cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Activity of Tyrosine Trans aminase in the Thyroid Gland

The catabolic enzyme, tyrosine α-ketoglutarate transaminase, has been found in small amounts in the thyroid gland of rats. The activity, expressed as micromoles of p-hydroxyphenylpyruvic acid formed from tyrosine per gram of tissue fresh weight, was 2.9 units in the glands of healthy rats. This content was 2–6 % of that found per gram of liver. The thyroid glands of thyroxine-treated animals had an activity of enzyme similar to that of the untreated controls. These preliminary findings suggest that the rate of degradation of tyrosine by the thyroid is relatively stable; this stands in contrast with the fluctuations often observed in liver.
Effects of a topically applied 2% delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol ophthalmic solution on intraocular pressure and aqueous humor flow rate in clinically normal dogs

Objective—To determine the effects of topically applied 2% delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) ophthalmic solution on aqueous humor flow rate (AHFR) and intraocular pressure (IOP) in clinically normal dogs. Animals—21 clinically normal dogs. Procedures—A randomized longitudinal crossover design was used. Following acquisition of baseline IOP (morning and evening) and AHFR (afternoon only) data, dogs were randomly assigned to 2 treatment groups and received 1 drop of either 2% THC solution or a control treatment (olive oil vehicle) to 1 randomly selected eye every 12 hours for 9 doses. The IOPs and AHFRs were reassessed after the final treatment. Following a washout period of ≥ 7 days, dogs were administered the alternate treatment in the same eye, and measurements were repeated. Results—Mean ± SD IOPs in the morning were 15.86 ± 2.48 mm Hg at baseline, 12.54 ± 3.18 mm Hg after THC treatment, and 13.88 ± 3.28 mm Hg after control treatment. Mean ± SD IOPs in the evening were 13.69 ± 3.36 mm Hg at baseline, 1...
Statistical test for the comparison of samples from mutational spectra

The Monte Carlo estimate of the p value of the hypergeometric test is described and advocated for the testing of the hypothesis that different treatments induce the same mutational spectrum. The hypergeometric test is a generalization of Fisher's "exact" test for tables with more than two rows and two columns. Use of the test is demonstrated by the analysis of data from the characterization of nonsense mutations in the lacI gene of Escherichia coli. Unlike the chi-square test, the hypergeometric test remains valid when applied to sparse cross-classification tables. The hypergeometric test has the most discrimination power of any statistical test that could be employed routinely to compare samples from mutational spectra. Direct application of the hypergeometric test to large cross-classification tables is excessively computation intensive, but estimation of its p value via Monte Carlo techniques is practical.
Wireless interrogation of antenna sensor to detect hidden cracks

Recently, we have validated that microstrip antenna can detect sub-millimeter crack growth. The wireless interrogation of the antenna sensor under line-of-sight illumination of an interrogation antenna has also been demonstrated. In this paper, we present a wireless interrogation technique that is out of the line-of-sight of the interrogation antenna. This technique enables detecting and monitoring crack propagation between a lap joint or in any other case where a crack is hidden between two parts of a structure. Implementation of the sensor and the wireless interrogation unit using commercially available microwave components is presented in detail. The experimental results confirmed the capability of this technique to wirelessly interrogate the antenna sensor. In addition to crack propagation detection, this technique can also be used to monitor compressive forces between two faying surfaces of a lap joint structure.
Synthetic oleanane and ursane triterpenoids with modified rings A and C: a series of highly active inhibitors of nitric oxide production in mouse macrophages.

We have designed and synthesized 16 new olean- and urs-1-en-3-one triterpenoids with various modified rings C as potential antiinflammatory and cancer chemopreventive agents and evaluated their inhibitory activities against production of nitric oxide induced by interferon-γ in mouse macrophages. This investigation revealed that 9(11)-en-12-one and 12-en-11-one functionalities in ring C increase the potency by about 2−10 times compared with the original 12-ene. Subsequently, we have designed and synthesized novel olean- and urs-1-en-3-one derivatives with nitrile and carboxyl groups at C-2 in ring A and with 9(11)-en-12-one and 12-en-11-one functionalities in ring C. Among them, we have found that methyl 2-cyano-3, 12-dioxooleana-1,9(11)-dien-28-oate (25), 2-cyano-3,12-dioxooleana-1,9(11)-dien-28-oic acid (CDDO) (26), and methyl 2-carboxy-3,12-dioxooleana-1,9(11)-dien-28-oate (29) have extremely high potency (IC50 = 0.1 nM level). Their potency is similar to that of dexamethasone although they do not act t...
Daemon Conversions in Distributed Self-stabilizing Algorithms

