cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Economic Interests and the Construction of a European Single Pension Market

This article asks why the EU member states were able to agree on an EU pension fund directive in 2003 whereas they had failed to do so in a previous attempt (1991). The main argument is that a single pension market was a desirable project before 2003, but bargaining inefficiencies prevented its realisation. This is because bargaining over integration in this sector requires credible signalling between Bismarckian and Beveridgean pension regimes. The co-ordination of divergent welfare and financial regimes depends on the ability of governments to send costly signals that only a limited range of outcomes are considered legitimate in their home state. In turn, the capacity to signal and the costs of bluffing hinge on international pressure for pension reform (Economic and Monetary Union) and the magnitude of changes governments have to make to their respective welfare finance arrangements.
Liquefaction Resistance of a Silty Sand Deposit Subjected to Preshaking Followed by Extensive Liquefaction

AbstractThe effect of extensive liquefaction on the liquefaction resistance of heavily preshaken saturated silty sand is studied using a centrifuge experiment. The base of a 6-m homogeneous deposit was subjected to a total of 91 shaking events of different horizontal base accelerations and durations. Three event types were used in alternating patterns: mild preshaking Events A, stronger preshaking Events B, and strong liquefying Events C. The experiment was divided in two stages. In Stage One, reported in a previous publication, 66 preshaking Events A and B, were applied. In Stage Two, which is the focus of this paper, 25 additional shakings were applied which included two Events C in addition to continuing the same pattern of Events A and B. Stage One resulted in a significant increase in liquefaction resistance of the deposit. In Stage Two, extensive liquefaction produced by Events C resulted in a dramatic immediate reduction in liquefaction resistance of the deposit to a level comparable to that before...
Site-Directed Disulfide Cross-Linking to Probe Conformational Changes of a Transporter during Its Functional Cycle: Escherichia coli AcrB Multidrug Exporter as an Example

Many proteins, especially transporters, are thought to undergo large conformational alterations during their functional cycle. Since X-ray crystallography usually gives only the most stable conformation, other methods are needed to probe this conformational change. Site-directed disulfide cross-linking is often very useful for this purpose. We illustrate this by using the Escherichia coli AcrB, a proton-motive-force-dependent multidrug efflux transporter. Crystallographic studies of the asymmetric trimer of AcrB suggest that each protomer in the trimeric assembly goes through a cycle of conformational changes during drug export (functional rotation hypothesis). Site-directed disulfide cross-linking between those residues that come close to each other in only one stage in the cycle inactivated the transporter, showing that the conformational changes indeed occurred in vivo and that they are required for drug transport. A dsbA strain, which has a diminished activity to form disulfide bonds in the periplasm, was used to verify the conclusion by showing a restored transport activity in this strain. Furthermore, we describe "a real-time cross-linking experiment," in which rapidly reacting, sulfhydryl-specific cross-linkers, methanethiosulfonates, inactivate the AcrB double-cysteine mutant expressed in dsbA cells instantaneously.
Kinematics of the Normal Arch of the Foot and Ankle Under Physiologic Loading

We studied 15 cadaver feet to determine three-dimensional motion of selected tarsal bones under axial loading at three different loading levels. We determined the motion of individual joints and also the rotation of the tarsal bones in relation to the tibia. Joint rotations increased consistently with higher loads. The naviculartalar joint had the greatest total screw axis rotation, which averaged 9.4 degrees +/- 2.2 degrees at 667 N of load, followed by the first metatarsal-navicular (mean, 7.2 degrees +/- 1.5 degrees), talartibial (mean, 5.2 degrees +/- 1.6 degrees), and calcaneal-talar (mean, 4.4 degrees +/- 1.7 degrees) joints. The observed changes indicate the need for assessment of foot and ankle alignment clinically and radiologically while the patient is weightbearing.
Metric invariance of the Conformity to Masculine Norms Inventory-46 among women and men.

Theorists have long observed that individuals can demonstrate both masculinity and femininity. However, measures of gender norm conformity are often developed with single-gender samples. This has lead to an absence of information regarding the psychometric properties of conformity to masculine norms among women. To facilitate the study of masculinity-related constructs across gender, the present study investigated measurement invariance of the factor structure of the Conformity to Masculine Norms Inventory-46 (CMNI-46) in a sample of 335 women and 330 men, age 18–83. Results demonstrated configural and metric invariance, suggesting that scores on the CMNI-46 are comparable across women and men. The groups differed on scalar invariance, as expected, suggesting differing overall levels of endorsement of masculine norms, with men scoring reliably higher than women. Overall, we believe researchers may feel confident in applying and interpreting the CMNI-46 with female samples, although some conceptual concerns remain.
Molybdenum and Tungsten η1- and η2-Aldehyde Complexes

A series of molybdenum(II) and tungsten(II) aldehyde complexes of the type [{Tp{M(CO)(RC⋮CMe)(η1/η2-OCHR‘)][BAr‘4] ({Tp} = Tp‘, Tp; R = Ph, Me) (5−8) has been prepared for the purpose of investigat...
On Isogonal Points

(1935). On Isogonal Points. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 42, No. 8, pp. 496-499.
Middle meningeal artery: Gateway for effective transarterial Onyx embolization of dural arteriovenous fistulas.

