cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Unstuck from the concrete: Carryover effects of abstract mindsets in intertemporal preferences

Prior research has demonstrated that individuals show decreasing levels of impatience as the delay of consumption gets longer (i.e., present-bias). We examine the psychological underpinnings of such present-biased preferences by conceptualizing timing decisions as part of a series of judgments. We propose that shifts in the abstractness of processing (focusing on details vs. broad aspects) triggered by aspects of an earlier (related or unrelated) decision systematically influence the degree of present-bias in subsequent decisions. The results of five studies show that the processing mindset (concrete vs. abstract) evoked in previous related and unrelated decisions influences the level of construal evoked in subsequent decisions and moderates the extent of present-bias without changes in affect. We further show the default mindset is concrete (displaying high present-bias) and thus the effect of construal is eliminated when the subsequent intertemporal task is inherently more abstract.
A New Species of Homalopteroides (Teleostei: Balitoridae) from Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo

Homalopteroides avii, new species, is described from the Rajang River basin, Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo. It is distinguished from all other species of Homalopteroides by a wider gape of 28.5–33.3% HL vs. 22.3–24.2% for H. wassinkii, 20.0–28.4% for H. modestus, 19.1% for H. rupicola, 19.1–27.3% for H. smithi, 20.0–23.2% for H. stephensoni, 20.2–26.9% for H. weberi, 18.4–26.0% for H. tweediei, 17.3% for H. indochinensis, 17.4–21.2% for H. nebulosus, and 18.0–19.0% for H. yuwonoi. It is further distinguished from species of Homalopteroides by the presence of a lateral cephalic stripe vs. absence in H. modestus, H. rupicola, H. smithi, H. tweediei, H. nebulosus, and H. yuwonoi; deeper caudal peduncle, 10.1–10.9% SL, vs. 8.4–9.0% for H. wassinkii, 8.7% for H. rupicola, 7.7–9.1% for H. smithi, 6.1–6.6% for H. stephensoni, 6.7–8.0% for H. weberi, 8.0–9.4% for H. tweediei, 9.3–9.8% for H. nebulosus, 8.7% for H. indochinensis, and 7.3% for H. yuwonoi; circumpeduncular scale count of 20–22 vs. 16 for H. rupicola, H....
THE FOURTH DECADE OF SOFTWARE ENGINEERING: SOME ISSUES IN KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT

This paper examines the future of software engineering with particular emphasis on the development of intelligent and cooperating information systems (ICISs). After a brief historical overview, the applications of the 1990s are characterized as having open requirements, depending on reuse, emphasizing integration, and relying on diverse computational models. It is suggested that experience with TEDIUM, an environment for developing interactive information systems, offers insight into how software engineering can adjust to its new challenges. The environment and the methods for its use are described, and its effect on the software process is evaluated. Because the environment employs a knowledge-based approach to software development, there is an extended discussion of how TEDIUM classifies, represents, and manages this knowledge. A final section relates the experience with TEDIUM to the demands of ICIS development and evolution.
Virtual Reality in Interventional Electrophysiology

There are 2 principal components to any cardiac intervention: definition of the shape, location, and functional anatomy of a target and precisely located delivery of therapy. As tools for catheter-based electrophysiological (EP) intervention become more potent, it is important to ensure that the technologies used to visualize the target and guide their application are of comparable power. In the digital era, these visualization technologies provide us with a virtual image of the heart. Ideally, this image should be a perfectly accurate, easy to generate, fully transparent to the user, and immediately available for real-time navigation. One approach to understanding the value and appropriate uses of such tools is to assess the degree to which they meet these criteria. Articles in this issue of Circulation by Ector et al1 and Sra et al2 seek to address this task; they document the independent and parallel development a novel approach to anatomic visualization in EP intervention combining fluoroscopy and volume imaging of the heart. Articles pp 3763 and 3769 Traditionally, navigation of catheters for EP study has been performed with fluoroscopic guidance. Fluoroscopy provides a flattened and distorted representation of cardiothoracic anatomy, but the use of multiple projections by a skilled operator allows understanding of anatomy and catheter location in remarkable spatial detail. Building on experience earned over decades of diagnostic catheterization, fluoroscopy has provided excellent and instantaneous feedback for EP catheter manipulation, sufficient to have permitted the development of the field of catheter ablation. This developmental process was facilitated by the serendipitous fact that, for many common arrhythmias, important procedural landmarks such as the His bundle and mitral groove may be identified on fluoroscopy by placement of catheters in easily and visibly reproducible locations. Because fluoroscopy provides a direct, unmodified, and immediate view to the operator, there is no simple …
Blackrocks: Craft Brewing From Hobby To Business: Applying Strategic Management To The Small Firm

