cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Mechanism of Canine Atrial Flutter

In anesthetized dogs, electrograms were recorded simultaneously from six atrial epicardial sites and a limb or esophageal lead in order to study the mechanism of atrial flutter induced electrically after an intercaval crush in comparison with atrial tachysystole induced by aconitine. In the former, with limb lead records resembling classical human flutter in form and regularity, activation occupied most of the atrial cycle and progressed in sequence caudally in the right atrium and cranially in the left (counterclockwise flutter); flutter was usually terminated by another crush extending from the initial one to the right atrioventricular junction. The most prominent wave in limb and esophageal leads coincided with left atrial activity. Sometimes activation proceeded clockwise. The two atrial appendages may be activated simultaneously during counterclockwise flutter. These findings support the circus movement hypothesis as the mechanism of pure atrial flutter. In contrast, with aconitine tachysystole, activation proceeded over both atria at once and was so brief that it left most of the slightly irregular atrial cycle electrically silent. Although limb leads after aconitine sometimes resembled those of flutter, the contrast in direction and duration of excitation demonstrates profound physiological differences between the two arrhythmias.
Detection of Intrauterine Viral Infection Using the Polymerase Chain Reaction

Intrauterine viral infection commonly presents as nonimmune hydrops fetalis or intrauterine growth restriction. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) and parvovirus are commonly recognized causes of fetal infection using serology and cultures. We used the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to evaluate the frequency of fetal viral infection and the associated clinical course and outcome. Specimens (amniotic fluid, fetal blood, pleural fluid, tissue) from 303 abnormal pregnancies at risk for viral infection and 154 controls were analyzed using primers for CMV, herpes simplex virus, parvovirus B19, adenovirus, enterovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, and respiratory syncytial virus. Viral genome was detected in 144/371 samples (39%) or 124/303 patients (41%), with adenovirus (n = 74 patients; 24%), CMV (n = 30 patients; 10%), and enterovirus (n = 22 patients; 7%) most common. Only 4/154 (2.6%), unaffected control patients' samples were PCR positive. We conclude that diagnosis of fetal viral infection by PCR is common in abnormal pregnancies. Adenovirus and enterovirus may cause fetal infection that have been previously unrecognized.
Dietary RNAs: New Stories Regarding Oral Delivery

microRNAs (miRNAs), a class of small RNAs, are important regulators of various developmental processes in both plants and animals. Several years ago, a report showed the detection of diet-derived plant miRNAs in mammalian tissues and their regulation of mammalian genes, challenging the traditional functions of plant miRNAs. Subsequently, multiple efforts have attempted to replicate these findings, with the results arguing against the uptake of plant dietary miRNAs in healthy consumers. Moreover, several reports suggest the potential for “false positive” detection of plant miRNAs in human tissues. Meanwhile, some research continues to suggest both the presence and function of dietary miRNAs in mammalian tissues. Here we review the recent literature and discuss the strengths and weaknesses of emerging work that suggests the feasibility of dietary delivery of miRNAs. We also discuss future experimental approaches to address this controversial topic.
Recordings of postsubiculum head direction cells following lesions of the laterodorsal thalamic nucleus

Areas of the rodent limbic system are important for solving spatial tasks and accurate navigation. Previous studies have identified cells in the postsubiculum (PoS) and the lateral dorsal thalamus (LDN) which discharge as a function of the animal's head direction in the horizontal plane. These two brain areas are reciprocally connected with one another. To determine the contribution of the LDN to the functioning of PoS head direction cells, we lesioned the LDN and recorded single units in the PoS. We report here that lesions of the LDN had little effect upon the firing properties of PoS HD cells. In addition, HD cells from lesioned animals showed normal responses to two environmental manipulations: (1) when the salient visual cue was rotated the preferred firing directions of PoS HD cells shifted a similar amount and (2) cells frequently ceased firing, or had reductions in their peak firing rate, when the animal was restrained and passively rotated through the preferred firing direction. These results indicate that the LDN does not play a substantive role in either the generation or the stability of the HD cell signal in the PoS.
Alternative Exercise for Women

There is scientific evidence that women are more prone to specific injuries than are men, due to differences in hip and knee anatomy and hormonal profiles. Aging women are also susceptible to the “Dowager’s Hump,” or kyphosis, and decreased balance. Various factors are responsible for these conditions, including hormones and joint angles. Currently popular exercise programs, yoga and Pilates, have been shown to have some positive impact on these conditions. This chapter explores the nature of these conditions and the impact of yoga and Pilates.
Advanced Canister Purge Algorithm with a Virtual [HC] sensor

Both evaporative emissions and tailpipe emissions have been reduced by more than 90% from uncontrolled levels in state-of-the-art. However, now that the objective is to reach near-zero emission levels, the need for aggressive purging of the canister and fuel tank and the need for extremely precise control of engine Air/Fuel ratio (A/F) come into conflict. On-board diagnostics and the wide variation in operating conditions and fuel properties in the “real world” add to the challenge of resolving these conflicting requirements. An advanced canister purge algorithm has been developed which substantially eliminates the effect of canister purge on A/F control by estimating and compensating for the fuel and air introduced by the purge system. This paper describes the objectives and function of this algorithm and the validation of its performance. It discusses the value of a “systems solution” matching software to a robust set of evaporative system components rather than using additional sensors and actuators for new fuel control and diagnostic functions.
Religious Renaissance in the U.S.S.R.

