cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Modular verification of security protocol code by typing

We propose a method for verifying the security of protocol implementations. Our method is based on declaring and enforcing invariants on the usage of cryptography. We develop cryptographic libraries that embed a logic model of their cryptographic structures and that specify preconditions and postconditions on their functions so as to maintain their invariants. We present a theory to justify the soundness of modular code verification via our method.We implement the method for protocols coded in F# and verified using F7, our SMT-based typechecker for refinement types, that is, types carrying formulas to record invariants. As illustrated by a series of programming examples, our method can flexibly deal with a range of different cryptographic constructions and protocols.We evaluate the method on a series of larger case studies of protocol code, previously checked using whole-program analyses based on ProVerif, a leading verifier for cryptographic protocols. Our results indicate that compositional verification by typechecking with refinement types is more scalable than the best domain-specific analysis currently available for cryptographic code.
Conservative management of intrascrotal appendiceal torsion.

Abstract A case is presented of torsion of an intrascrotal appendage which was managed conservatively and may assist in defining the indications for operation in this disorder.
Participant perception of recovery as criterion to establish importance of improvement for constraint-induced movement therapy outcome measures: a preliminary study.

Background and Purpose Changes in function following constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) are characterized primarily by improvements in performance; however, the importance of these outcome measures to the participant may be unclear. The primary purpose of this study was to determine whether either change scores or raw follow-up scores for the Motor Activity Log amount scale (MALa) and the Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT) predicted participants' self-reports of recovery of upper-extremity function at 4 to 6 months after starting CIMT. Subjects and Methods This study was a secondary analysis of a cohort of subjects (N=46) who participated in CIMT trials. Subjects completed measures at baseline and 4 to 6 months later. Hierarchical regression models determined whether change scores or raw follow-up scores of CIMT outcome measures were predictive of perceived recovery. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves determined cutoff scores for measures that significantly contributed to participants' reports of perceived recovery. Results The regression models indicated that raw follow-up MALa scores (β=0.80, P =.024) and WMFT scores (β=−0.37, P =.03) contributed to perceived recovery. Proposed cutoff scores for the MALa scores were less than 1.15 (negative likelihood ratio [LR]=0.17) for predicting less than 50% recovery and greater than 2.50 (positive LR=2.75) for predicting 50% or greater recovery. Proposed cutoff scores for follow-up WMFT scores were greater than 34.0 seconds (negative LR=0.24) for predicting less than 50% recovery and less than 11.0 seconds (positive LR=5.96) for predicting 50% or greater recovery. Discussion and Conclusion Raw follow-up scores for the MALa and WMFT were better predictors of self-report of recovery in comparison with change scores. These data also serve as a starting point for developing cutoff scores that accurately predict self-report of recovery.
Optimal operating point for MIMO multiple access channel with bursty traffic

Multiple antennas at the transmitters and receivers in a multiple access channel (MAC) can provide simultaneous diversity, spatial multiplexing, and space-division multiple access gains. The fundamental tradeoff in the asymptotically large SNR regime is shown by Tse et al. (2004). On the other hand, MAC scheduling can provide a statistical-multiplexing gain to improve the delay performance as shown by Bertsimas et al. (1998) and Stolyar and Ramanan (2001). In this paper, we formulate and analytically derive bounds on the optimal operating point for MIMO-MAC channel for bursty sources with delay constraints. Our system model brings together the four types of gains: diversity, spatial multiplexing, space-division multiple-access, and statistical-multiplexing gains. Our objective is to minimize the end-to-end performance as defined by the delay bound violation probability as well as the channel decoding error probability. We And the optimal diversity gain and rate region in which the system should operate. As an example, we illustrate our technique and the optimal operating point for the case of a compound Poisson source. In addition, we note an interesting interplay between the intensity of the traffic and resource pooling with regard to both multiple-access and statistical-multiplexing gains.
A survival analysis approach to modeling human fecundity

Understanding conception probabilities is important not only for helping couples to achieve pregnancy but also in identifying acute or chronic reproductive toxicants that affect the highly timed and interrelated processes underlying hormonal profiles, ovulation, libido, and conception during menstrual cycles. Currently, 2 statistical approaches are available for estimating conception probabilities depending upon the research question and extent of data collection during the menstrual cycle: a survival approach when interested in modeling time-to-pregnancy (TTP) in relation to women or couples' purported exposure(s), or a hierarchical Bayesian approach when one is interested in modeling day-specific conception probabilities during the estimated fertile window. We propose a biologically valid discrete survival model that unifies the above 2 approaches while relaxing some assumptions that may not be consistent with human reproduction or behavior. This approach combines both the survival and the hierarchical models allowing investigators to obtain the distribution of TTP and day-specific probabilities during the fertile window in a single model. Our model allows for the consideration of covariate effects at both the cycle and the daily level while accounting for daily variation in conception. We conduct extensive simulations and utilize the New York State Angler Prospective Pregnancy Cohort Study to illustrate our approach. We also provide the code to implement the model in R software in the supplemental section of the supplementary material available at Biostatistics online.
Effect of X irradiation on optical properties of Teflon-AF

