cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The purification and functional analysis of human CD4+CD25high regulatory T cells

Regulatory T cells were initially identified and isolated in the mouse, by virtue of their endogenous expression of CD25 (IL-2R alphachain) and shown to inhibit both the in vivo development of autoimmunity and the in vitro proliferation of nonregulatory, CD4+CD25- T cells. In contrast to mouse cells, human regulatory T cells are not purified by isolating all CD25-expressing CD4 T cells ex vivo. Such cells can be isolated by targeting only the small percentage of human CD4 T cells that express high levels of CD25. This is best achieved by FACS sorting using the level of CD25 expressed on CD4- T cells to place the gate for discriminating high expression of CD25. This unit provides two widely used methods to isolate (FACS) or to enrich (magnetic beads) human CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells from blood, along with an in vitro coculture assay to measure the anergic and suppressive features of human CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells.
Advanced question and answering systems for community development

The Internet has made the transfer of knowledge of successful community development programs and processes possible by allowing practitioners to connect through computer-mediated-communications such as Web pages, email, chat rooms and groupware. However, because community development needs are specific to each community, it becomes difficult to design programs to solve the problem, despite the availability of funds, which is one of the problems of enduring poverty and distress. We propose that one of the ways to alleviate the burden of knowledge transfer among practitioners is to build a large repository of community development practices and practitioner knowledge using video or automated slide shows and an intelligent agent question/answering system to simulate a conversation between a practitioner seeking information and a practitioner sharing information. Such a system could provide the information seeking practitioner with the perception of dealing with one or more knowledgeable experts without having to actually interact, expediting the transfer of knowledge when the practitioner actually needs it.
Menzies and the New Chinoiserie: Is Sinocentrism the Answer to Eurocentrism in Studies of Modernity?

Gavin Menzies’ ‘1434: The Year a Magnificent Chinese Fleet Sailed to Italy and Ignited the Renaissance’ is a parody of historical scholarship that purports to offer insight into the critical stages...
A dielectric study of the crystal and amorphous fractions in oriented polyethylenes

Polyethylenes have relaxation processes separately assignable to the crystal and amorphous components. The possibility thus presents itself for studying the interaction between the two phases by investigating the anisotropy of the separate relaxation processes induced by overall orientation of the material. Such a study was carried out here by the dielectric method on samples rendered dielectrically active by the introduction of a few carbonyl groups by oxidation. In addition to the usual advantage of ease of frequency variation, the dielectric method in this case has a very great advantage in interpretation resulting from the similarity of dielectric constants of the two phases. In specimens oriented by solid-state extrusion, it was found that the crystalline relaxation process (α) develops the expected anisotropy resulting from dipoles normal to C-axis alignment in the extrusion direction. In branched polyethylene (BPE) no accompanying anisotropy of the amorphous β and γ processes was observed. Since the extrusion was carried out well above the glass temperature of the amorphous component, this indicates that constraints from the crystal phase are not sufficient to prevent dissipation of amorphous orientation by segmental motion. However in linear polyethylene (LPE) (where there is no well-developed β process) some anisotropy of the γ process was observed. It is proposed that a higher degree of constraint of the amorphous component by the crystals in LPE results in suppression of the glass-rubber (β) relaxation and permits amorphous orientation to accompany crystal orientation.
LCM: memory system support for parallel language implementation

Higher-level parallel programming languages can be difficult to implement efficiently on parallel machines. This paper shows how a flexible, compiler-controlled memory system can help achieve good performance for language constructs that previously appeared too costly to be practical.Our compiler-controlled memory system is called Loosely Coherent Memory (LCM). It is an example of a larger class of Reconcilable Shared Memory (RSM) systems, which generalize the replication and merge policies of cache-coherent shared-memory. RSM protocols differ in the action taken by a processor in response to a request for a location and the way in which a processor reconciles multiple outstanding copies of a location. LCM memory becomes temporarily inconsistent to implement the semantics of C** parallel functions efficiently. RSM provides a compiler with control over memory-system policies, which it can use to implement a language's semantics, improve performance, or detect errors. We illustrate the first two points with LCM and our compiler for the data-parallel language C**.
Governance and efficiency in emerging financial markets

This paper describes how the principles underlying the economics of governance may be useful in examining the evolution of financial institutions and the role of the state in the financial markets of developing and transitional economies. The concepts of allocational efficiency and market failure are shown to be useful in evaluating the efficiency with which financial functions are performed and in the design of regulatory policy. The social costs of active financial regulation are described in terms of the implementation of such regulation in the presence of endogenous information in financial exchange. A direction for future research is suggested, in which emphasis is placed on the resolution of market failure by private financial institutions through financial innovation and market creation. The paper, intended to suggest an agenda for future research in the regulation of emerging financial markets, is descriptive rather than technical and is explicitly intended for a wide audience of policy makers, in...
The Effect Of Consolidation On Employees In The U.S. Banking Industry