We consider protocols to transform a self-stabilizing algorithm for one daemon to one that can run under a different daemon. In the literature, there are several daemons, and several possible attributes of those daemons, and it is customary to detail the choice of daemon one is using in designing a specific self-stabilizing algorithm. The choice of daemon plays an important role in designing self-stabilizing algorithm in terms of correctness and convergence time analysis; techniques and complexity vary widely with the type of daemons used. In order to simplify algorithm development in a systematic way, it would be useful to have to consider only one “canonical” daemon and then to use a relatively mechanical procedure to convert the algorithm to any other daemon when needed. We give the first (full) proof that, provided there are IDs, any algorithm that self-stabilizes only under a fair central daemon can be converted to one that self-stabilizes under an unfair read/write daemon.
a 10-watt S-band solid-state amplifier

This paper describes the design and performance of an all-solid-state amplifier, which provided 29.5 dB of gain and 9.1 watts of CW output power in the 100-MHz band from 2.2 to 2.3 GHz. The technique used to measure optimum source and load impedances of a class-C transistor at microwave frequencies is shown. A comparison is made of the performance of several single-stage coaxial class-C designs. Attempts to combine several stages at a scale frequency of 1.15 GHz, using both direct paralleling and hybrid-combining, are discussed. Finally, the results obtained in hybrid-combining sixteen stages to obtain the 9.1 watts of CW output are shown.
On the Location of the Chu Capital in Early Chunqiu Times in Light of the Handong Incident of 701 B.C.

The location of the Chu core area during the reign of King Wu (740-690) is a question rendered uncertain by two issues: 1) the date of the move from Danyang to Ying, and 2) the locations of these capitals. In the traditional literature, both were considered to have been situated along the Yangzi, in southwest Hubei. Recent suggestions, on the other hand, place Danyang in either the Dan Valley (southwest Henan) or west-central Hubei (Nanzhang or Yicheng counties); and arguments have been offered that Ying was also in the Yicheng area.In the arguments both for and against these hypotheses, a commonly employed assumption is that Chu military activities under King Wu hold the potential for indicating the area from which the campaigns were launched. The present paper analyzes one of these campaigns, the military encounter at Pusao between Chu and Yun, east of the Han River (Handong), in 701. This episode is noteworthy for the number of states and placenames that occur in the Zuozhuan account of it.The present study suggests that in plotting the states and placenames appearing in this account, geographical sources dating from the sixth century through the early Qing that are frequently cited in defense of the Southern School (Yangzi Valley) view exhibit several deficiencies. Correcting these leads to the conclusion that regardless of whether Danyang or Ying was the capital at the time, in 701 the Chu force could well have set forth from the Nanzhang/Yicheng region.
Investigations with a higher-order canopy turbulence model into mean source-sink levels and bulk canopy resistances

Abstract The legitimacy of using bulk aerodynamic and canopy resistances in surface energy budget equations is examined in this paper. Specifically, the variation of the effective source heights for momentum, water vapor, and heat is analyzed by estimating zero plane displacements for a modeled soya bean canopy, when model leaf surface resistances are changed, causing varying stability conditions. Also, the changes in bulk canopy resistances are examined as a function of the leaf surface resistances. The model used is a linked soil-plant-atmosphere model based on higher-order closure principles. The model confirms previous reports of major soil contributions to evapotranspiration under certain conditions. The erratic behavior of the zero plane displacements for water vapor and heat as a function of leaf surface resistance demonstrates that the concept of a single effective source-sink height is not easily applied to plant canopies. The zero plane displacement for momentum was found to be consistent with previous results, independent of leaf surface resistance. Canopy resistance changes qualitatively match leaf surface resistance changes, but quantitative differences can be large. The canopy resistance changes less quickly than the leaf surface resistance even when soil evaporation is not a factor.
Endothelial expression of selectins during endotoxin preconditioning.

Although bacterial endotoxins [lipopolysaccharide (LPS)] can confer tissue resistance to subsequent inflammatory insults, the mechanisms that underlie this LPS-preconditioning (LPS-PC) response remain poorly defined. The dual-radiolabeled monoclonal antibody technique was used to examine whether LPS-PC alters the upregulation (protein) of E- and P-selectins after subsequent LPS challenge. In the gut of wild-type (C57BL/6J) mice, LPS-PC was associated with a reduction in E- (66%) and P-selectin (33%) expression. A similar reduction in E-selectin expression was observed in mutant mice that were genetically deficient in either the endothelial or inducible isoform of nitric oxide synthase or that overexpressed the human gene for Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase. Severe combined immunodeficient mice, genetically devoid of lymphocytes, did exhibit partial inhibition of the LPS-PC response. We conclude that 1) LPS-PC can be demonstrated for E- and P-selectins in some vascular beds (e.g., gut),2) the mechanism(s) under...
Peer Modeling of Commenting During Small Group Direct Instruction for Academic Behaviors

During small group instruction, two groups of children—each group comprised of one child with a disability and two without disabilities—were taught to read words using a progressive time delay procedure (PTD). Apart from the children with disabilities, two typically developing peers in each group were taught to comment on tokens given for correct responding. Academic responding was similar to that in previous studies including older children, but observational learning of peers’ words was variable within and across participants. Although adequate baseline comparisons were not possible and experimental control was not demonstrated, peers and one participant with a disability exhibited variable but increasing levels of commenting over time. Commenting increased over time in one generalization context (generalization across adults) and remained at low levels in the other (generalization across materials).
Development of a Microgravity Research Team Project Course

