cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Malaria Surveillance in Huizhou City During the Period of 2005～2007

Objective To analyze the results of malaria surveillance,and to evaluate the effect of malaria prevention and control in Huizhou.Methods Epidemiological analysis of malaria cases,three fever patients,floating population and the reports of infectious diseases from 2005 to 2007 was conducted.Results The total number of malaria cases was 42.There was no malaria outbreak occurred,and no input plasmodium falciparum was found.Conclusions Strengthening malaria microscopic examination post,enhancing management of floating population,and developing three fever patient examination are the major measures to control the malaria epidemic situation.
An update on the role of irreversible electroporation in locally advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma

Significant treatment challenges remain in near 40% of patients who are diagnosed with stage III locally advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Current standard of care literature has outlined a median overall survival in this sub group of patients of 12–15 months in most current reviews.1, 2 The use of pancreatic ablation has been reported initially with thermal based modalities such as radiofrequency and microwave and more recent stereotactic body radiotherapy modalities with wide ranging results. The morbidity and mortality associated with such treatments has been significant with rates of 50% and 10% reported respectively.3
Fit theory, gender, and collegiate sport careers

Person-environment fit theory describes how individuals fit into their work environments while identifying distinct types of fit and specific predictors and outcomes. The purpose of this study, therefore, was to determine the influence of gender on fit perceptions while also establishing specific fit predictors and outcomes that are most relevant to NCAA administrators and head coaches. This study included participants (N = 788) employed in the positions of athletic director, associate/assistant athletic director, senior woman administrator, and head coaches from all three NCAA divisions and included coaches from all championship sports. Participants overall perceived PJ fit most positively followed by overall fit and PO fit indicating that PJ fit is the most accurate indicator of fit among NCAA head coaches and administrators.
Going All Experimental: More Games and Applications

In the first part of this chapter we will explore new types of cellular automata that emerged from our work with Ducci games based on the greatest prime factor or Conway’s subprime function.
Genetic and evolutionary systems

Genetic algorithms (GAs) are a class of programs that emulate the search processes of natural genetic evolution. This article reviews GA technology. The review begins by recasting search as a process of sampling points from an unknown space. With this “black-box” view of search, the simple mechanics of the GA are shown to have powerful effects. A review of basic GA mechanics and theory is followed by an overview of more advanced GA techniques. Final comments address future directions for GAs and for general evolving systems research.
Heterophilic Type II Cadherins Are Required for High-Magnitude Synaptic Potentiation in the Hippocampus

Hippocampal CA3 neurons form synapses with CA1 neurons in two layers, stratum oriens (SO) and stratum radiatum (SR). Each layer develops unique synaptic properties but molecular mechanisms that mediate these differences are unknown. Here, we show that SO synapses normally have significantly more mushroom spines and higher-magnitude long-term potentiation (LTP) than SR synapses. Further, we discovered that these differences require the Type II classic cadherins, cadherins-6, -9, and -10. Though cadherins typically function via trans-cellular homophilic interactions, our results suggest presynaptic cadherin-9 binds postsynaptic cadherins-6 and -10 to regulate mushroom spine density and high-magnitude LTP in the SO layer. Loss of these cadherins has no effect on the lower-magnitude LTP typically observed in the SR layer, demonstrating that cadherins-6, -9, and -10 are gatekeepers for high-magnitude LTP. Thus, Type II cadherins may uniquely contribute to the specificity and strength of synaptic changes associated with learning and memory.
Genetics of Myxobacteria

Myxobacteria offer the opportunity to investigate the multicellular state. For many years myxobacteria were mistaken for fungi because their fruiting bodies have a quite complex morphology (Thaxter 1892). Like other bacteria, myxobacteria can grow and divide as independent cells; they also behave as a primitive multicellular organism in which cells feed and move in multicellular units and form multicellular fruiting bodies. The prokaryotic structure of myxobacteria renders the communal properties of cells readily accessible to experimental study.
Myocastor coypus (Coypu)

The karyotypes shown were prepared from bone marrow preparations made after in vivo colchicine administration. They were kindly supplied by Dr. K. Fredga, Genetics Institute, University of Lund, Lund, Sweden, who studied three animals. The findings are similar to those of Tsigalidou et al. All chromosomes are metacentric or submetacentric with the exception of Y. They are difficult to pair except the last two autosomal pairs, one of which has pronounced satellites, and the other is minute.
Recovery from Combustion Gases

The combustion chemistry looks deceptively simple: Everybody knows that fire consumes fuel and releases heat. For many practical purposes, the burning of oil or gas can be satisfactorily described. However, this equation violates the law of mass preservation. The chemical reactions during combustion are very complex. Every scientist who begins to study combustion and flame chemistry has to overcome the instinctive hurdles connected with the study of a phenomenon that is so deeply tied to emotions. Sulfur can be removed at any of four process stages by cleaning of coal, extraction from fuel gases, extraction during combustion, and extraction from combustion gases. However, all methods have been tried and not all are equally successful. Neither coal is a homogenous material nor is coal a well defined term. It constitutes a continuous range of materials because the geological coal formation involves a continuing series of changes during which peats are step-wise degraded to lignites, bituminous coal, and finally to anthracites.
Replication of the Interaction of PRKG1 and Trauma Exposure on Alcohol Misuse in an Independent African American Sample.

