cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
You can beat the “market”: Estimating the return on investment for NHL team scouting

Scouting is a major part of talent acquisition for any professional sports team. In the National Hockey League (NHL), the 'market' for scouting is set by the NHL's Central Scouting Service which develops a ranking of draft eligible players. In addition to the Central Scouting rankings, NHL teams use their own internal scouting to augment their knowledge of eligible players and develop their own rankings. Using a novel statistical approach we show in this paper that the additional information possessed by teams provides better rankings than those of Central Scouting. Using data from the 1998 to 2002 NHL drafts, we estimate that the average yearly gain per team from their internal scouting is between $1.7MM and $5.2MM. These values are consistent across the three measures of player productivity that we consider: cumulative Games Played, cumulative Time On Ice and cumulative Goals Versus Threshold where we aggregate these metrics across the first seven years post draft. We used this time frame since teams generally retain rights to their draft picks for seven years. Further, we find that no individual team outperformed the others in terms of draft performance.
Dating and Chronology

In 450 B.C., Herodotus realized that the sediments left by the annual flooding of the Nile were responsible for the deposits on either side of the river and that the depth of the sediments indicated a probable age of thousands of years. A numerical value was not forthcoming, however, for another two millennia, when in 1854 the foundation of the statue of Ramses II at Memphis was found to be buried under 9 feet of sediment. Historical records proved the statue to be 3000 years old, leading to a rate of accumulation of 3 × 10−3 feet per year. The upper alluvial deposit covering other strata at Memphis was 40 feet deep, from which it was apparent that, if the rate were constant, some 13,000 years would have elapsed during the formation of this upper layer. This ability to derive numbers marked a great advance in our understanding of the scale of time. In the previous decades it had been appreciated from European mining and from other observations in Germany, France, and Switzerland that the earth was often layered. Since rivers cut through these layers while mountains clearly had carried them upwards, the layers must predate the rivers and mountains. The further deduction was made that the layers represented successive periods of time in a scale much larger than human life-spans. Dating, then, by alluvial deposits offered a method of semiquantitation and placed geologic time in the tens of thousands of years at least. In the 1860s the scale was further extended by Lord Kelvin. Based on heat flow from the center of the earth, he estimated geological age as no less than 25–40 million years old. Not knowing exact values for density gradients, etc., he could not have been expected to have made an exact calculation, and his number was still further expanded in 1899 by estimates of the age of the ocean based on the concentration of salt in rivers and the annual rate of flow. It was concluded that the ocean is 100 million years old. While the exact reliability of this number also suffered from inaccuracies, notably in the estimate of the total volume of river flow, constancy of the rate, and the effect of dry seas, the size itself of the number, 100 million years, placed our view of the history of the earth in still a new dimension and one which is only a factor of ten less than the value currently accepted.
Putting Emotion in Context: Its Place Within Individual and Social Narratives

AbstractThe articles presented in this special issue have located emotional responses within more complex narratives dictated by both individual histories and the larger sociocultural context. A major thesis running through these articles is that the study of emotion as a physiological response in the laboratory loses sight of the meanings expressed by emotions in interpersonal and social trans-actions. A deeper understanding of anger, love, and even boredom can be reached by looking at how these aspects of emotional life are expressed in narrative scenarios that involve the adopting of roles, the sharing of expecta-tions, and the stipulation of particular actions. Finally, contextual perspectives challenge researchers to scrutinize and bring to light the narrative expectations their own studies create for the participants involved. (Personality Psychology)
Integrating the Relational Turbulence Model and a Multiple Goals Approach to Understand Topic Avoidance During the Transition to Extended Family

This study focuses on the transition to extended family that occurs as marriage creates in-law relationships along with the spousal unit. Specifically, it utilizes both the relational turbulence model and the multiple goals perspective to examine variations in communication avoidance and satisfaction with one’s in-law relationship. Our model proposes that key mechanisms of relational turbulence (i.e., relational uncertainty and interference from partners) are associated with in-law’s communicative goals (such as managing uncertainty, fostering a positive in-law identity, and maintaining family relationships), which in turn are associated with topic avoidance. In addition, we hypothesized that relational uncertainty, interference from partners, and the use of topic avoidance would be associated with dissatisfaction in nascent in-law bonds. A cross-sectional analysis of data from 203 children-in-law revealed that in addition to direct associations among relational uncertainty, interference from partners, to...
Progression of Cohort Learning Style during an Intensive Education Program.

