cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Higher Order Derivatives of Dirichlet’s Energy

In this chapter we take the point of view of Jesse Douglas and consider minimal surfaces as critical points of Dirichlet’s integral within the class of harmonic surfaces X:B→ℝ3 that are continuous on the closure of the unit disk B and map ∂B=S 1 homeomorphically onto a closed Jordan curve Γ of ℝ3. It will be assumed that Γis smooth of classC ∞and nonplanar. Then any minimal surface bounded by Γ will be a nonplanar surface of class \(C^{\infty}(\overline {B},\mathbb{R}^{3})\), and so we shall be allowed to take directional derivatives (i.e. “variations”) of any order of the Dirichlet integral along an arbitrary C ∞-smooth path through the minimal surface.
Relation Between Temperature Extremes and Symptom Exacerbation in Patients With Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

Warm temperatures induce peripheral vasodilation, decrease afterload, and may concurrently increase the left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) gradient. We aimed to assess the impact of subjective ambient temperature on hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HC) symptoms and determine whether they were associated with LVOT gradient, patient quality of life (QOL), and risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD). We identified consecutive patients with HC presenting to a tertiary referral center. Of the 173 patients in the study, 143 (83%) had HC symptoms, with ambient temperature change worsening symptoms for 72 patients (50%). Symptom exacerbation occurred only with heat for 57 (79%), whereas symptoms were exacerbated with cold only or with cold and heat equally for 15 (21%). Patients affected by any temperature exacerbation more commonly were women (p = 0.009), had a lower QOL (p = 0.04), had a family history of HC (p = 0.007), or underwent myectomy (p = 0.01). A greater proportion of patients with heat-only exacerbation had a family history of HC (p = 0.005) and SCD (p = 0.05). The presence of an LVOT gradient either at rest or with provocation was similar in all groups. In conclusion, although no appreciable difference in LVOT gradients were observed between patient groups, approximately half of the patients with HC reporting symptoms at baseline noted worsening of symptoms with temperature changes, with >75% describing heat-induced symptom exacerbation. Furthermore, affected patients more frequently were women, underwent surgical intervention and device implantation, and had an overall lower QOL.
M.mode.ify: A Free Online Tool to Generate Post Hoc M‐Mode Images From Any Ultrasound Clip

We present a software tool designed to generate an M-mode image post hoc from any B-mode ultrasound clip, along any possible axis. M.mode.ify works by breaking down an ultrasound clip into individual frames. It then rotates and crops these frames by using a user-selected M-mode line. The post hoc M-mode image is created by splicing these frames together. Users can measure time and distance after proper calibration through the M.mode.ify interface. This tool opens up new possibilities for clinical application, quality assurance, and research. It is available free for public use at http://www.ultrasoundoftheweek.com/M.mode.ify/.
The synthesis and biological evaluation of alkyl and benzyl naphthyridinium analogs of eupolauridine as potential antimicrobial and cytotoxic agents

Eupolauridine, an indenonaphthyridine alkaloid, has been previously reported by us to exhibit antifungal activity. This study describes the synthesis of new alkyl and benzyl naphthyridinium/pyridinium analogs of eupolauridine as potential antifungal agents. A majority of the analogs exhibited antifungal activity against opportunistic pathogens such as Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans. Several of them were also effective against bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, MRS, Pseudomonas and Mycobacterium) and the malaria parasite (Plasmodium falciparum) to variable extents. A number of analogs were also cytotoxic to human cancer cell lines.
US-funded measurements of cervical cancer death rates in India: scientific and ethical concerns

Background: Since 1998, randomised trials in India funded by the US National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation have compared cervical cancer death rates among 224,929 women offered cervical screening to those among 138,624 women offered no screening whatsoever. To date, at least 254 women in unscreened control groups have died of cervical cancer. The United States Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP) determined that the subjects in the studies were not given adequate information for the purpose of providing informed consent. The determinations of the OHRP contradict assurances given by other American medical and bioethical leaders. Concerns: Defective scientific design required inadequate informed consent. US-funded measurements of death rates may have needlessly delayed development of indispensable, lifesaving public health infrastructure. US-funded measurements of incidence and death rates proved to be scientifically irreproducible and unreliable. Predictably, nothing was learned from these measurements that was not already known. Statistical bias embedded in measurement of death rates yielded the absurd conclusion that Papanicolaou screening does not prevent cervical cancer, leading to a marketing campaign for a proprietary human papillomavirus (HPV) screening test unaffordable for the women among whom death rates had been measured. Inexplicably, measurements of death rates among unscreened women were continued even after the mortality benefit of screening had been confirmed. Quality management of NCI-funded visual screening (VIA) in Mumbai failed catastrophically, with unsettling implications for VIA conducted by those with less expertise. Conclusions: High-quality screening must be provided to all surviving unscreened women without further delay. US-based global health organisations should institutionalise a commitment to “improving health outcomes as rapidly as possible among as many people as possible.” Those who suffered avoidable harm and death, as well as their families, should be promptly and fairly compensated. As another critic of these unfortunate studies concluded, “You can’t let people die to show something you already know.”
Videodiscs and Medical Education

