cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An implementable architecture of an e-learning system

This paper analyses current standards and proposals for e-learning system architecture. Its main objective is to contribute an original proposal for a functional architecture and service architecture for building standard-driven distributed and interoperable learning systems. The functional architecture defines components that make up an e-learning system and the objects that must be moved among these components. We implement the service model with Web Services technology to provide a standard means of communication among different Learning management systems and different content authoring tools. This paper focuses on how to integrate Web Services on the e-learning application domain. We use J2EE as our technical infrastructure to build our components and integrate with Web service.
Dealloying of Ag-Au Alloys in Halide-Containing Electrolytes Affect on Critical Potential and Pore Size

We present the results of dealloying studies of Ag 0 . 7 Au 0 . 3 and Ag 0 . 6 5 Au 0 . 3 5 alloys in 0.1 M HClO 4 with the addition of either 0.1 M KCl, 0.1 M KBr, or 0.1 M KI. The critical overpotential decreases with the addition of halides with KI having the largest potential reduction of almost 50%. This decrease is discussed with respect to a competition between the rates of increase of Au surface diffusivity and Ag exchange current density with halide additions. The size scale of porosity produced during the dealloying of Ag 0 . 6 5 Au 0 . 3 5 in the above electrolytes was found to increase with the addition of halides. Without the addition of halides, a pore size of approximately 8 nm is produced while 17, 16, and 67 nm is measured in the KCl-, KBr-, and KI-containing electrolytes. The value of surface diffusivity required to coarsen the dealloyed structure to these size scales has been calculated to be 2 × 10 - 1 6 cm 2 s - 1 (0.1 M HClO 4 ), 3 X 10 - 1 5 cm 2 s - 1 (KBr or KCI), and 8 X 10 - 1 3 cm 2 s - 1 (KI).
Modelling of friction stir welding for robotic implementation

A three-dimensional numerical model is used to simulate the Friction Stir Welding (FSW) process using the computational fluid dynamics package 'FLUENT'. Two mechanical models: the Couette and the Visco-Plastic fluid flow models for Al-6061-T6 were simulated. The simulation results are compared to experimental data for Al 6061-T6 welded at high rotational (1500–5000 rpm) and travel speeds ranging from 11 to 63 ipm (4.66–26.7 mm/s) are presented. This paper examines the forces and torques associated with the FSW process with respect to considerations necessary for robotic implementation. It is shown that force control is an important requirement of robotic FSW.
Self-Interest vs. Symbolic Politics in Policy Attitudes and Presidential Voting

This article contrasts short-term self-interest and longstanding symbolic attitudes as determinants of (1) voters' attitudes toward government policy on four controversial issues (unemployment, national health insurance, busing, and law and order), and (2) issue voting concerning those policy areas. In general, we found the various self-interest measures to have very little effect in determining either policy preferences or voting behavior. In contrast, symbolic attitudes (liberal or conservative ideology, party identification, and racial prejudice) had major effects. Nor did self-interest play much of a role in creating “issue publics” that were particularly attentive to, informed about, or constrained in their attitudes about these specific policy issues. Conditions that might facilitate more self-interested political attitudes, specifically having privatistic (rather than public-regarding) personal values, perceiving the policy area as a major national problem, being high in political sophistication, perceiving the government as responsive, or having a sense of political efficacy, were also explored, but had no effect. The possibility that some long-term self-interest might be reflected in either group membership or in symbolic attitudes themselves is examined. While such possibilities cannot be definitively rejected, problems with interpreting standard demographic findings as self-interest effects are discussed.
Implications of Hoist Provision when Planning Discharge Home from an Acute Hospital

Occupational therapists within an 800-bed acute hospital identified that discharge planning involving hoist provision required attention. A decreasing length of stay and the absence of guidelines in this area led to an evaluation of practice. Standards were set in partnership with the multidisciplinary team. An audit process was started against these standards on 15 cases over a 4-month period. The audit process identified areas where changes could provide a consistent interdisciplinary approach to discharge planning.The most useful tool to emerge from this evaluation of practice was seen as the proforma devised for an access home assessment in a risk assessment format. Feedback from subsequent staff supervision sessions has demonstrated that occupational therapists have been enabled to provide a uniform approach to discharge planning for this group of patients, in a time of ever-increasing pressure to speed discharges and abide by manual handling legislation. The article aims to disseminate the risk asse...
Parallel Interval-Newton Using Message Passing: Dynamic Load Balancing Strategies

Branch-and-prune and branch-and-bound techniques are commonly used for intelligent search in finding all solutions, or the optimal solution, within a space of interest. The corresponding binary tree structure provides a natural parallelism allowing concurrent evaluation of subproblems using parallel computing technology. Of special interest here are techniques derived from interval analysis, in particular an interval-Newton/generalized-bisection procedure. In this context, we discuss issues of load balancing and work scheduling that arise in the implementation of parallel interval-Newton on a cluster of workstations using message passing, and describe and analyze techniques for this purpose. Results using an asynchronous diffusive load balancing strategy show that a consistently high efficiency can be achieved in solving non-linear equations, providing excellent scalability, especially with the use of a two-dimensional torus virtual network. The effectiveness of the approach used, especially in connection with a novel stack management scheme, is also demonstrated in the consistent superlinear speedups observed in performing global optimization.
Clinical outcome for atypia of undetermined significance in thyroid fine-needle aspirations: should repeated fna be the preferred initial approach?

