cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Subcutaneous Forehead Lift: Technique and Early Results

Objective: ?1 To present our indications, technique, and results for a modified subcutaneous forehead lift. ?2 Methods: Retrospective chart review of 16 patients who underwent a subcutaneous forehead lift. Results: Tumescent anesthesia was used in all 16 patients. Seven patients underwent the procedure without the use of a fibrin sealant, whereas a commercially available fibrin sealant was used in the other 9 surgeries. In 1 of 7 patients in whom a fibrin sealant was not used, a postoperative seroma was evacuated in the first 24 hours after surgery. In patients in whom a fibrin sealant was used, there were no cases of hematomas or seromas. Twelve patients had concomitant upper eyelid surgery (ptosis repair and/or blepharoplasty), and 4 patients had no upper eyelid surgery. Two patients had a small dehiscence with no long-term sequelae. There were no instances of keloid formation. Postoperative brow position was judged to be good in 9 patients, adequate in 4 patients, and undercorrected in 3 patients. Forehead rhytids were improved in all patients. There were 2 cases of asymmetry, 1 of them in a patient with a history of Bell’s palsy. There were no cases of symptomatic postoperative scalp hypoesthesia or decreased forehead movement. Our analysis revealed a trend toward improved postoperative brow position with increasing experience, which was manifested in a more aggressive release of the subcutaneous attachments of the lateral brow and a larger skin excision. Conclusions: Subcutaneous forehead lift with tumescent anesthesia and a fibrin sealant is a safe and effective technique that provides the surgeon with good control of brow positioning while directly addressing forehead rhytids. It avoids significant postoperative scalp hypoesthesia. In our series, the use of a fibrin sealant was correlated with elimination of postoperative hematoma or seroma, even though these patients had no postoperative pressure dressings. This technique can be an important addition to the oculofacial surgical armamentarium.
Negotiating the Terms of Settlement War Aims and Bargaining Leverage

How do we explain the wide variation in the terms of settlement that end wars? One possibility is that the terms of settlement merely reflect the belligerents' original aims. A second possibility is that the final terms arise out of negotiations to terminate the war and reflect each side's evaluation of the costs and political risks of continuing the war. The author tests hypotheses derived from both perspectives using ordered logit regression in the period 1816-1980. The results generally support both the aims and the bargaining hypotheses. In contrast, the author finds that the belligerents' regime type does not affect the final terms. The author concludes that belligerents generally use the bargaining leverage they have to demand as much as possible and to concede as little as possible, but their original aims can affect their bargaining leverage by increasing the political risks of continuing the war past a certain point.
Social and health correlates of sleep duration in a US hispanic population: Results from the hispanic community health study/study of Latinos

Study objectives To define the prevalence of poor sleep patterns in the US Hispanic/Latino population, identify sociodemographic and psychosocial predictors of short and long sleep duration, and the association between sleep and cardiometabolic outcomes. Design Cross-sectional analysis. Setting Community-based study. Participants Adults age 18-74 y free of sleep disorders (n = 11,860) from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos baseline examination (2008-2011). Interventions N/A. Measurements and results The mean self-reported sleep duration was 8.0 h per night with 18.6% sleeping less than 7 h and 20.1% sleeping more than 9 h in age- and sex-adjusted analyses. Short sleep was most common in individuals of Puerto Rican heritage (25.6%) and the Other Hispanic group (27.4%). Full-time employment, low level of education, and depressive symptoms were independent predictors of short sleep, whereas unemployment, low household income, low level of education, and being born in the mainland US were independent predictors of long sleep. After accounting for sociodemographic differences, short sleep remained significantly associated with obesity with an odds ratio of 1.29 [95% confidence interval 1.12-1.49] but not with diabetes, hypertension, or heart disease. In contrast, long sleep was not associated with any of these conditions. Conclusions Sleep duration is highly variable among US Hispanic/Latinos, varying by Hispanic/Latino heritage as well as socioeconomic status. These differences may have health consequences given associations between sleep duration and cardiometabolic disease, particularly obesity.
Layer-by-layer assembly

Publisher Summary Layer-by-layer (LbL) self-assembly is a versatile tool in nanomaterial synthesis, device fabrication and biological research. An important aspect of this technique is its universal application to almost all charged element assemblies. Layer-by-layer self-assembly has several merits including low process temperature, molecular resolution of composition, thickness control, and a wide variety of appropriate building blocks. From the time it was first demonstrated, it has been widely used by researchers in different disciplines. The alternate adsorption of oppositely charged macromolecules is able to produce complex heterogeneous architectures for optical devices, synthetic catalysts and especially man-made biological components. The principle, operation, and characterization of this unique technique are discussed. Finally, the fabrication conditions and the current and future applications are addressed.
Clinical chronic rhinosinusitis outcomes in pediatric patients with cystic fibrosis.