Abstract Radiation effects in optical-grade amorphous fluoropolymer, Teflon-AF, is investigated by UV-visible absorption and electron spin resonance (ESR) measurements. When irradiated with low-energy (40 kVp) X-rays at room temperature in air, Teflon-AF is found to develop a broad, structureless UV-absorption band in the wavelength interval 200–350 nm. While the UV absorption increases as a function of X-ray dose, with relative rates of approx 2 × 10-5 Gy-1 (1 × 10-5 Gy-1) in Teflon-AF 1600 (Teflon-AF 2400), its optical transparency for a given dose of 67.5 kGy, however, remains unaffected. Additional measurements conducted using electron spin resonance (ESR) technique reveal that the observed UV absorption is caused by the X-ray induced peroxy radical (POO . ). The results also suggest that the inclusion of dioxole monomer in the PTFE chain not only improves the optical clarity of Teflon-AF, as reported, but also increases its radiation tolerance. During a post-irradiation storage in air at RT for about 30 days the peroxy radical is observed to decay, with a concomitant decrease in UV absorption. A tentative model is proposed to explain the radiation damage and recovery mechanisms.
A Reanalysis of the Skagit Cloud Seeding Project

Abstract In a previous analysis by Hastay and Gladwell (1969) of the Skagit Cloud Seeding Project, the actual runoffs of the Skagit River during the two seeded years were compared to the runoffs predicted by a principal component (or covariate) analysis technique. It was concluded that seeding from ground generators with silver iodide increased the annual runoff of the Skagit River by at least 15% in the second year of the Skagit Project (the 1964 water year) and that this result was significant at the 0.005 (or higher) level. In this paper it is shown that this conclusion cannot be substantiated due to the inclusion in their analysis of a control river which behaved anomalously during the 1964 water year and on which the statistical significance of Hastay and Gladwell's result rests. Comparisons of the runoff of the Skagit river during the 1964 water year with the runoffs of two similarly situated rivers, with which the Skagit is well correlated historically, show no significant effects due to seeding.
The Role of Lectins and Glycoconjugates in Cellular Slime Mold Adhesion

Lower eukaryotic organisms have been extensively used as models for specific recognition and adhesion. One such organism is the cellular slime mold. When starved, these cells undergo a developmental change which results in the normally asocial amoebae streaming together into aggregates. These aggregates undergo further differentiation resulting in the formation of a fruiting body consisting of encapsulated spores on a stalk of dead cells. The streaming of cells into aggregates is the result of the development of chemotactic sensitivity [Devreotes, 1982] as well as cell-substratum [Springer et al., 1984] and species-specific cell-cell adhesion [McDonough et al., 1980; Gerisch, 1980]. We will discuss here the evidence for the role of an endogenous lectin in the cell-substratum adhesion and describe a glycoprotein involved in the cell-cell adhesion.
The Tax Consequences of Catalyzed Fans

This article, in honor of Dan Markel, explores the tax issues that would arise were fans to band together as a Fan Action Committee (FAC) to offer players additional compensation or a donation to a favored charity as an incentive to sign with the fans’ team, the proposal at the heart of one of Dan’s last articles. Both the direct compensation and charitable models raise questions regarding whether the players and owners have income, the tax consequences for the FAC of both contributions and distributions, and the fans’ ability to deduct contributions to the FAC. Exploring these questions will help pave the way for FACs to move from academic discourse to the real world, offers the opportunity to consider a number of important tax policy issues that have far broader application, and seems like a wonderful way to honor Dan’s memory.
Individual Identification and Distribution of Genotypic Differences Between Individuals

The DNA extracted from forensic evidence has revolutionized law enforcement. The DNA extracted from hair, feces, and other noninvasive samples is having the same effect on ecology and conservation biology. The simplest, and most frequent, use of noninvasive DNA is individual identification. Multilocus genotypes, sometimes referred to as DNA fingerprints, can be used to identify individuals and thus count or track animals (e.g., Woods et al. 1999). Two genetic problems can frustrate individual identification. First, if not enough loci are examined, multilocus genotypes in a population may not be unique (e.g., Taberlet and Luikart 1999). If this happens, individuals with the same genotype will be indistinguishable. Second, genotyping errors can cause samples that came from the same individual to appear to have different genotypes, and therefore appear to have come from different individuals. Genotyping error is a substantial concern in wildlife studies using noninvasive samples because hair and feces contain small amounts of DNA, and this DNA degrades in the field (e.g., Taberlet et al. 1999). The most common problem is that heterozygotes are scored as homozygotes, but other errors are possible (Taberlet et al. 1996). If they are not detected, such errors could dramatically inflate estimates of census size (Waits and Leberg 2000). The problem of multiple individuals having the same genotype at all loci examined can be solved by increasing the number of loci in a study, and thereby decreasing the probability that 2 individuals have the same multilocus genotype. The probability that 2 individuals have the same multilocus genotype, often called the probability of identity, PID, can be estimated from allele frequencies in a population using established formulae (e.g., Waits et al. 2001). This probability is the standard statistic in forensic science to evaluate how well a set of molecular markers discriminates between individuals (e.g., Vazquez et al. 2004). The problem of genotyping error causing samples from the same individual to look different can also (at least in part) be solved by ensuring that a sufficient number of loci are examined. If genotyping error is reasonably small, most errors will cause samples from the same individual to differ (mismatch) at only one locus. If enough loci are scored, distinct individuals will have multilocus genotypes that mismatch at more than one locus. Therefore, if both of these criteria are met, most pairs of samples that mismatch by one locus will differ because of genotyping error, which will make identifying errors much easier (e.g., Paetkau 2003, 2004). For this reason, many researchers will want to design DNA censuses so almost all (if not all) individuals sampled will have genotypes that differ at 2 or more loci. There is, however, no formula available to calculate the probability that 2 individuals have genotypes that differ at 2 or more loci. We provide formulae for this purpose, and introduce a computer program to implement them.
Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis of Yersinia pestis.

