cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Environmental contaminants in coastal populations: Comparisons with the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) and resident dolphins

Background People living in coastal communities are at risk for exposure to environmental hazards, including legacy chemicals. We can use databases such as NHANES to assess whether contaminants in coastal communities are present in higher levels than in the United States overall. We can use information from studies of local animal populations to assess which of these contaminants could have been transferred to people from their shared environment. Objective Our objectives were to examine the POP profiles in human populations in areas where there are published POP profiles in resident dolphins and to compare our results with data from NHANES and the dolphin studies. Methods We identified three areas where POPs have been analyzed in local resident dolphin populations (total N =73). We identified human communities in the same areas, and asked 27 eligible adults to read and sign a consent form, complete a questionnaire about demographics and seafood consumption, provide nine 10-mL blood samples, and provide one sample of seafood (N = 33). Blood and seafood were analyzed for a suite of POPs similar to those analyzed in published dolphin population studies. We compared the results from human blood analyses with NHANES and with data from the published reports of dolphin studies. Results Levels and proportions of specific POPs found in people and animals reflect POPs found in the local environment. Compared with the nationally representative data reported in NHANES, the levels of many POPs found in high levels in dolphins were also higher in the corresponding human communities. Conclusions Contaminants measured in marine animals, such as dolphins, can be used to identify the types and relative levels of environmental contaminants expected to occur in people sharing the same environment. Likewise, contaminants measured in coastal human populations can provide insight into which contaminants may be found in nearby animal populations.
1235-P: Identifying Trends in the Management of Inpatient Diabetes at a University Teaching Hospital, 2008-2018

Introduction: A substantial proportion of inpatients experience hyperglycemia during hospitalization. Use of basal insulin has been recommended by ADA guidelines since 2007, however the uptake of this recommendation has been slow. Here, we characterize the adoption of basal insulin in inpatients at one adult academic hospital. Methods: De-identified data from the hospital’s electronic health record repository was used to identify a cohort of patients who received subcutaneous insulin during their hospitalization between 03/26/2008 and 12/30/2018. To capture patients for whom a generalist could be expected to manage their hyperglycemia, we excluded patients receiving insulin via pump, U-500 insulin, single doses >100U, or insulins ordered 2mg/dL at any time during admission. Results: In the cohort of 61,947 inpatient encounters in which insulin was given, no basal insulin was ordered in 61%, decreasing from a 78% in 2008 to 53% in 2018. The annual number of encounters in which insulin was given increased >20% over the decade. The proportions of blood glucoses (BGs) > 200 mg/dL (28% vs. 14%) or Conclusions: Despite improvements since basal insulin became a guidelines recommendation, the rate of inpatient basal insulin orders remained Disclosure I. Jankovic: None. J. Chen: None. Funding Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolism Training Grant (5T32DK007217-44)
A Feasibility Study of an Uncertainty Management Intervention for Patient–Partner Dyads Experiencing Breast Cancer

Objectives To examine the feasibility, acceptability, and effects of a dyad-based uncertainty management intervention for breast cancer, including tailored information and coping skills training. Sample & setting 16 patient-partner dyads experiencing breast cancer were enrolled from a midwestern comprehensive cancer center. Methods & variables A single-group pre-/post-test design was used, and descriptive statistics and Cohen's d were calculated. Measures were completed before the intervention and during each treatment cycle. Feasibility, acceptability, fidelity, uptake, and outcome variables (uncertainty, dyadic coping, family functioning) were included. Results 16 dyads were enrolled during a 13-month period; 15 dyads completed the training for the study, and 13 dyads completed all study activities. Overall, participants reported satisfaction with the intervention. Small to medium effect sizes were observed across the outcomes. Implications for nursing This study highlights the need for nurses to help couples manage uncertainty related to new cancer treatment. Tailored interventions can allow nurses to use their time efficiently by focusing on individuals' actual needs.
Judicial Review of Congress Database Codebook

The Judicial Review of Congress Database catalogs all the cases in which the U.S. Supreme Court has substantively reviewed the constitutionality of a provision or application of a federal law. The database currently includes 1308 cases decided by the Court from its founding through its October 2017 term and related pieces of information about those cases. This document includes a description of the variables found in the Judicial Review of Congress Database, a description of how the cases were selected, and a link to the publicly accessible database.
Vertebrate cardiac regeneration: evolutionary and developmental perspectives

Cardiac regeneration is an ancestral trait in vertebrates that is lost both as more recent vertebrate lineages evolved to adapt to new environments and selective pressures, and as members of certain species developmentally progress towards their adult forms. While higher vertebrates like humans and rodents resolve cardiac injury with permanent fibrosis and loss of cardiac output as adults, neonates of these same species can fully regenerate heart structure and function after injury - as can adult lower vertebrates like many teleost fish and urodele amphibians. Recent research has elucidated several broad factors hypothesized to contribute to this loss of cardiac regenerative potential both evolutionarily and developmentally: an oxygen-rich environment, vertebrate thermogenesis, a complex adaptive immune system, and cancer risk trade-offs. In this review, we discuss the evidence for these hypotheses as well as the cellular participators and molecular regulators by which they act to govern heart regeneration in vertebrates.
Unraveling the C2-Symmetric Azatetraquinane System. Simple, Enantioselective Syntheses.

