cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Preliminary investigation of applications in the larynx of the 810-nm high-energy pulsed diode laser

Laryngeal lesions such as papillomata can be removed with CO 2 laser but the scar that forms after repeated treatments can cause reduction in the function of the larynx. This scarring may be made worse by infection caused by interruption in the epithelial surface. It is hoped that if the vasculature of these lesions can be thrombosed without damage to the epithelium, the lesion will atrophy without the risk of infection and scar formation. A series of in vitro experiments were carried out to determine if the 810 nm high energy pulsed diode laser could be used to coagulate blood. Experiments with a laser fluence of 22 J/cm 2 on flowing and stationary animal and human blood in 750 micrometers diameter capillary tubes showed that single pulses caused a maximum detectable rise in temperature of 16 degree(s)C and no coagulation. Multiple pulses in slow flowing blood did generate a sustained temperature rise of 40 degree(s)C which may be enough to cause coagulation. Further in vitro and in vivo studies are underway to determine the clinical usefulness of this energy source.
The New Science of Life and Learning Differences.

In the study of learning differences, attention has recently been given to holistic, dialectical concepts of development and learning such that cognitive processes are defined and investigated relative to their dynamic, transforming, hierarchically organized systems of energy. Such a point of view is consistent with the new science of life in which matter has, as its essence, active, dynamic forms of hierarchically organized energy that are bound within fields. The hierarchical nature of energy forms is due to their organization into distinct systems of order with varying levels of complexity. Openings for energy exchanges within and between individual energy systems are created from perturbations as systems interact with the environment and result in the reorganization and expansion of activity that give birth to more complex structures. Piaget's description of cognitive processes as dynamic, transforming, hierarchically organized systems of energy that evolve in interaction with the environment calls in...
Promoting oneself on flickr: users' strategies and attitudes

Researchers have conducted quantitative studies on the structure of the Flickr user network, but few have addressed the reasons or thought processes behind its users’ behavior. Previous studies of Flickr and other social networks focus on the nature of the links between users, as well as tallies of their activities [2, 3, 4]. Mislove et al., for example, shows that users who create many links with other users are in turn linked to by others [4].
Manifestations of renal cell carcinom

Patients with renal cell carcinoma often have no specific localizing symptoms or signs, and their presentation will often involve many organ systems. Since 40 per cent of these patients do not have genitourinary symptoms, care must be taken to avoid being misled by normal findings on urinalysis. More than 50 per cent of patients with renal cell carcinoma have vague symptoms suggesting a gastrointestinal origin; thus if primary gastrointestinal studies do not disclose a cause for these symptoms, excretory urography must be included as a screening procedure.
DASD sharing in DOS/VSE

The first part of this report discusses DASD sharing in loosely-coupled data processing systems. For the locking of shared files two design concepts are presented. The second part describes DASD sharing in the IBM operating system DOS/VSE. The control program routines which serialize the lock requests within one processing unit and the cross-system locking facility are discussed.
Doppler US gating of cardiac MR imaging.

Rationale and Objectives. Electrocardiographic (ECG) gating of cardiac magnetic resonance (MR) imaging has been problematic for many reasons. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the feasibility of using Doppler ultrasound (US) gating, either directly off the moving cardiac wall or the systolic upstroke of the arterial signal from the great vessels in neck, in alternative gating modes. Materials and Methods. A 2.5-MHz, range-gated Doppler US device was used with A-mode guidance for gating directly off left ventricular wall motion. A 4- or 8.1-MHz, continuous-wave (CW) Doppler US device was used for gating off the systolic upstroke from the great vessels in the neck. The subject undergoing imaging held the transducer against his chest for range-gated Doppler US and against his neck for 8.1-MHz CW Doppler US. The 4-MHz transducer was strapped to the subject's neck. Modified Doppler signals were fed back into the gating circuitry of the MR imager to achieve cardiac synchrony. Results. Cardiac gating was achieved by using both the range-gated technique directly off the cardiac wall and the CW method off blood flow from the great vessels. Problems occurred with radiofrequency shielding during the range-gated method; however, these problems were almost completely removed by use of the CW Doppler probes. Conclusion. Doppler US gating of MR images is possible and potentially could overcome many shortcomings of ECG gating. Subsequent embodiments of the technique will require improved radiofrequency shielding in the range-gated technique.
The effects of relationships with older females on the substance abuse and mental health of adolescent boys.