Abstract Yersinia pestis is a human pathogen and can cause serious disease. Biosafety level 3 (BSL3) is required when handling this microorganism and all work requires a biological safety cabinet. For pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), dedicated BSL3 PFGE equipment or a documented procedure that ensures that all viable bacteria are inactivated is required. All plasticware and glassware that comes into contact with the cultures should be disinfected/sterilized or disposed of in a safe manner, according to the guidelines of institution. This includes decontamination of pipettes, spatulas, etc. that were in contact with the cell suspensions or plugs. Disinfection of reusable plug molds should be done before they are washed; the disposable plug molds, including the tape and the tab that was used to push the plugs out of the wells, are also contaminated and should be disinfected with 10 % bleach for at least 30 min if they will be washed and reused.
Perceptual Processing of Syntactically Structured and Unstructured Strings

Epstein's (1962) general finding that syntactically structured word strings are learned more rapidly than unstructured ones suggested the hypothesis thac s~ich str~~ctured material is more rapidly processed perceptually than unstructured. T o test this notion 32 adults were randomly assigned to a 2 X 2 factorial design involving two degrees of sentence structure (structured and unstructured) and two cypes of material (six-letter English words and nonsense syllables). The material was presented tachistoscopically. Ss were first shown the "test item" (word or nonsense syllable) and told that a series of items would be presented but thac they should respond only to the test item. Ss responded by stopping a timer which was automatically started by the tachistoscope flashing on. In the experiment proper seven different items were presented individually; the test item appeared after the second and the fifth item. And finally, the same test item was presented in either a structured or unstructured five-item sentence. Analysis of reaction time scores to the test item in context indicated that both strucnlred versus unstrucnired strings (F = 15.4, df = 1/28, p < .01) and words versus nonsense syllables ( F = 17.7, df = 1/28, p < .01) are significant factors. Of course, the mean reaction time to the nonsense syllables (1.63 sec.) was longer than to the words (1.20 sec.). But more interestingly, the mean reaction time for the test item in the structured content (1.20 sec.) was shorter than the mean reaction time items in the unstructured context ( 1.65 sec.) independent of type of material. Apparently, the perceiver can more readily process and detect a form when ic appears in a syntactically structured string.
The Subgenus Persicargas (Ixodoidea, Argasidae, Argas). 6. A. (P.) giganteus, n. sp., from Wild Birds in Western United States and Sonora, Mexico

The new species, .Argas (Persicargas) giganteus, is described from larvae collected from several species of wild birds in Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, and California, USA, and Sonora, Mexico. The exceptionally members of this subgenus. large size of the engorged larva (largest seen were approximately 4.0 mm long by 2.57 mm wide), as well as setal characters, distinguish giganteus from the other.
Competitive microbially and Mn oxide mediated redox processes controlling arsenic speciation and partitioning

The speciation and partitioning of arsenic (As) in surface and subsurface environments are controlled, in part, by redox processes. Within soils and sediments, redox gradients resulting from mass transfer limitations lead to competitive reduction-oxidation reactions that drive the fate of As. Accordingly, the objective of this study was to determine the fate and redox cycling of As at the interface of birnessite (a strong oxidant in soil with a nominal formula of MnO(x), where x ≈ 2) and dissimilatory As(V)-reducing bacteria (strong reductant). Here, we investigate As reduction-oxidation dynamics in a diffusively controlled system using a Donnan reactor where birnessite and Shewanella sp. ANA-3 are isolated by a semipermeable membrane through which As migrates. Arsenic(III) injected into the reaction cell containing birnessite is rapidly oxidized to As(V). Arsenic(V) diffusing into the Shewanella chamber is then reduced to As(III), which subsequently diffuses back to the birnessite chamber, undergoing oxidation, and establishing a continuous cycling of As. However, we observe a rapid decline in the rate of As(III) oxidation owing to passivation of the birnessite surface. Modeling and experimental results show that high [Mn(II)] combined with increasing [CO(3)(2-)] from microbial respiration leads to the precipitation of rhodochrosite, which eventually passivates the Mn oxide surface, inhibiting further As(III) oxidation. Our results show that despite the initial capacity of birnessite to rapidly oxidize As(III), the synergistic effect of intense As(V) reduction by microorganisms and the buildup of reactive metabolites capable of passivating reactive mineral surfaces-here, birnessite-will produce (bio)geochemical conditions outside of those based on thermodynamic predictions.
Control Synthesis for Virtually Changing Wing Stiffness

