cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Phase of Care Mortality Analysis: A Unique Method for Comparing Mortality Differences Among Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement and Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement Patients

The objective of this study is based on the phase of care mortality analysis (POCMA), an effective tool to evaluate the root cause of in-hospital mortality in cardiac surgery patients. POCMA has not been used to compare operative mortalities among transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) populations, and may provide insight that could affect patient safety initiatives and improve outcomes in aortic valve surgery. We included patients who underwent TAVR or isolated SAVR between 2011 and March 31, 2015 and did not survive the index hospitalization. A multidisciplinary heart team made POCMA assignments as part of the weekly morbidity and mortality conference, pinpointing the phase of care and subcategory that directly caused or had the greatest effect on each mortality. During the study period, 240 patients underwent TAVR and 530 underwent SAVR. Unadjusted mortality rates were significantly higher in the TAVR group, 5.0% (n = 12) compared with SAVR, 1.9% (n = 10) (P = 0.016). TAVR deaths by phase of care are as follows: 0 for preoperative, 9 (72.8%) for intraoperative, 2 (18.2%) for postoperative intensive care unit, and 1 (9.1%) for postoperative floor. By comparison, 4 (40%) SAVR deaths had a root cause in the preoperative phase, 1 (10%) in the intraoperative phase, and 5 (50%) in the postoperative intensive care unit phase. POCMA is a novel method of categorizing in-hospital mortalities. Our single institution review revealed that patients who underwent TAVR more often expired because of intraoperative technical issues, whereas SAVR deaths were typically the result of patient selection or postoperative complications.
Rate of new findings in diagnostic office bronchoscopy

Objectives Awake Flexible Tracheobronchoscopy (FTB) is an alternative to rigid bronchoscopy or sedated flexible bronchoscopy and allows an awake examination of the tracheobronchial tree. We hypothesized that the ability to perform office bronchoscopy as the need arises during a clinic visit would lead to a high rate of previously undiagnosed and clinically relevant findings. This study reports the rate and nature of such findings for this procedure at our institution. Study Design Retrospective chart review. Methods The records of 127 adult patients evaluated at the voice and swallowing disorders clinic between June of 2012 and January of 2015 were reviewed. New findings were defined as new pathology visualized during FTB exam that was not previously diagnosed by means of other diagnostic modalities. Results A total of 233 scope procedures (84 transnasal bronchoscopies and 149 tracheoscopies) were reviewed, 232 of which were completed and one of which was incomplete due to severe subglottic stenosis. New, clinically relevant findings were seen in 57% of transnasal bronchoscopies (48 of 84) and 21% of tracheoscopies (32 of 149). All of these findings provided additional information directing workup or resulted in a change in patient management. Conclusion Office-based evaluation of the tracheobronchial tree yields a high rate of new findings. In our study, office bronchoscopy had a 57% rate of new findings and was performed without complications. The utility of tracheoscopy was also apparent in its ability to quickly and safely examine the trachea, with a 21% rate of new findings. Level of Evidence 4. Laryngoscope, 127:1376–1380, 2017
Data information literacy instruction in Business and Public Health Comparative case studies

Employers need a workforce capable of using data to create actionable information. This requires students to develop data information literacy competencies that enable them to navigate and create meaning in an increasingly complex information world. This article examines why data information literacy should be integrated into program curricula, specifically in the instances of business and public health, and offers strategies for how it can be accomplished. We approach this as a comparative case study within undergraduate business and master of public health programs at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. These case studies reveal several implications for practice that apply across social and health sciences programs.
Modeling degradation using thermodynamic entropy

Manufacture transforms raw materials into finished components. Ageing and degradation of components, driven by dissipative processes, irreversibly alter material structures. The second and third laws of thermodynamics assert that these dissipative processes must generate entropy. This entropy is a fundamental quantity to describe ageing and degradation. This recognition led to a Thermodynamic Degradation Paradigm encapsulated in a Degradation Entropy Generation (DEG) Theorem, wherein the rate of degradation was related to the irreversible entropies produced by the underlying dissipative physical processes that age and degrade components. This paradigm and theorem permit a structured approach to modeling degradation of any kind. If properly applied, the DEG Theorem leads to a differential equation in a variable that describes the degradation. The equation depends on the operational and environmental variables that characterize the system. Integration of the equation accumulates the degradation over time. This approach has led to accurate models for progression of and failure by wear, fatigue, and battery degradation that are consistent with prior models. This article will review the Thermodynamic Degradation Paradigm and Degradation Entropy Generation Theorem, and apply these to formulate predictive models of wear, fatigue, and battery degradation, i.e., differential equations that govern the degradation or ageing. The article will conclude with a discussion on how to use these governing degradation equations for machine prognosis.
Mathematical Modeling of Communicable Diseases: Expanding Public Health in Medical Education

