cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mitochondrial DNA Variation Dictates Expressivity and Progression of Nuclear DNA Mutations Causing Cardiomyopathy.

Summary Nuclear-encoded mutations causing metabolic and degenerative diseases have highly variable expressivity. Patients sharing the homozygous mutation (c.523delC) in the adenine nucleotide translocator 1 gene (SLC25A4, ANT1) develop cardiomyopathy that varies from slowly progressive to fulminant. This variability correlates with the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) lineage. To confirm that mtDNA variants can modulate the expressivity of nuclear DNA (nDNA)-encoded diseases, we combined in mice the nDNA Slc25a4−/− null mutation with a homoplasmic mtDNA ND6P25L or COIV421A variant. The ND6P25L variant significantly increased the severity of cardiomyopathy while the COIV421A variant was phenotypically neutral. The adverse Slc25a4−/− and ND6P25L combination was associated with impaired mitochondrial complex I activity, increased oxidative damage, decreased l-Opa1, altered mitochondrial morphology, sensitization of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore, augmented somatic mtDNA mutation levels, and shortened lifespan. The strikingly different phenotypic effects of these mild mtDNA variants demonstrate that mtDNA can be an important modulator of autosomal disease.
Classification of short single-lead electrocardiograms (ECGs) for atrial fibrillation detection using piecewise linear spline and XGBoost.

Objective: Detection of atrial fibrillation is important for risk stratification of stroke. We developed a novel methodology to classify electrocardiograms (ECGs) to normal, atrial fibrillation and other cardiac dysrhythmias as defined by the PhysioNet Challenge 2017. Approach: More specifically, we used piecewise linear splines for the feature selection and a gradient boosting algorithm for the classifier. In the algorithm, the ECG waveform is fitted by a piecewise linear spline, and morphological features relating to the piecewise linear spline coefficients are extracted. XGBoost is used to classify the morphological coefficients and heart rate variability features. Main results: The performance of the algorithm was evaluated by the PhysioNet Challenge database (3658 ECGs classified by experts). Our algorithm achieved an average F 1 score of 81% for a 10-fold cross-validation and also achieved 81% for F 1 score on the independent testing set. This score is similar to the top 9th score (81%) in the official phase of the PhysioNet Challenge 2017. Significance: Our algorithm presents a good performance on multi-label short ECG classification with selected morphological features.
Researching the Appropriateness of Care in the Complementary and Integrative Health Professions Part 2: What Every Researcher and Practitioner Should Know About the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act and Practice-based Research in the United States.

Abstract Objective This paper describes a process for ensuring and documenting Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) compliance in clinical practice-based research. Methods The Center of Excellence for Research in Complementary and Alternative Medicine was funded by National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health to develop the methods for researching the appropriateness of care in complementary and integrative health, which previously was known as complementary and alternative medicine. We recruited 125 participating chiropractic clinics for enrolling patients and gathering their data via the online surveys. Chiropractic clinics completed the following: (1) obtained the files of patients who provided prior consent (the prospective sample), (2) obtained the files of the patients selected randomly using specified randomization procedures (the retrospective sample), and (3) transferred all patient data to the RAND Corporation via an encrypted file. Results Most of the doctors of chiropractic from clinical practices had no concerns about obtaining and transferring the files of patients who provided informed consent. However, some doctors were uneasy about allowing the researchers to access the randomly selected files of patients who had not provided prior authorization. This led us to develop a set of forms to provide clinics about HIPAA compliance. Conclusion For this study, we provided clinics with information about the rules under HIPAA, demonstrated how the study complied with those rules, explained the logic behind the necessity for collecting files from both the prospective and retrospective samples, and, if requested, provided clinics with a confidentiality agreement signed by the study principal investigator and an organizational contracts representative. The process we developed may assist other complementary and integrative health researchers and practitioners in future studies.
Non-competitive N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonists are potent activators of ventral tegmental A10 dopamine neurons.

Abstract The response of ventral tegmental (VTA) A10 dopamine neurons to a series of compounds covering the spectrum from high-affinity phencyclidine receptor ligands (MK-801, PCP) to high-affinity σ-receptor ligands ((+)-pentazocine, DTG) was measured using single-unit extracellular recording techniques in the rat. Dose-response comparisons revealed that MK-801 was 3, 6, 19 and 119 times more potent at activating A10 neurons than PCP, (+)-SKF-10,047, ketamine and (+)-pentazocine, respectively. DTG (1,3-di-o-tolylguanidine), the most selective σ-ligand, and U50,488H, a κ-opiate, failed to produce any stimulation of firing. Also, pretreatment with haloperidol, a potent σ-receptor ligand, did not prevent MK-801-induced excitations. Thus, the activation of the A10-mesolimbic-mesocortical dopamine pathways by PCP, PCP-like drugs and σ-psychotomimetics is mediated by the PCP receptor, not the haloperidol-sensitive σ-receptor, with potencies directly correlated to their activity as non-competitive N- methyl- d -aspartate (NMDA) antagonists.
Repetitive mTBI is associated with age-related reductions in cerebral blood flow but not cortical thickness.

Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and evidence suggests cerebrovascular dysregulation initiates deleterious neurodegenerative cascades. We examined w...
Early impact of the implementation of Medicaid episode-based payment reforms in Arkansas.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate episode-based payments for upper respiratory tract infections (URI) and perinatal care in Arkansas's Medicaid population. STUDY SETTING Upper respiratory infection and perinatal episodes among Medicaid-covered individuals in Arkansas and comparison states from fiscal year (FY) 2011 to 2014. STUDY DESIGN Cross-sectional observational analysis using a difference-in-difference design to examine outcomes associated with URI and perinatal episodes of care (EOC) from 2011 to 2014. Key dependent variables include antibiotic use, emergency department visits, physician visits, hospitalizations, readmission, and preventive screenings. DATA COLLECTION Claims data from the Medicaid Analytic Extract for Arkansas, Mississippi, and Missouri from 2010 to 2014 with supplemental county-level data from the Area Health Resource File (AHRF). PRINCIPAL FINDINGS The URI EOC reduced the probability of antibiotic use (marginal effect [ME] = -1.8, 90% CI: -2.2, -1.4), physician visits (ME = 0.6, 90% CI: -0.8, -0.4), improved the probability of strep tests for children diagnosed with pharyngitis (ME = 9.4, 90% CI: 8.5, 10.3), but also increased the probability of an emergency department (ED) visit (ME = 0.1, 90% CI: 0.1, 0.2), relative to the comparison group. For perinatal EOCs, we found a reduced probability of an ED visit during pregnancy (ME = 0.1, 90% CI: -0.2, -0.0), an increased probability of screening for HIV (ME = 6.2, 90% CI: 4.0, 8.5), chlamydia (ME = 9.5, 90% CI: 7.2, 11.8), and group B strep-test (ME = 2.6, 90% CI: 0.5, 4.6), relative to the comparison group. Predelivery and postpartum hospitalizations also increased (ME = 1.2, 90% CI: 0.4, 2.0; ME = 0.4, 90% CI: 0.0, 0.8, respectively), relative to the comparison group. CONCLUSION Upper respiratory infection and perinatal EOCs for Arkansas Medicaid beneficiaries produced mixed results. Aligning shared savings with quality metrics and cost-thresholds may help achieve quality targets and disincentivize over utilization within the EOC, but may also have unintended consequences.
Association Between Citations, Altmetrics, and Article Views in Pediatric Research.

This cross-sectional study examines the association between article citations, Altmetric attention scores, and cumulative page views of pediatric research articles from 4 high-impact medical journals.
Algorithms to Enhance Empiric Antimicrobial Choice for Outpatients With Afebrile Complicated Cystitis Reflects Importance of Status of the Urinary Tract and Patient Place of Residence

OBJECTIVE To determine predictive factors for antimicrobial resistance patterns and to develop an antimicrobial treatment algorithm for afebrile outpatients presenting with complicated cystitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS We performed a retrospective, single-center, cross-sectional study of 2,891 outpatients with a diagnosed afebrile complicated cystitis from 2012 to 2018. For patients with confirmed urinary tract infection and antimicrobial sensitivities, univariate analyses and multivariable regression models were used to determine odds ratios for predicting resistance to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, ciprofloxacin, nitrofurantoin, first-generation cephalosporin, and third-generation cephalosporin for the 2012-2016 data. Antimicrobial choice algorithms were created using 2012-2016 results and tested on 2017-2018 data. RESULTS For afebrile outpatients presenting with complicated cystitis, overall prevalence of resistance for trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, ciprofloxacin, nitrofurantoin, first-generation cephalosporin, and third-generation cephalosporin was 25.6%, 19.5%, 19.1%, 15.0%, and 6.9%, respectively. Consistent predictive factors influencing resistance to all 5 antimicrobials were patient place of residence (ZIP code), status of host urinary tract (complicated vs uncomplicated), and prior resistance to the antimicrobial. Resulting treatment algorithm for complicated cystitis (whether or not prior microbiologic data was available) outperformed real-life provider choice and our previously published algorithm for uncomplicated cystitis. CONCLUSION Treatment algorithms for urinary tract infections are dependent on patient place of residence (ZIP code), status of the host urinary tract (complicated or uncomplicated), and prior urine culture resistance data. When using our complicated cystitis treatment algorithm regardless of uropathogen, our results outperformed real-life scenario provider choice and our prior published algorithm for uncomplicated cystitis, which can help guide empiric antimicrobial choice.
Tocilizumab for severe COVID-19 in solid organ transplant recipients: a matched cohort study.