In the present study, we sought to replicate recent findings of Polimanti et al. (2017), who conducted a genome-wide gene-by-environment interaction study (GEWIS) and identified a gene-by-trauma interaction that predicts alcohol misuse among African Americans. Consistent with the findings published by Polimanti and colleagues, results of the current study demonstrated an interaction effect, b = 0.41, of trauma exposure and rs1729578 in the intron of PRKG1 on alcohol misuse in a subsample of ancestral African Americans. The minor allele (rs1729578*C) was positively associated with increased alcohol use disorder symptoms in trauma-exposed subjects and negatively associated in non-trauma-exposed subjects. This effect, however, was only significant for one out of three alcohol outcome measures we investigated, suggesting the interaction may be most salient when predicting higher severity of alcohol misuse. Additionally, the effect did not remain significant after we accounted for testing the effect on three different outcome variables. Also in line with the original study, the gene-by-environment effect was not demonstrated among the ancestral European subsample. The findings suggest this gene variant may increase an individual's susceptibility to environmental influences, both adverse and supportive.
Progress Indication for Machine Learning Model Building: A Feasibility Demonstration

Progress indicators are desirable for machine learning model building that often takes a long time, by continuously estimating the remaining model building time and the portion of model building work that has been finished. Recently, we proposed a high-level framework using system approaches to support nontrivial progress indicators for machine learning model building, but offered no detailed implementation technique. It remains to be seen whether it is feasible to provide such progress indicators. In this paper, we fill this gap and give the first demonstration that offering such progress indicators is viable. We describe detailed progress indicator implementation techniques for three major, supervised machine learning algorithms. We report an implementation of these techniques in Weka.
Statistical Thermodynamics: An Engineering Approach

Statistical Thermodynamics: An Engineering Approach covers in a practical, readily understandable manner the underlying meaning of entropy, temperature and other thermodynamic concepts, the foundations of quantum mechanics, and the physical basis of gas, liquid and solid phase properties. It presents simply the relationship between macroscopic and microscopic thermodynamics. In addition, the molecular basis of transport phenomena and chemical kinetics are explored, as are basic concepts in spectroscopy. Modern computational tools for solving thermodynamic problems are explored, and the student is assured that he or she will gain knowledge of practical usefulness. This essential text is suitable for mechanical or aerospace engineering graduate students who have a strong background in engineering thermodynamics, those entering advanced fields such as combustion, high temperature gas dynamics, environmental sciences, or materials processing, and those who wish to build a background for understanding advanced experimental diagnostic techniques in these or similar fields.
On the Exponential Convergence Rate of Proximal Gradient Flow Algorithms

Many modern large-scale and distributed optimization problems can be cast into a form in which the objective function is a sum of a smooth term and a nonsmooth regularizer. Such problems can be solved via a proximal gradient method which generalizes standard gradient descent to a nonsmooth setup. In this paper, we leverage the tools from control theory to study global convergence of proximal gradient flow algorithms. We utilize the fact that the proximal gradient algorithm can be interpreted as a variable-metric gradient method on the forward-backward envelope. This continuously differentiable function can be obtained from the augmented Lagrangian associated with the original nonsmooth problem and it enjoys a number of favorable properties. We prove that global exponential convergence can be achieved even in the absence of strong convexity. Moreover, for in-network optimization problems, we provide a distributed implementation of the gradient flow dynamics based on the proximal augmented Lagrangian and prove global exponential stability for strongly convex problems.
Design of 3D stochastic electromagnetic sources

The possibilities for mathematical modeling of various classes of 3D EM stationary sources are elucidated. The special cases of uniform and non-uniform correlations, twisting, electromagnetic isotropy/anisotropy are presented.
Inversion of displacement fields to quantify the magnetic particle distribution in homogeneous elastic media from magnetomotive ultrasound

