 MVUs (SD 45) between VBAC and rupture and 55 MVUs (SD 45) between failed TOLAC and rupture can be detected with a power of 80% at a significance of 0.05. Conclusion There is no association between MVUs and uterine rupture in women undergoing a TOLAC.
Linguistic Inequality in the Legal System

The justice system requires both fairness and impartiality, a matter of perception as well as reality. The right to a fair trial or hearing applies to all, regardless of their citizenship, their social status, or their knowledge of the English language. The potential of the government to abuse its power was of great concern for the framers of the Constitution. The Bill of Rights was designed to constrain the power of government through equity and due process, which, for those who speak English as a second language – or not at all – requires special services that are negotiated at every stage of the legal process. The Fifth Amendment to the Constitution provides a number of protections against self-incrimination and for due process: “No person shall … be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law.” The Fifth Amendment applies to the federal courts; Section 1 of the Fourteenth Amendment explicitly extends the due process protections to the states and further guarantees equal protection of the laws: “nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.” The procedures that constitute due process are further elaborated in the Sixth Amendment, which adds the right to assistance by counsel, to confrontation of witnesses, and to an impartial jury: In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense. The nature of due process is fairly well defined in criminal cases, less so in others such as immigration hearings, welfare eligibility cases, and civil suits.
TD-δπ: a model-free algorithm for efficient exploration

We study the problem of finding efficient exploration policies for the case in which an agent is momentarily not concerned with exploiting, and instead tries to compute a policy for later use. We first formally define the Optimal Exploration Problem as one of sequential sampling and show that its solutions correspond to paths of minimum expected length in the space of policies. We derive a model-free, local linear approximation to such solutions and use it to construct efficient exploration policies. We compare our model-free approach to other exploration techniques, including one with the best known PAC bounds, and show that ours is both based on a well-defined optimization problem and empirically efficient.
The Schematism and the Analytic of Principles I

The final stage in justifying the categories consists in Kant's arguments for the synthetic a priori principles correlated with them. In the Analytic of Principles, Kant defends these metaphysical principles, including those of substance and causality that Hume attacked. As mentioned earlier, he also added to the B edition the argument titled the Refutation of Idealism, aimed at Descartes's view that knowledge of physical reality is less certain than self-knowledge. Thus it is here rather than in the Transcendental Deduction that Kant responds directly to the skeptical challenge. The first chapter of this section, the Schematism, forms a bridge between the Transcendental Deduction and the arguments for the principles. It explains how pure concepts of the understanding, which have no original connection to sensibility, can apply to objects of intuition. The schema of each category is the condition relating the pure concept to spatiotemporal objects. It provides the empirical content that turns the syntactic concept into a real concept of an object. Contrary to the view of many commentators, this chapter is not incidental to Kant's argument. As Allison points out, the Transcendental Deduction shows only that the categories apply necessarily to objects given in time. But from that argument no particular metaphysical propositions can be derived. The Schematism specifies the particular temporal condition connected with each category. In particular, it describes how the productive imagination mediates between the understanding and the sensibility.
Quantification of void pinning effects during grain growth of nanocrystalline iron

Abstract In-situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) annealing experiments, coupled with an analytical model, compared void pinning effects in nanocrystalline Fe films during grain growth. Voided grain boundaries were shown to have nearly four orders of magnitude less grain boundary mobility than void-free grain boundaries. However the coverage of the grain boundaries by pores was over three times that which would be required for static particles to completely halt grain boundary migration. Grain boundary migration continued because the pores were dragged by the grain boundaries and continued to evolve and coalesce. Thus, pores can slow grain boundary migration but are not an effective means of fully stabilizing nanocrystalline grain size at high temperatures.
Vocal responses of Blue Jays (Cyanocitta cristata) to raptors that differ in predatory threat

Some species of birds use their vocalisations to communicate predator presence and the level of threat they pose, including two species of corvids (Corvidae), American Crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos)...
Reticulate Evolution in Elatine L. (Elatinaceae), a Predominantly Autogamous Genus of Aquatic Plants