Curative transarterial embolization of noncavernous sinus dural arteriovenous fistulas (dAVFs) is challenging. We sought to evaluate the role of the middle meningeal artery (MMA) in endovascular treatment of these lesions. We performed a retrospective cohort study on patients who underwent transarterial Onyx embolization of a noncavernous sinus dAVFs with contribution from the MMA at a major academic institution in the United States from January 2009 to January 2015. Twenty consecutive patients who underwent transarterial Onyx embolization of a noncavernous sinus dAVF were identified. One patient was excluded as there was no MMA contribution to the dAVF. All of the remaining 19 patients (61.3 ± 13.8 years of age) underwent transarterial embolization through the MMA. Six patients (31.6%) presented with intraparenchymal or subarachnoid hemorrhage from the dAVF. The overall angiographic cure rate was 73.7% upon last follow up. In 71.4% of successfully treated patients transarterial embolization of the MMA alone was sufficient to achieve angiographic cure. When robust MMA supply was present, MMA embolization resulted in angiographic cure even after embolization of other arterial feeders had failed in 92.9% of patients. A robust contribution of the MMA to the fistula was the single most important predictor for successful embolization (P = 0.00129). We attribute our findings to the fairly straight, non-tortuous course of the MMA that facilitates microcatheter access, navigation, and Onyx penetration. Noncavernous sinus dAVF can be successfully embolized with transarterial Onyx through the MMA, as long as supply is robust. A transvenous approach is rarely necessary. Clin. Anat. 29:718-728, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
On the effect of hydrogen on the microstructure of α2-Ti3Al + Nb alloys

Abstract Hydrogen has repeatedly been shown to have a detrimental effect on the mechanical properties of α2-Ti3A1 titanium aluminides containing niobium. The loss of ductility and toughness observed in these alloys in the presence of hydrogen has previously been attributed to the precipitation of brittle hydrides in the α2 phase. The present paper reports a transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction study of the effect of hydrogen on the microstructure of two Ti3A1 + Nb alloys, Ti-25 at.% AI-10at.% N b 3 at.% V-1 at.% Mo, also known as Super-α2, and Ti-25.2 at.% A1-9.5 at.% Nb. We present evidence for an orthorhombic, hydrogen-stabilized phase, labelled OH, and none of the previously reported hydrides were observed in this study. The OH phase can be obtained by a simple distortion of the α2 basal plane, and the magnitude of this distortion increases with increasing hydrogen content. The OH phase reversibly disappears after hydrogen outgassing in vacuum. The morphology of this hydrogen-in...
A Simple Method of Evaluating Colour Negatives

AbstractOptical bench incorporating a photo-electric exposure meter and tricolour filters for measuring the blue, green, and red light transmissions of colour negatives. The instrument can be applied to both tricolour and white-light printing systems.
Managing Data Center Tickets: Prediction and Active Sizing

Performance ticket handling is an expensive operationin highly virtualized cloud data centers where physical boxeshost multiple virtual machines (VMs). A large body of ticketsarise from the resource usage warnings, e.g., CPU and RAMusages that exceed predefined thresholds. The transient natureof CPU and RAM usage as well as their strong correlation acrosstime among co-located VMs drastically increase the complexityin ticket management. Based on a large resource usage datacollected from production data centers, amount to 6K physicalmachines and more than 80K VMs, we first discover patternsof spatial dependency among co-located virtual resources. Leveragingour key findings, we develop an Active Ticket Managing(ATM) system that consists of (i) a novel time series predictionmethodology and (ii) a proactive VM resizing policy for CPUand RAM resources for co-located VMs on a physical box thataims to drastically reduce usage tickets. ATM exploits the spatialdependency across multiple resources of co-located VMs forusage prediction and proactive VM resizing. Evaluation resultson traces of 6K physical boxes and a prototype of a MediaWikisystem show that ATM is able to achieve excellent predictionaccuracy of a large number of VM time series and significantusage ticket reduction, i.e., up to 60%, at low computational overhead.
Li/Ag2VO2PO4 batteries: the roles of composite electrode constituents on electrochemistry

