cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Statistical Properties of Large Sample Tests for Dose Content Uniformity

The European Union (EU) test for uniformity of dosage units using large sample sizes was published in European Pharmacopoeia 7.7 in 2012. There are 2 alternative tests. Option 1 is a parametric two-sided tolerance interval-based method modified with an indifference zone and counting units outside of (0.75 M, 1.25 M) (here, M is defined by sample mean, [Formula: see text], as M = 98.5% if [Formula: see text] 101.5%, and M = [Formula: see text] otherwise). Option 2 is a nonparametric counting method with an additional indifference-zone concept. The authors extended the parametric two one-sided tolerance interval-based method that was proposed for dose content uniformity testing based on 30 tablets to large sample sizes with the restriction that all operating characteristic curves of the two one-sided tolerance intervals for any given sample size intersect with the operating characteristic curve of the US Pharmacopoeia harmonized method for a sample size of 30 at the acceptance probability of 90% when the individual tablets with on-target mean are assumed to be normally distributed. This paper studies the acceptance probabilities in relation to the batch mean and batch standard deviation among the 2 EU options and the authors' proposed method. The acceptance probabilities of EU options 1 and 2 and the proposed method were compared using simulation; results revealed that both EU options 1 and 2 produce larger acceptance probabilities when the batch mean is off-target. Furthermore, for a given standard deviation, the acceptance probability of EU option 2 at a mean 102% of the label claim is larger than that at a mean of 100% of the label claim under the normality assumption.
Elastic imperfection sensitivity of hexagonally packed circular-cell honeycombs

The sensitivities of the in–plane macroscopic linear stiffnesses of perfectly elliptical–cell honeycombs to geometric imperfections are derived through an analytical method and a finite–element–based numerical solution. The sensitivities of the honeycomb stiffness to three types of initial imperfections are studied. These imperfections are the deviation from circularity of a cell, a uniform change in thickness of honeycomb cell walls and thickness variations along the honeycomb cell wall. The sensitivities of the in–plane macroscopic stiffnesses to the deviation from circularity of the cell and to the thickness change of the honeycomb cells are derived analytically. The sensitivities of the in–plane properties to thickness variations along the cell wall are obtained numerically.
Energy efficient watermarking on mobile devices using proxy-based partitioning

Digital watermarking embeds an imperceptible signature or watermark in a digital file containing audio, image, text, or video data. The watermark can be used to authenticate the data file and for tamper detection. It is particularly valuable in the use and exchange of digital media, such as audio and video, on emerging handheld devices. However, watermarking is computationally expensive and adds to the drain of the available energy in handheld devices. In this paper, we first analyze the energy profile of various watermarking algorithms. We also study the impact of security and image quality on energy consumption. Second, we present an approach in which we partition the watermarking embedding and extraction algorithms and migrate some tasks to a proxy server. This leads to a lower energy consumption on the handheld without compromising the security of the watermarking process. Experimental results show that executing the watermarking tasks that are partitioned between the proxy and the handheld devices, reduces the total energy consumed by 80%, and improves performance by two orders of magnitude compared to running the application on only the handheld device
Minimization of end-fire radar echo of a long thin body by impedance loading

A theory on the minimization of the end-fire radar echo of a long, thin body by an impedance loading technique is presented. When a long, thin body is illuminated by a plane wave in the region of longitudinal incidence, a large backscatter is observed. This backscatter is due to the induced traveling wave which is reflected from the rear end of the body. By an appropriate impedance loading, this backscatter can be minimized. In this paper, the induced current on a long, thin and loaded cylinder is studied. The optimum impedance loading which minimizes the end-fire radar echo is explicitly obtained. Theoretical results are compared with the experimental data and an excellent agreement is obtained.
Multiuser blind identification using a linear parameterization of the channel matrix and second-order statistics

We observe that the channel matrix in the standard multiuser, multichannel (MIMO) digital communications model is linear in the channel coefficients. Also, previous work incorporating "basis functions" suggests that the multipath channel itself is in a subspace formed by delayed versions of the transmission pulse. Hence the channel matrix is linear in the coefficients of this subspace. We propose two algorithms based on the sample covariance matrix of the received signal (i.e., second-order statistics) that take advantage of this linear parameterization: a new identification algorithm that estimates the outer product of the model coefficients via multiplication by a predetermined matrix, and a multiuser version of the previously presented "subspace method" that employs knowledge of the transmission pulse. While both methods are superior to the original non-parameterized subspace method in terms of computation and performance, the new method requires less computation and in some cases outperforms the other.
Entrada no campo, aceitação e natureza da participação nos estudos etnográficos com crianças pequenas

