cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Importance-Driven Turn-Bidding for Spoken Dialogue Systems

Current turn-taking approaches for spoken dialogue systems rely on the speaker releasing the turn before the other can take it. This reliance results in restricted interactions that can lead to inefficient dialogues. In this paper we present a model we refer to as Importance-Driven Turn-Bidding that treats turn-taking as a negotiative process. Each conversant bids for the turn based on the importance of the intended utterance, and Reinforcement Learning is used to indirectly learn this parameter. We find that Importance-Driven Turn-Bidding performs better than two current turn-taking approaches in an artificial collaborative slot-filling domain. The negotiative nature of this model creates efficient dialogues, and supports the improvement of mixed-initiative interaction.
Embeddings of cubic Halin graphs: Genus distributions

We derive an O(n 2 )-time algorithm for calculating the genus distribution of a given 3-regular Halin graph G; that is, we calculate the sequence of numbers g0(G), g1(G), g2(G), . . . on the respective orientable surfaces S0, S1, S2, . . . . Key topological features are a quadrangular decomposition of plane Halin graphs and a new recombinant-strands reassembly process that fits pieces together three-at-a-vertex. Key algorithmic features are reassembly along a post-order traversal, with just-in-time dynamic assignment of roots for quadrangular pieces encountered along the tour.
Exploring primary activities of the knowledge chain

It is often claimed that knowledge management (KM) is important, or even essential, as a basis for competitiveness. The knowledge chain model was recently advanced as a first step in understanding the linkage between KM and organizational performance. Based on a general ontology of KM, this model identifies five primary and four secondary activities as focal points for enhancing competitiveness. Both anecdotes and survey results support the model. Here we further explore the primary KM activities found in the knowledge chain model by treating each as a class involving several distinct types of activity. A literature review yielded over 200 variations of the five primary activities. We consolidate these into 32 distinct activity types and organize them into the five primary activity classes. Within each class a typology of activity types is developed. The result is a more in-depth version of the knowledge chain model. It gives greater guidance to practitioners striving to incorporate KM into their organizations and their competitive strategies. It also suggests avenues for future research. Copyright # 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Climate change, rainfall, and social conflict in Africa:

Much of the debate over the security implications of climate change revolves around whether changing weather patterns will lead to future conflict. This article addresses whether deviations from normal rainfall patterns affect the propensity for individuals and groups to engage in disruptive activities such as demonstrations, riots, strikes, communal conflict, and anti-government violence. In contrast to much of the environmental security literature, it uses a much broader definition of conflict that includes, but is not limited to, organized rebellion. Using a new database of over 6,000 instances of social conflict over 20 years - the Social Conflict in Africa Database (SCAD) - it examines the effect of deviations from normal rainfall patterns on various types of conflict. The results indicate that rainfall variability has a significant effect on both large-scale and smaller-scale instances of political conflict. Rain- fall correlates with civil war and insurgency, although wetter years are more likely to suffer from violent events. Extreme deviations in rainfall - particularly dry and wet years - are associated positively with all types of political conflict, though the relationship is strongest with respect to violent events, which are more responsive to abundant than scarce rainfall. By looking at a broader spectrum of social conflict, rather than limiting the analysis to civil war, we demonstrate a robust relationship between environmental shocks and unrest.
Down syndrome and cell-free fetal DNA in archived maternal serum☆☆☆

STUDY DESIGN: Eleven serum and six amniotic fluid samples previously collected and stored at ‐20°C from gravid women carrying a 47,XY,+21 fetus were each paired with five matched control samples of identical specimen type from gravid women carrying a presumed euploid male fetus. f-DNA concentration was quantified blindly by real-time polymerase chain reaction amplification for a Y-chromosome sequence. Matched rank-sum analysis and analysis of variance were used for analysis. RESULTS: The mean observed rank of 5.0 in the Down syndrome group was significantly higher than expected (P ≤ .005). Adjusted mean serum f-DNA concentrations were 41.2 genomic equivalents (GE) per milliliter for the Down syndrome cases and 24.2 GE/mL for the euploid controls (P = .002). Differences among amniotic fluid samples were not statistically significant. There was a suggestion of a sample storage effect on f-DNA concentration on the order of ‐0.66 GE/mL per month (P = .071). CONCLUSION: Down syndrome pregnancies exhibit 1.7-fold higher levels of maternal serum cell-free f-DNA compared with matched controls. No such association is observed in amniotic fluid. Archived serum appears to be a useful source of clinical material for retrospective analyses but may require controlling for the duration of sample storage. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2002;187:1217-21.)
Infrared and Optical Properties of Carbon Nanotube Dipole Antennas

The characteristics of armchair carbon nanotube dipole antennas are investigated in the infrared and optical regime. The analysis is based on a classical electromagnetic Halleacuten's-type integral equation, and an axial quantum mechanical conductance function for the tube. It is found that, within a certain frequency span in the GHz-THz range, finite-length carbon nanotube dipoles resonate at approximately integer multiples of one-half of a plasma wavelength. Outside of this range, current resonances are strongly damped. In the optical regime, antenna properties are strongly modulated by interband transitions. General antenna characteristics of finite-length carbon nanotube dipoles are presented, such as input impedance, current profile, gain, and efficiency, and radiation patterns are discussed
Lipoteichoic Acids, Phosphate-Containing Polymers in the Envelope of Gram-Positive Bacteria

