cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Interdisciplinarity, multidisciplinary, and transdisciplinarity: What it all means and how the frontiers of knowledge are changing

BRIEF SESSION DESCRIPTION:Learn to prepare students for interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary, and transdisciplinary work. This panel will explore and discuss the nature of crossdisciplinary work students may experience in their academic and professional careers, and introduce how experienced teachers of interdisciplinary courses engage their students in multi-faceted research here at Mason.________________________________________________________________FULL ABSTRACT: Most big problems facing humanity (give examples to the audience: Climate Change, understanding the Brain and Consciousness, Computational Social Science, and the future challenges as humanity moves into space) are multifaceted, interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary, and transdisciplinary (define these for audience). Also, as in any field of scholarship that involves basic research, the key developments that move a field forward typically come from unexpected directions (e.g. the internet, materials science, etc.). Furthermore, research in these highly interdisciplinary realms typically involves working in large teams of highly varied experts. How do you teach and train students to be aware of the large context in which they will be working in the future and at the same time give the students sufficient depth of understanding in a specific field so that they can make significant contributions to such projects?AÂ This session will be a short presentation (15 mins) providing definitions and an overview of the nature of interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary, and transdisciplinary work, followed by a panel discussion on the opportunities and challenges of training students in interdisciplinary fields of research. The panel will include people who have substantial experience in teaching interdisciplinary courses and engaging in such multi-faceted research at Mason.Panelists include: Michael Summers (Astrobiology ASTR 301: Teaching the most interdisciplinary of all of the sciences: The origin, evolution, and future of life in the universe)For more information about teaching in the disciplines:AÂ https://stearnscenter.gmu.edu/teaching/teaching-in-the-disciplinesFor session spacific materials, please request directly from the presenter Mike Summers:AÂ msummers@gmu.edu
Intrahepatic and Hilar Cholangiocarcinomas: Epidemiology, Basic Principles of Treatment, and Clinical Data

Cholangiocarcinoma, or cancer arising from bile duct epithelium, represents about 10–25% of primary liver cancers worldwide. Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma occurs in the bile ducts within the hepatic parenchyma, while extrahepatic tumors occur from the junction of the hepatic ducts to the common bile duct. Hilar cholangiocarcinoma is a subset of extrahepatic disease occurring at or near the junction of the left and right hepatic ducts. Chronic inflammation of the biliary tree from such processes such as liver fluke infection and primary sclerosing cholangitis confers a higher risk of developing cholangiocarcinoma. Diagnosis generally requires multiple modalities including laboratory tests, imaging studies, and often endoscopic procedures and biopsy. Cholangiocarcinoma is now staged according to subtype, with unique systems specific to intrahepatic, hilar, and extrahepatic diseases. As the only confirmed curative intervention for the treatment of cholangiocarcinoma, surgical intervention in the form of resection or liver transplant should be considered in all patients with localized disease. Locoregional therapies may provide some benefit to patients with localized disease who are not surgical candidates. Patients with metastatic cholangiocarcinoma may benefit from combination chemotherapy with gemcitabine and cisplatin, though prognosis remains poor. This chapter reviews the epidemiology, risk factors, and pathogenesis of intrahepatic and hilar cholangiocarcinomas, as well as the basic principles of diagnosis, staging, and treatment.
Auditory cortical images of cochlear-implant stimuli: coding of stimulus channel and current level.

This study quantified the accuracy with which populations of neurons in the auditory cortex can represent aspects of electrical cochlear stimuli presented through a cochlear implant. We tested the ...
A theory-driven model of handshape similarity*

Following the Articulatory Model of Handshape (Keane 2014), which mathematically defines handshapes on the basis of joint angles, we propose two methods for calculating phonetic similarity: a contour difference method, which assesses the amount of change between handshapes within a fingerspelled word, and a positional similarity method, which compares similarity between pairs of letters in the same position across two fingerspelled words. Both methods are validated with psycholinguistic evidence based on similarity ratings by deaf signers. The results indicate that the positional similarity method more reliably predicts native signer intuition judgements about handshape similarity. This new similarity metric fills a gap in the literature (the lack of a theory-driven similarity metric) that has been empty since effectively the beginning of sign-language linguistics.
It Is Not Just Up to the Substrate: Palladium(0) Cyclizes Nazarov Substrates through Intramolecular Allylic Alkylation

Plausible mechanisms of Pd0-catalyzed cyclization of diketoesters were modeled using density functional theory calculations. Comparison of the reaction mechanisms of uncatalyzed and Pd0-catalyzed cyclizations revealed the vital role of the Pd0 catalyst. Both reactions favor a stepwise mechanism involving a proton transfer followed by carbon–carbon bond formation over either the reverse order or a concerted mechanism. The key step for the Pd0-catalyzed reaction is the formation of a relatively stable intermediate, an η3-allyl PdII complex, in the lowest energy pathway. Our proposed mechanism is consistent with a Pd0-catalyzed intramolecular allylic alkylation reaction, previously referred to as “Nazarov-type” reactions. It is worth noting that, in contrast to many allylic alkylations, the Pd0-catalyzed cyclization does not require any additional reagents or an activated leaving group to form an η3-allyl PdII complex; thus, the α-hydroxycyclopentenone is produced from diketoesters with no waste. Furthermore...
Advanced Data Processing for Communication-constrained Underwater Domain

