cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
From dust to dose: Effects of forest disturbance on increased inhalation exposure

Ecosystem disturbances that remove vegetation and disturb surface soils are major causes of excessive soil erosion and can result in accelerated transport of soils contaminated with hazardous materials. Accelerated wind erosion in disturbed lands that are contaminated is of particular concern because of potential increased inhalation exposure, yet measurements regarding these relationships are lacking. The importance of this was highlighted when, in May of 2000, the Cerro Grande fire burned over roughly 30% of Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), mostly in ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) forest, and through areas with soils containing contaminants, particularly excess depleted and natural uranium. Additionally, post-fire thinning was performed in burned and unburned forests onabout 25% of LANL land. The first goalof this study was to assess the potential for increased inhalation dose from uranium contaminated soils via wind-driven resuspension of soil following the Cerro Grande Fire and subsequent forest thinning.Thiswasdonethroughanalysisofpost-disturbancemeasurementsofuraniumairconcentrations andtheirrelationshipswith wind velocity and seasonal vegetation cover. We found a 14% average increase in uranium air concentrations at LANL perimeter locations after the fire,andthe greatest air concentrations occurredduringthe months ofApril–Junewhen windvelocities arehighest, no snow cover, and low vegetation cover. The second goal was to develop a methodology to assess the relative contribution of each disturbance type towards increasing public and worker exposure to these resuspended soils. Measurements of wind-driven dust flux in severely burned, moderately burned, thinned, and unburned/unthinned forest areas were used to assess horizontal dust flux (HDF) in these areas. Using empirically derived relationships between measurements of HDF and respirible dust, coupled with onsite uranium soil concentrations, we estimate relative increases in inhalation doses for workers ranging from 15% to 38%. Despite the potential for increased doses resulting from these forest disturbances, the estimated annual dose rate for the public was <1 μSv yr −1 , which is far below the dose limits for public exposures, and the upper-bound dose rate for a LANL worker was estimated to be 140 μSv yr −1 , far below the 5×10 4 μSv yr −1 occupational dose limit. These results show the importance of ecosystem disturbance in increasing mobility of soil-bound contaminants, which can ultimately increase exposure. However, it is important to investigate the magnitude of the increases when deciding appropriate strategies for management and long-term stewardship of contaminated lands. Published by Elsevier B.V.
Measuring radiation induced changes in the error rate of fiber optic data links

The purpose of this work is to investigate the effects of ionizing (gamma) radiation exposure on the bit error rate (BER) of an optical fiber data communication link. While it is known that exposure to high radiation dose rates will darken optical fiber permanently, comparatively little work has been done to evaluate moderate dose rates. The resulting increase in fiber attenuation over time represents an additional penalty in the link optical power budget, which can degrade the BER if it is not accounted for in the link design. Modeling the link to predict this penalty is difficult, and it requires detailed information about the fiber composition that may not be available to the link designer. We describe a laboratory method for evaluating the effects of moderate dose rates on both single-mode and multimode fiber. Once a sample of fiber has been measured, the data can be fit to a simple model for predicting (at least to first order) BER as a function of radiation dose for fibers of similar composition.
An algorithm for generating stochastic cloud fields from radar profile statistics

Abstract An algorithm is described for generating stochastic three-dimensional (3D) cloud fields from time–height fields derived from vertically pointing radar. This model is designed to generate cloud fields that match the statistics of the input fields as closely as possible. The major assumptions of the algorithm are that the statistics of the fields are translationally invariant in the horizontal and independent of horizontal direction; however, the statistics do depend on height. The algorithm outputs 2D or 3D stochastic fields of liquid water content (LWC) and (optionally) effective radius. The algorithm is a generalization of the Fourier filtering methods often used for stochastic cloud models. The Fourier filtering procedure generates Gaussian stochastic fields from a “Gaussian” cross-correlation matrix, which is a function of a pair of heights and the horizontal distance (or “lag”). The Gaussian fields are nonlinearly transformed to give the correct LWC histogram for each height. The “Gaussian” cross-correlation matrix is specially chosen so that, after the nonlinear transformation, the cross-correlation matrix of the cloud mask fields approximately matches that derived from the input LWC fields. The cloud mask correlation function is chosen because the clear/cloud boundaries are thought to be important for 3D radiative transfer effects in cumulus. The stochastic cloud generation algorithm is tested with 3 months of boundary layer cumulus cloud data from an 8.6-mm wavelength radar on the island of Nauru. Winds from a 915-MHz wind profiler are used to convert the radar fields from time to horizontal distance. Tests are performed comparing the statistics of 744 radar-derived input fields to the statistics of 100 2D and 3D stochastic output fields. The single-point statistics as a function of height agree nearly perfectly. The input and stochastic cloud mask cross-correlation matrices agree fairly well. The cloud fractions agree to within 0.005 (the total cloud fraction is 18%). The cumulative distributions of optical depth, cloud thickness, cloud width, and intercloud gap length agree reasonably well. In the future, this stochastic cloud field generation algorithm will be used to study domain-averaged 3D radiative transfer effects in cumulus clouds.
Maintaining colored trees for disjoint multipath routing under node failures