Magnetomotive ultrasound (MMUS) contrasts superparamagnetic iron-oxide nanoparticles (SPIOs) that undergo submicrometer-scale displacements in response to a magnetic gradient force applied to an imaging sample. Typically, MMUS signals are defined in a way that is proportional to the medium displacement, rendering an indirect measure of the density distribution of SPIOs embedded within. Displacement-based MMUS, however, suffers from 'halo effects' that extend into regions without SPIOs due to their inherent mechanical coupling with the medium. To reduce such effects and to provide a more accurate representation of the SPIO density distribution, we propose a model-based inversion of MMUS displacement fields by reconstructing the body force distribution. Displacement fields are modelled using the static Navier-Cauchy equation for linear, homogeneous, and isotropic media, and the body force fields are, in turn, reconstructed by minimizing a regularized least-squares error functional between the modelled and the measured displacement fields. This reconstruction, when performed on displacement fields of two tissue-mimicking phantoms with cuboidal SPIO-laden inclusions, improved the range of errors in measured heights and widths of the inclusions from 54%-282% pre-inversion to-15%-20%. Likewise, the post-inversion contrast to noise ratios (CNRs) of the images were significantly larger than displacement-derived CNRs alone (p = 0.0078, Wilcoxon signed rank test). Qualitatively, it was found that inversion ameliorates halo effects and increases overall detectability of the inclusion. These findings highlight the utility of model-based inversion as a tool for both signal processing and accurate characterization of the number density distribution of SPIOs in magnetomotive imaging.
Effect of Itraconazole or Rifampin on Itacitinib Pharmacokinetics When Administered Orally in Healthy Subjects

Itacitinib is a potent, selective JAK-1 inhibitor currently in phase 3 development for the treatment of acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) in combination with corticosteroids. Itacitinib is primarily eliminated via metabolism by cytochrome P-450 (CYP)3A4 with minimal renal elimination. A drug-drug interaction study was conducted to evaluate the impact of the strong CYP3A inhibitor itraconazole or the strong CYP3A4 inducer rifampin on the pharmacokinetics of itacitinib in healthy volunteers. In cohort 1, subjects received 200 mg sustained release (SR) tablets of itacitinib on days 1 and 6 and 200 mg itraconazole on days 2-7. In cohort 2, subjects received 200 mg SR itacitinib on days 1 and 9 and 600 mg rifampin on days 2-9. Thirty-six subjects were enrolled, 18 in each cohort with 17 completing itacitinib dosing in cohort 1 and 15 completing itacitinib dosing in cohort 2. Coadministration of itraconazole with itacitinib resulted in a nearly 5-fold increase in area under the concentration-time curve (AUC0-∞ ) (geometric mean ratio [GMR] 4.88, 90%Cl 4.17-5.72) and an ∼3-fold increase in peak concentration (Cmax ) (GMR 3.15, 90%Cl 2.58-3.54). Coadministration of rifampin with itacitinib resulted in a nearly 80% decrease in AUC0-∞ (GMR 0.208, 90%Cl 0.173, 0.249) and Cmax (GMR 0.231, 90%Cl 0.195, 0.274). Results of this study informed the study design of the phase 3 GVHD protocols with regard to coadministration of strong CYP3A inhibitors and CYP3A4 inducers. These data combined with phase 3 data will inform final dosing recommendations.
Visitor Perceptions of Bark Beetle Impacted Forests in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Forest disturbance by bark beetles and other insects is a global issue expected to increase with the warming climate. Visitor aesthetic appreciation of these forests affected by infestations is an important factor for land managers. Environmental education by land managers allows visitors to understand natural disturbances. We explored how the recent bark beetle-caused forest changes were perceived and understood by visitors at Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado, in reference to the aesthetic model of scientific cognitivism. Visitors completed an on-site questionnaire that was analysed using factor analyses and ANOVAs. Visitors perceived the forest as beautiful, inspiring, and interesting. No direct relationship was found between knowledge and perceptions. Visitor reactions combined affective with less salient cognitive dimensions. These findings emphasise the need to instill primary affective connections to cognitive subject matter in conservation education using knowledge to ameliorate cognitive dissonance associated with naturally disturbed landscapes.
104 – Legendre Transformation

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the yield and procedure of Legendre transformation. It is applicable to partial differential equations in one dependent variable that are not of the form F(uxl, ux2,…, uxn) = 0. It yields an alternative formulation of the original problem. A surface in space may be described by a point or as an envelope of tangent planes. Changing variables from one representation to the other may facilitate finding a solution. After a solution is obtained, it can be transformed back to the original variables. The technique is illustrated for two independent variables and the technique may be extended to n independent variables. The nondevelopable solutions are not obtainable by the Legendre transformation.
Changing Guards: Improving Corporate Governance with D&O Insurer Rotations

Almost all public companies buy insurance for their directors and officers. D&O insurers should be active gatekeepers for the corporation, since they lose money if executives misbehave, but all available evidence suggests the opposite: insurers protect executives from liability for bad management and they encourage wasteful settlement of even meritless lawsuits. This Article diagnoses the failure of D&O insurance as a form of pernicious relational contracting. Insurers ignore even the worst corporate governance because they can recoup losses in the years to come. This recognition unlocks a potential solution: mandatory rotation. If insurers had only a few years to recoup any losses, they would seek to limit those losses by serving as an active gatekeeper.
Personality Disorders, Psychopathy, and Deceit

