cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Design of a simulation environment for space-based information management and distribution

Many studies have previously been conducted on the subject of service oriented architectures in traditional terrestrial networks. Researchers have only recently begun to apply these studies to space-based networks. This project focuses on the design of a simulation environment for running distributed software services in a space-based network. Specifically, a constellation of linked satellites in a LEO (low earth orbit) configuration is used as the space-based architecture to model. The environment was created by integrating a combination of commercial, open source, and custom written software. The major components of the environment include an orbital propagation and simulation tool, graphical user interfaces for service request initiation and results, a network emulator, a routing module, and service oriented architecture based processing applications. Validation using a simple test scenario showed that the final design of the environment functions in an accurate manner.
A microcomputer program for determining turnover rates during non-steady state conditions: application to monoamine turnover.

Abstract A program to calculate the turnover rate of monoaminergic neurotransmitters was written for use on microcomputers. The program is based on non-steady state models, i.e., measuring the rate of change of levels of neurotransmitters or their metabolites after pharmacological inhibition of synthetic or degradative enzymes. Methods have been developed to estimate monoamine turnover by measuring the rate of decrease of catecholamine levels after treatment with α -methyl- p -tyrosine (AMPT), a tyrosine hydroxylase inhibitor, or the increase in serotonin levels after pargyline, an inhibitor of monoamine oxidase. This program is suitable for examining either linear increases or exponential decreases in monoamine levels. The program has been tested in our laboratory for the determination of serotonin, dopamine or norepinephrine turnover after hormonal or pharmacological manipulations. The program is readily adaptable for calculation of the turnover rate of other biological molecules under non-steady state conditions.
Social support, medication compliance and HIV/AIDS.

Social work practitioners and researchers have greatly understudied the idea of how social support correlates with combination therapy medication compliance, in people living with HIV disease. Meanwhile, such data could help health social workers better assist HIV-infected people who want to cope well, live long, and avoid drug resistance. Therefore, this article presents findings from a three-stage empirical secondary data analysis that examined seven specific types of social support, psychological history and stage of illness variables, and sociodemographics and their connection to medication compliance ratings. A sub-sample of 179 HIV-infected clinical trial study participants enrolled in a federally funded combination therapy treatment study and a nested compliance study were analyzed. Analysis of 14 bivariate hypotheses and 20 predictor variables at the multivariate level revealed that having emotional support and being employed seemed to be predictive of being a "Good Complier." Also, having higher levels of HIV symptoms appeared to be associated with being a "Poor Complier."
A competitive dynamic data replication algorithm

A distributed algorithm for dynamic data replication of an object in a distributed system is presented. The algorithm changes the number of replicas and their location in the distributed system to optimize the amount of communication. The algorithm dynamically adapts the replication scheme of an object to the pattern of read-write requests in the distributed system. It is shown that the cost of the algorithm is within a constant factor of the lower bound. >
Changes in barotolerance, thermotolerance, and cellular morphology throughout the life cycle of Listeria monocytogenes.

Changes in barotolerance, thermotolerance, and cellular morphology throughout the life cycle of Listeria monocytogenes were investigated. For part 1 of this analysis, L. monocytogenes ATCC 19115 was grown to log, stationary, death, and long-term-survival phases at 35°C in tryptic soy broth with yeast extract (TSBYE). Cells were diluted in whole milk that had been subjected to ultrahigh temperatures (UHT whole milk) and then high-pressure processed (HPP) at 400 MPa for 180 s or thermally processed at 62.8°C for 30 s. As cells transitioned from the log to the long-term-survival phase, the D400 MPa and D62.8°C values increased 10- and 19-fold, respectively. Cells decreased in size as they transitioned from the log to the long-term-survival phase. Rod-shaped cells transitioned to cocci as they entered the late-death and long-term-survival phases. L. monocytogenes strains F5069 and Scott A showed similar results. For part 2 of the analysis, cells in long-term-survival phase were centrifuged, suspended in fresh TSBYE, and incubated at 35°C. As cells transitioned from the long-term-survival phase to log and the stationary phase, they increased in size and log reductions increased following HPP or heat treatment. In part 3 of this analysis, cells in long-term-survival phase were centrifuged, suspended in UHT whole milk, and incubated at 4°C. After HPP or heat treatment, similar results were observed as for part 2. We hypothesize that cells of L. monocytogenes enter a dormant, long-term-survival phase and become more barotolerant and thermotolerant due to cytoplasmic condensation when they transition from rods to cocci. Further research is needed to test this hypothesis and to determine the practical significance of these findings.
Alcohol Problems in Women

Women are “news” these days in a political and sociological sense. We have recently completed International Women’s Year and on 29th December 1975 the Sex Discrimination Act and Equal Pay Act became law in this country. Half of all our married women in Britain are now employed whole-time or part-time. At the moment of birth females have a longer mean expectancy of life than males — 72 years compared with 68 years.
Risk factors, prophylaxis and therapy of X-ray contrast media reactions

