cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Answering the Unasked Question: Response Substitution in Consumer Surveys

Abstract Researchers and practitioners alike frequently survey consumers to gain insights into their attitudes, preferences, and beliefs. The authors propose a potentially pervasive, but as of yet unidentified, source of bias in survey responding. Specifically, they propose that respondents' answers to questions might sometimes reflect attitudes that respondents want to convey but that the researcher has not asked about, a phenomenon termed “response substitution.” The authors examine this proposition in a series of three experiments that demonstrate the phenomenon, provide support for the process account, and identify boundary conditions. They also discuss general theoretical, methodological, and practical implications as well as specific implications for research on attitudes and contingent valuation.
Wetlands recreation: Louisiana style

Unlike other US coastal states, Louisiana’s coastal zone is not rimmed by attractive beaches, cliffs or bluffs. More than 3.2 million ha of marsh and intermingled water surfaces dominate the landscape. Forty-one percent of The United States’ coastal marshes and 25% of the country’s wetlands are in Louisiana. It is one of the world’s largest and most biologically productive wetlands. This biological resource is a bonanza of aquatic and avian wildlife (Figure 1). As an outdoor resource, the aquatic lowlands serve as a focal point for family-oriented activity.
Markovian hitters and the complexity of blind rendezvous

We define and construct a novel pseudorandom tool, the Markovian hitter. Given an input sequence of n independent random bits, a Markovian hitter produces a sequence of pseudorandom samples in {0, 1}k, in an online fashion, that hits any subset W ⊂ {0, 1}k of size e2k with probability a 1 -- 2--(n--k)e. This is comparable to the behavior of truly random samples or classical pseudorandom hitting sets. A Markovian hitter has an additional "Markovian" property of interest: each pseudorandom sample is a function of only the O(k) most recent bits of the input sequence (of random bits).Such Markovian properties are useful in distributed online settings. In particular, we apply Markovian hitters to obtain a new algorithm for the well-studied blind rendezvous problem for cognitive radios. This is the problem faced by two parties equipped with radios that can access channels in potentially different subsets, S1 and S2, of a universe of n channels. Their challenge is to discover each other (by tuning their radios to the same channel at the same time) as quickly as possible. In prior work [3] it was shown that deterministic schedules have a lower bound for rendezvous time of Ω(|S1| · |S2|). We beat this quadratic barrier by utilizing a public source of randomness in conjunction with a Markovian hitter to achieve rendezvous in expected time[EQUATION]We counterbalance this result by establishing two lower bounds on expected rendezvous time: an[EQUATION]bound for the setting with public randomness, and an Ω(|S1| · |S1|) bound in the setting with private randomness but no public randomness, which is a strengthening of the result for deterministic schedules.
Development of the Dorsal Oesophageal Diverticula in Aedes triseriatus (Diptera: Culicidae)

Development of the dorsal oesophageal diverticula in Aedes triseriatus (Say) was studied with standard micro-technical procedures. The dorsal sacs arise as bilateral evaginations from the proventricular region of early pupae. Because of the presence of certain connectives and muscular structures, and changes during the pupal period, the larval proventriculus can be divided into 5 rather distinct regions. During pupation, the fate of each region can be followed. The dorsal diverticula develop mitotically from the oesophageal tissues of the proventriculus and in this way are different from the ventral sac which develops as a result of mitotic divisions in the anterior imaginal ring. During the later part of pupation, the cells comprising the dorsal diverticula which previously had been cuboidal become squamous and the entire epithelial layer becomes highly folded. The dorsal sacs are inflated by the aspiration of air soon after the emergence of the adult. The muscular tissue associated with the diverticula arises from myoblastic tissue which has been identified in fourth-instar larvae. The anlagen of the diverticular nerves are probably intimately associated with the myoblastic masses during the developmental stages.
Astrocytes regulate cortical state switching in vivo

The role of astrocytes in neuronal function has received increasing recognition, but disagreement remains about their function at the circuit level. Here we use in vivo two-photon calcium imaging of neocortical astrocytes while monitoring the activity state of the local neuronal circuit electrophysiologically and optically. We find that astrocytic calcium activity precedes spontaneous circuit shifts to the slow-oscillation-dominated state, a neocortical rhythm characterized by synchronized neuronal firing and important for sleep and memory. Further, we show that optogenetic activation of astrocytes switches the local neuronal circuit to this slow-oscillation state. Finally, using two-photon imaging of extracellular glutamate, we find that astrocytic transients in glutamate co-occur with shifts to the synchronized state and that optogenetically activated astrocytes can generate these glutamate transients. We conclude that astrocytes can indeed trigger the low-frequency state of a cortical circuit by altering extracellular glutamate, and therefore play a causal role in the control of cortical synchronizations.
Testing the Validity of a Model of Reputation and Credibility