Mathematical transmission (MT) modeling is the technique of utilizing mathematics and computer science to predict how an infection will move through a population over time, producing projections that inform public health decisions. This study presents our innovative course, Math and Medicine: The Importance of Modeling Infectious Diseases to Improve Population Health at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, which is the first to introduce MT modeling within medical education. The objectives of the class were to teach medical students to (1) recognize the importance of MT modeling, (2) understand the principles of an MT model, (3) realize how programming software can be used to evaluate these models, and (4) understand and interpret results of an MT model from a current publication. Survey results indicate that the course was effective in demonstrating the value of MT modeling to medical students and in showing students how programming software can be used to find results. There was also improvement in the student’s perception of their ability to understand and interpret models from infectious disease literature; however, this improvement did not reach statistical significance. These results emphasize the need for courses in MT modeling to be a more integrated and cohesive part of medical education.
Temporal Variation in the Abundance and Timing of Daily Activity of Chagas Disease Vector Triatoma gerstaeckeri (Stål, 1859) in a Natural Habitat in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, South Texas

Abstract Chagas disease caused by Trypanosoma cruzi is a burden to millions of people in South and Central America. A sylvatic life cycle of the parasite exists in the Southern United States, but recent studies indicate an active peri-domestic life cycle of T. cruzi in Texas. The United States–Mexico border region in Texas displays areas of high poverty and sub-standard housing conditions which are important risk factors for a potential spill-over transmission to a domestic life cycle including humans. The objectives of the study were to examine short- and long-term temporal variation in vector activity and to evaluate the effect of different combinations of attractants on the capture of potential triatomine vectors. We collected local triatomine vectors (all of them identified as Triatoma gerstaeckeri) from a natural habitat in South Texas during the course of a year. The exact time of collection was recorded to examine the timing of flight activity of the triatomine vector. We also conducted a comparati...
Career Resilience: An Integrated Review of the Empirical Literature

In this article, we review and synthesize the empirical literature on career resilience (CR) to develop a nomological network that describes the major components of the construct, and its relationships with other constructs. Specifically, we outline the antecedents and consequences of CR and describe their theoretical basis. We discuss the implications of the nomological network for future research on CR. Finally, we describe the practical implications of our model for individuals, managers, and organizations.
Uncovering the Contribution of Microchannel Deformation to Impedance-Based Flow Rate Measurements.

Changes in electrical impedance have previously been used to measure fluid flow rate in microfluidic channels. Ionic redistribution within the electrical double layer by fluid flow has been considered to be the primary mechanism underlying such impedance based microflow sensors. Here we describe a previously unappreciated contribution of microchannel deformation to such measurements. We found that flow-induced microchannel deformation contributes significantly to the change in electrical impedance of solutions, in particular to those solutions producing an electrical double layer in the order of a few tens of nanometers (i.e., containing relatively high ionic strength). Since the flow velocity at the measurement surface is near zero, due to the laminar nature of the flow, the contribution of the double layer under the conditions mentioned above should be negligible. In contrast, an increase in the fluid flow rate results in an increase in the microchannel cross-sectional area (because of higher local pres...
A Bayesian Look at Classical Estimation: The Exponential Distribution

Many undergraduate students are introduced to frequentist or classical methods of parameter estimation such as maximum likelihood estimation, uniformly minimum variance unbiased estimation, and min...
Characterization and Treatment of Unilateral Facial Muscle Spasm in Linear Scleroderma: A Case Report

Background: Linear scleroderma has been associated with muscle spasms ipsilateral to skin lesions. Typically, spasms are generated by trigeminal innervated muscles, leading to hemi-masticatory spasm (HMS). Case Report: We report a case of linear scleroderma associated with spasm of muscles innervated not only by the trigeminal, but also by the facial nerve. Discussion: We review the patient’s successful treatment with incobotulinumtoxinA, a formulation of botulinum toxin that has not been reported for use in this condition.
Extreme Psychospiritual States Versus Organic Brain Disease: Bringing Together Science and the Human Factor:

Extreme states can be psychospiritual and “functional” in origin or they can be “organic” and driven by biological dysfunction. Contemporary psychiatry largely rejects this distinction, preferring ...
Risk management--a pediatric dentist's view.

The term "risk management" is a relatively new one for most practicing dentists. The concept of risk management comes from hospitals, where programs targeted at reducing or preventing financial awards and settlements have been implemented over the last ten years in response to trends in litigation. For hospitals and professional liability insurers, it is the financial risk or exposure that is of primary importance. To individual practitioners, the emotional stress and potential damage to professional reputation that may accompany charges of malpractice are also substantial risks worthy of "management."
Stereoselectivity of Nicotine’s Central Effects and Its Relationship to Pain and Cardiovascular Function