Videodisc has been slow in developing its potential as an influential force in medical education. There are still relatively few medical videodiscs available for public purchase. The most prolific producer of videodiscs in medical education continues to be Miles Pharmaceuticals Company, although a handful of universities have produced a number of discs in the past few years. Recent software innovations affecting the videodisc technology, and the demonstration and implementation of a statewide medical education program in Florida based on videodisc technology have engendered interest among videodisc producers that videodisc has a future in medicine.
Hemorrhage Risk of Cavernous Malformation

Researchers at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN reviewed the records and radiograph data of 292 patients (47.3% male) seen between 1989 and 1999 with a diagnosis of intracerebral cavernous malformation (ICM).
Quinones as Blood Pressure Reducing Agents in Hypertensive Rats.

Summary1. Three paraquinones and one diorthoquinone were found to have well-defined blood pressure reducing properties in hypertensive rats. These compounds are 2, 5 dimethyl paraquinone (xyloquinone), 2 methyl 5 isopropyl paraquinone (thymo-quinone), trimethyl paraquinone and sodium rhodizonate. 2. This depressor effect is not associated with a febrile reaction and can be elicited by the oral as well as the subcutaneous route of administration. 3. These compounds have no effect on the blood pressure of normal non-hypertensive rats.
287 OCULAR COMPLICATIONS OF PEGYLATED INTERFERON THERAPY IN HEPATITIS C PATIENTS

Background Interferon has been associated with infrequent but potentially severe ocular complications including retinopathy and global rupture. Few data are available for ocular side effects of longer acting pegylated interferons. Aim To study ocular complications of hepatitis C patients treated with pegylated interferon. Patients 117 (110 male, 7 female); 60 Caucasian, 57 African-American; 8 with diabetes (DM), 28 with hypertension (HTN), 13 with both DM and HTN, 3 with chronic renal insufficiency, 2 HIV+, 4 liver transplantation. Methods Retrospective chart review of patients treated between 1/2000-9/2004. Total 63 patients treated with pegylated interferon-α 2a and 54 patients treated with pegylated interferon-α 2b. Patients without renal failure were also treated with ribavirin 1000-120 mg/daily. Patients with DM and HTN were referred for fundoscopic examination. Patients who were symptomatic received fundoscopic examinations during therapy. The frequency, severity and natural history of ocular complications were studied. Results 46/117 (39.3%) patients had pretreatment screening. 49 patients had HTN or DM. 28/49 (57.1%) patients with HTN or DM had pretreatment screening. 2/46 with pretreatment screening had mild retinopathy (one DM, one neurofibromatosis). 11 patients had ocular complications (9 during therapy, 2 immediately after therapy). 9/11 patients with complications had HTN or DM. 9/49 (18.4%) HTN or DM patients had complications. 2/68 (2.9%) of patients without HTN or DM had complications. Complications 9/11 with retinopathy, 5/11 with cotton wool spots, 1 with migraine associated visual changes. 6 required discontinuation of therapy due to ocular complications. Only 3 with mild retinal changes were continued on therapy. Both patients with abnormal findings on pretreatment screening had progression of retinopathy on therapy. All patients followed after treatment had resolution of retinopathy. 7/63 (11.1%) patients treated with pegylated interferon-α 2a and 2/54 (3.7%) treated with pegylated interferon-α 2b had ocular complications. 33/63 (52.4%) patients treated with pegylated interferon-α 2a compared to 16/54 (29.6%) treated with interferon-α 2b had HTN or DM. Conclusions In this series, a large percentage of hepatitis C patients had HTN or DM. Ocular complications were frequent and severe with pegylated interferon treatment. High rates of complications were noted in patients with DM and HTN. Complications generally required discontinuation of interferon and patients ultimately had fundoscopic resolution. Based on these findings, routine screening, particularly of hypertensive and diabetic patients, should be performed prior to pegylated interferon therapy for hepatitis C.
Nurse knowledge, work environment, and turnover in highly specialized pediatric end-of-life care

Objective:To examine the relationship between nurse knowledge, work environment, and registered nurse (RN) turnover in perinatal hospice and palliative care organizations.Methods:Using nurse intellectual capital theory, a multivariate analysis was conducted with 2007 National Home and Hospice Care Survey data.Results:Perinatal hospice and palliative care organizations experienced a 5% turnover rate. The professional experience of advanced practice nurses (APNs) was significantly related to turnover among RNs (β = −.032, P < .05). Compared to organizations with no APNs professional experience, clinical nurse specialists and nurse practitioners significantly reduced RN turnover by 3 percentage points. No other nurse knowledge or work environment variables were associated with RN turnover. Several of the control variables were also associated with RN turnover in the study; Organizations serving micropolitan (β = −.041, P < .05) and rural areas (β = −.037, P < .05) had lower RN turnover compared to urban area...
Obstructing Urethral Valve in a Woman: A Case Report

