cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The effects of sexually arousing and violent films on aggressive behavior

Arnong the various concerns regarding the effects of mass media is the almost perennial worry about the effects of the media's depictions of sex and violence on audience behavior. The most visible evidence of this concern presented itself in the emergence of two Presidential Commissions which stlldied (aluong other things) the behavioral effects of sexually arousing material and mass tnedia violence. Both the Commission on Obscenity and Pornography (1970) and the National Commission on the Causes and Prevention of Rliolence (1969) examined the present states of research findings and initiated further studies in both areas and advanced conclusions and recornn-lendations based on their reviews of the available evidence. Despite the independence of both inquiries, one interesting area to emerge from the Obscenity and Pornography Commission's investigation was the study of the relationship between the behavioral effects of sexually arousing media content and violent media content. While sexual behavior and aggressive behavior may appear at first glance to be distinctly different types of behavior, comparisons of physiological characteristics of the organism in both states of arousal show a great deal of similarity. Kinsey (1953) made note of this occurrence when he observed that of the fourteen basic physiological changes taking place during sexual and aggressive arousal, only four differ between the two states. Storr (1970) has further noted that it "is not uncommon for one response to suddenly change into the other" (p. 18). Several studies done at the request of the Obscenity and Pornography Commission attempted to identify the relationship between aggressive and sexual arousal states. The theoretical basis for these studies hypothesizes that emotional arousal is a general state within
Balancing Margin and Mission: Nonprofit Competition in Charitable Versus Fee-Based Programs

Competition in the nonprofit world has intensified in recent years, and nonprofit managers are challenged to devise strategies that will serve both organizational needs and public interest. We propose a framework for thinking about nonprofit competition based on the intersection of two dimensions: the domain of competition, which can be either fee-based or donative activities; and the competitive strategy, which can be either price- or differentiation-based. The experience of the American Red Cross, a prominent nonprofit organization facing competition in both fee-based and donative domains, provides data for the elaboration of the framework, and for tentative conclusions about the implications of nonprofit competition for both margin and mission.
Examination of Macrolevel Annual Safety Performance Measures for Virginia

Municipal, state, and federal agencies in the United States that are responsible for traffic safety have used crash rates such as fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles traveled (VMT) as traffic safety performance measures. However, the appropriateness of using such rates as performance measures has not been examined empirically, although the rates have been made public. This study examined 20 candidate crash rates (e.g., fatalities per million population and injury crashes per million registered vehicles) for an annual safety performance measure for Virginia by using autoregressive error models and empirical data from 1971 through 2006. The study found that the injury rate per driver and the crash rate per VMT seem appropriate as, respectively, long-term (1971 to 2006) and shorter-term (1995 to 2006) safety performance measures for Virginia. Statistical uncertainty should be considered when these rates are used to measure safety performance.
Optic Nerve Damage in Alzheimer's Disease

Optic nerves from ten patients with Alzheimer's disease were histologically examined and compared with those from age-matched controls. Specific and nonspecific measures of degeneration were noted in eight of ten Alzheimer's disease optic nerves; no degeneration was noted in any of the controls. Results of histologic examination of the retinas of one eye of three Alzheimer's disease patients also showed degeneration of retinal ganglion cells and their axons in the nerve fiber layer. Morphometric analysis suggested that in many cases of Alzheimer's disease, the optic nerve showed predominant loss of the largest class of retinal ganglion cells (M-cells) that contribute large caliber fibers to the optic nerve. The M-cell system is known to mediate specific visual functions, and selective involvement of the M-cell population leads to clinically measurable neuro-ophthalmic and psychophysical impairments in many Alzheimer's disease patients.
Cholecystokinin increases cytosolic calcium in a subpopulation of cultured vagal afferent neurons

Imaging fluorescent measurements with fura 2 were used to examine cytosolic calcium signals induced by sulfated CCK octapeptide (CCK-8) in dissociated vagal afferent neurons from adult rat nodose ganglia. We found that 40% (184/465) of the neurons responded to CCK-8 with a transient increase in cytosolic calcium. The threshold concentration of CCK-8 for inducing the response varied from 0.01 to 100 nM. In most neurons (13/16) the response was eliminated by removing extracellular calcium. Depleting intracellular calcium stores with thapsigargin slightly augmented the response. Most neurons were unresponsive to nonsulfated CCK-8. The response was eliminated by the CCK-A receptor antagonist lorglumide. Low concentrations of JMV-180 had no effect; however, high concentrations of JMV-180 reduced responses to CCK-8. These results demonstrate that CCK acts at the low-affinity site of the CCK-A receptor to trigger the entry of extracellular calcium into vagal afferent neurons. Increased cytosolic calcium may participate in acute activation of vagal afferent neurons, or it may initiate long-term changes, which modulate future neuronal responses to sensory stimuli.
EFFECT OF EXCHANGEABLE BASES ON ABSORPTION AND TRANSVERSE STRENGTH OF CLAY BODIES

The absorption and transverse strength of clay bodies, both in the fired and unfired state, are influenced greatly by the nature of the exchangeable bases present on the surface of the clay particles. Plastic clays with high exchange capacity are more affected than nonplastic clays, such as flint clays. Of the various common base forms studied, sodium-type clays in general require less water to give the same degree of stiffness, and their fired and unfired transverse strengths are high. Hydrogen clays require higher water content and have greater porosity and lower transverse strength. Data are given on a plastic fire clay, a ball clay, a bentonite, and two flint fire clays. All experiments made were on stiff-mud bodies.
Laryngoplasty with ventriculectomy or ventriculocordectomy in 104 draft horses (1992-2000).