Aeroelastic interactions have been noted to have a strong effect on the flight dynamics of a fixed-wing micro air vehicle. These effects include changes to the frequency and damping of the flight modes and to the shape of the flight modes. However, how these open-loop aeroelastic effects influence the closed-loop aeroservoelastic performance of a micro air vehicle is unclear. The current research investigates the longitudinal, closed-loop tracking performance of a fixed-wing micro air vehicle with varying levels of wing stiffness using a LQR tracking controller. It is found that the tracking performance decreases as wing bending stiffness decreases, for a fixed set of LQR weighting matrices. Additionally, the possibility of virtually changing the stiffness of the wing by using a model-following control scheme is investigated. In this manner, one configuration is made to respond as if it had the closed-loop tracking performance associated with a different level of stiffness. It is observed that the stiff aircraft can approximate the response of the flexible but the flexible aircraft is unable to adequately approximate the performance of the stiff aircraft.
Abstract 2123: Tetrandrine impairs prostate cancer cell survival in part by inhibiting AR signaling pathway.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in men, and the majority of prostate cancer deaths are a result of emergence of castrate resistant phenotype. Our previous studies indicated that Tetrandrine (TET), a bis-benzylisoquinoline alkaloid isolated from the root of Stephania tetrandra inhibited cell cycle progression and promoted growth arrest at lower concentrations and promoted apoptosis at higher concentrations and at longer time points. AR signaling is known to play a critical role in androgen responsive prostate cancer cells. In the present studies we evaluated the effects of TET on AR signaling in androgen dependent (LNCaP cells) as well as castrate resistant (C4 and C42B cells, castrate resistant lineages of LNCaP cells) prostate cancer cells. Exposure of LNCaP cells to Tet resulted in a dose and time dependent decrease in PSA protein (cell associated as well as secreted PSA). Further analysis revealed that Tet also decreased PSA mRNA as well as PSA promoter activity, suggesting that Tet induced decrease in PSA was a result of inhibition of PSA transcription. Since PSA is known to be an AR responsive gene, these results led us to investigate the effects of Tet on AR signaling. Results from these studies revealed that Tet inhibited AR activity as measured by TARP promoter assay. Taken together these studies suggest that Tet targets AR signaling pathway effectively blocking AR target genes. In summary our results suggest that Tet by inhibiting AR signaling pathway may work as an effective therapeutic agent in prostate cancer, for which there is no cure to date. Grant Support: Studies supported in part by VA Merit Award-01BX001258 (HK), NIH/NCI R01CA161880 (HK) and Department of Surgery, School of Medicine chair commitment (HK). Citation Format: Sweaty Koul, Hari K. Koul. Tetrandrine impairs prostate cancer cell survival in part by inhibiting AR signaling pathway. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2123. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-2123
Abstract 60: Histone Modification H3k4me2 Controls Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Lineage Memory during Vascular Injury

Smooth muscle cells (SMC) have the ability to undergo reversible phenotypic switch (i.e. dedifferentiation/redifferentiation) characterized by loss and re-expression of SMC marker genes, a process occurring during blood vessel repair and adaptive remodeling. Using SMC lineage-tracing mice, we showed that newly generated SMC derive from pre-existing SMC that transiently de-differentiate, participate in repair, and then redifferentiate following wire-induced femoral injury. However, a critical unresolved question is how dedifferentiated SMC retain their lineage identity. We previously demonstrated that SMC acquire a unique epigenetic signature during differentiation, H3K4me2 on the SMC marker genes, retained in SMC during PDGF-BB-induced phenotypic switch. Our hypothesis is that H3K4me2 on SMC genes biases SMC re-differentiation and functions as a lineage memory mechanism during vascular injury-repair. We demonstrated that H3K4me2 on SMC genes is retained in dedifferentiated and redifferentiated SMC in vivo following vascular injury using our unique ISH-PLA epigenetic assay. We also found that H3K4me2 is present and retained on the SMC regulatory gene Myocardin during PDGF-BB treatment, reinforcing significance of H3K4me2 as a regulator of SMC identity. To directly assess the functional role of H3K4me2 on the SMC repertoire, we generated a fusion protein consisting of the H3K4 demethylase LSD1 coupled to the SRF-CArG binding domain of Myocardin (Myocd-LSD1WT) to perform SMC-specific locus-selective removal of H3K4me2 on the SMC marker genes. We also generated loss-of-function mutant of Myocd-LSD1 to ensure that effects are due to H3K4me2 removal and not steric hindrance. Stable expression of Myocd-LSD1WT in SMC induced locus selective removal of H3K4me2 on SMC CArG genes without impacting non-SMC CArG-dependent genes like c-fos. Myocd-LSD1WT also inhibits expression of the SMC marker genes and abolishes the ability of SMC to redifferentiate in PDGF-BB induced phenotypic switch. None of these effects were observed in Myocd-LSD1Mut SMC. Results are the first to our knowledge to provide direct functional evidence that locus specific epigenetic modifications regulate cell lineage memory during reversible phenotypic transitions.
The mirn23a microRNA cluster antagonizes B cell development