Blackrocks, a craft beer start-up company, first opened in Marquette, Michigan, a town of 20,000 residents, in 2010. The business evolved around a friendship and a mutual interest in craft beer and is located in Marquettes Village, an area close to the local university consisting of several full-service restaurants, sandwich shops, bars, and retail shops. The Village considers itself an independent retail section of Marquette. The ambience of Blackrocks is fun and good times. People of all ages are attracted to the bar to enjoy craft beer with their family and friends. The physical setting is rustic with a current capacity of 50 customers (soon to expand to 100 customers). Customers can bring in their own food or call a local eatery for pizza or sandwich delivery. Blackrocks has a very loose organizational structure which has worked well in the past. This case will allow students to identify the problems faced by Blackrocks in todays economy; to describe the internal and external environment of Blackrocks; to identify their core competencies; to identify Blackrocks strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats; and to develop management strategies which could further enhance the business and help them attain their mission and goals.
Grub Infestation as a Possible Indication of Crop Selection by June Beetles for Egg Laying

Population studies of the white grub show that there are fewer grubs in certain legumes, indicating that adult beetles are plant selective in egg laying habits.
A Review of: “Richard English. Terrorism: How to Respond.”

The high salience of issues relating to terrorism post-9/11 underlines the vital importance of developing a coherent and historically-centered view of terrorism. What is terrorism, why do people be...
Implications for Institutions

Many of the struggles our site has experienced have to do with organizational process, regulatory policies, and research structures at the institutional level and above. While most of these entities espouse the need for interprofessional education and team-based care, the institutional rules, processes, and structures lag behind and often do not support the innovation necessary to accomplish these goals. Many of the comments in this chapter have been made previously by others. However, we believe that viewing them through the lens of complexity theory and the SHED sub-theories lends new insights, greater applicability, and more urgency. While complex adaptive systems theory can help to answer these questions, it is likely a new paradigm for institutions. In essence, large institutions are likely to address changes through a lens of simple or complicated systems, which would be “business as usual,” but is not likely to fully address the changes necessary. Therefore, in this final chapter, we will focus on how a better understanding of complex adaptive systems thinking may help clarify certain institution-level problems and suggest a way forward in order to engage in interprofessional education in the patient-centered medical home.
Study on epidemic situation of viral hepatitis B and C,and related hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatitis B virus( HBV) and hepatitis C virus( HCV) infections constitute a major global health problem. Approximately350 million people( 5%) of the world population is chronically infected with HBV,75% of infected people are Asian,and the global prevalence of HCV is estimated to be 150 million people( 2%). Chronic hepatitis B and C infections are leading causes of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma( HCC),which is found in 78% of patients with HCC and 57% in cirrhosis. This study reviews the epidemiological data of HBV,HCV,HCC and their risk factors among China,America and Asia. HBV and HCV are still a major risk factor for HCC in China and other countries around the world. The increased coverage rate of HBV vaccine significantly decreases the HBV infection rate,and then decreases the prevalence rate of HCC. In future,HCV will become the major risk factor instead of HBV,and the alcohol has little effect on cirrhosis and HCC.
A Novel Class of Robust Covert Channels Using Out-of-Order Packets

Covert channels are usually used to circumvent security policies and allow information leakage without being observed. In this paper, we propose a novel covert channel technique using the packet reordering phenomenon as a host for carrying secret communications. Packet reordering is a common phenomenon on the Internet. Moreover, it is handled transparently from the user and application-level processes. This makes it an attractive medium to exploit for sending hidden signals to receivers by dynamically manipulating packet order in a network flow. In our approach, specific permutations of successive packets are selected to enhance the reliability of the channel, while the frequency distribution of their usage is tuned to increase stealthiness by imitating real Internet traffic. It is very expensive for the adversary to discover the covert channel due to the tremendous overhead to buffer and sort the packets among huge amount of background traffic. A simple tool is implemented to demonstrate this new channel. We studied extensively the robustness and capabilities of our proposed channel using both simulation and experimentation over large varieties of traffic characteristics. The reliability and capacity of this technique have shown promising results. We also investigated a practical mechanism for distorting and potentially preventing similar novel channels.
Supervision of power swing blocking using model-based distributed intelligence relaying framework

The power swing phenomenon is characterized by oscillations in power flow between two areas of a power system due to an abrupt imbalance in mechanical and electrical power. Unintentional operation of distance relays during power swings can propagate a disturbance and result in a cascading outage. It is therefore critical that relays operate securely under such conditions. Modern distance relays can provide a function for power swing blocking (PSB). However, the PSB settings can be difficult to calculate without extensive stability studies and may fail to block if the slip frequency is too fast. In this work, we investigate the application of a model-based relaying framework applied to power swing blocking. The framework is named Model-Based Distributed Intelligence (MBDI) because it integrates, at the relay level, real-time knowledge of the network structure and system state in the form of simulation circuit models. We investigate the efficacy of a relay equipped with MBDI to supervise PSB operation during power swing and fault scenarios.
Electron Transfer Activity of Mitochondrial Outer Membrane Protein MitoNEET