Objectives: The aim of this article is to describe the short-term effects of relationships with significantly older females on the substance use and mental health of adolescent boys. Methods: Weighted logistic regression and weighted least-squares regression were conducted using data from Waves 1 and 2 of the National Survey of Adolescent Health to determine the substance use and mental health effects of entry into an age-discordant relationship (n = 2318). Results: The results indicate that boys involved in an age-discordant relationship, in comparison with boys in an age-similar relationship, were more likely to have recently smoked cigarettes, use higher quantities of alcohol, and experience higher levels of anxiety. There was no significant relationship between having been involved in an age-discordant relationship and having recently used marijuana or cocaine, as well as no relationship with displaying suicidality. There was a trend toward depressive symptoms and lower self-esteem among boys in age-d...
Comorbid major depression and panic disorder: significance of temporal sequencing to familial transmission.

Background: Panic disorder (PD) and major depression frequently coexist but the nature of the relationship is controversial. Our aim was to determine if the risk for depression in a proband is influenced by the temporal sequence of comorbid PD and major depression in an affected family member. Methods: Of participants in a larger study of individuals who had a family, but no personal history of PD, 31 had a first-degree relative with comorbid PD and major depressive disorder (MDD). In 16, the onset of MDD preceded PD (HR-MDPD), and in 15, PD was established before the first depressive episode (HR-PDMD). Thirty-seven low-risk controls (LRC) described no first-degree relatives with psychiatric illness. Participants were assessed using the SADS-LA and provided family history data on first-degree relatives. Results: High-risk subjects whose first-degree relative had temporally primary depression had a 50% chance of having had a major depressive episode. Those with a first-degree relative with primary panic and secondary depression were at no greater risk of having had a depression than were normal controls (6.7% and 5.4%, respectively). Limitations: The use of the family history method has the intrinsic weakness of relying solely on proband knowledge. Conclusion: The temporal relationship between comorbid panic and depression may play an important role in determining the familial risk for depression in family members.
A new prognostic score and clinical evaluation system for cystic fibrosis.

A new, simple, and comprehensive system for evaluating patients with cystic fibrosis is presented. The system is based primarily on pulmonary parameters of the disease and considers simple pulmonary function tests and certain complications which have been shown to have prognostic significance. Seventy-three patients were evaluated and 3 and 6 year mortality rates were calculated. Based on this data, a curve depicting probability of dying from cystic fibrosis (within 3 years) according to the prognostic scores was determined. The combination of this new scoring system and mortality rate curve allows for rapid, simultaneous assessment of a patient's past and current clinical status and provides a numerical prediction of life expectancy.
Accountability and Productivity Some Longitudinal Data

Based on a nonobtrusive count of output, productivity in a metal-working shop is examined before implementing individual accountability, during intensified accountability, and after the accountability program was terminated. The data show quite clearly that when individual accountability was introduced, productivity rose steeply and then subsided along with accountability. Some implications of accountability are suggested.
The relation between acculturation and alcohol consumption patterns among older Asian and Hispanic immigrants

This study examines the relation between acculturation and alcohol consumption patterns among older Asian and Hispanic immigrants in the state of California. Data were obtained from the 2009 California Health Interview Survey and included Asian (n = 1264) and Hispanic (n = 571) adults aged 60 and older who were born outside of the US. Outcome variables included presence of past year alcohol consumption, past year binge drinking, and number of binge drinking days. Acculturation was measured with items pertaining to English use and proficiency. Hierarchical multiple or logistic regression analyses were conducted separately for each racial/ethnic group and each dependent variable. Alcohol consumption was found in less than half of the sample for both Asians (43.2%) and Hispanics (39.2%). Binge drinking was found in 3.1% of Asians and 8.4% of Hispanics. Acculturation was significantly related to past year alcohol consumption for Hispanics, past year binge drinking for Asians, and binge drinking days for Asians, such that higher level of acculturation predicted a greater likelihood of alcohol consumption but decreased likelihood of binge drinking and fewer binge drinking days. The results indicate that acculturation may be related to alcohol consumption patterns for older immigrants. This suggests future needs to develop an in-depth understanding of the health behaviors of these immigrant elderly groups.
Effects of Pre‐rigor Pressurization, Method of Restructuring, and Salt Level on Characteristics of Restructured Beef Steaks

Pre-rigor pressurized beef muscle was processed either by chunking and forming or flaking and forming and then mixed with either 0.00, 0.25 or 0.50% NaCl prior to the manufacture of restructured steaks. To compare the effects of pre-rigor pressurization, a post-rigor, nonpressurized, flaked and formed formulation (containing 0.50% NaCl) was also processed. Data from texture profile panel, Instron and cooking studies were collected. Steaks from pressurized muscle were similar in most characteristics to steaks processed from nonpressurized muscle. Chunking and forming produced a more fibrous, harder and cohesive steak with greater detectable connective tissue than flaking and forming. If pre-rigor pressurized beef is employed in the manufacture of restructured steaks, acceptable texture properties appear obtainable without the use of NaCl.
Looking ahead to significant improvements in mining safety and health through innovative research and effective diffusion into the industry