One of the most interesting but as yet insufficiently studied irregularities of contemporary Soviet society is the remarkable growth of religious dissidence and/or religious interest. Such an anomaly increasingly has been reflected in samizdat publications and in the Soviet press. This article will attempt to describe briefly the causes and the recent developments of the revival among the major religions within the Soviet Union. The causes of the religious renaissance and/or religious dissi dence are complex but can be broken down into general and immediate factors. Some of the motivations, of course, can only be guessed at. Undoubtedly, among the general factors fostering religious protest or interest is the desire of genuine believers to be free from the Kremlin's restrictions and truculence.1 Some of these individuals simply wish to be left alone to follow their religious consciences. Others reject completely the government's world view and value system as manifested in Marxism-Lenin ism.2 Estimates vary, but most sources claim that there are
Long-term outcomes with the McGhan Style 153 dual-lumen breast implant: Implications for future implant design.

Summary Background A variety of saline and silicone implants have been introduced over the years to optimize the shape, aesthetic result and safety profile for use in breast surgery. The McGhan Style 153 dual-lumen silicone implant represented an early generation of anatomically shaped implants later removed from the market due to a high rate of rupture. This study reports long term outcomes and complications, including a revised rupture rate, and discusses potential mechanisms of implant failure and their implications for future implant design. Methods A retrospective review was performed on 79 patients (134 implants). Demographics, operative details, outcomes, and complications were recorded. Rupture rate and location of rupture were included. Results The revised implant rupture rate was 36.6% of implants. At least one rupture occurred in 49.4% of patients. Clinical exam was the most common method of detection (55.1% of ruptures). The most common location of rupture was the superior pole (30.6%), followed by a posterior location (24.5%). The capsular contracture rate (Baker grade III/IV) was 51.5%. The total implant removal rate (for rupture, contracture, size change, or asymmetry) was 77.6%. The average time to implant removal was 91.8 months, or 7.5 years (±47.3 months). Average follow up was 120.7 months or 10 years (±49.9 months). Discussion The experiences with this anatomic gel implant highlight the importance of shell stability over time, suitable gel cohesiveness to support the asymmetric anatomic shape, avoidance of fold flaws due to wrinkling, and the prevention of distinct stress points on the shell that can result from dual lumen or multi-compartment designs. Level of evidence Level III, retrospective cohort, therapeutic study.
Role of Oxidative Stress in the Pathogenesis of Insulin Resistance and Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes develops because of the initial development of insulin resistance in various tissues, including skeletal muscle and liver and a relative failure of pancreatic beta-cells to secrete insulin. While the etiology of insulin resistance is multifactorial, accumulating evidence indicates that one cause of this dysfunction in insulin action is oxidative stress, represented by an imbalance between oxidant production and antioxidant mechanisms. Oxidative stress can develop as a result of renin–angiotensin overactivity, nutrient excess and mitochondrial dysfunction, dyslipidemia, and endoplasmic reticulum stress. Antioxidant interventions, including α-lipoic acid, can ameliorate oxidative stress and improve insulin action in conditions of oxidative stress.
Presence of intraepithelial food antigen in patients with active eosinophilic oesophagitis

SummaryBackground Although eosinophilic oesophagitis (EoE) is putatively mediated by an abnormal response to food antigen, the oesophagus is considered relatively impermeable to large molecules. Aim To assess whether food antigens penetrate the oesophageal mucosa in patients with EoE. Methods Anti-gliadin staining was performed in three groups: active EoE, inactive EoE and EoE patients on a low or gluten free diet. To appraise the specificity of our results, we also performed gliadin staining on six patients without oesophageal disease who were consuming gluten. The groups with EoE on gluten also underwent endoscopic infusion with gluten containing soy sauce and repeat biopsies during the endoscopy. We measured eosinophil density, dilated intercellular spaces (on a 0–4+ scale) and gliadin in oesophageal mucosa by immunofluorescence. Results Patients with active EoE had significantly greater epithelial density of anti-gliadin staining when compared to inactive EoE (P < 0.0065) and gluten-free patients (P < 0.0008) at baseline and after soy infusion. Gliadin was not detected in non-EoE control patients. The distribution of gliadin was both cytoplasmic and nuclear. There was good correlation of dilated intercellular spaces grade and total gliadin staining intensity (r = 0.577, P = 0.0077). Acute oesophageal perfusion of a commercial gliadin-rich soy sauce did not lead to an increase in gliadin staining in active or inactive EoE. Conclusion These findings suggest, although do not prove, that antigen penetration in active eosinophilic oesophagitis might be facilitated by impairment of epithelial integrity.
Moral judgments of human vs. robot agents