Colored trees (CTs) is an efficient approach to route packets along link- or node-disjoint paths in packet-switched networks. In this approach, two trees, namely red and blue, are constructed rooted at a drain such that the path from any node to the drain are link- or node-disjoint. For applications where both the trees are used simultaneously, it is critical to maintain the trees after link or node failures. To this end, this paper develops an algorithm, referred to as SimCT, that efficiently constructs and maintains colored trees under failures using only local information. Even when the entire tree needs to be recomputed, the SimCT algorithm requires 40% lesser messages than previous techniques. The convergence time of the SimCT algorithm is linear in the number of nodes. We show through extensive simulations that the average length of the disjoint paths obtained using the SimCT algorithm is lesser compared to the previously known techniques. The above-mentioned improvements are obtained by exploiting the relationship between DFS numbering, lowpoint values, and the potentials employed for maintaining partial ordering of nodes. The SimCT algorithm is also extended to obtain colored trees in multi-drain networks.
Note---A comment on the “Distribution System Simulator”

Connors et al. [Connors, M. M., C. Coray, C. J. Cuccaro, W. K. Green, D. W. Low, H. M. Markowitz. 1972. The distribution system simulator. Management Sci.18 8, April.], have developed a Distribution System Simulator DSS that produces a customized simulation model for large scale, physical distribution systems. Aggarwal [Aggarwal, S. C. 1973. A critique of the distribution system simulation. Management Sci.20 4, December.] provided a critique of specific topics regarding DSS design in order to make it more effective in an operating environment. Rather than dealing with detailed issues, I would like to take an overall look at the approach suggested by Connors et al. to support logistics decisions, emphasising general strengths and limitations to their proposed system, and to recommend some constructive ideas to overcome some of the current DSS weaknesses.
Measuring evolutionary constraints as protein properties reflecting underlying mechanisms

Selective constraints are revealed in protein multiple sequence and structural alignments as conserved residues and corresponding atomic interactions. These patterns of conservation contain implicit information about underlying protein mechanisms, just as crystalline X-ray diffraction patterns contain implicit information about a protein's structure. Contrast hierarchical alignment and interaction network (CHAIN) analysis measures and characterizes selective constraints on the basis of co-conserved patterns and fits mechanistic models to these and other constraints. Just as the quantity and quality of X-ray diffraction patterns determines how well one can fit an atomic model to the inferred electron density, the quantity and quality of co-conserved patterns determines how well one can fit possible mechanisms to these inferred constraints. In principle, given sufficient data, biological mechanisms may be identified with high certainty. Nevertheless, even at “low resolution”, this information can prune the possibilities down to a manageable number for further experimental follow-up. Keywords: Bayesian partitioning with pattern selection (BPPS); Markov chain Monte Carlo methods; CHAIN analysis; contrast hierarchical alignment
Lymphadenitis Due to Nontuberculous Mycobacteria in Children: Presentation and Response to Therapy

The most common manifestation of infection due to nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) in children is cervical lymphadenitis in an otherwise healthy patient. We identified and reviewed 19 cases of proven or presumptive lymphadenitis due to NTM seen at our hospital over the course of 13 months. Nine patients underwent initial surgical excision of involved lymph nodes. Ten children did not have involved lymph nodes excised initially and were treated with macrolide-containing antibiotic regimens. Of these patients, five required subsequent surgical excision and five were cured with combination chemotherapy. Six patients underwent radiographic imaging of the head and neck that revealed asymmetrical adenopathy with ring-enhancing masses but minimal inflammatory stranding of the subcutaneous fat, a finding that may distinguish adenitis caused by NTM from staphylococcal and streptococcal adenitis. Our data suggest that if surgical excision is not considered feasible, antimicrobial therapy for adenitis due to NTM may be beneficial for some patients.
Narrow versus wide turning curves: what's best for a population code?

Neurophysiologists are often faced with the problem of evaluating the quality of a code for a sensory or motor variable, either to relate it to the performance of the animal in a simple discrimination task or to compare the codes at various stages along the neuronal pathway. One common belief that has emerged from such studies is that sharpening of tuning curves improves the quality of the code, although only to a certain point; sharpening beyond that is believed to be harmful. We show that this belief relies on either problematic technical analysis or improper assumptions about the noise. We conclude that one cannot tell, in the general case, whether narrow tuning curves are better than wide ones; the answer depends critically on the covariance of the noise. The same conclusion applies to other manipulations of the tuning curve profiles such as gain increase.
Child Maltreatment and Substance Use: A Review of the Literature

In this article the author reviews current literature that investigates the connection between a history of childhood physical and/or sexual abuse and subsequent substance use. In general, current research findings have found a link between child maltreatment and substance use. However, the number of studies focusing on the connection between child abuse and substance use and misuse are limited, and many are plagued with a number of methodological weaknesses. Methodological weaknesses are reviewed and implications for future research are discussed.
Spin-spin coupling in magnetically condensed complexes. X. EPR of bis(N,N-diethyldithiocarbamato)copper(II)

Abstract Solid solutions of bis(N,N-diethyldithiocarbamato)copper(II) in a zinc matrix were studied by means of EPR. The spectra may be interpreted with a S=1 Hamiltonian giving proof of spin-spin interactions between pairs of copper ions within isolated dimers. The magnetic parameters obtained were used to calculate the MO coefficients α, β, k and k0 which indicated high in-plane covalency. The observed spin interactions were then interpreted in terms of electron delocalization via the bridging sulfur atoms.
Clinical Data-Driven Probabilistic Graph Processing

Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) encode an extraordinary amount of medical knowledge. Collecting and interpreting this knowledge, however, belies a significant level of clinical understanding. Automatically capturing the clinical information is crucial for performing comparative effectiveness research. In this paper, we present a data-driven approach to model semantic dependencies between medical concepts, qualified by the beliefs of physicians. The dependencies, captured in a patient cohort graph of clinical pictures and therapies is further refined into a probabilistic graphical model which enables efficient inference of patient-centered treatment or test recommendations (based on probabilities). To perform inference on the graphical model, we describe a technique of smoothing the conditional likelihood of medical concepts by their semantically-similar belief values. The experimental results, as compared against clinical guidelines are very promising.
Effective impervious area for runoff in urban watersheds

Effective impervious area (EIA), or the portion of total impervious area (TIA) that is hydraulically connected to the storm sewer system, is an important parameter in determining actual urban runoff. EIA has implications in watershed hydrology, water quality, environment, and ecosystem services. The overall goal of this study is to evaluate the application of successive weighted least square (WLS) method to urban catchments with different sizes and various hydrologic conditions to determine EIA fraction. Other objectives are to develop insights on the data selection issues, EIA fraction, EIA/TIA ratio, and runoff source area patterns in urban catchments. The successive WLS method is applied to 50 urban catchments with different sizes from less than 1 ha to more than 2000 ha in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Texas, USA as well as Europe, Canada, and Australia. The average, median, and standard deviation of EIA fractions for the 42 catchments with residential land uses are found to be 0.222, 0.200, and 0.113, respectively. These values for the EIA/TIA ratio in the same 42 catchments are 0.50, 0.48, and 0.21, respectively. While the EIA/TIA results indicate the importance of EIA, 95% prediction interval of the mean EIA/TIA is found to be 0.07 to 0.93, which shows that using an average value for this ratio in each land use to determine EIA from TIA in ungauged urban watersheds can be misleading. The successive WLS method was robust and is recommended for determining EIA in gauged urban catchments. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Causal Effects of Career-Technical Education on Postsecondary Work Outcomes of Individuals with High-Incidence Disabilities

ABSTRACTUsing data from the National Longitudinal Transition Study-2, a propensity score analysis revealed significant causal effects for a secondary career and technical education (CTE) concentration on the postsecondary work outcomes of adolescents with high-incidence disabilities. High school students identified as CTE concentrators (three or more high school credits in a single career pathway) were more likely to be employed full-time after high school completion than non-CTE concentrators earning fewer CTE credits. Results support and extend past descriptive and correlational studies by detecting a direct causal link between CTE and postsecondary work outcomes.
Food and Energy Requirements of Laboratory Fire Ant Colonies (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

This study was designed to determine how much food is needed to sustain colonies of the fire, ant Solenopsis invicta Buren. Thirty laboratory colonies were fed 1, 2, or 4 crickets per day. Half were given access to unlimited sugar water. Colony biomass, cricket collection, and sugar collection were monitored weekly until each colony stopped growing. Caloric intake was strongly correlated with and directly proportional to colony biomass (live weight) over an 8–fold range (2–16 g). Colonies needed ≈1.14 ± 0.29 (Standard deviation) Kcal of food per gram of colony per week to sustain themselves. The presence of sugar decreased the amount of cricket biomass collected (dry weight) from 0.186 g/g of colony per week for colonies receiving crickets to 0.106 g/g of colony per week for colonies receiving both sugar water and crickets. Colonies fed only crickets approximately doubled their final size with the doubling of cricket availability; whereas, colonies receiving both crickets and sugar increased to a lesser extent. The laboratory food collection rates in this study suggest that a field population of fire ants with 90 mature mounds per hectare would require ≈21,000 Kcal or 16.0 kg of insects and sugar (combined wet weight) per week in the summer.
A Study of the Goodrich Flexometer with Synthetic Polymer Compounds

Abstract The relation between the testing temperature (100, 158, and 212° F) and the hysteresis-temperature rise of the synthetic polymers at the cures used was found to behave as a linear function. The slopes of the lines seem to indicate that the relative order of efficiency of the vulcanizates varies at different temperatures of test and cure levels. Frequency variations at 212° F ranged from 980 to 1800 flexures per minute. The temperature rise is a linear function of the frequency for all compounds tested. The increase of temperature rise with an increased rate of flexing is approximately uniform for all compounds (about 2° F per 100 f.p.m.) at the cure levels studied. The state of cure is shown to influence the rate of change of the temperature rise with the change in frequency. The relation of the degree of deflection to the temperature rise characteristics of the rubber samples at 100 and 212° F was studied at 10, 17.5 and 25. per cent deflections. An error of deflection of one percentage unit wil...
Integration Theory and the Study of Eastern Europe

During the more than two decades since its inception, the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (CMEA) has not provided a major focus for scholarly studies of Eastern Europe and international communism conducted in the West.' Usually it has been treated primarily as an instrument employed by the Soviet Union in its attempts to consolidate and maintain control over the other countries of Eastern Europe. Both Englishand German-language studies of CMEA have tended to emphasize historical analysis, institutional and legal arrangements, and policy "outputs." They have focused far more on the obstacles to further economic and political unification within Eastern Europe than on factors conducive to further integration. What is perhaps most clear concerning studies of CMEA is the virtual lack of theoretical concern on the part of the authors and their failure to take into account the findings and
Do gold Midas cichlid fish win fights because of their color, or because they lack normal coloration?

