cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Systematic mapping of functional enhancer-promoter connections with CRISPR interference

Gene expression in mammals is regulated by noncoding elements that can affect physiology and disease, yet the functions and target genes of most noncoding elements remain unknown. We present a high-throughput approach that uses clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) interference (CRISPRi) to discover regulatory elements and identify their target genes. We assess >1 megabase of sequence in the vicinity of two essential transcription factors, MYC and GATA1, and identify nine distal enhancers that control gene expression and cellular proliferation. Quantitative features of chromatin state and chromosome conformation distinguish the seven enhancers that regulate MYC from other elements that do not, suggesting a strategy for predicting enhancer-promoter connectivity. This CRISPRi-based approach can be applied to dissect transcriptional networks and interpret the contributions of noncoding genetic variation to human disease.
10 Years of Preparedness by the Radiation Injury Treatment Network

The Radiation Injury Treatment Network (RITN) began in 2006 with the ambitious vision to provide a resource to help with the surge of casualties following a mass casualty incident with marrow toxic injuries. Through the efforts of the National Marrow Donor Program and American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation with the support of the Office of Naval Research, the initial 13 hospitals and cancer centers have grown to 76, training over 13,500 hospital staff and conducted, funded, and supported 580 disaster exercises testing preparedness. After a decade, there is more to do, but much laudatory work has been accomplished.
The Economic Implications of Global Water Scarcity

Water, like any other natural resource, is vital to a nation’s economic growth and existence. Without adequate water supplies a nation will face severe economic problems as well as social unrest and political instability. The current problem many nations face is their dwindling water supply. The aim and purpose of this paper is to examine the economic impact of global water scarcity on both developed and developing nations. This paper will also examine how a lack of clean water will hurt a nation’s economic growth and its ability to be a viable player in global trade and be able to provide for its people. This study will also look at the causes of water scarcity and also how the problem can be rectified.
The risk-adjusted return potential of integrating ESG strategies into emerging market equities

This study purposed to quantify the performance potential of integrating ESG research within emerging market investment strategies, as well as the potential for risk diversification through investm...
Short Sleep and Adolescents' Performance on a Concussion Assessment Battery: An Experimental Sleep Manipulation Study

Objective:Correlational studies have linked short sleep to adolescents' report of postconcussion symptoms and cognitive performance during concussion assessments. This study tested whether those are cause–effect relationships.Design:Three-week randomly counterbalanced, within-subjects, crossover exp
Sustainability in an urbanizing planet.

Sustainability science is use-inspired fundamental research that links knowledge to action such that meeting the needs of society can be balanced with sustaining the life support systems of the planet (1, 2). Nowhere is this action-oriented research needed more than in urban areas that are now home to more than half of the world’s population, generating about 80% of the world’s economy (3) as well as over 70% of global energy use and global energy-related emissions (4). Depending on the literature and perspectives taken, urbanization and cities will be either key components to the transition to sustainability or major threats to sustainability. The dichotomy in views is partly a result of the wide range in urban conditions and uneven urbanization processes around the world. Urban areas can be sites of innovation and production of knowledge and wealth, and provide widespread access to employment, education, sanitation, and modern energy, but they can also have high levels of pollution, social exclusion, environmental degradation, and cause unintended consequences outside of the urban boundaries; all of these outcomes could occur simultaneously through the same urbanization process. A number of urban transitions are underway, several of which involve: the change from a predominantly rural and lower-density population to an urban and higher-density living; the shift in economies from agrarian to manufacturing and services, finance, and technology; the increasing resource intensity of energy, materials, and water required to produce a unit of good or service; the lasting imprint and spatial configuration of built environments and their requisite infrastructures; the subtle impact on a broad spectrum of biotic interactions and the significant threats to biodiversity; the increasing complexity and reach of urban institutions and governance to enforce the rule of law and maintain civil society; and the transition from individually demarcated cities and towns to the … [↵][1]1To whom correspondence should be addressed. Email: karen.seto{at}yale.edu. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1
Between Istanbul and Gujarat: Descriptions of Mecca in the Sixteenth-Century Indian Ocean

In 1543, a quarter century after the Ottoman conquest of the Holy Cities, the Meccan jurist, hadith scholar, and chronicler Jar Allah Muhammad Ibn Fahd (d. 1547) completed a short work devoted to the construction projects undertaken in the city by the Ottoman sultans Selim I (r. 1512–20) and his son Suleyman (r. 1520–66). The work is highly unusual from the perspective of the Arabic historiographical tradition and constitutes the first comprehensive response by an Arab chronicler to the emergence of an Ottoman imperial architectural idiom around the turn of the sixteenth century. The article situates Ibn Fahd and his work in three interrelated contexts: (a) the incorporation of Mecca and Medina into the Ottoman domains; (b) the emergence of an Ottoman architectural idiom and visual interest in the description of the Holy Sanctuaries across the Indian Ocean, from Istanbul to Gujarat; and (c) the competition between the new Custodians of the Two Holy Sanctuaries and other Islamic rulers, past and present. In particular, the article focuses on the challenges posed by the sultans of Gujarat, who were also quite interested in the Holy Sanctuaries. This interest is captured in Muhyi al-Din Lari’s (d. 1526–27) description of the pilgrimage and the Haramayn, which was written for the Gujarati sultan Muzaffar Shah II (r. 1511–26).
The role of craving in emotional and uncontrolled eating