In many practical underwater sensor networks covering a large area, only a small portion of the data may be collected in a certain time interval due to limited capacity of acoustic communications underwater. This posed a great challenge for situation awareness applications where the data for the entire area is needed. In this paper, a joint sensor selection and data recovery scheme is proposed to address the challenge. Specifically, a small portion of sensors are selected using the independent thinning principle from Stochastic Geometry to transmit their data to the surface station. Then Total Variation Inpainting is applied to recover the entire data of the whole area from the available data. The proposed scheme offers a promising solution in situations where only small amount of data could be captured due to the difficult underwater environment. It also saves time because computing at the surface station for data reconstruction takes much less time comparing to data collection. The simulation results using both synthetic data and real data demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Examining the Personal and Institutional Determinants of Research Productivity in Hospitality and Tourism Management

The transition toward a post-capitalist knowledge-oriented economy has resulted in an increasingly competitive academic environment, where the success of faculty is dependent on their research prod...
Eco-Sustainable Finishing Treatment of Polyamide Fabrics to Reduce the Release of Microplastics During Washing Processes

The washing processes of synthetic clothes have been lately identified as a main source of microplastic pollution in marine environment. During a common washing process, synthetic fabrics undergo mechanical and chemical stresses that induce the detachment of microfibers from the main yarns. Such microfragments remain in the wastewater, eventually reaching marine ecosystems where they represent a serious threat for the flora and fauna. A possible solution that could mitigate such source of microplastic pollution is the application of functional finishing treatments able to protect fabrics during washings, reducing the amount of microfibres released. The present work proposes an innovative finishing treatment of polyamide fabrics by using pectin, a natural polysaccharide extracted from fruits. Pectin was chemically modified by reaction with glycidyl methacrylate (GMA), whose vinylic groups were exploited to graft pectin on the surface of the polyamide fabric, creating a coating on the fibres. The effectiveness of the surface treatment was assessed by using the following characterization techniques: scanning electron microscopy (SEM), solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) and attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR). Furthermore, washing tests of untreated and treated fabrics were carried out to assess the release of microplastics. The washing effluents were filtered and the filters were analysed by SEM to evaluate the amount of microfibres released. The obtained results showed that the application of the pectin-based coating, could reach a reduction of more than 80% of the number of microplastics released by untreated polyamide fabrics during a domestic washing process.
Circumventing resistance to novel information: Piquing curiosity through strategic information revelation

Abstract Individuals are repeatedly exposed to new information over time, yet adjustment is typically insufficient and people are generally unaffected by this type of exposure. To circumvent this resistance to novel information, the current research posits that the mere timing by which the same information is differentially-revealed can prompt re-evaluation by heightening individuals' curiosity in the new information. Three experiments show that strategically-revealing new information promotes re-evaluation by increasing curiosity in the new information. Importantly, the effect of curiosity on the re-evaluation process occurs irrespective of the valence of the new information yet only when the revealed information is diagnostic. Collectively, these results provide a unique lens into the impact of curiosity in circumventing resistance to novel information and, consequently, a novel catalyst for future research on judgment updating, resistance to persuasion, and omission neglect.
Ground segment architectures for large LEO constellations with feeder links in EHF-bands

In recent years, several large constellations of LEO satellites have been proposed by different companies as a means to provide global broadband. Even though the first generation of these systems was designed using Ka-band feeder links, the saturation of the Ka-band spectrum, the need for wider bandwidths, and the increasing demand for capacity are driving the industry towards the development of systems with feeder links operating in EHF bands (30–300 GHz). The two main advantages of transitioning towards higher frequency bands are: one, the possibility of using the larger bandwidth allocations available for higher capacities, and two, a reduction in the number of ground sites required to support such capacity. However, there are trade-offs that need to be further explored, since links operating at higher frequencies are impaired by higher atmospheric attenuation, which in turn causes outages and might require of additional ground stations to maintain QoS levels (i.e., given coverage and availability requirements). This paper compares ground segment architectures for constellations using feeder links in Q/V-band against those using E-band. We develop a method to determine the locations of the minimum number of ground stations that maximize the system capacity while achieving desired QoS levels. To that end, first, we use International Telecommunication Union (ITU) models to characterize the atmospheric attenuation in EHF-bands; next, we describe a Monte Carlo simulation method to estimate the statistics of the data-rate achieved when multiple ground stations are within the line-of-sight (LoS) of a given satellite. Finally, we present the results in terms of the number of ground stations required and data-rates achieved, after optimizing over the different ground station locations for both the Q/V-band and E-band scenarios. We then compare these results to the ones obtained using current systems in Ka-band.
Effects of Toxic Shock Syndrome Toxin-1 and a Site-Directed Mutant, H135A, in Mice