Concise stereocontrolled synthetic routes to the C2-symmetric azatetraquinane 1 (or, also, the enantiomer) are described. The successful execution of the synthesis involved innovation in the method...
COMBAT-CRPC: Concurrent administration of bipolar androgen therapy (BAT) and nivolumab in men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC).

5014Background: During BAT, intramuscular (IM) testosterone (T) is administered, which results in rapid cycling of serum T levels from supraphysiologic to near-castrate in men with metastatic castr...
On the importance of quality assurance (QA) for COMS eye plaque Silastic inserts: A guide to measurement methods, typical variations, and an example of how QA intercepted a manufacturing aberration.

PURPOSE Eye plaques are widely used for ocular melanoma and provide an effective alternative to enucleation with adequate tumor control. A COMS plaque utilizes a Silastic insert for precise positioning of the radioactive seeds with respect to the scleral surface of the eye; however, due to manufacturing variability, the insert may unintentionally increase or decrease the distance between the sources and tumor. The purpose of this work is to provide guidance in measuring and identifying outliers in Silastic inserts. The importance of regular quality assurance (QA) is illustrated in an experience where a systematic problem was detected and the manufacturer's 22-mm mold was corrected. METHODS A detailed description of the molds and manufacturing process used to produce Silastic inserts is provided, including photographs of the process steps. The variability in Silastic insert production was evaluated by measuring the thickness of 124 Silastic inserts. An estimate of how the observed Silastic thickness discrepancies impact the dose to the tumor and critical eye structures was performed using homogeneous dose calculations. A standard QA protocol was developed to guide the clinical user. RESULTS Thickness of the measured Silastic inserts ranged from 1.22 to 2.67 mm, demonstrating variation from the 2.25 mm standard. Six of the 22-mm inserts were outliers (Δthickness >3 standard deviations) and were excluded from the statistics. The outliers were investigated with the help of the manufacturer, who discovered that a systematic error was accidentally introduced into the 22-mm mold. CONCLUSIONS Due to manufacturing errors or variability, the Silastic inserts used in COMS eye plaques may be thicker or thinner than the design standard. Such variations may impact tumor control or increase the risk of normal tissue side effects. A standardized QA program is recommended to detect variations and communicate unusual findings to the manufacturer.
Iterative hybrid manufacture of a titanium alloy component

Abstract This paper describes an iterative hybrid (additive + subtractive) manufacturing approach for a titanium alloy (Ti6Al4V) part using a laser hotwire directed energy deposition system (LHWDED) and a traditional four-axis milling machine tool. The term iterative hybrid manufacturing is used to described hybrid manufacturing where the additive and subtractive operations occur in multiple stages rather than sequentially. It is currently common to produce an entire part by sequential hybrid manufacturing by additively manufacturing (AM) an entire preform geometry that then requires post processing by another machine tool to create final part features. By contrast, a part produced by iterative hybrid manufacturing (IHM) does not produce the entire preform geometry in a single AM process. Instead, a portion of the entire preform geometry is manufactured by an AM process, then that portion is transferred to another machine tool which creates features in that portion, and then that machined portion is transferred back to the AM machine to complete another AM process. There is no limit to the number of iterations that an IHM process can have. IHM offers several advantages over sequential hybrid manufacturing such as the use of shorter and stiffer subtractive tooling, better access to part geometries that require subtractive processes, and the separation of the AM heat source from the subtractive machine tool. A titanium alloy demonstration part was successfully manufactured by IHM with three iterations using a shared pallet system between the AM machine tool and the subtractive machine tool. 1
Histopathology of Acute Aortic Syndromes

Acute aortic syndromes (AAS) are characterized by disruption of the layers of the aorta, leading to clinical syndromes that carry significant morbidity and mortality. While the clinical manifestations of acute aortic syndromes are well characterized, a multitude of pathways create histologic conditions that predispose to these disease processes acutely and chronically.
Ceftriaxone Versus Anti-Staphylococcal Antibiotics for Definitive Treatment of Methicillin-Susceptible Staphylococcus aureus Infections: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis: Meta-Analysis of Ceftriaxone for MSSA.