Gold morphs (G) of the polychromatic Midas cichlid, Cichlasoma citrinellum, dominate those of normal coloration (N). The adults vary greatly in weight because they continue to grow after reaching sexual maturity; relative weight is an important determinant of dominance. The first objective here was to characterize dominance in relation to color and to relative size by staging a large number of encounters between fish of various weights. Logistic curves were fitted to the data to analyze the relationship between relative size and winning. The baseline curves for N vs N and G vs G (Fig. 1, Table 1) did not differ (Table 2). The shape of the curve for N vs G also was not different from that of the baseline curves. But the curve for N vs G was shifted such that N must weigh 116% of G for the probability of winning to be 0.50.
Pulmonary O2 toxicity in lambs: Physiological and biochemical effects of endotoxin infusion

Hyperoxic adult rats have prolonged survival and reduced morphological evidence of lung injury when treated with a single dose of bacterial endotoxin; this effect is mediated by an augmentation of antioxidant enzyme activity in lung homogenate. To determine whether endotoxin would prolong survival and influence antioxidant enzyme levels in lambs whose physiological response to O2 breathing can be serially measured, we administered a single intravenous dose of endotoxin (0.75 microgram/kg body wt) to 13 lambs before exposing them to greater than 95% O2 (n = 11) or air (n = 2). Seven additional lambs were placed in O2 after receiving only saline vehicle. All lambs had been instrumented to measure pulmonary vascular pressures and cardiac output, and 10 lambs had lung lymph fistulas. O2-exposed control lambs developed noncardiogenic pulmonary edema and respiratory failure within 85 +/- 10 h (range 76-110 h); antioxidant enzymes were not increased, but reduced glutathione (GSH) levels fell and oxidized glutathione (GSSG) increased, reflecting the oxidant stress of O2 exposure. By contrast, endotoxin-treated O2-exposed lambs had a delayed increase in microvascular permeability to protein, a reduced rate of lung edema formation, normal gas exchange after 72 h in O2, and prolonged survival (136 +/- 15 h; range 90-160 h; all variables P less than 0.05). Despite prolonged survival, postmortem lung water content was no greater in the lambs that received endotoxin. Treatment with endotoxin did not increase antioxidant enzyme levels in lung homogenate, but levels of GSH relative to GSSG were significantly elevated.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
New records of Halgerda Bergh,1880 (Opisthobranchia,Nudibranchia) from the deep western Pacific Ocean,with descriptions of four new species

Quatre nouvelles especes d'Halgerda sont decrites du Pacifique occidental, a des profondeurs superieures a celles connues jusqu'ici pour ce genre recifal et sublittoral. Halgerda fibra n. sp., decouverte aux Philippines a 90 m de profondeur et dans la region neo-caledonienne de 90 a 400 m, se distingue des autres especes du genre par la morphologie de son appareil genital : son ampoule hermaphrodite est plus grande et plus entortillee et son vagin est egalement plus grand et plus bulbeux que chez les autres especes d'Halgerda. Halgerda abyssicola n. sp. a ete recoltee au Vanuatu par 207-280 m et en mer du Corail par 385-420 m. Sa morphologie genitale est remarquable par le developpement inhabituel a la fois du penis et du vagin, tous les deux particulierement grands et bulbeux. Celle d'Halgerda azteca n. sp., recoltee sur la Ride de Norfolk au Sud de la Nouvelle-Caledonie par 230-367 m, differe essentiellement par le canal deferent long et entortille et le sphincter vaginal prononce. Enfin, Halgerda orstomi n. sp. a un sphincter vaginal inhabituel et un vagin bulbeux qui la distinguent de ses congeneres ; elle a ete recoltee au Vanuatu par 160-251 m, aux Philippines par 92-95 m et en Nouvelle-Caledonie a 120 m de profondeur. De nouvelles donnees etendent les repartitions geographiques et bathymetriques connues de trois autres especes deja decrites : Halgerda brunneomaculata Carlson & Hoff, 1993, H. carlsoni Rudman, 1978 et H. dalanghita Fahey & Gosliner, 1999.
SHOCK, RE-SHOCK, AND RELEASE BEHAVIOR OF A PHENOLIC RESIN FF-17

In this work we describe the observed response of FF-17 to shock wave loading to 2.5 GPa at room temperature. FF-17 is derived from condensation of phenols and formaldehyde and has a density of 1.29 Mg/m 3 . The dilational and shear waves are found to travel with speeds of 3.23 ± 0.03 km/s and 1.54 ± 0.02 km/s, respectively in FF-17 at the ambient condition. The observed behavior of FF-17 to shock loading may be summarized as follows: (1) The loci of steady stress versus particle velocity for initial compression and release therefrom are the same; (2) the relation between shock velocity (U) and particle velocity (u) is U=2.97+3.22u-2.726u 2 ; (3) the recompressed state lie on the reflected locus of stress versus particle velocity realized in (1) ; and (4) the transmitted shock profile in FF-17 is indicative of its viscous nature.
Optical Mapping of Cardiac Electromechanics.

