cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Puzzle of Market Value from R&D

Theory holds that if firms have been investing optimally, then increases in R&D should decrease market value. However, a substantial empirical record demonstrates the opposite: increases in R&D increase firms’ market value. To resolve this puzzle we develop and validate an analytical model linking R&D to market value, and provide empirical evidence that R&D does indeed drive market value in the manner explicated by the theory. We further find that the stylized fact of market value increasing in R&D stems from substantial (68% of firms) underinvestment in R&D. For that subset of firms, increasing R&D brings them closer to optimal and accordingly increases their market value. However, for firms whose investment exceeds the optimum, increases in R&D decrease market value, as theory expects. The suboptimal investment appears due to the fact firms use industry rules of thumb rather than optimization to establish their R&D investment. They likely resort to these rules of thumb because they lack precise knowledge of their R&D productivity. Such lack of knowledge is not surprising given that neither of the leading academic measures of firms R&D productivity (patents or TFP) is consistent with all the model’s propositions.
Gene Networks in the Wild: Identifying Transcriptional Modules that Mediate Coral Resistance to Experimental Heat Stress

Organisms respond to environmental variation partly through changes in gene expression, which underlie both homeostatic and acclimatory responses to environmental stress. In some cases, so many genes change in expression in response to different influences that understanding expression patterns for all these individual genes becomes difficult. To reduce this problem, we use a systems genetics approach to show that variation in the expression of thousands of genes of reef-building corals can be explained as variation in the expression of a small number of coexpressed "modules." Modules were often enriched for specific cellular functions and varied predictably among individuals, experimental treatments, and physiological state. We describe two transcriptional modules for which expression levels immediately after heat stress predict bleaching a day later. One of these early "bleaching modules" is enriched for sequence-specific DNA-binding proteins, particularly E26 transformation-specific (ETS)-family transcription factors. The other module is enriched for extracellular matrix proteins. These classes of bleaching response genes are clear in the modular gene expression analysis we conduct but are much more difficult to discern in single gene analyses. Furthermore, the ETS-family module shows repeated differences in expression among coral colonies grown in the same common garden environment, suggesting a heritable genetic or epigenetic basis for these expression polymorphisms. This finding suggests that these corals harbor high levels of gene-network variation, which could facilitate rapid evolution in the face of environmental change.
Implant esthetics using a Nobel Replace Standard implant vs. Nobel Perfect Scalloped implant placed in immediate extraction sockets in the esthetic zone of the maxilla.

IMPLANT ESTHETICS USING A NOBEL REPLACE STANDARD IMPLANT VS. NOBEL PERFECT SCALLOPED IMPLANT PLACED IN IMMEDIATE EXTRACTION SOCKETS IN THE ESTHETIC ZONE OF THE MAXILLA John W. McGehee, Jr. , DMD
Studies on hemagglutination by Chamydia.

SummaryA high incidence of susceptibility to psittacosis and vaccinia hemagglutinins was found for erythrocytes from White Leghorn whereas a low incidence was found in New Hampshire Red chickens. Meningopneumonitis, feline pneumonitis, and mouse pneumonitis agents also selectively agglutinated chicken erythrocytes. Evidence was obtained for the presence of only one hemagglutinin in chlamydial preparations capable of agglutinating chicken and mouse erythrocytes.
A Credit Crunch? Finland in the Aftermath of the Banking Crisis

This paper estimates a disequilibrium model of credit supply and demand to evaluate whether there was a credit crunch in Finland following the banking crisis of 1991-92. Empirical analysis suggests that the marked reduction in bank lending was mainly in reaction to a cyclical decline in credit demand, likely exacerbated by the high level of indebtedness of the borrowers. It also appears that banks became less willing to supply credit during periods associated with a deterioration in asset quality, as well as because of reduced profits owing to declining regulatory protection from competition and the need to increase capital adequacy levels.
Social Choice and the Risks of Intervention

In this chapter we shall describe and illustrate a framework for assessing risk in the context of social intervention, where by a social intervention we mean a set of actions undertaken, typically by an organized ensemble of agents external to a given society, in order to solve a problem identified within that society. We focus on the general problem of amalgamating expert risk assessment and lay risk assessment. A methodology for integrating divergent assessments of risk has at least two virtues: (1) Where these are presumed to differ, this methodology forces the normative and descriptive assumptions underlying the assessments into the open, so that they can be examined; and (2) It provides risk policymakers with a tool for systematically prioritizing the normative constraints underlying the assessments of risk. We argue that there is no need either to rationalize or to condemn the systematic gap in risk analyses that exists between experts and laypersons. Rather, experts and laypersons should be understood as having different competencies, capabilities and normative requirements. Public (and private) risk managers need a systematic approach to managing these distinctive capabilities and requirements—an approach that recognizes the strengths and constraints of each analytical group, and which allows risk managers to integrate all of these factors. In this paper, we are interested in identifying and analyzing how technical experts’ risk analyses interact with the lay public’s assessments of risk with the principal goal being first to specify formal representations or models of the divergent assessments of risk generated by experts and the lay public and second, to introduce a model for integrating those assessments. We then apply the model to case studies involving natural disasters and health.
World model for testing Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) robots using Petri Nets

