cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Alternate source and receiver location estimation using TDOA with receiver position uncertainties

The accuracy of source localization is sensitive to the knowledge of the receiver positions. In the presence of receiver position error, a robust algorithm is necessary to improve performance. This paper presents an iterative algorithm for estimating alternately the location of an emitter and the positions of receivers using time difference of arrival (TDOA) measurements, when the receivers have random position errors. The proposed solution is based on weighted least-squares (WLS) minimization, and does not have convergence problems. The estimated accuracy of emitter and receiver locations are approaching the CRLB under Gaussian noise with small receiver position error. The performance of the proposed algorithm is evaluated through simulations.
Remote Topographic Forcing of a Baroclinic Western Boundary Current: An Explanation for the Southland Current and the Pathway of the Subtropical Front East of New Zealand*

Abstract The Southland Current is a western boundary current adjacent to the South Island of New Zealand and flows along a segment of the Southern Hemisphere subtropical front (STF). The physical mechanisms that govern the behavior of this current and other portions of the STF and subantarctic front (SAF) are investigated using one regional and three global ocean simulations. The three global ocean simulations used in this study are a 1½-layer reduced-gravity linear simulation, a six-layer nonlinear flat-bottom simulation, and a six-layer nonlinear simulation that incorporates vertically compressed, but otherwise realistic, bottom topography confined to the abyssal layer. All three simulations have horizontal spacings of ⅛° and are forced with climatological-mean monthly wind stress data. The regional simulation has a horizontal spacing of ½° and contains two layers, with an idealized bottom topography. The only forcing is supplied by inflow and outflow ports. The pathway of the SAF is shown to be strongl...
The challenges of vitamin and mineral supplementation in children with inherited metabolic disorders: a prospective trial.

Background In order to achieve metabolic stability, dietary treatment of inborn errors of metabolism may require restriction of protein, fat or carbohydrate. Manipulation of dietary intake potentially reduces micronutrient status, and provision of a comprehensive vitamin and mineral supplement becomes an essential adjunct to dietary treatment. Aim To review the efficacy of a new complete vitamin and mineral supplement [Fruitivits, Vitaflo Ltd] in 14 subjects in an open prospective 26-week study. Method All subjects had dietary restrictions: low protein diets (57%, n = 8), regular daytime cornstarch and overnight glucose polymer tube feeds (29%, n = 4), low fat diet (7%, n = 1) and modified Atkins diet (7%, n = 1). Plasma nutritional biochemistry, anthropometry and food frequency questionnaires were collected at week 0, 12 and 26 weeks respectively. Results Five nutritional parameters showed a significant improvement from baseline (week 0) to study end (week 26): folate (P = 0.01), vitamin E (P = 0.04), plasma selenium (P = 0.002), whole blood selenium (P = 0.04) and total vitamin D (P = 0.008). All the other nutritional markers did not significantly change. Even with regular monitoring, 37% of the product remained unused. Conclusions Despite improvements in some nutritional markers, overall use of the vitamin and mineral supplement was less than prescribed. New methods are needed to guarantee delivery of micronutrients in children at risk of deficiencies as a result of an essential manipulation of diet in inborn disorders of metabolism.
P099 : A SINGLE CENTER COMPARISON OF HIGH-RESOLUTION HLA TYPING BY NEXT-GENERATION VERSUS SANGER SEQUENCING

Aim Sanger sequencing has been the gold standard for high resolution HLA typing for years. However, typing ambiguities require additional testing to provide allele level resolution. Recently, the development of next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies for HLA typing has allowed for significantly improved HLA typing. We compared the relative laboratory cost of HLA typing by Sanger sequencing compared and NGS in our moderate volume laboratory. Methods The cost of 30 HLA typings (HLA-A, B, C, DRB1 and DQB1) was compared between Sanger sequencing and NGS. Sanger sequencing was performed with SeCore HLA Typing kits (Life Technologies). Sanger costs included reagent costs for GSSP (SeCore) and/or SSOP (One Lambda) follow up testing for ambiguity resolution. Samples for NGS were amplified using GenDx primers and libraries prepared using Nextera XT kits (Illumina). Sanger samples were run on ABI 3500 while NGS libraries were run on the MiSeq. Analysis was performed using UType software (Sanger) and NGSEngine software (NGS). The reagent cost of Sanger and NGS were based on primers, library preparation and sequencing reagents for each technology. Technologists’ time was an estimation of hands-on time from post-DNA extraction to sequencing data analysis for each method using mean hourly wage. The data was extrapolated to 30 patients, which we anticipate being a typical NGS run. The data doesn’t account for the 7% repeat Sanger sequencing rate we observe for Sanger sequencing run failures. Results Overall, the cost of HLA typing for 30 patients (5 loci) using NGS was reduced 49% ($22,435) compared to Sanger. Reagent cost for NGS was reduced by $22,073 (49%) compared to Sanger. Technologist time was reduced 60–70% by utilizing NGS instead of Sanger. Conclusions Sanger sequencing is the gold standard for high-resolution HLA typing however it has limitations. Heterozygous samples often present a problem due to phase ambiguities that require additional testing. The ability of NGS to perform millions of sequencing reads helps correctly phase each nucleotide thereby reducing ambiguities. Moving high-resolution HLA typing from Sanger to NGS will provide substantial savings via multiplexing and reduced reagent cost. Since the cost of NGS instruments and reagents continues to decrease, savings will continue to grow.
History of major depression as a barrier to health behavior changes after a chronic disease diagnosis