Mitochondrial outer membrane protein MitoNEET, a primary target of type II diabetes drug pioglitazone, is a key regulator of energy metabolism in mitochondria. The protein exists as a homodimer with each monomer containing a redox active [2Fe-2S] cluster. Here we report that mitoNEET has a specific interaction with flavin mononucleotide (FMN). In the presence of flavin reductase, FMNH2 reduced by NADH can rapidly reduce the mitoNEET [2Fe-2S] clusters under anaerobic conditions. Under aerobic conditions, however, the reduced mitoNEET [2Fe-2S] clusters are constantly re-oxidized by oxygen with concomitant oxidation of NADH in the presence of FMN and flavin reductase. The reduced mitoNEET [2Fe-2S] clusters can also reduce ubiquinone-2, a ubiquinone-10 analog, under aerobic or anaerobic conditions, indicating that mitoNEET has the ability to transfer electron from NADH to the membrane-bound ubiquinone in mitochondria. The [2Fe-2S] cluster is required for the electron transfer activity of mitoNEET, as apo-form mitoNEET has no activity to mediate oxidation of NADH or reduction of ubiquinone. The pioglitazone analog NL-1, which has a specific binding affinity for mitoNEET, effectively inhibits the electron transfer activity of the mitoNEET [2Fe-2S] clusters. The results suggest that mitoNEET is a novel electron transfer protein that may directly regulate energy metabolism in mitochondria.
Introduction and Overview of DNA Repair Targets: From Bench to Clinic

Scientists have long known that DNA can be damaged by many endogenous and exogenous agents, and that general knowledge was used in developing the earliest anticancer agents. However, the knowledge of how DNA repairs itself was largely an academic pursuit until the last two decades. The ongoing molecular characterization of DNA damage response and repair pathways, as well as pathway crosstalk, is helping scientists see how DNA repair activities influence chemo- and radioresistance. This information is invaluable in developing DNA repair inhibitors, the latest effort in creating more targeted anticancer treatments that cause less toxicity to normal cells. DNA repair inhibitors are essential in the application of synthetic lethal combinations of drugs and genetic deficiencies. This chapter traces the history of DNA repair, explains its transition from academia to translational medicine, and notes important “firsts” in the field of DNA repair inhibition.
3D printing PLA and silicone elastomer structures with sugar solution support material

3D printing technology has been used for rapid prototyping since 1980’s and is still developing in a way that can be used for customized products with complex design and miniature features. Among all the available 3D printing techniques, Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) is one of the most widely used technologies because of its capability to build different structures by employing various materials. However, complexity of parts made by FDM is greatly limited by restriction of using support materials. Support materials are often used in FDM for several complex geometries such as fully suspended shapes, overhanging surfaces and hollow features. This paper describes an approach to 3D print a structure using silicone elastomer and polylactide fiber (PLA) by employing a novel support material that is soluble in water. This support material is melted sugar which can easily be prepared at a low cost. Sugar is a carbohydrate, which is found naturally in plants such as sugarcane and sugar beets; therefore, it is completely organic and eco-friendly. As another advantage, the time for removing this material from the part is considerably less than other commercially available support materials and it can be removed easily by warm water without leaving any trace. Experiments were done using an inexpensive desktop 3D printer to fabricate complex structures for use in soft robots. The results envision that further development of this system would contribute to a method of fabrication of complex parts with lower cost yet high quality.
Canine demodicosis: a retrospective study of a veterinary hospital population in California, USA (2000-2016).

Background Demodex spp. are cutaneous mites that cause clinical disease when present in increased numbers. There is an association in some dogs with underlying systemic disease or immunosuppressive medications. Hypothesis/Objectives Retrospective study to document breed predisposition, identify any concurrent diseases or underlying immunosuppressive conditions, and to determine the frequency of demodicosis recurrence after treatment completion. Animals There were 431 dogs with demodicosis presented to a veterinary teaching hospital in California, USA, from 2000 to 2016. Methods Inclusion in this study required a diagnosis of demodicosis based on direct demonstration of the mite. Records were reviewed for signalment, disease history, potential underlying aetiologies, diagnosed concurrent diseases, medications and demodicosis treatment. Analyses were performed to evaluate for potential breed predispositions and because of the large number of dogs with allergic dermatoses, analyses for this diagnosis as a disease associated with demodicosis was also performed. E-mailed surveys and follow-up telephone calls were used to assess for information about disease recurrence. Results The pit bull terrier group and West Highland white terrier, based on calculated odds ratio, were breeds predisposed to developing demodicosis. For dogs with demodicosis, allergic dermatoses was an associated disease. Relapse or recurrence of disease after treatment was uncommon, affecting 11% of the dogs with long-term follow-up. Conclusions/Clinical Importance This study identified, in dogs attending the institution based in California, USA, breed predilections for canine demodicosis and associated concomitant diseases. It also revealed a low occurrence of disease relapse, recurrence or persistence.
Life Course Health Development Outcomes After Prematurity: Developing a Community, Clinical, and Translational Research Agenda to Optimize Health, Behavior, and Functioning

