cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Systematic Review: Health‐Related Characteristics of Elderly Hospitalized Adults and Nursing Home Residents Associated with Short‐Term Mortality

Objectives: To identify the domains of health-related characteristics of older hospitalized adults and nursing home residents most strongly associated with short-term mortality. Design: Systematic review. Setting: Studies published in English in MEDLINE, Scopus, or Web of Science before August 1, 2010. Participants: Prospective studies consisting of persons aged 65 and older that evaluated the association between at least one health-related participant characteristic and mortality within a year in multivariable analysis. Measurements: All health-related characteristics associated with mortality in multivariable analysis were extracted and categorized into domains. The frequency, with all studies combined, with which particular domains were associated with mortality in multivariable analysis was determined. Results: Thirty-three studies (28 in hospitalized individuals, five in nursing home residents) reported a large number of characteristics associated with mortality that could be categorized in seven domains: cognitive function, disease diagnosis, laboratory values, nutrition, physical function, pressure ulcers, and shortness of breath. Measures of physical function and nutrition were the domains most frequently associated with mortality up to 1 year from the time of evaluation for hospitalized individuals and nursing home residents; measures of physical function, cognitive function, and nutrition were the domains most frequently associated with in-hospital mortality for hospitalized individuals. Conclusion: Of a large number of health-related characteristics of older persons shown to be associated with short-term mortality, measures of nutrition, physical function, and cognitive function were the domains of health most frequently associated with mortality. These domains provide easily measurable factors that may serve as helpful markers for individuals at high mortality risk.
Generation of Shock Waves in Confined Excimer Laser Ablation of Polyimide

We study acoustic effects associated with the ablation of polyimide under water confinement. Ablation launches a shock in the target. After the shock propagates into the surrounding water we measure its velocity with an optical probe system. In the water the shocks decay after propagating a few hundred microns. The peak shock pressure scales with the square root of the laser fluence. Our observations can be explained by a simple model that interprets the generated pressures as being due to the heating of a confined ideal gas.
Single-Channel Properties of IKs Potassium Channels

Expressed in Xenopus oocytes, KvLQT1 channel subunits yield a small, rapidly activating, voltage- dependent potassium conductance. When coexpressed with the minK gene product, a slowly activating and much larger potassium current results. Using fluctuation analysis and single-channel recordings, we have studied the currents formed by human KvLQT1 subunits alone and in conjunction with human or rat minK subunits. With low external K+, the single-channel conductances of these three channel types are estimated to be 0.7, 4.5, and 6.5 pS, respectively, based on noise analysis at 20 kHz bandwidth of currents at +50 mV. Power spectra computed over the range 0.1 Hz–20 kHz show a weak frequency dependence, consistent with current interruptions occurring on a broad range of time scales. The broad spectrum causes the apparent single-channel current value to depend on the bandwidth of the recording, and is mirrored in very “flickery” single-channel events of the channels from coexpressed KvLQT1 and human minK subunits. The increase in macroscopic current due to the presence of the minK subunit is accounted for by the increased apparent single-channel conductance it confers on the expressed channels. The rat minK subunit also confers the property that the outward single-channel current is increased by external potassium ions.
Reliability, precision, and gender differences in knee internal/external rotation proprioception measurements

Objective: To develop and assess the reliability and precision of knee internal/external rotation (IR/ER) threshold to detect passive motion (TTDPM) and determine if gender differences exist. Design: Testeretest for the reliability/precision and cross-sectional for gender comparisons. Setting: University neuromuscular and human performance research laboratory. Participants: Ten subjects for the reliability and precision aim. Twenty subjects (10 males and 10 females) for gender comparisons. Intervention: All TTDPM tests were performed using a multi-mode dynamometer. Subjects performed TTDPM at two knee positions (near IR or ER end-range). Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC (3,k)) and standard error of measurement (SEM) were used to evaluate the reliability and precision. Independent ttests were used to compare genders. Main outcome measurements: TTDPM toward IR and ER at two knee positions. Results: Intrasession and intersession reliability and precision were good (ICC ¼0.68e0.86; SEM ¼0.22
Erythrocyte volume distribution analysis and hematologic changes in two horses with immune-mediated hemolytic anemia.