Fazer pesquisa etnografica com criancas pequenas envolve um certo numero de desafios uma vez que os adultos sao percebidos como poderosos e controladores de suas vidas. Este artigo relata minhas pesquisas etnograficas comparativas com criancas de pre-escolas nos Estados Unidos e na Italia. Enfoco mais particularmente a entrada no campo, o estabelecimento do status de participante e a coleta de notas de campo e de dados audiovisuais. Faco uma breve revisao dos procedimentos de entrada no campo que usei nos locais de pesquisa de campo nos Estados Unidos e na Italia. Discuto como, com o tempo, passei a fazer "pesquisa com, e nao mais sobre, criancas", ou seja, como meus metodos de coleta de dados acabaram se tornando gradualmente mais abertos a contribuicao direta das criancas. Finalmente, usando a pesquisa de Modena, na Italia, discuto uma etnografia longitudinal ao longo de periodos-chave de transicao na vida das criancas. Essa etnografia implicou que permanecesse com e continuasse observando e entrevistando as criancas quando entraram na primeira serie e durante seus cinco anos de escola primaria.
Autophagy and lysosomal dysfunction as emerging mechanisms of nanomaterial toxicity

The study of the potential risks associated with the manufacture, use, and disposal of nanoscale materials, and their mechanisms of toxicity, is important for the continued advancement of nanotechnology. Currently, the most widely accepted paradigms of nanomaterial toxicity are oxidative stress and inflammation, but the underlying mechanisms are poorly defined. This review will highlight the significance of autophagy and lysosomal dysfunction as emerging mechanisms of nanomaterial toxicity. Most endocytic routes of nanomaterial cell uptake converge upon the lysosome, making the lysosomal compartment the most common intracellular site of nanoparticle sequestration and degradation. In addition to the endo-lysosomal pathway, recent evidence suggests that some nanomaterials can also induce autophagy. Among the many physiological functions, the lysosome, by way of the autophagy (macroautophagy) pathway, degrades intracellular pathogens, and damaged organelles and proteins. Thus, autophagy induction by nanoparticles may be an attempt to degrade what is perceived by the cell as foreign or aberrant. While the autophagy and endo-lysosomal pathways have the potential to influence the disposition of nanomaterials, there is also a growing body of literature suggesting that biopersistent nanomaterials can, in turn, negatively impact these pathways. Indeed, there is ample evidence that biopersistent nanomaterials can cause autophagy and lysosomal dysfunctions resulting in toxicological consequences.
Task Switching Versus Cue Switching: Using Transition Cuing to Disentangle Sequential Effects in Task-Switching Performance

Recent methodological advances have allowed researchers to address confounds in the measurement of task-switch costs in task-switching performance by dissociating cue switching from task switching. For example, in the transition-cuing procedure, which involves presenting cues for task transitions rather than for tasks, cue transitions (cue switches and cue repetitions) and task transitions (task switches and task repetitions) can be examined in a complete factorial design. Transition cuing removes the confound between cue transitions and first-order task transitions, but it introduces a confound between cue transitions and longer task sequences. In the present study, transition cuing was studied with two cues per transition (REPEAT and AGAIN for task repetitions; SWITCH and CHANGE for task switches), enabling a partial deconfounding of cue transitions and task sequences. Two experiments revealed robust sequential effects, with higher order task transitions affecting performance when cue transitions were held constant and with cue transitions affecting performance when task sequences were held constant. Methodological and theoretical implications of these findings for research on task switching are discussed.
Using native annual plants to restore post-fire habitats in western North America.

Increasing fire frequencies and uncharacteristic severe fires have created a need for improved restoration methods across rangelands in western North America. Traditional restoration seed mixtures of native perennial mid- to late-seral plant species may not be suitable for intensely burned sites that have been returned to an early-seral condition. Undersuchconditions,nativeannualplantspeciesarelikelytobemoresuccessfulatbecomingestablishedandcompeting with exotic annual plant species, such as Bromus tectorum L., for resources. We used a field study in Colorado and Idaho, USA, to test the hypothesis that native annual plant species are better suited to post-fire restoration efforts compared with perennial plant species that are commonly used in traditional seed mixtures. Replicated test plots at three post-fire sites wereassignedoneoffourtreatments:(1)nativeannualseedmixture,(2)standardperennialseedmixture,(3)combination ofannualandperennialand(4)anunseededcontrol.Seedingnativeannualswithperennialsresultedinaslightreductionin exotic plant cover, suggesting that it is potentially beneficial to include native annual plant species in restoration seed mixtures.
Multi-Channel Fast Parametric Algorithms and Performance for Adaptive Radar

Airborne radar systems employing radar sensor arrays utilize multi-channel (MC) signal processing techniques for optimal detection and localization of targets. The detection and localization statistics have mathematical structures that typically require the inverse of an estimated covariance matrix in order to be evaluated. Due to the size of sensor arrays and the number of pulses in a coherent processing interval (CPI), the dimension of the covariance arrays is very large (1000s) and the computational burden of estimating and inverting such large arrays has led to the development of parametric methodologies that significantly reduce both the computational requirements and the amount of measured data to create the inverse co-variance matrix estimate. Recent developments have indicated non-stationary covariance estimates may provide enhanced detection performance over stationary covariance estimates. This paper outlines the fast computational structure possibilities of both stationary and non-stationary covariance inverse structures in one-dimensional and multi-channel cases.
Abstracts for SIG/HFIS classic panel session: Theme 6: “Trends and issues in the history of information science and technology and the ASIST history fund awards showcase”