Ablation of microRNA synthesis by deletion of the microRNA-processing enzyme Dicer has demonstrated that microRNAs are necessary for normal hematopoietic differentiation and function. However, it is still unclear which specific microRNAs are required for hematopoiesis and at what developmental stages they are necessary. This is especially true for immune cell development. We previously observed that overexpression of the products of the mirn23a gene (microRNA-23a, -24-2, and 27a) in hematopoietic progenitors increased myelopoiesis with a reciprocal decrease in B lymphopoiesis, both in vivo and in vitro. In this study, we generated a microRNA-23a, -24-2, and 27a germline knockout mouse to determine whether microRNA-23a, -24-2, and 27a expression was essential for immune cell development. Characterization of hematopoiesis in microRNA-23a, -24-2, and 27a-/- mice revealed a significant increase in B lymphocytes in both the bone marrow and the spleen, with a concomitant decrease in myeloid cells (monocytes/granulocytes). Analysis of the bone marrow progenitor populations revealed a significant increase in common lymphoid progenitors and a significant decrease in both bone marrow common myeloid progenitors and granulocyte monocyte progenitors. Gene-expression analysis of primary hematopoietic progenitors and multipotent erythroid myeloid lymphoid cells showed that microRNA-23a, -24-2, and 27a regulates essential B cell gene-expression networks. Overexpression of microRNA-24-2 target Tribbles homolog 3 can recapitulate the microRNA-23a, -24-2, and 27a-/- phenotype in vitro, suggesting that increased B cell development in microRNA-23a, -24-2, and 27a null mice can be partially explained by a Tribbles homolog 3-dependent mechanism. Data from microRNA-23a, -24-2, and 27a-/- mice support a critical role for this microRNA cluster in regulating immune cell populations through repression of B lymphopoiesis.
Intestinal mucosal immune defense mechanisms

Abstract The intestinal mucosal immune defense mechanisms involve both humoral and cellular immunity. The prominence of suppressor/cytotoxic T lymphocytes in the epithelial layer suggests that these interepithelial lymphocytes play a role in defense against infections within this layer. Secretory IgA is overwhelmingly the major humoral immune response along the gastrointestinal tract and along other mucosal surfaces (respiratory tract, mammary glands, salivary glands, and lacrimal glands). While the functions of secretory IgA are incompletely understood, it is clear that it prevents attachment of microorganisms and toxins (cholera toxin, shiga toxin, etc.) to the surface epithelial cells. Furthermore, secretory IgA may collaborate with eosinophils or killer lymphocytes to mediate cytotoxic reactions against enteropathogens. By learning more about the mucosal immune response, we should be able to understand the relationship between the lamina propria plasmacytosis in inflammatory bowel disease and the increased number of interepithelial lymphocytes that we see in gluten-sensitive enteropathy and the underlying pathogenic mechanisms.
Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Detected in Urinary Concentrates From Patients with Malignant Tumors of the Testis, Prostate, Bladder, Ureter and Kidney

Abstract Human chorionic gonadotropin levels in concentrated 24-hour urine and serum were determined by a specific radioimmunoassay of beta-human chorionic gonadotropin in 47 patients with genitourinary carcinoma. Elevated human chorionic gonadotropin levels in urine were observed in 6 of 8 patients with active testicular tumor, 3 of 14 with prostatic cancer, 2 of 10 with bladder cancer, 1 of 2 with ureteral or renal pelvic tumors and 2 of 6 with renal cancer. Of the 14 patients with positive urinary human chorionic gonadotropin 4 had undetectable human chorionic gonadotropin levels in the serum. The tumors of all 8 patients with nontesticular cancer who had increased urinary human chorionic gonadotropin levels were in an advanced clinical stage or of poor histological differentiation. Our results suggest that some nontrophoblastic carcinomas of the genitourinary system are capable of ectopic production of human chorionic gonadotropin, particularly if the malignancy is advanced or poorly differentiated. The radioimmunoassay of beta-human chorionic gonadotropin in concentrated 24-hour urine specimens enhances the sensitivity of detection of ectopic human chorionic gonadotropin production.
Algorithmic approaches to detecting interviewer fabrication in surveys

