cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Addition of Platinum and Palladium Groups to the Disulfido Ligand in Cyclopentadienyl Molybdenum-Manganese Carbonyl Complexes

The reaction of the complexes CpMoMn(CO)5(μ-S2), 2a, Cp=C5H5 and Cp*MoMn(CO)5(μ-S2), 2b, Cp*=C5Me5with (PPh3)2Pt(PhC2Ph) yielded the new bis-sulfido mixed metal complexes CpMoMn(CO)5Pt(PPh3)2(μ 3-S)2, 3a and Cp*MoMn(CO)5Pt(PPh3)2(μ 3-S)2, 3b by insertion of a platinum metal grouping into the S–S bond. A mono-phosphine complex, Cp*MoMn(CO)6Pt(PPh3)(μ 3-S)2, 4b was also isolated from the reaction of 2b with (PPh3)2Pt(PhC2Ph). Compounds 3b and 4b were both characterized crystallographically. Both complexes consist of open MoMnPt clusters with a Mo–Mn single bond, Mo–Mn=2.7570(16) A for 3b and Mo–Mn=2.7837(13) A for 4b, and two triply bridging sulfido ligands. The trimetallic complexes CpMo(O)MnPd(PBu t 3)(CO)5(μ 3-S), 5a and Cp*Mo(O)MnPd(PBu t 3)(CO)5(μ 3-S), 5b containing an oxo ligand bonded to molybdenum were obtained from the reaction of 2a–b with Pd(PBu t 3)2. The molecular structure of the 5a was also established crystallographically.
Principles of Evaluation of the Diagnostic Value of Subgingival Bacteria

This paper describes steps in the process of evaluating subgingival bacteria assays for the diagnosis of periodontal disease. The first step examines the infectious etiology of periodontal disease in pointing to specific oral bacteria as periodontal pathogens. Second is characterization of the laboratory test to detect and quantitate these pathogens as to sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive value. Third is the role of the laboratory test in the diagnosis of the different forms of periodontal disease which is related to the current clinical rather than microbiological definition of these diseases. The fourth and most important step is an analysis of the significance of subgingival bacterial tests in clinical decision-making.
Nonequilibrium anomalies in the development of diffusion flames.

Abstract : The development of diffusion flame is analyzed for the stagnation mixing layer created by a jet of fuel injected into the oncoming stream of oxidant at the stagnation region of blunt body. From the analysis, the conditions which distinguish the simple and multiple transitions, from each other, between frozen and equilibrium chemical states were clarified. Though the actual numerical results were obtained for the stagnation mixing layer geometry, the basic findings of the analysis should hold for other diffusion flames also. (Author)
Chiral Stationary Phases for High Performance Liquid Chromatographic Separation of Enantiomers: A Mini-Review

Abstract There has been a proliferation of papers on the use of chiral stationary phases (CSP's) to separate optical isomers in high performance liquid chromatography. The chemistry, mechanism and stability of these CSP's can vary widely. Furthermore, the applicability, availability and cost of a CSP can mean the difference between its being of passing academic interest as opposed to a technique that could have a significant impact on science and technology. Six different classes of chiral stationary phases are examined and discussed including the new chiral cyclodextrin bonded phases. The separation mechanism, strengths and limitations of the CSP's are also considered whenever such information is available.
MEMOCODE 2007 Co-Design Contest

New to the 2007 MEMOCODE conference is the HW/SW Co-Design Contest. Members of the technical and steering committees from MEMOCODE 2006 thought that the co-design practice is distinct from conventional hardware or software design practice. A co-design contest was conceived to help elucidate these issues and to foster greater interest in the design aspects of the MEMOCODE conference. The contest would also serve to showcase advances in co-design tools and methodologies. Below, we describe briefly the development of the contest format and the thinking behind the choices. The actual call-for-participation that appeared on the contest website (http://memocode07.ece.cmu.edu/contest.html) is reproduced in the appendix section.
Simulations and experiments on eddy current in Nd-Fe-B magnets

Eddy current loss in Nd-Fe-B sintered magnets was investigated from experimental and simulated aspects. Eddy current loss was estimated from the temperature rise rate of a thermally insulated magnet when an ac field is applied to the solenoid coil. Eddy current simulation is done by the integral element method (IEM) and finite element method (FEM). Both simulation results are compared and the accuracy of simulation is verified. IEM is mainly used for loss analysis. Both simulation results also agree well with the experimental ones. In order to reduce the eddy current loss, the effect of dividing a magnet into several segments was revealed. In an actual motor, the ac magnetic field contains higher harmonic elements. So, in order to consider higher harmonics effect on eddy current loss in Nd-Fe-B magnet in an eddy current problem, a simple addition of individual harmonic and mixing wave is investigated and compared.
A Review of “Morphology and Evolution of Turtles: Proceedings of the Gaffney Turtle Symposium (2009) in Honor of Eugene S. Gaffney”

All in all it's better to be honored while still alive, when one can enjoy the compliment, rather than posthumously, when one must, of necessity, miss the party. The timing of the 2009 Gaffney Turt...
FLUX MAPPING AND MAGNETIC BEHAVIOR OF GRAIN BOUNDARIES IN ND-FE-B MAGNETS.

