cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Temporal and Spatial Occurrence of Female Chinook Salmon Carrying a Male-Specific Genetic Marker in the Columbia River Watershed

Recent declines in many chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha, populations within the Columbia River watershed have prompted an examination of their reproductive biology. In a previous study many female fall chinook salmon collected in 1999 from the Hanford Reach of the Columbia River tested positive for a male-specific DNA marker (OtY1) found on the Y chromosome. The purpose of this study was to determine if females testing positive for the OtY1 marker could be found in other populations of fall chinook salmon from the Columbia River, and to assess the prevalence of OtY1 incidence in different female cohorts. Post-spawned male and female fall chinook salmon from three different naturally spawning populations (Hanford Reach, Yakima River and Ives Island) and one hatchery population (Priest Rapids Hatchery) on the Columbia River were tested in 2000 and 2001 for the OtY1 marker. Among naturally spawning populations, 57.4% of the females tested positive from the Hanford Reach, 33.3% tested positive from the Yakima River, and 32.5% tested positive from Ives Island. Of the Priest Rapids Hatchery fish, 62.5% of the females tested positive, and significant differences were detected between the 1995–1996 and 1997–1998 female cohorts from this population. No significant differences were detected between any of the female cohorts from the naturally spawning populations. All male chinook salmon samples, tested positive for OtY1.
Mexico's Pioneer Naturalist and the Spanish Enlightenment

(1990). Mexico's Pioneer Naturalist and the Spanish Enlightenment. The Historian: Vol. 53, No. 1, pp. 17-32.
Neuroscience & Four Challenges Concerning Freedom, Character, & Action

This short talk will introduce four challenges posed by neuroscience for our understanding of moral personhood and action. I begin with a well-known challenge: that of free will and voluntary action. I propose to frame the challenge not in terms of whether or not we have free will, but the kind of freedom we have. In philosophy, this often centers on debates between libertarian free will and compatibilist free will. There are already a significant number of neuroscientific studies providing evidence on this question. But there are two further questions that can be asked. First, what would it take to conclusively show that humans do (or do not) have free will? Second, if it turns out that we don’t have free will, can neuroscience provide means to help us have free will? A second challenge, deeply tied to that of freedom, concerns moral responsibility. Increasingly, brain scans are being used in courts of law aiming to show whether or not a defendant can be held responsible for the crimes committed. Such usages are requiring scholars to consider how and when this new form of scientific evidence can be used, and what the evidence shows. The traditional view is that moral responsibility is connected to our ability to act freely. To what extent can brain scans show that I am incapable of acting freely? To what extent can brain scans show that I lack the ability to act responsibly? A third challenge: A long standing tradition in philosophical ethics places equal if not more emphasis on the role of character in decision-making. What matters is not simply that I make the right decision, but that the decision also flows out of a pattern of life, one lived according to virtue. According to Aristotle, virtues are developed through habitual action and by example. If this is so, then there is good reason to think that there is a real sense that virtues are encoded in the brain. Thus, we can ask, to what extent can there be a science of virtue? Can neuroscience tell us the difference between the courageous person and the coward? If so, what role can and should neuroscience play in helping us turn the coward into the courageous, the selfish into the generous? This leads to the final challenge: Should we socially implement neurotechnologies and, if so, how should we implement them? One form of implementation, that of neuroceuticals, exists already. Many American college students take Ritalin in an effort to improve performance on exams. Neuroscientific interventions can be used for individual level therapy and enhancement. But they can also be used for broader social purposes. If a soldier’s PTSD can be reduced with a pill, or if individuals who are socially deviant can be treated with transcranial magnetic stimulation, to what extent is this a good thing, and what are the lines that we ought not to cross?
Other Plasmids and Other Conjugation Systems

Not all plasmids are conjugative, and, even among those that are, they do not necessarily have chromosome-mobilizing ability (capability of promoting transfer of chromosomal markers to a recipient cell). Nevertheless, these plasmids can have major economic and genetic importance. The diversity of plasmids that have been identified is staggering, and they are ubiquitous. In one study, 34 of 87 hospital isolates of enteric bacteria or Pseudomonas carried at least one plasmid. Bacillus megaterium routinely has eight or more plasmids in its cytoplasm. All of these plasmids have only two things in common. They can be identified in cell lysates as autonomous DNA molecules, and they are capable of self-replication. If the presence or absence of a plasmid has no observable effect on the cell phenotype, it is said to be a cryptic plasmid. Plasmids are often subdivided according to whether they are capable of self-transfer from one host cell to another. Many, but not all, of those plasmids that are self-transmissible are also capable of mobilizing the bacterial chromosome of the host cell and causing it to be transferred into another cell in a manner analogous to that of the F plasmid.
Potential nontraditional applications of statins.

