cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Advances in Therapeutics for Neurodegenerative Tauopathies: Moving toward the Specific Targeting of the Most Toxic Tau Species

Neurodegenerative disease is one of the greatest health concerns today and with no effective treatment in sight, it is crucial that researchers find a safe and successful therapeutic. While neurofibrillary tangles are considered the primary tauopathy hallmark, more evidence continues to come to light to suggest that soluble, intermediate tau aggregates—tau oligomers—are the most toxic species in disease. These intermediate tau species may also be responsible for the spread of pathology, suggesting that oligomeric tau may be the best therapeutic target. Here, we summarize results for the modulation of tau by molecular chaperones, small molecules and aggregation inhibitors, post-translational modifications, immunotherapy, other techniques, and future directions.
APPLICATION OF OCTADECYLAMINE METHOD IN SHUTDOWN CONSERVATION OF NEWLY CONSTRUCTED SUPERCRITICAL UNITS

Taking supercritical unit in Shenhua Hebei Guohua Huanghua Power Plant as an example,the protection range,dosing equipment,dosing conditions,matters needing to pay attention,dosing procedure,effects evaluation,as well as cold flushing and hot flushing during complete set start-up,and the reasonable time for condensate polishing treatment have been presented in detail for carrying out octadecylamine(ODA) shutdown conservation after steam blowout of the newly constructed units.Results of inspection after shutdown,as well as results of cold and hot flushing during the process of units start-up show that the formed protective film has remarkable hydrophobicity,and has long time in spot-out test using copper sulfate,the ODA content and iron content in process of cold and hot flushing are rapidly up to set standard,th ODA shutdown conservation method has excellent effectiveness in shutdown conservation.
Measuring Community Resilience: The Role of the Community Rating System (CRS)

Community resilience has become an important concern due to the increasing scale and frequency of natural and technological disasters. Although several frameworks have been introduced to measure resilience, there has been no systematic process that captures all the key sectors of a community. This paper introduces an holistic approach to measure community resilience by specifying the Human, Social, Physical, Natural, Financial and Political sectors of a community [labeled the six capitals (6Cs)] and characterizing four properties of resilience (4Rs) (robustness, resourcefulness, redundancy and rapidity). The 6C-4R framework is linked to the National Flood Insurance Program’s (NFIP) Community Rating System (CRS) that rewards communities for adopting flood risk reduction activities using illustrative examples of resilience strategies adopted by communities and examining the challenges facing the city of New Orleans today after suffering severe losses from Hurricane Katrina. We conclude the paper with a case study of Cedar Rapids, Iowa that joined the CRS in 2010 following a severe flood in 2008. The community has recently undertaken several efforts to reduce future flood losses, notably higher regulatory standards, such as requiring buildings to be higher than the base flood elevation and acquisition and relocation of property to less flood prone areas. Although the CRS captures several sectors of a community, it lacks a measure of social vulnerabilities, which is an important element for community resilience. Future studies are needed to show how one can integrate measures of social vulnerabilities with the CRS for a more holistic view of community resilience.
Cybercrime and Cybersecurity in China

For various reasons, China provides an ideal laboratory to study, observe, document and understand diverse aspects of cybercrimes originating from and affecting the Global South (GS) including the associated contexts, mechanisms and processes. Consistent with the global trend, cybercrimes associated with China are rapidly escalating. Over the past few years, the popular press has routinely published stories and accounts that characterize China as the global centre for political, industrial and economic espionage activities. In a November 2011 report, the US counterintelligence chief called China as “the world’s most active and persistent perpetrators of economic espionage”. Some estimates suggest that over 2,000 companies, universities and government agencies experienced cyberattacks allegedly originated from China in the 2000s (Riley, 2012). It was reported that when some DuPont employees were on a business trip to China, they found that their laptops were implanted with spyware although they were locked in a hotel safe (Riley and Stone, 2011). Some Western analysts observe that the lack of a business environment to support innovations in the country makes it attractive to acquire technologies by economic espionage. US intelligence officials have argued that China-originated cyberattacks such as intellectual property (IP) and trade secret thefts would have long-term rather than immediate short-term effects with substantial economic damage.
Questionnaire survey of general paediatricians to examine current practice in the management of constipation in the North West of England

