cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The NHGRI GWAS Catalog, a curated resource of SNP-trait associations

The National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) Catalog of Published Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) Catalog provides a publicly available manually curated collection of published GWAS assaying at least 100000 singlenucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and all SNP-trait associations with P <110 5 . The Catalog includes 1751 curated publications of 11912 SNPs. In addition to the SNP-trait association data, the Catalog also publishes a quarterly diagram of all SNP-trait associations mapped to the SNPs’ chromosomal locations. The Catalog can be accessed via a tabular web interface, via a dynamic visualization on the human karyotype, as a downloadable tab-delimited file and as an OWL knowledge base. This article presents a number of recent improvements to the Catalog, including novel ways for users to interact with the Catalog and changes to the curation infrastructure.
Location estimation in multi-hop wireless networks

We present the analytic and simulation results of the performance of relative location estimation in multi-hop wireless sensor networks. It is found that the location estimation accuracy has a fundamental upper boundary. Location accuracy improves by adding more mobile nodes into the network. However, the resulting accuracy converges towards a fixed asymptotic value that is determined by the total number of links to the reference nodes. It is also established that for multi-hop networks, the location accuracy of a node is highly dependent upon the number of hops it is away from the reference nodes. The further away it is from the reference nodes, the worse the location accuracy.
Coupled cycling of dissolved organic nitrogen and carbon in a forest stream

Dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) is an abundant but poorly understood pool of N in many ecosystems. We assessed DON cycling in a N-limited headwater forest stream via whole-ecosystem additions of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and labile dissolved organic matter (DOM), hydrologic transport and biogeochemical modeling, and laboratory experiments with native sediments. We sampled surface and subsurface waters to understand how interaction among hydrologic exchange, DIN, DON, and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) influence stream N losses at summer baseflow. Added DON was taken up rapidly from the water column at rates exceeding DOC and DIN. A significant fraction of this DON was mineralized and nitrified. Combined DON and NO 3-N uptake lengths resulted in spiraling lengths of ;210 m, suggesting the potential for multiple transformations of labile N loads within catchment boundaries. Simultaneous addition of DIN increased DOM uptake, but more so for C, resulting in an upward shift in the C:N ratio of uptake. Sediment incubations also showed a strong biotic influence on DOC and DON dynamics. Despite efficient uptake of added DOM, background DON and high mo- lecular mass DOC concentrations increased downstream, resulting in higher DOM loads than could be accounted for by groundwater discharge and suggesting net release of less bioavailable forms from the channel/hyporheic zone. At the same time, subsurface DOM was characterized by very low C:N ratios and a disproportionately large DON pool despite rapid hydrologic mixing with dilute and high C:N ratio surface waters. Analysis of expected DON loads from conservative hyporheic fluxes indicated that watershed losses of DON would have been seven times greater in the absence of apparent benthic demand, suggesting tight internal cycling of subsurface DON. Our study further demonstrates the potential for significant transformation of N in headwater streams before export to downstream ecosys-
Quantitative feedback theory applied to the design of a rotorcraft flight control system

Quantitative Feedback Theory describes a frequency-domain technique for the design of multi-input, multi-output control systems which meet time or frequency domain performance criteria when specified uncertainty exists in the linear description of the vehicle dynamics. Quantitative Feedback Theory is applied to the design of the longitudinal flight control system for a linear uncertain model of the AH-64 rotorcraft. In this model, the uncertainty is assigned, and is assumed to be attributable to actual uncertainty in the dynamic model and to the changes in the vehicle aerodynamic characteristics which occur near hover. The model includes an approximation to the rotor and actuator dynamics. The design example indicates the manner in which handling qualities criteria may be incorporated into the design of realistic rotorcraft control systems in which significant uncertainty exists in the vehicle model.
Cellular Determinants of Hepatitis C Virus Assembly, Maturation, Degradation, and Secretion

Intracellular infectious hepatitis C virus (HCV) particles display a distinctly higher buoyant density than do secreted virus particles, suggesting that the characteristic low density of extracellular HCV particles is acquired during viral egress. We took advantage of this difference to examine the determinants of assembly, maturation, degradation, and egress of infectious HCV particles. The results demonstrate that HCV assembly and maturation occur in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and post-ER compartments, respectively, and that both depend on microsomal transfer protein and apolipoprotein B, in a manner that parallels the formation of very-low-density lipoproteins (VLDL). In addition, they illustrate that only low-density particles are efficiently secreted and that immature particles are actively degraded, in a proteasome-independent manner, in a post-ER compartment of the cell. These results suggest that by coopting the VLDL assembly, maturation, degradation, and secretory machinery of the cell, HCV acquires its hepatocyte tropism and, by mimicry, its tendency to persist.
The Psychology of Encouragement Theory, Research, and Applications