Abstract We report on a woman with a urethral valve causing obstruction, hyperreflexia, vesicoureteralreflux and retention. The diagnosis of urethral valves in female subjects rests on endoscopy and radiographic studies. Transurethral resection of the valve is effective treatment. The literature is discussed briefly.
Measurement-induced state transitions in a superconducting qubit: Beyond the rotating wave approximation

Many superconducting qubit systems use the dispersive interaction between the qubit and a coupled harmonic resonator to perform quantum state measurement. Previous works have found that such measurements can induce state transitions in the qubit if the number of photons in the resonator is too high. We investigate these transitions and find that they can push the qubit out of the two-level subspace, and that they show resonant behavior as a function of photon number. We develop a theory for these observations based on level crossings within the Jaynes-Cummings ladder, with transitions mediated by terms in the Hamiltonian that are typically ignored by the rotating wave approximation. We find that the most important of these terms comes from an unexpected broken symmetry in the qubit potential. We confirm the theory by measuring the photon occupation of the resonator when transitions occur while varying the detuning between the qubit and resonator.
Business Marketing Relationships: An Empirical Generalization with Implications for Future Research

An important fundamental issue in marketing is the understanding of the relational context in which exchanges occur (cf. Bagozzi 1975; Houston and Gassenheimer 1987; Kotler and Levy 1969). Several marketing scholars have maintained that relationship marketing actually represents a paradigm shift in marketing (Gronroos 1991; Sheth and Parvatiyar 1995; Webster 1992), permanently changing the competitive playing field for firms and consumers (McKenna 1991). Given its importance, we argue that future research on relationships in marketing needs to be driven by a clearer understanding of the complexities and intricacies of these relationships. To guide this understanding, we review and integrate a large body of empirical work by marketing scholars on business marketing relationships (BMRs). We build a theoretical framework, against which we can assess extant relational theories, e.g. transaction costs economics, resource dependence, social exchange, and suggest areas for future research.
Understanding location- and feature-based processing along the human intraparietal sulcus.

The human IPS has been subdivided according to multiple different organizational schemes. Here, we determined the localization of two visual short-term memory (VSTM) intraparietal sulcus (IPS) regi...
The changing discourse on higher education and the nation-state, 1960–2010

This article examines changing ideas about the relationship between the nation-state and the university in international higher education development discourse through a quantitative content analysis of over 700 academic articles, conference proceedings and research reports published by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). It finds that since the 1990s, emphasis on the private sector grows, the nation-state’s role shifts from one of manpower planning to strategic planning, and higher education is increasingly expected to promote standardized development goals and economic competitiveness in the global arena. However, it also finds that the role of the nation-state does not disappear—although no longer portrayed as the primary funder and provider of higher education, the nation-state is imbued with important regulatory functions.
U.S. PATENT EXTRATERRITORIALITY WITHIN THE INTERNATIONAL CONTEXT

Globalization has prompted the evolution of our definition of sovereignty. In the patent context, this has arisen amidst a recent focus on the extraterritorial reach of patent remedies. Some of the theoretical challenges are examined in a recent series of decisions of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. These decisions evidence the tensions that arise in when transnational conduct is evaluated within the Westphalian framework developed in the 1600’s. In essence, resolving them requires grappling with the problems that arise “where the reality of human interaction, with its plural sources of norms, seems to be chafing against the strictures traditional conceptions of sovereignty impose.” Paul Schiff Berman, From International Law to Globalization, 43 Colum. J. of Transnat’l 485, 528 (2005). Strict adherence to perfect Westphalian borders is not the current normative world order. Boundaries have become more porous, sometimes through agreement. Treaties, agreements, and other forms of cooperation subject domestic law to external obligations. Another example is the multinational cooperation undertaken to mitigate the impact of climate change, which is an inherently global phenomenon. Corporations engage in global commerce, wield influence over foreign governments, and engage in activities that influence foreign economies. Foreign intervention is justified to address human rights violations and, in some cases, security. Other rationales have been asserted to extend U.S. law beyond its shores. For example, the Supreme Court has authorized extraterritorial jurisdiction for the federal courts to hear petitions for habeas corpus brought by prisoners in Guantanamo Bay, in part because the U.S. had exercised “complete jurisdiction and control” over the territory and acted as the petitioners’ custodians. All of these examples represent shifts in the law’s treatment of territorial reach. Recently, a series of appellate cases have considered extraterritoriality of the nation's intellectual property laws. This paper considers these cases in their international context. Although this line of extraterritoriality cases turns on the interpretation of a domestic statute, 35 U.S.C. section 284, the issues raised cannot be fully resolved without understanding the global implications. Essentially, there are several difficulties that arise when damages for infringement of a U.S. patent are authorized for overseas conduct. Among others, such a solution would be contrary to over a century of law that establishes that such conduct is legal. Further, extraterritorial damages are contrary to the structure and purpose of the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (the “TRIPS Agreement”), and likely to introduce economic distortions. Further, there are difficulties are identified as “the legitimacy of unilateralism by a handful of nations seeking to impose their legal and regulatory will over the entire globe.”
Packed-bed Thermal Energy Storage Analysis: Quartzite and Palm- Oil Performance