In the Bethesda System for reporting thyroid fineneedle aspirations (FNAs), atypia of undetermined significance (AUS) is a category with limited reported follow-up and outcome data. We report a retrospective analysis of our institution’s experience during nearly 4.5 years with a tiered classification scheme conforming to the Bethesda System in which repeated FNA was recommended for most patients with an initial AUS diagnosis. Of 4,691 thyroid FNAs, 512 (10.9%) had a diagnosis of AUS. Cytologic or histologic outcome data were available for 331 cases (64.6%), of which 240 (72.5%) were benign and 91 (27.5%) were malignant. Of patients with a surgical diagnosis, there was no statistically significant difference in malignancy rate among patients who went directly to surgery after a single AUS diagnosis (37/90 [41%]), patients having 2 successive AUS FNA diagnoses (22/51 [43%]), and patients with a benign aspirate after AUS (2/7 [29%]). Although AUS confers an intermediate risk of malignancy, guidelines recommending repeated FNA for most cases should be reevaluated.
Analysis of decentralized variable structure control for collective search by mobile robots

This paper presents an analysis of a decentralized coordination strategy for organizing and controlling a team of mobile robots performing collective search. The alpha-beta coordination strategy is a family of collective search algorithms that allow teams of communicating robots to implicitly coordinate their search activities through a division of labor based on self-selected roIes. In an alpha-beta team. alpha agents are motivated to improve their status by exploring new regions of the search space. Beta a~ents are conservative, and reiy on the alpha agents to provide advanced information on favorable regions of the search space. An agent selects its current role dynamically based on its current status value relative to the current status values of the other team members. Status is determined by some function of the agent's sensor readings, and is generally a measurement of source intensity at the agent's current location. Variations on the decision rules determining alpha and beta behavior produce different versions of the algorithm that lead to different global properties. The alpha-beta strategy is based on a simple finite-state machine that implements a form of Variable Structure Control (VSC). The VSC system changes the dynamics of the collective system by abruptly switching at defined states to alternative control laws . In VSC, Lyapunov's direct method is often used to design control surfaces which guide the system to a given goal. We introduce the alpha-beta aIgorithm and present an analysis of the equilibrium point and the global stability of the alpha-beta algorithm based on Lyapunov's method.
Educational Statistics Authentic Learning CAPSULES: Community Action Projects for Students Utilizing Leadership and E-based Statistics

Since educational statistics is a core or general requirement of all students enrolled in graduate education programs, the need for high quality student engagement and appropriate authentic learning experiences is critical for promoting student interest and student success in the course. Based in authentic learning theory and engagement theory graduate educational statistics CAPSULES (Community Action Projects for Students Utilizing Leadership and E-based Statistics) engage graduate students in service-learning projects involving managing, conducting, and delivering authentic data-driven research. The community action projects utilizing leadership and e-based statistics skills are spearheaded by a university-based Community Outreach Research and Authentic Learning (CORAL) Center. The graduate educational statistics CAPSULES program includes: (1) restructuring educational statistics courses to include real-world active learning and authentic assessment; (2) providing opportunities for graduate students to ...
LOFT: Low-Overhead Freshness Transmission in Sensor Networks

Sequence numbers have been used by a variety of network protocols as freshness identifiers to achieve reliable transmission and provide protection against replay attacks. The number of bits allocated for a sequence number shall not be too small in order to avoid frequent wraparounds and replay attacks. However, in a sensor network consisting of resource-constrained sensor nodes, transmitting a full sequence number along with a message represents considerable overhead that is desirable to be avoided. In this paper, we propose LOFT, a protocol that lowers the overhead of transmitting freshness identifiers along with messages. In LOFT, the sender and receiver still maintain a sequence number of the same number of bits, but when the sender sends a new message, it only transmits a less significant portion of the sequence number bits in order to save energy. All the bits of the sequence number are involved in the computation of a message authentication code, so that the receiver can verify the freshness of the message. Moreover, LOFT makes use of Bloom filter to mitigate the overhead of freshness check caused by DoS attacks. We use simulations to analyze how much a portion of the sequence number should be transmitted to achieve best performance in terms of efficiency and effectiveness.
Effect of axial length and keratometry measurement error on intraocular lens implant power prediction formulas in pediatric patients.