Background and Aims There are a number of published guidelines on the management of childhood constipation. However, in many cases, the evidence base of these recommendations is unclear. Detailed guidance is expected from the UK National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) in May 2010. In this survey, we aimed to evaluate the consistency of current treatment decisions made for children with constipation and the extent to which these decisions are based on published guidance and evidence. Methods Between September 2009 and October 2009, an online questionnaire was emailed to all consultant general paediatricians held on an email mailing list in the North West of England. The nine-item questionnaire was developed locally and piloted before its delivery using the online service “SurveyMonkey”. The questionnaire consisted mainly of closed questions, with some open ended questions to gather qualitative data. A reminder was sent 2 weeks after the initial email to encourage those who had not responded to do so. Responses were collected anonymously. Results Forty eight of 70 consultant paediatricians (68.6%) in the North West of England replied. The mean length of time of being in a consultant post was 6.5 years (range, 1 month–27 years). 88% of responders reported seeing children with constipation in most or all of their clinics. Responders reported their most commonly used interventions as out-patient medical management (95%), advice and reassurance (89%) and the use of information leaflets (57%). Many responders commented on recent changes in their management of constipation, although these were largely reported to be based on anecdotal experience. 52% of responders reported that they did not use any forms of published evidence or guidance as the basis for their treatment choices. Conclusion This survey indicates that there is consistency in the way general paediatricians manage children with constipation in the North West of England. The majority of paediatricians do not base their management decisions on published evidence or guidelines and instead adopt an anecdotal and opinion-based approach.
A Fine-Scale Examination of Larix laricina and Picea mariana Abundances along Abiotic Gradients in an Adirondack Peatland

Abstract Wetland research has described changes in plant communities along environmental gradients, however, little is known about the relationship between fine-scale hydrologic and abiotic factors and the relative abundances of individual, co-occurring species. Larix laricina (Eastern Larch) and Picea mariana (Black Spruce) are the 2 dominant tree species in open boreal peatlands in the northeastern US. In order to describe abiotic gradients that correlate with species abundances at local spatial scales, we collected data on Eastern Larch and Black Spruce stem abundances, groundwater pH, conductivity, depth to water table, water temperature, dissolved oxygen, and canopy closure from 42 plots along 6 transects in an Adirondack wetland. We correlated stem abundances with each of the abiotic variables and then used regression to explain variation in stem abundances of the 2 species along those abiotic gradients. Percent canopy closure explained 56% of the variability in Eastern Larch stem abundance, and dep...
Characterization of Waste Loads from Unit Processes of a Commercial Potato Canning Operation

Characterization of waste loads from unit processes in a commercial potato canning operation revealed that the lye peeler and reel washer which removed the peel accounted for approximately 95% of the total load of total solids, suspended solids, volatile solids, COD, and BOD, and for 46% of the total wastewater flow. The total loads of suspended solids, COD, BOD, and wastewater from this relatively large plant were 65.2 lb/ton, 88.4 lb/ton, 54.7 lb/ton, and 2,950 gal/ton of raw product processed respectively. The BOD and wastewater loads from this plant were significantly less than those reported previously for a smaller operation. Results on unit waste loads serve to better define the standard raw waste load from potato canning as the sum of the unit processes.
The Red Cross Call to Serve: The Western Response From North Dakota Nurses

After fifteen years, France seems very far away. Blue capes with scarlet linings, gray chambrey uniforms, yellow shoes (often caked with mud), cold drafty barracks, the roll of drums, Old Glory whipping in the breeze, death always at one's elbow, and the thousand and one annoyances incidental to living so unnatural an existence, blur into an unreal picture. It is all like a dream that is past.1
Immunity requirements for secondary equipment with regard to switching operations of disconnectors in substations

Switching operations of disconnectors in substations will give rise to a voltage and current damped oscillating wave on the busbars and produce electric and magnetic field simultaneously, which will coupled to the port of the monitoring and protection equipment at switchyard, affecting the performance of secondary equipment. This paper developed a measurement system, by which the characteristics of disturbance were obtained through field measurement in AIS and GIS substations with system voltage levels from 110kV to 1000kV. Based on the disturbance characteristics, the test levels of electrical fast transient (EFT), surge (impulse), damped oscillatory wave and damped oscillatory magnetic field immunity test are recommended.
Modeling and Control of a Hybrid Smart Micro Grid Using Photo-Voltaic Arrays and Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

Conventional power systems are in need for renovation. The main source of energy for the present power system is fossil fuel based, which are depleting in supply day-by-day and at the same time releasing dangerous emissions into the atmosphere. The renewable energy resources such as photovoltaic arrays have attracted great attention in recent years. However, the intermittent nature of this renewable energy and others similar in nature impedes their bulk use and penetration level to the power grid, especially when implemented as a grid connected system. It can be beneficial if a hybrid smart micro grid such as a Photo Voltaic (PV) system and fuel cell can be designed and developed.
Role of Forest Service Data and Methodologies