Objective— To evaluate efficacy and safety of laryngoplasty with vetriculectomy (VE) or ventriculocordectomy (VCE) for treatment of laryngeal hemiplegia (LH) in draft horses. Study Design— Retrospective study. Sample Population— One hundred four draft horses used for competitive hitch competitions. Methods— Medical records and postoperative endoscopy for competitive hitch draft horses diagnosed with left LH and treated with laryngoplasty and VE or VCE between January 1992 and December 2000 were reviewed. Follow-up information was obtained from telephone interviews with owners and trainers, and performance scores of 1 to 3 were assigned in which 1 was defined as a horse that was unable to perform (abnormal respiratory noise with or without exercise intolerance), 2 was able to perform but not for its intended use (exercise tolerant but abnormal respiratory noise), and 3 was performing as expected for its intended use (exercise tolerant, no abnormal respiratory noise). Results— One hundred four horses that had 111 laryngoplasty procedures were included. All horses had preoperative performance scores of 1. Follow-up information was available for 79 horses. Improvement in postoperative performance (exercise tolerant, with or without abnormal respiratory noise) was reported in 92% of horses. Respiratory noise was eliminated in 72% (57 horses) of horses. Postoperative performance scores were the following: 3 in 57 (72%) horses, 2 in 16 (20%) horses, and 1 in 6 (8%) horses. There was no significant difference in postoperative performance based on preoperative grade of LH. There was a trend for horses with ≥70% of possible maximal abduction postoperatively to have a performance score of 3. Postanesthetic complications included prolonged recovery (4 horses, 4%) and myopathy or neuropathy (7 horses, 7%). One of these horses was killed because it did stand; triceps myopathy and encephalopathy were confirmed on necropsy. Conclusions— Laryngoplasty with VE or VCE is an effective and safe procedure for the treatment of LH in the draft horse. Repeat laryngoplasty can be performed successfully, with good performance outcome after laryngoplasty failure. Complications associated with general anesthesia and laryngoplasty in draft horses are higher than reported for light breed horses under similar conditions. Clinical Relevance— For LH, laryngoplasty with VCE or VE under general anesthesia is recommended to eliminate abnormal respiratory noise and improve performance in most competitive hitch draft horses.
Comparative analysis of hyperspectral adaptive matched filter detectors

Real-time detection and identification of military and civilian targets from airborne platforms using hyperspectral sensors is of great interest. Relative to multispectral sensing, hyperspectral sensing can increase the detectability of pixel and subpixel size targets by exploiting finer detail in the spectral signatures of targets and natural backgrounds. A multitude of adaptive detection algorithms for resolved or subpixel targets, with known or unknown spectral characterization, in a background with known or unknown statistics, theoretically justified or ad hoc, with low or high computational complexity, have appeared in the literature or have found their way into software packages and end-user systems. The purpose of this paper is threefold. First, we present a unified mathematical treatment of most adaptive matched filter detectors using common notation, and we state clearly the underlying theoretical assumptions. Whenever possible, we express existing ad hoc algorithms as computationally simpler versions of optimal methods. Second, we assess the computational complexity of the various algorithms. Finally, we present a comparative performance analysis of the basic algorithms using theoretically obtained performance characteristics. We focus on algorithms characterized by theoretically desirable properties, practically desired features, or implementation simplicity. Sufficient detail is provided for others to verify and expand this evaluation and framework. A primary goal is to identify best-of-class algorithms for detailed performance evaluation.
Emerging Minds: The Process of Change in Children's Thinking

1. Whose Children are we Talking About? 2. Evolution and Cognitive Development 3. Cognitive Variability: The Ubiquity of Multiplicity 4. Strategic Development: Trudging up the Staircase or Swimming with the Tide 5. The Adaptivity of Multiplicity 6. Formal Models of Strategy Choice or Plasterers and Professors 7. How Children Generate New Ways of Thinking 8. A New Agenda for Cognitive Development
Elimination of isochromatics in photoholoelasticity

This paper shows how isochromatics can be eliminated in double exposure photoholoelasticity so that sharp unmodulated and doubled isopachics are obtained for the unambiguous determination of principal stress sums. A quartz rotator is used to rotate by 90° the polarization of the beam emerging from the model. The rotated beam is redirected again through the model in a reverse direction and finally impinges on the hologram plate. Analytical and experimental analysis shows that the reconstruction of a double exposure hologram by this method yields isopachics only.
Automated extraction of nonlinear circuit macromodels

Model reduction is a popular approach for incorporating detailed physical effects into high level simulations. In this paper the author presents a simple method for automatically extracting macromodels of nonlinear circuits with time-varying operating points. The models generated are truly "reduced" meaning that the complexity of macromodel evaluation is not strongly dependent on the size or complexity of the original detailed circuit description.
Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-lactic acid nanocarrier-based degradable hydrogels for restoring the vaginal microenvironment.

