cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A dream of ideal project delivery system

Selecting a project delivery system is widely understood to be part of the project definition phase. That selection is made from a finite set of alternative contract and phase structures; e.g., design-bid-build or design-build. In this paper, we explore two alternatives to the received wisdom; namely, 1) project delivery systems are products of design, not simple selection, and 2) for best outcomes, project delivery systems are designed to align interests, integrate specialists organizationally, and to be executed using a Management-By-Means philosophy. We argue that these features of project delivery systems are the more needed as projects become more complex and uncertain. We further explore the limits of design on complex, uncertain projects, and the need for in-process management that is nimble and opportunistic. Case studies are advanced in explanation and as evidence for our claims.
Identification of a Sex Pheromone from the Female Raisin Moth, Cadra figulilella,

Cis -9, trans -12-tetradecadien-1-ol acetate was isolated from the abdominal tips of nonmated female raisin moths, Cadra figulilella (Gregson) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). This compound was the only one found which elicits a typical stimulatory behavioral response in male Plodia interpunctella (HA¼bner). C. figulilella males responded atypically to crude extracts of female C. figulilella tips and to the isolated stimulant.
What graphic designers say they do

This paper reports the results of a survey of 1500 US graphic designers. Respondents provided information about their levels of involvement with project-related information gathering and analysis, planning, and end-user evaluation. While there are significant levels of involvement in some of these activities, comments made by respondents reveal that involvement with information gathering and analysis, planning, and end-user evaluation is mostly informal. That is, they are often conducted without a formal methodology, and are often not mentioned in project proposals and other related documents.This suggests an opportunity for graphic designers to adopt a formal method for incorporating information gathering and analysis, planning, and end-user evaluation in their design processes. This could allow graphic designers to construct a process comparable to more respected professions, and should promote design solutions geared more closely to the needs of audiences. There is still much room for improvement in the areas of information gathering and analysis, planning, and end-user evaluation in the practice of graphic design.
Heterogeneous reactions of isoprene-derived epoxides: Reaction probabilities and molar secondary organic aerosol yield estimates

A combination of flow reactor studies and chamber modeling is used to constrain two uncertain parameters central to the formation of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) from isoprene-derived epoxides: (1) the rate of heterogeneous uptake of epoxide to the particle phase and (2) the molar fraction of epoxide reactively taken up that contributes to SOA, the SOA yield (ϕSOA). Flow reactor measurements of the trans-β-isoprene epoxydiol (trans-β-IEPOX) and methacrylic acid epoxide (MAE) aerosol reaction probability (γ) were performed on atomized aerosols with compositions similar to those used in chamber studies. Observed γ ranges for trans-β-IEPOX and MAE were 6.5 × 10–4−0.021 and 4.9–5.2 × 10–4, respectively. Through the use of a time-dependent chemical box model initialized with chamber conditions and γ measurements, ϕSOA values for trans-β-IEPOX and MAE on different aerosol compositions were estimated between 0.03–0.21 and 0.07–0.25, respectively, with the MAE ϕSOA showing more uncertainty.
Secularization and Religiosity: A Cross-National Study of Catholic Adolescents in Five Societies

This study interprets datafrom twelve purposive samples of male andfemale Catholic adolescents in five societies ordered according to an a priori macro continuum of secularization. Measures of traditional religiosity according to thefive dimensions schema are used to operationalize secularization at the individual level. Results tend to corroborate secularization theorizing, but with important differences, e.g., on the belief and practice dimensions if compared with adult samples and the knowledge and experience dimensions if compared with the a priori continuum. Alongside cross-national variations in the degree of religiosity, a consistent ranking of the associations between pairs of dimensions suggests a similar structure with belief as the keystone within individual religiosity across societies. In light of the similar structure, the weakening of traditional belief in the more modernized societies presages powerful changes in the entire configuration of traditional individual religiosity within Catholicism.
Collaborative restricted boltzmann machine for social event recommendation

The development of social networks has not only improved the online experience, but also stimulated the advances in knowledge mining so as to assist people in planning their offline social events. Users can explore their favorite events, such as celebrations and symposiums, through the pictures and the posts from their friends on social networks. An effective event recommendation can offer great convenience for both event organizers and participants, which yet remains extremely challenging due to a wide range of practical concerns. In this paper we propose a novel recommendation framework, which combines the information from multiple sources and establishes a connection between the online knowledge and the event participation.
Hierarchical Spatio-temporal Visual Analysis of Cluster Evolution in Electrocorticography Data