A “hands-on” Microgravity Research Team two-semester engineering research project course sequence has been developed and offered at West Virginia University over the past 15 years. The primary course goal is to provide students with a hardware-oriented, hands-on, open-ended experimental research project experience. During the first semester, the teams of four to 12 undergraduate students develop an experimental concept and hypothesis to be studied in microgravity conditions and then submit a detailed technical proposal for their experiment for review by the NASA Reduced Gravity Student Flight Opportunities Program, or more recently to the Reduced Gravity Education Flight Program. Twelve successful experiments have been selected and flown aboard microgravity research aircraft in the past 15 years, with the 2014–2015 team working to develop an experiment to propose for any parabolic trajectory student program that may become available in the near future. Because of cancellation of the program during the 201...
Short-term observation of root canal filling with cortisomol

Objective To observe the curat ive effects of root canal therapy with two kinds of materias i.e cortisomol and ZOE. Methods The experiment group (Cortisom ol group) including 70 teeth of 62 patients and the control group (ZOE gro up) including 40 teeth of 38 patients were assigned randomly.After general cana l preparation,the experiment group was filled with Cortisomal and the control g roup was filled with ZOE. Results In 31.4 % of the teeth o f experiment group,pain did not appear. About 80.0% of the teeth of experimen t group thoroughly ceased aching within two days,and 97.1% within four days. The occurence rate of pain in the experiment group was lower than that of the control group. The time of pai n in the experiment group was shorter than that of the control group. Conclusion The cortisomol is a relatively id eal material for root canal therapy.
Prothrombotic Risk Factors and Preventive Strategies in Adolescent Venous Thromboembolism

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) in adolescents is a serious condition that requires prompt recognition and optimal management to prevent mortality and long-term morbidity. Adolescents account for a large proportion of cases of VTE in children. As teenagers transition from childhood to adulthood, they are at risk of developing medical conditions and exposure to risky habits that predispose them to VTE. This review focuses on the variety of risk factors and comorbidities seen in adolescent VTE and takes a quick look into risk-based preventive strategies for primary and secondary prevention.
Cap-assisted colonoscopy and detection of Adenomatous Polyps (CAP) study: a randomized trial.

Background and study aim: Cap-assisted colonoscopy has improved adenoma detection in some but not other studies. Most previous studies have been limited by small sample sizes and few participating endoscopists. The aim of the current study was to evaluate whether cap-assisted colonoscopy improves adenoma detection in a two-center, multi-endoscopist, randomized trial. Patients and methods: Consecutive patients who presented for an elective colonoscopy were randomized to cap-assisted colonoscopy (4-mm cap) or standard colonoscopy performed by one of 10 experienced endoscopists. Primary outcome measures were mean number of adenomas per patient and adenoma detection rate (ADR). Secondary outcomes included procedural measures and endoscopist variation; a logistic regression model was employed to examine predictors of increased detection with cap use. Results: A total of 1113 patients (64 % male, mean age 62 years) were randomized to cap-assisted (n = 561) or standard (n = 552) colonoscopy. The mean number of adenomas detected per patient in the cap-assisted and standard groups was similar (0.89 vs. 0.82; P = 0.432), as was the ADR (42 % vs. 40 %; P = 0.452). Cap-assisted colonoscopy achieved a faster cecal intubation time (4.9 vs. 5.8 minutes; P Conclusion: Although the efficiency of cecal and terminal ileum intubation was slightly improved by cap-assisted colonoscopy, adenoma detection was not. Cap-assisted colonoscopy may be beneficial for selected endoscopists. Trial registration: clinicalTrials.gov (NCT01935180).
“I Like English Better”: Latino Dual Language Students’ Investment in Spanish, English, and Bilingualism

ABSTRACTThis mixed-methodology study surveys 63 fifth graders in a one-way dual language school. Findings alarmingly indicate that although these students are native Spanish speakers in a school that delivers 50% of their instruction in Spanish, they prefer English both academically and socially. Subsequent interviews with 10 sample students of the larger study generate deeper understandings about how these students view their languages. If dual language programs are going to be maximally successful, then they must foster an environment that encourages students’ attitudes and investments toward both of their languages, taking particular care to protect and promote the minority language.
Leadership in virtual teams: A multilevel perspective

Abstract Understanding leadership functioning in virtual teams becomes critical as organizations increasingly use dispersed teams for talent acquisition. In the current article I present a preliminary model that explicates how task- and relationship-oriented leader behaviors influence team and individual processes and outcomes in virtual teams. Further, I discuss cross-level relationships between virtual team and individual processes, as well as the boundary effects of contextual factors (i.e., task complexity, task interdependence, and virtuality) in virtual leadership functioning.
A hybrid finite integral technique / method of moments formulation for the analysis of cavity-backed aperture antennas