Abstract Optimal therapy for methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) infections is unclear. The current standard of care consists of anti-staphylococcal antibiotics (ASA), such as nafcillin, oxacillin, and cefazolin. Ceftriaxone has been evaluated due to its advantage as a once-daily outpatient regimen. However, questions remain regarding efficacy compared to ASA. We aimed to conduct a review and synthesis of available literature for outcomes of patients treated with ceftriaxone or ASA for MSSA infections. We searched Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Embase, Ovid MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science from 1990 to June 2021. Risk of bias for cohort studies was assessed by the Newcastle-Ottawa quality scale. We pooled risk ratios (RR) using the DerSimonian-Laird random effects model for outcomes of those who received ceftriaxone compared to ASA. Heterogeneity was assessed by the I2-index. From 459 identified studies, 7 were included in the quantitative synthesis totalling 1640 patients. Definitive therapy with ceftriaxone was associated with a lower risk of toxicity requiring alteration of therapy [RR 0.49 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.27-0.88, I2=0%)]. There was no difference in terms of 90-day all-cause mortality [RR 0.93 (95% CI 0.46-1.88, I2=9%)], hospital readmission [RR 0.96 (95% CI 0.57-1.64, I2=0%)], or infection recurrence [RR 1.04 (95% CI 0.63-1.72, I2=0%)]. Current evidence suggests there is no difference in efficacy between ceftriaxone and ASA for MSSA infection, with a lower risk of toxicity with ceftriaxone. Within the limitations of available retrospective studies, ceftriaxone is a consideration for definitive therapy of MSSA infection. [Trial registration: PROSPERO ID: CRD42021259086]
The Local and Systemic Actions of Duloxetine in Allodynia and Hyperalgesia Using a Rat Skin Incision Pain Model.

BACKGROUND:Duloxetine is an antidepressant effective for major depressive disorder and also the alleviation of pain for patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy, chronic musculoskeletal pain, and fibromyalgia. How duloxetine works in pain relief remains unknown. In this study, we address whether
83 – Addictive Disorders

This chapter highlights prevalence of alcohol and drug dependence in women in comparison to men, showing that men outnumber women for both. Alcohol is the most widely used psychoactive drug in the United States among women and girls over the age of 12. However, only a minority of women who drink become alcoholic. Nevertheless, there are known risks and some possible benefits of consuming alcohol in quantities well below those typically consumed by alcoholic women. In addition to the direct effects of alcohol on the cardiovascular system, liver, brain, and gastrointestinal tract, there are indirect effects on women's health. It is argued that while the number of women who are affected is fewer, the societal costs of women's alcohol and drug problems may be greater. Women appear to incur greater health consequences; including higher rates of mortality, if they become alcoholic; than do alcoholic men. Because women provide most of the child rearing, even in contemporary society, impaired performance of this role will have a significant impact on the likelihood that substance abuse behaviors will be transmitted to offspring. Also, offspring of alcoholic mothers show increased rates of both internalizing and externalizing behaviors during childhood and adolescence.
South African HIV/AIDS service providers’ perceptions of participatory decision making and empowerment: Exploring the role of power distance

Many social workers believe that concepts such as empowerment and participatory decision making are universally applicable across cultures. However, a failure to recognize the diversity that can occur across cultural groups may result in organizations choosing poor fitting empowerment strategies. In this qualitative study, the author explored how participatory decision making and empowerment are perceived among South African staff, where higher levels of power distance exist. Results of the study highlight perceptions of and barriers to participatory decision making and potential strategies that social workers might use to empower staff to participate in decision making in a culturally competent manner.
The Too-Important-To-Fail Conundrum: Impossible to Ignore and Difficult to Resolve

The paper provides the IMF staff views on policy options to mitigate the risks posed by institutions perceived as too-important-to-fail (“TITF"). These institutions have become bigger and more complex since the crisis, and risky practices have started to reappear. The paper emphasizes the need to address the problem urgently with a policy framework containing: (i) more stringent capital and liquidity requirements with appropriate safeguards and more intensive supervision; (ii) enhanced transparency and disclosure requirements; and (iii) effective resolution regimes at national and global levels to make resolution a credible option. The paper notes that development of the policies is progressing, but implementation could take several years. It recommends that during the transition period to a more robust framework, coordinated actions should be taken to require TITF institutions to hold more loss-absorbing capital, combined with enhanced supervision to impede their tendency toward accumulating more systemic risk.
Gratitude as a Psychotherapeutic Intervention

Gratitude practice can be a catalyzing and relational healing force, often untapped in clinical practice. In this article, we provide an overview of current thinking about gratitude's defining and beneficial properties, followed by a brief review of the research on mental health outcomes that result from gratitude practice. Following an analysis of our case study of the use of gratitude as a psychotherapeutic intervention, we present various self-strategies and techniques for consciously choosing and cultivating gratitude. We conclude by describing ways in which gratitude might be capitalized upon for beneficial outcomes in therapeutic settings.
Race, Gender, Hollywood: Representation in Cultural Production and Digital Media's Potential for Change