Reputation and credibility are concepts familiar to us all. Examples include whether to believe the product claims made by a manufacturer’s advertising, credit check/ verification for a new account, or whether to believe delivery dates or claims made by a vendor. The value of a firm’s overall reputation is easily seen in its relationship to a firm’s revenues: as a firm’s reputation increases, so does its sales (Shapiro 1982). A firm with a good overall reputation owns a valuable asset—“goodwill”: brand names, corporate logos and customer loyalty. Brand names can often be repositories for a firm’s reputation: high quality performance on one product can often be transferred to another product via the brand name (Moorthy 1985).
Comparison of Commonly Used Dressing Techniques after Carbon Dioxide Laser Facial Resurfacing

Introduction:We sought to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of the most commonly used bio-occlusive dressings applied to the facial region after carbon dioxide laser resurfacing. The compos...
Study, Copy, and Conquer: Schumann’s 1842 Chamber Music and the Recasting of Classical Sonata Form

Schumann9s 1842 chamber music exemplifies a common theme in his critical writings, that to sustain a notable inherited tradition composers must not merely imitate the past but reinvent it anew. Yet Schumann9s innovative practices have not been sufficiently acknowledged, partly because his instrumental repertory seemed conservative to critics of Schumann9s day and beyond, especially when compared to his earlier experimental piano works and songs. This essay offers a revisionist perspective by exploring three chamber movements that recast sonata procedure in one of two complementary ways: either the tonic key monopolizes the exposition (as in the first movement of the Piano Quartet in E♭ major, op. 47), or a modulating main theme undercuts a definitive presence of the tonic key at the outset (as in the first movement of the String Quartet in A major, op. 41, no. 3, and the finale of the String Quartet in A minor, op. 41, no. 1). Viewed against conventional sonata practice, these chamber movements appear puzzling, perhaps even incoherent or awkward, since they thwart the tonal contrast of keys so characteristic of the form. Yet these unusual openings, and the compelling if surprising ramifications that they prompt, signal not compositional weakness but rather an effort to reinterpret the form as a way of strengthening its expressive power. My analyses also draw on other perspectives to illuminate these sonata forms. All three movements adopt a striking thematic idea or formal ploy that evokes a specific Beethovenian precedent; yet each movement also highlights Schumann’s creative distance from his predecessor by departing in notable ways from the conjured model. Aspects of Schumann’s sketches, especially those concerning changes made during the compositional process, also illuminate relevant analytical points. Finally, in the analysis of the finale of the A-minor quartet, I consider how Schumann’s evocation of Hungarian Gypsy music may be not merely incidental to but supportive of his reimagined sonata form. Ultimately, the perspectives offered here easily accommodate—even celebrate—Schumann’s idiosyncratic approach to sonata form. They also demonstrate that Schumann’s earlier experimental tendencies did not contradict his efforts in the early 1840s to further advance his inherited classical past.
Unusual Fungal Lesion Presenting as a Neoplastic Pediatric Tongue Mass

Tongue lesions in the pediatric population are rare. The differential diagnosis of these lesions is broad, and rapid growth of the lesion is concerning for a neoplastic process. We present a rare case of a fungal lesion mimicking a neoplastic growth in a 22-month-old girl. She underwent complete excision successfully. Full evaluation for benign and malignant neoplasms was negative. Tissue culture demonstrated growth of a rare Candida species to be the cause of the lesion. Postoperatively, she continues to do well, without regrowth 6 months later. This case reinforces the role of tissue culture when histology fails to demonstrate a diagnosis and emphasizes the need for efficient communication between the pediatrician, otolaryngologist, and pathologist for timely excision.
Nestin expression and in vivo proliferative potential of tanycytes and ependymal cells lining the walls of the third ventricle in the adult rat brain.

There is a disagreement in the literature concerning the degree of proliferation of cells in the walls of the third ventricle (3rdV) under normal conditions in the adult mammalian brain. To address this issue, we mapped the cells expressing the neural stem/progenitor cell marker nestin along the entire rostrocaudal extent of the 3rdV in adult male rats and observed a complex distribution. Abundant nestin was present in tanycyte cell bodies and processes and also was observed in patches of ependymal cells as well as in isolated ependymal cells throughout the walls of the 3rdV. However, we observed very limited ependymal cell or tanycyte proliferation in normal adult rats as determined by bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation or the expression of Ki-67. Moreover, fewer than 13% of the cells that were BrdU-positive (BrdU+) or Ki-67-positive (Ki-67+) expressed nestin. These observations stand in contrast to those made in the subventricular zone of the lateral ventricle (SVZ) and subgranular zone of the hippocampal formation (SGZ), where cell proliferation measured by BrdU incorporation or Ki-67 expression is observed frequently in cells that also express nestin. Thus, while ependymal cell or tanycyte cell proliferation can be promoted by the addition of mitogens, dietary modifications or other in vivo manipulations, the proliferation of ependymal cells and tanycytes in the walls of the 3rdV is very limited in the normal adult male rat brain.
Abstract IA15: Targeting oligometastatic disease in prostate cancer

