cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Anthropomorphic tendon-driven robotic hands can exceed human grasping capabilities following optimization

How functional versatility emerges in vertebrate limbs in spite of their anatomical complexity is a longstanding question. In particular, fingers are actuated by numerous muscles pulling on tendons following intricate paths. In contrast, the tendon-driven robotic hands with intuitive tendon routings preferred by roboticists for their ease of analysis and control do not perform at the level of their biological counterparts. Thus there is much debate on whether and how the anatomy of the human hand contributes to grasp capabilities. These parallel questions in biology and robotics arise partly because it is unclear how the number and routing of tendons offer functional benefits. We use a novel computational approach that analyzes tendon-driven systems and quantifies grasp quality to compare the precision grasp capabilities of thousands of robotic index finger and thumb designs vs. the capabilities measured in human hands. Our exhaustive search finds that neither the symmetrical designs sometimes preferred by roboticists nor randomly generated designs approach the grasp capabilities of the human hand (they are on average 73% weaker). However, optimizing for anatomically plausible asymmetry in joint centers, tendon routings, and maximal tendon tensions produces designs that can exceed the human hand by 13-45%, and outperform the preferred robotic designs by up to 435%. Thus, the grasp capabilities of prosthetic or anthropomorphic hands can be greatly improved by judiciously altering design parameters, at times in counter-intuitive ways. Moreover we conclude that, in addition to its other capabilities, the human hand's anatomy is very advantageous for precision grasp as it greatly outperforms numerous alternative robotic designs.
Usefulness of cardiac resynchronization therapy in the management of Doxorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy.

Doxorubicin is a widely used antineoplastic agent that may cause irreversible dilated cardiomyopathy. Doxorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy (DIC) can occur several years after exposure and carries a poor prognosis. Although cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is a useful intervention in end-stage heart failure unresponsive to optimal medical therapies, its efficacy in DIC remains unknown. Four consecutive patients receiving CRT for DIC were evaluated before and after CRT. CRT resulted in improvements in the mean left ventricular ejection fraction at 1 month from 21 ± 4.7% to 34 ± 5% (p = 0.03) and at 6 months (to 46 ± 7.5%, p = 0.01). CRT-induced reverse remodeling was observed, with a mean reduction in left ventricular internal diameter at end-diastole from 54.75 ± 3.7 to 52.5 ± 1.9 mm at 1 month (p = 0.06) and further to 47 ± 2.3 mm at 6 months (p = 0.03). All patients experienced reductions in heart failure symptoms and improvements in New York Heart Association functional class (p <0.05). The impact of CRT was sustained over a follow-up of 18.5 ± 3.5 months. In conclusion, this study suggests that patients with DIC, refractory to optimal pharmacologic therapy and meeting criteria for resynchronization device implantation, may achieve sustained benefit from CRT.
Hind-limb length plasticity in Anolis carolinensis

The positive relationship between hind-limb length and perch diameter is well established in Anolis lizards, both among populations of some species and among species. Interspecific comparisons indicate that longer legs confer an advantage for increased running speed on broad substrates, whereas shorter limbs provide greater maneuverability on narrow surfaces. In this light, phenotypic plasticity for hind-limb length previously detected in Anolis sagrei may be adaptive because hatchlings exposed to only broad substrates developed relatively longer hind limbs for their body size compared to hatchlings exposed to only narrow substrates. We tested the generality of hind-limb length plasticity in Anolis by conducting a hatchling growth experiment on Anolis carolinensis, a distant relative of A. sagrei and a different type of habitat specialist. Similar to A. sagrei, A. carolinensis grown in cages with different sized perches showed hind-limb length plasticity, but the magnitude of difference between treatments and sexes was less for A. carolinensis than for A. sagrei. This finding suggests either hind-limb plasticity is widespread within the genus Anolis or that it has evolved independently at least twice.
Ethical attitudes of entry-level MIS personnel

Abstract A survey examining the ethical attitudes of over 125 uppe4 division undergraduate business students was administered. As this sample contains students from throughout the southwestern United States that will be accepting jobs in a matter of months this group is representative of entry-level employees in this United States area. Frequently, entry-level employees are naive regarding “accepted” corporate behavior. “Acceptable behavior” may be a particularly ambigous concept in the information systems field, since the field is still relatively young and is evolving at a tremendously rapid pace. The survey focussed on situations containing computer-based systems and investigated motives of obligation, oppurtunity, and intent. Responses by MIS subjects are compared to non-MIS subjects. Some statistically significant differences between the groups appeared: non-MIS subjects felt programmers should be responsible for the inherent correctness of calculations embodied in programs, MIS subjects indicated stronger notions of professional responsibility, and MIS subjects were more tolerant on the issue of unauthorized software copying. These results indicate entry-level personnel should be given specific guidelines regarding acceptable corporate behavior.
TORNADO DAMAGE PATTERNS IN TOPEKA, KANSAS, JUNE 8, 1966