The safety and efficacy of tocilizumab for the treatment of severe respiratory symptoms due to COVID-19 remain uncertain, in particular among solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients. Thus, we evaluated the clinical characteristics and outcomes of 29 hospitalized SOT recipients who received tocilizumab for severe COVID-19, compared to a matched control group who did not. Among a total of 117 total SOT recipients hospitalized with COVID-19, 29 (24.8%) received tocilizumab. The 90-day mortality was significantly higher among patients who received tocilizumab (41%) compared to those who did not (20%, P = .03). When compared to control patients matched by age, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, and administration of high dose corticosteroids, there was no significant difference in mortality (41% vs 28%, P = .27), hospital discharge (52% vs 72%, P = .26), or secondary infections (34% vs 24%, P = .55). Among patients who received tocilizumab, there was also no difference in mortality based on the level of oxygen support (intubated vs not intubated) at the time of tocilizumab initiation. In this matched cohort study, tocilizumab appeared to be safe but was not associated with decreased 90-day mortality. Larger randomized studies are needed to identify whether there are subsets of SOT recipients who may benefit from tocilizumab for treatment of COVID-19.
Bioprinting of Small-Diameter Blood Vessels

Abstract There has been an increasing demand for bioengineered blood vessels for utilization in both regenerative medicine and drug screening. However, the availability of a true bioengineered vascular graft remains limited. Three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting presents a potential approach for fabricating blood vessels or vascularized tissue constructs of various architectures and sizes for transplantation and regeneration. In this review, we summarize the basic biology of different blood vessels, as well as 3D bioprinting approaches and bioink designs that have been applied to fabricate vascular and vascularized tissue constructs, with a focus on small-diameter blood vessels.
Exploring the Root-Leaf Relationship Between the Manufacturing and Financial Services Industry in Taiwan

We employ the concept of Granger causality to investigate the root-leaf relationship between the manufacturing and financial services industry in Taiwan's economy. Our empirical results show that manufacturing led finance for the last half century, which is consistent with the pattern of other emerging economies. However, the liberalization of the financial services industry in the 1980s changed the relationship from "manufacturing leads, finance follows" to a feedback system. Accordingly, the financial services industry should play a more important role than previously for Taiwan to maintain its economic growth.
Pain or fatigue: which correlates more with suffering in hospitalized cancer patients?

The association of pain and suffering seems intuitive, but evidence substantiating this association is lacking. In studies of cancer patients, fatigue, rather than pain, is the most prevalent and debilitating symptom. This study aimed to compare the correlation of pain and fatigue to suffering, and identify other potential sources of suffering in cancer patients treated in a palliative care unit. One hundred fifty cancer patients were surveyed. Fifteen variables were measured on a 0- to 10-point scale: suffering, pain, level of acceptable pain, effect of pain on quality of life, fatigue, level of acceptable fatigue, effect of fatigue on quality of life, and specific types of suffering. Univariable associations with suffering were made with Pearson correlation (continuous variables) or t test (binary predictors). Multivariable associations with suffering were assessed with linear regression analysis and bootstrapping. In multivariable analysis, highest pain (parameter estimate 0.38) had a greater impact on suffering than highest fatigue (parameter estimate 0.21). When other variables were assessed, 38% of the variability in suffering was accounted for by pain “now”, fatigue in the past 24 hours, and age. The most important predictors of greater suffering in hospitalized cancer patients are pain, younger age, and fatigue. Despite their significant effect on suffering, other underlying contributors to suffering have yet to be identified. Designing interventions to reduce fatigue, in addition to pain management, may help in alleviating overall suffering.
Rewritten Opinion: Schloendorff v. NY Soc'y Hospital

This is a rewritten opinion, in the form of a dissent, of Schloendorff v. New York Society Hospital (1914), which is widely cited for its dicta on the right to bodily autonomy. Using the historical court records and contemporaneous nursing and medical literature, this dissent highlights the subrogation of the female plaintiff's testimony and minimization of the professional role of (female) nurses in the majority opinion in upholding a directed verdict. Mary Schloendorff walked into the Society of New York Hospital (appellee) for stomach upset, agreeing to pay a weekly rate in exchange for care and treatment. She was wheeled out with permanent crippling injuries and infected open wounds, unhealed for two years. These complications followed the surgical removal of her uterus performed outside of the agreement for care, without her consent, and over her repeated objections to both nurses and physicians in the appellee hospital. The majority deviates from its obligations in reviewing a directed verdict, which entitles the appellant to “the most favorable inferences deducible from the evidence, with “all disputed facts to be treated as established in her favor.” McDonald v. Metro. S. R. Co., 60 N.E. 282, 283 (N.Y. 1901); Keller v. Halsey, 95 N.E. 634 (N.Y. 1911)(when evidence is sufficient, the question of credibility of the witnesses is for the jury). Throughout the opinion, testimony is ignored and misstated to provide appellee shelter from liability. Mrs. Schloendorff’s accounts are minimized while the physicians’ is emphasized, despite their testimony consisting mostly of the inability to recall anything, except their certainty that they had not wronged the appellant. Fundamentally, the majority seriously misunderstands the nature of the modern hospital; in particular, their portrayal of nursing is outdated a half a century. Today’s nurses are trained, educated professionals with independent duties and obligations to their patients. As Florence Nightingale said, “what cruel mistakes are made by benevolent men in matters about which they can know nothing and think they know a great deal.” Notes on Nursing: What it is and What it is Not, (D. Appelton and Co. 1860). An accurate accounting of the roles and responsibilities of nurses, as well as and appropriate deference to the appellant in reviewing the evidence leads to the conclusion that a directed verdict was improper; as such, I respectfully dissent.
On the parametrized complexity of read-once refutations in UTVPI+ constraint systems