Nicotine produces a wide range of effects on the central nervous system which include convulsions (1), prostration (2), antinociception (3–11), release of antidiuretic hormone (12,13), tremors (13,14), as well as alterations in behavior (15,16), motor performance (3, 10, 17–19), gastric acid secretion (20–22), the cardiovascular system (7,23–30), learning (31), etc. The mechanisms by which nicotine produces these myriad effects have not been fully elucidated. Numerous studies have been carried out in an effort to characterize the effects of nicotine on central neurotransmitter functionality, as reviewed by Aceto and Martin (32) as well as contributors in this volume.
SECTION 3.2 – Background on Isotropic Criteria

This chapter provides a background on isotropic criteria. An elastic- perfectly plastic stress-strain curve in simple tension or in simple shear is the simplest picture of material behavior to discuss yield limit criteria. This idealized response is linear elastic up to a yield limit at which large plastic deformation occurs at constant stress. The concept of an initial or a subsequently established yield limit for the typical workhardening response involves both idealization and definition. A key element of the idealization is that the response of the material to stress levels below the current yield limit is purely elastic on loading, as it is to at least moderate unloading and subsequent reloading up to the current yield limit. For an isotropic material, the yield limit surface is determined by the values of the principal stresses without regard to their orientation. Each combination of them, such as the maximum shear stress, is also an invariant of the stress field. With the knowledge that shear stress is the primary driver of plastic deformation, it is reasonable to do what is always permissible, to consider any state of stress at a material point as a hydrostatic tension equal to the mean normal stress plus the stress deviator, which is a general representation of shear stress.
Exploring Desert Aquifers and Polar Ice Sheets and Their Responses to Climate Evolution: OASIS Mission Concept

The Orbiting Arid Subsurface and Ice Sheet Sounder (OASIS) mission concept is a single instrument, small-size, venture-class mission directly aimed at exploring the signatures of climate change in both cold and warm deserts regions on Earth: the polar ice sheets and the hyper-arid deserts (Fig. 1). OASIS has two well-defined science objectives. The first is to determine the thickness, inner structure, and basal boundary conditions of Earth’s ice sheets to understand their dynamics and improve models of current and future ice sheet response to climate change and, hence, to better constrain ice sheet contribution to sea level rise. The second objective is to perform detailed mapping of the spatial distribution of shallow (<100 m deep) aquifers in North Africa and the Arabian Peninisula to understand groundwater dynamic in fossil aquifers to assess their current response to climatic stresses and paleoclimatic conditions that formed them. These two mission objectives are achieved using a sounding radar operating at 45 MHz center frequency with 10 MHz bandwidth. The proposed OASIS radar would be able to map only the upper water table of fossil aquifer systems. This proceeding has been updated from the proceeding published in IEEE-IGARSS (2013).
User Guide for the Discrete Dipole Approximation Code DDSCAT 7.3

DDSCAT 7.3 is an open-source Fortran-90 software package applying the discrete dipole approximation to calculate scattering and absorption of electromagnetic waves by targets with arbitrary geometries and complex refractive index. The targets may be isolated entities (e.g., dust particles), but may also be 1-d or 2-d periodic arrays of "target unit cells", allowing calculation of absorption, scattering, and electric fields around arrays of nanostructures. The theory of the DDA and its implementation in DDSCAT is presented in Draine (1988) and Draine & Flatau (1994), and its extension to periodic structures in Draine & Flatau (2008), and efficient near-field calculations in Flatau & Draine (2012). DDSCAT 7.3 includes support for MPI, OpenMP, and the Intel Math Kernel Library (MKL). DDSCAT supports calculations for a variety of target geometries. Target materials may be both inhomogeneous and anisotropic. It is straightforward for the user to "import" arbitrary target geometries into the code. DDSCAT automatically calculates total cross sections for absorption and scattering and selected elements of the Mueller scattering intensity matrix for user-specified scattering directions. DDSCAT 7.3 can efficiently calculate E and B throughout a user-specified volume containing the target. This User Guide explains how to use DDSCAT 7.3 to carry out electromagnetic scattering calculations, including use of DDPOSTPROCESS, a Fortran-90 code to perform calculations with E and B at user-selected locations near the target. A number of changes have been made since the last release, DDSCAT 7.2 .
The Peristroika of Epistemological Politics.

Keynote presentation made to the IFIP Fifth World Conference in Computer Education held in Sydney, Australia in 1990, and printed in Australian Education Computing, 5 (1). Reprinted in memory and deepest respect of Professor Seymour Papert and his seminal contribution to educational computing.
Abstract 4792: Azetidine functionalized small-molecules potently inhibit STAT3 signaling and block tumor growth in human breast cancer xenografts