Abstract Objective To examine whether changes in smoking, drinking, and physical activity after a chronic disease diagnosis differ between middle-aged and older adults with and without a history of major depression. Methods Individual-level data came from 1996 to 2010 waves of the U.S. Health and Retirement Study. Chronic disease diagnosis was ascertained from self-reports of physician diagnosed diseases. Major depression was assessed by the short-form Composite International Diagnostic Interview. Mixed-effects logistic regressions were performed to estimate the potential moderating effect of a history of major depression. Results Baseline major depression was associated with a more than 3-fold increase (OR = 4.48, 95% CI = 2.27–8.86) in the odds of smoking and 37% decrease (OR = 0.63, 95% CI = 0.52–0.75) in the odds of staying physically active, but not with odds of excessive drinking. After a chronic disease diagnosis, the odds of smoking was reduced by 75% (OR = 0.25, 95% CI = 0.20–0.32), the odds of excessive drinking was reduced by 47% (OR = 0.53, 95% CI = 0.47–0.61), and the odds of staying physically active was reduced by 30% (OR = 0.70, 95% CI = 0.63–0.78). There was a significant interaction effect for smoking such that the decline in the odds of smoking was smaller among adults with a history of major depression. Conclusion Chronic disease diagnosis may be an important teachable moment for health behavior change, but the behavior changing effect may be smaller for those with a history of major depression especially when it comes to smoking.
Critical Phenomenon During Drying of Semiaromatic, Transparent and Soluble Polyimide Cast Films: Real-Time Observation of Birefringence and Other Integrated Parameters

A newly developed real-time multifunctional monitoring system was used to track in-plane and out-of-plane birefringence, weight, thickness and surface temperature of semiaromatic, transparent, and soluble polyimide cast films during drying. At a critical point during drying, out-of-plane birefringence develops rapidly when the cast film undergoes vitrification. The rapid development of out-of-plane birefringence is attributed mainly to polymer chain orientation caused primarily by in-plane confined drying induced by thickness reduction and secondarily by shrinkage stress development in the process of vitrification. Shrinkage stress and its magnitude depend on the details of freezing-in process as dictated by the coating and drying variables. Some drying solutions also found to develop a small negative in-plane birefringence with the higher refractive index in the direction transverse to the air flow direction and it is attributed primarily to the residual stress development. In addition, the influence of ...
Perturbation-graph theory—I: Resonance energies of heteroannulene π systems

Abstract Perturbation theory and the graph-theoretical definition of resonance energy are combined and applied to π systems substituted with heteroatoms and external substituents. The systems investigated are monocyclic and contain 3–6 atoms with 2–8 π electrons. In general, heteroatoms are calculated to exert their effects on resonance energy through two separable mechanisms, due either to the electronegativity (h parameter) or the conjugative ability (k parameter) of the substituent atom. There is no first-order effect of electronegativity in species containing 4n+2 (n= integer) π electrons. All electronegative or electropositive substituents are predicted to stabilize 4n π electron systems. Enhanced conjugation stabilizes 4n+2 systems and destabilizes 4n systems. Several examples of ions and molecules are given that qualitatively conform to these rules.
Case 21-2009: A 61-Year-Old Woman with Abdominal Pain, Weight Loss, and Renal Failure

A 61-year-old woman was admitted to this hospital because of a 2-month history of abdominal pain and weight loss and an elevated serum creatinine level. On admission, physical examination was normal except for mild abdominal tenderness. Abdominal imaging revealed no specific abnormalities. Laboratory testing revealed anemia. The creatinine level initially fell after the administration of intravenous fluids but then rose and remained elevated. On the 8th day, erythema and pain developed in the left eye. A diagnostic procedure was performed.
Important Special Collections: Library Resources of the University of North Carolina: A Summary of Facilities for Study and Research

(1947). Important Special Collections: Library Resources of the University of North Carolina: A Summary of Facilities for Study and Research. The Journal of Higher Education: Vol. 18, No. 4, pp. 223-224.
On Limit Results for a Class of Singularly Perturbed Switching Diffusions

This work is devoted to the weak convergence analysis of a class of aggregated processes resulting from singularly perturbed switching diffusions with fast and slow motions. The processes consist of diffusion components and pure jump components. The states of the pure jump component are naturally divisible into a number of classes. Aggregate the states in each weakly irreducible class by a single state leading to an aggregated process. Under suitable conditions, it is shown that the aggregated process converges weakly to a switching diffusion process whose generator is an average with respect to the quasi-stationary distribution of the jump process.
Patent ductus arteriosus.

Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a congenital heart defect where the ductus arteriosus maintains a shunt between the left pulmonary artery and the aorta. Clinical presentation and findings on cardiac auscultation vary depending on the size of the shunt. Classically, PDA presents with a continuous crescendo-decrescendo murmur described as “machinery-like”. To determine the degree of shunting through the PDA, Doppler echocardiography may be employed. Patients with a large PDA are at risk for persistent elevation in pulmonary vascular resistance thereby precipitating Eisenmenger’s syndrome. In this syndrome, shunting is ultimately reversed and patients experience subsequent cyanosis and/or pulmonary hypertension. The decision to treat a PDA should be based upon a combination of clinical signs and echocardiographic parameters. Treatment options include pharmacological closure in infants, catheterization, and surgical ligation.
Christian Features in the Peshitta Text of Ben Sira: the Question of Dependency on the Syriac New Testament

The careful analysis offered in the recent monograph by Wido van Peursenthe most extensive to datealso points tentatively toward the view that the Syriac translator was a Christian (or Jewish Christian). About eleven different verses have been proposed by various interpreters (including Winter) as containing phrases or clauses that derive from the text of the Syriac New Testament. In the Peshitta text of that narrative, the same verb is used twice: verse 22, he revived, and verse 23, is alive. That the Syriac translator had on his mind at this point prophetic power to raise the dead is also suggested by the way he recasts a comment about Elisha a few verses later, at 48:14b 19. Keywords: Christian; New Testament; Peshitta text
Abstract 3528: Induction of cytoprotective autophagy and senescence in response to chemotherapy and ionizing-radiation as possible mechanisms of tumor dormancy

Proliferative recovery in tumor cells subsequent to chemotherapy and/or radiation-induced prolonged growth arrest may prove to represent a state of autophagy and/or senescence. This may also be useful as an in vitro model of tumor dormancy. To explore this hypothesis, studies were performed in primary mouse mammary carcinoma cells (MMC) treated with Adriamycin (ADR) (0.25uM - 1uM) for 3 days (2h each) and ionizing radiation (IR) (6Gy). Promotion of autophagy was confirmed based on detection of autophagosomes based on acridine orange staining, the appearance of the autophagy marker, LC3.B, associated with autophagosome, degradation of p62/SQSTM1, a hallmark of autophagic flux (i.e. the completion of autophagy and degradation of autophagosome content). Autophagosome formation was observed 24h post ADR treatment and 72h post IR treatment. Furthermore, to understand the function of autophagy (cytoprotective, nonprotective or cytotoxic) autophagy was blocked either pharmacologically using chloroquine (CQ) or genetically by silencing of the key autophagy gene, ATG5. LC3.B appearance and p62/SQSTM1 degradation were more pronounced in wt (autophagy proficient) cells compared to ATG5 silenced cells, confirming that autophagy was inhibited by these pharmacological and genetic strategies. Furthermore, interference with autophagy sensitized the MMC cells to ADR and radiation. These observations indicated that ADR and IR induced autophagy was cytoprotective in the MMC cells. Unexpectedly, apoptosis (as measured by PI/ Annexin V assay) was not increased in response to either ADR alone or the combination of ADR and CQ, suggesting that sensitization was likely occurring through alternative pathways. An evaluation of select markers of senescence indicated enhanced expression of p21 as well as enhanced secretion of the autophagy/senescence associated marker, HMGB1, in response to Adriamycin and IR. Overall, these data suggest that both autophagy and senescence are induced in breast cancer cells by conventional therapies and could contribute to tumor dormancy. Inhibition of autophagy and/or senescence associated signaling pathways could lead to therapeutic strategies for interfering with proliferative recovery of tumor cells after standard modes of therapy. Studies are currently in progress to determine whether the senescence associated secretory phenotype (SASP) accompanies the induction of senescence. SASP has been associated with promotion of tumor growth and alternatively, with activation of an immune response to therapy. Citation Format: Theresa Thekkudan, Supriya Joshi, David Gewirtz. Induction of cytoprotective autophagy and senescence in response to chemotherapy and ionizing-radiation as possible mechanisms of tumor dormancy. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 3528.
The Transportation Equipment Industries

The effects of weather elements on the manufacture of automobiles, aircraft, and locomotive and railway rolling stock are considered. A discussion of general weather effects on plant layout, personnel, and administration is followed by an estimate of the impact that exposure to weather would have on operation of foundry, forge shop, press plant, heat treatment, anodizing, machine shop, assembly, and rubber tire manufacture. Included also is a discussion of the effects of weather extremes on the properties of copper, aluminum, lead, tin, zinc, magnesium, nickel, and plastics.
Time Zones, Tiredness, and Turnout: A Natural Experiment on How Time Constraints Influence Elections

In this article, we show that many citizens fail to vote because they are too tired. To do so, we leverage multiple approaches, including a unique natural quasi-experiment that exploits discontinuous decreases in sleep times on the eastern side of U.S. time zone boundaries. Our preferred model specification indicates that these exogenous decreases in sleep times depress county-level turnout in Congressional elections by about 2 percentage points. This effect is magnified in areas where obstacles to voting are greatest. Moreover, tiredness appears to exacerbate participatory inequality — depressing turnout in low propensity communities most — and push election outcomes towards Republicans. Supplementing this analysis, we conduct an observational study validating the direct relationship between tiredness and turnout. Our findings have important theoretical implications for the study of political participation. They suggest that many citizens hold the precursors to participation but lack the general, rather than expressly political, motivation to act on their intentions.
Intrathecal Drug Delivery