This paper examines the effect of the continuing consolidation on employees in the U.S. banking industry between 1992 and 2004. It documents the decreasing number of banking institutions, the number of employees, and level of salaries and benefits. The data indicates that while the number of banks has continued to decrease, the levels of employment and compensation have, in fact, increased during this period.
Growth analysis of four Amaranthus species

Abstract A 2-yr field study was conducted to compare the growth of Amaranthus palmeri, A. rudis, A. retroflexus, and A. albus planted in June and July. Rates of height increase (centimeters per growing degree day) were 0.21 and 0.18 for A. palmeri, 0.16 and 0.11 for A. rudis, 0.12 and 0.09 for A. retroflexus, and 0.08 and 0.09 for A. albus in 1994 and 1995, respectively, when planted in June. A. palmeri had among the highest values for plant volume, dry weight, and leaf area, while A. albus had the lowest. Specific leaf area values (cm2 g−1) ranged from 149 to 261 for A. palmeri, 160 to 205 for A. rudis, 150 to 208 for A. retroflexus, and 127 to 190 for A. albus. Maximum relative growth rates (g g−1 day−1) for any measured period were 0.32 for A. palmeri, 0.31 for A. rudis, 0.30 for A. retroflexus, and 0.26 for A. albus. Recent increases in species range and observed changes in weed community structure may be partially explained by the growth characteristics of A. palmeri and A. rudis. Herbicide rate and ...
READING AND WRITING AS SOCIAL, CULTURAL PRACTICES: IMPLICATIONS FOR LITERACY EDUCATION

This article describes a view of reading and writing as social, cultural practices in order to develop curricular language for this perspective. In particular, the article begins by describing the social, cultural contexts that influence and are influenced by peoples' practices with reading and writing. Next, three descriptions illustrate teaching practices related to this alternative view of reading and writing. A concluding section presents four themes derived from a cross-case analysis of the teaching practices, related instructional principles, and key experiences for designing reading/literacy curriculum that reflects this view of reading and writing.
h-Derivative and h-Integral

We have thus far studied only q-calcultus. Now we turn to h-calculus. Firstly, let us recall from Chapter another quantum derivative that is characterized by an additive parameter h, the h-derivative: $$ D_h f(x) = \frac{{f(x + h) - f(x)}} {h}, $$ where h ≠ 0. Let us begin by developing the properties of h-calculus in an analogous way to what we have done for q-calculus, and discuss its applications in subsequent chapters.
A Comparison of the Events and Relations Across ACE, ERE, TAC-KBP, and FrameNet Annotation Standards

The resurgence of effort within computational semantics has led to increased interest in various types of relation extraction and semantic parsing. While various manually annotated resources exist for enabling this work, these materials have been developed with different standards and goals in mind. In an effort to develop better general understanding across these resources, we provide a summary overview of the standards underlying ACE, ERE, TAC-KBP Slot-filling, and FrameNet. 1 Overview ACE and ERE are comprehensive annotation standards that aim to consistently annotate Entities, Events, and Relations within a variety of documents. The ACE (Automatic Content Extraction) standard was developed by NIST in 1999 and has evolved over time to support different evaluation cycles, the last evaluation having occurred in 2008. The ERE (Entities, Relations, Events) standard was created under the DARPA DEFT program as a lighter-weight version of ACE with the goal of making annotation easier, and more consistent across annotators. ERE attempts to achieve this goal by consolidating some of the annotation type distinctions that were found to be the most problematic in ACE, as well as removing some more complex annotation features. This paper provides an overview of the relationship between these two standards and compares them to the more restricted standard of the TACKBP slot-filling task and the more expansive standard of FrameNet. Sections 3 and 4 examine Relations and Events in the ACE/ERE standards, section 5 looks at TAC-KBP slot-filling, and section 6 compares FrameNet to the other standards.
Focardi: Cook-ed, Not Schott

This article discusses the recent Focardi Tax Court opinion that denies grantor retained annuity trust (GRAT) qualification for a grantor's retained interest with a revocable spousal interest contingent on both the grantor's death within the term and on the grantor's decision not to revoke his spouse's interest. Because of the disqualification, the grantor's retained interest can not reduce the value of his gift for gift tax purposes. In so ruling, the Tax Court re-iterated its position in Cook and explicitly rejected the Ninth Circuit's opinion in Schott. The article, however, explains why by allowing a contingency within the grantor's control but by disallowing a contingency outside his power, the regulations undermine the prohibition against contingencies and why, within this context, Schott makes more sense than Cook.
Toward a Formal Theory of Transactions and Transvections