In this study, we utilize silver vanadium phosphorous oxide, Ag2VO2PO4, as a model system to systematically study the impact of the constituents of a composite electrode, including polymeric and conductive additives, on electrochemistry. Notably, although highly resistive, this bimetallic cathode can be discharged as a pure electroactive material in the absence of a conductive additive as it generates an in situ conductive matrix via a reduction displacement reaction resulting in the formation of silver metal nanoparticles. Three different electrode compositions were investigated: Ag2VO2PO4 only, Ag2VO2PO4 with binder, and Ag2VO2PO4 with binder and carbon. Constant current discharge, pulse testing and impedance spectroscopy measurements were used to characterize the electrochemical properties of the electrodes as a function of depth of discharge. In situ EDXRD was used to spatially resolve the discharge progression within the cathode by following the formation of Ag0. Ex situ XRD and EXAFS modeling were used to quantify the amount of Ag0 formed. Results indicate that the metal center reduced (V5+ or Ag+) was highly dependent on composite composition (presence of PTFE, carbon), depth of discharge (Ag0 nanoparticle formation), and spatial location within the cathode. The addition of a binder was found to increase cell polarization, and the percolation network provided by the carbon in the presence of PTFE was further increased with reduction and formation of Ag0. This study provides insight into the factors controlling the electrochemistry of resistive active materials in composite electrodes.
Genius, evil monster or just a regular kind of guy?

When people say "mad scientist", we never wonder for a moment if perhaps they mean that the scientist is merely angry. Such is the power of the media-fostered images taken up in this insightful study of how we appear to the "lay" audience.
Initial Validation of the Physical Education Marginalization and Isolation Survey (PE-MAIS)

ABSTRACTQualitative research conducted through occupational socialization theory has documented that physical educators feel marginalized and isolated in schools. We sought to propose and provide initial evidence of validity and reliability for the Physical Education Marginalization and Isolation Survey (PE-MAIS). Physical educators (n = 420) completed an online survey including isolation and marginalization, perceived mattering, and burnout. Data analyses began with exploratory factor analysis, which identified a stable 10-item, 2-factor structure. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to affirm the structure and examine convergent, discriminant, and divergent validity. The model fit was good, χ2(34) = 71.12, p < .001, NNFI = .91, CFI = .94, SRMR = .05, RMSEA = .07 (90% CI [.052, .093], p = .03), and the new measure correlated positively with burnout and negatively with perceived mattering. Invariance analysis indicated that elementary and secondary physical educators interpreted the constructs similarly...
Privacy-aware quadratic optimization using partially homomorphic encryption

We consider a problem where multiple agents participate in solving a quadratic optimization problem subject to linear inequality constraints in a privacy-preserving manner. Several variables of the objective function as well as the constraints are privacy-sensitive and are known to different agents. We propose a privacy-preserving protocol based on partially homomorphic encryption where each agent encrypts its own information before sending it to an untrusted cloud computing infrastructure. To find the optimal solution the cloud applies a gradient descent algorithm on the encrypted data without the ability to decrypt it. The privacy of the proposed protocol against coalitions of colluding agents is analyzed using the cryptography notion of zero knowledge proofs.
SmartGym: An anticipatory system to detect body compliance during rehabilitative exercise

Training and exercise programs, under the guidance of skilled therapists and trainers, have become important tools during the rehabilitation process. Traditionally, these programs have been difficult to perform at home due to the need for a trainer to observe and provide feedback on body compliance during the performance of exercises. To address this difficulty, we’ve created the SmartGym: an intelligent modification to the Total Gym Pro that monitors an individual’s performance during exercise and provides feedback through haptic, auditory and visual cues. The system is evaluated for effectiveness in a case study involving an individual who is undergoing exercise rehabilitation for Cerebral Palsy.
The Influence of Temperature on the Adductor Pollicis Twitch Tension in the Presence and Absence of Vecuronium

Previously, the effect of hypothermia on muscle twitch tension in the presence and absence of neuromuscular blocking drugs has been studied several times. It is striking that few clinical studies have been done previously. Because almost all investigations have been performed within a temperature range not normally encountered clinically, it is unclear if previously obtained results are applicable to every-day anesthesia. Previous results are conflicting. Additionally, the adductor pollicis muscle temperature has not been recorded during cooling.
Heavy metals, behavior, and neurodegeneration: using Caenorhabditis elegans to untangle a can of worms

The complexity of the vertebrate brain has made the study of neurodegenerative disease processes slow, difficult, and expensive. Caenorhabditis elegans offers viable in vivo model system for addressing numerous issues pertinent to neurodegenerative diseases. Differentiation and migration patterns in the nematode are well characterized, thus allowing for analysis of changes in nervous system in response to mutations and toxic insults. The full sequencing of the nematode genome and a high-density map of polymorphisms for the wild type nematode allows for mapping of gene mutations and linking of mechanisms of neurodegeneration to genetic susceptibility. In addition to the high level of gene conservation, the processes of synaptic release, trafficking and formation are also conserved between this invertebrate and mammalians. Given these advantages, C. elegans has been employed in numerous studies to address neurodegeneration and mechanisms of toxicity of a wide range of toxicants. In this chapter, we provide an overview on the system model and discuss contemporary insights derived from C. elegans on the involvement of metals in behavior and neurodegenerative diseases.
Identification of severe coronary artery disease in patients with a single abnormal coronary territory on exercise thallium-201 imaging: the importance of clinical and exercise variables.