Abstract This study presents a novel application of the cognitive processing model of alcohol craving (CPMA) from the addictions field to the role of food craving in the well-established restrained eating–overeating relationship associated with binge eating disorder (BED). A community sample (N = 1058, ages 18-66) completed an online survey assessing four core domains: restrained eating, trait food craving, uncontrolled eating, and emotional eating. In accordance with the CPMA, food craving emerged as a significant indirect effect of the association between restrained eating and both uncontrolled and emotional eating. Gender did not significantly moderate any direct or indirect associations, suggesting that gender may not change the pattern of association between restrained eating and different facets of overeating. Results suggest that treatments targeting binge eating behaviors may benefit from 1) explicitly addressing the activation of food craving rather than concentrating on reducing restrained eating and 2) recognizing that food craving may be an important gender-neutral target with the potential to reduce binge and overeating behaviors. Future research should extend these preliminary findings by examining the application of the CPMA to eating behaviors while jointly investigating antecedents and contextual factors.
Crushed Limestone Aggregate Strength Influenced by Gradation, Fines Content, and Dust Ratio

AbstractQuality classes of aggregate materials used in unbound base and subbase construction are quite important for the longevity of highway pavements. Aggregate gradation, fines content, Atterber...
Climate Change and its Effect on Tropospheric Ozone

Ozone is an important climate gas present in both the troposphere and stratosphere. Ozone directly affects climate by absorbing both incoming solar ultraviolet radiation and outgoing infrared radiation. It also indirectly affects climate because it is intimately linked with the concentration of OH in the troposphere, which ultimately determines the fate of many trace gases (including greenhouse gases). In this paper, we illustrate how climate-related changes in several processes (the emission of the biogenic hydrocarbon isoprene, the emission of NOx from lightning, and convective transport of O3 and other gases) can affect both tropospheric ozone and its precursors. Climate changes will affect temperature, the hydrological cycle, and convective mixing. Temperature increases alone are expected to increase isoprene emissions and the resulting tropospheric O3, and redistribute OH concentrations. However, the effect may be compensated for if cloudiness increases. A temperature increase of 4.2° C produced a global increase of 30% in lightning activity (70% over continental regions), which will increase both NOx and O3 aloft. Finally, changes in convective activity may either increase or decrease O3 due to compensating effects. In the future, it will be important to calculate climatic effects on O3 using a model that is interactively coupled on-line to a self-consistent general circulation model.
Password auditing applications

A goal of computer system security is to prevent an attack, and authentication mechanisms can prevent a compromise on parts of a system. Most if not all forms of access are granted based on a single authentication scheme, and passwords are currently the most widely used authentication mechanism. Weak passwords have been cited by experts from SANS, industry, government, and academia as one of the most critical security threats to computer networks. However, various applications are available today which allow system administrators to assess the strength of their passwords in order to take the necessary precautions. The purpose of this research is to conduct a study of how well some of the more popular password auditing applications perform for Windows and UNIX operating systems.
Function of Sphingolipid Metabolites in Cell Regulation

Sphingolipids and sphingolipid metabolites are implicated in significant aspects of cellular regulation. The finding that sphingosine inhibits protein kinase C in vitro and in a variety of cellular systems led to a general hypothesis that sphingolipids may participate in regulated cycles analogous to those established for the glycerolipids. The transient production of sphingolipid metabolites would function as second messengers and lipid mediators in signal transduction processes. Vitamin D3 caused a transient turnover of sphingomyelin in HL60 cells and production of ceramide and phosphocholine. A vitamin D3 inducible sphingomyelinase activity mirrored the transient changes in cellular ceramide. Cell permeable ceramides mimicked the ability of vitamin D3 to cause HL60 cell differentiation. Tumor necrosis factor and gamma interferon also triggered sphingomyelin turnover in HL60 cells. Retinoic acid also alters cellular ceramide levels in GH4C1 cells by a different mechanism. The significance of sphingolipids, sphingosine, ceramide, sphingosine-phosphate, and the enzyme systems which produce and metabolize these molecules will be discussed.
Wisdom of the East and West: A Relational Developmental Systems Perspective