The authors describe an intensive graduate program involving compressed classroom preparation followed by a period of experiential activities designed to reinforce and enhance the knowledge base. B...
LONG-TERM ASSOCIATION OF LDL CHOLESTEROL WITH CARDIOVASCULAR MORTALITY IN INDIVIDUALS AT LOW 10-YEAR RISK OF ATHEROSCLEROTIC CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE: THE COOPER CENTER LONGITUDINAL STUDY

Individuals at low short-term risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) are not recommended statin therapy unless they have LDL-C levels >190mg/dl. We sought to determine the long-term association of various LDL-C thresholds and CVD mortality in a large, low risk cohort. The study
Carbamate Insecticides: Toxic Action of Synergized Carbamates against Twelve Resistant Strains of the House Fly

When various alkyl, alkoxy, xylyl and heterocyclic carbamates were tested in the laboratory with piperonyl butoxide synergist (1:5 ratio) against strains of the house fly ( Musca domestica L.) selected with carbamate, chlorinated hydrocarbon, organophosphorus, and nitroparaffin insecticides, the resistance observed was below the 10-fold level. An exception was a strain selected with Chlorthion® ( O -(3-chloro-4-nitrophenyl) O,O -dimethyl phosphorothioate) and subsequently with ronnel ( O -(2, 4,5-trichlorophenyl) O,O -dimethyl phosphorothioate), which showed a 129-fold level of resistance to synergized Sevin® (1-naphthyl N -methylcarbamate) but only 5.6-fold resistance to synergized Dimetilan® (2-dimethylcarbamyl-3-methyl-5-pyrazolyl dimethylcarbamate). This specificity of cross-resistance was attributed to parallels in the chemical configurations of ronnel and Sevin. Maximal treatment of flies with piperonyl butoxide did not offset resistance entirely, and it was concluded that carbamate resistance is in part due to components insensitive to the action of piperonyl butoxide.
Population Characteristics of Peromyscus gossypinus and Sigmodon hispidus in Tropical Hammocks of South Florida

Population data were recorded on tagged Peromyscus gossypinus and Sigmodon hispidus trapped on study grids in two tropical hammocks of South Florida. Densities of cotton mice, the dominant species, appeared to be related to successional stages of habitat with greater numbers found in mature tropical hammocks (27 to 96 animals per hectare). Populations decreased in summer and autumn and increased in the winter and spring with recruitment of immature animals. Breeding persisted from August through May peaking in the winter and early spring. Females averaged 3.1 mice per litter with some producing three to four litters per year. Highest mortality occurred during the first 6 months. The population turned over completely every 18 to 20 months. Cotton rats, normally inhabitants of the sawgrass marsh, frequented portions of the hammocks throughout the year. It appeared as though females used the hammocks as nurseries during the summer. Period of greatest interaction between the two species in tropical hammocks is between March and November when the water levels rise. Dispersion patterns of cotton mice do not appear to be greatly influenced by the presence of cotton rats. Sex ratios, age composition, parasites, reproduction, longevity and population turnover, and movements of both species are discussed.
Synthesis, structures, and solution dynamics of tetrasubstituted nine-atom germanium deltahedral clusters.

Reported are the rational synthesis, structures, and solution dynamics of three tetrasubstituted and neutral Ge9-based deltahedral clusters [Ge9R3R′]0, where R = Si(SiMe3)3 and R′ = Et (1), SnnBu3 (2), or Tl (3). The first step of the synthesis is a reaction of an acetonitrile suspension of the intermetallic precursor compound K4Ge9 with {Si(SiMe3)3}Cl which produces the trisubstituted monoanions [Ge9{Si(SiMe3)3}]−. A benzene suspension of the latter is then reacted with SnnBu3Cl or TlCp to produce 2 and 3, respectively, while the same acetonitrile solution is reacted with EtBr in order to produce 1. All three structures can be viewed as tricapped trigonal prisms of Ge9 with the three “hypersilyl” substituents, Si(SiMe3)3, exo-bonded to the capping atoms. The fourth substituent in 1, the ethyl group, is exo-bonded to one of the six available Ge atoms with the Ge–C bond positioned radially to the Ge9 core. In the case of 2, on the other hand, the tin fragment is found above one of the triangular bases of t...
Notes on neotropical Austroboletus species

Type specimens of neotropical Austroboletus species have been examined, and A. trinatatensis is proposed as new. Scanning electron micrographs of basidiospores of these species are presented.
Effects of Number of Test Insects, Exposure Period, and Posttreatment Interval on Reliability of Fumigant Bioassays1

Studies were designed to determine the reproducibility of re- sults from standardized laboratory fumigation tests using an 80:20 (CCI4:CS2 by vol.) fumigant in empty 20-liter bottles at 80° F. The test insects were adults of rice weevil ( Sitophilus orlyza (L.)), confused flour beetle ( Tribolium confusum Duv.), and saw-toothed grain beetle ( Oryzaephilus surinamensis (L.)) and three age groups of immature rice weevils. Analysis and evaluations showed that (1) the optimum number of adult insects used in each test cage was 50; (2) rice weevil and confused flour beetle should be held at least 10 days and sawtoothed grain beetle 15 days after fumigation for final mortality counts; (3) the descending order of resistance to the fumigant was rice weevil pupae, eggs, and larvae, and adult saw-toothed grain beetles, confused flour beetles, and rice weevils, and (4) variation in results was unpredictable although variations were greatest with rice weevil adults and smallest with rice weevil larvae. Results of parallel experiments conducted on different days were highly variable in some instances, but replicates within a given day's tests were reasonably consistent. Adult insects demonstrated greater variation following longer exposures to the fumigant than following shorter exposures. conducted weevils responded erratically following the shorter exposures but varied least of all groups in the 48-hour exposures. Sub lethal treatments of immature rice weevils retarded their rate of development. LC values with their respective confidence intervals were determined. The observed LC50 and LC90 values associated with 24- hour exposures were 290 and 370 µM./1. (micromoles per liter) for confused flour beetle adults, 165 and 220 µM./1.for rice weevil adults, 125 and 500 µM1./1. for rice weevil eggs and young larvae, 155 and 345 µM./1. for young and middle-aged rice weevil larvae and 375 and 865 µM1./1.for older rice weevil larvae and pupae. I.C values for 4- and 8-hour exposures were greater, and those for 48-hour exposures were smaller, than the 24-hour I.C values.
136 APOLIPOPROTEIN E GENOTYPE FREQUENCIES IN A PROSPECTIVE STUDY OF SPORADIC LATE -ONSET DEMENTIA.

