cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Chapter One. Two Models of Criminal Justice

Skepticism about moral responsibility has moved to the center of the debate about free will and responsibility, aided perhaps by recent work in neuroscience, and the number of important philosophers who consider themselves skeptics appears to be growing. The problem is that skepticism about responsibility, a skepticism that calls retribution and desert – the Retributive Model of criminal justice – into question as well, seems to leave us only utilitarian alternatives in criminal justice. But the utilitarian answers here are unsatisfactory. Deterrence without (non-utilitarian) side constraints is an easy target for counter-examples, and that has led many skeptics to the conclusion that the only justifiable approach to criminal justice is the therapeutic approach – the Quarantine Model. But a world without something very much like punishment, a world in which the approach to crime is to cure or to incapacitate, seems unacceptable, treating human beings (in the words of David Hodgson) “as vehicles for treatment to be manipulated for the general good.” The problem for the skeptic is to find a way out of this dilemma. My object is to isolate the desirable elements of punishment and incorporate them into an alternative institution focused in part on benefit to the offender. I call that institution “Correction.”
The Mechanism and Strategies Formation of NBA Competitive Market Advantage

From the visuals angle of competitive advantage theory,bases on analyze the Five Forces Model of NBA competition and service value chain,this paper discusses the formed mechanism formation of NBA competitive market advantage,and analyzes the competition market strategies of NBA as well.The main purpose is to provide the reference for professional sports games development in China.The NBA market competitive strategies mainly as follows:international player,improving product quality of NBA events,price difference of competition,rational control competition costs;enhancing media dissemination and expanding influence;focusing on brand shaping and increasing consumer loyalty.
Juxtaposing the Black and White Gender Gap: Race and Gender Differentiation in College Enrollment Predictors

Objective This research examines the factors influencing the reverse gender gap in college enrollment between Black men and women and compares them to the factors affecting the gender gap between Whites. Methods We use data from the National Educational Longitudinal Study (NELS) and logistic regression to address our research questions. Findings The results reveal that Black male students fare worse than all other race-gender groups on virtually all predictors of college enrollment. The strongest determinant of the Black gender gap proved to be the lower academic performance of Black male students. In addition, our results support the hypothesis that returns on academic, social, and family economic characteristics differ along race and gender lines, though the strongest differences in returns appear to be between racial groups rather than between men and women of the same race. Blacks benefit less from higher GPAs, positive peer influences, and parental economic resources than Whites, though Black women benefit least from positive peer influences than any other race-gender group. Conclusions In order to improve rates of college enrollment among Black males, policymakers should develop strategies to improve their academic performance. However, policymakers must also recognize that academic performance offers less payoff for Black students and must therefore find ways to equalize these returns for them.
Evolution and current understanding of physicochemical characterization of particulate matter from reactivity controlled compression ignition combustion on a multicylinder light-duty engine

Low-temperature compression ignition combustion can result in nearly smokeless combustion, as indicated by a smoke meter or other forms of soot measurement that rely on absorbance due to elemental ...
Genetic Screening Study in 1005 Subjects with Isolated Cervical Dystonia (P2.142)

OBJECTIVE: Screen cases of cervical dystonia (CD) in the Dystonia Coalition Biorepository for sequence variants (SVs) in GNAL , THAP1 and Exon 5 of TOR1A . BACKGROUND: The Dystonia Coalition is a collaboration of medical researchers and patient advocacy groups that is working to advance the pace of clinical and translational research in the dystonias to find better treatments and a cure. A major achievement of the Dystonia Coalition has been the establishment of a large biospecimen repository and associated clinical database to be used as a resource for dystonia research (http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT01373424). To date, independent studies have verified TOR1A , GNAL and THAP1 as legitimate isolated dystonia genes. DESIGN/METHODS: High resolution melting curve analysis was used to screen subjects with isolated CD for SVs in GNAL , THAP1 and Exon 5 of TOR1A . All samples with shifted melting curves were subjected to bidirectional Sanger sequencing. MutationTaster, PolyPhen-2, SIFT and CADD were used for in silico assessments of pathogenicity. RESULTS: Mutation screening was completed in a total of 1005 subjects with isolated dystonia with onset as CD. The majority of subjects were Caucasian females with sporadic CD. Eight SVs predicted to be pathogenic by at least one in silico prediction program were identified in our cohort: GNAL (c.40C>T [p.Q14*], c.1018G>A [p.G340S], c.1060G>A [p.V354M], c.214C>G [p.P72A], c.139C>A [p.L47I]), THAP1 (c.153C>G [p.S51R]), and TOR1A (c.823A>G [p.K275E], c.962C>T [p.T321M]). The GNAL c.1018G>A (rs142792291) and TOR1A c.823A>G (rs148036363) SVs already harbored in dbSNP have C-scores of 22.1 and 15.2, respectively. The GNAL c.214C>G SV has a C-score of only 1.4 and is classified as benign by PolyPhen-2. CONCLUSIONS: Putatively pathogenic SVs in isolated dystonia genes are uncommon in largely sporadic CD. Study Supported by: National Institutes of Health Dystonia Coalition U54 NS065701 Disclosure: Dr. LeDoux has received personal compensation for activities with Teva Neuroscience, UCB Pharma, Lundbeck Research USA, Inc. and USWorldMeds as a speakers bureau participant and/or scientific advisory board participant. Dr. Vemula has nothing to disclose. Dr. Xiao has nothing to disclose.
Outgrowth and Toxin Production by Clostridium botulinum in Bottled Chopped Garlic.