Abstract Mining safety and health improvements over the past decades are remarkable by many metrics, and yet the expectation of society, and the goal of the mining industry, is zero harm. If we examine the underlying enablers for the significant gains that have been achieved, the key role that research to help understand the causes of problems and to develop lasting solutions is clear. Many of the remaining challenges have been resistant to solutions by various approaches. Some, such as fatalities and injuries from ground control or powered haulage are prominent year after year. Different approaches are indicated and new solutions will be required if we are to achieve a goal of zero harm. These will originate with research, but into which topics, and what are some of these different approaches? This paper examines the current state of mine safety in the United States and highlights areas of significant opportunity for research that will lead to solutions. The likely direction of research that will enable realization of the “zero harm” goal is described in terms of evolutionary and revolutionary approaches. Both are important, but the author’s view is that some of the largest gains will be made with trans-disciplinary approaches that break from the past. Topical areas of research are suggested and several research questions are given to illustrate the direction of future research in mining safety and health.
Isolation of maltopentaose from corn syrup by chromatography on granulated hydroxylapatite.

Abstract A method is described for the isolation of maltopentaose from corn syrup based upon elution from granulated hydroxylapatite with increasing concentrations of water in ethanol.
THE POSITION OF THE EXTERNAL HIP JOINT IN THE ABOVE-THE-KNEE PROSTHESIS WITH PELVIC SUSPENSION

Three human cadavera were utilized for the study of the effects of varying axes of rotation upon flexion of the thigh. The investigation was carried out in an attempt to determine the optimum functional position of the external hip joint in the above-the-knee prosthesis with pelvic suspension. Variations in the angles formed between the axes of rotation and the frontal and transverse planes of the anterior superior iliac spines were facilitated by an adjustable ball-and-socket joint; this was placed opposite the hip joint of the cadaver, and a rod was passed through it into the center of the head of the femur. Flexion to 54 degrees was carried out from starting positions—characterized by various combinations of flexion, abduction, and external rotation of the thigh—which simulated the postural deviations observed clinically in amputation stumps. The results indicate that, for straight-forward flexion to occur, the external joint should be placed from one and one-quarter to one and three-quarters inches anterior to the middle of the greater trochanter. An axis which passed through the greater trochanter was conducive to considerable abduction, as the thigh was moved forward in flexion. Conversely, when the external joint was placed too far anteriorly, adduction was associated with flexion. Considerable adjustment in the position of the external joint, within rather narrow limits, is necessary to compensate for varying degrees of flexion, abduction, and external rotation of the thigh.
Arab Politics, Palestinian Nationalism and the Six Day War: The Crystallization of Arab Strategy and Nasir's Descent to War, 1957-1967

The Arab-Israeli Conflict Escalates, 1957-1963: A Turning Point in the Arab States' Attitudes Towards the Palestinian Problem Formulation of Arab Strategy in the Isaeli-Arab Conflict, 1964-1965: Prelude to the Six Day War Failure of the Arab Plan for Diverting the River Jordan's Tributaries The Rise of the Palestinians as a factor in the Arab-Israeli Conflict The Fida'iyyun Organisations' Contribution to the Descent to the Six Day War The Arab Military Build-Up Nasir's Steps Toward the Six Day War: 13 May to 5 June 5 1967 In the Wake of the Six Day War Conclusion: The Arab-Israeli Conflict between the Nakba and the Naksa --The Emergence of the New Palestinian National Movement.
Amine–quinone polyimides

Two dianiline monomers were prepared by the reaction of either 4,4′-methylenedianiline or 4,4′-oxydianiline with 1,4-benzoquinone. These monomers were used to synthesize a series of amine–quinone polyimides by condensation with either 3,3′,4,4′-benzophenonetetracarboxylic dianhydride or 4,4′-(hexafluoroisopropylidene) diphthalic anhydride to make the corresponding polyamic acid. The polyamic acids were converted to the polyimides by thermal imidization at 290 °C. The amine–quinone polyimides gave freestanding films with tensile strengths in the range of 90 to 150 MPa and Young's moduli of 0.9 to 1.5 GPa. The thermal decomposition temperature under nitrogen was 440 to 480 °C and the glass-transition temperature was in the range of 280 to 310 °C. The amine–quinone polyimides had the excellent thermal and mechanical properties that one expects for polyimides. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 39: 4044–4049, 2001
Preparing Practicing Dentists to Engage in Practice-Based Research

Background The authors describe an educational program designed to prepare practicing dentists to engage in practice-based research in their practices—a trend receiving more emphasis and funding from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR).
Ice sheets and sea level of the Last Glacial Maximum