Women with bacterial vaginosis (BV) display reduced vaginal acidity, which make them susceptible to associated infections such as HIV. In the current study, poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) nanocarrier-based degradable hydrogels were developed for the controlled release of lactic acid in the vagina of BV-infected women. PEG-lactic acid (PEG-LA) nanocarriers were prepared by covalently attaching lactic acid to 8-arm PEG-SH via cleavable thioester bonds. PEG-LA nanocarriers with 4 copies of lactic acid per molecule provided controlled release of lactic acid with a maximum release of 23% and 47% bound lactic acid in phosphate buffered saline (PBS, pH 7.4) and acetate buffer (AB, pH 4.3), respectively. The PEG nanocarrier-based hydrogels were formed by cross-linking the PEG-LA nanocarriers with 4-arm PEG-NHS via degradable thioester bonds. The nanocarrier-based hydrogels formed within 20 min under ambient conditions and exhibited an elastic modulus that was 100-fold higher than the viscous modulus. The nanocarrier-based degradable hydrogels provided controlled release of lactic acid for several hours; however, a maximum release of only 10%–14% bound lactic acid was observed possibly due to steric hindrance of the polymer chains in the cross-linked hydrogel. In contrast, hydrogels with passively entrapped lactic acid showed burst release with complete release within 30 min. Lactic acid showed antimicrobial activity against the primary BV pathogen Gardnerella vaginalis with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 3.6 mg/ml. In addition, the hydrogels with passively entrapped lactic acid showed retained antimicrobial activity with complete inhibition G. vaginalis growth within 48 h. The results of the current study collectively demonstrate the potential of PEG nanocarrier-based hydrogels for vaginal administration of lactic acid for preventing and treating BV.
Parallel simulation environment for mobile wireless networks

A parallel simulator has been designed for the evaluation of wireless, multihop, mobile networks. This paper describes the process of porting the simulator from a sequential to a parallel environment. Parallelization is critical in large radio networks, where the complexity of radio propagation models, channel access schemes and interference patterns makes sequential simulation very time consuming - in the order of several hours for 100 nodes experiments. With parallel execution, speedups of up to tenfold have been observed on a 16 processor SP/2, making large net work simulations viable.
Copolymerization of anhydroglucose and anhydromannose derivatives: Structure, reactivity, and conformational analyses

Phosphorus pentafluoride-catalyzed copolymerization of 1,6-anhydro-2,3,4-tri-O-(p-methylbenzyl)-β-D-glucopyranose (TXGL, monomer G) and 1,6-anhydro-2,3,4-tri-O-benzyl-β-D-mannopyranose (TBMN, monomer M) appears to follow classical copolymerization theory. Reactivity ratios calculated by the procedure of Mayo and Lewis were rG = 0.90 ± 0.08, rM = 11.5 ± 0.80, from which sequence distributions were calculated. A conformational analysis of anhydro sugar polymerization is presented to explain differences in reactivity of monomers and their derived cations in polymerization and copolymerization. The polymers and copolymers were characterized by viscosity, 1H- and 13C-NMR spectroscopy, optical rotation, and circular dichroism. The reaction gives stereoregular polymers as have other polymerizations and copolymerizations of this class.
State-Sponsored Religion as Impediment To Assimilation and Immigration: A Look at Europe

An evaluation of the residual affects of state sponsored religion within European nations on assimilation of foreign born populations. This paper combines an overview of the historical institutionalism, secularization, and measurements of religion with modern immigration rates. The possibility that religion can be used as an instrumental variable for assimilation is also evaluated.
Model Identification for Engineering Variables

Presented herein are objective methods for determining the preferred statistical model to represent an engineering design variable. Given test data, two different criteria are proposed to indicate which of several competing statistical models, e.g., normal, lognormal, Weibull, EVD, etc., provides the best description of the variable. Using a Monte Carlo scheme, it was demonstrated that the proposed criteria is capable of a relatively high degree of discrimination with the power increasing with large samples. The results are useful in those applications of probabilistic design procedures where it is necessary to establish the best statistical description of stress or strength.
Comparison of the Retinotopic Organization of the Visual Wulst in Nocturnal and Diurnal Raptors, with a Note on the Evolution of Frontal Vision