The ability of Clostridium botulinum types A and B spores to grow and produce toxin in commercially bottled chopped garlic in soybean oil was investigated. Eight type A and seven type B strains of C. botulinum , mostly of vegetable origin, were used as inocula. Various numbers of spores were inoculated directly into the jars containing garlic, incubated at 35°C and sampled for organoleptic acceptance and presence of toxin every 5th d. In parallel studies conducted at room temperature, jars were sampled at 15-d intervals. At 35°C, when 1 spore/g of garlic was used as inoculum, toxin was produced in 15 d by type A and in 20 d by type B strains. At room temperature, five spores of type A or B per g of garlic produced toxin throughout 75 d. Even when highly toxic, garlic looked and smelled acceptable. Five strains of C. botulinum type A were isolated from 115 bulbs of fresh garlic.
Depression Status Is Associated with Functional Decline Over 1-Year Following Acute Stroke

Background We investigated the independent association of depression status at 3 and 12 months after stroke and functional decline. Methods Data were obtained as part of the multicenter Adherence eValuation After Ischemic stroke Longitudinal (AVAIL) registry. Depression was assessed with the Patient Health Questionnaire-8 (depression, PHQ-8 ≥ 10), and functional status was assessed with the modified Rankin score (mRS) at 3 and 12 months following hospitalization for ischemic stroke. We used logistic regression analyses to evaluate the independent association between the change in depression rating and the change in mRS. Results Among 1444 patients, 75% did not have depression at either time point, 9.2% had persistent depression, 8.7% had resolving depression, and 7% had incident depression at 12 months. After covariate adjustment, depression status at 3 and 12 months remained associated with worsening mRS ( P = .01). Compared with patients without depression, those with resolving depression were less likely to have a worsening mRS (odds ratio [OR] = .49, 95% confidence interval [CI]: .29-0.83). There was no difference in functional decline between those with no depression and those with persistent depression; however, those with persistent depression had worse mRS at both time points (median mRS: 2.5 [Q1-Q3: 2-3] at 3 months; 2 [2-3] at 12 months) than those with no depression (mRS: 1 [0-2] at both 3 and 12 months), P Conclusions Patients with resolving depression in the first year after stroke were less likely to have functional deterioration than those without depression. Greater functional impairment was present in the setting of depression.
Is More Always Better? The Curvilinear Relationships between College Student Experiences and Outcomes

Many higher education studies have examined linear relationships between student experiences and outcomes, but this assumption may be questionable. In two notable examples previous research that assumed a linear relationship reached different substantive conclusions and implications than did research that explored non-linear associations among the same constructs. Indeed, many relationships between college experiences and outcomes may actually be curvilinear; this study explored that possibility within a large, multi-institutional, longitudinal dataset. As expected, most of the significant positive relationships were accompanied by significant curvilinear associations, such that the magnitude of the relationship decreased with higher levels of involvement.
Programmable opto-electronic multiprocessor systems

Programmable Opto-electronic Multiprocessor systems (POEMs) are reviewed in terms of their architecture and system implementation considerations. We compare POEMs with VLSI computers based on scalability, performance and technological feasibility. Our results show that for parallel computers requiring a large number of globally con- nected simple processing elements POEM systems out perform their VLSI counterparts. We also report on the implementation of the POEM prototype currently in progress at UCSD.
The Future of Himalayan Mobilities

The 10 year People’s War in Nepal (1986–2006) had a profound impact on infrastructure. Acts of sabotage which destroyed existing roads and bridges as well as withdrawal of foreign investment curtailed most construction projects. With formation of a new government in the wake of the war reconstruction and new development is on the rise-one of the key focuses is on connecting all 75-district headquarters by road. A renewed push for better north-south connectivity is integrated in a plan for regional trade between India, Nepal, and China. The precarious geo-political underpinnings of Nepal’s geographical position between India and China makes road building a very complex multi-scalar proposition. The complexity of this challenge speaks to the importance of generating interdisciplinary research and development planning-which will necessitate cooperation and collaboration. The so-called Trans Himalayan Highway (a.k.a. Rasuwagadhi-Galchi-Raxaul Highway) is the shortest overland route from Tibet to India. As such it features prominently in many sub regional, regional and potentially international trade and commerce proposals for connecting China, India, South Asia and Europe. The Chinese financed Rasuwagadhi-Syaphrubesi section of this highway has been under intense scrutiny—it is being groomed to become the main access point for China-Nepal-India overland trade. Officially opened in December 2014 the Rasuwagadhi border has undergone huge changes recently.
The NAD+-Dependent Family of Sirtuins in Cerebral Ischemia and Preconditioning.

