cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Maintenance planning and management: a state of the art survey

Maintenance management has become one of the most important functions in an organisation. The main objective of maintenance is to keep machine resources running by increasing the availability through repair activities as in corrective maintenance or some proactive activities as in preventive maintenance. According to the literature, maintenance management is explored in several areas. A comprehensive review of some researches in the area of maintenance and quality is presented in this article.
A Molecular Link between the Active Component of Marijuana and Alzheimer's Disease Pathology

Alzheimer's disease is the leading cause of dementia among the elderly, and with the ever-increasing size of this population, cases of Alzheimer's disease are expected to triple over the next 50 years. Consequently, the development of treatments that slow or halt the disease progression have become imperative to both improve the quality of life for patients as well as reduce the health care costs attributable to Alzheimer's disease. Here, we demonstrate that the active component of marijuana, Δ 9 -tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), competitively inhibits the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE) as well as prevents AChE-induced amyloid β-peptide (Aβ) aggregation, the key pathological marker of Alzheimer's disease. Computational modeling of the THC-AChE interaction revealed that THC binds in the peripheral anionic site of AChE, the critical region involved in amyloidgenesis. Compared to currently approved drugs prescribed for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, THC is a considerably superior inhibitor of Aβ aggregation, and this study provides a previously unrecognized molecular mechanism through which cannabinoid molecules may directly impact the progression of this debilitating disease.
Health-related quality of life for pediatric emergency department febrile illnesses: an evaluation of the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.0 Generic Core Scales.

We sought to assess the validity and short-term responsiveness of the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory™ 4.0 Generic Core Scales (PedsQL™) for febrile illnesses evaluated in the pediatric emergency department (ED). Prospective cohort study of children 2–18 years discharged after ED evaluation for fever (≥ 38°C). Self-administered, parent-report of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) was assessed using the PedsQL™ Acute Version, a validated HRQOL instrument. HRQOL was measured on ED presentation and at 7–10 day follow-up. At follow-up, duration of fever, child functional impairment, missed daycare/school, and disrupted family unit functioning, were assessed. Of 160 subjects enrolled, 97 (61%) completed the study; mean follow-up was 8.7 days. Mean total HRQOL score on ED presentation was 76.4; mean follow-up score was 86.3. Compared to subjects that returned to baseline, statistically significant differences in HRQOL were noted for those with prolonged fever, child functional impairment, and relapse. Significant correlation was observed between HRQOL at follow-up and days of daycare/school missed (r = -0.35, p = .003) and days of family disruption (r = -0.43, p < .001). Mean change in HRQOL within subjects, from ED visit to follow-up, was +9.8 (95% CI: 5.6–14.6). Effect size was 0.53, indicating moderate responsiveness. The PedsQL™ appears to be a valid and responsive indicator of HRQOL for short-term febrile illnesses evaluated in the ED.
Primates and Predators

Gursky, Sharon L. and K. A. I. Nekaris, editors. 2007. Primate anti-predator strategies. Developments in Primatology: Progress and Prospects. Springer, New York. xxiii + 393 p. $129.00, ISBN: 978-0387-34807-0.
Postnormal Science, Precautionary Principle, and Worst Cases: The Challenge of Twenty-First Century Catastrophes*

Considering the damage caused by the recent spate of catastrophic events (e.g., Hurricane Katrina, 9/11 terrorist attacks of 2001, and the Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004), it is increasingly clear that complex, large-scale environmental problems will characterize the twenty-first century. We contend that the ability of science to address these problems is attenuated by the ideological embrace of scientific-technical rationality. With scientific and technological pursuits increasingly marching to the drum beat of economic growth, is there a place for science to operate driven not by short-term profitability, but the long-term interests of the public and needs of the environment? Can the problems associated with complex, large-scale catastrophes be addressed adequately by science and technology alone, especially considering that technological failure may be the primary cause of the catastrophe? The purpose of this article is to provide answers to these questions and to offer a tenable solution to the challenges posed by recent catastrophes. First, we outline a framework to better understand the changing relationship between science, stakeholders, and environmental problems. Second, we make the case that recent catastrophes are qualitatively different from past disasters. As a result, we discuss (1) the reasons why dichotomizing disasters as natural or technological is increasingly problematic empirically; and (2) the inability of traditional science to effectively address issues, damages, and problems stemming from recent catastrophes. Finally, we suggest that the more participatory approach of postnormal science, strengthened by the precautionary principle and worst-case analysis, is a viable strategy for addressing complex, large-scale catastrophes.
Hunting to Prevent Aortic Stenosis