A review of the etymology and transformation of wisdom in the East is presented with a particular focus on the Buddhist tradition. Although the original conceptualization of wisdom in this tradition was based on a non-split or relational epistemology, the meaning of the concept moved to a split and exclusive epistemology as the Buddhist texts were repeatedly rewritten over the years and eventually yielded dichotomies such as the personal wisdom-general wisdom split. In this chapter, a relational developmental systems perspective of wisdom is presented with synthetic and analytical modes as two poles of an inclusive psychological process. This relational framework sidesteps debates over the semantic dichotomies of personal wisdom and general wisdom by recognizing them as parts of an integrated whole; it thus facilitates legitimately related lines of wisdom research that can cooperate scientifically rather than compete semantically.
Training and Learning in the Workplace

There is a growing awareness of the strategic role of training and learning for organizational effectiveness. This article gives particular emphasis to the planned training and learning programs that occur in the context of the work setting or on the job. On-the-job training (OJT) and learning has garnered increased interest among researchers and practitioners because it addresses a number of practical and theoretical issues. The article discusses the context of workplace training and learning as it relates to the knowledge economy and implications for employee competence. Next, it seeks to define workplace training and learning in terms of the nature of the setting – formal or informal – and the degree of planning that the learning experiences receive. Third, it describes structured OJT (S-OJT) as one example of workplace training and learning that has received considerable interest in organizations and the implementation of S-OJT. Finally it reviews the research on S-OJT and raises issues for future research.
Lack of uniformity among United States recommendations for diagnosis and management of acute, uncomplicated cystitis.

Acute, uncomplicated cystitis is one of the most common bacterial infections seen in clinical practice. Quality improvement and antibiotic stewardship efforts to optimize cystitis management rely on clinicians managing patients in a manner recommended by experts and guidelines. However, it is unclear if recent recommendations for cystitis from experts and guidelines from US medical societies that provide recommendations are well aligned. We examined recommendations and guidelines for acute, symptomatic cystitis in women published in US medical societies’ journals from January 1, 2008, to December 31, 2016, within the fields of family medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, internal medicine, female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery, and infectious diseases. All recommendations endorsed the use of symptoms and urine dipstick to diagnose cystitis. Some societies did not recommend urine dipstick in patients with recurrent urinary tract infection (UTI), classic UTI symptoms, or a lack of underlying conditions or competing diagnoses. All endorsed nitrofurantoin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, and fosfomycin as first-line agents. Some guidelines classified fluoroquinolones as second- or third-line, while others considered them first-line treatment for UTI. Avoiding use of amoxicillin and ampicillin, antibiotic agents with high prevalence of resistance in the US, was recommended by some societies. US recommendations differed in their approach to the treatment of acute, uncomplicated cystitis. Lack of uniformity likely contributes to clinical management variance for patients with UTI and hampers quality improvement and antibiotic stewardship efforts aimed at promoting optimal management. Our findings emphasize the need for more consistent recommendations for cystitis management.
Accelerating Joins and Aggregations on the Oracle In-Memory Database

OLAP and real-time analytic workloads in data management systems are dominated by joins, aggregations, scan and filtering costs. In-Memory columnar databases have successfully optimized scans by many orders of magnitude using compressed data formats and SIMD vectorization techniques, but have largely made little impact to the rest of the query execution plan. The Oracle Database In-Memory (DBIM) Option introduced new SQL execution operators that accelerate a wide range of analytic queries, delivering orders of magnitude performance improvement by optimizing aggregation over joins for star and similar schemas. Group-by expressions are pushed down into the scans of dimension tables, creating a unique key per distinct group called a Dense Grouping Key (DGK). A structure called a Key Vector is allocated that maps join keys to DGKs, which is used to filter non-matching rows during the fact table scan. Passing rows are then aggregated directly on compressed codes into DGK-indexed result buffers using SIMD and other novel aggregation techniques. Our innovative solution replaces traditional join and group-by processing (bloom filters, hash table build and probe, serial aggregation) with blazing fast inlined scan operators. And with DBIM's unique dual-format architecture, DML activity (inserts, updates, deletes) do not dampen the phenomenal gains we see with our solution. Using a set of aggregation-heavy queries against the Star Schema Benchmark (SSB) schema, we show that our technique can drastically reduce query elapsed time by more than 10x, making real-time analytics truly achievable.
M1b Disease in the 8th Edition of TNM Staging of Lung Cancer: Pattern of Single Extrathoracic Metastasis and Clinical Outcome