This paper describes a model-based test generation approach for testing Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) robots interacting with their environment (i.e., world). Unlike other approaches that assume a static world with attributes and values, we present and test a dynamic world. We use Petri Nets to illustrate a world model that describes behaviors of environmental entities (i.e., actors). The Abstract World Behavioral Test Cases (AWBTCs) are generated by covering the active world model using graph coverage criteria. We also select test-data by input-space partitioning to transform the generated AWBTCs into executable test cases. Reachability of the active world model and efficiency of coverage criteria are also discussed.
Blended evaluation information random transformation method and its application

To the problem that blended evaluation information exists in a same question, a processing method is proposed. Firstly, the blended information is transformed into uniform form in the same scope. Based on this, random numbers obeying certain distribution are generated, and their membership to initial information is calculated. Then, the stochastic simulation method is used to solve this evaluation question, and the possibility ranking conclusion among evaluation objects is obtained. This method can make the evaluation not be limited by single or finite data forms and can further expand the practical application range of comprehensive evaluation.
Sharing Summary and Application about the Machinery Impact Avoidance

This article to share the success of several mechanical collision cases,and then summed up the two basic methods and characteristics of machinery impact avoidance,and applied the experience to some cases for improvement.
Modeling of transcellular Ca transport in rat duodenum points to coexistence of two mechanisms of apical entry.

Employing realistic parameters, we have demonstrated that a relatively simple mathematical model can reproduce key features of steady-state Ca2+ transport with the assumption of two mechanisms of C...
A Novel Small Molecule Inhibitor of Candida albicans Biofilm Formation, Filamentation and Virulence with Low Potential for the Development of Resistance.

Candida albicans is the principal causative agent of candidiasis, the most common fungal infection in humans. Candidiasis represents the third-to-fourth most frequent nosocomial infection worldwide, as this normal commensal of humans causes opportunistic infections in an expanding population of immune- and medically compromised patients. These infections are frequently associated with biofilm formation, which complicates treatment and contributes to unacceptably high mortality rates. To address the pressing need for new antifungals, we have performed a high-content screen of 20,000 small molecules in a chemical library (NOVACore) to identify compounds that inhibit C. albicans biofilm formation, and conducted a series of follow-up studies to examine the in vitro and in vivo activity of the identified compounds. The screen identified a novel series of diazaspiro-decane structural analogs that were largely represented among the bioactive compounds. Characterization of the leading compound from this series indicated that it inhibits processes associated with C. albicans virulence, most notably biofilm formation and filamentation, without having an effect on overall growth or eliciting resistance. This compound demonstrated in vivo activity in clinically relevant murine models of both invasive and oral candidiasis and as such represents a promising lead for antifungal drug development. Furthermore, these results provide proof of concept for the implementation of antivirulence approaches against C. albicans and other fungal infections that would be less likely to foster the emergence of resistance. Drugs that inhibit fungal biofilm and filament formation could offer a new strategy for treating fungal infections. Seeking new drugs that might inhibit Candida albicans biofilm formation—one of the most problematic aspects of infection by this fungus—Jose Lopez-Ribot and co-workers at the University of Texas at San Antonio, USA screened 20,000 compounds in a commercial library of medically relevant small molecules. They identified a series of diazaspiro-decane analogs that displayed a significant ability to inhibit biofilm formation in C. albicans cultures, and no evidence of resistance emerged during repeated exposure to the chemicals. This finding not only represents a promising lead for the development of new antifungal drugs, but also lends credence to a new “anti-virulence” approach to treating fungal infections, which is expected to minimize the emergence of resistant fungal strains.
PATTERNS OF ABILITIES AND CAPACITIES IN THE EPILEPTIC.

(1963). Patterns of Abilities and Capacities in the Epileptic. The Journal of Genetic Psychology: Vol. 103, No. 1, pp. 59-66.
Accounting for Change: Accounting, Finance, and Changing Methods of Economic Regulation in Post-Socialist Eastern Europe

The collapse of state socialism and the promises of the postsocialist era have made ‘accountability’ an acutely felt issue in Eastern Europe, both in the broad senses of ‘good governance’ and ‘transparency,’ and in the narrower sense of visible, verifiable financial records. Under socialism, accounting (and, more broadly considered, finance) was a central method of economic and political regulation. As a key technology of the planned economy, socialist accounting promised that its new methods of tracking the movements and uses of property were the keys to both economic development and social equality. Of course, it was a spectacular failure: socialist accounts were notoriously unreliable (Verdery, 1996, pp. 20–1).
A sensitive and specific method for plasmalogens and other enol ethers