Long-term survival for infants born extremely prematurely ( 55 dB, and intellectual disability), half of survivors can be expected to require special education services at kindergarten entry and during their school years. In addition, there are also high rates of health disparities in the prevalence of preterm birth across the spectrum of gestations including very preterm (28–31 weeks), moderate preterm (32–33 weeks), and late preterm births (34–36 weeks). Life course health development offers a valuable framework for examining how complex medical and social adversities that impact a mother’s health can also impact their child’s health and developmental trajectories. A better understanding of the cumulative impact of protective factors and other buffers that can support prenatal and postnatal parental and child health will provide important insights into how to promote greater resiliency and optimal health development. This population-based information can provide ongoing data for thriving developmental health trajectories for vulnerable preterm survivors with respect to physical, behavioral, and social health outcomes. Though premature infants who receive comprehensive early intervention and preschool educational supportive services have improved outcomes at kindergarten entry, school-age survivors, even those escaping major neurodevelopmental diagnoses, have challenges which impact attention, behavioral regulation, academic achievement, and social skills compared to their full-term peers. Unfortunately, many essential services that can contribute to better outcomes are unnecessarily fragmented and not systematically implemented to provide preventive interventions that optimize health, learning, executive function, social, and adaptive competencies. These cumulative medical, developmental, and social risks among preterm survivors adversely impact long-term adult physical and behavioral health, educational attainment, and social participation. In order to address these disparities, more precise, population-based, health development interventions aimed at optimizing physical and behavioral health, educational achievement, and adaptive competencies will be required. We recommend research strategies to inform our efforts for improving life course outcomes.
Integer quantum Hall transition in a fraction of a Landau level

We investigate the quantum Hall problem in the lowest Landau level in two dimensions, in the presence of an arbitrary number of $\delta$-function potentials arranged in different geometric configurations. When the number of delta functions $N_\delta$ is smaller than the number of flux quanta through the system ($N_\phi$), there is a manifold of $(N_\phi-N_\delta)$ degenerate states at the original Landau level energy. We prove that the total Chern number of this set of states is +1 regardless of the number or position of the $\delta$ functions. Furthermore, we find numerically that, upon the addition of disorder, this subspace includes a quantum Hall transition which is (in a well-defined sense) $\textit{quantitatively}$ the same as that for the lowest Landau level without $\delta$-function impurities, but with a reduced number $N_\phi' \equiv N_\phi-N_\delta$ of magnetic flux quanta. We discuss the implications of these results for studies of the integer plateau transitions, as well as for the many-body problem in the presence of electron-electron interactions.
Improving -Omics-Based Research and Precision Health in Minority Populations: Recommendations for Nurse Scientists.

Purpose The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of the role of nurse scientists in -omics-based research and to promote discussion around the conduct of -omics-based nursing research in minority communities. Nurses are advocates, educators, practitioners, scientists, and researchers, and are crucial to the design and successful implementation of -omics studies, particularly including minority communities. The contribution of nursing in this area of research is crucial to reducing health disparities. Methods In this article, challenges in the conduct of -omics-based research in minority communities are discussed, and recommendations for improving diversity among nurse scientists, study participants, and utilization of training and continuing education programs in -omics are provided. Findings and conclusions Many opportunities exist for nurses to increase their knowledge in -omics and to continue to build the ranks of nurse scientists as leaders in -omics-based research. In order to work successfully with communities of color, nurse scientists must advocate for participation in the Precision Medicine Initiative, improve representation of nurse faculty of color, and increase utilization of training programs in -omics and lead such initiatives. Clinical relevance All nursing care has the potential to be affected by the era of -omics and precision health. By taking an inclusive approach to diversity in nursing and -omics research, nurses will be well placed to be leaders in reducing health disparities through research, practice, and education.
Stochastic Approximation and Memory-Limited Subspace Tracking for Poisson Streaming Data

Poisson count data is ubiquitously encountered in applications such as optical imaging, social networks, and traffic monitoring, where the data is typically modeled after a Poisson distribution and presented in a streaming fashion. Therefore, it calls for techniques to efficiently extract and track the useful information embedded therein. We consider the problem of recovering and tracking the underlying Poisson rate, where the rate vectors are assumed to lie in an unknown low-dimensional subspace, from streaming Poisson data with possibly missing entries. The recovery of the underlying subspace is posed as an expected loss minimization problem under nonnegative constraints, where the loss function is a penalized Poisson log-likelihood function. A stochastic approximation (SA) algorithm is proposed and can be implemented in an online manner. Two theoretical results are established regarding the convergence of the SA algorithm. The SA algorithm is guaranteed almost surely to converge to the same point as the original expected loss minimization problem, and the estimate converges to a local minimum. To further reduce the memory requirement and handle missing data, the SA algorithm is modified via lower bounding the log-likelihood function in a form that is decomposable and can be implemented in a memory-limited manner without storing history data. Numerical experiments are provided to demonstrate the superior performance of the proposed algorithms, compared to existing algorithms. The memory-limited SA algorithm is shown to empirically yield similar performance as the original SA algorithm at a much lower memory requirement.
International Intervention to Govern Diamonds and Minerals