Lipoteichoic acids (LTA) are polymers of alternating units of a polyhydroxy alkane, including glycerol and ribitol, and phosphoric acid, joined to form phosphodiester units that are found in the envelope of Gram-positive bacteria. Here we review four different types of LTA that can be distinguished on the basis of their chemical structure and describe recent advances in the biosynthesis pathway for type I LTA, d-alanylated polyglycerol-phosphate linked to di-glucosyl-diacylglycerol. The physiological functions of type I LTA are discussed in the context of inhibitors that block their synthesis and of mutants with discrete synthesis defects. Research on LTA structure and function represents a large frontier that has been investigated in only few Gram-positive bacteria.
Steerable wedge filters

Steerable filters, as developed by Freeman and Adelson (1991), are a class of rotation-invariant linear operators that may be used to analyze local orientation patterns in imagery. The most common examples of such operators are directional derivatives of Gaussians and their 2D Hilbert transforms. The inherent symmetry of these filters produces an orientation response that is periodic with period /spl pi/, even when the underlying image structure does not have such symmetry. This problem may be alleviated by reconsidering the full class of steerable filters. We develop a family of even- and odd-symmetric steerable filters that have a spatially asymmetric "wedge-like" shape and are optimally localized in their orientation response. Unlike the original steerable filters, these filters are not based on directional derivatives and the Hilbert transform relationship is imposed on their angular components. We demonstrate the ability of these filters to properly represent oriented structures. >
Favors from facebook friends: unpacking dimensions of social capital

Past research has demonstrated a link between perceptions of social capital and use of the popular social network site, Facebook. Williams' Internet Social Capital Scales, based on Putnam's formulation, tap into sub-dimensions of social capital that have not been broadly used yet may enlighten our understanding of the different ways in which connecting with others online can facilitate access to resources embedded within our social relationships. In this study, we segment Williams' Internet Social Capital Scales into various sub-dimensions using factor analysis and explicate the distinct facets of social capital through a lab experiment in which Facebook users (N=98) request a small favor from their Facebook network. We find that some sub-dimensions play a significant role in getting favors from Facebook friends while bonding and bridging social capital do not significantly predict responses to favor requests.
Kawasaki syndrome hospitalizations in the United States, 1997 and 2000

Objective. To estimate the incidence and describe the epidemiologic characteristics of Kawasaki syndrome (KS) among children in the United States. Methods. Hospital discharge records with a KS diagnosis among patients Results. In 2000, ∼4248 hospitalizations associated with KS occurred in the United States, and the median age of patients at admission was 2 years. Children Conclusions. Among children
Preparation and Sintering of Monosized Al2O3‐TiO2 Composite Powder

An unagglomerated, monosized Al2O3TiO2 composite powder was prepared by the stepwise hydrolysis of titanium alkoxide in an Al2O3 dispersion. Particle size was controlled by selecting the particle size of the starting Al2O3 powder; TiO2 content was determined by the amount of alkoxide hydrolyzed. A composite-powder compact containing 50 mol% TiO2, when fired at 1350°C for 30 min, showed nearly theoretical density with aluminum titanate phase formation.
Adjusting weighted kappa for severity of mistriage decreases reported reliability of emergency department triage systems: a comparative study.

Abstract Objective Mistriage can have serious consequences for patients with urgent complaints. We therefore reviewed the assessment of triage-reliability, and propose an alternative weighted kappa that accounts for severity of mistriage. Study Design and Setting A systematic literature search was performed in three online databases and a search engine. An alternative kappa weighting scheme was developed (triage-weighted kappa), and kappas of previous conducted reliability studies were recalculated. Results Kappa is the most frequently used statistic in triage-reliability studies ( n =33). More than half of the studies did not report the type of kappa that was used. Linear and quadratically weighted kappa values do not reflect the seriousness of mistriage. Several studies reported almost perfect agreement, whereas percentages of mistriage ranged between 11.1% and 43.4%. In all studies, triage-weighted kappa was lower than reported kappas with a mean difference of 0.17 (range: 0.04–0.32). Conclusion No existing studies on reliability of triage systems account for mistriage. Using triage-weighted kappa, which reflects severity of mistriage, shows that the reliability of triage systems is lower than reported.
BAL is a novel risk-related gene in diffuse large B-cell lymphomas that enhances cellular migration.