Cardiac biophysics rests on three fundamental pillars: energy production, electrical excitation, and mechanical work. Studies of cardiac metabolism, bioelectricity, and biomechanics have been very productive at all levels of reduced complexity, but especially at the levels of tissue, cell, and molecule. The three cardiac biophysical pillars work in concert and cannot be fully understood in isolation. However, available experimental methods are limited, restricting our ability to study them simultaneously.
Automated and Reusable IP Functional Test Rule Development across Multiple IP Instances within and across Asic Designs

Effective mixed-signal IP or core testing using anautomated test methodology that is reusable across multiple IPinstances, both within an ASIC and across various ASICs, isdesirable for minimizing manufacturing test time, design changesfor test, and maximizing yield while maintaining SPQL status.This paper presents an extended summary of two aspects of anillustrative approach to make functional test rules reusable,namely: (i) automatic scheduling of functional manufacturingtest for multiple instances of an embedded IP or core acrossvarious ASIC designs, and (ii) automatic identification of masteror slave IP among multiple IP instances, in any ASIC, for sharinga calibration reference resistor.
Empiric Treatment of Suspected Autoimmune Autonomic Neuropathies (P5.110)

Objective: Describe the clinical course of patients treated with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) for subacute, progressive, idiopathic autonomic neuropathies (AN). Background: The acute or subacute onset of AN without other explanation suggests the possibility of an immunologic cause for some cases. There is limited data regarding chronic immunotherapy for autoimmune AN. Methods: We describe four cases of AN with a subacute, progressive course treated with IVIG. Results: 1. A 30-year-old woman presented with one year of syncope, xerophthalmia and xerostomia. Testing demonstrated distal sudomotor deficit, decreased heart rate response to deep breathing (HRDB), and exaggerated orthostatic tachycardia. Ganglionic nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) antibodies and skin biopsy were negative. After three monthly infusions of IVIG, the syncopal events decreased and HRDB improved. 2. Following a prolonged upper respiratory infection, a 22-year-old woman developed progressive orthostatic intolerance (OI), fainting, and fatigue over a six month period. She had orthostatic hypotension (OH) and sudomotor failure. nAChR antibodies were negative. Skin biopsy revealed decreased sweat gland nerve fiber density. Symptoms improved after IVIG. 3. A 48-year-old man with mast cell activation disorder presented with six months’ progressive dysesthetic pain in his distal extremities. Testing demonstrated sudomotor failure, decreased HRDB, and baroreflex-vasomotor failure. Skin biopsy was normal. Autoantibody testing was negative. His pain symptoms remained stable and measures of autonomic function worsened despite treatment. 4. A 17-year-old man presented with seven months of progressive OI, fainting, and fatigue. Testing revealed sudomotor failure, mild baroreflex-vasomotor failure, and OH. Skin biopsy demonstrated decreased epidermal nerve fiber density. His fatigue and orthostatic tolerance improved after treatment. Baroreflex function normalized. Other physiologic measures remained unchanged. Conclusions: Select patients with cryptogenic AN may improve clinically with repeated doses of IVIG. Those with acute or subacute onset and progressive decline may be good candidates. Autonomic testing can provide objective measures of response. Disclosure: Dr. Cook has nothing to disclose. Dr. Landau has nothing to disclose.
Clemency in Jewish Law

Is there a concept of clemency in Jewish law? In other words, is the power to grant clemency - to nullify the consequences flowing from a criminal conviction - a halakhically valid institution? Through a systematic inquiry, this paper advances a qualified yes to that question. First, this paper explores Jewish criminal law and fleshes out the three separate, though not wholly distinct, jurisdictions within it: the ordinary jurisdiction of the bet din (or religious court), the exigency jurisdiction of the bet din, and the king’s jurisdiction. The interaction among these three jurisdictions is then explored to determine whether a Jewish king may, in some circumstances, exercise the power to grant clemency.Four questions are posed (the third in two parts): (1) May the king grant clemency to a criminal convicted by a royal court? (2) May the king grant clemency to a criminal convicted by a bet din under its ordinary jurisdiction? (3) May the king grant clemency to a criminal convicted by a bet din under its exigency jurisdiction - (a) For a religious offense? (b) For an offense against society? Each of these question is carefully explored, and the answers may be summed up thus: The king may grant clemency only to a criminal convicted by a royal court. The king may never grant clemency in the face of a judgment by a bet din.A final, important insight that this paper offers is the rationale that underpins the king’s exercise of clemency in Jewish law. Modern, secular legal systems permit an executive officer to grant clemency either as an act of grace, benefiting a particular individual, or in the interest of the “public welfare.” This paper argues that the former rationale is foreign to halakhah. Because a Jewish king exists for the well-ordering of society, his exercise of clemency must be justified strictly by the public interest.
Do Online Reviews of Physicians Reflect Healthcare Outcomes

