cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
DETECTING PARENTAL DECEPTION USING A BEHAVIOR RATING SCALE DURING ASSESSMENT OF ATTENTION-DEFICIT/HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER: AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY

It is often assumed that parents completing behavior rating scales during the assessment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can deliberately manipulate the outcomes of the assessment. To detect these actions, items designed to detect over-reporting or under-reporting of results are sometimes embedded in such rating scales. This study presents the results of an experimental study in which parents (a) read a scenario telling them that their hypothetical son's teacher has suggested their son may have ADHD and (b) considered assigned goals for the assessment. Parents then completed the accompanying Conners 3Parent Short form (Conners 3-P[S]) in a manner that they believed would achieve their assigned goals. Findings showed that parents are able to engage in deception when completing behavior rating scales. The validity scales embedded in the Conners 3-P(S), however, demonstrated mixed results for detecting parental deception with the Negative Impression validity scale, accurately detecting attempts to malinger in the majority of cases, whereas the Positive Impression validity scale appears to have little to no diagnostic utility for the detection of defensive responding. Clinicians utilizing behavior rating scales should carefully consider results, and nonresults, obtained from embedded validity scales when interpreting parent responses to behavior rating scales as part of an ADHD assessment.
Operator Assignment Decisions in a Highly Dynamic Cellular Environment

ALHAWARI, OMAR IBRAHIM, M.S. November 2008, Industrial and Systems Engineering Operator Assignment Decisions in a Highly Dynamic Cellular Environment (130 pp.) Director of Thesis: Gursel A. Suer Operators are assigned to operations in labor-intensive manufacturing cells using two assignment approaches: Max-Min and Max. The major concern is to see how these two approaches impact operators’ skill levels, makespan and total processing time among cells. The impact is discussed under chaotic environment where sudden changes in product mix with different operation times are applied and under non-chaotic environment where same product mix is run period after period. In this thesis, operator’s skill levels are affected by learning and forgetting rates. Max-Min improved operators’ skill levels more significantly than Max in this multi-period study; particularly in chaotic environment. This eventually improved makespan and total processing times as well. Approved: ___________________________________________________________ Gursel A. Suer Professor of Industrial and Systems Engineering
The Roles of Entrepreneurship in Economic Growth: Toward a Theory of Total Factor Productivity

Joseph Schumpeter's theory of entrepreneurship andmodern growth accounting are used to explore the influences of entrepreneurshipon economic development.First, the various effects that entrepreneurshipexerts on growth and development are analyzed.By creating incrementalimprovements and shuffling productive resources, entrepreneurship pervadesnearly every aspect of economic development.It also influences the rulesof the game through which production and exchange are carried out.Thistype of entrepreneurship is not always productive. Some entrepreneurs use thelegal system to stymie competitors who would enhance wealth if they wereallowed to develop. The monetary value that entrepreneurship adds to processes of growth is thenmeasured, primarily through the analysis and measurement of total factorproductivity (TFP).A modified Keynesian technique for calculating aproduction gap is used to estimate the influence of institutions on economicgrowth. A comparison of the monetary values of productivity increasesreveals the concentration of productivity gains among the variousindustries.The concentration of productivity increases provides evidencethat entrepreneurship is an important source of productivity gains.(SAA)
Well Baby Group Care: Evaluation of a Promising Intervention for Primary Obesity Prevention in Toddlers

Abstract Background: Nationally, approximately 24% of preschool children are overweight or obese, with low-income communities disproportionately affected. Few interventions to prevent obesity in children at greatest risk have demonstrated positive results. Therefore, we evaluated the effectiveness of a novel group well-child care intervention for primary obesity prevention at age 2 years. Methods: Well Baby Group (WBG) is an alternative to traditional well-child care offered at a federally qualified health center in the South Bronx. Facilitated by a pediatrician and nutritionist, WBG fosters positive dietary behaviors, responsive parenting and feeding practices, and peer support during the first 18 months of life. Multivariable logistic regression was conducted to test the effect of WBG on rates of overweight/obesity at 2 years (BMI-for-age ≥85th percentile) using a nonrandomized comparison group of children receiving traditional care at our center over the same period. Results: Characteristics of mothers...
Radiation Stability of Cations in Ionic Liquids. 2. Improved Radiation Resistance through Charge Delocalization in 1-Benzylpyridinium

Hydrophobic room-temperature ionic liquids (ILs) hold promise as replacements for molecular diluents for processing of used nuclear fuel as well as for the development of alternative separations processes, provided that the solvent can be made resistant to ionizing radiation. We demonstrate that 1-benzylpyridinium cations are uniquely suited as radiation resistant cations due to the occurrence of charge delocalization in both their reduced and oxidized forms in the ILs. It is suggested that the excess electron and hole in the latter ILs are stabilized through the formation of π-electron sandwich dimers that are analogous to the well-known dimer radical cations of aromatic molecules. This charge delocalization dramatically reduces the yield of fragmentation by deprotonation and the loss of benzyl arms, thereby providing a synthetic path to radiation resistant ILs that are suitable for nuclear fuel processing.
New results on the quenched "1×1" structure of Si{111} surfaces