Advanced Fresnel- & Foucault-Lorentz microscopy were applied to analyze magnetic behavior of the grain boundaries in Nd-Fe-B hard magnets. In-situ TEM magnetizing experiments combined with these imaging methods revealed the process of magnetization reversal in polycrystalline sintered and die-upset Nd-Fe-B under various magnetic fields. Fine details of magnetic flux distribution, derived from the magnetic interferograms created by phase-coherent Foucault imaging, provide a quantitative description of the local variation of magnetic flux. Our study suggests that the grain boundaries play an important multi-functional role in the reversal of magnetization, by acting as (a) pinning centers of domain walls, (b) centers of nucleation of reversal domains, and (c) sinks or sources for migrating magnetostatic charges and/or dipoles. They also ensure a smooth transition for irreversible remagnetization in polycrystalline samples.
Marriage and Political Violence in the Chronicles of the Medieval Veneto

A recurring complaint in the highly polemical chronicles of the medieval Veneto is that elite families misused marital alliances as instruments of political violence. This concern appears, in particular, in the Cronica in factis et circa facta Marchie Trivixane (1262), by Rolandino da Padova (1200–1276), the most rhetorically coherent and thorough medieval history of the region. Rolandino's interest in abuses of the betrothal system is evident in his account of the serial marriages of Cunizza da Romano. Over fifty years before Cunizza's posthumous celebration in Dante's Divine Comedy, Rolandino's discussion of her amours forms part of a long denunciation of her brother, Ezzelino III da Romano (1194–1259). Cunizza's brother was an imperial vicar who, at the height of his power, controlled the entire mainland of the Veneto, called the Marca Trevigiana in the Middle Ages. The powerful Ezzelino is implied in the chronicle to have manipulated Cunizza's marital alliances, and the suggestion is that the resultin...
Weight loss through living well: translating an effective lifestyle intervention into clinical practice.

Purpose To translate the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) lifestyle intervention into a clinical setting and evaluate its effectiveness.Methods The authors implemented a group-based version of the DPP lifestyle curriculum in a large academic medicine practice. It is delivered by a nurse educator over 12 weekly sessions with optional reenrollment, available on a self-pay basis, and implemented using existing clinical resources (eg, electronic medical record referrals, scheduling, conference rooms, communication technology). The program was evaluated using a controlled before-after design, including all patients referred between April 1, 2005, and February 1, 2007. Patients with a body mass index (BMI) ≥25 kg/m2 were eligible if their primary care providers felt the program was medically appropriate and safe. Change in weight (kg) and frequency of achieving ≥7% weight loss were examined.Results Referred patients were primarily female (84%), with an average age of 49.91 years (SE, 1.46) and average BMI of 3...
Iqmik--a form of smokeless tobacco used by pregnant Alaska natives: nicotine exposure in their neonates.

Objective. To determine the concentration of nicotine and cotinine in maternal blood and neonatal cord blood among pregnant Alaska Native women and to assess the neonates for neurobehavioral effects.Methods. In a nonrandomized, clinical observational pilot trial, 60 pregnant Alaska Native women were enrolled for assessment of Iqmik (a mixture of leaf tobacco and ash) and other tobacco use during pregnancy and at delivery. Neonatal cord blood, nicotine and cotinine concentrations were obtained, and neonatal neurobehavioral effects were assessed using the Lipsitz scale.Results. At delivery, there were 22 subjects who reported using only Iqmik, and 10 who used other tobacco products. Subjects who reported using only Iqmik prior to delivery had higher concentrations of cotinine (167 ± 116 vs. 81 ± 100) in maternal blood (rank sum test, p = 0.036) and higher concentrations of nicotine (8.4 ± 7.3 vs. 4.4 ± 5.1, p = 0.048) and cotinine (153 ± 115 vs. 70 ± 95, p = 0.048) in cord blood compared to subjects who rep...
In vitro mineral binding capacity of three fiber sources for Ca, Mg, Cu and Zn by two different methods

Acid-washing centrifugation (AWC) and cold-hot-water-enzyme incubation (WEI) methods were used to study the binding capacity (BC) of wheat bran, rice bran, and oat fiber for calcium, magnesium, copper, and zinc. Treated fibers were analyzed for protein, phytic acid (PA), total dietary fiber (TDF), and minerals. Protein content was significantly (P < 0.05) lower in WEI fibers than AWC fibers. WEI fibers had low protein concentration and no PA but higher TDF values (P < 0.05). Levels of Mg were the highest among the minerals studied. AWC treatment was significantly (P < 0.05) more efficient in stripping minerals than the WEI treatment. AWC fibers bound more minerals. Results indicate that the BC values of the fibers for minerals by the two methods were not comparable.
Stochastic convexity for multidimensional processes and its applications