Clinical reports of limited and treatable cancer metastases, a disease state that exists in a transitional zone between localized and widespread systemic disease, have been noted on occasion historically and termed oligometastasis (OM). The ramification of a diagnosis of oligometastasis is a change in treatment paradigm, i.e., if the primary cancer site (if still present) is controlled or resected, and the metastatic sites are ablated (surgically or with radiation), a prolonged disease-free interval, and perhaps even cure, may be possible. Contemporary imaging diagnostics are identifying more and more OM patients. For example, in prostate cancer the use of PSMA-Pyl PET imaging is leading to the diagnosis of many OM patients who have no disease on conventional clinical imaging. It is unclear if these are truly isolated sites of disease (curable) or simply a reflection of more widespread microscopic disease (incurable or at best a bridging therapy). This is especially true in the biochemical recurrence (bcr) space after primary treatment. We will present our experience with identifying and treating prostate cancer OM disease. Citation Format: Kenneth J. Pienta. Targeting oligometastatic disease in prostate cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference: Prostate Cancer: Advances in Basic, Translational, and Clinical Research; 2017 Dec 2-5; Orlando, Florida. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(16 Suppl):Abstract nr IA15.
In vitro suppression of inflammatory cytokine response by methionine sulfoximine

The glutamine synthetase inhibitor methionine sulfoximine (MSO), shown previously to prevent death caused by an inflammatory liver response in mice, was tested on in vitro production of cytokines by mouse peritoneal macrophages triggered with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). MSO significantly reduced the production of Interleukin 6 (IL-6) and Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha (TNFα) at 4 and 6 h after LPS-treatment. This reduction did not result from decreased transcription of IL-6 and TNFα genes, and therefore appeared to result from post-transcriptional inhibition of synthesis of these cytokines. MSO treatment did not inhibit total protein synthesis and did not reduce the production of a third LPS-triggered cytokine CXCL1, so the effect was not a toxic or global downregulation of the LPS response. The anti-inflammatory effects of a glutamine synthetase inhibitor were seen even though the medium contained abundant (2 mM) glutamine, suggesting that the target for this activity was not glutamine synthetase. In agreement with this hypothesis, the L,R isomer of MSO, which does not inhibit glutamine synthetase and was previously thought to be inert, both significantly reduced IL-6 secretion in isolated macrophages and increased survival in a mouse model for inflammatory liver failure. Our findings provide evidence for a novel target of MSO. Future attempts to identify the additional target would therefore also provide a target for therapies to treat diseases involving damaging cytokine responses.
Regression-based approach to modeling emerging HVAC technologies in EnergyPlus: A case study using a Vuilleumier-cycle heat pump

Abstract This paper presents a regression-based approach for modeling emerging heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) technologies using the user-defined coil object in the building simulation software EnergyPlus. The approach can use output from HVAC system models or experimental data to create regression-based performance curves, which are then used within the building simulation. The regression approach is an alternative to modeling new HVAC technologies directly in EnergyPlus or performing co-simulation with a system model in a separate program. The proposed approach connects component and system level designs, and their associated performance, with annual energy use and costs in a variety of climates. This study focused on a Vuilleumier-cycle heat pump for a commercial building. We describe (1) the design and modeling of this system, (2) methods for translating this performance into a simplified model in EnergyPlus, and (3) building energy simulation results in United States climate zones 4–6. The results predict that the Vuilleumier-cycle heat pump will use 34 to 44% less source heating energy than an 80% efficient gas furnace, and more source cooling energy than a SEER 13 air conditioner. Total energy costs are lower when electricity prices are high and natural gas prices are low.
Coerced Migration and Resettlement in the Qin Imperial Expansion

During the century of massive expansion of the Qin state in China (ca. 316–222 BCE), and the subsequent fifteen years of the empire (221–207 BCE), it is recorded that millions of persons were forcibly relocated and resettled throughout the empire and along its frontiers. For example, the historian Sima Qian (ca. 145–86 BCE) states that in just the years between 213 and 210 BCE, the First Emperor relocated more than a million people from interior counties of the empire to settle newly-conquered lands on the northern and southern frontiers. Yet this was only one type of forced resettlement carried out by the Qin. The Qin state also relocated thousands of aristocratic households from conquered states to the Qin capital of Xianyang, captured large numbers of non-Chinese peoples and assigned them to localities as slaves to open up agricultural land, exiled wealthy iron industrialists from the interior to the periphery, intentionally expelled the entire populations of conquered cities to replace them with amnestied criminals, and pooled and redirected the labor of convicts gathered from throughout the empire to labor on huge projects such as the First Emperor's tomb. This article seeks to analyze and categorize these various Qin forced resettlements to uncover the ideological and policy motivations behind them and the role they played in the larger project of Qin imperial expansion and colonization.
Challenges and Opportunities in Algorithmic Solutions for Re-Balancing in Bike Sharing Systems