This classic panel session will review recent trends and issues in the study of the history of information science and technology and present findings from the first awards given by the ASIST History Fund. It will consist of three presentations: (1) an overview, by Robert V. Williams, of recent trends and issues and identify some of the major gaps that need to be addressed in future work; (2) a presentation by Charles Meadow, winner of the 2009 ASIST History Fund Research Grant award, of the results of his study of the history of the digital divide; (3) a presentation by Rachel Plotnick, winner of the 2009 ASIST History Fund Best Paper award, on her study of the history of a total hospital medical information system developed in the 1960's and 1970's. Presentation 1: Robert V. Williams, Distinguished Prof., Emeritus School of Library and Information Science Univ. of South Carolina Columbia, SC 29208 e-mail: bobwill@sc.edu Title: Trends, Issues and Gaps in the Study of the History of Information Science and Technology
Plasma and 24-h NOx and cGMP during normal pregnancy and preeclampsia in women on a reduced NOx diet

We tested the hypothesis that nitric oxide (NO) biosynthesis increases during normal human pregnancy and decreases in preeclampsia. The major metabolites of NO, nitrate and nitrite (NOx), were meas...
What Do We Really Know About the Effects of Mindfulness-Based Training in the Workplace?

In an attempt to distill what we know about the effects of workplace mindfulness-based training, Hyland, Lee, and Mills (2015) cast a wide net with regard to the array of studies included in their review. For example, they include studies that investigate the benefits associated with workplace mindfulness training (e.g., Wolever et al., 2012) as well as training conducted for patients within primary care settings (e.g., Allen, Bromley, Kuyken, & Sonnenberg, 2009). In addition, their review includes studies based on self-reports of individual differences in mindfulness traits/skills (e.g., Hafenbrack, Kinias, & Barsade, 2014). Reviewing a broad cross-section of research is helpful to illustrate the wide-ranging nature of mindfulness research but also has the potential to obfuscate what we know about mindfulness as it pertains to workers and workplaces.
Orbital floor reconstruction using porcine small intestinal submucosa

Background: We conducted a prospective, controlled, blinded pilot study to demonstrate that repair of induced rabbit orbital floor fractures with Surgisis ES TM (Cook Biotech Inc, West Lafayette, Ind) provides adequate orbital content support while promoting mucosal and bone regeneration of the fracture site. Material/Methods: Ten New Zealand white rabbits underwent induced bilateral controlled (5mm) orbital floor fractures under anesthesia. In each rabbit, Surgisis ES, an acellular, freeze-dried soft tissue matrix derived from porcine small intestinal submucosa, was implanted subperiosteally to repair one orbital floor fracture through a transconjuntival approach. The contralateral orbital floor fracture served as a control. Histological assessment was performed at 1, 3, and 12 months post-operatively. Results: All ten rabbits survived the surgery without infection, globe entrapment or implant rejection. Grossly, tlie orbits appeared similar in the ten rabbits. Subtle histological differences were noted between tlie fractures repaired with Surgisis ES and those left to heal without treatment. Eosinophilic infiltrates and connective tissue fibrosis found to varying degrees in the Surgisis ES sites were not found in the control sites. Previous Surgisis studies found a foreign body giant cell reaction that was absent in this study. Both sites were healed at all intervals. Conclusions: Surgisis ES can successfully serve as a graft in the repair of orbital floor fractures in rabbits. However, its ability to promote central bone regeneration has not been clearly established. Additional studies investigating its application in human orbital trauma are needed.
Social Work in the Elementary Schools: Techniques and Goals

life at which counsel is given, however, certain goals are characteristic of all school social work. First among these is that the child realize his fullest capacities in and through his school experience. Social workers set about this undertaking with a long look at the past and an even longer look at the future, but at both the elemen tary and the secondary level the child's adjustment and his growth in and through the school will be the focus of the worker's concern. Of course, the child does not deposit his "home self" on the steps of the school as he comes in the door, nor can he become wholly the "home self" when he leaves school. But the opportunity of social workers to be of use is in the school. It is this that differentiates casework from
The Effect of Product Sales Quotas on Sales Force Productivity

This article describes an actual controlled experiment to test the validity of the Davis-Farley sales compensation model. Results indicate that the implicit assumption of the model that salesmen se...
Packing Density of Alumina Powder Mixtures with a Variety of Size Distributions

The packing density of the cakes prepared by slip casting of the alumina powder mixtures with a wide particle size distribution ranging from 0.1 to 10μm has been studied. More effective particle packing was achieved for powder mixtures consisting of two discrete size components, in which the fine particles can fill the void spaces between the coarse particles. The entire range of distribution can be divided into two regions so as to constitute a binary packing system. The ultimate packing density depended on the fraction of the finest component rather than the variety of the size distributions. The packing behavior was discussed in terms of the two different types of the packing mode.
A Small Suburb Becomes a Boomburb: Explaining Suburban Growth in Naperville, Illinois