Immune-,mediated hemolytic anemia was diagnosed in two horses on the basis of regenerative anemia, increased erythrocyte fragility in hypotonic saline, autoagglutination, and a positive direct antiglobulin (Coomb's) test. During steroid therapy partial resolution of the anemia was indicated by rising packed cell volume, macrocytosis, and bone marrow erythroid hyperplasia. Using erythrocyte volume distribution histograms (erythrograms), the regenerative response was characterized by analysis of macrocytic and normocytic erythro- cyte subpopulations. In both horses, a gradual net increase of about 2 X lo6 macrocytes/pl occurred over a four- to five-week period. Over the same interval there was a gradual decrease in the number of normocytes. We suggest that the macrocytes remained large through this period rather than contributing to normocyte population growth. Erythrograms may provide an additional means of evaluating erythrocyte regeneration in horses.
Short-term fluctuations in motivation to quit smoking in a sample of smokers in Hawaii

Background Despite its potential for usefulness in informing the development of smoking cessation interventions, short-term fluctuations in motivation to quit is a relatively understudied topic. Objectives To assess the prevalence of smokers' day-to-day fluctuations in motivation to quit, and to assess associations of day-to-day fluctuations in motivation to quit with several established cessation-related variables. Methods A cross-sectional survey was administered to smokers in Hawaii (N = 1,567). To assess short-term fluctuations in motivation to quit smoking, participants were asked to respond "True" or "False" to the statement: "My motivation to quit smoking changes from one day to the next." Other items measured desire to quit smoking, intention to quit, confidence in quitting, cigarette dependence, and other cessation-related variables. Results "My motivation to quit smoking changes from one day to the next" was endorsed as true by 64.7% of smokers, and false by 35.3%. Analyses revealed that smokers who indicated fluctuating motivation were significantly more interested in quitting as compared to smokers without fluctuations. Fluctuations in motivation to quit also were associated with greater confidence in quitting, lesser cigarette dependence, and more recent quitting activity (all p Conclusions Day-to-day fluctuations in motivation to quit are common. Day-to-day fluctuations in motivation to quit are strongly associated with higher motivation to quit, greater confidence in future quitting, and other positive cessation-relevant trends.
Balance measured by the sway balance smart-device application does not discriminate between older persons with and without a fall history

Clinical functional assessments of balance often lack specificity and sensitivity in discriminating and predicting falls among community-dwelling older adults. We determined the feasibility of using a smart-device application measuring balance to discriminate fall status among older adults. We also evaluated differences between smart-device balance measurements when secured with or without a harness. A cross-sectional study design to determine the ability of the Sway Balance smart-device application (SWAY) to discriminate older adults based on fall history. The Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and Activities-Specific Balance Confidence Scale (ABC) were used as comparative, clinically based assessments. Community-dwelling older adults with (n = 25) and without (n = 32) a history of fall(s) participated. Multivariate analysis of variance was used to determine differences among assessments based on fall history. Logistic regression models determined the ability of each assessment to discriminate fall history. Older adults with and without a history of falls were not significantly different on SWAY (P = 0.92) but were different on BBS (P = 0.01), and ABC (P < 0.001). Similarly, SWAY did not discriminate fall history (P = 0.92), while BBS and ABC both discriminated fall history (P < 0.01). Paired t tests between SWAY scores with and without a harness indicated no differences (P ≥ 0.05). Among the older adults studied, the BBS and ABC measures discriminated groups defined by fall history, while the SWAY smart-device balance application did not. Modifications to the application may improve the discriminating ability of the measure in the recognition of fall status in older adults.
Quantitation of Arachidonate Released during the Platelet Phosphatidylinositol Response to Thrombin

Several workers have shown that decreases in the radioactivity of phosphatidylinositol (PI) and phosphatidylcholine (PC) occur when platelets prelabeled with radioactive arachidonic acid are treated with thrombin (see Rittenhouse-Simmons and Deykin, 1981, for review). These decreases have been attributed to arachidonate release by one of two mechanisms (Fig. 1). In one mechanism, PI is hydrolyzed by a Pi-specific phospholipase C, yielding diacylglycerol and inositol phosphate. The diacylglycerol is further hydrolyzed by a lipase or lipases, releasing arachidonic acid and other fatty acids. In the other mechanism, PC is hydrolyzed by a phospholipase A2, releasing arachidonic acid and other fatty acids from the 2-position and producing lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC). There is also some evidence that arachidonic acid is made available by the action of phospholipase A2 on phospha-tidylethanolamine.
White or Black Hat? An Economic Analysis of Computer Hacking

Cyber attacks have increased sharply in recent years. This paper investigates the decision a profit-motivated hacker makes between working as a malicious hacker, called a black hat, and in cybersecurity as a white hat hacker. A key component of the model is the contest between white and black hats for some part of firm output that is vulnerable to attack. White and black hat earnings are increasing, nonlinear functions of the proportion of black hats. Multiple equilibria exist. Increasing the role of law enforcement in both apprehending black hats and the provision of computer security are shown to decrease the proportion of black hats in equilibrium.
Analytical HPLC method validation for C-11 palmitic acid