“Better to hunt in fields, for health unbought, Than fee the doctor for a nauseous draught, The wise, for cure, on exercise depend; God never made his work for man to mend.” — —John Dryden (1631–1700) The advantages of exercise training in patients with atherosclerotic coronary artery disease are numerous and include the modification of traditional risk factors, improvement in myocardial and peripheral perfusion, enhancement of exercise tolerance, and reduction of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.1 These salutary effects are thought to result from improvements in endothelial function and vascular inflammation. Although the precise mechanisms are not entirely clear, augmentation of nitric oxide bioavailability (by increasing expression and activity of endothelial nitric oxide synthase and reducing nitric oxide degradation), reduction of endothelial adhesiveness (by reducing expression of cellular adhesion molecules), enhancement of endothelial regenerative capacity (by stimulating endothelial progenitor cells), and reduction of vascular inflammation (by reducing proinflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress and increasing antiinflammatory cytokines) by exercise-induced increases in blood flow and shear stress are responsible in large part for the beneficial effects of exercise on the pathogenesis and progression of atherosclerosis.1 Article see p 759 Aortic stenosis, once considered an age-related degenerative disease, shares clinical risk factors and cellular and molecular pathways in its etiopathogenesis and progression with atherosclerosis. Thus, aortic stenosis and atherosclerosis share the risk factors of age, male sex, smoking, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and hypercholesterolemia, and both are associated with an increased likelihood of clinical atherosclerotic events.2 Pathophysiological similarities include endothelial disruption, macrophage and lipoprotein accumulation, cytokine activation, and calcification; indeed, lesions in human stenotic aortic valves resemble histologically those in atherosclerotic plaques,3 and atherosclerotic-like lesions in the aortic valves that produce “stenosis” and increased valvular oxidative stress are noted in several animal models of atherosclerosis.3–6 Aortic stenosis …
Comparison of urban residents' travel behavior in China and the U.S.: A case study between Beijing and Chicago

Comparative urban research is an important perspective for learning international experience and guide Chinese development, and urban residents' travel behavior is a measurable phenomenon for exploring how different contexts and development stages have impact on residents' daily activities. Previous studies mostly focus on theoretical discussions on urban spatial development and residents' daily behavior in China and the U.S. rather than empirical studies based on first- hand surveys. This paper explores differences in behavioral patterns and spacetime constraints of residents living in the urban centers of Beijing and Chicago. The datasets are based on Beijing activity diary survey of residents living inside the Fifth Ring Road and Chicago Regional Household Travel Inventory of residents living inside City of Chicago, both of which were collected in 2007. The datasets finally comprise data with two-day activity-travel diary from 715 individuals in Beijing and 589 individuals in Chicago. The results show that people in Beijing have relatively short commuting distance and center- oriented distribution,whereas people in Chicago have relatively long commuting distance and decentralized distribution. These are in consistent with the different suburbanization processes between China and the U.S. Suburbanization in China is mainly living space rather than employment centers. However, employment in large American metropolitan areas has been decentralized in a large extent. For socio-demographics, men with high household-income tend to travel long distance to work, which responds to intra-household gender division of labor and classical sector model in social space. For daily activities and travel, the purpose with the longest distance is work-related activities in both cities, but the second is maintenance-related activities in Beijing while the counterpart is entertainment-related activities in Chicago. For transport mode, people in Beijing prefer walking or bicycling, while people in Chicago are more likely to use cars. This paper generates some important insights on the development mode for future Chinese cities after considering the U.S. experience- i.e., developing sub-centers to form a multi-center spatial structure, improving urban facilities to reduce excess travel demands for maintenance and dailyshopping, encouraging people to keep using bicycles or walking instead of depending of cars.Discussions of the benefits and shortcomings associated with comparative urban research based on travel behavior analysis are provided, along with suggestions for future research.
The Trajectory of Legal Education and Scholarship

Changes in the norms of legal education and scholarship, 1958-2008; portents for the future.
Differential effects of patient-related factors on the outcome of radiation therapy for rectal cancer.

The objective of this study was to investigate whether cancer-specific survival in rectal cancer patients is affected by patient-related factors, conditional on radiation treatment. Three hundred fifty-nine invasive rectal cancer patients who consented and provided questionnaire data for a population-based case-control study of colorectal cancer in Metropolitan Detroit were included in this study. Their vital status was ascertained through to the population-based cancer registry. Hazard ratios (HR) for cancer-specific and other deaths and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated according to selected patients’ characteristics, stratified by radiation status, using joint Cox proportional hazards models. A total of 159 patients were found to be deceased after the median follow-up of 9.2 years, and 70 % of them were considered to be cancer specific. Smoking and a history of diabetes were associated with an increased probability of deaths from other causes (HR 3.20, 95 % CI 1.72–5.97 and HR 2.02, 95 % CI 0.98–4.16, respectively), while regular use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) was inversely correlated with cancer-specific mortality (HR 0.50, 95 % CI 0.30–0.81). Furthermore, the associations of smoking and NSAIDs with the two different types of deaths (cancer vs others) significantly varied with radiation status (P values for the interactions = 0.014 for both). In addition, we observed a marginally significantly reduced risk of cancer-specific deaths in the patients who had the relative ketogenic diet (HR 0.49, 95 % 0.23–1.02). Further research is warranted to confirm these results in order to develop new interventions to improve outcome from radiation treatment.
Functional pattern of sacral root stimulation in dogs. II. Urethral closure.

