cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Formation, decay, and erasure of photorefractive gratings written in barium titanate by picosecond pulses

Photorefractive gratings are written, read out, and erased with single 30-psec pulses at fluences of 1–15 mJ/cm2 and a wavelength of 0.532 μm in a BaTiO3 crystal. The gratings consist of one component that is fully formed 50 psec after the peak in the writing beams and a second component that grows for approximately 30 sec until it starts to decay by dark erasure. The photorefractive index change per absorbed photon for picosecond pulses is approximately the same as that obtained when a cw beam at 0.515 μm is used with the same crystal. The index change is approximately a factor of 30 smaller than that observed at the same fluence in GaAs at 1.06 μm when the same picosecond laser system is used.
Lessons Learned? Development Experiences in the Late Colonial Period

The post-World-War-II period has typically been seen as the beginning of the ‘development era’. As global power relations shifted and nationalist and international pressure to liberalize and end colonial rule mounted, the colonial powers sought to revise their rationales for the legitimacy of the colonial endeavor. Longstanding dichotomies such as metropole/colony and civilized/primitive were reworked into the categories of developed/underdeveloped. The scale and intensity of development interventions increased dramatically, and a language of planned development, undergirded by ‘science’, came to frame the policy debates of colonial administrators and the technical experts they relied on, as well as nationalists and local elites. But development had been a central feature of encounters between the West and Africa since at least the early twentieth century, so that by the 1950s, all parties involved in the encounter had substantial experience of its policies and practices. Using detailed ethnohistorical and archival data, the papers in this special issue examine development programs in the late colonial period from across the continent in order to analyze how such historical experiences contributed to the conceptualization, implementation and outcomes of these programs.These papers, like much recent research on development, explore development discourses and the ways in which experts and government officials defined particular development problems and conceptualized solutions. But in examining particular development programs across Africa, these papers seek to bring development practice into the analysis of development discourse. Rather than situating persistence and change in development discourses largely within dominant international and government institutions, these papers argue that such discourses were inevitably intertwined with development practice. In considering the local configurations within which experts and officials sought to implement their ambitious master plans, these papers show that few if any plans remained uninfluenced by local struggles over land, labor or agricultural and environmental expertise. Neither hegemonic nor unchanging, late colonial development agendas were in fact rooted in the experiences of earlier colonial efforts to manage rural livelihoods and tied to both the global changes and local realities of the late colonial era.
Nobody's Genre, Everybody's Song: Sanqu Songs and the Expansion of the Literary Sphere in Yuan China

This article examines two key texts from early fourteenth-century Hangzhou to explore how theyshaped the process of textualization of a new genre, the so-called sanqu songs. The article argues that both of these texts, the seminal anthology of the genre, the Yangchun baixue, and the first biographical compendium, the Lugui bu, sought to uncouple social status from literary reputation to varying degrees. The article suggests that the anthology made a case for a universalist poetic practice open to diasporic and Chinese writers, while the biographical collection took a more localist approach focused on urban Chinese writers.Taken together, they illustrate that the realm of songwriting in Yuan China constituted a contested discursive space that should not be solely understood in ethnic terms but can be enriched through the analytical perspectives of diaspora, cosmopolitanism, and urban culture.
High power continuous operation of a widely tunable quantum cascade laser with an integrated amplifier

Wide electrical tuning and high continuous output power is demonstrated from a single mode quantum cascade laser emitting at a wavelength near 4.8 μm. This is achieved in a space efficient manner by integrating an asymmetric sampled grating distributed feedback tunable laser with an optical amplifier. An initial demonstration of high peak power operation in pulsed mode is demonstrated first, with >5 W output over a 270 nm (113 cm−1) spectral range. Refinement of the geometry leads to continuous operation with a single mode spectral coverage of 300 nm (120 cm−1) and a maximum continuous power of 1.25 W. The output beam is shown to be nearly diffraction-limited, even at high amplifier current.
Population size and factors affecting at-sea distributions of four endangered procellariids in the tropical Pacific