In recent years, the booming of the Bike Sharing System (BSS) has played an important role in offering a convenient means of public transport. The BSS is also viewed as a solution to the first/last mile connection issue in urban cities. The BSS can be classified into dock and dock-less. However, due to imbalance in bike usage over spatial and temporal domains, stations in the BSS may exhibit overflow (full stations) or underflow (empty stations). In this paper, we will take a holistic view of the BSS design by examining the following four components: system design, system prediction, system balancing, and trip advisor. We will focus on system balancing, addressing the issue of overflow/underflow. We will look at two main methods of bike re-balancing: with trucks and with workers. Discussion on the other three components that are related to system balancing will also be given. Specifically, we will study various algorithmic solutions with the availability of data in spacial and temporal domains. Finally, we will discuss several key challenges and opportunities of the BSS design and applications as well as the future of dock and dock-less BSS in a bigger setting of the transportation system.
Mechanical properties of PTT fibers by sustainable horizontal isothermal bath process

The melt spinning process of poly (trimethylene terephthalate) was modified by the inclusion of horizontal isothermal bath (HIB) in the extrusion line. Several parameters including liquid depth, liquid temperature, and take-up speed were utilized in this study. The structural and mechanical properties of the fibers were characterized by DSC, X-ray, SEM, optical birefringence, and tensile testing. The results showed that the bath treatment increased considerably the fiber birefringence up to 0.066 by 66% and increased the crystallinity up to 47.94% by 100% compared to the control (no HIB) fibers. Drawing the HIB fibers with a low draw ratio (DR) of 1.11 increased the tensile strength up to 4.76 g/d and reduced the tensile strain down to 51.76%. Such strength is greater than the maximum value of 3.3 g/d reported before. The obtained results can widen application of PTT fibers in technical woven/nonwoven fiber products.
How to build distylous flowers: comparative floral development and evolution of distylous species across the angiosperms.

PREMISE Distyly, a plant breeding system characterized by two floral morphs that have reciprocal positioning of anthers and stigmas, is known from at least 27 angiosperm families, making it an excellent example of convergent evolution. The various manners in which patterns of floral development produce the distinct anther and stigma heights in each morph remain largely unexplored from developmental and evolutionary perspectives. METHODS In 15 species representing at least 12 origins of distyly, heights and lengths of floral organs in each morph throughout development were examined using light microscopy. Patterns of floral organ development were determined and compared among species. Family-level phylogenies of distylous species and relatives were reconstructed, and patterns of ancestral herkogamy were resolved. RESULTS Differences in floral development between morphs resulted in 12 patterns leading to the anther and stigma positions characterizing distyly. Distylous species evolved from ancestors with different types of herkogamy, with approach herkogamy and lack of herkogamy resolved most frequently. CONCLUSIONS Seven of the 12 patterns of floral development are known from only one species, with three other patterns described among pairs of close relatives. The most common pattern of floral development, described from at least seven genera, involves for anther heights, distinct intermorph growth rates and for stigma heights, growth rates that differ between morphs only during later development. This pattern is common among subclass Lamiidae, suggesting canalized development within the taxon. Among distylous species, the same type of ancestral herkogamy can give rise to different patterns of floral development.
A Dyadic Perspective on Sexual Subjectivity and Romantic Relationship Functioning.

Sexual subjectivity is a central feature of healthy sexuality that is believed to shape and be shaped by relationship experiences. However, no studies have examined sexual subjectivity within a dyadic context. The current study examined partner similarity in sexual subjectivity within 75 heterosexual couples and associations with sexual relationship functioning using actor-partner interdependence models. Within couples, partners’ scores were significantly correlated on three of five elements of sexual subjectivity and showed similar mean levels on four of the five elements. Men's and women's sexual self-efficacy were positively associated with their own sexual communication. Other associations varied by gender. Men's sexual body esteem and entitlement to self-pleasure predicted their reports of sexual relationship functioning, and women's entitlement to pleasure from partners and sexual reflection predicted their reports of relationship functioning. Few partner effects were observed. Findings suggest that partners’ sexual subjectivity is relevant for dyadic functioning in emerging adulthood. Longitudinal research is needed to examine how experiences within and across relationships contribute to the development of sexual self-concepts and sexual functioning.
A new technological system to revolutionize the management of valvular heart diseases: transcatheter aortic valve for the treatment of aortic stenosis