Patients are increasingly using online reviews to choose physicians. However, it is not known whether online reviews accurately capture the true quality of care provided by physicians. This research addresses this issue by empirically examining the link between online reviews of a physician and the actual clinical outcomes of patients treated by the physician. Specifically, this study uses online reviews from Vitals.com, and combines that data with patient health outcomes data collected from Dallas-Fort Worth Hospital Council. Our econometric analyses show that there is no clear relationship between online reviews of physicians and their patients’ health outcomes, such as readmission and ER visit rates. Our results imply that online reviews may not be as helpful in the context of healthcare as they are for other experience goods such as books, movies, or hotels. Our findings have important implications for healthcare providers, healthcare review websites, and healthcare consumers.
Animal Models of Herpesvirus Genital Infection: Guinea-Pig

Publisher Summary This chapter presents a guinea pig model of herpesvirus genital infection. Symptomatic genital infection can be produced in either inbred or outbred female animals but outbred female Hartley guinea pigs of 250–350 g are typically used. No specialized housing, care nor pretreatment is required in this model. Viral inocula can be prepared on any susceptible cell monolayer, and so it is not necessary to grow the virus in guinea pig cells. Virus stocks are titrated, aliquoted, and stored frozen at -80˚ C, and then they are quickly thawed, diluted to the appropriate titer, and kept on ice until they are used. Both HSV-1 and HSV-2 strains have been used in genital herpes studies in guinea pigs. Both virus types produce comparable primary infections. However, nearly all HSV-2-infected animals subsequently manifest recurrent disease with recurrences developing frequently, while many HSV-1-infected animals experience no recurrent disease and those that do have only infrequent recurrences. In general, HSV-2 strain MS and strain 333 both cause reproducible primary and recurrent infections and are widely used for the testing of antiviral drugs. Prior to virus inoculation, the vaginal closure membrane is ruptured by using a moistened calcium alginate-tipped swab. The viral inoculum is instilled into the vagina in a volume of 0.1–0.2 ml using a 1 cc tuberculin syringe and plastic catheter or a micropipettor. To optimize the number of animals that become infected, virus instillation can be performed twice within a short time interval. The magnitude and duration of acute virus replication in the genital tract can be quantified by plaque titration of vaginal swab samples. Peak virus titers are typically seen on day 1 or 2 post-inoculation (p.i.) and then gradually decline until approximately day 10 p.i.
The initial convergence rate of the FastICA algorithm: The “One-Third Rule”

Abstract When estimating parameters adaptively using an iterative algorithm, the rate of convergence is an important gauge of the algorithm’s overall performance. This chapter provides numerous results on the initial convergence rate of the well-known FastICA algorithm by Hyvarinen and Oja for independent component analysis. Particular attention is paid to the kurtosis-based form of the algorithm due to its analytical tractability. Through various analyses, it is shown that the convergence rate of the inter-channel interference (ICI) for the single-unit FastICA algorithm in an ideal linear mixing scenario is linear with a rate value of 1/3. Thus, the algorithm reduces the average ICI by 4.77 dB at each step. Results for two-source, three-source, four-source, and general m -source linear mixtures are considered. Simulations verify the analytical results.
THE ASSOCIATION OF DEOXYNIVALENOL IN GRAIN WITH MILK PRODUCTION LOSS IN DAIRY COWS

Reports have indicated that in certain geographical locations and in certain years there can be a high incidence of feedstuffs contaminated with aflatoxin (Nichols 1983), deoxynivalenol (DON) (Vesonder et al., 1978; Mirocha, 1974), zearalenone (Shotwell et al., 1980) or ochratoxin A (Hamilton et al., 1982). The practical importance of these and other mycotoxins in feedstuffs which have the potential of affecting the health and productivity of farm animals is a topic of intensive investigation. The significance of DON-contamination of poultry and dairy feedstuffs is particularly controversial.
Functional and Phylogenetic Implications of Ankle Morphology in Goeldi’s Monkey (Callimico goeldii)

Callimico goeldii maintains a unique position among platyrrhine primates. Due to its intriguing assortment of anatomical and behavioral traits, Callimico has figured prominently in the controversial issues of platyrrhine phylogeny and systematics (for modern discussions see Ford, 1980a, b, 1986a, b; Ford and Davis, 1992; Hershkovitz, 1977; Martin, 1990, 1992; Rosenberger, 1979, 1981, 1984; Rylands et al, 1993). Field studies of Callimico (Buchanan-Smith, 1991; Cameron et al.9 1989; Christen and Geissmann, 1994; Izawa, 1979; Izawa and Yoneda, 1981; Masataka, 1981a, b; Pook and Pook, 1979, 1981, 1982) have documented a number of specific ecological and behavioral patterns that further distinguish this monkey. Much less is known of its postcranial anatomy, although some data are available (Davis, 1994; Ford, 1980a, 1986a, b; Hershkovitz, 1977; Hill, 1957, 1959). The present study examines the functional significance and phylogenetic affinities of morphological features in the ankle of Callimico.
Regulation of Pancreatic Islets by Prolactin, Growth Hormone and Placental Lactogen