Although the radiocontrast media (RCM) used routinely for the past 30 years are relatively safe drugs, adverse reactions to these conventional, ionic contrast agents can be expected with an overall frequency of 5–12% [1–5]. In one out of every 1000 examinations, a reaction of life-threatening severity may occur [6,7].
Enhancement of Cancer Therapy Using Ketogenic Diet

Ketogenic diets, which are low in protein and carbohydrates and high in fats, result in elevated ketones (β-hydroxybuturate and acetoacetate; precursors to Acetyl-CoA) forcing cells to rely more heavily on mitochondrial metabolism for energy production. It has been hypothesized that cancer cells, relative to normal cells, exist in a condition of chronic metabolic oxidative stress mediated by O 2 •− and H2O2, with a major site of pro-oxidant production being mitochondrial electron transport chain complexes. If cancer cells (relative to normal cells) have defective mitochondrial O2 metabolism that results in chronic metabolic oxidative stress and ketogenic diets forcing cancer cells to rely more heavily on mitochondrial O2 metabolism, then ketogenic diets would be expected to selectively cause oxidative stress in cancer cells. The increased steady-state level of oxidative stress in turn would be expected to selectively sensitize cancer cells to conventional cancer therapeutic agents that cause cell killing via oxidative stress. The current study demonstrates that a ketogenic diet increases parameters indicative of oxidative stress, as demonstrated by an increase in oxidized proteins in the plasma of mice fed a ketogenic diet, and also sensitizes FaDu head and neck cancer xenograft tumors to the antitumor effects of cisplatin. These results support the hypothesis that ketogenic diets may be useful adjuvants for improving outcomes with cisplatin in head and neck cancer therapy.
The Declining Relevance of Candidate Personal Attributes in Presidential Elections

This article examines sixty years of data from the American National Election Studies, and finds that the electorate's focus on candidate attributes has declined substantially. Whereas 80% of respondents had mentioned personal attributes in the past, in recent elections only about 60% have done so. Furthermore, such comments are now more tied to partisan identification and have less of an independent impact on voting behavior. The chances of presidential image makers successfully making a difference by emphasizing a president's personal character are now much less than in the era of Johnson, Nixon, and Reagan.
Automated tracking of lava lake level using thermal images at Kīlauea Volcano, Hawai’i

Tracking the level of the lava lake in Halema‘uma‘u Crater, at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano, Hawai’i, is an essential part of monitoring the ongoing eruption and forecasting potentially hazardous changes in activity. We describe a simple automated image processing routine that analyzes continuously-acquired thermal images of the lava lake and measures lava level. The method uses three image segmentation approaches, based on edge detection, short-term change analysis, and composite temperature thresholding, to identify and track the lake margin in the images. These relative measurements from the images are periodically calibrated with laser rangefinder measurements to produce real-time estimates of lake elevation. Continuous, automated tracking of the lava level has been an important tool used by the U.S. Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory since 2012 in real-time operational monitoring of the volcano and its hazard potential.
President's Report: Linking Yesterday to Tomorrow

Mary M. Lindquist "Linkages," our theme for this year's annual meeting, represents more than linking yesterday to tomorrow. It is about linking today. We need to link in many ways-with members, with each of the Affiliated Groups, with our committees and task forces, with the Headquarters staff, and with other professional groups. Most important, we need to link with our students, who are facing a much different world from the one that many of us experienced as students. We need to help them link ideas within mathematics and between mathe-
Evaluation of a novel tool for bone graft delivery in minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion

STUDY DESIGN Disk material removed (DMR) during L4-5 and L5-S1 transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (T-LIF) surgery was compared to the corresponding bone graft (BG) volumes inserted at the time of fusion. A novel BG delivery tool (BGDT) was used to apply the BG. In order to establish the percentage of DMR during T-LIF, it was compared to DMR during anterior diskectomy (AD). This study was performed prospectively. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA Minimal information is available as to the volume of DMR during a T-LIF procedure, and the relationship between DMR and BG delivered is unknown. BG insertion has been empiric and technically challenging. Since the volume of BG applied to the prepared disk space likely impacts the probability of arthrodesis, an investigation is justified. METHODS A total of 65 patients with pathology at L4-5 and/or L5-S1 necessitating fusion were treated with a minimally invasive T-LIF procedure. DMR was volumetrically measured during disk space preparation. BG material consisting of local autograft, BG extender, and bone marrow aspirate were mixed to form a slurry. BG slurry was injected into the disk space using a novel BGDT and measured volumetrically. An additional 29 patients who were treated with L5-S1 AD were compared to L5-S1 T-LIF DMR to determine the percent of T-LIF DMR relative to AD. RESULTS DMR volumes averaged 3.6±2.2 mL. This represented 34% of the disk space relative to AD. The amount of BG delivered to the disk spaces was 9.3±3.2 mL, which is 2.6±2.2 times the amount of DMR. The BGDT allowed uncomplicated filling of the disk space in <1 minute. CONCLUSION The volume of DMR during T-LIF allows for a predictable volume of BG delivery. The BGDT allowed complete filling of the entire prepared disk space. The T-LIF diskectomy debrides 34% of the disk relative to AD.
SPLIT-TWIG FIGURINES IN GRAND CANYON, ARIZONA: NEW DISCOVERIES AND INTERPRETATIONS