We used at-sea censuses to quantify pelagic behavior, relationships between density and habitat variables, and to estimate population size of four taxa of procellariids in the eastern tropical Pacific: subspecies of Puffinus auricularis (Townsend's Shearwater, P. a. auricularis, and Newell's Shearwater, P. a. newelli) and subspecies of Pterodroma phaeopygia (Galapagos Dark-rumped Petrel, Pt. p. phaeopygia, and Hawaiian Dark-rumped Petrel, Pt. p. sandwichensis). All are considered threatened or endangered with extinction. Birds commuting from colonies ranged 650 km (P. a. auricularis) to 1,300 km (P. a. newelli and Pt. p. sandwichensis). P. a. auricularis foraged at upwelling fronts in the Costa Rica Current over the continental slope of Mexico, while P. a. newelli preferred ocean fronts in the Equatorial Counter Current. Unlike the shearwaters, petrel densities correlated most strongly with distance to the colony and wind speed, although the two petrels each foraged in distinctly different current systems. Foraging behavior of the shearwaters was energy demanding, but they frequented highly productive feeding areas and rested often. The petrels appeared to forage more opportunistically and conserved energy by flying more efficiently. Foraging behavior was consistent with wing morphology of each group. Pelagic population estimates (adults and subadults grouped) were 46,000 P. a. auricularis, confidence interval (CI) = 18,000 to 89,000; 84,000 P. a. newelli, CI = 57,000 to 115,000; 19,000 Pt. p. sandwichensis, CI = 11,000 to 34,000; and 88,000 Pt. p. phaeopygia, CI = 54,000 to 130,000. On the basis of breeder to non-breeder ratios in these and closely related species, we estimated breeding populations of 10,600, 18,000-19,000, 3,750-4,500, and 20,000 pairs, respectively. Calculation of minimal and maximum estimates indicated breeding populations larger than previously thought for P. a. auricularis, P. a. newelli, and Pt. p. sandwichensis, but similar for Pt. p. phaeopygia.
Hormonal dysfunction in neurocritical patients.

Purpose of reviewAcute brain injury results in widespread systemic endocrine dysfunction and affects how we care for patients. We review the existing literature on incidence, type and duration of endocrine dysfunction with special focus on the pituitary dependent function.Recent findingsAcute studie
A hypothesis for the pathogenesis of myelodysplastic syndromes: implications for new therapies.

To guide development of new clinical strategies, a review of recent investigations in the pathobiology of MDS was performed. Articles were identified through a Medline search. Studies, including reviews, are cited in the references. A multistep pathogenesis is proposed. (1) Targeted injury or mutation within hemopoietic stem cells may be followed by an immunologic response adversely affecting progenitor survival. (2) Accelerated proliferation and premature death of marrow cells is amplified by apoptogenic cytokines (TNF-α, Fas ligand). (3) Establishment of an abnormal clone associated with telomere shortening. (4) Disease progression associated with loss of tumor suppressor activity. Opportunities for therapeutic interventions are possible at each step. Comparisons between the proposed pathogenesis of MDS and severe aplastic anemia (SAA) are also presented.
Supervised ensemble classification of Kepler variable stars

Variable star analysis and classification is an important task in the understanding of stellar features and processes. While historically classifications have been done manually by highly skilled experts, the recent and rapid expansion in the quantity and quality of data has demanded new techniques, most notably automatic classification through supervised machine learning. We present an expansion of existing work on the field by analyzing variable stars in the {\em Kepler} field using an ensemble approach, combining multiple characterization and classification techniques to produce improved classification rates. Classifications for each of the roughly 150,000 stars observed by {\em Kepler} are produced separating the stars into one of 14 variable star classes.
Formation and Transformation of Amorphous Silicide Alloys

Amorphous silicide films can be formed by rapid quenching using techniques of vapor deposition and ion beam mixing and also by slow heating using solid state interdiffusion and reaction. For example, amorphous TaSi2 films can be formed by sputtering or dual electron guns co-deposition. Amorphous Pt2Si3 films have been produced by mixing PtSi and Si at room temperature with an ion beam at about 100 to 300keV. Recently, an amorphous Rh-Si alloy phase has been made by slowly heating to 300°C a very thin crystalline Rh films (∼50A) on amorphous Si. The formation and crystallization behavior of these amorphous silicide alloys has been studied by transmission electron microscopy and electrical conductivity measurement.
Quantification of the Effect of Pressure Wire Drift on the Diagnostic Performance of Fractional Flow Reserve, Instantaneous Wave-Free Ratio, and Whole-Cycle Pd/Pa

Background— Small drifts in intracoronary pressure measurements (±2 mm Hg) can affect stenosis categorization using pressure indices. This has not previously been assessed for fractional flow reserve (FFR), instantaneous wave-free ratio (iFR), and whole-cycle distal pressure/proximal pressure (Pd/Pa) indices. Methods and Results—Four hundred forty-seven stenoses were assessed with FFR, iFR, and whole-cycle Pd/Pa. Cut point values for significance were predefined as ≤0.8, <0.90, and <0.93, respectively. Pressure wire drift was simulated by offsetting the distal coronary pressure trace by ±2 mm Hg. FFR, iFR, and whole-cycle Pd/Pa indices were recalculated and stenosis misclassification quantified. Median (±median absolute deviation) values for FFR, iFR, and whole-cycle Pd/Pa were 0.81 (±0.11), 0.90 (±0.07), and 0.93 (±0.06), respectively. For the cut point of FFR, iFR, and whole-cycle Pd/Pa, 34.6% (155), 50.1% (224), and 62.2% (278) of values, respectively, lay within ±0.05 U. With ±2 mm Hg pressure wire drift, 21% (94), 25% (110), and 33% (148) of the study population were misclassified with FFR, iFR, and whole-cycle Pd/Pa, respectively. Both FFR and iFR had significantly lower misclassification than whole-cycle Pd/Pa ( P <0.001). There was no statistically significant difference between the diagnostic performance of FFR and iFR ( P =0.125). Conclusions— In a substantial proportion of cases, small amounts of pressure wire drift are enough to cause stenoses to change classification. Whole-cycle Pd/Pa is more vulnerable to such reclassification than FFR and iFR.
An Empirical Investgation of the Role of Language in Cross-National Research