> This article presents the initial steps in the formalization of a partial theory of marketing. The partial theory pertains to the movement of goods and information through marketing channels, and the theory utilizes two basic concepts of marketing system behavior, namely, transactions and transvections. Current approaches to the problem of constructing formal theories are compared and reasons are given for choosing the "molar" approach. This article has both a special and a general objective. The special objective is to advance a particular area of theory which seems promising for practical applications, particularly in planning. The general objective is to exemplify some aspects of the technical procedure for generating formal theory in marketing.' There would appear to be two main routes to be followed in the construction of formal theory. The first is to build the theory step by step from very simple elements offering proof for each step in turn. Most readers will be familiar with this process from a study of elementary geometry or other areas in mathematics. The process starts out with some terms that are called primitives because they are regarded as rudimentary building blocks and are not defined within the logical structure. Among
Intrarenal Blood Flow in Dogs with Normal and Spontaneously Elevated Blood Pressure

SummaryIntrarenal blood flow distribution was evaluated in 60 dogs with radiola-beled microspheres. The range of mean arterial blood pressure (BP) was 90 to 180 mm Hg, with an average of 137 mm Hg± 20 (SE). A poor but significant inverse correlation was found between renal blood flow (RBF) per gram kidney weight and the spontaneously occurring mean systemic pressure (r = −0.24, P < 0.001). Analysis of blood flow rates per gram inner and outer cortex showed substantially lower inner cortical flows in dogs with elevated blood pressure compared to dogs with lower blood pressures; outer cortical flow was essentially equivalent in the 60 animals. The correlation coefficient between inner cortical flow and BP was −0.534 (P < 0.001). Both inner and outer cortical resistance to flow increased significantly with pressure (P < 0.001). Electrolyte excretion rates (Na+ and K+) did not vary substantially in this population of dogs. These results demonstrate that spontaneously elevated blood pressure is associated with...
The Development of Agglutinins for Aerobic, Gramnegative Bacilli in Patients with Diffuse Peritonitis or Abscess Formation Following Appendicitis

peritonitis and abscess formation. The bacteria most frequently isolated from these lesions are members of the B. coli group, certain streptococci, particularly of the enterococcus group, and sporulating anaerobic bacilli, such as B. welchii. It is only fair to assume that the outcome of these infections is directlydependent upon two factors, namely: (1) The virulence, invasiveness, and toxicity of the micro-organisms and (2) the normal and immune defence factors of the host. Because of the second factor, we undertook a study of the immune response of patients with diffuse peritonitis or abscess formation subsequent to perforated appendicitis. The results of this investigation on the development of agglutinins against aerobic, gram-negative bacilli in patients presenting these conditions, are reported in this communication.
Temperature dependence of hot-carrier relaxation in PbSe nanocrystals: An ab initio study

Temperature-dependent dynamics of phonon-assisted relaxation of hot carriers, both electrons and holes, is studied in a PbSe nanocrystal using ab initio time-domain density-functional theory. The electronic structure is first calculated, showing that the hole states are denser than the electron states. Fourier transforms of the time-resolved energy levels show that the hot carriers couple to both acoustic and optical phonons. At higher temperature, more phonon modes in the high-frequency range participate in the relaxation process due to their increased occupation number. The phonon-assisted hot-carrier relaxation time is predicted using nonadiabatic molecular dynamics, and the results clearly show a temperature-activation behavior. The complex temperature dependence is attributed to the combined effects of the phonon occupation number and the thermal expansion. Comparing the simulation results with experiments, we suggest that the multiphonon relaxation channel is efficient at high temperature, while the Auger-type process may dominate the relaxation at low temperature. This combined mechanism can explain the weak temperature dependence at low temperature and stronger temperature dependence at higher temperature.
Moldova's Neutrality: What is at Stake?

The article offers an overview of the neutrality problem and its implications for Republic of Moldova. Additionally, relations bewteen Moldova and NATO are explored.
Proficiency Testing of Ash in Rice Flour

[Objective]To study the influencing factors for ash determination in rice flour.[Method]The optimization conditions were tested according to GB 5009.4-2010 Determination of Ash in Foods.[Result] The test has good recoveries and test results.[Conclusion] This method improves GB 5009.4-2010 and provides a reliable basis for proficiency testing.
The Sequential Probability Ratio Test

During World War II, Abraham Wald started working on sequential procedures and he developed the sequential probability ratio test procedure. Neyman and Pearson have provided a method of constructing the most powerful test for a simple hypothesis versus simple alternative-testing problem. It has been shown that although one might obtain a sequence of observations that called for continuing the sampling at each stage, with no decision reached, the probability of such an occurrence is zero. The sample size needed to reach a decision in a sequential or a multiple sampling plan is a random variable. The distribution of this random variable depends on the distribution that actually obtains during the sampling process, that is, on the state of nature.
Compartmentation of GAPDH