ABSTRACTFive previously unreported, relatively undisturbed caves in the high vertical cliffs of Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, provide new information on Archaic culture and the function of split-twig figurines. Radiocarbon dates indicate cultural use of these sites between 4390–3700 B.P. and correspond in age with similar localities in the Grand Canyon. Unlike most other Archaic sites in the Grand Canyon, these sites contain numerous rock cairns as well as cairns built partially or entirely of indurated packrat-midden of late Pleistocene age. Archaic artifacts, including split-twig figurines, appear to be deliberately associated with fossil material of extinct mountain goat (Oreamnos harringtoni) and other vertebrate remains. Though split-twig figurines are assumed to have been associated with hunting ritual, caves for this ceremony may have been chosen for their length and fossil contents. The lack of patterns in cairn construction, size, and location also suggests that each cairn is an individual...
Lessons learned from applying cyber risk management and survivability concepts to a space mission

This paper describes the lessons learned during a study performed by the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory for the Department of Defense Chief Information Officer/Cyber-security. The purpose of the study was to (1) define a systems security engineering process that takes into consideration concepts from capability-based threat modeling, the Risk Management Framework, and the evolving DoD System Survivability Key Performance Parameter and (2) apply the process to a generic space mission and associated system as means to illustrate the process and to provide reusable engineering artifacts to DoD space programs.
Sendai virus, an RNA virus with no risk of genomic integration, delivers CRISPR/Cas9 for efficient gene editing.

The advent of RNA-guided endonuclease (RGEN)-mediated gene editing, specifically via CRISPR/Cas9, has spurred intensive efforts to improve the efficiency of both RGEN delivery and targeted mutagenesis. The major viral vectors in use for delivery of Cas9 and its associated guide RNA, lentiviral and adeno-associated viral systems, have the potential for undesired random integration into the host genome. Here, we repurpose Sendai virus, an RNA virus with no viral DNA phase and that replicates solely in the cytoplasm, as a delivery system for efficient Cas9-mediated gene editing. The high efficiency of Sendai virus infection resulted in high rates of on-target mutagenesis in cell lines (75–98% at various endogenous and transgenic loci) and primary human monocytes (88% at the ccr5 locus) in the absence of any selection. In conjunction with extensive former work on Sendai virus as a promising gene therapy vector that can infect a wide range of cell types including hematopoietic stem cells, this proof-of-concept study opens the door to using Sendai virus as well as other related paramyxoviruses as versatile and efficient tools for gene editing.
Impact statement: “Operations research applications in hospital operations”

Within the complexities of today's healthcare environment, there is an ever increasing awareness for integration among patient-centric systems of care and an emphasis for hospitals to engineer impr...
Bivariate Statistical Legends: Mapping Examples on Florida Covariance Data using Scatterplots from Open Source Visual Analytic Tools

Maps representing two variables sometimes use a single combined, or bivariate legend to improve clarity when comparing relationships, and to avoid less convenient side-by-side legends. However, conventional bivariate legends typically omit the underlying bivariate distributions. Using simple scatterplots statistical indicators of covariance can be plotted as points directly on to the choropleth bivariate legend. This allows map readers to not only compare aggregate magnitudes between the two variables but also visualize disaggregate distributions that may represent statistical normality in the data as well as skewness, and linearity. In addition, the covariance distributions can direct class interval selection, or at least inform the reader of which classes represent data abundance or data sparsity. Bivariate statistical legends are tested using examples drawn from Florida population census data at the fine scale of block groups. Practicality is demonstrated by open source software using Data Driven Documents (D3) visual analytic software (http://d3js.org).
Gender difference and employees' cybersecurity behaviors

Security breaches are prevalent in organizations and many of the breaches are attributed to human errors. As a result, the organizations need to increase their employees' security awareness and their capabilities to engage in safe cybersecurity behaviors. Many different psychological and social factors affect employees' cybersecurity behaviors. An important research question to explore is to what extent gender plays a role in mediating the factors that affect cybersecurity beliefs and behaviors of employees. In this vein, we conducted a cross-sectional survey study among employees of diverse organizations. We used structural equation modelling to assess the effect of gender as a moderator variable in the relations between psychosocial factors and self-reported cybersecurity behaviors. Our results show that gender has some effect in security self-efficacy (r=-0.435, p<0.001), prior experience (r=-0.235, p<0.001) and computer skills (r=-0.198, p<0.001) and little effect in cues-to-action (r=-0.152, p<0.001) and self-reported cybersecurity behaviors (r=-0.152, p<0.001). The role of gender in employees' self-reported cybersecurity behaviors is explored.Results show gender-wise differences for cybersecurity self-efficacy and behavior.Training is needed to close the gender gap in cybersecurity self-efficacy.
WITHDRAWN: Simultaneous multiple extradural hematomas

“The Indian Journal of Neurotrauma is now published by Thieme Medical Publishers. Please contact Thieme publishers for further details.” The full Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal can be found at http://www.elsevier.com/locate/withdrawalpolicy .
Screening Mammography in Women 40-49 Years Old: Current Evidence.