Beevers examines efforts by international peacebuilders to govern Sierra Leone’s diamonds in the aftermath of the conflict. He explains how strategies primarily focused on securing diamonds and diamond revenues so that the conflict would not reignite, but over time began to concentrate on the extraction of diamonds and minerals as a key to economic recovery and poverty alleviation. Beevers shows that despite numerous international initiatives, and new laws and regulations, efforts to govern diamonds and minerals remain controversial and problematic. The reason, Beevers contends, is that the reforms put forth by peacebuilders do little to address historical grievances and create new tensions that make resource extraction and peacebuilding more challenging.
A Model for Analyzing Black-Box Optimization

The design of heuristics for NP-hard problems is perhaps the most active area of research in the theory of combinatorial algorithms. However, practitioners more often resort to local-improvement heuristics such as gradient-descent search, simulated annealing, tabu search, or genetic algorithms. Properly implemented, local-improvement heuristics can lead to short, efficient programs that yield reasonable solutions. Designers of efficient local-improvement heuristics must make several crucial decisions, including the choice of neighborhood and heuristic for the problem at hand. We are interested in developing a general methodology for predicting the quality of local-neighborhood operators and heuristics, given a time budget and a solution evaluation function.
Towards Computational Tools for Supporting the Reflective Team

The content of engineering design documentation, beyond capturing the details of the design, communicates the shared knowledge integration of the design team. In this research, we present a method to analyze design documentation for levels of shared understanding and team cohesiveness in design teams by applying the computational tools of latent semantic analysis and natural language processing. We study the design documentation from students in a multidisciplinary, graduate-level product design and development course. The results show promise in measuring cohesiveness and shared understanding in design teams by analyzing their documentation and correlating metrics of effective communication to the likelihood of successful outcomes of the design team.
The Importance of Being Non-Defective: A Mini Review Dedicated to the Memory of Jan Svoboda.

Jan Svoboda triggered investigations on non-defective avian sarcoma viruses. These viruses were a critical factor in the genetic understanding of retroviruses. They provided the single and unique access to the field and facilitated the discovery of the first oncogene src and of the cellular origin of retroviral oncogenes. They continue to be of importance as singularly effective expression vectors that have provided insights into the molecular functions of numerous oncogenes. Combined with the contributions to the validation of the provirus hypothesis, Jan Svoboda’s investigations of non-defective avian sarcoma viruses have shaped a large and important part of retrovirology.
Identifying Populations at Risk for Child Abuse: A Nationwide Analysis

Abstract Purpose Child abuse is a national, often hidden, epidemic. The study objective was to determine at-risk populations that have been previously hospitalized prior to their admission for child abuse. Methods The Nationwide Readmissions Database (NRD) was queried for all children hospitalized for abuse. Outcomes were previous admissions and diagnoses. χ2 analysis was used; significance equals p Results 31,153 children were hospitalized for abuse (half owing to physical abuse) during the study period. 11% (n = 3487) of these children had previous admissions (one in three to a different hospital), while 3% (n = 1069) had multiple hospitalizations. 60% of prior admissions had chronic conditions, and 12% had traumatic injuries. Children with chronic conditions were more likely to have sexual abuse (89% vs. 57%, p Conclusion This study uncovers a hidden population of children with past admissions for chronic conditions, especially psychiatric diagnoses that are significantly associated with certain types of abuse. Improved measures to accurately identify at-risk children must be developed to prevent future childhood abuse and trauma. Level of evidence Level III. Type of study Retrospective comparative study.
ELEVATED AORTIC GRADIENTS AFTER TRANSCATHETER AORTIC VALVE REPLACEMENT IN BICUSPID AORTIC VALVES

Bicuspid valves have been excluded from large randomized studies due to known challenge with valve apposition. Paravalvular leak is a known problem, but little is known regarding its durability. 473 patients underwent transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) between 2012 and 2018 at the
P120 : SIMULTANEOUS POLYOMA VIRUS (BKV) NEPHROPATHY, C4d POSITIVE ANTIBODY MEDIATED REJECTION (AMR) IN A RENAL TRANSPLANT CASE