We present ECoG ClusterFlow, a novel interactive visual analysis tool for the exploration of high-resolution Electrocorticography (ECoG) data. Our system detects and visualizes dynamic high-level structures, such as communities, using the time-varying spatial connectivity network derived from the high-resolution ECoG data. ECoG ClusterFlow provides a multi-scale visualization of the spatio-temporal patterns underlying the time-varying communities using two views: 1) an overview summarizing the evolution of clusters over time and 2) a hierarchical glyph-based technique that uses data aggregation and small multiples techniques to visualize the propagation of clusters in their spatial domain. ECoG ClusterFlow makes it possible 1) to compare the spatio-temporal evolution patterns across various time intervals, 2) to compare the temporal information at varying levels of granularity, and 3) to investigate the evolution of spatial patterns without occluding the spatial context information. We present case studies done in collaboration with neuroscientists on our team for both simulated and real epileptic seizure data aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of our approach.
Scholarly Identification Systems in a Global Market: The ORCID Solution

Column Editor's NotesThe “Digital Trends and the Global Library Community” column examines technological advances internal and external to libraries. The focus is on how technology is changing the way services are provided to users, the methodologies used in the provision of those services, and the resulting scope of responsibilities of libraries and parent institutions. Interested authors are invited to submit proposals and articles to the column editor at marta.deyrup@shu.edu. Please include “IILR Submission” in the subject line of the e-mail.
Behind the Lines: War Books of the Canadian Army Medical Corps, 1914 - 1918 (pp 233-260)

An analysis of published and unpublished materials generated by the Canadian Army Medical Corps during the First World War demonstrates that Canadian doctors and nurses serving in France created a narrative of the Great War that was more optimistic in its message than the canonical war books written in the 1920s and 1930s and more internationalist in orientation than the dominant narrative of the war created in Canada after the war.
Abstract 260: Components of Change Processes of Quality of Life among Stable Coronary Patients with or without Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Background: Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) plus intensive pharmacologic and lifestyle intervention (optimal medical therapy, OMT) to OMT alone was compared in reducing the risk of cardiovascular events in a total of 2,287 patients with stable coronary disease in the COURAGE trial, in which health related quality of life data were measured repeatedly over time for a median of 4.6 years. We examined components of changes in angina-related quality of life over time. Methods: Angina-specific health status was assessed with the Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ). Scores range from 0 to 100; higher scores indicate better health status. Linear piece-wise latent growth curve modeling was conducted to reveal the components of process and risk factors of SAQ score changes over time. Results: For each domain the change process can be divided into two components: a process of improvement from baseline to 6 or 12 months during which the scores significantly increase with a steep upward trajectory till reaching the maximum score value; and followed by a process of stabilization during which the scores kept stable or in a downward slope until the end of the follow-up. Patients in both PCI and OMT alone groups experienced significant increase on SAQ scores over time in each domain. PCI had significant impact in the process of improvement: patients with PCI had about 0.603 (SE=0.193, p-value=0.002) and 0.442(SE=0.22, p-value =0.044) points increase per month in scores in the domains of physical limitation and angina frequency, respectively; the benefit of PCI decreased in the process of stabilization until it disappeared so that the scores in both groups were eventually similar (Table 1). The important risk factors of change in SAQ scores were the use of long-acting nitrates at randomization, the Charlson comorbidity index, and several additional factors that differed by domain. Conclusions: Mechanism and processes of change in angina-related quality of life and health status were significantly related to the impact of adding PCI to OMT. Piece-wise growth curve modeling can be used to capture advantages of PCI over OMT and identify patient characteristics associated with subsequent measures of angina.
Improved CdTe Solar-Cell Performance with An Evaporated Te Layer before The Back Contact

CdTe solar cells with a Te-buffer layer adjacent to the back contact were fabricated. The effects of the Te layer on cell performance were evaluated in detail. The carrier density of the Te layer (1018 cm-3) was measured. The valence band offset of the CdTe/Te interface (~0.3–0.5 eV) was determined from current-voltage-temperature measurements and published reports. These values were incorporated into a simulation model and compared to the measured experimental performance with good agreement. Most notably, it was found that the Te layer allowed improved cell performance with less Cu required to form the back contact.
Political inequality in America: Who loses on spending policy? When is policy less biased?

Rapid growth in America’s economic inequality and endemic disadvantages among racial minorities have deepened fears about unequal political influence. From separate studies, it appears that the gov...
Can I and Do I Want To? Cognitive and Affective Drivers of Employee Boundary Spanning Behavior

Boundary spanning is a common characteristic of global organizations. Such behaviors occur more frequently by employees at lower levels in the hierarchy and with more discretion and less direct mon...
An empirical test of the performance of intelligence and the prospects for organizational reforms

The occurrence of strategic surprises has led to the development of organizational reforms intended to prevent future intelligence failures. The limited effectiveness of such reforms conforms to a ...
Image level color classification for colorblind assistance

The advancement and proliferation of augmented reality lends itself to the development of novel techniques for assistive technologies, especially in the realm of computer vision. By enhancing a certain part of the view of a person with visual impairment we can assist them in different tasks. In this work we develop an algorithm to assist people who suffer from color blindness. We first examine different methods for pixel level color classification to select the one that works the best. We then improve the color classification rate by optimizing the labeling over the whole image using graph cuts. Finally, we develop an implementation of the algorithm which can run in real time on Google Glass and show how it can assist those suffering from color blindness.
When Is Ligand pKa a Good Descriptor for Catalyst Energetics? In Search of Optimal CO2 Hydration Catalysts