Background and Significance The correlation of apolipoprotein E (ApoE) genotype frequencies with the development of sporadic progressive late-onset dementia has been demonstrated in several studies. In particular, the risk effect of the ApoE 4 allele in the development of Alzheimer9s disease (AD) has been well documented. Over the past 4 years we have studied a cohort of 76 patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and 28 controls and followed the cognitive course of these cases with serial psychometric examinations and MRI sequences that include susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI) to determine iron content. Serial blood samples have been collected for multiple systems of analysis, and this report deals with the analysis of patient DNA for identification of ApoE genotype. The aim of this study is to correlate the identified ApoE allelic frequencies in these cases with progression from MCI to mild AD. Methods The subjects consist of a community-based cohort of 76 MCI and 28 cognitively normal participants studied with IRB approval. Classifications of MCI were based on the Mayo Clinic rating criteria, and all cases had psychometric examinations to diagnose them as normal, MCI, and progressive MCI (PMCI) or AD. Patient DNA was extracted using standard techniques and the 270 bp polymorphic region of ApoE was amplified by PCR with primers that have previously been used. The DNA digestion was carried out with HhaI endonucleases and the resulting samples were visualized on both 4% agarose and 0.8% acrylamide gels for identification of the three different isoforms of ApoE. Results and Conclusions The frequency of the genotypes for ApoE 2, 3, and 4 for the normal control population were 4.1% E2, 77.1% E3, and 14.5% E4. The stable MCI population frequencies were 9.1% E2, 75% E3, and 15.9% E4. However, the frequencies for the PMCI group were 0% E2, 75% E3, and 25% E4. These results confirm the role of ApoE 4 as a risk factor for AD. In addition, it appears that the ApoE 2 allele may be protective against the development of dementia. We are in the process now of doing additional studies to assess the relevance of patient genotypes to developing AD and brain microhemorrhages as indicated by SWI studies.
Craniofacial Wound Healing with Photobiomodulation Therapy New Insights and Current Challenges

The fundamental pathophysiologic response for the survival of all organisms is the process of wound healing. Inadequate or lack of healing constitutes the etiopathologic basis of many oral and systemic diseases. Among the numerous efforts to promote wound healing, biophotonics therapies have shown much promise. Advances in photonic technologies and a better understanding of light-tissue interactions, from parallel biophotonics fields such as in vivo optical imaging and optogenetics, are spearheading their popularity in biology and medicine. Use of high-dose lasers and light devices in dermatology, ophthalmology, oncology, and dentistry are now popular for specific clinical applications, such as surgery, skin rejuvenation, ocular and soft tissue recontouring, and antitumor and antimicrobial photodynamic therapy. However, a less well-known clinical application is the therapeutic use of low-dose biophotonics termed photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy, which is aimed at alleviating pain and inflammation, modulating immune responses, and promoting wound healing and tissue regeneration. Despite significant volumes of scientific literature from clinical and laboratory studies noting the phenomenological evidence for this innovative therapy, limited mechanistic insights have prevented rigorous and reproducible PBM clinical protocols. This article briefly reviews current evidence and focuses on gaps in knowledge to identify potential paths forward for clinical translation with PBM therapy with an emphasis on craniofacial wound healing. PBM offers a novel opportunity to examine fundamental nonvisual photobiological processes as well as develop innovative clinical therapies, thereby presenting an opportunity for a paradigm shift from conventional restorative/prosthetic approaches to regenerative modalities in clinical dentistry.
Analysis of monitoring results of food-borne pathogens in food in Liaoning province, 2012-2013

Objective To analyze food contamination by food-borne pathogens in Liaoning province for provide basis of preventing outbreak of food-borne disease. Methods According to the manual of standard operating procedures for foodborne pathogens,many strains such as Vibrio parahaemolyticus,Listeria monocytogenes,Escherichia coli,Salmonella and Staphylococcus aureus, have been detected among several categories of food samples. Results 374 strains of pathogens,which contain 227 strains including vibrio parahaemolyticus,Listeria monocytogenes,Escherichia coli,Salmonella and Staphylococcus aureus, have been found in 4772 samples from restaurants,milk and dairy products,cooked meat products and aquatic products,etc. The positive rate of the five strains is 2.01%, in which positive rate of Vibrio parahaemolyticus is up to 16.13%, while positive rate of other trains is relatively lower, e.g. Staphylococcus aureus(1.63%), Listeria monocytogenes(1.50%), Escherichia coli(0.54%) and Salmonella(0.34%). Conclusion It is highly recommended to strengthen food management in each food circulation, such as manufacture,produce,transport and sales, and guard against the outbreak of food-borne disease.
Improving Freedom to Operate in Carrot Breeding through the Development of Eight Open Source Composite Populations of Carrot (Daucus carota L. var. sativus)