Abstract OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to determine which clinical, exercise and thallium variables can aid in the identification of three-vessel or left main coronary artery disease (3VLMD) in patients with one abnormal coronary territory (either a reversible or fixed defect) on exercise thallium testing and to test the prognostic value of these variables. BACKGROUND Although the sensitivity of detection of coronary artery disease by thallium-201 imaging is high, the actual detection of 3VLMD by thallium tomographic images alone is not optimal. METHODS A multivariate model for prediction of 3VLMD was developed from several clinical, exercise and thallium-201 variables in a training population of 264 patients who had one abnormal coronary artery territory on exercise thallium testing and had undergone coronary angiography. Using this model, patients were stratified into risk groups for prediction of 3VLMD. A separate validation cohort of 474 consecutive patients who were treated initially with medical therapy and who had one abnormal coronary territory were divided into identical risk groupings by the variables derived from the training population, and they were followed for a median of 7.0 years to evaluate the prognostic value of this model. RESULTS The prevalence of 3VLMD was 26% in the training population despite one abnormal thallium coronary territory. Four clinical and exercise variables—diabetes, hypertension, magnitude of ST segment depression, and exercise rate-pressure product—were found to be independent predictors of 3VLMD. In the training population, the prevalence of 3VLMD in low-, intermediate- and high-risk groups was 15%, 22% and 51%, respectively. When the multivariate model was applied to the validation population, the eight-year overall survival rates in the low-, intermediate- and high-risk groups were 89%, 73% and 75%, respectively (p CONCLUSIONS A substantial proportion of patients with one abnormal thallium coronary territory have 3VLMD with subsequent divergent outcomes based upon risk stratification by clinical and exercise variables. Consequently, the finding of only a single abnormal coronary territory by thallium-201 perfusion imaging does not necessarily confer a benign prognosis in the absence of consideration of nonimaging variables.
Risk Factors for Thirty-Day Readmissions After Lower Extremity Amputation in Patients With Vascular Disease

Abstract Background Understanding risk factors associated with readmission after lower extremity amputation may indicate targets for reducing readmission. Objective To evaluate factors associated with all-cause 30-day readmission after lower extremity amputation procedures. Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting Inpatient. Patients A total of 2480 patients who had lower extremity amputations between 2008 and 2014 were selected from national electronic medical record database, Cerner Health Facts. Methods Univariate analysis of demographics, diagnoses, postoperative medications, and laboratory results were examined. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to identify characteristics independently associated with readmission overall and by amputation location—above the knee (AKA) or below the knee (BKA). Main Outcome Measurement Readmission within 30 days of discharge. Results More than one half of patients (1403, 57%) underwent BKA and 1077 (43%) underwent AKA. Readmission within 30 days was 22% (24.1% BKA versus 19.4% AKA, P = .005). In multivariable logistic regression, factors associated with 30-day readmission after any amputation included BKA (odds ratio [OR] 1.41, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.15-1.74, P = .001), hypertension (OR 1.70, 95% CI 1.33-2.16), surgical-site infections (OR 1.44, 95% CI 1.02-2.04), heart failure (OR 1.39, 95% CI 1.10-1.75), discharge to a skilled nursing facility (OR 1.88, 95% CI 1.41-2.51), and emergency/urgent procedures (OR 1.32, 95% CI 1.04-1.67). At readmission, 13.3% of patients with a BKA required an AKA revision, and 21.3% had a diagnosis of surgical-site infection. Conclusions Risk factors for readmission after any amputation included cardiac comorbidities, associated postoperative medications, and discharge to a skilled nursing facility. The finding that acute arterial embolism or thrombosis and a BKA during the index admission was highly associated with readmission, combined with the high rates of 30-day conversion to an AKA when readmitted, suggests these patients more often develop stump complications or may be undertreated during the initial hospitalization. Level of Evidence III
An Activity-Based Costing Method to Support Product Family Design

As companies are being challenged to produce a wider variety of products to satisfy customers that have different needs while maintaining competitive prices, platform-based product family development has become a cost-effective method for reducing production costs (Roberson and Ulrich, 1998). In general, production costs are generated by production activities ranging from purchasing raw materials to distributing finished products, and those activities consume direct and indirect resources (Horngren, et al., 2000). These costs are identified and collected through management accounting systems that companies have developed for accounting purposes and used to estimate the production costs of existing products. However, many management accounting systems are incapable of providing the necessary information to support platform-based product development because many companies have developed their own accounting systems to help them remain profitable and eliminate unnecessary costs in production. In many cases, the primary objective of management accounting systems is to support management to control overall equipment efficiency (OEE) and keep it as high as possible.
Boundary Layer Effects behind Incident and Reflected Shock Waves in a Shock Tube