Objectives Chronic rhinosinusitis and nasal polyposis are common conditions in cystic fibrosis (CF). Approximately 2–3% of pediatric CF patients per year have sinus disease requiring surgery. It has been well established that there is a significant negative impact on quality of life associated with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) in the non-CF patient population. However, the impact of CRS on the pediatric CF population remains uncertain. The purpose of this article is to review the current state of outcome measures for CRS in pediatric CF patients. Data Sources PubMed and EMBASE literature review Methods PubMed and EMBASE electronic databases were searched using Boolean searches that incorporated mesh headings and plain language for quality of life, symptom evaluation, pediatric patients, and sinusitis/rhinosinusitis. Studies were included if the study primarily evaluated a pediatric Cystic Fibrosis-Chronic Rhinosinusitis (CF-CRS) population and the primary outcome measure was quality of life evaluation. Results The search yielded 34 unique articles. A total of 7 articles met inclusion criteria Conclusions Despite the high frequency of chronic rhinosinusitis in the pediatric CF patient population, its impact on quality of life is not well understood. Currently there is a lack of a validated disease specific quality of life instruments available to assess the impact of CRS on the pediatric CF patient population. Level of Evidence 5
Development of Systems Science — Past, Present, and Future

Abstract An overview, tracing the development of system science and particularly its major thought patterns through the first two Epochs of the field, that is “classical control” or “servomechanisms” and “state space” or “modern control”. The thesis is then argued that the field is currently expectant of a third Epoch stimulated by the problems of large systems. However such an epoch will need to develop orthogonaly to current large system work (theory). The latter has limited relevance mostly because its basic assumptions match poorly the realities of large systems although they match aerospace type systems of the previous epoch well. Finally speculation is presented on where inspiration toward such a new epoch may come from.
‘A feeling you cannot resist’: Shah Rukh Khan, affect, and the re-scripting of male stardom in Hindi cinema

While Shah Rukh Khan is considered to be the cinematic representation of Indian neoliberalism and global capitalism, the gendered dimensions of his stardom and personae are still thin on the ground...
Use of Plant and Herb Derived Medicine for Therapeutic Usage in Cardiology

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) have become prominent in mortality and morbidity rates. Prevalent cardiovascular conditions, such as hypertension, atherosclerosis and oxidative stress, are increasing at an alarming rate. Conventional drugs have been associated with adverse effects, suggesting a need for an alternative measure to ameliorate CVD. A number of plant- and herb-derived preventative food and therapeutic drugs for cardiovascular conditions are progressively used for their various benefits. Naturally derived food and drugs have fewer side effects because they come from natural elements; preventative food, such as grape seed, inhibits changes of histopathology and biomarkers in vital organs whereas therapeutic drugs, for instance Xanthone, improve heart functions by suppressing oxidative stress of myocyte. This review closely examines the various plant- and herb-derived drugs that have assumed an essential role in treating inflammation and oxidative stress for prevalent cardiovascular conditions. Furthermore, the use of plant-derived medicine with other synthetic particles, such as nanoparticles, for targeted therapy is investigated for its effective clinical use in the future.
Prostate biopsy: current status and limitations.

The technique of prostate biopsy has evolved over the past 10 years to improve our ability to detect prostate cancer. Extended biopsy schemes can be performed in the office under local anesthesia and are well tolerated. In addition to detection, the role of extended biopsy schemes in refining tumor grading and risk assessment has become better defined. This review discusses the evolution of prostate biopsy techniques from the sextant scheme to the extended scheme and demonstrates the latter’s utility in clinical decision making.
Rest-activity rhythms characteristics and seasonal changes in seasonal affective disorder.

Identifying objectively measurable seasonal changes in 24-h activity patterns (rest-activity rhythms or RARs) that occur in seasonal affective disorder (SAD) could help guide research and practice ...
The Safety and Feasibility of Gastrointestinal Cancer Surgery with the Aid of Balloon Aortic Valvuloplasty in Patients with Severe Aortic Stenosis

AIM: Patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) have been considered to be high-risk patients for noncardiac surgery. We evaluated the safety and feasibility of gastrointestinal (GI) cancer surgery after performing balloon aortic valvuloplasty (BAV) in patients with severe AS. METHODS: A total of 16 patients who diagnosed with GI cancer and simultaneously met the criteria for AS intervention were included in this study. In our hospital, indications for AS intervention are as follows: (1) peak aortic valve velocity of > 4 m/sec and presence of exertional dyspnea; or (2) peak aortic valve velocity of > 5 m/sec. Our policy defined that cancer patients who meet these criteria undergo BAV in order to reduce the risk of noncardiac surgery for the treatment of cancer. We evaluated the outcomes of BAV and GI cancer surgery. RESULTS: The echocardiographic data of AS was significantly improved after BAV. After BAV, mitral regurgitation occurred in 1 patient and transcatheter aortic valve implantation was required before GI cancer surgery in 1 patient. However, all enrolled patients proceeded to GI cancer surgery, which was performed uneventfully. CONCLUSION: We demonstrated the safety and feasibility of GI cancer surgery after performing BAV in patients with severe AS. GI cancer surgery can be performed even in high-risk severe AS patients.
Do House Wrens (Troglodytes aedon) add spider egg cases to their nests for heterospecific cleaning