Abstract The study of hybridization in aquatic plants is complicated by rarity of flower production, absence of roots, and asexuality. Elatine is a cosmopolitan genus of aquatic flowering plants with about 25 species worldwide. Historically, there has been little concern regarding hybridization in the genus due to the prevalence of autogamy (i.e. self-pollination), which potentially limits xenogamous pollen transfer among the species. Two morphologically complex species (Elatine hexandra and E. americana) are the only known polyploids in the genus. In previous phylogenetic analyses, both species resolved incongruently in gene trees obtained from nuclear (ITS) versus plastid (matK/trnK and rbcL) regions. Suspecting that the phylogenetic incongruence might be a consequence of past hybridization events, we tested that hypothesis by conducting an additional phylogenetic analysis of Elatine, which incorporated sequences from a low copy nuclear gene (phyC). Elatine hexandra and E. americana were the only Elatin...
Circulating East to East: Understanding the Push–Pull Factors of Chinese Students Studying in Korea

Every year, substantial numbers of students choose to study abroad, and China is one of the largest exporters of international students. Interestingly, instead of choosing English-speaking countrie...
Recent Progress on Hyperbranched Polymers Synthesized via Radical-Based Self-Condensing Vinyl Polymerization

This short review article summarizes recent reports on using controlled radical polymerization (CRP) of inimers (compounds containing initiating group and vinyl group in one molecule) or transmers (compounds containing chain transfer group and vinyl group in one molecule) for the synthesis of hyperbranched polymers. These inimers and transmers that carry numerous functional groups could be homopolymerized, i.e., self-condensing vinyl polymerization, or copolymerized with monovinyl monomers, i.e., self-condensing vinyl copolymerization, using atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), nitroxide-mediated polymerization (NMP) or reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization techniques, producing hyperbranched polymers and hyperstar polymers with tunable molecular weights, compositions and degree of branching. Recent reports that attempted different strategies to regulate polymer–polymer reactions were introduced, demonstrating possible syntheses of hyperbranched polymers with better defined structures and relatively low molecular weight dispersity. Finally, several CRP-produced hyperbranched polymers were discussed on their applications for encapsulation of guest molecules, nanomedicine, diagnostic imaging and catalysis.
From Fecal Briquettes to Candy Kremlins: The Edible Ideal in Sorokin's Prose

This article examines contemporary Russian postmodernist author Vladimir Sorokin9s use of food thematics primarily in works written since the year 2000. Sorokin is perhaps best known for his signature technique of using grotesque sexual or violent imagery to parody the truth claims of various kinds of discourse, whether ideological, religious, or aesthetic. However, in a number of works, beginning with his first novel, The Norm (1983–87), and extending up to such recent short novels such as Day of an Oprichnik (2006) and Candy Kremlin (2008), Sorokin employs food imagery to critique the push for extreme ideological and social cohesion at the heart of Russia9s re-embrace of nationalism and empire in the twenty-first century. The author also employs a broad array of food/eating images to critique the country9s long-standing tradition of consuming utopian ideologies—from Dostoevsky and Tolstoy in the nineteenth century to Putinism in the twenty-first.
Gun- and Non-Gun-Related Violence Exposure and Risk for Subsequent Gun Carrying Among Male Juvenile Offenders.

Objective Although studies have found that youth exposed to violence are more likely to carry guns than non-exposed youth, this association could be due to common causal factors or other pre-existing differences between individuals. In this study, within-individual change models were used to determine whether juvenile offenders exhibit an increased propensity to carry a firearm after being exposed to gun violence and/or non-gun violence. The advantage of this approach is all time-invariant factors are eliminated as potential confounders. Method A sample of 1,170 racially/ethnically diverse male juvenile offenders was recruited in Arizona and Pennsylvania (14–19 years old at recruitment). Participants were interviewed every 6 months for 3 years followed by 4 annual assessments. The outcome was gun carrying and the primary predictors were exposure to gun violence and non-gun violence. Time-varying covariates included exposure to peers who carried guns, exposure to peers who engaged in other (non-gun) criminal acts, developmental changes in gun carrying, and changes in gun carrying from incarceration or institutionalization. Results Adolescent offenders were significantly more likely to carry a gun in recall periods after exposure to gun violence, but not after exposure to non-gun violence. Effect of gun violence on carrying was significant throughout adolescence and young adulthood and could not be accounted for by time-varying and time-invariant confounders. Conclusions Interventions to decrease illegal gun carrying should target young men in medical and mental health settings who experience or witness gun violence and those living in communities with high rates of gun violence.
Regulation, New Venture Creation, and Resource-Advantage Theory: An Analysis of the U.S. Brewing Industry:

Regulation is an important means by which policymakers address social costs. However, recent research suggests that managing social costs often comes at the expense of entrepreneurial activity. We ...
The Architecture of the Presynaptic Release Site

The architecture of the presynaptic release site is exquisitely designed to facilitate the regulated tethering, docking, and fusing of synaptic vesicles with the plasma membrane. With the identification of some of the building blocks, we are beginning to understand the morphologic and functional properties of the synapse. Presynaptic release sites consist of a plasma membrane, a cytomatrix, and dense projections. These three components are morphologically distinct, yet they are intimately connected with each other and the postsynaptic nerve terminal, ensuring the fidelity of synaptic vesicle tethering, docking and fusion, as well as signal detection. Although the morphology of active zones and the molecular composition vary among species, tissues and cells, the architectural design of the release sites is likely conserved.
A Brief History of Violence and Aggression in Spectator Sports

Sporting contests have provided mass entertainment throughout history. Ancient Mesoamericans had their ball games, the Greeks had the Olympic Games, and the Romans had many spectator sports such as gladiatorial contests and chariot races. As pointed out by George Orwell in the mid-twentieth century quote above, present-day versions of these ancient sports provide entertainment for passionate spectators, and they tend to be heavily influenced by financial issues. However, it is unlikely that Orwell could have foreseen the economic impact that this “heavily-financed activity” would have in the twenty-first century. Plunkett Research (2010) reports that the US sports industry generated over $400 billion in gross revenues during 2010, with the big four US professional leagues generating almost $22 billion. As a point of comparison, the entire US movie industry generated less than $10 billion in revenues in 2010, making it only slightly larger in gross revenues than the National Football League (NFL).
New transgenic NIS reporter rats for longitudinal tracking of fibrogenesis by high-resolution imaging

Fibrogenesis is the underlying mechanism of wound healing and repair. Animal models that enable longitudinal monitoring of fibrogenesis are needed to improve traditional tissue analysis post-mortem. Here, we generated transgenic reporter rats expressing the sodium iodide symporter (NIS) driven by the rat collagen type-1 alpha-1 (Col1α1) promoter and demonstrated that fibrogenesis can be visualized over time using SPECT or PET imaging following activation of NIS expression by rotator cuff (RC) injury. Radiotracer uptake was first detected in and around the injury site day 3 following surgery, increasing through day 7–14, and declining by day 21, revealing for the first time, the kinetics of Col1α1 promoter activity in situ. Differences in the intensity and duration of NIS expression/collagen promoter activation between individual RC injured Col1α1-hNIS rats were evident. Dexamethasone treatment delayed time to peak NIS signals, showing that modulation of fibrogenesis by a steroid can be imaged with exquisite sensitivity and resolution in living animals. NIS reporter rats would facilitate studies in physiological wound repair and pathological processes such as fibrosis and the development of anti-fibrotic drugs.
Clinically significant ventricular arrhythmias and progression of depression and anxiety following an acute coronary syndrome.

Abstract Background Depression and anxiety are common and associated with worse clinical outcomes in patients who experience an acute coronary syndrome (ACS). We investigated the association between major ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) with the progression of depression and anxiety among hospital survivors of an ACS. Methods Patients were interviewed in hospital and by telephone up to 12 months after hospital discharge. The primary outcome was the presence of moderate/severe symptoms of depression and anxiety defined as a Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ)-9 score ≥ 10 and a Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)-7 score ≥ 10 at baseline and 1 month and PHQ-2 ≥ 3 and GAD-2 ≥ 3 at 3, 6, and 12 months. We used marginal models to examine the association between major VAs and the symptoms of depression or anxiety over time. Results The average age of the study population (n = 2074) was 61.1 years, 33.5% were women, and 78.3% were white. VAs developed in 105 patients (5.1%). Symptoms of depression and anxiety were present in 22.2% and 23.5% of patients at baseline, respectively, and declined to 14.1% and 12.6%, respectively, at 1-month post-discharge. VAs were not significantly associated with the progression of symptoms of depression (adjusted relative risk [aRR] = 1.29, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.94–1.77) and anxiety (aRR = 1.22, 95% CI = 0.86–1.72), or with change in average scores of PHQ-2 and GAD-2 over time, both before and after risk adjustment. Conclusion The prevalence of symptoms of depression and anxiety was high after an ACS but declined thereafter and may not be associated with the occurrence of major in-hospital VAs.
OCT Segmentation via Deep Learning: A Review of Recent Work