Robots will eventually perform norm-regulated roles in society (e.g. caregiving), but how will people apply moral norms and judgments to robots? By answering such questions, researchers can inform engineering decisions while also probing the scope of moral cognition. In previous work, we compared people's moral judgments about human and robot agents' behavior in moral dilemmas. We found that robots, compared with humans, were more commonly expected to sacrifice one person for the good of many, and they were blamed more than humans when they refrained from that decision. Thus, people seem to have somewhat different normative expectations of robots than of humans. In the current project we analyzed in detail the justifications people provide for three types of moral judgments (permissibility, wrongness, and blame) of robot and human agents. We found that people's moral judgments of both agents relied on the same conceptual and justificatory foundation: consequences and prohibitions undergirded wrongness judgments; attributions of mental agency undergirded blame judgments. For researchers, this means that people extend moral cognition to nonhuman agents. For designers, this means that robots with credible cognitive capacities will be considered moral agents but perhaps regulated by different moral norms.
Dietary modifications in atopic dermatitis: patient-reported outcomes.

Background: Patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) commonly turn to dietary modifications to manage their skin condition.Objectives: To investigate patient-reported outcomes and perceptions regarding...
Barriers to uptake of early infant HIV testing in Zambia: the role of intimate partner violence and HIV status disclosure within couples.

Early detection of pediatric HIV through uptake of infant HIV testing is critical for access to treatment and child survival. While structural barriers have been well described, a greater understanding of social and behavioral factors that may relate to maternal uptake of early infant HIV testing services is urgently needed. The aim of this study was to explore how gender power dynamics within couples affect HIV-positive women’s uptake of early infant HIV testing at a large health center in Lusaka, Zambia. In 2014, 320 HIV-positive married postpartum women were recruited at a large public health facility in Lusaka to participate in a cross-sectional survey. Data on uptake of early infant HIV testing by 4–6 weeks of age was collected through medical records. Simple and multiple logistic regression models determined significant predictors of maternal uptake of early infant HIV testing. In the adjusted model, uptake of early infant HIV testing was associated with female-directed emotional intimate partner violence (aOR 0.41; 95% CI 0.21–0.79; p < 0.01), HIV status disclosure to the male partner (aOR 13.73, 95% CI 3.59–52.49, p < 0.001), and maternal postpartum ART adherence (aOR 2.28, 95% CI 1.15–4.55, p < 0.05). Domestic relationship dynamics, including emotional violence and HIV status disclosure to the male partner, may play an important role in maternal uptake of early infant HIV testing. These findings provide additional evidence for the link between intimate partner violence against women and poor HIV-related health outcomes. Programs that adequately screen for and address various forms of intimate partner violence within the context of prevention of mother-to-child transmission are recommended.
Characterization of Materials, Nanomaterials, and Thin Films by Nanoindentation

This chapter introduces the concepts that define the mechanical properties characterized by nanoindentation, the fundamentals of nanoindentation, nanoindentation applications in materials and composites, and especially applications in nanostructured materials and thin films. Also introduced are experimental, theoretical, and computational approaches to revealing the mechanisms and fundamentals of nanoindentation. This chapter reviews frontier research on the use of experimental and computer modeling to find the mechanical properties of materials, composites, nanomaterials, and thin films by nanoindentation.
Primary Prevention of Sudden Cardiac Death Early Post-Myocardial Infarction: Root Cause Analysis for Implantable Cardioverter–Defibrillator Failure and Currently Available Options

The rate of death, including sudden cardiac death (SCD), is highest during the early period after a myocardial infarction (MI).1 Implantable cardioverter–defibrillators (ICDs) improve survival rates of patients with various heart conditions who are at high risk of ventricular tachyarrhythmia (VTA), by terminating those VTA.2–5 However, ICDs in conjunction with optimal medical therapy have failed to improve survival when implanted for primary prevention early after an MI in 2 prospective randomized controlled trials when compared with optimal medical therapy alone: the DINAMIT (Defibrillator in Acute Myocardial Infarction Trial)6 and the IRIS (Immediate Risk Stratification Improves Survival Trial).7 Therefore, current guidelines8 indicate that patients should not receive an ICD within 40 days after an MI without revascularization (DINAMIT criteria) or within 3 months after an MI with revascularization which leaves patients at risk for SCD during this gap of vulnerability period.9 Different hypotheses that may underlie the negative results of the DINAMIT and IRIS trials will be reviewed here in detail. A meta-analysis of the outcomes of these 2 studies is performed. In addition, we estimate annualized mortality through 3 years for these 2 trials and all other major primary prevention ICD trials with ischemic cardiomyopathy, creating a basis for comparison across studies. The current options available to reduce SCD post-MI will be discussed, including the potential impact of a wearable cardioverter–defibrillator (WCD; LifeVest; Zoll, Pittsburgh, PA) as a bridging therapy, in light of the various hypotheses underlying the lack of ICD benefit in DINAMIT and IRIS patients. The incidence of SCD is increased within the first few months post-MI. It is highest within the first month after an MI (1.2%–1.4%),1–10 followed by a progressive decline until a plateau after a few months. The mechanism of SCD post-MI, adjudicated initially …
Educational Trends in Automation in the United States