House Wrens (Troglodytes aedon Vieillot, 1809) regularly add spider egg cases (Arachnida: Araneae) to their nests, which may be an example of heterospecific cleaning. This behavior involves one ani...
Gathering Information in Healthcare Settings: A Tool to Facilitate On-Site Work:

The coordination of site visits to execute human factors methods, such as onsite usability tests, interviews, or observations, in clinical settings requires a high level of management to attain suc...
Brucella abortus Endocarditis A Case

The diagnosis and successful treatment of a case of bacterial endocarditis due to Brucella abortus is described. Therapy consisted of the combination of aureomycin and streptomycin.
A review of enhanced oil recovery (EOR) methods applied in Kazakhstan

Abstract Application of enhanced oil recovery methods in Kazakhstan has been ongoing for decades alongside the continued discovery of new oil and gas fields in the Pre-Caspian Basin. The objective of this review is to provide an overview of the hydrocarbon reserves and production, and the status of the petroleum industry in Kazakhstan, with a focus on the EOR methods and projects being applied to recover those reserves. A summary of the specific EOR methods in use was prepared, and existing enhanced recovery projects in Kazakhstan were reviewed and their successes and challenges were investigated. The performance of these projects in the context of EOR performance indicators such as capillary number and mobility ratio, as well as operational and environmental issues, were examined. Recommendations for current and potential applications of EOR in Kazakhstan were also discussed. The widespread application of thermal EOR methods, in use for decades in Kazakhstan’s older fields, was found to be successful, with very favorable impacts on mobility ratio from the addition of thermal energy to the reservoirs. Miscible EOR methods in Kazakhstan have had more limited success, with some significant challenges due to high concentration of hydrogen sulfide in the injected gas. Polymer injection started in the late 1960s, achieving good results. A recent polymer injection pilot project has shown some promise, with a favorable impact on mobility ratio and oil production, although the project has not yet been expanded beyond two polymer injectors. These results indicate the huge potential of existing and future EOR projects. This review is the first compilation of Kazakhstan’s existing oil and gas reserves, production, and EOR project performance, and should be seen as a guide to the existing applications of EOR methods in Kazakhstan.
1 – History and Development of Rules of Evidence

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the history and development of rules of evidence. In every society, efforts have been made to determine the guilt or innocence of a person charged with violating the rules of that society. Some of the world's legal systems were built on sound foundations and have continued for many centuries. However, other legal systems disappeared when the governments responsible for developing them were overthrown or when governments developed other methods for determining guilt or innocence. The experience of history has proven to be a strong teacher that has preserved evidence of prior legal systems so that nations today can harness the knowledge of the past to help the law of evidence evolve in a productive path toward the future. The rules for determining the admissibility of evidence have changed and will continue to evolve. In many countries, judges, legislators, and other criminal justice personnel must work together to seek better methods for determining guilt and protecting society while at the same time protecting the rights of the individual.
Prostate cancer presentation, treatment selection, and outcomes among men with HIV/AIDS: A clinical stage, race, and age-matched contemporary analysis.

Abstract Purpose To compare the clinical presentation, treatment receipt, and oncologic outcomes between human immunodeficiency virus-seropositive (HIV+) and seronegative (HIV−) men with prostate cancer (CaP) matched by age, clinical stage, and race. Materials and methods A retrospective review of 3,135 men treated for CaP from 2000 to 2016 was performed. HIV+ patients (N = 46) were matched 1:2 to 3 to HIV− men (N = 137) by age, race, and clinical stage. Clinicopathologic features and primary treatment received were compared between cohorts. Associations between HIV status and progression-free, cancer-specific, and overall survival were compared by HIV status using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazards analysis. Results After matching, men with and without HIV were similar with respect initial prostate-specific antigen, Gleason Sum, and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status. Among HIV+ men, 67.4% had a history of acquired immune deficiency syndrome, and 91.3% were on highly active antiretroviral therapy at CaP diagnosis. Among men with localized disease, HIV+ men were more likely to receive radiation (59.5% vs. 44.8%) or no therapy (13.5% vs. 4.3%) and less likely to receive surgery (16.2% vs. 30.2%), or to initiate active surveillance (10.8% vs. 16.4%; P = 0.04 overall). There were no differences in rates of clinical progression, development of castration resistance, or CaP death by HIV status. However, HIV+ status was associated with inferior overall survival (hazard ratio 2.89, P = 0.04). Conclusions While most HIV+ patients had a history of acquired immune deficiency syndrome; HIV was well controlled in the majority of patients at the time of CaP diagnosis. While oncologic outcomes were similar between HIV+ and HIV− men, significant differences in treatment selection were observed. Further research is necessary to understand differences in treatment election by HIV status and to define optimal CaP treatment selection in men with HIV.
A new maximum size for the family Nomeidae and the third record of a longfin cigarfish, Cubiceps paradoxus (Stromateoidei: Nomeidae) from California, USA.