Calculating forest offset credits under the California Forest Offset Protocol is heavily dependent on data from the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and on methodologies developed by the USFS. The USFS data include both archived data and continuing data compilations. They include both published and unpublished data. The driving data source for calculating forest offset credits is, in fact, the U.S. Forest Service. The Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) program (USDA Forest Service 2016) within the Forest Service, employs a multi-phase inventory of U.S. forest attributes, with each phase contributing to the subsequent phase. To quote from the FIA web site: “The Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) Program of the U.S. Forest Service provides the information needed to assess America’s forests. As the Nation’s continuous forest census, our program projects how forests are likely to appear 10 to 50 years from now. This enables us to evaluate whether current forest management practices are sustainable in the long run and to assess whether current policies will allow the next generation to enjoy America’s forests as we do today. FIA reports on status and trends in forest area and location; in the species, size, and health of trees; in total tree growth, mortality, and removals by harvest; in wood production and utilization rates by various products; and in forest land ownership.” USFS historic and continuing data and methods compilations are integral to the calculations in the ARB offset protocol and many are directly linked from the California Air Resources Board web site (California ARB 2015a).
Translating Resurrection: The Debate Between William Tyndale and George Joye in Its Historical and Theological Context

In the summer of 1534, the widow of the Antwerp printer Christoffel van Ruremund hired an English evangelical exile named George Joye to proofread her forthcoming edition of William Tyndale's trans...
Ir a + infinitivo y la reflexión metalingüística en segunda lengua: Más allá del futuro

Este estudio investiga el impacto de la re ﬂ exion metalinguistica en la adquisicion de la perifrasis ir a + in ﬁ nitivo que, ademas del tiempo futuro, involucra diversos signi ﬁ cados generalmente desconocidos en los contextos de instruccion del espanol como segunda lengua (L2). Con tal proposito, se crearon una serie de tareas agrupadas en un Trabajo Practico y se llevaron a cabo durante un semestre academico. Los participantes, hablantes nativos del ingles y estudiantes universitarios registrados en cursos de gramatica avanzada de espanol L2, completaron pruebas de reconocimiento metalinguistico y de los signi ﬁ cados de la perifrasis en un diseno experimental con pretest y posttest. Los resultados indican que el grupo experimental mejoro sustancialmente su conocimiento de los signi ﬁ cados y usos de la perifrasis ir a + in ﬁ nitivo y pudo, ademas, usar estrategias metalinguisticas en el analisis de otra estructura gramatical. Estos hallazgos son consistentes con los estudios en el area de la re ﬂ exion metalinguistica que enfatizan su importancia en la adquisicion de una L2.
The characterization of cognitive processes involved in chemical kinetics using a blended processing framework

Chemical kinetics is a highly quantitative content area that involves the use of multiple mathematical representations to model processes and is a context that is under-investigated in the literature. This qualitative study explored undergraduate student integration of chemistry and mathematics during problem solving in the context of chemical kinetics. Using semi-structured interviews, participants were asked to make their reasoning and thinking explicit as they described provided equations and as they worked though chemical kinetics problems. Here we describe the results from our study, which included thirty-six general chemistry students, five physical chemistry students, and three chemical engineering students. Analysis and findings are framed in terms of blended processing, a theory from cognitive science that characterizes human knowledge integration. Themes emerged relating to contexts that were commonly discussed when blending occurred. Variation in the depth and directionality of blending was also observed and characterized. Results provide implications for supporting student problem solving and the modeling of chemical processes.
Deep Inductive Network Representation Learning

This paper presents a general inductive graph representation learning framework called DeepGL for learning deep node and edge features that generalize across-networks. In particular, DeepGL begins by deriving a set of base features from the graph (e.g., graphlet features) and automatically learns a multi-layered hierarchical graph representation where each successive layer leverages the output from the previous layer to learn features of a higher-order. Contrary to previous work, DeepGL learns relational functions (each representing a feature) that naturally generalize across-networks and are therefore useful for graph-based transfer learning tasks. Moreover, DeepGL naturally supports attributed graphs, learns interpretable inductive graph representations, and is space-efficient (by learning sparse feature vectors). In addition, DeepGL is expressive, flexible with many interchangeable components, efficient with a time complexity of O(|E|), and scalable for large networks via an efficient parallel implementation. Compared with recent methods, DeepGL is (1) effective for across-network transfer learning tasks and large (attributed) graphs, (2) space-efficient requiring up to 6x less memory, (3) fast with up to 182x speedup in runtime performance, and (4) accurate with an average improvement in AUC of 20% or more on many learning tasks and across a wide variety of networks.
Manipulation of emergent vortices in swarms of magnetic rollers

Active colloids are an emergent class of out-of-equilibrium materials demonstrating complex collective phases and tunable functionalities. Microscopic particles energized by external fields exhibit a plethora of fascinating collective phenomena, yet mechanisms of control and manipulation of active phases often remains lacking. Here we report the emergence of unconfined macroscopic vortices in a system of ferromagnetic rollers energized by a vertical alternating magnetic field and elucidate the complex nature of a magnetic roller-vortex interactions with inert scatterers. We demonstrate that active self-organized vortices have an ability to spontaneously switch the direction of rotation and move across the surface. We reveal the capability of certain non-active particles to pin the vortex and manipulate its dynamics. Building on our findings, we demonstrate the potential of magnetic roller vortices to effectively capture and transport inert particles at the microscale.
Introduction: Do Promises of Social Justice Trump Paradigms of Educational Leadership?

