cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cortical blindness associated with autonomic dysreflexia in a man with tetraplegia: a rare but serious complication.

Context To describe a case of a 44-year-old man with complete C4 tetraplegia who developed transient cortical blindness in the subacute setting following episodes of autonomic dysreflexia. Findings Transient cortical blindness the day after surgery for appendicitis that had resulted in severe autonomic dysreflexia (AD) requiring aggressive blood pressure management. Imaging showed no evidence of acute stroke, but did show vasospasm in the occipital lobes. Vision improved over the next couple of months. Conclusion/clinical relevance This case illustrates a possible profound vasomotor phenomenon (cortical blindness) associated with AD and its symptomatic treatment. Early recognition of AD and treatment of its underlying cause cannot be overemphasized.
Obesity, vascular changes, and elevated blood pressure.

Hypertension has long been recognized as an important risk factor for adverse cardiovascular disease outcomes, including cerebrovascular disease and myocardial infarction ([1][1]). Obesity has been recognized as an important determinant of elevated blood pressure ([2][2]). However, the vascular
The Emergence of Gender Differences in Guilt during Adolescence

Publisher Summary Males and females differ not only in the intensity of guilt feelings from adolescence onward, but in what and who causes them to feel guilty. Males are more likely to feel guilt about aggressive behaviors and in the presence of strangers. Aggressiveness is seen as normative for males and parents and peers alike may tolerate this type of behavior. Males are more likely than females to deny culpability for their actions and are less likely to experience ongoing, unalleviated feelings of guilt. Males feel less intense guilt with development during adolescence. In contrast, females are more likely to feel guilt about inconsiderate behavior and around family members. Inconsiderateness is seen as non-normative for females, and females may be especially harsh in punishing themselves for misbehavior that runs counter to sex-role stereotypes. Guilt over inconsiderate behavior becomes more prevalent with development for females. Peers hold females compared to males more accountable for their actions. Parents likewise are less tolerant of misbehavior among females than males and are more likely to use discipline techniques with daughters that lead to guilt. Females compared to males are more willing to concede responsibility for misdeeds and apparently have more difficulty expelling feelings of guilt as evidenced by their higher scores on chronic guilt. Females' greater proclivity for guilt may be both a blessing and a curse. Chronic feelings of guilt, unchannelled and unresolved, may provide an ongoing source of self-degradation, serve as an endless reminder of the failing that evoked the emotion, and may be a precipitating factor in the development of depression and eating disorders.
Nitric oxide inhibitor L-NAME suppresses mechanically induced bone formation in rats

We hypothesized that nitric oxide may act as an intermediary in the transduction of mechanical loading of bone into a bone formation response. In the present study, 48 rats were divided into the following three treatment groups: control, treatment with N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME; an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase), and treatment with D-NAME (the less active enantiomer of L-NAME). The rats were subdivided into groups subjected to four-point bending or sham loading of their right tibiae. Bone formation was measured at the midshaft of the loaded and nonloaded (left) tibiae of each rat using histomorphometric methods. The application of four-point bending, but not sham loading, resulted in new bone formation. Treatment with L-NAME reduced the rate of mechanically induced bone formation by 66% compared with the control group. Bone formation rates in nonloaded or sham-loaded limbs were not affected by L-NAME treatment. The results suggest that nitric oxide may play a role in the transduction of a mechanical stimulus into a biological response in bone.
Differential role of afferent and efferent renal nerves in the maintenance of early- and late-phase dahl S hypertension

Clinical data suggest that renal denervation (RDNX) may be an effective treatment for human hypertension; however, it is unclear whether this therapeutic effect is due to ablation of afferent or ef...
Assessing Accuracy of Sustentaculum Screw Placement During Calcaneal Fixation

Background:The aim of this study was to determine the ability of the Harris heel view to confirm placement of the sustentacular screw during calcaneal fixation.Methods:A 4.0 cancellous screw was placed in a cadaveric specimen, from lateral to medial in 5 configurations: (1) within the sustentaculum, (2) misdirected inferiorly to sustentaculum, (3) misdirected superiorly to sustentaculum, (4) misdirected anteriorly to sustentaculum, and (5) misdirected posteriorly to sustentaculum. Harris heel views were obtained at 5 angulations and were analyzed to determine screw placement.Results:A screw placed anatomically was radiographically confirmed by the Harris heel view to be within the sustentaculum in all views. An inferiorly misdirected screw appeared radiographically within the sustentaculum at 30, 40 and 50 degrees but was confirmed misplaced on the 10- and 20-degree views. A posteriorly misdirected screw was confirmed misplaced on all 5 views. An anteriorly misdirected screw appeared radiographically with...
In Situ High Voltage Electron Microscopy Observations of Deformation and Fracture in Multilayered Materials