We report the largest specimen from the stromateoid family Nomeidae. The specimen, measuring 1283 mm total length unpreserved, was caught on hook and line from shore in Port Hueneme, California, USA in June 2019. Despite scavenging damage, the specimen was identified as a longfin cigarfish, Cubiceps paradoxus, using morphological characters and molecular techniques. This is the third record of C. paradoxus from California. We also provide an account of a previously unreported C. paradoxus collected off the US-Mexico Border in 1999 that was examined but not preserved.
Event Detection: Gate Diversity and Syntactic Importance Scoresfor Graph Convolution Neural Networks

Recent studies on event detection (ED) haveshown that the syntactic dependency graph canbe employed in graph convolution neural net-works (GCN) to achieve state-of-the-art per-formance. However, the computation of thehidden vectors in such graph-based models isagnostic to the trigger candidate words, po-tentially leaving irrelevant information for thetrigger candidate for event prediction. In addi-tion, the current models for ED fail to exploitthe overall contextual importance scores of thewords, which can be obtained via the depen-dency tree, to boost the performance. In thisstudy, we propose a novel gating mechanismto filter noisy information in the hidden vec-tors of the GCN models for ED based on theinformation from the trigger candidate. Wealso introduce novel mechanisms to achievethe contextual diversity for the gates and theimportance score consistency for the graphsand models in ED. The experiments show thatthe proposed model achieves state-of-the-artperformance on two ED datasets
Optogenetic Modulation of Intraocular Pressure in a Glucocorticoid-Induced Ocular Hypertension Mouse Model.

Purpose Steroid-induced glaucoma is a common form of secondary open angle glaucoma characterized by ocular hypertension (elevated intraocular pressure [IOP]) in response to prolonged glucocorticoid exposure. Elevated IOP occurs with increased outflow resistance and altered trabecular meshwork (TM) function. Recently, we used an optogenetic approach in TM to regulate the 5-phosphatase, OCRL, which contributes to regulating PI(4,5)P2 levels. Here, we applied this system with the aim of reversing compromised outflow function in a steroid-induced ocular hypertension mouse model. Methods Elevated IOP was induced by chronic subconjunctival dexamethasone injections in wild-type C57Bl/6j mice. AAV2 viruses containing optogenetic modules of cryptochrome 2 (Cry2)-OCRL-5ptase and CIBN-GFP were injected into the anterior chamber. Four weeks after viral expression and dexamethasone exposure, IOP was measured by tonometer and outflow facility was measured by perfusion apparatus. Human TM cells were treated with dexamethasone, stimulated by light and treated with rhodamine-phalloidin to analyze actin structure. Results Dexamethasone treatment elevated IOP and decreased outflow facility in wild-type mice. Optogenetic constructs were expressed in the TM of mouse eyes. Light stimulation caused CRY2-OCRL-5ptase to translocate to plasma membrane (CIBN-CAAX-GFP) and cilia (CIBN-SSTR3-GFP) in TM cells, which rescued the IOP and outflow facility. In addition, aberrant actin structures formed by dexamethasone treatment were reduced by optogenetic stimulation in human TM cells in culture. Conclusions Subcellular targeting of inositol phosphatases to remove PIP2 represents a promising strategy to reverse defective TM function in steroid-induced ocular hypertension. Translational relevance Targeted modulation of OCRL may be used to decrease steroid-induced elevated IOP.
Impact of structural ageism on greater violence against older persons: a cross-national study of 56 countries.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the association between country-level structural ageism and prevalence of violence against older persons. DESIGN: Country-level ecological study. SETTING: Structural ageism data were drawn from the nationally representative World Values Survey 2010-2014 (WVS), global databases from the WHO, United Nations and the World Bank. Violence data were based on the Global Burden of Diseases (GBD) study 2017. PARTICIPANTS: Analysis of 56 countries that represented 63.1% of the world's ageing population aged 60 and over across all six of WHO regions. EXPOSURE: Structural ageism, following established structural stigma measures, consisted of two components: (1) discriminatory national policies related to older persons' economic, social, civil and political rights, based on the four core components of human rights protection in Madrid International Plan of Action on Aging and (2) prejudicial social norms against older persons, measured by negative attitudes toward older persons in 56 national polls in WVS aggregated to country-level. These components were z scored and combined such that higher score indicated greater structural ageism. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Prevalence rates of violence per 100 000 persons aged 70 and over in each country was based on extensive epidemiological surveillance data, survey, clinical data and insurance claims in GBD and compiled by the Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington. RESULTS: There was a wide variation in levels of structural ageism across countries. As predicted, structural ageism was significantly associated with the prevalence rates of violence in multivariate models (s=205.7, SE=96.3, p=0.03), after adjusting for relevant covariates. Sensitivity analyses supported the robustness of our findings. That is, structural ageism did not predict other types of violence and other types of prejudice did not predict violence against older persons. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides the first evidence of the association between higher structural ageism and greater violence against older persons across countries.
Estimation of older-adult mortality from information distorted by systematic age misreporting.