Anatomical studies by KARTEN and his coworkers (1), more recent physiological recording experiments (PETTIGREW and KONISHI (2,3)), and behavioral studies (e.g., see FOX, this volume), all indicate that the visual Wu1st of birds is analogous in its visual processing capabilities to the striate cortex of mammals. Similarities in function between the two structures include the following: (1) Both have laminar organization with monocular information from both eyes arriving in the granular layers (cf. KARTEN, et al., (1), and PETTIGREW and KONISHI (2,3) with HUBEL and WIESEl14)); (2) Binocular convergence of excitatory information in both systems occurs here first (PETTIGREW and KONISHI (2, 3, 5), versus HUBEL and WIESEL (6, 7, 8)); (3) In both structures, binocular excitatory convergence appears to occur at the same level of processing as the elaboration of orientation selective neurons, since the monocular, thalamic afferents have concentrically-organized receptive fields which contrast with the orientation-selective receptive fields of the binocular cortical neurons (cf. PETTIGREW and KONISHI (2,3), with HUBEL and WIESEL (7, 8)); (4) Both structures are primarily concerned with binocular visual processing and neurons are found in each structure which appear to be selectively tuned to stereoscopic depth cues (e.g., cf. PETTIGREW and KONISHI (2,3) with PETTIGREW, NIKARA and BISHOP (9)). This last point is controversial with respect to the monkey because of the technical difficulties involved in the control of the relevant stimuli which, based on psychophysical considerations, may have the order of seconds of arc in primates. Note however that there are now positive reports of disparity-selective neurons in monkey striate cortex (FISCHER and POGGIO (10)) to balance the earlier negative one (HUBEL and WIESEL (11)); (5) The functioning of both is sensitive to visual experience in the neonatal period (PETTIGREW and KONISHI (3); HUBEL and WIESEL (11)).
Synchronized Heterogeneous Indentation and Stress Relaxation Behavior of Articular Cartilage Upon Macroscopic Compression: A Preliminary Study

By using a newly-developed experimental technique that is enabled by a polymer-based microfluidic device for detecting distributed normal loads, a preliminary study is presented on the synchronized heterogeneous indentation and stress relaxation behavior of articular cartilage upon macroscopic compression. In a measurement, a rigid cylinder probe is employed to exert macroscopic indentation or step input to a cartilage sample on the device. Consequently, the synchronized heterogeneous viscoelastic behavior of the sample translates to distributed normal loads acting on the device and is captured by the device. While the macroscopic load acting on a sample is recorded by a load cell, the deflections of a sample along its length are captured by the device. Thus, the measured results essentially are the load-deflection relations of a sample along its length. Full-thickness lapine and bovine articular cartilage samples are prepared and measured. A thorough data analysis is implemented on the recorded data for extracting their instant and relaxed indentation modulus, as well as Young’s relaxation modulus.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
But Not Everyone is Innocent

They call out to us from the walls of our cities. If you have seen this man, please contact the police. He might be armed and is dangerous.In today's culture, in which images of desirable bodies are in open display, drawing to their surface the public gaze, the terrorist's unglamorous image carries a whiff of the street. Despite the information provided about his name and place of birth, he is somehow more anonymous. We see him in smudgy, often out-of-date photographs and charcoal drawings; he arouses not desire but suspicion; he is wanted only by the police. The terrorist is the "missing person" of an earlier and more innocent age. The face we see on the wall is more of an absence, an absence that emerges from a fear in our hearts. Unless he is caught, we believe we won't have security.
Population Responses of the Citrus Red Mite and Citrus Thrips to ‘Navel’ Orange Cultural Practices

Field-grown orange ( Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck) trees were subjected to all combinations of three levels of irrigation, three levels of fertilization, two levels of fungicidenematicide applications, and two levels of growth regulator treatments during 1985–1987. Densities of the citrus red mite, Panonychus citri (McGregor), and densities and fruit scarring caused by the citrus thrips, Scirtothrips citri (Moulton), were monitored in 1986 and 1987 to determine how variation in commercial orange grove management practices might alter the suitability of trees for use by both pest species. Fertilization was the only factor exerting a consistent, significant effect on thrips scarring and mite density. Citrus thrips scarring was highest on the most heavily fertilized trees, whereas mite densities were highest on the least fertilized trees. Although fertilization significantly altered concentrations of several individual amino acids, soluble protein, and total nitrogen content, variation in densities of neither arthropod was strongly related to variation in concentrations of any measured plant compounds. Differences in densities and scarring among treatments were low relative to conventional treatment thresholds, and variation in grove management practices, within practical limits, probably play only a minor role in promoting outbreaks of either of these two citrus pests.
Lateral jet control of a supersonic missile - CFD predictions and comparison to force and moment measurements

Several 3D, viscous, turbulent Navier-Stokes computations have been performed for a missile equipped with and without divert jet thruster for three different wing planforms at a nominal flow Mach number of 3.94, angles-of-attack ranging from 2 to 25 deg and jet thrust ratios of one and four. Results are presented to show that the normal force and pitching moment coefficients for all computed cases are predicted within 5 percent of the wind-tunnel data. Synthesis of all the results show low amplification factor for all windward jet thruster cases. For this case the upstream favorable pressure zone created by the windward jet is insufficient to compensate for the massive unfavorable pressure loss on the windward wings/tails due to the jet blockage and jet wrap-around effects. (Author)
Determination of 49 pesticide residues in edible fungi by automatic solid phase extraction and gas chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry

Objective To establish an analytical method for simultaneous determination of 49 pesticide residues in edible fungi by automatic solid phase extraction and gas chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry( GC/ MS/ MS). Methods The samples were extracted with acetonitrile,cleaned up by automatic solid phase extracter,then analyzed by gas chromatography-triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry using multiple reaction monitoring( MRM) mode. Results Forty-nine kinds of commonly used pestcides from 4 categories were analyzed in the MRM mode using two pairs of ions,with less baseline drift. The collision energy of the parent ion was optimized in the eneergy range of 5 V ~ 40 V. The linear range of 49 pesticides were between 0. 01 μg/ ml and 10. 0 μg/ ml,the linear correlation coefficients were from 0. 9900 to 0. 9994,the limits of detection were from 0. 01 μg/ kg to 3. 0 μg/ kg,the limits of quantication were from 0. 03 μg/ kg to 10. 0 μg/ kg,the average recovery rates were in the range of 80. 1% ~ 110. 0% and the relative standard deviations( RSD) were all less than 10%. Conclusion The method is applied to the routine analysis of multiple pesticides in edible fungi,with better recovery rate and statbility.
Dental caries and ear infections in preschool-aged children.

PURPOSE The purpose of this case-control study was to assess the association between ear infection and dental caries. MATERIALS AND METHODS The sample consisted of 126 children (range: two to five years) with no major medical problems or craniofacial anomalies. Ear infection history, demographic, dental, health and diet history of each child was determined using a questionnaire administered to the parent/guardian of the child. Dental charts were used to abstract dmft (decayed, missing and filled teeth) scores for children with dental caries (DC: dmft > or = 1) and without caries (NDC: dmft = 0), and oral hygiene index (OHI) scores. RESULTS Chi-square analysis indicated no differences in ear infection history between the 71 DC and 55 NDC (past year: 35% vs. 40%; lifetime: 30% vs. 31%) children. However, there was a trend (p = 0.07) for the mean number of ear infections to be higher in DC versus the NDC group. Baby bottle use was highest among those who had both ear infection and caries. Multivariate regression model revealed that OHI scores, reason for dental visit, and frequency of visits were the best predictors of dmft scores. CONCLUSION An association between dental caries and ear infection was not observed in this sample. Future investigations should explore common risk factors in increasing the risk of both diseases simultaneously.
Configuration Interaction Energy Derivatives

Building upon the Hamiltonian expansion of Helgaker and the MCSCF energy derivative developments of Jorgensen, an analysis of the geometrical derivatives of the CI energy is performed. Combining the geometry variation of the Hamiltonian with that of the molecular orbitals (as given by the MCSCF orbital response of Jorgensen) allows the variation of the CI configuration expansion coefficients to also be handled by response theory. After developing the form of the CI energy derivatives, a few observations are made concerning their computational practicality.
Immunoglobulins: Structure, Genetics, Diversity

A review of antibody synthesis leads to a discussion of the synthesis, structure and function of the constant and variable portions of the heavy and light chains of the immunoglobulins. Two steps in the integration of variable and constant genes are discussed: the first step is at the DNA level and involves rearrangement of genes; the second step is the processing or looping out of the nuclear RNA to messenger RNA. Antibody diversity appears to have evolved during phylogeny and is not a result of response to the appearance of immunoglobulin structures. There are several theories concerning the synthesis of antibody with such a wide variety of specificities, and it seems apparent that more than one theory is probably involved.
Response by Gutiérrez et al to Letter Regarding Article, "Hemoglobin Concentration and Risk of Incident Stroke in Community-Living Adults".

Drs Yang, Li, and Zeng have raised several concerns about the interpretation of the association of hemoglobin with stroke risk in the REGARDS study (Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke). Although we appreciate their interest in our study, we think that the crux of their concerns is based on a misapplication of data from prior studies to our own study. The primary focus of our study was to examine the association of hemoglobin with future risk of incident stroke in community-dwelling adults. In contrast, the 2 comparator studies cited by Drs Yang, Li, and Zeng focused on the association of hemoglobin at the time of acute stroke hospitalization with poststroke outcomes (functional outcome, mortality, etc).1,2 We fully agree that determining the association of hemoglobin with …
Two-color thermosensors based on [Y_{1-x}Dy_x(acetylacetonate)_3(1,10-phenanthroline)] molecular crystals

We develop a two-color thermometry (TCT) phosphor based on [Y $$_{1-x}$$ Dy $$_x$$ (acetylacetonate) $$_3$$ (1,10-phenanthroline)] ([Y $$_{1-x}$$ Dy $$_x$$ (acac) $$_3$$ (phen)]) molecular crystals for use in heterogeneous materials. We characterize the optical properties of [Y $$_{1-x}$$ Dy $$_x$$ (acac) $$_3$$ (phen)] crystals at different temperatures and Dy concentrations, and find that the emission is strongly quenched by increasing temperature and concentration. We also observe a broad background emission (due to the ligands) and find that [Y $$_{1-x}$$ Dy $$_x$$ (acac) $$_3$$ (phen)] photodegrades under 355 nm illumination with the photodegradation resulting in decreased luminescence intensity. However, while decreasing the overall emission intensity, photodegradation is not found to influence the integrated intensity ratio of the $${}^4I_{15/2} \rightarrow {}^6H_{15/2}$$ and $${}^4F_{9/2} \rightarrow {}^6H_{15/2}$$ transitions. This ratio allows us to compute the temperature of the complex. Based on the temperature dependence of these ratios; we calculate that [Y $$_{1-x}$$ Dy $$_x$$ (acac) $$_3$$ (phen)] has a maximum sensitivity of 1.5% K $$^{-1}$$ and our TCT system has a minimum temperature resolution of 1.8 K. Finally, we demonstrate the use of [Y $$_{1-x}$$ Dy $$_x$$ (acac) $$_3$$ (phen)] as a TCT phosphor by determining a dynamic temperature profile using the emission from [Y $$_{1-x}$$ Dy $$_x$$ (acac) $$_3$$ (phen)].
Surprising Lack of Correlation between CD38 and Time to First Treatment in Chronic Lympocytic Leukemia.