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is an important retinal imaging method since it is a non-invasive, high-resolution imaging technique and is able to reveal the fine structure within the human retina. It has applications for retinal as well as neurological disease characterization and diagnostics. The use of machine learning techniques for analyzing the retinal layers and lesions seen in OCT can greatly facilitate such diagnostics tasks. The use of deep learning (DL) methods principally using fully convolutional networks has recently resulted in significant progress in automated segmentation of optical coherence tomography. Recent work in that area is reviewed herein.
Integrated Graduation Program and its Effect on Women and Household Economic Well-being: Findings from a Randomised Controlled Trial in Burkina Faso

Throughout Sub-Saharan Africa, poverty alleviation programmes have struggled to reach the ultra-poor. To address this challenge, a growing number of agencies are adopting a ‘graduation approach’ to...
Enhanced recovery after spine surgery—a multinational survey assessing surgeons’ perspectives

Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) is the object of numerous publications in various surgical fields. Still, its value in spine surgery is not as recognized as it is in other surgical domains. Our aim was to report neurosurgeons’ opinions about ERAS in spine surgery. From December 2019 to January 2020, members of the European Association of Neurosurgical Societies were asked to complete an online questionnaire regarding ERAS in spine surgery. N = 234 participants responded to the survey (60% spine neurosurgeons; 22.6% working in private practice). Thirty-two percent reported to have more than 20 years of experience, followed by surgeons having between 5 and 10 (27.4%), 10–15 (17.9%), 15–20 (12%), and 0–5 years (10.7%). Gender distribution (12% vs 27% female gender, p = 0.04), private practice activity (28% vs 14%, p = 0.01), familiarity with the ERAS concept (57.4% vs 27%, p < 0.0001), and its implementation in the daily clinical practice (47.5% vs 18.3%, p < 0.0001) were statistically different between spine and general neurosurgeons. 54.7% of the surgeons were unfamiliar with ERAS in spine surgery. 63.7% considered ERAS as a progress; 36% declared to implement ERAS in their daily clinical practice. 1.7% reported ERAS as a decrease in the quality of management. 6.8% considered ERAS as not having an impact on patient care; 27.8% had no opinion. There were no differences in opinion on ERAS and its implementation between surgeons working in private and public hospitals. 69.5% of the spine surgeons considered ERAS having a positive impact on patient management, versus 55% of non-spine surgeons (p = 0.02). Efforts are necessary to promote minimal invasive pre-, intra-, and postoperative workflow to improve patient management and reduce complications or side effects particularly adapted to spinal surgery. Specificities of spine patients, in terms of chronic pain, pre- and postoperative pain management, and psychological issues have to be considered.
Tolerance development in children undergoing repeated exposure to anesthesia drugs for radiation therapy