Staphylococcus aureus is a medically important, gram–positive bacterium commonly found in soil, water, and on human skin. The organism can produce a variety of protein toxins that are intimately linked to many cases of toxic shock syndrome and food poisoning. Staphylococcal food poisoning is often attributed to contaminated meats and dairy products stored at improper temperatures. During the growth of S. aureus in food, the bacterium can make staphylococcal enterotoxins (SE) which are ~30 kD proteins that are heat stable and protease resistant. Symptoms of staphylococcal food poisoning occur within 6 h after ingesting contaminated food and include severe cramping, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea for an additional 8 h.
An Attention Assessment for Informing Older Drivers' Crash Risks in Various Hazardous Situations.

Background and objectives Mobility is a critical factor that influences older adults' independence and well-being. Older drivers may experience increased crash risks due to age-related cognitive declines. Ensuring safe driving practices among older drivers is important to maintain their mobility without sacrificing safety. Investigations for an effective assessment technology that can inform older drivers' risks associated with cognitive declines are warranted. This study aims to identify attentional deteriorations that may underlie crashes in various situations. Research design and methods This study employed driving simulation to examine associations between attentional functions of older drivers and crash risks in various hazardous situations. Using the Attention Network Test (ANT), a computerized assessment that measures efficiencies of the three distinct attentional functions (i.e., alerting, orienting, and executive), we examined specific attentional functions that underlie older drivers' crash risks in particular driving situations. Results Findings from this study revealed significant associations between executive attentional efficiency and crash risks in situations that demand a driver quickly resolving conflicts among multiple competing tasks or information. These situations include turning while a pedestrian is crossing from an opposite direction, merging, and multitasking while driving. Discussion and implications The present findings expand our understanding of unique involvements of attentional functions in particular driving situations at an old age. Future driver assessment technologies for informing older drivers about their crash risks may aim to address more fundamental cognitive mechanisms that lead to elevated risks in particular driving situations rather than merely focusing on the situations themselves.
Social Networking Using Mobile Devices

The burgeoning domain of social media has infiltrated general populations and has achieved broad applicability [10]. This domain has been studied extensively but there is a deficiency of research in the area of social media and mobile access and use [1] [11]. This study examines not only the use of social media on mobile devices but extends the ideas of this area of research to evaluate how social media is being used on mobile devices. It reports the findings of an online survey of 73 participants recruited from different listservs in the world. The study shows that the majority of participants use social networks as consumers (e.g. read other people posts), more than producers (i.e. post status update or a photo). It also reveals some differences between the topics participants share through a mobile device and a personal computer.
Non-Eustatic Sea Level Changes from Mediterranean Tide Gages

As scientists have collected data on sea level changes, more and more attention has been focused on non-eustatic effects. The Mediterranean is an excellent example of this (e.g., Pirazzoli, 1987). Two examples of non-eustatic effects revealed in recent tide gage analyses include meteorological/oceanic effects (Goldsmith and Gilboa, 1987) and local neotectonics (Emery et al., 1987). In both examples, these effects largely outweigh, and mask, eustatic effects as revealed in monthly mean sea levels determined from tide gages in the Mediterranean. Moreover, The importance, and even dominance, of the non-eustatic effects involving sea level seasonality, local tectonics, and local sea level cycles in the order of tens of years, is consistent with studies conducted in other areas.
Students’ perceptions of interprofessional education in geriatrics: A qualitative analysis

Interprofessional education (IPE) is critical for ensuring that students are prepared to collaborate with team members across disciplines once they enter clinical practice; particularly, in the com...
Large-format image sensors based on custom Geiger-mode avalanche photodiode arrays

Over the past 20 years, we have developed arrays of custom-fabricated silicon and InP Geiger-mode avalanche photodiode arrays, CMOS readout circuits to digitally count or time stamp single-photon detection events, and techniques to integrate these two components to make back-illuminated solid-state image sensors for lidar, optical communications, and passive imaging. Starting with 4 × 4 arrays, we have recently demonstrated 256 × 256 arrays, and are working to scale to megapixel-class imagers. In this paper, we review this progress and discuss key technical challenges to scaling to large format.
Individual, Team, Organization, and Market: Four Lenses of Productivity

When we think about productivity in software development, it’s reasonable to start with a basic concept of work per unit of effort. The more work a developer accomplishes with their efforts, the better.
School`s out with fever: service provider perspectives of youth with mental health struggles

ABSTRACTYouth struggling with mental health issues is a major concern in Norway and other Western countries. As is the increasing rate of youth unemployment combined with high rates of disengagemen...
Phase changing correlated oxides for photonics