OBJECTIVE:To review the current evidence for use of hydroxymethylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins) in nontraditional lipid-related applications, including acute coronary syndromes, peripheral arterial disease, stroke, and renal disease, and to describe ongoing trials evaluating the role of statins in these conditions.DATA SOURCES:Clinical literature was identified by a MEDLINE search (1990–November 2002) using ≥1 of the following search terms: acute coronary syndrome(s), angina pectoris, atherosclerosis, atorvastatin, clinical trials, diabetes mellitus, end-stage renal disease, fluvastatin, lovastatin, myocardial infarction, peripheral arterial disease, pravastatin, simvastatin, statins, and stroke. Treatment guidelines issued by professional and governmental organizations, such as the American Diabetes Association, American Heart Association, National Cholesterol Education Program, National Kidney Foundation, and National Stroke Foundation, were reviewed.STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTI...
Optimizing stomatal conductance for maximum carbon gain under water stress: a meta-analysis across plant functional types and climates

Summary 1. Quantification of stomatal responses to environmental variables, in particular to soil water status, is needed to model carbon and water exchange rates between plants and the atmosphere. 2. Models based on stomatal optimality theory successfully describe leaf gas exchange under different environmental conditions, but the effects of water availability on the key optimization parameter [the marginal water use efficiency (WUE), k = ¶A ⁄¶ E] has resisted complete theoretical treatment. Building on previous optimal leaf gas exchange models, we developed an analytical equation to estimate k from gas exchange observations along gradients of soil water availability. This expression was then used in a meta-analysis of about 50 species to investigate patterns of variation in k. 3. Assuming that cuticular water losses are negligible k increases under mild water stress but decreases when severe water stress limits photosynthesis. When cuticular conductance is considered, however, k increases monotonically with increasing water stress, in agreement with previous theoretical predictions. Moreover, the shape of these response curves to soil water availability changes with plant functional type and climatic conditions. In general, k is lower in species grown in dry climates, indicating lower marginal WUE. 4. The proposed parameterization provides a framework to assess the responses of leaf gas exchange to changes in water availability. Moreover, the model can be extended to scale leaflevel fluxes to the canopy and ecosystem level.
High Bifurcation of Brachial Artery With Acute Arterial Insufficiency : A Case Report

The upper extremity arterial system shows a large number of variations in the adult human body. Most of these variations occur in either the radial or ulnar artery; brachial artery variations are less common. Because the upper extremity is a frequent site of injury and various surgical and invasive procedures are performed in this region, it is of utmost importance to be aware of arterial variations. We report a case of a high bifurcation of the brachial artery presenting with acute ischemia secondary to an embolic event. The anomaly was identified, and the ischemia was successfully resolved with embolectomy.
Plasmonics with two-dimensional conductors

A wealth of effort in photonics has been dedicated to the study and engineering of surface plasmonic waves in the skin of three-dimensional bulk metals, owing largely to their trait of subwavelength confinement. Plasmonic waves in two-dimensional conductors, such as semiconductor heterojunction and graphene, contrast the surface plasmonic waves on bulk metals, as the former emerge at gigahertz to terahertz and infrared frequencies well below the photonics regime and can exhibit far stronger subwavelength confinement. This review elucidates the machinery behind the unique behaviours of the two-dimensional plasmonic waves and discusses how they can be engineered to create ultra-subwavelength plasmonic circuits and metamaterials for infrared and gigahertz to terahertz integrated electronics.
Scalability of HTTP pacing with intelligent bursting

The ubiquity and simplicity of HTTP makes it a popular choice for Web-based video retrieval. However, HTTP was not designed for retrieving data with just-in-time tolerances; HTTP servers have always taken an as-fast-as-possible approach to data delivery. For media with known bandwidth constraints (e.g., audio/video files), HTTP servers can be enhanced and optimized by taking these constraints into account. For these data types, we present our architecture for an HTTP streaming server using paced output with intelligent bursting. We also discuss the scalability advantages of our HTTP streaming server architecture and compare it with traditional HTTP server response times and bandwidth usage.
Ovary of the pipefish, Syngnathus scovelli

Gross dissection, light microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy were used to generate a detailed understanding of the ovarian anatomy of the pipefish, Syngnathus scovelli. The ovary is a cylindrical tube bounded by an outer layer consisting of a smooth muscle wall and an inner layer of luminal epithelium, with follicles sandwiched between the two layers. A remarkable feature of this ovary is a sequential pattern of follicle development. This pattern begins at the germinal ridge with a gradient of follicles of increasing developmental age extending to the mature edge. The germinal ridge is an outpocketed region of the luminal epithelium containing early germinal cells and somatic prefollicular cells. Therefore, the germinal ridge and luminal epithelium share the same ovarian compartment and follicle formation occurs within this compartment. The mature edge is defined as the site of oocyte maturation and ovulation. The outer ovarian wall contains unmyelinated nerve fibers throughout. Longitudinally oriented unmyelinated nerves are also observed near the smooth muscle bundles associated with the mature edge. Oocytes near the mature edge are polarized such that the germinal vesicle (nucleus) is generally oriented toward the luminal epithelium. The sandwichlike organization of the ovary results in follicles that have a shared theca. An extensive lymphatic network is also interspersed among the follicles. Thus, the exceptional features of the pipefish ovary make it particularly well suited for the examination of early events in oogenesis. Specifically, we characterize pipefish folliculogenesis in detail.
Dynamic bandwidth allocation for target tracking in wireless sensor networks