BACKGROUND The 8th edition of TNM staging of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has revised M classification and defined M1b disease with single extrathoracic metastasis, which is distinguished from M1c with multiple extrathoracic metastases. We investigated the prevalence, characteristics, and overall survival (OS) of M1b disease in patients with stage IV NSCLC. METHODS The study reviewed the medical records and imaging studies of 567 patients with stage IV NSCLC to determine M stage using the 8th edition of TNM staging. Clinical characteristics and OS were compared according to M stages. RESULTS Among 567 patients, 57 patients (10%) had M1b disease, whereas 119 patients (21%) had M1a disease and 391 patients (69%) had M1c disease. Squamous histology was more common in M1b (16%) than in M1a (6%) and M1c (6%; p = .03). The median OS of patients with M1b disease was 14.8 months, compared with 22.6 months for patients with M1a and 13.4 months for those with M1c disease (p < .0001). Significant OS differences of M1b compared with single-organ M1c and multiorgan M1c groups were noted (single-organ M1c vs. M1b: hazard ratio [HR], 1.49; p = .02; multiorgan M1c vs. M1b: HR, 1.57; p = .01) in multivariable analyses adjusting for smoking and systemic therapy types. Among patients with M1b disease, the brain was the most common site of single metastasis (28/57; 49%), followed by bone (16/57; 28%). Single brain metastasis was more frequently treated with local treatment (p < .0001). CONCLUSION M1b disease was noted in 10% of patients with stage IV NSCLC. Squamous histology was more common in M1b group than others. The brain was the most common site of single metastasis and was often treated locally. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE The newly defined group of M stage consists of a unique subset among patients with stage IV non-small cell lung cancer that can be studied further to optimize treatment approaches.
Scoring Interactional Aspects of Human-Machine Dialog for Language Learning and Assessment using Text Features

While there has been much work in the language learning and assessment literature on human and automated scoring of essays and short constructed responses, there is little to no work examining text features for scoring of dialog data, particularly interactional aspects thereof, to assess conversational proficiency over and above constructed response skills. Our work bridges this gap by investigating both human and automated approaches towards scoring human–machine text dialog in the context of a real-world language learning application. We collected conversational data of human learners interacting with a cloud-based standards-compliant dialog system, triple-scored these data along multiple dimensions of conversational proficiency, and then analyzed the performance trends. We further examined two different approaches to automated scoring of such data and show that these approaches are able to perform at or above par with human agreement for a majority of dimensions of the scoring rubric.
Administration and Dosing of Systemic Antifungal Agents in Pediatric Patients

Neonates and immunosuppressed/immunocompromised pediatric patients are at high risk of invasive fungal diseases. Appropriate antifungal selection and optimized dosing are imperative to the successful prevention and treatment of these life-threatening infections. Conventional amphotericin B was the mainstay of antifungal therapy for many decades, but dose-limiting nephrotoxicity and infusion-related adverse events impeded its use. Despite the development of several new antifungal classes and agents in the past 20 years, and their now routine use in at-risk pediatric populations, data to guide the optimal dosing of antifungals in children are limited. This paper reviews the spectra of activity for approved antifungal agents and summarizes the current literature specific to pediatric patients regarding pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic data, dosing, and therapeutic drug monitoring.
Crowdsourcing Detection of Sampling Biases in Image Datasets

Despite many exciting innovations in computer vision, recent studies reveal a number of risks in existing computer vision systems, suggesting results of such systems may be unfair and untrustworthy. Many of these risks can be partly attributed to the use of a training image dataset that exhibits sampling biases and thus does not accurately reflect the real visual world. Being able to detect potential sampling biases in the visual dataset prior to model development is thus essential for mitigating the fairness and trustworthy concerns in computer vision. In this paper, we propose a three-step crowdsourcing workflow to get humans into the loop for facilitating bias discovery in image datasets. Through two sets of evaluation studies, we find that the proposed workflow can effectively organize the crowd to detect sampling biases in both datasets that are artificially created with designed biases and real-world image datasets that are widely used in computer vision research and system development.
Sensitivity of C-reactive protein cut-off values for pyogenic spinal infection in the emergency department.

Objectives The aim of this study was to describe the sensitivity of various C-reactive protein (CRP) cut-off values to identify patients requiring magnetic resonance imaging evaluation for pyogenic spinal infection among emergency department (ED) adults presenting with neck or back pain. Methods We prospectively enrolled a convenience series of adults presenting to a community ED with neck or back pain in whom ED providers had concern for pyogenic spinal infection in a derivation cohort from 2004 to 2010 and a validation cohort from 2010 to 2018. The validation cohort included only patients with pyogenic spinal infection. We analysed diagnostic test characteristics of various CRP cut-off values. Results We enrolled 232 patients and analysed 201 patients. The median age was 55 years, 43.8% were male, 4.0% had history of intravenous drug use, and 20.9% had recent spinal surgery. In the derivation cohort, 38 (23.9%) of 159 patients had pyogenic spinal infection. Derivation sensitivity and specificity of CRP cut-off values were > 3.5 mg/L (100%, 24.8%), > 10 mg/L (100%, 41.3%), > 30 mg/L (100%, 61.2%), and > 50 mg/L (89.5%, 69.4%). Validation sensitivities of CRP cut-off values were > 3.5 mg/L (97.6%), > 10 mg/L (97.6%), > 30 mg/L (90.4%), and > 50 mg/L (85.7%). Conclusions CRP cut-offs beyond the upper limit of normal had high sensitivity for pyogenic spinal infection in this adult ED population. Elevated CRP cut-off values of 10 mg/L and 30 mg/L require validation in other settings.
Guest editors'note on the special issue innovative design and analysis of complex clinical trials.