Abstract An investigation of the damage resulting from the tornado in Topeka, Kans. on June 8, 1966 was conducted in an effort to determine the most protected areas of dwellings during this tornado. Inspection of 28 full basements under severely damaged houses and houses blown away revealed that some variation of unsafe areas did occur. The north-east section was somewhat safer than other locations although this was not statistically significant. Results based on observations of 17 walk-out basements showed that the north section of the basement was significantly safer than other locations. The walk-out basements faced the southwest which was also the direction from which the storm came. Investigation of the damage to the first floor of 90 houses which had both safe and unsafe areas showed the north and central sections were significantly safer than other locations.
The Roots and Achievements of the Early Proto‐Sunni Movement: A Profile and Interpretation

In recent years, the term “proto-Sunni” has become common in scholarship on the early centuries of Islam. Drawing on categories developed by Peter Berger, this study seeks to move toward a more inclusive portrait of the early proto-Sunni movement and a more organic understanding of the movement's success. It argues that owing to the erosion of several of the “plausibility structures” of earliest Islam, three tendencies emerged among the proto-Sunnis between the early 8th and mid-9th centuries C.E.: proto-Sunnis as traditionist ῾ulamā᾽, proto-Sunnis as pious ascetics, and proto-Sunnis as volunteer holy warriors. The prestige acquired through their activities in these areas enabled the early proto-Sunnis to “objectify” and “legitimize” new plausibility structures which would prove decisive to an eventual Sunni consensus.
Why Can't More Good Surgeons Learn Rhinoplasty?

Scientific medicine is not always scientific enough. Can this be the reason that plastic surgeons still approach rhinoplasty more cautiously than any other operation?1,2 In private, surgeons confide that they are confused about tip projection and surgical planning, cannot predict their results, and do not understand why patients’ airways diminish postoperatively or why published techniques produce unexpected deformities. Why is it so difficult for good surgeons to learn rhinoplasty? Although the senior author performs only endonasal rhinoplasty, we had hoped that the open approach might be the answer. It had conceptual appeal and charismatic advocates, seemed easier to learn, and gave a better sense of control. Given those putative advantages, one would expect the need for very few revisions: Most secondary patients ought to have had endonasal rhinoplasties. Instead, the majority have had open rhinoplasties.3,4 Although the good results from open or closed approaches may be better, the bad results are often worse. Confusing matters further, no published outcome study has yet demonstrated that either surgical technique creates better results and fewer complications for most patients, which deepens the weeds for novices. Today we should know more. Here are several reasons why we don’t. Why don’t all surgeons know the basics—those principles upon which all rhinoplasty faculty can agree? One reason is that the faculty—as relatively small as it is—cannot agree on the basics. There is no uniform consensus about structural support, ideal surface aesthetics, the relative contributions of skin and skeleton to nasal shape, how much (or even if) the skin sleeve will shrink; how best to stabilize the internal or external valves (or even how many valves … Corresponding Author: Dr Mark B. Constantian, 19 Tyler Street, Suite 302-4, Nashua, New Hampshire, 03060, USA. E-mail: mbconstantian{at}gmail.com
Forced Migration and HIV/AIDS Risks in Angola

This study examines HIV/AIDS-related knowledge attitudes and behaviour of forced migrants in Luanda Angola by comparing them with those of voluntary migrants and long-time city residents. The study uses data from a survey of 1081 men and women conducted in 2004 in two suburban municipalities of Luanda. One of the municipalities has a large share and the other a small share of the forced migrant population. The analysis detects differences between forced migrants and the other groups in HIV/AIDS-related knowledge and attitudes but these differences are explained away by the demographic characteristics and socio-economic disadvantages of forced migrants. With respect to behaviour we find that regardless of other characteristics forced migrant men are more likely to engage in practices that may lead to increased HIV risks than long-time male city dwellers. The differences between forced and voluntary male migrants show the same tendency but are not statistically significant. While women overall are less likely to engage in potentially risky practices than men differences among women in the three migration-status groups are not as pronounced as among men.
New genomospecies related to Borrelia valaisiana, isolated from mammals in Okinawa archipelago, Japan

In 2000 and 2001, a survey was conducted of Borrelia isolated from various mammals in the southernmost islands of Japan, including Okinawa (main island), Izena, Iriomote and Ishigaki. Isolates obtained from the ear tissues of Suncus murinus (10 isolates), Mus calori (four isolates), Rattus norvegicus (one isolate) and Crocidura watasei (one isolate), were characterized by RFLP of the 5S–23S rDNA intergenic spacer and sequence analysis of the intergenic spacer, 16S rDNA and flagellin gene. While these isolates showed identical RFLPs to Borrelia valaisiana found in Korea, Taiwan and the southern and central parts of China, their RFLP patterns differed from those of B. valaisiana found in European countries, and strain Am501 isolated from Ixodes columnae in Japan. It was found that these isolates clustered with each other on a phylogenetic tree based on flagellin gene and 16S rDNA sequences, but were relatively divergent from the European B. valaisiana and strain Am501. These findings suggest that these isolates found in East Asia should be classified as a new genomospecies of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato.
Don't bite the hand that feeds: assessing ecological impacts of provisioning ecotourism on an apex marine predator