The development of inhibitors of Signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 3 for clinical application has faced significant challenges and to date there are no suitable STAT3 small molecule inhibitors in the clinic. We report a novel class of azetidine-based small molecules that potently and preferentially inhibit STAT3 DNA-binding activity in vitro, with IC50 of 300-800 nM, compared to IC50 of 17 μM or higher against STAT1 DNA-binding activity. In the human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468 cells treated with the azetidine compounds, including H182, constitutive STAT3 DNA-binding activity and tyrosine phosphorylation were strongly inhibited in both time- and dose-dependent manner. By contrast, the azetidine compounds showed little effects on EGF-induced STAT1 activity, Ras-Raf-MEK-ERK or other STAT3-independent signaling pathways, or on other SH2 domain-containing proteins. Furthermore, H182 and other azetidine compounds strongly inhibited viability, anchorage-dependent and -independent growth, and colony survival of the human breast cancer cells, with IC50 of 1.0 - 1.9 μM, compared to the IC50 of 3.8 - 8.1 μM against the viability and growth of the immortalized breast epithelial MCF-10A cells. The migration of breast cancer cells in vitrowere similarly inhibited by treatment with low concentrations of H182 for 18 h, without changes in viable cell number. Analysis of STAT3 downstream genes show that the expression of VEGF and survivin were significantly suppressed in breast cancer cells treated with the azetidine compounds. In vivo evaluation of antitumor efficacy shows H182 inhibited growth of human breast tumor xenografts. Studies together identify the azetidine-functionalized small molecules as potential candidate compounds for clinical development as novel therapeutic agents for human breast and other cancers that harbor aberrantly-active STAT3. Citation Format: Peibin Yue, Francisco Lopez-Tapia, Wenzhen Fu, Christine Brotherton-Pleiss, Marcus Tius, James Turkson. Azetidine functionalized small-molecules potently inhibit STAT3 signaling and block tumor growth in human breast cancer xenografts [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 4792.
The Relationship Between Renewable Energy Consumption and Economic Growth in France: a Necessary Condition Analysis

This study offers a novel analytical approach on the relationships between renewable energy consumption, capital, labor force, new firm formation rate, and economic growth. It aims to investigate such causal relationships using different estimation techniques such as the ordinary least squares (OLS) model, dynamic ordinary least squares (DOLS), fully modified ordinary least squares (FMOLS), and canonical cointegrating regression (CCR), along with necessary condition analysis (NCA), which are applied to data for France over the period 1987–2017. Our results show that all necessary conditions yield outcomes ranging from small- to large-sized effects on economic development. The French government should readdress its efforts towards encouraging more beneficial investments in renewable energy consumption. This study opens up new insights for policymakers to maintain environmental protection and ensure sustainable economic growth. Finally, the use of NCA reduces complexity and allows a better understanding of the relationships involved.
Palladium/Zeolite Low Temperature Passive NOx Adsorbers (PNA): Structure-Adsorption Property Relationships for Hydrothermally Aged PNA Materials

Zeolites with different framework structures (SSZ-13, ZSM-5, BEA) but similar Si/Al ratios (~ 12–15) and Pd loading (~ 1 wt%) were synthesized and evaluated as low-temperature passive NOx adsorbers (PNA). These materials exhibit high NOx adsorption efficiency with atomically dispersed Pd being the active adsorption site. Hydrothermal aging at 750 °C for 16 h in the presence of 10% water vapor in air resulted in the formation of PdO nanoparticles in all three samples as evidenced by high-energy XRD. Hydrothermal aging of the small-pore 1–3 wt% Pd/SSZ-13 (Si/Al = 6) materials, which contain ~ 100–90% atomically dispersed palladium ions, decreases its PNA performance only by ~ 10–20%, indicating agglomeration of only ~ 10–20% of atomically dispersed Pd into PdO. High-field solid state 27Al NMR studies on the fresh and aged samples reveal dealumination and significant changes in the distribution of Al (and thus, Bronsted acid) sites after hydrothermal aging. FTIR measurements with NO probe molecule and titration of Bronsted acid sites with nitrosyl (NO+) ions further corroborate the 27Al NMR data. Because framework aluminum atoms are the anchoring sites for atomically dispersed Pd ions, their elution from the framework causes the loss of active atomically dispersed Pd species. With the aid of HAADF-STEM imaging and synchrotron XRD studies, we further confirm and visualize the fate of these Pd species: they agglomerate into PdO nanoparticles on the external surface of zeolite. Consequently, these changes lead to the decrease in PNA performance of these materials after hydrothermal aging. The thus formed PdO agglomerates cannot be re-dispersed back to their ionic state due to the loss of framework Al T-sites and/or inherent stability of such large PdO particles. Our study demonstrates that, unlike in previous studies that found increased PNA performance upon HTA, high temperatures hydrothermal aging of PNA materials that contain atomically dispersed Pd initially results in a decrease in NOx storage efficiency due to the formation of PdO agglomerates. However, we also highlight the high hydrothermal stability of predominantly atomically dispersed 1–3 wt% Pd/SSZ-13 (Si/Al = 6), whose performance decreases only marginally after prolonged hydrothermal aging at 750 °C. This study shows that hydrothermally stable passive NOx materials can be prepared using small-pore SSZ-13 zeolite.
PrEP 1.0 and Beyond: Optimizing a Biobehavioral Intervention.