A numerical algorithm has been developed for the analysis of cavity-backed spiral and slot antennas in a ground plane, in which the cavities may be arbitrarily shaped and may have discrete rotational symmetry. It also permits the treatment of inhomogeneously loaded cavities. The finite integral technique (FIT) is used to model the fields in the cavity [1]. The FIT is similar in many respects to the finite element method (FEM), but is based on the direct simulation of the integral form of Maxwell's equations. Both the FIT and the FEM have advantages over volume integral equation techniques due to the sparse nature of the resulting matrix equation. For both formulations, the inhomogeneous volume is divided into small piecewise-homogeneous elements, which are tetrahedra in this work. The interior fields are coupled directly to the exterior fields through a surface integral equation in the aperture that is solved using the method of moments (MoM).
150mm Silicon carbide selective embedded epitaxial growth technology by CVD

In this work, we have developed a selective embedded epitaxial growth process on 150-mm-diameter wafer by vertical type hot wall CVD reactor with the aim to realize the all-epitaxial 4H-SiC MOSFETs [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]. We found that at elevated temperature and adding HCl, the epitaxial growth rate at the bottom of trench is greatly enhanced compared to growth on the mesa top. And we obtain high growth rate 7.6μm/h at trench bottom on 150mm-diameter-wafer uniformly with high speed rotation (1000rpm).
Development and implementation of a psychotherapy tracking database in primary care.

INTRODUCTION Although there is a rapid increase in the integration of behavioral health services in primary care, few studies have evaluated the effectiveness of these services in real-world clinical settings, in part due to the difficulty of translating traditional mental health research designs to this setting. Accordingly, innovative approaches are needed to fit the unique challenges of conducting research in primary care. The development and implementation of one such approach is described in this article. METHOD A continuously populating database for psychotherapy services was implemented across 5 primary care clinics in a large health system to assess several levels of patient care, including service utilization, symptomatic outcomes, and session-by-session use of psychotherapy principles by providers. RESULTS Each phase of implementation revealed challenges, including clinician time, dissemination to clinics with different resources, and fidelity of data collection strategy across providers, as well as benefits, including the generation of useful data to inform clinical care, program development, and empirical research. DISCUSSION The feasible and sustainable implementation of data collection for routine clinical practice in primary care has the potential to fuel the evidence base around integrated care. The current project describes the development of an innovative approach that, with further empirical study and refinement, could enable health care professionals and systems to understand their population and clinical process in a way that addresses essential gaps in the integrated care literature. (PsycINFO Database Record
Status and Ethnicity in Vietnam: Evidence from Experimental Games

A common simplification of economic theory assumes that people only care about maximizing their own material payoffs. However, charitable giving and recent findings in experimental economics demonstrate people will sometimes sacrifice their own payoffs to change the payoffs of others. Individuals tend to care about equity [4, 12], and try to maximize social welfare and help the least well off [1, 6, 8]. People are often willing to punish others who violate social norms even when punishment is costly to them [10, 11]. People frequently trust and reciprocate even when exchange is anonymous [2]. Thus, behavior seems to reflect a mixture of selfishness and “pro-sociality” toward non-kin to an extraordinary degree, compared to other species.
Reliability Models Motivated by Failure of Brittle Fibers and Composites

Some relationships between the failure rate properties of interacting components and the failure rate of systems of such components, or load-sharing systems, are summarized. These are based on a result giving a mixture representation of the system strength for a load-sharing system under arbitrary load-sharing rules. Then based on a continuous cumulative damage process, a family of statistical models for the strength of such systems is described. Asymptotic inference procedures are presented, and two models in the family are given as illustrative examples for actual observed tensile strengths of carbon fibers and of micro-composite specimens.
Establishment of Replicative Immortality in Cancer Cells

Replicative immortality, defined as an unlimited potential for cellular proliferation, is one of the hallmarks of cancer cells. Cancer cells can proliferate indefinitely, whereas proliferation of normal human somatic cells is limited to a set number of cell divisions. After the intrinsically limiting number of cell divisions is reached, noncancerous cells enter a state termed replicative senescence in which they can no longer proliferate but remain metabolically active. One of the common triggers of senescence is exposed telomeres. Telomeres shorten with each round of cell division – when they reach a critical length, they are recognized as a trigger for senescence by regulatory pathways that respond to deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) damage. Alternatively, replicative senescence can be induced by DNA damage and/or by inappropriate DNA synthesis triggered by oncogene induction. Cancer cells have evolved to overcome replicative senescence and continue to divide indefinitely. Establishment of replicative immortality in cancer cells involves induction of enzymatic pathways that enhance telomere length and/or inactivation of key components of senescence-inducing DNA damage responsive pathways.
STAMP: On Discovery of Statistically Important Pattern Repeats in Long Sequential Data.