In ideal shock tube experiments, flow properties behind the incident and reflected shock waves do not vary with distance or time, and can be calculated using the standard normal shock equations and the known incident shock speed. However, nonideal effects result in flow nonuniformity behind the incident shock wave, leading in turn to nonuniformity behind the reflected shock. It has been observed that behind the reflected shock, pressure typically increases gradually with time (positive dP5/dt) [1-3]. Such deviations of pressure (and concomitantly the temperature) from ideal values cause errors in chemical kinetic studies of rate coefficients and ignition delay times [2, 3]. Thus it is worthwhile to analyze nonideal shock tube effects and determine their impact on flow conditions, with a goal of improving experimental methods and gasdynamic models that will lead to more accurate experiments.
Mechanisms of Action of Estrogen on the Cardiovascular System

Publisher Summary Estrogen regulates many processes central to the physiology and pathophysiology of the cardiovascular system. The cardiovascular effects of estrogen are complex and include both potentially beneficial and potentially harmful effects. Furthermore, increasing evidence supports the idea that one of the factors having an important impact on the relative balance of beneficial versus harmful cardiovascular effects of estrogen is the timing of initiation of treatment as it relates to the extent of underlying atherosclerosis. Estrogen regulates both systemic factors relevant to cardiovascular function, but it also has direct effects on the heart and vasculature. The systemic effects include effects on circulating lipids, inflammatory markers, coagulation/fibrinolysis, oxidative state, vasoactive hormones, metabolic state, and progenitor cells. The direct effects of estrogen on cardiovascular cells include effects on cell growth, migration, and survival. Through a better understanding of the mechanisms that mediate estrogen's actions on the cardiovascular system, novel therapeutic strategies can be developed that manipulate the pathways in such a way as to reduce the risk of this leading cause of death in women.
The cycle (circuit) polynomial of a graph with double and triple weights of edges and cycles

Farrell introduced the general class of graph polynomials which he called the family polynomials, or F -polynomials, of graphs. One of these is the cycle , or circuit , polynomial. This polynomial is in turn a common generalization of the characteristic, permanental, and matching polynomials of a graph, as well as a wide variety of statistical-mechanical partition functions, such as were earlier known. Herein, we specially derive weighted generalizations of the characteristic and permanental polynomials requiring for calculation thereof to assign double (res. triple) weights to all Sachs subgraphs of a graph. To elaborate an analytical method of calculation, we extend our earlier differential-operator approach which is now employing operator matrices derived from the adjacency matrix. Some theorematic results are obtained.
Search Engine for the Internet of Things: Lessons From Web Search, Vision, and Opportunities

With the development of the Internet of Things (IoT), massive numbers of IoT devices (smart sensors, cameras, phones, and so on) have been deployed and utilized in various environments, supporting numerous smart-world applications. Those devices communicate with computing infrastructure servers over network infrastructures to send relevant collected data in order to link physical objects to the cyber world. As the number of IoT devices increases rapidly, the volume of collected data likewise increases prodigiously. Thus, how to search for and through specific IoT datasets among the enormous amount of data become critical issues for potential data consumers. Moreover, various IoT devices and applications establish IoT-based systems, also known as the smart-world systems or smart cyber-physical systems (CPS), such as smart grids, smart transportation, smart healthcare, smart cities, smart homes, and smart manufacturing systems, among others. However, the individual CPS are independently designed and deployed, such that they collect and analyze data independently, with no information sharing or interconnection, raising serious challenges in searching for valuable information. Thus, in order to efficiently and precisely utilize the IoT datasets, suitable search techniques designed for the IoT environments are fundamental. In this paper, we first summarize popular web search techniques and survey existing research on the search and analysis related to the IoT. We then outline the opportunities and challenges of the IoT search techniques. Furthermore, we propose a problem space for the IoT search techniques and provide a clear view of potential future research directions.
Isolation and characterization of glycosylated neuropeptides

Glycosylation is one of the most ubiquitous and complex post-translational modifications (PTMs). It plays pivotal roles in various biological processes. Studies at the glycopeptide level are typically considered as a downstream work resulting from enzymatic digested glycoproteins. Less attention has been focused on glycosylated endogenous signaling peptides due to their low abundance, structural heterogeneity and the lack of enabling analytical tools. Here, protocols are presented to isolate and characterize glycosylated neuropeptides utilizing nanoflow liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (LC-MS). We first demonstrate how to extract neuropeptides from raw tissues and perform further separation/cleanup before MS analysis. Then we describe hybrid MS methods for glycosylated neuropeptide profiling and site-specific analysis. We also include recommendations for data analysis to identify glycosylated neuropeptides in crustaceans where a complete neuropeptide database is still lacking. Other strategies and future directions are discussed to provide readers with alternative approaches and further unravel biological complexity rendered by glycosylation.
Oklahoma's future wind energy resources and their relationship with the Central Plains low-level jet