The goal of this study is a technology analysis of a revolution for the management of valvular heart diseases given by new technological system based on transcatheter artificial aortic valve, a delivery catheter and a loading system for the treatment of aortic stenosis (a narrowing of the aortic valve because of calcium build up that restricts blood flow to aorta, the body's main artery) in patients at intermediate and greater risk for surgical therapy. In particular, this study analyzes the technological trajectories of new technology of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) in relation to the established technology of surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). To explore the emerging technology of TAVI for valvular heart diseases, a model is applied to show how new TAVI technology is substituting established technologies of SAVR to revolutionize the management of aortic stenosis in cardiology. Statistical analyses reveal the sharp increase of the scientific production of TAVI that has a coefficient of growth as function of time equal to 0.40 (p<.001) versus a coefficient for SAVR technology of 0.10 (p<.001). This finding suggests a technological forecasting that TAVI will be the dominant technology for the treatment of patients with valvular heart diseases. Overall, then, this study shows that new technology of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) introduced in 2002 is growing in terms of scientific, inventive and innovative activity to revolutionize the management of aortic stenosis in cardiology worldwide.
Data Quality for Security Challenges: Case Studies of Phishing, Malware and Intrusion Detection Datasets

Techniques from data science are increasingly being applied by researchers to security challenges. However, challenges unique to the security domain necessitate painstaking care for the models to be valid and robust. In this paper, we explain key dimensions of data quality relevant for security, illustrate them with several popular datasets for phishing, intrusion detection and malware, indicate operational methods for assuring data quality and seek to inspire the audience to generate high quality datasets for security challenges.
Human-Robot Interaction for Assisted Wayfinding of a Robotic Navigation Aid for the Blind

This paper introduces a new robotic navigation aid (RNA) for the visually impaired (VI). Two fundamental functions—wayfinding and human-robot interaction (HRI)—are presented for assisted wayfinding. The problem of wayfinding involves planning a path from the RNA's current location to the destination and following the path to get to the destination. To address the problem, we developed a new visual inertial odometry to estimate the RNA's pose by using the image and depth data from an RGB-D camera and the inertial data of an IMU. The estimated pose is used for path planning. To guide the user to follow the planned path, we designed an HRI interface with two guiding modes—the robocane mode and white-came mode. In the robocane mode, the RNA uses a motorized rolling tip to steer itself into the desired direction of travel (DDT) for the user to follow and track the planned path. In the white-cane mode, the RNA uses its speech interface to indicate the DDT to the user by audio messages. In this mode, the user swings the RNA just like using a conventional white cane. To make mode selection effortless, we developed a human intent detection (HID) method based on the decision tree mode. The method can detect the user intent and automatically select the appropriate mode according to the detected intent. Experimental results demonstrate the efficacies of the VIO, HRI, and HID methods for assisted wayfinding.
Efficient Multi-Keyword Based Service Discovery Routing in Peer-to-Peer IoT Networks

In this paper, we consider semantic based routing for IoT service discovery in peer-to-peer IoT networks. Due to the memory constraints on IoT and edge devices, we focus on the design of routing tables to achieve space-efficient as well as informative routing. To achieve the goal, we develop a scheme to enable routing information summarization, which is commonly used in IP based routing, but has not been done successfully in semantic based routing where keywords are the basis for addressing and lookup query specification. We combine ontology and Bloom filter to achieve summarization of IoT capabilities. To support summarization and reduce the space requirements for routing table indexing, we further developed a coding scheme, OnBF, to represent each IoT capability. Based on OnBF, we design the routing table, the summarization algorithm for the routing table, etc., to achieve efficient, multi-keyword based service discovery in IoT networks. We analytically and experimentally explore our proposed solution and the results show that our solution yields better routing, i.e., lower network traffic and almost optimal routing time (hops) for any given memory constraints for the routing table.
Childcare Options, Accommodations, Responsible Resources, Inclusion of Parents in Decision-making, Network Creation, and Data-driven Guidelines (CARING) at Infectious Disease Week (IDWeek): Parental Accommodations and Gender Equity.

Despite increasing parity in the infectious disease workforce, gender inequity persists in our clinical specialty. Inadequate accommodations for young parents at national conferences like IDWeek contribute to these inequities by disproportionately excluding young women from career advancement opportunities. We propose the CARING framework (Childcare options, Accommodations, Responsible resources, Inclusion of parents in decision-making, Network creation, and data-driven Guidelines) to improve equitable access to major academic conferences.
A 60-GHz SiGe Power Amplifier With Three-Conductor Transmission-Line-Based Wilkinson Baluns and Asymmetric Directional Couplers