A multidimensional stochastic process is considered which is a function of a parametric process. The parametric process may be multidimensional as well. Two such processes are compared that differ only in their parametric processes. Known stochastic convexity results for one-dimensional stochastic processes are extended to multidimensional processes. These results are used to obtain comparison results for various queuing systems that are subject to different parametric processes, which may be the arrival processes, service processes, etc. Based on these comparison results it is shown how the performances of queueing systems can be affected by the variability of parametric processes. >
Magneto-transport Properties of Cobalt doped Indium Oxide Dilute Magnetic Semiconductors

Recently, oxide-based dilute magnetic semiconductors (DMS) have attracted an immense research interest to the scientists due to the possibility of inducing room temperature ferromagnetism and potential uses in novel spintronic devices. In2O3, a transparent opto-electronic material, is an interesting prospect for spintronics due to its unique combination of magnetic, electrical, and optical properties. High quality thin films of Co-doped In2O3 DMS were grown on quartz substrates using pulsed laser deposition technique. All the films have been characterized using different techniques such as x-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, optical transmission spectroscopy, electrical resistivity, and Hall Effect measurement. The effect of growth temperature and oxygen pressure on the electrical, magnetic, and optical properties of these films have been studied in detail. The optical transparency in all the films is high. It has been observed that the optical transparency depends on growth temperature and oxygen pressure. The electrical parameters such as resistivity, carrier concentration, and mobility strongly depend on both oxygen pressure and growth temperature. The films grown at low temperature are semiconducting in nature while the films grown at high temperature are metallic. Detailed temperature and magnetic field dependent resistivity, magnetoresistance, and Hall effect data will be presented. This work is supported by Research Corporation (award number CC6166).
A nonlinear control law for a stochastic infinite time problem

The expectation of a particular class of nonquadratic performance criterion involving even powers of the state variables up to sixth order is minimized, over an infinite horizon, subject to a linear stochastic system. The process noise is composed of both additive white noise and state dependent white noise processes. The resulting controller is composed of a linear and cubic function of the state. Furthermore, this controller depends upon the noise variances of both the additive and state dependent noise processes. For partially observable systems with no state dependent noise, similar results as the completely observable system are implied by the separation theorem. For state dependent noise alone, a stochastic Lyapunov function is obtained from which simple probability bounds for the trajectory to exit from a given region of the state space are determined.
Ingrowth by photoreceptor axons induces transcription of a retrotransposon in the developing Drosophila brain.

The development of the lamina, the first optic ganglion of the fly visual system, depends on inductive cues from the innervating photoreceptor axons. lacZ expression from a P-element insertion, A72, occurs in the anlage of the lamina coincident with axon ingrowth from the eye imaginal disc. In eyeless mutants lacking photoreceptor axons, lacZ expression did not occur. The P-element was found to have inserted within the 3′ long terminal repeat (LTR) of a ‘17.6′ type retrotransposon. The expression pattern of 17.6 transcripts in the brain in wild-type and eyeless mutants paralleled the expression of the lacZ reporter. Analysis of 17.6 cis-regulatory sequences indicates that the lamina-specific expression is due to the combined action of an enhancer element in the LTR and a repressor element within the internal body of the retrotransposon. The regulation of the 17.6 retrotransposon provides a model for the study of innervation-dependent gene expression in postsynaptic cells during neurogenesis.
Neuromuscular neutral zones response to static lumbar flexion: muscular stability compensator.

Abstract Background The impact of six sequential static loading and rest of the lumbar spine on the changes in the neuromuscular neutral zones and thereby on spine stability was assessed. Methods Six 10 min sessions of static load of a moderate level each spaced by 10 min rest were applied to the in vivo feline model. Test cycles of 0.25 Hz and at the same moderate peak load were applied before and every hour after the static loading sequence up to 7 h. Load, displacement and electromyographic activity of the lumbar multifidi muscles were recorded throughout. Findings Displacement and tension neuromuscular neutral zones were defined as the displacement or tension, in the increase and decrease phases of each cycle, when the electromyogram initiated and ceased activity, respectively. Displacement neuromuscular neutral zones demonstrated significant (P Interpretation It was concluded that the first 2–3 h post-static loading finds the spine with significant laxity in the viscoelastic tissues concurrently with deficient muscular activation and therefore exposed to the risk of instability. It is also evident that a neural control compensation mechanism exists where it enhances the activation of the musculature to earlier and at higher activation magnitude, 2–3 h post-loading, increasing lumbar stability while the viscoelastic tissues are still lax.
Making the move to a unified system of photometry

As presently practiced and applied, photometry does not reflect the response of the human visual system at many light levels commonly used for nighttime lighting. Vision and photometry have never b...
Multi-Shake Table Seismic Studies of a 33-Meter Railway Concrete Bridge with High-Performance Materials