Abstract A packed bed for solar energy storage in the form of sensible heat has been investigated using two-phase continuous model. The system contains Quartzite as the filler material and Palm oil as the heat transfer fluid. The aim of this work is to propose an eco-friendly storage system which uses natural concrete and certified sustainable oil for medium temperature thermal storage. Using the developed model, the performance of the Palm oil has been compared with two different synthetic oils which has shown that the Palm oil could efficiently be used as a heat transfer fluid for a working temperature below 300 °C.
Anatomy and Molecular Basis of Autonomic Innervation of the Heart

The heart is innervated extensively by sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves of the peripheral autonomic nervous system, as well as by sensory nerves. Most sympathetic neurons use norepinephrine as a primary neurotransmitter. Acetylcholine is the main neurotransmitter released by preganglionic and postganglionic vagal nerve terminals, which wrap around the heart and activate the parasympathetic nervous system. Sympathetic and parasympathetic systems exert opposite effects on the heart to regulate the contractile rate and force. Sympathetic nerves increase both heart rate (positive chronotropy) and contractile function (positive inotropy), whereas parasympathetic nerves diminish heart rate (bradycardia) and attenuate sympathetic effects on contractile function. Under normal conditions, the two systems are well balanced to maintain a normal response to external stimulation.
The effect of scapular position on subacromial contact behavior: a cadaver study

Background Patients with subacromial impingement were reported to show abnormal scapular positions during shoulder elevation. However, the relationship between the scapular positions and subacromial impingement is unclear. The purpose of this study was to biomechanically determine the effect of scapular position on subacromial contact behavior by using fresh frozen cadavers. Methods The peak contact pressure on the coracoacromial arch was measured with a flexible tactile force sensor in 9 fresh frozen cadaver shoulders. The measurement was performed during passive glenohumeral elevation in the scapular plane ranging from 30° to 75°. The scapular downward and internal rotations and anterior tilt were simulated by tilting the scapula in 5° increments up to 20°. The measurement was also performed with combination of scapular downward and internal rotations and anterior tilt positions. Results The peak contact pressure decreased linearly with anterior tilt, and a significant difference between neutral scapular position (1.06 ± 0.89 MPa) and anterior tilt by 20° (0.46 ± 0.18 MPa) was observed ( P Conclusion Scapular anterior tilt decreased peak contact pressure during passive shoulder elevation. In addition, scapular downward and internal rotations had little effect on peak contact pressure. The abnormal scapular motion reported in previous studies might not be directly related to symptoms caused by subacromial impingement.
2004 Public and Private Information

Public information is available for other animals, ranging from offspring to competitors to predators, to assess. Private information is concealed, and only revealed to select animals. The evolutionary tension is that animals may seek to uncover private information, making it public, in order to exploit what they discover.
Merging Ahead, Increase Speed: A Pilot of Funder-Driven Nonprofit Restructuring

Nonprofit agencies face increasing competition for scarce funding resources. Many agencies are considering ways to restructure themselves, often via mergers and acquisitions, as a way to become more effective and competitive. This case study examines a pilot initiative in Cleveland, Ohio, in which philanthropic funders invited and supported nonprofits in the pursuit of significant restructuring efforts. Health and human service nonprofits were recruited into a three-phase facilitated pilot that assisted the agency executive directors and boards in determining what type of restructuring was feasible and desirable. Overall, 75 nonprofits participated in some part of the pilot, 17 of which formally explored a restructuring opportunity within the pilot year, and eight of which ultimately consolidated. The study highlights key learnings from the initiative and the implications for the nonprofit sector in the promotion of restructuring discussions.
Causal inference for social network data

We describe semiparametric estimation and inference for causal effects using observational data from a single social network. Our asymptotic result is the first to allow for dependence of each observation on a growing number of other units as sample size increases. While previous methods have generally implicitly focused on one of two possible sources of dependence among social network observations, we allow for both dependence due to transmission of information across network ties, and for dependence due to latent similarities among nodes sharing ties. We describe estimation and inference for new causal effects that are specifically of interest in social network settings, such as interventions on network ties and network structure. Using our methods to reanalyze the Framingham Heart Study data used in one of the most influential and controversial causal analyses of social network data, we find that after accounting for network structure there is no evidence for the causal effects claimed in the original paper.
Abstract 171: Nkx2-5 Suppresses The Proliferation Of Atrial Cardiomyocytes And Formation Of The Conduction Cells During Cardiac Development