Aim To describe the case of a renal transplant with concurrent pathological evidence of C4d positive AMR and BK virus nephropathy. Methods Several cases of BK virus nephropathy diagnosed based on BK viral DNA in blood/urine by PCR, and by the immunostaining of SV40 viral antigen in renal allograft biopsy were reviewed. Donor specific HLA Class I and Class II antibodies (HLA-DSA) were estimated by solid phase assay. The antibody mediated rejection was diagnosed based on C4d staining in the peritubular capillaries (PTC) and histopathological features based on Banff’2007 Classification. At the time of transplant the recipient had no detectable HLA-DSA. Results The recipient was followed up for serum creatinine (Scr) post transplant. The pre-transplant Scr level was 3.4 ± 0.69, and it remained between 1.3 and 1.16 until 3 years post transplant when BK virus was detected in urine (85,000 copies/ml) and Scr remained >1.3 since then. The immunosuppression was reduced and the BK virus load came down to 4200 copies/ml. A biopsy indicated interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy with no apparent etiology. At this time the patient had DSAs towards B8, DQ2, DR4, DR17, and DR53, and DR4. Another biopsy 6 months later showed Polyomavirus nephropathy , interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy involving 40% of the cortex, mild chronic allograft (transplant) glomerulopathy with global (6/16) and segmental (3/16) glomerulosclerosis along with C4d positivity in peritubular capillaries suggestive of AMR and had circulating DSAs mentioned above. Conclusions We have described a case where BK virus nephropathy was co-existent with C4d positive AMR. It is possible that the reduced immunosuppression regimen after detecting BK virus in the urine lead to revived alloimmune response and AMR based on circumstantial evidence. Molecular mechanisms of BK virus nephropathy and ways to treat it without compromising the level of immunosuppression to avoid alloimmune immune response will be the key in dealing with these types of scenarios.
(E)-2-(3,5-Di­meth­oxy­benzyl­idene)indan-1-one

The title chalcone, C18H16O3, was prepared by a solventless base-promoted Claisen–Schmidt condensation and, upon recrystallization from ethanol, obtained in 56% yield. The dihedral angle between the indanone ring system and the benzene ring is 2.54 (4) ° and the C atoms of the methoxy groups deviate from the benzene ring by 0.087 (1) and 0.114 (1) A. In the crystal, π-stacking is the predominant inter­molecular force, with the mol­ecules stacking into columns running parallel to the b axis of the unit cell.
Comprehensive Efficiency Analysis of Current Source Inverter Based on CSI-Type Double Pulse Test and Genetic Algorithm

A current-source inverter (CSI) has a natural output voltage boost feature that can be advantageous for traction applications. Switching frequency is one of the easily-controlled variables that can be adjusted to improve the CSI efficiency at different operating points when the boost function is used. This paper investigates a CSI-based double-pulse test (DPT) measurement that mimics normal operation of the CSI. A loss model of the CSI is developed based on the CSI-type DPT experimental results. The impacts of the switching frequency and voltage boost ratio on the CSI efficiency and output voltage ripple are investigated. Based on the loss model, a genetic algorithm has been introduced that makes it possible to optimize the CSI's switching frequency and modulation index to maximize its efficiency under any desired operating condition.
Methadone Maintenance Treatment for Harm Reduction Approach to Heroin Addiction

It is estimated that there are now over one million persons who have used heroin regularly in the United States and possibly two million that have used heroin at some time. Of these, it is estimated that at least 500,000 are “hard-core” heroin addicts, defined as users of multiple, regular self-administered doses of short-acting opiates such as heroin each day for one year or more, with the development of tolerance, physical dependence and drug seeking behavior, thus, addiction. (42,43,54)
The Representation of Children: A Summary and Analysis of the Bar Association Law Guardian Study

This study first developed a comprehensive methodology to evaluate the law guardian system. Questionnaires were distributed to every law guardian designated to serve a county family court. Extensive interviews were held with law guardians, judges, probation officers and social service officials. Fourteen "target" counties were selected, representing a sample of urban, suburban and rural environments as well as the four counties outside New York City which maintain legal aid society representation. For these counties project staff examined case records and law guardian vouchers, conducted courtroom observations and interviewed law guardians regarding specific cases they had been assigned. In three "target" counties observations and interviews were augmented by transcript analysis - the complete transcripts of approximately ninety cases involving several hundred appearances were evaluated to determine the extent and effectiveness of law guardian representation.
Nanometer-scale selective epitaxy of InAs quantum dots via indium segregation

We report on recent results utilizing pseudomorphic In/sub x/Ga/sub 1-x/As films in order to affect the growth, organization and structure of InAs quantum dots. Pseudomorphic InGaAs films exhibit interesting properties due to strain effects. Given time, In/sub x/Ga/sub 1-x/As films release various amounts of indium by surface segregation. This segregated layer of InAs can act to decrease the additional InAs necessary to reach the 2D to 3D transition coverage. This process enables an oxideless, single growth step of quantum dots suitable for use in quantum dot cellular automata computing and other low dimensional electronic systems.
Ellen Grass Memorial Lecture: Brain Death: Useful Myth or Problem Waiting to Happen?