A compact, 60-GHz high-power, wideband balanced power amplifier, implemented in a 90-nm SiGe BiCMOS technology, is demonstrated. A three-conductor transmission-line-based asymmetric coupled-line directional coupler is used to achieve impedance transformation and quadrature power combining simultaneously. A Wilkinson balun based on a three-conductor transmission line structure is implemented to achieve a four-way series–parallel power combining. Analyses of the three-conductor asymmetric coupler and the Wilkinson balun combiner are provided in this article. The design achieved 17.3-dB small-signal gain, with 41.8-GHz 3-dB bandwidth, from 28.1 to 69.9 GHz. A 24.4-dBm saturated output power ( $P_{\mathrm{ SAT}}$ ) was measured at 60 GHz with a 22-GHz 1-dB $P_{\mathrm{ SAT}}$ bandwidth, covering 45–67 GHz. The circuit showed a peak power-added efficiency (PAE) of 14.2% at 60 GHz, and the peak PAE is above 11.5% across the 1-dB $P_{\mathrm{ SAT}}$ bandwidth. The proposed eight-way power combining scheme achieves 0.077-mm2 per-way area consumption and 449-mW/mm2 power density.
Higher index symplectic capacities do not satisfy the symplectic Brunn-Minkowski inequality

In [1], Artstein-Avidan and Ostrover establish a symplectic version of the classical Brunn-Minkowski inequality where the role of the volume is played by the Ekeland-Hofer-Zehnder capacity. Here we prove that this symplectic Brunn-Minkowski inequality fails to hold for all of the higher index symplectic capacities defined by Gutt and Hutchings in [5].
Removal of the Black race coefficient from the estimated glomerular filtration equation improves transplant eligibility for Black patients at a single center.

Race is a social construct that cannot be measured, can be used imprecisely and may contribute to disparities in kidney transplant access for Black patients. At Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, we dropped the Black race coefficient in the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) report in 2017. We conducted a quality improvement project to examine the impact of this change. Before the change, only 26% of our Black patients were listed for preemptive transplant compared to 70% of White patients. Since the change, we found a steady increase in the percentage of Black patients listed before starting dialysis. The average eGFR at listing prior to 2017 was significantly lower in Black patients but after, there was no longer a significant difference. 9 patients "gained" an average of 457 days of wait time directly related to discarding the Black race coefficient. Increased time on the list prior to dialysis initiation allows for evaluation of potential live donors and improves the possibility of a pre-emptive live or deceased donor transplant and allows for a shorter period on dialysis before transplant. In this single center initiative, we demonstrate the benefit of discarding race from the eGFR report for Black patients awaiting kidney transplantation. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Reification and Recollection: Emancipatory Intentions and the Sociology of Knowledge

The sociology of knowledge is the spectre which haunts Marxism , or so it would seem from the amount of ink spilled in efforts to exorcise the demon. Beginning with the publication of Ideology and Utopia in 1929 Marxian critics have attempted time and again to indicate what precisely it is which distinguishes the study of ideology initiated by Mannheim from that proposed by Marx.2 At its worst the debate has shown the remarkable:: extent to which Marxism can remain non-problematic to itself, an exercise which has long since reached a type of scholastic perfection with Soviet Marxism. But, at its best, the presence of the sociology of knowledge has forced reflection on what constitutes the emancipatory intentions which Marxism claims to embody. By showing how such allegedly critical concepts as " ideology" and "class" could be appropriated into a nonMarxian frame of reference, the sociology of knowledge has forced its more acute Marxian aritics to define the:: emancipatory core of Marxism which remains unassimilated in Mannheim's project. This article proceeds from a basic sympathy towards the efforts of a few of the sociology of knowledge's critics: most specifically Max Horkheimer and Theodor Adorno. Yet a repetition of their position would be disloyal to the most important insights of their critique. Since the:: 1930s both the sociology of knowledge and society itself have altered. And the critical theory of sooety they proposed, which defined itself in opposition to Mannheim in its early years, has changed also, becoming more suspicious of its own premises, more:: critical of the emancipatory potential present even in the original Marxian program. Thus a reexamination of the sociology of knowledge cannot ignore recent efforts at reformulating the program of a sociology of knowledge, nor can the evaluation of Mannheim's work made in the 1930s by Horkheimer and Adorno be:: taken over without reexamination. The main thesis explored in this essay is that while the:: sociology of knowlc::dge, as Mannheim conceived it, manifested what could be:: termed a "practical" or even "emancipatory" intent, these intentions were projected in a way which could not be preserved in more modern versions of the:: theory.
Development of an Interlaminar Toughness Test for Ceramic Matrix Composites

Interlaminar fracture properties in fiber-reinforced ceramic matrix composites have been found to be a limiting feature in certain applications, a limitation that intensifies at elevated temperatures. Few if any fibers bridge the cracks in the interlaminar direction, resulting in a weaker toughness and a higher probability of failure in this direction. The main challenge in evaluating interlaminar fracture toughness is the difficulty to detect the crack initiation and to measure the crack length directly at high temperature, primarily because of the limited visual accessibility of the area of interest. A DCB test-method using a ceramic wedge is developed. The method uses electrical resistance to monitor crack growth for melt-infiltrated woven SiC/SiC composites at room temperature, with the goal of doing the same at high temperature. In situ optical measurements of crack growth in addition to micro-CT post-inspection were used to validate and calibrate the resistance method. The estimated crack length was in excellent agreement with the measured crack length in the three considered specimen geometries. Preliminary estimates of Mode I energy release rate were also provided.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Current Perspectives in Educational Psychology