OBJECTIVE. Breast cancer is an important health problem for women 40–49 years old, yet screening mammography for this age group remains controversial. This article reviews recent guidelines and sup...
Anomaly Detection as a Service: Challenges, Advances, and Opportunities

Anomaly detection has been a long-standing security approach with versatile applications, ranging from securing server programs in critical environments, to detecting insider threats in enterprises, to anti-abuse detection for online social networks. Despite the seemingly diverse application domains, anomaly detection solutions share similar technical challenges, such as how to accurately recognize various normal patterns, how to reduce false alarms, how to adapt to concept drifts, and how to minimize performance impact. They also share similar detection approaches and evaluation methods, such as feature extraction, dimension reduction, and experimental evaluation. The main purpose of this book is to help advance the real-world adoption and deployment anomaly detection technologies, by systematizing the body of existing knowledge on anomaly detection. This book is focused on data-driven anomaly detection for software, systems, and networks against advanced exploits and attacks, but also touches on a number of applications, including fraud detection and insider threats. We explain the key technical components in anomaly detection workflows, give in-depth description of the state-of-the-art data-driven anomaly-based security solutions, and more importantly, point out promising new research directions. This book emphasizes on the need and challenges for deploying service-oriented anomaly detection in practice, where clients can outsource the detection to dedicated security providers and enjoy the protection without tending to the intricate details.
Sex Differences in Muscle Wasting

With aging and other muscle wasting diseases, men and women undergo similar pathological changes in skeletal muscle: increased inflammation, enhanced oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, satellite cell senescence, elevated apoptosis and proteasome activity, and suppressed protein synthesis and myocyte regeneration. Decreased food intake and physical activity also indirectly contribute to muscle wasting. Sex hormones also play important roles in maintaining skeletal muscle homeostasis. Testosterone is a potent anabolic factor promoting muscle protein synthesis and muscular regeneration. Estrogens have a protective effect on skeletal muscle by attenuating inflammation; however, the mechanisms of estrogen action in skeletal muscle are less well characterized than those of testosterone. Age- and/or disease-induced alterations in sex hormones are major contributors to muscle wasting. Hence, men and women may respond differently to catabolic conditions because of their hormonal profiles. Here we review the similarities and differences between men and women with common wasting conditions including sarcopenia and cachexia due to cancer, end-stage renal disease/chronic kidney disease, liver disease, chronic heart failure, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease based on the literature in clinical studies. In addition, the responses in men and women to the commonly used therapeutic agents and their efficacy to improve muscle mass and function are also reviewed.
Evidence of Generalized Muscle Stiffness in the Presence of Latent Trigger Points Within Infraspinatus.

Abstract Objective To evaluate stiffness of infraspinatus muscle tissue, both with and without latent trigger points, using ultrasound shear wave elastography (SWE). The primary hypothesis is that muscle with a latent trigger point will demonstrate a discrete region of increased shear wave speed. The secondary hypothesis is that shear wave speed (SWS) in the region with the trigger point will be higher in patients compared with controls, and will be similar between the two groups in the uninvolved regions. Design Case–control. Setting Hospital–based outpatient physical therapy center. Participants Convenience sample (N=18) of patients (6 female, 3 male, mean age=44) (range=31-61y) diagnosed with latent trigger points in infraspinatus and matched controls without trigger points. Main Outcome Measures Shear wave speed (m/s). Results SWS of the latent trigger point (mean=4.09±SD1.4 m/s) did not differ from the adjacent muscle tissue (3.92±1.6 m/s, P>.05), but was elevated compared to corresponding tissue in controls (2.8±0.75 m/s, P=.02). SWS was generally greater in patients’ uninvolved tissue (3.83±1.6 m/s) when compared to corresponding tissue in controls (2.62±0.2 m/s, P=.05). Conclusion Although discrete regions of increased SWS corresponding to the trigger point were not observed in patients, evidence of generally increased muscle stiffness in infraspinatus was exhibited compared to healthy controls. Further study of additional muscles with SWE is warranted.
Remodeling of the Acetylproteome by SIRT3 Manipulation Fails to Affect Insulin Secretion or β Cell Metabolism in the Absence of Overnutrition.