Abstract Significance: Sirtuins are an evolutionarily conserved family of NAD+-dependent lysine deacylases and ADP ribosylases. Their requirement for NAD+ as a cosubstrate allows them to act as metabolic sensors that couple changes in the energy status of the cell to changes in cellular physiological processes. NAD+ levels are affected by several NAD+-producing and NAD+-consuming pathways as well as by cellular respiration. Thus their intracellular levels are highly dynamic and are misregulated in a spectrum of metabolic disorders including cerebral ischemia. This, in turn, compromises several NAD+-dependent processes that may ultimately lead to cell death. Recent Advances: A number of efforts have been made to replenish NAD+ in cerebral ischemic injuries as well as to understand the functions of one its important mediators, the sirtuin family of proteins through the use of pharmacological modulators or genetic manipulation approaches either before or after the insult. Critical Issues and Future Direction...
Mutations in folate transporter genes and risk for human myelomeningocele.

The molecular mechanisms linking folate deficiency and neural tube defect (NTD) risk in offspring remain unclear. Folate transporters (SLC19A1, SLC46A1, SLC25A32, and FOLH1) and folate receptors (FOLR1, FOLR2, and FOLR3) are suggested to play essential roles in transporting folate from maternal intestinal lumen to the developing embryo. Loss of function variants in these genes may affect folate availability and contribute to NTD risk. This study examines whether variants within the folate transporter and receptor genes are associated with an increased risk for myelomeningocele (MM). Exons and their flanking intron sequences of 348 MM subjects were sequenced using the Sanger sequencing method and/or next generation sequencing to identify variants. Frequencies of alleles of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in MM subjects were compared to those from ethnically-matched reference populations to evaluate alleles’ associated risk for MM. We identified eight novel variants in SLC19A1 and twelve novel variants in FOLR1, FOLR2, and FOLR3. Pathogenic variants include c.1265delG in SLC19A1 resulting in an early stop codon, four large insertion deletion variants in FOLR3, and a stop_gain variant in FOLR3. No new variants were identified in SLC46A1, SLC25A32, or FOLH1. In SLC19A1, c.80A>G (rs1051266) was not associated with our MM cohort; we did observe a variant allele G frequency of 61.7%, higher than previously reported in other NTD populations. In conclusion, we discovered novel loss of function variants in genes involved in folate transport in MM subjects. Our results support the growing evidence of associations between genes involved in folate transport and susceptibility to NTDs.
Real-Time Whole-Brain Radiation Therapy: A Single-Institution Experience.

Purpose To demonstrate the feasibility of a real-time whole-brain radiation therapy (WBRT) workflow, taking advantage of contemporary radiation therapy capabilities and seeking to optimize clinical workflow for WBRT. Methods and Materials We developed a method incorporating the linear accelerator's on-board imaging system for patient simulation, used cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) data for treatment planning, and delivered the first fraction of prescribed therapy, all during the patient's initial appointment. Simulation was performed in the linear accelerator vault. An acquired CBCT data set was used for scripted treatment planning protocol, providing inversely planned, automated treatment plan generation. The osseous boundaries of the brain were auto-contoured to create a target volume. Two parallel-opposed beams using field-in-field intensity modulate radiation therapy covered this target to the user-defined inferior level (C1 or C2). The method was commissioned using an anthropomorphic head phantom and verified using 100 clinically treated patients. Results Whole-brain target heterogeneity was within 95%-107% of the prescription dose, and target coverage compared favorably to standard, manually created 3-dimensional plans. For the commissioning CBCT datasets, the secondary monitor unit verification and independent 3-dimensional dose distribution comparison for computed and delivered doses were within 2% agreement relative to the scripted auto-plans. On average, time needed to complete the entire process was 35.1 ± 10.3 minutes from CBCT start to last beam delivered. Conclusions The real-time WBRT workflow using integrated on-site imaging, planning, quality assurance, and delivery was tested and deemed clinically feasible. The design necessitates a synchronized team consisting of physician, physicist, dosimetrist, and therapists. This work serves as a proof of concept of real-time planning and delivery for other treatment sites.
From doldrums to progressing knowledge: Identifying stifling issues in criminological theory building and testing