A novel, in situ transmission electron microcopy technique for the direct observation of deformation and fracture in multilayered materials oriented in cross-section is reviewed. Cross-sectional tensile specimens were prepared from thick, free-standing, Cu/Zr and AJTTi multilayered foils. These tensile specimens contain a micro-gauge section, thus predetermining the location at which dislocation activity and crack nucleation and growth can be observed at high magnifications in the transmission electron microscope. The results from these experiments are unique and cannot be realized by any other technique. These observations will aid us in our understanding of the micromechanisms of deformation and fracture in multilayered materials.
Some Excretory Processes in the Abalone, Haliotis Rufescens

1. Experiments were carried out on the abalone, Haliotis rufescens , to discover some of the mechanisms involved in urine formation. Test substances were infused into the blood stream and their concentrations followed in serially taken samples of blood, pericardial fluid and urine from the right and left kidneys. 2. Inulin appears to be filtered since its concentration is essentially the same in samples of blood, pericardial fluid and urine from each kidney. The concentrations of phenolsulphonphthalein and p -amino hippuric acid were considerably higher in right kidney urine than in the other fluids, indicating that this kidney is capable of active secretion. 3. Glucose occurred in lower concentrations in the left kidney urine than in blood and pericardial fluid, suggesting a reabsorption of glucose by this kidney. 4. Dye solutions of T-1824 and other materials infused slowly into the pericardial cavity appeared in the urine of both kidneys, suggesting the presence of two functional reno-pericardial canals; presence of both right and left canals was verified by dissection and observation. 5. From the results obtained it appears that the primary step in urine formation is filtration of blood through the walls of the atria into the pericardial cavity. This fluid then passes via the reno-pericardial canals into the kidneys where on the right side substances may be actively secreted into it and in the left kidney substances may be actively reabsorbed. This work was done at the Hopkins Marine Station of Stanford University under the sponsorship of Donald P. Abbott and was made possible by fellowship support from the National Institutes of Health.
Kinematics and Dynamics of a Biologically Inspired Index Finger Exoskeleton

Rehabilitation of upper extremity, especially hands, is critical for the restoration of independence in activities of daily living for individuals suffering from hand disabilities. In this work, we propose a biologically-inspired design of an index finger exoskeleton. The design has passive stiffness at each joint with antagonistic tendon driven actuation allowing for (1) improved kinematic and dynamic compatibility for effective therapy; and (2) conformation of exoskeleton and finger joints axes of rotation. We present a kinematics and dynamics model of the coupled index finger-exoskeleton system that incorporates human-like passive torques at the metacarpophalangeal (MCP), proximal interphalangeal (PIP) and distal interphalangeal (DIP) joints. We carry out simulations using this coupled system model to study the role of passive stiffness on workspace and tendon forces, actuator force and displacement requirements, and reaction forces and moments acting at the finger joints for an index finger flexion-extension task. Results show that accurately modeling the coupled system can help in optimizing the design and control of the device, thus, exploiting its passive dynamics for effective functioning.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Fecundity and reproductive output in two species of deep-sea crabs, Geryon fenneri and G. quinquedens (Decapoda: Brachyura)

ABSTRACT Brood weight, fecundity, and egg size as a function of female body size were compared in the deep-sea red crab Geryon quinquedens and the deep-sea golden crab Geryon fenneri. Females of G. fenneri attained a larger body size than G. quinquedens, and body size in both species was the main determinant of reproductive output (brood mass) and fecundity per brood. Both species differed from most other brachyurans in having larger reproductive outputs, larger eggs, and lower fecundities relative to their large body sizes. After statistical adjustment for differences in body size between the two species, G. quinquedens had space in the body cavity for yolk accumulation and a brood mass which were 50% larger than G. fenneri. Geryon quinquedens, however, produced eggs 2.18 times the volume of G. fenneri, resulting in equivalent number of eggs per brood in similar-sized crabs. Large, yolky eggs in G. quinquedens are likely to contribute to the nutritional flexibility of its larvae, but apparently have coevolved with significant changes in female morphology and reproductive output.
Effects of Several Substituted Phenolic Acids on Transformation of Pentachlorophenol Mediated by Manganese Dioxide

Pentachlorophenol (PCP) can be transformed in soil through oxidative reaction mediated by manganese dioxide. In this paper, the effects of several substituted phenolic acids with different structures on the transformation of PCP in the presence of manganese dioxide were investigated. The results in this study demonstrated that substituted benzoic acids affected the disappearance of PCP more strongly than did substituted cinnamic acids. In addition, hydroxylated phenolic acids retarded the removal of PCP more strongly than methoxylated phenolic acids did and the transformation of PCP also decreased with the increased number of substituted groups. Therefore, on one hand, this result could be attributed to the type of substituted phenolic acids and the type and number of substituted groups. On the other hand, this result also displayed that PCP underwent different transformed mechanisms under the influence of several substituted phenolic acid.
A Comparative Study of Innovation Ability in Science and Technology between Ukraine and Russia