Abstract Some recent efforts in developing manufacturing systems engineering graduate programs in several major United States universities is reported. These programs represent one of the first large scale cooperative alliances between U.S. universities and private industry.
Jobless and Godless: Religious neoliberalism and the project of evangelizing employability in the US The authors contributed equally to the research for and writing of this article.:

In the wake of welfare reform, there has been growing scholarly attention to ‘religious neoliberalism’ and, specifically, to the practices and politics of faith-based organizations in neoliberalize...
Practical occupancy detection for programmable and smart thermostats

Abstract Home automation systems can save a huge amount of energy by detecting home occupancy and sleep patterns to automatically control lights, HVAC, and water heating. However, the ability to achieve these benefits is limited by a lack of sensing technology that can reliably detect zone occupancy states. We present a new concept called Walkway Sensing based on the premise that motion sensors are more reliable in walkways than occupancy zones, such as hallways, foyers, and doorways, because people are always moving and always visible in walkways. We present a methodology for deploying motion sensors and a completely automated algorithm called WalkSense to infer zone occupancy states. WalkSense can operate in both offline (batch) and online (real-time) mode. We implement our system using two types of sensors and evaluate them on 350 days worth of data from 6 houses. Results indicate that WalkSense achieves 96% and 95% average accuracies in offline and online modes, respectively, which translates to over 47% and 30% of reduced energy wastage, and 71% and 30% of reduced comfort issues per day, in comparison to the conventional offline and online approaches.
Hormonal Regulation of Copper and Zinc Metabolism in Isolated Rat Liver Parenchymal Cells

Cell culture techniques provide the investigator with a means for examining the influence of the external environment of cells on intracellular metabolic processes. Since the liver plays such a critical role in the metabolism of trace elements, some years ago we initiated a project wherein the metabolism of trace elements was examined at the level of the isolated rat liver parenchymal cell. This approach has proved to be of immense importance in studies on intermediary metabolism and the mechanism of protein synthesis (1–6).
Development of an inexpensive tri-axial force sensor for minimally invasive surgery

This work presents the design and evaluation of a low-cost tri-axial force sensor, that has been developed to regain the sense of touch in minimally invasive surgeries (MIS). The force sensor uses an array of force sensitive resistors (FSR) with a mechanically pre-loaded structure to perform the force sensing. The sensor has a built-in signal conditioning circuitry to provide on-board power regulation, programmable signal amplification and analog to digital conversion. The sensor is inexpensive and highly sensitive to low-amplitude force, critical in surgical applications. We validate the efficacy of the sensor with two surgical applications — robotic palpation for stiffness mapping and obstacle avoidance for a highly articulated robotic probe (HARP). The results show that the sensor is capable of accurately detecting the stiff inclusions embedded in the tissues as well as detecting obstacles and helping HARP safely navigate around them.
Low-energy, nanoparticle reshaping for large-area, patterned, plasmonic nanocomposites

Compliant, robust films with pixelated, voxelated or gradient distribution of plasmonic properties are enabling for technologies from colorimetric sensors, filters, and gradient index optical elements to art. Spatially multiplexing different plasmonic effects, however, is challenging. To address this challenge, we demonstrate a post-film fabrication process that enhances gold nanorod (AuNR) reshaping with chemistry. Mild annealing or broadband non-coherent light sources provide sufficient heating to drive localized redox processes that lead to an isovolumetric reduction of the surface-to-volume ratio of CTAB stabilized AuNRs in polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). Single crystallinity is retained. The reshaping rate in the presence of these redox processes occurs in excess of 100× faster (seconds) than previous reports that utilize increased surface diffusion as temperatures approach the particle melting point (days). Using the process's dependency on reactant concentration, broadband, multi-exposure optical processing preserves particle alignment, enables multi-color patterning, and produces gradients of the longitudinal plasmon resonance of at least 0.01 eV μm−1 (3 nm μm−1).
Caring for the Country

Jim Devlin, Mike Tatarko, Viola Monaghan, Bill Thompson, Christine Dotterer, Catherine O’Neil, Thane Turner, Dave Baer, Joe Nutz, and Bernie Proy. These ten PSAP graduates have all fulfilled their own personal dreams of becoming family doctors in small rural towns, while at the same time serving their patients, and meeting the health care needs of their communities. How many of us have been able to achieve this coalescence of satisfaction and service?
Adaptive Radio Resource Control via Cascaded Neural Networks for Sequenced Propagation Estimation and Multi-user Detection in Third-generation Wireless Networks