Surveys are one of the principal means of gathering critical data from low-income regions. Bad data, however, may be no better—or worse—than no data at all. Interviewer data fabrication, one cause of bad data, is an ongoing concern of survey organizations and a constant threat to data quality. In my dissertation work, I build software that automatically identifies interviewer fabrication so that supervisors can act to reduce it. To do so, I draw on two tool sets from computer science, one algorithmic and the other technological. On the algorithmic side, I use two sets of techniques from machine learning, supervised classification and anomaly detection, to automatically identify interviewer fabrication. On the technological side, I modify data collection software running on mobile electronic devices to record user traces that can help to identify fabrication. I show, based on the results of two empirical studies, that the combination of these approaches makes it possible to accurately and robustly identify interviewer fabrication, even when interviewers are aware that the algorithms are being used, have some knowledge of how they work, and are incentivized to avoid detection.
Language and Play: A Comparative Analysis of Parental Initiatives

ABSTRACT To test whether there are interactional differences in the play of mothers and fathers with their two and three year old children, the language of parents and children during free play was examined. The variable, initiative, is proposed to analyse the playing styles. An initiative, defined as an utterance or set of utterances used to direct attention to a new activity or a new variation of an ongoing activity, can have either a specific or non-specific intent. It was found that fathers use significantly more of the directive specific initiatives than the mothers, e.g. “Let's build a truck!”; mothers use a higher percentage of the less directive non-specific initiatives than the fathers, e.g. “What would you like to play with now?” The younger children use fewer initiatives with their fathers than with their mothers. The older children show no difference. The results are interpreted in the light of the parents' complementary roles. Fathers, being less concerned about the children's immediate desires, introduce new ideas and new ways of playing with toys. Mothers have a playing style suited to the integration of new ideas. The older children are more able to handle their fathers' style of play.
A review of the water-energy nexus

Abstract Water and electricity are fundamentally linked. At a basic level electricity generation requires water, and water treatment and transportation use electricity. Historically, there has been little reason to understand the nature of these links, due largely to the presumption that water was not a threat to energy security, nor electricity a threat to water security. This presumption is now being challenged. Industry reforms, increasing demand, and more recently climate change – are bringing into sharp focus the links between water and electricity in unprecedented ways. General awareness of the links between water and electricity is increasing daily, as the ramifications of the links are being felt the world over: Society's ability to deal with the challenges and uncertainties arising from the links between water and electricity is being hindered by limited understanding of the nature of the links, and seeming lack of policy tools to effectively analyze them. This paper reviews comprehensively the links between water and electricity. Presents a classification system for identifying links. Using the classification system, this study further discusses these links by drawing upon examples from literature and follows with a synopsis of the nature of these links. With this background, the paper reviews and compares water-energy studies in terms of scope, objectives, methodologies and key findings, discusses major limitations of these studies and identifies important areas that would benefit from more in-depth research. This research contends that this type of approach is unsuitable in the longer term, particularly when examining complex and multidimensional issues like the water-energy nexus. This work suggests that the nature of the nexus should and can be explored from a wider perspective, by developing a suitable integrated methodological framework to serve as a platform for such exploration. The purpose of this paper, therefore, is to outline the development of such a framework. Introduces Integral Theory and discusses how Integral Theory has shaped the development of the methodological framework employed in this research. Presents the framework and describes the suite of methods.
Apologies/Forgiveness and Conflict

Forgiving communication is a constructive response to hurtful acts that inevitably occur in personal relationships. Forgiveness can be facilitated by apology, an expression of remorse by an offender. Although much studied by theologians and clinical psychologists, forgiveness has only recently been conceptualized as a process of relational communication. In addition to relational history and the nature of the offense, forgiveness-seeking and forgiveness-granting behavior has relational consequences. Explicit acknowledgment of misbehavior and offers of compensation are most appreciated by wounded partners. Conditional offers of forgiveness increase predictability but they are associated with relational deterioration. Forgiveness is a complex process that often unfolds over long periods of time as partners negotiate their conflicting commitments to mercy and justice, risk-taking and vulnerability, and forgiving and forgetting. Forgiving communication may facilitate reconciliation but serves other purposes as well, including reinforcing the moral standards of relationships and communities. Keywords: conflict management; family communication; identity; interpersonal communication; forgiveness; reconciliation; relational communication
Chapter Four: An Aesthetic Reason