Clinical risk factor models such as the International Prognostic Index are used to identify diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLB-CL) patients with different risks of death from their diseases. To elucidate the molecular bases for these observed clinical differences in outcome, differential display was used to identify a novel gene, termed BAL (B-aggressivelymphoma), which is expressed at significantly higher levels in fatal high-risk DLB-CLs than in cured low-risk tumors. The major BAL complementary DNA encodes a previously uncharacterized 88-kd nuclear protein with a duplicated N-terminal domain homologous to the nonhistone portion of histone-macroH2A and a C-terminal alpha-helical region with 2 short coiled-coil domains. Of note, the BAL N-terminus and secondary structure resemble those of a recently identified human protein, KIAA1268. In addition, both BAL and KIAA1268 map to chromosome 3q21, further suggesting that these genes belong to a newly identified family. BAL is expressed at increased levels in DLB-CL cell lines with an activated peripheral B cell, rather than a germinal center B cell, phenotype. This observation and the characteristic dissemination of high risk DLB-CLs prompted studies regarding the role of BAL in B-cell migration. In classical transwell assays, stable BAL-overexpressing B-cell lymphoma transfectants had significantly higher rates of migration than vector-only transfectants, indicating that the risk-related BAL gene promotes malignant B-cell migration.
Corticospinal neurons with branching axons to the dorsal column nuclei in the monkey

Previous work in cats has shown that cells of origin of the corticospinal tract give rise to collateral branches to the dorsal column nuclei (DCN). The present experiments were performed in monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) in which 2% fast blue and 2% diamidino yellow were delivered to infiltrate the dorsolateral funiculus at levels between C2 and C6 and the cuneate nucleus on the same side. Retrograde labelling in the cortex allows simultaneous visualizaion of three classes of neurons: corticospinal tract (CST) neurons, corticocuneate tract (CCT) neurons, and double-labelled neurons. The morphological features and distribution of CST and CCT neurons are similar to those previously reported from investigations based mainly upon the retrograde transport of horseradish peroxidase (HRP). CST neurons occur in layer V in the pre- and postcentral gyri, except for the lateral part (face representation), in the supplementary motor and sensory cortex, and in SII. CCT neurons are present in layer V largely in the postcentral gyrus and in SII. Double-labelled neurons are present wherever CST and CCT neurons are found. Reconstruction and quantitative data from the pericentral corted show that up to 60% of CCT neurons are double-labelled and are found predominantly in areas 1 and 2, and that their perikarya are in the size range of the larger CCT neurons. Comparison of these results with those obtained previously in cats by using HRP and tritiated, enzymatically inactive HRP (3H-apo-HRP, Rustioniand Hayes: Exp. Brain Res. 43:237–245, 1981) suggests that CST neurons with branching axons to the DCN are considerably more numerous in monkeys than in cats. To determine whether this difference is caused by the different tracers used in the two species. 2% fast blue and 2% diamidino yellow were delivered in cats to infiltrate the dorsolateral funiculus at C2-C3 and the nucleus on the same side. The results in these cats are remarkably similar to those obtained in the previous study, which used HRP and 3H-apo-HRP: double-labelled neurons occur predominantly in area 3a and constitute 14–16% of the CCT neurons in the pericruciate area. The results bear upon mechanisms of descending control and tuning of performances that characterize the dorsal column-medial lemniscal system, e.g., discrimination of discrete spatiotemporal cues. The species differences may be related to the higher degree of tactile resolution and synchronous control of sensory inflow at the DCN and spinal cord in monkeys relative to cats.
Implementation of a Stochastic Eddy-Diffusivity/Mass-Flux Parameterization into the Navy Global Environmental Model

AbstractA unified boundary layer and shallow convection parameterization based on a stochastic eddy-diffusivity/mass-flux (EDMF) approach is implemented and tested in the Navy Global Environmental Model (NAVGEM). The primary goals of this work are to improve the representation of convectively driven boundary layers and the coupling between the boundary layer and cumulus regions. Within the EDMF framework the subgrid vertical fluxes are calculated as a sum of an eddy-diffusivity part, which in the current implementation is based on the approach developed by Louis in the late 1970s, and a stochastic mass-flux parameterization. The mass-flux parameterization is a model for both dry and moist convective thermals. Dry thermals, which represent surface-forced coherent structures in a flow, provide countergradient mixing in the boundary layer and, if conditions permit, are the roots for moist thermals. Moist thermals represent shallow convective clouds. The new parameterization implemented in a single-column mod...
The Lived Experience of Feeling Very Tired: A Study of Adolescent Girls:

This Parse method phenomenological-hermeneutic study centered on the phenomenon of feeling very tired. It was part of a multisite study on feeling very tired using the human becoming theory and the Parse research method. The purpose of the study was to explore the meaning of feeling very tired as described by a group of high school girls. The finding, which is the structure of the lived experience of feeling very tired, surfaced from the dialogues: Feeling very tired is struggling with being attentively present as calming contentment emerges amid discomforting discordance. The conclusion of the study is that feeling very tired is a complex paradoxical rhythm.
Herbivore effects on plant and nitrogen dynamics in oak Savanna