Words are often used to describe categories on a rating scale, while the answers are given numerical coded values for the analysis. If the words are directly translated can the same numerical values be used in the analysis of questionnaires in the various languages? This research indicates that they can be. However, the appropriateness of this procedure can be verified using magnitude estimation techniques.
A Pilot Study of Rapid Hepatitis C Testing in Probation and Parole Populations in Rhode Island

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) affects between five and seven million individuals in the United States and chronic infection can lead to liver disease, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Probation/parole offices are a novel setting for rapid HCV testing, providing outreach to populations at increased risk for HCV infection and/or transmitting HCV to others. While some correctional facilities offer HCV testing, many individuals who present to probation/parole offices are never or briefly incarcerated and may not access medical services. We conducted a rapid HCV testing pilot at probation/parole offices in Rhode Island. Overall, 130 people accepted rapid HCV testing, of whom 12 had reactive tests. Only four of these individuals presented to a community-based clinic for confirmatory testing, despite being offered a monetary incentive. Identifying and addressing barriers to HCV confirmatory testing and follow-up care is critical to increasing the uptake of HCV care and treatment in this vulnerable population.
Spatial distribution and timing of transmitted and reflexly generated urethral pressures in healthy women.

Abstract We localized the temporal and spatial distribution of pressures in the urethra to identify their contribution to continence. With the data obtained we resolved the timing between the passively transmitted and actively generated urethral pressures. Data were obtained from 11 healthy female volunteers, with a mean age of 22 years. Simultaneous measurements of bladder and urethral pressures were taken from subjects during the Valsalva maneuver and coughing, and then holding with the subject in the supine, standing and sitting positions. The ratio of urethral to bladder pressure increase and the latency between these pressure increases were analyzed. A biphasic pressure distribution results from coughing with subjects in all positions. The first phase occurs at the normalized distance of 10 to 15 per cent from the bladder neck, where the ratio of urethral to bladder pressure increase is 0.8. The second phase occurs at 60 to 70 per cent of the urethral length and has a 1.5 to 1.7 ratio of urethral to bladder pressure increase, indicating the presence of pressure magnification. Simultaneous latency measurements indicate that the pressure increase in the urethra precedes that of the bladder by 240 plus or minus 30 msec, in the region that exhibits maximum pressure magnification. These results indicate that a fast-acting contraction occurs in the distal third of the urethra, which contributes reflexly to the compressive forces of the proximal urethra, thereby preventing urine loss during stress.
Studies on the evolution of elastin—III. The ancestral protein

Abstract 1. 1. Reconstruction of the amino acid composition of an hypothetical, ancestral elastin which arose at some time after divergence of the cyclostome and gnathostome lines revealed a protein which was similar in composition and in degree of crosslinking to the present-day mammalian elastin. 2. 2. There has been a positive trend toward increasing hydrophobicity in the evolution of elastin. 3. 3. Present evidence does not support a common genetic origin for elastin and other structural proteins such as collagen and silk fibroin. However, the existence of distinct genetic types of elastin which diverged from a common ancestral gene or genes is suggested by marked interspecies variation in elastin amino acid composition.
Androgens Receptor Expression and Steroid Action in Bone

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on androgens, which have important beneficial effects on skeletal development and on the maintenance of bone mass in both men and women. They influence growth plate maturation and closure and help to determine longitudinal bone growth during development. They also participate in the dichotomous regulation of bone mass that leads to a sexually dimorphic skeleton, modulate peak bone mass acquisition, and inhibit bone loss. In castrate animals, replacement with nonaromatizable androgens such as dihydrotestosterone yields beneficial effects that are clearly distinct from those observed with estrogen replacement. In intact females, blockade of the androgen receptor with the specific androgen receptor antagonist hydroxyflutamide results in osteopenia. The androgen receptor is a member of the class I receptor superfamily. These steroid receptors are ligand-inducible transcription factors with a highly conserved modular design consisting of transactivation, DNA binding, and ligand-binding domains. As lipids, androgenic steroids can diffuse freely through the plasma membrane to bind the androgen receptor. Once bound by ligand, the androgen receptor is activated and released from this protein complex, allowing the formation of homodimers (or potentially heterodimers) that bind to DNA at palindromic androgen response elements (AREs) in androgen responsive gene promoters. DNA binding of the activated androgen receptor organizes a cascade of events in the nucleus, leading to transcription and translation of a specific network of genes that is responsible for the cellular response to the steroid. The effects of androgens are particularly dramatic during growth in boys, but almost certainly play an important role during this period in girls as well.
Comparison of Stochastic Models for Tumor Escape

In a previous presentation (Michelson, 1983), a stochastic compartment model describing antigenic modulation as an intragenerational tumor escape route was developed. In order to distinguish that model from a Darwinian selection mechanism, a second, intergenerational model has been developed.
Potential Misdiagnosis of Hyperhomocysteinemia due to Cystathionine Beta-Synthase Deficiency During Pregnancy.