The Chicago suburb of Naperville, Illinois, today has over one hundred forty thousand residents and is considered a “boomburb” because of its double-digit percentage growth over several decades. How did it reach this point? Explanations of urban growth—including the Chicago School and political economy perspectives; categories of suburbs, like boomburbs and edge cities; and narratives within Naperville itself—highlight different mechanisms at work. This study considers the factors that influenced Naperville’s growth and how each narrative fits the suburb’s development. The implications for future studies of suburban growth include the unpredictability of growth as it is happening, recognizing the limits of categorizing suburbs, undertaking comparative studies of suburbs across types or within regions, and not relying heavily on analyses of suburban outliers and unusual cases (like Naperville).
Reactions of atomic hydrogen with formic acid and carbon monoxide in solid parahydrogen I: Anomalous effect of temperature.

Low-temperature condensed phase reactions of atomic hydrogen with closed-shell molecules have been studied in rare gas matrices as a way to generate unstable chemical intermediates and to study tunneling-driven chemistry. Although parahydrogen (pH2) matrix isolation spectroscopy allows these reactions to be studied equally well, little is known about the analogous reactions conducted in a pH2 matrix host. In this study, we present Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic studies of the 193 nm photoinduced chemistry of formic acid (HCOOH) isolated in a pH2 matrix over the 1.7 to 4.3 K temperature range. Upon short-term irradiation the HCOOH readily undergoes photolysis to yield CO, CO2, HOCO, HCO and H atoms. Furthermore, after photolysis at 1.9 K tunneling reactions between migrating H atoms and trapped HCOOH and CO continue to produce HOCO and HCO, respectively. A series of postphotolysis kinetic experiments at 1.9 K with varying photolysis conditions and initial HCOOH concentrations show the grow...
Role of Pore Loops in the Mechanism of Polypeptide Translocation by a AAA+ Protease Machine

Proteases of the AAA+ family play crucial roles maintaining protein homeostasis in the cell by degrading misfolded/damaged proteins. ClpX is a homohexameric ring-shaped member of this family, which uses ATP to mechanically unfold native substrates and translocate them into the associated proteolytic chamber of ClpP. Polypeptide translocation is impelled by pore loops that protrude from every subunit into the lumen of ClpX pore, which contact the polypeptide through a highly-conserved motif: GYVG. We used single-molecule assays with optical tweezers to study the effect on the mechanochemistry of the motor of Y153A and V154F mutations, which decrease/increase the size of these loops. 1-3 ClpX WT subunits were substituted by either a Y153A or V154F mutant subunit, arranged in different positions relative to each other within the ClpX ring. Since the translocation cycle has two phases, a dwell and a burst, we analyzed the effect of these mutations on these phases. Y153A mutations decreased the dwell duration compared to WT, increasing translocation velocity, while V154F mutants had longer dwells, reducing translocation velocity. Interestingly, the burst-size remained unaffected. ATP-turnover analysis revealed that in Y153A mutants increased dramatically, while in V154F it was a smaller increase. We calculated the coupling coefficient (CC), the number of ATP hydrolysis cycles that are required for a productive power stroke. For WT the CC is one, Y153A mutants have a CC of two, while in V154F mutants is between one and two. Finally, we observed that mutant subunits either located across the ClpX ring or intercalated by a WT subunit had more effect in the duration of the dwell and in GFP unfolding capability. These results provide missing information about the spatial arrangement and inter-subunit coordination of pore loops during polypeptide translocation.
Effect of Steam on Partial Decomposition of Dolomite

Partially decomposed dolomite is a promising base material for regenerable MgO-based sorbents to capture CO2 from precombustion syngas at high pressures and temperatures. An important characteristi...
Population Dynamics and Biotic Controls of the Soybean Looper in Louisiana

Population levels of Pseudoplusia includens (Walker) were found to vary considerably among agricultural ecosystems in Louisiana. The cotton, corn, and soybean ecosystem was characterized by a dense larval population in late August or September. Parasitism was inversely related to population density and to the amount of pesticides used in the surrounding area. Apanteles scitulus Riley and Copidosoma truncatellum (Dalman) were the predominant parasites, while Lespesia aletiae (Riley) was of lesser importance. The fungal pathogens Spicaria rileyi (Farlow) Charles and Massospora sp. attacked the soybean looper larvae at different periods and densities. S. rileyi appeared in midsummer at relatively low population densities, while Massospora sp. was present only in late August or September in very dense larval populations.
Bullying Victimization in Medically Hospitalized Patients With Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders: Prevalence and Associated Factors