We present a detailed study of nearly 70 Zn molecular catalysts for CO2 hydration from four diverse ligand classes ranging from well-studied carbonic anhydrase mimics (e.g., cyclen) to new structures we obtain by leveraging diverse hits from large organic libraries. Using microkinetic analysis and establishing linear free energy relationships, we confirm that turnover is sensitive to the relative thermodynamic stability of reactive hydroxyl and bound bicarbonate moieties. We observe a wide range of thermodynamic stabilities for these intermediates, showing up to 6 kcal/mol improvement over well-studied cyclen catalysts. We observe a good correlation between the p Ka of the Zn-OH2 moiety and the resulting relative stability of hydroxyl moieties over bicarbonate, which may be rationalized by the dominant effect of the difference in higher Zn-OH bond order in comparison to weaker bonding in bicarbonate and water. A direct relationship is identified between isolated organic ligand p Ka and the p Ka of a bound water molecule on the catalyst. Thus, organic ligand p Ka, which is intuitive, easy to compute or tabulate, and much less sensitive to electronic structure method choice than whole-catalyst properties, is a good quantitative descriptor for predicting the effect of through-bond electronic effects on relative CO2 hydration energetics. We expect this to be applicable to other reactions where is it essential to stabilize turnover-determining hydroxyl species with respect to more weakly bound moieties. Finally, we note exceptions for rigid ligands (e.g., porphyrins) that are observed to preferentially stabilize hydroxyl over bicarbonate without reducing p Ka values as substantially. We expect the strategy outlined here, to (i) curate diverse ligands from large organic libraries and (ii) identify when ligand-only properties can determine catalyst energetics, to be broadly useful for both experimental and computational catalyst design.
Schizophrenia: A Long-term Consequence of Hemolytic Disease of the Fetus and Newborn?

In the last decade, schizophrenia has been increasingly conceptualized as a neurodevelopmental condition. Brain development is thought to be perturbed prenatally and/or neonatally through genetic and/or teratogenic mechanisms leading to neurobehavioral abnormalities in infancy [1,2] and childhood [2-4], followed by psychosis in adulthood. Genetic factors likely account for 80 percent to 85 percent of the variance in risk for schizophrenia [5]. Yet, a significant proportion of the liability for this mental disorder remains unaccounted for in this estimation. Evidence demonstrates that factors during pregnancy and delivery (e.g., obstetric complications, influenza exposure, famine, stress) [6-12] may account for at least some of this unexplained variance. In the case of obstetric complications (OCs), 20-30 percent of schizophrenia patients have a history of one or more serious OC(s) [6], indicating that OCs could play an etiologic role in a sizable proportion of this population [13]. Furthermore, OCs appear to be associated with a more severe form of schizophrenia [13], and are associated with structural brain abnormalities such as ventricular enlargement [14,15]. These findings provide support for the neurodevelopmental model and are vitally important in providing clues for those dedicated to unravelling the etiology of this elusive illness. At the same time, the association of OCs with schizophrenia provides great promise since the implication is that at least some types of schizophrenia are preventable or can have a less severe course if improvements in prenatal and perinatal care are made.
Epistemic Responsibility and Democratic Justification

Many political philosophers tend to take it as given that the justification for democracy rests upon specifying a set of moral commitments that all citizens reasonably can be expected to accept. Sufficient agreement about these commitments is often treated, as Cristina Lafont puts it, as ‘the very condition for the possibility of democracy’ (2009, 130). If this is correct then, without such agreement, the legitimacy of democracy—which depends upon the assent of all who are subject to the state’s coercive power—seemingly cannot be secured. This prospect raises serious worries, for it should be clear that, typically, the citizens of democratic societies deeply disagree over matters of morality. As Robert Talisse characterises it in Democracy and Moral Conflict, our moral commitments are ‘essentially controversial’ (2009, 4). Fundamental divisions persist, he notes, over whether democracy is faltering due to a lack of moral clarity or whether we suffer from a lack of self-criticism, which appeals to moral clarity squelch. Moreover, it is not clear how to justify the claim that deep disagreement of this sort
The Computer Will See You Now: Ethics of Teledermatology

Teledermatology is the use of telecommunication for dermatology diagnosis and care. This technology can provide diagnostic services to underserved and rural regions that lack access to higher-level specialty medical expertise. Accumulating data shows that teledermatology is diagnostically accurate, safe, cost-effective, and well received by patients. While the potential of teledermatology to increase access to care is exciting, it is critical to recognize that the nature of the doctor–patient relationship is drastically altered when the doctor is located remotely, never having face-to-face contact with the patient. This is a new type of therapeutic relationship, one in which the principles of respect for autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice must be emphasized, and at the same time recontextualized. Case scenarios will be used to examine some of the ethical issues that may arise with the use of teledermatology. As a framework for our analysis, we will use the generally accepted ethical principles to which physicians are expected to adhere and will discuss how these principles apply specifically to challenging scenarios with which practitioners of teledermatology may be faced.
Root Canal of the Problem: The Iowa Supreme Court's Protection of Male Impulses over Female Traits

