cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Prevalence of DPYD*9A(c.85T>C) Genotype and the Genotype-Phenotype Correlation in Patients with Gastrointestinal Malignancies Treated With Fluoropyrimidines: Updated Analysis.

Abstract Introduction The dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase gene (DPYD)*9A (c.85T>C) genotype is relatively common. The correlation between DPYD*9A genotype and dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) deficiency phenotype is controversial. In a cohort of 28 patients, DPYD*9A was the most commonly diagnosed variant (13 patients [46%]) and there was a noticeable genotype-phenotype correlation. In this study we genotyped a larger cohort of a mixed racial background to explore the prevalence of DPYD*9A variant and to confirm the genotype-phenotype correlation. Patients and Methods Between 2011 and 2018, in addition to genotyping for high-risk DPYD variants (DPYD*2A, DPYD*13 and DPYD*9B), genotyping for DPYD*9A variant was performed on 113 patients with gastrointestinal malignancies treated with fluoropyrimidines. Fluoropyrimidines-associated toxicity was graded according to the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (version 5.0). Fisher exact test was used for statistical analysis. Results Heterozygous and homozygous DPYD*9A genotypes were identified in 46 (41%) and 11 (10%) patients, respectively. Among patients with DPYD*9A genotypes (n = 57), men and women represented 30 (53%) and 27 (47%) patients, respectively. Caucasian, African American, and other ethnicities represented 29 (50.9%), 26 (45.6%), and 2 (3.5%) patients, respectively. Grade 3/4 toxicities were experienced in 26 patients with DPYD*9A genotype (3 patients had homozygous status) and in 20 patients with wild type DPYD*9A (P = .4405). In patients who received full-dose fluoropyrimidines (n = 85), Grade 3/4 toxicities were experienced in 22 patients with DPYD*9A genotype (2 patients had homozygous status), and in 17 patients with wild type DPYD (P = .8275). Conclusion In our updated analysis, the prevalence of heterozygous and homozygous DPYD*9A genotypes were 41% and 10%, respectively. The correlation between DPYD*9A genotype and DPD clinical phenotype was not reproduced. The noticeable correlation that we previously reported is likely because of small sample size and selection bias.
Conservation laws of Biswas-Arshed equation in optical fibers (filling in the gap)

Abstract This paper computes the conserved quantities of Biswas–Arshed equation from the corresponding densities that have been reported and listed earlier. The model is considered with power law nonlinearity. The bright 1-soliton solution is utilized to recover the conserved quantities.
A Technical Overview of the Kentucky Mesonet

AbstractThe Kentucky Mesonet is a research-grade weather and climate observing network with redundant sensors that monitors the near-surface atmosphere at 71 locations across Kentucky. The network ...
Shadowed delamination area estimation in ultrasonic C-scans of impacted composites validated by X-ray CT

Although ultrasonic pulse-echo C-scanning is a mature non-destructive evaluation technique for imaging internal damage in composite structures, a major impediment of obtaining a full characterizati...
Tranexamic Acid Increases Early Postoperative Pain and Decreases Time to First Opioid Following Total Knee Arthroplasty

Background and Hypothesis: Tranexamic acid (TXA) decreases blood loss in total knee arthroplasty (TKA). However, TXA evoked pain in rats by inhibiting GABA and glycine receptors in the spinal dorsal horn, and caused cellular death in ex vivo and in vitro human periarticular tissues exposed to clinical concentrations of TXA. We evaluated inpatient postoperative pain and blood loss in TKA performed with and without TXA. Project Methods: 105 consecutive cemented TKAs without TXA were compared to 72 consecutive cemented TKAs with TXA. Procedures were performed by a single surgeon using identical perioperative medical and pain-control protocols. Outcomes included: average of q2-4 hour pain scores during the first 24 hours after PACU discharge, average pain during remainder of stay, final pain score prior to discharge, time in minutes to first opioid after PACU discharge, total opioids in morphine equivalents (MEQs) during the first 24 hours after PACU discharge, average MEQs per remaining days of stay, and mean g/dL pre- to postoperative decrease in hemoglobin. Multivariate analyses accounted for 15 demographics and covariates. Results: The sex (p=0.393), age (p=0.784), and BMI (p=0.930) of the two cohorts were similar. Mean pain during the first 24 hours was greater (4.1 vs. 3.2, p=0.001), MEQs consumed during the first 24 hours were greater (45 vs. 37, p=0.069), and time to first opioid medication was shorter (326 vs. 414, p=0.023) in patients who received TXA. The decrease in hemoglobin was less in patients who received TXA (-2.2 vs. -2.7, p<0.001). Conclusion and Potential Impact: Our hypothesis based on animal and laboratory studies that TXA may increase early postoperative pain was confirmed by three metrics. Consistent with the effective life of TXA, pain and opioid consumption after 24 hours did not differ based on TXA use. Further work is warranted to investigate the nature consequences associated with TXA, relative to its demonstrated benefits for blood conservation.
Response to letter by Lingping Zhu: Small 'r' research as big 'R' research in general practice.