The "1\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}1" structure known to form from the 7\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}7 structure at high temperatures on Si{111} surfaces was studied at room temperature after quenching from 1200\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C. Comparisons of low-energy electron diffraction spectra both at normal and off-normal incidence from this quenched phase with corresponding spectra from the Te-stabilized 1\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}1 surface show that these two phases are not the same. The quenched phase exhibits weak but sharp \textonehalf{}-order beams that reveal the presence of large 2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}1 domains. There is some indication that the 2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}1 distortion may be similar to that of the cleaved 2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}1 structure, thus implying that the 2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}1 phase of Si{111} is not metastable, as heretofore believed, but indeed very stable.
The Dissociation Energy of OH(X2Π3/2) and the Enthalpy of Formation of OH(X2Π3/2), ClOH, and BrOH from Thermochemical Cycles

Through the use of available experimental data and thermochemical cycles, improved values for the enthalpy of formation and dissociation energy of the hydroxyl radical have been found. The results ...
Corticosteroids increase secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor transcript levels in airway epithelial cells

Secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) is the predominant antiprotease of the conducting airways and may play a role in reducing airway inflammation. In this study, the effect of corticoster...
Plant Genetic Engineering: Research, Application and Potential Risk

In recent years plant genetic engineering has achieved great progress. In this paper the application and research progress of plant genetic engineering in the improvement of plant character and the enhancement of plant fastness was reviewed. Particularly, the application of plant genetic engineering was introduced, capacity of meliorating character of farm produce, improvement of resisting of plant diseases and insect pests and natural disasters, exploitation of vaccines. Moreover, the expansive foreground of crop breeding and the potential risk of plant genetic engineering were analyzed.
Systematic review of paediatric weight management interventions delivered in the home setting.

To increase their accessibility, paediatric weight management interventions are increasingly designed to be delivered in the home setting by trained staff. This systematic review summarizes the available evidence for interventions featuring home visitation and identifies key gaps in the literature. PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane and PsycINFO were searched for intervention studies that reported change in objectively measured adiposity outcomes in youth ages 2-18 years. Studies published between 1 January 1995 and 12 February 2016 were analysed. Of 15 eligible studies, nine reported that interventions with home visitation were either superior to a control/comparison condition or achieved significant within-subjects reductions in adiposity. Interventions in which professional staff (e.g. dietitians and exercise trainers) conducted home visits tended to be more efficacious than those delivered by paraprofessional or community-based staff, as were interventions with more frequent contact. Most studies were judged to have low or unclear risk of bias across various domains. As most studies compared interventions with home visits with less intensive and qualitatively different approaches, it remains unclear whether home visitation per se enhances weight loss efficacy. Overall, paediatric weight management interventions that feature home visitation are promising, but the incremental benefit of the home visitation treatment modality remains to be rigorously evaluated. © 2016 World Obesity.
Thyroglossal and branchial cleft cysts and sinuses.

Cysts of the neck are usually congenital, with either thyroglossal or branchial cleft origin. The diagnosis is made on the basis of the physical findings. In both of these entities, total excision of the tracts is essential to minimize the likelihood of recurrence.
Research in Educational Psychology: Social Exclusion in School

Peer relationships in the school context play an important role in youths’ social, emotional, and cognitive development. In particular, relationships with classmates immerse students in processes (e.g., participation vs. exclusion, support vs. conflict, receiving assistance vs. being ignored) that affect their ability to adapt to school challenges, which, in turn, influences their development and achievement. Investigators have posited that social exclusion essentially hinders children and adolescents from participating in positive peer interactions, thereby denying them the benefits and provisions (e.g., companionship, help, social support) often conferred by healthy peer relationships. In this chapter, we review theory, research, and evidence that address both the origins of peer social exclusion and its purported detrimental effects on children’s adjustment within school settings. Specifically, consideration is given to (1) the historical and current conceptualization and measurement of peer social exclusion and (2) modern theory and research on the correlates of peer social exclusion in school contexts.
The Significance of the Microsoft Antitrust Litigation for Postal Services Operators

On June 7, 2000, Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia brought a stunning end to the trial of the antitrust lawsuit brought in May 1998 by the U.S. Department of Justice and 20 state governments against the Microsoft Corporation. In a brief, pointed opinion, Judge Jackson ordered that Microsoft be split into two firms (one responsible for computer operating systems software, and the other responsible for applications software and internet software) and imposed significant restrictions on Microsoft’s conduct.1
In-field implementation of impedance-based structural health monitoring for insulated rail joints