Purpose To examine the relationship between axial length and keratometry measurement errors and intraocular lens (IOL) power calculations for pediatric eyes. Methods The sensitivity of IOL power calculation to errors in axial length and keratometry measurements was computed as a function of axial length and keratometry for the SRK II, Hoffer Q, Holladay I, SRK/T, and Haigis formulas. Results The sensitivity of the IOL power calculation to an axial length measurement error is increased at 4 to 14 D/mm error in axial length in children compared with 3 to 4 D/mm error in axial length in adults. The error in calculation is 0.8 to 1.3 D/D error in keratometry measurement for both children and adults. Conclusions Axial length measurement errors in pediatric eyes may lead to large errors in IOL power calculations.
Buckling and Postbuckling Behavior of Composite Cylindrical Shells under Axial Compression

A theoretical analysis of the buckling and postbuckling equilibrium behavior of a fiber reinforced cylindrical shell under uniform axial compression is presented. The investigation also includes some data on the effect of initial imperfections on the buckling behavior of fiber reinforced cylindrical shells, von Karman-Donnell large displacement equations and the principle of stationary potential energy are applied to study the postbuckling behavior. The results are given for various fiber orientations in the three-layer shell having a radius-to-thickness ratio of 166.77, consisting of either glass-epoxy or boron-epoxy composites. The cases when the stiffness coupling matrix is not equal to zero and the coupling matrix is set equal to zero are considered. It is shown that the latter simplifying assumption gives unconservative buckling and postbuckling loads. From the results of the effect of initial imperfections on the buckling behavior, it is seen that the boron-epoxy composite shells are less imperfection sensitive than glass-epoxy composite shells. This investigation shows that, in general, composite shells are less imperfection sensitive than isotropic shells.
Volumetric Estimates of Coastal Sand Dunes in Lower Michigan: Explaining The Geography of Dune Fields

This study assesses the geography and volume of coastal dune sand along Lakes Huron and Michigan in Lower Michigan. Dune field extents were obtained from digital maps of critical dune area and soil parent material. Volumetric estimates were determined by establishing basal surface elevations and then calculating the average height of overlying dune deposits using digital elevation model (DEM) data within a raster GIS framework. Results indicate that ~1.8 km3 of coastal dune sand occurs in Lower Michigan, with ~95% located along Lake Michigan due to prevailing westerlies. Most (~80%) of eolian sand is contained within 10 dune fields. Six of these fields are along the northeastern coast of Lake Michigan where they are associated with embayments and headlands, suggesting that changing shore angles and sandy bluffs are important geographical variables. Dune fields along the southeastern shore generally line the coast for greater distances and contain smaller concentrations of eolian sand that may be partially...
Data assimilation and driver estimation for the Global Ionosphere-Thermosphere Model using the Ensemble Adjustment Kalman Filter

Abstract This paper proposes a differential inflation scheme and applies this technique to driver estimation for the Global Ionosphere–Thermosphere Model (GITM) using the Ensemble Adjustment Kalman Filter (EAKF), which is a part of the Data Assimilation Research Testbed (DART). Driver estimation using EAKF is first demonstrated on a linear example and then applied to GITM. The Challenging Minisatellite Payload (CHAMP) neutral mass density measurements are assimilated into a biased version of GITM, and the solar flux index, F 10.7 , is estimated. Although the estimate of F 10.7 obtained using DART does not converge to the measured values, the converged values are shown to drive the GITM output close to CHAMP measurements. In order to prevent the ensemble spread from converging to zero, the state and driver estimates are inflated. In particular, the F 10.7 estimate is inflated to have a constant variance. It is shown that EAKF with differential inflation reduces the model bias from 73% down to 7% along the CHAMP satellite path when compared to the biased GITM output obtained without using data assimilation. The Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) density measurements are used to validate the data assimilation performance at locations different from measurement locations. It is shown that the bias at GRACE locations is decreased from 76% down to 52% as compared to not using data assimilation, showing that model estimation of the thermosphere is improved globally.
Lost working days, productivity, and restraint use among occupants of motor vehicles that crashed in the United States