The concept of the cytosol as a space that contains discrete zones of metabolites is discussed relative to the contribution of GAPDH. GAPDH is directed to very specific cell compartments. This chapter describes the utilization of GAPDH’s enzymatic function for focal demands (i.e. ATP/ADP and NAD+/NADH), and offers a speculative role for GAPDH as perhaps moderating local concentrations of inorganic phosphate and hydrogen ions (i.e. co-substrate and co-product of the glycolytic reaction, respectively). Where known, the structural features of the binding between GAPDH and the compartment components are discussed. The nuances, which are associated with the intracellular distribution of GAPDH, appear to be specific to the cell-type, particularly with regards to the various plasma membrane proteins to which GAPDH binds. The chapter includes discussion on the curious observation of GAPDH being localized to the external surface of the plasma membrane in a human cell type. The default perspective has been that GAPDH localization is synonymous with compartmentation of glycolytic energy. The chapter discusses GAPDH translocation to the nucleus and to non-nuclear cellular structures, emphasizing its glycolytic function. Nevertheless, it is becoming clear that alternate functions of GAPDH play a role in compartmentation, particularly in the translocation to the nucleus.
Seven Prevention Priorities of USPHS Scientist Officers

The article talks about seven prevention priorities of scientist officers for the Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS). It comments on the National Prevention Strategy (NPS) federal agenda promoting tobacco-free living, preventing excessive alcohol use and drug abuse, and healthy food habits. It talks about the NPS priority on encouraging active living and living injury- and violence-free. It talks about sexual and reproductive health, and emotional and mental well-being.
Combined alcohol and drug abuse: A potentially deadly mix

Many drug abusers abuse both alcohol and drugs at the same time in order to get an enhanced buzz. However, alcohol lowers the threshold of toxic concentration of many drugs, making such drugs more dangerous. Combining alcohol and cocaine is dangerous because in the presence of alcohol cocaine is converted into a toxic metabolite (cocaethylene), which may cause death. Alcohol lowers the threshold of life threatening concentrations of various benzodiazepines and opioids. This chapter will also include real life case studies describing fatalities due to combined drug and alcohol abuse.
Erythroid-Specific Intergenic Transcripts Originate from the 200 Kb Region 5′ to the LCR in Erythroleukemia and Human Primary Cells.

Intergenic transcripts have been discovered in globin and other multigene clusters. The role of this transcription activity in gene regulation is still unclear. We found aberrant globin gene transcripts that initiated from the regions 77 kb and 236 kb 5′ to the e gene in K562 and primary cells. The most abundant splicing form of the transcripts is a 500–600 bp RT-PCR product containing 36 bp RNA from the −240 kb region spliced to the upstream region starting at −270 bp of the e gene promoter. Several spliced transcripts also contain RNA fragments from the −77 kb region, or from the −12 kb region (between HS3 and HS2 of the LCR), or from the −8 kb region (between HS2 and HS1). A total of 17 different transcripts were found in K562 cells. Transient transfection assays showed that the −77 kb and −236 kb regions had promoter activity in K562 cells. DNase I hypersensitive sites were detected in these two regions in K562 cells, but not in Jurkat cells. The −236 promoter activity is located within the region encompassing a retrotransposon and the −77 region is located at 2 kb 5′ to an olfactory receptor gene. To test whether such aberrant transcripts occur in primary cells, we tested various human tissues. In fetal bone marrow (72 days) a spliced transcript was detected by RT-PCR and confirmed by DNA sequencing, which contained a 36 bp RNA from the −236 kb region and was spliced to the e gene promoter starting at −270 bp. Using a RNA RACE technique, we also found several aberrant globin gene transcripts in human placenta, adult bone marrow, and fetal liver (20–40 weeks, BD Biosciences). These transcripts contained 181 bp RNA from the −76 to −77 kb region 5′ and the sequence starting at −214 bp 5′ to the cap site of the e gene. While it is unclear whether these transepts or transcription itself has any biological function, this erythroid-specific transcription occurring in the 200 kb region 5′ to the LCR may play a yet-unknown role in globin gene regulation.
Phylogenetics and Biosynthesis