1146 Objectives C-11 Palmitic acid (PA) is a fatty acid metabolism imaging agent. We describe herein a method for validation of an analytical HPLC procedure following FDA guidance. Both UV and radio-detectors were validated for linearity, accuracy, precision, range, quantitation limit (QL) and detection limit(DL). Methods : 1) UV detector: HPLC, Phenomenex Luna 3µ C-8(2) 100A column 4.6mm X 150mm, MeCN/0.1%TFA water (90/10), 1.0 mL/min, 10µL loop, UV 215nm. A series of reference standards in methanol (1.0 µg/mL-1000.0 µg/mL) were prepared for testing. 2) Radio-detector: Flow Count, Range 200K cps. A series of radioactive concentrations of F18 fluoride in water (76 µCi/mL-66.7 mCi/mL@injection) were prepared for testing. Results 1) UV detector: R2 = 0.9999. Recovery for 25.0, 250.0 and 1000.0 µg/mL standard concentration are 102.12%, 98.30% and 100.31% respectively. Precision is shown as coefficient of variation (COV), and is Conclusions We have validated the HPLC procedure for chemical and radiochemical purity for C-11 PA. PA is not water soluble and it has very low response to UV or refractive index detectors. The QL is too high to accurately determine the mass of PA and therefore specific activity, but it can be used for radiochemical identity confirmation.
How does spatial variation in climate cause spatiotemporal patterns in lizard energetics

iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS vi LIST OF FIGURES viii LIST OF TABLES x INTRODUCTION 1 Background 4 Thesis Questions 6 Hypotheses 7 METHODS 9 Study locales 9 Using climate data to predict daily and seasonal patterns of activity 12 Measuring lizard microhabitat temperatures 13 Capturing and measuring lizards 14 Lizard sightings 15 Prey availability 16 Fecal pellet collection 18 Fecal production 20 Measuring daily field metabolism 22 Population structure 25 RESULTS 26 Estimated seasonal and daily activity patterns 26 Prey availability 32 Fecal production 42 Daily field metabolism 51 Population and age structure 54 DISCUSSION 59 Combined effect of activity time and prey availability on lizard production 59 Body size and population structure comparisons of Sceloporus occidentalis 60 Fecal production as a measure of energy intake and lizard production 61 Climate change-related implications 64 Conclusions and future research 66 LITERATURE CITED 69 APPENDICES 76 !
Light Amplification

Three principal methods of light amplification are described. These are (a) Electron optical image tubes. (b) Contiguous layers of photoconductor and electroluminescent phosphor. (c) Direct amplification of light in photoelectro-luminescent film. Details of construction and relative merits of each are presented.
ADAM10 Cell Surface Expression but Not Activity Is Critical for Staphylococcus aureus α-Hemolysin-Mediated Activation of the NLRP3 Inflammasome in Human Monocytes

The Staphylococcus aureus toxin, α-hemolysin, is an important and well-studied virulence factor in staphylococcal infection. It is a soluble monomeric protein that, once secreted by the bacterium, forms a heptameric pore in the membrane of a broad range of host cell types. Hemolysin was recently discovered to bind and activate a disintegrin and metalloprotease 10 (ADAM10). In epithelial and endothelial cells, ADAM10 activation is required for the toxin’s activity against these cells. In host monocytic cells, α-hemolysin activates the nucleotide-binding domain and leucine-rich repeat containing gene family, pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome leading to production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and cell death. We now show that ADAM10 is critical for α-hemolysin-mediated activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome in human monocytes as siRNA knockdown or chemical blockade of ADAM10-α-hemolysin interaction leads to diminished inflammasome activation and cell death by reducing the available ADAM10 on the cell surface. Unlike epithelial cell and endothelial cell damage, which requires α-hemolysin induced ADAM10 activation, ADAM10 protease activity was not required for NLRP3 inflammasome activation. This work confirms the importance of ADAM10 in immune activation by α-hemolysin, but indicates that host cell signal induction by the toxin is different between host cell types.
Maintenance of Gestation in the Castrate Pregnant Rat with Androgens.

Summary and ConclusionsTestosterone, testosterone propionate and androstenedione maintained pregnancy with resulting living fetuses in rats castrated during the latter half of pregnancy.
Sex Disparities in Access to Acute Stroke Care: Can Telemedicine Mitigate this Effect?

Background: Women have more frequent and severe ischemic strokes than men, and are less likely to receive treatment for acute stroke. Primary stroke centers (PSCs) have been shown to utilize treatment more frequently. Further, as telemedicine (TM) has expanded access to acute stroke care we sought to investigate the association between PSC, TM and access to acute stroke care in the state of Texas. Methods: Texas hospitals and resources were identified from the 2009 American Hospital Association Annual Survey. Hospitals were categorized as: (1) stand-alone PSCs not using telemedicine for acute stroke care, (2) PSCs using telemedicine for acute stroke care (PSC-TM), (3) non-PSC hospitals using telemedicine for acute stroke care, or (4) non-PSC hospitals not using telemedicine for acute stroke care. The proportion of the population who could reach a PSC within 60 minutes was determined for stand-alone PSCs, PSC-TM, and non-PSCs using TM for stroke care. Results: Overall, women were as likely to have 60-minute access to a PSC or PSC-TM as their male counterparts (POR 1.02, 95% CI 1.02-1.03). Women were also just as likely to have access to acute stroke care via PSC or PSC-TM or TM as men (POR 1.03, 95% CI 1.02-1.04). Discussion: Our study found no sex disparities in access to stand alone PSCs or to hospitals using TM in the state of Texas. The results of this study suggest that telemedicine can be used as part of an inclusive strategy to improve access to care equally for men and women.
Robotic Colorectal Surgery