A spectrophotometric procedure for estimating plasmalogens and other enol ethers, based upon the specific reaction of the enol ether group with iodine, is presented. Optimum conditions for iodination with respect to methanol and KI concentration, pH, and time of incubation have been defined. After evaporating the solvent from the lipid extract containing 0.02 to 0.125 μmole plasmalogen, 0.9 ml methanol, 3.2 ml 0.094 m Na citrate (pH 5.5), 0.4 ml 3 m KI, and 0.5 ml 0.0005 m I2 in 3 m KI are added and mixed. After standing for 40 min at room temperature, the mixture is extracted with 5 ml n-butyl acetate. Absorbancy of the butyl acetate layer is read at 363 mμ. Lipid and reagent blanks and an I2 standard containing 0.25 μmole I2 are treated similarly except that 0.9 ml 3 m KI is added to both blanks in place of I2. Reproducibility is ±3.6% with 0.1 μmole levels of plasmalogen in lipid extracts. The range of enol ether estimated by this procedure is 0.02–0.125 μmole.
Minimizing expected maximum risk from cyber-attacks with probabilistic attack success

Organizations are being hit by small and large multi-stage cyber-attacks every day. One tool for integrating and analyzing many potential multi-stage attacks is the attack graph. Nodes of an attack graph represent attack states, and the arcs represent atomic attacks. The attack graph as a whole represents all the potential attack paths to compromise target nodes beginning from a set of initially vulnerable nodes. Given a limited budget, finding an optimal subset of arcs in the attack graph is an important problem in seeking to optimally deploy security countermeasures to minimize risks associated with potential cyber-attacks. In this research, we develop a stochastic network interdiction model based on a probabilistic attack graph with uncertain attack success probabilities on arcs and formulate it as a two-stage stochastic mixed-integer linear program. We employ the sample average approximation scheme in conjunction with Benders decomposition approach to solve the resulting problem. Our model provides an optimal recommendation for countermeasure deployment in a stochastic environment. Results demonstrate the value of stochastic solutions and the variation of risk with the accuracy of estimates of attack success probabilities.
Normative Paradigms and Constraints on Equal Rights for Women in the Arab World

The prominent role played by women during the Arab Spring raises questions regarding the dominant narratives by which the history of women in the Middle East has been studied. While Arab women are often depicted as secluded and confined to private spheres, historical research presents a different image—one that accounts for efforts to change women’s status and family laws and to allow full political participation and equal rights for women. This chapter raises questions about constructed narratives and the discursive construction of “the modern Arab woman.” The analysis focuses on a re-examination of women’s lived realities and the legal documents that affected their lives to provide a clearer picture of Arab women’s history.
Evaluation of function and recovery of adipose-derived stem cells after exposure to paclitaxel.

Abstract Background aims Adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) are considered to play a positive role in wound healing as evidenced by their increasing use in breast reconstructive procedures. After chemotherapy for breast cancer, poor soft tissue wound healing is a major problem. In the present study, the functional capabilities and recovery of ASCs after exposure to chemotherapeutic agent paclitaxel (PTX) using in vitro and ex vivo models were demonstrated. Methods Human ASCs were isolated from periumbilical fat tissue and treated with PTX at various concentrations. Adult Sprague-Dawley rats were given intravenous injections with PTX. Two and four weeks after the initial PTX treatment, ASCs were isolated from rat adipose tissue. Proliferation, cell viability, apoptosis and cell migration rates were measured by growth curves, MTT assays, flow cytometry and scratch assays. ASCs were cultured in derivative-specific differentiation media with or without PTX for 3 weeks. Adipogenic, osteogenic and endothelial differentiation levels were measured by quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and histological staining. Results PTX induced apoptosis, decreased the proliferation and cell migration rates of ASCs and inhibited ASCs multipotent differentiation in both in vitro human ASC populations and ex vivo rat ASC populations with PTX treatment. Furthermore, after cessation of PTX, ASCs exhibited recovery potential of differentiation capacity in both in vitro and animal studies. Conclusions Our results provide insight into poor soft tissue wound healing and promote further understanding of the potential capability of ASCs to serve as a cell source for fat grafting and reconstruction in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment.
Genomic Sequencing and Other Tools for Studying Microbial Communities: Genomics and “meta'omic” tools are enabling us to explore the microbiome from three complementary perspectives–taxonomic, functional, and ecological

Along with single-cell genomic sequencing, the technologies collectively known as “meta'omics,” including metagenomics, metatranscriptomics, metabolomics, and metaproteomics, are powerful new tools for learning how microbes in, on, and around us affect our health and well-being. We can then use this understanding to diagnose, prevent, and treat inflammatory bowel disease, diabetes, and other diseases.
Creating Community Connections and Partnerships for Transformative Social Change