In the explanation of crime, although each social science has a primary focus of theoretical development, there are a number of areas where disciplines unwittingly parallel one another. Such parallel development promotes unnecessary competition among theories and prevents them from progressing knowledge. Additionally, theorists often discard related concepts presented by other disciplines, if they considered at all, which is indicative of an imbalance in the disciplinary frame of reference (e.g., psychology over sociology). Such imbalance and lack of cross-referencing impedes the ability of theories to adequately explain and understand criminality. This paper revisits how the theorizing of crime may benefit from such cross-referencing through what we refer to as a reciprocating perspective. Drawing on interdisciplinary literature, we present a conceptual approach that can aid in strengthening theoretical development. Aiming to create an interdisciplinary bridge, we address key pitfalls in criminological theory development through four main elements: (1) concept formalization, (2) multi-level conceptualization, (3) causality, and (4) application. We also outline problems caused by such imbalance, and the progress made possible by the approach.
Gender Expression, Violence, and Bullying Victimization: Findings From Probability Samples of High School Students in 4 US School Districts

BACKGROUND Young people may experience school-based violence and bullying victimization related to their gender expression, independent of sexual orientation identity. However, the associations between gender expression and bullying and violence have not been examined in racially and ethnically diverse population-based samples of high school students. METHODS This study includes 5469 students (13-18 years) from the 2013 Youth Risk Behavior Surveys conducted in 4 urban school districts. Respondents were 51% Hispanic/Latino, 21% black/African American, 14% white. Generalized additive models were used to examine the functional form of relationships between self-reported gender expression (range: 1 = Most gender conforming, 7 = Most gender nonconforming) and 5 indicators of violence and bullying victimization. We estimated predicted probabilities across gender expression by sex, adjusting for sexual orientation identity and potential confounders. RESULTS Statistically significant quadratic associations indicated that girls and boys at the most gender conforming and nonconforming ends of the scale had elevated probabilities of fighting and fighting-related injury, compared to those in the middle of the scale (p < .05). There was a significant linear relationship between gender expression and bullying victimization; every unit increase in gender nonconformity was associated with 15% greater odds of experiencing bullying (p < .0001). CONCLUSIONS School-based victimization is associated with conformity and nonconformity to gender norms. School violence prevention programs should include gender diversity education.
Wisdom and compassion: A new perspective on the science of relationships

In psychological science, mindfulness and compassion are thought to promote physical health, mental well-being and even virtuous character. Yet in Buddhist philosophy, mindfulness and compassion ca...
An Evidence-Based Approach to the Construction of Summary Quality-of-Life Indices

This paper commences with a review of some objectives for social indicators and quality-of-life research that were stated in the founding years of the social indicators movement. It then reviews the current state of the art in constructing objective social indicators and in studies of subjective well-being. Using recent work the author and associates have done on the development of a Child Well-being Index (Cwi), it is demonstrated how the findings of studies of subjective well-being can be used to inform the construction of summary quality-of-life indices. In particular, it is shown how the Cwi can be viewed as a well-beingevidence-based measure of trends in averages of the social conditions encountered by children and youths in the U.S. across recent decades. Several key properties of the Cwi are discussed. Various empirical findings regarding child well-being in the United States are summarized. The presentation concludes with some developments in the Cwi that are needed if it is to fulfill the founding objectives of the social indicators project.
Protease Inhibitor Synthesis by MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cells

It is well established that proteolytic enzymes play a significant role in the expression of the malignant phenotype including the loss of growth regulation, invasiveness, and formation of metastases (Liotta et al., 1991). Tumor cellderived proteases have multiple activities and have been shown to degrade basement membrane components, stimulate angiogenesis, and promote tumor cell proliferation and migration. Tumor cells may also be responsible for the elaboration of proteolytic enzymes by host cells such as the endothelium, stroma, or components of the immune system. Studies using an in vitro amnion invasion assay, shown to provide a rigorous test for tumor cell invasion in vivo (Yagel et al., 1989), suggest the involvement of a protease cascade in the invasion process. Although there is some controversy regarding the specific proteases participating in the cascade, plasminogen activator, plasmin, stromelysin, type IV collagenase, and interstitial collagenase appear to be important (Ostrowski et al., 1986; Persky et al., 1986; Whitham et al., 1986; Mignatti et al., 1987; Strous et al., 1988). Tissue-type plasminogen activator has been identified in breast cancer cytosol and its concentration may be of some prognostic significance (Duffy et al., 1988). There is also a large body of evidence suggesting that metastasis is facilitated by thrombus formation (Saito et al., 1980; Gasic et al., 1983). Tumor cells have been shown to induce platelet aggregation through the generation of thrombin and a specific membrane protein responsible for thrombin generation has been isolated from several tumor cell lines (Cavanaugh et al., 1988).
Critique of an Applied Field: Conventional Cephalometrics

In this chapter I shall demonstrate the extent to which one particular field of applied shape measurement, conventional cephalometrics, is founded upon assumptions and procedures with unfortunate analytic properties. A critique of certain modern developments will be found in chapter iv, and of prediction techniques in particular in chapter viii. There is a collective criticism of specifically radiological cephalometrics in Salzmann (1961).
Designing a Comprehensive Professional Development Program in a Surgery Department: Process, Measures, and Lessons Learned