This chapter provides an overview of research in Educational Psychology in the latter part of the twentieth century, with a focus on research and trends that have promise for the twenty-first century. This chapter highlights research with ties to learning, motivation, and social processes encountered in school settings. Educational Psychology has contributed to our understanding of individual abilities; leaning and development; content areas such as literacy, mathematics, and technology; and our understanding of sociocultural, relational, and instructional classroom and school processes. This chapter provides an overview of the organization and content of the volume, and describes programmatic, research, and policies that have impacted the field of educational psychology. Keywords: applied psychology; educational psychology; individual differences; instruction; schooling
PYROLYSIS OF URANIUM COMPOUNDS. I. URANYL SULPHATE

Abstract The pyrolysis of UO 2 SO 4 ·3H 2 O was studied by means of differential thermal analysis (DTA) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Dehydration occurred in three steps, with the consecutive formation of the dihydrate, the monohydrate, and finally the anhydrous salt. At 755°, UO 2 SO 4 undergoes an enantiotropic phase transition. The rate of decomposition of UO 2 SO 4 to U 3 O 8 was deduced to be limited by both nucleation and growth. The rate expression for this reaction, in terms of milligrams of weight lost per minute per square meter of active surface is: rate = 11 × 10 14 exp (−58,600/ RT ).
Space charge distribution measurements in polyethylene aged in dry and wet environments using the thermal step method

The paper presents space charge distribution measurements in various types of polyethylene subjected to accelerated electrical aging in wet and dry environments. It is shown that dry aging, which produced partial discharges of picocoulombs magnitude, introduced significantly more charge into the material than wet aging, during which partial discharges were not present. Space charge distributions in wet-aged insulation gave good correlation with the length of vented water trees and thus could be used to assess the extent of water treeing more easily than by microscopic observations and tree length measurements.
Substrates for Sulfate Reduction and Methane Production in Intertidal Sediments

The activity of and potential substrates for methane-producing bacteria and sulfate-reducing bacteria were examined in marsh, estuary, and beach intertidal sediments. Slow rates of methane production were detected in all sediments, although rates of sulfate reduction were 100- to 1,000-fold higher. After sulfate was depleted in sediments, the rates of methane production sharply increased. The addition of methylamine stimulated methanogenesis in the presence of sulfate, and [C]methylamine was rapidly converted to CH(4) and CO(2) in freshly collected marsh sediment. Acetate, hydrogen, or methionine additions did not stimulate methanogenesis. [methyl-C]methionine and [2-C]acetate were converted to CO(2) and not to CH(4) in fresh sediment. No reduction of CO(2) to CH(4) occurred in fresh sediment. Molybdate, an inhibitor of sulfate reduction, inhibited [2-C]acetate metabolism by 98.5%. Fluoracetate, an inhibitor of acetate metabolism, inhibited sulfate reduction by 61%. These results suggest that acetate is a major electron donor for sulfate reduction in marine sediments. In the presence of high concentrations of sulfate, methane may be derived from novel substrates such as methylamine.
The culture of politics in modern Kenya: The dove and the castor nut: Embu household economy in the 1980s

Introduction This chapter is the final step of an analysis that has taken us from the “seditious” music and social protest of Nairobi's political culture in the early 1990s, to strategic public silences preserved in earlier years, and to daily struggles for livelihood in the countryside during the past century. Now let us take a close look at the lives of small farmers in Embu in the late 1970s and 1980s. This narrative highlights the local uncertainties, contests, and social asymmetries that both reflect and fuel the “high politics” of the state. Again one recognizes cultural and conceptual continuities between smallscale and largescale organization: from kin group elder, to chief, cabinet minister, and head of state (cf. Kopytoff 1987: 52). Hence the frequent inclusion in Kenyan political rhetoric of metaphors of bridewealth, marriage, and fatherhood: allusions to a moral universe to which many people do have deep attachments. To suggest that an official has betrayed citizens' trust in the manner of a father who squanders a son's bridewealth savings is to strike a resonant chord. (An elder publicly made such an assertion about local coffee cooperative society officials during a 1980 baraza in rural Embu.) To speak of “state–local” interactions and “above-below” dichotomies can suggest misleadingly discrete categories of social interaction and moral imperatives. Presumed boundaries between town and countryside, like those between state and locality, are fuzzy at best.
Terrestrial Water Mass Load Changes from Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE)