In this article, I share my experiences connecting with community as a high school teacher, a community literacy developer, and a teacher educator. I describe three partnerships that created conditions for transformative change, challenging boundaries of traditional schooling by providing spaces for shared knowledge and meaning making. The experiences that undergird these partnerships present a counter story to de cit discourses and narratives of school failure. They highlight possibilities for investing in our collective future and demonstrate the capacity of individuals to build community and enact learning landscapes to bring about a more socially just world.
Introduction: Attaining a New Stage

The current issue of The Journal of Adult Development addresses one of the threads of adult development, namely stage and stage change. There are four major forms of adult developmental study that can be identified: positive adult development, directionless change, stasis, and decline. The first of the four forms, positive adult developmental processes, is divided into at least six areas of study: hierarchical complexity (orders, stages), knowledge, experience, expertise, wisdom, and spirituality. The topic of this special issue, stage and stage change, is therefore part of the study of positive adult developmental processes. Finally, the manner in which these topics are studied both in this special issue and elsewhere can be characterized in terms of three broad classifications (Commons & Bresette, 2000, Commons & Miller, 1998) for the acquisition of knowledge and the verification of truth in general. These classifications include analytic, experiential, and empirical means to reach truth.
Identification of Jak-STAT signaling involvement in sarcoidosis severity via a novel microRNA-regulated peripheral blood mononuclear cell gene signature

Sarcoidosis is a granulomatous lung disorder of unknown cause. The majority of individuals with sarcoidosis spontaneously achieve full remission (uncomplicated sarcoidosis), however, ~20% of sarcoidosis-affected individuals experience progressive lung disease or cardiac and nervous system involvement (complicated sarcoidosis). We investigated peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) microRNA and protein-coding gene expression data from healthy controls and patients with uncomplicated or complicated sarcoidosis. We identified 46 microRNAs and 1,559 genes that were differentially expressed across a continuum of sarcoidosis severity (healthy control → uncomplicated sarcoidosis → complicated sarcoidosis). A total of 19 microRNA-mRNA regulatory pairs were identified within these deregulated microRNAs and mRNAs, which consisted of 17 unique protein-coding genes yielding a 17-gene signature. Pathway analysis of the 17-gene signature revealed Jak-STAT signaling pathway as the most significantly represented pathway. A severity score was assigned to each patient based on the expression of the 17-gene signature and a significant increasing trend in the severity score was observed from healthy control, to uncomplicated sarcoidosis, and finally to complicated sarcoidosis. In addition, this microRNA-regulated gene signature differentiates sarcoidosis patients from healthy controls in independent validation cohorts. Our study suggests that PBMC gene expression is useful in diagnosis of sarcoidosis.
The Phenomenon of the Body and the “Hook” of Addiction

This chapter outlines the existential roots of addiction; these originate from the structures of everydayness and harbor the possibility of an individual’s becoming victimized by the pursuit of his/her self-indulgences. In the process, we will describe how our simplest desires of the self’s in its embodiment can be exaggerated into “fetishes,” and thus cross over to form the “hook” of addiction.
Examining cross-age experiences in a distance-based intergenerational music project: Comfort and expectations in collaborating with opposite generation through "Virtual" exchanges

There has been an increase in the number of music-based intergenerational programs conducted by music therapists as part of wellness and intergenerational music therapy programs. Research has shown that intergenerational music therapy programs have improved cross-age attitudes, interactions, and older adults’ psychosocial well-being. Anecdotal evidence indicates that one of the challenges for creating music-based intergenerational programs is finding agencies that serve younger and older generations within close proximity to one another. We sought to remedy this problem with the integration of “virtual” technology. The purpose of this study was to examine changes in cross-age comfort, expectations after experiencing “virtual” exchanges, and preconceived notions of older and younger persons enrolled in a distance-based intergenerational project. A secondary purpose was to determine what intergenerational project factors were most enjoyable for older and younger participants. Eighteen older adults (61 through 79 years old) from an intact music-therapy choir along and 14 younger children from an intact community choir (9 through 14 years old) served as participants for the current study. All participants experienced the four-week distance-based intergenerational program that consisted of: a) two group “virtual” exchanges, b) two reflective journals related to the “virtual” exchanges, c) an in-person half-day music-therapy intergenerational workshop, and d) a joint performance. Cross-age comfort, preconceived notions, expectations, and preference factors were examined through pre-test and post-test measurements. Results indicated an increase in older adults’ comfort level collaborating with children after participation in the intergenerational music project. The majority of younger (64%) and older (69%) participants indicated that their preconceived notions about the other generation were different and positive from what they initially thought prior to the project. Both generations indicated an improvement in cross-age attitudes and interactions due to the collaboration process (“virtual” exchange, workshop, and joint-performance) and the cross-age interactions during the project. These findings suggest that music therapists can foster cross-age interactions and relationships between generations that are not within close proximity of one another by using a combination of “virtual” and “live” interactions as an intervention for enhancing the overall quality of life among older adults.
Application of latent semantic analysis in AIS academic research