Abstract In this paper, we study the problem of finding read-once refutations (ROR) of linear feasibility in a specialized class of constraint systems called UTVPI+ constraint systems ( UCS + ). The refutations in this paper are analyzed using the ADD inference rule. Recall that a Unit Two Variable Per Inequality (UTVPI) constraint is a constraint of the form a i ⋅ x i + a j ⋅ x j ≤ b , where b ∈ Z , and a i , a j ∈ { 0 , 1 , − 1 } . A conjunction of such constraints is called a UTVPI constraint system (UCS). UCSs find applications in a number of domains such as abstract interpretation and scheduling. We examine a more general form of UCSs that allows for a limited number of non-UTVPI constraints to be added to a UCS. We refer to these more general UCSs as UTVPI+ constraint systems or UCS + s . If a UCS + has only k non-UTVPI constraints, then we refer to it as a UCS k + . Our focus in this paper is on refutations, i.e., proofs of infeasibility in UCS + s . In particular, we study read-once refutations of linear feasibility in UCS + s . Although the problem of finding read-once refutations of UCSs is polynomial time solvable, the presence of non-UTVPI constraints makes the problem NP-hard. However, if the number of non-UTVPI constraints is fixed, then read-once refutations can be found in polynomial time. In fact, in this paper, we show that the ROR problem is fixed-parameter tractable (FPT) for UCS k + s , with respect to k, the number of non-UTVPI constraints in the system. We also provide a lower bound on the efficiency of a class of parameterized algorithms for this problem, based on the Strong Exponential Time Hypothesis.
Modulation of Immunological Reactivity by the Fc Piece of Immunoglobulin

Although the specific reactivities of antibodies are restricted to the variable regions located in the Fab portions of the molecule, the biological functions of these proteins are governed by the Fc region of the molecule. In addition to opsonization, complement fixation, placental transfer, metabolism of the intact molecule and anaphylaxis, the Fc region is responsible for immune regulation by antibody and antigen-antibody complexes (reviewed in Ref. 1). It is well documented that passive antibody can modulate the immune response to a subsequent injection of specific antigen2–11. This modulation may be in the form of either enhancement or suppression, depending on the antibody-antigen ratios. Pre-formed complexes injected directly into animals have also been reported to modulate the specific response to the antigen. Although extremely large amounts of antibody given either in the form of complexes or free antibody appears to suppress the immune response by masking antigenic determinants and sequestering them from the immune system5,8 more physiological doses of antibody modulate the immune response through an active process in which the Fc fragment of the antibody is an absolute requirement3,6.
Language Policy: Hidden Agendas and New Approaches, by Shohamy, E. G.

Recent language policy and planning (LPP) scholarship has begun shifting its focus from policy- (macro) to practice-level (micro) analyses (Canagarajah, 2005; Ramanathan & Morgan, 2007). This redir...
The Effect of Faster Reporting Speed for Imaging Studies on the Number of Misses and Interpretation Errors: A Pilot Study.

Abstract Purpose The purpose of the study was to determine if increasing radiologist reading speed results in more misses and interpretation errors. Methods We selected a sample set of 53 abdomen-pelvis CT scans of variable complexity performed at a teaching hospital during the study period. We classified the CT scans into 4 categories based on their level of difficulty, with level 4 representing the most-complex cases. Five attending radiologists participated in the study. We initially established an average baseline reporting time for each radiologist. Radiologists were randomly assigned a set of 12 studies, of varying complexity, to dictate at their normal speed, and a separate set of 12 studies, of similar complexity, to read at a speed that was twice as fast as their normal speed. The major and minor misses were recorded and analyzed. A χ 2 analysis was used to compare the results. Results Reading at the faster speed resulted in more major misses for 4 of the 5 radiologists. The total number of major misses for the 5 radiologists, when they reported at the faster speed, was 16 of 60 reported cases, versus 6 of 60 reported cases at normal speed; P = .032. The average interpretation error rate of major misses among the 5 radiologists reporting at the faster speed was 26.6%, compared with 10% at normal speed. Conclusions Our pilot study found a significant positive correlation between faster reading speed and the number of major misses and interpretation errors.
Powdered solution technology: principles and mechanism.