Despite the frequent use of encouragement in everyday social life, encouragement remains an understudied topic in positive psychology and counseling psychology. To address this gap, this article resolves ambiguity in terminology and synthesizes diverse streams of theorizing and research to propose an integrative psychological science of encouragement. The author offers a definition of encouragement, delineates its conceptual boundaries, and proposes a conceptual model that provides a taxonomy of encouragement processes. Known as the Tripartite Encouragement Model (TEM), this model charts the foci, features, and levels of encouragement. Encouragement is conceptualized, at different levels, as an act of interpersonal communication, a character strength, as well as an ecological group norm. The author explains how encouragement can enhance the quality of counseling practice as well as practical applications in other areas of psychology. Finally, the author delineates how the TEM can guide future research on ...
Computed tomography of intracerebral leukemic masses

Five patients with differing types of leukemia had clinical symptoms of a localized intracerebral leukemic mass. Computed tomography (CT) demonstrated a mass of equal or increased density relative to normal brain; a zone of surrounding edema was variable. In each case, the mass showed evidence of relatively uniform contrast enhancement. CT appearance of leukemic masses is consistent and quite different from the findings in other central nervous system complications of leukemia and its aggressive treatment.
ARTK: a compact real-time kernel for Arduino

This article describes ARTK, a compact real-time kernel for the Arduino embedded systems development environment. It provides a priority-driven preemptive task scheduler, semaphores for task synchronisation, and serial channel output. It is compatible with Arduino boards containing more or less than 64 kbytes of memory. The memory footprint of ARTK is under 8 kbytes.
Trans-dominant inhibition of integrin function.

Occupancy of integrin adhesion receptors can alter the functions of other integrins and cause partition of the ligand-occupied integrin into focal adhesions. Ligand binding also changes the conform...
The Relationship between T Cell Proliferative Responses and Plasma Viremia during Treatment of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Infection with Combination Antiretroviral Therapy

The relationship between human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1 replication and CD4+ T cell function was examined. T lymphocyte proliferation in response to both HIV-1 antigens and recall antigens was measured in HIV-1-infected individuals before and after they received highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). No correlation was observed between baseline viral load or CD4+ T cell count and the T cell proliferative response to HIV-1 Gag. Suppression of viremia was not associated with an increase in T cell proliferative responses. Emergence of viral replication during short periods of intermittent therapy promoted generalized activation of T helper lymphocytes, manifested by increased T cell proliferative responses to HIV-1 Gag and recall antigens. Recovery of CD4+ T cell responses occurred in some individuals who initiated HAART years after infection and who were intermittently adherent to drug treatment. Thus, CD4+ T cell responses can sometimes be regenerated if viral load is suppressed to allow some immune recovery and if antigenic stimulation is later provided.
Waves in Excitable Media: Effects of Wave Geometry

We consider waves in two-dimensional excitable media. The correct form of the eikonal equation (i.e. the formula that predicts propagation speed as a function of curvature) is a question that has surfaced and resurfaced during the last twenty years or so. Good answers have become available in limiting cases and under certain approximations, notably weak curvatures, low frequencies, and sharp wave fronts. The solution is important in some cardiac pathologies, as well as in our basic understanding of excitable-medium mathematics. After a brief review of curvature effects, particularly in heart tissue, we demonstrate how to obtain a drastically corrected formula that is free of restrictions on frequency and sharpness. (In the original limiting cases the result is unchanged.) Our derivation uses a finite-renormalization method. We illustrate the formula in the context of cardiac tissue. For the sake of definiteness we work in terms of FitzHugh–Nagumo-like models.
Parental Divorce during Childhood and Use of Violence in Dating Relationships

355 women and 173 men university students between the ages of 17 and 23 yr. completed a questionnaire which included Straus's Conflict Tactic Scales, and from which whether the respondents had experienced the divorce of their parents could be assessed. Two hypotheses were tested. First, individuals from divorced families would be more likely to report that violence existed in their current relationship than would individuals from intact families. Second, in those relationships which included violence, individuals from divorced families would report higher levels of violence than would individuals from intact families. Analyses indicated that individuals from divorced families were no more likely to report themselves as experiencing violence in their current relationship than were their cohorts from intact families. However, when the conflict tactic scores for men from divorced, men from intact, women from divorced, and women from intact families were compared, differences were found. Men from divorced families reported levels of violence for themselves that approached significance. Also, men from divorced families reported that their partners' verbal aggression approached significance and that their partners' use of violent behavior reached significance when compared to those of the other groups. These results indicate that having experienced a divorce in one's family may have a greater effect on later relationships for men than for women. Language: en
Cocaine- and Amphetamine-Regulated Transcript (CART) Peptides Modulate the Locomotor and Motivational Properties of Psychostimulants