Abstract Previous work has projected increases in wind speed/wind power density (WPD) over the United States' South-Central Plains, which could be linked to future increases in frequency of the Central Plains Low-Level Jet (LLJ). This work serves to both update projections of this region's wind energy resources, and to assess the LLJ's importance for influencing these resources. Projected changes in several wind energy metrics (including ramp event frequency and cut-off frequency) were assessed specifically over the Oklahoma Panhandle. These projections were computed by using a climatological delta method to statistically downscale changes in near-surface wind speed from multiple climate models onto observations from the Oklahoma Mesonet. The results suggest a pattern of overall reductions in wind speed and WPD, slight reductions in ramp event frequency, and little change in cut-off frequency, with projected changes often being larger and of statistical significance at night and during summer and autumn. Highly distinguishable diurnal and seasonal variability in ramp event and cut-off frequency was found in this work, with these frequencies most notably maximizing during the day. This climatological variability is consistent with that seen in observations of these wind energy metrics. Regression of LLJ characteristics against wind energy metrics identified consistent and conceptually understandable links between increased LLJ frequency and decreased ramp event frequency in future decades. Such a result attests to a more stable and easier to manage future wind energy resource over the Oklahoma Panhandle.
People: The Human Factor

While innovative IT tools can be a great enabler, it is a key success factor to get the right people on board. All smart data, insights, and transparency will be useless if the process experts or process owners do not appreciate and support the approach. Similar to applying MRT technology, the affected people must be determined to pursue a therapy and strive for improvement. The chapter shares operational experiences, challenges, and organizational setups which have proven successful.
Personalized treatment plans with multivariate outcomes

In this work, we propose a novel method for individualized treatment selection when the treatment response is multivariate. Our method covers any number of treatments and it can be applied for a broad set of models. The proposed method uses a Mahalanobis-type distance measure to establish an ordering of treatments based on treatment performance measures. Our investigation in this work deals with means of responses conditional on lower dimensional composite scores based on covariates where these scores are built using single index models to approximate mean responses against patient covariates. Smoothed estimates of such conditional means are combined to construct an estimate of the aforementioned distance measure, which is then used to estimate the optimal treatment. An empirical study demonstrates the performance of the proposed method in finite samples. We also present a data analysis using an HIV clinical trial data to show the applicability of the proposed procedure for real data.
Marijuana versus evidence-based treatments for sleep and relaxation: A cross-sectional study of use and dose modification following involuntary job loss

Abstract Objectives Sleep disruption and relaxation are commonly cited reasons for marijuana use. Job loss is a significant stressor associated with high risk for sleep disruption. Little is known about marijuana use in relation to other intervention choices for sleep/relaxation in individuals who have experienced recent, involuntary job loss. Methods This study compared self-reported use of marijuana to evidence-based treatments (EBT) for sleep/relaxation using data from the ongoing Assessing Daily Activity Patterns through Occupational Transitions (ADAPT) study. Participants were 1639 completers of the ADAPT phone screen interview. EBT was defined as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I), non-benzodiazepine sedatives/hypnotics, and benzodiazepines. Results Marijuana was the most common treatment for sleep/relaxation. Two-sample tests of proportions revealed that prevalence of use of marijuana was comparable to the entire class of EBTs (~5%). Only 2 (0.1%) participants reported receiving CBT-I, the first-line treatment for insomnia disorder, as per the American College of Physicians Clinical Practice Guidelines. Rates of dose increase following job-loss were comparable between users of marijuana and EBTs (Z = 0.56, p = .58). Multiple logistic regression models demonstrated that male sex (OR = 0.28, 95%CI = 0.14–0.57) and substance abuse (OR = 7.68, 95%CI = 2.89–20.43) were significantly associated with increased likelihood of marijuana use. Conclusions Individuals who have recently experienced involuntary job loss may be more likely to use marijuana than any one EBT for sleep/relaxation and as likely to increase their treatment dose. Dissemination of evidence-based sleep health interventions is needed in unemployed populations to prevent habitual patterns resulting in the long-term use of marijuana for sleep/relaxation.
Special Needs, Special Solutions: Using Title II of the ADA and Behavioral Supports to Protect Students With Disabilities From Arrest

Students with disabilities are frequently arrested in K–12 public schools for misbehavior that would be better addressed with reasonable accommodations and behavioral support. Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prevents discrimination by requiring that public entities modify procedures to allow individuals with disabilities to benefit from and participate in the entity’s programs, services, and activities. Despite this sweeping protection, some courts have held that Title II of the ADA does not apply during an arrest. This exception to ADA protection is particularly problematic when considering arrests in schools. Students with disabilities are at high risk: twenty-six percent of students arrested and seventy-five percent of students restrained have a disability. This Article takes the novel position that because arrests in a school setting do not pose the same risks as arrests in a community setting, Title II of the ADA should apply to arrests in a school setting. But Applying Title II of the ADA alone will not stop arrests. This Article goes beyond ADA protection and offers proactive solutions to curb misbehavior and prevent arrests. Schools are required by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to provide students with an Individualized Education Plan reasonably calculated to allow the student to make progress. A student is unable to progress when maladaptive behaviors interfere with learning and lead to arrests. Amendments to the IDEA requiring schools to implement policies and procedures for law enforcement involvement, and behavioral supports when a student’s behavior hinders learning, would reduce misbehavior, eliminate the need for law enforcement involvement, and reduce the number of arrests on school campuses.
"The use of bilateral continuous erector spinae plane blocks for postoperative analgesia after right-sided living donor hepatectomy: A feasibility study".