Our commitment and responsibility as educators is to explicitly and publicly combat ignorance. Therefore, social justice is a necessary and fundamental commitment for all educators dedicated to combating ignorance and becoming more informed global citizens. That is the purpose of this international handbook which is divided into seven parts, each framed as interventions at the level of theory and practice: Conceptualizing Social Justice (Part I, Volume 1), Research Approaches to Knowing/Studying Social Justice (Part II), Leadership for Social Justice (Part III), Advocacy/Advocates for Social Justice (Part IV), Sociocultural Representations of Social Injustices (Part V, Volume 2), Glocal Policy Interventions, (Part VI), and Leadership Preparation as a Social Justice Intervention (Part VII). This introductory chapter describes the political decision-making that went into developing and ordering of the parts. It discusses what we mean by representation and how this publication is only a first step in knowledge dissemination. The challenge facing school and university leaders in every nation-state in the world is to reprioritize leadership practices so as to address the pragmatic need to successfully run schools, school systems, and universities effectively and efficiently while, at the same time, ensure, despite the business of their lives, that they address the difficult challenges posed by social, political, and economic realities and disparities by issues of poverty, oppression, conflict, prejudice and by inappropriate uses of power. This work comes down to the fundamental Deweyian question of whether educational institutions and society are one or whether they are separate and apart.
Everything Else in the Spectrum

The energy resolution of the magnetic prism spectrometer is very good, which means that the energy-loss spectrum contains a wealth of information about the specimen in addition to its basic elemental chemistry. In the previous chapter, we mentioned how we can learn about chemistry using ionization edges. Much of this chemical information is contained in fine-detail intensity variations at the ionization edges in the core-loss spectra termed energy-loss near-edge structure (ELNES) and extended energy-loss fine structure (EXELFS). From this fine structure, we can obtain information on how the ionized atom is bonded, the coordination of the atom, and its density of states. Furthermore, we can probe the distribution of other atoms around the ionized atom, i.e., the radial distribution function (RDF). Understanding these phenomena requires that we use certain concepts from atomic and quantum physics. The nonphysicist can skip some sections at this time and just concentrate on the results. The rewards of working through this topic will be an appreciation of some of the more powerful aspects of EELS.
Effect of crambe meal on performance, reproduction, and thyroid hormone levels in gestating and lactating beef cows.

Crambe meal was compared to a combination of sunflower and soybean meal as a protein supplement for mature beef cows in two experiments. In Exp. 1, cows (n = 80, average BW 651+/-14.4 kg) were fed crambe meal at 9.86% of dry matter intake (DMI) during the last trimester of gestation. No differences (P .10) were apparent for condition score, birth weight, calf growth rate, weaning weight, thyroid hormones during gestation, or calving interval. These data indicate that crambe meal fed at the levels used in this experiment can be used as a protein supplement for beef cows without negatively affecting cows' performance.
Internet, Economic Geography

This article reviews the interaction between the Internet and economic geography. The term Internet is used here as a catch-all term for the use of a range of general-purpose information technologies and software deployed across public, private, and peered networks rather than a more limited definition. This article covers three main subjects. The first examines the role of distance in the age of the Internet. In other words, to what extent has the Internet ‘destroyed’ distance and what type of economic frictions remain relevant. The article then considers how Internet technologies are used to organize and move the inputs and products of the economy via a range of software and hardware platforms. Encapsulated under the label of electronic commerce, this process can engender great change within the organization and location of production and consumption. The final topic focuses on how the uneven use of the Internet across time, place, and organization creates a differentiated geography of change and challenge. The exciting potential of the Internet does not mean that a particular use or implementation is inevitable. Nor does it mean that the “world is flat” or “everything is changed.” The various drags of economic frictions are still present, and are only partially and selectively being overcome. In short, the Internet doesn’t reduce the relevance of geography. It simply adjusts which aspects of geography and which types of economic friction are most relevant for analysis.
Adhesions After Lap Ventral: Do They Matter?

More than 300,000 patients are admitted to the hospital each year at a cost of more than $1 billion for treatment of an adhesion-related problem. The most common cause of adhesions is previous surgery, and hernia mesh is one of the inciting causes of adhesions after surgery. Numerous composite or coated prosthetic meshes have been developed to reduce the incidence of adhesion formation after intraperitoneal placement of mesh. Animal studies have documented fewer and less dense adhesions after placement of these meshes; however, no studies in patients have proven that these composite or coated meshes result in fewer adhesion-related complications. Despite the lack of evidence from human studies, because the clinical problem is so prevalent, experimental and theoretical reasons justify use of composite or coated meshes that may reduce the incidence of adhesion formation after intraperitoneal placement of mesh.
Effect of prolonged bedrest and +G z acceleration upon peripheral visual response time.