In this paper, we focus on mining periodic patterns allowing some degree of imperfection in the form of random replacement from a perfect periodic pattern. In InfoMiner+, we proposed a new metric, namely generalized information gain, to identify patterns with events of vastly different occurrence frequencies and to adjust for the deviation from a pattern. In particular, a penalty is allowed to be associated with gaps between pattern occurrences. This is particularly useful in locating repeats in DNA sequences. In this paper, we present an effective mining algorithm, STAMP, to simultaneously mine significant patterns and the associated subsequences under the model of generalized information gain.
Incapacitation, Reintegration, and Limited General Deterrence

The aim of this article is to set out a theory for treatment of criminals that (1) rejects retributive justification for punishment; (2) does not fall afoul of a plausible prohibition on using people merely as means; and (3) actually works in the real world. The theory can be motivated by free will skepticism. But it can also be supported without reference to the free will issue, since retributivism faces ethical challenges in its own right. In past versions of the account I’ve emphasized the quarantine analogy for incapacitation together with the value of rehabilitation and reintegration. Here I pay special attention to the permissibility and the limits of general deterrence.
Cluster analysis of hemorrhagic disease in Missouri’s white-tailed deer population: 1980–2013

Outbreaks of deer hemorrhagic disease (HD) have been documented in the USA for many decades. In the year 2012, there was a severe HD outbreak in Missouri with mortalities reaching approximately 6.9 per thousand. Moreover, Missouri accounted for more than 43% of all reported epizootic HD cases in captive white-tailed deer. Using the data of suspected HD occurrence in Missouri, the primary goal of this paper was to determine if HD in Missouri’s white-tailed deer occurs in spatial clusters. The main results of the cluster analysis are as follows. First, the spatial clusters of years 1980, 1988, 2005–2007, 2010, 2012, and 2013 suggest patterns of outbreaks every 6–8 years, with a potential outbreak in years 2018–2020. Secondly, these spatial clusters were more frequent in the central and southern counties. The clustering analyses employed in this study have potential applications for improving surveillance programs and designing early warning systems for effective deer population management and potentially reducing the number of HD cases.
Renal Mass Biopsy

In this chapter we address the contemporary issues surrounding the use of percutaneous renal mass biopsy. We review current opinions surrounding the appropriate indications for renal mass biopsy as dictated by both expert opinion and clinical consensus guidelines. We then delve into the technical aspects of percutaneous renal mass biopsy. The diagnostic accuracy and utility of percutaneous renal mass biopsy results are then explored by reviewing a number of large, contemporary series, and meta-analyses. We then review the potential complications associated with percutaneous renal mass biopsy and how to best minimize their occurrence. Lastly, we review the economic implications of percutaneous renal mass biopsy when utilized as part of the diagnosis and management of the small renal mass.
Electron-only explicit screening quantum transport model for semiconductor nanodevices

State of the art quantum transport models for semi-conductor nanodevices attribute negative (positive) unit charges to states of the conduction (valence) band. Hybrid states that enable band-to-band tunneling are subject to interpolation that yield model dependent charge contributions. In any nanodevice structure, these models rely on device and physics specific input for the dielectric constants. This work exemplifies the large variability of different charge interpretation models when applied to ultrathin body transistor performance predictions. To solve this modeling challenge, an electron-only band structure model is extended to atomistic quantum transport. Performance predictions of MOSFETs and tunneling FETs confirm the generality of the new model and its independence of additional screening models.
Early Sociability and Social Memory Impairment in the A53T Mouse Model of Parkinson’s Disease Are Ameliorated by Chemogenetic Modulation of Orexin Neuron Activity

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a multi-layered progressive neurodegenerative disease. Signature motor system impairments are accompanied by a variety of other symptoms such as mood, sleep, metabolic, and cognitive disorders. Interestingly, social cognition impairments can be observed from the earliest stages of the disease, prior to the onset of the motor symptoms. In this study, we investigated age-related reductions in sociability and social memory in the A53T mouse model of PD. Since inflammation and astrogliosis are an integral part of PD pathology and impair proper neuronal function, we examined astrogliosis and inflammation markers and parvalbumin expression in medial pre-frontal cortex (mPFC), part of the brain responsible for social cognition regulation. Finally, we used DREADDs (Designer Receptors Exclusively Activated by Designer Drugs) for the stimulation and inhibition of orexin neuronal activity to modulate sociability and social memory in A53T mice. We observed that social cognition impairment in A53T mice is accompanied by an increase in astrogliosis and inflammation markers, in addition to loss of parvalbumin neurons and inhibitory pre-synaptic terminals in the mPFC. Moreover, DREADD-induced activation of orexin neurons restores social cognition in the A53T mouse model of PD. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Social cognition is severely affected in the early stages of Parkinson's disease. In this study, we identified the A53T mouse as a model of social cognitive impairment in PD. Observed alterations in sociability and social memory are accompanied by loss of parvalbumin positive neurons and loss of inhibitory input to mPFC. Stimulating orexin neurons using a chemogenetic approach (DREADDs) ameliorated social cognitive impairment. This study identifies a role for orexin neurons in social cognition in PD and suggests potential therapeutic targets for PD-related social cognition impairments.
An Executive's Guide to Information Technology: ACM (Association for Computing Machinery) to Audio