Summary 1. There has been considerable debate over the past decade with respect to wildlife provisioning, especially resultant behavioural changes that may impact the ecological function of an apex predator. The controversy is exemplified by the shark diving industry, where major criticisms based on inference, anecdote and opinion stem from concerns of potential behaviourally mediated ecosystem effects because of ecotourism provisioning (aka ‘chumming’ or feeding). 2. There is a general lack of empirical evidence to refute or support associated claims. The few studies that have investigated the behavioural impacts of shark provisioning ecotourism have generated conflicting conclusions, where the confidence in such results may suffer from a narrow spatial and temporal focus given the highly mobile nature of these predators. There is need for studies that examine the potential behavioural consequences of provisioning over ecologically relevant spatial and temporal scales. 3. To advance this debate, we conducted the first satellite telemetry study and movement analysis to explicitly examine the long-range migrations and habitat utilization of tiger sharks (Galeocerdo cuvier) originating in the Bahamas and Florida, two areas that differ significantly with regards to the presence ⁄ absence of provisioning ecotourism. 4. Satellite telemetry data rejected the behaviourally mediated effects of provisioning ecotourism at large spatial and temporal scales. In contrast, to the restricted activity space and movement that were hypothesized, geolocation data evidenced previously unknown long-distance migrations and habitat use for both tiger shark populations closely associated with areas of high biological productivity in the Gulf Stream and subtropical western Atlantic Ocean. We speculate that these areas are likely critically important for G. cuvier feeding forays and parturition. 5. We concluded that, in the light of potential conservation and public awareness benefits of ecotourism provisioning, this practice should not be dismissed out of hand by managers. Given the pressing need for improved understanding of the functional ecology of apex predators relative to human disturbance, empirical studies of different species sensitivities to disturbance should be used to guide best-practice ecotourism policies that maximize conservation goals.
Accounting for haplotype uncertainty in matched association studies: A comparison of simple and flexible techniques

Population-based case-control studies measuring associations between haplotypes of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are increasingly popular, in part because haplotypes of a few “tagging” SNPs may serve as surrogates for variation in relatively large sections of the genome. Due to current technological limitations, haplotypes in cases and controls must be inferred from unphased genotypic data. Using individual-specific inferred haplotypes as covariates in standard epidemiologic analyses (e.g., conditional logistic regression) is an attractive analysis strategy, as it allows adjustment for nongenetic covariates, provides omnibus and haplotype-specific tests of association, and can estimate haplotype and haplotype × environment interaction effects. In principle, some adjustment for the uncertainty in inferred haplotypes should be made. Via simulation, we compare the performance (bias and mean squared error of haplotype and haplotype × environment interaction effect estimates) of several analytic strategies using inferred haplotypes in the context of matched case-control data. These strategies include using only the most likely haplotype assignment, the expectation substitution approach described by Stram et al. ([2003b] Hum. Hered. 55:179–190) and others, and an improper version of multiple imputation. For relatively uncomplicated haplotype structures and moderate haplotype relative risks (≤2), all methods performed comparably well (small bias with appropriately-sized confidence intervals). For larger relative risks, the most likely haplotype and multiple imputation strategies showed noticeable bias towards the null; the expectation substitution strategy still performed well. When there was more uncertainty in the inferred haplotypes, the most likely and multiple imputation strategies showed even more bias towards the null, while the expectation substitution method had slightly smaller than nominal confidence intervals for larger relative risks (≥5). An application to progesterone-receptor haplotypes and endometrial cancer further illustrates that the performance of all these methods depends on how well the observed haplotypes “tag” the unobserved causal variant. Genet. Epidemiol. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Testing for DNA Tracking by MOT1, a SNF2/SWI2 Protein Family Member

Proteins in the SNF2/SWI2 family use ATP hydrolysis to catalyze rearrangements in diverse protein-DNA complexes. How ATP hydrolysis is coupled to these rearrangements is unknown, however. One attractive model is that these ATPases are ATP-dependent DNA-tracking enzymes. This idea was tested for the SNF2/SWI2 protein family member MOT1. MOT1 is an essential Saccharomyces cerevisiae transcription factor that uses ATP to dissociate TATA binding protein (TBP) from DNA. By using a series of DNA templates with one or two TATA boxes in combination with binding sites for heterologous DNA binding “roadblock” proteins, the ability of MOT1 to track along DNA was assayed. The results demonstrate that, following ATP-dependent TBP-DNA dissociation, MOT1 dissociates rapidly from the DNA by a mechanism that does not require a DNA end. Template commitment footprinting experiments support the conclusion that ATP-dependent DNA tracking by MOT1 does not occur. These results support a model in which MOT1 drives TBP-DNA dissociation by a mechanism that involves a transient, ATP-dependent interaction with TBP-DNA which does not involve ATP-dependent DNA tracking.
Rate-compatible array LDPC codes