Abstract This study provides insights about the historical, intellectual structure, and trends of academic research themes in journals specifically dedicated to Accounting Information Systems (AIS) research—International Journal of Accounting Information Systems (IJAIS), its predecessor journal, Advances in Accounting Information Systems (AiAIS), and Journal of Information Systems (JIS). Using Latent Semantic Analysis, a statistical text analytics methodology that can uncover the conceptual content within unstructured data, this study identifies 14 prevalent academic research themes in AiAIS, IJAIS, and JIS from 1986 to 2015 and provides graphs that visualize thematic trends over time, including by journal. Certain themes have remained consistent in their study over the timeframe, while others have increased or diminished. Certain themes have matured while others appear to still be maturing at the end of the timeframe. Thematic trends by source journal suggest that no journal has dominated publishing specific significant themes in AIS academic research.
Endoscopic ultrasound-guided through-the-needle microforceps biopsy in the evaluation of pancreatic cystic lesions: a multicenter study.

Background and study aims Accurate diagnosis and classification of pancreatic cysts (PCs) remains a challenge. The aims of this study were to: (1) evaluate the safety and technical success of a novel microforceps for EUS-guided through-the-needle biopsy (TTNB) of PCs; and (2) assess its diagnostic yield for mucinous PCs when compared to FNA cyst fluid analysis and cytology. Patients and methods This was a multicenter retrospective analysis of 47 patients who underwent EUS-FNA and TTNB for PCs between January 2014 and June 2017. Technical success was defined as acquisition of a specimen adequate for cytologic or histological evaluation. Cyst fluid carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) was used to initially categorize cysts as non-mucinous (CEA Results Forty-seven patients with PCs (mean size 30.7 mm) were included. TTNB was successfully performed in 46 of 47 (97.9 %). Technical success was significantly lower with FNA (48.9 %) compared to TTNB (85.1 %) (P Conclusions EUS-TTNB is safe and effective for evaluating PCs. TTNB may help increase the diagnostic yield of mucinous PCs.
Analytic band-to-trap tunneling model including band offset for heterojunction devices

We present an analytic band-to-trap tunneling model based on the open boundary scattering approach. The new model has three major advantages: (i) It includes not only the well-known electric field effect, but more importantly, the effect of heterojunction band offset. This feature allows us to simulate both electric field and band offset enhanced carrier recombination near a heterojunction in heterostructures. (ii) Its analytic form enables straightforward implementation into a parallel Technology Computer Aided Design device and circuit simulators. (iii) The developed method can be used for any potentials which can be approximated to a good degree such that the Schrodinger equation with open boundary conditions results in piecewise analytic wave functions. Simulation results of an InGaP/GaAs heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT) reveal that the proposed model predicts significantly increased base currents, because the tunneling of holes in the base to traps in the emitter is greatly enhanced by the emitter-base band offset. This finding, which is not captured by existing band-to-trap tunneling models, is consistent with the experimental observation for an InGaP/GaAs HBT after neutron irradiation.
Steroid hormone receptors as transactivators of gene expression.

In the two decades since the discovery of the steroid hormone receptors, a great deal has been learned about their structure, their relationships with each other, and the target sequences (response elements) at which they regulate expression of specific genes. Analysis of receptor sequences has confirmed the existence of several domains with distinct functions in each receptor molecule, and has also indicated that the steroid receptors are members of a ‘superfamily’ which also includes receptors for vitamin D, retinoic acid, thyroid hormone and its related oncogene v-erbA, and a substantial number of ‘receptors’ whose ligands are still unidentified. The response element sequences are also closely related, and we are beginning to understand the interaction of the receptors with these response elements and with proteins bound nearby such as transcription factors. Certain naturally occurring genetic diseases have been identified with specific receptor mutations. The future promises greater understanding not only of the detailed action of the receptors of this superfamily, but of their precise role in fertility, development, and disease.
Motivating Private Climate Governance: The Role of the Efficiency Gap

In response to the shrinking federal role in environmental protection, many policy advocates have focused on the role of states and cities, but this symposium focuses on another important source of sustainability initiatives: the private sector, including corporations, households, civic and cultural organizations, religious organizations, private hospitals, colleges and universities, and other organizations. States, cities, and local governments are increasingly important, but the limited geographic reach of subnational governments and widespread concerns about the size and intrusiveness of the public sector constrain their ability to address many environmental problems. Private governance initiatives offer an opportunity to bypass concerns about big government and fill the gap. Although private initiatives cannot draw on the coercive power and resources of government, if these initiatives can accelerate efficiency gains in the private sector, they can motivate mitigation efforts even absent government action. This brief keynote address explores the literature on the size of the efficacy gap and the implications for private climate mitigation initiatives.
LIPid Intensive Drug therapy for Sepsis Pilot (LIPIDS-P): Phase I/II clinical trial protocol of lipid emulsion therapy for stabilising cholesterol levels in sepsis and septic shock.