Peripheral visual response time changes during +G sub z acceleration following fourteen days of bedrest are considered as well as what effect prolonged bedrest has upon this response. Eighteen test lights, placed 10 deg are apart along the horizontal meridian of the subject's field of view, were presented in a random sequence. The subject was instructed to press a button as soon as a light appeared. Response time testing occurred periodically during bedrest and continuously during centrifugation testing. The results indicate that: (1) mean response time is significantly longer to stimuli imaged in the far periphery than to stimuli imaged closer to the line of sight; (2) mean response time at each stimulus position tends to be longer at plateau g than during the preacceleration baseline period; (3) mean response time tends to lengthen as the g level is increased; (4) peripheral visual response time during +G sub x acceleration at 2, 3.2, and 3.8 g was not a reliable advanced indicator that blackout was going to occur; and (5) the subject's field of view collapsed rapidly just before blackout. Bedrest data showed that the distribution of response times to stimuli imaged across the subject's horizontal retinal meridian remained remarkably constant from day to day during both the bedrest and recovery periods.
Population analysis of socioeconomic status and otolaryngologist distribution on head and neck cancer outcomes.

BACKGROUND The relationship between clinical outcomes and geographic determinants is not well known for head and neck cancer. Socioeconomic status (SES) factors and the distribution of health care resources might impact outcomes. METHODS Head and neck cancer cases in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database were studied. Patient-level prognostic factors were identified from the SEER, and county-level factors were identified from the Area Health Resource File. Stage at presentation and observed survival were the outcomes of interest, with predictive factors identified by multivariate logistic and Cox proportional hazards regression. RESULTS On multivariate analysis, tumor site, sex, race, marital status, rural residence, and county poverty level predicted stage at presentation. Sex, race, marital status, county-level poverty, and number of otolaryngologists predicted observed survival. CONCLUSION Adverse county-level SES predicted advanced cancer stage at presentation and diminished observed survival. SES was a stronger predictor of patient outcomes than rurality or number of otolaryngologists.
Fluorescence cross-correlation spectroscopy of lipid-peptide interactions on supported lipid bilayers

Abstract Electrostatic interactions drive molecular assembly and organization in the plasma membrane. Specific protein-lipid interactions, however, are difficult to resolve. Here we report on a unique approach to investigate these interactions with time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy. The experiments were performed on a model membrane system consisting of a supported lipid bilayer with an asymmetric distribution of PIP2 in the upper leaflet of the bilayer. The bilayer also contained nickel-chelating lipids that bind to a histidine-tagged peptide of interest. Both the peptide and the lipid were labeled with orthogonal fluorescent probes, so that diffusion and binding could be measured with two-color, pulsed-interleaved excitation fluorescence cross-correlation spectroscopy (PIE-FCCS). Our PIE-FCCS data showed significant lipid-peptide cross-correlation between PIP2 lipids and membrane-bound cationic peptides. Cross-correlation is a direct indication of lipid-peptide binding and complexation. Together with mobility data, we quantified the degree of binding, which offers new insight into this class of lipid-peptide interactions. Overall, this is the first report of lipid-peptide cross-correlation by FCCS, and provides a new route to quantifying the interactions between proteins and lipid membranes, a key interface in cell signaling.
Association Between Heart Failure and Postoperative Mortality Among Patients Undergoing Ambulatory Noncardiac Surgery.

Importance Heart failure is an established risk factor for postoperative mortality, but how heart failure is associated with operative outcomes specifically in the ambulatory surgical setting is not well characterized. Objective To assess the risk of postoperative mortality and complications in patients with vs without heart failure at various levels of echocardiographic (left ventricular systolic dysfunction) and clinical (symptoms) severity who were undergoing ambulatory surgery. Design, Setting, and Participants In this US multisite retrospective cohort study of all adult patients undergoing ambulatory, elective, noncardiac surgery in the Veterans Affairs Surgical Quality Improvement Project database during fiscal years 2009 to 2016, a total of 355 121 patient records were identified and analyzed with 1 year of follow-up after surgery (final date of follow-up September 1, 2017). Exposures Heart failure, left ventricular ejection fraction, and presence of signs or symptoms of heart failure within 30 days of surgery. Main Outcomes and Measures The primary outcomes were postoperative mortality at 90 days and any postoperative complication at 30 days. Results Among 355 121 total patients, outcome data from 19 353 patients with heart failure (5.5%; mean [SD] age, 67.9 [10.1] years; 18 841 [96.9%] male) and 334 768 patients without heart failure (94.5%; mean [SD] age, 57.2 [14.0] years; 301 198 [90.0%] male) were analyzed. Compared with patients without heart failure, patients with heart failure had a higher risk of 90-day postoperative mortality (crude mortality risk, 2.00% vs 0.39%; adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.95; 95% CI, 1.69-2.44), and risk of mortality progressively increased with decreasing systolic function. Compared with patients without heart failure, symptomatic patients with heart failure had a greater risk of mortality (crude mortality risk, 3.57%; aOR, 2.76; 95% CI, 2.07-3.70), as did asymptomatic patients with heart failure (crude mortality risk, 1.85%; aOR, 1.85; 95% CI, 1.60-2.15). Patients with heart failure had a higher risk of experiencing a 30-day postoperative complication than did patients without heart failure (crude risk, 5.65% vs 2.65%; aOR, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.02-1.19). Conclusions and Relevance In this study, among patients undergoing elective, ambulatory surgery, heart failure with or without symptoms was significantly associated with 90-day mortality and 30-day postoperative complications. These data may be helpful in preoperative discussions with patients with heart failure undergoing ambulatory surgery.
We Do Everything as Well as We Can