Surgical innovation is constant, most recently is the introduction of robotic surgery. While the incorporation of minimally invasive surgery in the field of colorectal surgery is generally rapid, robotic surgery is yet to gain momentum in the field. Laparoscopic colorectal surgery is now widely practiced, yet it has its own limitations, specifically in rectal surgery and operating in the pelvis. The advent of robotic surgery comes with hopes to address these limitations at no cost of compromising oncological outcomes. There are abundant reports in the literature on early experiences with the robotic technique with early results demonstrating safety and feasibility of the technique. However, as with any new technology, it comes with its own limitations. Benefits, limitations, outcomes, and future directions of this new technology as it applies to colorectal surgery are discussed.
Correlation Analysis of Sensitivity of Soil Erosion and Patten of Soil Type——A Case of the Loess Plateau in Northern Shaanxi Province

Through analyzing soil type on the Loess Plateau of Northern Shaanxi Province,the fractal dimension,fragmentation,and dominance are selected as the indexes of soil type.The indexes of soil type are analyzed using Fragstats and the value of the sensitivity of soil erosion for the soil type is calculated using ArcGIS.The relationship between sensitivity of soil erosion and pattern of soil type is then analyzed.Results show that the value of the sensitivity of soil erosion increases with the increase in the fractal dimension of fragmentation,but decreases with the increased soil dominance.
The Cultural Matrix of Organizational Citizenship Behavior: Some Preliminary Conceptual and Empirical Observations.

Abstract This research considers the applicability and meaningfulness of the concept “Organizational Citizenship Behavior” (OCB) across other cultures. As suggested by George and Jones, the context in which an organization operates may have as much or more to do with the occurrence of OCB as the more intensively studied antecedents in OCB literature (i.e.; satisfaction, commitment, disposition, perceived fairness). This article reviews the construct of OCB and its link to Human Resources, and offers a heuristic model relating two dimensions of culture to OCB. A small survey of 38 individuals from 26 different countries is presented as a way to begin looking at the issue of the global applicability of OCB. Aggregate and individual interview data are examined for leads toward identifying cultural variations on the incidence, perception, and encouragement of OCB.
Improving Sparse Representation-Based Classification Using Local Principal Component Analysis

Sparse representation-based classification (SRC), proposed by Wright et al., seeks the sparsest decomposition of a test sample over the dictionary of training samples, with classification to the most-contributing class. Because it assumes test samples can be written as linear combinations of their same-class training samples, the success of SRC depends on the size and representativeness of the training set. Our proposed classification algorithm enlarges the training set by using local principal component analysis to approximate the basis vectors of the tangent hyperplane of the class manifold at each training sample. The dictionary in SRC is replaced by a local dictionary that adapts to the test sample and includes training samples and their corresponding tangent basis vectors. We use a synthetic data set and three face databases to demonstrate that this method can achieve higher classification accuracy than SRC in cases of sparse sampling, nonlinear class manifolds, and stringent dimension reduction.
A Simple Statistical Method for Recognition of Hand-Written Numerals:

We explore a simple statistical method for classifying handwritten numerals. We work with numerals only in segmented form. We defined a pseudodistance function between handwritten numerals and classify each numeral based on its distance from the those in the reference set. This method, and its obvious variants, are studied on the basis of their performance on a data-set of moderate size (95 observations). The results suggest that this method may be considered in recognition of handwritten numeric characters.
Work lovers, freedom, and basic income

This article discusses left-libertarian justifications of basic income. The basic income policy is designed to decouple income from employment in the monetized economy by allowing the individual to access, on a regular stipulated basis, a grant that is independent of her ability and willingness to work for remuneration. This article attempts to amend an important failure with respect to the way in which the concept of real freedom has been treated in Van Parijs’ pioneering defense of the universal grant. Van Parijs’ defense of basic income does not pay substantial attention to the freedom that work-lovers would gain from the opportunity to opt out of work, which the grant would facilitate if sufficiently generous. Van Parijs’ justification of basic income is incomplete in terms of the value it places on the opportunity to enjoy freedom from employment from the purview of every member of society, not only those that will, or might, decide to lead a life (partially) outside of work. The article develops the argument that such failure results from the fact that Van Parijs’ conception of freedom is centered on the importance of actual or potential preference satisfaction as opposed to non-agent-centered reasons.
Providing context for free text interpretation