We will discuss insulator-metal transitions in correlated oxides, e.g VO2, NbO2 and perovskites that are of interest to emerging photonic devices.
Stand Your Ground: Policy and Trends in Firearm-Related Justifiable Homicide and Homicide in the US

Background In recent years, several states have enacted Stand Your Ground (SYG) legislation intended to deter crime. To date, the impact of these laws on justifiable homicide (JH) and homicide (HOM) is unknown. This study was designed to compare JH and HOM rates (JHR, HR) before and after enactment of SYG laws and in states with and without (NoSYG) such legislation. Study Design This was a retrospective analysis of justifiable homicide and homicide using 3 United States datasets from 2000 to 2017. Descriptive statistics and univariate linear regressions were used to evaluate the association of SYG laws and JH and HOM in the United States. Results There were 4,594 incidents of JH and 214,630 incidents of HOM in the United States between 2000 and 2017. Stand Your Ground states accounted for most JH and HOM incidents 3,184 (69%) and 116,511 (54%), respectively. Stand Your Ground states had higher JH and HOM rates than NoSYG states (0.126 vs 0.047 and 4.663 vs 3.301 per 100,000 population, respectively; p Conclusions Stand Your Ground states had significantly higher JH and HOM rates and significantly greater increases in JH and HOM rates pre- vs post-SYG law enactment compared with NoSYG states. These results raise questions about the potential adverse consequences of policies such as the SYG law in the US.
Real Effects of Disclosure Regulation: Evidence from U.S. Import Competition

This paper investigates the impact of disclosure regulation on import competition. Using the segment disclosure regulation (SFAS 131) as a plausibly exogenous shock that increases the supply of mandatory information about U.S. product markets, I uncover an increase in U.S. import competition at the industry level. Consistent with foreign competition, the effect is more pronounced in industries with high labor intensity and in industries with low competition, where foreign firms have a greater incentive to compete with U.S. firms. Consistent with learning from disclosures, the effect is stronger in industries with high demand uncertainty and in industries with high trade policy uncertainty, where learning to reduce uncertainty is more beneficial. In addition, I provide evidence that the segment disclosure regulation generates negative spillover effects on the performance and investment of U.S. firms that are not directly affected by the regulation through its impact on import competition.
Choice of library size normalization and statistical methods for differential gene expression analysis in balanced two-group comparisons for RNA-seq studies

High-throughput RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) has evolved as an important analytical tool in molecular biology. Although the utility and importance of this technique have grown, uncertainties regarding the proper analysis of RNA-seq data remain. Of primary concern, there is no consensus regarding which normalization and statistical methods are the most appropriate for analyzing this data. The lack of standardized analytical methods leads to uncertainties in data interpretation and study reproducibility, especially with studies reporting high false discovery rates. In this study, we compared a recently developed normalization method, UQ-pgQ2, with three of the most frequently used alternatives including RLE (relative log estimate), TMM (Trimmed-mean M values) and UQ (upper quartile normalization) in the analysis of RNA-seq data. We evaluated the performance of these methods for gene-level differential expression analysis by considering the factors, including: 1) normalization combined with the choice of a Wald test from DESeq2 and an exact test/QL (Quasi-likelihood) F-Test from edgeR; 2) sample sizes in two balanced two-group comparisons; and 3) sequencing read depths. Using the MAQC RNA-seq datasets with small sample replicates, we found that UQ-pgQ2 normalization combined with an exact test can achieve better performance in term of power and specificity in differential gene expression analysis. However, using an intra-group analysis of false positives from real and simulated data, we found that a Wald test performs better than an exact test when the number of sample replicates is large and that a QL F-test performs the best given sample sizes of 5, 10 and 15 for any normalization. The RLE, TMM and UQ methods performed similarly given a desired sample size. We found the UQ-pgQ2 method combined with an exact test/QL F-test is the best choice in order to control false positives when the sample size is small. When the sample size is large, UQ-pgQ2 with a QL F-test is a better choice for the type I error control in an intra-group analysis. We observed read depths have a minimal impact for differential gene expression analysis based on the simulated data.
Can Mandatory Certification Promote Greenwashing? A Signaling Approach

This paper examines how positive or negative perceptions about innovation affect firms' strategic behavior when certifying their products. In particular, we consider two types of firm (innovative and noninnovative) which choose between three signals: (a) certified claim, (b) uncertified claim, and (c) no claim. The consumer, either exhibiting positive or negative perceptions, is uninformed about the firm's type and only observes the firm's claim. We find that a separating equilibrium arises in which information about the innovation is revealed to consumers. We also identify a pooling equilibrium in which both types of firm choose the same claim, concealing information from consumers. We show that regulation requiring mandatory certification can hinder information transmission. Our results also indicate that changes in product perceptions do not necessarily facilitate information transmission.
A Comparative Evaluation of Community Detection Algorithms in Social Networks