The psychiatric assessment of psychopathy and deceit has a complex history. Deceit is at least one constant. But should we think of it as a disease state, a failure of moral development, or the behavioral aggregate of a constellation of biologically determined temperamental traits? Is deception better understood as a means to an end, or as an indication of an underlying deficit in capacity for interpersonal relations? Where does deception of others stop and self-deception begin? Do the failures of perception found in personality disorders generally reflect the activation of “immature defense mechanisms” or some underlying psychological deficits, or are these two ways of saying the same thing? To what extent is deception best understood as a form of aggression? In the final analysis, the conceptualization of personality disorders tends to reflect the presuppositions and cognitive frame of the clinician, rather than the final answer regarding the condition. A single formulation is rarely sufficient. Deceit, however, is almost always a constant.
A Cross-Sectional Study of Factors Associated With Pediatric Scope of Care in Family Medicine.

PURPOSE The objective of this study was to identify demographic and practice characteristics associated with family physicians' provision of care to children including a subgroup analysis of those who see pediatric patients younger or older than 5 years of age. METHODS This cross-sectional study used data from US family physicians taking the American Board of Family Medicine continuous certification examination registration questionnaire in 2017 and 2018. The outcome of interest was self-reported care of pediatric patients in practice. We performed bivariate and multivariate logistic regression examining the association between various demographic and practice characteristics with the outcome of interest. We performed subgroup analyses for physicians seeing patients under 5 years old and from 5 to 18 years old. RESULTS Among the 11,674 family physicians included in the final analysis, 9744 (83.8%) saw pediatric patients. Physician- and practice-level factors associated with seeing pediatric patients included rural practice, younger age, non-Hispanic White race/ethnicity, independent practice ownership, nonsolo practice, lower pediatrician density, and higher income geographic area. More family physicians saw 5-to-18-year-olds than < 5-year-olds (83.6% vs 68.2%; P < .001), and the factors associated with pediatric care were similar among these age subgroups. CONCLUSIONS A majority of continuous certification US family physicians see pediatric patients in practice; however, rates of pediatric care vary widely based on various demographic and practice characteristics. Efforts to maintain a broad scope of practice for US family physicians will require exploration of the underlying mechanisms driving these practice patterns.
The Money Center Cannot Hold: Commercial Banks in the US System of Corporate Governance

This paper examines how the place of banks in the intercorporate network has changed as a result of their decreasing role as financial intermediaries in the U.S. economy. An analysis of comprehensive data on the boards of the fifty largest banks and their connections with the several hundred largest non-bank corporations from 1982 to 1994 shows that the centrality of banks has significantly declined as executives of major corporations, particularly those representing central firms, joined bank boards at a substantially lower rate. Declining centrality reflects a strategic choice on the part of the banks: as the returns available from lending to major corporations have declined, the largest banks have moved into other forms of business and reduced their recruiting of centrally located directors. We conclude with a discussion of the role of financial intermediation in shaping the social organization of the economy.
COVID-19 health behaviors in a sexual minority sample: The impact of internalized stigma

COVID-19 has been identified as a public health crisis that can be avoided by preventative health behaviors such as social distancing, the use of a cloth face covering when in public, and regular handwashing or sanitizing Although identifying predictors of preventive health behaviors related to COVID-19 is important across the general population, it may be especially pertinent in marginalized populations including sexual and gender minorities particularly due to the role of minority stress and internalized stigma in predicting health behaviors The purpose of this study was to expand the current COVID-19 literature to investigate whether internalized stigma regarding sexual orientation and gender minority status may impact COVID-19 preventative health behaviors For all the COVID-19 health behaviors examined, internalized stigma and gender minority status accounted for significantly more variance than predictors that were not specific to sexual or gender minority status However, different facets of internalized sexual minority predicted varying preventative health behaviors For instance, sexuality dissatisfaction predicted leaving home for nonessential reasons whereas belief in negative stereotypes predicted less frequent handwashing and less use of face masks and social distancing in public places Furthermore, sexual minority participants had significantly more fear of COVID-19 and anxiety about potentially spreading COVID-19 to others than heterosexual participants, and, although their engagement in preventative health behaviors was equivalent, the patterns of predictors differed between heterosexual and sexual minority individuals (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved) Impact Statement Although heterosexual and sexual minority individuals have similar levels of engagement in COVID-19 preventative health behaviors (e g , handwashing and mask wearing), the predictors of health behavior engagement differ between groups Internalized stigma is related to less adherence to COVID-19 preventative health behaviors in sexual minorities and uniquely accounts for these outcomes above and beyond variables that are not specific to sexual orientation of gender identity (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)
Exploring the Type and Impact of Memorable Hate Messages and Identity Salience on Self-Esteem, Relational Outcomes, and Intergroup Biases