Mutation of human NKX2-5 is linked to atrioventricular conduction abnormalities and atrial septal defects. However, it has been difficult to rigorously examine the primary role of Nkx2-5 during the formation of the atria and cardiac conduction cells due to the concurrent hemodynamic aberration associated with ventricular dysfunction. Here, we examined the role of Nkx2-5 in the formation of the atria and conduction cells. Nkx2-5 was conditionally ablated in the atrial cardiomyocytes using atrial-specific Sln-Cre mouse line. The conditional mutants died shortly after birth, which is earlier and more severe than ventricular-specific knockout of Nkx2-5. While no evidence of ventricular failure was identified, atrial-specific conditional mutants developed congenital heart abnormalities including enlarged foramen ovale and hyperplastic atrial myocardium. Histological analyses revealed that the overproliferation of the atrial myocytes underlies the hyperplastic atrial myocardium prior to the development of the atrial septal enlargement. Moreover, conditional mutants showed massive expansion of SA node, AV node and internodal conduction cells, resulting in atrioventricular blocks that were further exacerbated by catecholamine stimulation. Given that the hemodynamic alteration is minimal during the gestational stages in our model, the misspecification of the conduction cells is not likely due to the alteration of the hemodynamics. Together, these data suggest that Nkx2-5 plays a suppressive role in the proliferation of the atrial cardiomyocytes and the formation of the conduction cells.
Atopic dermatitis: Emerging therapies

Crisaborole and dupilumab represent the first 2 Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved therapies for atopic dermatitis (AD) in more than 15 years, and there are many promising drugs currently in development. This new wave of therapeutics capitalizes on the large body of work clarifying the pathogenesis of AD over the last several decades. In particular, type 2 cytokine-driven inflammation and skin barrier dysfunction are key processes underlying AD pathogenesis.
Conducting Large-Scale Evaluation Studies to Identify Characteristics of Effective Comprehensive School Counseling Programs

This chapter explores and summarizes the key research methodological issues and considerations involved with the state-level evaluations of comprehensive school counseling programs (CSCPs) conducted in the USA, elucidating their commonalities and differences. Definitional and conceptual considerations are first reviewed, followed by a discussion of evaluation research as a critical tool to guide policymaking and implementation. Specific applications are then proffered in an attempt to illustrate and demonstrate the utility of these methodologies for generating knowledge and program policy. To conclude, recommendations to improve school counseling program evaluation research are included.
Determinants of Performance on Specific On-Road Skills in Multiple Sclerosis

In this prospective cross-sectional study, we investigated the cognitive, visual, and motor deficits underlying poor performance during on-road driving in 102 individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS). Thirteen specific skills categorized into hierarchic clusters of operational, tactical, visuo-integrative, and mixed driving were assessed during the on-road evaluation. Stepwise regression analysis identified the off-road skills that influenced overall performance on the on-road test and in each cluster. Study results showed that visuospatial function (p=0.002), inhibition (p=0.008), binocular acuity (p=0.04), vertical visual field (p=0.02), and stereopsis (p=0.03) together accounted for the highest variance in total on-road score (R2 =0.37). Attentional shift (p=0.0004), stereopsis (p=0.007), glare recovery (p=0.047), and use of assistive devices (p=0.03) best predicted the operational cluster (R2 =0.28). Visuospatial function p=0.002), inhibition (p=0.002), reasoning (p=0.003), binocular acuity (p=0.04), and stereopsis (p=0.005) best determined the tactical cluster (R2 =0.41). The visuo-integrative model (R2 =0.12) comprised binocular acuity (p=0.007) and stereopsis (p=0.045). Inhibition (p=0.0001) and binocular acuity (p=0.001) provided the best model of the mixed cluster (R2 =0.25). These results provide more insights into the specific impairments that influence different dimensions of on-road driving and may be used as a framework for targeted driving intervention programs in MS.
A NEW TEST METHOD FOR SHIPPING PALLETS OF SOLAR PRODUCTS

The photovoltaic (PV) industry is expanding rapidly to meet the growing renewable-energy demands globally. The failure-rate analysis indicated that a large portion of the accelerated PV module qualification failures were related to the failure of PV cell itself, which was leading to the yield loss of PV products during shipping or transportation. Therefore, the damaged cell (or module) caused by shipping is always one of the serious problems to impact the long-term reliability of PV product. This paper aims to propose a new test method of reliability evaluation for shipping pallet of solar product. The first scenario is the test pallet shipped in fab (e.g., fork-lift truck or hand-pallet truck). The second scenario is the test pallet transported from fab to fab by different vehicle (e.g., truck, train, aircraft, and shipboard). Consequently, detailed results were applied to SEMI Doc. 5431 and released as SEMI PV56-1214 by voting in December 2014. The solar cell/module/system makers and buyers, or any othe...
US Trade Policy in the Trump Administration

President Donald Trump has emphasized three recurring themes regarding trade policy: the importance of trade balances, including bilateral trade balances, currency manipulation to gain unfair advantage in trade, and “disastrous” trade agreements. Asia figures prominently in these concerns. Trump withdrew the United States from the Trans‐Pacific Partnership, is increasing contingent or process protection, demanding the renegotiation under duress of the North American Free Trade Agreement and the Korea‐United States Free Trade Agreement. These policies are modeled quantitatively and results generated for sectoral output and employment at the state and metropolitan area level.
On Certain Properties of Infinito Sostantivato