Drug addiction results from a subversion of neural circuits that control motivation. Although the hedonic and addictive properties of psychostimulants and drugs of abuse are predominantly attributed to dopamine and glutamate, it is appreciated that other signaling molecules in the brain are important. This study suggests that cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) peptides modulate the locomotor and motivational properties of psychostimulants. The behavioral effects of cocaine and amphetamine were examined in Carttm1Amgen knockout (Cart KO) and wild-type (WT) mice. Acute amphetamine administration increased in locomotor activity in WT mice, but this response was attenuated in Cart KO mice. Repeated amphetamine produced locomotor sensitization in WT mice but hardly any in Cart KO mice. Amphetamine elicited conditioned place preference in both genotypes, but amphetamine's potency was reduced in the Cart KO mice. Intravenous cocaine self-administration was observed in both genotypes, but Cart KO mice consumed less cocaine and responded less for cocaine than WT mice. The behavioral effects of psychostimulants were reduced in the mutant Cart KO mice. By contrast, open field activity and sucrose preference of drug-naive mice WT and Cart KO mice were not significantly different. The attenuated effects of amphetamine and cocaine in Cart KO mice suggest a positive neuromodulatory role for CART peptides in the locomotor and motivational properties of psychostimulants and implicate CART peptides in psychostimulant addiction.
Rent Seeking and Fixed-Share Pools in Government

A fixed-share pool is a given amount of resources to be divided among a given number of claimants in which a claimant’s share of the pool is fixed exogenously. Consequently, rent seeking to increase one’s share of the pool is effectively eliminated. However, if claimants have sharing rights to more than one pool, rent seeking in the form of transferring resources from a pool where one has a small share to a pool where one has a large share will generally occur. A game-theoretic analysis of this type of rent seeking is discussed and then applied to a number of governmental settings.
Scattering Pattern of Lightning-Induced Ionospheric Disturbances Associated with Early/Fast VLF Events

Simultaneous observations of early/fast Very Low Frequency (VLF) events at nine closely spaced (65 km) sites are used together with a numerical model of the propagation and scattering of VLF signals in the earth- ionosphere waveguide to directly measure the scattering pat- tern of associated ionospheric disturbances. In cases when the causative lightning is within 700 km of the north-south array of observing sites, early/fast VLF events are typically observed at no more than 2 or 3 sites, which indicates a nar- row beam of the scattered signal in the forward direction. In the dierent cases studied, forward scattering patterns exhibit 15 dB beamwidths of less than 30 consistent with horizontal extent of 90 30 km.
Hitachi TM3030 engages at the nexus of cross-curriculum teaching and vertical articulation

When placed at a high school in one of the nation’s regions often cited in the press for negative metrics, the Hitachi TM3030 has proved to be a device that engenders a broad range of educational cooperative efforts. In this article, the author describes how the scanning electron microscope was used to connect learners from elementary school to university. Students from across the high school curriculum spectrum, including artists, poets, musicians and videographers used the device for advanced explorations. Unanticipated connections were made between at-risk and underserved groups with science learning using state of the art tabletop SEM technology. Teachers experienced new ways to motivate their students, and model curricula was developed that is now being used in educator training.
Psychotherapy for Cocaine Abusers

In spite of the burgeoning demand for treatment of cocaine abuse and the explosive growth of treatment centres, there is as yet no concensus on optimal treatment strategies for cocaine abuse. The reason for this lack of concensus is twofold: First, while a variety of promising treatments for cocaine abuse have recently been proposed (Anker and Crowley, 1982; Rounsaville, Gawin and Kleber, 1985; Gawin and Kleber, 1984; Gold, Washton, and Dackis, 1985; Tennant and Rawson, 1982; Siegel, 1982; Khantzian, 1983), none has as yet been systematically evaluated. Second, treatment-seeking cocaine abusers appear to be heterogeneous on a variety of dimensions, par ticularly the level of the severity of use and the psychiatric diagnoses (Helfrich, Crowley, Atkinson and Post, 1983; Schnoll, Karrigan, Kitchen, Daghestani, and Hansen, 1985; Kleber and Gawin, 1986; Weiss, Mirin, Michel and Sollugub, 1983). Given such heterogeneity, it follows that no single treatment will be identified as superior for all cocaine abusers.
Logical Effort model for CNFET circuits with CNTs variations

Carbon Nano-Tube Field Effect Transistors (CNFETs) offer promising solutions beyond conventional CMOS FETs. CNFETs have higher current drive capability, ballistic transport, lesser power delay product and higher thermal stability. The delay evaluation in CNFETs may not be trivial due to additional CNFET specific parameters, such as number of tubes, pitch (spacing between the tubes) and the diameter of CNTs that determines current driving capability. Moreover, the initial presence of metallic tubes and their desired removal may result in non-uniform pitch distribution. This random pitch behavior depends on the percentage of metallic tubes and the removal technique deployed. The necessary removal of the metallic tube may have significant impact on the performance of the circuit. In this paper, we propose a closed-form model to capture the impact of metallic tubes and the removal techniques on the gate and circuit delay. The influence of CNT position in the tube array of the gate on the gate-delay is captured in Logical Effort (LE) model. Our model results in fairly accurate delay estimation with an average error 2% – 5% for set of tested CNFET circuits.
Public Perceptions of Global Warming: Understanding Survey Differences