Using a social identity theory framework, the present study offers a typology of memorable hate messages from 170 college-aged students. The memorable hate messages focused on racism, body, gender/...
The Rape Culture and Violence Legitimization Model: Application to Disney’s Maleficent

In the United States, rape culture is a prevalent phenomenon that has contributed to desensitization to scenes in popular media that might have been considered unacceptable in the past. This paper ...
Novel behavioral interventions to improve long-term weight loss: A randomized trial of acceptance and commitment therapy or self-regulation for weight loss maintenance

Maintenance of weight loss is hard to achieve, and novel interventions are needed to improve long-term outcomes. In this pilot randomized controlled trial, N = 188 participants received an online, 12-week weight loss intervention and N = 102 who lost ≥ 5% were then randomly assigned to a 1-day, 5-h workshop based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Self-Regulation (SR), or no workshop (Control) with 3 months of limited email follow-up. Assessments were conducted at baseline, 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months. The primary outcome was percent weight change; secondary outcomes were weight-related experiential avoidance and health values-consistent behavior. ACT had greater overall weight loss (−7.18%, SE = 1.33) when compared to Control (−1.15%, SE = 1.50; p = .03). Post hoc analyses showed that ACT had significantly greater weight losses than Control (6.11%, β = −2.03, p = .048) among those with lower initial weight loss (5–7%), and significantly greater weight loss than SR (6.19%, β = −1.77, p = .05) among those with the highest initial weight losses (10% +). There is potential for continuing to develop ACT in a limited interventionist-contact format with modifications. This pilot study represents an innovative model for behavioral weight loss by reversing the typical treatment intensity model with the aim of providing interventionist support during a critical period after initial weight loss. Clinicaltrials.org #NCT02156752 https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02156752 .
203 Changing Sleep During the COVID Pandemic Associated with Daytime Cognitive Function

Introduction: The novel Coronavirus has caused major disruptions to sleep and cognitive function of many individuals. The present study evaluated the degree to which daytime cognitive dysfunction may be related to worsening sleep. Methods: Data from adults aged 18 and older in the 2020 Coronavirus and Impact on Dreams (CovID) study were used. Individuals were asked “how would you rate your sleep quality overall” and answered with “very good, fairly good, fairly bad, or very bad.” Subjects were asked if it takes “30 minutes or more to fall asleep” and answered with how frequently that happened. In addition, participants were asked how often they wake up during the night. Participants were then asked how much they think their sleep problems have contributed to daytime functioning and answered on a scale of 0 to 5, from “not at all” to “very much,” respectively. Results: 46% of the sample did not report problems with daytime cognitive function, while 33%, 12%, and 9% reported mild, moderate, and severe problems, respectively. Those who reported that they have kept a regular schedule during the pandemic were 83% less likely to report greater daytime cognitive dysfunction (95%CI:0.08,0.37, p<0.0005). Those who indicated that overall their sleep worsened or improved did not demonstrate a difference in likelihood of daytime cognitive problems. Regarding specific sleep experiences, those who reported more problems falling asleep due to the pandemic were 8.2 times more likely to report daytime cognitive dysfunction (95%CI:3.53,19.07, p<0.0005) and those who reported more problems with morning awakenings were 5.7 times more likely (95%CI:2.10,15.56, p<0.001). Those who reported that they were sleepier as a result of the pandemic were 9.3 times as likely to report daytime cognitive dysfunction (95%CI:3.53,24.46, p<0.0005) and those who reported taking more naps were 4.4 times more likely (95%CI:1.90,10.40, p<0.001). Conclusion: In general, people who reported increased sleepiness, a less regular schedule, more insomnia, and more napping were more likely to experience daytime cognitive dysfunction during the COVID- 19 pandemic.
Biological scaling analyses are more than statistical line fitting

The magnitude of many biological traits relates strongly and regularly to body size. Consequently, a major goal of comparative biology is to understand and apply these 'size-scaling' relationships, traditionally quantified by using linear regression analyses based on log-transformed data. However, recently some investigators have questioned this traditional method, arguing that linear or non-linear regression based on untransformed arithmetic data may provide better statistical fits than log-linear analyses. Furthermore, they advocate the replacement of the traditional method by alternative specific methods on a case-by-case basis, based simply on best-fit criteria. Here, I argue that the use of logarithms in scaling analyses presents multiple valuable advantages, both statistical and conceptual. Most importantly, log-transformation allows biologically meaningful, properly scaled (scale-independent) comparisons of organisms of different size, whereas non-scaled (scale-dependent) analyses based on untransformed arithmetic data do not. Additionally, log-based analyses can readily reveal biologically and theoretically relevant discontinuities in scale invariance during developmental or evolutionary increases in body size that are not shown by linear or non-linear arithmetic analyses. In this way, log-transformation advances our understanding of biological scaling conceptually, not just statistically. I hope that my Commentary helps students, non-specialists and other interested readers to understand the general benefits of using log-transformed data in size-scaling analyses, and stimulates advocates of arithmetic analyses to show how they may improve our understanding of scaling conceptually, not just statistically.
Amyloid-PET imaging offers small improvements in predictions of future cognitive trajectories.