If all goes well today, I would like to help some of you heighten your ability to look at the present and future environment through more open eyes of love.
Unsmoothing Returns of Illiquid Funds

Funds that invest in illiquid assets report returns with spurious autocorrelation. Consequently, investors need to unsmooth returns when evaluating the risk exposures of these funds. We show that funds investing in similar assets have a common source of spurious autocorrelation, which is not addressed by commonly-used unsmoothing methods, leading to underestimation of systematic risk. To address this issue, we propose a generalization of these unsmoothing techniques and apply it to hedge funds and commercial real estate funds. Our empirical results indicate our method significantly improves the measurement of risk exposures and risk-adjusted performance, with stronger results for more illiquid funds.
Fast Optimization Algorithm for Evanescent-Mode Cavity Tuner Optimization and Timing Reduction in Software-Defined Radar Implementation

Dynamic spectrum allocation will require cognitive radar transmitters to change operating frequency and bandwidth in real time. This will require high-power reconfigurable circuitry to improve radar performance by simultaneously increasing 1) the output power of the transmit waveform and 2) the power-added efficiency of the power amplifier. This circuitry is also used to mitigate cochannel interference by maintaining sufficiently linear performance so that the output waveform conforms to a given spectral mask. In this approach, a 90-W evanescent-mode cavity tuner is reconfigured using a specially designed gradient search to find the best combination of resonant cavity position numbers. This approach will be much more flexible for field use than typical Smith-chart-based load-pull searches, which require a characterization that is susceptible to drift. Experimental results are presented showing that the efficiency, output power, spectral performance, and estimated maximum radar detection range are improved significantly by retuning the matching network at each operating frequency. Additionally, this article discusses innovations to reduce or eliminate time bottlenecks in a cognitive radar system for impedance tuning, reducing the time needed for complete impedance tuning searches from minutes to seconds. This significant timing reduction makes tunable power amplifiers a feasible option for future use in spectrum sharing by cognitive radar systems.
Novel bicuspid aortic valve model with aortic regurgitation for hemodynamic status analysis using an ex vivo simulator

Abstract Objective The objective was to design and evaluate a clinically relevant, novel ex vivo bicuspid aortic valve model that mimics the most common human phenotype with associated aortic regurgitation. Methods Three bovine aortic valves were mounted asymmetrically in a previously validated 3–dimensional-printed left heart simulator. The non-right commissure and the non-left commissure were both shifted slightly toward the left–right commissure, and the left and right coronary cusps were sewn together. The left–right commissure was then detached and reimplanted 10 mm lower than its native height. Free margin shortening was used for valve repair. Hemodynamic status, high-speed videography, and echocardiography data were collected before and after the repair. Results The bicuspid aortic valve model was successfully produced and repaired. High-speed videography confirmed prolapse of the fused cusp of the baseline bicuspid aortic valve models in diastole. Hemodynamic and pressure data confirmed accurate simulation of diseased conditions with aortic regurgitation and the subsequent repair. Regurgitant fraction postrepair was significantly reduced compared with that at baseline (14.5 ± 4.4% vs 28.6% ± 3.4%; P = .037). There was no change in peak velocity, peak gradient, or mean gradient across the valve pre- versus postrepair: 293.3 ± 18.3 cm/sec versus 325.3 ± 58.2 cm/sec (P = .29), 34.3 ± 4.2 mm Hg versus 43.3 ± 15.4 mm Hg (P = .30), and 11 ± 1 mm Hg versus 9.3 ± 2.5 mm Hg (P = .34), respectively. Conclusions An ex vivo bicuspid aortic valve model was designed that recapitulated the most common human phenotype with aortic regurgitation. These valves were successfully repaired, validating its potential for evaluating valve hemodynamics and optimizing surgical repair for bicuspid aortic valves.
The apparent shape of the "Str\"omgren sphere'' around the highest-redshift QSOs with Gunn-Peterson troughs