Track defects are a major safety concern for the railroad industry. Among different track components, insulated rail joints, which are widely used for signaling purposes, are considered a weak link in the railroad track. Several joint-related defects have been identified by the railroad community, including rail wear, torque loss, and joint bar breakage. Current track inspection techniques rely on manual and visual inspection or on specially equipped testing carts, which are costly, timeconsuming, traffic disturbing, and prone to human error. To overcome the aforementioned limitations, the feasibility of utilizing impedance-based structural health monitoring for insulated rail joints is investigated in this work. For this purpose, an insulated joint, provided by Koppers Inc., is instrumented with piezoelectric transducers and assembled with 136 AREA rail plugs. The instrumented joint is then installed and tested at the Facility for Accelerated Service Testing, Transportation Technology Center Inc. The effects of environmental and operating conditions on the measured impedance signatures are investigated through a set of experiments conducted at different temperatures and loading conditions. The capabilities of impedance-based SHM to detect several joint-related damage types are also studied by introducing reversible mechanical defects to different joint components.
Role of Protein Kinases in the Desensitization-Sensitization of β-Adrenergic Receptor and Prostaglandin Receptor Stimulation of Adenylyl Cyclase

Desensitization of hormonal stimulation of adenylyl cyclase in the S49 wild type (WT) lymphoma cells is complex. At least five types of desensitization of the β-adrenergic receptor response have been identified (fig 1) at the receptor level. These include: (1) cAMPdependent protein kinase (cA•PK)-mediated heterologous desensitization of hormonal stimulation which occurs rapidly in response to low concentrations (EC50 of about 10 nM) of either epinephrine or PGE1, or any drug which increases cAMP (Clark et al. 1988); (2) homologous desensitization associated with the sequestration and internalization of the β-adrenergic receptor which occurs rapidly in response to high concentrations of epinephrine (EC50 about 200 nM), is dependent on substantial agonist occupation of the receptor, and is independent of Gs, cAMP or cA•PK (Green et al. 1981, Clark et al. 1985) and has been suggested to involve multiple phosphorylations by β-adrenergic receptor kinase (Benovic et al. 1987); (3) a protein kinase C (PKC)-mediated heterologous desensitization which occurs in response to relatively high concentrations of the phorbol ester PMA with an EC50 of about 100 nM (Johnson et al. 1986); (4) a slow homologous down regulation of the β-adrenergic receptor, characterized by the loss of antagonist binding, which proceeds with a half-life of about 2 hr in the WT and 6 hr in the cyc mutant (Clark et al. 1985); and (5) a slow homologous desensitization of the β-adrenergic receptor which occurs in response to treatment of cells with low concentrations of epinephrine (3–5 nM) for prolonged periods of time (half-life about 2–4 hr) and which may be, in part, mediated by cA•PK (Butcher et al. 1987).
Unmanned aircraft system (UAS) voice communications architecture

• An integrated UAS communication architecture is needed to support UAS operation in NAS • Four high level architecture alternatives were considered and pros and cons of each alternative were discussed • UAS gateway architecture was recommended and its associated functionality requirements were discussed • Opportunity for further risk reduction: - Perform proof-of-concept via modeling and simulation of the recommended architecture
On a participation structure that ensures representative prices in prediction markets

Abstract The logarithmic market scoring rule (LMSR) is now the de facto market-maker mechanism for prediction markets. We show how LMSR can have more representative final prices by simply imposing a participation structure where the market proceeds in rounds and, in each round, traders can only trade up to a fixed number of contracts. Focusing on markets over binary outcomes, we prove that under such a participation structure, the market price converges after a finite number of rounds to the median of traders' private information for an odd number of traders, and to a point in the median interval for an even number of traders. Thus, the final market price effectively represents all agents' private information since those equilibria are measures of central tendency. We also show that when traders use market price data to revise their private information, the aforementioned equilibrium prices do not change for a broad class of learning methods.
Baseline Cerebral Metabolic Rate Is a Critical Determinant of the Cerebral Vasodilating Potency of Volatile Anesthetic Agents.