Extreme hyperhomocysteinemia with low cystathionine and cysteine is virtually diagnostic of cystathionine beta-synthase (CBS) deficiency since remethylation defects and hypermethioninemia due to other inborn errors cause elevated serum cystathionine. However, a pregnant CBS deficient patient was found to have elevated cystathionine in addition to elevated total homocysteine and methionine at 23 weeks of gestation and post-delivery cystathionine decreased to the lower level of normal. A second patient with cystathionine values during gestation also showed a rise from the low pre-pregnant value to massive elevation by delivery. Her infant had severe hyperhomocysteinemia in cord blood with a massive elevation of cystathionine, S-adenosylmethionine, and S-adenosylhomocysteine. The infant corrected her homocysteine value by 2 months and is not affected. This data demonstrates that the fetus when exposed to high homocysteine and methionine has increased synthesis of cystathionine which cannot be cleared because the fetus lacks cystathionine gamma-lyase, and thus cystathionine is returned to the mother’s circulation. This situation could lead to a misdiagnosis of the cause of hyperhomocysteinemia in a previously undiagnosed pregnant CBS deficient patient. Assays combining homocysteine with cystathionine measurements are commonly available from commercial laboratories in the USA. The recognition of CBS deficiency vs. remethylation disorders is important in order to maximize treatment. The cord blood values revealed a major disturbance in methionine metabolism including a potential for impaired transmethylation reactions in the fetus due to the buildup of S-adenosylhomocysteine. It is possible that monitoring maternal cystathionine during gestation could provide another measure of fetal exposure to homocysteine.
Connecting geomorphology to dust emission through high-resolution mapping of global land cover and sediment supply

Abstract A key challenge in modeling dust emissions is to represent the location and strength of dust sources. One critical aspect of dust sources that is not well understood and thus not represented in dust models is their geomorphology. In this work, we investigate the geomorphology of global dust sources by developing two high-resolution (∼500 m), seamless, global maps. First is a land surface map in which landforms are classified into different categories based on geomorphology using an image classification technique. The land surface map shows the distribution of landforms in dust source regions and is useful in defining the boundaries of different dust sources in dust models. Second is the sediment supply map developed by combining the upstream drainage area with the visible reflectance retrieved by the Moderate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS). This map, due to the inclusion of surface reflectance, highlights dust sources such as playa/sabkha and sand dunes and anthropogenic dust sources such as agricultural areas, that may not be captured by the commonly used elevation-based erodibility maps. We establish the connection between geomorphology and dust emission by comparing the sediment supply map with the land surface map and dust frequency map, qualitatively and quantitatively. We show that the sediment supply is linked to the land surface type and that playa/sabkha corresponds to the greatest inferred sediment supply. The sediment supply map is largely consistent with the land surface map and correlates well with the frequency of occurrence map derived from high-resolution MODIS level-2 aerosol optical depth (AOD) data.
A Probabilistic Monte Carlo Framework for Branch Prediction

Branch prediction is crucial in improving the throughput of microprocessors. It reduces branching stalls in the pipeline, which helps to maintain the instruction execution flow. Of these instructions, conditional branches are non-trivial in determining the microprocessor performance and throughput. Modern microprocessors accurately predict the branches using advanced branch prediction techniques. Appropriately estimating the branch mis-predictions benefits to improve the overall performance of an application through effectively saving the CPU cycles. In general, collecting branch prediction statistics using state-of-the-art simulators is time consuming and not scalable. We present a novel Monte Carlo simulation framework that predicts branch mis-prediction rate. Our framework produces results that suggest that the mis-prediction rates on three scientific applications are similar (with an average difference of 0.3%) to that of a Markov model of a 2-bit saturating branch predictor.
“Our” Culinary Heritage: Obscuring Inequality by Celebrating Diversity in Peru and the U.S. South

This article develops the concept of gastrodiplomacy—or the use of food to enhance a region’s brand and image—through analysis of two cookbooks: Heritage, by Sean Brock, and Peru: The Cookbook, by ...
Neuropsychology of Movement Disorders and Motor Neuron Disease