Background: In 2001, 6.3 million passengers were involved in motor vehicle crashes. This study aimed to determine the number of work days lost as a result of motor vehicle crashes and factors that influenced people's return to work. Methods: This was a retrospective, population based cohort study of occupants in motor vehicles involved in crashes from the 1993–2001 Crashworthiness Data System produced by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The sample population of people aged 18–65 years included two groups: occupants who survived and were working before the crash and occupants who were injured fatally and were estimated to have been working before the crash. Multivariate linear regression was used to analyze the impact of restraint use and injury type on return to work. Results: Overall, 30.1% of occupants of vehicles that crashed missed one or more days of work. A crash resulted in a mean 28.0 (95% confidence interval 15.8 to 40.1) days lost from work, including losses associated with fatalities. The 2.1 million working occupants of vehicles that crashed in 2001 lost a total of 60 million days of work, resulting in annual productivity losses of over $7.5 billion (2964 to 12 075). Unrestrained vehicle occupants accounted for $5.6 billion in lost productivity. Conclusions: Motor vehicle crashes result in large and potentially preventable productive losses that are mostly attributable to fatal injuries.
MEASURING GROWTH FROM BETTER AND BETTER GOODS

Using micro CPI data, I show that much of inflation for durable goods since 1988 reflects, not increases in price for a given set of products, but rather shifts to a newer set of product models that display higher prices. I examine how these price differences should be divided between quality growth and price inflation based on how consumer spending responds to product substitutions. For all goods examined (cars, other vehicles, televisions, and other consumer electronics), buying shifts to the newer models despite their higher prices. This suggests that quality growth for durables has averaged at least 5.8% per year, more than double the rate implied by CPI measurement.
Reactive Oxygen Species and the Central Nervous System

Radicals are species containing one or more unpaired electrons. The oxygen radical superoxide (O 2 - ) and the non-radical oxidants hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and hypochlorous acid (HOCl) are produced during normal metabolism and perform several useful functions. Excessive production of O 2 - and H2O2 can result in tissue damage, which often involves generation of highly reactive hydroxy 1 radical (· OH) and other oxidants in the presence of “catalytic” iron or copper ions. A major form of antioxidant defence is the storage and transport of iron or copper ions in forms that will not catalyze formation of reactive radicals. Tissue injury, e. g., by ischaemia or trauma, can cause increased iron availability and accelerate free radical reactions. This may be especially important in the brain, since areas of this organ are rich in iron and cerebrospinal fluid cannot bind released iron ions. Oxidative stress upon nervous tissue can produce damage by several interacting mechanisms, including rises in intracellular free Ca2+ and, possibly, release of excitatory amino acids. Recent suggestions that free radical reactions are involved in the neurotoxicity of aluminium and in damage to the substantia nigra in Parkinson’s disease are reviewed. Finally, the nature of antioxidants is discussed, with a suggestion that antioxidant enzymes and chelators of iron ions may be more generally useful protective agents than chain-breaking antioxidants. Careful precautions must be taken in the design of antioxidants for therapeutic use.
Linear arrays: Currents, impedances, and fields, I

The radiation field of dipoles is usually expressed in the form of a product of a field factor and one or more array factors. Actually, such a formulation depends on the implicit assumption that the distributions of current along all elements are the same regardless of the location in the array or differences in driving conditions. Since this is a satisfactory approximation only when the elements are near a half-wavelength long, a study of the fields of arrays of longer elements in terms of the actual distributions of current is indicated. The available solutions of the simultaneous integral equations for the distributions of current in a circular array of N -parallel elements are adequate in a quantitative sense only for arrays of approximately half-wave elements. Moreover, the form of the solution as a series of complicated terms is quite useless (except in the leading sinusoidal term) when the determination of the radiation field is desired. For this reason, a new solution for the currents, which provides a good approximation for the currents in arrays of elements that may be a full wavelength long or longer, and which is expressed in terms of combinations of simple trigonometric functions, is derived. The new solution is used to determine the currents in and the fields of isolated half-wave and full-wave dipoles more accurately than with the conventional sinusoidal currents. The currents, impedances, and fields of a two-element array of full-wave elements are studied under various driving conditions including the broadside, bilateral end-fire, unilateral end-fire or couplet, and the case when one of the elements is parasitic. It is shown that the null in the conventional pattern for the couplet with identically distributed currents becomes a minor maximum with an amplitude equal to half that of the principal maximum when the more accurate distributions of current are used. The significance of this fact in its application to the minor lobe structure of more general arrays is considered. The usefulness of the new theory in determining the radiation field of parallel arrays, in general and when scanned, is discussed, and plans for further work are outlined.
Chest Trauma Due to Impalement in a Fall

A 17-year-old girl sustained impalement of the chest by a bamboo fence pole in a fall. She was rapidly transported to hospital while still impaled. The bamboo pole was successfully removed through a thoracotomy. Correct management at the scene and rapid transport were important factors in survival.
On a fuzzy difference equation

Difference equations arise in the modeling of many interesting problems. "Measurements" of data or specified information for an underlying problem may be imprecise or only partially specified. This motivates us to initiate a study of "fuzzy difference equations". In this paper, we formulate and solve a given difference equation in the fuzzy setting and give a general method for dealing with any second-order difference equation. This work is motivated by considering an important problem in computer science, namely, the polyphase merging problem.
Balancing Acts: An Analysis of Food and Drug Administration Letters about Direct-to-Consumer Advertising Violations:

Abstract Traditionally, physicians have considered themselves the gatekeepers to health care and have desired (and received) tight control over information conveyed to patients. Approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertising changes this dynamic. The FDA is charged with promoting public health by reviewing clinical research and by taking timely, appropriate action on the marketing of regulated products. In addition, the FDA must ensure that human drugs are safe and effective. To accomplish this, the FDA must balance drug marketers’ desires to provide persuasive advertising messages with the concerns of several other groups about the effects of DTC messages on both the cost of medical care and the quality of patient interaction. The FDA must also balance these concerns with First Amendment protection of commercial speech. This study investigates the FDA’s perceptions of the problems with DTC advertising. To accomplish this, the author examines FDA letters to phar...
Ptosis Repair by a Single-Stitch Levator Advancement

There is no single surgical procedure which has the ability to correct all types of ptosis. Different procedures are used depending on the severity of ptosis and levator function.
Relationship challenges and relationship maintenance activities following disclosure of transsexualism

Accessible summary • Transsexual persons are increasing their visibility in society, and health care providers and others (such as social workers) will be called upon to help with issues that transsexual persons face. Challenges that face transsexual persons often include issues involving relationships. Psychiatric and mental health nurses and other caregivers can increase their therapeutic skills in working with couples that include transsexual persons by becoming aware of these challenges and subsequent activities that can help with them. • This research study looks at couple relationships in which one partner reveals male-to-female transsexual identity. These are relationships that were established as man-woman and now will transition into relationships that include a male-to-female person and a female partner. • Common challenges for these couples include issues related to: (1) sexual identity and relationship uncertainty; (2) male-to-female transition decision making; and (3) presenting in public. • Relationship maintenance activities that helped the couples in the study maintain and strengthen their relationships through these challenges include: (1) communication; (2) self-talk (for example, putting the situation in perspective); (3) social networks; (4) positive interactions; (5) impression management (for example, managing displays of affection in public); and (6) social activism. Abstract This qualitative study describes the relational dynamics that help sustain relationships of couples that include male-to-female transsexual persons (MTF) and their natal female partners (NF) following disclosure of transsexualism. Relationship challenges and relationship maintenance activities are identified. Each partner in 17 MTF–NF couples participated in individual surveys and interviews. The data were coded for themes related to relationship challenges and activities. MTF–NF couples experience challenges within the contexts of their relationships and of society. These challenges include: (1) sexual identity and relationship uncertainty; (2) male-to-female transition decision making; and (3) public presentation. Relationship maintenance activities enabled the study couples to maintain and strengthen their relationships through these challenges. These activities include: (1) communication; (2) self-talk; (3) social networks; (4) positivity; (5) impression management; and (6) social activism. Via this report, psychiatric and mental health nurses can increase their therapeutic skills in working with MTF–NF couples.
COMPETITIVE SEARCH, EFFICIENCY, AND MULTIWORKER FIRMS*

I study competitive search equilibrium in an environment where firms operate a decreasing-returns production technology and hire multiple workers simultaneously. Firms post wages, possibly several of them. The equilibrium can feature wage dispersion even though all firms and workers are ex ante identical. Unlike the benchmark where firms hire a single worker, hiring is constrained inefficient. Efficiency requires that firms commit to the number of hires, pay all applicants, or pay wages that depend on the number of applicants. Under wage-posting, the inefficiency is highest at intermediate levels of labor market tightness.
Classroom assessment and English Language Learners: Teachers' accommodations implementation on routine math and science tests

Abstract In a time of unprecedented educational accountability in the U.S., this mixed-methods study was conducted to explore teacher accommodations implementation when assessing ELLs during routine math and science tests. Elementary teachers in ten Pennsylvania school districts (n = 213) were surveyed about their testing practices and accommodations use, and interviews were conducted with fourth grade teachers (n = 10) about their assessment practices. Findings suggest that teachers implemented and withdrew accommodations based on students' levels of English proficiency, first language accommodations were infrequently implemented in the classroom context, and that ELLs with IEPs received more accommodations than other ELLs. Implications for policy and practice are discussed.
Diagnosis of intermediate-duration and subacute organic mental disorders in abstinent alcoholics

In a longitudinal study of 136 male alcoholics and controls, the authors found evidence of slowly reversible, subtle organic mental disorders in relation to prolonged abstinence from drinking by alcoholics. They suggest criteria for two new nosologic categories to describe these alcohol-related neuropsychiatric phenomena: (1) intermediate-duration organic mental disorder associated with alcoholism and (2) subacute organic mental disorder associated with alcohol abuse or alcoholism.
Predicting colostrum quality from performance in the previous lactation and environmental changes.