Background:Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate coformulated with emtricitabine (TDF/FTC) was shown to be effective in preventing HIV acquisition when used for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), but questions have arisen regarding optimal PrEP implementation strategies.Methods:A narrative review of literatur
Evaluating Generalized Path Queries by Integrating Algebraic Path Problem Solving with Graph Pattern Matching

Path querying on Semantic Networks is gaining increased focus because of its broad applicability. Some graph databases offer support for variants of path queries e.g. shortest path. However, many applications have the need for the set version of various path problem i.e. finding paths between multiple source and multiple destination nodes (subject to different kinds of constraints). Further, the sets of source and destination nodes may be described declaratively as patterns, rather than given explicitly. Such queries lead to the requirement of integrating graph pattern matching with path problem solving. There are currently existing limitations in support of such queries (either inability to express some classes, incomplete results, inability to complete query evaluation unless graph patterns are extremely selective, etc).
Hospitalization costs associated with bronchopulmonary dysplasia in the first year of life.

To determine costs of hospitalization associated with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) during the first year in very low birth weight infants. Retrospective cohort study of California births from 2008 to 2011 linking birth certificate, discharge records, and clinical data from California Perinatal Quality Care Collaborative. Inclusion: birth weight 401–1500 g, gestational age < 30 weeks, inborn or transferred within 2 days, alive at 36 weeks corrected, and without major congenital anomalies. Outcomes included cost and length of stay of initial hospitalization and rehospitalizations. Out of 7998 eligible infants, 2696 (33.7%) developed BPD. Median hospitalization cost in the first year was $377,871 per infant with BPD compared with $175,836 per infant without BPD (adjusted cost ratio 1.54, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.49–1.59). Infants with BPD also had longer length of stay and a higher likelihood of rehospitalization. BPD is associated with substantial resource utilization. Prevention strategies could help conserve healthcare resources.
Use of a pressurized water treatment to prevent cracking of internal gelation sol-gel microspheres

Pressurized water treatments were investigated as a means to prevent cracking of internal gelation sol-gel microspheres upon drying and heating. A batch of gelled cerium oxide microspheres was prepared, split into two samples that were processed with and without a pressurized water treatment, and dried in air at room temperature. Thermogravimetric analysis was used to compare the mass loss profiles between the two samples and to understand volatile emissions from cerium oxide microspheres during heat treatments up to 600 °C. Microspheres that were processed without a pressurized water treatment lost ~4.6 times more mass upon heating than microspheres that were subjected to a pressurized water treatment. Comparison of the cracking behavior of microspheres prepared with and without a pressurized water treatment indicated that microspheres subjected to a pressurized water treatment were virtually crack-free after heat treatments. Conversely, microspheres processed without a pressurized water treatment, which is typical of traditional washing processes, exhibited extensive cracking. Analysis of residues dried from pressurized water treatment effluents indicated that hexamethylenetetramine and urea, which are excess reactants from the internal gelation process, were removed from gelled microspheres during the pressurized water treatment step. Traditional processing methods for preparing internal gelation microspheres use specific feed solution and gelation parameters to reduce subsequent cracking upon drying and heating. Results from this study indicate that more aggressive gel-forming conditions may be used to produce crack-free microspheres, if a pressurized water treatment step is included after washing and before air-drying.
Hypervitaminosis E and α-tocopherol levels in Intracranial Hemorrhagic Stroke (P5.3-035)

Objective: To consider the possibility of hypervitaminosis E in association with acute intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), based on elevated serum levels of α-tocopherol. Background: NA Design/Methods: We describe the clinical presentation and course of three previously healthy individuals who each developed acute ICH and were discovered independently to be consuming copious amounts of vitamin E supplementation. Results: Patient A and B both had thalamic (subcortical) intraparenchymal hemorrhages while patient C had an intraventricular hemorrhage; the serum α-tocopherol levels in all three were elevated at 30.8, 46.7 and 23.3 mg/L, respectively (normal range 5.7 – 19.9 mg/L). No definitive alternate etiologies to their ICH was found despite a thorough workup. Conclusions: In patients with ICH without a clear-cut etiology, clinicians should avoid mislabeling the ICH as cryptogenic and consider the diagnosis of hypervitaminosis E. This can be accomplished by meticulously reviewing the patient’s pharmacologic history and asking about the use of over-the-counter supplements, such as vitamin E. Checking serum α-tocopherol levels in the acute/subacute phase may help confirm the history. The antiplatelet effect of vitamin E may considerably increase the risk of ICH, which may be underestimated, underreported, and heretofore unexplored in any clinically applicable way. Disclosure: Dr. Le has nothing to disclose. Dr. Chang has nothing to disclose. Dr. Kesayan has nothing to disclose. Dr. Rose has received personal compensation for consulting, serving on a scientific advisory board, speaking, or other activities with Boehringer Ingelheim, Boston Scientific, Medtronic, Chiesi and CSL-Behring. Dr. Rose has received research support from VuEssence; Boehringer Ingelheim; Biogen; ReNeuron; SanBio; Sunovion; Bristol-Myers Squibb; DART Neuroscience.
R&D investment, business performance, and moderating role of Guanxi: Evidence from China