We appreciate Dr Zhu’s interest and points about the special issue on discovering and doing research in general practice (GP).[1][1] We agree with Zhu’s assertion that general practitioners have faced barriers applying research methods and conducting original research. We specifically chose six
Decreased breast cancer-specific mortality risk in patients with a history of thyroid cancer

Previous studies have documented an intrinsic association between breast cancer (BC) and thyroid cancer (TC), but the clinical relevance of this relationship is not well defined. In the present study, we specifically investigated the impact of a history of TC on clinical outcomes of BC. We performed a population-based comparative analysis of tumor behaviors and BC-specific mortalities in 427,893 female patients with BC in the USA Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results 9 database (1973-2013). In this cohort of subjects, 2,569 patients also had a history of differentiated TC (BC/TC), including BC diagnosed before TC (BC-1st) and BC diagnosed after TC (TC-1st), with the median follow-up time of 81 (IQR, 33-160) months. We found that, compared with matched BC-only patients, less aggressive BC tumor behaviors occurred in BC/TC patients, as exemplified by a distant metastasis rate of 7.0% in the former versus 3.3% in the latter (P<0.001). In BC/TC, BC-1st, and TC-1st patients versus their matched BC-only patients, BC-specific mortalities were 11.3% versus 21.0%, 9.9% versus 26.4%, and 12.4% versus 16.9%. These corresponded to hazard ratios (HR) (95% CI) of 0.47 (0.42-0.53), 0.31 (0.26-0.37), and 0.72 (0.61-0.84), respectively (all P<0.001), being lowest in BC-1st patients <50 years old [HR = 0.22 (0.16-0.31)], which remained significant after adjustment for clinicopathological and socioeconomic factors. Estrogen/progesterone receptor expression in BC tumors was significantly higher in patients with BC/TC than matched BC-only patients, providing evidence that BC in the former was biologically unique. Thus, a history of TC, particularly in younger BC-1st patients, may identify BC as a unique disease entity characterized by a decreased disease-specific mortality risk. The results have potentially important clinical and biological implications for BC in this special patient population and encourage further studies to confirm.
A BEME realist synthesis review of the effectiveness of teaching strategies used in the clinical setting on the development of clinical skills among health professionals: BEME Guide No. 61

Background: Literature describing the effectiveness of teaching strategies in the clinical setting is limited. This realist synthesis review focuses on understanding the effectiveness of teaching strategies used in the clinical setting.Methods: We searched ten databases for English language publications between 1 January 1970 and 31 May 2017 reporting effective teaching strategies, used in a clinical setting, of non-procedural skills. After screening, we used consensus to determine inclusion and employed a standardised instrument to capture study populations, methodology, and outcomes. We summarised what strategies worked, for whom, and in what settings.Results: The initial search netted 53,642 references after de-duplication; 2037 were retained after title and abstract review. Full text review was done on 82 references, with ultimate inclusion of 25 publications. Three specific teaching strategies demonstrated impact on educational outcomes: the One Minute Preceptor (OMP), SNAPPS, and concept mapping. Most of the literature involves physician trainees in an ambulatory environment. All three have been shown to improve skills in the domains of medical knowledge and clinical reasoning.Discussion/conclusions: Apart from the OMP, SNAPPS, and concept mapping, which target the formation of clinical knowledge and reasoning skills, the literature establishing effective teaching strategies in the clinical setting is sparse.
Room-Temperature Plastic Deformation in Diamond Nanopillars

Diamond, which was previously believed to exhibit almost no plasticity at room temperature, has been found to exhibit limited plastic behavior by compressing diamond nanopillars and analyzing the resulting dislocation behavior through combined experimental and theoretical studies.
Chapter 13 – In Conclusion

Publisher Summary This chapter addresses a number of issues arising from research and experience that require additional comment and emphasis because of their severe and/or pervasive effects on the HIV/AIDS experience of middle-aged and older adults. The HIV/AIDS epidemic in the United States is at a crossroads. There has been tremendous therapeutic progress with the advent of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). The effectiveness of HAART treatment regimens, at least for the short term, is well established and this knowledge has been widely disseminated in the media. HIV/AIDS healthcare and service providers must be prepared to confront the current complacency and the false sense of security arising from the recent success of medical treatment. Providers must become more vocal and assertive in declaring the continuing risks of HIV infection. Given the complexities of the problems relating to older adults and HIV disease, combined efforts and resources will be required for finding out effective solutions.
Effect of Chilling on the Activity of Enzymes of the Photosynthetic Carbon Reduction Cycle

Photosynthesis measured at the normal growth temperature for the chill-sensitive tomato is inhibited by 60% after plants experience a 1 °C cold treatment in the dark for 16 hours. While s tomatal closure is responsible for a portion of this reduction, the principle component of the injury is due to a direct inhibition of chloroplast activity (1). Other chill-sensitive species show a similar response, and it seems likely that in general approximately 2/3 of the chill-induced decrease of photosynthesis is due to an inhibition at the chloroplast level (2). The capacity for electron transport and ATP synthesis is not significantly reduced following a dark chilling treatment (3, 4). Therefore, the reduction in photosynthetic rate measured at saturating light and CO2 probably cannot be accounted for by an inhibition of the membrane-associated reactions. The damage to photosynthesis that occurs under conditions of high light and cold temperatures is even more severe than chilling temperatures alone, resulting in more than a 50% reduction in chloroplast activity after only 6 hours (5). The mechanism of injury may be completely different than that observed after chilling in the dark, or the increased damage may arise from additional injury incurred by high light at cold temperatures.
Access to the Legal Systems of the Americas: Informal Processes