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to describe the prevalence of bullying victimization among medically admitted patients with somatic symptom and related disorders (SSDs) and to compare demographic, diagnostic, and psychosocial characteristics of bullied versus nonbullied patients. METHODS: Medically admitted patients at a tertiary pediatric facility referred to the Psychiatry Consultation Service with somatic concerns were assessed via a quality improvement (QI) initiative, the SSD Standardized Clinical Assessment and Management Plan (SSD-SCAMP). Retrospective chart and QI data on adolescent and young adult patients assessed via SSD-SCAMP from May 2012 - December 2014 were reviewed. RESULTS: Medical records of 282 patients (aged 12–22 years) diagnosed with SSDs were reviewed. Approximately 37% had a history of bullying victimization. Compared with nonbullied patients, bullied patients had higher somatization scores, more functional neurologic symptoms, and longer admissions. Bullied patients also had higher rates of comorbid anxiety, suicidal histories, and family psychiatric histories. Furthermore, bullied patients also had higher rates of learning disabilities and school accommodations and endorsed more significant life events within the year before hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS: This study describes the unique health and psychosocial challenges experienced by medically hospitalized bullied adolescents and young adults with SSDs. The findings highlight the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to assessment and management. By implementing QI initiatives such as the SSD-SCAMP, providers can bridge the gap between the clinical needs and long-term management of patients with SSDs.
[Applicability of a sensitive duplex real-time PCR assay for identifying B/Yamagata and B/Victoria lineages of influenza virus].

Objective To develop a novel sensitive duplex real-time PCR assay for accurately identifying B/Yamagata and B/Victoria lineages of influenza virus type B.Methods 50 HA (hemagglutinin) gene sequences coding for B/Yamagata and B/Victoria lineage,respectively,were randomly downloaded for GenBank and analyzed by software MEGA.Primers and probes specific for HA gene of B/Yamagata and B/Victoria lineages were designed by Primer Primer and then applied in the duplex real-time RT-PCR method that was followed developed.Influenza virus B type and A type isolated in our laboratory and typing-confirmed by HAI method were used as reference strains to determine the specificity of this assay and the sensitivity of the duplex amplification was evaluated by viral load testing in terms of in vitro transcribed RNA copy number.Results In 2006-2010,793 influenza virus type B strains were isolated from 17 765 throat swab samples,among which 152 strains were differentiated as By lineage and 641 as Bv lineage by this assay.These results was agreement with that determined by HAI assay.This developed assay allows to accurately identify approximately 102 copies/μl for Bv and By lineage virus with intra-and intercoefficient of variation (CV) ＜ 3.5％ and nearly 100％ specificity.Conclusions This method provides sensitive and robust tool for routine diagnosis and on-time epidemiological examination of influenza virus,which could be applied in influenza surveillance laboratories for rapid molecular diagnosis. Key words: Influenza B virus; Polymerase chain reaction; Flourescent antibody tecnique
Noninvasive assessment of hemodynamic effects of mitral valve commissurotomy during rest and exercise in patients with mitral stenosis.

Noninvasive radionuclide angiocardiography (RNA) provides simple and accurate assessment of parameters of cardiac function during rest and during maximal exercise. Left ventricular function was assessed by RNA in nine patients with isolated mitral stenosis before and approximately 6 months after mitral commissurotomy. Before operation, the mean mitral valve gradient was 14.0 ± 2.8 mm Hg, and the mean mitral valve area was 1.20 ± 0.3 cm2. Each patient was evaluated at rest and during maximal exercise on an isokinetic bicycle ergometer before and after commissurotomy. Heart rate, ejection fraction, end-diastolic volume, stroke volume, pulmonary transit time, cardiac output, and diastolic ventricular filling rate were determined by the radionuclide technique. Before operation, patients with mitral stenosis had characteristic changes from rest to exercise which supported restriction to diastolic left ventricular filling as the primary limitation in generating a cardiac output during exercise. The stroke volume was unchanged from rest to exercise. Thus the cardiac output during exercise was heart rate dependent. However, after commissurotomy the stroke volume increased from rest to exercise. Therefore, cardiac output during exercise was achieved by heart rate and an augmented stroke volume. Moreover, the pulmonary transit time was reduced during rest and exercise after operation. The maximum ventricular ejection and filling rates were markedly increased during rest and exercise after commissurotomy. These differences in hemodynamic parameters at rest and during exercise document the mechanics of increased exercise tolerance in patients with mitral stenosis after mitral commissurotomy.
Preoperative cancer cachexia and short-term outcomes following surgery.