BACKGROUND: Although IgVH gene mutation status and expression of CD38 are accepted prognostic markers of patient survival in chronic lymphocytic leukemia(CLL), the relative value of these two markers continues to vex even experts in the field. METHODS: To address this issue we evaluated mutation status and CD38 expression in 159 patients and examined time to first treatment(TTT), as a surrogate endpoint for survival, in various combinations of factors. IgVH gene and CD38 analyses were performed according to standard practice. TTT was analyzed using the product limit method and compared using the log rank test. For these analyses, subjects who had not yet started treatment at the time of cut-off (July 2007) or were lost-to-follow-up were considered censored. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to examine the joint effects of CD38 and mutation status on starting treatment. RESULTS: The two tables show TTT for each CD38 and mutation status independently and in combination. Median TTT for CD38- patients(n=88) was 79 months(95% CI: 60–144) vs 60 months(95% CI: 45–153) for CD38+ patients(n=71). This did not represent a statistical difference(p=0.1891). On the other hand, there was a statistical difference in TTT based on mutation(p CONCLUSIONS: These data confirm the significant prognostic value of mutation status and time to first treatment in CLL. Surprisingly, and in contrast to a recent report(Rassenti et al, Blood, in press), our results with CD38 expression reveal a lesser level of influence. These findings must be cautiously interpreted to avoid potentially confounding factors. First, a selection bias in patients referred to a tertiary care institution in terms of disease severity or aberrant clinical course may exist. Second, TTT decisions are, to some extent, subjective and our threshold for initiating treatment may be higher than of other hematologists-oncologists. Our data confirm that newly identified prognostic markers need further evaluation.
Analysis of stage of melanoma diagnosis in relation to insurance type and income as indicator of early/late diagnosis.

243 Background: This study compares the average stage of diagnosis for melanoma by insurance status and household income. This is the largest such study for melanoma to date. Methods: Using the National Cancer Database (NCDB) we examined 299,214 patients with melanoma between 2000 and 2009 at 1,408 hospitals. The relationship of average stage of diagnosis is compared across insurance types and by income for 293,438 patients. Results: The VAH patient population had the lowest average stage of diagnosis (0.89) with the Medicaid population exhibiting the highest (1.87, p<0.0001). The VAH was lower than Tricare which had an average diagnosis of 1.11 (p<0.0001), private insurance 1.20 (p<0.0001), Medicare 1.34 (p<0.0001), and uninsured 1.70 (p<0.0001). The lowest rate of stage IV was private insurance (3.31%), with Tricare at 3.67% (p<0.0001), VAH 4.46% (p<0.0001), Medicare 5.74% (p<0.01), uninsured 10.12% (p<0.0001), and the highest rate was among Medicaid (14.35%, p<0.0001). The highest income category (≥$49...
Intentional Destruction and Spoliation of Cultural Heritage under International Criminal Law

International criminal law targets the most serious crimes against humanity. Its prosecutors seek justice for those who commit the most horrific of acts: mass murder, human trafficking, and the like. It attempts to apply legal standards to the actions of individuals during armed conflict and mass atrocity. Now cultural heritage destruction will be considered as a part of international criminal law with the decision by the International Criminal Court to bring charges for cultural heritage destruction for the first time. This finds international criminal law exploring an ambitious new arena, premised on the idea that when a people move through conflict and unrest, their cultural heritage will help to rebuild what has been lost. On September 18, 2015 the ICC issued a warrant for the arrest of Ahmad al-Mahdi al-Faqi, charging him with the destruction of 10 buildings of cultural importance in Timbuktu during the summer of 2012. The announcement has the potential to increase the profile of cultural heritage crimes. It will demonstrate that a population’s culture is essential.
Is the Accuracy of Density Functional Theory for Atomization Energies and Densities in Bonding Regions Correlated

The development of approximate exchange-correlation functionals is critical for modern density functional theory. A recent analysis of atomic systems suggested that some modern functionals are straying from the path toward the exact functional because electron densities are becoming less accurate while energies are becoming more accurate since the year 2000. To investigate this trend for more chemically relevant systems, the electron densities in the bonding regions and the atomization energies are analyzed for a series of diatomic molecules with 90 different functionals. For hybrid generalized gradient approximation functionals developed since the year 2000, the errors in densities and atomization energies are decoupled; the accuracy of the energies remains relatively consistent while the accuracy of the densities varies significantly. Such decoupling is not observed for generalized gradient and meta-generalized gradient approximation functionals. Analysis of electron densities in bonding regions is foun...
When Are Agenda Setters Valuable