ACM (Association for Computing Machinery) Definition: The Association for Computing Machinery was founded in 1947 to act as a professional organization focused upon the advancement of information-technology skills. Overview The ACM acts as a professional organization within the technology industry. The society provides a range of services, including professional development courses, scholarly journals, conferences, sponsorship of special interest groups (SIGs), and sponsorship of public awareness activities that pertain to technology, and to scientific and educational activities. The conferences, peer-reviewed publications, and SIGs provide high-quality forums for the interchange of information in the area of information technology. ACM provides an electronic portal through which a large digital library of technology-related information may be accessed, including academic and professional journals, conference proceedings, and a repository of algorithms. Business value proposition The ACM provides a range of resources that can assist technology professionals in developing their skills. These include continuing education programs, a high-quality database of technology literature, professional conferences, and networking events. The peer-reviewed literature includes an extensive library of algorithms allowing technology professionals to use tested and proven algorithms rather than having to reinvent them. The ACM also provides ethical guidelines for its membership and monitors public policy issues in the area of technology and science. Access to the resources of the ACM provides an IT professional with a quick, effective, and efficient mechanism through which the continuously changing fields of computer science and information technologies can be monitored.
Adults With Incident Accelerated Knee Osteoarthritis Are More Likely to Use Pharmacological Treatment Options and Receive Arthroscopic Knee Surgery: Data From the Osteoarthritis Initiative.

Objective To determine if people with incident accelerated knee osteoarthritis (AKOA) were more likely to receive a pharmacological treatment or arthroscopic knee surgery than those with typical knee osteoarthritis (KOA) or no KOA. Methods We conducted a nested cohort study using data from baseline and the first 8 years of the Osteoarthritis Initiative. Eligible participants had no radiographic KOA at baseline (Kellgren-Lawrence [KL] < 2). We classified three groups using KL grades: 1) AKOA: knee progressed to advanced-stage KOA (KL 3/4) in 4 years or less, 2) typical KOA: knee increased in KL grade by 8 years (excluding AKOA), and 3) No KOA: no change in KL grade by 8 years. The outcome was self-reported arthroscopic knee surgery or a pharmacological treatment option: nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), hyaluronic acid injections, intra-articular corticosteroid injections, or prescription analgesics. Between-group differences in therapeutic use were evaluated with Chi-square tests. Results Adults who developed AKOA (n = 92) were more likely to report arthroscopic knee surgery (AKOA: 32%, KOA [n = 380]: 8%, no KOA [n = 875]: 3%; P < 0.001), hyaluronic acid injections (AKOA: 10%, KOA: 4%, no KOA: 1%; P < 0.001), intra-articular corticosteroid injections (AKOA: 30%, KOA: 7%, no KOA: 4%; P < 0.001), and NSAID use (over the counter: AKOA: 65%, KOA: 48%, and no KOA: 46%; P = 0.003; prescription: AKOA: 61%, KOA: 43%, no KOA: 41%; P = 0.002). Conclusion Adults with AKOA are more likely to receive pharmacological treatment or arthroscopic knee surgery than their peers. Adults with AKOA are an important patient population that is understudied in clinical research despite their use of greater health care resources.
Demo: TinySDR, A Software-Defined Radio Platform for Internet of Things

Wireless protocol design for IoT networks is an active area of research. We demonstrate tinySDR which is a low-power software-defined radio platform tailored to the needs of IoT endpoints. TinySDR is a standalone, fully programmable software-defined radio platform which has the requirements of IoT protocols. We present the physical layer implementations of BLE beacon and LoRa protocols to demonstrate the capabilities of tinySDR.
Location, location, location!: quantifying the true impact of location on business reviews using a Yelp dataset

Today, with the emergence of various business review sites such as Yelp, Trip Advisor, and Zomato, people can write reviews and provide an assessment (often as 1-5 score rating). The success of a business on the crowd-sourced review platform has taken the form of positive reviews and high star ratings (failure are associated with negative reviews and low star ratings). We often claim that location plays a major role in determining the success or the failure of a given business. This paper attempts to verify this claim and quantifies the impact of location, solely, on business success, using two data sets; a Yelp dataset for business information and reviews, and another Location dataset that gathers location-based information in a city or an area. We perform an empirical study to quantify the impact of (i) relative location to well known landmarks and (ii) parameterized location (such as cost of living in a given zip code), on the success of restaurants. In our study, we found that parameterized location using location characteristic parameters such as housing affordability correlate highly with restaurant success with more than 0.81 correlation ratio. We also observe that the closer the restaurant to a landmark (relative location) the more likelihood it succeeds.
Prevention of Asthma: Targets for Intervention.