Italian infinitival NPs have played a role in my discussion of the syntax of English gerundive nominals and of the status of the of-phrase. While these NPs have received a fair amount of attention by traditional grammarians,1 some of their distributional properties, particularly pattern (I), have gone unnoticed in the linguistic literature: (I)a. Giovanni udi il mormorare sommesso John heard the whisper(inf) soft b. * Giovanni udi il mormorare sommessamente John heard the whisper(inf) softly c. il suo mormorare sommessamente indica che egli e imbarazzato his whisper(inf) softly indicates that he is embarassed d. l’avere egli scritto quella lettera non implica che tu sia fuori dai guai the have(inf) he written that letter does not imply you are out of trouble e. * Gianni ha udito l’avere egli scritto quella lettera John heard the have(inf) he written that letter In this chapter, I discuss Italian infinitival NPs in a more systematic fashion, and I propose an account of (I).
SMDP homomorphisms: an algebraic approach to abstraction in semi-Markov decision processes

To operate effectively in complex environments learning agents require the ability to selectively ignore irrelevant details and form useful abstractions. In this article we consider the question of what constitutes a useful abstraction in a stochastic sequential decision problem modeled as a semi-Markov Decision Process (SMDPs). We introduce the notion of SMDP homomorphism and argue that it provides a useful tool for a rigorous study of abstraction for SMDPs. We present an SMDP minimization framework and an abstraction framework for factored MDPs based on SMDP homomorphisms. We also model different classes of abstractions that arise in hierarchical systems. Although we use the options framework for purposes of illustration, the ideas are more generally applicable. We also show that the conditions for abstraction we employ are a generalization of earlier work by Dietterich as applied to the options framework.
Community Health Assessment by Local Health Departments: Future Questions

This "Letter to the Editor" is a response to the article "Community Health Assessment by Local Health Departments: Presence of Epidemiologist, Governance, and Federal and State Funds are Critical" published in volume 2, issue 6 of this journal. It considers how LHDs develop CHAs in complex jurisdictions, the roles of other professionals in the development of CHAs, and the conduct, quality, and use of CHAs.
HUMAN IMMUNOGLOBULIN EXPRESSION IN HYBRID CELLS

Publisher Summary Somatic cell hybrids—between mouse myeloma cells and lymphocytes derived from either mice or rats immunized with various antigens—have been used to produce monoclonal antibodies specific for the antigens of interest. These hybrids, or hybridomas, are phenotypically similar to the myeloma cell parent and produce large quantities of the antibodies expressed by the lymphocytes derived from the immunized animals. The antibody molecules produced by each hybrid clone are identical (monoclonal). As successful hybridization of myeloma cells is more efficient with lymphocytes that have been stimulated to divide than with resting lymphocytes, somatic cell hybridization occurs preferentially with those lymphocytes that have responded to antigenic stimulation. The availability of a cell system that allows to immortalize human antibody-producing cells through somatic cell hybridization procedures could be of enormous value in the study of human autoimmune diseases and, possibly, in human immunotherapy.
“Hidden in Plain Sight”: A Descriptive Review of Laryngeal Vestibule Closure

A major emphasis in the evaluation of swallowing is to identify physiological abnormalities in swallowing that contribute to or explain unsafe swallowing (i.e., ingested material enters the trachea; post-swallow residue in the pharynx). Impairments in laryngeal vestibule closure are widely recognized as one of the major causes of unsafe swallowing, as it is the primary mechanism and first line of defense for preventing material from penetrating the airway during swallowing. However, this complex mechanism is often overlooked and understudied in swallowing research and dysphagia management. The purpose of this review is to promote a better understanding of the mechanism of laryngeal vestibule closure. We discuss where gaps in research exist and propose future directions for incorporating laryngeal vestibule closure as a primary outcome measure in swallowing research. Additionally, we propose that an increased knowledge of the mechanism of laryngeal vestibule closure will increase diagnostic accuracy and optimize dysphagia management for patients with dysphagia.
Pricing strategies on Airbnb: are multi-unit hosts revenue pros?

Abstract This study examined the effects of pricing strategies, including price positioning and dynamic pricing, on an Airbnb listing’s revenue with a particular interest on the performance difference between multi-unit and single-unit hosts. A series of econometric analyses were performed using a dataset of 320,243 listings managed by 216,058 hosts in 10 major U.S. markets across a longitudinal period from October 2014 to July 2017. The results suggest while price positioning and dynamic pricing have positive impacts on an Airbnb listing’s revenue performance, a multi-listing host performs better than a single-listing host in driving a listing’s revenue, through (a) positioning a listing at a higher price than the average listing price in a neighborhood and (b) adopting less dynamic pricing strategies. Our study fills the void of pricing research in room-sharing economy literature and generates important insights about the pricing strategies and the consequent performance outcome between two different host types.
Vestibular and oculomotor function in children with CP: Descriptive study.