Background Departments within academic medical centers are typically comprised of clinical and research faculty, administrative staff, residents, and in many instances advance practice providers (APPs). Each member of these groups of people, at 1 point, took time, effort, and money to recruit, hire, and train. It is therefore important to consider ways to increase the “return on investment” of hiring each member of a department as well as maintaining a high level of department vitality. The Department of Surgery at Indiana University has never had a robust professional development program for all of its members. A challenge, therefore, presented itself of how best to increase faculty engagement in faculty development and to initiate opportunities for professional development for APPs and staff. Intervention We implemented a professional development program that focused on academic success with emphasis on teaching and leadership and tailored activities to meet the needs of each member. Professional development was promoted by targeting select groups of people within our department to engage rather than have members go to the effort of seeking development on their own. Setting The intervention occurred in the Department of Surgery at Indiana University which is comprised of ∼125 faculty, 100 residents and/or fellows, 60 APPs, and 19 lead business administrators for 6 divisions, all working within 5 downtown hospitals comprising the academic health center. Results Great effort has been placed into defining measures for each activity including measures of engagement, completion of deliverables, and tracking new leadership positions obtained by participants. Between 2014 and 2017, the number of faculty development activities that faculty attended has tripled since inception of our professional development program. Conclusions For those looking to enhance or begin a professional development program, appointing a director or vice chair to oversee and champion the initiative is key. From our experience, putting effort first into developing a junior faculty development program to capture internal motivation early on is likely best. For leadership development, selecting faculty to form faculty learning cohorts worked well. Finally, to deal with the barriers of time and competing interests, building in protected time for professional development is essential.
On the effects of policy uncertainty on stock prices

A new measure of policy uncertainty that relies upon newspapers’ reporting of any words that contribute to an uncertain environment is constructed and published by Policy Uncertainty Group. In this paper we assess its impact on stock prices in 13 countries for which we were able to locate the required data. We find that in almost all 13 countries, increased uncertainty has adverse short-run effects but not long-run effects on stock prices.
Uncertainty and trustworthiness in discussions of fracking: Exploring the views of academic scientists and local governmental representatives

Abstract Hydraulic fracturing has transformed how unconventional natural gas and oil resources are extracted across the globe, with much disagreement over its potential environmental impacts, as well as the likelihood of those impacts. Using in-depth interviews, this study examines the views of two stakeholder groups, academic scientists and local governmental representatives, who have been involved in the debate over hydraulic fracturing in Texas’s Dallas-Fort Worth region, fracking’s modern-day birthplace. I explore how individuals within these two groups discuss uncertainty, and how they think their uncertainty framing impacts the public’s perceptions of them. In addition, this study adds to previous research on how expert groups frame uncertainty by integrating Wynne’s (1992) expanded typology of uncertainty, which includes the concepts of risk, uncertainty, ignorance, and indeterminacy.
Biochemical and Structural Alterations in Skeletal Muscle Following ACL Injury: A Narrative Review

Background: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are some of the most common knee injuries that occur in the US, accounting for around 200,000 documented cases per year. Varying levels of severity can determine whether surgery is required or if physical therapy will suffice. One of the most common complications for patients is that there is significant atrophy of the impacted limb. Yet, there has not been definitive proof explaining this mechanism. Objective: The primary goal for this review was to examine some of the biochemical differences that tend to occur within and surrounding an ACL injury and the mechanisms involved in skeletal muscle atrophy and regenerative capabilities. Outcome: Multiple studies have found a connection between time spent inactive from the injury and the percentage of retained muscle after exercising again. Among decreases in muscle mass and muscle volume changes, analyses have also revealed alterations in alpha-2 macroglobulin, myostatin, heat shock protein-72, mechano GF-C24E, synovial fluid, and histochemical alterations in collagen and cartilaginous states which all seem to be primary factors in regulating effectiveness and speed of recovery from ACL injury. Conclusion: the influx of various cytokines as a response to the initial injury in relation to inflammation change the chemical and physical environment of the knee, making recovery significantly more difficult and time-consuming. Timing of injury, surgery, and re-initiation of movement after surgery are very important factors that can minimize overall damage and reduce recovery time.
Pathology Update: Considerations for General Systemic Diseases

SUMMARY Oral manifestations often indicate the presence of systemic disease, and many times oral lesions are a presenting feature. Although some diseases can be diagnosed solely on a clinical basis, oral biopsies in combination with clinical characteristics are of significant diagnostic value in confirming suspected illnesses and predicting the course of disease. Histologic evaluation is a critical component of the diagnostic process, especially in cases in which prompt diagnosis and treatment can prolong survival and improve prognosis.
Outcomes and Echocardiographic Follow-up After Surgical Management of Tricuspid Regurgitation in Patients With Transvenous Right Ventricular Leads