A Comparison of the Direct Cerebral Vasodilating Potencies of Halothane and Isoflurane in the New Zealand White Rabbit. By Drummond JC, Todd MM, Scheller MS, and Shapiro HM. ANESTHESIOLOGY 1986; 65:462-7. Reprinted with permission.Halothane is commonly viewed as a more potent cerebral vasodilator than isoflurane. It was speculated that the lesser vasodilation caused by isoflurane might be the result of the greater reduction in cerebral metabolic rate (CMR) that it causes, and that the relative vasodilating potencies of halothane and isoflurane would be similar if the two agents were administered in a situation that precluded volatile-agent-induced depression of CMR. To test this hypothesis, cerebral blood flow (CBF) and the cerebral metabolic rate for oxygen (CMRO2) were measured in two groups of rabbits before and after the administration of 0.75 MAC halothane or isoflurane. One group received a background anesthetic of morphine and N2O, which resulted in an initial CMRO2 of 3.21 ± 0.17 (SEM) ml · 100 g · min; second group received a background anesthetic of high-dose pentobarbital, which resulted in an initial CMRO2 of 1.76 ± 0.16 ml · 100 g · min. In rabbits receiving a background of morphine sulfate/N2O, halothane resulted in a significantly greater CBF (65 ± 10 ml · 100 g · min) than did isoflurane (40 ± 5 ml · 100 g · min). Both agents caused a reduction in CMRO2, but CMRO2 was significantly less during isoflurane administration. By contrast, with a background of pentobarbital anesthesia, CBF increased by significant and similar amounts with both halothane and isoflurane. With halothane, CBF increased from 22 ± 2 ml · 100 g · min in the control stage to 39 ± 3, and with isoflurane from 24 ± to 38 ± 2 ml · 100 g · min. CMRO2 was not depressed further by either halothane or isoflurane. These results suggest that the relative effects of halothane and isoflurane on CBF are dependent on the CMR present prior to their administration. When the preexistent CMR is not markedly depressed, isoflurane decreases CMR and causes less cerebral vasodilation than does halothane. When initial CMR is depressed, halothane and isoflurane have similar vasodilating potencies.
Acquisition of Mood Selection in Spanish-Speaking Children.

Previous research indicates that the development of mood selection in Spanish spans several years and ends in the mastery of mood selection with sentential complements to express complex semantic m...
Interventions to Improve Response Time to Nurse Triage Phone Calls in a Tertiary Care Pediatric Otolaryngology Practice

Importance Delay in response for telephone triage calls that need clinician input for resolution can result in delay of care and unintended frustration for patients and families. It can be a challenge to manage calls in a high-volume pediatric otolaryngology practice. Objective To improve the percentage of nurse triage clinically relevant phone calls returned within 2 hours to parents or caregivers. Design, Setting, and Participants This was a quality-improvement study of a tertiary care pediatric otolaryngology practice with more than 32 000 clinic visits and more than 9000 surgical patients per year. Interventions In 2014, a collaborative team was created at our center to determine the optimal time for triage callback to families and to define an optimal process that would allow more rapid response time for calls that the triage nurses needed to escalate to the patient’s managing surgeon. Several plan-do-study-act cycles were performed to optimize the process. The utilization of advanced practice nurses as an intermediary step was crucial in allowing a more efficient flow of communication. Main Outcomes and Measures Percentage of triage phone calls returned within 2-hour time frame. Results Over 40 months, 4839 clinically relevant phone calls occurred, averaging 128 calls per month. The baseline mean was 101 calls per month, and the postintervention mean was 130 calls per month. Prior to this project, only 42% of calls were being addressed within 2 hours. After our interventions, the average time for caregiver callback within 2 hours decreased from 15.3 hours preintervention to 3.9 hours postintervention. In addition, caregivers received clinician callback within 2.0 hours 76.7% of the time postintervention compared with 42.0% with a baseline shift (difference probability between preintervention and postintervention, 0.21; 95% CI, 0.15-0.27). Outcomes were sustained for 3 years and continue to be monitored. Conclusions and Relevance The most effective intervention was using advanced practice nurses to efficiently resolve patient triage concerns that were outside the scope of practice of the registered nurse. By establishing clear pathways of communication and standardized education among our team, we successfully improved our processes, which resulted in more optimal care for our patients.
Transforming Growth Factors and Ovarian Function

Transforming growth factor α (TGFα) is a 50-amino acid polypeptide that interacts with the same receptor as the epidermal growth factor (EGF) (1). It is, therefore, a regulatory molecule capable of affecting the same cell types, including epithelial cells, that respond to EGF (2). Transforming growth factor βs (TGFβs), on the other hand, are 25-kD peptides consisting of two identical 112-amino acid subunits that are synthesized as part of a larger, biologically latent peptide (3–4). They are considered to be part of a more extensive gene family that includes other ovarian effectors, such as inhibin, activin, and mullerian inhibiting substance (5). The cellular effects of TGFβs are multifactorial and are dependent upon other factors in the milieu, but in general, their effect upon epithelial cells is antimitotic (3). Two excellent reviews of the biochemical properties and cellular actions of TGFα and TGFβs are presented elsewhere in this volume.
Fast Neutron Bombardment of Germanium