Background Cancer cachexia is an important measure of physiologic reserve associated with worse survival and represents an actionable factor for the cancer population. However, the incidence of cachexia in surgical cancer patients and its impact on postoperative outcomes are currently unknown. Methods A prospective cohort study enrolling patients having elective cancer surgery (2012-2014) at a Veterans Affairs tertiary referral center. Preoperative cancer cachexia (weight loss ≥5% over 6-mo period before surgery) was the predictor of interest. The primary outcome was 60-d postoperative complications (VA Surgical Quality Improvement Program). Patients were grouped by body mass index (BMI) category (<25, 25-29.9, ≥30), and interaction between cachexia and BMI was tested for the primary outcome. Multivariate logistic regression was used to examine the association between preoperative cachexia and postoperative complications. Results Of 253 patients, 16.6% had preoperative cachexia, and 51.8% developed ≥ 1 postoperative complications. Complications were more common in cachectic patients (64.3% versus 49.3%, P = 0.07). This association varied by BMI category, and interaction analysis was significant for those with normal or underweight BMI (BMI < 25, P = 0.03). After multivariate modeling, in patients with normal or underweight BMI, preoperative cachexia was associated with higher odds of postoperative complications (odds ratios, 5.08 [95% confidence intervals, 1.18-21.88]; P = 0.029). Additional predictors of complications included major surgery (3.19 [1.24-8.21], P = 0.01), ostomy (4.43 [1.68-11.72], P = 0.003), and poor baseline performance status (2.31 [1.05-5.08], P = 0.03). Conclusions Cancer cachexia is common in surgical patients, and is an important predictor of postoperative complications, though its effect varies by BMI. As a modifiable predictor of worse outcomes, future studies should examine the role of cachexia treatment before cancer surgery.
Technical efficiency, herd size, and exit intentions in U.S. dairy farms

The U.S. dairy industry has seen major restructuring in recent decades. A sharp decline in the number of U.S. dairy farms and an increase in average herd sizes have accompanied exits, which have been concentrated among smaller herds. Given that more productive farms are better positioned to increase operation size and to continue operation, we hypothesize that the more technically efficient farms are better able to expand and also have stronger incentives to continue production. Using data from the USDA's 2010 ARMS Phase III, Dairy Production Practices and Costs and Returns Report, we estimate technical efficiency using stochastic production frontier analysis with endogenous inputs. The efficiency estimate is then incorporated into the analysis of exit intention and herd size. The results confirm our hypotheses that smaller and less efficient farms are more likely to exit and that more efficient dairy farms tend to expand herd size. Moreover, farms without successors but with older and more educated operators are more likely to exit.
A Radio Channel Sounder for Mobile Millimeter-Wave Communications: System Implementation and Measurement Assessment

We describe a state-of-the-art channel sounder to support channel-model development for mobile millimeter-wave (mm-wave) communications. The system can measure the complex amplitude, delay, and angle of arrival of the multipath components of indoor and outdoor channels. Specifically, a custom multiplexer (MUX) records the channel impulse response across a 16-element receive (RX) antenna array in $65.5~\mu \text{s}$ , while the channel is static. The delay resolution of the system is 1 ns and, because the elements are oriented in a 3-D space, both azimuth and elevation angles can be extracted. The robust link budget, comprising high-gain directional RX antennas, enables indoor link measurement beyond 150 m in line-of-sight and 20 m in non-line-of-sight conditions. The RX array is mounted on a location-aware robot, which is battery operated. Combined with the speed of the MUX, untethered acquisition of mobile-channel data is possible. To the best of our knowledge, this paper contributes the first sounder that is capable of mobile measurements at mm-wave frequencies. The hardware implementation of a functional 83.5-GHz system is described in this paper, and some illustrative results, including small-scale statistics and Doppler, are presented.
Sufficient Conditions for the Existence of Conditional Moments of Stable Random Variables

Conditional moments E[X 2|p|X 1 = x] of an α-stable random vector (X 1,X 2) may exist even if p ⩾ α. The precise conditions are stated in Cioczek-Georges and Taqqu [4]_and Samorodnitsky and Taqqu [12]. This paper provides the proof for the most delicate cases, namely 1 < α< 2 and p < 2α+ 1, which is the maximal range of possible p’s when the vector (X 1, X 2) is nondegenerate.
What can machines know? On the epistemic properties of machines

It has been argued that knowledge is a useful tool for designing and analyzing complex systems in AI. The notion of knowledge that seems most relevant in this context is an external, information-based notion that can be shown to satisfy all the axioms of the modal logic S5. We carefully examine the properties of this notion of knowledge, and show that they depend crucially, and in subtle ways, on assumptions we make about the system. We present a formal model in which we can capture the types of assumptions frequently made about systems (such as whether they are deterministic or nondeterministic, whether knowledge is cumulative, and whether or not the environment affects the transitions of the system). We then show that under some assumptions certain states of knowledge are not attainable, and the axioms of S5 do not completely characterize the properties of knowledge; extra axioms are needed. We provide complete axiomatizations for knowledge in a number of cases of interest.
Macrophage Fusion and Multinucleated Giant Cells of Inflammation