In this paper, we study the dynamic bandwidth allocation problem for target tracking based on quantized sensor data in wireless sensor networks. At each time step, the fusion center distributes the available bandwidth among the sensors in such a way that the posterior Cramer-Rao lower bound (PCRLB) on the mean squared error (MSE) is minimized. Since the optimal solution requires a combinatorial search, we seek computationally efficient suboptimal methods for dynamic bandwidth allocation. In order to minimize the estimation error, our objective is to maximize the determinant of the Fisher information matrix (FIM) subject to the total rate constraint. To maximize the determinant of the FIM, we formulate an approximate dynamic programming (A-DP) algorithm and compare its performance with other suboptimal methods, including the generalized Breiman, Friedman, Olshen, and Stone (GBFOS) algorithm and the greedy search. A-DP is computationally more efficient than the GBFOS and simulation results show that A-DP and GBFOS algorithms yield similar tracking performance in terms of the mean squared error and outperform the greedy search.
A DSP nanosystem with defect tolerance

This paper proposes a new way of employing nanowire (NW) crossbars for digital signal processing (DSP) applications. By employing distributed arithmetic, complicated signal processing tasks can be converted into regular memory operations; thus this architecture is well-suited for NW crossbar technology. A defect-tolerant technique exploiting algorithmic error compensation is proposed to achieve reliable signal processing in the presence of excessive defects. Simulation results show that the DSP nanosystem only introduces minor performance loss under a large range of defect rates and operation conditions. The proposed technique also features good tradeoffs between defect tolerance and the overhead incurred.
Neighborhood characteristics and emergency department utilization.

Objectives: Neighborhood environments have been linked to the prevalence and incidence rates of a variety of diseases and injuries. This study assessed the relations between neighborhood demographic and socioeconomic characteristics and emergency department (ED) utilization. Methods: Billing data for the calendar year 2000 for adult patients residing within a one-mile radius of the study ED were geocoded based on home addresses and merged with neighborhood data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Annual ED visit rates per 100 population were computed for each census block within the study area and analyzed in relation to neighborhood characteristics. Results: The study area consisted of 714 census blocks and 42,278 adult residents, with a total of 16,427 visits to the study ED. Annual ED visit rates increased from 17 visits per 100 population for neighborhoods where less than 50% of the population were African American to 51 visits per 100 population for neighborhoods where all residents were African American (p \ 0.001). Annual ED visit rates decreased from 53% for neighborhoods where \20% of housing units were owneroccupied to 27% for neighborhoods with [45% owneroccupied housing units (p \ 0.001). Multivariate linear regression modeling revealed that proportions of African American residents and owner-occupied housing units were significantly associated with ED utilization, independent of age and gender compositions and the distance between residence and the study ED. Conclusions: Even within a small geographic area, ED utilization may vary greatly by neighborhood characteristics. Neighborhood racial composition and housing tenure are independent predictors of ED visit rates in this urban community.
Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering Sensing with Nanostructures Fabricated by Soft Nanolithography

The nanospike structures formed with femtosecond laser irradiations have been successfully replicated on the surface of a polyurethane (PU) polymer using a low cost soft nanolithography method. The surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) of rhodamine 6G (Rh6G) and dinitrotoluene (DNT) molecules have been measured with silver coated PU nanospike surfaces by a simple portable Raman spectrometer. Compared to a flat silver coated surface, where no Raman Scattering of the molecules can be detected by the simple portable Raman spectrometer, the Raman spectra are enhanced by more than 4 orders of magnitudes. This indicates that the high area/volume ratio and small size of the PU nanospikes can be used for SERS sensing.
Does Continuing Education Improve Physical Therapists' Effectiveness in Treating Neck Pain? A Randomized Clinical Trial