Palloni’s research was supported by the National Institute on Aging via research project grants R01-AG016209, R03-AG015673, R01-AG018016, R37-AG025216, R01AG056608, and R01AG52030; by a Fogarty International Center award for Global Research Training in Population Health, D43-TW001586; by core grants to the Center for Demography and Ecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, R24-HD047873 and to the Center for Demography of Health and Aging, University of Wisconsin-Madison, P30-AG017266 and by a European Research Council (ERC) grant under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (grant agreement No. 788582)
Recent Progress in Smart Electronic Nose Technologies Enabled with Machine Learning Methods

Machine learning methods enable the electronic nose (E-Nose) for precise odor identification with both qualitative and quantitative analysis. Advanced machine learning methods are crucial for the E-Nose to gain high performance and strengthen its capability in many applications, including robotics, food engineering, environment monitoring, and medical diagnosis. Recently, many machine learning techniques have been studied, developed, and integrated into feature extraction, modeling, and gas sensor drift compensation. The purpose of feature extraction is to keep robust pattern information in raw signals while removing redundancy and noise. With the extracted feature, a proper modeling method can effectively use the information for prediction. In addition, drift compensation is adopted to relieve the model accuracy degradation due to the gas sensor drifting. These recent advances have significantly promoted the prediction accuracy and stability of the E-Nose. This review is engaged to provide a summary of recent progress in advanced machine learning methods in E-Nose technologies and give an insight into new research directions in feature extraction, modeling, and sensor drift compensation.
Abstract 2926: PNA as novel targeted cancer therapy for BRAFV600Emutant melanoma

Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA Our aim is to target tumor cells specifically by directly suppressing their oncogenes with peptide nucleic acid (PNA) oligonucleotide analogues. PNA oligonucleotides bind to DNA over 1000-fold more avidly than its native complement, are completely resistant to intra and extra cellular enzymatic degradation, show no nonspecific toxicity at therapeutic levels, and when conjugated to delivery peptides can be made nuclear and cell membrane permeable. We have employed these PNA oligomers to target BRAFV600E which is prevalent in cutaneous melanoma in a sequence-specific complementary manner so as to disrupt transcription by strand invasion. For these studies, we have developed a novel delivery peptide conjugated to PNA modified to increase both cellular delivery and PNA stability towards its target. Our results indicate that exposure of the melanoma cell lines to a modified PNA-peptide conjugate selective for BRAFV600E results in a concentration-dependent inhibition of cell growth that is specific for the BRAFV600E mutant melanoma cell lines with an IC50 range of 250 to 500 nM. Moreover, there is no inhibition of BRAFWT cell growth at these concentrations. This is associated with suppression of BRAFV600E protein over time with no effect on BRAFWT protein levels. Furthermore, BRAFV600E protein expression was suppressed for up to 6 days following initial exposure proving the durability of this type of inhibition. Exposure to this modified PNA-peptide down-regulates BRAFV600E mRNA transcription exclusively in the mutant cell lines. Live cell imaging of BRAFV600E mutant cells confirms localization of fluorescein-labeled PNA-delivery peptide specific to BRAFV600E to the nucleus within 3 hours of treatment. Our results indicate that these PNA-peptide derivatives could represent a novel and promising new therapy for patients with BRAFV600E mutant melanoma, and this technology could be applied to a multitude of other cancers either with specific translocations or mutations differing from wild-type cells even by only a single base pair. Citation Format: Jeffrey H. Rothman, Oliver Surriga, Shyamprasad D. Vasudeva, Grazia Ambrosini, Ouathek Ouerfelli, Gary K. Schwartz. PNA as novel targeted cancer therapy for BRAFV600E mutant melanoma. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 2926. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-2926
An Infused Approach to Multicultural Education in a Pre-service Teacher Program: Perspectives of Teacher Educators

The purpose of the research was to examine a 5-year graduate elementary education program which holds the possibility of providing an “infused approach” leading to a transformative understanding of multicultural education. Through close evaluation we sought to understand the various learning experiences faculty members implemented to enhance pre-service teachers' understandings of how to teach in diverse contexts. The experiences include community-based experiences, school-based experiences, aesthetic experiences, and storytelling. In addition, we highlight frustrations, barriers, and tensions that teacher educators encountered over time as they participated in discussions and experiences related to multicultural education with pre-service teachers. With this knowledge we can address multicultural issues and enhance and transform pre-service teacher education.
Enforcing Dividend Withholding on Derivatives