In 2010, Dr. James H. Knight DDS fired his employee, Melissa Nelson, explaining that his wife had become jealous of their consensual but nonsexual relationship. Nelson, in turn, filed a sex discrimination claim, alleging that her termination would not have occurred, but-for her sex. The Iowa Supreme Court sided with Knight, ruling that Nelson’s termination was due to Knight’s wife’s jealousy, irrespective of Nelson’s sex. This Comment argues that: (1) in the absence of sexual conduct, the court’s reliance on precedent involving consensual sexual relationships was misplaced; (2) in relying on the wrong precedent, the court set an unnecessarily high standard for plaintiffs to meet in a sex discrimination case; and (3) Nelson v. James H. Knight DDS, P.C. is instead a mixed-motives case and should have succeeded as a sex discrimination claim.
Genetic and epigenetic determinants of AML pathogenesis

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) was one of the first cancers to be sequenced at the level of the whole genome. Molecular profiling of AML through targeted sequencing panels and cytogenetics has become a mainstay in risk-stratifying AML patients and guiding clinicians toward optimal therapies for their patients. The extensive high-resolution genomic data generated to characterize AML have been instrumental in revealing the tremendous biological complexity of the disease, dictated in part by mutational, clonal, and epigenetic heterogeneity. This is further complicated by the antecedent nonleukemic state of clonal hematopoiesis that nevertheless is associated with an increased risk of developing a hematologic malignancy and with a greater risk of mortality from ischemic cardiovascular disease. Here in this review, we discuss developments in the field of AML biology and therapeutics, with a focus on advances in our understanding of how genetic and epigenetic determinants of AML have influenced prognostication and recent shifts in treatment paradigms, particularly within the context of precision oncology, for this highly complex group of hematologic malignancies.
Impact of Multi-leaf Collimator Parameters on Head and Neck Plan Quality and Delivery: A Comparison between Halcyon™ and Truebeam® Treatment Delivery Systems.

Purpose A new dual-layer multi-leaf collimator (MLC) system with several improved characteristics was introduced with the Varian Halcyon™ treatment platform. This study evaluated this new MLC’s impact on head and neck plan quality and delivery efficiency. Methods Nine patients were retrospectively studied with Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval. To compare plan quality between the Halcyon dual-layer MLC and Truebeam® MLC, all patients were replanned with the same prescription and target coverage following the institutional clinical protocol for both platforms and using both intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) or volumetrically modulated arc therapy (VMAT) techniques. Organs-at-risk (OAR) dose-volume histogram (DVH) statistics were compared along with total plan monitor units (MU). To evaluate delivery efficiency, actual beam-on time for five patients’ plans were recorded and compared. To evaluate the impact of MLC performance parameters on plan quality, virtual MLC models were generated by matching Truebeam MLC’s parameters to those of the Halcyon dual-layer MLC both individually and combined. OAR doses were then compared between these virtual MLCs, the Truebeam MLC, and the actual Halcyon MLC. Results Overall the Halcyon dual-layer MLC provided similar plan quality compared to Truebeam MLC for VMAT plans, and improved sparing for majority of the OARs when using IMRT. Paired comparison showed median dose differences in mean doses to the parotids, cochlea, esophagus, and larynx ranged from -0.83 Gy to 0.37 Gy for VMAT, and from -4.79 Gy to -0.04 Gy for IMRT, with negative values indicating improved performance by Halcyon. Despite a slight increase in plan MU, the Halcyon reduced the total beam-on time by 42.8 ± 8.5%. Virtual MLC simulations demonstrated that matching MLC transmission accounted for nearly half of the total dose difference between Halcyon and Truebeam IMRT plans. Conclusion When compared to the Truebeam, the Halcyon’s dual-layer MLC achieved similar plan quality using VMAT, and improved OAR sparing using IMRT, while providing nearly twice as fast treatment delivery. Reduction in MLC transmission is the dominating factor contributing to dosimetric differences in OAR sparing.
Rates of neglect in a national sample: Child and family characteristics and psychological impact.