Abstract Ten dogs were used for electrostimulation of the sacral roots to improve urethral sphincter closure. To induce and maintain urethral closure in longstanding stimulation, a variety of stimulationpatterns was investigated systematically. With continuous stimulation, the induced sphinctericresponse faded corresponding with the increase in frequency of stimulation applied; but in phasicstimulation with a stimulation/rest ratio of 1:2, strong sphincteric contractions were reproducibleafter each rest interval. If the stimulation bursts were shortened to 30-60 msec, interrupted by an off-time of again twice the duration of the stimulation, unfused sphincteric tetani were induced, resulting in a sinusoidal oscillating closure pressure that did not drop in the prestimulus baselineduring the off-time. A sufficient sphincteric closure pressure could thus be sustained over 1 hour ofuninterrupted stimulation.
Outcomes with bioabsorbable vascular scaffolds versus everolimus eluting stents: Insights from randomized trials.

Abstract Background Bioresorbable vascular scaffolds (BVS) have been shown to be non-inferior to second generation drug eluting stents in recent clinical trials. However, the trials were not powered for individual endpoints and there is concern for increased device thrombosis with BVS. Methods We performed a systematic search for randomized clinical trials of BVS versus EES. Efficacy outcomes were target lesion revascularization (TLR) and target vessel revascularization (TVR). Safety outcomes were death, myocardial infarction (MI), and device thrombosis. Meta-regression analyses were performed to evaluate the association of device thrombosis with clinical characteristics (percent patients with acute coronary syndrome) and device deployment characteristics (percent with post stent balloon dilation). Results We identified six RCTs that enrolled 3738 patients. When compared with EES, BVS was associated with similar risk of TLR (RR=1.06; 95% CI 0.73–1.54), TVR (RR=1.00; 95% CI 0.74–1.35), death (RR=1.11; 95% CI 0.53–2.33) and cardiovascular death (RR=1.39; 95% CI 0.43–4.43) but numerically higher MI (RR=1.35; 95% CI 0.98–1.86) and definite or probable device thrombosis (RR=2.11; 95% CI 0.99–4.47). In a sensitivity analysis using the Peto odds ratio method, the risk of definite or probable device thrombosis was significantly increased (OR=2.08; 95% CI 1.06–4.08; P=0.03), although this did not reach statistical significance in four other models. The risk of definite or probable device thrombosis with BVS was reduced in trials where more post stent balloon dilation was used and in patients without acute coronary syndrome. Moreover, trial sequential analysis showed that the cumulative z-curve crossed the conventional boundary and not the trial sequential boundary, indicating lack of robust data to support increased definite or probable device thrombosis with BVS. Conclusions In patients with noncomplex obstructive coronary disease, BVS are comparable to EES for most efficacy and safety outcomes except for a numerical increase in device thrombosis and MI. The risk of the latter outcomes was mitigated in trials where more post stent balloon dilation was used and in patients without acute coronary syndrome. Moreover, with only 3738 patients, the trials are underpowered to detect a difference in rare events such as device thrombosis.
pH optimum of the photosystem II H₂O oxidation reaction: effects of PsbO, the manganese-stabilizing protein, Cl- retention, and deprotonation of a component required for O₂ evolution activity.

Hydroxide ion inhibits Photosystem II (PSII) activity by extracting Cl– from its binding site in the O2-evolving complex (OEC) under continuous illumination [Critchley, C., et al. (1982) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 682, 436]. The experiments reported here examine whether two subunits of PsbO, the manganese-stabilizing protein, bound to eukaryotic PSII play a role in protecting the OEC against OH– inhibition. The data show that the PSII binding properties of PsbO affect the pH optimum for O2 evolution activity as well as the Cl– affinity of the OEC that decreases with an increasing pH. These results suggest that PsbO functions as a barrier against inhibition of the OEC by OH–. Through facilitation of efficient retention of Cl– in PSII [Popelkova, H., et al. (2008) Biochemistry 47, 12593], PsbO influences the ability of Cl– to resist OH–-induced release from its site in the OEC. Preventing inhibition by OH– allows for normal (short) lifetimes of the S2 and S3 states in darkness [Roose, J. L., et al. (2011) Bioch...
Biology and Presocial Behavior of Platycotis vittata (Homoptera: Membracidae)