The concept of powdered solutions can be used to formulate liquid medications in dry, nonadherent, free-flowing, and readily compressible powders. The technique is based on simple admixture of drug solution or liquid drug with selected carrier and coating materials. Improved drug release profiles are exhibited by such delivery systems even for poorly water-soluble drugs. Previous work using this method has rendered its industrial application impractical because of the unsatisfactory flow properties of the powder admixtures. This article presents a theoretical model based on the principles and mechanism of powdered solutions and introduces a new physical property of powders termed the flowable liquid-retention potential (Φ value). Mathematical expressions are derived that can be used to calculate the optimum amount of excipients required to yield powder admixtures with acceptable flowability. The validity and applicability of these expressions have been verified experimentally using clofibrate and prednisolone as test materials. The proposed model is shown to be superior to previously reported studies in optimizing the amount of excipients needed to prepare powdered solutions with acceptable flow properties.
Accommodation‐ presbyopia: mechanism etiology

The purpose of the presentation is to elucidate the mechanism of accommodation and etiology of the age-related decline in accommodative amplitude that results in presbyopia in the fifth decade of life. Multiple physical, mathematical, clinical, in vitro, and in vivo experiments demonstrate that the human crystalline lens develops an unusual shape during accommodation. Central lens thickness increases; the curvatures of the central surfaces of the lens steepen; while the peripheral surfaces of the lens flatten. This ‘steep profile’ also occurs in other biconvex objects that have an aspect ratio ≤ 0.6 (minor axis to major axis ratio) in response to a small equatorial displacement when the volume of the object only minimally changes. The ‘steep profile’ even occurs when the major axis of an ellipse with an aspect ratio ≤ 0.6 is increased and the area enclosed by the ellipse is held constant or permitted to decrease by 2%. The universality of the occurrence of a ‘steep profile’ implies that the lens is under increased tension during accommodation. This hypothesis was confirmed by using high-resolution anterior segment optical coherence tomography (OCT) to measure the change of stress on the anterior lens capsule in patients who had undergone a phakic refractive intraocular lens (PRL) at least 1 year prior to the study. The PRL served as an internal control. It was found that during a mean of 8-diopters of in vivo accommodation, the stress on the lens was increased during accommodation, p < 0.001. The increased stress on the lens capsule during accommodation occurs as a consequence of increased equatorial zonular tension. Normal equatorial lens growth predicts both the age-related decline in accommodative amplitude and the age-related increase in intraocular pressure (IOP). The rapid decline in accommodative amplitude and rapid increase in IOP that occur during childhood and their slower changes thereafter, both match the logarithmic pattern of equatorial lens growth, R2 = 0.90. In summary, the lens is under increased stress during accommodation as a consequence of increased equatorial zonular tension. Normal equatorial lens growth is the etiology of both the age-related decline in accommodative amplitude that results in presbyopia in the fifth decade of life and the increase in IOP that occurs with age.
Confidence regions for the level curves of spatial data

Contour plots are often used by environmental scientists to display the distribution of a variable over a two-dimensional region of interest, but the uncertainty associated with the estimated level curves seldom receives attention. Few methods are available for identifying the true level curve with quantifiable confidence, and typically, these methods only deal with the uncertainty at individual locations. Methodology is introduced for constructing a confidence region for the entire level curve of a Gaussian random field at a specified level. The methodology utilizes common geostatistical methods to produce confidence regions containing the entire level curve with high confidence. The validity of this approach is investigated using simulation studies involving several covariance functions, dependence levels, and response quantiles. This methodology is then applied in constructing a confidence region for a level curve of the total monthly precipitation for the state of Colorado in May 1997. Simulation results indicate that this approach works well for the level curves of Gaussian random fields under a variety of conditions. Additionally, this methodology does not depend on the location of estimated level curves, so confidence regions may appear in areas where an estimated level curve is not present. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Homicide and Social Disorganization on the Border: Implications for Latino and Immigrant Populations

Objective. We advance social disorganization theory by examining homicides disaggregated by motive and gang relation and by using data from El Paso, Texas—a predominantlyLatinocitywithhighlevelsofimmigrationandpoverty. Methods. We analyze homicide data from the El Paso Police Department’s detective logs, 1985– 1995, as well as data from the 1990 U.S. Decennial Census. Results. Key measures of social disorganization tend to be associated with homicide but these relationships vary across type of homicide. Immigration and percent African American show no connection with any homicide measure, while percent Latino is only positively associated with gang-related homicides. Conclusion. Overall, social disorganization is useful in understanding homicide in El Paso, but race/ethnicity and immigration do not operate as predicted. These results add important knowledge to a growing literature regarding the neighborhood-level associations between immigration, Latinos, and crime. LatinosandimmigrantsarerapidlygrowingsegmentsoftheU.S.population and central to current debates about crime in the media and politics. But criminological research on these groups is scarce and its contribution to these discussions is limited. Given that politics and media often perpetuate the stereotype of the “dangerous criminal immigrant,” and some surveys show that large percentages of white Americans hold negative stereotypes about immigrants and Latinos (Brader, Valentino, and Suhay, 2008; Geiger, 2006), there is a pressing need for theoretically-based empirical research to shed light on the relationships between crime, immigration, and Latino. Criminological theory, as well as conventional wisdom, typically argue that immigration promotes criminal activity (see Wadsworth, 2010), but this view is not supported by a series of recent studies (see recent reviews in Kubrin
Una solución integrada, a partir de la mística islámica, a los problemas planteados por la tesis averroísta del intelecto en potencia