“Secretary: Fill in these papers, this is how to begin. Your name is a number, your story is a case, your need a request, your hopes will be filed. Come back next week.” Gian-Carlo Menotti, The Consul Act I, Scene 2
First-attempt success rate of video laryngoscopy in small infants (VISI): a multicentre, randomised controlled trial.

Summary Background Orotracheal intubation of infants using direct laryngoscopy can be challenging. We aimed to investigate whether video laryngoscopy with a standard blade done by anaesthesia clinicians improves the first-attempt success rate of orotracheal intubation and reduces the risk of complications when compared with direct laryngoscopy. We hypothesised that the first-attempt success rate would be higher with video laryngoscopy than with direct laryngoscopy. Methods In this multicentre, parallel group, randomised controlled trial, we recruited infants without difficult airways abnormalities requiring orotracheal intubation in operating theatres at four quaternary children's hospitals in the USA and one in Australia. We randomly assigned patients (1:1) to video laryngoscopy or direct laryngoscopy using random permuted blocks of size 2, 4, and 6, and stratified by site and clinician role. Guardians were masked to group assignment. The primary outcome was the proportion of infants with a successful first attempt at orotracheal intubation. Analysis (modified intention-to-treat [mITT] and per-protocol) used a generalised estimating equation model to account for clustering of patients treated by the same clinician and institution, and adjusted for gestational age, American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status, weight, clinician role, and institution. The trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03396432. Findings Between June 4, 2018, and Aug 19, 2019, 564 infants were randomly assigned: 282 (50%) to video laryngoscopy and 282 (50%) to direct laryngoscopy. The mean age of infants was 5·5 months (SD 3·3). 274 infants in the video laryngoscopy group and 278 infants in the direct laryngoscopy group were included in the mITT analysis. In the video laryngoscopy group, 254 (93%) infants were successfully intubated on the first attempt compared with 244 (88%) in the direct laryngoscopy group (adjusted absolute risk difference 5·5% [95% CI 0·7 to 10·3]; p=0·024). Severe complications occurred in four (2%) infants in the video laryngoscopy group compared with 15 (5%) in the direct laryngoscopy group (–3·7% [–6·5 to –0·9]; p=0·0087). Fewer oesophageal intubations occurred in the video laryngoscopy group (n=1 [ Interpretation Among anaesthetised infants, using video laryngoscopy with a standard blade improves the first-attempt success rate and reduces complications. Funding Anaesthesia Patient Safety Foundation, Society for Airway Management, and Karl Storz Endoscopy.
Animal models of neurodevelopmental disorders with behavioral phenotypes.

Purpose of review Genetic mutations in animals advance our understanding of disease mechanisms and treatments of neurodevelopmental disorders. Research with mutant mouse models is being extended to nonhuman primates whose brain development is closer to that of humans. This review summaries advances in mouse and nonhuman primate models. Recent findings Mutant mouse models recapitulate key symptoms in neurodevelopmental disorders. However, successful phenotypic reversal of symptoms in mouse models has not been replicated in human studies; this failure may be because of differences in the structure and physiology of the brain between rodents and humans. Rett syndrome MECP2 models and Phelan-McDermid syndrome where reduced expression of SH3 and multiple ankyrin repeat domains 3 (SHANK3) models have been introduced in nonhuman primates and are underway in other neurodevelopmental disorders. Summary Mutant mouse models in neurogenetic disorders continued to be pursued along with gene-edited and cell-based models in nonhuman primates. Established ethical guidelines are being followed and infrastructure being established to facilitate dissemination of primate transgenic models as they become available.
Compliance of dolphin ecotours to marine mammal viewing guidelines

Ecotour compliance to viewing guidelines should be evaluated holistically, considering actual and perceived compliance levels, as well as boat captain and passenger knowledge of the guidelines. Thi...
What Can Ail Thee: New and Old Security Vulnerabilities of Wireless Datacenters

Utilizing millimeter wave (mmWave) wireless communication in wireless datacenter networks, the power consumption of the networking equipment can be reduced drastically. However, security of a datacenter is one of the highest design priorities. Many studies on the security of wired datacenters including identifying the possible threats and solutions have been explored in the literature. On the contrary, being an emerging technology, no study has been conducted on the security for the wireless datacenters. Being a wireless system, it has the potential to inherit many of the threats of a typical wireless network. So, in order to successfully realize wireless datacenter architectures, it is essential to do an extensive investigation of the system from a security perspective. In this paper, we study both existing as well as novel threats and their impact on the wireless datacenter network. In addition to these conventional threats, we demonstrate the impact of a novel attack on the wireless datacenter which can be launched by leveraging its control plane.
Abnormal body composition in patients with adrenal adenomas.