Herbivores can often control plant dynamics by mediating positive feedbacks in plant species’ influence on nutrient cycling. In a 7-yr field experiment in a nitrogen-limited Minnesota oak savanna, we tested whether herbivores accelerated or decelerated nitrogen (N) cycling through their effects on plants. We measured effects of excluding insect (primarily Orthoptera and Homoptera) and mammalian herbivores (primarily white-tailed deer, Odocoileus virginianus) on above- and belowground plant biomass, plant species composition, plant tissue nitrogen concentration, available soil N and light, and total N and carbon (C) in different pools (soil, roots, litter, etc.). Herbivore exclusion strongly increased cover and biomass of the legume Lathyrus venosus and a few species of woody plants. These effects were associated with greater aboveground standing crop, reduced belowground standing crop, and reduced light penetration to the ground surface. Herbivore exclusion also modified N cycling through greater N content of live, aboveground plant tissue early in the growing season and of litter and belowground tissue late in the growing season. Herbivore exclusion also increased soil nitrate and total available N concentrations but did not alter total soil or plant N. Our results support the hypothesis that herbivores indirectly decelerate N cycling by decreasing the abundance of plant species with nitrogen-rich tissues. However, other factors, such as disturbance from fire, may mediate herbivore effects on long-term changes in N and C pools. Herbivores may therefore indirectly control productivity, N cycling, and succession by consuming nitrogen-fixing and woody plants that have strong effects on plant resources (e.g., nitrogen and light).
Quantitative Resistance Traits and Suitability of Woody Plant Species for a Polyphagous Scarab, Popillia japonica Newman

The Japanese beetle, Popillia japonica Newman, has an unusually broad host range among deciduous woody plants, yet it feeds only sparingly, or not at all, on certain species in the field. We evaluated beetles' preference, survival over time and fecundity on eight woody plant species historically rated as susceptible or resistant and, after verifying those ratings, tested whether resistance is correlated with so-called quantitative defense traits including leaf toughness, low nutrient content (water, nitrogen, and sugars), and relatively high amounts of tannins or saponins, traditionally associated with such plants. We further tested whether species unsuitable for Japanese beetles are also rejected by fall webworms, Hyphantria cunea (Drury) (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae), the expected outcome if the aforementioned traits serve as broad-based defenses against generalists. Choice tests supported historical resistance ratings for the selected species: tuliptree, lilac, dogwood, and Bradford callery pear were rejected by Japanese beetles, whereas sassafras, cherry plum, Virginia creeper, and littleleaf linden were readily eaten. Rejected species also were unsuitable for survival over time, or egg-laying, indicating beetles' inability to overcome the resistance factors through habituation, compensatory feeding, or detoxification. None of the aforementioned leaf traits was consistently higher or lower in the resistant or susceptible plants, and plant species rejected by Japanese beetles often were not rejected by fall webworms. Specialized secondary chemistry, not quantitative defenses, likely determines the Japanese beetle's dietary range among deciduous woody plant species it may encounter.
The Tensile Strength of Elastomers According to Current Theories

Abstract In summary, it is probably true to say that the basic mechanisms responsible for the tensile strength of rubbers are now mostly known. Some disagreement exists concerning the exact role played by crystallinity and filler action. Opinions concerning the way in which the fracture propagates through the sample also differ. It is clear that all the present theories concerning tensile strength are inadequate in many ways. Although the basic ideas involved may be quite correct, much refinement in these theories is still needed. They are only rather crude first approximations to a fully successful theory of tensile strength. It is hoped that this review has been successful in pointing out the successes and failures of current theories so that improvements may be made in them.
Thirty-Day Reoperation and Readmission Rates After Correction of Adult Spinal Deformity via Circumferential Minimally Invasive Surgery—Analysis of a 7-Year Experience

Abstract Study design Single-center retrospective analysis of consecutive patients who have undergone circumferential minimally invasive surgery (cMIS) for correction of adult spinal deformity (ASD). Objectives To study the rates of reoperations and readmissions within the first 30 days following cMIS for correction of ASD. Background Hospital readmission and reoperation rates have been emphasized as an important measure of quality and cost-effectiveness of care. However, there is little information about the readmission rates following cMIS correction of ASD. Methods This is a retrospective cohort study of 214 consecutive patients with ASD who underwent correction using cMIS involving at least 2 levels. Major complications encountered during surgery or within 30 days following the index procedure that needed reoperation or readmission were recorded. The primary outcomes measured were early readmission, and early reoperation. Results An average of 4 levels were fused. Nineteen complications were noted in the 30-day period following the index surgery, giving an early complication rate of 8.9%. Twelve of those complications occurred during the initial hospitalization and 7 complications occurred after the patient had been discharged home. Forty-seven percent of the complications occurred within the first 3 years of our experience, 37% in the next 2 years, and only 16% in the following 3 years. The 30-day readmission rate was 3.3%, which showed no statistically significant difference based on the number of levels fused. Conclusions Our study delivers significant evidence that efforts to reduce hospital readmissions for ASD patients should begin by concentrating on the postoperative complications. Although minimally invasive approaches will not eliminate all complications, they may have an effect on reducing the rate of major complications, most notably the rate of postoperative infection. This in turn can lead to a substantially lower readmission and reoperation rate as is reported in our study. Level of Evidence Level IV, case series.
Stationary Solutions for the 2D Stochastic Dissipative Euler Equation