Since its inception, the Hollywood industry has played an instrumental role in the mass dissemination of popular culture, both within the United States and globally. Yet, White men have almost exclusively created the narratives and myths that comprise Hollywood cultural production, while narratives by women and racial/ethnic minorities are fewer and less prominent. This article gives an overview of current research on racial and gender inequality in representation in the production of Hollywood film and television in the United States, with a focus on the contemporary era. Research on Hollywood cultural production points to a problematic trend of disadvantages in opportunities and outcomes facing women and racial/ethnic minorities, leading to the prevalence of stereotypes and a lack of diversity on-screen. However, transformations in technology that alter the production and dissemination of media present the possibility of decreasing inequality for women and racial/ethnic minorities.
The Time Is Now: Attention Increases to Transgender Health in the United States but Scientific Knowledge Gaps Remain

Attention to transgender health has dramatically increased in the U.S. Scientific knowledge gaps in empirical research, however, remain and act as barriers to achieving transgender-related health equity. We conducted a search using PubMed and PsycINFO to identify gaps in empirical, peer-reviewed publications related to adult transgender health in the U.S. between 1981 and 2013. We synthesized these findings and commented on opportunities for improving health research. Reducing health disparities and advancing transgender-related health equity requires greater investment in research that addresses current gaps to more comprehensively respond to the diverse health needs of transgender people.
Neuropsychology: How Many Emotions Are There?

Psychological theories disagree on how we attribute emotions to people. A new neuroimaging study shows that such attributions involve a large number of abstract features, rather than a small set of emotion categories.
Stochastic processes including birth, death, Yule, Polya and divergent processes

Several articles in the Encyclopedia of Biostatistics describe various topics in stochastic process, while the present paper covers the main elements of the field, such as random walk, gambler's ruin, Markov chains, a general birth process, an equality in stochastic processes, death process and survival distribution, staging process, birth–death processes, and finite Markov processes. These topics together constitute an adequate representation of the field. The main feature of this article is the explicit solution for every process presented, especially the K-M epidemic model, the higher order transition probabilities in Markov chains, and the explicit solution for the Kolmogorov differential equations. These solutions make it easy for the application of stochastic processes in research in biostatistics, epidemiology, health care, and medical sciences. Keywords: Markov chains; Kolmogorov differential equations; epidemic model
Genetic Analysis of tox+ and tox− Bacteriophages of Corynebacterium diphtheriae

A series of mutants derived from the temperate corynebacteriophages beta(tox+), gamma(tox-), and L(tox+) was isolated and characterized. In three-factor crosses between mutant beta phages the relative map order of the genetic markers determining extended host ranges (h and h') and loss of ability to lysogenize (c) was found to be h--c--h'. Recombination between markers was observed in matings between phage beta and the heteroimmune corynebacteriophages gamma and L. In such matings between heteroimmune phages the c markers of phages beta and gamma failed to segregate from the imm markers which determine the specificity of lysogenic immunity in these phages. The factor which directs the synthesis of diphtherial toxin during infection of appropriate corynebacterial hosts by toxinogenic corynebacteriophages is designated tox(+). It was possible to show that the tox(+) determinant of phage beta behaves as a single genetic element which occupies a position between the loci h and imm on the genetic map of this phage. Genetic recombination between mutants of phage beta occurred at very low frequencies in biparental matings performed by mixed infection of Corynebacterium diphtheriae C7(s)(-)(tox-). Considerably higher recombination frequencies were observed when lysogenic bacterial strains carrying one parental phage as prophage were induced by ultraviolet irradiation and then superinfected by the second parental phage. Maximal stimulation of genetic recombination between mutant beta phages was detected when superinfection followed ultraviolet irradiation of the lysogenic cells within a limited period of time. In matings between phages with incomplete genetic homology, the stimulation of recombination by ultraviolet radiation was much less effective.
Improved performance‐based seismic assessment of buildings by utilizing Bayesian statistics

Summary This paper addresses two important issues of concern to practicing engineers and researchers alike in application of performance-based seismic assessment (PBSA) methodology on buildings: (i) the number of ground motion records required to exercise PBSA—current practice (FEMA P-58-1) requires eleven or more pairs of motions for this purpose, and (ii) the time and effort associated with performing the number of nonlinear response history analyses required to exercise PBSA. We present a method for exercising of PBSA that employs classical linear modal analysis to develop a first estimate (i.e., a priori) of probability distribution of loss, followed by utilizing Bayesian statistics to update this estimate using estimates of loss obtained by utilizing a small number of nonlinear response history analyses of a detailed model of the building (i.e., posterior). The proposed technique is used to assess the distribution of monetary loss of two case studies, a 4-story reinforced concrete moment-resisting frame building and a 20-story steel moment-resisting frame building, both located in Los Angeles, for a ground motion hazard with 10% probability of exceedance in 50 years. The efficiency of the proposed PBSA method is demonstrated by showing the similarity between the distribution of monetary loss at each story of case study buildings obtained from the traditional/sophisticated PBSA methodology and the proposed PBSA method in this study. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Spinal Metastases from a Primary Fallopian Tube Serous Adenocarcinoma: A Case Report