Ukraine was an important republics after Russia during the Soviet era. In the transition period,the scientific enterprise was greatly affected so that many respects has fallen behind in Russia. However,Ukraine still can not be ignored because of the strength of military technology. Ukraine and Russia military cooperation in the field of science and technology is the inevitable choice of the two countries.
Detection and Diagnosis of Vibration Fault of Small Steam Turbine

Small steam turbine operation process in a thermal power plant, the axial vibration is too large, appear vibration fluctuation fault. Through the vibration of the turbine to detection, acquisition includes vibration trend chart, the vibration spectrum of amplitude and phase of fault data. Combined with data analysis and the characteristics of vibration signal,the fault diagnosis is made, and achieved remarkable results.
R2 Digital Library Review

ABSTRACTThe R2 Digital Library is an e-book platform of Rittenhouse Book Distributors. Exclusively focusing on the health sciences, the R2 Digital Library collection comprises medical, nursing, and allied health e-books. This article will explore the features and functionality of the R2 Digital Library platform, including how to build an e-book collection; how to access, browse, and search an e-book collection; and how to manage e-book collection usage statistics.
Medical School Hotline: Celebrating 15 Years of the Area Health Education Center at the John A. Burns School of Medicine

The Area Health Education Center (AHEC) debuted in the (then named) Hawai‘i Medical Journal in November 2000, with a Medical School Hotline article titled The Role of AHEC in Medical Education. This article described an emerging AHEC program with two regional community-based centers in Hilo and Lihue. These centers worked to provide the entire State of Hawai‘i with health careers recruitment for K-12 students, support for continuing education, community-based education, and training of health care professional students in interprofessional teams. They strove to meet the federal mandate of the AHEC Program: to enhance access to high quality, culturally competent health care through academic-community partnerships to ultimately improve the distribution, diversity, and supply of the primary care health professions workforce who serve in rural and underserved health care delivery sites. Fifteen years later, we can reminisce about AHEC's humble (yet ambitious) beginnings and speculate about our future growth.
Treatment of allergic disorders with injections of allergen extracts.

A series of investigations did not reveal an immunochemical response to injection of allergen extracts into sensitive persons which would provide either a rationale for the treatment or a basis for a promising dosage regimen worthy of clinical trial. Properly conducted clinical trials are thus still relied on.
Reducing Waste in Extreme Scale Systems through Introspective Analysis

Resilience is an important challenge for extreme-scale supercomputers. Today, failures in supercomputers are assumed to be uniformly distributed in time. However, recent studies show that failures in high-performance computing systems are partially correlated in time, generating periods of higher failure density. Our study of the failure logs of multiple supercomputers show that periods of higher failure density occur with up to three times more than the average. We design a monitoring system that listens to hardware events and forwards important events to the runtime to detect those regime changes. We implement a runtime capable of receiving notifications and adapt dynamically. In addition, we build an analytical model to predict the gains that such dynamic approach could achieve. We demonstrate that in some systems, our approach can reduce the wasted time by over 30%.
Hormones, receptors, and cyclic AMP: their role in target cell refractoriness.

Publisher Summary Several hormones exert their effects on target cells via the second messenger, cyclic adenosine 3’,5’-monophosphate (cAMP). Interaction of such hormones with cell surface receptors results in the stimulation of the membrane-bound enzyme—adenylate cyclase—which catalyzes the conversion of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to cAMP. cAMP activates a protein kinase which phosphorylates certain enzymes, regulating their activity in the cell. Stimulation of responsive cells by such hormones as epinephrine and other catecholamines, adrenocorticotrophic hormone, glucagon, luteinizing hormone, vasopressin, prostaglandins, and thyroid-stimulating hormone leads to increased concentrations of cAMP within the cells. Cells exposed chronically to high concentrations of hormones or drugs become less responsive to the biological effects of these agents. This phenomenon of hormone-induced refractoriness is widespread among adenylate cyclase-coupled hormone receptors. Two broad categories of mechanisms are evident: those resulting in hormone-specific or homologous desensitization, related to an apparent alteration in the hormone receptor binding site, and nonspecific or heterologous desensitization which involve lesions distal to the receptor.
Reversal Learning Deficits in Criminal Offenders: Effects of Psychopathy, Substance use, and Childhood Maltreatment History

Deficits in reinforcement learning are presumed to underlie the impulsive and incorrigible behavior exhibited by psychopathic criminals. However, previous studies documenting reversal learning impairments in psychopathic individuals have not investigated this relationship across a continuous range of psychopathy severity, nor have they examined how reversal learning impairments relate to different psychopathic traits, such as the interpersonal-affective and lifestyle-antisocial dimensions. Furthermore, previous studies have not considered the role that childhood maltreatment and substance use may have in this specific cognitive deficit. Using a standard reversal learning task in a sample of N = 114 incarcerated male offenders, we demonstrate a significant relationship between psychopathy severity and reversal learning errors. Furthermore, we show a significant interaction between psychopathy and childhood maltreatment, but not substance use, such that individuals high in psychopathy with an extensive history of maltreatment committed the greatest number of reversal learning errors. These findings extend the current understanding of reversal learning performance among psychopathic individuals, and highlight the importance of considering childhood maltreatment when studying psychopathy.
Tissue Concentration of Dodecafluoropentane (DDFP) Following Repeated IV Administration in the New Zealand White Rabbit.