Rate-compatible low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes obtained from the class of array LDPC codes are presented. Our approach builds on the deterministic array LDPC code construction and allows efficient encodability across all codes in a rate-compatible family. Furthermore, the use of permutation matrices as building blocks of the parity-check matrix permits efficient decoder implementation. The suitability of rate-compatible array (RCA) LDPC codes for various applications is examined.
Downstream Fining by Selective Deposition in a Laboratory Flume

There has long been debate about the relative importance of abrasion versus selective deposition of the coarsest clasts in causing downstream fining of sediment in river systems. Although high fining rates observed in many natural rivers seem to require strong selective deposition, the ability of selective deposition to produce downstream size sorting has never been measured under controlled conditions. In an experiment using a long flume and a poorly sorted, bimodal gravel feed, downstream fining was produced by a factor of 1.3 in median size and 1.8 in 90th percentile size, over a distance of 21 meters. The experimental conditions rule out abrasion effects. Selective deposition appears to be a natural consequence of the transport and deposition of sufficiently poorly sorted or bimodal gravels and appears to be capable of accounting for fining rates observed in natural gravel rivers.
Double-Sided Exponentially Tapered GPR Antenna and Its Transmission Line Feed Structure

A double-sided broadband antenna for applications including ground-penetrating radar for detecting buried target is described. When compared with traditional coplanar-strip antennas, a better performance is achieved with a more practical design for construction. The steps in the design procedure are demonstrated herein. In addition, using incremental segments of current elements, a distributed dipole array model is derived and presented for determining S11 in the time domain and for determining the radiation pattern of this antenna. By comparing measured results and HFSS simulations, our straightforward dipole array model of the more complicated antenna structure is justified by the accuracy of the results obtained. Finally, an experimental example is presented to show that this antenna in a GPR system application is effective in detecting even small plastic targets
The transient behavior of the electromagnetic ground wave on a spherical earth

Some calculations are presented to show the nature of the transient ground wave radiated from an electric dipole which is situated over a spherical earth. The moment of the dipole is considered to vary with time in a linear manner. It is shown that the departure of the leading edge of the radiation field from a step function form is a consequence of diffraction and loss in the finitely conducting ground.
Ground-based surveillance and tracking system (GSTS) software development methodology

Software development for the ground-based surveillance and tracking system (GSTS) is described. The overall objectives of the GSTS demonstration/validation (DEM/VAL) program is to reduce technical and cost risks associated with a decision to enter the full-scale development (FSD) phase. Some of the techniques to reduce risk in this program include modern software engineering practices, automated environments, software reuse, fast evolutionary prototyping, rational tailoring of military standards, and software personnel involved early in the system-requirements specifications. The application of these techniques for risk mitigation is described. Optimal application of the various techniques is not always feasible because of a number of legal/contractual, experiential, schedule, programmatic, and resource constraints. Satisfactory decisions or factors considered in selecting alternative approaches are elaborated. >
Cross-layer optimization of wireless fading ad-hoc networks

This paper develops near-optimal designs of wireless networks in the presence of fading. The novel approach optimizes jointly application level rates, routes, link capacities, power consumption and physical layer parameters. The physical layer is interference limited with terminals distributing their power budget among frequency tones, neighboring nodes and fading states. The present contribution builds on recent results establishing the optimality of layered architectures and develops physical layer resource allocation algorithms that are seamlessly integrated into layered architectures without loss of optimality.
Can angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors protect against symptomatic radiation pneumonitis?

Abstract Wang, L. W., Fu, X-L., Clough, R., Sibley, G., Fan, M., Bentel, G. C., Marks, L. B. and Anscher, M. S. Can Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors Protect against Symptomatic Radiation Pneumonitis? This study was designed to determine whether patients taking angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors while receiving radiation therapy for lung cancer are protected from developing symptomatic radiation pneumonitis. The records of 213 eligible patients receiving thoracic irradiation for lung cancer with curative intent at Duke University Medical Center from 1994–1997 were reviewed. Of the 213 patients, 26 (12.2%) were on ACE inhibitors (usually for the management of hypertension) during radiotherapy (group 1); the remaining 187 patients (group 2) were not. Patients were irradiated, with fields shaped to protect normal tissues, with total doses of 50–80 Gy. After treatment, patients were generally followed every 3 months for 2 years, then every 6 months thereafter. Symptomatic radiation pneumoni...
Timing Long Horizon Predictability: Investment Implications