Lattice disorder in bulk Ge produced by collisions of fast neutrons with lattice atoms introduces a net excess of electron traps or acceptor states, which appear to have an energy distribution in the forbidden band. Bombardment of N-type Ge causes the conductivity to decrease, initially at a uniform rate, to a minimum value and then to increase. Examination of the data shows that initially about 3 + 2 conduction electrons are removed per incident fast neutron. The minimum value of the conductivity is higher than the value calculated assuming complete homogeneity and thermal equilibrium. Hall effect measurements prove that after the minimum is passed the material has been converted to P-type by fast neutron bombardment. The conductivity of P-type Ge increases with bombardment. The rate of increase decreases monotonically indicating an approach to saturation. The initial rate of carrier introduction in P-type Ge appears to be temperature dependent, being greater at higher temperatures (~ 0–8 carrier per incident neutron at 30°C), and smaller than the rate of carrier removal for N-type Ge which is apparently temperature independent in the temperature range investigated (− 79°C to 45°C). The effect of lattice disordering on the electrical properties of Ge may be removed by careful vacuum annealing at 450°C while a portion of this effect readily anneals at room temperature.
Restless Legs Syndrome in Pregnancy

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is characterized by limb akathisia that is maximal in the evening while at rest and transiently relieved by movement. The prevalence and severity of RLS increase with age. Women older than 65 have an RLS prevalence of 19%, whereas in nonpregnant women younger than 30 years of age it is only 5% (1). However, gestational RLS (gRLS) is strikingly common, with nearly 25% of pregnant women affected (see below). The association of RLS with pregnancy has been noted since the term was first coined by Ekbom in 1945. RLS is a clinical diagnosis. Its four cardinal clinical features were reviewed in Chapter 8. Further details regarding diagnosis are well described by the International RLS Study Group (2,3)
Three Fictional Deaths Compared with the Near-Death Experience

This study looks at three popular works of short fiction, by Leo Tolstoy, Ambrose Bierce, and Katherine Anne Porter, in which the main character dies at the end. Some similarities between these deaths and recent near-death experience (NDE) accounts are that the characters experience various kinds of distancing from their bodies, light and darkness play a role, and two of the stories include a final life review. The principal contrast is that dying in these stories is a lonely and mostly grim business, unsupported by a process that transcends the individual or by progress toward an afterlife or otherworld. The comparison helps define the modern sensibility about dying that is part of the cultural context for interest in NDEs.
Anticholinergic Medication Burden in Pediatric Prolonged Critical Illness: A Potentially Modifiable Risk Factor for Delirium.

Objectives:It is important to describe and understand the prevalence and risk factors for the syndrome of delirium in critical illness. Since anticholinergic medication may contribute to the development of delirium in the PICU, we have sought to quantify anticholinergic medication exposure in patien
Gout and the Risk of Incident Erectile Dysfunction: A Body Mass Index-matched Population-based Study

Objective. Gout is the most common inflammatory arthritis. Erectile dysfunction (ED) is common in the general population; however, evidence regarding ED among patients with gout is limited. Our purpose was to study the association between incident gout and the risk of incident ED in the general population. Methods. We conducted a cohort study using The Health Improvement Network, an electronic medical record database in the United Kingdom. Up to 5 individuals without gout were matched to each case of incident gout by age, enrollment time, and body mass index (BMI). Multivariate HR for ED were calculated after adjusting for smoking, alcohol consumption, comorbidities, and medication use. Results. We identified 2290 new cases of ED among 38,438 patients with gout (mean age 63.6 yrs) and 8447 cases among 154,332 individuals in the comparison cohort over a 5-year median followup (11.9 vs 10.5 per 1000 person-years, respectively). Univariate (matched for age, entry time, and BMI) and multivariate HR for ED among patients with gout were 1.13 (95% CI 1.08–1.19) and 1.15 (95% CI 1.09–1.21), respectively. In our sensitivity analysis, by restricting gout cases to those receiving anti-gout treatment (n = 27,718), the magnitude of relative risk was stronger than the primary analysis (multivariate HR 1.31, 95% CI 1.23–1.39). Conclusion. This population-based study suggests that gout is associated with an increased risk of developing ED, supporting a possible role for hyperuricemia and inflammation as independent risk factors for ED.
Painful left bundle branch block syndrome treated successfully with permanent His bundle pacing

Key Teaching Points • Painful left bundle branch block syndrome is an underappreciated disorder that results from mechanical dyssynchrony in the absence of myocardial ischemia. • There has been no universally accepted treatment for this condition. • Permanent His bundle pacing is an appealing and effective treatment strategy owing to the restoration of normal cardiac physiology.
Statistical calibration and uncertainty quantification of complex machining computer models