This paper outlines the general issues regarding ice sheets and sea level of the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), which formed the basis of an EPILOG Project workshop. Papers in this special issue of Quaternary Science Reviews provide a comprehensive assessment of these issues from the perspective of geological reconstructions of ice sheet extent, records of sea-level change, ice sheet modelling, geophysical models of glacial isostatic adjustment, and geochemical proxies of ice volume. This new assessment has substantially narrowed the uncertainties in the total changes in ice sheets and sea level and their proxies, suggesting a net decrease in eustatic sea level at the LGM ranging from 120 to 135 m. r 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Are the Majority of Children With Autism Mentally Retarded? : A Systematic Evaluation of the Data

There are frequent claims in the literature that a majority of children With autism are mentally retarded (MR). The present study examined the evidence used as the basis for these claims, revieWing 215 articles published betWeen 1937 and 2003. Results indicated 74% of the claims came from nonempirical sources, 53% of Which never traced back to empirical data. Most empirical evidence for the claims Was published 25 to 45 years ago and Was often obtained utilizing developmental or adaptive scales rather than measures of intelligence. Furthermore, significantly higher prevalence rates of MR Were reported When these measures Were used. Overall, the findings indicate that more empirical evidence is needed before conclusions can be made about the percentages of children With autism Who are mentally retarded.
Diagnosis of left superior vena cava by clinical inspection, a new physical sign.

Abstract A case is presented of a patient with probable Marfan's syndrome and multiple congenital anomalies, including tetralogy of Fallot with a persistent left superior vena cava. The embryonic origin of the superior vena caval system is briefly reviewed, and the left superior vena cava is discussed with respect to its clinical and surgical importance, and methods of diagnosis. A physical sign of left superior vena cava is described. It consists of jugular venous pulsations more marked on the left side, in the absence of evidence pointing to obstruction of the right innominate or jugular veins, or compression of the left innominate vein by an arteriosclerotic aortic arch. This simple clinical clue may alert the physician to the possible existence of an anomaly which can be a serious hazard in patients undergoing open-heart surgery for congenital defects.
Estimation techniques for nonlinear functions of the steady-state mean in computer simulation

A simulation study consists of several steps such as data collection, coding and model verification, model validation, experimental design, output data analysis, and implementation. Our research concentrates on output data analysis. In this field, many researchers have studied how to construct confidence intervals for the mean μ of a stationary stochastic process. However, the estimation of the value of a nonlinear function f(μ) has not received a lot of attention in the simulation literature. Towards this goal, a batch-means-based methodology was proposed by Munoz and Glynn (1997). Their approach did not consider consistent estimators for the variance of the point estimator for f(μ). This thesis, however, will consider consistent variance estimation techniques to construct confidence intervals for f(μ). Specifically, we propose methods based on the combination of the delta method and nonoverlapping batch means (NBM), standardized time series (STS), or a combination of both. Our approaches are tested on moving average, autoregressive, and M/M/1 queueing processes. The results show that the resulting confidence intervals (CIs) perform often better than the CIs based on the method of Munoz and Glynn in terms of coverage, the mean of their CI half-width, and the variance of their CI half-width.
Specific ATM-Mediated Phosphorylation Dependent on Radiation Quality

Abstract Whalen, M. K., Gurai, S. K., Zahed-Kargaran, H. and Pluth, J. M. Specific ATM-Mediated Phosphorylation Dependent on Radiation Quality. Radiat. Res. 170, 353–364 (2008). To determine whether the physical differences between high- and low-LET radiation are reflected in the biological responses of exposed cells, we detailed phospho-protein profiles of three proteins functional in radiation repair and signal transduction. Detailing γ-H2AX, pATF2 Ser490/498 and pSMC1 Ser957 kinetics after X-ray and iron-ion exposure also provides a window into understanding the underlying cellular responses. Phosphorylated forms of these proteins have been documented to co-localize at sites of double-strand breaks (DSBs) after low-LET radiation exposures, and two of these phosphorylations, pATF2 and pSMC1, are specifically dependent on ATM. Flow cytometry-based methods were used to quantify total levels of each phospho-protein at various times after irradiation. As expected, we observed a greater induction and persist...
Efficient corporate diversification: methods and implications

This study develops and tests a measure of efficient corporate diversification ECD that compares the variability of a firm's revenues with the variability of a minimum-variance portfolio of businesses that maintain the same sales growth rate. According to ECD, which incorporates the exposure of a firm to business cycle fluctuations, a firm is considered more efficient the higher its ratio of minimum variance to the realized variance. The empirical results indicate that efficient diversifiers manage to reduce the variability of their returns without sacrificing profitability. Moreover, such firms have a more favorable trade-off between risk and return in the equity market. Further, efficient diversifiers are found to be less diversified as measured by the extent of operations in different SIC industries. Instead, they operate in related business segments that have differential responses to business cycle changes and thereby enjoy the benefits from related diversification while minimizing their operating risk.
Head pose and trajectory recovery in uncalibrated camera networks —Region of interest tracking in smart home applications