Objective Increased visceral fat and sarcopenia are cardiovascular risk factors that may explain increased cardiovascular morbidity and frailty in patients with adrenal adenomas. Our objective was to compare body composition measurement of patients with adrenal adenomas to referent subjects without adrenal disease Design: Cross-sectional study, 2014-2018 Methods: Participants were adults with nonfunctioning adrenal tumor (NFAT), mild autonomous cortisol secretion (MACS) and Cushing syndrome (CS), and age, sex and body mass index 1:1 matched referent subjects without adrenal disorders. Main outcome measures were body composition measurements calculated from abdominal computed tomography imaging. Intraabdominal adipose tissue and muscle mass measurements were performed at the 3rd lumbar spine level. Results Of 227 patients with adrenal adenomas, 20 were diagnosed with CS, 76 with MACS and 131 with NFAT. Median age was 56 years (range, 18-89), and 67% were women. When compared to referent subjects, patients with CS, MACS, and NFAT demonstrated a higher visceral fat (odds ratio (OR) of 2.2 [95% CI 0.9-6.5], 2.0 [1.3-3.2], and 1.8 [1.2-2.7] and a lower skeletal muscle area (OR of 0.01 [95% CI 0-0.09], 0.31 [0.18-0.49], and 0.3 [1.2-2.7]), respectively. For every 1 mcg/dL cortisol increase after overnight dexamethasone, visceral fat/muscle area ratio increased by 2.3 (P=0.02) and mean total skeletal muscle area decreased by 2.2cm2 (P=0.03). Conclusion Patients with adrenal adenomas demonstrate a lower muscle mass and a higher proportion of visceral fat when compared to referent subjects, including patients with NFAT. Even a subtle abnormality in cortisol secretion may impact health of patients with adenomas.
Hand gesture-based artificial neural network trained hybrid human–machine interface system to navigate a powered wheelchair

Individuals with cerebral palsy and muscular dystrophy often lack fine motor control of their fingers which makes it difficult to control traditional powered wheelchairs using a joystick. Studies have shown the use of surface electromyography to steer powered wheelchairs or automobiles either through simulations or gaming controllers. However, these studies significantly lack issues with real world scenarios such as user’s safety, real-time control, and efficiency of the controller mechanism. The purpose of this study was to design, evaluate, and implement a hybrid human–machine interface system for a powered wheelchair that can detect human intent based on artificial neural network trained hand gesture recognition and navigate a powered wheelchair without colliding with objects around the path. Scaled Conjugate Gradient (SCG), Bayesian Regularization (BR), and Levenberg Marquart (LM) supervised artificial neural networks were trained in offline testing on eight participants without disability followed by online testing using the classifier with highest accuracy. Bayesian Regularization architecture showed highest accuracy at 98.4% across all participants and hidden layers. All participants successfully completed the path in an average of 5 min and 50 s, touching an average of 22.1% of the obstacles. The proposed hybrid system can be implemented to assist people with neuromuscular disabilities in near future.
Galilean structure of the Poincaré group on the light-cone

It is observed that the isomorphism between the Poincare subgroup in the L.C. (light-cone) co-ordinates and the two-dimensional Galilean group can be trivially extended to higher dimensions. The case of five dimension is explicitly shown, and the generalization to any finite dimensionn (> 2) is immediate.
Tissue Uptake of Zinc in Rats Following the Administration of Zinc Dipicolinate or Zinc Histidinate

Tissue uptake of zinc was determined in rats fed a low zinc diet (less than 1 ppm Zn) and an adequate zinc diet (20 ppm Zn) following the intramuscular injection of either zinc dipicolinate (ZnPA2) or zinc histidinate (ZnHis). Significant differences were observed when dietary and treatment effects on zinc uptake were compared in pancreas, duodenum, jejunum, ileum, kidney, and liver. Zinc uptake by the pancreas was higher in rats fed adequate zinc than in rats fed low zinc regardless of which zinc complex was injected, suggesting that the pancreas has a role in zinc excretion. Since ZnHis was more readily taken up than ZnPA2 by the pancreas of rats on the zinc-adequate diet, zinc chelated by histidine may be more readily excreted than zinc chelated by picolinic acid. No differences in zinc uptake were observed in the intestinal segments from rats fed low zinc compared to rats fed adequate zinc. However, in rats fed low zinc, ZnPA2 was more readily taken up than ZnHis by all intestinal segments implying that zinc chelated by picolinic acid may be more available for storage or utilization by the small intestine than zinc chelated by histidine. Also, the ileum had the highest zinc uptake regardless of which zinc complex was injected. Since the ileum has the largest population of Paneth cells, and high zinc uptake observed in this segment of the small intestine suggests a role for Paneth cells in zinc homeostasis.
Gibberellin-like substances in photoinduced and vegetativeHyoscyamus plants

In Pflanzen einer einjahrigen Rasse vonHyoscyamus niger wurde das Vorhandensein gibberellinartiger Verbindungen nachgewiesen. In der Gibberellinzusammensetzung vegetativer und photoperiodisch induzierter Exemplare bestehen gewisse quantitative und/oder qualitative Unterschiede.
Use of chemosensitization to overcome fludioxonil resistance in Penicillium expansum.