Intrathecal drug delivery may be performed for malignant pain, nonmalignant pain, and spasticity. In all cases, patients must have persistent, debilitating pain or spasticity not responsive to more conservative treatments. They must also first undergo a trial of neuraxially administered medication showing at least a 50 % improvement in pain or functional status. These patients must be very carefully selected; contraindications include but are not limited to concurrent active infection, severe psychological comorbidities (e.g., substance abuse), and an inability to comply with medication refill schedule.
Cross-Course Collaboration in the Undergraduate Chemistry Curriculum: Isotopic Labeling with Sodium Borodeuteride in the Introductory Organic Chemistry Laboratory

A microscale isotopic labeling experiment is described for the introductory organic chemistry laboratory course wherein half of the students use sodium borohydride (NaBH4) and the other half use sodium borodeuteride (NaBD4) to reduce acetophenone to 1-phenylethanol and then compare spectral data. The cost is reasonable, and the experiment is well-suited to serve as a first experience with 1H NMR spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, and/or mass spectrometry. No special apparatus are required for the reaction. The entire experiment, including an extensive prelab lecture and acquisition of 1H NMR data, is completed in a 3 h period. The experiment can stand alone, but lends itself to cross-course collaboration between the organic and physical chemistry laboratories. The succeeding companion article describes the measurement of a kinetic isotope effect using the product from this experiment. The physical chemistry students report their experimental results back to the organic class.
Representation of Integers by Forms

The squares (of integers), namely $$0,\,1,\;4,\;9,\;16,\;25,\; \ldots $$ are very sparse.
Unraveling the Mechanism Underlying Surface Ligand Passivation of Colloidal Semiconductor Nanocrystals: A Route for Preparing Advanced Hybrid Nanomaterials

Optically bright colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals (CSNCs) are important nanomaterials because of their potential applications such as cellular imaging and solid-state lighting. The optoelectronic properties of CSNCs are strongly controlled by the chemical nature of the surface passivating ligands that are introduced during their synthesis. However, the existing LaMer growth model does not provide a clear understanding of the stage when ligands become attached onto the CSNC surface. Herein, apart from the three stage formation mechanism of CSNCs (supersaturation, nucleation, and growth), an entirely new stage—solely involving surface ligand attachment onto fully grown CSNCs—is now reported that controls their photoluminescence properties. Furthermore, we also demonstrate a fundamentally new surface modification approach using partially passivated CSNCs to introduce a variety of functional groups (azide, alkene, and siloxane), including photoisomerizable molecular machines (e.g., azobenzene), without th...
The Origin and Spirit of Logical Positivism

Logical positivism began to form a fairly definite outlook in philosophy about forty years ago. As is well known, it was primarily the influence of Ludwig Wittgenstein and Rudolf Carnap that initiated the early phase of this — then new and radical — departure from the traditional ways of philosophizing. To be sure, some aspects of logical positivism are derived historically from Hume and Comte; but, in contrast, especially to Mill’s positivism, a new conception of logic (having its origins in Leibniz, Frege, and Russell) was united with the empiricism of Hume, Mach, and the early Einstein.
PMC: Parallel multi-protocol communication to heterogeneous IoT radios within a single WiFi channel

The exponentially increasing number of Internet of things (IoT) devices introduces spectrum crisis to the widely used industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) frequency band. Since IoT devices use heterogeneous radios with different bandwidths (e.g., 20 MHz for WiFi and 2 MHz for ZigBee), traditional interference avoidance methods, such as time-division multiple access (TDMA) and carrier-sense multiple access (CSMA), have very low spectrum utilization. This is because TDMA and CSMA allocate the packets at time domain, without considering the bandwidth difference of different IoT radios. To address this issue, we propose PMC, a novel communication system that enables parallel multi-protocol communication to heterogeneous IoT radios (i.e., WiFi and ZigBee) within a single WiFi channel. Our extensive evaluations show that PMC achieves the throughput of up to 121.02 kbit/s and 319.76 Mbit/s for parallel communication to ZigBee and WiFi, respectively. Compared with TDMA and CSMA, the spectrum utilization of PMC is increased by 2.3 and 1.8 times, respectively.
Interleukin-6/Stat3 signaling has an essential role in the host antimicrobial response to urinary tract infection.