Since 2007, no scientific body of national, or international, standing rejects the findings of human-induced climate change. Yet in the United States, public opinion and public policy remain deeply divided on the issue. I review five longitudinal surveys from Yale/George Mason, Stanford/Resources for the Future, University of Michigan/Brookings, Gallup, and the Pew Research Center to understand different surveys of Americans have different results to the question “Does global warming exist?” I find that question wording makes a difference, and researchers may want to focus their efforts on answering the questions that lead to the “Don’t know” responses.
The Scandinavian Roots of the International Symbol of Access

AbstractAlthough the International Symbol of Access (ISA) has undergone a sustained critique in recent years, its roots in Scandinavian design are largely ignored. This article argues that much of the tension around the symbol today can be traced to the vexed circumstances surrounding its creation and adoption. It traces its invention to a Scandinavian design scene in the late 1960s that was itself undergoing profound change under a variety of influences, including educational reform, a growing commitment to design for the disabled, and the ongoing intervention of reformers like the Austrian–American theorist Victor Papanek.
Perpetual Constitutional Moments: A Reply to Hostovsky Brandes and Weintal

This Chapter -- written for a conference on Israeli constitutional law -- argues that a major part of understanding a constitutional system is understanding how many "constitutional moments" there have been in that system. There might be three different categories of answers to this question: none, somewhere between one and constant moments, and then constant moments. Let us call these three ideal types the non-revolutionary, fixed revolutionary, and perpetual revolutionary cases. Because Israel is one of the few countries falling into this third ideal type, and it has significant implications for understanding the Israeli constitutional system.
"As Los Angeles Burned, Korean America was Born" Community in the Twenty-first Century

Scholars, activists, and community leaders such as K.W. Lee and Angela Oh have often remarked that as Los Angeles burned, Korean America was born - or reborn - on April 29, 1992. They label the Los Angeles Rebellion/Riots of 1992 as the most important historical event, a "turning point," "watershed event," or "wake-up call" during one hundred years of Korean American history. Sa-I-Gu profoundly altered the Korean American discourse, igniting debates and dialogue in search of new directions which continue today.
COMBINING ON-LINE PROCESS MEASUREMENTS AND MODELS TO EMPIRICALLY TEST STRATEGIES FOR PROCESS MONITORING, DIAGNOSIS AND CONTROL

Abstract Testing strategies for process monitoring, diagnosis and control is expensive, and usually requires either complex pilot plant facilities or to deal with the hard constraints posed by experimentation in real plants. The experience developing hybrid systems in the mineral processing area is discussed and its application to flotation columns and solvent extraction processes is presented. The main idea is that the essential phenomena underlying a process can be divided in two aspects: the hydrodynamics and the metallurgy. The first can be experimentally implemented in pilot plants where the main streams are mixed and separated, at a low cost. However, the process metallurgy requires expensive instrumentation, store facilities, chemical reagent consumptions. The use of metallurgic models, on-line fed with operating measured variables describing the hydrodynamics, are proposed as a sustitute.
Modeling Study of CO2-Induced Asphaltene Precipitation†

The insolubility of asphaltenes in light paraffin liquids and other incompatible fluids, such as carbon dioxide (CO2), is a source of problems during crude oil production operations. Asphaltene precipitation can cause formation damage and wellbore plugging, requiring expensive treatment and cleanup procedures. In the presence of light gases, such methane, ethane, propane, and nitrogen (N2), asphaltenes are usually more stable as pressure and temperature increase; however, experimental measurements indicate that, in the presence of CO2, asphaltenes become more stable as the temperature decreases. In this work, the asphaltene phase behavior in a live reservoir fluid and a dead oil from South America is investigated in a range of pressures and temperatures in the presence of CO2 using the perturbed chain–statistical associating fluid theory (PC–SAFT) equation of state (EoS). This thermodynamic model has been applied to asphaltene precipitation with different crude oil systems, such as those that involve meth...
Surgical site infection and transfusion rates are higher in underweight total knee arthroplasty patients