Study Design Case report. Objective This case exemplifies the importance of a high index of suspicion when dealing with intractable pain and neurologic symptoms in patients with a history of cancer. Fallopian tube cancer is relatively uncommon, accounting for less than 0.2% of all female malignancies. Because of a low index of suspicion, it is often detected at an advanced stage. From an orthopedic perspective, osseous metastasis from primary fallopian tube malignancies is rare with only a few documented cases in the medical literature. Methods This case report documents a 68-year-old woman who developed back pain and leg weakness after undergoing surgical resection with adjuvant therapy of a primary fallopian tube adenocarcinoma. Her hospital course and follow-up are documented. Results Imaging revealed a compression fracture in the L1 vertebral body that when a biopsy confirmed a soft tissue diagnosis of a high-grade serous papillary adenocarcinoma of fallopian tube origin. The patient underwent a surgical decompression, posterior stabilization, and tumor debulking with postoperative resolution of her symptoms. Conclusions This is the first reported case of a spine metastasis from a fallopian tube serous carcinoma in a living patient. This case documents the diagnosis of a pathologic vertebral fracture due to metastasis of an atypical cancer.
The extraterrestrial neutrino flux sensitivity of underground and undersea muon detectors

The sensitivity of underground and undersea muon detectors to point sources of extraterrestrial neutrinos with power law spectra is calculated from very general considerations. It is shown that this sensitivity depends critically on the spectral slope, but is essentially independent of the muon energy threshold of the instrument out to 100 GeV. Sources with a neutrino flux comparable to the γ-ray flux from Cygnus X-3 would not be detectable underground, and are only marginally detectable by the proposed large undersea experiment, DUMAND. However, fluxes perhaps 100 times higher are possible and these would be marginally detectable underground with MACRO or in the proposed DUMAND Stage II detector, the TRIAD.
Coaching efficacy in intercollegiate coaches: sources, coaching behavior, and team variables.

Abstract Objectives : To examine the influence of (a) proposed sources of efficacy information on dimensions of coaching efficacy and (b) coaching efficacy on coaching behavior and team variables. Design : A field correlational design tested relationships at two time points: near the beginning and at three-fourths of the way through a season of competition. Method : At Time 1, head coaches ( n =135) completed a questionnaire containing the Coaching Efficacy Scale, measures of sources, and demographic items. At Time 2, participants were a subset of coaches from Time 1 ( n =101) and 1618 athletes. Coaches completed questionnaires on their perceived frequency of their efficacy-enhancing behaviors with their athletes. Athletes provided information on their satisfaction with their head coach. Results : For female coaches, social support was a stronger source of efficacy information compared to male coaches. Total coaching efficacy predicted coaching behavior, team satisfaction, and winning percentage for men’s teams. Total coaching efficacy predicted only coaching behavior across women’s teams. Within women’s teams, gender of the coach moderated the relationship between character building efficacy and team satisfaction. Character building efficacy was negatively related to team satisfaction in women’s teams with male coaches. Motivation efficacy was positively related to team satisfaction in women’s teams with female coaches. Conclusion : Findings provide novel corroborations to the coaching efficacy model proposed by Feltz, Chase, Moritz and Sullivan (1999: Journal of Educational Psychology , 91 , 765–776) and offer some support to broader models of coaching effectiveness.
Two-loop renormalization of heavy–light currents at order 1/mQ in the heavy-quark expansion

We present exact results, at next-to-leading order in renormalization-group improved perturbation theory, for the Wilson coefficients appearing at order 1/mQ in the heavy-quark expansion of heavy–light current operators. To this end, we complete the calculation of the corresponding two-loop anomalous dimension matrix. Our results are important for determinations of |Vub| using exclusive and inclusive semileptonic B decays. They are also relevant to computations of the decay constant fB based on a heavy-quark expansion.
Examining the efficacy of truth/lie discussions in predicting and increasing the veracity of children's reports.

Abstract This study investigated whether children’s ability to reason about truths and lies influenced their truth-telling behavior. Four–six-year-old children (n=118) played a game that was intended to motivate children to use deception to hide a minor transgression. Next, an interviewer gave children one of four preliminary discussions. Children received a typical forensic truth/lie discussion (TLD), a developmentally appropriate and more elaborate TLD, or one of two discussions that controlled for the time spent conversing with children. Children were interviewed about the event. The results revealed that children’s performance on the truth/lie questions did not predict their truth-telling behavior. Regardless of their performance on truth/lie questions, children who received TLD’s gave more honest reports than children who did not receive TLD’s. These results suggest that discussing truths and lies with children may promote truth-telling behavior. However, the results cast doubt on the validity of using children’s performance on truth/lie questions as a measure of competency.
Spam detection using Random Boost