Our understanding of the Green Movement as the simulacrum of a metamorphic movement changing shape and form but not purpose and direction points to the unfolding of an “aesthetic reason” that I wish to explore in some detail in this chapter. Here I wish to propose that the articulation of this “aesthetic reason” is a key theoretical momentum finally formed to overcome the paradox of colonial modernity, through which the world at large was told to be free to think critically precisely at the moment when a colonial bayonet was put to its head and subjugated to European capitalist modernity at gunpoint. The Green Movement, I have proposed, was the most cogent mobilization of civic forces to articulate and defend civil liberties in terms beyond the limited ideological means and political imagination of the ruling Islamic Republic and even (or particularly) its manufactured loyal opposition (the so-called Reformists), and a fortiori the categorically discredited “expat opposition” that its only difference with the ruling regime is that it covets a power it lacks. In its political potency, the movement (however short-lived in its most public phase) was and will remain post-ideological, and as such declared an effective end not just to the limited legitimacy of the ruling regime but far more potently the end of “the West” as an absolute metaphor of our time.
Adsorption Kinetics and Dynamics of CO2 on Ru(0001) Supported Graphene Oxide

Adsorption kinetics and dynamics of CO2 on Ru(0001), graphene grown on Ru, and graphene oxide (GO) on Ru were studied. Graphene and GO were made in ultrahigh vacuum by benzene decomposition and subsequent atomic oxygen adsorption, respectively. The samples were characterized by AES (Auger electron spectroscopy) and XPS (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy). As determined by TDS (thermal desorption spectroscopy), CO2 physisorbs molecularly at ∼85 K on Ru and GO, but not on graphene. Binding energies amount to ∼26 kJ/mol and were slightly enhanced on GO as compared with Ru. Similarly, adsorption probabilities, as determined by molecular beam scattering, are larger on GO than on Ru.
The Impact of Solid Organ Transplant History on Inpatient Complications, Mortality, Length of Stay, and Cost for Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty Admissions in the United States

Abstract Background As the prevalence of and life expectancy after solid organ transplantation increases, some of these patients will require total hip arthroplasty (THA). Immunosuppressive therapy, metabolic disorders, and post-transplant medications may place transplant patients at higher risk of adverse events following surgery. The objective of this study was to compare inpatient complications, mortality, length of stay (LOS), and costs for THA patients with and without solid organ transplant history. Methods A retrospective cross-sectional analysis was conducted using 1998-2011 Nationwide Inpatient Sample. Primary THA patients were queried (n = 3,175,456). After exclusions, remaining patients were assigned to transplant (n = 7558) or non-transplant groups (n = 2,772,943). After propensity score matching, adjusted for patient and hospital characteristics, logistic regression and paired t-tests examined the effect of transplant history on outcomes. Results Between 1998 and 2011, THA volume among transplant patients grew approximately 48%. The overall prevalence of one or more complications following THA was greater in the transplant group than in the non-transplant group (32.0% vs 22.1%; P P = .93). Unadjusted trends show that transplant patients have greater annual and overall mean LOS (4.47 days) and mean admission costs ($18,402) than non-transplant patients (3.73 days; $16,899; P P P = .005). Conclusion Transplant patients exhibited increased odds of inpatient complications, longer LOS, and greater admission costs after THA compared with non-transplant patients.
Engaging Women: Addressing the Gender Gap in Women’s Networking and Productivity

Women earn 40% of new PhDs in political science; however, once they enter the profession, they have strikingly different experiences than their male counterparts—particularly in the small but influential field of political methodology. For several years, the Society for Political Methodology, with support from the National Science Foundation, has attempted to address this gender gap through the Visions in Methodology (VIM) program. VIM features an annual conference that brings women together to present and discuss their research and to participate in professional-development sessions. Do programs like VIM have the desired impact? Using an original survey of political scientists, this study provides insights into the ways that bringing women together in small-group settings like VIM might facilitate networking and enhance productivity. In particular, the study finds that women who attend the VIM conference are better networked and more productive in terms of publication.
The isozyme selective phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitor, ABI-4, attenuates the effects of lipopolysaccharide in human cells and rodent models of peripheral and CNS inflammation

Inhibitors of phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE4) have been approved for the treatment of inflammatory disorders, but are associated with dose-limiting nausea and vomiting. These side effects are hypothesized to be mediated by inhibition of the PDE4D isozyme. Here we demonstrate the anti-inflammatory effects of the novel brain penetrant PDE4D-sparing PDE4 inhibitor, ABI-4. ABI-4 was a potent (EC50∼14nM) inhibitor of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced TNF-α release from mouse microglia and human PBMCs. ABI-4 (0.32mg/kg) blocked LPS-induced release of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6) in blood and brain of mice. In a rat model of endotoxin induced uveitis, ABI-4 (0.03-0.3mg/kg) demonstrated steroid-like efficacy in preventing leucocyte infiltration of the aqueous humor when administered 4h after LPS. LPS (0.32mg/kg×5days) caused a 30% upregulation of translocator protein (TSPO) binding which was prevented by co-administration of ABI-4 (0.32mg/kg). In a paradigm to assess motivation, LPS (0.32mg/kg) reduced the number of rewards received, whereas the effect was significantly blunted in mice dosed with ABI-4 (P<0.05) or in PDE4B-/- mice. PDE4B was also shown to modulate brain and plasma levels of TNF-α and IL-1β in aged mice. Aged mice dosed chronically with ABI-4 (0.32mg/kg) as well as aged PDE4B-/- mice, had significantly lower levels of TNF-α and IL-1β in brain and plasma relative to vehicle treated or PDE4+/+ mice. Together these data demonstrate that the PDE4D sparing, PDE4 inhibitor, ABI-4 retains potency and efficacy in exerting anti-inflammatory effects. This mechanism warrants further investigation in human disorders involving neuroinflammation.
Time and frequency domain long short-term memory for noise robust pitch tracking