Abstract Community detection in networks is used to understand the underlying structure of the network and obtain insight into the structure of the network. Evaluation of the detected structures is challenging since there are no canonical solutions available. Validation of developed algorithms therefore requires evaluation on multiple different data sets. In this paper, we use synthetic data sets generated by Lancichinetti, Fortunato and Radicchi (LFR) algorithm, and real datasets from known networks to evaluate several different community detection algorithms. The LFR benchmark is used to generate networks with a variety of sizes, and mixing parameters ranging from completely separable to highly mixed for this comparative study. We compare the performance of the recently developed Community Density Rank (CDR) algorithm against other state-of-the-art community detection approaches. It is found that for the synthetic datasets the CDR outperforms the comparison algorithms while the results are mixed for all algorithms on real datasets. These results are used to generalize the applicability of community detection algorithms across a variety of datasets.
The Effect of Option Listing on Financing Decisions

This paper investigates the effect of option listing on corporate financing decisions. Firms experience a significant drop in leverage, which is mainly driven by an increase in equity issues. This effect is concentrated in firms with low profitability, high information asymmetry, and active option trading. Following the option listing, newly listed firms hold more cash and engage in more acquisitions which are mainly funded by new equity issues. These findings suggest that option listing has a significant impact on financing decisions due to lower information asymmetry and that firms use the post-listing equity to build up financial slack and support a larger investment set.
BEAD: Batched Evaluation of Iterative Graph Queries with Evolving Analytics Demands

Simultaneous evaluating a batch of iterative graph queries on a distributed system enables amortization of high communication and computation costs across multiple queries. As demonstrated by our prior work on MultiLyra [BigData’19], batched graph query processing can deliver significant speedups and scale up to batch sizes of hundreds of queries.In this paper, we greatly expand the applicable scenarios for batching by developing BEAD, a system that supports Batching in the presence of Evolving Analytics Demands. First, BEAD allows the graph data set to evolve (grow) over time, more vertices (e.g., users) and edges (e.g., interactions) are added. In addition, as the graph data set evolves, BEAD also allows the user to add more queries of interests to the query batch to accommodate new user demands. The key to the superior efficiency offered by BEAD lies in a series of incremental evaluation techniques that leverage the results of prior request to "fast-foward" the evaluation of the current request.We performed experiments comparing batching in BEAD with batching in MultiLyra for multiple input graphs and algorithms. Experiments demonstrate that BEAD’s batched evaluation of 256 queries, following graph changes that add up to 100K edges to a billion edge Twitter graph and also query changes of up to 32 new queries, outperforms MultiLyra’s batched evaluation by factors of up to 26.16 × and 5.66 × respectively.
Problems in establishing clinical guideline for integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine

A good clinical guideline for integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine(ITCWM) should be established by multi-subject specialists,including clinical expert of ITCWM,traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine,and medical staff from different levels of health care organization,clinical and preclinical medicine researcher,statistician,clinical epidemiologist and economist,medical decision-maker and administrative expert.Establishment of guideline should be abided by the following scientific procedure:association of ITCWM(AITCWM) or the branch of AITCWM decides the subject of clinical guideline,set up a team of special subject of clinical guideline(or decided by research project),evaluate literature systematically,prepare a draft manuscript,consult and appraise it in the same occupation,announce the content in the academic circle,collect feedback opinions and proposals and then make analysis,modify the clinical guideline,publish the clinical guideline,apply the clinical guideline,collect and appraise feedback opinions and proposals,modify and consummate the clinical guideline.In order to supply and consummate original guideline,scientific and renewed evidence should be emphasized on the basis of evidence-based medicine.The author also suggested insistence on the combination of disease and syndrome,syndrome being governed by disease,standardization of syndrome type,establishment of reasonable amount of syndrome types,standard and method of modifying the treatment.The user of guideline should pay attention to both the principle and flexibility,and the author stressed that guideline was just a diagnosis and treatment reference to clinician,which should be used flexibly and not be imitated mechanically in practical application.The practicability of guideline should be pay attention to so that the clinician can apply and manipulate the guideline easily.Meanwhile,the group of guideline establishment has an obligation to train medical staff and to promote the practice of clinical guideline.Only in this way,the authority,standardization and applicability of clinical guideline on ITCWM can be ensured,and then the expected purpose of clinical guideline establishment can be attained.
A Comparison of Patient Acceptance of 3 Eye Drop Instillation Aids.