The United States imposes a 30 percent withholding tax on dividends paid to nonresident aliens. However, this tax is rarely paid by portfolio investors because they can swap into U.S. securities, receiving payments to match both capital gain and dividends. Treasury has ruled that swap payments have an origin in the taxpayer’s residence so there is no withholding obligation on payments that match dividends. The proposal would impose withholding tax on dividend equivalents on the ground that there is no policy justification for a distinction between dividends, substitute dividends under securities lending transaction (which are treated as dividends and are subject to withholding), and dividend equivalents paid under swaps.The proposal is made as a part of the Shelf Project, a collaboration by tax professionals to develop and perfect proposals to help Congress when it needs to raise revenue. Shelf Project proposals are intended to raise revenue, defend the tax base, follow the money, and improve the rationality and efficiency of the tax system. The tax community can propose, follow, or edit proposals at http://www.taxshelf.org. A longer description of the Shelf Project can be found at ‘‘The Shelf Project: Revenue-Raising Projects That Defend the Tax Base,’’ Tax Notes, Dec. 10, 2007, p. 1077, Doc 2007-22632, 2007 TNT 238-37.Shelf Project proposals follow the format of a congressional tax committee report in explaining current law, what is wrong with it, and how to fix it.
Social Security Reform Opinions: A Response to Risky Markets?

The national debate over Social Security reform remains centered on the distributive structure the program. Individual-level support or opposition for privatization can be viewed as a choice between an uncertain outcome in which market forces determine the value of one's future benefit, and a certain outcome in which benefits are predefined and guaranteed. We theorize that risk-averse individuals discount positive economic expectations when forming their opinion regarding privatization, and that risk acceptant individuals weigh positive expectations more heavily. Thus, the endearing effect of economic confidence on privatization is greater as risk tolerance increases. We use national survey data from the 2008 Cooperative Congressional Election Survey to form a multiplicative interaction model to test this hypothesis. Preliminary results yield strong evidence that risk orientation affects the degree to which positive expectations increase support for the privatization of Social Security. These results affirm an important dimension of Social Security reform opinion yet to be explained, and, with regard to other market-driven policy solutions such as trade policy, regulatory policy, and healthcare reform, reinforces the need to account for influence of individual attitudes toward risk.
Reflections for Looking Forward

Insatiable Curiosity . Innovation in a Fragile Future. By Helga Nowotny . Translated from the German () by Mitch Cohen. MIT Press, Cambridge, MA, 2008. 193 pp. $30, £19.95. ISBN 9780262141031. In this meditation on the future, Nowotny argues that science brings uncertainties and innovation subsequently allows us to cope with them.
The Black Church: Promoting Health, Fighting Disparities

This chapter illustrates the role of the Black church in promoting health awareness and healthy behaviors, and in fighting health disparities.
Cost-utility analysis of bevacizumab versus ranibizumab in neovascular age-related macular degeneration using a Markov model.

Objective To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of intravitreal bevacizumab to ranibizumab in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Methods A cost-utility analysis using a Markov model was performed to evaluate incremental cost-effectiveness ratio [ICER, $US per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained] between bevacizumab and ranibizumab from a US payer perspective. Transition probabilities for ranibizumab and bevacizumab were extrapolated from published studies and local institutional data. Utility values, likewise, were obtained from another published study. Mortality rates were determined from the Centers for Disease Control 2003 Life Tables. Resource utilization and total direct costs were estimated using the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Veterans Affairs Decision Support System. A hypothetical cohort of 1000 patients was simulated through the model for 20 years. Sensitivity analyses were performed using univariate and probabilistic sensitivity analysis (PSA) on all costs, transition probabilities and utility values. An acceptability curve was generated to illustrate the cost-effectiveness probability of bevacizumab to ranibizumab with increasing willingness-to-pay (WTP). Results The cost-effectiveness ratios (CER) for bevacizumab and ranibizumab were $1405 per QALY and $12 177 per QALY, respectively. The ICER for bevacizumab was dominant compared to ranibizumab. The base-case CER was sensitive to drug costs of the study medications with a breakeven point of $44 for ranibizumab and $2666 for bevacizumab. PSA revealed a 95% probability of bevacizumab being more cost-effective than ranibizumab at a WTP of $50 000 per QALY gained. Conclusion Based on a WTP defined at $50 000 per QALY gained, bevacizumab was cost-effective versus ranibizumab 95% of the time because of lower acquisition costs and increased efficacy.
Bayesian Calibration for Power Splitting in Single-Shaft Combined Cycle Plant Diagnostics