Pitch tracking in noisy speech is a challenging task as temporal and spectral patterns of the speech signal are both corrupted. This paper proposes long short-term memory (LSTM) based methods for pitch probability estimation. Two architectures are investigated. The first one is conventional LSTM that utilizes recurrent connections to model pitch dynamics. The second one is two-level time-frequency LSTM, with the first level scanning frequency bands and the second level connecting the first level through time. The Viterbi algorithm then takes the probabilistic output from LSTM to generate continuous pitch contours. Experiments show that both proposed models outperform a deep neural network (DNN) based model in most conditions. Time-frequency LSTM achieves the best performance at negative SNRs.
Alpha oscillations control cortical gain by modulating excitatory-inhibitory background activity.

The first recordings of human brain activity in 1929 revealed a striking 8-12 Hz oscillation in the visual cortex. During the intervening 90 years, these alpha oscillations have been linked to numerous physiological and cognitive processes. However, because of the vast, and seemingly contradictory, cognitive and physiological processes to which it has been related, the physiological function of alpha remains unclear. It is often suggested that alpha serves as a generic gain control process. We suggest a novel neural circuit mechanism by which alpha can act — the modulation of both excitatory and inhibitory neurons in a balanced configuration. We find that this model naturally unifies the prior, highly diverse reports on alpha dynamics, while making the novel prediction that alpha rhythms have two functional roles: a sustained high-power mode that suppresses cortical gain and a weak, bursting mode that enhances gain.
The role of bone marrow and spleen irradiation in the development of acute hematologic toxicity during chemoradiation for esophageal cancer.

Abstract Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of splenic and thoracic bone marrow irradiation on hematologic toxicity in the setting of chemoradiation therapy for esophageal cancer. Methods and materials We analyzed 60 patients with carcinoma of the distal esophagus or gastroesophageal junction who received concurrent chemoradiation in the preoperative or definitive setting. Dosimetric and volumetric parameters were calculated for the spleen, thoracic spine, and posterior ribs. The primary endpoint was grade ≥3 hematologic toxicity (HT3+). Associations were assessed using logistic and linear regression models. Results Twenty-one patients (35%) experienced HT3+, including 18 patients with leukopenia and 5 with thrombocytopenia. Higher spleen V5-V20 was correlated with a lower risk of HT3+ on multivariable analysis (odds ratio: 0.83 per 10 cm3 increase in V10; P = .013). A dose-dependent decrease in spleen volume was observed after radiation therapy, and a greater decrease was independently associated with a lower risk of HT3+ (odds ratio: 0.93 per 1% volume decrease; P = .014). Dosimetric parameters of the thoracic spine were not significantly associated with HT3+. Conclusions A greater decrease in spleen size after radiation therapy and a higher spleen V5-V20 were independently associated with a lower risk of severe hematologic toxicity. Splenic irradiation may mitigate leukopenia associated with chemoradiation therapy.
An examination of the association between prenatal cocaine exposure and brain activation measures of arousal and attention in young adults: An fMRI study using the Attention Network Task.

Abstract Prenatal drug exposure, including cocaine, alcohol, marijuana, and tobacco, is associated with deficits in behavioral regulation and attention. Using fMRI, the objective of this study was to characterize the association between prenatal cocaine exposure (PCE) and the underlying neural substrates associated with behavioral outcomes of attention. Forty-seven young adults were recruited for this study from the ongoing Maternal Health Practices and Child Development (MHPCD) Project, a longitudinal study of the effects of PCE on growth, behavior, and cognitive function. Three groups were compared: 1) prenatal exposure to cocaine, alcohol, marijuana, and tobacco (CAMT, n = 15), 2) prenatal exposure to alcohol, marijuana, and tobacco (AMT, n = 17), and 3) no prenatal exposure to drugs (Controls, n = 15). Subjects were frequency matched on gender, race, handedness, and 15-year IQ. This study used the theoretical model proposed by Posner and Peterson (1990), which posits three dissociable components of attention: alerting, orienting, and executive attention. Subjects completed a functional MRI (fMRI) scan while performing the Attention Network Task, a validated neuroimaging measure of the 3-network model of attention. Behavioral and fMRI data revealed no associations between PCE and task accuracy, speed of processing, or activation in key brain regions associated with each of the attention networks. The results of this study show that any subtle differences in brain function associated with PCE are not detectable using the ANT task and fMRI. These results should be interpreted in the context of other studies that have found associations between PCE and arousal with emotionally arousing stimuli, compared to this study that found no associations using emotionally neutral stimuli.