PRECIS Patients can be quite amenable to using eye drop instillation aids. We should consider recommending these devices to patients who otherwise struggle with drop instillation and medication adherence. PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to compare patient acceptance of 3 commercially available eye drop instillation aids in a diverse tertiary care population. METHODS In this prospective, randomized controlled study, 39 patients being treated with topical antihypertensives were assigned to Arm A (no intervention) or Arm B (AutoDrop, AutoSqueeze, or SimplyTouch). Subjects in Arm B were instructed to administer their eye drop with the assigned drop aid at every use for ~6 weeks. Satisfaction surveys were administered at 3 and 6 weeks, where patients also reported the number of drops missed. RESULTS Thirty-two of 39 subjects completed study participation and full data analysis. Within this total group, 24 subjects were randomized to drop aids (AutoDrop N=10, AutoSqueeze N=8, SimplyTouch N=6), and 8 were randomized to no drop aid. At the 3 and 6-week timepoints, patients found instillation easier with AutoDrop (70.0%, 60.0%) followed by the AutoSqueeze (62.5%, 75.0%), and lastly SimplyTouch (33.3%, 33.3%). For the AutoSqueeze, the mean number of drops missed with and without the drop aid were significantly different (P=0.015 at 3 wk, P=0.008 at 6 wk). There was no difference in the mean number of drops missed with the AutoDrop and SimplyTouch at either timepoint. CONCLUSIONS For the AutoDrop and AutoSqueeze groups, over 60% of the patients found the devices helpful and would consider using them long-term. Our results suggest that patients would be amenable to using eye drop instillation aids, although more objective data is needed to determine whether these devices would improve medication compliance and clinical outcomes.
Plant-Centered Diet and Risk of Incident Cardiovascular Disease During Young to Middle Adulthood.

Background The association between diets that focus on plant foods and restrict animal products and cardiovascular disease (CVD) is inconclusive. We investigated whether cumulative intake of a plan...
Synonymical notes on Palaearctic Apionidae (Coleoptera: Curculionoidea)

The following 22 new synonymies of Palaearctic species of the Apionidae are proposed: Apion tavriense bajtenov & Lodos, 1980 = Squamapion delagrangei (desbrochers, 1895); Apion arcirostre desbrochers, 1895 = Squamapion elongatum (GerMar, 1817); Apion tenuirostre desbrochers, 1895 = Squamapion leucophaeatum (Wencker, 1864); Apion gladiator bajtenov, 1977 = Metapion obtectum (schiLsky, 1902); Apion toelgi WaGner, 1914 = Exapion difficile (herbst, 1797); Apion laportei hoffMann, 1959 = Apion liebmanni schubert, 1957; Apion ormusense bajtenov & freMuth, 1981 = Perapion marseuli (Wencker, 1864); Apion schaeferi hoffMann, 1960 = Aizobius robustirostris (desbrochers, 1870); Apion turkestanicum desbrochers, 1892 = Catapion gemulum (faust, 1885); Apion mus desbrochers, 1897 = Catapion gemulum (faust, 1885); Apion doriae desbrochers, 1894 = Catapion gemulum (faust, 1885); Apion tauricum schubert, 1963 and Apion schuberti aLonso ZaraZaGa, 1986 = Catapion bruleriei (desbrochers, 1875); Apion pedicellare thoMson C. G., 1865 = Betulapion simile (kirby, 1811); Apion persicum desbrochers, 1894 = Apion insidiosum desbrochers, 1875; Apion gavoyi desbrochers, 1904 = Hemitrichapion lethierryi (desbrochers, 1870); Apion foveatum desbrochers, 1904 = Hemitrichapion reflexum (GyLLenhaL, 1833); Apion cilicicum schubert, 1969 = Oxystoma insignicolle desbrochers, 1891; Apion cyprium baLfour-broWne, 1944 = Protapion angusticolle (GyLLenhaL, 1833); Apion tereticolle desbrochers, 1897 = Protapion angusticolle (GyLLenhaL, 1833); Apion mateui mirei hoffMann, 1962 = Pseudoconapion niloticum (desbrochers, 1895); Apion mateui hoffMann, 1963 = Pseudoconapion niloticum (desbrochers, 1895). Transfers to other genera resulted in 7 new combinations: Apion mandli schubert, 1957 to Melanapion; Apion liebmanni schubert, 1957 to Pseudoperapion; Mesotrichapion insidiosum (desbrochers, 1875) to Hemitrichapion subgenus Tinocyba; Apion derelictum desbrochers, 1906 to Hemitrichapion subgenus Tinocyba; Apion lethierryi desbrochers, 1870 to Hemitrichapion subgenus Tinocyba; Apion insignicolle desbrochers, 1891 to Oxystoma; Apion griseosetulosum desbrochers, 1875 to Pseudoconapion. Lectotypes are designated for 11 nominal species: Apion mandli schubert, Apion turkestanicum desbrochers, Apion mus desbrochers, Apion pedicellare thoMson, Apion insidiosum desbrochers, Apion persicum desbrochers, Apion derelictum desbrochers, Apion lethierryi desbrochers, Apion ciliare desbrochers, Apion insignicolle desbrochers, Apion griseosetulosum desbrochers.
A novel, catecholamine release-inhibitory peptide from chromogranin A: autocrine control of nicotinic cholinergic-stimulated exocytosis.