Summary SIRT3 is a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+)-dependent mitochondrial protein deacetylase purported to influence metabolism through post-translational modification of metabolic enzymes. Fuel-stimulated insulin secretion, which involves mitochondrial metabolism, could be susceptible to SIRT3-mediated effects. We used CRISPR/Cas9 technology to manipulate SIRT3 expression in β cells, resulting in widespread SIRT3-dependent changes in acetylation of key metabolic enzymes but no appreciable changes in glucose- or pyruvate-stimulated insulin secretion or metabolomic profile during glucose stimulation. Moreover, these broad changes in the SIRT3-targeted acetylproteome did not affect responses to nutritional or ER stress. We also studied mice with global SIRT3 knockout fed either standard chow (STD) or high-fat and high-sucrose (HFHS) diets. Only when chronically fed HFHS diet do SIRT3 KO animals exhibit a modest reduction in insulin secretion. We conclude that broad changes in mitochondrial protein acetylation in response to manipulation of SIRT3 are not sufficient to cause changes in islet function or metabolism.
Linear Spaces and Linear Operators

The present chapter is concerned with the basic setting for a great deal of modern mathematical analysis and applied mathematics: the linear or vector space. In a linear space, addition, subtraction, magnification and contraction of elements are all possible, and sometimes even multiplication between elements is possible. In what follows we will use the standard terminology employed by mathematicians, although not in any subtle way. In this way the standard mathematical language should become familiar, and will be part of the reader’s vocabulary.
Effect of sensory stimuli on huddling behavior of pigs.

Two experiments involving pigs at 1, 3, and 8 d of age were conducted to 1) compare huddling between littermates and nonlittermates, 2) study the ability of pigs to distinguish an anesthetized piglet from a piglet-shaped object, and 3) explore the importance of physical contact between pigs on huddling behavior. Experiments were conducted in an enclosed rectangular aluminum test chamber having pressure sensors beneath floor panels to detect test pig location. Test objects were placed on a platform at one end of the chamber and test pig location was monitored during a 45 min trial. Experiment 1 involved a total of 45 pigs (5 pigs/treatment on d 1, 2, and 3). The results indicate that, regardless of age (P > .05), when either a littermate or a nonlittermate occupied the platform, average location of test pigs that "settled" (ceasing to move for 7 min or more) was closer to the platform (P .05) were observed between littermate and nonlittermate stimuli for these variables. During Exp. 2, the platform was covered with wire mesh. A total of 98 pigs were used in the study. Treatments were a cage containing 1) no object (n = 24), 2) a wooden block (n = 25), 3) a pig-shaped latex casting (n = 24), or 4) an anesthetized 8- to 10-d-old pig (n = 25). Pig age and treatment did not affect the percentage of time in each trial that pigs spent within 23.5 cm of the cage or the percentage of pigs settling within 23.5 cm of the cage. These studies show that pigs huddle similarly with littermates and nonlittermates and that physical contact with another piglet but not visual recognition of another piglet affects piglet huddling.
Myocardial Irritation from a Left Ventricular Assist Device Resulting in Refractory Ventricular Tachycardia.

Abstract Background Due to an increasing prevalence of heart failure but a steady rate of heart transplantation, the number of left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) implanted is growing. These patients present to emergency departments (EDs) with a variety of complications from their implanted device as well as their baseline cardiomyopathy. One-third of patients will present with a dysrhythmia, the most common of which is ventricular tachycardia. Case Report A 77-year-old man with nonischemic cardiomyopathy and HeartMate II LVAD presented with sustained ventricular tachycardia and 43 automatic implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (AICD) discharges. Due to left ventricular remodeling, ongoing diuresis, and positioning of his LVAD inflow cannula against his interventricular septum, a likely dysrhythmogenic foci, he quickly decompensated with sedation while in the ED. Why Should an Emergency Physician Be Aware of This? Refractory ventricular tachycardia is a common dysrhythmia for LVAD patients and may lead to full cardiopulmonary arrest. Common strategies such as chest compressions are used only in limited scenarios, but medical management is possible. This should focus on resolution of the dysrhythmia and identification of the etiology, including possible mechanical compromise.
RASP-IVR: a low cost interactive voice response system

Interactive Voice Response (IVR) systems have demonstrated that they provide an opportunity for a low-literate audience to express themselves and interact with information technology systems. However, to achieve such goals in a development setting requires a low-cost system that allows participation of multiple stakeholders in the design process. In this paper, we describe a low-cost IVR hardware system called RASP-IVR that runs on a Raspberry PI and a local GSM modem. RASP-IVR is an open source appropriate system engineered to nurture community driven solutions. We have open-sourced our system and are working with a Rwandan community based organization to test our system in the field.
Why the Days Seem Shorter as We Get Older

Why does it feel that the time passes faster as we get older? What is the physical basis for the impression that some days are slower than others? Why do we tend to focus on the unusual (the surprise), not on the ever present? This article unveils the physics basis for these common observations. The reason is that the measurable ‘clock time’ is not the same as the time perceived by the human mind. The ‘mind time’ is a sequence of images, i.e. reflections of nature that are fed by stimuli from sensory organs. The rate at which changes in mental images are perceived decreases with age, because of several physical features that change with age: saccades frequency, body size, pathways degradation, etc. The misalignment between mental-image time and clock time serves to unite the voluminous observations of this phenomenon in the literature with the constructal law of evolution of flow architecture, as physics.
Corporate Governance Mechanisms and Accounting Conservatism: Evidence from Pakistan