The analysis in this paper is twofold: a) we use the Vector Autoregressive (VAR) methodology to briefly study predictability of bond and stock returns, and b) we investigate the efficiency of stock and bond markets by exploring a buy and sell strategy made up of a hypothetical portfolio which consists of bonds and stocks. Our strategy indicates that unexploited profit opportunities exist in the U.S. security markets. The trading strategy used to identify profitability is based on return predictability. More specifically, we estimate risk-adjusted cumulative twelve-month and quarterly compounded returns on the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the 30-year U.S. Treasury bonds using a state of the art forecasting model. We construct our portfolio which consists of bonds and stocks based on the highest forecast given by the model as follows. Buy stocks when the forecast shows returns are higher in the stock market. Switch your portfolio into bonds every time the forecast model shows higher returns in the bond market.
Current source-density analysis of the b-wave of frog retina

1. Current source-density analysis was used to study the spatial and temporal properties of b-wave current sources and sinks in the frog eye cup. 2. The analysis shows that the b-wave arises primarily from a current source near the retinal surface and from two current sinks, one in the distal portion of the inner plexiform layer and the other in the outer plexiform layer. 3. The magnitude of the distal (outer plexiform layer) sink peaks at an earlier time than does the proximal sink, and decays at a faster rate. At early times, however, the proximal sink is greater in magnitude. 4. The results demonstrate that the currents of the proximal and distal sinks both contribute positively to the transretinal voltage, summing to give the b-wave response. 5. The spatial and temporal properties of the two current sinks closely match those of the two light-evoked extracellular K+ ([K+],) increases observed by others. This correspondence supports the hypothesis that increases in [K+], lead to the generation of b-wave currents. The distribution of these currents indicate that they flow through the glial cells of Muller.
Monetary Policy Analysis Based on Lasso-Assisted Vector Autoregression (Lavar)

Measuring the quantitative effects of monetary policy on the economy has been playing a central role in promoting economic growth and stability. However, in the presence of numerous macroeconomic variables, traditional vector autoregression (VAR) could only accommodate a few data series, and thus may ignore the information set which is actually observed by central banks and financial market participants. In this paper, we propose a novel VAR model with the aid of new developments in high-dimensional statistical inference. Our approach could handle hundreds of observed data series simultaneously, and increase the prediction accuracy as well as the robustness of monetary policy analysis in a data-rich environment. It has been shown that our model outperforms factor-augmented VAR in terms of in-sample-fit and out-of-sample forecasts. Moreover, impulse responses are observed for all macroeconomic variables, where “price puzzle”, a commonly observed empirical anomaly, is resolved.
Nonesterified fatty acids modulate steroidogenesis in mouse Leydig cells

The effects of nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) in modulating testosterone synthesis stimulated by luteinizing hormone (LH, 10 ng/sample) were investigated in isolated adult mouse Leydig cells. LH-stimulated testosterone production was inhibited by triglycerides (0-500 mg/dl, 50 mg/dl, 94% of the control and 500 mg/dl, 40%) and by a mixture of NEFA (100 microM, 70% of control, 200 microM, 54%, and greater than 200 microM, less than 50%). Oleic acid was a more potent inhibitor than linoleic, stearic, or palmitic acids. 8-Bromoadenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (8-BrcAMP, 5 mM) stimulated testosterone production comparable to LH but failed to reverse the inhibition of steroidogenesis produced by the NEFA. The inhibition produced by NEFA was dependent on extracellular Ca2+; and a Ca2+ channel antagonist, verapamil (10 microM), enhanced the inhibition of chylomicrons and fatty acids. 22(R)-hydroxycholesterol (10 microM) reversed the inhibition produced by NEFA. The inhibitory effects of NEFA were reversible by removal of the fatty acids. The results indicate that NEFA are potent modulators of testosterone synthesis in Leydig cells stimulated with either LH, cAMP, or intracellular Ca2+. NEFA inhibit steroidogenesis at one of the steps preceding conversion of cholesterol to pregnenolone.
Site-Specific Measurements of Lipid Membrane Interfacial Water Dynamics with Multidimensional Infrared Spectroscopy

One route to accessing site-specific dynamical information available with ultrafast multidimensional infrared spectroscopy is the development of robust and versatile vibrational probes. Here we synthesize and characterize a vibrationally labeled cholesterol derivative, (cholesteryl benzoate) chromium tricarbonyl, to probe model lipid membranes, focusing specifically on the membrane–water interface. Utilizing FTIR and polarized-ATR spectroscopies, we determine the location of the chromium tricarbonyl motif to be situated at the water–membrane interface with an orientation of 46 ± 2° relative to the vector normal to the membrane surface. We test the dynamical sensitivity of the (cholesteryl benzoate) chromium tricarbonyl label with two different nonlinear infrared spectroscopy methods, both of which show that the probe is well-suited to the study of membrane dynamics as well as the dynamics of water at the membrane interface. The metal carbonyl vibrational probe located at the surface of a bicelle exhibits ...
A new antipsychotic agent:blonanserin