The intellectual property rights (IPR) landscape for plant germplasm has changed dramatically over the past 50 years, moving from the public domain into proprietary structures. Using carrot as a model crop, we explored the freedom to operate for plant breeding and research in relation to the diversity present in 140 commercially available cultivars in the United States. To determine freedom to operate, we characterized the phenotypic and genotypic diversity across cultivars and the IPR that were associated with each cultivar. With 87 of the 95 cultivars that were not restricted by IPR, we developed eight diverse composite populations of carrot through two cycles of breeding that are meant to encompass the available diversity in commercial germplasm. These populations are being released through the Open Source Seed Initiative (OSSI, www.osseeds.org). This is the first example of crop germplasm that has been collected, characterized, and bred specifically for entry into an open source commons.
Die Duldungsvollmacht und ihre Anfechtung

Eine sogenannten Duldungsvollmacht liegt nach standiger Rechtsprechung des BGH dann vor, „wenn der Vertretene es wissentlich geschehen last, das ein anderer fur ihn wie ein Vertreter auftritt und der Geschaftsgegner dieses Dulden nach Treu und Glauben dahin verstehen darf, das der als Vertreter Handelnde bevollmachtigt ist“1.
Book Review of Kristen Rundle, Forms Liberate: Reclaiming the Jurisprudence of Lon L. Fuller

In Forms Liberate: Reclaiming the Jurisprudence of Lon L. Fuller, Kristen Rundle offers a perceptive and sympathetic interpretation of the mid-century Harvard law professor’s published and unpublished work in the philosophy of law. According to Rundle, legal philosophers have long misunderstood and underappreciated Fuller because they have viewed his work within the terms of a debate that were not of his own choosing. If we look at Fuller’s specific arguments about the connections between law and morality within the broader context of his scholarly ambitions as a whole, she argues, we can see that he was primarily concerned with exploring how law’s distinctive form entailed a respect for human agency and thus implicitly set limits on lawgiving authority. Although Rundle’s account leaves some questions about, and objections to, Fuller’s philosophical claims unanswered, she makes a persuasive case for putting some of Fuller’s concerns – such as the moral implications of adopting particular institutional forms and methods – back on the jurisprudential agenda.
Project STRONG: A Capacity-Building Intervention to Improve Grant Writing Among Substance Abuse Organizations

While grant writing is critical for substance abuse organizations in the face of limited resources and mounting accountability pressures, no capacity-building models exist for social workers to use as they aim to promote organizational capacity development in this area. This article offers a promising capacity-building model—Project STRONG—designed to improve the grant writing capacity of substance abuse organizations. Feasibility findings of an initial pilot of the model through a partnership between a university technical support provider and 9 substance abuse agencies are shared. Implications for social workers working within or in partnership with substance abuse agencies are offered.
A thermodynamic potential and the temperature-composition phase diagram for single-crystalline K1-xNaxNbO3 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.5)

Environment-friendly lead-free piezoelectric materials, such as the niobate perovskite compound (K1-xNaxNbO3), have attracted increasing attention over the last decade. Although extensive efforts have been made to study these materials experimentally, there have been much fewer theoretical studies on the microstructural evolution and property optimization of lead-free systems due to the lack of a comprehensive thermodynamic assessment. In this study, we first established a general procedure for constructing thermodynamic potentials for ferroelectric systems. We then developed an eighth-order Landau thermodynamic potential for K1-xNaxNbO3 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.5) single crystals, taking into account the low temperature quantum mechanical effects. Based on this potential, we computed the spontaneous polarization and the dielectric constants for each composition as well as an overall temperature-composition phase diagram, all of which agree well with the available experimental data.
The Scapula and the Throwing/Overhead Athlete

The combination of high stress and frequency that is experienced by overhead athletes often leads to several asymmetries of the scapula. There are asymmetries that are normal adaptations and others that are abnormal and problematic to the function of the scapula. This chapter discusses the normal and abnormal asymmetries in the position and motion of the scapula. In addition, the effect of other soft tissue adaptations on the function of the scapula is discussed in detail. Due to the unique features of the overhead athlete, performing a thorough clinical examination is often difficult. Understanding the key features of a proper clinical examination will help to provide an accurate diagnosis and therefore optimal treatment for the patient. The second half of the chapter focuses on the clinical examination, treatment, and injury prevention strategies for the overhead athlete.
The Relationship between Coronary Artery Disease Risk Factors and Carotid Intima-Media Thickness in Children.