The present article shows the internal consistency of the tasāwwaf iŝrāqiʼs theory of images, with the outstanding Averroist’s theory of the intellect in potency . Secondly, it points out that the eschatology elaborated by the irfān sīʻi aligned with Mullā Sādra, validates, in particular, a holistic vision that includes the theory of images – in ālam al-mitālʼs conception – and the Averroes thesis about the separate character of intellect in potency . The result of this is a summarised vision, from the Islamic point of view, since it explains the problem of knowledge and human existence not only from the gnoseological point of view but also in its ontological aspects
A phenomenological model for low-temperature ion mixing in dilute systems

Abstract A phenomenological model is presented which describes ion mixing in a dilute system consisting of a thin marker layer in a metal matrix. The model is based on the concept of a thermally-activated diffusional process in a global cylindrical thermal spike as formulated by Vineyard. Activation energies of impurity diffusion are calculated using approximate formulae. The model is successful in representing the available data of ion mixing of markers in noble metal matrices (Cu, Ag, Au), where the thermal-spike mixing mechanism dominates. The current model is an extension of the phenomenological model for ion mixing in metallic bilayers.
Functionally Graded Bronze/Tungsten-Carbide Castings: A Characterization and Property Study

The contact resistance and wear behavior of electrical contact surfaces is a function of hardness, applied load, and material constituents. This work presents a characterization of the mechanical and physical properties of conducting alloys fabricated as functionally graded metal matrix composites (MMCs), in particular, tungsten-carbide-filled bronze. Tungsten-carbide reinforcing particles are attractive in this application for their high hardness and concomitant wear resistance. When used as bushings, bearings, and sleeve materials, bronze has improved wear performance with the addition of tungsten-carbide particles, which improves the hardness of the contact surface. Bronze might also be attractive as a potential electrical conductor when a need exists for high-strength, wear-resistant contact surfaces as found in circuit breakers and sliding electrical contacts. An overview of two types of MMC production methods, sedimentation and centrifugal casting, is presented. MMCs fabricated using the two different methods are compared and contrasted based on physical and mechanical properties. The use of centrifugal casting provides a more effective improvement in physical and mechanical properties plus significant improvement in hardness with relatively low reduction in base-material conductivity was observed. The centrifugal casting method allows for a more tailored product in terms of locating enhanced material properties within the casting.
Once more: How do you improve customer service?

"Keeping close to the customer" is great advice if one knows how to do it. ~ he business I community is presently flooded with articles, books, speeches, and workshops stressing the importance of "keeping close to the customer" as a means of achieving competitive advantage and market leadership. However, while customer service has become a dominant topic, experts repeatedly find that good service is more the exception than the rule. Is it an issue of attitudes, culture, and the lack of a "service obsession" at companies, or are other factors more relevant? What is "customer service" in a given situation, and how can managers diagnose internal activities that help or hinder external responsiveness? One reason customer service workshops have not brought marked improvement is that they usually preach to the converted. Most managers realize that service is important, but often core organizational issues impede good service. Emphasizing "service culture" may momentarily galvanize the firm, but it ultimately will not help if management preaches service without addressing organizational factors. A decade ago, In Search of Excellence (Peters & Waterman 1982) focused attention on the components of service, providing examples of companies and individuals that exhibited qualities of superior customer service. However, in many ways service now occupies the status of "motivation" as defined by Frederic Herzberg (1968) in his classic article, "One More Time: How Do You Motivate Employees?" Anxious for quick answers to a complex issue, many managers enthusiastically greet new quick fixes. Friendliness, responsiveness, and zeal become the fundamental attitudes associated with good service. Unfortunately, these attitudes are analogous to what Herzberg called hygiene factors--necessary but insufficient catalysts for obtaining the behavior and results desired.
A Framework for content-adaptive photo manipulation macros: Application to face, landscape, and global manipulations

We present a framework for generating content-adaptive macros that can transfer complex photo manipulations to new target images. We demonstrate applications of our framework to face, landscape, and global manipulations. To create a content-adaptive macro, we make use of multiple training demonstrations. Specifically, we use automated image labeling and machine learning techniques to learn the dependencies between image features and the parameters of each selection, brush stroke, and image processing operation in the macro. Although our approach is limited to learning manipulations where there is a direct dependency between image features and operation parameters, we show that our framework is able to learn a large class of the most commonly used manipulations using as few as 20 training demonstrations. Our framework also provides interactive controls to help macro authors and users generate training demonstrations and correct errors due to incorrect labeling or poor parameter estimation. We ask viewers to compare images generated using our content-adaptive macros with and without corrections to manually generated ground-truth images and find that they consistently rate both our automatic and corrected results as close in appearance to the ground truth. We also evaluate the utility of our proposed macro generation workflow via a small informal lab study with professional photographers. The study suggests that our workflow is effective and practical in the context of real-world photo editing.
Failures to reconsolidate memory in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease

Previous studies have demonstrated that the formation of spatial, contextual and trace conditioning memories are impaired in animal models of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), consistent with the observations that the first sign of cognitive decline in AD includes difficulties in the acquisition of new information or memory formation. Evidence is accumulating that memory retrieval is a dynamic process in which stored information becomes labile again and needs to be restabilized. However, it is poorly understood how this process referred to as memory reconsolidation is affected in animal models of AD. The present study was designed to use contextual fear conditioning to compare the changes in memory formation and subsequent reconsolidation processes in transgenic mice that overexpress human APP and PS1 harboring five familial AD mutations (5XFAD model). The results clearly demonstrate that cognitive dysfunction starts to occur primarily as reduced levels of contextual learning or memory formation in 5XFAD mice, but it is exacerbated by additional retrieval-dependent retrograde amnesia due to deficient reconsolidation as disease further develops.
An update on diaper dermatitis

Diaper dermatitis leads to approximately 20% of all childhood dermatology visits. There have been several technologic advances in diaper design the last several years; however, due to the unique environment of the diaper area, many children continue to suffer from a variety of dermatologic conditions of this region. Common causes include allergic contact dermatitis, irritant contact dermatitis, infection, and psoriasis. Treatments include allergen avoidance, barrier protection, parent education, and topical therapies.
Bcl-B and Nur77/TR3: a deadly combination

[Comment on Luciano et al, page 3849][1]The antiapoptotic activity of Bcl-2 can be converted to proapoptotic by virtue of its interaction with the orphan member of nuclear receptor family Nur77/TR3. In this issue of Blood , Luciano and colleagues demonstrate that Nur77/TR3 can also alter the
The Isomorphism and Isogeny Theorems for Reductive Algebraic Groups

Let G be a (connected) reductive algebraic group defined over an algebraically closed field K and let T be a maximal torus of G.LetX be the character group ofTand\(R \subset X\) the root system of Grelative toT.ThusX is isomorphic to \( {\mathbb{Z}^r}\) with r = dim T, the rank of G, and for each \(\alpha \in R\) there exists a unipotent subgroup \({U_\alpha }\) which is isomorphic to the additive group of K and is normalized by T according to the character \(\alpha \):1.1 If \({u_\alpha }:K \to {U_\alpha }\) is an isomorphism then \(t{u_\alpha }\left( a \right){t^{ - 1}} = {u_\alpha }\left( {\alpha \left( t \right)a} \right) \)for all\(t \in T\)and \(a \in K. \)
Fungal susceptibility to zinc deprivation

Calprotectin is a neutrophil-derived antimicrobial protein that competes with microorganisms for zinc. The zinc-specific effect of calprotectin against Candida albicans appears to be related to this organism's marked susceptibility to deprivation of this metal. However, it is not known whether this susceptibility is particular to C albicans or whether it is a characteristic of pathogenic fungi in general. As a means of deciding between these 2 possibilities, we undertook the study reported here to compare the susceptibility to zinc deprivation of 6 other pathogenic fungal species in addition to that of C albicans . We tested the effect of metals in reversing growth inhibition of the 7 fungi against abscess-fluid supernatant (a source of calprotectin) and 3 chemical chelators. Data were expressed as the concentration of metal required to bring about 50% restoration of growth. Zinc was found to be much more potent than the other metals tested in reversing growth inhibition of all the organisms by human abscess fluid and all 3 chemical chelators. Copper and manganese also had some effect. In some cases, chelator stability constants were higher for other metals than for zinc; in particular, although diethylenetriaminopentaacetic acid has a stability constant for iron almost 10 10 times greater than that for zinc, zinc was more effective than iron in reversing growth inhibition by this chelator against all of the organisms. These results suggest that marked susceptibility to zinc deprivation is a general characteristic of pathogenic fungi.
Self Expandable Metal Stents for Anastomotic Stricture Following Liver Transplant

Endoscopic treatment for biliary strictures with plastic stent placement has been used widely. The use of covered self-expandable metal stents (CSEMS) has been reported in anastomotic strictures post liver transplant. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of different CSEMS in these subjects. A total of 55 patients with anastomotic stricture received CSEMS, which were removed after 3–4 months. There were 19 patients in group A (partially covered SEMS), 21 patients in group B (fully covered SEMS with fins) and 15 patients in group C (fully covered SEMS with flared ends). Technical success, stricture resolution, follows up, and complications were documented. CSEMS were successfully deployed in all 55 cases. There was no evidence of significant difference with regards to stricture resolution (14 [74 %] vs. 15 [71 %] vs. 9 [60 %] p = 0.6630, df = 2) or complications between groups. Stent-related complications were as follows: three in group A (2 migration, 1 occlusion), five in group B (4 occlusions, 1 migration), and one proximal migration in group C (p = 0.3894, df = 2). Three cases required surgery (hepatico-jejunostomy) due to refractory strictures. The observed clinical success rate of CSEMS (70.4 %) proved to be below the reported one for multiple plastic stents, while no significant differences between CSEMS types were observed.
A direct nitrogen-15 NMR study of praseodymium(III)-nitrate complex formation in aqueous solvent mixtures