The signaling networks regulating antimicrobial activity during urinary tract infection (UTI) are incompletely understood. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels increase with UTI severity, but the specific contributions of IL-6 to host immunity against bacterial uropathogens are unknown. To clarify this we tested whether IL-6 activates the Stat3 transcription factor, to drive a program of antimicrobial peptide gene expression in infected urothelium during UTI. Transurethral inoculation of uropathogenic Escherichia coli led to IL-6 secretion, urothelial Stat3 phosphorylation, and activation of antimicrobial peptide transcription, in a Toll-like receptor 4–dependent manner in a murine model of cystitis. Recombinant IL-6 elicited Stat3 phosphorylation in primary urothelial cells in vitro , and systemic IL-6 administration promoted urothelial Stat3 phosphorylation and antimicrobial peptide expression in vivo . IL-6 deficiency led to decreased urothelial Stat3 phosphorylation and antimicrobial peptide mRNA expression following UTI, a finding mirrored by conditional Stat3 deletion. Deficiency in IL-6 or Stat3 was associated with increased formation of intracellular bacterial communities, and exogenous IL-6 reversed this phenotype in IL-6 knockout mice. Moreover, chronic IL-6 depletion led to increased renal bacterial burden and severe pyelonephritis in C3H/HeOuJ mice. Thus, IL-6/Stat3 signaling drives a transcriptional program of antimicrobial gene expression in infected urothelium, with key roles in limiting epithelial invasion and ascending infection.
Changes on antioxidant activity of microwave-treated protein hydrolysates after simulated gastrointestinal digestion: Purification and identification.

Abstract Two samples of trout frame protein hydrolysates were prepared by Microwave Pretreatment followed by Conventional Enzymatic hydrolysis (MPCE) and Non-Pretreated followed by Microwave-assisted Enzymatic hydrolysis (NPME), respectively, were subjected to simulated gastrointestinal digestion. Changes on degree of hydrolysis, antioxidant activity, molecular weight, and amino acid composition between undigested and after gastrointestinal digestion of peptides were investigated. Comparing to undigested peptides, a breakdown of MPCE and NPME into smaller molecules was observed. Degree of hydrolysis, ABTS + radical scavenging activity and reducing power increased (P
Performance of a composite membrane of a perfluorodioxole copolymer in organic solvent nanofiltration

Abstract Solvent swelling of polymers is of major importance in organic solvent nanofiltration (OSN) affecting membrane rejection of 200–1000+ Da solutes. A selected perfluoro type amorphous glassy copolymer, perfluoro-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxole copolymerized with tetrafluoroethylene (PDD-TFE), is completely insoluble in all solvents except perflourinated solvents; further it showed very little swelling in solvents that are not of the perfluorinated type. Pure component permeation flux for a particular variety of this copolymer, CMS-7, was measured with a wide variety of solvents for two membrane thicknesses, 1.67 µm and 0.6 µm, in a composite form supported on a porous ePTFE substrate. The feed pressure range was 1000–3000 kPa. The solvents included methanol, ethanol, ethyl acetate, n-heptane, tetrahydrofuran (THF), toluene, dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO); n-heptane showed much higher flux than the rest. Successful OSN was demonstrated with high solute rejection in methanol solutions of two dye solutes Safranin O (MW, 351 Da) and Brilliant Blue R (MW, 826 Da). Rejection for Safranin O varied between 94% and 97% depending on the pressure and membrane thickness; that for Brilliant Blue R varied in the range of 97–99.8%. Successful OSN was also demonstrated with Safranin O in THF with solute rejection varying between 94% and 97%. Permeation behaviors of various mixtures of two solvents, toluene and n-heptane, were studied. The measured values of very limited extent of sorption of a variety of organic solvents in 25 µm thick dense samples of this and a related perfluoro type copolymer, CMS-3, were employed to explain the observed behavior.
User wayfinding strategies in public library facilities

Abstract An experiment in a public library demonstrates that Passini's conceptual framework of wayfinding can be applied to public library patron wayfinding behavior. Participants were asked to think aloud while completing prescribed wayfinding tasks. Findings indicate that library patrons use all five of Passini's strategies to varying degrees, supporting the need for further research testing this framework with library patrons. Participants were given varying level of details on Passini's strategies prior to completing the wayfinding tasks, and that intervention had no significant effect on the results.
Biological, Photochemical, and Spectroscopic Applications of Lasers

Not more than 5 years ago, it was common to refer to the laser as an “instrument in search of a problem.” Here was this marvelous device that could generate electromagnetic radiation that was naturally monochromatic (+0.05 nm) anywhere from 250 nm through the visible and infrared regions of the spectrum, and both the peak intensities and the average intensities were thousands of orders of magnitude higher than obtainable with the older classical sources. In addition, it was possible to generate ultrashort pulses (below 10-12 s) of this intense, monochromatic radiation. Furthermore, because of the physical mechanism involved in stimulated emission of radiation, and the design of laser cavities, the output beam was always plane polarized and virtually nondivergent.
Illegal Recruitment Advertising: A Ten-Year Restrospect

Since 1964, Congress has enacted a broad range of civil rights legislation prohibiting discrimination in employment decisions. The most visible sign of an employer's personnel policies can be found in newspaper “help wanted” ads. The current researchers analyzed more than 40,000 help wanted ads from 12 newspapers from four geographic regions of the United States. This article reports the findings of this study of questionable/illegal advertisements by geographic region, industry group, and types of civil rights violation. Suggestions are offered to employers for developing legal advertising and recruitment practices.
Observed to expected 30-day mortality as a benchmark for transcatheter aortic valve replacement