In this paper we track a personpsilas region of interest by both recovering the 3D trajectory in the indoor environment and estimating the head pose indicating the attention direction. The above two attributes of the person can be combined to provide useful information for smart home and other smart indoor environment applications. There are two main differentiations of the work in this paper. First, a nonlinear graph embedding method is used to robustly estimate the head yaw angle under 0deg ~ 360deg. in low resolution images. Second, the personpsilas trajectory is recovered in an affinely-equal manner with un-calibrated cameras. We show that under certain conditions an affine camera model can be assumed, with which both the 3D trajectory and the camera parameters can be optimally estimated simultaneously from 2D tracking. In this case the optimization problem is linear and the solution can be achieved in real-time. With this method no accurate calibration is required for the cameras, while we can still achieve the personpsilas trajectory and region of interest relative to the field confined by the rough placement of the cameras. Therefore the motivation of this work is to facilitate/enable multi-camera systems for ubiquitous computing and ambient intelligent applications such as smart homes and smart meeting rooms. In such applications accurate calibration may be difficult to obtain by the users, but with the proposed methods functionalities of interest can still be achieved.
ECHOES: encouraging companionship, home organization, and entertainment in seniors

The ECHOES project (Encouraging Companionship, Home Organization, and Entertainment in Seniors), is focused on understanding and improving aspects of companionship in senior populations aged sixty-five years and older. Individuals in this age range commonly experience the loss of close friends and life partners. Furthermore, they are at risk of suffering from feelings of loneliness and depression. The project team consulted with several experts on aging in order to better understand the target population. The team followed an iterative design process which included focus groups and field studies. Potential design possibilities were identified and a final design prototype was chosen after several rounds of usability testing. The proposed system includes "TeleTable," an interactive table-based device that offers intuitive means of arranging and organizing digital media. The TeleTable also functions in a communicative capacity, encouraging individuals to interact with each other by playing simple games, conversing verbally, and exchanging digital photos with each other. This system also includes the "Pitara," a portable device enabling the association of physical mementos and keepsakes to digital media which adds a mobility, lifetime sharing and storytelling aspect to the TeleTable.
Defining Quality in Surgery

With growing recognition of wide variations in surgical performance, demand for information on surgical quality is at an all time high. However, there is very little agreement about how to best assess performance in surgery. According to the widely used Donabedian paradigm, quality can be measured using various aspects of structure, process, or outcome. Recently, there is growing enthusiasm for composite (or “global”) measures of quality. In this chapter, we discuss the pros and cons of each measurement approach and make recommendations for choosing among them.
Overlapping functional systems: A theory for vertebrate central nervous system function in terms of informal systems analysis

An holistic theory of the functional organization of the central nervous system, a system at the level of the organ, in vertebrate organisms is presented as an alternative to localization of function by using two sets of complementary rules for systems designation derived from systems theory. These rules reveal three types of systems according to levels of operation and the origins of goals. These are: (1) the teleogenic or primary systems (reproductive, food-water intake-use, thermoregulative, immune, oxygen intake-use); (2) the teleozetic or subsystems (internal sensory and motor, external motor, external sensory); (3) the teleonomic systems or echelons (field, local circuit, basic functional unit, basic excitation unit). The systems, subsystems, and echelons are discussed with regard to their hierarchical relationships, the nature of their goals, and the supporting experimental evidence. The theory is discussed as an explicit statement of multileveled relationships for the analysis of the vertebrate cns and, therefore, as presenting a paradigm for, or a way of thinking about, local and global brain theories, brain dysfunction, and brain evolution.
Race No Longer a Relevant Element in DNA Trial Evidence

Is it appropriate to use race in the presentation of forensic DNA evidence in a court of law? Much attention has been devoted to some of the ethical, legal, and social issues presented by the use of DNA typing to produce phenotypic “profiles” of crime suspects based on DNA samples found at crime scenes. Of particular concern is the use of so-called “ancestry information markers” (AIMs) to predict a suspect’s race or ethnicity. But these discussions overlook the conceptually distinct and more prevalent use of race in the development and presentation of forensic DNA evidence in criminal trials. In contrast to DNA profiling, which is used to try to identify a suspect, DNA evidence is presented at a trial to try to convict a suspect. Trial evidence DNA tries to establish a “match” between DNA found a crime scene and DNA obtained from an apprehended suspect. This match is currently based on finding an identity across 13 genetic loci, which, in contrast to AIMs, were explicitly chosen for their purported lack of any connection to phenotypic traits. In this context, race is used to help calculate odds regarding the probability that the same DNA profile might match a random individual in the population other than the suspect. One might say that in such calculations race is used to generate odds, whereas in DNA profiling odds are used to generate race. This article explores the origins of race in DNA evidence and the conflation of race, DNA, and crime.
Effect of Alkyl Group on MxOy(-) + ROH (M = Mo, W; R = Me, Et) Reaction Rates.