Abstract Background Childhood neglect is an understudied form of childhood maltreatment despite being the most commonly reported to authorities. Objective This study provides national estimates of neglect subtypes, demographic variations in exposure to neglect subtypes, and examines the psychological impact. Participants and Setting: Pooled data from two representative U.S. samples from the National Surveys of Children’s Exposure to Violence (NatSCEV) survey conducted in 2011 and 2014, representing the experiences of children and youth aged 1 month to 17 years (N = 8503). Methods Telephone surveys were used to obtain sociodemographic characteristics, six measures of past year and lifetime exposure to neglect, and assessments of trauma symptoms, suicidal ideation, alcohol use, and illicit drug use. Results More than 1 in 17 U.S. children (6.07%) experienced some form of neglect in the past year, and more than 1 in 7 (15.14%) experienced neglect at some point in their lives. Supervisory neglect, due to parental incapacitation or parental absence, was most common. Families with two biological parents had lower rates (4.29% in the past year) than other household configurations (range from 7.95% to 14.10%; p Conclusion More attention needs to be paid to the impact of supervisory neglect. These results underscore the importance of prevention strategies that provide the supports necessary to build safe, stable, and nurturing relationships and environments that help children thrive.
Semi-supervised Classification Forests

Previous chapters have discussed the use of decision forests in supervised problems as well as unsupervised ones. This chapter puts the two things together to achieve semi-supervised learning. We focus here on semi-supervised classification, but the approach can be extended to regression too. In semi-supervised classification we have available a small set of labeled training data points and a large set of unlabeled ones. This is a typical situation in many practical scenarios. For instance, in medical image analysis, getting hold of numerous anonymized patients scans is relatively easy and cheap. However, labeling them with ground truth annotations requires experts time and effort and thus it is very expensive. A key question then is whether we can exploit the existence of unlabeled data to improve classification. After a brief literature survey, we show how to adapt the abstract forest model of Chap. 3 to achieve efficient semi-supervised classification.
The hippocampus, prefrontal cortex, and perirhinal cortex are critical to incidental order memory

Considerable research in rodents and humans indicates the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex are essential for remembering temporal relationships among stimuli, and accumulating evidence suggests the perirhinal cortex may also be involved. However, experimental parameters differ substantially across studies, which limits our ability to fully understand the fundamental contributions of these structures. In fact, previous studies vary in the type of temporal memory they emphasize (e.g., order, sequence, or separation in time), the stimuli and responses they use (e.g., trial-unique or repeated sequences, and incidental or rewarded behavior), and the degree to which they control for potential confounding factors (e.g., primary and recency effects, or order memory deficits secondary to item memory impairments). To help integrate these findings, we developed a new paradigm testing incidental memory for trial-unique series of events, and concurrently assessed order and item memory in animals with damage to the hippocampus, prefrontal cortex, or perirhinal cortex. We found that this new approach led to robust order and item memory, and that hippocampal, prefrontal and perirhinal damage selectively impaired order memory. These findings suggest the hippocampus, prefrontal cortex and perirhinal cortex are part of a broad network of structures essential for incidentally learning the order of events in episodic memory.
A Review of the Application of Biopolymers on Geotechnical Engineering and the Strengthening Mechanisms between Typical Biopolymers and Soils

The use of admixtures in soils to improve their properties has been implemented since ancient times. Diverse conventional admixtures such as lime, fly ash, and cement have been added to soils. Also, petrochemicals and bacteria are increasingly used for soil improvement and soil stabilization both mechanically and chemically. However, the conventional admixtures for soils cause significant environmental problems (e.g., CO2 emission). Biopolymers can increasingly replace the conventional admixtures for the application of soil improvement and soil stabilization. Numerous studies have been conducted in the past decades to investigate the suitability and efficiency of various biopolymers for soil improvement. This paper focuses on the properties of the most common biopolymers (xanthan gum, gellan gum, agar, polyacrylamide, and guar gum) and gives the mechanism of biopolymer-treated soils for soil improvements proposed by researchers.
Recent Development of Metal Nanoparticles Catalysts and Their Use for Efficient Hydrogenation of Biomass-Derived Levulinic Acid

In this chapter we concentrate our attention on the green processes of metal nanoparticles and utilization for catalytic hydrogenation of biomass-derived levulinic acid, from the pioneering studies to the present state of the art. An overview of the different methods and recent advances for the fabrication of metal nanoparticles, especially for the green methods, are commented and compared. Challenges and areas that need improvement are also highlighted in the corresponding area. The resulting catalysts are commented for the catalytic upgrading of levulinic acid which is a chemical building block from lignocellulosic biomass for the production of transportation fuels, as well as useful chemicals. Specific examples are reviewed with emphasis on different synthetic methods, comparing the behavior of different metal catalysts.
Brachial Flow-mediated Dilation and Risk of Dementia: The Cardiovascular Health Study.

Introduction Brachial flow-mediated dilation (FMD) is a physiologic measure of endothelial function. We determined the prospective association of brachial FMD with incident dementia among older adults. Methods We included 2777 Cardiovascular Health Study participants who underwent brachial FMD measurement. Incident dementia was ascertained by medication use, International Classification of Diseases-9 codes, requirement for a proxy, and death certificates and calibrated to gold-standard assessments performed in a subset of the cohort. Results Mean participant age at time of brachial FMD measurement was 77.9 years. We identified 1650 incident dementia cases (median follow-up=10.5 y). After adjusting for age, race, sex, education, clinic site, and baseline arterial diameter, risk of dementia for participants in the highest quartile of percent brachial FMD did not differ from those in lowest quartile (hazard ratio=0.89, 95% confidence interval: 0.77, 1.03). Conclusions Brachial FMD, measured late in life, is not associated with an increased risk of incident dementia.
Synergistic Activation of Toll-Like and NOD Receptors by Complementary Antigens as Facilitators of Autoimmune Disease: Review, Model and Novel Predictions