Introduction Sepsis is a life-threatening, dysregulated response to infection. Both high-density lipoprotein and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol should protect against sepsis by several mechanisms; however, for partially unknown reasons, cholesterol levels become critically low in patients with early sepsis who experience poor outcomes. An anti-inflammatory lipid injectable emulsion containing fish oil is approved by the Food and Drug Administration as parenteral nutrition for critically ill patients and may prevent this decrease in serum cholesterol levels by providing substrate for cholesterol synthesis and may favourably modulate inflammation. This LIPid Intensive Drug therapy for Sepsis Pilot clinical trial is the first study to attempt to stabilise early cholesterol levels using lipid emulsion as a treatment modality for sepsis. Methods and analysis This is a two-centre, phase I/II clinical trial. Phase I is a non-randomised dose-escalation study using a Bayesian optimal interval design in which up to 16 patients will be enrolled to evaluate the safest and most efficacious dose for stabilising cholesterol levels. Based on phase I results, the two best doses will be used to randomise 48 patients to either lipid injectable emulsion or active control (no treatment). Twenty-four patients will be randomised to one of two doses of the study drug, while 24 control group patients will receive no drug and will be followed during their hospitalisation. The control group will receive all standard treatments mandated by the institutional sepsis alert protocol. The phase II study will employ a permuted blocked randomisation technique, and the primary endpoint will be change in serum total cholesterol level (48 hours − enrolment). Secondary endpoints include change in cholesterol level from enrolment to 7 days, change in Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score over the first 48 hours and 7 days, in-hospital and 28-day mortality, lipid oxidation status, inflammatory biomarkers, and high-density lipoprotein function. Ethics and dissemination Investigators are trained and follow good clinical practices, and each phase of the study was reviewed and approved by the institutional review boards of each institution. Results of each phase will be disseminated through presentations at national meetings and publication in peer-reviewed journals. If promising, data from the pilot study will be used for a larger, multicentre, phase II clinical trial. Trial registration number NCT03405870.
Extraction of natural colourants from Mussaenda hybrid (M. philippica × M. luteola), Carissa carandas L. & Syzygium cumini L. for textile colouration.

In the present study, an attempt had been made to explore the potential of natural colourants and its application in the textile industry. Natural colorants extracted from the sepals of Mussaenda h...
Relating students’ units coordinating and calculus readiness

Adolescent and children’s concepts of multiplication and fractions have been linked to differences in the number of levels of units they coordinate. In this paper, we discuss relationships between ...
A Comprehensive Review and Perspective on Anticancer Mechanisms of Withaferin A in Breast Cancer.

Withaferin A (hereafter abbreviated as WA) is a promising anticancer steroidal lactone abundant in a medicinal plant (Withania somnifera) native to Asia. The root/leaf extract of Withania somnifera, which belongs to the Solanaceae family, continues to be included in the Ayurvedic medicine formulations of alternative medicine practice. Numerous chemicals are detectable in the root/leaf extract of Withania somnifera [e.g., withanolides (WA, withanone, withanolide A, etc.), alkaloids, sitoindosides, etc.] but the anticancer effect of this medicinal plant is largely attributed to WA. Anticancer effect of WA was initially reported in the early seventies in the Ehrlich ascites tumor cell model in vitro. Since then, numerous preclinical studies have been performed using cellular and animal models of different cancers including breast cancer to determine cancer therapeutic and chemopreventive effects of WA. Chemoprevention, a word first introduced by Dr. Michael B. Sporn, was intended to impede, arrest or reverse carcinogenesis at its earliest stages with pharmacological agents. This review succinctly summarizes the published findings on anticancer pharmacology of WA in breast cancer focusing on pharmacokinetic behavior, in vivo efficacy data in preclinical models in a therapeutic and chemoprevention settings, and its known effects on cancer-relevant cellular processes (e.g., growth arrest, apoptosis induction, autophagy, metabolic adaptation, immune function, etc.) and molecular targets (e.g., suppression of oncogenes such as estrogen receptor-α, signal transducer and activator of transcription 3, etc.). Potential gaps in knowledge as well as future research directions essential for clinical development of WA for chemoprevention and/or treatment of breast cancer also discussed.
Metabolomic profiling identifies plasma sphingosine 1-phosphate levels associated with welding exposures