The seasonal life history of P. vittata consists of 2 generations/year. Parent females are necessary for successful egg and nymphal maturation. Parent females use the ovipositor to make a series of slits in the bark of the host plant below the egg mass. First instars aggregate around these bark slits with the female below them. Parent females actively maintain nymphs in aggregates and provided protection. Parental care by female P. vittata and Umbonia crassicornis are similar which establishes presocial behavior in one tribe (Playcotini) of Membracidae.
Building a Strong Legislature: The Western Experience

The Western democracies have gradually developed their legislative institutions over many centuries. Today the Soviet Union is building its own powerful legislature. Perhaps a look at the Western experience will be of interest to Soviet citizens who are currently thinking about how to make their own legislature an effective part of the democratic process. Of course the Soviet Union is quite different from the Western democracies in many ways, including not only its political system, but also its economic system, its multinational character, and its social and cultural history, and the Western experience cannot be applied mechanically to such a different setting. But precisely because the Soviet Union is undertaking such bold experiments in restructuring, concrete experiences of others might be useful in suggesting ideas about legislative procedures, competitive elections, constituency relationships, and social norms. Legislatures were originally developed in Britain, and later in France, because the kings constantly found themselves short of money. After trying many methods of raising money by command, they eventually realized that they would have to attain the support of broader and broader segments of the society.
Women Framing Women: Gender Roles and Agency in the Zapatista Army of National Liberation

This study uses framing theory to examine how women in the Ejercito Zapatista de Liberacion Nacional (EZLN) frame themselves and their roles. Eleven documents written by women in the movement are analyzed using content analysis to collect quantitative and qualitative data. Results show that women most frequently frame themselves in untraditional roles, rather than traditional or neutral roles, but infrequently demonstrate agency in these roles. The frequency of untraditional roles exhibits a progressive view of Zapatista women, yet the lack of total deviation from tradition reflects an adherence to historical norms. The instances of agency that do appear help to demonstrate a sense of empowerment among the women as they become more vocal in expressing the personal role they play in deciding the roles they take on. My findings contribute a deeper understanding of women’s roles and gender in the EZLN as well as provide a new perspective on the ways in which women are framed in the movement. Limitations and areas of further researched are discussed.
Load Forecasting Based on EMD-ISMO Algorithm

Electrical load is a complex nonlinear system which is affected by many factors.It has obvious volatile,cyclical,and tendency.Empirical mode decomposition (EMD) algorithm has smoothing and hierarchical processing ability.It can process the nonlinear and non-stationary digtal signal effectively.EMD algorithm was used to process the electrical load data.12 groups IMF data were decomposed,including a number of smooth components with different frequency.The cyclical term,random term and tendency term could be observed clearly.EMD-ISMO algorithm was proposed combining with the improved SMO algorithm(ISMO) which had perfect forecasting ability.Forecasting model was established with IMF data to forecast separately and jointly.The experimental results show that EMD-SMO algorithm can greatly improve the forcast accuracy and computation speed.It achieve very good forcast results.
Conservative management of a cervical ligamentum flavum hematoma: Case report.

Background Spontaneous epidural hematoma arising from the ligamentum flavum is a rare cause of acute spinal cord compression. There are only four reports in the cervical spine literature, and all were managed with surgery. Here, we describe an acute case of a spontaneous epidural hematoma arising from the ligamentum flavum in the cervical spine successfully managed without surgery. Case description A 69-year-old woman with a cervical spine epidural hematoma contained within the ligamentum flavum presented with paroxysmal neck pain and stiffness without a history of trauma. The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a posterolateral epidural hematoma contained within the ligamentum flavum. As the patient was intact, she was managed conservatively with cervical orthosis. Three months later, she was symptom-free, and the hematoma resolved on the follow-up MRI study. Conclusion Spontaneous epidural hematoma arising from ligamentum flavum is a rare cause of spinal cord compression. Previous reports have described success with surgical decompression. However, initial observation and conservative management may be successful as illustrated in this case.
Inflammation in acute and chronic pancreatitis.

Purpose of reviewThis report reviews recent animal model and human studies associated with inflammatory responses in acute and chronic pancreatitis.Recent findingsAnimal model and limited human acute and chronic pancreatitis studies unravel the dynamic nature of the inflammatory processes and the ab
Cryopreserved platelet concentrate transfusions in 43 dogs: a retrospective study (2007-2013).