Abstract Background Amyloid β (A β ) is thought to initiate a cascade of pathology culminating in Alzheimer’s disease-related cognitive decline. A β accumulation in brain tissues may begin one to two decades prior to clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. Prior studies have demonstrated that Aβ detected in vivo with positron emission tomography with amyloid ligands (amyloid-PET) predicts contemporaneously measured cognition and future cognitive trajectories. Prior studies have not evaluated the added value of A β measures in predicting future cognition when repeated past cognitive measures are available. We evaluated the extent to which amyloid-PET improves prediction of future cognitive changes over and above predictions based only on sociodemographics and past cognitive measures. Methods We used data from participants in the University of California Davis Alzheimer’s Disease Research cohort who were cognitively normal at baseline, participated in amyloid-PET imaging, and completed at least three cognitive assessments prior to amyloid-PET imaging ( N = 132 for memory and N = 135 for executive function). We used sociodemographic and cognitive measures taken prior to amyloid-PET imaging to predict cognitive trajectory after amyloid-PET imaging and assessed whether measures of amyloid burden improved predictions of subsequent cognitive change. Improvements in prediction were characterized as percent reduction in the mean squared error (MSE) in predicted cognition post amyloid-PET and increase in percent variance explained. Results The base model using only sociodemographics and past cognitive performance explained the majority of variance in both predicted memory measures (55.6%) and executive function measures (74.5%) following amyloid-PET. Adding amyloid positivity to the model reduced the MSE for memory by 0.2%, 95% CI: (0%, 2.6%), p = 0.48 and for executive function by 3.4%, 95% CI: (0.6%, 10.2%), p = 0.002. This corresponded to an increase in the percent variance explained of 0.1%, 95% CI: (0%, 1.2%) for memory and 0.9%, 95% CI: (0.1%, 2.8%) for executive function. Similar results were obtained using a continuous measure of amyloid burden. Conclusion In this cohort, the addition of amyloid burden slightly improved predictions of executive function compared to models based only on past cognitive assessments and sociodemographics. When repeated cognitive assessments are available, the additional utility of amyloid-PET in predicting future cognitive impairment may be limited.
Modeling and Analysis of Single-phase Boost Converter with Power Factor Correction Control

When ac/dc converters are widely used in modern power system, harmonic component generated from non-linear electronic devices becomes a major issue. The power factor correction (PFC) can be employed to reduce harmonic components and improve transmission efficiency. This paper presents three approaches to model a PFC circuit implemented in a single-phase ac/dc boost converter, which is mathematical modeling, detailed modeling and average modeling. Harmonic analysis of this circuit is also carried out. These models are performed in MATLAB/Simulink and SimPowerSystems. Simulation results are presented and compared.
The Multidimensionality of Adolescent Girls’ Gender Attitudes

Many adolescents hold positive attitudes toward gender equality while also believing in traditional gender roles. This coexistence suggests gender attitudes are multidimensional; yet, gender attitudes are typically measured with unidimensional scales. Using confirmatory factor analysis on the Attitudes Toward Women Scale for Adolescents, we compared the unidimensional structure to a multidimensional structure of the scale, accounting for beliefs in gender equality and social role integration. Participants were 222 10th grade girls (Mage = 15.24; 38% White, 29% Latina, 24% Black; 79% heterosexual, 21% sexual minority) from the southeastern U.S. Results showed that the multidimensional structure (Factor 1: gender equality, Factor 2: social role integration) was a better fit to the data than the unidimensional structure. Girls had stronger beliefs in gender equality than social role integration with differences by race/ethnicity and sexual orientation: White girls had stronger beliefs in gender equality than Black and Latina girls, and sexual minority girls had stronger beliefs in gender equality and social role integration than heterosexual girls. This study suggests that girls’ views of gender roles have not kept pace with views of gender equality. Future work will benefit from treating these as unique dimensions of gender attitudes that may change across time and among different groups of people.
Beta-Binomial Kriging: An Improved Model for Spatial Rates☆

Abstract This paper will present an alternative approach to modelling spatially correlated proportions called beta-binomial kriging. The model adjusts a simpler model, binomial cokriging, to more accurately model latent beta spatial random fields as a function of observed sample proportions. Beta-binomial kriging is relatively simple compared to other models, and provides accurate predictions under a wide variety of circumstances. The approach is ideally suited for problems in epidemiology and spatial ecology where underlying probabilities of a phenomenon are of primary interest. The modeling approach will be evaluated using simulated spatial data.
Dental roentgenographic film density and clinical diagnosis. A preliminary report.