Three unconventional details for plastic hinges of bridge columns subjected to seismic loads were developed, designed, and implemented in a large-scale, four-span reinforced concrete bridge. Shape memory alloys (SMA), special engineered cementitious composites (ECC), elastomeric pads embedded into columns, and post-tensioning were used in three different piers. The bridge model was subjected to two-horizontal components of simulated earthquake records of the 1994 Northridge earthquake in California. The multiple shake table system at the University of Nevada, Reno was used for testing. Over 300 channels of data were collected. Test results showed the effectiveness of post-tensioning and the innovative materials in reducing damage and permanent displacements. The damage was minimal in plastic hinges with SMA/ECC and those with built in elastomeric pads. Conventional reinforced concrete plastic hinges were severely damaged due to spalling of concrete and rupture of the longitudinal and transverse reinforcement. Analytical studies showed close correlation between the results from the OpenSEES model and the measured data for moderate and strong earthquakes.
The Status of International Business and Financial Reporting Harmonization

This research describes the status of harmonization of international business and financial reporting. First, it identifies and addresses the issues that have historically represented obstacles to harmonization (i.e., differences in political economy, culture, legal systems, stage of economic development, reporting practices (i.e., micro-based versus macro-uniform financial reporting practices), and emotional resistance to change). Second, the research describes how multinational enterprises' (MNEs) need for access to international capital markets now dominates and propels the momentum toward international financial reporting standards, as demonstrated by the European Union's (EU)January 1, 2005, adoption of IASB standards. Finally, the research demonstrates that total convergence of international financial reporting standards is years away by describing the 100+ existing differences between IASB's international standards (IAS/IFRS) and U. S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP).
Fifteen years after To Err is Human: a success story to learn from

Preventable harm is a major cause of preventable death worldwide. In late 1999, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) released To Err is Human ,1 a report that riveted the world's attention to between 44 000 and 98 000 patient deaths annually in the USA from medical errors. Progress towards reducing these harms has proven difficult because healthcare lacks robust mechanisms to routinely measure the problem and estimates of the magnitude vary widely. It is hard to gauge safety when healthcare uses multiple different measures for the same harm and provides limited investment in measurement, implementation and applied sciences. Central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) provides a notable exception and case study for learning. Over the past 15 years, through the combined and coordinated efforts of many, these infections have been reduced over 80% in intensive care units (ICU), decreasing patient mortality.2 In this essay, we reflect on the journey in preventing these infections and explore how this success can inform and accelerate efforts to reduce other types of preventable harm. While this paper is a synthesis of past work, what is novel is providing the historical profile of CLABSI, comparing infection rates before and 15 years after the IOM report and offering new insights into what led to the substantial reductions in infections. The journey began in the 1970s when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) began collecting data on ICU CLABSIs. Over the next several decades, the CDC published data on national benchmarks for CLABSI, investigated bloodstream infection outbreaks and published the first Guideline for the Prevention of Intravascular Catheter-Related Infections in 1991. These early efforts brought little change in ICU CLABSI rates throughout the 1990s, with clinicians and policy makers believing infections were inevitable. Over the last decade, ICU CLABSI rates have dropped throughout the USA (table 1) and …
Strategies for the Study of the Coelenterate Brain

Some years ago it was fashionable to hope that the nervous system of some coelenterate would be simple enough so that it could be ‘described completely’, either functionally, morphologically or, ideally, both. But now, for at least three reasons, this approach has palled. In the first place, the nervous system seems more complex, with the passing of the simplistic view that the functional units are always neurons, linked together by standardized junctions. At least in other, ‘higher’ forms, there are many different kinds of synapses, even within single neurons; single neurons can subserve more than one function in an organism, even at the same time. Secondly, non-nervous components in coelenterate coordinating systems are now known to be basic elements in behavioral control (Mackie, 1970). Finally, behavioral studies always reveal greater complexity than was previously imagined.
Small Molecule Inhibition of SAMHD1 dNTPase by Tetramer Destabilization

SAMHD1 is a GTP-activated nonspecific dNTP triphosphohydrolase that depletes dNTP pools in resting CD4+ T cells and macrophages and effectively restricts infection by HIV-1. We have designed a nonsubstrate dUTP analogue with a methylene bridge connecting the α phosphate and 5′ carbon that potently inhibits SAMHD1. Although pppCH2dU shows apparent competitive inhibition, it acts by a surprising allosteric mechanism that destabilizes active enzyme tetramer.
The effect of magnesium deficiency in mice on serum immunoglobulin concentrations and antibody plaque-forming cells.