The role of pituitary hormones in the regulation of glucose homeostasis was first recognized by Bernado Houssay in the 1930’s (1–3). Subsequent studies have demonstrated that both prolactin (PRL) and growth hormone (GH) secreted by the pituitary and the closely related placental lactogen (PL) secreted by the placenta during pregnancy are involved in the regulation of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism (4). Although changes in the function of pancreatic islets of Langerhans are reported in many of these conditions, it has been unclear to what extent these reflect a direct effect of the hormones on islets or are a consequence of the changes in other tissues that increase the demand for insulin (e.g., peripheral insulin resistance). In the 1960’s, it became possible to examine the direct effect of these hormones on islets in vitro. Unfortunately, the species from which islets were easily available (e.g., from rats and mice) were not the same as that of the hormones (e.g., primarily human). The high degree of structural relatedness of these hormones allows a heterologous hormone to have biological properties in tissues from other species that are not shared with the homologous hormone (5–8). Because of these problems with both in vivo and in vitro studies, no unified picture has emerged to explain the physiological roles of these individual hormones in the regulation of pancreatic function.
The metabolism of fatty acids in human Bietti crystalline dystrophy.

(WD). RESULTS. Pulse‐ chase experiments with labeled fatty acids in all groups showed that, after 1 hour, radioactivity was largely confined to the triacylglyceride (TG) and choline phosphoglyceride (CPG) pools. However, after several hours, radioactivity was transferred from the TG and CPG pools, some going to the serine and ethanolamine phosphoglyceride (SPG and EPG) pools. Fibroblasts from all groups showed direct transfer of fatty acids (FAs) into CPG and EPG. Incorporation of labeled FAs into the EPG pool paralleled extensive desaturation and elongation of 18:2n-6 to 22:5n-6 and 18:3n-3 to 22:6n-3. Fibroblasts from patients with WD (a lysosomal acid lipase deficiency characterized by excessive lipid accumulation), showed higher incorporation of 18:2n-6 into TGs than did normal or BCD fibroblasts. Conversely, fibroblasts from patients with BCD showed lower conversion of 18:3n-3, but not of 18:2n-6, into polyunsaturated FAs (PUFAs) than those of normal subjects or patients with WD. This was true for total FAs, CPGs, and EPGs. Similar results were found in both fibroblasts and lymphocytes; however, unlike fibroblasts, lymphocytes from normal subjects showed similar levels of incorporation of FAs into EPGs and CPGs. In contrast, incorporation of 18:3n-3 into EPGs was decreased in lymphocytes from patients with BCD. CONCLUSIONS. BCD is characterized by a lower than normal conversion of FA precursors into n-3 PUFA, whereas there is a higher than normal level of n-6 and n-3 FAs incorporation into TGs in cells from patients with WD. These findings raise the possibility that abnormal lipid metabolism associated with BCD is the result of deficient lipid binding, elongation, or desaturation in contrast to the lysosomal acid lipase deficiency found in Wolman disease. (Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2001;42: 1707‐1714)
OR29. Higher percent recipient chimerism in bone marrow than peripheral blood is risk for relapse

Aim In patients after allogeneic stem cell transplant, chimerism is monitored on peripheral blood (PB). Occasionally, bone marrow (BM) samples are tested for chimerism and results are often similar. We investigated the significance of results that differ between PB and BM. Methods Retrospective review of post-allogeneic stem cell transplant patients, who were tested for chimerism on both PB and BM (total cells, unfractionated) within 7 days interval. The % recipient difference between PB and BM was compared with relapse/remission status (BM biopsy results, cytogenetics, molecular testing, CBC, and clinical follow-up documents. For patients with multiple time points of concurrent BM and PB results, only the first point was included in this evaluation. Results Concurrent BM and PB chimerism results were compared in 74 patients. Median age at transplant was 54 years (range: 3–76 years). Date of PB and BM sample post-transplant was median 207 days (range: 27–3102). Test methods were XY FISH (N = 9), short tandem repeat (N = 55) and quantitative PCR (N = 10). Diagnoses were myeloproliferative/dysplastic disease (N = 61), aplastic anemia (N = 2), lymphoma/lymphocytic leukemia (N = 11). % Recipient was higher in BM than PB (difference: Δ ⩾ 2 % ) in 11 patients, and similar ( Δ 2 % ) in 63 patients. Of the 11 patients with Δ ⩾ 2 % , disease relapse was detected in 5 patients at BM collection and two more patients within the following 2 months (total N = 7/11). Of the 63 patients with Δ 2 % , disease relapse was detected in 2 patients at BM collection and five more patients in the following 2 months (total N = 7/63). In the patients with Δ ⩾ 2 % compared to the patients with Δ 2 % , relapse was higher at BM collection (p = 0.0005 by Fisher exact) and cumulatively in the following 2 months (p = 0.000004, chi-square). Mixed chimerism status (recipient ⩾5%) in PB was observed in 4/11 patients with Δ ⩾ 2 % and 9/63 patients with Δ 2 % , not statistically different (p = 0.76). Mixed chimerism was associated with relapse in the patients with Δ 2 % (p = 0.022, chi-square), but not in patients with Δ ⩾ 2 % (p = 0.55, Fisher exact). Conclusions Higher % recipient in BM than in PB indicates risk of concurrent/imminent relapse, regardless of PB mixed/complete chimerism status. This status may reflect increasing mixed chimerism.
Detection of Silver Nanoparticles by Electrochemically Activated Galvanic Exchange.