The effort to provide general-purpose natural language understanding (NLU) is difficult because of the ambiguity of natural language sentences that can only be cleared if the context is well defined. For the purposes of applications in a specific domain, this problem can be alleviated by offering a model for the application domain as context for interpreting natural language statements. We present architecture and an implementation for this concept and a discussion for future extensions.
Wound Infections in Critical Care

Patients admitted to critical care units are at high risk for increased morbidity and mortality from skin and deep wound infections. Despite considerable progress, wound healing remains a challenge to many clinicians. Nurses working in critical care environments need to understand the anatomic and physiologic basis for wound healing, distinguish wound inflammation from wound infection, recognize the presence of biofilms, and implement evidence-based wound care in order to promote successful outcomes in this patient population.
Low-profile fibers for embedded smart structure applications

Fiber optic sensors used in smart structure applications currently use commercially available optical fibers manufactured for communications purposes. Typical core/cladding sizes are on the order of 9/125 ?m for single mode fibers and 50/125 or 100/140 ?m for multimode fibers. These fiber sizes cannot be considered to be unobtrusive when embedded in graphite-epoxy composites where the graphite fiber sizes are on the order of 10?m.1
Experimental evaluations of solid-fueled pressurized chemical looping combustion – The effects of pressure, solid fuel and iron-based oxygen carriers

Abstract Coal-based Pressurized Chemical Looping Combustion Combined Cycle (PCLC-CC) is the second generation of coal-fueled CLC plant, which possesses much higher plant efficiency and lower-CO2 capture cost compared to the first generation - Coal-based CLC combined solely with steam cycle. PCLC-CC has a similar plant configuration to the Pressurized Fluidized Bed Combined Cycle (PFBC), and is composed of a PCLC Island, gas turbine, Heat Recovery Steam Generator (HRSG) and steam cycle. In the fuel reactor of PCLC Island, the metal-based oxygen carrier (OC) supplies oxygen for coal combustion and in-situ CO2 capture. The air reactor of PCLC Island, where the OC is re-oxidized by air, serves as a combustion reactor to produce oxygen-depleted air of high temperature and high pressure to drive the gas turbine and the following steam cycle for large-scale power generation. This research provides an initial understanding of the complex reactions in the fuel reactor of the solid-fueled PCLC Island in the pressures range of 1–6 bars. Experiments conducted in the TGA apparatus and the fixed- and fluidized-bed reactors demonstrated the effects of operational pressure, coal char reactivity and different iron-based OCs behavior on the performance of PCLC.
M.N. Roy and the Mexican Revolution: How a Militant Indian Nationalist Became an International Communist

This essay examines the Indian anti-colonial and Leftist activist M.N. Roy's political work in Mexico from 1918 to 1920. It argues that Roy's sojourn in revolutionary Mexico—and in particular the f...
Automatic vehicle trajectory tracking control with self-calibration of nonlinear tire force function

Trajectory tracking capability is important for automatic vehicle guidance. One difficulty for realizing accurate trajectory tracking is the requirement of knowing the tire cornering stiffness under linear tire force range or the nonlinear tire force function when tire force becomes large. In this study, the vehicle trajectory tracking problem is firstly formulated in the vehicle's local frame. Then an adaptive control methodology is adopted here to tune the discretized nonlinear cornering stiffness function. The method also has the advantage of avoiding the direct usage of vehicle's lateral velocity in generating the steering control signal. In the simulation result part, the performance of the method considering the nonlinear tire force effect is compared with a linear one. Simulation results in CarSim® illustrate that the proposed method considering the nonlinear tire force effect can show improved performance over the method only considers the linear tire force model.
PLIOCENE EPITONIIDAE OF THE ESMERALDAS BEDS NORTHWESTERN ECUADOR (MOLLUSCA: GASTROPODA!

Four species of epitoniid gastropods that live today in the Panamic-Galapagan faunal province of the eastern Pacific are here reported from the Pliocene Esmeraldas beds of the Onzole Formation near the village of Camarones, Esmeraldas Province, northwestern Ecuador.
RL-BLH: Learning-Based Battery Control for Cost Savings and Privacy Preservation for Smart Meters

An emerging solution to privacy issues in smart grids is battery-based load hiding (BLH) that uses a rechargeable battery to decouple the meter readings from user activities. However, existing BLH algorithms have two significant limitations: (1) Most of them focus on flattening high-frequency variation of usage profile only, thereby still revealing a low-frequency shape, (2) Otherwise, they assume to know a statistical model of usage pattern. To overcome these limitations, we propose a new BLH algorithm, named RL-BLH. The RL-BLH hides both low-frequency and high-frequency usage patterns by shaping the meter readings to rectangular pulses. The RL-BLH learns a decision policy for choosing pulse magnitudes on the fly without prior knowledge of usage pattern. The decision policy is designed to charge and discharge the battery in the optimal way to maximize cost savings. We also provide heuristics to shorten learning time and improve cost savings.
Functional brain networks involved in decision-making under certain and uncertain conditions.