Background & Objectives: Radiation therapy is one of the modalities used in cancer treatment to destroy rapidly growing tumor mass. The fractionated radiation session targets up to four fields of 90 sec each, over 10-15 min. Young children require deep sedation or general anesthesia to make them immobile, for the safe delivery of radiation fractions. Common drugs used for sedation are propofol, ketamine and midazolam. Repeated exposure to anesthetic drugs over a short period of time may lead to development of tolerance and increased dose requirements. We aimed to determine if drug tolerance phenomenon develops in children receiving frequent doses of anesthetic drugs over a short time period. Methodology: This is a retrospective observational study of the pediatric population who underwent frequent radiotherapy sessions with deep sedation from January to May 2019. The data of the first and last day of drugs administered was analyzed to determine if the dose requirement for any of the three drugs increased over time. Results: We collected data of twenty-one patients and applied two tailed student’s t-test on the mean dose of drugs on the first day and the last day of the treatment. It remained unchanged with insignificant p value (propofol p = 0.15; midazolam p = 0.5; ketamine p = 0.32). To minimize the drug augmenting each other’s effect, multilinear regression analysis of the drugs over the time period showed that there was neither an increase nor a decrease in the doses used (αi- propofol coefficient 0.019 ± 0.053; βi- midazolam coefficient -0.002 ± 0.007; γi- ketamine coefficient 0.049 ± 0.218)). The overall duration of the recovery time was not different from the first to the last day of radiotherapy. Conclusion: Frequent and repeated doses of sedative drugs over a short period of time in children undergoing repeated deep sedation for radiation therapy, do not result in the development of tolerance. Key words: Sedation; Tolerance; Radiotherapy Citation: Iqbal A, Saleem H, Durrani RS. Tolerance development in children undergoing repeated exposure to anesthesia drugs for radiation therapy. Anaesth. pain intensive care 2020;24(5): Received: 7 July 2020, Reviewed: 26 August 2020, Accepted: 3 September 2020
Advances in germline predisposition to acute leukaemias and myeloid neoplasms.

Although much work has focused on the elucidation of somatic alterations that drive the development of acute leukaemias and other haematopoietic diseases, it has become increasingly recognized that germline mutations are common in many of these neoplasms. In this Review, we highlight the different genetic pathways impacted by germline mutations that can ultimately lead to the development of familial and sporadic haematological malignancies, including acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Many of the genes disrupted by somatic mutations in these diseases (for example, TP53, RUNX1, IKZF1 and ETV6) are the same as those that harbour germline mutations in children and adolescents who develop these malignancies. Moreover, the presumption that familial leukaemias only present in childhood is no longer true, in large part due to the numerous studies demonstrating germline DDX41 mutations in adults with MDS and AML. Lastly, we highlight how different cooperating events can influence the ultimate phenotype in these different familial leukaemia syndromes. This Review highlights the different genetic pathways impacted by germline mutations that can lead to the development of familial and sporadic haematological malignancies, with a particular focus on recent advances in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, acute myeloid leukaemia and myelodysplastic syndromes.
Total Joint Arthroplasty during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Scoping Review with Implications for Future Practice.

Abstract Background Recent studies have examined the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the practice of total joint arthroplasty. A scoping review of the literature with compiled recommendations is a useful tool for arthroplasty surgeons as they resume their orthopedic practices during the pandemic. Methods In June 2020, PubMed, Embase (Ovid), Cochrane Library (Wiley), Scopus, LitCovid, CINAHL, medRxiv, and bioRxiv were queried for articles using controlled vocabulary and keywords pertaining to COVID-19 and total joint arthroplasty. Studies were characterized by their region of origin, design, and Center of Evidence Based Medicine level of evidence. The identified relevant studies were grouped into 6 categories: changes to future clinical workflow, education, impact on patients, impact on surgeons, technology, and surgical volume. Results The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on arthroplasty practice, including the disruption of the clinical teaching environment, personal and financial consequences for patients and physicians, and the drastic reduction in surgical volume. New pathways for clinical workflow have emerged, along with novel technologies with applications for both patients and trainees. Conclusions The COVID-19 pandemic emphasizes the recent trend in arthroplasty toward risk stratification and outpatient surgery, which may result in improved clinical outcomes and significant cost-savings. Furthermore, virtual technologies are a promising area of future focus that may ultimately improve upon previous existing inefficiencies in the education and clinical environments.
On Basic Price Model and Volatility in Multiple Frequencies

This paper revisits volatility and emphasizes interrelationships of risk metrics at various time horizons expressed in multiple frequencies. The basic price model defined by Black-Scholes equation and its extensions for varying variance scenarios are presented, i.e. Heston and GARCH models. Moreover, we highlight the significance of abrupt changes in the price of an asset on price modeling and volatility estimation. We extend basic price model where price jumps are taken into account as well. The proposed approach is validated by simulations, and shown that it improves volatility estimation.
A Stalled Revolution? Misoprostol and the Pharmaceuticalization of Reproductive Health in Francophone Africa