Objective To determine the number of coronary artery disease risk factors and the individual coronary artery disease risk factors that have a negative influence on carotid intima-media thickness in children. Study design One hundred and nineteen children (mean age 10.51 ± 0.52 years; 51% female) participated. Each subject was assessed for carotid intima-media thickness, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), glucose, body mass index (BMI), and resting blood pressure. Surveys assessed family history of cardiovascular disease, and physical activity. Ultrasound assessment was completed on the right and left common carotid arteries. Statistical analyses included the t test, χ2 test, one-way ANOVA, and stepwise regression. Results An increase in carotid intima-media thickness was observed with 2 vs 0 coronary artery disease risk factors for left carotid intima-media thickness (P Conclusions Carotid intima-media thickness is negatively influenced by 2+ coronary artery disease risk factors. Weight status appears to have the greatest negative impact on carotid intima-media thickness in children. These findings support the need for strategies to lower BMI in children.
Abstract 15668: Diffuse Interstitial Myocardial Fibrosis is Associated With Abnormal Left Atrial Mechanics in Hypertension

Background: Varying degrees of myocardial fibrosis may accompany LV remodeling associated with pressure overload. However, the correlates of diffuse myocardial fibrosis are poorly understood. Given the role of ECV on left ventricular diastolic compliance, we hypothesized that ECV is associated with abnormal atrial mechanics in hypertension. Methods: We studied 151 subjects with hypertension. ECV was measured with myocardial T1 mapping before and after the administration of gadolinium, in a mid-ventricular short axis plane. Longitudinal atrial mechanics were measured with SSFP MRI, from the 4-chamber and 2-chamber views, using tissue tracking (CVI42; Circle CV Imaging; Calgary, Canada). Results: In models that adjusted for demographics, body size, blood pressure, the presence of heart failure, diabetes and medication use, ECV was independently predictive of a poorer reservoir, conduit and booster pump function (Table). Conclusions: ECV is independently associated atrial dysfunction in hypertension. Diffuse myocardial fibrosis play a role in the development of atrial arrhythmias and/or HFpEF in hypertensive subjects.
THE INFLUENCE OF AFRICAN FOLKTALE IN WOLE SOYONKA’S FOREST OF A THOUSAND DAEMONS AND AMOS TUTUOLA’S THE PALM WINE DRINKARD

In recent, times it has been noted that many Africans relegated their traditional folklore to the background with no hope of revival. However, some African writers have borrowed from their traditional oral literature in creating works of literature. This article corrects the initiative that folklores are unimportant and fetish practices that should be kept under the carpet. What is expected is to preserve these folklores as Wole Soyinka and Amos Tutuola have rightly done. In this article, there is a comparative analysis of the influence of African folklore in Wole Soyinka’s Forest of a Thousand Daemons and Amos Tutuola's The Palm-Wine Drinkard as a means of heralding the true emotions and charm of African folklore. By adopting different forms that make up African folklore, these authors illuminate the spirit and beauty of African art and create within every reader a sense of Africanness.
Funding Experiments, Writing Proposals

Abstract Research proposals have become a significant part of experimental and other research. All governments—national, state, county, and even many cities—in this country and in many others issue requests for proposals and fund research. Private organizations and foundations also support research. Proposals request money to conduct projects that advance the funding agency’s mission. Clearly written proposals that show awareness of the mission and that take into account reviewers’ practices have the best chances of success. Understanding the steps in proposal preparation and evaluation can improve the success rate, as can knowing and avoiding common mistakes in planning, tone, and detail. Successful proposals include clearly developed sections on topic, research question, research plan, personnel, and budgets, and clear writing is important at all stages. Perseverance promotes success.
Electrophysiological signal analysis and visualization using Cloudwave for epilepsy clinical research.

Epilepsy is the most common serious neurological disorder affecting 50–60 million persons worldwide. Electrophysiological data recordings, such as electroencephalogram (EEG), are the gold standard for diagnosis and pre-surgical evaluation in epilepsy patients. The increasing trend towards multi-center clinical studies require signal visualization and analysis tools to support real time interaction with signal data in a collaborative environment, which are cannot be supported by traditional desktop-based standalone applications. As part of the Prevention and Risk Identification of SUDEP Mortality (PRISM) project, we have developed a Web-based electrophysiology data visualization and analysis platform called Cloudwave using highly scalable open source cloud computing infrastructure. Cloudwave is integrated with the PRISM patient cohort identification tool called MEDCIS (Multi-modality Epilepsy Data Capture and Integration System). The Epilepsy and Seizure Ontology (EpSO) underpins both Cloudwave and MEDCIS to support query composition and result retrieval. Cloudwave is being used by clinicians and research staff at the University Hospital - Case Medical Center (UH-CMC) Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU) and will be progressively deployed at four EMUs in the United States and the United Kingdom as part of the PRISM project.
Optimal Foldovers and Semifolding for Minimum Aberration Even Fractional Factorial Designs

﻿When conducting a single fractional factorial experiment with many factors, results may not be conclusive and the addition of another fraction is often recommended. In this study, another fraction is added to a resolution IV design containing close to ..
Time Effects Relate to Particle Crushing in Granular Materials