The sterols of living systems are all derived by the aerobic cyclization of squalene through the intermediacy of epoxysqualene as discussed in depth elsewhere (Nes, 1977; Nes and McKean, 1977). However, epoxysqualene is not always cyclized to the same substance. Two major products (lanosterol and cycloartenol) are formed, and they are never known to be produced by cyclization in the same organism, whether the latter is unicellular or highly differentiated. This bifurcation in the steroid pathway is one of the most interesting phylogenetic markers we have, because it has no apparent influence on the structure of the functional steroid at the end of the pathway. There are two principal differences in naturally occurring, functional sterols, viz., the structure of the side chain and the double-bond character in the nucleus. Neither of these is influenced by whether lanosterol or cycloartenol is the precursor. Thus, it was shown in our laboratory (Russell et al., 1967; Raab et al.,1968; Gibbons et al., 1971) that either lanosterol or cycloartenol will yield 24-alkylsterols (sitosterol, etc.) in higher plants. Similarly, while lanosterol leads to cholesterol in animals (Tchen and Bloch, 1955), pollinastanol (14α-methyl-9,19-cyclo-5α-cholestanol, a metabolite of cycloartenol in which the Δ24 bond has been reduced and the two methyl groups at C-24 removed) has been converted to cholesterol in higher plants (Devys et al., 1969), and cycloartenol is present in red algae in which the dominant sterol is cholesterol (Ferezou et al., 1974).
Virus Distribution and Seasonal Changes of Grapevine Leafroll-Associated Viruses

A time-course study was performed over two years to investigate seasonal changes in copy numbers of different Grapevine leafroll associated virus (GLRaV) in infected grapevine (Vitis vinifera) in North America. We examined GLRaV-1, -2, -3, -4, and GLRaV-2RG in 104 grapevines that previously tested positive for one or more of these GLRaVs. Vines were selected from the Davis grapevine virus collection and the USDA National Clonal Germplasm Repository in northern California. Samples were collected from the beginning of the growing season (late April) until February; from April to November, mature leaf petioles were collected, and from December to February, cambial scrapings were taken from dormant cuttings. All samples were tested by RT-PCR and RT-qPCR; RT-qPCR was found to be the more sensitive technique. GLRaVs were more reliably detected in samples collected between August and February. Grapevines infected with GLRaV-2 were evenly detected throughout the year, while infection with GLRaV-1, -3 -4, and -2RG was best observed from November to February for both experimental years. Virus titer was lowest early in the growing season (April/May), and viral load differed among the GLRaVs. The viral load of GLRaV-3 remained unchanged, regardless of the season tested. Viruses associated with leafroll disease in grapevines were not uniformly distributed in both leaf petioles and cambium of grapevines; GLRaV-2 was the most evenly distributed virus in the grapevine, followed by GLRaV-1, GLRaV-3, and finally by GLRaV-4, which had the most uneven distribution.
A Robust State Estimation Framework Considering Measurement Correlations and Imperfect Synchronization

This paper develops a robust power system state estimation framework that accounts for correlations and imperfect time synchronization of the measurements. In this framework, correlations of the measurements obtained from the supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system and the phasor measurement units (PMUs) are separately calculated through the unscented transformation and a vector auto-regression (VAR) model. Specifically, the PMU measurements during the waiting period of two successive SCADA measurement scans are buffered via a VAR model whose parameters are robustly estimated using the projection statistics. The latter take into account their temporal and spatial correlations and provide the needed measurement redundancy to suppress bad data and mitigate imperfect time synchronization. In the case where the SCADA and the PMU measurements do not arrive simultaneously at the control center, yielding imperfect measurement time synchronization, either the forecasted PMU measurements or the prior SCADA measurements from the latest state estimation run are leveraged to restore system observability. Finally, a robust generalized maximum-likelihood (GM)-estimator is extended to integrate the measurement error correlations and to handle the outliers, also known as bad data. Simulation results that stem from a comprehensive comparison with other alternatives under various conditions demonstrate the benefits of the proposed framework.
The Integrated Media Effect: Rethinking the Effect of Media Use on Civic Participation in the Networked Digital Media Environment:

Based on an integrated approach to media use, this study examines the association between integrated news use and civic participation in the networked digital media environment. Data from a web sur...
Comparison of Serum and Cervical Cytokine Levels throughout Pregnancy between Preterm and Term Births.

Objective To assess differences in cytokine levels in cervicovaginal fluid (CVF) and serum across trimesters between women with preterm births (PTBs) and full-term births. Study Design This multicenter study enrolled 302 women with a singleton gestation. CVF and serum cytokines, interleukin 1α (IL-1α), IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-8, were measured. Women with at least one cytokine assessment and noted PTB status in their medical record were retained in the study (N = 272). Data were analyzed using mixed modeling (main effects of PTBs and time/trimester). Results For the CVF values of IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, TNF-α, and CRP, and serum MMP-8, those who delivered preterm had significantly higher values than the full-term group regardless of trimester. For the serum values of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α, those delivering preterm had significantly lower values than those delivering full-term regardless of trimester. For IL-1β in CVF, the cytokine was significantly higher in the PTB group for second and third trimesters only, relative to the full-term group. Conclusion For each CVF cytokine that differed by birth status, values were higher for PTB than term, averaged over trimester. Numerous cytokine profiles varied across trimesters in women delivering term versus preterm in both CVF and serum.
Human or not? A problem in skeletal identification.