ABSTRACTIn this paper, I will argue that in an intensive care environment, the exact moment of death is neither a scientific nor philosophical “fact.” Rather, it is a socially constructed notion used to maximize organ procurement while avoiding responsibility for killing patients by removing their organs—the so-called dead donor rule. I will first review the tremendous importance of the declaration of death in all societies and point out how it once was and now has again become problematic. Next, I will review the importance of distinguishing among definitions, criteria, and tests. I will conclude that the current protocols for taking organs from brain-dead patients do so by maintaining several legal and clinical fictions. They are fictions because they are conceptually and clinically suspect and have been created primarily to avoid controversy. This has allowed removal of organs that save and improve many thousands of lives. I will argue that while brain-dead patients are not certainly dead, they are cer...
Chapter 12. Antiviral Agents

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the development of antiviral agents. Interferon is a protein or large polypeptide induced in cells by a number of agents including viruses, which has the property of making cells refractory to virus multiplication. Two approaches for the application of the interferon mechanism to control of virus diseases have been considered. A series of experiments has shown that the active inducer from Penicillium funiculosum is a double-stranded RNA that, when freed of inhibitory protein, is capable in microgram amounts of inducing interferon production in rabbits as well as protecting mice from virus infection. A study in mice infected with influenza A2 indicated that aerosol administration of drug provided a high degree of protection, better than oral dosage. Antiviral activity was reported for amantadine HCl against Rous sarcoma in chickens and fowl leucosis in chick embryos, against fowl plague virus in tissue culture and against multiple strains of influenza A/Equi-1 and A/Equi-2 in tissue culture, in vivo and in mice. Field studies on the use of l-methylisatin-3-thiosemicarbazone are reviewed and it is suggested that both treatment with compound and vaccination should be carried out on smallpox contacts for maximum protection.
Eating Frequency in the Nationwide Food Consumption Survey (U.S.A.), 1987–1988

Abstract This study was done to provide basic descriptive data on the variation in meal frequency in the U.S. The data analysed were from the 1987–1988 Nationwide Food Consumption Survey (NFCS), a stratified random sample of American households. Participants were asked to provide one 24-h diet recall and two 1-day diet records. Individuals who were pregnant, lactating, or younger than 19 years old were excluded. If more than one eligible subject per household participated, one subject was selected at random. Of the 4,078 eligible participants, data for 3,182 were complete for all three days and were included in the analyses. On average participants ate 3·47 times daily (SD0·90). When eating occasions during which 70 or fewer kcal were excluded (tea, coffee, or diet beverages, primarily), the mean was 3·12 (SD0·74), and over 90% of subjects ate between 1·50 and 4·49 times daily. The ratio of within- to between-person variance in number of eating times daily was 1·17 (≤70 kcal excluded). The day-to-day variation in an individual's eating frequency was relatively large compared with the between-subject variation, suggesting that data for multiple days are needed to measure an individual's eating frequency with precision.
Analytical modeling of the standard fire behavior of loaded CFT columns

Abstract This paper presents a three-step sequentially coupled analytical approach for predicting the standard fire behavior of concrete filled steel tube (CFT) columns. Numerical models were developed for each step of the approach, namely, (1) fire dynamics analysis, (2) nonlinear heat transfer analysis, and (3) nonlinear stress analysis. 3D finite element models with identical meshes were used for steps 2 and 3. An analytical matrix consisting of fifteen CFT column specimens subjected to standard fire tests by different researchers was selected to verify the numerical models. Sensitivity analyses were conducted to finalize the values of the major model input parameters. This paper summarizes the development of the numerical models, the findings from the sensitivity analyses, and the comparisons of the numerical predictions with experimental results. The verified numerical models (and model input parameters) are recommended for predicting the behavior of CFT columns subjected to fire loading, and for conducting analytical parametric studies.
Growth and feed conversion of sub-yearling Atlantic sturgeon, Acipenser oxyrinchus, at three feeding rates.

Abstract Growth and survival of fingerling Atlantic sturgeon, Aci-penser oxyrinchus, were examined at three different feed rates. Sturgeon (mean initial weight±SD of 28±12 g) were offered a closed-formula, commercially-available sturgeon diet (48.5% protein, 16.2% fat, 9.9% moisture, 7.6% ash, 0.5% fiber and 17.4% nitrogen free extract) via 24-hour, time-controlled feeders at rates of 1.5, 3.0, and 4.5% body weight per day (BW/day). Mean water temperature was 16.8°C. After 49 days of feeding, final length, final weight and feed conversion were all significantly affected by feeding rate (P ≤ 0.05). Peak feed conversion occurred at a ration of 1.5%, while maximum increase of both length and weight occurred at approximately 3.0%. No mortality occurred during the seven-week trial. The choice of feeding rates will ultimately depend upon production requirements and the culturist. Offering diet at a rate of 3.0% BW/day will result in significantly greater growth accompanied by high survival. Delivering diet at a...
A Low Power 15-Bit Decimator in 0.18um CMOS for Biomedical Applications