This special issue is by the participants of the Duke-Industry Statistics Symposium (DISS) held in April 2019 in Durham, North Carolina. The symposium was organized by the Department of Biostatisti...
A pilot study of oxidative pathways in MS fatigue: randomized trial of N-acetyl cysteine

OBJECTIVE To assess feasibility, tolerability, and safety of N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) for fatigue in progressive MS. Secondary objectives evaluated changes in fatigue and oxidative pathway biomarkers on NAC versus placebo. METHODS Individuals with progressive MS with Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS) > t38 were randomized 2:1 to NAC 1250mg TID or placebo for 4 weeks. The primary outcome was tolerability and safety. The secondary outcome to evaluate efficacy was MFIS change from baseline to week 4 between groups. Exploratory biomarker outcomes included change in blood GSH/GSSG ratio (reduced-to-oxidized glutathione (GSH)) and in vivo relative GSH using 7T MR spectroscopy (MRS) between groups. Fisher exact test was used for categorical and rank sum for continuous outcomes. RESULTS Fifiteen were randomized (10 NAC, 5 placebo; mean age 56.1 years, 80% female, median EDSS 6.0). At least one adverse event (AE) occurred in 60% on NAC versus 80% on placebo (p = 0.75). There were two AEs attributed to NAC in one patient (abdominal pain and constipation), with 94% adherence to NAC. MFIS decreased in both groups at week 4, with the mean improvement of 11-points on NAC versus 18-points on placebo (p = 0.33). GSH/GSSG ratio decreased on placebo (-0.6) and NAC (-0.1) (p = 0.18). Change in GSH levels to total creatine in anterior and posterior cingulate cortex, insula, caudate, putamen, and thalamus did not differ between groups. INTERPRETATION NAC was well-tolerated in progressive MS, although reduction in fatigue on NAC was similar to placebo. Antioxidant blood and MRS biomarkers were not significantly altered by NAC, which could be due to dose, route of administration, time of sample collection, short half-life, or lack of effect. REGISTERED: clinicaltrials.gov NCT02804594.
ICF linking of patient-reported therapy goals for children with acquired upper extremity impairment.

Abstract Background Patient reported outcome measures are used to evaluate hand therapy outcomes. Yet, limited evidence is available regarding the outcomes children desire from hand therapy. Purpose To determine the desired treatment outcomes of children with acquired upper extremity impairments. Study design Descriptive case series Methods Two raters independently applied International Classification of Function, Disability and Health (ICF) linking rules to the Canadian Occupational Performance goals of 151 children, age 6-18, receiving occupational therapy for acquired upper extremity impairments. Prevalence of the linked ICF codes was examined using frequency distributions. Kappa and the proportion of positive agreement assessed inter-rater agreement of the linked codes. Results Following consensus, two independent raters linked 894 meaningful concepts to the study population's 501 goals derived from the Canadian Occupational Performance. Ninety-two unique ICF codes were linked to these 894 meaningful concepts. Twenty-three ICF codes account for 77.2% of the most frequently linked codes. For these top 23 codes, the greatest proportion (51.4%) of ICF codes are in the d4 mobility chapter representing specific constructs of hand and arm use. The second largest proportion (14.2%) of linked codes are in the d9 Community, society and civic life chapter aligning with participation in sports, music, performing arts and play. Within the d5 self-care chapter, the study population's top priorities included hair care, fitness and drinking. The primary concerns within the b body functions domain are reduced pain, improved joint mobility and strength. Conclusion The study population's top priorities align with specific dimensions of hand and arm use and participation in sports and fitness, performing arts, and play. Further research may elucidate alignment of these patient-desired outcomes and the item banks of commonly used patient reported outcome measurement scales in this population.
Convolutional Beamspace and Sparse Signal Recovery for Linear Arrays