A 2-dimensional dissipative Euler equation, subject to a random perturbation is considered. Using compactness arguments, existence of martingale stationary solutions are proved.
Gaussian mixture prior models for imaging of flow cross sections from sparse hyperspectral measurements

Tunable diode laser absorption tomography (TD-LAT) has emerged as a popular non-intrusive technique for simultaneous sensing of gas concentration and temperature. Major challenges of TDLAT include availability of limited projection measurements and limited training data. Conventional tomographic techniques are therefore not directly applicable. Usually approximations are made which are limited in scope. In this paper, we propose a novel model-based iterative reconstruction (MBIR) framework for TDLAT imaging of gas concentration and temperature. First, we propose a novel prior model that captures non-homogeneous and non-Gaussian characteristics of the images by modeling their distribution as a Gaussian mixture and impose constraints on the mixture parameters to avoid overfitting of the sparse training set. Next, we present the nonlinear forward model of TDLAT. We formulate the inversion problem into a MAP estimation problem and propose a multigrid optimization algorithm that solves the resulting optimization problem in eigenimage basis using surrogate functions for the non-convex prior. We demonstrate the efficacy of our approach by performing reconstructions of simulated TDLAT data.
Identifying neurological patterns associated with information seeking: A pilot fMRI study

The aim was to determine if search task types and the modality of search result presentation lead to differential neurological responses. Based on data collected from 12 healthy adults (18–25 years old), using an fMRI-based methodology, a significant main effect was identified for task type and ranking. An interaction was also found between ranking and accuracy.
The origin and movement of the limb-bud epithelium and mesenchyme in the chick embryo as determined by radioautographic mapping.

The origin of the limb-bud cells was determined by tracing the movements of [ 3 H]thymidine-labelled grafts excised from late medium-streak to 5-somite stage chick embryos and transplanted to the epiblast, streak, and endoderm-mesoderm of similarly staged recipient embryos. Although exact definition of the prelimb areas was not possible because of the small number of grafts placed at each developmental stage, the study showed in general that at the late medium-streak stage the future limb-bud epithelium is in the epiblast (dorsal) layer near the lateral margin of the area pellucida. It moves medially toward the embryonic axis, just lateral to the premesoderm cells which will be invaginated at the primitive streak. With regression of the streak, the limb-bud epithelium moves relatively anteriorly into a position dorsal to the limb-bud mesoderm, beginning at least as early as the early head-fold stage. At the definitive-streak stage, the future limb-bud mesoderm is in the epiblast layer about halfway from the streak to the lateral margin of the area pellucida, at a level about halfway between the anterior and posterior ends of the streak. From this position the prelimb mesoderm migrates medially to the streak, and is invaginated into the mesoderm layer at a position about halfway between the anterior and posterior ends of the streak; after the head-process stage, it migrates anteriorly and laterally into the somatic layer of the lateral plate, ventral to the limb-bud epithelium. Mesoderm which will form the anterior limb-bud migrates anterior to mesoderm which will form the posterior limb-bud; mesoderm which will form the ventral portion of each limb-bud migrates posterolateral to mesoderm which will form the dorsal portion of each limb-bud.
Local government revenue forecasting: using regression and econometric revenue forecasting in a medium-sized city

Fiscal stress has forced local governments to pay increasing attention to revenue trends and has increased the importance of financial forecasting in local government. After reviewing the role of revenue forecasting in financial planning and discussing the use of regression and econometric analysis in revenue forecasting, this article applies this technique to forecast several key revenue components in a medium-sized city. Three general conclusions may be drawn: (1) systematic revenue forecasting and long-range planning are necessities, not luxuries, (2) risk aversion to "technical" revenue forecasting can be overcome, and (3) the implementation of a systematic revenue forecasting system does not require a battery of "rocket scientists." As municipal revenue bases come to rely less on relatively stable property taxes and more on less stable sources such as sales taxes, fees, and charges, the use of a regression and econometric based model should prove increasingly fruitful.
Methods for electrochemical determination of carbon monoxide in residential zone atmosphere

Objective To discuss the availability of electrochemical determination of carbon monoxide in atmosphere of residential zones.Methods To establish the electrochemical detection method of carbon monoxide levels of atmosphere in residential zones,and determine its accuracy,precision,intervention tests and on-spot detection.Results Active and passive electrochemical instruments were used to determine carbon monoxide levels,the relative errors were less than 5%,and relative standard deviation were less than 5%;after filtering with acitiviated carbon and Alkaline filters,the intervention rates were all less than 2% in the determination of common levels of the following intervening gases,such as sulfur dioxides,nitrogen oxides,crotoxyphos,acetones and ethanols.The relative errors from on-spot tests were all less than 5%.Conclusion Electrochemical determination can be applied to measure the carbon monoxide levels in residential zone atmosphere.
Cardioplegia for the immature myocardium. A comparative study in the neonatal rabbit.