Background and Purpose: Physical therapists often attend continuing education (CE) courses to improve their overall clinical performance and patient outcomes. However, evidence suggests that CE courses may not improve the outcomes for patients receiving physical therapy for the management of neck pain. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of an ongoing educational intervention for improving the outcomes for patients with neck pain. Participants: The study participants were 19 physical therapists who attended a 2-day CE course focusing on the management of neck pain. All patients treated by the therapists in this study completed the Neck Disability Index (NDI) and a pain rating scale at the initial examination and at their final visit. Methods: Therapists from 11 clinics were invited to attend a 2-day CE course on the management of neck pain. After the CE course, the therapists were randomly assigned to receive either ongoing education consisting of small group sessions and an educational outreach session or no further education. Clinical outcomes achieved by therapists who received ongoing education and therapists who did not were compared for both pretraining and posttraining periods. The effects of receiving ongoing education were examined by use of linear mixed-model analyses with time period and group as fixed factors; improvements in disability and pain as dependent variables; and age, sex, and the patient's initial NDI and pain rating scores as covariates. Results: Patients treated by therapists who received ongoing education experienced significantly greater reductions in disability during the study period (pretraining to posttraining) than those treated by therapists who did not receive ongoing training (mean difference=4.2 points; 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.69, 7.7). Changes in pain did not differ for patients treated by the 2 groups of therapists during the study period (mean difference=0.47 point; 95% CI=−0.11, 1.0). Therapists in the ongoing education group also used fewer visits during the posttraining period (mean difference=1.5 visits; 95% CI=0.81, 2.3). Discussion and Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrated that ongoing education for the management of neck pain was beneficial in reducing disability for patients with neck pain while reducing the number of physical therapy visits. However, changes in pain did not differ for patients treated by the 2 groups of therapists. Although it appears that a typical CE course does not improve the overall outcomes for patients treated by therapists attending that course, more research is needed to evaluate other educational strategies to determine the most clinically effective and cost-effective interventions.
Prymnesium parvum: the Texas experience.

Southard, Gregory M., Loraine T. Fries, and Aaron Barkoh, 2010. Prymnesium parvum: The Texas Experience. Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 46(1):14-23. DOI: 10.1111/j.1752-1688.2009.00387.x Abstract: Golden alga Prymnesium parvum was first identified in Texas during a fish kill investigation on the Pecos River in 1985. Since then golden alga kills occurred sporadically in a variety of waters in the western part of the state until 2001 when the alga became endemic in the Brazos, Canadian, Colorado, Red, and Rio Grande river systems, including the water supplies of two public fish hatcheries, the Possum Kingdom and Dundee state fish hatcheries. The increasing area adversely affected by the alga and frequent massive fish kills heightened public and political awareness and concerns regarding the ecological and economic impacts of P. parvum blooms. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), the wildlife conservation agency of the state, responded to these concerns with a program to assess the ecological and economic impacts and to develop management options. To date 33 water bodies have been affected and losses are conservatively estimated at 34 million fish valued at US$13 million. Several sport fisheries, including smallmouth bass Micropterus dolomieu, striped bass Morone saxatilis, channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus, and blue catfish Ictalurus furcatus, have been severely affected. Additionally, 26 imperiled fish species occur in the affected water basins and some have been adversely affected. Economic losses associated with reduced fishing and other water-based recreational activities appear considerable. The combined economic losses to three counties (Palo Pinto, Stephens, and Young) surrounding Possum Kingdom reservoir for 2001 and 2003 were estimated at US$2.8 million and US$1.1 million, respectively. This paper describes how the TPWD responded to public and political concerns relative to the emergence of golden alga, its harmful effects to fisheries, and its historic and current statewide distribution.
Universal HIV Testing: Is It Enough?

Early diagnosis of HIV infection and timely access to medical care can improve treatment outcomes [1] and potentially decrease the risk of transmission [2]. In this issue, Keruly and Moore [3] report a decrease in the presenting CD4+ T cell count from 371 cells/mm3 in 1990-1994 to 276 cells/mm3 in 2003-2006 among patients newly presenting for HIV care in a large academic center in the United States. Despite significant advances in antiretroviral therapy and improved services for persons living with HIV infection, our health care system appears to be less capable of detecting the disease early in its course than it was nearly 2 decades ago. The authors conclude that national im-
Compact Wavelength Multiplexers/Semultiplexers using Photonic Wires on Silicon-on-Insulator (SOI) Substrate

Compact wavelength multiplexers/demultiplexers using photonic wires in add/drop filter and multi-mode interferometer (MMI) configurations were demonstrated on SOI substrate. Device footprint, channel spacing scaling characteristic, crosstalk, operational bandwidth, and manufacturing complexity are compared
Seasonal influences on the control of plasma sex hormone-binding globulin by T4 in male little brown bats

Male little brown bats showed a well-defined seasonal cycle of plasma thyroxine (T4). Total T4 concentrations increased during hibernation, reached peak levels in May at spring emergence, and subsequently declined to lowest levels in September. Thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG) activity increased only in summer, and seasonal changes in non-TBG-bound T4 generally paralleled those of total T4. During the fall and early hibernation period, bats studied under feral conditions or following photoperiod manipulation showed coincident changes in plasma T4 and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) levels. In contrast, males studied during late hibernation or following spring arousal exhibited declining plasma T4 levels during periods of increased SHBG activity. Additionally, the prehibernation decline in SHBG did not depend on changing environmental conditions. Bats maintained under summerlike conditions during the fall showed normal seasonal reductions in SHBG and T4. These studies indicate that T4 is the likely physiological regulator of plasma SHBG activity during the fall and early hibernation, but that other factors modulate the timing of SHBG induction in the spring.
NUMERICAL MODELING OF URM INFILL WALLS RETROFITTED WITH EMBEDDED REINFORCING STEEL