The aim of this study was to describe imaging markers of decision-making under uncertain conditions in normal individuals, in order to provide baseline activity to compare to impaired decision-making in pathological states. In this cross-sectional study, 19 healthy subjects ages 18–35 completed a novel decision-making card-matching task using a Phillips T3 Scanner and a 32-channel head coil. Functional data were collected in six functional runs. In one condition of the task, the participant was certain of the rule to apply to match the cards; in the other condition, the participant was uncertain. We performed cluster-based comparison of the two conditions using FSL fMRI Expert Analysis Tool and network-based analysis using MATLAB. The uncertain > certain comparison yielded three clusters—a midline cluster that extended through the midbrain, the thalamus, bilateral prefrontal cortex, the striatum, and bilateral parietal/occipital clusters. The certain > uncertain comparison yielded bilateral clusters in the insula, parietal and temporal lobe, as well as a medial frontal cluster. A larger, more connected functional network was found in the uncertain condition. The involvement of the insula, parietal cortex, temporal cortex, ventromedial prefrontal cortex, and orbitofrontal cortex of the certain condition reinforces the notion that certainty is inherently rewarding. For the uncertain condition, the involvement of the prefrontal cortex, parietal cortex, striatum, thalamus, amygdala, and hippocampal involvement was expected, as these are areas involved in resolving uncertainty and rule updating. The involvement of occipital cortical involvement and midbrain involvement may be attributed to increased visual attention and increased motor control.
Relationship Between Personality Characteristics and Observable Teaching Effectiveness of Selected Beginning Career and Technical Education Teachers

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between personality types, as measured by the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) Form G, and teaching effectiveness, as measured by the Classroom Observation Keyed for Effectiveness Research (COKER) of selected beginning industrial and health occupations education teachers. Slightly more than one-fifth of the respondents had completed a bachelor's degree.Nine of the sixteen personality types were represented in this study. A majority of the respondents reported a preference for extraversion-sensing-thinking-judging (ESTJ). Overall, the data indicate that only 41% of the respondents were effective teachers. As a group, beginning industrial and health occupations education teachers scored below the mean on the 18 COKER competency statements. Eight of the 18 teaching effectiveness competency statements had significant and positive relationships with the sensing-intuition temperament type. The sensing-intuition temperament type was the best predictor of teaching effectiveness when compared with extraversion-introversion, thinking-feeling, and judgment-perception temperament types. Selected teacher preparation strategies and inservice programs need to be planned to meet diverse strengths and weaknesses of beginning industrial and health occupations education teachers.
Initially Distracted: The Influence of Boards on Agency Costs in Initial Public Offering (IPO) Firms

While the process of pursuing an initial public offering (IPO) provides new capital with which new ventures might pursue significant opportunities, research suggests that many IPO firms decrease in value subsequent to the new offering. Using an agency perspective, we argue that the IPO process itself may not only raise direct governance costs (due to increased monitoring and bonding), but may also create a distraction for managers who need to remain focused on the ­strategy to effectively use a large infusion of capital from the IPO. Likewise, we argue that ­governance participants, especially board members, will be distracted by the work necessary to take the firm public and, as such, may not be focused on the strategic ­monitoring necessary for continued firm’s viability. This lack of monitoring may also allow managerial opportunism to be more prevalent, especially given the large amount of capital available to managers once the IPO is completed. Accordingly, we argue that excessive governance costs (both direct and indirect) may be associated with the IPO process and subsequent IPO firm performance.
More Group Algebra

We are now ready to plunge into a fuller exploration of the group algebra F[G], where G is a group and F is a field. Our focus is, of course, on the case where Gis finite.
Professor R. C. Punnett.

(1970). Professor R. C. Punnett. World's Poultry Science Journal: Vol. 26, No. 3, pp. 696-700.
“The place is full of cabbages”: An analysis of the Irish Late Mesolithic stone tool technology from Kenure, Co. Dublin

Abstract This paper examines the stone tool technology from the site of Kenure, Co. Dublin, on the East coast of Ireland. Collected in the 1940s by the avocational archaeologist Gwendoline C. Stacpoole, Kenure represents an extremely large surface assemblage likely belonging to the later phase of the Irish Late Mesolithic period (~7000–5500 BP). The results of this analysis affirm the likelihood that the Kenure lithic assemblage does, in fact, date to the Late Mesolithic. Core reduction was conducted using hard hammers and was generally expedient, usually involving the splitting of locally occurring glacial till chert cobbles followed by the use of single platform core reduction strategies. Retouched tools were characterized by a range of scraper, notch, denticulate, and borer forms. Moderate frequencies of convergent flakes were also present, with many fitting the typological definition of Bann flakes. In addition, there were noticeable numbers of small blades, though these generally lack the specialized technical features of Mesolithic blades from the Irish Early Mesolithic and Mesolithic sites in other regions of Western Europe. Moderate frequencies of pieces derived from bipolar percussion were also present in the Kenure assemblage and this paper offers an explanation of the use of bipolar percussion in relation to the small size of locally available lithic raw materials. Finally, this paper concludes with a consideration of the implications of the technological features of the Kenure assemblage for the organization of Irish Late Mesolithic foraging technology, as well as the potential for future research on the Kenure collection.
Late Cretaceous (Turonian) angiosperm pollen from Tanzania: a glimpse of past vegetation from a warmer climate