Physical anthropologists are frequently called upon by both the general public or law enforcement agencies to identify bones. This is particularly true in a desert region where people while exploring, rock-hunting, or hiking find a “bone” and bring it to the local university or museum for identification.
Supportive Glucose Sensing Mobile Application to Improve the Accuracy of Continuous Glucose Monitors

An insulin pump can be programmed to continuously deliver accurate amounts of insulin to diabetic patients. A continuous glucose monitor (CGM) which provides continuous patient glucose levels, needs to be calibrated at least every 6 hours. This paper provides an overview of the software and hardware requirements to increase the calibration duration with a high level of accuracy in an open source Artificial Pancreas platform. On the software level, it uses a smartphone camera to capture the food intake, and a smartphone sensor and positioning system to capture the patient movements. The system maps three months’ worth of data points to the actual glucose level generated by the CGM. It then generates the probability of the estimated insulin needed based on the recorded movements and food intake activities for the patient. The logged data is used as the training data set. Using Bayes’ analysis, the generated probability that is based on the patient activities is used as posterior probabilities to the CGM results, which generates a more accurate estimation of the glucose level. On the hardware level, the paper presents a Universal Remote Control and its associated protocol to connect the smartphone with the CGM for information retrieval and with the insulin pump for information dissemination. The information is sent to the insulin pump using a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA). For communication, there are two kinds of message frames: Dosage Delivery Frame (DDF) and Acknowledgement frame (ACKF) with a secure layer of encryption.
The enduring importance of police repression: Laojiao, the rule of law and Taiwan’s alternative evolution

In the wake of the 1989 Pro-Democracy Movement in the People’s Republic of China (PRC), thousands of people suspected of having taken part in the protests were arrested and sent away for ‘reeducation through labor’ (laodong jiaoyang or laojiao) or other police-controlled ‘administrative’ detention. The flexibility of laojiao and similar sanctions makes them especially appealing to the PRC leadership and public security organs because they are swift, handy instruments that police can readily use when faced with rising social unrest. For this reason, the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) has been loath to release its tight grasp on laojiao despite the opposition of Chinese law reformers and foreign human rights observers. Thus a stalemate over its future persists. This book analyses the influence of the Pro-Democracy Movement and itssuppression on the Party and its policies. Our chapter reviews the policies with respect to criminal justice and, specifically, the extent to which the power to imprison remains firmly within the grasp of the police, without significant prosecutorial or judicial involvement.We use the contrasting example of the Republic of China on Taiwan (Taiwan) to demonstrate an alternative path. When the June 4th massacre occurred, Taiwan was just beginning to reverse a long-standing policy of allowing untrammeled police-imposed administrative detention. Over the intervening twenty years, in this respect the gap between practices in Taiwan and the Mainland has widened dramatically. Yet we believe that the stark differences will gradually diminish as the Mainland re-evaluates its practices with respect to policeadministered sanctions. The current state of affairs, however, gives little concrete reason to hope for major reform in the near future. We begin with a brief description of administrative detention and relatedsanctions in the Mainland and Taiwan as of 4 June 1989. Part II deals with post-4 June developments in the Mainland. Part III tells a drastically different story of Taiwan’s criminal justice revolution over the past twenty years, with a focus on the demise of ‘reformatory training’ (ganxun), the island’s counterpart to laojiao. In conclusion, we ask what we can learn from these divergent experiences and consider where post-2009 events may lead.
Love, marriage, and baby carriage among sexual minorities- and bias: discussion of the 54th Nebraska Symposium on Motivation.

One of the benefits of being the discussant is that it allows me to be somewhat unconstrained and freewheeling in commenting on the other chapters. I have fully taken advantage of this benefit, and my comments are personal, empirical, professional, and political. After describing how I came to be interested in LGB issues, I go on to discuss the heterogeneity of those individuals who are included in the “LGB” label, and the complications that sometimes exist in defining who is gay. These labels, although more sociopolitically than scientifically rooted, nonetheless are associated with discrimination and bias – in society at large and within psychology as well. I also comment on some of the issues associated with same-sex unions and parenting, the change in attitudes toward sexual minorities, and the importance of closing the gap between the LGB and mainstream psychological literature. Let me start with the personal.
Cross-Asset Transportation Project Coordination with Integer Programming and Constraint Programming

Many asset management systems generate work plans for different asset components independently. Coordination of projects between different assets, such as pavement and bridge rehabilitations in the same, adjacent, or nearby locations, is often performed only on an ad hoc basis. Poorly coordinated projects might cause unnecessary traffic disruptions and increased agency costs. This paper presents two optimization models to coordinate asset projects systematically with the application of integer programming and constraint programming. The objective of the two models was to maximize the total benefits of the projects, including project benefits and coordination benefits, by rescheduling some projects subject to budget constraints and project timing constraints. The project benefits were assessed on the basis of relationship between the asset condition and the vehicle operating cost. The project coordination benefits were estimated for road users and highway agencies. An example problem was solved to improve ...
Effect of Standardized Infliximab Dose Rounding on an Outpatient Infusion Center.