Why do industries donate money to legislative campaigns when roll-call votes suggest that donors gain nothing in return? I argue that corporate donors may shape policy outcomes by influencing powerful agenda setters in the early stages of lawmaking. On the basis of a new data set of more than 45,000 individual state legislator sessions (1988–2012), I document how agenda control is deemed valuable to legislators and groups seeking influence on policy. Employing a difference-in-differences design, I assess the revealed price, as measured by campaign contributions, that firms are willing to pay for access to committee and party leaders and document how this price varies across industries and institutions. The results indicate that industries systematically funnel money to the legislative agenda setters by whom they are regulated, and to those endowed with important procedural powers. I document that the value of agenda-setter positions has increased dramatically in recent years. Finally, exploiting changes in state laws, I show that relaxing contribution limits significantly benefits committee chairs and party leaders more so than it does other legislators, suggesting that agenda setters have strong incentives to obstruct restrictive campaign finance reforms.
Variability in management of blunt liver trauma and contribution of level of American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma verification status on mortality

BACKGROUND Patients who sustain blunt liver trauma and are treated at an American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma-verified Level I trauma center have an overall lower risk of mortality compared with patients admitted to a level II trauma center. However, elements contributing to these differences are unknown. We hypothesize that practice variation exists between trauma centers in management of blunt liver injury. Our objective is to identify practice variations and their effect on clinical outcomes. METHODS Data from a statewide collaborative quality initiative for trauma were used. The data set contains information from 29 American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma verified Levels I and II trauma centers from 2011 to 2016. Propensity score matching was used to create cohorts of patients treated at Levels I or II trauma centers. The 1:1 matched cohorts were used to compare in-hospital mortality, management strategy, complications, intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital length of stay, and failure to rescue. RESULTS Four hundred fifty-four patients with grade 3 or higher blunt liver injury were included. Patients treated at level II trauma centers had higher in-hospital mortality than those treated at Level I trauma centers (15.4% vs 8.8%, p = 0.03). Level II trauma centers used angiography less compared with Level I centers (p = 0.007) and admitted significantly fewer patients to the ICU (p = 0.002). The ICU status was associated with reduced mortality (7.2% vs 23.9%, p < 0.001). Despite a lower rate of overall complications, Level II trauma centers were more likely to fail in rescuing their patients (p = 0.045). CONCLUSION Admission with a high-grade liver injury to a Level II trauma center is associated with increased in-hospital mortality. Level II trauma centers were less likely to use angiography or admit high-grade liver injuries to the ICU. This variation in practice may lead to the inability to rescue critically ill patients. Future research should investigate contributors to underutilization of resources for patients with high-grade liver injuries. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Care management, level IV.
Comparing SGLT-2 inhibitors to DPP-4 inhibitors as an add-on therapy to metformin in patients with type 2 diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Abstract Aims Our aim was to compare Sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT-2i) to Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4i) as add-on therapy to metformin. Methods We searched for randomized trials comparing SGLT-2i to DPP-4i as add-on therapy to metformin in Type 2 diabetes.We pooled trials reporting outcomes between 12 and 26 weeks together while trials reporting results ≥52 weeks were pooled together. The primary outcomes were the change in haemoglobin A1c (A1c) at ≤26 and ≥52 weeks. Sensitivity analyses were performed according to the dose of SGLT-2i and according to baseline A1c for the primary outcomes. Results Seven trials met our inclusion criteria. There was a statistically significant reduction in A1c at ≥52 weeks favouring SGLT-2i compared to DPP-4i (MD [95% CI]=−0.11% [−0.20, −0.03]) but no significant difference at ≤26 weeks (MD [95% CI]=−0.05% [−0.16, 0.05]). SGLT-2i caused significantly more weight loss compared to DPP-4i at ≤26 weeks and ≥52 weeks (MD [95% CI]=−2.31kg [−2.66, −1.96] and −2.45kg [−2.83, −2.07], respectively). SGLT-2i treated patients had a significantly more genital infection compared to DPP-4i. On restricting the analysis according to the SGLT-2i FDA-approved dose, only higher doses at ≥52 weeks showed a statistically significant reduction in A1c compared to DPP-4i. On restricting the analysis according to baseline A1c, results favoured DPP-4i if baseline A1c was Conclusion While both SGLT-2i and DPP-4i can reduce A1c, SGLT-2i causes a more robust A1c reduction and more weight loss but with more genital infections. Higher doses of SGLT-2i showed more efficacy when compared to DPP-4i; however, this data should be interpreted cautiously given the limited number of trials.
Mechanical properties of the airway tree: heterogeneous and anisotropic pseudoelastic and viscoelastic tissue responses.