Abstract Background Underweight (UW) patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty have exhibited higher complication rates, including infection and transfusion. No study to our knowledge has evaluated UW total knee arthroplasty (TKA) patients. We, therefore, conducted a study to investigate if these patients are at increased risk for complications, including infection and transfusion. Methods A case-control study was conducted using a prospectively collected institutional database. Twenty-seven TKA patients were identified as UW (body mass index [BMI] 2 ) from 2000-2012 and were matched for age, gender, date of surgery, age-adjusted Charlson comorbidity index, rheumatoid arthritis, and diabetes. These patients were compared to 81 normal weight patients (BMI 18.5-24 kg/m 2 ). Demographic variables were compared, along with wound complications, surgical site infection (SSI), blistering, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, transfusion, revision, flexion contracture, hematoma formation, and patellar clunk. Results The average BMI was 17.1 kg/m 2 (range 12.8-18.4) for UW and 23.0 kg/m 2 (range 19.0-25.0) for normal weight patients ( P P = .01) and were more likely to require transfusions (odds ratio = 3.4, confidence interval 1.3-9.1; P = .02). Conclusions Our study demonstrates that UW TKA patients have a higher likelihood of developing SSI and requiring blood transfusions. The specific reasons are unclear, but we conjecture that it may be related to decreased wound healing capabilities and low preoperative hemoglobin. Investigation of local tissue coverage and hematologic status may be beneficial in this patient population to prevent SSI. Based on the results of this study, a prospective evaluation of these factors should be undertaken.
Examination of practices of ignorance conducive to democracy based on Rancièrian thought and Rortian pragmatism

Theorists, who broadly subscribe to Claude Lefort’s characterization of democracy as the dissolution of the markers of certainty, disagree over the proper enactment of democracy. In this article, I consider the possibility of narrowing the gap by attending to the ignorance advocated by each of the two approaches – the disruptive radical route Jacques Ranciere describes and the reformist approach of Richard Rorty. I highlight the attributes and shortcomings of the positive link between practices of ignorance and democracy in the work of the two theorists, and explore how the practices they describe can complement each other in the enactment of democracy.
Meaning in life and adjustment to daily stressors

People perceive their life as meaningful when they find coherence in the environment. Given that meaning of life is tied to making sense of life events, people who lack meaning would be more threatened by stressful life events than those with a strong sense of meaning in life. Four studies demonstrated links between perceptions of life’s meaningfulness and perceived levels of stress. In Study 1, participants with lower levels of meaning in life reported greater stress than those who reported higher meaning in life. In Study 2 and Study 3, participants whose meaning in life had been threatened experienced greater stress than those whose meaning in life had been left intact. In Study 4, anticipation of future stress caused participants to rate themselves higher on the quest for meaning in life. These findings suggest that perceiving life as meaningful functions as a buffer against stressors.
Time domain interconnect model generation of Alloy-42 lead frames

Quad Flat Packages (QFPs) using ceramic bases and lids (CQFP) are very popular for packaging high-power devices that cannot be packaged in inexpensive encapsulated Plastic QFPs. The package lead frame must be made of Alloy 42 to be TCE compatible with the ceramic. Models of Alloy-42 interconnect circuits should take into account all the frequency dependent properties in a time domain simulation. In this paper a three ladder RL interconnect model is used to optimize around a scattering parameters file of CQFP measured data. Optimization is then performed in the frequency domain until the interconnect model is optimized to the measured data.
Some Possible Products of the Reactions of O( 1 D) and O 2 ( 1 Δ) with Unsaturated Hydrocarbons

There is a considerable and growing body of evidence which indicates that arene oxides, or epoxides, play a key role in the carcinogenic action of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons [1–5]. In at least one case, benzo[a]pyrene (I), the “ultimate carcinogen” (the active form of the molecule) may have been identified, as the 7,8-dihydroxy-9,10-epoxide [3,4]. These epoxides are formed metabolically, by a process about which relatively little is known. For example, there appears to be a general uncertainty regarding the nature of the oxygen-containing entity that interacts with the hydrocarbon in producing the epoxide; among the apparent possibilities are singlet oxygen atoms, singlet oxygen molecules, superoxide anions, and various peroxide species.
On intersecting families of independent sets in trees

A family of sets is intersecting if every pair of its sets intersect. A star is a family with some element (a center) in each of its sets. The classical 1961 result of Erd\H{o}s, Ko, and Rado states that every intersecting family of r-sets with $r\leq n/2$ has size at most that of a star. We say that graph G is r-EKR if, among all intersecting families of independent r-sets of G, the largest is attained by a star. In 2005 Holroyd and Talbot conjectured that every graph G is r-EKR for all $1\leq r\leq \mu(G)/2$, where $\mu(G)$ is the size of the smallest maximal independent set in G. We verified the conjecture in 2011 for all chordal graphs containing an isolated vertex. For graphs without isolated vertices it is difficult to determine the center of the largest star, which is often necessary to prove that they are EKR. A tree has the leaf property if its largest star occurs on one of its leaves. We proved that every tree T has the leaf property when $r\leq 4$, and in 2017 Borg and other authors gave examples of families of trees not having the leaf property when $r\geq 5$. A split vertex in a tree is a vertex of degree at least 3. A spider is a tree with exactly one split vertex. Here we prove that all spiders have the leaf property for all $r\leq \alpha(G)$, where $\alpha(G)$ is the independence number of $G$, and we characterize which of its leaves are maximum star centers. A pendant tree is one for which each of its split vertices is adjacent to a leaf. Here we show that all pendant trees have the leaf property for all $r\leq \alpha(G)$. We also consider pendant trees with exactly two split vertices and provide partial results on the locations of their maximum star centers.
Update From the 4th Edition of the World Health Organization Classification of Head and Neck Tumours: Tumours of the Ear