Movement disorders fall into two broad categories: hypokinetic and hyperkinetic. Hypokinetic disorders involve a paucity of voluntary movement and are exemplified by Parkinson’s disease and related parkinsonian disorders such as progressive supranuclear palsy and multiple system atrophy; in contrast, hyperkinetic disorders are characterized by excessive involuntary movements, a classic example of which is Huntington’s disease (HD). These disorders all involve basal ganglia and/or cerebellum, and the cortical–basal ganglionic–thalamic–cortical pathophysiologies of the various disorders have been well described [1]. Motor neuron disorders are not classified as movement disorders. These disorders are grouped into upper and lower motor neuron disorders. Upper motor neuron disease is characterized by signs such as weakness, increased muscle tone, and hyperreflexia, whereas lower motor neuron disease is characterized by weakness, loss of reflexes, loss of muscle tone, fasciculations, and muscular atrophy. Although patients afflicted by motor neuron disease may have difficulty moving limbs due to weakness (for example, brushing their teeth due to upper extremity proximal weakness), they do not have a movement disorder per se. The best known motor neuron disease is amyotrophic sclerosis (ALS) or Lou Gehrig’s disease. This chapter describes the more important movement and motor neuron disorders, specifically Parkinson’s disease, progressive supranuclear palsy, essential tremor, Huntington’s disease, and ALS and highlights the pathophysiology and neurobehavioral features of each condition.
Evaluation and Reduction of Diagnostic Errors in Pathology Using an Evidence-Based Approach

A substantial proportion of patients’ diagnoses and treatments are dependent on reliable tissue diagnoses in surgical pathology and cytopathology. In cancer management, tissue diagnosis and staging are the most important determinants of prognosis and therapy. Likewise, determining the level of rejection in allograft biopsies is the main determinant of immunosuppressive therapy. The importance of a correct diagnosis in these situations cannot be overemphasized. In attempting to reduce errors many advocate a systems approach. In this scheme of error reduction a handful of reasons are cited as the primary causes of errors. They include lack of communication, variable input, complexity, inconsistency, human intervention, tight time constraints and a hierarchical culture. The literature on pathology errors is far from comprehensive and has not for the most part taken this approach but does offer clues of how errors occur and how they could be addressed. In this chapter, the author discusses how errors occur in surgical pathology and then attempts to adapt to pathology existing proven knowledge used in many industries to reduce errors.
Near-infrared spectroscopic models for analysis of winter pea (Pisum sativum L.) quality constituents.

Winter pea (Pisum sativum L.) grows well in a wide geographic region, both as a forage and cover crop. Understanding the quality constituents of this crop is important for both end uses; however, analysis of quality constituents by conventional wet chemistry methods is laborious, slow and costly. Near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) is a precise, accurate, rapid and cheap alternative to using wet chemistry for estimating quality constituents. We developed and validated NIRS calibration models for constituent analysis of this crop.; Results: Of the 11 constituent models developed, nine constituents including moisture, dry-matter, total-nitrogen, crude protein, acid detergent fiber, neutral detergent fiber, AD-lignin, cellulose and non-fibrous carbohydrate had low standard errors and a high coefficient of determination (R2 = 0.88-0.98; 1 - VR, which is the coefficient of determination during cross-validation = 0.77-0.92) for both calibration and cross-validation, indicating their potential for quantitative predictability. The calibration models for ash (R2 = 0.65; 1 - VR = 0.46) and hemicellulose (R2 = 0.75; 1 - VR = 0.50) also appeared to be adequate for qualitative screening. Predictions of an independent validation set yielded reliable agreement between the NIRS predicted values and the reference values with low standard error of prediction (SEP), low bias, high coefficient of determination (r2 = 0.82-0.95), high ratios of performance to deviation (RPD = SD/SEP; 2.30-3.85) and high ratios of performance to interquartile distance (RPIQ = IQ/SEP; 2.57-7.59) for all 11 constituents.; Conclusion: Precise, accurate and rapid analysis of winter pea for major forage and cover crop quality constituents can be performed at a low cost using the NIRS calibration models developed. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.; © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.
Where do entrepreneurs get information? An analysis of twitter-following patterns

The question of where entrepreneurs obtain information that inspires them to innovate has largely remained unexplored. In order to identify specific actors and organizations that entrepreneurs interact, we employ a novel approach using Twitter data from entrepreneurs participating in ‘One Million Cups’ in Kansas City, a weekly meet-up program where more than 100 entrepreneurs gathered to receive and provide feedback. Our approach allows us, first, to identify specific information sources at the level of entrepreneurs, companies, support programs, media, and key individuals. Second, we find that entrepreneurs relied more heavily on local than on national sources. Third, we find that early-stage entrepreneurs tended to follow more Twitter accounts from wider sources, while more advanced entrepreneurs had sources with specific entrepreneurship-focused organizations, programs, and individuals. The analysis of these specific and local sources can help the public sector identify types of organizations to engage...
Supporting distributed, interactive Jupyter and RStudio in a scheduled HPC environment with Spark using Open OnDemand