Condition monitoring and diagnostics of a combined cycle gas turbine power plant has become an important tool to improve its availability, reliability, and performance. However, there are two major challenges in the diagnostics of performance degradation and anomaly in a single shaft combined cycle power plant. First, since the gas turbine and steam turbine in such a plant share a common generator, each turbine’s contribution to the total plant power output is not directly measured, but must be accurately estimated to identify the possible causes of plant level degradation. Second, multivariate operational data instrumented from a power plant need to be used in the plant model calibration, power splitting and degradation diagnostics. Sensor data always contains some degree of uncertainty. This adds to the difficulty of both estimation of gas turbine to steam turbine power split and degradation diagnostics. This paper presents an integrated probabilistic methodology for accurate power splitting and the degradation diagnostics of a single shaft combined cycle plant, accounting for uncertainties in the measured data. The method integrates the Bayesian inference approach, thermodynamic physics modeling, and sensed operational data seamlessly. The physics-based thermodynamic heat balance model is first established to model the power plant components and their thermodynamic relationships. The model is calibrated to model the plant performance at the design conditions of its main components. The calibrated model is then employed to simulate the plant performance at various operating conditions. A Bayesian inference method is next developed to determine the power split between the gas turbine and the steam turbine by comparing the measured and expected power outputs at different operation conditions, considering uncertainties in multiple measured variables. The calibrated model and calculated power split are further applied to pinpoint the possible causes at individual components resulting in the plant level degradation. The proposed methodology is demonstrated using operational data from a real-world single shaft combined cycle power plant with a known degradation issue. This study provides an effective probabilistic methodology to accurately split the power for degradation diagnostics of a single shaft combined cycle plant, addressing the uncertainties in multiple measured variables.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Planning and The New Urban Populism: The Case of Santa Monica, California

Just as Justice Brandeis viewed states as laboratories of social experimentation, so can citites serve as working models of dif ferent urban policies.
An Overview of Optimal Control for Central Cooling Plants with Ice Thermal Energy Storage

This paper surveys past and current research of optimal control for central chilled water plants with ice thermal energy storage. The motivation for thermal energy storage in commercial buildings is provided and common operating strategies for ice storage including their implementation are presented. The concept of optimality serves as the basis for introducing the various approaches to optimal control of thermal energy storage. Optimal strategies minimizing either energy or demand costs, near-optimal rule based control minimizing total cost, comfort-based energy optimal control, and combined optimal sizing and energy cost optimal control are discussed and contrasted with mathematically non-optimal, but heuristically improved operating strategies. Fully optimal control based on perfect knowledge is introduced and subsequent developments of predictive optimal control subject to uncertain weather, load, and utility rate information illustrated. In addition, recent investigations of adaptive optimal reinforcement learning based control are presented.
Reconstruction technique for focal spot wobbling

ABSTRACT Focal spot wobbling provides a means of obtaining doubled spatial sampling in third generation Computed Tomography(CT) scanners. In this paper, wepresent areconstruction technique which makes use ofthe factthat the spatial sampling intervalhas been halved. The proposed scheme improves system resolution and reduces the amount of computation. INTRODUCTION Focal spot wobbling is one of the techniques employed to achieve high resolution CT (BRCT) images free of aliasingartifacts. It provides a means of obtaining double sampling in third generation CT scanners. This is accomplished by firstacquiring a projection with the focal spot at one position. Theganiry is then rotated so that the detector cells straddle the cellpositions at the previous view. At the same time, the focal spot is deflected back so that it overlaps the focal spot position ofthe previous view. Many studies have been performed on this subject.1.2Mostprevious studies concentrate on hardware implementationissuesrelated to focal spotwobbling. Typicalreconstructionprocesses consist of two steps. In thefirst step, two separate images are reconstructed for the two focal spot positions. Theseimagesare then averaged to arriveatthefinalresultin the secondstep. Thistechniqueperforms satisfactorily in reducing aliasingartifacts. It does not, however; make use of the fact that the sampling interval has been halved and fails to take full advantageof the increased spatial sampling density. In view of this, the following reconstruction technique is proposed.
Over 27% efficiency GaAs/InGaAs mechanically stacked solar cell

Abstract We have applied an InGaAs solar cell (band gap = 0.75 eV) to the bottom cell of the super-high-efficiency tandem solar cell aiming an over 35% conversion efficiency. The InGaAs cell which is lattice-matched to the InP substrate showed the efficiency of 5.5% under the GaAs substrate with low carrier concentration. Combining with the GaAs cell by means of a mechanically stacking technique, we obtained an efficiency of 28.8% at air mass (AM) 1.5, 1-sun. This result suggests the possibility of the cells with the efficiency of over 35% with combining a GalnP/GaAs monolithic tandem cell and the InGaAs cell (or InGaAsP cell).
Vietnam Rising Dragon: Contesting Dominant Western Masculinities in Ho Chi Minh City's Global Sex Industry

Scholars have produced a substantial body of literature on the lives of female sex workers in the commercial sex industry in developed and developing countries around the world. This literature on heterosexual relations has focused overwhelmingly on the experiences of female sex workers, neglecting to examine the significance of male clients (Chapkis 1997; Prasad Sociological Perspectives 42(2):181–213, 1999; Weitzer Annual Review of Sociology, 35(1), 213–234, 2009). The limited studies that do address male clients focus exclusively on Western men who participate in romance or sex tours. No study has examined sex work as a site for the performance and production of specific masculinities for the increasing number of local, non-Western, business elites in the new global economy. Drawing on 15 months of ethnographic research conducted between 2009 and 2010 and informal interviews with 25 clients, 25 sex workers, and three madams in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, I illustrate how local Vietnamese and Asian businessmen enact their masculinity in relation to other men through the medium of hard cash. Local elites' participation in local hostess bars allows them to capitalise on Vietnam's rapid economic restructuring in the context of the 2008 global economic crisis in order to assert their place as major players in the world order. In doing so, wealthy local Vietnamese and Asian businessmen deconstruct dominant Western ideals to assert their place in the global order.
MRI validated echocardiographic technique to measure total cardiac volume: a tool for donor-recipient size matching in pediatric heart transplantation.