SummaryMagnesium-deficient mice immunized with SRBC showed a significant decrease (P < 0.001) in the number of PFC in their spleens compared with mice on a control diet. Serum immunoglobulin concentrations (IgG1, IgG2, IgA and IgM) were determined after 3, 6, 9 and 12 days on the respective diets. The serum IgG2 and IgM concentrations of magnesium-deficient mice were decreased (P < 0.005) by 6 days and remained at these concentrations until 12 days. The serum IgG1 and IgA concentrations of magnesium deficient animals also decreased (P < 0.01) by 6 days but returned toward control concentrations at 12 days. Serum magnesium concentrations confirmed the magnesium deficiency of the experimental animals. Therefore, magnesium deficiency has profound immunosuppressive capabilities in mice by significantly reducing the number of antibody synthesizing cells and serum immunoglobulin concentrations.I want to express my sincere thanks to Dr. Richard Asofsky for providing the materials and methods for determining the ...
Effect of Adding Modes of Plating Solution on Low Phosphorous Electroless Nickel Plating

In order to promote the application of low-P electroless Ni-P alloy coating with high melting point and good mold-releasing performance in industry,the adding modes of plating solution were investigated. Thus the composition of the added plating solution was determined by making use of chemical method. The effect of two types of adding modes of plating solution(timely adding and on-line adding) on the plating rate and periodical stability coefficient of the plating solution as well as the P content,solderability and corrosion resistance of the coating was investigated. Results indicate that when on-line adding mode of plating solution is used,the plating solution and relevant Ni-P alloy coating have better or comparable properties except for corrosion resistance. It was feasible for the plating solution to keep good stability even after four cycles of plating by properly selecting electroplating conditions. A plating rate of over 15 μm/h could be remained,and the P content of the Ni-P alloy coating could be controlled to be below 4.5% while good solderability was retained.
Familial Persistent Müllerian Duct Syndrome

AbstractTwo phenotypically normal pre-adolescent brothers with bilateral undescended testes were found to have bilateral fallopian tubes, a uterus and a vagina that drained into the prostatic utricle. We have documented this condition radiographically for the first time, gained some insight into the pattern of inheritance and made recommendations for surgical management.
Hypochromic anemia of pregnancy: a new diagnostic aid and oral therapy with ferroglycine sulfate complex.

(1959). Hypochromic Anemia of Pregnancy. Postgraduate Medicine: Vol. 25, No. 6, pp. 761-768.
Set1/COMPASS and Mediator are repurposed to promote epigenetic transcriptional memory.

Cells respond to stressful conditions by changing which of their genes are switched on. Such stress-specific genes are typically switched off again when the conditions improve, but can remain primed and ready to be switched on again when needed. This phenomenon is known as “epigenetic transcriptional memory” and allows for a faster or stronger response to the same stress in the future. In fact, these memories can last for a long time, even after the cell divides many times. Inside cells, most of the DNA is wrapped tightly around proteins called histones. To activate – or transcribe – a gene, the DNA must be re-packaged to allow better access for specific proteins including the enzyme called RNA polymerase II. This repackaging involves a number of changes including chemical modification of the histone proteins. Genes that have been previously transcribed under stress are packaged in a different way so that they are poised and ready for the next time they are needed. However, the details of this process were not clear. Using yeast as a model, D'Urso et al. have dissected the changes that are responsible for priming genes to respond to future events. The yeast gene INO1, which shows transcriptional memory, was studied in cells by characterizing the proteins bound at and around the gene and the histone modifications in the region. D'Urso et al. found that a protein called SfI1 bound to this gene only during transcriptional memory and that this binding was critical to start the phenomenon. Further experiments showed that transcriptional memory also required altering two protein complexes that normally bind to genes when they are switched on. One complex, which includes an enzyme that modifies histones, was altered so that the histones at the INO1 gene were marked in a unique way. The other complex was responsible for recruiting an inactive, poised form of RNA polymerase II to the gene, which allowed the gene to be activated when needed. In addition, D'Urso found that other genes that show transcriptional memory in yeast, as well as such genes in human cells, were also marked in the same ways. A future challenge will be to understand how different conditions in different organisms can lead to transcriptional memory. Further studies could also explore how this memory phenomenon is inherited and how it influences an organism’s fitness.
Using publicly reported hospital data to predict obstetric quality

AbstractPurpose: To determine the association between obstetric outcomes and publicly reported hospital data on patient satisfaction, surgical quality measures and medical outcomes.Materials and methods: Hospitals in the Nationwide Inpatient Sample in 2011 were linked to Hospital Compare, a source of hospital data on patient satisfaction, quality and mortality for medical conditions. The risk-adjusted hospital-level rates of obstetric morbidity, episiotomy and lacerations were compared across the hospitals and reported as the absolute reduction in risk (ARR).Results: We identified 528 708 women. There was no association between any of the metrics and risk-adjusted obstetric morbidity (range −0.15% to 0.03% difference). Hospitals with a high mortality rate for pneumonia had a 0.38% (95% CI: 0.13% to 0.64%) higher rate of risk-adjusted third- and fourth-degree lacerations, while hospitals with a higher death rate for myocardial infarction had a −0.74% (95% CI, −1.34% to −0.14%) lower risk-adjusted episiotom...
Phase II trial of imatinib mesylate and hydroxyurea for grade III malignant gliomas

1573 Background: We evaluated the combination of imatinib mesylate (Gleevec) and hydroxyurea in WHO grade III malignant gliomas following the encouraging response of this combination demonstrated i...
LegalGEO: Conservation tool to guide the siting of legal reserves under the Brazilian Forest Code