IV injection of dodecafluoropentane emulsion (DDFPe) increases oxygen transportation and reduces brain infarct volume in a rabbit stroke model. Tissue distribution of the parent perfluorocarbon dodecafluoropentane (DDFP) is unknown but is critical to understanding the mechanism by which DDFPe is effective in treating ischemia and for determining safe dosing. Previous studies showed a DDFP blood half-life of 90 min after injection. We describe DDFP distribution in brain, kidney, liver, spleen, and lung following nine dosing regimens in New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits. Single and multi-dose schedules were administered to NZW rabbits (n = 27). A single DDFPe dose (0.6 ml/kg) group was sacrificed 2 min after dosing and eight multi-dose groups (4 doses of 0.3 or 0.6 ml/kg and 15 doses of 0.1, 0.3, or 0.6) were sacrificed 90 min after final injections. Tissues were flash frozen and analyzed with headspace sampling/GC-MS. DDFP brain concentration increased with increasing dose in the 15 dose groups (4.70, 8.34, and 14.3 μg/g) and indicative of linear pharmacokinetics within this dose range. The DDFP lung concentration was not reflective of increasing dose or dose frequency. The total clearance of DDFP was consistent with previous reports showing 98% of DDFP is cleared within 2 h of administration.
Modified van der pol (Vdp) oscillator based cardiac pacemakers

The paper involves the study of nonlinear dynamics oscillator and numerical methodology to analyze and resolute the nonlinear dynamics model. Based on either the classical Vander Pol oscillator or other nonlinear oscillators, these models were interesting rather because of the physical phenomena that could be obtained (chaos and synchronization). Here, we can simulate many important physiological features of true physiological action potentials in practical systems by adjusting the parameter. We also show different ways to change pacemaker actions. As van der pol oscillator can model heart beat phenomenon so here these oscillator models are modified so that they can match well with the results obtained by actual pacemakers. We model electrical activity of cardiac electric system including a trial and ventricular muscles solving a set of coupled nonlinear oscillator equations. A new mathematical model for the electrical activity of the heart is proposed. In this paper a modified Vander Pol oscillator model was designed in order to reproduce the time series of the action potential generated by a natural pacemaker of the heart (i.e., the SA or the AV node). The model represents a special singularly perturbed three-dimensional system of ordinary differential equations with one fast and two slow variables.
TFEB activation protects against cardiac proteotoxicity via increasing autophagic flux

Insufficient lysosomal removal of autophagic cargoes in cardiomyocytes has been suggested as a main cause for the impairment of the autophagic-lysosomal pathway (ALP) in many forms of heart disease including cardiac proteinopathy and may play an important pathogenic role; however, the molecular basis and the correcting strategy for the cardiac ALP insufficiency require further investigation. The present study was sought to determine whether myocardial expression and activity of TFEB, the recently identified ALP master regulator, are impaired in a cardiac proteinopathy mouse model and to determine the effect of genetic manipulation of TFEB expression on autophagy and proteotoxicity in a cardiomyocyte model of proteinopathy. We found that increased myocardial TFEB mRNA levels and a TFEB protein isoform switch were associated with marked decreases in the mRNA levels of representative TFEB target genes and increased mTORC1 activation, in mice with cardiac transgenic expression of a missense (R120G) mutant αB-crystallin (CryABR120G), a well-established model of cardiac proteinopathy. Using neonatal rat ventricular cardiomyocyte cultures, we demonstrated that downregulation of TFEB decreased autophagic flux in cardiomyocytes both at baseline and during CryABR120G overexpression and increased CryABR120G protein aggregates. Conversely, forced TFEB overexpression increased autophagic flux and remarkably attenuated the CryABR120G overexpression-induced accumulation of ubiquitinated proteins, caspase 3 cleavage, LDH leakage, and decreases in cell viability. Moreover, these protective effects of TFEB were dramatically diminished by inhibiting autophagy. We conclude that myocardial TFEB signaling is impaired in cardiac proteinopathy and forced TFEB overexpression protects against proteotoxicity in cardiomyocytes through improving ALP activity.
Clinical Factors as a Component of the Personalized Treatment Approach to Advanced Pancreatic Cancer: a Systematic Literature Review