Abstract Conventional wisdom posits that a long-term orientation with important partners such as key suppliers and clients is essential for superior performance. This study critically examines this business tenet by studying the relationship between duration of partnerships with major suppliers and clients and company performance. Based on a dataset comprising over 10,000 Chinese manufacturing firms obtained through a probability sampling procedure, results show that relationship duration with major clients not only has a direct, negative effect on total income (sales), but also has a negative moderating effect on the association between research & development (R&D) and total income. However, relationship duration with major suppliers has a positive moderating effect on the association between R&D and total profits. Furthermore, relationship with government has a positive effect on total income, and it also has a negative moderating effect on the R&D-performance chain. Managerial and research implications are also discussed.
The Naxalite Movement: Review from A Personal Perspective

The romance of revolution is unquestionably irresistible. Standing up for the poor, the oppressed, the dispossessed against the powerful, in an epic fight of David versus Goliath, attracts many to ...
Ethical and Legal Considerations of Alternative Neurotherapies

Neurotherapies for diagnostics and treatment—such as electroencephalography (EEG) neurofeedback, single-photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT) imaging for neuropsychiatric evaluation, and ...
The Houses that Eminent Domain and Housing Tax Credits Built: Imagining a Better New Orleans

Proposals for investing in and rebuilding urban enclaves such as New Orleans are layered with controversy and difficulty. One of the most significant impediments to rebuilding New Orleans will be addressing the need to replenish the depleted rental housing market. Racial and economic integration of housing markets and appropriate use of private sector money to replenish the rental housing stock within a “reasonable” time period are indispensable components of a responsible revitalization and renewal plan. This Article contends that a combination of the smart exercise of eminent domain and of “housing production subsidies” -- housing tax credits -- is necessary to rebuild the rental housing market in New Orleans. In a climate of appreciating markets, private developers do not have natural incentives to construct affordable rental housing. If provided the proper financial motivation, prescient developers will step in and invest in the New Orleans and regional rental markets. There is no guarantee that developers will reap huge profits in the affordable rental housing market, even under optimal market conditions. Certainly, post-natural disaster conditions -- widely dispersed populations, high unemployment levels, devastated infrastructure, disorganization and finger-pointing, and a lack of a unified vision of what the reconstructed built environment should be -- pose even greater uncertainties for developers.A thoughtful approach to eminent domain, combined with strategic use of housing subsidies, can complement other aspects of regional comprehensive planning as New Orleans and the surrounding communities move forward. One of the most promising tools available to address rental housing needs is the Low Income Housing Tax Credit program (“LIHTC”). Created by the Tax Reform Act of 1986, the LIHTC is currently the most significant program that seeks to meet poor citizens' needs for rental housing production and rehabilitation. LIHTCs increase the nation's rental housing stock for the poor by targeting high-income taxpayers. The program “provides an incentive for the construction and rehabilitation of low income rental housing by lowering its overall cost through the use of tax credits to developers and owners of qualified rental projects.” The U.S. Department of the Treasury administers the program in conjunction with the housing finance agencies of the states and some cities. Having produced almost 1.3 million units of housing between 1987 and 2003, the LIHTC has eclipsed the public housing program and holds great promise as a program for increasing mixed-income housing and racial integration.
Norms, Norm Sets, and Reference Groups: Implications for Household Interest in Energy Technologies:

Household adoption of rooftop solar panels and battery storage can potentially reduce the negative environmental impacts of the electric grid. We argue that the number of socially close (friends an...
Secure Aggregation for Buffered Asynchronous Federated Learning.

Federated learning (FL) typically relies on synchronous training, which is slow due to stragglers. While asynchronous training handles stragglers efficiently, it does not ensure privacy due to the incompatibility with the secure aggregation protocols. A buffered asynchronous training protocol known as FedBuff has been proposed recently which bridges the gap between synchronous and asynchronous training to mitigate stragglers and to also ensure privacy simultaneously. FedBuff allows the users to send their updates asynchronously while ensuring privacy by storing the updates in a trusted execution environment (TEE) enabled private buffer. TEEs, however, have limited memory which limits the buffer size. Motivated by this limitation, we develop a buffered asynchronous secure aggregation (BASecAgg) protocol that does not rely on TEEs. The conventional secure aggregation protocols cannot be applied in the buffered asynchronous setting since the buffer may have local models corresponding to different rounds and hence the masks that the users use to protect their models may not cancel out. BASecAgg addresses this challenge by carefully designing the masks such that they cancel out even if they correspond to different rounds. Our convergence analysis and experiments show that BASecAgg almost has the same convergence guarantees as FedBuff without relying on TEEs.
The Smart DMO: A new step in the digital transformation of destination management organizations