A direct, low-temperature nitrogen-15(15N) NMR technique has been applied to the study of inner-shell complex formation between praseodymium(III) and nitrate ion in aqueous solvent mixtures. In water-acetone mixtures at −95°C, ligand exchange is slow enough to permit the observation of15N NMR signals for uncomplexed and coordinated nitrate ion, but satisfactory resolution is obtained only by the addition of Freon-12 to these systems for study at −110 to −115°C. Four coordinated nitrate signals are generally observed and a very small signal for an additional complex, or an isomer of one of the others, appears at the highest nitrate concentrations. Signals for the mono-and dinitrato complexes are unambiguously identified, but with the exception of the trinitrato complex, several possibilities exist for the remaining peaks. To overcome excessive viscosity signal broadening, measurements in methanol and ethanol are possible only with praseodymium trifluoromethanesulfonate (triflate). Coordinated nitrate signals in aqueous and anhydrous methanol are observed only for the mono-and dinitrato species, and signal areas indicate a maximum of two moles of nitrate per Pr(III) are complexed. A third signal is evident in the ethanol solution spectra, and the presence of this higher complex was confirmed by area measurement of the fraction of bound nitrate. The extent of complex formation in these solvent systems is attributed to differences in the dielectric constant. A comparison of the complexing tendencies of Pr(III) to other ions studied by this NMR method suggests the possibility of a coordination number change across the lanthanide series. Preliminary15N NMR results for metal-ion complexes with the isothiocyanate ion are presented.
Dynamic multisource multipath routing for intrusion tolerance and lifetime maximization of autonomous wireless sensor networks

Multisource multipath data routing to a remote sink node is an effective way to cope with unreliable and malicious nodes in autonomous wireless sensor networks (WSNs). In this paper we analyze the optimal amount of redundancy in terms of the number of source sensors sensing the same physical phenomena and the number of paths through which data are routed to a remote sink node in the presence of unreliable and malicious nodes so that the query success probability is maximized while maximizing the sensor network lifetime. Our dynamic multisource multipath routing algorithm design integrates with a voting-based distributed intrusion detection algorithm to remove malicious nodes from the sensor network. By controlling the redundancy level for multisource multipath and intrusion detection settings dynamically with energy considerations as prescribed by our algorithm, we demonstrate that the lifetime of a query-based autonomous WSN is maximized in response to changing environment conditions including node density, radio range, and node capture rate.
U.S. Navy, LM2500 Gas Turbine Condition Monitoring Development Experience

A review of U.S. Navy experience in the development of a shipboard gas turbine condition monitoring system (CMS) is presented. The system considered was developed for use with the 20,000 HP General Electric, LM2500 main propulsion gas turbine engines used on the Navy’s DD-963 class destroyers and FFG-7 patrol frigate class ships. The initial CMS development program started with a broad range of measured gas turbine parameters and was successively reduced to a simpler system using only selected parameters useful for the marine application. A land-based test as well as an at-sea test is presented, together with a discussion of the impact such a system would have on DD 963 class engine removals.Copyright © 1980 by ASME
The serum concentrations of lupine alkaloids in orally-dosed Holstein cattle.

Teratogenic alkaloid-containing Lupinus spp. cause congenital defects known as crooked calf disease that is periodically economically devastating for the cattle industry. Previous research indicates that cattle breeds may eliminate plant toxins differently, potentially altering their susceptibility. The objective of this study was to describe the toxicokinetics in Holsteins of anagyrine, the teratogenic lupine alkaloid that produces crooked calf disease. Other alkaloids including lupanine, an unidentified alkaloid and 5,6-dehydrolupanine were also evaluated. Dried ground Lupinus leucophyllus was orally dosed to four Holstein steers and blood samples were collected for 96 h, analyzed for serum alkaloid concentrations and toxicokinetic parameters calculated. The serum elimination of anagyrine in Holstein steers was faster than those reported for beef breeds. This suggests that Holsteins may be less susceptible to lupine-induced crooked calf disease. Additional work is needed to confirm these findings and to verify if there is a breed difference in disease incidence or severity.
The Subset Principle in syntax : costs of compliance

Following Hale & Reiss' paper on the Subset Principle (SP) in phonology, we draw attention here to some unsolved problems in the application of SP to syntax acquisition. While noting connections to formal results in computational linguistics, our focus is on how SP could be implemented in a way that is both linguistically well-grounded and psychologically feasible. We concentrate on incremental learning (with no memory for past inputs), which is now widely assumed in psycholinguistics. However, in investigating its interactions with SP, we uncover the rather startling fact that incremental learning and SP are incompatible, given other standard assumptions. We set out some ideas for ways in which they might be reconciled. Some seem more promising than others, but all appear to carry severe costs in terms of computational load, learning speed or memory resources. The penalty for disobeying SP has long been understood. In future language acquisition research it will be important to address the costs of obeying SP.