Pancreatic cancer is often diagnosed at late stages, where disease is either locally advanced unresectable or metastatic. Despite advances, long-term survival is relatively non-existent. This review article discusses clinical factors commonly encountered in practice that should be incorporated into the decision-making process to optimize patient outcomes, including performance status, nutrition and cachexia, pain, psychological distress, medical comorbidities, advanced age, and treatment selection. Identification and optimization of these clinical factors could make a meaningful impact on the patient’s quality of life.
Hereditary Polyposis Syndromes: Opportunities for Early Detection in Individuals and Families

People with multiple polyps may have a germline mutation that places them at higher risk for developing colorectal, gastrointestinal, and other cancers. Genetic testing can often identify the specific polyposis syndrome and provide insight into appropriate recommendations for cancer prevention and early detection. Individuals with hereditary polyposis syndromes often begin developing polyps in their teenage years and require aggressive gastrointestinal surveillance to remove polyps. For some, the polyp burden will be too high to manage endoscopically and will require risk-reducing colectomies. Identification of individuals with hereditary polyposis syndromes may help to reduce morbidity and mortality. .
Choledochal cyst spontaneously rupturing the hepatic artery.

Choledochal cysts are considered an uncommon congenital abnormality of the biliary tract (1, 2). The classic triad of jaundice, pain, and palpable mass is encountered among 13–38% of cases at initial presentation (3, 4). Additionally, choledochal cysts may cause complications including recurrent cholangitis, pancreatitis, cholelithiasis, cholecystitis and carcinoma of the gallbladder and biliary tree, cirrhosis with portal hypertension, and portal vein thrombosis with resultant portal hypertension (3–5). Bile peritonitis secondary to rupture is one of rarest complications of choledochal cysts (6, 7). A few studies have reported that bleeding from the cyst wall may occur inside of the cyst (1, 8, 9). A case of choledochal cyst rupture into the hepatic artery has not yet been reported. In this study a patient with a choledochal cyst that spontaneously ruptured the hepatic artery and caused hemorrhagic shock will be presented.
A Social–learning Approach to Alcoholism Treatment:

Within a framework that views alcoholism as a socially acquired, habitual behavior pattern which meets many needs, a three-phase therapeutic plan is used
Treponema pallidum Repeat (tpr) Genes and Antigenic Variation

In the absence of treatment, syphilis is a lifelong infection with clinically manifest stages that alternate with periods of latency. The primary and secondary stages of the disease are highly infectious in that the agent of syphilis, Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum (T. pallidum), actively proliferates in the lesions that stigmatize early syphilis (such as the primary “chancre”, and the secondary mucosal lesions and skin rash). Within these lesions, however, the increasing bacterial burden elicits a robust immune response that culminates with the immune clearance of the great majority of the treponemes and allows spontaneous lesion resolution. Nonetheless, very few treponemes successfully evade the host’s immune response and latently persist in the affected individual for decades. Eventually, in approximately one third of the patients, the disease reactivates leading to the dreaded manifestations of tertiary syphilis, such as insanity, blindness, paralysis, or death. How some T. pallidum cells can successfully evade the host defenses is a key question mark in syphilis pathogenesis. A variety of mechanisms were proposed over the last three decades, including residence of the pathogen within intracellular or immune privileged niches, or its ability to cloak its surface with host proteins or mucopolysaccharides to disguise as “self” and avoid immune recognition. Although not abandoned, the strength of the above theories was significantly lessened by the discovery of phase variation mechanisms for four hypothetical outer membrane proteins (OMPs) candidates encoded by the T. pallidum tpr (T. pallidum repeat) gene family, and the demonstration that the variable antigen TprK is involved in treponemal immune selection during experimental infection. Such findings strongly suggest a role for some tpr genes in immune evasion and persistence. After one century from the isolation of the first T. pallidum strain in 1912 by Nichols and Hough, progress to elucidate the molecular mechanisms behind T. pallidum’s persistence is still hindered by the inability to grow in vitro or genetically manipulate T. pallidum, the pathogen’s limited viability outside of a host, and an uncommonly fragile cellular ultrastructure. Despite such limitations, much evidence support that immune evasion by the syphilis spirochete is based on sophisticated molecular strategies whose investigation could significantly deepen our understanding of syphilis pathogenesis and also favor the identification of broadly protective vaccines.
Stock market reaction to information technology investments: Towards an explanatory model

Online discussion forum, which plays an important role in online criticism, provides useful information such as online commentaries generated by other users. The paper uses regulatory focus theory to explain how online commentaries are processed differently depending on the user’s information processing style and how each self-regulatory mode moderates the impact of online commentaries on one’s overall evaluation of information. The study produces three major findings: (1) Promotion-focused users are more likely to distort online information than prevention-focused users do, (2) With hedonic information, information distortion will be stronger for promotion-focused users as compared to prevention-focused users, (3) With utilitarian information, information distortion will be stronger for prevention-focused people as compared to promotion-focused users. These finding have implications for online discussion forums in terms of how to manage users effectively and also how to prevent unintended criticism.
Nonuniform sampling problems in computed tomography