Nine New Hampshire Holstein dairies contributed to a study to investigate if colostrum quality could be predicted by cow performance in the previous lactation and by environmental factors during the 21-d prepartum period. The numbers of days below 5°C (D ), and days between 5 and 23°C (D) were used in the development of the regression equation. Between 2011 and 2014, 111 colostrum samples were obtained and analyzed for IgG. Producers recorded cow identification number, calf date of birth, sex of the calf, colostrum yield, hours from parturition to colostrum harvest, and weeks on pasture during the dry period (if any). Dairy Herd Improvement data from each cow and weather data were compiled for analysis. Information accessed was predicted transmitting abilities for milk, fat (PTAF), protein (PTAP), and dollars; previous lactation: milk yield, fat yield, fat percent, protein percent, protein yield, somatic cell score, days open, days dry, days in milk, and previous parity (PAR). Colostrum yield was negatively correlated with IgG concentration (r=-0.42) and D (r=-0.2). It was positively correlated with D> (r=0.30), predicted transmitting ability for milk (r=0.26), PTAF (r=0.21), and PTAP (r=0.22). Immunoglobulin G concentration (g/L) was positively correlated with days in milk (r=0.21), milk yield (r=0.30), fat yield (r=0.34), protein yield (r=0.26), days open (r=0.21), PAR (r=0.22), and tended to be positively correlated with DD (r=0.17). Immunoglobulin G concentration (g/L) was negatively correlated with D> (r=-0.24) and PTAF (r=-0.21) and tended to be negatively correlated with PTAP (r=-0.18). To determine the best fit, values >0 were transformed to natural logarithm. All nontransformed variables were also used to develop the model. A variance inflation factor analysis was conducted, followed by a backward elimination procedure. The resulting regression model indicated that changes in Ln fat yield (β=2.29), Ln fat percent (β=2.15), Ln protein yield (β=-2.25), and Ln protein percent (β=2.1) had largest effect on LnIgG. This model was validated using 27 colostrum samples from 9 different farms not used in the model. The difference between means for actual and predicted colostrum quality (IgG, g/L) was 13.6g/L. Previous lactation DHI data and weather data can be used to predict the IgG concentration of colostrum.
Entropy, Evolution and Open Systems

It is commonly argued that the spectacular increase in order which has occurred on Earth is consistent with the second law of thermodynamics because the Earth is not an isolated system, and anything can happen in a non-isolated system as long as the entropy increases outside the system compensate the entropy decreases inside the system. However, if we define “X-entropy” to be the entropy associated with any diffusing component X (for example, X might be heat), and, since entropy measures disorder, “X-order” to be the negative of X-entropy, a closer look at the equations for entropy change shows that they not only say that the X-order cannot increase in an isolated system, but that they also say that in a non-isolated system the X-order cannot increase faster than it is imported through the boundary. Thus the equations for entropy change do not support the illogical “compensation” idea; instead, they illustrate the tautology that “if an increase in order is extremely improbable when a system is isolated, it is still extremely improbable when the system is open, unless something is entering (or leaving) which makes it not extremely improbable.” Thus unless we are willing to argue that the influx of solar energy into the Earth makes the appearance of spaceships, computers and the Internet not extremely improbable, we have to conclude that at least the basic principle behind the second law has in fact been violated here.
Comments on "Mail Survey Premiums and Response Bias"

Numerous research studies have examined the changes in response rates associated with inclusion of a premium in a mail survey. Only a few studies, however, have investigated the response bias associated with the inclusion of a premium [5, 7, 19]. A recent study by Whitmore suggests that "no systematic bias is produced in mail surveys" as a result of including a premium [19, p. 47]. The purpose of this comment is to point out some potential problems associated with Whitmore's research. The problems relate to the study's literature review, the reasonableness of the premium used, and the methodology employed.
MBO and Property right Reform in Chinese Enterprises

Through the analysis of MBO's characteristics and the status of MBO applied to Chinese enterprises, the paper concludes that MBO, as a new method of property right reform, is worthwhile for Chinese enterprises to study and learn. The introduction of MBO should be based on complete knowledge and profound understanding of it. Independent director system, along with rational corporate governance, may serve as the best supplementation to gurantee the MBO's perfection.
SPONTANEOUS REGRESSION OF BRONCHOGENIC CARCINOMA WITH FIVE YEAR SURVIVAL.