Background Despite a number of known health hazards of welding fume exposure, it is unclear how exposure affects the human metabolome. Objective We assessed the metabolic profiles of welders before and after a 6-hour welding shift, controlling for circadian rhythm of metabolism on a non-welding day. Methods Welders were recruited from a training centre in Quincy, Massachusetts, in 2006 and 2010–2012 and donated blood samples on a welding shift day before and after work, as well as on a non-welding day spent in an adjacent classroom. In total, we collected 509 samples from 74 participants. Liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry quantified 665 metabolites from thawed plasmas. Metabolites with significant time (afternoon compared with morning) and day (welding/classroom) interactions were identified by two-way analysis of variance, and the overnight changes were evaluated. Results Sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) and sphingasine 1-phosphate (SA1P) exhibited significant interaction effects between day and time with false discovery rate-adjusted p values of 0.03 and Conclusion S1P and SA1P profiles were different between welding day and classroom day. The S1P pathway was disrupted on the day of welding exposure. The levels of S1P, SA1P and sphingosine were highly correlated over time. S1P is a signalling lipid with many vital roles; thus, the underlying mechanism and clinical implications of this alteration need further investigation.
Primary Esophageal Angiosarcoma

Primary esophageal angiosarcoma is an extremely rare cancer. Thus, evidence-based guidance on diagnosis and treatment is lacking. The current workup and management is extrapolated from other esophageal and angiosarcoma pathology. We describe a case report that depicts unique diagnostic and therapeutic challenges.
Propagation of registration errors into the change in maximum total point motion for determining stability of tibial baseplates.

The change in maximum total point motion (ΔMTPM) is used to predict long-term risk of tibial baseplate loosening, however, effects of registration error on ΔMTPM have not been quantified for marker...
Exits from the Disability Insurance Rolls: Estimates from a Competing-Risks Model

This article explores the causes of growth in the number of disabled workers on the Social Security Disability Insurance (DI) rolls from 1980 through 2010 by estimating the probability of a DI beneficiary’s program exit because of recovery, death, or conversion to retired-worker beneficiary, by sex, age, and disability type. Using Social Security administrative data and a competing-risks model to estimate DI exit probabilities, I find that death is the primary reason for program exits among nearly all beneficiary subgroups during their first 9 years on the rolls. Relative to men, women have lower probabilities of exit because of death; younger women also have lower exit probabilities because of recovery. From the 1980s to the 1990s, the probability of exit because of death declined while the probability of exit because of recovery did not improve. Beneficiaries with certain impairments are noteworthy exceptions to these general outcomes.
Platelet-Rich Plasma: Not for Athletes Only

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is the increased concentration of autologous platelet suspended in a small amount of plasma produced by centrifugation of the patient’s own blood. Use of PRP has been widely studied in bone and tendon tissue healing and reconstruction (Han et al., J Orthop Surg Res 14:183, 2019). Platelets contain alpha granules which are an important source of anabolic growth factors including fibroblast growth factors, bone morphogenetic proteins, transformation growth factor beta-1, platelet-derived growth factor, basic fibroblast growth factor, vascular endothelial growth factor, epidermal growth factor, insulin-like growth factor, and several others (Le et al., Clin Sports Med 38:17–44, 2019). In fact, PRP is known to contain more than 1500 bioactive proteins (Han et al., J Orthop Surg Res 14:183, 2019). These factors are important for biological processes including wound healing, inhibiting inflammation and pain, chemotaxis, neovascularization, synthesis of extracellular matrix, and scar formation which aides in improvement in soft tissue healing, vascularization of grafts, and bone regeneration (Urits et al., Curr Pain Headache Rep 23:52, 2019). A normal platelet ranges between 150,000 and 350,000 μ/L. PRP contains a four to six times concentration greater than whole blood. Improvement in bone and soft tissue healing properties has been demonstrated with concentration of platelets of 1,000,000 μ/L which is the concentration of platelets in commercial platelet systems (Le et al., Clin Sports Med 38:17–44, 2019).
Golfers’ interest in multilevel sun-protection strategies

Active adults accumulate more ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure and are at greater risk of skin cancer than inactive adults. Golf is a popular sport that increases UV exposure because it is played outdoors in daylight. This study evaluated adult golfers’ interest in multilevel sun-protection strategies and characterized differences in interest as a function of golfer characteristics. Adult golfers (N = 347) completed a web survey to rate their interest in 20 sun-protection strategies. We estimated descriptive statistics and evaluated differences in interest as a function of demographics, perceived risk, sun-protective behavior, and golf exposure. Golfers reported the greatest interest in environmental supports for sun protection, but these ratings were driven by golfers who already perceived golf as a risk behavior and used sunscreen diligently. Vulnerable golfers—those with a golf-related sunburn in the past year or who spend more time golfing—expressed interest in a broader range of intervention components, including education, family support, and text messages. Multilevel skin cancer prevention interventions are needed for golfers. Intervention components of interest involved support and reminders, which suggests they are open to sun-safety behaviors but need help executing them.
Artificial Intelligence in Computer Vision: Cardiac MRI and Multimodality Imaging Segmentation