This study examined the effect of hypothermia (15° C) alone or combined with various cardioplegic solutions on functional recovery of the neonatal heart after 120 minutes of global ischemia in an isolated working rabbit heart model. Control hearts were preserved with hypothermia alone, and groups 1 to 6 were given different hyperkalemic crystalloid cardioplegic solutions. Each cardioplegic solution differed in Na+ and Ca++ content Aortic flow, coronary flow, cardiac output, heart rate, peak systolic pressure, and stroke work were measured before ischemia and after 35 and 45 minutes of reperfusion. There were no statistical differences in hemodynamic recovery in the six groups in which cardioplegia was used. However, hearts preserved with multidose hyperkalemic cardioplegia showed significantly better recovery of cardiac output (86% versus 75%; p
On Apparent Electron Mobility in Si nMOSFETs From Diffusive to Ballistic Regime

The Matthiessen-law combination of diffusive and ballistic mobility provides a framework to explain the decrease of apparent mobility in near-ballistic FETs. While this theory works well for III–V FETs reported to date, it underpredicts the mobility decrease in several Si experiments, raising concerns about the FET performance in the near-ballistic regime. In this paper, recent SOI planar and FinFET nMOSFET I–V data are analyzed in detail, accounting for the effect of channel degeneracy. Assuming channel-length independent mean free path (MFP), it is demonstrated that good agreement can be obtained with the conventional Matthiessen-law combination including the effect of drain-channel backscattering recently proposed by Natori et al. On the other hand, good agreement can also be obtained with the Matthiessen-law combination if the MFP is assumed to be channel-length dependent. The full range of $I_{d}$ ( $V_{\mathrm{gs}}$ , $V_{\mathrm{ds}})$ is well modeled by incorporating either of these effects in a recent transmission-based compact model, but drastically different critical lengths for backscattering must be used in the Landauer formulation in the saturation region. It is also shown that this apparent anomaly is technology dependent and its effect on the overall device performance is discussed.
Multivariable Prediction of Return to Work at 6-Month Follow-Up in Patients With Mild to Moderate Acute Stroke.

Abstract Objective To investigate predictors of return to work (RTW) in a poststroke sample. Design Retrospective investigation of archival data from an inception cohort; acute care records and 6-month follow-up telephone interview data were obtained for analysis. Setting The Brain Recovery Core, a collaborative interinstitutional endeavor among an academic medical center, an acute care hospital, and a rehabilitation center. Participants Data from patients with stroke from the Brain Recovery Core (N=298). Excluded cases included those with nontraditional and/or nonpaid job status, no National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score, and an NIHSS score >16. Our final sample included 244 individuals (age range, 25–87y). Interventions Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures Sociodemographic variables, stroke severity (NIHSS), and physical and neurocognitive measures. Results Adding predictor variables to our logistic regression model increased accuracy by approximately 18%. Greater independence in the FIM sit-to-stand movement predicted improved RTW rates (odds ratio [OR], 1.8; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.0–3.1), whereas nonwhite race (OR, 2.52; 95% CI, 1.16–5.47) and greater impairment on the NIHSS (OR, .88; 95% CI, .77–.99) predicted attenuated RTW rates. Conclusions Valid measures of stroke severity and a clinician-rated sit-to-stand movement have utility in the acute prediction of later RTW in patients with mild to moderate stroke. Given the complexity of the RTW construct and the acute measurement of these variables, we believe that our findings can be used to inform clinical decisions and appropriately tailor rehabilitative strategies that improve quality of life for stroke survivors.
Leucine-Rich Repeat Kinase 2 (LRRK2) Inhibitors

Mutations in the leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) are the most common known cause of autosomal dominant Parkinson’s disease (PD), accounting for approximately 1% of “sporadic” and 4% of familial cases. These mutations either lead directly to an increased kinase activity (G2019S and I2020T are in the kinase activation loop) or to a reduced GTPase activity (R1441C/G and Y1699C), that in turn positively regulate kinase activity. The physiological substrate of the LRRK2 kinase has yet to be definitively identified, yet autophosphorylation is emerging as a relatively robust measure of its activity. LRRK2 has been implicated in a number of diverse cellular processes such as vesicular trafficking, microtubule dynamics, protein translation control, inflammation, and immune function, all of which have been linked to PD. LRRK2 is a large, multi-domain protein; a thorough understanding of the protein domain organization and identification of interacting partners is important to determine the underlying mechanism of LRRK2. Substantial recent effort has been directed towards identifying potent LRRK2 kinase inhibitors, from the repurposed kinase inhibitors to the first through third generation of LRRK2-focused kinase inhibitors, from a range of chemotypes, which are now providing researchers with new tools to better interrogate LRRK2 function.
New Delhi’s New Vision for a New Raj: An ‘Altar of Humanity’