Persistent activation of toll-like receptors (TLR) and nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-containing proteins (NOD) in the innate immune system is one necessary driver of autoimmune disease (AD), but its mechanism remains obscure. This study compares and contrasts TLR and NOD activation profiles for four AD (autoimmune myocarditis, myasthenia gravis, multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis) and their animal models. The failure of current AD theories to explain the disparate TLR/NOD profiles in AD is reviewed and a novel model is presented that explains innate immune support of persistent chronic inflammation in terms of unique combinations of complementary AD-specific antigens stimulating synergistic TLRs and/or NODs. The potential explanatory power of the model is explored through testable, novel predictions concerning TLR- and NOD-related AD animal models and therapies.
Physical Frailty Phenotype Criteria and Their Synergistic Association on Cognitive Functioning.

Background Frailty (physical frailty phenotype [PFP]) and its criteria (slow gait, weakness, weight loss, low activity, and exhaustion) are each associated with cognitive dysfunction. The extent to which the PFP is associated with cognition beyond that expected from its component parts remains uncertain. Method We used the National Health and Aging Trends Study to quantify associations between PFP criteria and cognitive performance (level/change) using adjusted mixed effects models. We tested whether frailty was associated with excess cognitive vulnerability (synergistic/excess effects, Cohen's d) beyond criteria contributions by assessing interactions between each criterion and frailty. Results Among 7439 community-dwelling older adults (mean age = 75.2 years) followed for a mean of 3.2 years (SE = 0.03), 14.1% were frail. The PFP and PFP criteria were all associated with lower baseline cognitive performance, among which slow gait (-0.31 SD, SE = 0.02) and frailty (-0.23 SD, SE = 0.02) were strongest. Only slow gait (-0.03 SD/year, SE = 0.01), frailty (-0.02 SD/year, SE = 0.01), weight loss (-0.02 SD/year, SE = 0.01), and weakness (-0.02 SD/year, SE = 0.01) were associated with cognitive decline. Frailty was associated with cognitive performance above and beyond each criterion (excess effects ranging from -0.07 SD [SE = -0.05] for slow gait to -0.23 SD [SE = 0.03] for weakness); the same was not true for cognitive decline. Slow gait was the only criterion associated with cognitive change among both frail and nonfrail participants (frail: Cohen's d/year = -0.03, SE = 0.01; nonfrail: Cohen's d/year = -0.02, SE = 0.01). Conclusions PFP is an important frailty measure that is cross-sectionally associated with lower cognitive performance, but not with subsequent cognitive decline, above and beyond its criteria contributions. Further research into the construct of frailty as a "syndrome" correlated with cognition and other adverse outcomes is needed.
Nearly Optimal Variational Inference for High Dimensional Regression with Shrinkage Priors.

We propose a variational Bayesian (VB) procedure for high-dimensional linear model inferences with heavy tail shrinkage priors, such as student-t prior. Theoretically, we establish the consistency of the proposed VB method and prove that under the proper choice of prior specifications, the contraction rate of the VB posterior is nearly optimal. It justifies the validity of VB inference as an alternative of Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) sampling. Meanwhile, comparing to conventional MCMC methods, the VB procedure achieves much higher computational efficiency, which greatly alleviates the computing burden for modern machine learning applications such as massive data analysis. Through numerical studies, we demonstrate that the proposed VB method leads to shorter computing time, higher estimation accuracy, and lower variable selection error than competitive sparse Bayesian methods.
Communication failures contributing to patient injury in anaesthesia malpractice claims

Abstract Background Communication amongst team members is critical to providing safe, effective medical care. We investigated the role of communication failures in patient injury using the Anesthesia Closed Claims Project database. Methods Claims associated with surgical/procedural and obstetric anaesthesia and postoperative pain management for adverse events from 2004 or later were included. Communication was defined as transfer of information between two or more parties. Failure was defined as communication that was incomplete, inaccurate, absent, or not timely. We classified root causes of failures as content, audience, purpose, or occasion with inter-rater reliability assessed by kappa. Claims with communication failures contributing to injury (injury-related communication failures; n=389) were compared with claims without any communication failures (n=521) using Fisher's exact test, t-test, or Mann–Whitney U-tests. Results At least one communication failure contributing to patient injury occurred in 43% (n=389) out of 910 claims (κ=0.885). Patients in claims with injury-related communication failures were similar to patients in claims without failures, except that failures were more common in outpatient settings (34% vs 26%; P=0.004). Fifty-two claims had multiple communication failures for a total of 446 injury-related failures, and 47% of failures occurred during surgery, 28% preoperatively, and 23% postoperatively. Content failures (insufficient, inaccurate, or no information transmitted) accounted for 60% of the 446 communication failures. Conclusions Communication failure contributed to patient injury in 43% of anaesthesia malpractice claims. Patient/case characteristics in claims with communication failures were similar to those without failures, except that failures were more common in outpatient settings.
STAT3 expression in dendritic cells protects mice from colitis by a gut microbiome-dependent mechanism