Abstract Objective To evaluate outcomes of elective surgical management of tricuspid regurgitation (TR) in patients with transvenous right ventricular leads, and compare results between non–lead-induced and lead-induced TR patients. Patients and Methods We studied patients with right ventricular leads who underwent tricuspid valve surgery from January 1, 1993, through December 31, 2015, and categorized them as non–lead-induced and lead-induced TR. Propensity score (PS) for the tendency to have lead-induced TR was estimated from logistic regression and was used to adjust for group differences. Results From the initial cohort of 470 patients, 444 were included in PS-adjustment analyses (174 non–lead-induced TRs [123 repairs, 51 replacements], 270 lead-induced TRs [129 repairs, 141 replacements]). In PS-adjusted multivariable analysis, lead-induced TR was not associated with mortality (P=.73), but tricuspid valve replacement was (hazard ratio, 1.59; 95% CI, 1.13 to 2.25; P=.008). Five-year freedom from tricuspid valve re-intervention was 100% for non–lead-induced TR and 92.3% for lead-induced TR; rates adjusted for PS differed between groups (P=.005). There was significant improvement in TR postoperatively in each group (P Conclusion Lead-induced TR did not affect long-term survival after elective tricuspid valve surgery. In patients with lead-induced TR, tricuspid valve re-intervention was more common. Improvement in TR was achieved in both groups after surgery; however, severity of TR tended to increase over follow-up after tricuspid valve repair.
Association of Marital Status in the Testing and Treatment of Sexually Transmitted Infections in the Emergency Department

Introduction Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are frequently tested for and treated in the emergency department (ED). Age, race, and number of sexual partners are known risk factors for STIs. The objective of the current study was to examine marital status as it relates to testing and treating for STIs in the ED. Methods A database of 75,000 ED patient encounters from a single healthcare system in northeast Ohio between April 18, 2014, and March 7, 2017, was examined. All patients in the dataset underwent a urinalysis and urine culture or received STI testing in the ED. We performed Chi-square and multivariable regression analysis to examine the relationships between the patient's marital status and testing and treatment for STIs performed in the ED. Results There were 20,965 patient encounters where STI testing was performed and was analyzed. Patients were 9.1% (N=1,912) married, 86.6% (N=18,149) single, 4.0% (N=837) were neither married nor single, and 0.3% (N=67) with an unknown marital status. There were 7.1% (19/267) and 4.9% (12/267) of tested married men who were infected with gonorrhea and chlamydia, respectively, whereas only 0.4% (6/1,583) and 2.2% (35/1,588) of tested married women were infected with gonorrhea and chlamydia, respectively. Single men and women were both significantly more likely to have a positive test for gonorrhea and chlamydia compared to married men and women, respectively (P<0.001). Married men and women, compared to single men and women, respectively, were more likely to be given antibiotics for gonorrhea and chlamydia in the ED when the infection was present and not be given antibiotics for the infections when testing was negative (P<0.001). Single women (9.1%; 1,291/14,258) were more likely than married women (4.9%; 75/1,534) to have a positive test for trichomonas, but there were no significant differences between married (1.0%; 1/100) and single men (0.7%; 6/893). Conclusion Even when accounting for age and race, marital status can help predict infection with gonorrhea and chlamydia in the ED. The marital status could be considered by clinicians when risk stratifying patients regarding testing and treating for the diseases in the ED. Gonorrhea and chlamydia are much more common in single men and women and much less common in married persons. However, married men tested for gonorrhea and chlamydia were more than twice as likely to test positive for infection than married women. Married men and women were both more likely to be appropriately treated with antibiotics for gonorrhea and chlamydia in the ED (i.e., testing negative for infection and not receiving antibiotics or testing positive and receiving antibiotics) compared to non-married men and women. While trichomonas was more common in single women than married women, the infection was less common in men, and both married men and single men had similar rates of testing positive for the infection.
Explainable Neural Network Cancer Diagnosis of Unstained Tissue Samples Measured by Chemometric Microscope

We present an interpretable neural network cancer diagnosis of unstained lung tissue sections measured by chemometric fluorescence microscope. It demonstrates high accuracy and identifies a novel pairwise chromophore interaction for diagnosis.
May Kantians commit virtual killings that affect no other persons

Are acts of violence performed in virtual environments ever morally wrong, even when no other persons are affected? While some such acts surely reflect deficient moral character, I focus on the moral rightness or wrongness of acts. Typically it’s thought that, on Kant’s moral theory, an act of virtual violence is morally wrong (i.e., violates the Categorical Imperative) only if the act mistreats another person. But I argue that, on Kant’s moral theory, some acts of virtual violence can be morally wrong, even when no other persons or their avatars are affected. First, I explain why many have thought that, in general on Kant’s moral theory, virtual acts affecting no other persons or their avatars can’t violate the Categorical Imperative. For there are real world acts that clearly do, but it seems that when we consider the same sorts of acts done alone in a virtual environment, they don’t violate the Categorical Imperative, because no others persons were involved. But then, how could any virtual acts like these, that affect no other persons or their avatars, violate the Categorical Imperative? I then argue that there indeed can be such cases of morally wrong virtual acts—some due to an actor’s having erroneous beliefs about morally relevant facts, and others due not to error, but to the actor’s intention leaving out morally relevant facts while immersed in a virtual environment. I conclude by considering some implications of my arguments for both our present technological context as well as the future.
Effect of dexamethasone on bacteriostatic activity of turkey monocytes and implications for food safety.