Aim: To overcome fludioxonil resistance of Penicillium expansum, a mycotoxigenic fungal pathogen causing postharvest decay in apple, by using natural phenolic chemosensitizing agents. Methods and Results: Fludioxonil-resistant mutants of P. expansum were co-treated with different oxidising and natural phenolic agents. Resistance was overcome by natural phenolic chemosensitizing agents targeting the oxidative stress–response pathway. These agents also augmented effectiveness of the fungicide, kresoxim-methyl. Results indicated that alkyl gallates target mitochondrial respiration and/or its antioxidation system. Fungal mitochondrial superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD) plays a protective role against alkyl gallates. Conclusions: Natural chemosensitizing agents targeting the oxidative stress–response system, such as Mn-SOD, can synergize commercial fungicides. Significance and Impact of the Study: Redox-active compounds can serve as potent chemosensitizing agents to overcome resistance and lower effective dosages of fungicides. This can reduce costs with coincidental lowering of environmental and health risks.
Alcohol Problems, Alcoholism and Spirituality

Abstract This paper presents a brief overview of current interest in the relationship of alcohol and other drug problems, addiction and religiousness/spirituality. Some basic issues involved in this area of assessment and scientific investigation are addressed. Brief reviews of several clinical and research instruments that may prove useful in addiction studies are presented. Providing an overview of measurement issues and potential scales for use in research related to addiction and spirituality is seen as beneficial to interested researchers and treatment providers.
Metrics of Quality Care in Veterans: Correlation Between Primary-Care Performance Measures and Inappropriate Myocardial Perfusion Imaging

Background Approximately 10% to 20% of myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) tests are inappropriate based on professional-society recommendations. The correlation between inappropriate MPI and quality care metrics is not known. Hypothesis Inappropriate MPI will be associated with low achievement of quality care metrics. Methods We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional investigation at a single Veterans Affairs medical center. Myocardial perfusion imaging tests ordered by primary-care clinicians between December 2010 and July 2011 were assessed for appropriateness (by 2009 criteria). Using documentation of the clinical encounter where MPI was ordered, we determined how often quality care metrics were achieved. Results Among 516 MPI patients, 52 (10.1%) were inappropriate and 464 (89.9%) were not inappropriate (either appropriate or uncertain). Hypertension (82.2%), diabetes mellitus (41.3%), and coronary artery disease (41.1%) were common. Glycated hemoglobin levels were lower in the inappropriate MPI cohort (6.6% vs 7.5%; P = 0.04). No difference was observed in the proportion with goal hemoglobin (62.5% vs 46.3% for appropriate/uncertain; P = 0.258). Systolic blood pressure was not different (132 mm Hg vs 135 mm Hg; P = 0.34). Achievement of several other categorical quality metrics was low in both cohorts and no differences were observed. More than 90% of clinicians documented a plan to achieve most metrics. Conclusions Inappropriate MPI is not associated with performance on metrics of quality care. If an association exists, it may be between inappropriate MPI and overly aggressive care. Most clinicians document a plan of care to address failure of quality metrics, suggesting awareness of the problem.
Optimizing a virtual impedance droop controller for parallel inverters

This paper explores a previously developed frequency and voltage droop control scheme via virtual impedance emulation. Previously, the control scheme utilized a Kalman observer to extract the fundamental voltage and frequency which increased the complexity of the control loop. This paper investigates the use of a second-order generalized integrator-frequency locked loop (SOGI-FLL) to accomplish the same task in a straightforward fashion. Moreover, a linear quadratic Gaussian (LQG) servo controller was used to implement the control scheme instead of the LQG optimal control approach used formerly. The performance of the modified control algorithm was studied using Matlab/Simulink simulations under various linear and non-linear load conditions. Furthermore, two inverters were operated in parallel to assess the load-sharing capability of the modified control method. Simulations showed that the optimized control scheme kept output voltage and frequency within acceptable levels. Additionally, simulations exhibited the load sharing capability of the control scheme.
A Pattern for International Collaboration in Agriculture

Publisher Summary This chapter highlights foreign technical aid programs should be established only after a clearly demonstrated interest and enthusiasm is noticed on the part of the recipient government and the individuals most directly concerned. A thorough preliminary survey of agricultural potentialities, local personnel resources, and economic possibilities result in the conclusion that a useful operation can be initiated. The staff members assigned to foreign technical aid programs should be selected with extreme care and chosen on the basis of qualities of leadership, character, and personality in addition to unquestioned attainment in their special fields of agricultural science. It is observed that in any agricultural improvement program it is often desirable to begin with those problems which are of major significance to the population of the country concerned, and these should be selected in agreement with the appropriate persons in the country. Projects should be strategically located, started on a modest scale in an effort to minimize errors, and permitted to grow only as rapidly as accomplishment dictates.
Reidian Metaethics: Part II