Unreinforced masonry (URM) infill walls present a serious threat to communities in earthquake prone regions because they typically exhibit brittle and catastrophic failures. These failures have been observed in the aftermath of recent earthquakes such as the 2010 Haiti (Mw 7.0) and the 2010 Maule Chile (Mw 8.8). As cost is typically the main hindrance to seismically performing these URM walls, there is therefore a pressing need for developing cost-effective retrofit strategies. The main goal of this study is to propose a solution for seismic retrofit of URM infill walls by providing embedded horizontal and/or vertical reinforcing steel into the pre-cut grooves. To investigate the feasibility of the proposed retrofitting technique, a nonlinear finite element model is developed which simulates the performance of the infill walls before and after retrofitting. In this study, the reinforced-concrete frame is modeled using smeared crack elements combined with interface models to capture opening of concrete cracks. The reinforcing steel is modeled using nonlinear truss elements and is placed in parallel with vertical and horizontal concrete interface elements. For the URM infill wall, the mortar joint is modeled with a zero-thickness cohesive interface element while the masonry unit is modeled with the combined smeared and discrete crack approaches. The reinforcing steel is modeled using nonlinear truss elements. The numerical results show that the ductility of the retrofitted walls may be enhanced with this retrofitting technique.
Lactate levels after major cardiac surgery are associated with hospital length of stay

The objective of the study was to evaluate whether postoperative lactate values are associated with hospital length of stay in patients undergoing major cardiac surgery. Previous studies have shown an association between postoperative lactate levels and increased morbidity and mortality after major cardiac surgery. However, the association between lactate and hospital length of stay has not been adequately characterized.
Baym-Kadanoff Theory Made Even Planar

In the last workshop in this series, I presented some results obtained by expressing the Baym-Kadanoff algorithm[1–2] in the language of the parquet theory [3–14].
Gophers as geomorphic agents in the Colorado Front Range subalpine zone

Abstract Gophers are significant geomorphic agents in many landscapes. We document activity of the northern pocket gopher (Thomomys talpoides) in two small subalpine meadows (1050–1800 m2) of the Front Range, Colorado, USA. We tracked locations and volumes of mounds and subnivean infilled tunnels over one year and probed the thickness of the biomantle within one meadow. We infer that only 5–7 gophers occupied each meadow, implying a gopher density of 28–67 ha− 1. Fractional areal coverage of the meadows by diggings suggests that within 49–95 years gophers would fully resurface the meadows. Annual volumes of excavated soil correspond to the equivalent of ~ 1 mm of material spread evenly over the meadows. Probed meadow resistance depths reveal a pattern we interpret to be stone lines at roughly 15 cm depths; implied vertical turnover times are therefore roughly 150 years. These spatial and temporal patterns imply that gophers should be able to churn the biomantle on approximately century timescales and should fully resurface the meadow areas in similar timescales. These field data also contribute to an investigation of lateral sediment transport; given the local slope of the landscape, gopher-driven sediment transport within our two study sites suggests a landscape diffusivity of 0.008 m2y− 1. At no time do gophers occupy the forest. As evidenced by subnivean infilled tunnels, winter activity is restricted to the upslope (and hence upwind) meadow edges, which correspond to high snow cover and warm (>~0 °C) shallow subsurface soil temperatures. Subsequent activity expands downhill into the meadows and shows a distinct pulse of mound activity in late summer through early fall prior to snowfall. Local forest fire history has led to much more extensive meadows in the past, suggesting that the geomorphic influence of gophers in the landscape is much more widespread than the present distribution of meadows and may cover the entire subalpine region of the Front Range on millennial timescales.
Relationship between the Recovery from Sublethal X-Ray Damage and the Rejoining of Chromosome Breaks in Normal Human Fibroblasts

Using plateau-phase cultures of AG1522 normal human fibroblasts, we examined relationships between the breakage and rejoining of chromosomes and the induction and repair of sublethal damage (SLD) following fractionated doses of X rays. The rate constant for the rejoining of breaks in prematurely condensed interphase chromosomes, measured previously, accurately predicts both the rate of change in survival due to potentially lethal damage (PLD) repair and the rate of change in survival for dose fractionation due to SLD repair. Further, changes in the frequency of chromosome-type deletions and asymmetrical exchange aberrations measured in the first postirradiation mitosis corresponded closely with changes in cell killing when doses were fractionated, and a dose-fractionation- or dose-rate-independent alpha component of damage was similar for aberration and cell killing end points. These results substantiate the hypothesis that sublethal damage repair results from the rejoining of breaks in interphase chromatin produced by a first dose so they no longer are capable of interacting with those produced by a second dose. The fact that the repair of potentially lethal damage is also readily explained on the basis of chromosome break rejoining (M. N. Cornforth and J. S. Bedford, Radiat. Res. 111, 385-405 (1987)) strongly suggests that PLD and SLD repair are different manifestations of the same basic process operating on the same basic lesions.
Nature of the Supernumerary Molars of Otocyon