The 2017 fourth edition of the World Health Organization Classification of Tumours, specifically as it relates to the ear (Chap. 9), has several changes. Importantly, the number of entities has been significantly reduced by omitting tumors or lesions if they do not occur exclusively or predominantly at this site or if they are discussed in detail elsewhere in the book. These entities include: embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma, osteoma, exostosis, angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia, Schneiderian papilloma, inverted papilloma, lipoma of the internal auditory canal, hemangioma, hematolymphoid tumors, and secondary tumors. Paraganglioma was included in the neck chapter. New entries include otosclerosis and cholesteatoma, while refinements to nomenclature, classification and criteria were incorporated into the ceruminous gland tumors and epithelial tumors of the middle and inner ear. Specifically, the middle and inner ear were combined, as practical limitations of origin and imaging make a definitive separation artificial. The classification reflects the state of current understanding for these uncommon entities, with this update only highlighting selected entities that were the most significantly changed.
A Model of Stock Market Participants

In this chapter we describe a stock market simulation in which stock market participants use genetic algorithms to gradually improve their trading strategies over time. A variety of experiments show that, under certain conditions, some market participants can make consistent profits over an extended period of time, a finding that might explain the success of some real-world money managers.
Robust Structure and Motion Recovery Based on Augmented Factorization

This paper proposes a new strategy to promote the robustness of structure from motion algorithm from uncalibrated video sequences. First, an augmented affine factorization algorithm is formulated to circumvent the difficulty in image registration with noise and outliers contaminated data. Then, an alternative weighted factorization scheme is designed to handle the missing data and measurement uncertainties in the tracking matrix. Finally, a robust strategy for structure and motion recovery is proposed to deal with outliers and large measurement noise. This paper makes the following main contributions: 1) An augmented factorization algorithm is proposed to circumvent the difficult image registration problem of previous affine factorization, and the approach is applicable to both rigid and nonrigid scenarios; 2) by employing the fact that image reprojection residuals are largely proportional to the error magnitude in the tracking data, a simple outliers detection approach is proposed; and 3) a robust factorization strategy is developed based on the distribution of the reprojection residuals. Furthermore, the proposed approach can be easily extended to nonrigid scenarios. Experiments using synthetic and real image data demonstrate the robustness and efficiency of the proposed approach over previous algorithms.
Best Practices for Successful FPGA Design

This book which describes the Best Practices for successful FPGA design is the result of meetings with hundreds of customers on the challenges facing each of their FPGA design teams. By gaining an understanding into their design environments, processes, what works, what does not work, I have been able to identify the areas of concern in implementing System designs. More importantly, it has enabled me to document a recommended methodology that provides guidance in applying a best practices design methodology to overcome the challenges.
The TRPM2 ion channel is required for early innate immunity against Listeria infection (110.20)

TRPM2 is a non-selective cationic channel, which can mediate Ca 2+ fluxes in response to H 2 O 2 , indicating a role in signaling as a sensor of oxidative stress. TRPM2 is functionally expressed in many immune cell types, and has been reported to be required for neutrophil chemotaxis and production of the chemokine CXCL2. In order to investigate the function of TRPM2 in response to a pathogen, we infected TRPM2 -/- mice with Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) . We found that TRPM2 -/- mice show higher mortality and strongly elevated bacterial burdens already at an early stage of Lm infection. This susceptibility to Lm infection is not caused by defects in the recruitment of neutrophils, as neutrophil migration remains intact in Lm-infected TRPM2 -/- mice. Because the production of IFNγ and IL-12 is reduced in TRPM2 -/- mice, we conclude that TRPM2 can enhance the production of some cytokines. Bone marrow transfer experiments suggest that the susceptibility of TRPM2 -/- mice to Lm infection might originate from both immune cells and nonhematopoietic cells. In sum, we have demonstrated the importance of TRPM2 in enhancing the crucial production of cytokines during early immunity against Lm .
Understanding Test Variation. A Plastics Case Study

ABSTRACT This paper explains how to use statistical tools to evaluate the reproducibility of color testing. Several pigment chemistries combined with several test methods were evaluated in hopes of establishing a test that both the statistician and color technician would endorse.
Is Life Fundamental

Although there has been remarkable progress in understanding some pieces of the puzzle, the emergence of life is still a mystery, presenting what is arguably one of the greatest unsolved questions in science. For the physicist or biologist, this may seem a problem for chemistry, and that the difficulty is simply that we don’t have the know-how to engineer chemical networks quiet as complex as life, at least not yet. However, current challenges and limitations in chemical synthesis and the design of complex chemical networks may be only part of the story
Acute decompression following simulated dive conditions alters mitochondrial respiration and motility