Does moral realism deserve to be the default metaethical position? The issue is contested. While many realists have maintained that theirs is the view to beat, others contend that realists have offered no satisfactory argument for this position. In this essay and its companion, ‘Reidian Metaethics, Part II’, I maintain that Thomas Reid’s moral epistemology can help us make headway on the issue. Reid, I claim, offers an interesting line of argument, that when conjoined with some other assumptions, supports the claim that realism deserves to be the default metaethical position.
From Secrets to Science: Technical Writing, Utility, and the Hermetic Tradition in Agricola's De Re Metallica:

Technical writing is rooted in books of Hermetic secrets and mining lore. Hermetic texts, written in the early centuries A.D.., were based in experiential/ experimental knowledge of illiterate people and were written as recipes for manipulating nature. Set against the legitimate, text-based academic knowledge of the time, this proto-scientific knowledge was called secret to give it authority through revelation. In the mid-1500s, Agricola combined the traditions of Hermetic secrets and handbooks to compile mining lore into De Re Metallica, in which he sought to write clearly and simply, illustrate information with graphics, and rationalize the use of occult knowledge based on its utility. This early technical text paved the way for philosophers, such as Francis Bacon, to legitimate scientific knowledge based on experience/ experiments as being more beneficial for social organization than knowledge based on a priori textual authority and speculation in the then-dominant Scholastic tradition
Taste effects of antiretroviral drugs on chorda tympani responses in gerbil

In clinical reports, HIV-infected patients complain that antiretroviral drugs produce unpleasant tastes that affect compliance with their medication regimen. In this study, taste effects of seven antiretroviral drugs (protease inhibitors and nucleoside analogs) were investigated in a gerbil model. Electrophysiological recordings were obtained from the chorda tympani nerve after lingual application of HIV medications. The effect of adaptation of the tongue to HIV medications on other taste stimuli with salty, sweet, sour and bitter qualities was also determined to simulate the presence of drug in the saliva. Four drugs (ritonavir, lamivudine, indinavir and didanosine) produced taste responses in the chorda tympani nerve of the gerbil at 0.625 mM and higher. Zidovudine, saquinavir and stavudine gave no taste responses at concentrations below 10 mM. The protease inhibitors saquinavir (2 mM) and ritonavir (10 mM) suppressed most taste stimuli with the greatest effect on bitter and sweet qualities. The nucleoside analog lamivudine gave a taste response at 20 mM and produced the greatest suppression on sour tastes. Results show that protease inhibitors had a more potent effect on chorda tympani responses in gerbil than nucleoside analogs.
Activation of the Respiratory Burst Oxidase

The respiratory burst oxidase of phagocytes and B lymphocytes catalyzes the reduction of oxygen by NADPH to form O2-, the precursor of a group of reactive oxidants that are employed by phagocytes a...
Recent advances in the automatic inspection of integrated circuits for pattern defects

Automatic inspection has become an essential part of manufacturing technology for integrated circuit (IC) chips, but three trends in the geometries of ICs and the chips that they comprise have serious implications for inspection, making further advances in technology challenging. The individual devices (e.g., transistors) are becoming smaller, with the smallest features on some advanced products already crossing the optical resolution threshold; the chip areas are becoming larger; and the chips consist of more layers and undergo more processing steps. Not only are the smallest defects more difficult to detect due to the optical resolution limit, they are also much rarer because the tolerable defect density decreases as the chip area increases. This paper addresses automated IC inspection, surveying recent advances and future challenges. An overview of all inspection on IC chips during the manufacturing process is followed by a detailed discussion of pattern defect inspection (PDI) and its unique requirements, such as detection probability, false alarm rate, throughput, and minimum defect size. The core material of the paper consists of a discussion of approaches and systems for PDI, emphasizing recent developments, but reviewing older work to set the proper context. Both work reported in the literature and commercial systems are considered.
Stenosporic acid, a new depside in Ramalina stenospora☆

Abstract Column chromatography of an extract of the lichen Ramalina stenospora Mull. Arg. yielded usnic acid (0·013%), a mixture of atranorin and chloroatranorin (0·007%), perlatolic acid (0·40%) and a new para-depside, stenosporic acid (0·37%). Stenosporic acid was proven to be 4-(2-hydroxy-6-propyl-p-anisate)-6-pentyl-β-resorcylic acid. A methyl ester synthesized by condensation of the appropriate phenolic units was found to be identical to the methyl ester prepared from stenosporic acid with diazomethane.
Occupational Stress among University Administrators.