Abstract 1. 1. This preliminary laboratory and clinical study demonstrates a method of investigating dental roentgenographic film density. 2. 2. With the use of a light-transmission densitometer, it is possible to record the density of an area on a roentgenogram and to plot graphically the diagnostic limits for exposure time. 3. 3. It is observed that light or dark films may not be diagnostically accurate.
Instability criteria at interface regions of spherical cavities in solid dielectric cable

Charge formation and the associated electric field distribution is described for a spherical cavity embedded in solid dielectric cable are treated analytically. This model is useful for understanding the high-voltage breakdown process in dielectric materials. Emphasis is placed on understanding the role of various phenomena at the cavity interface. The effects of space charge, discharge, polarization, and charge relaxation are considered. The analysis is based electrically on Poisson's equation and, kinematically on the diffusion transport mechanism. The interaction between the gaseous plasma in the cavity and the dielectric surface is critical. The prebreakdown mechanism at the gaseous/dielectric interface is linked to the argument (K nu *r/sub 2/). K nu is a degrading factor related to the dynamic interaction between partial discharge and the dielectric surface, and r/sub 2/ is the cavity size. Dielectric instability at the interface increases with r/sub 2/ and decreases inversely with K nu . Instability implies degradation at the interface due to local field enhancement. >
Do estimates of an integral really improve as n increases

One way to estimate fJof(x) dx is to partition the interval [0, 1] into n sections of equal lengths and use their right-hand endpoints to form the sum En lf(i/n)(1/n). Call this estimate En. If f is continuous, then En approaches the integral as n approaches infinity. A beginning calculus student or the author of a calculus text might ask, "As n increases, does the estimate get steadily closer to the integral?" In other words, is the approach monotonic? A quick sketch can produce an example where E1 equals the integral but E2 does not. So the answer is no. However, if the derivative f' is nonnegative throughout the interval, then E1 ?E2 ?fJof(x) dx as another quick sketch will show. A similar conclusion holds if f' is nonpositive, in which case we have E1 < E2 < fJof(x) dx. In short, if f' does not change sign in the interval [0, 1], then E2 is at least as good an estimate as E1, and similarly for any positive integers p and q, Epq is at least as good as EP. Keeping the assumption that f' ? 0, we next ask, "Is E2 ? E3?" Once again, a diagram will show that the answer is no. And this automatically raises the next question: "For which general f with nonnegative first derivative, do we have E2 2 E3?" At this point I talked to numerical analysts and looked in numerical analysis texts, but found no mention of the problem. Only after I had shown that En ? En+i for all n did I find that several mathematicians had studied this and related problems as early as 1929. I will first describe my own experience with the problem and its generalization and then the various techniques that others had employed in their solutions. Some of the arguments are elementary and could be sketched in a few minutes in a calculus class.
Semantic specification using two-level grammars: Blocks, procedures and parameters

Formal specifications are presented for the complete syntax and semantics of an ALGOL-like language fragment, using a recently introduced definitional technique employing two-level grammars (W-grammars). The fragment contains several important features whose dynamic semantics have not previously been treated by means of this technique: block structure, (recursive) procedures, and parameters passed by value, by reference, and by name. The degree of conciseness, clarity, etc., of the specifications is comparable to that obtainable with other approaches to formal seamantics, and it is concluded that two-level grammars must currently be regarded as a competitive approach for progress in language specification.
Temperature-resolved infrared spectral emissivity of SiC and Pt-10Rh for temperatures up to 900°C

This article reports the first comprehensive results obtained from a fully functional, recently established infrared spectral-emissivity measurement facility at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). First, sample surface temperatures are obtained with a radiometer using actual emittance values from a newly designed sphere reflectometer and a comparison between the radiometer temperatures and contact thermometry results is presented. Spectral emissivity measurements are made by comparison of the sample spectral radiance to that of a reference blackbody at a similar (but not identical) temperature. Initial materials selected for measurement are potential candidates for use as spectral emissivity standards or are of particular technical interest. Temperature-resolved measurements of the spectral directional emissivity of SiC and Pt–10Rh are performed in the spectral range of 2–20 μm, over a temperature range from 300 to 900°C at normal incidence. Further, a careful study of the uncertainty components of this measurement is presented.
Acute acalculous cholecystitis: a review