This paper proposes two alternative methods of random projections and compares their performance for robust and efficient spam detection when trained using a small number of examples. Robustness refers to learning and adaptation leading to a high level of performance despite data variability, while efficiency is concerned with (i) the complexity of the detection method employed; and (ii) the amount of training resources used for training and retraining. The first method, Random Project, employs a random projection matrix to produce linear combinations of input features, while the second method, Random Boost, employs random feature selection to enhance the performance of the Logit Boost algorithm. Random Boost is, in fact, a combination of Logit Boost and Random Forest. Experimental results, using TREC and CEAS as challenging spam benchmark sets, show that the Random Boost method significantly improves the performance of the spam filter compared to the Logit Boost algorithm (e.g., a 5% increase in AUC, which is the area under the Receiver Operating Characteristic curve), and yields similar classification accuracy compared to the Random Forest method but using only one fourth the runtime complexity of the Random Forest algorithm. Additionally, the Random Boost algorithm also reduces training time by two orders of magnitude compared to Logit Boost, which becomes important during retraining on the ever changing data streams, including adapting to adversarial tactics and ''noise'' injected by spammers.
The output gap and expected security returns

Abstract This paper analyzes the impact of the output gap on market excess returns. The output gap is usually defined as the deviation of output from potential output that is indicated by the trend output. However, this study departs from the common approach of calculating the output gap based on a simple trend line. It uses a flexible data-driven weighting scheme, and it uses only the available information that corresponds to each forecasting origin to derive the output gap. Overall, the proposed output gap is a strong predictor of U.S. market excess returns.
Present and Future of High Energy Accelerators

The field of High Energy Accelerators has been changing rapidly during the last few years. In Proton machines future developments can be expected to involve superconducting magnet rings as well as storage rings to obtain higher CM energies. In Heavy Ion machines the trend is towards developing higher current medium energy machines with higher intensities than the present ones. In the region of medium energy physics (Proton machines Ep < 1 GeV) a number of circular and linear machines are commencing to operate whose main advantage over the old F.M. cyclotrons is primarily the higher intensity. In High Energy electron accelerators the main trend is at present to use the existing machines as injectors for electron-positron colliding rings, whose luminosity and energy are being increased to satisfy the needs of the Physics Research Programs. Some years in the future there are plans for Electron-Proton colliding rings (PEP) at energies around 70 GeV. In the lower energy range of electron machines there is considerable development of Medical accelerators underway as sources of Pions, Neutrons or X-rays, the last being the conventional use. The electron storage rings of the Physics machines are also in use as sources of synchrotron radiation, for physical and biological research in the far ultraviolet and soft X-ray region. The main developments in the next five years in accelerator construction are in the direction of using Superconducting magnets for circular machines and superconducting cavities for Linear accelerators.
Matching cardiac rhythm management technology to patient needs: pacing/ablation/implantable cardioverter defibrillators.

Data from 2 decades of clinical electrophysiologic studies have allowed great progress in the evaluation and treatment of patients with sustained ventricular arrhythmias and the appropriate identification of those patients at high risk for subsequent sudden death. The goals of treatment of the patient with ventricular arrhythmias are to suppress symptoms and prevent a fatal event. The steps in providing such therapy include (1) defining the cardiac anatomy; (2) assessing arrhythmia risk through noninvasive or invasive testing; and (3) prescribing treatment based on these results. Patients may be separated into high- and low-risk groups to help identify appropriate treatment. Although low-risk groups may benefit from reassurance or medications such as β-blockers or verapamil, high-risk groups have been more difficult to treat. Recent randomized trials of implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) for ventricular arrhythmias suggest that they may provide better protection for high-risk patients than do antiarrhythmic medications.
Nuclear Probes of Fundamental Symmetries

Nuclei can be used in many ingenious studies of fundamental symmetries and my topic is so broad that it cannot be covered in a 30 minute talk. Hence I will restrict myself to giving an experimentalists quick overview of nuclear probes of three symmetries: isospin (I), parity (P) and time-reversal (T). I omit many currently active areas of research. Some of these (lepton nonconservation, neutrino masses and right-hand charged weak currents) are discussed elsewhere in this conference; others (such as axion searches) are not.
Regulation of Pax4 paired homeodomain gene by neuron-restrictive silencer factor.

An elucidation of the key regulatory factors in pancreas development is critical for understanding the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus. This study examined whether a specific regulatory mechanism that exists in neuronal development also plays a role in the pancreas. In non-neuronal cells, neuron-restrictive silencer factor (NSRF) actively represses gene transcription via a sequence-specific DNA motif known as the neuron-restrictive silencer element (NRSE). This DNA motif has been identified in many genes that are specific markers for cells of neuronal and neuroendocrine lineage. We identified several genes involved in pancreas development that also harbor NRSE-like motifs, including pdx-1, Beta2/NeuroD, and pax4. The paired homeodomain transcription factor Pax4 is implicated in the differentiation of the insulin-producing β-cell lineage because disruption of the pax4 gene results in a severe deficiency of β-cells and the manifestation of diabetes mellitus in mice. The NRSE-like motif identified in the upstream pax4 promoter is highly conserved throughout evolution, forms a DNA-protein complex with NRSF, and confers NRSF-dependent transcriptional repression in the context of a surrogate gene promoter. This cis-activating NRSE element also confers NRSF-dependent modulation in the context of the native pax4 gene promoter. Together with earlier reports, these new findings suggest an important functional role for NRSF in the expression of the pax4 gene and infer a role for NRSF in pancreatic islet development.
Chapter 1 Introduction: Extensions and new developments in DEA