Abstract The Brazilian Forest Code, enacted in 1965, was the first national law to mandate that private landowners maintain a portion of their land in natural vegetation. Effective implementation of the law is not only a national priority, but also a global one as Brazil hosts some of the greatest biodiversity and the largest carbon stores in the world. Under the Forest Code, landowners have options to either protect, restore, or offset to meet the legal requirements. Collectively planning and guiding where to locate these options within and outside a rural property can have positive impacts for the environment at both local and landscape levels. To that end, we developed the LegalGEO toolkit to assist government and non-government organizations in offering landowners solutions for complying with the Forest Code requirements while promoting positive outcomes for the environment. Here, we introduce the tools and spatial data associated with LegalGEO and discuss how these data are used within a spatial multi-criteria analysis to produce landscape prioritization maps to guide landowner decisions at the property level. As a case study, we apply LegalGEO to a collection of rural properties within the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil and compare the differences in the resulting landscape patterns against a scenario where landowners lack this guidance. Results from this comparison suggest that the use of the LegalGEO tool improves conservation outcomes at both landscape and property levels scales.
Taylor’s Conception of Persons and His Theory of Personal Identity

In this chapter, I explain the conception of personal identity that communitarians seem to endorse. This explanation is useful because communitarians generally fail fully to explain their conception of personal identity, and because the conception serves as the basis for their criticisms of Rawls. This conception of identity is supposed to be problematic for Rawls in two ways: metaphysically and normatively. In order to assess and respond to these objections, we must have an account of this conception of personal identity. I explain what seems to be the most plausible communitarian conception of personal identity, Charles Taylor’s “practical-moral” conception of persons. This view is complex, but it can be summed up with the two following claims. First, the society in which we live at least partially determines various morally relevant aspects of our lives, like our conceptions of what is intrinsically valuable, and our capacity to act as autonomous moral agents. Second, the aspects of our lives that are partially determined by society are a part of our identity. Also, to a lesser extent, I draw on writings of Michael Sandel and Alasdair MacIntyre.
Robot-Assisted Versus Open Simple Prostatectomy for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia in Large Glands: A Propensity Score-Matched Comparison of Perioperative and Short-Term Outcomes.

Abstract Objective: To report the largest comparative analysis of robotic vs open simple prostatectomy (OSP) for large-volume prostate glands. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 103...
An aided information to characterize ECG signals as normal or abnormal

This paper provides an aided information to classify normal and abnormal ECG signals by estimating intervals. The intervals play a crucial role compared to amplitudes because they remain invariant with respect to the ECG recording machine, while amplitudes can be manually altered. A novel algorithm is developed using db4 wavelet to eliminate wandering baseline (WB) artifact and white Gaussian noise (WGN) from the signals for accurate estimation of the intervals. The developed algorithm concludes the normality or abnormality of the ECG signals.
Pelvic pyomyositis in children: changing trends in occurrence and management

We present the largest series of paediatric pelvic pyomyositis from a temperate country, analyse the factors influencing long term prognosis and suggest a diagnostic protocol. We included 41 patients diagnosed with primary paediatric pelvic pyomyositis between 1998 and 2016, in this study with a mean age of 7.5 years. Demographic, clinical, radiological and follow-up data were reviewed. Statistical analysis was performed to analyse the influence of early diagnosis and treatment on the final outcome. There was an increased occurrence of primary pelvic pyomyositis in the last two years. Of cases identified, 85% fulfilled Kocher’s criteria for hip septic arthritis. The mean time to diagnosis was 2.8 ± 0.8 days. The most common muscle affected was obturator internus (65.85%) and multifocal involvement was common (46.34%). Early diagnosis and antibiotic treatment within seven days from the time of onset of symptoms was the only factor that influenced final outcome (p < 0.001). Pyomyositis is no longer restricted to tropical countries. The time from onset of symptoms to start of antibiotic treatment influences the final outcome. Clinical examination and inflammatory markers have low specificity in distinguishing between pyomyositis, septic arthritis, osteomyelitis or other infections. MRI is more sensitive and can diagnose pyomyositis in its early stages. Every suspected case of septic arthritis of the hip should undergo an ultrasound. MRI scan may be performed if the ultrasound shows inconclusive evidence of an effusion. Early identification will facilitate early antibiotic treatment which will improve the final outcome. There is an increasing occurrence of this tropical disease in temperate countries. Early diagnosis with an MRI scan and early antibiotic use results in good outcomes.
A Unified View of Case Based Reasoning and Fuzzy Modeling

The fuzzy systems modeling technique and the case based reasoning methodology are briefly described. It is then shown that these two approaches can be viewed in a unified way as essentially involving the same process, a matching step and a solution composition step. It is noted that in the typical case based reasoning application the solution composition step is more difficult because of the complexity of the associated action space. Two techniques are then suggested to help in the solution composition task in case based reasoning. The first, the weighted median, is shown to be useful in domains in which the action space consists of an ordered collection of alternatives. The second, a variation of reinforcement learning, is shown to be useful in domains in which the resulting actions involve a sequence of steps.
Redevelopment Takings After Kelo: What's Blight Got to Do with it?