Two problems involving high-resolution reconstruction from nonuniformly sampled data in x-ray computed tomography are addressed. A technique based on the theorem for sampling on unions of shifted lattices is introduced which exploits the symmetry property in two-dimensional fan beam computed tomography and permits the reconstruction of images with twice the resolution as the standard reconstruction by increasing only the number of views per rotation. An estimate is given for the aliasing error committed in the case of non-bandlimited data. Numerical results are presented which demonstrate the improvement in the quality of images from real and simulated data. A mathematical framework is presented for analyzing the longitudinal interpolation problem in three-dimensional multislice helical computed tomography. The problem is viewed as a collection of one-dimensional nonuniform but periodic sampling problems. An accurate interpolation formula based on the periodic sampling theorem is introduced. A measure of suitability of a sampling scheme is presented and candidates for so-called preferred helical pitch are identified. Numerical results from simulated data are presented which confirm the theoretical predictions.
Puzzled: Weighed in the balance

Many of us have pondered puzzles involving a set of n coins and a balance scale, the idea being typically to find the counterfeit coin and determine whether it is lighter or heavier than the others using the fewest possible weighings. Here we take a slightly different tack, but the equipment is familiar: a set of coins and a balance scale that can tell us which of two sets of coins is heavier or that they are of equal weight.
Weather-Forecast Profitability from a Client's Viewpoint

The governing requirements in forecasting the weather for industrial operations are profitability and safety. Accuracy, though desirable, is not sufficient to guarantee utility. In order to be useful, the forecasts must be worded so that they can easily be converted into profitable business decisions. Thus, the industrial meteorologist needs not only a knowledge of the weather but also a considerable economic insight into the industrial activities and problems of his client. Special attention has to be paid to the effect of each forecast on the profitability and safety of the client's operations. In certain instances, the meteorologist may even need to recommend some routinely instituted protective action as being more profitable than actions based on his own forecasts. Approximate methods, with which the forecaster can estimate the most profitable action available to his client for a particular industrial operation, are given, and several illustrative examples are discussed. The methods are first applied...
Phenotypically plastic responses to predation threat in the mangrove rivulus fish (Kryptolebias marmoratus): behavior and morphology

Early life environments have important effects on phenotype development, but it can be difficult to disentangle the relative influences of genotype and environment on phenotypic variation within and among populations. Mangrove rivulus fish (Kryptolebias marmoratus) reproduce by self-fertilization and can generate isogenic lineages, which provides opportunities to resolve how the environment shapes the phenotype independent of genetic variation. Rivulus’ ecology is not well understood, but mangrove water snakes (Nerodia clarkii compressicauda) are thought to be a major predator. To test developmental responses to predator-related cues, four rivulus lineages (two that naturally co-exist with snakes; two that do not) were exposed to one of three treatments for 30 days post-hatching: cues from snakes that were fasted, fed rivulus, or fed heterospecifics. One week after exposure, fear and boldness responses were quantified. Individuals were photographed at 2 and 6 months of age for body size, growth, and body shape analysis. Animals that have historically encountered snakes were more risk averse and had wider heads than animals that historically have not encountered snakes. Rivulus exposed to cues from snakes fed conspecifics or heterospecifics grew faster than those exposed to fasted snake cues. Body shape was more streamlined in animals exposed to cues from snakes fed conspecifics, which may facilitate increased jumping performance as a way to escape aquatic predators. Our results suggest that rivulus exhibit phenotypic plasticity in response to cues associated with predator threat and that historical effects from selection or other evolutionary processes also are important determinants of behavioral and morphological variation.
Atomically Precise Strategy to a PtZn Alloy Nanocluster Catalyst for the Deep Dehydrogenation of n-Butane to 1,3-Butadiene

The development of on-purpose 1,3-butadiene (BDE) technologies remains an active area in catalysis research due to the importance of BDE in industrial polymer production. Here, we report on a non-oxidative dehydrogenation catalyst for the production of BDE prepared by atomically precise installation of platinum sites on a Zn-modified SiO2 sup-port via Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD). In situ reduction x-ray adsorption spectroscopy (XAS) experiments, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), CO chemisorption, and high-angle annular dark-field (HAADF) scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) imaging of activated PtZn/SiO2 material, revealed the formation of a uniform, well-distributed sub-nano to nanometer PtZn (1.2 ± 0.3 nm) alloy as the active catalytic species.
Case study results: fault detection in air-handling units in buildings

The building sector of the U.S. currently consumes over 40% of the U.S. primary energy supply. This paper presents analytical methods embodied within useful software tools to quickly identify and e...
Characteristics of Hospitals Exiting the Newly Voluntary Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement Program.