Objective To clinically characterize a group of thrombocytopenic dogs that received cryopreserved platelet concentrate (cPC) transfusion, assess efficacy of cPC treatment in improving patient outcome, and compare treated dogs to a control population of thrombocytopenic dogs that did not receive cPC transfusions. Design Retrospective study. Setting University teaching hospital. Animals Eighty-six client-owned dogs (43 in treatment group, 43 in control group). Interventions None. Measurements and Main Results Medical records of thrombocytopenic dogs that received cPC transfusions and those of thrombocytopenic dogs that did not receive cPC (control population) from January 2007 through March 2013 were reviewed. Dogs receiving cPC were statistically more likely than controls to have a platelet trigger for cPC transfusion (P = 0.01), lower platelet count (P = 0.009) and hematocrit at presentation (P = 0.001), and lower hematocrit after cPC (P = 0.02). Although there was a statistically significant increase in platelet count from pre- to post-cPC transfusion (P = 0.002), cPC was not found to be effective in improving clinical bleeding or increasing survival compared to the control group. No other characteristics were statistically different between groups. No dogs receiving cPC had an acute transfusion reaction during hospitalization. Conclusions In the population described in this study, cPC was not found to increase survival, but was well tolerated. Controlled, prospective studies are necessary to determine indications for and efficacy of cPC transfusions.
Fast convergent algorithms for multi-kernel regression

Kernel ridge regression plays a central role in various signal processing and machine learning applications. Suitable kernels are often chosen as linear combinations of “basis kernels” by optimizing criteria under regularization constraints. Although such approaches offer reliable generalization performance, solving the associated min-max optimization problems face major challenges, especially with big data inputs. After analyzing the key properties of a convex reformulation, the present paper introduces an efficient algorithm based on a generalization of Nesterov's acceleration method, which achieves order-optimal convergence rate among first-order methods. Closed-form updates are derived for common regularizers. Experiments on real datasets corroborate considerable speedup advantages over competing algorithms.
Fractured: race relations in “post-racial” American life

Helen Fox’s Fractured: Race Relations in “Post-Racial” American Life is an important book about race and racism in the US. Fox looks specifically at the forces conspiring to erase and marginalize r...
Hospital Management of Acute Pancreatitis

This chapter will review hospital management of acute pancreatitis leading with a case of post-ERCP pancreatitis. We will go through diagnosis and management of the case while providing brief supporting evidence for current therapeutic interventions. Standard of treatment for acute pancreatitis currently remains at supportive care with primary interventions focused on early aggressive fluid resuscitation and initiation of enteral nutrition within the first 72 h of admission. Data currently recommends against antibiotic prophylaxis without a known source of infection as a means to protect against pancreatic necrosis. Targeted pharmacologic therapies, despite extensive research, are not indicated for treatment.
Have Inter-Judge Sentencing Disparities Increased in an Advisory Guidelines Regime? Evidence from Booker

The Federal Sentencing Guidelines were promulgated in response to concerns of widespread disparities in sentencing. After almost two decades of determinate sentencing, the Guidelines were rendered advisory in United States v. Booker. What has been the result of reintroducing greater judicial discretion on inter-judge disparities, or differences in sentencing outcomes that are attributable to the mere happenstance of the sentencing judge assigned? This Article utilizes new data covering over 600,000 criminal defendants linked to sentencing judge to undertake the first national empirical analysis of interjudge disparities post Booker. The results are striking: inter-judge sentencing disparities have doubled since the Guidelines became advisory. Some of the recent increase in disparities can be attributed to differential sentencing behavior associated with judge demographic characteristics, with Democratic and female judges being more likely to exercise their enhanced discretion after Booker. Newer judges appointed after Booker also appear less anchored to the Guidelines than judges with experience sentencing under the mandatory Guidelines regime. Disentangling the effect of various actors on sentencing disparities, I find that prosecutorial charging is a prominent source of disparities. Rather than charge mandatory minimums uniformly across eligible cases, prosecutors appear to selectively apply mandatory minimums in response to the identity of sentencing judge, potentially through superseding indictments. Drawing on this empirical evidence, the Article suggests that recent sentencing proposals that call for a reduction in judicial discretion in order to reduce disparities may overlook the substantial contribution of prosecutors.
A non-Euclidean phasor approach for distinction of fluorescent compounds using two-photon fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy in ex vivo human skin (Conference Presentation)

Two-photon fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) is a technique that not only probes the intensity of fluorophores, but also provides the temporal decay trace of said fluorophores on a pixel-by-pixel basis. These traces can then be transformed into the frequency domain for subsequent analysis, resulting in a scatterplot of phasor coordinates where each phasor corresponds to a single image pixel. With this in mind, it follows that individual fluorophores result in distinct clusters in the phasor plot, and a mixture of two fluorophores results in phasors that fall somewhere along a line linking the two clusters depending on the relative fluorophore concentrations. Until now, distinction of fluorescent species has relied mainly on computing the Euclidean distance between a given phasor and the mean coordinates of reference phasor clusters. However, this approach becomes inadequate in cases where one fluorophore has a much wider lifetime distribution than the other. As such, we propose the use of the Mahalanobis distance as an alternative to the Euclidean distance, as this metric additionally factors in the relative spread of each reference phasor cluster. This method has been applied to studying the oxidative response of ex vivo human skin via endogenous NADH fluorescence as it is exposed to chemical sun filters, the active ingredients in sunscreens. Given that both NADH and sun filters are fluorescent under the same excitation and emission conditions, the proposed Mahalanobis distance approach was used to distinguish the source of fluorescence in images of human skin. This allowed for the assessment of oxidative response as well as the tracking and monitoring of the sun filter formulation as it permeated throughout the skin.
Use of Teacher Aides in Special Education: A Review and Possible Applications:

The following is a review of the uses of teacher aides in special education classrooms, a consideration of current aide roles and functions, and a projection of possible aide uses in assisting with...
An open-chain imaginary-time path-integral sampling approach to the calculation of approximate symmetrized quantum time correlation functions

We introduce a scheme for approximating quantum time correlation functions numerically within the Feynman path integral formulation. Starting with the symmetrized version of the correlation function expressed as a discretized path integral, we introduce a change of integration variables often used in the derivation of trajectory-based semiclassical methods. In particular, we transform to sum and difference variables between forward and backward complex-time propagation paths. Once the transformation is performed, the potential energy is expanded in powers of the difference variables, which allows us to perform the integrals over these variables analytically. The manner in which this procedure is carried out results in an open-chain path integral (in the remaining sum variables) with a modified potential that is evaluated using imaginary-time path-integral sampling rather than requiring the generation of a large ensemble of trajectories. Consequently, any number of path integral sampling schemes can be employed to compute the remaining path integral, including Monte Carlo, path-integral molecular dynamics, or enhanced path-integral molecular dynamics. We believe that this approach constitutes a different perspective in semiclassical-type approximations to quantum time correlation functions. Importantly, we argue that our approximation can be systematically improved within a cumulant expansion formalism. We test this approximation on a set of one-dimensional problems that are commonly used to benchmark approximate quantum dynamical schemes. We show that the method is at least as accurate as the popular ring-polymer molecular dynamics technique and linearized semiclassical initial value representation for correlation functions of linear operators in most of these examples and improves the accuracy of correlation functions of nonlinear operators.
Running a Contest to Encourage Timely Monograph Ordering

An age-old problem: Whatever deadline you set for placing monograph orders, you receive a big burst of orders at the last minute. Acquisitions staff beg for book orders one month and get flooded with orders the next. Librarians at Wake Forest University tried to mitigate this problem by running a contest: spend 65% of your target by an early deadline, and your fund wins a share of a cash prize. The presenter will discuss how the contest idea proved an effective incentive for selectors and how it served to make acquisitions work more steadily.
THE LEARNING OF PRINCIPLES

Publisher Summary A principle is composed of two or more concepts having an ordered relationship to each other. A principle has been learned when it can be shown that a problem involving specific concepts can be solved by identifying these concepts correctly and placing them in the correctly ordered relationship with each other; in other words, by applying the rule. The principle is a capability that makes possible the demonstration of a sequence of behavior, each element of which may involve a concept. Learning of concepts is indistinguishable in a formal sense from learning principles. Principles are learned under conditions that have two major requirements: (1) the component concepts of which they are composed must be previously learned and readily recallable and (2) a communication, usually verbal, must be made to the learner indicating the correct sequence of these components. These two conditions of principle learning suggest a number of research questions that have as yet not received adequate answers.
Future Directions in Spoken Dialog Systems: A Community of Possibilities

A spoken dialog system consists of a number of non-trivially interacting components. In order to allow new students, researchers and developers to meaningfully and relatively rapidly enter the field it is critical that, despite their complexity, the resources be accessible and easy to use. Everyone should be able to start building new technologies without spending a significant amount of time re-inventing the wheel. There are four levels of support that we believe new entrants should have. 1) A flexible open source system that runs on many different operating systems, is well documented and supports both simple and complex dialog systems. 2) Logs and speech files from a large number of dialogs that enable analysis and training of new systems and techniques. 3) An actual set of real users that speak to the system on a regular basis. 4) The ability to run studies on complete real user platforms.
3.5 Characterization of the Denatured State

In this chapter, the current state of knowledge of protein denatured states is reviewed. Flory’s random coil model and recent theory and simulation approaches to protein denatured states are outlined. Nuclear magnetic resonance and fluorescence methods and the insights they have provided into residual secondary structure and transient tertiary interactions in the denatured state are discussed. Recent techniques that use experimental restraints to produce representative ensembles for the denatured state are presented. The thermodynamic and kinetic properties of the denatured state and their implications for folding and stability are considered. Finally, the prospects for future studies on protein denatured states are briefly summarized.
2 D Linear Optimal Statistical Signal Processing on Finite Lattices