Publisher Summary Proteolysis of chromogranin A takes place both within secretory granules and extracellularly, giving rise to several smaller, biologically active peptides, such as pancreastatin, which inhibits insulin and parathyroid hormone release, β-granin or vasostatin, which inhibits parathyroid hormone release and relaxes vascular smooth muscle, and parastatin which inhibits parathyroid hormone release. In search of the specific secretion-inhibitory domain within chromogranin A, 15 peptides (range, 19-25 residues) spanning 336 amino acids, or 78% of the length (431 amino acids) of the bovine chromogranin A mature protein were synthesized, and tested their efficacy on nicotine-induced norepinephrine secretion from rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells, screening each peptide at a 10-μM concentration. This chapter highlights that exposure of PC12 cells to a spectrum of nicotine doses (10-1000 μM), alone or with catestatin (10 μM), revealed that nicotine never overcame catestatin's inhibition of norepinephrine release, even at the highest nicotine dosage. Thus, catestatin is likely to be a noncompetitive nicotinic cholinergic antagonist. To explore the minimal catestatin domain exerting catecholamine secretion-inhibitory effect, we synthesized several (N-terminal, C-terminal, and bidirectional) truncated catestatin peptides. Catecholamine-release inhibitory mapped toward the N-terminus of catestatin, in a region of 12 or fewer amino acids.
Indexes of overall diet quality : A review

Abstract This article reviews the published indexes of overall diet quality. Approaches used for measuring overall diet quality include those based on examination of the intake of nutrients, food groups, or a combination of both. A majority of the indexes have been examined in relation to nutrient adequacy only; few have been evaluated for assessment of quality according to current dietary guidelines, namely, a diet relatively low in fat that meets energy and nutrient needs. The indexes of overall diet quality were related to the risk of disease more strongly than individual nutrients or foods. J Am Diet Assoc. 1996; 96:785–791.
Mathematical Foundation for Wave Physics

The chapter begins with an introduction to the main concepts in generalized functions theory. The development of the mathematics of wave physics itself begins by evaluating certain essential integrals involving gaussians. A brief section on complex variables yields additional integrals. After its intuitive introduction, the Dirac delta function is shown to be an example of a generalized function, that is, it is given by a certain family of equivalent sequences. The members of such sequences must be good functions, for example, gaussians. The designations “equivalent”, “good” are carefully defined. The Fourier representation as a decomposition of functions of spatial variables into harmonic functions of all possible wavelengths is introduced. Using the analogy of basis vectors in three dimensions, the idea is developed that harmonic waves form a complete basis in an infinite dimensional function space (Hilbert space). The formula for the Fourier transform is obtained in analogy to projecting out vector components, the Dirac delta function serving as the analogue of the Kronecker delta. Worked examples include the Fourier transform of a square wave, the computer synthesis of the square wave from its transform, and orthonormality of the Dirac delta functions. Problem 1.17, which develops the Green’s function for diffusion, is particularly recommended as background for Chap. 6, “Wave Mechanics”.
Motion Parallax and Structure from Motion

Motion parallax and structure from motion are two related sources of information for the perception of the shape of 3-D objects and surfaces as well as the layout of objects and surfaces in 3-D scenes. Motion parallax refers to the inverse relation between the speed at which the projection of an object moves across the retina and the distance of the object from the eye. When the head moves horizontally, for example, projections of stationary objects closer than fixation move across the visual field in the direction opposite the head while projections of more distant objects move in the same direction as the head. The same is true for parts of objects or surfaces; the relative speeds with which objects move in the retinal projection provides information about their relative distances in the environment, assuming that the 3-D distances between the objects remain constant. This assumption is known as the rigidity constraint. Stationary objects move rigidly when an observer moves, but the validity of a rigidity constraint is less clear for moving objects. If the moving objects are associated with a continuous surface that is moving relative to the observer, a rigidity constraint may be reasonable.
Molecular Basis of Diseases of Immunity

Publisher Summary The immune system protects against infection with microorganisms. This system is remarkable in both its complexity and its effectiveness. Without a functioning immune system, humans cannot survive past the first few months of life. However, as extraordinary this system may be, until the most recent century, infections were by far the most common cause of death among humans as microorganisms kept the average life expectancy to about 25–30 years. The increased life expectancy currently seen reflects progress in control of infectious diseases including improved hygiene, vaccines, and antimicrobial drugs. Casanova and Abel have proposed that, by definition, humans who die of infection are immunodeficient and that recent medical progress has masked widespread inherited defects in immunity. A better understanding of the weaknesses and limitations of the immune system will lead to approaches to assist and improve it. This chapter addresses major syndromes of immune dysfunction. These include diseases of deficient immunity, hyperactive immunity (hypersensitivity), and dysregulated immunity (autoimmune diseases). To understand the pathophysiology of these syndromes, one must have an understanding of how the normal immune system functions. The chapter presents a brief summary of the important cells and molecules of the immune system.
Relationship between sugar structure and competition for the sugar transport system in Bakers' yeast.