Approximately 300 million people worldwide are estimated to be affected by asthma, and the number of patients affected is growing exponentially—with potential for an additional 100 million people affected by the condition by 2025. With this increasing burden of disease, there is high motivation to discover effective prevention strategies. Strategies aimed at stalling the atopic progression, modifying the microbiome, preventing respiratory viral infections, and reducing the impact of toxin/pollutant exposure through dietary supplements have had limited success in the prevention of asthma. This is likely because asthma is heterogenous and is influenced by different genetic and environmental factors. Genes underlie a predisposition to asthma and allergic sensitization, whereas exposure to allergens, respiratory infections, and pollution may modify asthma pathogenesis and the variation in severity seen among individuals. Future advances in asthma prevention may include a more personalized approach: genetic variations among susceptible individuals with distinct asthma phenotypes or different biomarkers of disease may help individualize prevention strategies and render them more . In this article, we summarize interventions that have been studied for the prevention of asthma and identify some of the clinical trials that are actively underway in asthma prevention.
Abstract WMP25: Flow Diversion: Predictors of Occlusion Rates, Complications, and Long-Term Outcomes in a Large 598 Cohort, a Real-Life Experience

Introduction: Flow diversion has introduced a paradigm shift in the endovascular field by providing a more physiological approach to treat aneurysms. We aim to assess the efficacy and safety of flo...
Defining patient-elicited concepts unique to adolescents and young adults with cancer.

12118Background: Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) require a multidisciplinary approach to cancer care due to complex biopsychosocial variables and varied developmental maturity. Currently, age a...
Book Review: Non-western Perspectives on Learning and Knowing by Sharon Merriam & Associates (Krieger, 2007)

Excerpt: Education, as we know it in America, is steeped in Western values and culture. However, other cultural and value systems influence ways of learning and knowing differently across the globe. Non-western Perspectives on Learning and Knowing is a collection of insights...
Higher Dimensional Finite Geometry

This chapter gives a basic introduction of linear algebra and uses this setting to describe higher dimensional affine and projective geometries. It includes proofs of the Bruck–Ryser theorem and Desargues’ theorem. It further describes Baer subplanes, arcs, and ovals. It concludes with a description of certain non-Desarguesian planes.
Process Engineering to Increase the Layered Phase Concentration in the Immediate Products of Flame Spray Pyrolysis.

Flame-spray-pyrolysis (FSP) is a robust and scalable process to synthesize particles at the commodity-scale. FSP has been used to produce the precursor powders which were converted to the layered structure (R3m phase) by a postannealing step in making nickel-rich cathode materials (NCMs). Theoretically, the high flame temperature (normally >1500 K) in FSP can provide adequate energy for the phase conversion from rock-salt to layered structures and potentially enables one-step synthesis. However, the high flame temperature is a critical issue to cause lithium loss and structural degradation, preventing the formation of the layered phase. In this work, guided by the gaseous nucleation theory, we implemented several FSP processes with different solution recipes. The layered phase concentration in the as-burned products can be increased with the solution enthalpies. By adding a rapid quench step to suppress the lithium loss and phase degradation, the layered phase can be further increased. This work contributes new ideas to innovating process regarding the process efficiency and throughput of manufacturing cathode materials at a large scale.
Characteristics of Providers Using a Child Psychiatry Access Program.

Objective:Child psychiatry access programs (CPAPs) help increase access to mental health services. This study aimed to provide information on the types of pediatric primary care clinicians (PPCCs) ...
Mean-Field Approximation to Gaussian-Softmax Integral with Application to Uncertainty Estimation.

Many methods have been proposed to quantify the predictive uncertainty associated with the outputs of deep neural networks. Among them, ensemble methods often lead to state-of-the-art results, though they require modifications to the training procedures and are computationally costly for both training and inference. In this paper, we propose a new single-model based approach. The main idea is inspired by the observation that we can "simulate" an ensemble of models by drawing from a Gaussian distribution, with a form similar to those from the asymptotic normality theory, infinitesimal Jackknife, Laplacian approximation to Bayesian neural networks, and trajectories in stochastic gradient descents. However, instead of using each model in the "ensemble" to predict and then aggregating their predictions, we integrate the Gaussian distribution and the softmax outputs of the neural networks. We use a mean-field approximation formula to compute this analytically intractable integral. The proposed approach has several appealing properties: it functions as an ensemble without requiring multiple models, and it enables closed-form approximate inference using only the first and second moments of the Gaussian. Empirically, the proposed approach performs competitively when compared to state-of-the-art methods, including deep ensembles, temperature scaling, dropout and Bayesian NNs, on standard uncertainty estimation tasks. It also outperforms many methods on out-of-distribution detection.
Potassium transport in human blood platelets.