The available evidence is examined and interpreted in favor of an expansion of the field of molarization. Speothos has no strong modality in number of molars. The fossil relatives of Otocyon are briefly reviewed, and Otocyon and Prototocyon are referred to the Caninae.
Quantifying executive threats: shareholder litigation

Threats confronting directors and officers of publicly traded companies are among the least understood dimensions of operational risk, all while the key manifestation of those threats - shareholder class action (SCA) litigation - counts among the most economically and reputationally damaging risks. The goal of the research outlined here is to offer a general overview of SCA as a key expression of executive threat, with a particular emphasis on one of the key root cause of those suits: accounting restatements. Representing corrections of, or amendments to earlier disclosed company performance details, restatements are recast in a more informationally-revealing context of 'restatement-type-materiality' conjoint, which yields a deeper theoretical understanding of conditions under which corrections of earlier released management disclosures can lead to significant heightening of executive risk. Also discussed is a general outline of a multi-attribute exposure assessment approach, which amalgamates multiple risk heightening proxies into a single evaluative framework.
Quality control and clinical application of dexamethasone acetate liniment.

Objective To Set up the standard of dexamethasone acetate liniment and clinical application.Methods The Liniment was prepared with dexamethasone acetate,the contents of dexamethasone acetate was determined by ultravialet spectrophotometry.52 neurodermatitis patients were involved in the clinical observation.Results The average recovery of chloramphenicol was 99.78%,RSD was 0.28%,and the total effective rate was 96.2%.Conclusion Liniment is simple in preparing process,the quality can be controlled and the curative effect is definite.
Study on Digital Loyalty System of Integrated SCM and Customer Management

The paper considers that the enterprise needs digital loyalty system to integrate SCM and CRM,clarifies some basic assumptions and contrasts between traditional SCM and the new model and suggests a four-step approach which includes: understanding of customer value,requirements and supply chain cost;system design;management and execution;measurement of performance in order to establish digital loyalty system.
Simulation of Fault Transmission Line with PSCAD/EMTDC

PSCAD / EMTDC( Power System Computer Aided Design / Electro-Magnetic Transient in DC system) software is used to establish the model of fault transmission line in studying its voltage and current. Based on it,the general faults of transmission line are simulated. Simulation results show that the model built in PSCAD / EMTDC can accurately simulate the dynamic behavior of fault system in transient process and provide references for field operation and fault analysis.
An Immobilized Yeast Cell Column for the Fermentation of Mosasses

Immobilized whole yeast cells have been shown to be efficient converters of sugar to ethanol under laboratory conditions. However, this technology has not been extensively tested either on the pilot scale or with commercial feedstocks. We have employed a packed bed reactor containing Saccharomyces cerevisiae adsorbed on agar beads to establish design (1) and operating parameters for the optimum production of ethanol from cane blackstrap molasses.
Generating Functions, Z-Transforms, Laplace Transforms and the Solution of Linear Differential and Difference Equations

Laplace transforms provide one of the means for solving homogeneous and inhomogeneous differential equations. Generating functions provide the corresponding transform for difference equations. A z-transform, also called a Laurent transform, is a generating function in which the variable \(\omega \) is replaced by \(z=1/\omega \).
Dirac open-quantum-system dynamics: Formulations and simulations

We present an open-system interaction formalism for the Dirac equation. Overcoming a complexity bottleneck of alternative formulations, our framework enables efficient numerical simulations (utilizing a typical desktop) of relativistic dynamics within the von Neumann density matrix and Wigner phase-space descriptions. Employing these instruments, we gain important insights into the effect of quantum dephasing for relativistic systems in many branches of physics. In particular, the conditions for robustness of Majorana spinors against dephasing are established. Using the Klein paradox and tunneling as examples, we show that quantum dephasing does not suppress negative energy particle generation. Hence, the Klein dynamics is also robust to dephasing.
Mortality following pancreatectomy for elderly rural veterans with pancreatic cancer

Abstract Purpose The objective of this study was to examine rural/urban differences in post-operative mortality for elderly dually eligible Veteran patients with pancreatic cancer treated by surgery with or without adjuvant therapy. Materials and Methods In this retrospective observational study, Medicare claims data were used to identify elderly dually eligible Veteran patients with pancreatic cancer who underwent pancreatectomy with or without adjuvant therapy. Hierarchical logistic regression models adjusted for age, rurality of residence, post-operative complication rate, length of stay, blood transfusion during admission, and co-morbidity were examined to assess differences in mortality between rural and urban Veteran patients. Results Among 4,686 dually eligible Veteran patients with pancreatic cancer who underwent pancreatectomy between 1997 and 2011, those who lived in a small rural town focused area had significantly higher odds of one-year mortality (Odds Ratio [OR] = 1.50; p Conclusions Using a nationally representative database we found that rural and older patients had worse long-term post-operative outcomes than their urban and younger counterparts, while there were no rural/urban differences in early post-operative outcomes. The study adds to evidence pointing to disparities in the quality of care of Veterans based on place of residence.
AOT vs. JIT: impact of profile data on code quality