Abstract Objective The observed-to-expected 30-day mortality ratio (O:E ratio) is a standard metric by which transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) trials have been evaluated. Early TAVR trials consistently demonstrated O:E ratio less than 0.6 after TAVR when based on the Society for Thoracic Surgery Predicted Risk of Mortality (STS-PROM) for surgical aortic valve replacement. Recent published results from the Transcatheter Valve Therapy (TVT) Registry have demonstrated O:E ratios of 1.0. We evaluated our own O:E ratios for TAVR to investigate this discordance. Methods Data were collected prospectively for TAVR patients from 2008 through 2015 (N = 546) and were reviewed retrospectively. The observed mortality and STS-PROM were calculated to formulate O:E ratios and were compared over a variety of subgroups. Results Overall, the O:E ratio for 30-day mortality was 0.4 and significantly less than 1 (P 8). The O:E ratio was significantly higher for transapical patients (O:E ratio = 0.8) when compared with transfemoral patients (O:E ratio = 0.2). Lastly, O:E ratios for both commercial (O:E ratio = 0.5) and research (O:E ratio = 0.3) patients were similar (P = .337), and both were significantly less than 1 (P = .007 and P Conclusions The STS-PROM consistently overestimated 30-day mortality after TAVR. Achieving an O:E ratio less than 0.6 may be a realistic goal for all TAVR programs. While an accurate and specific risk calculator for 30-day mortality after TAVR remains to be established, our data suggest that current TVT results are not acceptable for commercial TAVR and that programs with an O:E ratio greater than 0.6, based on the STS-PROM, should reevaluate internal processes to improve their results.
Evaluation of the boundary of the vacuum in a Tokamak

Abstract This note is concerned with two methods for the evaluation of the boundary of tore supra in a Tokamak. One method is based on optimization which seeks to minimize a cost functional. The other method is based on obtaining the poloidal flux within two concentric circles and interpolating the location of the boundary. Both methods are iterative, and consider Cauchy problems for the poloidal flux. The second method uses the method of proper solution space to generate the value of the poloidal flux within two concentric circles. It then interpolates for the location of the boundary. Both algorithms show good robustness to noise. A number of numerical examples are used to show the applicability of the methods.
Are Worker Perceptions of Task Ease and Performance Associated with Within-subject Motor Variation during Repetitive Work?

A feature of repetitive motion believed important to understanding work-related musculoskeletal disorder risk is the absence of posture variation between task cycles. Motor control studies suggest ...
Downstream vascular changes after flow-diverting device deployment in a rabbit model

Background Flow diverters (FDs) are increasingly used in the treatment of intracranial aneurysms, and carry the risk of thromboembolic complications, even in patients treated with dual antiplatelet therapy. The effect of FDs on the downstream vascular is unknown. The aim of the study was to investigate vascular wall pulse wave velocity (PWV) and contractility changes following FD treatment in a rabbit model. Methods FDs (Pipeline Embolic Device, Medtronic Inc., Irvine, California, USA) were implanted in the aorta of normal rabbits and sham-operated aorta were used as controls (n=6 per group). Pulse wave imaging with ultra-fast ultrasound at 1600 frames per second (Vantage, Verasonics, Inc., Kirkland, WA) was performed in the vessel wall distal to FD prior to device implantation and at 8- week follow-up to measure the PWV. Force contraction vascular reactivity studies were conducted in the aortic rings using an organ bath. Results The difference in mean PWV in the follow-up compared with pre-implantation was significantly higher in the distal vessels compared with sham controls (1.18 m/s [SD=0.54] vs. 0.37 m/s [SD=1.09], P=0.03). Conversely, the aortic segments distal to the FD exhibited a 55% increase in vascular contractility compared with proximal segments (P=0.002). We observed a significant positive correlation between mean PWV and mean vascular contractility. Conclusion Implantation of FD was associated with increased PWV and vascular contractility, suggesting that FD implantation causes changes to the vascular wall. Further studies are needed to understand the clinical implication of changes in vascular PWV and contractility.
Vitamin D deficiency in pediatric patients with cystic fibrosis: associated risk factors in the northern United States.

OBJECTIVES Cystic fibrosis (CF) is associated with vitamin D deficiency, which can lead to adverse effects including recurrent pulmonary infections and osteoporosis. We longitudinally investigated calcifediol or 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels for our pediatric patients with CF based on the time of year as well as vitamin D supplementation dosing ranges for these patients at our CF center. METHODS We retrospectively evaluated vitamin D deficiency in our pediatric CF center for 2 years (baseline and annually) while evaluating 25(OH)D serum changes based on vitamin D supplementation, seasonality, patient age, and other factors associated with CF. RESULTS Vitamin D supplementation was noted to be higher than current Cystic Fibrosis Foundation dosing recommendations, and no patient experienced vitamin D toxicity. Seasonality was a strong indicator of 25(OH)D levels, especially during summer or fall. Significantly fewer patients with initially low 25(OH)D levels maintained low levels at the conclusion of the study, suggesting benefit. Older patient age and higher supplemental dosing correlated with significantly lower 25(OH)D levels. CONCLUSIONS This study suggests that targeted intervention among pediatric patients with CF living in northern latitudes of the United States, especially older children, is needed to prevent vitamin D deficiency.
Spawning Information Agents on the Web