Abstract Stress has been shown to affect the immune system of turkeys making them more susceptible to bacterial infections. Five-week-old male and female turkeys were treated with 3 intra-muscular injections of dexamethasone (Dex) at 0, 0.5 and 2.0 mg/kg body weight. Twenty-four hours after the third injection birds were bled and white blood cell (WBC) differentials and bacteriostatic activity of monocytes were measured. Dex at both 0.5 and 2.0 mg/kg decreased phagocytic activity in females only. Bacteriostatic activity was decreased at both concentrations of Dex at 8 and 16 h post-infection in both sexes and was lower in males as compared to females. Total WBC counts were increased in females at both concentrations of Dex whereas male total WBC counts were unaffected. Both males and females had an increase in the heterophil to lymphocyte ratio. Within the same study, replicate pens of turkeys were challenged with intra-air sac inoculation of 100 cfu of Escherichia coli . Isolation of E. coli was significantly increased by both Dex and E. coli challenge, but there were no differences between sexes. These results suggest that stress can compromise the bacteriostatic activity of turkey monocytes and increase bacterial colonization of blood and tissues, potentially affecting food safety.
Active learning for structure in Bayesian networks

The task of causal structure discovery from empirical data is a fundamental problem in many areas. Experimental data is crucial for accomplishing this task. However, experiments are typically expensive, and must be selected with great care. This paper uses active learning to determine the experiments that are most informative towards uncovering the underlying structure. We formalize the causal learning task as that of learning the structure of a causal Bayesian network. We consider an active learner that is allowed to conduct experiments, where it intervenes in the domain by setting the values of certain variables. We provide a theoretical framework for the active learning problem, and an algorithm that actively chooses the experiments to perform based on the model learned so far. Experimental results show that active learning can substantially reduce the number of observations required to determine the structure of a domain.
EARLY DEPOSIT BANKING

This paper describes the development of the deposit bank in Europe to 1600. Deposit banks allowed customers to make payments by transferring deposits on the books of the bank rather than by settling in coin. The paper describes how such payments were made and what kinds of transactions they were used for. Deposit banks developed into financial intermediaries, and the paper examines their liabilities, their assets, the methods they used to manage liquidity and risk, and the regulation to which they were subject. The authorities responded to increasingly frequent failures of deposit banks by establishing public banks.
NASA/GE Quiet Engine "A"

NASA and the General Electric Co. are jointly developing two low noise propulsion technology demonstrators (Engine "A" and "C" incorporating, respectively, a low tip speed and high tip speed fan) under the Experimental Quiet Engine Program. The acoustic and Aerodynamic performance characteristics of Engine "C" which is currently on test will be reported at a later date. The present paper describes the design, component development and engine evaluation of the "A" demonstrator. The aerodynamic and acoustic performance obtained on the fan component are discussed. The demonstrator engine acoustic test program is outlined. The effect of inlet geometry and duct acoustic treatment are presented. The static acoustic data are extrapolated to flight and compared with the FAA noise regulations.
Production of organometallic polymers by the interfacial technique. XVIII. A study of some associated reaction variables in the synthesis of silicon polyesters

Silicon containing reactants are condensed with diacid salts using the interfacial technique to give low molecular weight products. Infrared frequency band assignments are given. The following reaction variables were studied and reported on: Stirring rate, stirring time, and nature of silane. Durch Grenzflachenpolykondensation von reaktiven Siliciumverbindungen mit Salzen von Dicarbonsauren wurden Produkte mit relativ niedrigen Molekulargewichten erhalten. Eine Zuordnung der IR-Banden dieser Substanzen wird gegeben. Der Einflus von Ruhrgeschwindigkeit, Ruhrzeit und der Art des Silans wurde untersucht.
Object Identification in Multidatabase Systems

Abstract In the Pegasus prototype multidatabase system, the key to the problem of object identity is a differentiation between the view of a data administrator, capturing all the underlying discrepancies and their solutions, and the view of an end user or application, in which only a consistent result is visible. New language constructs with which the administrator can describe solutions to identity problems include underlying and unifying types, the Image function, and producer types.
Influence of temperature on steady-state growth of colonies of Pseudomonas fluorescens.