Smart tourism development has been adopted by destinations around the world to strengthen their long-term competitiveness in light of rapid technological, societal and environmental change. Destination management organizations (DMOs) are generally endowed with smart tourism governance at the destination-level and typically see it as a great opportunity to prove their relevance. However, these organizations also face enormous challenges and often lack the capacities and competencies needed to successfully govern smart destinations. While recent literature highlights the importance of smart destination governance, it does not provide much guidance in terms of the functions and roles of smart DMOs. This paper presents a preliminary conceptualization of six smart DMO functions that support smart governance roles, namely mobilizing, match-making, managing, sensing, shapeshifting and stewardship. As such, it presents practical guidance for DMOs trying to implement smart destination governance and outlines the need for research on smart DMOs.
Improving Quality Of Service Industries Using Online Customer Reviews: Cross-Sector Study

This paper is the first to conduct a cross-sector study of the literature review manuscripts published by analyzing online customer reviews of service sectors. We performed this meta-analysis across six different service sectors - healthcare, hotels, airlines, restaurants, online games, online food/grocery delivery containing over 32 million customer reviews using quality management tools and techniques, such as Juran's trilogy and critical to quality (CTQ). The results of our cross-sector analysis indicate that ‘staff’ and ‘service’ topics are mentioned in all the industries that we reviewed, while ‘environment’ and ‘parking space’ are critiqued in a majority of the service domains. Most customers feel that the ‘time orientation’ aspect of CTQ and quality improvement dimension of Juran's trilogy are being followed across all service areas under consideration. We propose several managerial implications based on our analysis to improve the service quality of the reviewed domains.
Utilization of pets in a hospice program.

(1989). Utilization of Pets in a Hospice Program. Health Education: Vol. 20, No. 2, pp. 10-11.
LONG-SPAN BURIED STRUCTURE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION

Long-span corrugated-metal buried structures are generally defined as conduits constructed of structural plate with spans exceeding 15 ft to 25 ft (4.6 m to 7.6 m) or radii of curvature exceeding 8 ft to 12 ft (2.4 m to 3.7 m). The principal applications for long-span structures are culverts and grade separations, with many installations serving as alternatives for small bridges. The paper summarizes a comprehensive survey of the state-of-the-art of the design and construction of these long-span structures. Among the aspects considered for these conduits are the design concepts, construction procedures, economic considerations, experimental investigations, and failures. Conditions imposed during construction of the long-span structures are major factors governing design. The use of proper construction procedures is vital. Most of the long-span structure failures, which have occurred either during construction or in service, have resulted from improper construction or backfill material.
Generating Natural Language Summaries for Multimedia

In this paper we introduce an automatic system that generates textual summaries of Internet-style video clips by first identifying suitable high-level descriptive features that have been detected in the video (e.g. visual concepts, recognized speech, actions, objects, persons, etc.). Then a natural language generator is constructed using SimpleNLG to compile the high-level features into a textual form. The generated summary contains information from both visual and acoustic sources, intending to give a general review and summary of the video. To reduce the complexity of the task, we restrict ourselves to work with videos that show a limited number of "events". In this demo paper, we describe the design of the system and present example outputs generated by the video summarization system.
Coaches Column—Group Dynamics in Coaching Football

(1957). Coaches Column—Group Dynamics in Coaching Football. Journal of Health, Physical Education, Recreation: Vol. 28, No. 6, pp. 54-55.
Analysis of nucleotide sequences at 3' termini of duplex deoxyribonucleic acid with the use of the T4 deoxyribonucleic acid polymerase.

Abstract The T4 DNA polymerase catalyzes extensive exonucleolytic degradation of linear duplex DNA starting at the 3' ends. However, the enzyme will release only a few nucleotides from each DNA molecule if the degradation is run in the presence of a single deoxynucleoside triphosphate. Several experiments suggested that the polymerase degrades a chain only until a nucleotide is released which can be replaced by transfer from the triphosphate. Subsequent reaction consists only of alternating removal and replacement of that nucleotide, without net degradation of the DNA. Because only a few nucleotides are released in the presence of a single triphosphate, it seemed possible that the polymerase could be used for analysis of nucleotide sequences at 3' termini of duplex DNA. This possibility was verified by the analysis of the 3'-terminal sequence of fragments of bacteriophage T7 DNA produced by endonuclease R, the Hemophilus influenzae restriction endonuclease. This terminal sequence had been previously identified by Kelly and Smith (J. Mol. Biol., 51, 393 (1970)). The method used in this analysis, which should also be applicable to other DNAs, was to degrade 32P-labeled DNA by the T4 polymerase in the presence of each of the four triphosphates. The nucleotides released in each case were identified and quantitatively determined by thin layer chromatography, and were consistent with the previously determined terminal sequence.
Maturation of the adrenal medulla--IV. Effects of morphine.