Understanding the mechanics of the lung is necessary for investigating disease progression. Trachea mechanics comprises the vast majority of ex vivo airway tissue characterization despite distal ai...
A demographics-based mass load model for estimating community drug use

The high global consumption of illicit drugs, together with their inefficient removal during wastewater treatment, raises concerns over their potential impacts on water sources. Illicit drugs are potent psychoactive chemicals; their presence in receiving waters may pose risks to aquatic organisms and to human health. Their concentrations in sewage are typically within the nano-g/L to micro-g/L range, making them challenging and costly to measure. In this study, we apply a demographics-based mass load model to estimate the influent concentration of cocaine, methamphetamine, and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) in two mid-size wastewater treatment plants (WWTP). Both plants service fully-sewered areas; WWTP1 services a population of 100,000 while WWTP2 services a population of 200,000. Census data were combined with published age-based drug consumption rates and pharmacokinetic factors to determine average daily mass loads and drugs levels in the influents. Model predictions ranged from 1–102 ng/L, and were highest for MDMA and about the same for cocaine and methamphetamine. These were also compared with actual measurements from the WWTPs. Estimates were consistent with actual measurements for cocaine and methamphetamine but were overestimated for MDMA. Overall, findings suggest high consumption of the target drugs in the studied area. From the perspective of WWTP operation, model estimates can serve as a basis for establishing mass loads of illicit drugs entering the WWTP and for optimizing treatment processes to more effectively remove them during treatment.
Is spatial variation in population size structures of a stream-dwelling caddisfly due to the altered effects of a predator by a third-party species?

Predators alter abundances and life history characteristics of prey, and effects of predator–prey interactions can be altered by third-party species. Here, we examine size structures of the caddisfly, Phylloicus hansoni, in Trinidadian streams with two distinct fish assemblages: upstream reaches where the predatory killifish, Anablepsoides hartii, is the only fish species (Killifish-Only reaches), and downstream reaches where killifish and the omnivorous guppy, Poecilia reticulata, coexist (Killifish–Guppy reaches). We asked: Do P. hansoni larvae exhibit differences in size structure between reaches with differing fish assemblages? We found that size distributions of larvae differed between reaches in the majority of replicate streams, with smaller median body lengths in Killifish-Only reaches. Killifish–Guppy reaches had higher proportions of the largest instar, but we did not find differences in body length within an instar. No evidence of size-selective predation was found through analysis of killifish stomach contents, and environmental variables were largely similar between upstream and downstream reaches of the five study streams, aside from higher killifish abundances in upstream reaches. Our results, coupled with previous evidence of guppies altering killifish populations, suggest that the mediating effects of a third-party species (guppies) on predator–prey (killifish–caddisfly) interactions can affect the population size structure of prey populations.
Technical section: Image centric finite element simulation

Images have played a substantial role in documenting historical structures and structural systems. As a result, extensive archives are now available to reconstruct both modern and ancient buildings, bridges and other structures for subsequent analysis and visualization. While common approaches require the creation of complex three-dimensional models to facilitate the study of response to anticipated loading of a target system or subsystem, faster techniques are required for preliminary data analysis. This paper presents an image-based approach that allows users to sketch structural systems over a reference image while using standard engineering symbols and nomenclature. Within the presented framework, the response of the sketched system is analyzed and presented using an image-centric finite element analysis approach. Finite element models of the sketched structural system and image are constructed and simulation results fused into a final visual encoding, using deformation patterns and image warping. Results for two example structures illustrate the intuitive modeling capability that the system provides to the user. The presented system is particularly beneficial in educational environments, where fundamental behavioral characteristics of structural systems are studied.
The Building and Evaluation of a Mobile Parallel Multi-Dialect Speech Corpus for Arabic

Abstract This paper discusses the process of building and evaluation a mobile parallel multi-dialect speech corpus for Arabic. The methodology for implementing the experiment is as follows: Two SIM cards were installed in two mobiles phones. One party is the sender and the other the receiver. Four different environments were chosen for the receiver, i.e. inside the home, in a moving car, in a public place and in a quiet place. By the end of the experiment, a new mobile parallel speech corpus for Arabic dialects was built. The newly obtained corpus provides us with the benefits of a large, fully parallel and labelled speech corpus without the necessity of a big effort for collection and building. The resultant corpus will be made freely available to researchers. To evaluate the resultant corpus, the CMU Sphinx recogniser extracted the word error rates (WERs) 24.3, 17.9, 31.2, 18.7 and 32.0 for multi-dialect, Levantine, Gulf, MSA and Egyptian, respectively.
Moral Inhabitability and Work Environments

In Great Britain, a 1948 Report issued by the Ministry of Health, the Department of Health for Scotland, the Ministry of Labour and National Service, on the recruitment and training of nurses to address yet another post-war nursing shortage, indicated that not much had changed for nurses except the steady increase in clinical skill and responsibility [1]. The report called for, amongst other things, the ‘humanizing’ of hospital discipline for nurses. It also included several comments from nurses who were interviewed by the committee at the time about their reasons for leaving the nursing profession before completing training. This statement made by one of them illustrates the type of work environment which still existed at the end of the 1940s.