Exceptionally well-preserved palynomorphs were recovered from a Turonian section cored in Tanzania. Here we provide an in-depth evaluation of the terrestrial palynomorph assemblages recovered, disc...
Chapter 16 – Exocrine Pancreas

The exocrine pancreas secretes digestive enzymes into the small intestine and provides a microenvironment for pancreatic islet cells that modulate blood glucose (among other functions). The exocrine pancreas is seldom a prominent target of acute or xenobiotic-induced toxicity in spite of several key observations: • close proximity to the small intestine and potentially toxic ingesta; • unique function in producing most digestive enzymes; • proximity to the common bile duct, bile salts, and acids that could inappropriately activate digestive enzymes; and • complexity of the organ, with prominent colocated endocrine and exocrine components. Epidemiologically, pancreatic injury has been associated with both a range of environmental pollutants and consumption of mycotoxins, and has long-standing links to alcoholism and smoking tobacco in humans.
Abstract 3093: Prognostic value of novel immune basal subtypes in muscle invasive bladder cancer

Using gene expression profiling we previously reported the existence of 3 molecular subtypes (basal, p53-like and luminal) characterized by distinct gene expression patterns and clinical outcomes in muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). Among the subtypes, basal tumors were associated with advanced stage at presentation and shorter survival in the absence of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). Our recent analysis identified two novel immune subtypes within the basal tumors (basal immune signature enriched - “BIE” and basal immune signature suppressed - “BIS”) using immune infiltration markers that are known to have prognostic value in multiple solid tumors. The analysis revealed that BIE had significantly improved survival outcomes while BIS was associated with the worst survival outcomes among all subtypes in TCGA MIBC data (n=408). Survival outcomes in BIE tumors were validated in an independent cohort (GSE48075, p Citation Format: Woonyoung Choi, Debasish Sundi, I-ling Lee, Arlene Siefker-Radtke, Colin Dinney, Bogdan Czerniak, Seungchan Kim, David McConkey. Prognostic value of novel immune basal subtypes in muscle invasive bladder cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 3093.
The Once and Future Middle Kingdom: China’s Return to Dominance in the Global Economy

Im 16. und 17. Jahrhundert fuhrten alle Wege nach China. Die Nachfrage Europas nach chinesischer Seide, Keramik und Tee fuhrte die europaischen Kaufleute in den Orient. Als Europa industrialisiert war, dominierten die Europaer den Welthandel, indem sie eine Reihe von Stutzpunkten und Kolonien in Afrika, im Indischen Ozean und in China errichteten. Heute versucht China, diesen „devianten“ Trend umzukehren und China wieder zu seiner „normalen“ Position als fuhrende Wirtschaftsmacht zu verhelfen. China strebt nach einer Fuhrungsrolle in den Bereichen Wind- und Sonnenenergie, kunstlicher Intelligenz, Elektromobilitat und Quantencomputer, um die beherrschende Macht unter den Volkswirtschaften des 21. Jahrhunderts zu werden. Auserdem errichtet China eigene Stutzpunkte quer durch den Indischen Ozean und nach Sudeuropa, um seine Kontrolle uber diese Handelsrouten wiederherzustellen. Wenn China Erfolghat, wird es die letzten zweihundert Jahre der Weltwirtschaftsgeschichte umkehren und seine fruhere Rolle als Hauptakteur in der globalen Wirtschaft wiederherstellen.
Segmented scintillators for megavolt radiography

In megavolt radiography the detection efficiency of conventional detectors is low due to the small interaction probability of the high energy radiation. Segmented scintillators improve the efficiency of detector systems mainly through an increased density. Various segmented scintillators have been compared to a commercial powdered scintillator screen in terms of their modulation transfer function, noise power spectra and detective quantum efficiency. A 50 9% DQE system was demonstrated with segmented BGO ±and a room temperature lens-coupled camera for the first time. A lower cost but lower density alternative, a glass fiber optic faceplate, has an efficiency of 30 ± 7%.
Ovarian hormones influence eating disorder symptom variability during the menopause transition: A pilot study.