Abstract Chronic morphine administration in adult rats results in neurogenic secretion of adrenal catecholamines and compensatory increases in basal catecholamine levels, in activities of catecholamine biosynthetic enzymes (tyrosine hydroxylase and dopamine β-hydroxylase) and in the number of storage vesicles in the tissue. Perinatally addicted developing rats demonstrated changes completely different from those seen in adults; catecholamine levels and dopamine β-hydroxylase activity were reduced compared to controls and no induction of tyrosine hydroxylase was observed. The time course of adrenomedullary maturation was delayed through the first 10–20 days of age, with reduced numbers of storage vesicles and larger proportions of partially filled vesicles. On exposure to morphine, continued until weaning, perinatally addicted rats did not display any of the changes in catecholamine synthesis or vesicular uptake seen in adult rats. Developing rats treated only in utero or only postnatally demonstrated different types of biochemical deficits which appeared at different times during development. The effects of morphine in developing rats vs adult rats can be partly explained by the absence of functional innervation of the neonatal adrenal medulla; however, other factors may also operate.
Spatial and Temporal Occurrences of Intermittent Turbulence During CASES-99

Occurrences of intermittent turbulence in very stable conditions during theCASES-99 field study near Leon, Kansas were detected at several sites separatedby horizontal distances from 1 km to 25 km using sonic anemometers, minisodarsand a laser scintillometer. Periods with significant turbulent heat fluxes wereseparated by extended quiescent periods with little or no flux, and most of theflux during a night was realized in relatively small fractions (<20%) of thetotal time. There appeared to be no relationship between this intermittencyfraction and the median z/L (z being height and L the Obukhov length)value for the night, although overall sensible heat flux values on very stablenights were significantly less than those on less stable nights. The intermittencyfraction at 7 m was found to increase with mean wind speed at 20 m and, to alesser extent, with wind shear between 20 m and 30 m. While correspondenceof turbulent episodes at two sites separated by 1 km was common, it was less common at separations on the order of 20 km. There were time periods, however, during which enhanced turbulence levels were seen nearly simultaneously at large separation distances. Turbulence episodes were found to propagate upward or downward at different times with no readily defined large-scale controlling mechanism.
Motivators of and barriers to engaging in physical activity: Perspectives of low-income culturally diverse adolescents and adults

Abstract Background: Obesity rates are rising in the United States, especially among low-income and racial/ethnic minority individuals. Exploring motivators and barriers relative to engaging in physical activity is imperative. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify motivators and barriers relative to engagement in physical activity as reported by culturally diverse low-income adolescents and adults. Methods: A total of 91 adolescent (11 to 15 years of age) and adult (18 years of age or older) participants who self-identified as African American, Hispanic, or non-Hispanic White engaged in age group-, race/ethnicity-, and gender-concordant focus groups. Results: Qualitative data analysis indicated that the motivators and barriers most commonly identified among the adolescent and adult focus groups were: social influence; time and priorities; physical environment; fun and enjoyment; inherently physical activities; weight concerns; fatigue, physical discomfort and current fitness level; and immedi...
To stent or not to stent? A meta-analysis of endonasal congenital bilateral choanal atresia repair

Objectives: The use of nasal stents as a postoperative adjunct following repair of choanal atresia remains controversial.The study objective was to systematically review the literature regarding the efficacy and safety of stenting following trans-nasal endoscopic repair of bilateral choanal atresia.Study Design: Systematic review with meta-analysis.Methods: A comprehensive search in PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Library was conducted. Inclusioncriteria included articles written in the English language with five or more subjects and clear intervention data and outcomes.Two independent reviewers screened studies for eligibility, appraised the level of evidence, extracted data, and resolved dis-crepancies by consensus. Successful surgery was defined as the absence of restenosis.Results: Of 154 identified studies, 15 met inclusion criteria. Levels of evidence varied from level 3 to 4. Mean age atsurgery ranged from 5 days to 25 months. Thirteen studies (n5167 patients) included patients who were stented; theweighted pooled proportion of successful surgery was 65% (95% confidence interval [CI], 49–76%). Mean duration of stent-ing ranged from 48 hours to 16 weeks. Six studies (n542) evaluated patients who were not stented; the weighted pooledproportion of successful surgery was 64% (95% CI, 42–84%). Complications associated with stenting included alar injury,vestibular stenosis, columellar tear, and stent dislodgement or blockage.Conclusions: Success rates for bilateral choanal atresia repair were similar with and without the use of nasal stents.The use of nasal stents may be associated with more complications. There is insufficient data to determine if mitomycin C isa useful therapeutic adjunct.Key Words: Choanal atresia, stent, mitomycin, CHARGE, restenosis.Level of Evidence: NALaryngoscope, 00:000–000, 2015