George V’s durbar proclamation generated great enthusiasm at first, but within weeks open criticism of the plan began to appear in Parliament as the political and economic consequences of the decision became apparent. The viciousness and duration of the criticism suggests that there was much more at stake than simply the transfer of the capital. Indeed, the expansiveness of the policy, which included not only the transfer of the capital but also a broad array of administrative changes throughout India, triggered broad arguments in Parliament about the meaning and purpose of empire. The breadth of issues argued in Parliament as well as the heated, often insulting, tone of the debates arose from the way in which the transfer of the capital and its related administrative changes began to modify traditional forms of dominance and privilege.1 Examining the people who were most upset by the transfer as well as what in the new colonial policy made them the angriest, helps us to understand the full meaning of the new capital.
Reduced spray programs for Drosophila suzukii management in berry crops

ABSTRACTSince the arrival of Drosophila suzukii M. (Diptera: Drosophilidae), field applications of broad-spectrum insecticides have increased in berry crop production to protect susceptible fruits from infestation. Field studies were conducted from 2011 to 2013 to determine whether alternate row middle or border spray programs could manage D. suzukii as well as complete sprays and have less of an impact on non-target arthropods. Four raspberry sites and one blueberry site were alternate row middle and border sprayed, respectively. Adult and larva counts of D. suzukii were compared to conventional complete spray programs. Non-target arthropods were evaluated 7 d post-harvest. In both reduced spray trials, no differences in mean adult numbers and larvae of D. suzukii were detected between treatments. Mean counts immediately after sprays (i.e. 3–12 d after treatment) were also similar in complete and alternate row sprays. Both reduced spray strategies had significantly more Stethorus spp.; additionally, alte...
Transdiagnostic preventative intervention for subclinical anxiety: Development and initial validation

Abstract Risk factors associated with the development of anxiety disorders have been identified; however, the development of preventive interventions targeting these risk factors is in the nascent stage. To date, preventive interventions have tended to target specific anxiety disorder symptoms (e.g., panic attacks). Although these interventions are effective at reducing risk for the targeted disorder (e.g., panic disorder), the focus of the intervention is narrow, thereby limiting the dissemination of these interventions. One approach that may broaden the scope of our prevention efforts is the development of a transdiagnostic intervention. Currently, transdiagnostic interventions have only been used in those with diagnosed conditions (e.g., anxiety disorders); however, it stands to reason that a transdiagnostic approach may also be helpful for those at-risk for developing anxiety disorders. The present study reported on the development and use of a brief preventative intervention for those with subclinical anxiety (i.e., worry, social anxiety). Participants were randomized into either a transdiagnostic preventative intervention, focused on reduction of safety aids, or a health focused control group. Participants consisted of sixty-nine individuals with subclinical levels of anxiety. Results revealed significant between group differences in the reduction of social anxiety, worry, and levels of impairment with the active intervention group relative to the control group. Further, change in safety aid utilization was a significant mediator in the association between intervention group and social anxiety and worry at Week 1; however, it was not a significant mediator at Month 1. Implications of these results and avenues for future research are discussed.
Defensive Vocalizations and Motor Asymmetry Triggered by Disinhibition of the Periaqueductal Gray in Non-human Primates.

Rapid and reflexive responses to threats are present across phylogeny. The neural circuitry mediating reflexive defense reactions has been well-characterized in a variety of species, for example, in rodents and cats, the detection of and species-typical response to threats is mediated by a network of structures including the midbrain tectum (deep and intermediate layers of the superior colliculus [DLSC]), periaqueductal grey (PAG), and forebrain structures such as the amygdala and hypothalamus. However, relatively little is known about the functional architecture of defense circuitry in primates. We have previously reported that pharmacological activation of the DLSC evokes locomotor asymmetry, defense-associated vocalizations, cowering behavior, escape responses, and attack of inanimate objects (DesJardin et al., 2013; Forcelli et al., 2016; Holmes et al., 2012). Here, we sought to determine if pharmacological activation of the PAG would induce a similar profile of responses. We activated the PAG in three awake, behaving macaques by microinfusion of GABA-A receptor antagonist, bicuculline methiodide. Activation of PAG evoked defense-associated vocalizations and postural/locomotor asymmetry, but not motor defense responses (e.g., cowering, escape behavior). These data suggest a partial dissociation between the role of the PAG and the DLSC in the defense network of macaques, but a general conservation of the role of PAG in defense responses across species.
Executive Function and Reading Comprehension: A Meta-Analytic Review

This article presents a meta-analytic review of the relation between executive function and reading comprehension. Results (N = 6,673) supported a moderate positive association between executive function and reading comprehension (r = .36). Moderator analyses suggested that correlations between executive function and reading comprehension did not vary systematically by age range, type of executive function measure used, type of reading comprehension measure used, or whether the study was a dissertation or a published article but did vary by type of executive function examined in the studies. Studies linking specific executive functions with reading comprehension are then reviewed. The article concludes by discussing implications for a theoretical model of reading comprehension as well as for future research.
Phase IB study to evaluate the safety of selinexor in combination with multiple standard chemotherapy agents in patients with advanced malignancies.