Sands exhibit patterns of time effects different from those observed in clays. It appears that time effects in sand are associated with crushing of particles, and a mechanistic picture of time effects in granular materials is constructed in which time effects depend on particle crushing by static fatigue, interparticle friction, and grain rearrangement. The phenomenon of static fatigue or delayed fracture of individual particles seems to be at the root of time effects in sand. While creep and relaxation are caused by the same underlying phenomenon, it appears that results of creep tests cannot be obtained from results of relaxations tests, and vice versa.
Therapeutic Potential of Gastric Electrical Stimulation for Obesity and Its Possible Mechanisms: A Preliminary Canine Study

Our aim was to investigate the effects of gastric electrical stimulation on food intake, weight, gastric myoelectrical, and parasympathetic activity. Dogs were implanted with serosal electrodes and a subcutaneous stimulator. The stimulator was turned on and off alternately every month for 4 months. Food intake, weight, gastric myoelectrical activity, and electrocardiograms were recorded. Daily food intake and weight were significantly decreased during the months with stimulation. Stimulation did not show any acute effect on gastric myoelectrical activity; however, it chronically and significantly impaired gastric myoelectrical activity in the fed state, but not in the fasting state. The parasympathetic activity in the fasting state assessed from the spectral analysis of heart rate variability was markedly decreased with stimulation both acutely and chronically. In conclusion, chronic gastric electrical stimulation results in a reduction in food intake, weight loss, a reduction in parasympathetic activity, and chronic inhibition of gastric myoelectrical activity. These data suggest that gastric electrical stimulation is a potential therapy for the treatment of obesity and its inhibitory effect on food intake and weight may involve both muscles and the vagal afferent pathway.
Photodegradation accelerates ecosystem N cycling in a simulated California grassland

This research was supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) UV-B Monitoring and Research Program, Colorado State University, under USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture Grant 2016-34263-25763. S. Asao was also supported by Australian Research Council Grant CE140100008. AmeriFlux data used were supported in part by the Office of Science (BER), U.S. Department of Energy, Grant No. DE-FG02-03ER63638. W.J. Parton was also supported by USDA cooperative agreements (58-5402-4-001, 59-1902-4-00), the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) project (2015-67003-23456), and University of Illionois Biofuel project (090634-16921).
Do clientelistic machines affect electoral outcomes? Mayoral incumbency as a proxy for machine prowess

Abstract I study the aggregate electoral benefits of control of mayoral offices by a clientelist party in Buenos Aires province, Argentina. Clientelistic machines require resources to exchange them for their clients' votes. The control of mayoral offices gives clientelist parties access to resources to do this, as well as to build patronage networks. Using a regression discontinuity design, I show that the clientelist party enjoys a strong incumbency advantage in mayoral elections. However, its control of local office does not translate into an improved electoral performance for other offices, despite the incentives that the local machine faces to do so. The lack of electoral benefits for mayoral and other offices jointly suggests that the clientelist practices may have a limited impact on aggregate electoral outcomes, possibly only benefiting mayoral candidates.
Screening for Osteoporosis to Prevent Fractures.

A 57-year-old postmenopausal woman comes to your clinic for a wellness visit. She has no significant medical problems. She broke her left forearm as a child by falling out of a tree but has had no other fractures. She currently smokes one pack of cigarettes per day, rarely drinks one glass of red wine with dinner, and is sexually active with her wife.
Abstract 504: LAMP-2B Regulates Human Cardiomyocyte Function by Mediating Autophagosome-lysosome Fusion

Autophagy plays a crucial role in cell homeostasis and function. Two types of autophagy have been well studied. Macroautophagy (referred to as autophagy hereafter) is mediated by double-membrane au...
'Let's Watch a Movie!': Using Film and Film Theory to Teach Theories of International Politics from a Critical Perspective

In this paper I argue that since our students learn in an increasingly visual culture, of which they are sophisticated consumers, film and film theory constitute a useful pedagogical tool to teach a critical introduction to International Relations (IR) theory. I build on Cynthia Weber‟s work by incorporating insights from film studies‟ structuralist and poststructuralist theories and concepts. In addition to this, I illustrate my approach by suggesting particular films and ways to analyze them that would help students visualize IR theory critically. The theories and films selected are: Nuclear Deterrence (Realism) through “Dr Strangelove, or how I learned to stop worrying and love the bomb”, Wendt‟s social theory of international politics (Constructivism) through “Paradise Now”, and Gramsci‟s studies on hegemony (Neo-Marxism) through “Syriana”.
Colonic Surgery in Patients With Familial Adenomatous Polyposis.

Case Summary:A 34-year-old woman is referred after a colonoscopy that revealed >100 polyps throughout her colon and rectum (Fig. 1). A random selection of 3 polyps is biopsied and reported as adenomas. She is adopted and is unaware of her biological family. She is found to have a deleterious germlin
Group Prenatal Care Attendance and Women's Characteristics Associated with Low Attendance: Results from Centering and Racial Disparities (CRADLE Study).