Abstract Potassium transport mechanisms in fresh human blood platelets have been investigated, and the results suggest a similarity to erythrocyte potassium flux kinetics. The influx of potassium into platelets appears to be a two component system, having a "pump" flux component, dependent on glucose, and a linear or "leak" component, dependent on the concentration of potassium in the suspending medium. In the absence of potassium, platelets cannot maintain a normal potassium concentration. Glucose provides the high-energy phosphate (ATP), via glycolytic pathways, without which platelets cease to actively bind potassium. Inhibition of glycolysis with iodoacetate or sodium fluoride resulted in a marked suppression of potassium influx. At high concentrations of sodium fluoride there was an increased leak of potassium from platelets, which was further augmented by addition of calcium to the medium. Simultaneous with sodium fluoride induced inhibition of potassium influx rate, platelet ATP concentraton fell to nearly zero. Ouabain, however, inhibited platelet potassium influx without affecting platelet glycolysis.
Relationship between serum quinidine concentration and quinidine dosage.

This retrospective study was designed to identify and assess which patient-specific factors affect the relationship between the steady-state trough serum quinidine concentration (SQC) measured by fluorescence polarization immunoassay and quinidine dosage. Data were obtained from 100 hospitalized patients (72 males, 28 females) receiving quinidine for atrial or ventricular arrhythmias, or both, between ages 24 and 85 years (mean age 63 yrs). Age, lean body weight, creatinine clearance (Clcr), and sex were statistically significant factors affecting this relationship; ejection fraction, total body weight, smoking history, alcohol history, recent myocardial infarction, recent surgery, elevated liver function tests, and sampling time were not statistically significant. The Clcr alone provided the most additional information in predicting SQC, and Clcr and weight provided the most additional information in predicting dosage. Currently in clinical practice, quinidine dosage adjustments are not routinely recommended for patients with renal insufficiency. These data suggest that the calculated Clcr is important in predicting both SQC and dosage when a nonspecific quinidine assay is used. This dosing model must be evaluated prospectively.
Subsonic type earthquake dislocation moving at approximately × shear wave velocity on interface between half spaces of slightly different elastic constants

[1] Bouchon, Bouin, Karabulut, Toksoz, Dietrich and Rosakis reported recently that rupture appeared to propagate eastward in the 1999 Izmit and Duzce earthquakes in Turkey at a transonic velocity greater than the shear wave velocity CS and smaller than the longitudinal velocity CL. The velocity appeared to be close to the Eshelby velocity ( × shear wave velocity), a velocity at which a transonic glide edge dislocation has a subsonic (with respect to CL) type stress-displacement field with no supersonic (with respect to CS) component. They suggest that the super shear wave velocity rupture may have been aided by a normal stress reduction in the slip process whose origin lies in the differing elastic properties of the crust on either side of the earthquake fault. They suggest that this normal stress reduction will occur if the north side of the fault has the elastically softer rock In this paper it is shown that a transonic glide edge dislocation on an interface separating material of different elastic shear moduli cannot have only a subsonic type stress field (or only a supersonic field). Moreover, the supersonic part of the displacement field is not the usual step function.
Millimeter-wave interferometric sensor for surface profiling

Interferometry is an attractive technique for characterizing surface profiles due to its high measurement accuracy and fast operation. Particularly, it can resolve a range within a half-wavelength of the operating frequency. Optical interferometers (Sommargren, 1981) have been developed to map optical components, such as lens, with very high sensitivity in the order of 1 /spl Aring/. Fast and accurate surface-profiling systems are needed for the evaluation of quality of surfaces in various engineering applications. We report, for the first time, a millimeter-wave interferometric surface-profiling sensor prototype operating at 35 GHz for one-dimensional surface mapping. The system was fabricated using both microwave integrated circuits (MIC) and microwave monolithic integrated circuits (MMIC). It is capable of measuring accurately the surface topography of metal contours with sub-millimeter resolution and accuracy.
Finite-Difference Simulation of Bore Propagation

A finite-difference method is applied to the gradually varied flow equations of open-channel flow for the purpose of simulating the gross aspects of bore propagation. In contrast to other treatments relating to bore inception and propagation the conservation equations of momentum and continuity across the bore are relaxed. The problems of dam break and the reflection of a bore from a dead end are solved and compared with the more exact solution based on the method of characteristics (Stoker’s solution). For both problems the results of the staggered-net finite-difference solution compare quite favorably with Stoker’s solution as long as the flow is subcritical. Although no sharp-fronted bore forms the surge represented by the gradually varied flow solution has the same maximum velocity and depth as the bore. The maximum depth and velocity behind the surge propagate at nearly the same velocity as the bore. The finite-difference solution provides as adequate simulation of such gross quantities of bore propagation as momentum and depth and velocity of flow.
Socratic Virtue: Making the Best of the Neither-Good-Nor-Bad

1. Introduction Part I. The Socratic Theory of Motivation: 2. Socratic desire 3. Socratic egoism 4. Socratic intellectualism Part II. Socratic Value: 5. The good, the bad, and the neither-good-nor-bad 6. Virtue and happiness: two different kinds of goods Part III. Virtue and its Relationship to Happiness: 7. Does virtue make us happy? 8. Virtue as a science 9. Happiness, virtue, and pleasure 10. Reflections on Socratic ethics and the demystification of morality.