BACKGROUND: Infliximab dose rounding is a commonly accepted practice at many institutions to contain costs. Currently, there is limited data on the clinical and financial implications of infliximab...
Quantifying Error Estimates as Functions of Signal-to-Noise Ratio in a Multi-Tier Weak Radio Signal Detection Process with N Simultaneous Signals

This paper quantifies error in estimates of signal parameters as functions of zero crossings and signal-to-noise ratio of a weak signal in a multi-tier weak radio signal detection process with N simultaneous signals. For situations in which the weak signal contains Gaussian white noise (e.g., SNR = 20dB), a zero crossing cluster contains multiple zero crossings. For each zero crossing cluster, the task is to extract an estimate of the mean zero crossing of each cluster and an estimate of the standard deviation of the cluster. From the estimates of the mean zero crossing and standard deviation of each zero crossing cluster, one may quantity estimates and the error in the estimates of the weak signal frequency using pairs of zero crossing clusters. In these situations, all of the zero crossings within each cluster are detected. As with prior work, the starting point is is the generationalization of Tsui’s phase measurement approach to detection of N-l weak signals. The paper quantifies errors in the signal parameters obtained from estimates of the zero crossing within each zero crossing cluster obtained from sampled data values of the instantaneous frequency. Examples are provided for the situation in which N=2, the strong signal takes on a value of 850 MHz, the weak signal takes on a value of 855 MHz with SNR = 20dB, and the signal- to-interference ratio is SIR $= 10^{-4}$. For instantaneous frequency data for eight consecutive zero crossing clusters with SNR = 20dB, the method estimates the frequency of a weak signal as 854.980759 MHz with a standard deviation of 0.1969 MHz. This approach provides a method to quantity the capability of this method to account for noise in weak signal detection for identification of zero crossings and extraction of signal parameters.
Control without Controllers: Toward a Distributed Neuroscience of Executive Control

Executive control refers to the regulation of cognition and behavior by mental processes and is a hallmark of higher cognition. Most approaches to understanding its mechanisms begin with the assump...
Musical Sound Quality as a Function of the Number of Channels in Modern Cochlear Implant Recipients.

Objectives: This study examined musical sound quality (SQ) in adult cochlear implant (CI) recipients. The study goals were to determine: the number of channels needed for high levels of musical SQ overall and by musical genre; the impact of device and patient factors on musical SQ ratings; and the relationship between musical SQ, speech recognition, and speech SQ to relate these findings to measures frequently used in clinical protocols. Methods: Twenty-one post-lingually deafened adult CI recipients participated in this study. Electrode placement, including scalar location, average electrode-to-modiolus distance (M ), and angular insertion depth was determined by CT imaging using validated CI position analysis algorithms (e.g., Zhao et al., 2019; Zhao et al., 2018; Noble et al, 2013). CI programs were created using 4 – 22 electrodes with equal spatial distribution of active electrodes across the array. Speech recognition, speech SQ, music perception via a frequency discrimination task, and musical SQ were acutely assessed for all electrode conditions. Musical SQ was assessed using pre-selected musical excerpts from a variety of musical genres. Results: CI recipients demonstrated continuous improvement in qualitative judgements of musical SQ with up to 10 active electrodes. Participants with straight electrodes placed in scala tympani (ST) and pre-curved electrodes with higher M variance reported higher levels of musical SQ; however, this relationship is believed to be driven by levels of musical experience as well as the potential for preoperative bias in device selection. Participants reported significant increases in musical SQ beyond 4 channels for all musical genres examined in the current study except for Hip Hop/Rap. After musical experience outliers were removed, there was no relationship between musical experience or frequency discrimination ability and musical SQ ratings. There was a weak, but significant correlation between qualitative ratings for speech stimuli presented in quiet and in noise and musical SQ. Conclusions: Modern CI recipients may need more channels for musical SQ than even required for asymptotic speech recognition or speech SQ. These findings may be used to provide clinical guidance for personalized expectations management of music appreciation depending on individual device and patient factors.
Using Latent Class Analysis to Examine Susceptibility to Various Tobacco Products Among Adolescents.