Abstract Objective Eating disorder symptoms change in a predictable pattern over the menstrual cycle such that changes in symptoms are triggered by changes in the ovarian hormones estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4). To date, work in this area has focused exclusively on young adult women. The objective of this pilot study was to examine the effect of E2 and P4 on eating disorder symptom change in midlife women during early perimenopause. Method Participants included women aged 42–52 in early perimenopause (n = 8). In-home self-assessments were completed for one menstrual cycle or 40-days, whichever occurred first. In-home self-assessments included collecting saliva samples each morning for E2 and P4 assays and completing online study questionnaires at the end of each day. Multilevel regression models examined the associations of E2 and P4 with daily symptoms of binge eating and body dissatisfaction. Results E2 was positively associated with binge eating when P4 was high, but not when P4 was low. E2 was inversely associated with body dissatisfaction when P4 was low, but positively associated with body dissatisfaction when P4 was high. However, the simple slopes for the effect of E2 at both high and low P4 were not significant for body dissatisfaction. Conclusions Despite the pilot nature of this study, results are broadly consistent with the young adult literature indicating that P4 levels shape the impact of E2 on eating disorder symptoms. Larger studies with the inclusion of key moderators to account for individual heterogeneity are needed to confirm and extend these findings.
Self-Efficacy and Diabetes Self-Management in Middle-Aged and Older Adults in the United States: A Systematic Review

OBJECTIVE | This study aimed to systematically review the existing literature on the relationship between self-efficacy and diabetes self-management in middle-aged and older adults in the United States and to determine whether the relationship applies across race and ethnicity. METHODS | Study selection followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses method. Studies published between 1990 to 2018 that investigated self-efficacy and diabetes self-management in middle-aged and older adults were searched using eight search engines: PsycINFO, CINAHL, SocIndex, AgeLine, MedLine, Social Science Citation Index, Cochrane Library, and Academic Search Complete. Only quantitative studies were included. RESULTS | Eleven studies met the inclusion criteria. Ten studies found significant association between self-efficacy and at least one self-management behavior, which included exercise, healthy diet, adherence to medication, blood glucose testing, and foot care. Findings were mixed regarding the role of self-efficacy in exercise and medication adherence. Higher self-efficacy in Mexican Americans predicted better self-management behaviors, whereas no relationship between self-efficacy and diabetes self-management was found in a sample of Black and White participants. The methodological quality of the studies was assessed. In general, the included studies demonstrated moderate methodological quality. Their limitations included inconsistency in the self-efficacy measures, a lack of longitudinal studies, and confounding bias. CONCLUSION | Self-efficacy has significant effects on self-management in middle-aged and older adults, but the effects may differ by race. Efforts to improve self-efficacy and deliver culturally appropriate services could potentially promote self-management behaviors in middle-aged and older adults with diabetes.
The Effect of E-Cigarette Taxes on Pre-Pregnancy and Prenatal Smoking

We use the universe of birth records in the United States from 2013 to 2018 to examine the effect of e-cigarette tax rates on pre-pregnancy smoking and prenatal smoking. We study these questions using two-way fixed effects models and pregnancy fixed effects models. We show that e-cigarette taxes increase pre-pregnancy smoking, increase prenatal smoking, and lower smoking cessation during pregnancy. These findings imply that e-cigarettes and traditional cigarettes are substitutes among pregnant women. We also find evidence that e-cigarette taxes reduce pre-pregnancy and third trimester e-cigarette use.
How kids manage self-directed programming projects: Strategies and structures

Background: A variety of self-directed opportunities to learn how to program are available to kids. But how do kids manage the motivational and cognitive challenges of creating projects?Methods: I ...
CKMRpop: Forward-in-time simulation and tabulation of pairwise kin relationships in age-structured populations

In the last five years, interest in close-kin mark-recapture (CKMR), a variant of mark-recapture that uses genetically inferred kin as 'recaptures', has grown dramatically. However, understanding the basis of CKMR, and properly implementing it, remains challenging. This paper describes an R package, CKMRpop, for simulating age-structured populations with user-specified demography, overdispersed variance in reproductive success (allowing for different ratios of effective to census size) and random sampling of individuals. Using compiled code for the simulation makes it feasible to simulate populations of millions of individuals. From the simulation output, pairs of sampled individuals related within a user-specified number of generations are found. Such pairs form the foundation for CKMR inference, and simulating them provides insight for understanding the statistical basis for CKMR and for assessing the feasibility of CKMR in different scenarios. We predict that CKMRpop will serve as an important tool for researchers contemplating CKMR estimation of population size. Furthermore, the methods presented here for identifying and categorizing relationships beyond half-siblings allow a more complete picture of the wide variety of kin pairs encountered in populations. This identifies the fraction of kin pairs that may not be the target of a CKMR experiment, but may be inadvertently mistaken for a more closely related 'target' kin pair. Additionally, as more distant kin categories will likely be accurately inferred from increasingly available and inexpensive whole genome resequencing, understanding the distributions of more distant relationships in populations is a first step towards broadening the scope of CKMR to include them.