Abstract Diameters of surface colonies of Pseudomonas fluorescens were observed to increase linearly with time at temperatures from 30 to 0 C.
Application of reference stress and probabilistic methodologies to assessing creep crack growth

This paper describes the application of the reference stress approach and probabilistic methods to the determination of creep crack growth based on the time-dependent fracture mechanics parameter, C(t), where t is time. This parameter is defined as the simple sum of a transient component, C(t → 0), which is applicable to short times and a steady-state component, C*. The reference stress approach enables a relatively simple expression for C* to be derived. A scheme is developed that optimizes the fit of the reference stress approach to published computed solutions for J p , the fully plastic component of the J-integral. The optimization scheme involves the derivation of an engineering parameter, V. An expression for C* is readily derived from an expression for J p by invoking the creep-plastic analogy. Values of V are derived from the analysis of 189 sets of computed solutions. These values are statistically analyzed and used to derive a distribution function describing the uncertainty in V. This function is used together with distribution functions for other random variables (such as the creep strain rate coefficient and crack growth law coefficient) in example probabilistic analyses of flaws in welded internally pressurized pipes operating in the creep regime. Probability sensitivity factors are generated as part of the probabilistic analyses.
Wavelet interpolation: from orthonormal to the oversampled wavelet transform

The orthonormal wavelet transform is an efficient method of signal representation since there is no redundancy in its expression, but due to aliasing in the decimation stage it lacks the often desired property of shift invariance. On the other hand, the oversampled or nonorthogonal wavelet offers a finer resolution in translation; thus reducing the effect of shift of origin, it is more robust to changes in the initial phase of the signal. In some areas of signal processing, such as wideband correlation processing, sensitivity to time alignment necessitates the use of the nonorthogonal wavelet transform. The price paid for the advantage of robustness to shifting is the introduction of redundancy in the expression. In many applications, both of these properties are needed in different stages of signal processing. Thus there is a need to know the conditions under which the redundant and nonorthonormal wavelet transform coefficients can be derived from the orthonormal wavelet transform coefficients. The answer provides us with a convenient way to switch between these two forms: the orthonormal wavelet for efficient expression, and the nonorthogonal one whenever it is necessary for feature extraction. Alternatives to implementation of the translation axis oversampling by using filter banks are also suggested.
Provider payment incentives: international comparisons.

This issue of the International Journal of Healthcare Finance and Economics features eight articles evaluating different provider payment methods in comparative international perspective, with authors from Hungary, China, Thailand, the US, Switzerland, and Canada. These contributions illustrate how the array of incentives facing providers shapes their interpersonal, clinical, administrative, and investment decisions in ways that profoundly impact the performance of health care systems. Taken as a whole, the articles show that in addition to the specifics of the reimbursement or remuneration scheme for individual providers and provider organizations, other factors matter—including ownership, allocation of control rights (such as in public-private partnerships), and expectation of a bail-out (soft budget constraints). All of these facets of payment and accountability systems shape the quality and efficiency of service delivery. The collection leads off with a study by Janos Kornai, one of the most prominent scholars of socialism and post-socialist transition, and the originator of the concept of the soft budget constraint. Kornai’s paper examines the political economy of why soft budget constraints appear to be especially prevalent among health care providers, compared to other sectors of the economy. He gives examples from Hungary and Italy, and discusses a broad range of factors including government financing, patient moral hazard, provider altruism for patients and emphasis on new technologies, managers’ political connections, and fiscal relations between central and local governments. Kornai concludes that the soft budget constraint phenomenon is not confined to socialist systems, post-socialist economies, or government-owned providers; rather, soft budget constraints inevitably develop in the hospital sector, even in capitalist market economies. Two other papers in the issue take up the challenge of empirically identifying the extent of soft budget constraints among hospitals and their impact on safety net services,
Porphyrins meso‐substituted with phenanthrene and 1,10‐phenanthroline

Meso-tetrakis(9-phenanthryl)porphyrin and meso-tetrakis(1,10-phenanthrolin-4-yl)porphyrin were obtained and characterized by spectroscopy methods. The porphyrin containing phenanthroline substituents was formed with much smaller yield. It showed much slower progress of metallation with Cu(I) and Zn(II) ions than the phenanthreneporphyrin. While attachment of phenanthrene did not result in any meaningful changes in the uv vis spectrum when compared to other meso-substituted tetraarylporphyrins (except that of [2.2]paracyclophanylporphyrin), the appearance of two N centers in each meso substituent substantially altered porphyrin absorption in the 530–600 nm region. Although the 1 H nmr 300 MHz spectra of both porphyrins showed the same deshielding of β-pyrrole protons, the shielding of NH protons was more advanced in phenanthrolineporphyrin.
Determination of aspartame by high-performance capillary electrophoresis

A rapid method for the analysis of the artificial sweetener aspartame in food products using high-performance capillary electrophoresis with a bare capillary, a pH 2.14 buffer and detection at 211 nm has been developed. The analysis time is faster than that reported for HPLC methods. A linear calibration curve between 25 and 150 μg/ml for the analyte solution is established which can be used for quantitative determinations of aspartame in typical food and beverage products. Six commercial samples are analyzed and one diet cola with a known aspartame concentration gives an R.S.D. of 2.6% from the manufacturer's value. No other sample constituents are detected in this high-performance capillary electrophoresis (HPCE) method.