In 2018, Medicare made participation in the Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement (CJR) program, which had been mandatory for all hospitals in 67 metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs), voluntary in the 33 of 67 MSAs with the lowest historical costs. CJR was designed to hold hospitals accountable for the cost and quality of care during hip or knee replacement episodes, defined as hospitalization and 90 days of post-discharge care. We compared hospitals that stayed with the CJR program against those that withdrew. This information is important for understanding the effects of voluntary payment models.
Understanding Mormon Fundamentalist Polygamy

In this chapter, I provide an overview of Mormon fundamentalist polygamy with a focus on the Apostolic United Brethren (AUB) and Fundamentalist Church of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS), the two sects that study participants were members of before they left. Next, I describe allegations of illegal activities within some Mormon fundamentalist sects and recent legal battles, including a history of failed government raids. Finally, I explore some of the themes described in existing life stories from women who left polygamous communities.
Toward a National Conservation Network Act: Transforming Landscape Conservation on the Public Lands into Law

The United States has made a remarkable commitment to nature conservation on the federal public lands. The country’s existing array of national parks, wilderness areas, national monuments, wildlife refuges, and other protective designations encompasses roughly 150 million acres, or nearly 40 percent of the “lower 48” federal estate. A robust land trust movement has protected another 56 million acres of privately owned lands. Advances in scientific knowledge reveal that these protected enclaves, standing alone, are insufficient to protect native ecosystems and at-risk wildlife from climate change impacts and unrelenting development pressures. Abetted by existing law, conservation policy is now focusing on the larger landscape to preserve biological diversity and to promote ecological resilience as principal management goals. This growing emphasis on landscape-scale conservation is evident in various protected area complexes that have arisen organically across the federal estate in places as diverse as the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, California’s Mojave Desert, and Colorado’s San Luis Valley. To fully capitalize on these ad hoc developments, this article makes the case for a new National Conservation Network Act to legitimize and expand upon these protected areas. It first reviews the origins and evolution of the nation’s protected land systems and related nature conservation strategies, and then identifies the scientific and legal developments underlying landscape-scale conservation strategies. Next, it highlights several emergent protected area complexes evident on the public lands, explaining their diverse origins and important conservation contributions. It concludes by proposing new legislation that would place a statutory umbrella over these protected complexes, mandate effective interagency coordination within them, enlist private lands as voluntary “affiliates” in these conservation efforts, and establish new wildlife corridor and restoration area designations. The proposed law would validate the current movement toward landscape conservation, and thus amplify the federal commitment to nature conservation to meet the challenges looming ahead.
Formative measurements in operations management research: Using partial least squares

The partial least squares (PLS) approach to structural equation modeling (SEM) appears across a wide array of business research publications, including those in operations management (OM). However, the authors’ summary of PLS use in the OM literature su..
A hierarchical model of binary pattern learning

Abstract A model is presented of how humans learn repeating patterns made of only two qualitatively distinct elements, for example: aabbaabab. The model proposes hierarchical coding principles or axioms that code the pattern into larger groups of elements at higher levels until perfect prediction is possible. Prior to solution the learner uses the transition probabilities associated with the coded elements present at the lower levels to make predictions. A simple rationale for weighting the contribution of the lower levels allows one to predict the proportion of errors that should occur at each pattern position, that is, to predict the error profile of a pattern, without using estimated parameters. Apparently no other such model exists to describe this basic type of human learning. Results published by Restle (1967) showing the error profile of three different binary patterns were used to test the model. Each error profile was successfully predicted, with r ranging from .91 to .94. Modifications, implications, limitations and qualifications of the model are discussed.
Knowledge of Life True to Life: Medicine, Experimentation, and Milieu

This chapter begins exploring error in medical practice, as Canguilhem grappled with it in his Essay and Knowledge of Life. A close reading of his efforts to distinguish experimental from medical activity leads to some methodological observations about his relation to positivism and phenomenology in the former book and an exemplification of his methods in the latter and its study of the milieu concept. I argue that this study leads him to more expansive claims about the fruitfulness of biological experimentation for knowledge of life even as he cautions against treating medicine as experimentation and proposes consent as a criterion by which to test the legitimacy of semi-experimental, semi-medical endeavors. Finally, I show how this informs his distinctive understanding of subjectivity.
Skeletal Muscle Mitochondrial Carbonic Anhydrase

Much of the carbonic anhydrase (CA) activity in skeletal muscles is CA III, which makes up a substantial proportion of the muscle cell protein.4,5,20,21,25,31 Skeletal muscle contain CA activity with properties attributable to the well-characterized isozymes, CA I and CA II.17,23,27,32,36 The subcellular distribution of these isozymes in muscle has remained a matter of some controversy, which has been exacerbated by clear indications of distribution differences between mammalian species.6,16,23,30
How challenges and peers contribute to social-emotional learning in outdoor adventure education programs.