An imbalance in gut homeostasis results in local and systemic pathogenesis. It is still not well-understood how the immune system interacts with the gut microbiome and maintains a delicate balance. Here, we utilized a mouse model in which STAT3 expression is deleted in CD11c+ (i.e., dendritic) cells (STAT3 cKO); these mice developed an ulcerative colitis-like disease, colon carcinoma and myelodysplastic syndrome-like disease. Circulating IgE levels in STAT3 cKO mice were significantly elevated. The gut microbiome was indispensable for the observed pathogenesis, as treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotics or cross-fostering STAT3 cKO pups with mothers harboring a different microbiome prevented disease development. Gut microbiome analyses suggested that decreased commensal bacteria and increased pathogenic bacteria most likely contributed to disease. Our data suggest that STAT3 controls the manifestation of inflammation in the gut caused by the microbiome. Therefore, we conclude that a deficiency of STAT3 in DCs is sufficient to trigger uncontrolled inflammation and the development of inflammatory bowel disease.
PAIRS OF MATRICES, ONE OF WHICH COMMUTES WITH THEIR COMMUTATOR

Let A, B be n × n complex matrices such that C = AB BA and A commute. For n = 2, we prove that A, B are simultaneously triangularizable. For n � 3, we give an example of matrices A, B such that the pair (A, B) does not have property L of Motzkin-Taussky, and such that B and C are not simultaneously triangularizable. Finally, we estimate the complexity of the Alp'in-Koreshkov's algorithm that checks whether two matrices are simultaneously triangularizable. Practically, one cannot test a pair of numerical matrices of dimension greater than five.
The Reactions of Sodium and Potassium Ion-activated Adenosine Triphosphatase with Specific Antibodies IMPLICATIONS FOR THE MECHANISM OF ACTIVE TRANSPORT

Abstract Native sodium and potassium ion-activated adenosine triphosphatase ((Na+ + K+)-ATPase) and the larger polypeptide chain of this enzyme have been used as antigens to obtain specific antibodies. It is demonstrated that these antibodies bind to the native enzyme only at sites on one or the other of the two polypeptide subunits. The locations of the antigen-antibody complexes were determined with the electron microscope using ferritin conjugated γ-globulins. These experiments demonstrate that the antigenic sites on the large subunit, recognized by the anti-large chain antibody, are located only on the inner surface of the plasma membrane in the intact cell. The γ-globulins studied in these experiments do not inhibit (Na+ + K+)-ATPase when they are bound to the enzyme at saturating concentrations. These results rule out any mechanisms for this enzyme which require large movements of the protein through the plane of the bilayer, and therefore rule out any diffusional carrier mechanism for the active transport of alkali metal ions.
VII3. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Studies of the Carbon Dioxide‐Water Equilibrium

The classical view of the entities existing in a solution of carbon dioxide in water is that of dissolved carbon dioxide, hydrated carbon dioxide or carbonic acid, bicarbonate ion, hydronium ion, and carbonate ion, Estimates of the concentrations of all these species are available from a variety of types of measurements. Nuclear magnetic resonance studies on. the C13 isotope dissolved as carbon dioxide in water, deuterium oxide, and in sodium hydroxide solution of various concentrations have not given any results which would require the alteration of these views. Because of equipment limitations, carbonic acid has not been detected, but a maximum limit for its concentration has been set which is not inconsistent with the predictions of electrochemical data. Two most interesting questions remain unanswered by data thus far accumulated: 1Why is such a large proportion of the carbon dioxide in solution present in dissolved but not hydrated form; and 2Why is the reaction of hydration such a slow process?
Testicular and somatic growth in Siberian hamsters depend on the melatonin-free interval between twice daily melatonin signals.

In Siberian hamsters, day length is encoded by the duration of the nocturnal melatonin signal; short and long melatonin signals over the course of several weeks stimulate and inhibit somatic and gonadal development, respectively, in prepubertal males. We sought to determine whether juvenile male Siberian hamsters respond to multiple melatonin signals each day and the manner in which the sequence of melatonin signals and the duration of the melatonin-free interval between signals affects development. Twenty-one day old male Siberian hamsters, gestated and maintained in a short-day photoperiod of 10 h light/day (10 L), were transferred to constant light to suppress endogenous melatonin secretion and received s.c. infusions of melatonin or saline for 12 days. Hamsters infused with saline retained small testes, whereas one short melatonin infusion each day resulted in significant testicular growth. Other hamsters were provided with two melatonin signals each day, one long (9 h) and one short (4 or 5 h); the order in which these signals was administered and the duration of the melatonin-free interval after each signal varied between groups. In asymmetrical melatonin infusions, the first and second daily infusions were followed by 3-h and 7-h melatonin-free intervals, respectively, whereas in symmetrical infusions, each melatonin signal was followed by a 5-h melatonin-free interval. In the asymmetrical sequence, the melatonin signal that immediately preceded the longer melatonin-free interval determined the rate gonadal growth. Equal melatonin-free intervals after each of the long and short daily melatonin infusions produced intermediate increases in gonadal and somatic development. The hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis of Siberian hamsters can respond to multiple melatonin signals each day, with the rate of testicular growth determined primarily by the duration of the melatonin-free interval following each infusion.
Ecological Physiology and Genetics of the Colonizing Actinian Haliplanella Luciae