Background Postoperative pain after living donor hepatectomy is significant. Postoperative coagulopathy may limit the use of epidural analgesia, the gold standard for pain control in abdominal surgery. The erector spinae plane block (ESPB) is a novel regional anesthesia technique that has been shown to provide effective analgesia in abdominal surgery. In this study, we examined the effect of continuous ESPB, administered via catheters, on perioperative opioid requirements after right living donor hepatectomies for liver transplantation. Methods We performed a retrospective cohort study in patients undergoing right living donor hepatectomy. Twenty-four patients who received preoperative ESPB were compared to 51 historical controls who did not receive regional anesthesia. The primary endpoint was the total amount of oral morphine equivalents (OMEs) required on the day of surgery and postoperative day (POD) 1. Results Patients in the ESPB group required a lower total amount of OMEs on the day of surgery and POD 1 [141 (107 - 188) mg] compared the control group [293 (220 - 380) mg; P Conclusions The use of continuous ESPB significantly reduced opioid consumption following right living donor hepatectomy. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Cooperating in Africa’s Sustainable Structural Transformation: Policymaking Capacity and the Role of Emerging Economies

Most African countries today are pursuing one or both of the following policy agendas as they strive towards a sustainable transition: 1) a global normative agenda moving away from traditional patterns of economic growth and toward a greater emphasis on sustainable development (2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development), and 2) a regional context-dependent development policy agenda that entails the achievement of a more radical structural transformation (Agenda 2063). Having identified these two overlapping policy agendas, both of which are aimed at moving away from an exclusive focus on economic growth, this article explores these development viewpoints with particular focus on capacity building in policymaking (the non-financial aspect), and the need for these to be further supported by more aggressive global partnership efforts (the financial aspect). By doing so, we are able to examine some transformation experiences in Africa as well as policy options that envisage greater inclusiveness, equality and sustainability.
Straws and Bundles: Reviewing the Diversity Management Agenda at the Strategic Level:

Diversity management as a research domain has led to the emergence of a rather mixed bag of studies with conflicting findings. This review article seeks to synthesize these insights and then uncove...
Regulation of RPE Phagocytosis by Integrin Receptor–Tetraspanin Surface Membrane Domains

Purpose: Retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells depend on αvβ5 integrin receptors and their downstream signaling pathways to maximize their phagocytic activity following circadian photoreceptor outer segment (POS) shedding in the retina. We hypothesize that the activity of αvβ5 integrin itself may be regulated in the RPE to synchronize phagocytosis. Integrin receptors may associate with proteins of the tetraspanin family in specialized membrane microdomains to control integrin signaling. Here, we test whether tetraspanins functionally interact with αvβ5 integrin in RPE cells. Methods: RT-PCRs and immunoblotting established tetraspanin expression in RPE cells in vitro and in vivo. We used confocal microscopy following live cell labeling with receptor antibodies and choleratoxin B to co-localize αvβ5 integrin and tetraspanins to plasma membrane sub-domains at the apical surface of the RPE. We used optiprep gradient fractionation of RPE cell lysates and co-immunoprecipitation assays to further test subcellular co-fractionation of tetraspanins and αvβ5 integrin. We used isolated POS fragments in quantitative uptake assays to determine effects of surface cholesterol depletion, tetraspanin antibody blocking and tetraspanin overexpression on the phagocytic function of RPE cells in culture. Results: We found that tetraspanins CD9, CD63 and CD81 localize to the apical, phagocytic surface of RPE cells in culture. CD81 partially co-localized with αvβ5 integrin. Furthermore, we identified CD81 in a complex with αvβ5 integrin in RPE cells in culture and in intact retina. CD81 co-fractionated with αvβ5 in low-density membrane domains of RPE cell lysates. Cholesterol depletion, which altered CD81 and αvβ5 surface distribution, as well as specific inhibition of CD81 reduced POS phagocytosis by human and rat RPE cell cultures. In contrast, CD81 overexpression increased POS phagocytosis. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that the apical plasma membrane tetraspanin CD81 regulates the phagocytic activity of the RPE. Functional interaction with tetraspanins including CD81 and microdomain recruitment may contribute to the temporal control of αvβ5 integrin receptor signaling in the RPE that is necessary for rhythmic phagocytosis of shed POS. Ongoing experiments study CD81 and integrin αvβ5 complex formation and distribution during active RPE phagocytosis in vitro and in vivo. CR: S.C. Finnemann, None; Y. Chang, None. Support: NIH grants EY13295, EY14184, RPB 5880 1:15PM The Integrin Ligand MFG-E8 Promotes RPE Phagocytosis of Photoreceptor Outer Segments in vitro and in vivo
Properties and functional role of voltage-dependent potassium channels in dendrites of rat cerebellar Purkinje neurons.