This study examines the impact of corporate governance mechanisms on accounting conservatism in Pakistan. A sample of 100 firms is drawn from non-financial companies listed on Pakistan Stock Exchange from 2009 to 2015. Corporate governance mechanisms often pave the way for the expropriation of minority shareholders at the hands of controlling shareholders and also support to hide their professional misconduct via conservative accounting reports. Multivariate panel data regression analysis is employed as the estimation procedure. The results show that some corporate governance mechanisms are related to accounting conservatism. This study reports an empirical evidence of a positive association between institutional shareholding and accounting conservatism as well as the negative association between board size, CEO duality, managerial ownership and accounting conservatism in case of listed firms in Pakistan. However, some corporate governance attributes that were not previously examined in Pakistan like CEO turnover, and gender diversity on board is found to have no significant impact on accounting conservatism. The results suggest that users of financial statements should consider the corporate governance mechanisms while evaluating non-financial listed in a country like Pakistan where corporate governance is undergoing an evolutionary process and numerous family-controlled firms exist.
Transcatheter Microwave Ablation

Microwave energy was considered an attractive alternative source for tissue heating because it involves a fundamentally different process from radiofrequency energy.
Evaluating the Influence of Photo Order on Park Visitors’ Perceptions of Crowding at Buffalo National River

Visual-based methods are common in visitor use management research because they often support empirical evaluations of structural norms, particularly related to crowding in parks and other protecte...
Pathogenesis of Obesity-Related Chronic Liver Diseases as the Study Case for the Systems Biology

To understand human pathology at the system level, one must examine the complex milieu of molecular interactions between various cells within human body, rather than the characteristics of isolated cell or cultured cell. However, all over the human body an understanding of the pathophysiology of particular tissues has lagged behind the insights in general biological processes. A “high-throughput revolution” unfolding in model clinical science leads to significant increase of knowledge describing transcriptome and proteome states in complex human diseases, including pathologies of the liver. Despite seeming accessibility of the profiling techniques, cautionary approach is necessary in the interpretation of the data. There are universal caveats that preclude meta-analysis of the data collected. Major biological obstacles are heterogeneity of the samples profiled, imperfect correlation between mRNA and protein levels, and normal variation in the levels of mRNAs and corresponding proteins in healthy individuals. Nevertheless, a significant gain in the understanding of NAFLD spectrum diseases reached recently is inseparable from the data accumulated in high-throughput projects.
The Optimization of Transcostal Phased Array Refocusing Using the Semidefinite Relaxation Method

Tumors in organs partially obscured by the rib cage represent a challenge for high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) therapy. The ribs distort the HIFU beams in a manner that reduces the focusing gain at the target, which could result in treatment-limiting collateral damage. In fact, skin burns are a common complication during the ablation of hepatic tumors. This problem can be addressed by employing optimal refocusing algorithms that are designed to achieve a specified focusing gain at the target while controlling the exposure to the ribs in the path of the HIFU beam. However, previously proposed optimal refocusing algorithms did not allow for the controlled transmission through the ribs. In this article, we introduce a new approach for refocusing that can more efficiently steer power toward the target while limiting the power deposition on the ribs. The approach utilizes the semidefinite relaxation (SDR) technique to approximate the original (nonconvex) optimization problem. An important advantage of the SDR-based method over previously proposed optimization methods is the control of the side lobes in the focal plane. The method also allows for specifying an acceptable level of exposure to the ribs. Simulation results using a 1-MHz spherical concave phased array focused on an inhomogeneous medium are presented to demonstrate the performance of the SDR refocusing approach. A finite-difference time-domain propagation model was used to model the propagation in the inhomogeneous tissues, including the ribs. Temperature simulations based on the inhomogeneous transient bioheat transfer equation (tBHTE) demonstrate the significance of the improvements in the focusing gain when using the limited power deposition (LPD) method. The results also demonstrate that the LPD method yields well-behaved array excitation vectors, realizable by currently existing drivers.
Association between a literature-based genetic risk score and bone mineral density of African American women in Women Health Initiative Study