Open OnDemand supports Interactive HPC web applications enabling the interactive and distributed environments for Jupyter and RStudio running on an HPC cluster. These web applications provide a simple user-interface for building and submitting the batch job responsible for launching the interactive environment as well as proxying the connection between the user's browser and the web server running on the cluster. Support for distributive computing through a Jupyter notebook and RStudio session is provided by an Apache Spark cluster launched concurrently in standalone mode on the allocated nodes within the batch job. Alternatively, users can directly use the corresponding MPI bindings for either R or Python.This paper describes the design of Interactive HPC web applications on an Open OnDemand deployment for launching and connecting to Jupyter notebooks and RStudio sessions as well as the architecture and software required for supporting Jupyter, RStudio, and Apache Spark on the corresponding HPC cluster. Singularity can be leveraged for packaging and portability of this architecture across HPC clusters. This paper also discusses the challenges encountered in providing interactive access to HPC resources that are in need of general solutions.
Toward A Universal Inference Engine

In the early days of AI some researchers proposed that intelligent problem solving could be reduced to the application of general purpose theorem provers to an axiomatization of commonsense knowledge. Although automated first-order theorem proving was unwieldy, general reasoning engines for propositional logic turned out to be surprisingly efficient for a wide variety of applications. Still many problems of interest to AI involve probabilities or quantification, and would seem to be beyond propositional methods. However, recent research has shown that the basic backtrack search algorithm for satisfiability generalizes to a strikingly efficient approach for broader classes of inference. We may be on the threshold of achieving the old dream of a universal inference engine.
Application to the Kalman Filter

One of the most important result in estimation theory in the last forty years is the Kaiman filter for discrete dynamical systems [23]. Beside its theoretical appeal, this result has drawn considerable attention from practitioners and it has lead to an amazing number of applications, like, among others, marine navigation systems [3], space flight navigation, e.g. the Apollo missions to the moon [6], and telephone load forecasting [50]. The Kaiman filter is typically derived from the dynamic model by using the minimum variance principle [8], or by applying Bayes rule [4], or by assuming a special form of the estimation function [5].
Abstract 4564: The immune microenvironment in hormone receptor-positive breast cancer and treatment outcome following preoperative chemotherapy plus bevacizumab

Background: Hormone receptor-positive (HR+) breast cancers (BC) have fewer tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and lower response rates to immune checkpoint inhibitors in early phase studies than other breast cancer subtypes. Immune biomarkers that accurately reflect the immune microenvironment have important clinical implications in HR+ BC patients. Prior evidence suggests that macrophage-related immune pathways may be relevant to the pathophysiology of HR+ BC. Methods: Patients identified from a prospective trial of preoperative bevacizumab (preop bev) followed by bev with adriamycin/cyclophosphamide/paclitaxel dose-dense chemotherapy (chemo). Tumor samples were collected at diagnosis and surgery (pre-tx and post-tx). TILs and immunohistochemical staining for PD-L1, CD8, and CD68 were scored. Whole transcriptome sequencing (RNAseq) and Nanostring PanCancer Immune Profiling Panel were performed. Pathologic response at surgery was assessed by Miller-Payne (MP) and residual cancer burden (RCB) scores. An immune score was calculated for each pre-tx specimen by integrating 10 published immune signatures. Immune cell subsets were inferred from bulk transcriptional data using CIBERSORT. Results: 55 patients had at least 1 evaluable specimen and were included for analysis. 18% of pre-tx tumors had ‘high9 (≥10%) TILs and ‘high9 TILs were associated with significantly higher immune signature score (p=0.004). Immune score correlated highly with proportion of CIBERSORT anti-tumor M1 macrophage and CD8 T-cell signatures (r>0.65 and p Conclusions: Most HR+/HER2- breast tumors demonstrate low levels of anti-tumor immune activity; however, those with higher levels have a more favorable response to chemo plus bev. Assessment of immune activity based on RNA signatures is consistent with histology and immune-related protein expression. T-cell- and checkpoint-related biomarkers tend to decrease following preoperative chemo plus bev in HR+/HER2- breast cancer. Following treatment with chemotherapy/bevacizumab, we observe increased expression of chemokines and complement pathway genes. Citation Format: Adrienne G. Waks, Daniel G. Stover, William T. Barry, Deborah A. Dillon, Evisa Gjini, Scott J. Rodig, Jane E. Brock, Michele Baltay, Jennifer Savoie, Eric P. Winer, Ian E. Krop, Sara M. Tolaney. The immune microenvironment in hormone receptor-positive breast cancer and treatment outcome following preoperative chemotherapy plus bevacizumab [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 4564.
Prediction of Acceleration Factor for Accelerated Testing of Photovoltaic Modules Installed Around the World

Acceleration Factor prediction for accelerated life testing of photovoltaic (PV) modules plays a major role in estimating the reliability of modules in field. Accelerated stress tests are designed in such a way that the test replicates the failure mechanism that the module experiences outdoor. However, in most cases of PV modules, complete data on degradation measurement (from qualification testing and field exposure) is not available explicitly and sometimes the accelerated testing standard for some failure modes may not even be established. In such cases, it is hard to design the test plan and determine the degradation threshold or number of hours (or cycles) required to run the accelerated tests for estimating activation energy. This paper presents a novel approach in determining the acceleration factor based on partially available data from field measurements and uses it for damp heat testing of PV modules. Utilizing the available meteorological and degradation data, each field is considered as test environment with varying stress levels and a simple linear model is used for predicting the degradation threshold of DH1000 for field equivalent 25 years. Finally, the results are validated from the known qualification data and the acceleration factor plot for different regions is presented.
The Least of These: Political–Economic Dimensions of Roman Catholic Pastoral Theology