Group prenatal care (GPC), an alternative to individual prenatal care (IPC), is becoming more prevalent. This study aimed to describe the attendance and reasons of low attendance among pregnant women who were randomly assigned to receive GPC or IPC and explore the maternal characteristics associated with low-attendance. This study was a descriptive study among Medically low risk pregnant women (N = 992) who were enrolled in an ongoing prospective study. Women were randomly assigned to receive CenteringPregnany GPC (N = 498) or IPC (N = 994) in a single clinical site The attendance frequency and reason for low-attendance (i.e. ≤ 5/10 sessions in GPC or ≤ 5 visits in IPC) were described separately in GPC and IPC. Multivariable logistic regressions were performed to explore the associations between maternal characteristics and low-attendance. On average, women in GPC attended 5.32 (3.50) sessions, with only 6.67% attending all 10 sessions. Low-attendance rate was 34.25% in GPC and 10.09% in IPC. The primary reasons for low-attendance were scheduling barriers (23.19%) and not liking GPC (16.43%) in GPC but leaving the practice (34.04%) in IPC. In multivariable analysis, lower perceived family support (P = 0.01) was positively associated with low-attendance in GPC, while smoking in early pregnancy was negatively associated low-attendance (P = 0.02) in IPC. Scheduling challenges and preference for non-group settings were the top reasons for low-attendance in GPC. Changes may need to be made to the current GPC model in order to add flexibility to accommodate women’s schedules and ensure adequate participation. NCT02640638 Date Registered: 12/20/2015.
A 3D phase field dislocation dynamics model for body-centered cubic crystals

Abstract In this work, we present a 3D Phase Field Dislocation Dynamics (PFDD) model for body-centered cubic (BCC) metals. The model formulation is extended to account for the dependence of the Peierls barrier on the line-character of the dislocation. Simulations of the expansion of a dislocation loop belonging to the 1 1 0 1 1 1 slip system are presented with direct comparison to Molecular Statics (MS) simulations. The extended PFDD model is able to capture the salient features of dislocation loop expansion predicted by MS simulations. The model is also applied to simulate the motion of a straight screw dislocation through kink-pair motion.
Digest: Does sexual conflict complicate a trade-off between fecundity and survival?

Why do some species exhibit apparently suboptimal combinations of life history traits? In a comparative study of lizard species, Reedy et al. test the idea that variation in the trade-off between fecundity and survival can be explained by sexual conflict. Their results show that degree of sexual conflict alone cannot explain this variation, and they found a positive correlation between trade-off optimality and the size of males relative to females. These findings suggest a more complicated picture of the fecundity-survival trade-off, possibly involving a third, unknown source of selective pressure.
Melatonin receptor heterodimerization in a photoreceptor-like cell line endogenously expressing melatonin receptors.

Purpose Melatonin signaling plays an important role in the modulation of retinal physiology and photoreceptor viability during aging. In this study, we investigated whether 661W cells-a photoreceptor-like cell that endogenously expresses melatonin receptor type 1 (MT1) and melatonin receptor type 2 (MT2) receptors-represent a useful model for studying the biology of heterodimerization and signaling of MT1/2 receptors. Methods 661W cells were cultured, and MT1/MT2 heterodimerization in 661W cells was assessed with proximity ligation assay. MT2 was removed from the 661W cells using the MT2-CRISPR/Cas9 system. Melatonin receptor signaling was investigated by measuring cAMP levels and activation of the AKT-FoxO1 pathway. Results The results demonstrated that heterodimerization of MT1 and MT2 receptors occurs in 661W cells. The pathways activated by MT1/MT2 heterodimer (MT1/2h) in 661W cells are similar to those previously reported in mouse photoreceptors. Disruption of the heterodimer formation by genetically ablating MT2 from 661W cells abolished the activation of melatonin signaling in these cells. Conclusions The data indicated that in 661W cells, MT1 and MT2 receptors are functional only when they are associated in a heteromeric complex, as occurs in mouse photoreceptors. 661W cells represent a useful model for studying the mechanism underlying MT1/MT2 heterodimerization.
NF-κB-dependent Luciferase Activation and Quantification of Gene Expression in Salmonella Infected Tissue Culture Cells

The dimeric transcription factor NF-κB regulates many cellular response pathways, including inflammatory pathways by inducing the expression of various cytokines and chemokines. NF-κB is constitutively expressed and is sequestered in the cytosol by the inhibitory protein nuclear factor of kappa light polypeptide gene enhancer in B cells inhibitor, alpha (IκBα). Activation of NF-κB requires the degradation of IκBα, which then exposes a nuclear localization signal on NF-κB and promotes its trafficking to the nucleus. Once in the nucleus, NF-κB binds to the promotor region of NF-κB target genes such as interleukin 6 (IL-6) and IL-23, to promote their expression. The activation of NF-κB occurs independently of transcription or translation. Therefore, the activation state of NF-κB must be measured either by quantifying NF-κB specifically in the nucleus, or by quantifying expression of NF-κB target genes. In this protocol, cells stably transfected with an NF-κB::luciferase reporter construct are assayed for NF-κB activation using in vitro tissue culture techniques. These cells are infected with Salmonella Typhimurium to activate NF-κB, which traffics to the nucleus and binds to κB sites in the promoter region of luciferase, inducing its expression. Cells are lysed and analyzed with the luciferase assay system. The amount of luciferase produced by the cells correlates with the intensity of the luminescence signal, which is detected by a plate reader. The luminescence signal generated by this procedure provides a quick and highly sensitive method by which to assess NF-κB activation under a range of conditions. This protocol also utilizes quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR) to detect relative mRNA levels that are indicative of gene expression.
Unified deep neural network for segmentation and labeling of multipanel biomedical figures