A hybrid neural network approach is presented to predict radio propagation characteristics and multiuser interference and to evaluate their combined impact on throughput, latency and information loss in third-generation (3G) wireless networks. The three performance parameters influence the quality of service (QoS) for multimedia services for 3G networks. These networks are based on hierarchical cell structures and operate in mobile urban and indoor environments with service demands emanating from diverse traffic sources. Candidate radio interfaces for these networks employ a form of wideband CDMA.
Environmental Impacts of Electricity Production

No one has defined at this meeting what electricity is. Now that the cold war is over, one can safely quote a major twentieth century figure, Vladimir Ilyich Lenin. According to Lenin, Communism is Socialism plus electricity. Simple algebra then tells us that Electricity is Communism minus Socialism. You may not agree with this definition, but I am sure we will all agree that electricity is all mixed up in politics!
Designing VLSI Chip-Embodied Information-Flow Multicomputers

The theoretical examination of embeddings of graphs into grids or other graphs that in their turn appear to embed well into very-large-scale integration (VLSI) chips have increased the understanding of the problems and techniques for coping with them. Each technology sets its rules for embedding the graph of device—nodes and wire—links into the chip's several-layered landscape, in terms of area needed for devices and wires, heat dissipation, pin fan-out, etc. However, chip parameters determine input–output capacities, and interior gates can be linked, and programs written, so that the times they spend computing are commensurate with the input–output possibilities and limits. Currently, most people exploring the problem of mapping networks onto VLSI chips assume that—(1) wires run and devices are oriented in only horizontal and vertical directions, (2) everything is embedded in a square grid, (3) devices are square, (4) all device nodes are at the same layer, and (5) wires lie on two or a constant number of parallel layers; therefore, there can be at most a constant number of crossovers at any point.
Sensory Testing, Quantitative

Quantitative sensory testing refers to several different tests that quantitatively assess sensory dysfunction. They evaluate central and peripheral nervous pathways and cannot definitively distinguish between psychogenic and organic sensory abnormalities. Typically, a quantified stimulus is applied to the skin in graded intensity levels and the patient's perception is recorded. The most commonly used stimuli are thermal (hot and cold) sensation, vibration, and electrical current. Measures may include detection threshold, pain threshold, and pain tolerance. The tests can be used to evaluate any condition that affects sensory function. They may help to establish an early diagnosis, or to follow disease course.
Urine exosomal ceruloplasmin: a potential early biomarker of underlying kidney disease

Previously we found that kidney tissue and urinary exosomes from patients of diabetic kidney disease showed high levels of ceruloplasmin (CP). Because CP is an acute-phase protein of kidney origin, it could be an early marker of many other kidney diseases. To investigate this hypothesis, we first measured urine exosomal and kidney expression of CP in non-diabetic chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients (membranous nephropathy, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, lupus nephritis and IgA nephropathy) followed by a longitudinal study in rat passive Heymann nephritis (PHN), a model of human membranous nephropathy. Urinary exosomes were isolated from urine of patients (and rats) by differential centrifugation. The exosomal extracts were used for measuring CP using ELISA. Kidney expression of CP was evaluated by immune-staining biopsy tissues. Similar techniques were applied in rat PHN model (produced by injection of anti-gp600 antiserum) to analyze urine exosomal and kidney CP. Urine exosomal CP levels were 10–20 times higher in CKD patients than in controls; consistent with this we found high immune-reactive CP localized in tubules and collecting ducts of biopsies of CKD patients. In the PHN model urinary exosomal CP level was significantly higher prior to the onset of proteinuria. Early rise of urine exosomal CP, which preceded proteinuria, correlated with high immunoreactive CP found in rat kidneys at this time. We propose that urine exosomal CP, observed to increase prior to proteinuria, makes it a potential urinary biomarker to diagnose early kidney disease.
Minor Papilla Cannulation

Cannulation of the minor papilla is most commonly necessary when there is anatomic pancreas divisum or functional divisum secondary to an obstructing stone or stricture in the ventral pancreatic duct. Before attempting minor papilla cannulation as it can be a technically challenging procedure, it is essential to have a good understanding of the underlying ductal anatomy via magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) or endoscopic ultrasound (EUS). With proper planning, appropriate instruments, and adequate training, minor papilla cannulation success rate can be as high as 100%. Skilled endoscopists are able to perform most traditional endoscopic therapeutic interventions through the minor papilla including stricture dilation, stent placement, stone extraction, lithotripsy, and pancreatoscopy. The main adverse event associated with minor papilla cannulation is post-ERCP pancreatitis, which may occur at a slightly higher rate when compared to ventral PD cannulation at the major papilla. This chapter discusses the indications, technical aspects, and clinical outcomes of minor papilla cannulation and endotherapies as supported by published evidence and personal experience.
Teaching in Capitalist Ruins