The convolutional beamspace (CBS) method for DOA estimation using dictionary-based sparse signal recovery is introduced. Beamspace methods enjoy lower computational complexity, increased parallelism of subband processing, and improved DOA resolution. But unlike classical beamspace methods, CBS allows root-MUSIC and ESPRIT to be performed directly for ULAs without additional preparation since the Vandermonde structure for ULAs are preserved in the CBS output. Due to the same reason, it is shown in this paper that sparse signal representation problems can also be directly formulated on the CBS output. Significant reduction in computational complexity and higher probability of resolution are obtained by using CBS. It is also shown how the regularization parameter involved in the method should be chosen.1
Engineering the electrospinning of MWCNTs/epoxy nanofiber scaffolds to enhance physical and mechanical properties of CFRPs

Abstract A cost-effective approach to improve the physical and mechanical properties of carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) prepreg composites, where electrospun multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)/epoxy nanofibers were synthesized and incorporated in between the layers of conventional CFRP prepreg composite has been presented. MWCNT-aligned epoxy nanofibers were successfully produced by an optimized electrospinning process. Nanofibers were deposited directly onto prepreg layers to achieve improved adhesion and interfacial bonding, leading to added strength and improvements in other mechanical properties. Thus, interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) and fatigue performance at high-stress regimes increased by 29% and 27%, respectively. Barely visible impact damage (BVID) energy increased significantly by up to 45%. The thermal and electrical conductivities were also enhanced significantly due to the presence of the highly conductive MWCNT networks between the CFRP layers. The presented method was capable of uniformly depositing high contents of MWCNTs at interlaminar ply interface of prepregs to strengthen/enhance CFRP properties, which has not been previously shown to be possible due to high resin viscosity caused by randomly oriented MWCNTs in epoxy system.
Business School Accreditation in the Changing Global Marketplace: a Comparative Study of the Agencies and Their Competitive Strategies

Purpose – This paper aims to examine current trends in business accreditation by describing and comparing the major international business accreditation agencies (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, European Quality Improvement System, Association of MBAs, Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs and International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education), and analyze their recent market expansion strategies (development and penetration using Ansoff model) as they compete for the schools seeking initial or continuing accreditation. Design/methodology/approach – This is a comparative study of the business accreditation agencies and their competitive strategies, using publically available data such as lists of accredited schools published by the agencies as main data collection method. Findings – Business accreditation agencies have utilized the market penetration and market development strategies to expand their market share in recent years. The key growth areas are international schools, regional teaching-oriented institutions, two-year institutions and for-profit institutions. Research limitations/implications – This study is based on publically available data published by accreditation agencies. More in-depth analysis with survey method could be utilized in future study to identify more specific strategies and their impact on business schools seeking accreditation. Practical implications – Accreditation is no longer a luxury but a requirement for business schools, but they have to make an informed decision on which agency to pursue to assure an appropriate fit. Social implications – The public needs to understand the value and the requirements of accreditation. Multiple agencies provide different options to fit the missions of the different types of schools. Originality/value – This study is valuable to business school stakeholders for understanding accreditation, the need for accreditation and the options they have available.
Effect of street network design on traffic congestion and traffic safety

Abstract We examine the effects of street network design on congestion levels and crash rates in neighborhoods across Utah's Wasatch Front. We employ propensity score matching to select pairwise neighborhood samples that have other similar characteristics but differ greatly in street network design. Our results show that denser and more connected neighborhoods have significantly lower congestion levels, but they do not have measurably lower (or higher) crash rates, presumably due to the prevalence of four-way intersections. This study can help guide data-driven decision making on street network design standards for many of the growing urban areas across the country and globe.
Fluid and Electrolyte Requirements and Tolerance

Twenty-five years association with the Children’s Service, much of it concerned with how to devise better means to support the child during a period when critical illness precludes his taking nourishment in the ordinary fashion, have taught me to approach the assigned topic with caution and humility. One lesson learned is that neither requirement nor tolerance for any individual component of a parenteral fluid mixture is constant, a change in one affecting the metabolism of others. Perhaps even more obviously, the results of experiments on normal adult individuals cannot be directly extrapolated to the sick infant for age, size, medications and the illness itself affect both requirement and tolerance. Because my own particular focus has been principally on water metabolism, the time allotted will be devoted to a personal review of the development of knowledge in this circumscribed area attempting to make clear the need for a dynamic approach to the handling of any particular component of a parenteral fluid mixture, be it water, glucose, fat or phosphate.
Abstract 15682: Does Gender Still Influence Mortality Post Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI)? A Meta-Analysis of the Impact of Gender on PCI Outcomes