Although the highest redshift QSOs (z>6.1) are embedded in a significantly neutral background universe (mass-averaged neutral hydrogen fraction >1%) as suggested by the Gunn-Peterson absorption troughs in their spectra, the intergalactic medium in their vicinity is highly ionized. The highly ionized region is generally idealized as spherical and called the Str\"omgren sphere. In this paper, by combining the expected evolution of the Str\"omgren sphere with the rule that the speed of light is finite, we illustrate the apparent shape of the ionization fronts around the highest redshift QSOs and its evolution, which depends on the age, luminosity evolution, and environment of the QSO (e.g., the hydrogen reionization history). The apparent shape may systematically deviate from a spherical shape, unless the QSO age is significantly long compared to the hydrogen recombination process within the ionization front and the QSO luminosity evolution is significantly slow. Effects of anisotropy of QSO emission are also discussed. The apparent shape of the "Str\"omgren sphere'' may be directly mapped by transmitted spectra of background sources behind or inside the ionized regions or by surveys of the hyperfine transition (21cm) line emission of neutral hydrogen.
Double-Lumen Endotracheal Tubes

Double-lumen endotracheal tubes (ETTs) are typically used in the operating room in surgeries that require one-lung ventilation. They can be challenging to insert due to their large size relative to the pharynx and larynx, especially when compared to traditional single-lumen endotracheal tubes. This chapter details indications for one-lung ventilation, factors for appropriately sizing double-lumen ETTs, advantages and disadvantages to double-lumen ETTs, necessary equipment for intubating with a double-lumen ETT, and how to insert, manage, and troubleshoot double-lumen ETTs.
Longitudinal assessment of a Dental and Medical Student Service program in Appalachia: Successes and lessons learned

Objectives Recruiting/retaining healthcare professionals within rural and underserved communities in the United States remains a challenge. The West Virginia University Institute for Community and Rural Health implemented a service scholarship program in 2011 to address a lack of dental and primary care. Methods Dental and medical students commit to practice 12-months full time following graduation in a Health Profession Shortage Area (HPSA) or Rural Urban Commuting Area (RUCA) in West Virginia for each $25,000 received. Results Since inception of the program, 20 of 23 (87 percent) dental recipients had completed their service commitment, 17 (85 percent) are still practicing in WV, and 3 (13 percent) are fulfilling their commitment. Four of 20 medical recipients have repaid (2) or fulfilled (2) program commitments and 16 are completing commitments or deferred during training. Retention rate is 82 percent for both dental and medical professionals following program completion. Conclusions Service scholarships effectively engage students to provide care in rural/underserved areas and remain there after program completion.
Deceptive Omissions, Half-Truths, and the Moral Exemplar in Clinical Ethics

In “Deception and the Clinical Ethicist,” Christopher Meyers (2021) argues that clinical ethicists sometimes ought to actively help deceive patients or their families (hereafter “the clients”), all...
A dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction method for determination of bongkrekic acid in plasma by LC-MS/MS

In this study, we describe a dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction strategy for bongkrekic acid (BA) purification, enrichment, and liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)...
Exploring ‘digital placemaking’:

This brief essay introduces the special issue on the topic of ‘digital placemaking’ – a concept describing the use of digital media to create a sense of place for oneself and/or others. As a broad ...
A Model of Conserved Global Neuronal Dynamics Predicts Future Behaviors in Caenorhabditis Elegans

It is now possible to simultaneously record activity from hundreds of neurons. In some simple organisms such as nematode C. elegans, whole brain imaging with single neuron resolution has been successfully performed. Here we show how such complex datasets can be used to generate quantitative models of the nervous system at the behaviorally-relevant scale. Our model predicts the timing of changes in locomotor direction at least 15 seconds prior to the event. These predictions are valid for individual instances of locomotion and can be applied across individuals including those not used in model construction. In addition, the model predicts behavioral dwell time statistics, sequences of behaviors, and neuronal activation. To develop this model we extracted loops in the trajectories spanned by neuronal activity using novel methodology. The model uses only two variables: the identity of the loop and the phase along it. Current values of these macroscopic variables predict subsequent behaviors. Remarkably, our model based on macroscopic variables succeeds despite consistent differences in activation of individual neurons and neuronal populations between different C. elegans. Thus, our theoretical framework reconciles the variability of neuronal activation amongst individuals with global dynamics that operate universally.
Collective gradient sensing with limited positional information.