Abstract Finite element based machining process models are used in research and industry for process design and optimization. These models require a constitutive description of the material behavior to accurately model and predict process responses such as cutting forces, temperatures, and residual stress. Calibration of these models to low-strain uniaxial dynamic compression experiments can be troublesome since the machining process generally imposes much larger strains than uniaxial compression. Calibration of finite element models directly to machining data is generally difficult since the models are computationally expensive and nonlinear optimization methods for estimating the unknown calibration parameters yield non-unique solutions and require many iterations. In this work we utilize a nonstationary Gaussian Process surrogate model to emulate the finite element response and calibrate to experimental orthogonal cutting tests using a Bayesian inference framework. We assume that the material yield behavior can be described by the Johnson-Cook material flow model. We find that the nonstationary Gaussian Process model is an good surrogate for the complex finite element model. Cutting forces measured from orthogonal tube turning experiments were used for calibration. Validation is performed using a separate response variable - the cut chip thickness. Calibration results illustrate a preference for material models with low hardening rates, which alleviates issues such as over-prediction of strain hardening behavior when using the Johnson-Cook material flow model. The Bayesian formulation also captures the uncertainty in the Johnson-Cook parameters, which can be used to quantify the uncertainty in the machining process responses. The methods presented here are general and can be used for more complex constitutive and tribological models for machining and other complex manufacturing processes.
Recomposable restricted finite state machines: definition and solution approaches

Many real-world systems operate and make decisions using limited resources in dynamically changing environments, where the changes can be unpredictable. In this paper, the Restricted Finite State M...
Evaluation of skin-dose contribution from a new high-definition image receptor mode during neuro-interventional procedures using the Dose Tracking System

A new image receptor has recently been introduced that has a standard flat-panel detector (FPD) mode as well as a highdefinition (Hi-Def) zoom mode. The Dose Tracking System (DTS), which our group has developed, has been expanded in functionality to allow for the analysis of the skin-dose contribution of the Hi-Def mode during fluoroscopic interventional procedures. A clinical version of the DTS records all geometric and exposure technique parameters from a digital interface on the Canon Biplane Angiography System during interventional procedures in log files. Previous work on the enhancement of our group’s DTS led to the development of a replay function which facilitates playback of the log files. Within the replay feature, modifications have been made to allow for separate evaluation of exposures from each detector mode as identified by signals for the magnification (MAG) mode being used. The current work utilizes this separation method for neuro-interventional cases performed with the new image receptor to retrospectively analyze dose related contributions from the Hi-Def mode as compared to FPD usage. Peak skin dose (PSD) and dose area product (DAP) were evaluated for six clinical cases under IRB approval. Three de-identified log files were also included in order to demonstrate the method for separation of PSD as well as the variation with procedure types. Ratios of FPD PSD and DAP to Hi-Def values were determined for a subset of three cases during which the new image receptor was implemented.
Psychopathology and the self: Human actors, agents, and authors

The articles included within this special issue of the Journal of Personality all conceptualize psychopathology as the result of problems in human selfhood. As such, they implicate a wide assortment of self-related constructs, from self-objectification to self-esteem, in the etiology and maintenance of psychopathology, and they point to interventions designed to alter these self-processes in order to alleviate suffering. In this commentary, I reinterpret and reorganize many of the ideas presented in the articles from the standpoint of a tripartite perspective on the reflexive human self. The self is first and foremost an inherent duality of I and Me. Psychologically speaking, the I/Me dynamic plays out in three different guises-the self as (1) social actor, (2) motivated agent, and (3) autobiographical author. Problems in human selfhood as they pertain to psychopathology may be profitably reconceived in terms of the corresponding performative styles expressed by social actors, the motivational agendas of values and goals that energize human striving and determine self-esteem, and the internalized life stories that human beings, as authors of the self, fashion and narrate to make sense of the reconstructed past and imagined future.
DNA looping by two 5-methylcytosine-binding proteins quantified using nanofluidic devices.

MeCP2 and MBD2 are members of a family of proteins that possess a domain that selectively binds 5-methylcytosine in a CpG context. Members of the family interact with other proteins to modulate DNA packing. Stretching of DNA–protein complexes in nanofluidic channels with a cross-section of a few persistence lengths allows us to probe the degree of compaction by proteins. We demonstrate DNA compaction by MeCP2 while MBD2 does not affect DNA configuration. By using atomic force microscopy (AFM), we determined that the mechanism for compaction by MeCP2 is the formation of bridges between distant DNA stretches and the formation of loops. Despite sharing a similar specific DNA-binding domain, the impact of full-length 5-methylcytosine-binding proteins can vary drastically between strong compaction of DNA and no discernable large-scale impact of protein binding. We demonstrate that ATTO 565-labeled MBD2 is a good candidate as a staining agent for epigenetic mapping.
Refining acculturation measures for health research: Latina/o heterogeneity in the National Latino and Asian American Study.