Objectives: We examined the effect of gender on mortality and morbidity post PCI. Background: Female gender traditionally has been associated with worse overall outcomes post PCI. It is hypothesized that women with CAD tend to be older and have more co-morbid conditions. It is thought that those factors may increase the risk of complications and cardiovascular mortality. However, there is no conclusive evidence whether women have higher mortality and rate of complications in recent times. Methods: An extensive literature search using PubMed (MeSH keywords: ‘PCI’ & ‘gender’) identified 31 studies reporting PCI outcomes with gender stratification. We limited our search from 01/01/2000 - 01/31/2014. Thirty one studies were chosen and a total of 707,448 patients (463,053 men, 244,395 women) were included in this analysis. Data on baseline and clinical outcomes were extracted. Clinical outcomes of interest included all-cause mortality, non-fatal MI, stroke and repeat revascularization. Effect size was estimated using Odds Ratio with 95% confidence intervals. Given inherent heterogeneity in reported data, random effects model was used. Results: Women tended to have higher mortality than men post PCI:in-hospital mortality 2.7% vs 1.4%, OR 1.69(1.46-1.96), 30-day mortality 18.7% vs 12.2%, OR 1.78(1.46-2.16) and 1 year mortality 13% vs 8.36%, OR 1.49(1.31-1.69). There was no difference in rates of non-fatal MI between men and women [in-hospital MI 1.6% vs 1.4%, OR 1.1(0.92-1.32); 30-day MI 1.94% vs 1.91%, OR 1.02(0.87-1.21) and 1-year MI 10.8% vs 9.64% OR 1.11(0.99-1.25)]. Women also had higher rates of stroke while in-hospital, 0.28% vs. 0.15% OR 1.82(1.22-2.70). The two groups had comparable rates of PCI and CABG at follow-up. Conclusions: Women tend to have higher mortality post-PCI at both short and intermediate term follow-up. There is comparable rate of non-fatal MI and repeat revascularization post PCI.
Parenteral immunization with double-mutant heat labile toxin engages CD103+ dermal dendritic cells and redirects T cell immunity to the gut mucosa. (MUC4P.833)

The vast majority of infectious agents enter hosts through mucosal compartments. Despite this, most current vaccines are administered via parenteral injection, which induce vigorous systemic but only limited mucosal immune responses. Studies have suggested that certain adjuvants can induce mucosal antibody responses regardless of route; however, there is minimal evidence that these injections direct antigen-specific effector T cells to the mucosa, where they are likely needed for protection against mucosal pathogens. We sought to explore the potential of the mucosal adjuvant dmLT (double-mutant heat-labile toxin) to drive antigen-specific T cells to the mucosa after parenteral immunization. By using a combination of peptide:MHCII-specific antibodies and tetramers, we can directly observe the impact of intradermal delivery of dmLT plus antigen, on both antigen-presenting cells (APCs) and antigen-specific T cells. Here we show that this immunization results in T cell upregulation of the gut mucosal homing marker, α4β7, in local draining lymph nodes and mucosal sites when compared to immunization with CpG. Additionally, we observed dmLT preferentially recruits skin CD103+ dendritic cells to the draining lymph nodes after parenteral immunization. These results show that administration of a mucosal adjuvant in the skin results in recruitment of mucosal-like APCs and induce T cell responses in remote, mucosal compartments.
Generation of single-copy transgenic mouse embryos directly from ES cells by tetraploid embryo complementation.

Background Transgenic mice have been used extensively to analyze gene function. Unfortunately, traditional transgenic procedures have only limited use in analyzing alleles that cause lethality because lines of founder mice cannot be established. This is frustrating given that such alleles often reveal crucial aspects of gene function. For this reason techniques that facilitate the generation of embryos expressing such alleles would be of enormous benefit. Although the transient generation of transgenic embryos has allowed limited analysis of lethal alleles, it is expensive, time consuming and technically challenging. Moreover a fundamental limitation with this approach is that each embryo generated is unique and transgene expression is highly variable due to the integration of different transgene copy numbers at random genomic sites.
Important factors influencing the return to work after stroke.

Background As the field of rehabilitation shifts its focus towards improving functional capacity instead of managing disability, return to work (RTW) and return to the community emerge as key goals in a person's recovery from major disabling illness such as stroke. Objective To compile important factors believed to influence RTW after a stroke. Methods Based on a comprehensive literature review, we clustered similar factors and organized these factors based on the International Classification of Function, Disability and Health (ICF) framework: body functions or structure, activity participation, environmental factors and personal and psychosocial factors. Results Overall, stroke severity, as assessed by the degree of residual disability such as weakness, neurological deficit or impairments (speech, cognition, apraxia, agnosia), has been shown to be the most consistent negative predictor of RTW. Many factors such as the number of working years remaining until retirement, depression, medical history, and occupation need to be taken into consideration for stroke survivors, as they can influence RTW decision making. Stroke survivors who are flexible and realistic in their vocational goal and emotionally accept their disability appear more likely to return to work. Conclusions There are many barriers to employment for stroke survivors ranging from physical and cognitive impairments to psychosocial and environmental factors.
The Nuclear Option for Stopping Filibusters