Since its presumed origin on the Pacific coast of Asia, Haliplanella luciae (Verrill) has become distributed throughout the northern hemisphere. The dispersal of the species has been effected through attachment to oysters shipped commercially (Verrill, 1898), transportation on ship bottoms (Stephenson, 1935), and attachment to floating seaweed (Williams, 1973a). Stephenson (1935) notes that the species may appear suddenly in a locality, flourish for a time, and then die out or disappear abruptly. It exhibits classic characteristics of a colonizing species.
Sol-Gel Coatings on Continuous Ceramic Fibers

A technique for coating continuous fibers and fiber tows with oxide layers using sols is presented. AVCO SiC SCS-0 fibers were continuously coated with an alumina sol at 95 cm/s to 0.5 cm/s and heat-treated at temperatures between 100 and 1300 C. Different sol concentrations with alumina yields of 8, 23, 38, and 118 g/l were used. The coated fibers were characterized by optical microscopy in reflected light. Coating thickness and uniformity were measured as a function of coating speed, heat-treatment temperature, and sol concentration. Coating thickness became nonuniform at coating rates greater than 0.5 m/s when sols with alumina yields higher than 100 g/l were used. Other properties of the coating, such as pore size and volume fraction were much more sensitive to cooling rate and temperature. Multifilament tows of Du Pont fibers FP and PRD-166 were also coated with alumina sol. Extensive bridging of coating between filaments was observed, and filaments in the tow were often cemented together. 8 refs.
Influence of Soil Conditions on Ground Motions During Earthquakes

Data are presented to show that in many cases the characteristics of ground surface motions during earthquakes, and the corresponding forms of the response spectra, vary with soil conditions in a reasonably predictable way. A method of analysis, based on a knowledge of the shear moduli and damping factors of soil strata is presented. It is shown that appropriate values of both the shear modulus and the damping factor of a soil are strain dependent. Thus behavior observed during small earthquakes, inducing small strains, is not necessarily indicative of the behavior of the same soil deposit during a large earthquake with the associated large strains. Furthermore in any analysis it is important to ensure compatibility of the soil characteristics with the magnitude of the induced strains. It is also shown that the characteristics of the ground motions at the surface of a soil deposit are greatly influenced by the magnitude and epicentral distance of the earthquake inducing them. It is concluded that for many sites, appropriate analyses can provide a useful guide in evaluating the characteristics of the surface motions likely to be induced by earthquakes.
Age-specific neurotoxicity in the rat associated with NMDA receptor blockade: Potential relevance to schizophrenia?

Agents that block the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) subtype of glutamate receptor induce a schizophrenialike psychosis in adult humans and injure or kill neurons in several corticolimbic regions of the adult rat brain. Susceptibility to the psychotomimetic effects of the NMDA antagonist, ketamine is minimal or absent in children and becomes maximal in early adulthood. We examined the sensitivity of rats at various ages to the neurotoxic effects of the powerful NMDA antagonist, MK-801. Vulnerability was found to be age dependent, having onset at approximately puberty (45 days of age) and becoming maximal in early adulthood. This age-dependency profile (onset of susceptibility in late adolescence) in the rat is similar to that for ketamine-induced psychosis or schizophrenia in humans. These findings suggest that NMDA receptor hypofunction, the mechanism underlying the neurotoxic and psychotomimetic actions of NMDA antagonists, may also play a role in schizophrenia.
Hapax Legomena: A Neglected Field in Biblical Studies:

The current essay offers an overview of major studies on hapax legomena in the MT, LXX and NT. The focus of the contribution is on the definition of hapax legomenon. Authors disagree as to whether ...
Theory of professionalism: Method and substance

(1999). Theory of professionalism: Method and substance. International Review of Sociology: Vol. 9, The Future for Professions: Current Analytical Challenges, pp. 117-129.
The chromatic number and other functions of the lexicographic product

Abstract The values of the chromatic and achromatic number, point- and line-connectivity, and point independence number of the lexicographic product of two graphs are examined in relation to the values of the respective parameters on the factor graphs.
Finding the Right Template: RNA Pol IV, a Plant-Specific RNA Polymerase

A paradox of RNA-directed transcriptional silencing is that low-level transcription through the silenced locus is observed and may help maintain the silenced state. Discovery of a plant-specific RNA polymerase that directs heterochromatic silencing helps to resolve this issue.