While the emergence of Roman Catholic pastoral theology largely depended on moral and sacramental theologies, there is an often-neglected, yet important, source that has shaped and shapes pastoral ...
International Communication and Negotiation

No business transaction can be carried out without communication. International management involves communicating over national borders and dealing with cultural differences. To communicate, we use language, signs, and symbols, all determined by culture. In this chapter, we learn that effective international communication requires an understanding of cultural influences. We will learn about cultural differences in verbal and nonverbal communication. Finally, we conclude the chapter with a discussion of cultural differences in international negotiation.
Effects of Video Manipulation on Believability and Consumer Attitudes in Direct-to-Consumer Pharmaceutical Advertising: An Abstract

The amount spent by pharmaceutical companies on direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertising was over $6.4 billion in 2016, up from $6.1 billion in 2015 (Statista 2018). Some advertisers have used different treatments of audio and visual messaging to maximize the positive messages about the use of their products while staying within the FDA guidelines for fair balance. This study seeks to explore the relationship between the presentation of different video effects in the presence of audio information about risks and possible side effects of prescription drugs and believability of the ad claims and attitudes toward the advertisement and manufacturer of the product.
A Solis Ortu Usque Ad Occasum: Estudo quantitativo sobre a orientação da planta nas igrejas das unidades pastorais de Santa Maria Maior e de Santíssima Trindade

O presente trabalho de investigacao, desenvolvido no âmbito do mestrado em patrimonio cultural e religioso realizado na Universidade Catolica Portuguesa, o qual e seguidamente compilado, permite dar a conhecer a dimensao do patrimonio religioso construido no concelho de Miranda do Douro, Portugal, atraves da identificacao de noventa templos cristaos que foram, ou continuam a ser, locais de culto. A identificacao dos templos permitiu a sua georreferenciacao e a criacao de uma ficha informativa por cada templo, onde constam as fotografias das fachadas e na qual e indicado o orago e a orientacao da abside. O estudo comparativo realizado, entre a orientacao da abside e o periodo anual correspondente ao nascer do sol, permitiu desenvolver um conjunto de reflexoes tendo por base a simbolica da arte crista subjacente ao sol, mais concretamente, no que concerne a orientacao da oracao. O estudo titulado "A Solis ortu usque ad Occasum – estudo quantitativo sobre a orientacao solar nas unidades pastorais de Santa Maria Maior e Santissima Trindade " e um trabalho que integra conhecimento de areas tecnicas e humanisticas visando uma ligacao entre estes dois campos de conhecimento.
Crossing under the highway: youth-centered research as resistance to structural inequality

This article tells the story of two exploratory youth-centered participatory action research (PAR) projects to consider how youth-centered research can resist inequality. In this paper, I focus on ...
Abstract 690: Endothelial-Specific Krüppel-Like Factor 2 Inactivation Promotes Endothelial Dysfunction in the Setting of Uremia

Background: Uremic solutes that accumulate in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) contribute to endothelial dysfunction and subsequent cardiovascular disease in ESRD patients. However, the specific mech...
Epilepsy: Surgery Perspective

A seizure is a sudden change in behavior characterized by changes in sensory perception or motor activity due to brain abnormal electrical discharge. A seizure may be provoked (for example, by trauma or fever) or unprovoked. Epilepsy is the occurrence of two or more unprovoked seizures. Epilepsy is a symptom, not a single disease entity, and has many causes. The classification of the International League Against Epilepsy distinguishes two dichotomies in epilepsy syndromes: partial or focal onset (“localization-related”) versus generalized onset, and idiopathic (genetic) versus symptomatic. Specific syndromes can be identified in each group. Seizures of partial onset may secondarily generalize.
Comparison of Transabdominal and Transrectal Ultrasound for Sizing of the Prostate.

Objective To compare the accuracy of prostate sizing between pelvic abdominal (PUS) and transrectal (TRUS) ultrasound in a large, diverse cohort of men at our institution. Prostate volume plays a vital role in all types of prostate disease. American Urological Association guidelines (2018) for surgical management of benign prostatic hyperplasia now include consideration of prostate volume measurement prior to surgical intervention. Ultrasound is a quick and radiation-free imaging modality. Methods We performed a single-center, retrospective study of 299 patients with prostate sizing between January 1, 2012 and August 31, 2017. Prostate volume was derived from ellipsoid volume calculation using dimensions measured on ultrasound. PUS and TRUS were compared by calculating the Pearson correlation coefficient and intraclass correlation coefficient, and agreement between modalities assessed using the Bland Altman analysis. This analysis was done for the whole sample population as well as for specific groupings according to body mass index, prostate size, and time between exams. Results A total of 236 patients had PUS followed by TRUS and met study inclusion criteria. Median age was 63, median prostate specific antigen value prior to PUS was 7.6 ng/mL, and only 20% were white. Mean volume differences between the two modalities for the data (volPUS – volTRUS) were (−0.3 ± 1.1) cm3. Bland-Altman analysis showed agreement between PUS and TRUS only for prostates ≤ 30 cm3. Conclusion For prostates less than 30 cc, we found that PUS is interchangeable with TRUS in estimating prostate volume. However, for larger prostates where size may alter surgical management, we would recommend TRUS or cross-sectional imaging.
Abstract P3025: Secretion Of Pro-inflammatory Cytokines By Activated T Cells Cultured In Pvat-conditioned Media From Dahl S Rats On A High Fat Diet Occurs Early During Development Of Hypertension