Just-in-time (JIT) compilation during program execution and ahead-of-time (AOT) compilation during software installation are alternate techniques used by managed language virtual machines (VM) to generate optimized native code while simultaneously achieving binary code portability and high execution performance. Profile data collected by JIT compilers at run-time can enable profile-guided optimizations (PGO) to customize the generated native code to different program inputs. AOT compilation removes the speed and energy overhead of online profile collection and dynamic compilation, but may not be able to achieve the quality and performance of customized native code. The goal of this work is to investigate and quantify the implications of the AOT compilation model on the quality of the generated native code for current VMs. First, we quantify the quality of native code generated by the two compilation models for a state-of-the-art (HotSpot) Java VM. Second, we determine how the amount of profile data collected affects the quality of generated code. Third, we develop a mechanism to determine the accuracy or similarity for different profile data for a given program run, and investigate how the accuracy of profile data affects its ability to effectively guide PGOs. Finally, we categorize the profile data types in our VM and explore the contribution of each such category to performance.
Flash Pyrolysis of Oleaginous Biomass in a Fluidized-Bed Reactor

In this study, flash pyrolysis was performed using milled soybean as a model substrate to assess the production of liquid fuels from oleaginous biomass feedstocks. A laboratory-scale fluidized-bed flash pyrolysis reactor that allowed rapid heat transfer to the biomass along with short vapor residence time was designed and constructed. Pyrolysis was performed between 250 and 610 °C with a vapor residence time between 0.2 and 0.3 s. At 550 °C or higher, nearly 70% of the initial feed mass as well as feed carbon was recovered in bio-oil. In addition, 90% of the feedstock lipids were recovered in the bio-oil at these pyrolysis conditions. The high liquid products yields were attributed to (1) the low secondary degradation of bio-oils due to the short vapor residence time and (2) the high recovery of liquids in a novel dry ice packed-bed condenser that provided a high surface area for condensation/aggregation of dilute bio-oil vapors/aerosols that were entrained in the carrier gas. The bio-oil from this study ...
Fibroepithelial Stromal Polyp of the Vulva: Case Report and Review of Potential Histologic Mimickers

Vulvar tumors arising from submucosal connective tissue, some of which exhibit hormonal responsiveness, have many clinical and histologic overlapping characteristics. We present a case of a fibroepithelial stromal polyp arising from the vulva of a 22-year-old female. We review the differential diagnosis with an emphasis on distinguishing features of these uncommon neoplasms. Accurate diagnosis is essential as the extent of surgical resection and risk of local recurrence varies for these tumors.
Performance of a MICROMEGAS-based TPC in a high-energy neutron beam

Abstract The MICROMEGAS (MICRO-MEsh GAseous Structure) charge amplification structure has found wide use in many detection applications, especially as a gain stage for the charge readout of Time Projection Chambers (TPCs). Here we report on the behavior of a MICROMEGAS TPC when operated in a high-energy (up to 800 MeV ) neutron beam. It is found that neutron-induced reactions can cause discharges in some drift gas mixtures that are stable in the absence of the neutron beam. The discharges result from recoil ions close to the MICROMEGAS that deposit high specific ionization density and have a limited diffusion time. For a binary drift gas, increasing the percentage of the molecular component (quench gas) relative to the noble component and operating at lower pressures generally improves stability.
Falling snow estimates from the global precipitation measurement (GPM) mission

Retrievals of falling snow from space represent an important data set for understanding the Earth's atmospheric, hydrological, and energy cycles, especially during climate change. Estimates of falling snow must be captured to obtain the true global precipitation water cycle, snowfall accumulations are required for hydrological studies, and without knowledge of the frozen particles in clouds one cannot adequately understand the energy and radiation budgets. While satellite-based remote sensing provides global coverage of falling snow events, the science is relatively new and retrievals are still undergoing development with challenges remaining (e.g., [1], [2], [3]). This work reports on the development and testing of retrieval algorithms for the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission Core Satellite [4-5], launched February 2014, with a specific focus on meeting GPM Mission requirements for falling snow.
Review: Citizen Jane: Battle for the City