A systematic comparison of MxOy– + ROH (M = Mo vs W; R = Me vs Et) reaction rate coefficients and product distributions combined with results of calculations on weakly bound MxOy–·ROH complexes suggest that the overall reaction mechanism has three distinct steps, consistent with recently reported results on analogous MxOy– + H2O reactivity studies. MxOy– + ROH → MxOy+1– + RH oxidation reactions are observed for the least oxidized clusters, and MxOy– + ROH → MxOyROH– addition reactions are observed for clusters in intermediate oxidation states, as observed previously in MxOy– + H2O reactions. The first step is weakly bound complex formation, the rate of which is governed by the relative stability of the MxOy–·ROH charge–dipole complexes and the Lewis acid–base complexes. Calculations predict that MoxOy– clusters form more stable Lewis acid–base complexes than WxOy–, and the stability of EtOH complexes is enhanced relative to MeOH. Consistent with this result, MoxOy– + ROH rate coefficients are higher than ...
Rank-preserving regression: a more robust rank regression model against outliers

Mean-based semi-parametric regression models such as the popular generalized estimating equations are widely used to improve robustness of inference over parametric models. Unfortunately, such models are quite sensitive to outlying observations. The Wilcoxon-score-based rank regression (RR) provides more robust estimates over generalized estimating equations against outliers. However, the RR and its extensions do not sufficiently address missing data arising in longitudinal studies. In this paper, we propose a new approach to address outliers under a different framework based on the functional response models. This functional-response-model-based alternative not only addresses limitations of the RR and its extensions for longitudinal data, but, with its rank-preserving property, even provides more robust estimates than these alternatives. The proposed approach is illustrated with both real and simulated data. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Revisiting the Value of Incentive Travel

Revisiting the Value of Incentive Travel The incentive travel industry has suffered persistent scrutiny for several years. Incentive travel was portrayed by the media as a misuse of funds in a time of economic distress for most of corporate America. In fear of not wanting to be seen as mismanaging funds, incentive travel programs were either eliminated or severely cut. As a result, the value of incentive travel has been questioned. Not understanding the positive implications a successful incentive travel program provides the sponsoring company or the earners of the incentive travel has created a misperception of the incentive travel industry.
Automated variability selection in time-domain imaging surveys using sparse representations with learned dictionaries

Exponential growth in data streams and discovery power delivered by modern time-domain imaging surveys creates a pressing need for variability extraction algorithms that are both fully automated and highly reliable. The current state of the art methods based on image differencing are limited by the fact that for every real variable source the algorithm returns a large number of bogus “detections” caused by atmospheric effects and instrumental signatures coupled with imperfect image processing. Here we present a new approach to this problem inspired by recent advances in computer vision and train the machine to learn new features directly from pixel data. The training data set comes from the Palomar Transient Factory survey and consists of small images centered around transient candidates with known real/bogus classification. This set of high-dimensional vectors (∼1000 features) is then transformed into a linear representation using the so called dictionary, an overcomplete feature set constructed separately for each class. The data vectors are well approximated with a small number of dictionary elements, i.e. the dictionary representation is sparse. We show how sparse representations can be used to construct informative features for any suitable machine learning classifier. Our top level classifier is based on the random forest algorithm (collections of decision trees) with input data vectors consisting of up to 6 computer vision features and 20 additional context features designed by subject domain experts. Machine-learned features alone provide only an approximate classification with a 20% missed detection rate at a fixed false positive rate of 1%. When automatically extracted features are appended to those constructed by humans, the rate of missed detections is reduced from 8% to about 4% at 1% false positive rate.
Silicon Carbide and Gallium Nitride Rf Power Devices

Impressive RF power performance has been demonstrated by three radically different wide bandgap semiconductor power devices, SiC MESFET's, SiC SIT's, and AlGaN HFET's. AlGaN HFET's have achieved the highest ƒ max 97 GHz. 4H-SiC MESFET's have achieved the highest power densities, 3.3 W/mm at 850 MHz (CW) and at 10 GHz (pulsed). 4H-SiC SIT's have achieved the highest output power, 450 W (pulsed) at 600 MHz and 38 W (pulsed) at 3 GHz. Moreover a one kilowatt, 600 MHz SiC power module containing four multi-cell SIT's with a total source periphery of 94.5 cm has been demonstrated.
A Two-Stage Sales Forecasting Procedure Using Discounted Least Squares:

The authors develop a two-stage forecasting methodology for estimating the sales responses to marketing and environmental variables when it is likely that their impacts will change unpredictably over time. The methodology is based on an integrated least squares procedure that uses regression analysis in Stage 1 to estimate the coefficients of the controllable and environmental variables in combination with a Stage 2 discounted least squares smoothing procedure that updates key parameters in response to changing market conditions. The effectiveness of the methodology is demonstrated by applying it to weekly sales data from a major retail chain.
Random Toric Surfaces and a Threshold for Smoothness

Abstract We present a notion of a random toric surface modeled on a notion of a random graph. We then study some threshold phenomena related to the smoothness of the resulting surfaces.
Evaluation and management of the pregnant patient with suspected primary musculoskeletal tumor or metastatic carcinoma to bone

Primary musculoskeletal cancer and metastatic disease to bone in pregnant patients presents major treatment challenges. Although uncommon, musculoskeletal malignancies in pregnant women have been reported. When diagnosing and treating these patients, the mother's health must be managed appropriately while ensuring that fetal development is not deleteriously affected. Extensive radiographic imaging and more advanced techniques are often necessary to fully characterize the extent of disease. When possible, magnetic resonance imaging should be used instead of computed tomography to limit exposure of the conceptus to radiation. If treatment is needed, therapeutic radiation, chemotherapy, and surgery should be considered. Surgical resection is the foundation of treatment of early-stage primary bone tumors and soft-tissue sarcomas during pregnancy. With surgery, anesthesia and thromboprophylaxis are important considerations. If chemotherapy is required, administration should be avoided in the first trimester to limit harm to the fetus. Therapeutic radiation should similarly be avoided during the first trimester and often can be postponed until after delivery.
Putting the "Best" in Best Efforts

Suppose that John, an art dealer, agrees to use his "best efforts" to sell David's self-portrait. John, finding that his time is better spent promoting the work of competing artists, sells David's painting for ten dollars to a minor art dealer who does not plan to showcase the painting. Outraged, David sues for breach of contract on the grounds that John did not use his best efforts to find a suitable buyer. David contends that John should have been more aggressive in looking for buyers. How should a lawyer advise David or John about this case? Intuitively, it seems clear that John did not use his "best efforts" to sell the painting. Not only did John fail to work particularly hard, but he expended his efforts to help a competing painter. Yet in many jurisdictions, John does not violate his duty to David in this situation. In some of these jurisdictions, the best efforts provision does not oblige John to do anything to sell the painting. Today, the law of best efforts obligations is deeply unsettled, badly in need of clarity. Although parties routinely include best efforts clauses in contracts, Allan Farnsworth has found that the phrase "best efforts" has no consistent meaning in the law.' In the twenty-two years since Farnsworth noted this inconsistency, the law has remained opaque and unstable. Uncertainty in default rules can be especially pernicious in contract law. When contracting parties do not know to whom they are allocating the risk of a particular occurrence, they cannot assign an appropriate price to the performance of the contract. Moreover, when rights are indeterminate, rent-seeking is inevitable.' Because of the uncertainty surrounding the legal effect of best efforts promises, an approach that imposes consistency could add value to many transactions. This Comment suggests imposing an agency ob-
A regional approach to patient selection and evaluation for liposuction.

Removal of disproportionate localized fatty deposits requires a thorough knowledge of the correct indications for body contouring as weii as a knowledge of surgical anatomy. This arlide p rese uls a regional approach to preoperative patient evaluation and appropriate patient selection techniques that help ensure the maximal aesthetic result.
Developing a Wearable Ankle Rehabilitation Robotic Device for in-Bed Acute Stroke Rehabilitation

Ankle movement training is important in motor recovery post stroke and early intervention is critical to stroke rehabilitation. However, acute stroke survivors receive motor rehabilitation in only a small fraction of time, partly due to the lack of effective devices and protocols suitable for early in-bed rehabilitation. Considering the first few months post stroke is critical in stroke recovery, there is a strong need to start motor rehabilitation early, mobilize the ankle, and conduct movement therapy. This study seeks to address the need and deliver intensive passive and active movement training in acute stroke using a wearable ankle robotic device. Isometric torque generation mode under real-time feedback is used to guide patients in motor relearning. In the passive stretching mode, the wearable robotic device stretches the ankle throughout its range of motion to the extreme dorsiflexion forcefully and safely. In the active movement training mode, a patient is guided and motivated to actively participate in movement training through game playing. Clinical testing of the wearable robotic device on 10 acute stroke survivors over 12 sessions of feedback-facilitated isometric torque generation, and passive and active movement training indicated that the early in-bed rehabilitation could have facilitated neuroplasticity and helped improve motor control ability.
Probability distributions of bed load particle velocities, accelerations, hop distances, and travel times informed by Jaynes's principle of maximum entropy