There is considerable evidence for a role for the immune system in the development of hypertension, however the exact nature of this role is currently being characterized. Specifically, T cells hav...
The Vice Chair of Education in Emergency Medicine: A Workforce Study to Establish the Role, Clarify Responsibilities, and Plan for Success.

Objectives Despite increasing prevalence in emergency medicine (EM), the vice chair of education (VCE) role remains ambiguous with regard to associated responsibilities and expectations. This study aimed to identify training experiences of current VCEs, clarify responsibilities, review career paths, and gather data to inform a unified job description. Methods A 40-item, anonymous survey was electronically sent to EM VCEs. VCEs were identified through EM chairs, residency program directors, and residency coordinators through solicitation e-mails distributed through respective listservs. Quantitative data are reported as percentages with 95% confidence intervals and continuous variables as medians with interquartiles (IQRs). Open- and axial-coding methods were used to organize qualitative data into thematic categories. Results Forty-seven of 59 VCEs completed the survey (79.6% response rate); 74.4% were male and 89.3% were white. Average time in the role was 3.56 years (median = 3.0 years, IQR = 4.0 years), with 74.5% serving as inaugural VCE. Many respondents held at least one additional administrative title. Most had no defined job description (68.9%) and reported no defined metrics of success (88.6%). Almost 78% received a reduction in clinical duties, with an average reduction of 27.7% protected time effort (median = 27.2%, IQR = 22.5%). Responsibilities thematically link to faculty affairs and promotion of the departmental educational mission and scholarship. Conclusion Given the variability in expectations observed, the authors suggest the adoption of a unified VCE job description with detailed responsibilities and performance metrics to ensure success in the role. Efforts to improve the diversity of VCEs are encouraged to better match the diversity of learners.
The Effect of Civil Society Organizations and Democratization Aid on Civil War Onset

A growing literature identifies both situations where aid promotes peace and those where aid encourages violence. Specifically, research shows lower probability of conflict onset in democratizing s...
Domain Restriction in Generic Statements.

Domain restriction is a pervasive if often neglected part of discourse comprehension. Speakers and authors implicitly limit the domain of discourse of quantifiers (e.g., everyone) and noun phrases ...
Effects of the Ohio Opioid Prescribing Guidelines on Total Joint Arthroplasty Postsurgical Prescribing and Refilling Behavior of Surgeons and Patients.

Abstract Background The opioid epidemic has been declared a public health crisis, with thousands of Americans dying from overdoses each year. In 2017, Ohio passed the Opioid Prescribing Guidelines (OPG) limiting narcotic prescriptions for acute pain. The present study sought to evaluate the effects of OPG on the prescribing behavior of orthopedists following total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and total hip arthroplasty (THA). Methods An institutional database was queried to compare morphine equivalent dose (MED) prescribed at discharge, acute follow-up ( 90 days) pre-OPG and post-OPG. Cases were identified over a 2-year period starting 1 year before OPG implementation. Results Nine orthopedic surgeons performed 1160 TKAs (692 pre-OPG, 468 post-OPG) and 834 THAs (530 pre-OPG, 304 post-OPG). Total MED for TKA and THA dropped post-OPG (1602.6 ± 54.3 vs 1145.8 ± 66.1, P Conclusion Orthopedists reduced total MED prescribed after TKA and THA following the onset of OPG. The majority of this decrease is explained by decreased MED at discharge. Conversely, the post-OPG period saw slightly more new narcotic scripts written during acute follow-up.
Postural transition detection using a wireless sensor activity monitoring system

Mobility health is an important aspect of the overall health status of a person. Many tests exist that determine the mobility health of a subject, but there are several issues associated with these tests, such as human error. Much work is being done to develop a mobility classification system which consolidates these tests, and circumvents the associated issues. Even so, many of these systems in development are complicated and lack the calculation of important postural transition measurements. The goal of this project was to remove the errors associated with current mobility tests, and to make the system as simple and energy-efficient as possible. In addition, we wanted this system to be able to detect with accuracy of over 90% six mobility states in addition to postural transition information. These goals were accomplished by using a waist-mounted triaxial accelerometer that processed data on-board using a well-developed classification algorithm.