The fit between the university administrator's motivational style and the type of job demands was analyzed as a contributing factor in developing occupational stress. Data were provided on a questionnaire by 575 deans, associate deans, and chair-persons. Three motivational styles and types of job demands were measured using instruments derived from Porter's motivational theory. Correlational data indicated that misfit was related to perceived work stress and the perception of poor coping ability. The perception of poor coping ability was correlated with stress-related illnesses. There was also an association between misfit and consideration to change jobs. The findings supported the person-environment fit model of occupational stress. Implications for controlling occupational stress among university administrators are included.
Self-assembly of nanoparticles adsorbed on fluid and elastic membranes

In this paper we review recent numerical and theoretical developments of particle self-assembly on fluid and elastic membranes and compare them to available experimental realizations. We discuss the problem and its applications in biology and materials science, and give an overview of numerical models and strategies to study these systems across all length-scales. As this is a very broad field, this review focuses exclusively on surface-driven aggregation of nanoparticles that are at least one order of magnitude larger than the surface thickness and are adsorbed onto it. In this regime, all chemical details of the surface can be ignored in favor of a coarse-grained representation, and the collective behavior of many particles can be monitored and analyzed. We review the existing literature on how the mechanical properties and the geometry of the surface affect the structure of the particle aggregates and how these can drive shape deformation on the surface.
Joint maximum-likelihood estimation of speed and acceleration from existing roadway vehicle detectors

Transportation agencies have invested in extensive infrastructure for vehicle detection and speed estimation. It is of interest to measure vehicle accelerations at an intersection to evaluate the impact of traffic signal control on energy, emissions and safety. This paper explains how to use inductive loops and magnetometers in speed trap configurations to measure acceleration in addition to speed and develops an algorithm for doing so. The algorithm was tested using approximately 7,000 vehicles and a GPS probe vehicle was used to provide ground truth. It was found that the root mean squared error (RMSE) between GPS and algorithm estimates is approximately 0.04g.
The many-body problem and the Brueckner approximation

Abstract The many-body problem has recently been studied by Brueckner and others using a self-consistent-field approach which includes the effects of two-body correlations. Unlike the older Hartree formulation, this method can be applied to particles which interact through strong, short-range forces. The Brueckner approximation is derived here using the methods of conventional perturbation theory; no previous knowledge of the Brueckner method is assumed. The theory is presented in a form which is suitable for application to finite media. The operator which describes the effective two-body interaction in a many-particle medium is introduced and discussed. The self-consistent potential is obtained; it is shown to minimize corrections to the lowest-order approximation, in which only two-particle correlations are included. The cancellation of higher-order “unlinked clusters” is demonstrated. Finally, a differential formulation of the method is derived.
THE DEVELOPMENT OF FLOW DISTORTIONS AT THE FAN FACE FOR AN AXISYMMETRIC SUPERSONIC INLET

Abstract As a parallel effort to complement the experimental study on the aeroacoustics of an axisymmetric supersonic inlet, a computational study was conducted to provide a better understanding of the mechanism that generates the circumferential flow distortion at the fan face. A three-dimensional, compressible Navier–Stokes code using a finite volume method was used to calculate the flow field of the inlet with the struts located near the fan face. At 60% design fan speed, the computational results revealed a large region of three-dimensional separation on the centerbody downstream of the inlet throat. The influence of the struts on this separated flow resulted in a strong secondary flow pattern, creating a region of large circumferential distortion at the fan face near the centerbody. While the distortion caused by the strut wake shows significant reduction in a distance of half a strut chord downstream from the trailing edge of the strut, the distortion created by the secondary flow is much more persistent, and shows little sign of decay as it is converted downstream.
Continuous fiberoptic PCO2 monitoring indicates poorer gastric perfusion during supraceliac aortic clamping than conventional gastric tonometry in humans: a pilot study.

Abstract Objective: To compare two monitors of gastric perfusion intraoperatively—continuous fiberoptic carbon dioxide partial pressure (PCO2) sensor and conventional gastric tonometer. Design: Prospective, unblinded study. Setting: University teaching hospital. Participants: Adult patients undergoing major abdominal surgery. Interventions: A fiberoptic probe (Biomedical Sensors, Pfizer, High Wycombe, England) capable of continuous PCO2 measurement and adapted to fit into the saline-filled balloon of a tonometric orogastric tube (Tonometrics, Instrumentarium Corp, Helsinki, Finland) was placed in the patients. The fiberoptic probe was attached to a Paratrend 7 machine (Biomedical Sensors, Pfizer) providing continuous intragastric PCO2 data. A second tonometric orogastric tube was passed and used according to the manufacturer's instructions, yielding intermittent PCO2 values. Measurements and Main Results: Twelve patients provided 79 data pairs: 33 without aortic clamp, 23 infraceliac aortic clamp, and 23 supraceliac aortic clamp. Data are presented as mean ± SD, and analysis of variance was used for comparison (p
Hydrogen Bonding in Hydrochloric Acid Solutions

The radial distributions of atom pairs in water and in solutions of hydrochloric acid have been measured by x-ray diffraction. The near-neighbor water correlations are strongly affected by the ions. Part of the experimental distributions is attributed to new oxygen-to-oxygen distances, associated with the presence of excess protons, and these distances become shorter as the concentration of the acid increases.
The Atmospheric Mesoscale Dispersion Modeling System