This paper studies the processing of signals defined on the plane. Applications include a diversity of problems such as data assimilation in ocean circulation models describing transport phenomena in the ocean, or image restoration or coding of bottom maps obtained by side scan sonars. We are concerned with linear optimal statistical processing in two dimensions (2 D). Processing of spatially dependent phenomena raises two major issues. The first is conceptual and has to do with the noncausality of the signals being processed. Noncausality has precluded the application of recursive optimal techniques. The second difficulty derives from the large data sets involved in 2 D. Our approach, as presented here, tackles both issues. First, we introduce a canonical description for noncausal linear fields on finite lattices (Gauss Markov random fields,) which emphasizes the inverse of the field covariance matrix rather than the covariance matrix itself. We call this the field potential matrix. Then, we show that noncausal Gauss Markov random fields have an equivalent description in terms of either one of two unilateral representations. We derive these and show that asymptotically the unilateral descriptions are spatially invariant. Finally, we illustrate how to use these unilateral descriptions and one dimensional Kaiman - Bucy filtering techniques to derive optimal recursive smoothers for processing 2 D fields.
Exploring author gender in book rating and recommendation

Collaborative filtering algorithms find useful patterns in rating and consumption data and exploit these patterns to guide users to good items. Many of the patterns in rating datasets reflect important real-world differences between the various users and items in the data; other patterns may be irrelevant or possibly undesirable for social or ethical reasons, particularly if they reflect undesired discrimination, such as gender or ethnic discrimination in publishing. In this work, we examine the response of collaborative filtering recommender algorithms to the distribution of their input data with respect to a dimension of social concern, namely content creator gender. Using publicly-available book ratings data, we measure the distribution of the genders of the authors of books in user rating profiles and recommendation lists produced from this data. We find that common collaborative filtering algorithms differ in the gender distribution of their recommendation lists, and in the relationship of that output distribution to user profile distribution.
Comparison of 10-year graft failure rates after induction with basiliximab or anti-thymocyte globulin in pediatric heart transplant recipients-The influence of race.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE The impact of induction therapy in pediatric heart transplantation has been uncertain. Given the risk of poor outcomes in black pediatric heart transplant recipients, we evaluated the effect on graft survival of ATG and BAS induction in black and non-black pediatric recipients. METHODS This was a retrospective analysis of pediatric candidates (aged ≤18 years) who underwent heart transplantation from 2000 to 2016 identified from the UNOS database. Primary outcome was 10-year graft survival. RESULTS This study included 654 patients receiving BAS, 2385 patients receiving ATG, and 2425 receiving no induction. Ten-year survival was similar for the following groups: non-black BAS (57%), non-black ATG (66%), and black ATG (51%). The black BAS group had a 10-year graft survival of 39% which was inferior on pairwise comparison to the other groups (all P values < 0.001). On multivariate analysis, ATG was associated with decreased risk of graft failure when compared to no induction (HR 0.86, 95% CI 0.76-0.97, P = 0.011) and had an association approaching statistical significance when compared to BAS induction (0.84, 0.7-1.01, P = 0.069). This association was seen in black recipients in whom ATG was strongly associated with decreased risk of graft failure when compared to either no induction (0.65, 0.5-0.83, P = 0.001) or BAS (0.64, 0.46-0.89, P = 0.008) but was not seen in non-black recipients. CONCLUSIONS Black pediatric heart transplant recipients who received ATG induction had an improved long-term graft survival compared to those who received BAS induction or no induction.
Laparoscopic renal surgery in children.

Abstract A total of 17 laparoscopic renal procedures was performed in children, including nephrectomy (10), nephroureterectomy (4), partial nephrectomy (2) and giant renal cyst excision (1). Patient age ranged from 4 months to 11 years (average age 34 months). The average operating time was 2 hours and 15 minutes, ranging from 1 hour 50 minutes to 2 hours 45 minutes. The usual period of hospitalization was 23 hours, with the longest being 36 hours for 2 patients. No complications ensued. Despite the decreased working space in children, laparoscopic renal surgery offers compelling advantages, including short hospitalization, less perioperative and postoperative pain, improved cosmesis, earlier return to normal unrestricted activities and early return to work for the parents. Methods to accomplish renal laparoscopic surgery safely in children are detailed.
The Call of the Land: An Agrarian Primer for the 21st Century

First paragraph:According to Hinrichs and Lyson (2007), lessons learned from the university and the field are increasingly helping us to participate in a flourishing movement to transform the North American food system. Readers new to this movement sometimes struggle to identify a primer that is accessible and grounded in real-world examples. The Call of the Land: An Agrarian Primer for the 21st Century lends itself as a tool for such readers, as it not only illustrates a foundational agrarian ethos historically argued by Wendell Berry and Wes Jackson, but it also outlines a variety of practical models and approaches to inform the practice of local food system development. For most of the book, McFadden draws upon the lived experiences of various practitioners, farmers, and educators to reveal his agrarian philosophy and subsequent suggestions to better “live with the land” (p. 32). The result is a broad overview of issues affecting the trajectory of food and farming development, and an introduction to several approaches we might take to alter this unsustainable path. McFadden’s ethical stance for agrarian transformation strongly influences these issues and strategies for change.
Arsenic is more potent than cadmium or manganese in disrupting the INS-1 beta cell microRNA landscape