Network bandwidth limitations must be considered by information agents when retrieving information from remote sources. There are cases where it should be more efficient (considering network constraints) that an agent will perform its activity on the remote server. This can be performed by spawning an agent on that server. Agent spawning is an appropriate means for resolving agent overload problems as well. Agents in a multi-agent system may face situations where tasks overload their computational capacities or do not fit their capabilities. Usually, this problem is solved by passing tasks to other agents or agent migration to remote hosts. Agent spawning is a more comprehensive approach to balancing local agent overloads. According to our paradigm, agents may spawn, pass tasks to others, die or merge. We discuss the mechanisms required for deciding upon and performing agent spawning. The requirements for implementing a spawning mechanism and the advantages of using it are addressed.
Testing the difference between appearance and ability customization

Gaming literature largely treats customization as a monolithic concept. This article provides three experiments that test the differences between appearance customization and ability customization. While these three studies provided a degree of replication, they examined between 105 and 147 college students in three different video game scenarios (no game play, non-human avatar, and difficult game). While the results varied slightly based on the scenario, evidence emerged that appearance customization was more likely than ability customization to enhance participant attitude toward the game and likelihood to spend money on the game. The findings of these studies should inform the types of customization used in a variety of domains and should provide guidance on the design process to offer simple and cost-effective methods to improve sales and attitudes toward content. Specifically, appearance customization is a more effective way for organizations to influence users.
Algorithms for Provisioning Edge Computing Resources to Minimize Data Transport Costs

Edge computing is a type of distributed computing in which computation might be performed at or near the edges of the network. This trend is driven by the disparity in growth between computational capacity and network performance. By locating computation at or near places where data is generated (e.g. end-user devices), one can minimize the total cost of computation by minimizing unnecessary data movement and thus circumvent the bottleneck. In this paper, we propose a simple model and several approximation algorithms for deciding where computation should take place to minimize the cost of data movement in a dynamic edge computing environment.
Statistical Analysis of Stationary Solutions of Coupled Nonconvex Nonsmooth Empirical Risk Minimization.

This paper has two main goals: (a) establish several statistical properties---consistency, asymptotic distributions, and convergence rates---of stationary solutions and values of a class of coupled nonconvex and nonsmoothempirical risk minimization problems, and (b) validate these properties by a noisy amplitude-based phase retrieval problem, the latter being of much topical interest.Derived from available data via sampling, these empirical risk minimization problems are the computational workhorse of a population risk model which involves the minimization of an expected value of a random functional. When these minimization problems are nonconvex, the computation of their globally optimal solutions is elusive. Together with the fact that the expectation operator cannot be evaluated for general probability distributions, it becomes necessary to justify whether the stationary solutions of the empirical problems are practical approximations of the stationary solution of the population problem. When these two features, general distribution and nonconvexity, are coupled with nondifferentiability that often renders the problems "non-Clarke regular", the task of the justification becomes challenging. Our work aims to address such a challenge within an algorithm-free setting. The resulting analysis is therefore different from the much of the analysis in the recent literature that is based on local search algorithms. Furthermore, supplementing the classical minimizer-centric analysis, our results offer a first step to close the gap between computational optimization and asymptotic analysis of coupled nonconvex nonsmooth statistical estimation problems, expanding the former with statistical properties of the practically obtained solution and providing the latter with a more practical focus pertaining to computational tractability.
Magnetic resonance elastography-derived stiffness of the kidneys and its correlation with water perfusion

Stiffness plays an important role in diagnosing renal fibrosis. However, kidney stiffness is altered by perfusion changes in many kidney diseases. Therefore, the aim of the current study is to determine the correlation of kidney stiffness with water intake. We hypothesize that kidney stiffness will increase with 1 L of water intake due to increased water perfusion to the kidneys. Additionally, stiffness of the kidneys will correlate with apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and fractional anisotropy (FA) values before and after water intake. A 3 T MRI scanner was used to perform magnetic resonance elastography and diffusion tensor imaging of the kidneys on 24 healthy subjects (age range: 22-66 years) before and after water intake of 1 L. A 3D T1-weighted bladder scan was also performed to measure bladder volume before and after water intake. A paired t-test was performed to evaluate the effect of water intake on the stiffness of kidneys, in addition to bladder volume. A Spearman correlation test was performed to determine the association between stiffness, bladder volume, ADC and FA values of both kidneys before and after water intake. The results show a significant increase in stiffness in different regions of the kidney (ie, percentage increase ranged from 3.6% to 7.5%) and bladder volume after water intake (all P 0.05). Water intake caused a significant increase in the stiffness of the kidneys. The negative correlation between the change in kidney stiffness and bladder volume, before and after water intake, indicates higher perfusion pressure in the kidneys, leading to increased stiffness.
Innovative Devices Did Not Provide Superior Total Knee Arthroplasty Outcomes in Post-Operative Rehabilitation: Results From a Four-Arm Randomized Clinical Trial.