Abstract The mesoscale dispersion modeling system (MDMS) described herein is under development as a simulation tool to investigate atmospheric flow and pollution dispersion over complex terrain for domains up to several hundred kilometers. The system includes a three-dimensional mesoscale meteorological model (MESO), a Lagrangian particle dispersion (LPD) model, and an Eulerian grid dispersion (EGD) model based on numerical solution of K-theory advection-diffusion equations. These two dispersion models can be used separately, or they can be linked together as a hybrid Lagrangian-Eulerian dispersion model. The MDMS has been designed for use on personal computers and workstations. This paper provides a compact description of the present status of the modeling system and its applications. Numerical simulations performed for a complex region of the cast coast of the United States demonstrate two complementary approaches to air-pollution dispersion modeling available in the MDMS: traditional source-oriented mo...
Voronoi diagrams based on convex distance functions

We present an “expanding waves” view of Voronoi diagrams that allows such diagrams to be defined for very general metrics and for distance measures that do not qualify as metrics. If a pebble is dropped into a still pond, circular waves move out from the point of impact. If n pebbles are dropped simultaneously, the places where wave fronts meet define the Voronoi diagram on the n points of impact.The Voronoi diagram for any normed metric, including the Lp metrics, can be obtained by changing the shape of the wave front from a circle to the shape of the “circle” in that metric. (For example, the “circle” in the L1 metric is diamond shaped.) For any convex wave shape there is a corresponding convex distance function. If the shape is not symmetric about its center (a triangle, for example) then the resulting distance function is not a metric, although it can still be used to define a Voronoi diagram.Like Voronoi diagrams based on the Euclidean metric, the Voronoi diagrams based on other normed metrics can be used to solve various closest-point problems (all-nearest-neighbors, minimum spanning trees, etc.). Some of these problems also make sense under convex distance functions which are not metrics. In particular, the “largest empty circle” problem becomes the “largest empty convex shape” problem, and “motion planning for a disc” becomes “motion planning for a convex shape”. These problems can both be solved quickly given the Voronoi diagram. We present an asymptotically optimal algorithm for computing Voronoi diagrams based on convex distance functions.
The concepts of isolation

Abstract Though isolation is a commonly used term does it have a universal meaning so it is understood easily? There are many different kinds of isolation from an individual's deafness to that of solar systems. Most important, each type varies in strength from place to place, person to person, with scale changes and from time to time. Do we not need to recognize these differences and speak in terms of kinds and degrees of isolation rather than simple remoteness or non-remoteness?
HIV prevention with Mexican migrants: review critique and recommendations.

Charged with the task of reviewing the research outcome literature on HIV prevention with Mexican migrants in the United States, the following broad observations and conclusion were made: (1) there is little research on this specialized topic of concern; (2) the research that exists reflects an overly individualistic behavioral science approach designed to reduce individual risk factors, with little regard for structural and environmental factors that influence HIV risk; and (3) there is a compelling need to develop better theoretic frameworks for understanding the complex and dynamic social and cultural processes influencing sexual behavior among Mexican migrants so as to better inform HIV prevention efforts with this unique and diverse Latino(a) population.
Applications and Trust Issues When Crowdsourcing a Crisis

The United States Department of Defense funded a research project at the University of Virginia to increase community resilience after a crisis (e.g., natural disaster, bioterrorism attack). The premise is that the public would be better served if it had access to reliable, near real-time information concerning the "ground truth" (actual observations and pictures) of unfolding events. One way (of many) to collect those reports is through crowdsourcing. By taking advantage of the army of people connected to the internet via both wired and wireless technologies, we can easily gather information that would help a citizen make an informed decision regarding his or her health and welfare (e.g., shelter-in-place vs. flight). The widespread use of smartphones allows people to post geolocated reports and pictures with ease. Disaster management teams would likewise benefit from the input of more observers. On the other hand, the trustworthiness of these reports may be uncertain. For instance, a terrorist group might use crowdsourcing to redirect the community's emergency responses to the wrong place. We first explore how a crowdsourcing system might be used to enhance disaster management, and then we investigate three ways to enhance the trust that the citizen places in such a system.
Mixed-symmetry strength in 114 Cd

Properties of low-spin states in ${}^{114}\mathrm{Cd}$ have been studied with the ${(n,n}^{\ensuremath{'}}\ensuremath{\gamma})$ reaction. $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray angular distributions and excitation functions have been used to characterize the decays of the excited levels, and level lifetimes have been obtained with the Doppler-shift attenuation method. The one-phonon, mixed-symmetry strength is found to be concentrated in the ${2}_{6}^{+}$ state, which exhibits a strong $M1$ transition to the first-excited ${2}^{+}$ state and a weak $E2$ transition to the ground state. The data agree well with expectations of the neutron-proton interacting boson model.
An Alternate Multinomial Assessment of the Accuracy of the χ2 Test of Goodness of Fit

Abstract Tate and Hyer [9] indicated in a recent article that the χ2 test of goodness of fit is markedly in error when expected frequencies are small, and that, moreover, errors of substance remain even with large expected frequencies. This result appears to arise from the application of an improper statistical model. When the multinomial test proposed here is substituted, it is found that errors of the χ2 test are smaller than Tate and Hyer would suggest for small expected frequencies, and negligible for large expected frequencies. These empirical results support the logical arguments presented here in favor of the proposed “Exact χ2 Test.”