Matt Tyrnauer, director Citizen Jane: Battle for the Cityf Altimeter Films, Los Angeles, 2017, 92 min., http://www.altimeterfilms.com/citizen-jane-battle-for-the-city The current political climate in the United States, wherein government officials with an authoritarian bent attempt to implement “reforms” in the face of popular resistance and disapproval, bears a strong resemblance to the story of Robert Moses's efforts to reconfigure housing and transit systems in New York City in the 1950s–60s and the grassroots opposition to them led by Jane Jacobs. The saltiness of the language with which some might denigrate Donald Trump's presidential administration echoes, no doubt, the same sort of diction one could use to describe Moses, the de facto director of all municipal construction and associated programs of urban renewal in New York City for much of the two decades after World War II. Meanwhile, the now-familiar mantra “Nevertheless, she persisted” could be applied retroactively to Jacobs, whose unflagging determination united her neighbors in Greenwich Village. In the end, Jacobs and her cohort scuttled Moses's plans for an elevated Lower Manhattan Expressway—projected to destroy much of the vibrant district and its trademark collection of historic cast-iron buildings—along with his political career. Indeed, while these comparisons are warranted, Matt Tyrnauer's documentary Citizen Jane: Battle for the City spares us any discussion of the political events of the recent past in favor of a focus on those of nearly sixty years ago. For seasoned students of the history of urban planning in postwar America, Citizen Jane offers few new insights. It is, for all intents and purposes, a recounting of Jacobs's well-known struggle against Moses's destruction of the “slums” he identified as “cancerous areas” to be excised from the urban fabric of New York City. Documentary, in this case, is not scholarship, nor is it necessarily meant to be. But in its exceptionally rich visual presentation, which includes resurrected film footage of once-bustling Manhattan neighborhoods juxtaposed with shocking stills …
A Mathematical Model for Enzyme Clustering in Glucose Metabolism

We have recently demonstrated that the rate-limiting enzymes in human glucose metabolism organize into cytoplasmic clusters to form a multienzyme complex, the glucosome, in at least three different sizes. Quantitative high-content imaging data support a hypothesis that the glucosome clusters regulate the direction of glucose flux between energy metabolism and building block biosynthesis in a cluster size-dependent manner. However, direct measurement of their functional contributions to cellular metabolism at subcellular levels has remained challenging. In this work, we develop a mathematical model using a system of ordinary differential equations, in which the association of the rate-limiting enzymes into multienzyme complexes is included as an essential element. We then demonstrate that our mathematical model provides a quantitative principle to simulate glucose flux at both subcellular and population levels in human cancer cells. Lastly, we use the model to simulate 2-deoxyglucose-mediated alteration of glucose flux in a population level based on subcellular high-content imaging data. Collectively, we introduce a new mathematical model for human glucose metabolism, which promotes our understanding of functional roles of differently sized multienzyme complexes in both single-cell and population levels.
Angiogenic Mediators and the Pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive, neurodegenerative disease that affects more than 5 million people in the United States. At present, no disease-modifying drugs are available; new therapeutic approaches are desperately needed. Considerable evidence links vascular dysfunction, vascular risk factors, and the pathogenesis of AD. Data are emerging to support the idea that factors and processes characteristic of angiogenesis are found in AD brain. Genome-wide expression profiling in the AD brain has identified a marked upregulation of genes that promote angiogenesis. Epidemiological studies suggest that some drugs purported to have beneficial effects in AD inhibit angiogenesis. Hypoxia is known to stimulate angiogenesis as well as contribute to the clinical and pathological manifestations of AD. Angiogenesis inhibitors may represent an important and unexplored class of therapeutic drugs for AD. The cerebral microcirculation could be a new target for therapeutic intervention in AD. Identification of “vascular activation” as a target in AD would stimulate translational investigations in this newly defined area and may lead to novel therapeutic approaches for the treatment of this devastating disease.
Lymphatic Filariae: Wuchereria bancrofti (Cobbold 1877) and Brugia malayi (Brug 1927)

Wuchereria bancrofti and Brugia malayi are thread-like nematodes, the adult stages of which live within lymphatic vessels. Some individuals whose lymphatics are infected with these nematodes develop disfiguring elephantiasis. The worms are ovoviviparous, and their larvae are called microfilariae. Approximately 400 million people are at present infected with filarial worms.1
Do allergic dogs exhibit features of a severe steroid-resistant allergic airway phenotype?

Background Most asthmatic patients respond favorably to corticosteroid therapy, however, a subpopulation of patients (5-10%) display persistent immune activation and airway inflammation, despite high doses of oral/inhaled corticosteroids. The development of more predictive animal models that incorporate the severe steroid-resistant phenotype are needed to better define translational biomarkers and therapeutic targets for this patient population.
Social Networks and the Ecology of Human Development: Theory, Research and Application

Despite the upsurge of research on social support, we are only beginning to analyze the processes by which social support may affect mental health and well-being. Numerous studies do point to a positive association between support and mental health, sometimes as a “main effect,” while at other tines as a buffer against the effect of ongoing strain or discrete life events. These studies indicate that social support is worth studying. However, given the often superficial assessment of social support and the inattention to process issues, many of these studies contribute but marginally to our understanding of support phenomena.