Misoprostol entered the global market under the name Cytotec in the mid-1980s for the treatment of gastric ulcers. Decades of research have since demonstrated the safety and effectiveness of off-label use of misoprostol as a uterotonic in pregnant women to prevent and treat post-partum hemorrhage, treat incomplete abortion, or terminate first-trimester pregnancy. Global health experts emphasize misoprostol's potential to revolutionize access to reproductive health care in developing countries. Misoprostol does not require refrigeration, can be self-administered or with the aid of a non-physician, and is relatively inexpensive. It holds particular promise for improving reproductive health in sub-Saharan Africa, where most global maternal mortality related to post-partum hemorrhage and unsafe abortion occurs. Although misoprostol has been widely recognized as an essential obstetric medication, its application remains highly contested precisely because it disrupts medical and legal authority over pregnancy, delivery, and abortion. I draw on fieldwork in Francophone Africa to explore how global health organizations have negotiated misoprostol's abortifacient qualities in their reproductive health work. I focus on this region not only because it has some of the world's highest rates of maternal mortality, but also fertility, thereby situating misoprostol in a longer history of family planning programs in a region designated as a zone of overpopulation since the 1980s. Findings suggest that stakeholders adopt strategies that directly address safe abortion on the one hand, and integrate misoprostol into existing clinical protocols and pharmaceutical supply systems for legal obstetric indications on the other. Although misoprostol has generated important partnerships among regional stakeholders invested in reducing fertility and maternal mortality, the stigma of abortion stalls its integration into routine obstetric care and availability to the public. I demonstrate the promises and pitfalls of pharmaceuticalizing reproductive health: despite the availability of misoprostol in some health facilities and pharmacies, low-income and rural women continue to lack access not only to the drug, but to quality reproductive health care more generally.
International Intellectual Property Scholars Series: A Fundamental Critique of the Law-and-Economics Analysis of Intellectual Property Rights

The economic analysis of law and legal institutions or the law-and-economics movement, originally a distinct North American phenomenon that emerged in the 1960s, has become a widespread tool for a certain conceptualisation and understanding of legal problems. Prominent representatives of the law-and-economics approach regard especially intellectual property as a ‘natural field for economic analysis of law’. However, the law-and-economics analysis interprets legal rules and institutions with the methodology of economics, and so transforms them into unrecognisable artefacts. This is particularly so with regard to intellectual property law: while in the case of trademarks law-and-economics analysis is merely too simplistic and often superfluous, in the cases of patents and particularly copyright it is positively harmful to these legal institutions. Economic methodology has not been developed for the analysis of law, and the purpose of legal methodology is not the scientific exploration of economic efficiency. This article is a fundamental critique of the application of the law-and-economics analysis to intellectual property law from a lawyer’s viewpoint, which is also shared by some prominent economists. It is not a rejection of an economic method for the analysis of economic phenomena which presuppose, or have been created by, the law, such as supply and demand on the market which requires at least contract and property rights (or intellectual property rights) for its functioning. But it is a rejection of the remodelling of legal institutions and decisions in intellectual property law in accordance with certain scientific methods and paradigms developed in (and for) economics, and of the claim that a corresponding analysis could yield any epistemic value for the law and a normative standard of efficiency for future legal policy.
Application of Solid State 13C NMR Spectroscopy to Sulfur Vulcanized Natural Rubber

High resolution 13C Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy can be used to characterize sulfur vulcanized natural rubber systems in the solid state [1–7]. Because solid state 13C NMR is a very powerful technique for structure elucidation, it will provide further understanding of the relationships between the crosslink structures and physical properties [8–15]. Samples prepared under a variety of conditions can be analyzed for evidence of crosslink formation with the aid of appropriate pulse sequences in the NMR experiments. All the NMR experiments utilize magic angle spinning and, either Bloch decays with high power decoupling or one-pulse low power decoupling experiments which yield good high resolution spectra. Various types of crosslinks can be distinguished, and it is possible to quantify the amounts of monosulfidic, disulfidic and polysulfidic crosslinks that are found in the different systems. In addition, molecular changes associated with crosslink formation, such as cis-trans isomerism can be observed.