Genetic risk of low BMD in African American women remains unclear. Based on SNPs discovered from a predominantly Caucasian sample, genetic profile was summarized and was found to be significantly associated with BMD variation in African American women. Osteoporosis is largely under-recognized and undertreated in African-American women, the post-fracture morbidity and mortality rates in this racial group is rather high. Since BMD was proved to be highly heritable, based on a comprehensive genome-wide meta-analysis that reported 63 BMD-related single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), we aim to unravel the overall genetic risk for decreased BMD and osteoporosis in African-American women. Genotype data of 842 African American women in a Women’s Health Initiative cohort were analyzed. Comprehensive genotype imputation was conducted at the Sanger Imputation Server. Multi-locus genetic risk scores (GRSs) based on 62 BMD-related single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were calculated. The association between GRS and BMD was assessed by regression analysis. Longitudinal data was further analyzed using a generalized estimating equation, which helps achieve more efficient and unbiased regression parameters by accounting for the within-subject correlation of responses on dependent variables. After adjusting for age, body weight, hormone use, and previous fracture, for every unit increase of GRS.FN and GRS.LS, BMD at hip and lumbar spine decreased 0.124 g/cm2 and 0.086 g/cm2, respectively. Collectively, the model accounted for 34.95% of the femoral neck BMD variation and 25.79% of lumbar spine BMD variation. Notably, GRS.FN and GRS.LS accounted for 2.03% and 2.39% of the total explained variance, respectively. The proportion of BMD variation can be explained by GRSs increasing as participants aged. Genetic risk score was significantly associated with lower BMD in the current study, suggesting that SNPs discovered from prior meta-analysis based on primarily Caucasian population can also explain a considerable proportion of BMD variation in African Americans.
Using heparin molecules to manage COVID-2019

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is becoming one of the largest global public health crises in modern history. The race for an effective drug to prevent or treat the infection is the highest priority among health care providers, government officials, and the pharmaceutical industry. Recent evidence reports that the use of low-molecular-weight heparin reduces mortality in patients with severe coronavirus with coagulopathy. Although the full scope of the benefits from heparin for COVID-19 patients is unfolding, encouraging clinical data suggest that heparin-like molecules may represent a useful approach to treat or prevent severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. The intent of this article is to offer our opinions on the mechanism(s) by which heparin may attenuate the course of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Furthermore, we propose a novel strategy to treat or prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection using "designer" heparin molecules that are fabricated using a synthetic biology approach.
Backlogs are a dynamic system, not a warehousing problem.

Abstract Addressing casework backlogs would seem to represent “low hanging fruit” for increasing offender apprehension and improving justice. Yet, after years of grant funding for backlog reduction and capacity building, backlogged cases, especially DNA cases, continue to increase in U.S. forensic laboratories. Why? This paper suggests a shift from linear, mechanical thinking to a systems thinking approach may help to see ways to leverage laboratories from dysfunctional operational states burdened by history to new ways of seeing themselves as part of a system of systems. The A3 method is offered as a practical approach to initiating a systems approach.
CCL3 promotes germinal center B cells sampling by follicular regulatory T cells

Previous studies and our findings suggest upregulated expression of proinflammatory chemokines CCL3/4 in germinal center (GC) centrocytes. However, the role of CCL3/4 for centrocyte interactions with follicular T cells and regulation of humoral immunity is poorly understood. We found that CCL3 promotes chemotaxis of Tfr cells ex vivo. In vivo CCL3 is not required for Tfr cells recruitment of into the GC light zone. However, B cells- intrinsic production of CCL3 promotes their direct interactions and negative regulation by follicular regulatory T cells (Tfr) within GCs.
Gut microbiota: Implications on human health and diseases

Abstract The complex communities of microorganisms colonized in the human gastrointestinal (GI) tract referred to as “gut microbiota” influence the host during homeostasis and disease. Animal research has demonstrated that several factors, including mode of delivery at birth, method of infant feeding, use of antibiotics, diet, and age, can contribute to the alteration of the composition of intestinal microbiota. The GI tract represents a unique challenge to the mammalian immune system. The gut microbiota influences the health of its host by providing crucial benefits in the form of immune system development, prevention of infections, nutrient acquisition, and maintaining brain and nervous system functionality. Any imbalance in the composition and diversity in microbiota (dysbiosis) contributes to low-grade inflammation and increased gut permeability, resulting in neurological and visceral diseases. This chapter discusses the classification of gut microbiota, factors responsible for changing its composition, roles, and ways by which human gut microbiota can be manipulated to treat and/or prevent diseases.
Experimental signatures of the chiral anomaly in Dirac–Weyl semimetals

In condensed matter, the chiral anomaly describes the conversion of left-moving Dirac–Weyl fermions to right-moving ones in parallel electric and magnetic fields. The resulting axial current leads to an unusual negative longitudinal magnetoresistance (LMR). Five years ago, the discovery of Dirac and Weyl semimetals led to many experiments investigating this phenomenon. In this Review, we critically assess LMR experiments in the Dirac–Weyl semimetals Na3Bi, GdPtBi, ZrTe5, Cd3As2 and TaAs, which have shown signatures of the chiral anomaly, and discuss possible current-jetting artefacts. The focus is on Dirac and Weyl nodes that are rigorously symmetry protected. Other experiments, such as non-local transport, thermopower, thermal conductivity and optical pump–probe response, are also reviewed. Looking ahead, we anticipate what can be gleaned from improved LMR experiments and new experiments on the thermal conductivity and optical response. An expanded purview of the chiral anomaly is provided in the Supplementary Information. The chiral anomaly, originally studied in pion decay, leads to related effects in Dirac and Weyl semimetals. This Review surveys recent experiments that address the appearance of the anomaly in parallel electric and magnetic fields.
Maltoheptaose-Presenting Nanoscale Glycoliposomes for the Delivery of Rifampicin to E. coli