Cities large and small across the country are utilizing redevelopment powers to become land developers, transforming underutilized areas into desirable commercial and mixed use enclaves, improving the appearance of the city and shoring up sagging tax bases. In using their eminent domain powers to assist private redevelopers, local governments open themselves to Fifth Amendment claims that these projects are not for "public uses." After the U.S. Supreme Court opinion in Kelo v. City of New London, state and local government officials need not worry about federal courts declaring anytime soon that their economic redevelopment projects are not a sufficient "public use" to justify condemning one person's property for another, unless the taking can be proved nothing but a sham, a naked pretext for wresting land from one private owner for the exclusive benefit of another. For the usual run of redevelopment projects, the requisite public use can be found either because the taking eliminates blight or proceeds from a comprehensive plan for redevelopment. This paper begins with a recap of the Kelo Court's attenuated endorsement of comprehensive planning as a way of determining whether a taking of unblighted property qualifies as a public use. Then, the paper sketches the varying ways that states have defined blight to limit the use of eminent domain for redevelopment. Blight prevention was a rationale invoked by supporters of the federal urban renewal program to secure judicial approval in the 1930s and 1940s. Those projects were quite different from most redevelopment projects undertaken after the abolition of the federal program in 1974 and the paper describes the main differences. The blight standard makes less sense under most current types of redevelopment than it did under the early federal renewal programs because blight eradication is rarely what today's redevelopment projects aim to achieve. In the final section, the paper compares planned efforts at improving the quality of life in the community with "spot" redevelopment aimed solely at pumping up local tax receipts. Objectionable redevelopment enables a favored private firm (often a big retailer) to expand by acquiring land from unwilling neighboring owners. Kelo and some of the Kelo-inspired, state-enacted reforms, would lead courts to prohibit such takings. They do not serve a public use because they are meant simply to assist a particular private firm with its expansion plans in order to enhance the local tax base. The concluding section of the paper suggests how redevelopment agencies could reformulate their narrowly focused tax-motivated projects to comply with the new emphasis on redevelopment planning articulated in Kelo.
Phase I trial combining ipilimumab + high dose stereotactic radiation: Results and serum immune correlates.

3022Background: Preclinical models suggest systemic disease control with ipilimumab (IPI) and radiation. Here we conducted a phase I trial of IPI and high dose stereotactic body radiation therapy (...
Distributed CVR in Unbalanced Distribution Systems With PV Penetration

In this paper, a distributed multi-objective optimization model is proposed to coordinate the fast-dispatch of photovoltaic (PV) inverters with the slow-dispatch of on-load tap changer and capacitor banks for implementing conservation voltage reduction in unbalanced three-phase distribution systems. In existing studies, PV inverters and voltage regulation devices are generally dispatched by fully centralized control frameworks. However, centralized optimization methods are subject to single point of failure and suffer large computational burden. To tackle these challenges, a distributed dispatch method is developed to coordinate PV inverters and conventional voltage regulation devices in distribution systems. The proposed method is based on a modified alternating direction method of multipliers algorithm to handle non-convex optimization problems without relaxing the original formulation, which could lead to sub-optimality. Numerical results from simulations on modified IEEE 13-bus, 34-bus, and 123-bus unbalanced three-phase systems have been used to verify the proposed method.
To bin or not to bin? A comparison of symptom frequency response formats in the assessment of health-related quality of life

The goal of this study is to compare three different types of retrospective frequency response formats on the Healthy Days Symptoms Module (HDSM). Responses are compared in terms of intra-individual consistency, psychometric value, and participant feedback about each type of response format. Respondents each completed three versions of the HDSM, where items were framed to elicit an open-ended frequency, a fixed choice frequency, or a vague quantifier response. Traditional reliability statistics were used to evaluate intra-individual consistency. Differential item functioning (DIF) was used to test for response format effects, and item response theory (IRT) scale scores and standard errors were computed across the three forms to compare psychometric value. Linear mixed modeling was used to examine the associations of IRT scale scores across response formats with respondent characteristics. People are largely consistent in how they respond to items about their health, regardless of the response format, and no DIF was detected between response formats. The IRT scores computed from the “# of days” frequency response formats tend to have better measurement precision than those from vague quantifiers. Open-ended frequencies capture a greater span of individual differences for people reporting fewer symptoms; however, little measurement precision is lost in collapsing the frequencies into categories. Both the open-ended and fixed choice frequency response formats offer more measurement precision than vague quantifiers. While the open-ended frequency response format may capture more individual differences, respondents tend to report more difficulty with exact frequency recall, and thus, prefer the fixed choice frequency format.
Tarnished work: dignity and labour in Iran

Constituting a growing portion of Iran’s labour force, the working poor shoulder the burden of Iran’s recent economic predicaments. However, little work has examined how working poor men and women ...
School Board Chairmen and School Superintendents: An Analysis of Perceptions Concerning Special Interest Groups and Educational Governance.