T he apparent spontaneous regression of malignant disease is a strange and, unfortunately, very rare occurrence. This phenomenon has attracted the attention of several investigators1-5 of whom Everson and Cole6,7 have compiled the documented cases in the world literature. While tumors of certain organs (for example, ovary, kidney, choriocarcinoma, breast) may be influenced by endogenous (endocrine?) factors more than others, lung cancer is perhaps notorious for its relentless and virulent course, particularly in the middle-aged male. The following case report is believed, therefore, to be worthy of record in that a patient with the diagnosis of epidermoid carcinoma established as nonresectable (pleural metastases) at thoracotomy exhibited complete radiologic clearing in a 6 month period following operation and has maintained an excellent state of health for the past 5 years. The only factors which could have possibly influenced this result were a short period of postoperative fever and noncancerocidal amount of irradiation (approximately 1,200 r).
Microanatomy of the perforators of the anterior communicating artery complex

We describe the microanatomy of the perforating arteries arising from the anterior communicating artery complex (5 mm distal of the anterior cerebral artery, the anterior communicating artery, and 5 mm proximal of the distal anterior cerebral artery). Thirteen unfixed human brains were used in this study. The origin and number of perforators are described, as is the site of brain penetration, and results are correlated with previous studies. The hemodynamics of blood flow in relation to the formation of an anterior communicating artery aneurysm and different surgical approaches are mentioned. The neuropsychological outcome after aneurysm clipping with regards to the pattern of blood supply from the anterior cerebral artery complex is also discussed.
Effects of aerobic exercise in normotensive adults: a brief meta-analytic review of controlled clinical trials.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of aerobic exercise on resting systolic and diastolic blood pressure in normotensive adults. The results of nine studies published in journals (1963 to 1992) and representing a total of 438 subjects (289 exercise, 149 control) were statistically aggregated using the meta-analytic technique. Statistically significant reductions were found for both resting systolic and diastolic blood pressure (mean +/- SD, systolic, 3 +/- 3, 95% confidence interval, 1.30 to 5.11; diastolic, 3 +/- 4, 95% confidence interval, 0.05 to 4.82). None of the changes were significant for the control groups. Absolute reductions corresponded with decreases of approximately 2% in resting systolic pressure and 4% in diastolic blood pressure. Significant correlations were found between changes in resting blood pressure and duration of training (systolic, r = .66; diastolic, r = .80, both at P < .05). The results of this study suggest that aerobic exercise results in small reductions on resting systolic and diastolic blood pressure among normotensive adults. However, such small reductions may not be clinically important. In addition, more meticulous studies on this topic are needed.
Remission in diabetic children in Riyadh.

Few data are available about temporary remission in insulin dependent diabetes mellitus in Riyadh. Thirty-seven out of 115 (32.1%) diabetic children diagnosed over five and a half years (1985 to mi...
Conditional gene knockout system in cone photoreceptors

The generation of gene knockout mice by injection of homologous gene targeted embryonic stem (ES) cells into blastocyst has rapidly advanced our knowledge of gene function in mammals. However, knockout of essential genes often causes embryonic or neonatal lethality and thus obscures the particular role of genes in a target tissue or in adults. To circumvent this problem and disrupt genes in a temporal and spatial fashion, the Cre/lox system based gene targeting strategy has become a method of choice (for review, see Le and Sauer (2000)). This method can also be used in dissection of the roles of multifunctional genes in a particular tissue/cell-type. To study the function of widely expressed essential genes in the retinas, we are systematically establishing Cre/lox conditional knockout systems in retinal cells. This report is a review of our recent work on the generation and characterization of the cone-specific cre mice (Le et al., 2004).
The Interface of Emergency Department, Oncology, and Palliative Social Work: Psychosocial Interventions in Oncologic Emergencies

Social workers are key interdisciplinary team members who support oncology patients and their families across the continuum of cancer care, from the time of initial diagnosis through end-of-life and in various care settings. The roles of the emergency department (ED) and palliative care social worker are both complex and complementary in providing support to oncology patients/families in the ED. To ensure continuity of care and avoid duplication of services, social workers in the fields of ED, oncology, and palliative care work together to employ strategies and initiatives that improve cancer care across all settings. Among other positive outcomes, such interdisciplinary care serves to minimize unnecessary ED visits and hospitalizations. This chapter examines social work’s involvement with oncology patients in the ED, as well as the oncology social work role in the outpatient setting, and suggests psychosocial interventions that may be utilized with this population. Current and future initiatives are proposed among ED, oncology and palliative social workers for patients/families with oncologic emergencies.
Chapter 14 – Glare Patching Efficiency Studies