Liposomes, a nanoscale drug delivery system, are well known for their ability to improve pharmacokinetics and reduce drug toxicity. In this work, maltoheptaose (G7)-presenting glycoliposomes were synthesized and evaluated in the delivery of the antibiotic rifampicin. Two types of liposomes were prepared: nonfluid liposomes from l-α-phosphatidylcholine (PC) and cholesterol, and fluid liposomes from 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine and 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-(1′-rac-glycerol). G7-derivatized glycolipid, G7-DPPE (DPPE: 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine), was incorporated into the liposomes at 21 and 14 μmol/mg to form nanoparticles of 75 ± 12 and 146 ± 14 nm for the nonfluid and fluid G7-glycoliposomes, respectively. The multivalent G7-glycoliposomes were characterized by lectin binding with concanavalin A (Con A). The dissociation constant Kd between Con A and the nonfluid or fluid G7-glycoliposomes was 0.93 or 0.51 μM, which represented ∼900- or 1600-fold stronger affinity than the binding between Con A and G7. The G7-glycoliposomes were loaded with rifampicin at 6.6 and 16 wt % encapsulation for the nonfluid and fluid G7-glycoliposomes, respectively. Introducing a carbohydrate in the liposomes slowed down the release of rifampicin, with the G7-glycoliposomes having the slowest release rate and the lowest permeability coefficient among the liposome formulations. The fluid G7-glycoliposomes lowered the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of rifampicin against E. coli ORN208 by about 3 times, whereas liposomes without G7 or Man (d-mannose)-glycoliposomes showed no improvement in MIC. The rifampicin-loaded fluid G7-glycoliposomes demonstrated the best sustained antibacterial activity against E. coli, with up to 2 log reduction in the colony forming units at 4 × MIC after 24 h. Fluorescence resonance energy transfer and confocal fluorescence microscopy revealed stronger interactions of the bacterium with the fluid G7-glycoliposomes than other liposome formulations.
The classical SEIR model

The SEIR model is a popular compartment model with four populations, the susceptible, exposed, infectious, and recovered groups S, E, I, and R. It characterizes infectious diseases with a significant incubation period during which individuals have been infected, but are not yet infectious themselves. While the SEIR model does not have an analytical solution for the time course of its populations, it has explicit analytical solutions for the maximum exposed infectious populations combined and for the final sizes of the susceptible and recovered populations at endemic equilibrium. This makes it a good candidate for computational modeling. The learning objectives of this chapter on classical SEIR modeling are to
An Array-Oriented Language with Static Rank Polymorphism

The array-computational model pioneered by Iverson's languages APL and J offers a simple and expressive solution to the "von Neumann bottleneck." It includes a form of rank, or dimensional, polymorphism, which renders much of a program's control structure implicit by lifting base operators to higher-dimensional array structures. We present the first formal semantics for this model, along with the first static type system that captures the full power of the core language. The formal dynamic semantics of our core language, Remora, illuminates several of the murkier corners of the model. This allows us to resolve some of the model's ad hoc elements in more general, regular ways. Among these, we can generalise the model from SIMD to MIMD computations, by extending the semantics to permit functions to be lifted to higher-dimensional arrays in the same way as their arguments. Our static semantics, a dependent type system of carefully restricted power, is capable of describing array computations whose dimensions cannot be determined statically. The type-checking problem is decidable and the type system is accompanied by the usual soundness theorems. Our type system's principal contribution is that it serves to extract the implicit control structure that provides so much of the language's expressive power, making this structure explicitly apparent at compile time.
Lean NOx Reduction in Two Stages: Non-thermal Plasma Followed by Heterogeneous Catalysis

We present data in this paper showing that non-thermal plasma in combination with heterogeneous catalysis is a promising technique for the treatment of NOx in diesel exhaust. Using a commonly available zeolite catalyst, sodium Y, to treat synthetic diesel exhaust we report approximately 50% chemical reduction of NOx over a broad, representative temperature range. We have measured the overall efficiency as a function of the temperature and hydrocarbon concentration. The direct detection of N2 and N2O when the background gas is replaced by helium confirms that true chemical reduction is occurring.
An Approach to Information Fusion using Interval-Valued Probability

This paper discusses the issues of combining disparate sources of information (information fusion) in the context of planning and decision making for intelligent vehicles. Here interval-valued probability is used to capture uncertainty due to stochastic processes (objective uncertainty) and due to a lack of knowledge about the processes (subjective uncertainty). This paper discusses the representation problem for information fusion, an example of its use and the interactions between the information fusion and planning functions.