While barotrauma, decompression sickness, and drowning-related injuries are common morbidities associated with diving and decompression from depth, it remains unclear what impact rapid decompressio...
Robust Plant Phenotyping via Model-Based Optimization

Plant phenotyping is the measurement of observable plant traits. Current methods for phenotyping in the field are labour intensive and error prone. High throughput plant phenotyping in an automated and noninvasive manner is crucial to accelerating plant breeding methods. Occlusions and non-ideal sensing conditions is a major problem for high throughput plant phenotyping with most state-of-the-art 3D phenotyping algorithms relying heavily on heuristics or hand-tuned parameters. To address this problem, we present a novel model-based optimization approach for estimating plant physical traits from plant units called phytomers. The proposed approach involves sampling parameterized 3D plant models from an underlying probability distribution. It then optimizes, making the mass of this probability distribution approach true parameters of the model. Reformulating the phenotyping objective as a search in the space of plant models lets us reason about the plant structure in a holistic manner without having to rely on hand-tuned parameters. This makes our approach robust to noise and occlusions as frequently encountered in real world environments. We evaluate our approach for plant units taken across simulated, greenhouse and field environments. This work furthers field-based robotic phenotyping capabilities paving the way for plant biologists to study the coupled effect of genetics and environment on improving crop yields.
The second genome: Effects of the mitochondrial genome on cancer progression.

Abstract The role of genetics in cancer has been recognized for centuries, but most studies elucidating genetic contributions to cancer have understandably focused on the nuclear genome. Mitochondrial contributions to cancer pathogenesis have been documented for decades, but how mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) influences cancer progression and metastasis remains poorly understood. This lack of understanding stems from difficulty isolating the nuclear and mitochondrial genomes as experimental variables, which is critical for investigating direct mtDNA contributions to disease given extensive crosstalk exists between both genomes. Several in vitro and in vivo models have isolated mtDNA as an independent variable from the nuclear genome. This review compares and contrasts different models, their advantages and disadvantages for studying mtDNA contributions to cancer, focusing on the mitochondrial-nuclear exchange (MNX) mouse model and findings regarding tumor progression, metastasis, and other complex cancer-related phenotypes.
Reinforcement of Mono- and Bi-layer Poly(Ethylene Glycol) Hydrogels with a Fibrous Collagen Scaffold

Biomaterial-based tissue engineering strategies hold great promise for osteochondral tissue repair. Yet significant challenges remain in joining highly dissimilar materials to achieve a biomimetic, mechanically robust design for repairing interfaces between soft tissue and bone. This study sought to improve interfacial properties and function in a bi-layer hydrogel interpenetrated with a fibrous collagen scaffold. 'Soft' 10% (w/w) and 'stiff' 30% (w/w) PEGDM was formed into mono- or bi-layer hydrogels possessing a sharp diffusional interface. Hydrogels were evaluated as single-(hydrogel only) or multi-phase (hydrogel + fibrous scaffold penetrating throughout the stiff layer and extending >500 μm into the soft layer). Including a fibrous scaffold into both soft and stiff mono-layer hydrogels significantly increased tangent modulus and toughness and decreased lateral expansion under compressive loading. Finite element simulations predicted substantially reduced stress and strain gradients across the soft-stiff hydrogel interface in multi-phase, bilayer hydrogels. When combining two low moduli constituent materials, composites theory poorly predicts the observed, large modulus increases. These results suggest material structure associated with the fibrous scaffold penetrating within the PEG hydrogel as the major contributor to improved properties and function-the hydrogel bore compressive loads and the 3D fibrous scaffold was loaded in tension thus resisting lateral expansion.
Price clustering and economic freedom: The case of cross-listed securities

Abstract This study develops and tests the hypothesis that economic freedom in a particular country can explain the level of price clustering in financial markets. The hypothesis is motivated by the idea that the lack of economic freedom may create uncertainty, which motivates investors to settle on round prices. Using a broad sample of American Depositary Receipts (ADRs), we find that the level of price clustering in ADRs is decreasing in the economic freedom of the home country. The economic freedom components that have the largest effects are the level of regulation and the stability of monetary policy in the ADR home country. To make stronger causal inferences, we examine the price clustering of Japanese, vis-a-vis non-Japanese, ADRs in response to an event that tightened regulation in Japanese money markets. Results show that, relative to non-Japanese ADRs, the price clustering of Japanese ADRs meaningfully increases in response to this change.
Optical activity measurements on solids. 6. Solid state optical activity and circular dichroism measurements of sodium thioantimonate nonahydrate

We have demonstrated that optical circular dichroism (CD) measurements can be carried out on powders suspended in a liquid medium. The refractive indices of the powder and the suspending liquid must be matched, the suspending liquid must not interact significantly with the solid to be measured and must not absorb in the region where the measurements are carried out. Sodium thioantimonate nonahydrate (Na3SbS4·9H2O) powders obtained by grinding oflevo- ordextro-rotatory crystals were found to be excellent examples for the demonstration of this technique. Measurements of the optical rotation forlevo- anddextro-rotatory crystals and powders of Na3SbS4·9H2O were also carried out and provided additional characterization of this salt. In the course of developing the CD measurement technique, CD of NaClO3 and NaBrO3 crystals was also measured.
Evaluating Disability-Related Quality of Life in Women With Chronic Pelvic Pain.