Biomedical devices are often battery operated and require low power consumption. As biomedical devices increase in complexity to include multiple functions such as signal processing and data storage, the constraint on power consumption becomes a larger issue. This paper presents a low power design for a decimator as part of a sigma-delta ADC for biomedical application in a commercial 0.18um CMOS process. To make the design low power, it makes use of a bit-serial architecture, a low supply voltage of 0.9V and a clock rate of 1MHz.
Policing the Pearl: Historical Transformations of Law Enforcement in Hong Kong

In this article we discuss historical patterns and dynamics of policing in Hong Kong since the formation of the first police force in the then British colony in 1844 until the handover to China in 1997 when a policy of ‘one country, two systems' was implemented. We specifically focus on the changes that took place in the organisation of the police function and how these changes responded to shifting socio-structural conditions in political, economic and legal respects and, comparatively, to what extent institutional dynamics of Hong Kong police organisation and culture were responsible for dominant policing styles. We argue that the case of Hong Kong policing shows that internal developments of police culture and police management are, independently from broader societal developments, essential components to bring about changes towards the adoption of civilian police practices that enjoy both effectiveness and accountability.
Study of three- and four-point shear testing of unidirectional composite materials

Both the three- and four-point shear test methods for unidirectional composite materials were studied using a three-dimensional elastic-plastic finite element analysis. The span-to-thickness ratios of the test specimens were varied to study the shear stress distributions. Specimens with lower span-to-thickness ratios were found to yield higher apparent interlaminar shear strengths. This prediction coincides with many available experimental results. The dependence of apparent interlaminar shear strength on span-to-thickness ratio, confirmed by both analytical and experimental studies, shows that both the three- and four-point shear test methods should be used with caution in this regard when measuring the interlaminar shear strength of unidirectional composite materials.
β-Secondary kinetic isotope effects in the clavaminate synthase-catalyzed oxidative cyclization of proclavaminic acid and in related azetidinone model reactions

Clavaminate synthase is an Fe(II)/α-ketoglutarate-dependent oxygenase that catalyzes three mechanistically distinct reactions in the course of clavulanic acid biosynthesis. Clavulanic acid is of significant chemical importance as a potent inhibitor/inactivator of β-lactamase enzymes, a prominent means of bacterial resistance to, for example, penicillin. Primary and α-secondary T(V/K) kinetic isotope effects have been determined in earlier work for the clavaminate synthase-catalyzed oxidative cyclization of proclavaminic acid, one of the three reactions mediated by this enzyme. In this paper the β-secondary deuterium kinetic isotope effect for this reaction has been determined using remote 3H and 14C labels in an attempt to distinguish between radical or cationic intermediates in the reaction as suggested by the magnitudes of the primary and secondary α-effects. The presence of the adjacent azetidinone nitrogen and the intervention of an azetinone intermediate, formally antiaromatic in the resonance form o...
The Role of Planning in China's Market Economy

This paper addresses issues raised in ‘The Background of China's Planning Institutional Reform’ circulated in advance of the International Conference on China's Planning System Reform, held on 24–25 March 2004 in Beijing. The discussion is structured around four topics: (1) the scope of planning; (2) the administration of the planning system; (3) methods of planning; and (4) the coordination of planning with market activities. A critical issue is whether the Chinese government is doing too much or too little in planning the broad range of activities in a market economy, and various policy options are examined in relation to this issue. A central conclusion is that as China's economic and political system evolves within the framework of the Five-Year Plan, the scope of planning will naturally reduce as the market sector replaces a number of activities formerly undertaken by government.
Dehydration of d-fructose to levulinic acid over LZY zeolite catalyst

Abstract Molten d -fructose was catalytically dehydrated to HMF and levulinic acid over solid-acid LZY zeolite powder within a sealed batch reactor at 140°C. Analysis of the product distribution via HPLC after various reaction times (0 to 15 h) revealed that the model for the heterogeneous dehydration of d -fructose over LZY zeolite catalyst was consistent with the model for the homogeneous hydronium ion-catalyzed d -fructose dehydration. After 15 h, the maximum yield of levulinic acid was 0·432 g levulinic acid per 1·00 g of the original d -fructose, but the net yield of HMF was only 0·044 g HMF per 1·00 g of the original d -fructose. The high yield of levulinic acid was due to the strong dehydration ability of the Lewis acid sites on the alumina/silica support of the LZY zeolite. The high selectivity was due to the molecular-sieving capability of the LZY zeolite matrix, which trapped the 0·82 nm diameter HMF molecule within a ‘cage’ adjoining the 0·75 nm LZY zeolite pores.