The extensions, new developments and new interpretations for DEA covered in this paper include: (1) new measures of efficiency, (2) new models and (3) new ways of implementing established models with new results and interpretations presented that include treatments of “congestion”, “returns-to-scale” and “mix” and “technical” inefficiencies and measures of efficiency that can be used to reflect all pertinent properties. Previously used models, such as those used to identify “allocative inefficiencies”, are extended by means of “assurance region” approaches which are less demanding in their information requirements and underlying assumptions. New opportunities for research are identified in each section of this chapter. Sources of further developments and possible sources for further help are also suggested with references supplied to other papers that appear in this volume and which are summarily described in this introductory chapter.
Angiotensin-converting enzyme activity in isolated brain microvessels.

The localization of angiotensin-converting enzyme (kininase II; ACE) in bovine cerebral cortex was studied by mechanically isolating microvessels from surrounding brain parenchyma. ACE specific activity, as assayed by generation of L-histidyl-L-leucine from the synthetic substrate hippuryl-L-histidyl-L-leucine, was enriched approximately 30 times in microvessels compared to homogenates of intact cerebral cortical gray matter. The nonapeptide <GluTrpProArgProGlnIleProPro (BPF9a, SQ20,881), the orally active anti-hypertensive drug, 2-D-methyl-3-mercaptopropanoyl-L-proline (SQ14,225), and the vasoactive peptides bradykinin and angiotensin II inhibited this activity in a dose-dependent fashion. Brain microvessel ACE required chloride for optimal activity, was potentiated by cobalt nitrate, and was inhibited by the chelating agents EDTA and o-phenanthroline. Enzymatic generation of histidyl-leucine also was observed with the naturally occurring decapeptide substrate angiotensin I. In addition, microvessels obtained from bovine cerebellar cortex, hippocampus and corpus striatum, as well as from the cerebral cortex of Sprague-Dawley rats, were enriched in ACE activity. The presence of angiotensin-converting enzyme in brain microvessels suggests that cellular components of the blood-brain barrier may participate in the metabolism of peptide hormones such as angiotensin I and bradykinin within the central nervous system.
Effect of the lipophilic/hydrophilic character of cationic triarylmethane dyes on their selective phototoxicity toward tumor cells.

The observation that enhanced mitochondrial transmembrane potential is a prevalent tumor cell phenotype has provided the conceptual basis for the development of mitochondrial targeting as a novel therapeutic strategy for both chemo- and photochemotherapy of neoplastic diseases. Because the plasma transmembrane potential is negative on the inner side of the cell and the mitochondrial transmembrane potential is negative on the inner side of this organelle, extensively conjugated cationic molecules (dyes) displaying appropriate structural features are driven electrophoretically through these membranes and tend to accumulate inside energized mitochondria. As a result of the higher mitochondrial transmembrane potential typical of tumor cells, a number of cationic dyes preferentially accrue and are retained for longer periods in the mitochondria of these cells compared to normal cells. This differential in both drug loading and retention brings about the opportunity to attack and destroy tumor cells with a high...
The pituitary corticotroph is not the rate limiting step in the postoperative recovery of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in patients with Cushing syndrome

Patients cured from endogenous Cushing syndrome usually develop postoperative adrenal suppression in the year ensuing surgery. To define whether the pituitary corticotroph is the rate limiting step in the postoperative recovery of this secondary/tertiary form of adrenal insufficiency, we examined surgically cured patients with Cushing syndrome 10 days, 3 months, and 6-12 months after surgery, by administering ovine CRH (oCRH) iv at the dose of 1 microgram/kg.h over 24 h. The pituitary corticotroph of these patients responded vigorously to oCRH, with ACTH concentrations reaching above the normal range at all three times of testing. Parallel measurements of cortisol in nonadrenalectomized patients demonstrated subnormal adrenal responsiveness at 10 days and 3 months and normalization at 6-12 months after surgery. The circadian rhythm of ACTH was maintained postoperatively at 10 days and 6-12 months, and the circadian rhythm of cortisol was also present at 6-12 months after surgery, in spite of the constant infusions of pharmacological doses of oCRH, suggesting that factors other than CRH secretion regulate this rhythm. We conclude that the corticotroph is not the rate limiting step in the recovery of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis from glucocorticoid-induced adrenal suppression, and that the locus of the defect resides in the hypothalamic CRH neuron and/or its higher regulatory inputs.
An ischemia-induced model of revascularization failure of replanted limbs