Abstract Objective We aimed to describe vestibular/oculomotor function of 7–12-year-old children with CP, Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels (I-III), in comparison to an age-matched control group to understand the effect of the vestibular system on activities and participation of children with CP. Methods Vestibular, oculomotor and balance function were tested in children with CP. Central and peripheral vestibular function was examined using an enclosed rotary chair and infrared video goggles (100 Hz) that measured eye movements. Oculomotor tests included smooth pursuit and optokinetic nystagmus (OKN). Vestibulo-Ocular Reflex (VOR) tests, done in complete darkness, included step rotation (STEP), sinusoidal harmonic acceleration (SHA) test, VOR cancellation and enhancement, and subjective visual vertical and horizontal (SVV/SVH). The integrity of the saccule was tested with the Cervical Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potential. If able, the participants' balance abilities were examined using the Sensory Organization Test (SOT) to determine ability to maintain standing balance during six conditions that challenged the visual, somatosensory and vestibular systems. Independent t-tests and Mann-Whitney U tests were used to compare results between groups. Results Forty-one children with CP (mean age = 9.44 years, SD = 1.66; 23F/18M; Gross Motor Function Classification System levels: I (n = 19), II (n = 7), III (n = 15) and thirty-three typically developing (TD) children (mean age = 10.16 years, SD = 1.6; 13F/20M) were recruited from the Birmingham, AL community. There was no significant difference between children with CP and TD children in saccular function (i.e. C-VEMP test), and peripheral vestibular end organ (i.e. SHA test and STEP test), VOR enhancement, or OKN gain. Velocity gain for horizontal smooth pursuit was significantly worse in children with CP (p = 0.009), compared to TD children. Poor mediation of central vestibular function were that evident with significantly higher VOR cancellation gain in children with CP (p Conclusions Although peripheral vestibular function was intact, children with CP had difficulty coupling eye and head movement (VOR cancellation), using the vestibular system for postural control (SOT), demonstrated poor perception of upright (SVV/SVH), and had difficulty following a slow moving target (smooth pursuit eye movement). These results implicate a central vestibular and oculomotor function impairment the severity of which corresponded with severity of the level of CP.
Graph theory analysis of DTI tractography in children with traumatic injury.

Abstract Objective To evaluate brai structural connectivity in children with traumatic injury (TI) following a motor vehicle accident using graph theory analysis of DTI tractography data. Methods DTI scans were acquired on a 3 T Philips scanner from children aged 8–15 years approximately 2 months post-injury. The TI group consisted of children with traumatic brain injury (TBI; n = 44) or extracranial injury (EI; n = 23). Healthy control children (n = 36) were included as an age-matched comparison group. A graph theory approach was applied to DTI tractography data to investigate injury-related differences in connectivity network characteristics. Group differences in structural connectivity evidenced by graph metrics including efficiency, strength, and modularity were assessed using the multi-threshold permutation correction (MTPC) and network-based statistic (NBS) methods. Results At the global network level, global efficiency and mean network strength were lower, and modularity was higher, in the TBI than in the control group. Similarly, strength was lower and modularity higher when comparing the EI to the control group. At the vertex level, nodal efficiency, vertex strength, and average shortest path length were different between all pairwise comparisons of the three groups. Both nodal efficiency and vertex strength were higher in the control than in the EI group, which in turn were higher than in the TBI group. The opposite between-group relationships were seen with path length. These between-group differences were distributed throughout the brain, in both hemispheres. NBS analysis resulted in a cluster of 22 regions and 21 edges with significantly lower connectivity in the TBI group compared to controls. This cluster predominantly involves the frontal lobe and subcortical gray matter structures in both hemispheres. Conclusions Graph theory analysis of DTI tractography showed diffuse differences in structural brain network connectivity in children 2 months post-TI. Network differences were consistent with lower network integration and higher segregation in the injured groups compared to healthy controls. Findings suggest that inclusion of trauma-exposed comparison groups in studies of TBI outcome is warranted to better characterize the indirect effect of stress on brain networks.
Bond-Selected Photodissociation of Single Molecules Adsorbed on Metal Surfaces

We report the photoassisted activation of selected C─H bonds in individual molecules adsorbed on metal surfaces within the junction of a scanning tunneling microscope. Photons can couple to the C─H bond activation of specific hydrocarbons through a resonant photoassisted tunneling process. The molecule to be activated can be selected by positioning the tip with subangstrom resolution. Furthermore, structural tomography of the molecule and its dissociation products are imaged at different heights by the inelastic tunneling probe. The demonstration of single bond dissociation induced by resonant photoassisted tunneling electrons implies the attainment of atomic scale spatial resolution for bond-selected photochemistry.
A comparison of DNA stains and staining methods for Agarose Gel Electrophoresis