TPS2603Background: Selinexor is a first-in-class, slowly reversible, Selective Inhibitor of Nuclear Export (SINE) compound that specifically blocks XPO1. Inhibition of XPO1 results in nuclear local...
Horses With Pasture Asthma Have Airway Remodeling That Is Characteristic of Human Asthma.

Severe equine asthma, formerly recurrent airway obstruction (RAO), is the horse counterpart of human asthma, affecting horses maintained indoors in continental climates. Equine pasture asthma, form...
Guest editors’ introduction to special section on cultural shifts in pedagogy: Controversy, safe spaces, and trigger warnings

Widespread concerns regarding classroom safe spaces and trigger warnings have generated much media attention. This collection of materials from an APCS conference workshop on the topic reflects an attempt by scholars in the clinical community to understand and manage the often affectively charged divisions that are generated by such discussions. Our experience suggests that significant additional time is needed to work though conflicts while social bonds are maintained, even in the presence of emotional pain. Even for experienced clinicians, this material suggests, the containment of divisive encounters remains a challenge.
The molecular structures of two melampolides

The melampolide-class sesquiterpene lactone 11βH,13-dihydro-14-hydroxy-(1,10)-cis-parthenolide, C15H22O4, 1, crystallizes in orthorhombic space group P212121 with a = 7.435(2), b = 12.678(2), c = 14.991(2) A, V = 1413.1(8) A3 and Z = 4. The aldehyde analog, C15H20O4·H2O, 2, crystallizes as the monohydrate in orthorhombic space group P212121 with a = 9.061(2), b = 9.295(2), c = 17.761(4) A, V = 1495.8(9) A3, and Z = 4. The 10-membered rings of the two molecules adopt approximate chair-boat conformations. In both compounds, the double bond at C1=C10 position of the cyclodecene ring is Z, while the C4=C5 is epoxidized with an E-configuration. The C15 methyl is β and H5 is α. The lactone ring is trans fused at the C6 and C7 positions to the 10-membered ring. The C13 methyl group has an α orientation in both molecules.
Bile Salt–Fatty Acid Mixed Micelles as Nasal Absorption Promoters. III. Effects on Nasal Transport and Enzymatic Degradation of Acyclovir Prodrugs

The absorption enhancement and presystemic degradation kinetics of a homologous series of acyclovir 2′-ester prodrugs were investigated in rats using the in situ nasal perfusion technique in the presence of bile salt–fatty acid mixed micells. In vitro incubation studies indicated that nasal perfusate containing a mixed micellar solution generated higher ester-cleaving activity than isotonic phosphate buffer washings. Inhibitor screening and substrate specificity studies demonstrated the enzyme to be most likely carboxylesterase rather than true cholinesterase. The extent of prodrug cleavage by the carboxylesterase appears to correlate well with the substrate li-pophilicity for esters with linear acyl chains. On the other hand, branching of the acyl side chain significantly retards acyclovir pro-drug breakdown. To estimate the nasal epithelial membrane and cytoplasmic damaging effect caused by sodium glycocholate (NaGC)–linoleic acid (15 mM:5 mM) mixed micelles, the release profiles of 5′-nucleotidase (5′-ND), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and carboxylesterase in the nasal perfusate were measured as a function of time. The results indicated that the activities of all three enzymes resulting from the mixed micellar solution appeared to be significantly higher than those caused by 15 mM NaGC alone. The apparent nasal absorption rate constants of acyclovir and its butyrate, valerate, pivalate, and hexanoate ester prodrugs in mixed micellar solutions containing an esterase inhibitor (1 mM phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride) were individually calculated. Without an inhibitor, lengthening of the linear acyl side chain of the prodrug resulted in greatly accelerated degradation coupled with moderate absorption improvement. The solubilities and micellar binding constants of acyclovir prodrugs were also determined. Mixed micelles composed of 15 mM NaGC and 5 mM linoleic acid are incapable of incorporating these esters into the micellar cavity, although NaGC micelle alone can actively solubilize them in a concentration-dependent manner.
Overview: Mucosal Immunity and Immunodeficiency

Section E of Mucosal Immunity contains important chapters discussing the impact of disorders of mucosal immunity on both mucosal function and the function of the immune system as a whole. In this summary of Section E, we will focus on IgA deficiency, since IgA is the signature mucosal immunoglobulin. Indeed, its special association with mucosal immune function was the reason for the initial definition of mucosal immunity as a unique and separate component of the immune system. In addition, we will summarize the chapters devoted to the impact of SIV/HIV infection on mucosal function because it is increasingly apparent that these infections are centered in the mucosal immune system, and the deficiencies they cause highlight the unique character of mucosal immune function.
What is the best surveillance for hepatocellular carcinoma in chronic carriers of hepatitis B

Screening patients with chronic hepatitis B infection (HBsAg+) for hepatocellular carcinoma by alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) or by AFP plus ultrasound (AFP/US) detects hepatocellular carcinoma tumors at earlier stages and increases resection rates (strength of recommendation [SOR]: B, based on a systematic review of fair-quality randomized controlled trials). It is unclear whether screening with AFP or AFP/US improves disease-specific or all-cause mortality (SOR: B).