Blonanserin as a new atypical antipsychotic agent is an antagonist of serotonin 5-HT2 and dopamine D2 receptor,and displays low or very low affinities for dopamine D1,adrenergicα1,histamine H1, and muscarinic M1 receptors.Blonanserin has obvious effects on schizophrenia with fewer adverse reactions.It can improve both positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia and some aspects of cognitive function in patients with schizophrenia.The article provides an up-to-date review of the agent.
The @UFC and third wave feminism? Who woulda thought? Gender, fighters, and framing on Twitter

Most professional sports, such as hockey, tennis, and basketball, separate men’s and women’s sports leagues. In 2013, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) disrupted this pattern by showcasing its first women’s mixed martial arts (MMA) fight in a once male-only fight league. While the UFC’s inclusion of female fighters is a step forward for gender equality, the change does not come without issues. This essay focuses on the framing of female UFC fighters on Twitter over a four year period. Through an intersectional feminist analysis, it examines how Twitter users frame female fighters’ bodies in relation to gender, race, class, and sexuality. It argues that there is an imbalance in attention paid to female fighters in regards to gender, race, class, and sexuality, and this constructs contradictory messaging about feminism, female fighters’ bodies, and the UFC on Twitter.
Dependence of scale factor on initial cloud size for an atom-ball gyroscope

We present an atom interferometer based on an expanding cloud of laser-cooled atoms sensitive to 2-axis rotations and 1-axis acceleration in an effective volume of 1 cm3. We observed spatially resolved fringes by imaging the expanding cloud after short free-fall durations. If the atom cloud does not start as a point source, a bias is introduced in the scale factor that differs from the simple point-source limit. We explored the scale factor deviation experimentally with different initial cloud sizes and will present our understanding of this important systematic.
Accuracy and limitations of planar thallium scintigraphy for identifying the involved coronary artery in patients with single-vessel disease : Findings in the ACME trial

This study compared the location of thallium-201 perfusion defects with the location of angiographically documented single-vessel coronary artery stenosis in 161 patients enrolled in the Veterans Administration Cooperative Study of Angioplasty Compared to Medical Therapy for Myocardial Ischemia. Planar myocardial perfusion imaging was undertaken in anterior, left anterior oblique, and lateral views. Each view was divided into three segments, thus providing nine segments for analysis. The ability of thallium-201 scintigraphy to predict the diseased coronary artery was assessed using a scoring system with probability ratios for discrimination. The mean diameter stenosis of all coronary artery lesions was greater than 80%. Nineteen patients (12%) had normal perfusion studies, six patients had an isolated segmental defect, and the remainder had defects in multiple segments (mean, 4.2 per patient). Left anterior descending stenosis was associated with significantly more frequent segmental defects in the septal segment of the left anterior oblique view and the anterior segment in the lateral view. The infrequent occurrence of segmental defects in the inferior segment of the lateral view with left anterior descending stenosis was significant (p<0.05). Sixty-four percent of patients with right coronary artery stenosis showed a segmental thallium defect in the inferior segment of the anterior view (p<0.05), while none ofthe patients with right coronary artery disease demonstrated a thallium defect in the anterolateral segment in the same view. The only segment that discriminated in favor of the circumflex stenosis was the posterior segment in the left anterior oblique projection (42%; p<0.01). Using probability ratios, the apical segment in the anterior view lacked predictive capability for any specific coronary artery stenosis. Scoring predicted one vessel in 105 of the 142 patients with perfusion defects. However, predictions were correct in only 45% of the patients overall and in only 26% of patients with circumflex coronary artery stenosis. Predictions of location were most frequently correct for patients with stenosis of the left anterior descending artery (62%). In summary, this study showed that thallium defects are rarely localized to a single segment and frequently involve multiple segments even in patients with single-vessel disease. Apical defects occur frequently with stenosis in all three coronary arteries and are least predictive of disease location. Although the location of planar thallium-201 perfusion defects generally identified the coronary artery with stenosis, variability was high. A scoring system that integrated all segmental defects often failed to correctly identify the coronary artery with stenosis, especially when it involved the circumflex coronary artery.
Improving ICF implosion performance with alternative capsule supports

The thin membrane that holds the capsule in-place in the hohlraum is recognized as one of the most significant contributors to reduced performance in indirect drive inertial confinement fusion (ICF) experiments on the National Ignition Facility. This membrane, known as the “tent,” seeds a perturbation that is amplified by Rayleigh-Taylor and can rupture the capsule. A less damaging capsule support mechanism is under development. Possible alternatives include the micron-scale rods spanning the hohlraum width and supporting either the capsule or stiffening the fill-tube, a larger fill-tube to both fill and support the capsule, or a low-density foam layer that protects the capsule from the tent impact. Experiments are testing these support features to measure their imprint on the capsule. These experiments are revealing unexpected aspects about perturbation development in indirect drive ICF, such as the importance of shadows coming from bright spots in the hohlraum. Two dimensional and 3D models are used to ...
Capsule Production and Glucose Metabolism Dictate Fitness during Serratia marcescens Bacteremia.