Diabetes is a metabolic disorder characterized by fasting hyperglycemia and impaired glucose tolerance. Laboratory and population studies have shown that inorganic arsenic (iAs) can impair these pathways. Other metals including cadmium (Cd) and manganese (Mn) have also been linked to diabetes phenotypes. MicroRNAs, short non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression, have emerged as potential drivers of metabolic dysfunction. MicroRNAs responsive to metal exposures in vitro have also been reported in independent studies to regulate insulin secretion in vivo. We hypothesize that microRNA dysregulation may associate with and possibly contribute to insulin secretion impairment upon exposure to iAs, Cd, or Mn. We exposed insulin secreting rat insulinoma cells to non-cytotoxic concentrations of iAs (1 µM), Cd (5 µM), and Mn (25 µM) for 24 h followed by small RNA sequencing to identify dysregulated microRNAs. RNA sequencing was then performed to further investigate changes in gene expression caused by iAs exposure. While all three metals significantly inhibited glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, high-throughput sequencing revealed distinct microRNA profiles specific to each exposure. One of the most significantly upregulated microRNAs post-iAs treatment is miR-146a (~ + 2-fold), which is known to be activated by nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) signaling. Accordingly, we found by RNA-seq analysis that genes upregulated by iAs exposure are enriched in the NF-κB signaling pathway and genes down-regulated by iAs exposure are enriched in miR-146a binding sites and are involved in regulating beta cell function. Notably, iAs exposure caused a significant decrease in the expression of Camk2a, a calcium-dependent protein kinase that regulates insulin secretion, has been implicated in type 2 diabetes, and is a likely target of miR-146a. Further studies are needed to elucidate potential interactions among NF-kB, miR-146a, and Camk2a in the context of iAs exposure.
A comparison of finger and forehead pulse oximeters in heart failure patients during maximal exercise

Abstract Background Pulse oximeters, clinically used to measure oxygen saturation (SpO2), rely on adequate perfusion of the tissues over which they are placed. Heart failure (HF) patients can have impaired peripheral perfusion which may compromise the accuracy of a peripherally placed pulse oximeter. This decrease in peripheral perfusion may be especially apparent during exercise. The objective of this study was to determine if pulse oximeter accuracy is dependent on location in heart failure patients during peak exercise. Methods 20 participants with HF (7F, age 64.±11 yr) and 9 participants with coronary artery disease as controls (CAD: 3F, age 66±5 yr) performed a maximal exertion treadmill exercise stress test while wearing both finger and forehead pulse oximeters. Results At peak exercise, the two pulse oximeters measurements of SpO2 differed from each other by 3.8 ± 3.3% in the HF group (p Conclusions Forehead pulse oximeters may be more reliable compared to finger pulse oximeters in obtaining SpO2 measurements in HF patients during a treadmill maximal exercise test.
Investigation of Corrosion of 304 Stainless, Inconel 625, and Haynes 230 in a Chloride-Salt-Based Thermal Storage Medium

One of the critical challenges for latent heat thermal energy storage systems in concentrating solar power applications is corrosion of metallic alloys as containment and heat transfer fluid tube materials in corrosive salts at high temperatures. In this study, the effects of MgCl2 on the corrosion of stainless steel 304, Inconel 625, and Haynes 230 alloys were investigated through embedded metal samples in the graphite foam/MgCl2 storage medium. Four experimental testing modules were fabricated, and experimental tests were conducted under controlled environment by heating the testing modules to and keeping them at 750 °C for 100, 200, 500, and 1000 h. The estimated corrosion rates based on the weight losses for stainless steel 304, Inconel 625, and Haynes 230 were 94, 9, and 8 μm/year, respectively. The fitted equations for the loss of the thickness as functions of the exposure time show that the corrosion rates decrease with the exposure time. The results on the corrosion zones or depths and chromium segregation ranges of the experimental samples are also presented.
Evaluation of acute chest pain: Evolving paradigm of coronary risk scores and imaging

There is a broad differential diagnosis for patients presenting with acute chest pain. History, physical examination, electrocardiogram, and serial troponin assays are pivotal in assessing patients with suspected acute coronary syndrome. However, if the initial workup is equivocal, physicians are faced with a challenge to find the optimal strategy for further triage. Risk stratification scores have been validated for patients with known acute coronary syndrome, such as the TIMI and GRACE scores, but there may be limitations in undifferentiated chest pain patients. Advancements in imaging modalities such as coronary computed tomography angiography and the addition CT derived fractional flow reserve, have demonstrated utility in evaluating patients presenting with acute chest pain. With this article, we aim to provide a comprehensive review of the non-invasive modalities that are available to evaluate acute chest pain patients suspected of cardiac etiology in the emergency room. We also added a focus on new imaging modalities that have shown to have prognostic implications in stable ischemic heart disease.