Eukaryotic cells sense chemical gradients to decide where and when to move. Clusters of cells can sense gradients more accurately than individual cells by integrating measurements of the concentration made across the cluster. Is this gradient sensing accuracy impeded when cells have limited knowledge of their position within the cluster, i.e. limited positional information? We apply maximum likelihood estimation to study gradient sensing accuracy of a cluster of cells with finite positional information. If cells must estimate their location within the cluster, this lowers the accuracy of collective gradient sensing. We compare our results with a tug-of-war model where cells respond to the gradient by a mechanism of collective guidance without relying on their positional information. As the cell positional uncertainty increases, there is a trade-off where the tug-of-war model responds more accurately to the chemical gradient. However, for sufficiently large cell clusters or shallow chemical gradients, the tug-of-war model will always be suboptimal to one that integrates information from all cells, even if positional uncertainty is high.
Building Community Well-Being Across Sectors with “For Benefit” Community Business

Community business is reflective of several dimensions impacting community well-being, including economic sustainability and community development . This chapter provides an illustration of an alternative way of thinking economic and social well-being concerns, from the vantage point of community well-being. It is proposed that benefits accrue in an environment where social, natural and cultural dimensions of community are important and recognized by the private sector as well as the civic sector (public and non-governmental organizations) and reflected in community business approaches.
Averting the tragedy of the commons by adapting aspiration levels

The Tragedy of the Commons involves a community utilizing a shared resource (the "commons") which can sustain a maximum load capacity beyond which its performance degrades. If utility received is proportional to the load applied on the system, individuals will maximize their applied load. Such greedy behavior will eventually lead to the total load exceeding the capacity of the commons. Thereafter, individuals will get less for adding more load on the system, which signifies a social dilemma. We develop a distributed solution approach to the tragedy of the commons that require individuals in the society to adapt their aspirations and apply loads based on their own aspirations. An aspiration level corresponds to the satisficing return for an individual, which is adjusted based on experience. In our model, individuals choose the load applied on the system based on their aspiration levels, thereby affecting the stability and performance of the "commons". We evaluate two different aspiration and load adjustment policies as well as effects of asynchronous decision making on the stability and performance of populations of varying sizes. Interesting results include mitigation of free-riding for larger populations. We also develop a mathematical model to predict the convergence time for such populations and verify the predictions experimentally.
Congenitally bicuspid aortic valve causing severe, pure aortic regurgitation without superimposed infective endocarditis: Analysis of 13 patients requiring aortic valve replacement

Although stenosis and infective endocarditis are commonly appreciated complications of the congenitally bicuspid aortic valve, pure severe aortic regurgitation complicating this congenital malformation, unassociated with either stenosis or infection, is not well recognized. Among 189 patients who had aortic valve replacement at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood institute because of isolated pure aortic regurgitation, the congenitally bicuspid aortic valve, never the site of infective endocarditis, was responsible for the aortic regurgitation in 13 (7 percent). This report describes certain clinical and morphologic findings in 13 men, aged 26 to 65 years (mean 43), who required aortic valve replacement because of severe aortic regurgitation secondary to a noninfected, nonstenotic congenitally bicuspid aortic valve. Although not generally recognized, the noninfected congenitally bicuspid aortic valve is an important cause of pure aortic regurgitation severe enough to warrant aortic valve replacement.
Surgical removal of a large sialolith within the submaxillary gland; report of a case.

Abstract A case of sialolithiasis of the submaxillary salivary gland is presented. Because of the size and anatomic location of the sialolith, the amount of infection present, the history of chronic infection and enlargement of the gland, and the patient's general condition, it was deemed advisable to remove the entire gland and sialolith in one extraoral operation. Following surgical excision, healing was uneventful.
Photoresponsive receptors for binding and releasing anions

Photoresponsive receptors allow users to modulate when and where molecular hosts can bind and release their targets. This capability was pioneered in biochemistry, trained on cations, and is only now emerging in the recognition chemistry of anions. This mini review outlines the five instances where anion receptors have been manipulated by light. Cylindrical, acyclic, and helical receptors have been integrated with azobenzenes, stiff-stilbenes, and dithienylethenes to generate modest-to-moderate changes in the binding affinities for various halides and polyatomic anions. The central design requirement involves choosing the appropriate photoswitch such that the two photostates can define two different organizations of the receptor, thus, enabling one state to bind better than the other. This challenge underscores the importance of analyzing the possible conformations, complexes, and stoichiometries that may be accessible by host and guest as a means to identify structures that will successfully elicit a switching response. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Not All Attitudes are Propositional

Most contemporary philosophical discussions of intentionality start and end with a treatment of the propositional attitudes. In fact, many theorists hold (tacitly if not explicitly) that all attitudes are propositional attitudes. Our folk‐psychological ascriptions suggest, however, that there are non‐propositional attitudes: I like Sally, my brother fears snakes, everyone loves my grandmother, and Rush Limbaugh hates Obama. I argue that things are as they appear: there are non‐propositional attitudes. More specifically, I argue that there are attitudes that relate individuals to non‐propositional objects and do so not in virtue of relating them to propositions. I reach this conclusion by not only showing that attempted analyses of apparently non‐propositional attitudes in terms of the propositional fail, but that some non‐propositional attitudes don't even supervene on propositional attitudes. If this is correct, then the common discussions of intentionality that address only propositional attitudes are incomplete and those who hold that all intentional states are propositional are mistaken.