Our aim is to develop and validate an accurate method for estimating TCV using standard echocardiographic imaging that can be easily employed to aid in donor-recipient size matching in pediatric heart transplantation. Thirty patients who underwent Echo and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI) were identified. TCV was measured on cMRI. TCV was determined echocardiographically by two methods: a volume measurement using the modified Simpson's method on a four-chamber view of the heart; and a calculated volume measurement which assumed a true-elliptical shape of the heart. These two methods where compared with the value obtained by cMRI using the concordance correlation coefficient (CCC). TCV by method 1 correlated well with cMRI (CCC = 0.98%, CI = 0.97, 0.99). TCV by method 2 had a CCC = 0.90 (CI = 0.9464, 0.9716) when compared to cMRI. Left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV) also correlated as a predictor of TCV in patients with structurally normal hearts and could be described by the equation: TCV = 6.6 (LVEDV) + 12 (R(2) = 0.97). Echocardiographic assessment of TCV for recipients and their potential donors is a simple process and can be prospectively applied as part of donor evaluation.
The learing curve for intraoperative echocardiography during congenital heart surgery

Abstract Our group has previously reported a large prospective experience with the use of intraoperative echocardiography with Doppler color-flow imaging (IE-DCFI) during the repair of congenital heart defects. We have now performed IE-DCFI in 621 patients and have observed a major change in the impact of this technology, which has stabilized during our most recent experience (the last 207 patients). To evaluate the surgical learning curve with IE-DCFI, we divided patients into three groups: group 1, patients 1 through 207; group 2, patients 208 through 414; and group 3, patients 415 through 621. There were no major differences between groups with respect to age or disease entities. The average time needed to perform an IE-DCFI examination decreased from 3.75 ± 1.77 minutes in group 1 to 3.35 ± 1.52 minutes in group 2 and has remained stable. The number of patients requiring revisions in the operating room (based on IE-DCFI findings) decreased from 17 (8%) in group 1 to 7 (3%) in group 2 to 5 (2%) in group 3. Furthermore, revisions were 100% successful in correcting the problem in groups 2 and 3, whereas 18% of group 1 patients left the operating room with persistent residual defects by IE-DCFI. Surgeons can acquire the ability to interpret the results of IE-DCFI themselves and use it to enhance their operative repair of congenital heart defects, but this requires an experience of at least 200 cases. Once skills are refined, the technique will identify 2% to 3% of patients who would benefit from operative revision before leaving the operating room and will direct that revision. As we learned to more accurately evaluate IE-DCFI data, the likelihood of a good outcome for patients leaving the operating room without IE-DCFI-identified problems improved from 88% in group 1 to 95% in group 2 to 97% in group 3.
Ferritin from different organs of man, rat, rabbit and pig.

Abstract 1. 1. The electrophoretic mobilities of ferritin extracted from human livers, spleens and bone marrows were equal; those of ferritin from fetal, adult and regenerating rat livers, from rat spleens and kidneys were also equal to each other, and so were the mobilities of ferritin from livers, spleens and bone marrows of rabbits. 2. 2. Ferritin from erythroid cells of anemic pigs differed markedly in mobility from pig liver ferritin. 3. 3. All these ferritins contained a main, monomeric fraction, and several oligomeric fractions. 4. 4. Together with earlier findings, these observations suggest that production of isoferritins is abnormal. Ferritin synthesis may be controlled by two alternative genes.
Using the Macintosh computer in psychophysiological research: Programs for stimulus presentation, data collection, and response quantification

In this paper, we describe two Turbo Pascal programs, one for the control of stimulus presentation and measurement with peripheral devices (BLINK) and another for off-line stimulus reduction and analysis (SCORE). The programs can be applied in a wide variety of research settings. The programs do not use all of the interactive features of the pull-down menus found in the Macintosh, which increases the degree to which they can be modified for local use. They do not require familiarity with programming.
Identification and quantification of water-soluble hydrocarbons generated by two-cycle outboard motors

A 7.0 horsepower (HP) and a 10.0 HP outboard motor were operated at 3,500±200 rpm and 1,700±200 rpm, respectively for 30 min in a 160 L tank of tapwater. Exhaust hydrocarbons were concentrated by passage through a C18 reverse phase extraction column, and eluted with either ethylacetate or acetonitrile. Gas-liquid and/or high pressure liquid chromatographic procedures were used for identification and quantification of eight hydrocarbons. Identities were confirmed for seven of the compounds by GLC/mass spectrometry. Four additional hydrocarbons were tentatively identified with these procedures. Aromatic compounds composed the majority of the hydrocarbons detected; a few aliphatics were present in trace amounts.