Objectives This study factor analyzes six scales relating to acculturation and related experiences among a nationally representative sample of United States-residing Latina/os (n = 2,541) from the National Latino and Asian American Study (NLAAS), using measurement invariance (MI) testing to explore differences in latent constructs by Latina/o subgroup. Methods Factor Analysis (FA) within an Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling framework was used to analyze the factor structure of six scales measuring acculturation and related experiences (i.e., acculturation [language use and preference], enculturation [ethnic identity], discrimination, neighborhood context, and family environment). We tested for MI by two important Latina/o subgroups: ethnic heritage and generational status. Results The underlying latent factors resulting from FA strongly aligned with the NLAAS subscales. No scale achieved full MI, yet the degree to which MI held varied greatly by scale and by subgroup. Conclusions Findings show that Latina/os are heterogeneous, but that this often depends on the construct and subgrouping of interest. Future research should use these scales in a latent framework, accounting for the lack of MI, to ensure that the underlying acculturative constructs of interest are validly measured when investigating their association with mental health outcomes in this population.
The Ethical Responsibilities of Physicians During Epidemics

Throughout history, physicians have been involved in responding to disasters and disease outbreaks. Responding to such events carries inherent risks. The prioritization of patient care over self-interest is a central principle in the profession of medicine, but the actual ethical obligations of physicians during epidemics are not always well defined. The principle of “duty to treat” is often cited as the basis for physician responsibility in responding to disease outbreaks and other health emergencies. Arguments for a duty to treat include expressed and implied consent, reciprocity, special training, and professional oaths and codes of conduct, although each is open to some criticism. This chapter will discuss the duty to treat, the arguments for and against this duty, and the ethical obligations of dermatologists during disease epidemics.
Impact of Radiation on Cardiovascular Outcomes in Older Resectable Esophageal Cancer Patients With Medicare.

Objectives Preoperative radiotherapy improves outcomes for operable esophageal cancer patients, though the proximity of the heart to the esophagus puts patients at risk of radiation-induced cardiovascular disease. This study characterizes the impact of radiotherapy and different radiation techniques on cardiovascular morbidity among a cohort of esophageal cancer patients. Materials and methods We identified 1125 patients aged 65 and older diagnosed between 2000 and 2011 with esophageal cancer who received surgery alone, or surgery preceded by either preoperative chemotherapy or preoperative chemoradiation from the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER)-Medicare database. We used Medicare claims to identify severe perioperative and late cardiovascular events. Multivariable logistic regression and Fine-Gray models were used to determine the effect of presurgery treatment on the risk of perioperative and late cardiovascular disease. Results Preoperative chemotherapy or chemoradiation did not significantly increase the risk of perioperative cardiovascular complications compared with surgery alone. Patients treated with preoperative chemoradiation had a 36% increased risk of having a late cardiovascular event compared with patients treated with surgery alone (subdistribution hazard ratio [SDHR]: 1.36; P=0.035). There was no significant increase in late cardiovascular events among patients treated with preoperative chemotherapy (SDHR: 1.18; P=0.40). Among patients treated with preoperative chemoradiation, those receiving intensity modulated radiotherapy had a 68% decreased risk of having a late cardiovascular event compared with patients receiving conventional radiation (SDHR: 0.32; P=0.007). Conclusions This study demonstrates an increased risk of cardiovascular complications among operative esophageal cancer patients treated with preoperative chemoradiation, though these risks might be reduced with more cardioprotective radiation techniques such as intensity modulated radiotherapy.
The Fiscal Multiplier of European Structural Investment Funds: Aggregate and Sectoral Effects with an Application to Slovenia

In this paper, we estimate the aggregate and sectoral fiscal multipliers of EU Structural Investment (ESI) Funds and of public investment at the EU level. We complement these results with a specific application to the case of Slovenia. We first analyze aggregate data and find large and significant multipliers and strong crowding-in of private investment. Our main findings show that positive shocks to ESI Funds are followed by an increase in output that ranges from 1.2 percent on impact, to 1.8 percent after 1 year, and by an increase in private investment between 0.7 and 0.8 percent of GDP. We address country heterogeneity by dividing countries according to key characteristics that have been known to affect multipliers. In particular, we find higher multipliers in a group of CEE countries that are important recipients of European funds and are characterized by fixed exchange rate regimes and sound public investment governance (e.g. Croatia and Slovenia). We also complement the aggregate analysis by estimating the effect of different types of public investment and the effect of public investment on different sectors of the economy.
Cluster Analysis of Liquidity Measures in a Stock Market Using High Frequency Data

Liquidity is one of the crucial factors in economy which reflects smooth operation of the markets. In a liquid market, traders are able to transact large quantities of security quickly with minimal trading cost and price impact. Many researchers have investigated the relationship between market liquidity and trading activity of a financial market. According to the existing literature, liquidity can measure different market characteristics such as trading time, tightness, depth, and resiliency. There is significant number of liquidity measures published in the literature. The main goal of this study is to use a hierarchical clustering algorithm to classify different liquidity measures. We examine the relationship between liquidity measures in order to detect commonality and idiosyncrasy among them. Then, we estimate the correlation among liquidity measures to quantify similarity between them and this quantity is used to develop a hierarchical clustering algorithm. At the end, we analyze the consistency in the structure of the clusters and we conclude that, clusters hold the same structure for almost 80% of the stocks in our sample. The data set that we are using for this study is NASDAQ High Frequency Trader (HFT) data. This data set contains trading and quoting activities of 26 HFT firms in 120 stocks on the Nasdaq exchange for various dates (in millisecond timestamp).
Threading a moving needle: The spatial dimensions characterizing US offshore wind policy drivers