Serratia marcescens is an opportunistic pathogen that causes a range of human infections, including bacteremia, keratitis, wound infections, and urinary tract infections. Compared to other members of the Enterobacteriaceae family, the genetic factors that facilitate Serratia proliferation within the mammalian host are less well defined. An in vivo screen of transposon insertion mutants identified 212 S. marcescens fitness genes that contribute to bacterial survival in a murine model of bloodstream infection. Among those identified, 11 genes were located within an 18-gene cluster encoding predicted extracellular polysaccharide biosynthesis proteins. A mutation in the wzx gene contained within this locus conferred a loss of fitness in competition infections with the wild-type strain and a reduction in extracellular uronic acids correlating with capsule loss. A second gene, pgm, encoding a phosphoglucomutase exhibited similar capsule-deficient phenotypes, linking central glucose metabolism with capsule production and fitness of Serratia during mammalian infection. Further evidence of the importance of central metabolism was obtained with a pfkA glycolytic mutant that demonstrated reduced replication in human serum and during murine infection. An MgtB magnesium transporter homolog was also among the fitness factors identified, and an S. marcescens mgtB mutant exhibited decreased growth in defined medium containing low concentrations of magnesium and was outcompeted ~10-fold by wild-type bacteria in mice. Together, these newly identified genes provide a more complete understanding of the specific requirements for S. marcescens survival in the mammalian host and provide a framework for further investigation of the means by which S. marcescens causes opportunistic infections.IMPORTANCESerratia marcescens is a remarkably prolific organism that replicates in diverse environments, including as an opportunistic pathogen in human bacteremia. The genetic requirements for S. marcescens survival in the mammalian bloodstream were defined in this work by transposon insertion sequencing. In total, 212 genes that contribute to bacterial fitness were identified. When sorted via biological function, two of the major fitness categories identified herein were genes encoding capsule polysaccharide biogenesis functions and genes involved in glucose utilization. Further investigation determined that certain glucose metabolism fitness genes are also important for the generation of extracellular polysaccharides. Together, these results identify critical biological processes that allow S. marcescens to colonize the mammalian bloodstream.
User perception and interpretation of tornado probabilistic hazard information: Comparison of four graphical designs

Abstract Effective design for presenting severe weather information is important to reduce devastating consequences of severe weather. The Probabilistic Hazard Information (PHI) system for severe weather is being developed by NOAA National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) to communicate probabilistic hazardous weather information. This study investigates the effects of four PHI graphical designs for tornado threat, namely, “four-color”,” red-scale”, “grayscale” and “contour”, on users’ perception, interpretation, and reaction to threat information. PHI is presented on either a map background or a radar background. Analysis showed that the accuracy was significantly higher and response time faster when PHI was displayed on map background as compared to radar background due to better contrast. When displayed on a radar background, “grayscale” design resulted in a higher accuracy of responses. Possibly due to familiarity, participants reported four-color design as their favorite design, which also resulted in the fastest recognition of probability levels on both backgrounds. Our study shows the importance of using intuitive color-coding and sufficient contrast in conveying probabilistic threat information via graphical design. We also found that users follows a rational perceiving-judging-feeling-and acting approach in processing probabilistic hazard information for tornado.
Tree breeding model to assess financial performance of pine hybrids and pure species: deterministic and stochastic approaches for South Africa

Financial performance of the P. patula × P. tecunumanii, P. greggii × P. tecunumanii, P. taeda × P. tecunumanii hybrids and their parental species was studied for South Africa. A model was developed for use in determining the profitability of a tree-breeding program (TBP) with pine hybrids in commercial plantations. Growth measurement data were collected in four, 12-year-old genetic trials on Mondi and Sappi land holdings in South Africa. Growth models developed for P. patula and P. taeda in South Africa were used to infer models for the other taxa and to calculate the optimal financial rotation age at discount rates of 6 and 8%. Financial data on pine plantations were collected from different sources in South Africa. Optimal rotation lengths in this study were found to be between 12 and 16 years for pulpwood and 17 years for sawtimber. The model output shows the net present value (NPV), the internal rate of return, and the minimum area that a tree grower has to plant every year in order to justify the investment in a TBP. A stochastic approach with Monte Carlo simulation showed that the sensitivity of NPV to uncertainty in the wood price was greater than that for the planting, harvesting, and transport costs.
Inequality Frames: How Teachers Inhabit Color-blind Ideology:

This paper examines how public school teachers take up, modify, or resist the dominant ideology of color-blind racism. This examination is based on in-depth interviews with 60 teachers at three seg...
Research Needs to Understand Self-Management of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms: Summary of NIDDK Workshop