I was not a good teacher at the outset—almost not a teacher at all. I struggled on the job market and my first academic position very nearly ended in disaster. Somewhere along the way, through a process I cannot fully map, I became a good teacher. Part of that required being at the right place, which for me has been Macalester College. Part of it involved learning to teach to my strengths. Part of it may be that I came to see pedagogy as largely about “reading, thinking, and writing.” Early in my career, I embraced disempowering my relatively elite students, but now I am uncertain, since my students no longer seem to feel empowered and I have the sense of teaching in an era of capitalist ruins.
Influence of Variable Environments and Character-Specific Design on Perception of Virtual Robots with Affective Labels.

As robotic systems move out of the factory, it is essential that they adapt to changing environments. Distinct contextual settings may cause users to have a different perception of these systems. This paper explores the relationship between context and expression by looking at various combinations of robot characters and environments in a virtual setting. The robots are designed after characters from pop-culture. Physical traits such as color, eye shape, and motion profiles are abstractly analyzed and infused onto the robot. Six different robot characters and six different environments are used to see if individuals perceive each robot differently in varying environments. Additionally, the effect of character-specific priming as a context generator is also surveyed. It is found that the character with an affect label with positive valence was rated more favorably than characters with negative valence affect labels in positive valence environments and vice versa is true for environments with negative valence associated. Qualitative feedback from participants provides a meaningful description for each rating choice. This study shows the importance of contextual realizations while designing robotic systems that can be considered in future work looking at user perception.
Where is Russia Headed, and What is to Be Done? Anders Åslund’s New Book on Russian Political Economy

In "Russia’s Crony Capitalism", Aslund focuses on Putin’s political and economic strategy in the 2000s. The book draws on Aslund’s deep expertise on Russian politics, detailing the role of Putin’s close associates and businesspeople in establishing the economic system we see in the 2000s in Russia. While making an important contribution to our understanding of Russian political economy, the book overlooks the important issue of economic inequality and variation across the regions of Russia. Aslund sometimes offers policy recommendations that, while perhaps admirable in principle, are unlikely to be politically feasible in the near term in Russia. Nonetheless, Aslund’s perspective is one of the best informed on Russian politics today and a vital part of the ongoing discussion about how, when, and why the Putin era of Russian politics will continue to work and how it will come to an end.
Look into Your Daily Living to Find that Extra Something for Your Teaching

(1961). Look into Your Daily Living to Find that Extra Something for Your Teaching. Journal of Health, Physical Education, Recreation: Vol. 32, No. 4, pp. 21-21.
The Intergenerational Transmission of Early Educational Advantages: New Results Based on an Adoption Design.

Abstract Sociological research has traditionally emphasized the importance of post-birth factors (i.e., social, economic, and cultural capital) in the intergenerational transmission of educational advantages, to the neglect of potentially consequential pre-birth endowments (e.g., heritable traits) that are passed from parent to child. In this study, we leverage an experiment of nurture—children who were adopted at birth into nonrelative families—in an effort to simultaneously model the effects associated with both pathways. To do so, we fit a series of simple linear regression models that relate the academic achievement of adopted children to the educational attainments of their adoptive and biological parents, using U.S. data from a recent nationwide sample of birth and adoptive families (the Early Growth and Development Study). Because our dataset includes both “genetic” and “environmental” relatives, but not “genetic-and-environmental” relatives, the separate contributions of each pathway can be identified, as well as possible interactions between the two. Our results show that children’s early achievements are influenced not only by the attainments of their adoptive parents, but also the attainments of their birth parents—suggesting the presence of environmental and genetically mediated effects. Supplementary analyses provide little evidence of effect moderation, using both distal and proximate measures of the childhood environment to model gene-by-environment interactions. These findings are robust to a variety of parameterizations, withstand a series of auxiliary checks, and remain intact even after controlling for intrauterine exposures and other measurable variables that could compromise our design. The implications of our results for theory and research in the stratification literature, and for those interested in educational mobility, are discussed.
Brain Oxygen Extraction Is Differentially Altered by Alzheimer's and Vascular Diseases.