This study focuses on the perceptions of Virginia school board chairmen and superintendents as they relate to local governance issues. These perceptions provide great insight into the problems face...
Anomalous Heat Capacity Associated with the Incommensurate SmA Phase in DB7OCN + 80CB

A high-sensitivity ac calorimeter has been used to determine the anomalous heat capacity associated with the SmAd-SmAic-SnA2 phase transitions in a smectic liquid crystal mixture of DB7OCN and 80CB. SmAd is a partial bilayer smectic A phase (L < d < 2L) and SmA2 is a bilayer smectic (d = 2L), where L is the molecular length. SmAic is an incommensurate smectic phase exhibiting the simultaneous presence of two collinear mass density modulations with periods whose ratio is not a rational fraction. In addition, heat capacity and x-ray data on pure DB7OCN indicate that the direct SmAd-SmA2 transformation in that material occurs continuously without undergoing a thermodynamic transition.
Discordant findings on preoperative imaging for primary hyperparathyroidism and thyroid disease: Choosing the path to follow.

Abstract Background Preoperative localization of abnormal parathyroid glands in primary hyperparathyroidism is often obtained by sestamibi, and ultrasonography. We aimed to identify which modality is most accurate when laterality of abnormal glands on preoperative imaging is discordant. Methods A single institution retrospective review identified 112 consecutive patients with primary hyperparathyroidism who underwent successful parathyroidectomy and sestamibi with pertechnetate. Results Sestamibi with pertechnetate had a sensitivity of 72% and positive predictive value of 90%; ultrasonography had sensitivity of 50% and positive predictive value 80%. Patients with thyroiditis had lesser sensitivity and positive predictive value on sestamibi with pertechnetate (53% and 77%, respectively), in contrast to ultrasonography (54%, 88%, respectively). The sensitivity and positive predictive value of sestamibi with pertechnetate and ultrasonography did not differ in patients with thyroid nodules. Seventeen patients (15%) had discordant laterality on preoperative imaging. In discordant cases, sestamibi with pertechnetate was correct in 53% overall but in only 17% of those with thyroiditis (P = .01), whereas ultrasonography was correct in 26% overall but in 50% of those with thyroiditis (P = .01). Conclusion Thyroiditis decreased the sensitivity and positive predictive value of sestamibi with pertechnetate in primary hyperparathyroidism. In patients with discordant laterality on preoperative imaging, sestamibi with pertechnetate is the more accurate choice to guide operative planning, although ultrasonography may be a better guide in those with thyroiditis.
Encouraging continued university foreign language study: a self-determination theory perspective on programme growth

Between 2006 and 2016, American universities experienced a significant decrease in student enrolment in foreign language (FL) courses. This decrease corresponded with the dissolution of over 650 fo...
Outcomes After Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy as a Bridging Modality to Liver Transplantation for Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Abstract Purpose For patients with hepatocellular carcinoma awaiting liver transplantation (LT), stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) has emerged as a bridging treatment to ensure patients maintain priority status and eligibility per Milan criteria. In this study, we aimed to determine the efficacy and safety of SBRT in such situations. Methods and Materials A retrospective analysis was conducted of the outcomes of 27 patients treated with SBRT who were listed for LT at 1 institution. Among these, 20 patients with 26 tumors went on to LT and were the focus of this study. Operative reports and postoperative charts were evaluated for potential radiation-related complications. The explant pathology findings were correlated with equivalent dose in 2 Gy fractions and tumor size. Results Median pretreatment tumor size was 3.05 cm. Median total dose of radiation was 50 Gy delivered in 5 fractions. Pathologic complete response (pCR) was achieved in 16 tumors (62%). Median interval from end of SBRT to transplant was 287 days. Of the 21 tumors imaged before transplant, 16 or 76% demonstrated a clinical complete response based on modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors criteria. There was no significant correlation between pCR rate and increasing tumor size (odds ratio [OR], 0.95; 95% confidence interval, 0.595-1.53) or pCR rate and equivalent dose in 2 Gy fractions (OR, 1.03; 95% confidence interval, 0.984-1.07.) No patients experienced radiation-related operative or postoperative complications. Of the 27 patients who were listed for transplant, the dropout rate was 22%. Two of the 5 patients with Child-Pugh score 10 died of liver failure. Conclusions These data demonstrate that SBRT as a bridging modality is a feasible option, with a pCR rate comparable to that of other bridging modalities and no additional radiation-related operative or postoperative complications. There was no dose dependence nor size dependence for pCR rate, which may indicate that for the tumor sizes in this study, the radiation doses delivered were sufficiently high.
Visually-impaired children and apps: sharing informal and formal information to guide choice

Sharehab was developed as part of a project financed by Fondazione Vodafone Italia as part of their “Digital for Social 2015” initiative. We wish to thank all those who were involved in the project and its activities, especially the children with low vision attending the Chiossone Institute’s Centre for Visual Rehabilitation, and their parents.