Abstract Recent efforts in biomedical visual question answering (VQA) research rely on combined information gathered from the image content and surrounding text supporting the figure. Biomedical jo...
A Smart Body Area Network for Diabetes Management

Smart Body Area Networks (SBAN), which utilize data fusion, machine learning and data mining, of sensor derived data, provide increased functionality and capability for more persuasive healthcare. In the area of diabetes diagnosis and treatment body area networks have been proposed for glucose monitoring while dedicated telemedicine systems for the monitoring of artificial pancreas-related clinical trials as well as home use have also been developed. An SBAN platform that allows the seamless addition of diabetes-based physiological monitoring approaches and treatment capability is proposed here for the continuous time monitoring and management of diabetes. In addition to glucose monitoring hypoglycaemia prediction as well as the influence of daily changes in the subject's insulin sensitivity on glucose regulation are also considered within the context of either self-management or automatic glucose control. Because cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major risk factor for both type 1 and 2 diabetic subjects the inclusion of an ECG monitoring system, is also integrated within the SBAN. Though self-management of Diabetes is supported by the SBAN the ultimate aim is to provide fully automated diabetes management, and CVD monitoring via the incorporation of an artificial pancreas device and real-time ECG classification.
Lyapunov-Like Conditions for Tight Exit Probability Bounds through Comparison Theorems for SDEs.

Computing upper bounds on exit probabilities—the probability that a system reaches certain "bad" sets—may assist decision-making in control of stochastic systems. Existing analytical bounds for systems described by stochastic differential equations are quite loose, especially for low-probability events, which limits their applicability in practical situations. In this paper we analyze why existing bounds are loose, and conclude that it is a fundamental issue with the underlying techniques based on martingale inequalities. As an alternative, we give comparison results for stochastic differential equations that via a Lyapunov-like function allow exit probabilities of an n-dimensional system to be upper-bounded by an exit probability of a one-dimensional Ornstein-Uhlenbeck process. Even though no closed-form expression is known for the latter, it depends on three or four parameters and can be a priori tabulated for applications. We extend these ideas to the controlled setting and state a stochastic analogue of control barrier functions. The bounds are illustrated on numerical examples and are shown to be much tighter than those based on martingale inequalities.
Mapping Continua Onto the Cone Over the Cantor Set

Publisher Summary A compact metric continuum ( S ) can be mapped continuously onto the cone over the Cantor set if S contains an open set with uncountably many components. This chapter provides an alternative characterization with a help of a theorem stating that a compact metric continuum S can be mapped onto the cone over the Cantor set if it can be mapped onto the cone for every countable nonlimit ordinal α.
Problems: Derivatives and Its Applications

In this chapter, the basic and advanced problems of derivatives and its applications are presented. The subjects include definition of derivative, differentiation formulas, product rule, quotient rule, chain rule, derivatives of trigonometric functions, derivatives of exponential, derivatives of logarithm functions, derivatives of inverse trigonometric functions, derivatives of hyperbolic functions, implicit differentiation, higher-order derivatives, logarithmic differentiation, applications of derivatives, rates of change, critical points, minimum and maximum values, and absolute extrema. To help students study the chapter in the most efficient way, the problems are categorized based on their difficulty levels (easy, normal, and hard) and calculation amounts (small, normal, and large). Moreover, the problems are ordered from the easiest problem with the smallest computations to the most difficult problems with the largest calculations.
Religious Accommodation in Bioethics and the Practice of Medicine

Debates about the ethics of health care and medical research in contemporary pluralistic democracies often arise partly from competing religious and secular values. Such disagreements raise challenges of balancing claims of religious liberty with claims to equal treatment in health care. This paper proposes several mid-level principles to help in framing sound policies for resolving such disputes. We develop and illustrate these principles, exploring their application to conscientious objection by religious providers and religious institutions, accommodation of religious priorities in biomedical research, and treatment of patients' religious views in doctor-patient encounters. Given that no sound set of guiding principles yields precise solutions for every policy dispute, we explore how morally sound democracies might deliberatively resolve such policy issues, following our proposed principles. Taken together and carefully interpreted, these principles may help in guiding difficult decision making in the indefinitely large realm where government, medical providers, and patients encounter problems concerning religion and medicine.
Las Vegas, Nevada hosting pandemic destination weddings

The Covid-19 pandemic has had a disruptive impact on social life including the decision to marry. We suggest ways of examining the impacts of pandemics on destination weddings and provide a brief example of analysis on Las Vegas wedding under Covid-19. Specifically, a Break-Point regression using data from Clark County, Nevada treated marriages as the dependent variable and shutdown dates, income, and unemployment rates as independent variables. The results show that pandemic effects on destination weddings were short-lived and thus have important implications for planning and staffing decisions.