Recent studies show that data from the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) is promising for basin- to global-scale water cycle research. This study provides varied assessments of errors associated with GRACE water storage estimates. Thirteen monthly GRACE gravity solutions from August 2002 to December 2004 are examined, along with synthesized GRACE gravity fields for the same period that incorporate simulated errors. The synthetic GRACE fields are calculated using numerical climate models and GRACE internal error estimates. We consider the influence of measurement noise, spatial leakage error, and atmospheric and ocean dealiasing (AOD) model error as the major contributors to the error budget. Leakage error arises from the limited range of GRACE spherical harmonics not corrupted by noise. AOD model error is due to imperfect correction for atmosphere and ocean mass redistribution applied during GRACE processing. Four methods of forming water storage estimates from GRACE spherical harmonics (four different basin filters) are applied to both GRACE and synthetic data. Two basin filters use Gaussian smoothing, and the other two are dynamic basin filters which use knowledge of geographical locations where water storage variations are expected. Global maps of measurement noise, leakage error, and AOD model errors are estimated for each basin filter. Dynamic basin filters yield the smallest errors and highest signal-to-noise ratio. Within 12 selected basins, GRACE and synthetic data show similar amplitudes of water storage change. Using 53 river basins, covering most of Earth's land surface excluding Antarctica and Greenland, we document how error changes with basin size, latitude, and shape. Leakage error is most affected by basin size and latitude, and AOD model error is most dependent on basin latitude.
Iron dose-dependent differentiation and enucleation of human erythroblasts in serum-free medium

Improvements in ex vivo generation of enucleated red blood cells are being sought for erythroid biology research, toward the ultimate goal of erythrocyte engineering for clinical use. Based upon the high levels of iron-saturated transferrin in plasma serum, it was hypothesized that terminal differentiation in serum-free media may be highly dependent on the concentration of iron. Here adult human CD34(+) cells were cultured in a serum-free medium containing dosed levels of iron-saturated transferrin (holo-Tf, 0.1-1.0 mg/ml). Iron in the culture medium was reduced, but not depleted, with erythroblast differentiation into haemoglobinized cells. At the lowest holo-Tf dose (0.1 mg/ml), terminal differentiation was significantly reduced and the majority of the cells underwent apoptotic death. Cell survival, differentiation and enucleation were enhanced as the holo-Tf dose increased. These data suggest that adequate holo-Tf dosing is critical for terminal differentiation and enucleation of human erythroblasts generated ex vivo in serum-free culture conditions. Published 2013. This article is a US Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
IFN-β Selectively Inhibits IL-2 Production through CREM-Mediated Chromatin Remodeling

IFN-β is widely used in the treatment of multiple sclerosis, yet the mechanism facilitating its efficacy remains unclear. IL-2 production by activated T cells, including those mediating autoimmunity, and subsequent autocrine stimulation is vital for T cell expansion and function. In this study, we demonstrate that in mouse and human T cells, IFN-β specifically inhibits the production of IL-2 upon TCR engagement without affecting other cytokines or activation markers. Rather than disrupting TCR signaling, IFN-β alters histone modifications in the IL-2 promoter to retain the locus in an inaccessible configuration. This in turn is mediated through the upregulation of the transcriptional suppressor CREM by IFN-β and consequent recruitment of histone deacetylases to the IL-2 promoter. In accordance, ablation of CREM expression or inhibition of histone deacetylases activity eliminates the suppressive effects of IFN-β on IL-2 production. Collectively, these findings provide a molecular basis by which IFN-β limits T cell responses.
Flunisolide HFA for the treatment of asthma: an old friend reformulated

The environmental mandate to eliminate the production of ozone-depleting products including chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) propellants has encouraged much needed research into improving modes of delivery of inhaled corticosteroids and enhancing drug deposition. Consequently, flunisolide CFC, an inhaled corticosteroid with a proven track record in the treatment of asthma, has been reformulated using a hydrofluoroalkane (HFA) as a propellant and is now awaiting FDA approval. Flunisolide HFA is a solution aerosol, unlike flunisolide CFC which is a suspension aerosol. As a solution aerosol, flunisolide HFA has a smaller mean particle size than flunisolide CFC. In addition, the built-in spacer included in the flunisolide HFA inhaler acts to reduce ex-actuator particle size; the smaller particle size of flunisolide HFA results in an improved deposition profile. Flunisolide HFA has substantially more lung deposition and much less oropharyngeal deposition than flunisolide CFC. Limited information is currently available on the clinical performance of flunisolide HFA. A single dose-response study has been performed in adults and in children comparing multiple doses of flunisolide HFA and flunisolide CFC. These studies indicate that flunisolide HFA is effective in controlling asthma. No unusual safety concerns have been noted, although further studies are needed to determine the long-term systemic effects of flunisolide HFA.
Evaluation of the residual packet-loss rate using packet-level FEC for delay-constrained media network transport

We propose a system model and an evaluation methodology to describe the performance of general delay-constrained packet-media transport over networks protected by packet-level FEC. Furthermore, we describe an algorithm to compute the residual packet-loss rate after FEC decoding in delay-constrained packet-media transmissions. Finally, we illustrate the influence of several key system parameters on the performance of FEC through specific examples.