Background Alzheimer's disease and vascular cognitive impairment (VCI), as well as their concurrence, represent the most common types of cognitive dysfunction. Treatment strategies for these two conditions are quite different; however, there exists a considerable overlap in their clinical manifestations, and most biomarkers reveal similar abnormalities between these two conditions. Purpose To evaluate the potential of cerebral oxygen extraction fraction (OEF) as a biomarker for differential diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease and VCI. We hypothesized that in Alzheimer's disease OEF will be reduced (decreased oxygen consumption due to decreased neural activity), while in vascular diseases OEF will be elevated (increased oxygen extraction due to abnormally decreased blood flow). Study type Prospective cross-sectional. Population Sixty-five subjects aged 52-89 years, including 33 mild cognitive impairment (MCI), 7 dementia, and 25 cognitively normal subjects. Field strength/sequence 3T T2 -relaxation-under-spin-tagging (TRUST) and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery imaging (FLAIR). Assessment OEF, consensus diagnoses of cognitive impairment, vascular risk factors (such as hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes, smoking, and obesity), cognitive assessments, and cerebrospinal fluid concentration of amyloid and tau were assessed. Statistical tests Multiple linear regression analyses of OEF with diagnostic category (normal, MCI, or dementia), vascular risks, cognitive performance, amyloid and tau pathology. Results When evaluating the entire group, OEF was found to be lower with more severe cognitive impairment (β = -2.70 ± 1.15, T = -2.34, P = 0.02), but was higher with greater vascular risk factors (β = 1.36 ± 0.55, T = 2.48, P = 0.02). Further investigation of the subgroup of participants with low vascular risks (N = 44) revealed that lower OEF was associated with worse cognitive performance (β = 0.04 ± 0.01, T = 3.27, P = 0.002) and greater amyloid burden (β = 92.12 ± 41.23, T = 2.23, P = 0.03). Among cognitively impaired individuals (N = 40), higher OEF was associated with greater vascular risk factors (β = 2.19 ± 0.71, T = 3.08, P = 0.004). Data conclusion These findings suggest that OEF is differentially affected by Alzheimer's disease and VCI pathology and may be useful in etiology-based diagnosis of cognitive impairment. Level of evidence 1 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 3 J. MAGN. RESON. IMAGING 2020;52:1829-1837.
An Historical Review of Glucocorticoid Treatment in Sepsis. Disease Pathophysiology and the Design of Treatment Investigation

This review provides an historical perspective on events that have shaped our pathophysiological understanding of sepsis during this century and, as a result, have influenced the design of glucocorticoid treatment trials. A structured format to evaluate clinical investigation of glucocorticoid treatment in patients with sepsis is presented. From the early 1950s to the late 1980s, the methodological quality of randomized trials improved, while the science dictating the design of treatment protocols overlooked prior clinical observations and relied almost exclusively on the findings of an experimental model that misrepresented human sepsis. As a result, the daily glucocorticoid dose escalated up to 140 fold while the duration of treatment decreased to 24-hours or less. Bedside observation was the foundation for evaluating treatment response in the early studies, while in the later trials, survival was the principle outcome measure and these reports frequently did not include serial recordings of biological, clinical, and physiological variables over time. Today, we appreciate that excessive activation of the host defense response in patients with septic shock or acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) may induce noncompensated glucocorticoid resistance in target organs, thereby negating the beneficial suppressive influence of an inadequately secreted endogenous cortisol. Recent studies have shown that a dysregulated host defense response is characterized by exaggerated and protracted immune cells activation of nuclear factor-kB and persistent elevation of biological markers (inflammatory cytokine levels, etc.) of disease activity over time. Within this new pathophysiological understanding of sepsis, prolonged treatment with increased doses of exogenous glucocorticoids may in theory modify the intracellular balance among activated transcription factors, and convert an initially dysregulated host defense response into a regulated one. Supporting evidence is provided by the results of recent controlled and uncontrolled studies of patients with septic shock and unresolving ARDS showing that prolonged glucocorticoid treatment was associated with a rapid, significant, and sustained reduction in circulating levels of markers of disease activity, and progressive physiological improvement. No other treatment intervention in sepsis or ARDS has yet provided this level of evidence.
Coarse-Graining Organic Semiconductors: The Path to Multiscale Design.

Four decades of molecular theory and computation have helped form the modern understanding of the physical chemistry of organic semiconductors. Whereas these efforts have historically centered arou...
Using a 'Debt Brake' to Solve Colorado's Debt Crisis

In recent years debt in Colorado has increased at an unsustainable rate. A debt brake is simulated for the Colorado economy. When the debt brake is triggered the spending cap imposed by the Tabor Amendment is reduced, with surplus revenue earmarked for debt reduction. The simulation analysis reveals that with the debt brake in place, over two decades debt in Colorado could be reduced to a sustainable level.
Article Foreword: ‘Is the UCC Dead, or Alive and Well? An Introduction to the Practitioners’ Perspectives’

Half a century ago the proposed enactment of the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC or the Code), produced through the joint effort of the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws (NCCUSL) and the American Law Institute (ALI), was the subject of heated debate. Over fifty years later, in the midst of extensive revisions to virtually every article of the Code, as well as expansion of the scope of the Code's coverage, the UCC's provisions and revisions are again the subject of vigorous discussion. Many of the arguments raised at the beginning are being raised again: the viability of a commercial code, federal versus state enactment, the role of consumers, the impact of both large commercial interest groups and the banking industry.
The roles of quality of life and family and peer support in feelings about transition to adult care in adolescents with gastroenterology, renal, and rheumatology diseases.