Abstract Background Orthopedic surgeons face an increasing array of post-TKA (total knee arthroplasty) rehabilitation interventions that entail innovative equipment and devices, but their relative effectiveness remains unknown. The study compared patient outcomes among primary unilateral TKA patients participating in one of 4 post-TKA rehabilitation interventions—a standard-of-care intervention and 3 more recently developed physical therapy interventions. Methods The Knee Arthroplasty Rehabilitation Outcomes Study is a 4-arm randomized clinical trial conducted across 15 outpatient rehabilitation clinics. The trial evaluated 4 alternative interventions: (1) a stationary recumbent bike (control intervention); (2) a body weight-adjustable treadmill; (3) a recumbent bike and use of a patterned electrical neuromuscular stimulation device; and (4) a body weight-adjustable treadmill and a patterned electrical neuromuscular stimulation device. The study’s outcome measures were patient walking speed and the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) measured at therapy discharge and at follow-up. Results The study enrolled 363 TKA patients with 90-92 patients in each of the 4 study arms. Participants were similar across the 4 groups: They were about 63 years old, 61% female, 67% white, living at home, overweight (mean body mass index = 31.6), with mostly private insurance (61%) or Medicare (32%). Walking speed was similar at admission and discharge; KOOS scores were similar at admission, discharge, and follow-up across the 4 intervention groups. Conclusion The study found no statistical or clinically meaningful differences across the 4 study arms in walking speed or KOOS outcomes. Clinicians, payers, and policy makers will want to encourage providers and patients to use the least expensive intervention since each provide similar outcomes. Trial Registration NCT02426190; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02426190?term=NCT02426190&cntry=US&rank=1 .
Pastures and Forage Crops for Horses

Florida's unique climatic characteristics allow for forage production most of the year with a large variety of possible forage choices. Independent of the size of the operation and number of horses, good forage planning can help reduce feeding costs, environmental impacts, and nutritional disorders caused by high-concentrate feeding. With the exception of high-performance animals, horses can meet most of their nutritional needs from pasture. However, achieving this requires careful planning and implementation of a forage production and utilization program. This 9-page document discusses intake and nutrient requirements, pasture planning, forage species, and pasture management. Written by M. Wallau, E. L. Johnson, J. Vendramini, C. Wickens, and C. Bainum, and published by the UF/IFAS Agronomy Department, revised January 2019. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/aa216
“Colours of the Dying Dolphin”: Nineteenth-Century Defenses of Literature and Mathematics

In the latter half of the nineteenth century, both James Joseph Sylvester, a mathematician, and Matthew Arnold, a literary critic, wrote defenses of their subjects responding to changes in the educational and intellectual landscape, and, in particular, claims made by biologist Thomas Henry Huxley about the value of their respective disciplines. This chapter examines these defenses and the surrounding debate to explore the ways mathematicians and literary scholars drew upon similar arguments, and sometimes mutual support, to justify the legitimacy and importance of their subjects in the face of growing competition from the sciences. Both Arnold and Sylvester maintain that their subjects have a unique capacity to unify and connect disparate ideas, and to yoke these ideas to broader notions of beauty and order.
Lytic Bone Lesion: An Unusual Presentation of Hairy Cell Leukemia.

Hairy cell leukemia (HCL) is a seldom encountered malignancy of lymphocytes with a low incidence in the United States. HCL generally follows an indolent course and not all patients require treatment. Most patients are asymptomatic at the time of diagnosis. Treatment is reserved for those with anemia, thrombocytopenia, neutropenia, recurrent infections, symptomatic splenomegaly, or lymphadenopathy impairing vital organ function. Purine analogs are the mainstay of treatment with a durable response. We report a case of a 49-year old Ukrainian male who presented with bone pain secondary to a lytic bone lesion who was diagnosed with HCL.
The past and future of social group work in Germany: contributions of Louis Lowy

Louis Lowy (1920 to 1991), the international social work educator, remembered surviving the Holocaust as a formative professional experience. After joining the faculty of Boston University School o...
Recent advances in carbon dioxide hydrogenation to produce olefins and aromatics

Summary The catalytic hydrogenation of CO2 with renewable H2 is considered as one of the most practical approaches for the reduction of CO2 and the synthesis of valuable chemicals and fuels. Among the value-added products, olefins and aromatics are highly attractive as essential industrial feedstocks. CO2 hydrogenation to olefins and aromatics mainly undergoes a CO2-modified Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (CO2-FTS) route or a methanol-mediated (MeOH) route, but is often limited by low selectivity and catalyst deactivation. In this review, we first overview the reaction mechanisms and key intermediates along the CO2-FTS and MeOH routes. For each route, we summarize the recent progress toward the catalyst development as well as the optimization of reaction conditions. We conclude the review by identifying challenges and opportunities with an emphasis on approaches for exceeding the product distribution limit, suppressing the catalyst deactivation, and improving the feasibility of low-pressure operation by continuous consumption of key intermediates.