ABSTRACT Nucleic acid stains are necessary for Agarose Gel Electrophoresis (AGE). The commonly used but mutagenic Ethidium Bromide is being usurped by a range of safer but more expensive alternatives. These safe stains vary in cost, sensitivity and the impedance of DNA as it migrates through the gel. Modified protocols developed to reduce cost increase this variability. In this study, five Gel stains (GelRed™, GelGreen™, SYBR™ safe, SafeView and EZ-Vision®In-Gel Solution) two premixed loading dyes (SafeWhite, EZ-Vision®One) and four methods (pre-loading at 100x, pre-loading at 10x, precasting and post-staining) are evaluated for sensitivity and effect on DNA migration. GelRed™ was found to be the most sensitive while the EZ-Vision® dyes and SafeWhite had no discernible effect on DNA migration. Homemade loading dyes were as effective as readymade ones at less than 4% of the price. This method used less than 1% of the dye needed for the manufacturer recommended protocols. Thus, with careful consideration of stain and method, Gel stain expenditure can be reduced by over 99%.
Medicare and patient spending among beneficiaries diagnosed with chronic myelogenous leukemia.

BACKGROUND The authors examined Medicare spending and patient spending in older patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) over the first 5 years from the time of CML diagnosis in the tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) era. METHODS Medicare beneficiaries with CML who were diagnosed between 2007 and 2012 at age >65 years were identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare database (805 beneficiaries). A noncancer Medicare beneficiary sample was frequency-matched based on age, sex, and race/ethnicity (805 individuals). Patients were followed until 5 years from diagnosis, disenrollment, death, or December 31, 2014, whichever came first. Total Medicare spending, service-specific spending, and amount owed by patients was estimated monthly and then summed over 60 months and averaged to generate annual spending. RESULTS The median age at the time of diagnosis of CML was 76 years (range, 66-102 years). Overall, 51.4% of patients received TKIs (27.8% received imatinib alone), 28% received non-TKI therapy, and 21% received no treatment. The 5-year survival rate for patients with ≥85% time receiving TKIs was 79% compared with 76% for noncancer controls versus 62% for those with <85% time receiving TKIs. Annual Medicare spending was found to be significantly higher for patients treated with TKIs ($143,053) compared with those treated without TKIs ($41,268 vs $10,498 for noncancer controls). Annual patient cost responsibility was $11,712 per patient receiving any TKIs versus $7330 for those receiving non-TKI outpatient chemotherapy versus $3561 for noncancer controls. CONCLUSIONS Older patients with CML with adequate time receiving TKI therapy have 5-year survival rates that are comparable to those of their counterparts without cancer. However, TKI use is accompanied with significant Medicare and patient spending; patients receiving multiple TKIs (ie, dasatinib or nilotinib along with imatinib) constitute the group with the highest spending.
Finding a Way Into Genetic Phenomenology

The relation of genetic phenomenology and the project of phenomenological reduction is the primary concern of this paper. Despite Husserl’s occasional loose references to “the” reduction, performing the reduction actually refers to numerous interrelated techniques. I want here to delve into these intricacies with the aim of determining the place of genetic phenomenology within the whole of phenomenological technique. It will be necessary to both state in general terms what the aim of the reduction is and what the different “ways” to the reduction are before highlighting their inadequacy for dealing with genetic matters, which then brings us face to face with the underexplored possibility that there might be a peculiar novel from of reduction or transformation of the reduction that is needed to deal with genesis on properly transcendental ground. Following this line of thought, I attempt to elaborate a way into genetic phenomenology, which, I suggest, begins to appear most clearly in Husserl’s later reflections on “abnormal” forms of consciousness.
Latent class analysis risk profiles: An effective method to predict a first re-report of maltreatment?

Abstract Recurrence of child maltreatment is a significant concern causing substantial individual, family and societal cost. Variable-based approaches to identifying targets for intervention may not reflect the reality that families may experience multiple co-occurring risks. An alternative approach was tested using baseline data from the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-being (NSCAW) I and II to develop Latent Class Analysis models of family risk classes using variables derived from prior studies of re-reporting. The samples were collected approximately 10 years apart offering a chance to test how the approach might be impacted by demographic or policy shifts. The association between baseline classes and later re-reports was tested using both samples. A two-class model of high versus low presence of baseline risk resulted that was strongly associated with later likelihood of re-report and results were relatively stable across the two studies. Person-centered approaches may hold promise in the early identification of families that require a more comprehensive array of supports to prevent re-reports of maltreatment.
Chapter 5 – DIGRAPHS

Publisher Summary The digraphs are counted by modifying only slightly Polya's method for enumerating graphs. This is accomplished by developing a new unary operation on a permutation group called the reduced ordered pair group, whose purpose is to act on ordered pairs of distinct objects involved in the original permutation group. The cycle index of the reduced ordered pair group of Sp is used to count digraphs. Thereafter, this cycle index is modified to enable the counting of tournaments by restricting the associated power group. The application of this idea to the reduced ordered pair group of an arbitrary graph and using two sets of variables in the resulting cycle index can then count its orientations. These methods culminate in a general theorem for counting mixed graphs, which makes use of the same cycle index as for digraphs, again with two sets of variables and special purpose figure counting series.