Twenty-five amputated rat hindlimbs were replanted after various periods of warm ischemia. The incidence of limb failure that was due to the no-reflow phenomenon was found to be 0% after 2 or 3 hours of warm ischemia, 50% after 4 hours, and 80% after 5 hours of ischemia. Predictors of the occurrence of no-reflow were the presence of an increased number of venous red blood cell aggregates 5 minutes after replantation, the slope of the tissue pH curve that was recorded for 1 hour after replantation, and assessment of hydrogen washout flow to the foot pad. All limbs had excellent flow immediately after revascularization. The marked difference in flow that was detected 1 hour after replantation between the limb survival group (n = 16) and the limb failure group (n = 9) suggests an ongoing obstructive process. In those limbs that were successfully replanted, an 18% increase in femoral artery flow was found after revascularization compared with a 20% decrease in flow to the muscle and a 3% decrease to the foot pad. This supports the concept that arteriovenous shunting occurs after replantation. The presence of microthrombi that adhere to the vessel wall after replantation correlated well with limb failure. Our observations support ongoing arterial obstruction, arteriovenous shunting, and an altered thrombogenicfibrinolytic system as factors that may be responsible for the no-reflow phenomenon.
Coagulation of oil in water using sawdust and bentonite and the formation of a floating coagulated material

AbstractThe coagulation of oil in water is potentially cost-effective for removing oil from water. A coagulant consisting of sawdust (79.6% by volume), bentonite (15.8% by volume), and calcium hydroxide (4.7% by volume) gives coagulation efficiency of ≥94% and coagulation time of ≤45 s. The resulting coagulated material (a semisolid) floats on water. Its oil (liquid) content, which decreases with a decreasing amount of oil originally present in the water, ranges from 69–81% by volume. This paper provides the first identification of multiple forms of oil in a coagulated material that is made from a single form of oil. The oil consists of strongly bonded oil (16% by volume, with relative dielectric constant 32) and weakly bonded oil (84% by volume, with the same relative dielectric constant of 2.0 as the original oil). The maximum and minimum volumes of oil per unit area that can be coagulated by 0.022 cm3/cm2 of coagulant volume per unit area are 0.116 and 0.052 cm3/cm2, respectively. Below the minimum ...
Effect of structural direction and initial moisture content on swelling rate of wood

The swelling rate of Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmannii Parry) in water was determined on cross sectional, quartersawn, and flatsawn samples. The rate of swelling from six initial moisture content levels to saturation was measured in both the tangential and radial directions.
Stability of FRP Beams under Three-point Loading and LRFD Approach

This article presents the results of an experimental and theoretical study of I-section fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) beams subjected to a gradually increasing midspan load. The load is applied about the beam major axis from the compression flange side through a point below the shear center. The boundary conditions are flexurally and torsionally pinned. A 4 x 2 x 1/4 in. 3 pultruded I-section is adopted for the study and beam span lengths of 108, 96, 84, and 72 in. are used. The flexural-torsional response of the FRP beams is studied experimentally up to the maximum load-carrying capacity. The experimental peak loads are compared with those arrived at theoretically using an equilibrium approach and are found to be in good agreement. To obtain a design expression for estimating the beam buckling load, an elastic buckling moment expression from the load and resistance factor design (LRFD) specification of the American Institute of Steel Construction is first modified. Next, a LRFD approach for the beam is outlined and its use demonstrated through analysis and design examples.
Putting Information Technology to Work

Information technology planning plays two crucial roles in successful businesses: It is a partner to business planning in establishing business vision and setting strategy, and it is the means for defining, designing, and establishing effective, efficient, and flexible information technology architecture.
Production and isolation of the antibiotic, oligomycin

Production of oligomycin has been studied in fermentations ranging from 100 ml in shaken flasks to 1000 gal in agitated and aerated tanks. The yields ranged from nothing to 3675 μ;g per ml. The main factor favouring the production of oligomycin was a medium giving good growth and supplying an abundance of slowly utilized energy. Media meeting these requirements contained yeast extract and/or molasses for growth and lard oil for energy. Glycerol, glucose or starch as the main source of carbon gave poor results. A pH close to 7 favoured oligomycin production. Considerable organic nitrogen was synthesized and excreted by the mycelium during oligomycin production. Under suitable conditions practically all of the oligomycin remained in the mycelium. Extraction of the mycelium with acetone, concentration of the extract, removal of oily material with a low-boiling hydrocarbon, decolourization and final crystallization from methanol or ethanol were the main steps in the recovery process. From pilot plant and tank fermentations about 4500 g of crystalline oligomycin have been prepared. Three oligomycins, A, B and C were found by paper chromatography in even well-crystallized oligomycin. In different lots the proportions varied from 10–75 per cent A, 4–90 per cent B and 0–36 per cent C. High yields and high percentages of A and C were obtained on the neutral, lard-oil medium. Low yields and high proportions of B were given by the glycerol, low-pH medium.