Abstract Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are common in men and impose significant economic, health and quality of life burdens. Despite an expanding view of LUTS etiology and challenges with medical and surgical treatments, LUTS research has continued to focus primarily on surgical or pharmaceutical treatment of urinary tract dysfunction, with little attention to behavioral, cognitive, or social factors. Further, self-management research is relatively underdeveloped in urology, despite its potential to support behavioral, pharmacologic, and surgical treatments for LUTS. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases convened urologists, behavioral scientists, public health professionals, and other key stakeholders at the How to Help Men with LUTS Help Themselves meeting in September 2016. Meeting participants discussed the potential role of self-management in men with LUTS and identified key research needs to advance self-management science in their treatment. Meeting participants concluded that research including a well-designed randomized clinical trial (RCT) evaluating the effect of behavioral interventions could have a major impact on how LUTS are recognized and managed. However, researchers must first address key questions about self-management of LUTS in men to improve our understanding of LUTS and existing LUTS treatments, determine which patient subgroups will most benefit from self-management, identify the aspects of self-management most likely to benefit patients, and develop strategies to successfully implement LUTS self-management into medical practice. This manuscript outlines these key research questions.
Couplets: Helping Elementary School Students Recognize Structure in Code (Abstract Only)

We believe teaching elementary school students to reason about programs is as important as teaching them to write programs. To facilitate development of this skill in young children one must choose a developmentally appropriate domain. Microsoft's Kodu Game Lab is a pattern-matching rule-based language whose semantics is significantly different than Scratch or Python. We chose Kodu because one can write non-trivial programs in two to four lines, and analyzing these programs is within the abilities of a typical 8 year old. Reasoning about programs requires students to understand the structure of code. The approach we're advocating is analogous to sentence diagramming, where one starts with a sequence of words and develops a representation of their syntactic and semantic relationships. One can similarly analyze Kodu programs by characterizing rules and recognizing relationships between rules. In this poster we describe "couplets", an analysis technique that reveals the presence within a program of an important Kodu design pattern called Pursue and Consume. Using this technique leads to accurate predictions about program behavior, and uncovers bugs if the pattern is not fully realized. As part of a study of 40 third graders who were learning Kodu, we provided brief instruction in the couplets technique. We found that they were able to apply couplets to 3-4 line programs and answer prediction questions with a roughly 85% success rate. Our results demonstrate that elementary school children can learn to reason abstractly about programs if given the right mental tools.
New Methods in Molecular Shape Analysis to Identify and Characterize Active Conformations

This presentation focuses upon developing methods to postulate active conformations/shapes in a series of flexible analogs when the receptor geometry is unknown. In one study of a set of 3-X substituted triazines which inhibit dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR), the size and flexibility of the substituents were both too large, and the number of analogs and substituent structural changes each too small, to permit a reliable inference of the active substituent conformation. However, use of template conformations from ligands bound to DHFR, along with minimum energy substituent conformations, permitted us to postulate that the bonding topology of the substituent, and not its conformation, controls the SAR. In another study of a series of β-hydroxylase inhibitors it was possible to construct a molecular shape descriptor that employs loss in intramolecular conformational energy as part of the shape comparison. In both cases significant 3D-QSARs were generated and the methods developed were added to our molecular shape analysis (MSA) formalism.
Case 66: Spinal Fracture and Flail-Segment Rib Fractures Following a Motor Vehicle Accident

A 44-year-old was admitted to the emergency room following a MVA. He had extensive crush injuries, bilateral flail chest, unstable traumatic spine fractures of T10 and T11, as well as other injuries. He had been a smoker and was treated for hypertension. He was classified as an ASA 2 E. His BMI was 28.
Pulse reflection from a randomly stratified medium

Probing the earth, the ocean or the atmosphere is commonly performed by sending a pulse through the medium and then measuring the backscattered pulse as it is reflected back to the surface. The medium typically has complicated structure, so that some simplifying assumptions are usually made; for general reference on the subject see the articles in the book [1].
Exploring cloud services with body area networks for medical care: poster abstract

Recent studies [1][2] use mobile phones as data aggregators of body area networks. To better support body network applications, mobile phones can also utilize cloud services. In this paper, we explore the opportunities to design and develop personal health care applications with cloud services. Specifically, relay service, rendezvous service, speech to text service, and other web services are incorporated into a medical alarm response system that we design and develop on Windows Phone 7. The proposed system architecture consists of three components: a front-end body area network that collects personal health data, a mobile app that aggregates data collected and accesses cloud, and the cloud that provides data processing, storage, and other novel services. Most of the existing alarm systems on mobile phones do not use cloud services. Our case study demonstrates rich functionalities and potentials of integrating cloud services into body area networks.
Describing natural textures

There have been many different approaches to texture description, primarily statistical techniques although there has been some work on structural texture analysis all along. We present here a technique which can be used to easily derive parts of the structural description-the regularity information in particular. Some limits on this method and its use in an overall texture description system are discussed.