Introduction Most tobacco use is initiated during adolescence and susceptibility is an important predictor of initiation. Research is needed to understand susceptibility across tobacco products among youth to inform prevention efforts. Aims and methods We surveyed 2945 students from four Southeastern Connecticut high schools in 2017. We assessed susceptibility to future use of seven different tobacco products (ie, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, hookah, cigars, cigarillos, blunts, and smokeless tobacco) among youth who had never used a tobacco product. Susceptibility was coded as any response other than "definitely not" to three items assessing (1) curiosity, (2) willingness to experiment with the product in the future, and (3) willingness to try if offered by a friend. Latent class analysis was used to identify patterns of susceptibility across multiple tobacco products and sociodemographic predictors of these classes. Results Among n = 1246 youth who had never tried a tobacco product, 51.2% (n = 638) were susceptible to at least one product and 29.1% (n = 363) were susceptible to two or more products (average among susceptible youth: M = 2.4 products, SD = 1.7, range 1-7). Latent class analysis identified three classes: youth who were: (1) susceptible to all products (5.6%), (2) susceptible to e-cigarettes, hookah, and blunts (23.6%), and (3) mostly non-susceptible to all products (70.8%). In a multivariable model, demographic variables and peer tobacco use predicted class membership. Conclusions We observed high rates of susceptibility to non-traditional tobacco products among youth, and many youth were susceptible to more than one product. Targeting susceptibility across multiple tobacco products may be important for reducing youth tobacco use. Implications Patterns of polytobacco use susceptibility were identified among youth who had never previously used tobacco products. Many youth were susceptible to more than one product and we observed three distinct classes of susceptibility among youth: those who were mostly non-susceptible, those who were susceptible to alternative or non-traditional tobacco products (e-cigarettes, hookah, and blunts), and those who were susceptible to all tobacco products. These findings suggest the importance of addressing susceptibility across multiple tobacco products.
Effect of preoperative cancer treatment on epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) receptor expression level in ABY-029 guided sarcoma surgery

Surgical excision via wide local excision (WLE) of the primary sarcoma tumor is a mainstay of treatment due to the limited effectiveness of chemotherapy and radiation. Even with attempts at WLE, 22-34% of the patient will be diagnosed with a positive margin by the pathologist, necessitating additional radiation or surgery. Recent studies have demonstrated reduced local recurrence when using fluorescence-guided surgery (FGS) to detect residual sarcoma following attempted WLE. ABY-029 is an anti-EGFR Affibody molecule labeled with IRDye800CW that is currently under Phase 0 human trial for FGS. To date, several studies have been performed to evaluate ABY-029 signal intensity in untreated human sarcoma xenografts; however, many patients undergoing cancer surgery have received pre-operative radiation and/or chemotherapy, which can affect tissue properties and tumor molecule expression level. Determining the effects of radiation and chemotherapy exposure on fluorophore binding in sarcomas may influence best practices in implementing FGS for sarcoma. In this project, fluorophore signal intensities in tumor and surrounding tissue were measured and compared to the receptor concentration determined by immunohistochemistry. Here, we report the result for one EGFR positive synovial sarcoma cell lines, SW982. Four groups of human dose equivalent therapies – control, radiation, chemotherapy (Doxorubicin) and radiation followed by chemotherapy – were given to the tumor-bearing mice. The difference between groups can be used to determine the effects of preoperative sarcoma therapies on EGFR expression, ABY-029 uptake, and optical properties of tissues.
Bayesian inference for hidden truncation Pareto (IV) models

In this paper, we consider observations arising out from a hidden truncation Pareto (IV) distribution and to be used to make inferences about the inequality, precision, shape and truncation paramet...
Toxicant Disruption of Immune Defenses: Potential Implications for Fetal Membranes and Pregnancy

In addition to providing a physical compartment for gestation, the fetal membranes (FM) are an active immunological barrier that provides defense against pathogenic microorganisms that ascend the gravid reproductive tract. Pathogenic infection of the gestational tissues (FM and placenta) is a leading known cause of preterm birth (PTB). Some environmental toxicants decrease the capacity for organisms to mount an immune defense against pathogens. For example, the immunosuppressive effects of the widespread environmental contaminant trichloroethylene (TCE) are documented for lung infection with Streptococcus zooepidemicus. Group B Streptococcus (GBS; Streptococcus agalactiae) is a bacterial pathogen that is frequently found in the female reproductive tract and can colonize the FM in pregnant women. Work in our laboratory has demonstrated that a bioactive TCE metabolite, S-(1, 2-dichlorovinyl)-L-cysteine (DCVC), potently inhibits innate immune responses to GBS in human FM in culture. Despite these provocative findings, little is known about how DCVC and other toxicants modify the risk for pathogenic infection of FM. Infection of the gestational tissues (FM and placenta) is a leading known cause of PTB, therefore toxicant compromise of FM ability to fight off infectious microorganisms could significantly contribute to PTB risk. This Perspective provides the current status of understanding of toxicant-pathogen interactions in FM, highlighting knowledge gaps, challenges, and opportunities for research that can advance protections for maternal and fetal health.