Twenty-five sugars have been compared as inhibitors of l-sorbose or d-xylose transport by the constitutive, monosaccharide transport system in bakers' yeast. d-Glucose showed the highest activity (i.e., apparent K(i) = 5 mm). Since all sugars except 2-deoxyglucose showed a decrease in activity relative to glucose (i.e., apparent K(i) = 25 - >2,000 mm), an attempt was made to relate the activity of each sugar with the way its structure differs from that of d-glucose. Assuming that the inhibition was the result of sugar-carrier complex formation, the analysis showed that the transport system has a rather broad specificity for pyranoses. Single changes at each of the five carbons of d-glucose (except for the 2-deoxy derivative) result in variable decreases in activity depending upon the carbon number and the alteration. The largest decrease in activity effected by a single change is the methylation or glucosylation of the anomeric hydroxyl. The combination of two or more changes leads to a decrease which is greater than the decrease in activity resulting from the individual changes occurring alone.
The Influence of the Ignatian Pedagogical Paradigm on Instructors Integrating It into Undergraduate Courses in the College of Professional Studies at Marquette University

This is the initial installment of a two-part story narrating the process of embedding the Ignatian Pedagogical Paradigm (IPP) into the curriculum of four core courses in the College of Professional Studies at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. This article provides a template for faculty development when integrating the IPP into undergraduate courses at a Jesuit University. The trainer followed the recommendation of the 1989 International Commission on the Apostolate of Jesuit Education (ICAJE), which states “Teachers need much more than a cognitive introduction to the Paradigm. They require practical training that engages and enables them to reflect on the experience of using these new methods confidently and effectively.” The first part of this article provides the reader with the trainer’s immersion and utilization of the IPP by using the IPP constructs of context, experience, reflections, actions, and evaluation. In the second part of this article the four participants share their reflections regarding the challenges of understanding the IPP as well as the benefits of adapting their teaching, curriculum, and rubrics to insure the successful integration of the IPP into their courses. The second part of this article reports the participants’ thoughts and activities related to comprehending and developing the major constructs of the IPP: Context, Experience, Reflection, Action, and Evaluation. Therefore, it has a conversational tone of a shared learning experience to illustrate for the reader the deeply reflective process each participant experienced in becoming an IPP learning community. It includes a description of the process used to collect data to determine the impact of the IPP on the instructor as the courses were taught. A future article will describe the data analysis, conclusions and recommendations.
Constrained parametric model for simultaneous inference of two cumulative incidence functions

We propose a parametric regression model for the cumulative incidence functions (CIFs) commonly used for competing risks data. The model adopts a modified logistic model as the baseline CIF and a generalized odds-rate model for covariate effects, and it explicitly takes into account the constraint that a subject with any given prognostic factors should eventually fail from one of the causes such that the asymptotes of the CIFs should add up to one. This constraint intrinsically holds in a nonparametric analysis without covariates, but is easily overlooked in a semiparametric or parametric regression setting. We hence model the CIF from the primary cause assuming the generalized odds-rate transformation and the modified logistic function as the baseline CIF. Under the additivity constraint, the covariate effects on the competing cause are modeled by a function of the asymptote of the baseline distribution and the covariate effects on the primary cause. The inference procedure is straightforward by using the standard maximum likelihood theory. We demonstrate desirable finite-sample performance of our model by simulation studies in comparison with existing methods. Its practical utility is illustrated in an analysis of a breast cancer dataset to assess the treatment effect of tamoxifen, adjusting for age and initial pathological tumor size, on breast cancer recurrence that is subject to dependent censoring by second primary cancers and deaths.
An application of the foot in the door technique to organ donation

The extent to which the size of an initial request related to organ donation could be reduced when using the foot-in-the-door technique was investigated. After being asked to comply with an initial request to complete a questionnaire related to organ donation having either 5, 10, 15, or 20 items or not being asked to complete the questionnaire, subjects indicated their willingness to become an organ donor. In addition to replicating earlier research, the results indicated that the original 20-item questionnaire could be reduced to five items without losing its effectiveness to increase willingness to become an organ donor when compared to the no-request condition. The implications of the foot-in-the-door technique for medical volunteering in general and suggestions for future research are also discussed.
A model of incentive regulation

Abstract A method of incentive regulation is presented. The regulatory agency sets a‘fair rate of return’ which is used to determine a ‘target’ profit for the regulated firm. If the firm's actual profit differs from the target profit, it retains a fraction of the excess (or absorbs a fraction of the deficit). This feature of the system provides a strong incentive for efficient operation. Properties of the incentive system are explored and problems of implementation are briefly examined.