Abstract Purpose Transition to adult healthcare is a critical time in the lives of adolescents with chronic medical conditions, with clear impacts on health outcomes. Little is known about factors that impact feelings about healthcare transition, including HRQOL, family and peer support, and utilization of a framework such as the SMART Model can guide exploration of these factors. The goal of this study is to examine how HRQOL (i.e., functional impact of disease) and family and peer support may impact adolescents' feelings about healthcare transition. Design and methods 135 adolescents (17–23 years) with chronic gastroenterology, renal, or rheumatology disease completed four questionnaires as part of a larger study examining health, relationships, and healthcare transition. Questions assessed current HRQOL (i.e., number of days health was “not good”), peer and family support, and feelings about transition. Data were analyzed using SPSSv25 and linear regressions were performed. Results Lower HRQOL (β = 0.283, p Conclusion(s) Results are concerning as healthcare transition is a milestone for every patient. Lower HRQOL (i.e., greater functional impact of disease) and less peer support were associated with worse feelings about transition. Practice implications This study highlights potential targets for intervention such as improving HRQOL (e.g., acceptance and commitment therapy) and increasing peer support (e.g., social skills training, family facilitation) to improve transition to adult care for pediatric patients with chronic diseases.
Urolithiasis in Small Ruminants

Urinary calculi result from mineral deposits in the urinary tract and are associated with dietary intake of excessive calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, oxalates and/or silicates. The feeding of diets with high concentrations of cereal grains (feedlot lambs, pet goats, etc) may predispose to this condition.
New onset executive function difficulties at menopause: a possible role for lisdexamfetamine.

Reports of cognitive decline, particularly in the domains of executive functions (EFs), are common among menopausal women. This study aims to determine the impact of the psychostimulant lisdexamfetamine (LDX) on subjective and objective cognitive function among menopausal women who report new-onset EF complaints. Thirty-two healthy perimenopausal and early postmenopausal women experiencing mid-life-onset executive function difficulties as measured using the Brown Attention Deficit Disorder Scale (BADDS) were administered LDX 40–60 mg/day for 4 weeks in this double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study. Diagnosis of lifetime ADHD was exclusionary. BADDS total and subscale scores and performance on verbal memory and working memory tasks were outcomes of interest. Analyses revealed a significant effect of LDX treatment over placebo for total BADDS scores (p = 0.0001) and for four out of the five BADDS subscales (all p < 0.004). LDX treatment also resulted in significant improvement in delayed paragraph recall (p = 0.018), but there was no significant effect of treatment on other cognitive measures. Systolic blood pressure (p = 0.017) and heart rate increased significantly (p = 0.006) when women were on LDX but remained, on average, within the normal range. LDX 40–60 mg/day was well tolerated and improved the subjective measures of executive function as well as objective measures of delayed verbal recall in this sample of healthy menopausal women.
Copula-based maximum-likelihood estimation of sample-selection models

Sample-selection issues are common problems in empirical studies of labor economics and other applied microeconomics. A common estimation method is maximum likelihood estimation under the assumption of joint normality. It is well known, however, that the violation of distributional assumptions leads to inconsistency of a maximum likelihood estimator. Early work on sample-selection models that relaxes the normality assumption was done by Lee (1983, 1984). His approach was to transform nonnormal disturbances in the models into normal variates that are then assumed to be jointly normally distributed. As we will see, this is a special case of the copula approach that Smith (2003) applies to sample-selection models. The copula approach adds more flexibility to model specifications. In this article, I discuss the maximum likelihood estimation of sample-selection models with the copula approach to relax the assumption of joint normality. Although there are several types of sample-selection models, I discuss two in particular: a bivariate sample-selection model and an endogenous switching regression model. I also introduce the Stata commands heckmancopula and switchcopula, which implement the estimation of each model, respectively.
Writing a Good Peer Review in Family and Consumer Sciences

The purpose of this paper was to illustrate how to write a good peer review. The paper provided defintions of peer reviews and blind reviews. It also provides an understanding of what to include in a peer review. Moreover, it recommends how to write a qualitative and quantitative peer review and different factors to avoid. The paper also illustrates how to write a review for a conceptual article. The paper concludes on how the peer review process contributes to scholarship and how the process makes a difference.
Communication support for dynamic load balancing of irregular adaptive applications

In this paper we present a runtime system (Clam) that provides support for one-sided communication, remote service request, global address space in the context of mobile user-defined data objects and transparent routing of messages to those objects. We describe the functionality of Clam, the motivation and major design decisions behind its implementation. The functionality provided by Clam proved to be useful for dynamic load balancing support of adaptive asynchronous and irregular applications, such as mesh generation. The design of Clam is based on our experience with the previous implementation of the PREMA communication subsystem. We found it necessary to re-evaluate the design priorities set originally. In this paper we investigate these design decisions and evaluate their impacts on the runtime system.