Although recognized for more than 150 years, acute acalculous cholecystitis (AAC) remains an elusive diagnosis. This is likely because of the complex clinical setting in which this entity develops, the lack of large prospective controlled trials that evaluate various diagnostic modalities, and thus dependence on a small data base for clinical decision making. AAC most often occurs in critically ill patients, especially related to trauma, surgery, shock, burns, sepsis, total parenteral nutrition, and/or prolonged fasting. Clinically, AAC is difficult to diagnose because the findings of right upper-quadrant pain, fever, leukocytosis, and abnormal liver tests are not specific. AAC is associated with a high mortality, but early diagnosis and intervention can change this. Early diagnosis is the crux of debate surrounding AAC, and it usually rests with imaging modalities. There are no specific criteria to diagnose AAC. Therefore, this review discusses the imaging methods most likely to arrive at an early and accurate diagnosis despite the complexities of the radiologic modalities. A pragmatic approach is vital. A timely diagnosis will depend on a high index of suspicion in the appropriate patient, and the combined results of clinical findings (admittedly nonspecific), plus properly interpreted imaging. Sonogram (often sequential) and hepatic iminodiacetic acid scans are the most reliable modalities for diagnosis. It is generally agreed that cholecystectomy is the definitive therapy for AAC. However, at times a diagnostic/therapeutic drainage via interventional radiology/surgery may be necessary and life-saving, and may be the only treatment needed.
Toward a Contingency Model of Strategic Risk Taking

A model of strategic risk taking incorporating environmental, industrial, organizational, decision maker, and problem variables is presented. The model is intended to be both a preliminary conceptualization of strategic risk taking and a stimulant for future research on risk taking in strategic management decisions. Relevant research from a number of disciplines is summarized, and the potential impacts of particular variables on the propensity to take strategic risks are examined.
More Than Gentle Smiles and Warm Hugs: Applying the Ethic of Care to Early Childhood Education

Abstract Caring has become a buzzword in education. However, the commonly held understanding of caring—characterized by gentle smiles and warm hugs—obscures the complexity and the intellectual challenge of work with young children. Coupling early childhood education with this simplistic conception of caring will be detrimental to the field. As an alternative, the author draws on feminist moral theory, specifically the ethic of care, to develop an understanding of caring that emphasizes its deeply ethical, philosophical and experiential roots. Using narratives of life in a primary grade classroom, this article highlights the ways that the ethic of care can be used to enhance our understanding of what it means to be caring teachers.
CNN universal chips crank up the computing power

New cellular neural network chips, with stored-program capability and analog-and-logic architecture, are poised to challenge all-digital processing. In this article, we highlight the key ideas leading to the CNN Universal Machine, using simple circuit interpretations. We also illustrate the system, software, and application aspects.
Biotech patents: looking backward while moving forward.

Laboratory Corporation v. Metabolite Laboratories may signal renewed interest on the part of the US Supreme Court in what is, and what is not, patentable in biology.
Distribution of pulmonary blood flow in fetal and newborn lambs

Abstract The distribution of pulmonary blood flow was studied in near-term lambs, using isotope labeled macroaggregated albumin (M.A.A.), before the onset of respiration, during the onset of respiration, and after full inflation. Before the onset of respiration, in 5 animals the comparison of the distribution of M.A.A. particles in the right and left sides (counts/gram of lung tissue) was not statistically different. The median relative activity (% total μc/% total wt) was near 1.0 in each lung for all subjects, and 89.4% and 88.1 % of the right and left lung had a relative activity within ±50% of the mean. Thus, the distribution of blood flow in the fetal lung was nearly symmetrical and uniform. During the onset of respiration, in 2 out of 3 cases, a statistically significant difference between the relative blood flow to the aerated and uninflated regions was found, the distribution of M.A.A. particles being in favor of the aerated regions. Thus, during the onset of respiration the increased blood perfusion and lung inflation were topographically correlated. Following full inflation, the distribution of pulmonary blood flow was again nearly symmetrical and uniform.
ANALYSIS OF THE POSTNATAL DEVELOPMENTAL EFFECTS OF "REELER," A NEUROLOGICAL MUTATION IN MICE. A STUDY IN DEVELOPMENTAL GENETICS.

Abstract The neuropathology of the “reeler” mutation in mice and the developmental steps leading to the abnormality have been analyzed. The “reeler” gene destroys the typical cytoarchitectonics and lamination of the cerebral cortex, the hippocampal cortex and the cerebellar cortex. The development of the abnormality was studied in the cerebellum, where maturational changes and deviations from the course of normal differentiation could be followed during the postnatal period of development. In the “reeler” homozygote, cell migration or proliferation from the transitory external granular zone of the immature cerebellum was suppressed, leading to reduction of the granular layer, and possibly to displacement of Purkinje cells. The reduction in granule cells of the cerebellum of “reeler” mice is matched by increased concentration and dispersal of large neurons throughout the cerebellar white matter. These neurons are morphologically and enzymatically similar to the neurons found in the roof nuclei of normal mice. Possibly this abnormal distribution of cells in the cerebella of “reeler” mice is brought about by failure of degenerative processes, or because changes in white matter volume operating in normal mice during development do not take place in “reeler” homozygotes.