Abstract The Atlantic Coast of the United States represents one of the most promising development environments for offshore wind installation in the world due to the convergence of several geographic factors. These include, but are not limited to, population size and density, electricity prices, ocean depth, wind speed, and the dynamics of the region's current energy infrastructures. However, these have not been sufficient to kickstart a mass movement to offshore energy generation despite two decades of affirmative discussions and some entrepreneurial starts. Planned projects now total over 6 GW. Presently, market variables and institutional controls have become more hospitable for development though undertested except in small pilot projects. Socio-cultural concerns including interaction with the fishers, coastal tourism and real estate, Native American Tribes, and environmental and aesthetic factors have been studied, but applicable information remains limited to reliance on comparisons with European offshore wind research, hypothetical analyses, and attention to small pilot projects. This gap as well as a fundamentally differentiated patchwork of state and local stages means that the current research direction will need to be extended through the development of the first utility-scale projects with attention to new case studies as well as new perspectives, framings, and questions. This report outlines important physical and social policy factors of offshore wind development and then explores several case studies.
Positive Deviance Traits and Social Entrepreneurship for Women Empowerment Amid COVID-19

Purpose:The threat of the COVID-19 pandemic persists despite concerted global efforts to contain it. So also is its impact on social entrepreneurs. One of the main questions being, what is the exte...
Developing An Extended Convolute Post To Drive An X-Pinch For Radiography At The Z Facility

X-ray radiography has been used to diagnose a wide variety of experiments at the Z facility including inertial confinement fusion capsule implosions, the growth of the magneto-Rayleigh-Taylor instability in solid liners, and the development of helical structures in axially magnetized liner implosions. In these experiments, the Z Beamlet laser (1 kJ, 1 ns) was used to generate the x-ray source. An alternate x-ray source is desirable in experiments where the Z Beamlet laser is used for another purpose (e.g., preheating the fuel in magnetized liner inertial fusion experiments) or when multiple radiographic lines of sight are necessary.
How Synergetic is a Siesta for an Electric Sedan

Lead-acid batteries were tested at the National Battery Test Laboratory at Argonne National Laboratory to determine the effects on the range of an electric vehicle of rest periods introduced during the vehicle use. Rest periods ranging from zero through four hours were chosen to simulate no break, a coffee break, a lunch break, and a work break. Preliminary results suggest that no increase in range can be expected as a result of the rest periods regardless of their length; moreover, it appears that in some cases a slight loss in battery capacity, and therefore in range, may occur as the battery cools during the rest period. Similar testing of the nickel/iron battery system is now underway.
The Effect of Prolonged Direct Electrical Stimulation upon the Enzymes of Fatty Acid Activation, Transport and Oxidation in Rat Skeletal Muscle

It has been established that plasma unesterified long chain fatty acids (FFA) are a major substrate used as an energy source by skeletal muscle during prolonged submaximal activity [5, 6, 19, 24]. The ability of the muscle to take advantage of this potential energy depends upon the capacity to activate, transport and oxidize these intramuscular FFA molecules. The responses of the enzymes of fatty acid activation, transport and oxidation to a single bout of prolonged electrical stimulation were examined in order to better assess the potential of in situ skeletal muscle to utilize FFA to fulfill acutely imposed metabolic demands. To this end, the activities of the enzymes ATP dependent palmitoyl CoA-synthetase (EC 6.2. 1–3) carnitine palmitoyl transferase (EC 2.3.1.-) 3 hydroxyacyl — CoA dehydrogenase (EC 1.1–1–35) and acetyl — CoA acyl transferase (EC 2–3–1–16) were measured following forty-five minutes of direct electrical stimulation.
Racial Profiling in the Name of National Security: Protecting Minority Travelers' Civil Liberties in the Age of Terrorism

Government-sponsored ethnic and racial profiling in the form of computerized and behavioral screening initiatives implemented as a response to 9/11 has led to the subjection of minorities to increased scrutiny and suspicion in American airports. In the name of national security, safety protocols are being enacted in non-uniform ways that disproportionally infringe on minority passengers’ civil liberties and reinforce harmful racial stereotypes. Focusing on the dissonance between basic freedoms guaranteed by the United States Constitution and the security policies implemented by the federal government, this Note argues that the disparity in scrutiny received by minority travelers is counterproductive because it reinforces racism and ethnocentrism as social norms and fails to ensure a consistent level of protection for all passengers. This Note ultimately advocates for a federal government mandate that delineates a universal, race-blind standard for the level of scrutiny (and accompanying procedures) that all passengers should be subjected to while traveling aboard commercial aircraft.