Macrophages undergo fusion with other macrophages to form the hallmark multinucleated giant cells of chronic inflammation. However, neither the existence of distinct morphological types of giant cells, the signaling pathways that induce their formation, the molecular mechanism(s) of macrophage fusion, nor the significance of macrophage multinucleation at chronic inflammatory sites are well understood. Our efforts have been focused on these unknowns, particularly as they relate to the foreign body-type giant cells that form on implanted biomaterials and biomedical devices. We have pursued the discoveries of human macrophage fusion factors (interleukin-4, interleukin-13, α-tocopherol) with emphasis on foreign body giant cells, and identified adhesion receptors and signaling intermediates, as well as an adhesion protein substrate (vitronectin) that supports macrophage fusion. Studies on the molecular mechanism of macrophage fusion have revealed it to be a mannose receptor-mediated phagocytic process with participation of the endoplasmic reticulum. Further phenotypic and functional investigations will foster new perspectives on these remarkable multinucleated cells and their physiological significances in multiple inflammatory processes.
Social Models of Drinking Behavior in Animals

Although certain social environments clearly facilitate alcohol intake in humans, the role of social factors in alcohol consumption by animals is less clear. While social housing conditions such as crowding and isolation increase alcohol consumption in animals, in both cases this is mediated by heightened stress. Increases in social tension increase alcohol consumption in social groups of animals, but the literature is extremely variable in reports of how dominance correlates with alcohol consumption. Alcohol administration has biphasic effects on social behavior of animals similar to its biphasic effects on activity levels.
Safety of Cochlear Implants in Electrosurgery: A Systematic Review of the Literature.

Background The implications of electrosurgical instrument use in patients with cochlear implants (CIs) are becoming increasingly relevant for dermatologic surgeons as the number of implanted CI devices continues to grow. The literature, however, fails to provide clear recommendations for appropriate treatment of these patients. Objective To systematically consolidate and critique the current literature regarding electrosurgical instrument use in patients with CI, to determine implications of various electrosurgical devices and settings on CI function and health of cochlear tissues, and to devise recommendations for appropriate use. Materials and methods The manuscript was created based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) criteria. A broad search of PubMed, Access Medicine, Clinical Key, Ovid, Scopus, the Cochrane Library, and Web of Science was performed using key words such as CI, electrosurgery, and/or electrosurgical device. Criteria for inclusion included being written in English language and institutional access to manuscript. All years were included. Additional references were obtained from personal communication with CI manufacturers. Study biases were assessed through evaluation of funding and/or sponsoring agencies for included studies. Results The authors' search yielded a total of 8 studies, 5 of which were a level of evidence 5, 2 of which were level of evidence 4, and 1 of which was a level of evidence 3. The remaining study was relegated only to device testing. These studies were complicated by inaccurate terminology and inconsistent recommendations. Conclusion The body of evidence evaluating electrosurgical instrument use in patients with CI is severely limited in number and quality. Thus, vague and inconsistent recommendations have emerged that place patients at risk of serious and costly adverse effects. In light of this, the authors suggest use of the most conservative recommendations available for electrosurgical instrument use in patients with CI.
Heterogeneity in Crosslinked Polymer Networks: Molecular Dynamics Simulations

Crosslinked network formation occurs when multifunctional precursors react to form a three-dimensional polymer network. In attempting to link network topology to physical properties, materials are typically characterized by the functionality of the crosslink nodes, the typical chain length between crosslinks and the concentration of the crosslink junctions. Statistical models that are in common usage calculate average values of these quantities and do not determine the possible variation in these properties. Molecular dynamics studies show not only how networks form and whether the average values conform to the predictions of these statistical theories, but also how they vary locally. An important result from the simulations is that there are significant regions where there are few bonds connecting neighboring chains. In addition, very long loops and dangling chains occur. None of this should be surprising in a system where the reactions and spatial arrangements are influenced by random chance and there are such a huge number of precursor molecules and possibilities that a number of nonideal configurations are possible. The simulations permit visualizations of these imperfections and show how large they are. Many of the end use properties of polymer networks depend on the continuity of the network, so this heterogeneity must have an impact on the physical properties. Here, the simulations use coarse-grained techniques that are not specific to any reactive chemistry, but such research may indicate how networks can be assembled that are less prone to large heterogeneities and are thus more robust.
A KUHNIAN INTERPRETATION OF THE HISTORICAL EVOLUTION OF ACCOUNTING

Distinct parallels exist between the historical evolution of scientific disciplines, as explained in Thomas Kuhn's The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, and the historical evolution of the accounting discipline. These parallels become apparent when accounting's dominant paradigm is interpreted to be the double-entry bookkeeping model. Following this interpretation, the extensive articulation of the double-entry model over the past four centuries may be seen to closely resemble the “normal science” of Kuhn's theory. Further parallels become apparent when Kuhn's concept of the disciplinary crises that precede scientific revolutions is compared to developments in the accounting discipline over the past 25 years. This portrayal of accounting's evolution suggests an uncertain future for the accounting discipline.
Social Antecedents and Consequences of Self-Evaluation