They did not seem to be in a position to help the other body. Yet, on October 10, 2002, members of the House Judiciary Committee listened to witnesses discuss how the Senate could be more efficient. In 2003, Senate committees heard similar testimony. During the hearings, eminent law professors suggested that the practice of allowing filibusters on judicial nominees could not be imposed by previous Senates on the current one. It, therefore, would be within the power of the 51 Republican Senators to uphold a point of order against the filibuster and proceed to govern by majority rule (Kmiec 2003). In Washington, this course of action is called the “nuclear option.” Although the informal use of the nuclear option has several variations, each variation has a common underlying feature that can be formally defined. The nuclear option is a dramatic refusal to recognize delaying tactics permitted under the rules that facilitates the institutionalization of majoritarian procedures in a legislative body. Occurring in legislatures such as the 1881 British House of Commons, the use of the nuclear option can be a watershed event wherever the majority lacks an unassailable way to end debate.
Analysis of Flow Cytometry Data

This unit provides several approaches to flow cytometry data analysis. Frequency determinations based on analysis of single-parameter fluorescence histograms and dual-parameter contour plots are presented. Next, steps are described for calculating values for signal-to-noise ratios when logarithmic amplification is used for data collection. This calculation can be used to compare the amounts of antigenic determinants per cell between different cells stained with the same reagent. Finally, a procedure is described for constructing a calibration curve for logarithmic amplifiers. This calibration curve is required for calculation of signal-to-noise values and can also be used to determine if the amplifiers are working properly.
Chain of Command

Next to religion, there are few ideas as strongly held or as vigorously defended as those involving chains of command. Many in fact will contend with all seriousness that if they have not been ordained by God, they should have been. And yet “going through channels” is among the most frequently violated of the so‐called “principles” of management. No sooner has the superstructure been set than those caught in it must face the fact that if it is to function successfully they must find ways of circumventing it. This applies to those higher up as well as those down below. It happens both ways. Now, when a principle is violated often enough, it is of course no longer a principle, or even a proverb. Yet try to find a single writer in the field who will advise you to do anything but go through channels, however tortuous that may be (emergencies excepted), and you will get the point.
A Padé-based algorithm for overcoming the Gibbs phenomenon

Truncated Fourier series and trigonometric interpolants converge slowly for functions with jumps in value or derivatives. The standard Fourier–Pade approximation, which is known to improve on the convergence of partial summation in the case of periodic, globally analytic functions, is here extended to functions with jumps. The resulting methods (given either expansion coefficients or function values) exhibit exponential convergence globally for piecewise analytic functions when the jump location(s) are known. Implementation requires just the solution of a linear system, as in standard Pade approximation. The new methods compare favorably in experiments with existing techniques.
Combining service frequency and vehicle routing for managing supplier shipments

This paper proposes a new approach to designing inbound material collection routes that considers pick-up frequency and spatial design as joint decisions to minimize total logistics (transportation plus inventory) cost. The clustering-based optimization uses an approximation to the actual cost of a routing solution without actual route construction. We show that the problem is analogous to a single-source fixed-charge facility location problem, and near-optimal solutions can be found using an efficient heuristic algorithm. Tests show the effectiveness of how this model is formulated and a case study demonstrates that substantial total cost savings can be achieved in realistic applications.
Public Library Records: Issues of Accountability and Access

Recordkeeping is a main form of institutional accountability. As municipal institutions, public libraries have a special need to be accountable to the public. Twenty-six public libraries participated in a survey of their recordkeeping practices. The authors found a wide variety of extant paper and electronic records. However, libraries reported few policies governing the management of or access to records. Librarians responding to the survey indicated an overall lack of knowledge concerning records-related legislation, such as the Right-to-Know legislation, that is increasingly being used by citizens to request public library records. These findings indicate that public libraries need to better understand best practices for recordkeeping.
Reactive data visualizations

Managing complex data flows and update patterns is one of the most difficult challenges in interactive data visualization. For example, constructing interactive visualizations with multiple linked views can be a daunting task. Functional reactive programming provides approaches for declaratively specifying data dependency graphs and maintaining them automatically. We argue that functional reactive programming is an appropriate and effective abstraction for interactive data visualization. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed approach in several visualization examples including multiple linked views. We also provide a catalog of reusable reactive visualization components.
Visualizing Practice with Children and Families.

Graphic visualization has proven crucial to recent advances in many fields that deal‐with large amounts of data that interact in complex ways, including biomedical research, theoretical physics, computer systems analysis, and meteorology. The realities with which contemporary social workers deal are no simpler, although it is sometimes tempting to act as if they were. This article argues that graphic images and technologies can also be of substantial help to social work practitioners for assessment and intervention with children and families. The author suggests a range of graphics tools that are valuable for these purposes. Specific techniques include profiles, ecomaps, sequential ecomaps, contingency diagrams, concurrent graphing, and the computerized Visual EcoScan.