Here we report on the seemingly simple process of galvanic exchange (GE) between electrogenerated AuCl4– and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). The results were obtained in the specific context of using AgNPs as labels for bioassays in paper fluidic devices. Results obtained from a combined electrochemistry and microscopy study indicate that the GE process results in recovery of only ∼5% of the total equivalents of Ag present in the system. This low value is a consequence of two factors. First, after an initial fraction of each AgNP undergoes GE, a Au shell forms around the remaining AgNP core preventing further exchange. Second, to simulate a true biological fluid, the experiments were carried out in a Cl–-containing buffer. Consequently, some Ag+ formed during GE precipitates as AgCl, and it also serves to block additional GE. Following optimization of the GE process, it was possible to detect AgNP label concentrations as low as 2.6 fM despite these limitations.
Original contributionUtility of Web-based assessment of patient satisfaction with endoscopy

Objectives The dramatic growth of the World Wide Web (Web) holds potential for use in survey distribution and submission. Its use has not previously been studied in the context of patient satisfaction with endoscopy procedures. In this study we compared standard mail, telephone, and Web-based modes of endoscopy satisfaction survey administration with respect to response rate and response content.
Abstract TP309: Creating a Crystal Ball: Predicting Successful Rehabilitation for Optimal Discharge Placement

Introduction: In 2014, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) launched the Bundled Payment for Care Improvement (BPCI) program. Our institution is contracted for a 90 day stroke bundl...
Prospective study evaluating white adipose tissue inflammation and clinicopathologic features in endometrial cancer

Abstract Background Obesity is a chief mediator of endometrial cancer (EC) and is responsible for the increasing incidence and mortality of this malignancy. Obesity induced chronic inflammation, creates a pro-neoplastic environment via local and systemic processes. In other obesity-related cancers, white adipose tissue inflammation (WATi) is an independent predictor of shortened cancer-specific survival. A retrospective study in advanced EC revealed that WATi is associated with shorter progression-free survival. The aim of this prospective study was to investigate the presence of WATi in EC and to evaluate the relationship between WATi and clinicopathologic factors in women with EC. Methods Patients who underwent primary surgical management of EC, regardless of stage or histology, had omental biopsies collected. WATi was detected by the presence of dead/dying adipocytes surrounded by CD68+ macrophages forming a crown-like structure (CLS). Clinicopathologic data were extracted from medical records. For association with WATi, Wilcoxon rank sum test was used for continuous variables, and the Fisher’s exact or χ2 test for categorical variables. Results A total of 101 EC patients who underwent primary surgical management between 2015 and 2019 were included. Of these, 46 (46%) had WATi. The presence of WATi was unaffected by race, histology, FIGO stage, smoking or menopausal state. In contrast, dyslipidemia (39% vs 13%, p = 0.002), hypertension (70% vs 35%, p 30kg/m2. Conclusions WATi was present in nearly 50% of newly diagnosed EC patients regardless of stage. There was an association between the presence and severity of WATi and BMI among patients with EC. Specifically, WATi was associated with hyperglycemia, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus. Further investigation into the impact of WATi on the tumor microenvironment and patient outcomes is ongoing. Legal entity responsible for the study The authors. Funding Has not received any funding. Disclosure All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.
Dystrophinopathy in a Family Due to a Rare Nonsense Mutation Causing Predominant Behavioral Phenotype

Dystrophinopathies are a group of X-linked neuromuscular disorders resulting from mutations in DMD gene that encodes dystrophin. The clinical spectrum includes Duchenne muscular dystrophy, Becker muscular dystrophy, X-linked cardiomyopathy, and intellectual disability without involvement of skeletal muscle. Cognitive and behavioral problems are commonly seen among patients with dystrophinopathy. DMD gene is the largest human gene, consisting of 79 exons that produce dystrophin protein. Patients with genetic changes involving shorter dystrophin isoforms such as Dp140 and Dp71 are suggested to have higher rates of intellectual disability, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and other neuropsychiatric comorbidities. We describe three brothers who presented with prominent neurobehavioral deficits of varying degree, mild proximal weakness, and elevated serum creatine kinase due to a rare nonsense mutation, c.1702C > T; p.Gln568X, in exon 14 of DMD gene. Further studies are needed to better understand the effects of this rare mutation.
Unconscionability, Freedom, and The Portrait of a Lady

ions is our ideal, then our understanding of freedom must include a conception of its realization in lived human lives. The reality of human freedom depends not merely on the presence of an abstract capacity, but on the realization of that capacity in our concrete lives. It depends, in other words, on our ability to lead lives that we can regard as our own. But once we see that human freedom entails a life that meaningfully realizes the capacity for choice, we begin to undermine the picture of human independence and self-sufficiency that was so closely linked to the freedom to choose. In Osmond we see that the effort to lead lives that we can regard as our own makes us dependent. Osmond is poor. He has "no property, no title, no honours, no houses, or lands, nor position, nor reputation, nor brilliant belongings of any sort.""' Yet the life he can regard as a life of his own choosing is one dedicated to art and beauty. What we see in The Portrait ofa Lady is that human freedom, because it is not merely a fact of consciousness or quality of the human soul, has material conditions. It requires money. Without a minimum amount of