In this volume, self-evaluative responses are differentiated both from self-referent cognitive responses and from self-feelings. Self-evaluation is differentiated from self-feeling, since the two reflect qualitiatively distinct processes: One is a cognitive function and the other is an affective function. The relationship between self-evaluation and self-cognition, however, is that of a less inclusive to a more inclusive category of cognitive responses. Self-evaluation may be thought of as a particular kind of self-referent cognition. A self-evaluative response is one that reflects the person’s awareness and conceptualization of his own attributes, behaviors, and experiences as more or less closely approximating relatively highly valued or disvalued states.
Macroscopic Approaches of Process Integration

The systems perspective is a fundamental trait of process integration activities. Indeed, the hallmark of process integration is the holistic perspective, which emphasizes the unity of the system and accounts for the interactions among the internal components of the systems as well as the interactions with the external components (e.g., surroundings, environmental). The system boundaries can be drawn around a direct-recycle network, a mass-exchange network, a heat-exchange network, a cogeneration network, or the whole plant. In this chapter, the boundaries are expanded to go beyond the plant and to include the surrounding environmental systems. Because of the general applicability of process integration, there is a consistent approach in treating macroscopic systems in way similar to how individual process plants are treated. The chapter will focus on the following areas:
Quality of antenatal care service provision in health facilities across sub–Saharan Africa: Evidence from nationally representative health facility assessments

Background Utilization of antenatal care (ANC) services has increased over the past two decades. Continued gains in maternal and newborn health will require an understanding of both access and quality of ANC services. We linked health facility and household survey data to examine the quality of service provision for five ANC interventions across health facilities in sub-Saharan Africa. Methods Using data from 20 nationally representative health facility assessments - the Service Provision Assessment (SPA) and the Service Availability and Readiness Assessment (SARA), we estimated facility level readiness to deliver five ANC interventions: tetanus toxoid vaccine for pregnant women, intermittent preventive treatment for malaria in pregnancy (IPTp), syphilis detection and treatment in pregnancy, iron supplementation and hypertensive disease case management. Facility level indicators were stratified by health facility type, managing authority and location, then linked to estimates of ANC utilization in that stratum from the corresponding Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) to generate population level estimates of the 'likelihood of appropriate care'. Finally, the association between estimates of the 'likelihood of appropriate care' from the linking approach and estimates of coverage levels from the DHS were assessed. Findings A total of 10 534 health facilities were surveyed in the 20 health facility assessments, of which 8742 reported offering ANC services and were included in the analysis. Health facility readiness to deliver IPTp, iron supplementation, and tetanus toxoid vaccination was higher (median: 84.1%, 84.9% and 82.8% respectively) than readiness to deliver hypertensive disease case management and syphilis detection and treatment (median: 23.0% and 19.9% respectively). Coverage of at least 4 ANC visits ranged from 24.8% to 75.8%. Estimates of the likelihood of appropriate care derived from linking health facility and household survey data showed marked gaps for all interventions, particularly hypertensive disease case management and syphilis detection and treatment. There was fairly good concordance between our estimates of high likelihood of appropriate care and DHS estimates of coverage for iron supplementation, IPTp, and tetanus toxoid vaccination. Conclusion Linking household surveys to health facility assessments revealed marked gaps in population-level coverage of quality ANC interventions and underscored the need for a double-pronged approach to increase ANC utilization and improve the quality of ANC services.
INTERNAL CAPITAL MARKETS, FORMS OF INTRAGROUP TRANSFERS, AND DIVIDEND POLICY: EVIDENCE FROM INDIAN CORPORATES

Firms in a business group share ownership structures, allowing them access to sources of intragroup financing not available to independent firms. Resources could be transferred within a group either through intragroup transactions, primarily operational activities (internal transfers), or through dividends permitting insiders to make investments in other group firms (external transfers). The first strategy predicts lower dividends, and the second predicts the reverse. Using a large data set of listed Indian firms, we look at the costs of internal transfers versus external transfers and find that dividend policies of group firms are better explained by the external transfer hypothesis.
Wearable device user authentication using physiological and behavioral metrics

Wearables, such as Fitbit, Apple Watch, and Microsoft Band, with their rich collection of sensors, facilitate the tracking of healthcare- and wellness-related metrics. However, the assessment of the physiological metrics collected by these devices could also be useful in identifying the user of the wearable, e.g., to detect unauthorized use or to correctly associate the data to a user if wearables are shared among multiple users. Further, researchers and healthcare providers often rely on these smart wearables to monitor research subjects and patients in their natural environments over extended periods of time. Here, it is important to associate the sensed data with the corresponding user and to detect if a device is being used by an unauthorized individual, to ensure study compliance. Existing one-time authentication approaches using credentials (e.g., passwords, certificates) or trait-based biometrics (e.g., face, fingerprints, iris, voice) might fail, since such credentials can easily be shared among users. In this paper, we present a continuous and reliable wearable-user authentication mechanism using coarse-grain minute-level physical activity (step counts) and physiological data (heart rate, calorie burn, and metabolic equivalent of task). From our analysis of 421 Fitbit users from a two-year long health study, we are able to statistically distinguish nearly 100% of the subject-pairs and to identify subjects with an average accuracy of 92.97%.