We characterized the properties and functional roles of voltage-dependent potassium channels in the dendrites of Purkinje neurons studied in rat cerebellar slices. Using outside-out patches formed250m away from the soma, we found that depolarization-activated potassium channels were present at high density throughout the dendritic tree. Currents required relatively large depolarizations for activation (midpoint, approximately 10 mV), had rapid activation and deactivation kinetics, and inactivated partially (20 ‐70% over 200 msec) with both fast (time constant, 15‐20 msec) and slow (300 ‐ 400 msec) components. Inactivating and noninactivating components were both blocked potently by external tetraethylammonium (half-block by 150M) and 4-aminopyridine (half-block by 110M). The voltage dependence, kinetics, and pharmacology suggest a predominant contribution by Kv3 family subunits, and immunocytochemical experiments showed staining for both Kv3.3 and Kv3.4 subunits in the dendritic tree. In the proximal dendrite, potassium channels were activated by passively spread sodium spikes recorded at the same position, and experiments using dual recordings showed that the channels serve to actively dampen back-propagation of somatic sodium spikes. In more distal dendrites, potassium currents were activated by voltage waveforms taken from climbing fiber responses, suggesting that they help shape these responses as well. The requirement for large depolarizations allows dendritic Kv3 channels to shape large depolarizing events while not disrupting spatial and temporal summation of smaller excitatory postsynaptic potentials.
Can Computer Use Hurt Science Achievement? The USA Results from PISA

A surprising result of the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) is that computer use was negatively associated with high student achievement in some countries. More specifically, the students from all three countries who indicated that they use computers in the classroom most frequently were those with the lowest achievement on the TIMSS in 1995. For the purpose of this study, a similar comparison was made for 15-year-old U.S.A. students, based on the data from the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA). The results of this study show that it is not computer use itself that has a positive or negative effect on the science achievement of students, but the way in which computers are used. For example, after controlling for the student's socioeconomic status in the United States of America, the results indicated that the students who used computers frequently at home, including for the purpose of writing papers, tended to have higher science achievement. However, the results of this study also show that science achievement was negatively related to the use of certain types of educational software. This indicates a result similar to that found in the TIMSS data, which might reflect the fact that teachers assign the use of the computer and of educational software to the lower achieving students more frequently, so that these students can obtain more personal and direct feedback through educational software.
Intelligent Management Systems: Design and Implementation

Abstract This paper examines the fundamental premises upon which expert systems rest. It argues that in order to be effective, expert systems must be intelligent enough to be diagnostic, modeling the decision-making context and protocol of the user, associative, causal diagnostic, probabilistic, learning from the experience of the user and restructuring themselves to incorporate the acquired knowledge. Such systems are feasible the author argues, will result in more effective management of global complexity, enhance the value of decision making and provide more intelligence and fewer irrelevant data. Intelligent systems will revolutionize the functions of the executive, result in flatter and more decentralized structures, be an integral part of the ongoing MIS, and integrate managerial accounting and statistical analyses, as well as decisions associated with strategy and structure.
Commentary: synthesis and perspectives.

Publisher Summary This chapter proposes a translational model of the pathogenesis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), according to which a psychologically traumatic event (unconditioned stimulus, UCS) overstimulates endogenous stress hormones as part of a physiological unconditioned response (UCR). These in turn overly strengthen the consolidation of the memory of the event, leading to a powerful and persistent memory (or conditioned response, CR) that is too easily activated, with consequent anxiety and dysfunction. The model further posits that after the memory of the traumatic event has been consolidated, free or cue-induced recall of the event (conditioned stimulus, CS) causes re-releases of stress hormones that further enhance the strength of the memory trace (or CR), increasing the likelihood that it will be re-recalled with yet further stress hormone releases, thereby resulting in a positive feedback loop, or vicious cycle, that promotes the development of PTSD. The purpose of this model is to illustrate at the theoretical level the numerous, and sometimes opposing, potential influences of the HPA axis on the pathogenesis of PTSD. According to this model, CRH, adrenocorticotropin (ACTH), and arginine vasopressin (AVP), as well as epinephrine and norepinephrine, are expected to facilitate the formation of a traumatic memory after an intensely frightening event in humans, and thereby be potentially involved in the formation of PTSD.
Optimal distributed location management in mobile networks

An important issue in the design of future Personal Communication Services (PCS) networks is the efficient management of location information. In this paper, we consider a distributed database architecture for location management in which update and query loads of the individual databases are balanced. WE obtain lower bounds to the worst-case delay in locating a mobile user, to the average delay, and to the call blocking probability. We then propose a dynamic location management algorithm that meets these lower bounds. The optimality of this algorithm with respect to these three perofrmance measures, as well as simplicity, make it an appealing candidate for distributed location management in PCS networks.