We describe the most likely forms of the probability distributions of bed load particle velocities, accelerations, hop distances, and travel times, in a manner that formally appeals to inferential statistics while honoring mechanical and kinematic constraints imposed by equilibrium transport conditions. The analysis is based on E. Jaynes's elaboration of the implications of the similarity between the Gibbs entropy in statistical mechanics and the Shannon entropy in information theory. By maximizing the information entropy of a distribution subject to known constraints on its moments, our choice of the form of the distribution is unbiased. The analysis suggests that particle velocities and travel times are exponentially distributed and that particle accelerations follow a Laplace distribution with zero mean. Particle hop distances, viewed alone, ought to be distributed exponentially. However, the covariance between hop distances and travel times precludes this result. Instead, the covariance structure suggests that hop distances follow a Weibull distribution. These distributions are consistent with high-resolution measurements obtained from high-speed imaging of bed load particle motions. The analysis brings us closer to choosing distributions based on our mechanical insight.
Some Stochastic Processes with Absorbing Barriers

SUMMARY Models for growth distributions of biological organisms are investigated in this paper. They are specializations of the birth-death equations with two absorbing barriers. The solutions we seek are the distributions of the time to grow from an initial dose to an infective dose. Equations for these functions are simply obtained from the birth-death equations. Two main cases of interest are then examined. In the first case the birth and death rates are proportional to the number present and in the second case they are constant. Graphs are developed for the solution of the first case. Useful applications depend on this result.
Severity assessments used for inclusion criteria and baseline severity evaluation in atopic dermatitis clinical trials: a systematic review

Background Numerous inclusion criteria and baseline severity assessments are used in clinical trials of atopic dermatitis (AD), which may limit comparison of results. Objective We sought to characterize the inclusion criteria and baseline severity assessments used in randomized controlled trials (RCT) of AD internationally. Methods We performed a systematic review of RCT with a pharmacological intervention from 2007-2016. Cochrane Library, EMBASE, GREAT, LILACS, MEDLINE and Scopus were searched. Two authors independently performed study selection and data extraction. Results Overall, 212 RCT met inclusion/exclusion criteria. Target population and inclusion criteria based on AD severity were not documented in 78 (36.8%) and 25 (18.7%) studies, respectively. Thirty and 58 severity assessments were used for inclusion criteria and baseline severity, respectively, with only 60.3% concordance between their use. Global assessments were most frequently used for both inclusion criteria and baseline severity assessment in North America (39.5% and 32.1%), while SCORing AD (SCORAD) or objective SCORAD index was most frequently used in Europe (23.5% and 23.0%) and Asia (34.2% and 43.5%). Minimum and maximum thresholds of severity assessments were inconsistently used between studies for inclusion criteria, even within similar target populations. SCORAD, global assessments and body surface area were most frequently used for both inclusion criteria and baseline severity assessment. IGA was particularly used in trials of topical agents. Conclusions There was considerable variability and poor documentation of inclusion criteria and baseline severity assessments in RCT for AD. These differences may limit interpretation of a study and comparison of results between studies. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Improving College Readiness for Historically Underserved Students: The Role of The District Office.

Research on the role of institutions in influencing students’ readiness for college has so far focused primarily on the school level and the state policy context, with only little attention to the district. This case study, based on interview data and documents collected over the course of a year, analyzes an urban district’s attempt to create a systematic approach to improving the college readiness of its students, many of whom have been traditionally underserved by the educational system. It identifies factors contributing to progress as well as challenges encountered in several critical areas: (a) leadership commitment, (b) data infrastructure, (c) building adult capacity around data use and college readiness, (d) connecting indicators with supports to promote college readiness, and (e) partnerships with community and higher education institutions.
Comammox Functionality Identified in Diverse Engineered Biological Wastewater Treatment Systems

Complete ammonia oxidation (comammox) to nitrate by certain Nitrospira-lineage bacteria (CMX) could contribute to overall nitrogen cycling in engineered biological nitrogen removal (BNR) processes in addition to the more well-documented nitrogen transformations by ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB), nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB), and anaerobic ammonia-oxidizing (anammox) bacteria (AMX). A metagenomic survey was conducted to quantify the presence and elucidate the potential functionality of CMX in 16 full-scale BNR configurations treating mainstream or sidestream wastewater. CMX proposed to date were combined with previously published AOB, NOB, and AMX genomes to create an expanded database for alignment of metagenomic reads. CMX-assigned metagenomic reads accounted for between 0.28 and 0.64% of total coding DNA sequences in all BNR configurations. Phylogenetic analysis of key nitrification functional genes amoA, encoding the α-subunit of ammonia monooxygenase, haoB, encoding the β-subunit of hydroxylamin...