Publisher Summary This chapter presents the results of detailed parametric studies of thermal effects on bonded repairs to cracked pressurized transport fuselage structures. The hybrid glass/epoxy/aluminum materials known as GLARE are offered as an alternative to boron/epoxy for this special crack-patching application. Experiments performed at room temperature, also at the low temperatures encountered at high altitudes, show that bonded GLARE 2 patches can outperform boron-epoxy in selected repairs to thin skins. These results conclude that, under certain circumstances, thermal compatibility can be the driving factor in repair material selection in pressurized fuselage skin repairs. The results of more than 20 years of experience with repairs of relatively thick cracked aircraft structures have shown boron/epoxy to be an excellent patch material. Peak flight loads at moderate to high service temperatures can be sustained by the high-modulus material, without demanding high patch volumes (thickness). Because of the thick structures, mismatch problems due to the curing temperature are minimal.
Neurobiology of Procedural Learning in Animals

Procedural learning and memory involves the acquisition, consolidation, and retrieval of individual representations that are behaviorally expressed in an inflexible manner. Stimulus–response habit learning represents a prominent form of procedural learning in the mammalian brain. Extensive evidence supports the hypothesis that this form of procedural learning is mediated by a neural system that contains the dorsal striatum as a primary component. Studies employing brain lesion techniques have dissociated the roles of the dorsal striatum and hippocampus in procedural and declarative memory, respectively. Pharmacological studies indicate a selective role for dorsal striatal dopamine, acetylcholine, and glutamate in memory consolidation underlying stimulus–response procedural learning.
A review of the role of synaptosomal-associated protein 25 (SNAP-25) in neurological disorders

Synaptosomal-associated protein 25 kDa (SNAP-25) is one of the key proteins involved in the formation of neural soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor complexes, which are responsible for the calcium-dependent exocytosis of neurotransmitters - a major step in neurotransmission and the key to normal functioning of brain. Several studies have reported abnormalities in its expression and structure and highlighted it as an important player in pathology of various neurological disorders like Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, attention deficient hyperactivity disorder, epilepsy and few others. Several studies have also associated its substantial expression disturbances with various polymorphisms and post-translational modifications. The present review examines the crucial implication of SNAP-25 in altered neuronal processes and highlights its substantial association with various neurological disorders.
Kolmogorov Widths of the Anisotropic Besov Classes of Periodic Functions of Many Variables

We establish exact-order estimates for the Kolmogorov widths of the anisotropic Besov classes of periodic functions of many variables in the spaces L q , 1 ≤ q ≤ ∞.
Changing Trends in Age, Gender, Racial Distribution and Inpatient Burden of Achalasia.

BACKGROUND Achalasia is an idiopathic esophageal motility disorder characterized by dysphagia, regurgitation, chest discomfort and weight loss. The aim of this study was to evaluate the temporal trends in demographic variables, interventions, and inpatient burden in achalasia-related hospitalizations. METHODS We evaluated the National Inpatient Sample Database (NIS) for all patients in whom achalasia (ICD-9 code: 530.0) was the principal discharge diagnosis from 1997 to 2013. Data regarding the patient demographics, number of hospitalizations, length of stay, associated hospital costs and temporal trends over the study period were obtained. RESULTS In 1997, there were 2,493 admissions with a principal discharge diagnosis of achalasia as compared to 5,195 in 2013 with an average increase of 4% per year (P < 0.001). In 1997, the proportion of patients under 65 years of age was 53.8% versus 60.1% in 2013. Increasing prevalence in African Americans was noted (11.1% to 17.1%). Inflation-adjusted hospital charges related to achalasia showed a mean increase of $2,521 per year (P < 0.001). There was an increase in Heller myotomy procedures over the study period (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS The number of hospitalizations for achalasia and associated costs has significantly increased significantly over the last 16 years in the United States with disproportionate increase in patients under 65 years of age and racial minorities. Further research on cost-effective evaluation and management of achalasia is required.
Dehumanization increases instrumental violence, but not moral violence.

Across five experiments, we show that dehumanization—the act of perceiving victims as not completely human—increases instrumental, but not moral, violence. In attitude surveys, ascribing reduced capacities for cognitive, experiential, and emotional states to victims predicted support for practices where victims are harmed to achieve instrumental goals, including sweatshop labor, animal experimentation, and drone strikes that result in civilian casualties, but not practices where harm is perceived as morally righteous, including capital punishment, killing in war, and drone strikes that kill terrorists. In vignette experiments, using dehumanizing compared with humanizing language increased participants’ willingness to harm strangers for money, but not participants’ willingness to harm strangers for their immoral behavior. Participants also spontaneously dehumanized strangers when they imagined harming them for money, but not when they imagined harming them for their immoral behavior. Finally, participants humanized strangers who were low in humanity if they imagined harming them for immoral behavior, but not money, suggesting that morally motivated perpetrators may humanize victims to justify violence against them. Our findings indicate that dehumanization enables violence that perpetrators see as unethical, but instrumentally beneficial. In contrast, dehumanization does not contribute to moral violence because morally motivated perpetrators wish to harm complete human beings who are capable of deserving blame, experiencing suffering, and understanding its meaning.