Abstract Introduction Many youth development programs view adolescents’ process of grappling with challenges as a major driver of social-emotional learning. Our goal was to understand these processes as experienced and enacted by youth. We focused on the program Outward Bound in the United States because its students experience significant physical and social challenges and it has well-developed staff practices for facilitating learning from challenges. Methods Group interviews were conducted with 32 youth (ages 14–18; 50% female), immediately following their completion of Outward Bound expedition courses. Students were asked to provide a detailed narrative account of an episode on course in which they learned from challenges. Grounded theory analyses identified three processes that contributed to learning. Results First, students, described developing skills for persistence through successfully enduring distress and a process of experimenting with new mindsets that helped them rise above their anxiety and distress. Second, we found that peers provided skillful and responsive on-the-spot support that motivated youth, helped them succeed, and scaffolded students’ learning strategies for dealing with physical, social, and emotional challenges. Third, we found that this peer support and scaffolding was animated by a culture of compassion and mutual commitment, which was cultivated by staff and embraced by youth. Conclusions These findings from Outward Bound illuminate a learning model that may be useful to other youth programs. This model combines intense challenges with attuned peer support for adolescents’ active processes of addressing and learning from challenges. We highlight program structures and staff practices that support these processes.
Student Perspectives of Effective Pedagogical Strategies for Teaching Ethics.

This study explores students’ self-reported perceptions of multiple pedagogical methods for teaching business ethics. Five different pedagogical activities were implemented, and 79 students were su...
Post-developmental extracellular proteoglycan maintenance in attractin-deficient mice

Neurodegeneration and hair pigmentation alterations in mice occur consequent to aberrations at the Atrn locus coding for the transmembrane form of attractin. Earlier results pointed to a possible involvement in intracellular trafficking/export of secretory vesicles containing proteoglycan. Here we examined kidney and liver, both heavily dependent upon proteoglycan, of attractin-deficient mice to determine whether abnormalities were observed in these tissues. Histological and histochemical analysis to detect glycosylated protein identified a severe loss in attractin-deficient mice of extracellular proteoglycan between kidney tubules in addition to a loss of glycosylated material within the intratubular brush border. In the liver, extracellular matrix material was significantly depleted between hepatocytes together with swollen sinuses and aberrations in the proteoglycan-dependent space of Disse. These results are consistent with a generalized defect in extracellular proteoglycan deposition in Atrn-mutant mice and support previous reports suggesting a role for attractin in the secretory vesicle pathway.
Ezumah Model for Effective Planning and Implementation of (Digital) Educational Technology

This chapter introduces the Ezumah Model for Effective Planning and Implementation of Educational Technology—a framework that is informed by a 2010 research on OLPC. The model pictograph depicts a step-by-step process of what is expected to represent a joint effort of educationists, budget analysts, teachers, parents, community leaders, and technology experts. The model recognized the contributions of stakeholders in defining their nature of reality (ontology) and participating in the process of discovering how that reality is lived (epistemology). It is, categorically, a template and not a mandate that has to be applied verbatim; therefore, instead of considering it a panacea, it should serve as a starting point toward incorporating a participatory action solution to effective design, implementation, and evaluation of educational technology.
PPG Based Continuous Blood Pressure Monitoring Framework for Smart Home Environment

In this paper, we have proposed a computational framework for continuous blood pressure estimation using Photoplethysmogram (PPG) signal. The proposed framework is evaluated on the publicly available MIMIC Database. The database contains raw PPG data for different users and also the Arterial Blood Pressure (ABP) for calculating the systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Results showed that the Decision Tree Regressor boosted by Adaboost regressor could estimate systolic blood pressure with a mean average error of 2.07 and a standard deviation of 5.97 and the diastolic blood pressure with a mean average error of 1.15 and a standard deviation of 4.05. The results indicate that the proposed framework is an ideal candidate for integrating with the wearable devices for unobtrusive cuff less continuous blood pressure monitoring to provide real time update on the blood pressure of an individual with high degree of accuracy.
Malunions of the Humeral Shaft

Humeral shaft malunions are relatively common with non-operative management but often are asymptomatic in nature. If any malunion is symptomatic cosmetically or functionally, corrective procedures may be indicated to improve outcomes. In the instance of such a malunion, the quality of the underlying bone as well as robustness of healing needs to be fully understood to perform the most appropriate procedure. Correction of these malunions may be performed with osteotomies and compressive plate fixation, with use of external fixation (Ilizarov style), or even arthroplasty procedures.
On classification with nonignorable missing data

Abstract We consider the problem of kernel classification with nonignorable missing data. Instead of imposing a fully parametric model for the selection probability, which can be quite sensitive to the violations of model assumptions, here we consider a semiparametric exponential tilting selection probability model in the spirit of Kim and Yu (2011). In addition to the existing parameter estimators, we also develop some new estimators of the unknown components of the model that are particularly suitable for classification problems. We also study various strong optimality properties of the proposed kernel-type classifiers.