OBJECTIVES The primary aim of this study was to describe quality of life (QOL) in women with chronic pelvic pain using the Pain Disability Index (PDI). A secondary goal was to assess the measurement properties and validity of the PDI for this population. METHODS This study was a cross-sectional retrospective chart review. In the setting of an outpatient female pelvic pain clinic, we included data from an initial evaluation of patients 16 years and older with chronic pelvic pain (N = 317) from 2012 to 2017. Quality of life was measured using the PDI and previously validated measures for depression and anxiety. RESULTS The mean PDI score across all patients was similar to previously reported means for similar chronic pain populations. Patients experienced the most disability in their sexual activities. The most common cause of chronic pelvic pain was pelvic floor myofascial pain. Common diagnostic categories covered gynecologic, urologic, gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal, and neurological causes. The PDI was unable to discriminate between diagnoses. On average, patients qualified for mild depression and anxiety diagnoses. Results from a confirmatory factor analysis revealed the original factor structure for the PDI fits this population. CONCLUSIONS The PDI shows promise as a questionnaire for QOL and could be a valuable clinician tool for tracking QOL in the chronic pelvic pain population. Additional research should be focused on assessing its ability to measure minimum clinically significant change over time.
The prenatal early infancy project a strategy for responding to the needs of high risk mothers and their children

Summary We describe a program of pregnancy and infancy nurse home visitation for families at social risk because of the mother's young age, single-parent status, or poverty. The program sought to prevent a number of maternal and child health problems that emerge early in the life cycle and that might be prevented with improvements in prenatal health habits, care of the child, and the psychosocial context of the family. The nurses carried out three major activities: (1) parent education regarding influences on fetal and infant development and regarding the mother's own education, employment, and family planning; (2) the involvement of family members and friends in the pregnancy, birth, and early care of the child; and (3) the linkage of family members with other health and human services. The nurses emphasized the importance of establishing a caring and supportive relationship with the mother and her family, building upon parents' strengths, promoting parental control over their life circumstances, and ada...
Motivating Customer Learning When the Learning Curve is Uncertain: The Impact of Software Pricing Strategies

To benefit from innovative Information Technologies (ITs), customers have to learn to use them after the initial purchase. This learning process is plagued by ambiguous returns, which discourage customers' learning effort and may even cause premature abandonment. This paper investigates whether a software vendor can influence customers' learning incentives through pricing mechanisms. Furthermore, it examines the profitability of pricing mechanisms given customers' learning process. We capture two aspects of learning: 1) customers learn to use the software according to a learning curve; 2) the shape of the learning curve is unknown to customers upon initial adoption, but can be learned through experience. Two licensing schemes are compared: perpetual licensing, which allows unlimited usage at a fixed upfront cost, and pay-per-use licensing, which charges a constant price for each usage. In a dynamic Bayesian theoretic model, customers decide whether to use the new software or the existing technology in each period. We show that without customers' uncertainty about the learning curve, perpetual licensing and pay-per-use licensing create the same learning incentives for customers and are equally profitable to the vendor. Under both licensing schemes, customers learn to use the software in every period if the software is more efficient than the old technology in spite of the learning costs. In contrast, with uncertainty about the learning curve, customers may give up learning to use the software even if they have adopted it, and the software is indeed more efficient than the old technology. In this case, customers learn to use the software for a longer period of time under perpetual licensing than under pay-per-use licensing. Thus, with uncertainty, perpetual licensing creates better learning incentives. However, it may or may not be optimal from the vendor's perspective. Customers' uncertainty about the learning curve and their learning process change the relative profitability of perpetual and pay-per-use licensing through different mechanisms, which drive the optimal licensing result in opposite directions. We discuss the trade-off between them and conditions under which each licensing scheme is optimal.
What Is at the Center of the Curriculum

This chapter delves into the pedagogic shifts over the twentieth century from teacher to student-centered curriculum, as well as culturally and politically centered curriculum. What is at the center of the curriculum is an essential question that continues to challenge educators. This chapter examines how educators have attempted to modify the curriculum by re-centering it in response to the child, especially to reflect sociocultural and political elements of children’s lived experiences. In examining these appeals for curriculum to be more responsive to all students, this chapter asks how educators have attempted to make curricula more equitable over the twentieth century. The sources for this chapter offer educators and students calling for more responsive curricula for diverse students from different eras and regions including appeals for attention in the curriculum to the contributions of African Americans to U.S. history in the 1930s, making the curriculum accessible to persons who are deaf in the 1960s, and incorporating the experiences of women of all backgrounds into the curriculum in the 1970s.