Anatomical segmentation has played a major role within clinical cardiology. Novel techniques through artificial intelligence-based computer vision have revolutionized this process through both automation and novel applications. This review discusses the history and clinical context of cardiac segmentation to provide a framework for a survey of recent manuscripts in artificial intelligence and cardiac segmentation. We aim to clarify for the reader the clinical question of “Why do we segment?” in order to understand the question of “Where is current research and where should be?” There has been increasing research in cardiac segmentation in recent years. Segmentation models are most frequently based on a U-Net structure. Multiple innovations have been added in terms of pre-processing or connection to analysis pipelines. Cardiac MRI is the most frequently segmented modality, which is due in part to the presence of publically available, moderately sized, computer vision competition datasets. Further progress in data availability, model explanation, and clinical integration are being pursued. The task of cardiac anatomical segmentation has experienced massive strides forward within the past 5 years due to convolutional neural networks. These advances provide a basis for streamlining image analysis, and a foundation for further analysis both by computer and human systems. While technical advances are clear, clinical benefit remains nascent. Novel approaches may improve measurement precision by decreasing inter-reader variability and appear to also have the potential for larger-reaching effects in the future within integrated analysis pipelines.
Anomaly Detection in Smart Grids using Machine Learning

Smart grid data can be analyzed for detecting abnormalities in many different areas such as cybersecurity, fault detection, electricity theft, etc. There is a strong case for the use of machine learning in anomaly detection. The raw grid data requires feature extraction. Anomalies can be defined as instances or changes in the smart grid data that are out of character concerning the average trend. A typical grid architecture results can vary significantly, depending on trends or changes in power, voltage, current, or consumption. This paper develops an anomaly detection model for a real-world smart grid system implemented on a hardware-based testbed. By detecting abnormal activities, one can improve the system behavior in data communication flow. It will also identify if there are parameter changes that indicate the presence of cyber-attacks. Our proposed anomaly detection model is build based on Isolation Forest (IF) to isolate outliers from standard observations through multiple decision trees. The performance of the proposed detection method was verified using the simulation results on a hardware-based testbed. Feature selection was optimized by principal component analysis and the model was further analyzed for performance with dickey-fuller test.
Sequence Mining in Dynamic and Interactive Environments

The discovery of frequent sequences in temporal databases is an important data mining problem. Most current work assumes that the database is static, and a database update requires rediscovering all the patterns by scanning the entire old and new database. In this paper, we propose novel techniques for maintaining sequences in the presence of a) database updates, and b) user interaction (e.g. modifying mining parameters). This is a very challenging task, since such updates can invalidate existing sequences or introduce new ones. In both the above scenarios, we avoid re-executing the algorithm on the entire dataset, thereby reducing execution time. Experimental results confirm that our approach results in execution time improvements of up to several orders of magnitude in practice.
Chapter 1 - An Introduction to Receptor Modeling

The management of ambient air quality is a difficult but important problem. In general, it involves the identification of the sources of materials emitted into the air, the quantitative estimation of the emission rates of the pollutants, the understanding of the transport of the substances from the sources to downwind locations, and the knowledge of the physical and chemical transformation processes that can occur during that transport. All of those elements can then be put together into a mathematical model that can be used to estimate the changes in observable airborne concentrations that might be expected to occur if various actions are taken. The atmosphere is a very complex system, and it is necessary to greatly simplify the descriptions of reality in order to produce a mathematical model capable of being calculated on even the largest and fastest computers. It is necessary to have alternative methods available to assist in the identification of sources and the apportionment of the observed pollutant concentrations to those sources. Such methods are called receptor-oriented or receptor models as they are focused on the behavior of the ambient environment at the point of impact as opposed to the source-oriented dispersion models that focus on the transport, dilution, and transformations that begin at the source and then follow the pollutants to the sampling or receptor site.
Electrohydrodynamic induction pumping of dielectric liquid films

Electrohydrodynamic (EHD) induction pumping of dielectric micro/macro liquid film is of significant importance in various applications especially in phase change devices. The experimental results of ERD induction pumping of stratified liquid film in internal configuration and liquid condensate in external configuration in the presence of phase change are presented in this paper.
Unusual mechanism of tricuspid regurgitation in ventricular septal defect.

A 37-year-old woman was diagnosed to have a small ventricular septal defect (VSD) with high velocity tricuspid regurgitation (TR) that was attributed to atrio-VSD (Gerbode). Cardiac MR revealed a small subaortic VSD in the membranous portion of the interventricular septum. The atrioventricular portion was intact. Cardiac MR clearly showed flow jet through the VSD, impinging on the anterior tricuspid leaflet during systole, and bouncing back into the right atrium as TR. This ricochet mechanism of TR in VSD may be misinterpreted as Gerbode defect or as evidence of pulmonary hypertension. (Echocardiography 2011;28:E36-E38)