cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Some considerations on the structure of quadruped extremities.

An attempt is made to develop a general theory of the structure of an extremity of a quadruped or biped, based on its mechanical function. The problem is essentially one of dynamics of a chain of linked levers. The equations of motions of such systems are practically insoluble exactly at the present time. A very crude approximation method is therefore outlined. It is shown that, theoretically, the number of links in the chain forming the extremity may be determined by the optimum use of the total available force of the flexors and extensors. Discussion of the formula derived from this point of view shows, however, that actually this is not the determining factor. Other theoretical possibilities are discussed. While no application can be made at present, yet in principle it is shown how mechanical consideration can throw light on the anatomical structure of the extremity.
The plight of gay visibility: intolerance in San Francisco, 1970-1979.

During the 1970s, San Francisco was often characterized as the “Gay Mecca” of the United States. While it's true that San Francisco was more supportive of the gay community during this period, this depiction often dismisses the problematic side of the increasing visibility of homosexuals. As with the increasing visibility of any minority group who is struggling to find its place in a community, the homosexual population in San Francisco soon found itself the target of anti-gay harassment and violence. This article hopes to elaborate on the published reports of intolerance that were chronicled by the gay community's own press.
Interaction of hookworm 14-3-3 with the forkhead transcription factor DAF-16 requires intact Akt phosphorylation sites

Background Third-stage infective larvae (L3) of hookworms are in an obligatory state of developmental arrest that ends upon entering the definitive host, where they receive a signal that re-activates development. Recovery from the developmentally arrested dauer stage of Caenorhabditis elegans is analogous to the resumption of development during hookworm infection. Insulin-like signaling (ILS) mediates recovery from arrest in C. elegans and activation of hookworm dauer L3. In C. elegans, phosphorylation of the forkhead transcription factor DAF-16 in response to ILS creates binding cites for the 14-3-3 protein Ce-FTT-2, which translocates DAF-16 out of the nucleus, resulting in resumption of reproductive development.
Mutational Analysis of 16S and 23S rRNA Genes of Thermus thermophilus

Structural studies of the ribosome have benefited greatly from the use of organisms adapted to extreme environments. However, little is known about the mechanisms by which ribosomes or other ribonucleoprotein complexes have adapted to functioning under extreme conditions, and it is unclear to what degree mutant phenotypes of extremophiles will resemble those of their counterparts adapted to more moderate environments. It is conceivable that phenotypes of mutations affecting thermophilic ribosomes, for instance, will be influenced by structural adaptations specific to a thermophilic existence. This consideration is particularly important when using crystal structures of thermophilic ribosomes to interpret genetic results from nonextremophilic species. To address this issue, we have conducted a survey of spontaneously arising antibioticresistant mutants of the extremely thermophilic bacterium Thermus thermophilus, a species which has featured prominently in ribosome structural studies. We have accumulated over 20 single-base substitutions in T. thermophilus 16S and 23S rRNA, in the decoding site and in the peptidyltransferase active site of the ribosome. These mutations produce phenotypes that are largely identical to those of corresponding mutants of mesophilic organisms encompassing a broad phylogenetic range, suggesting that T. thermophilus may be an ideal model system for the study of ribosome structure and function. Members of the bacterial genus Thermus are extreme thermophiles first described by Brock and Freeze in 1969 (2) and have since been found in terrestrial and marine thermal environments throughout the world (60). Together with Deinococcus, Meiothermus, Marinithermus, Oceanithermus, and Vulcanithermus, they form a deeply branching phylum now known to be monophyletic (23, 59). The close affiliation between Thermus and Deinococcus has been confirmed by complete genome sequences of Thermus thermophilus (30) and Deinococcus radiodurans (59). The finding of slightly thermophilic species related to Deinococcus, together with the thermophilic nature of the other genera of this phylum, suggests that thermophily is a primitive character of this clade (59).
The role of cytochrome P-450-inducing agents in potentiating the toxicity of fluroxene (2,2,2-trifluoroethyl vinyl ether)

Abstract The effects of the hepatic microsomal cytochrome P -450-inducing agents 3-methylcholanthrene (MC), benzo[α]pyrene (BP), β-naphthoflavone (BNF), mirex, 8-hydromirex, Kepone, spironolactone, pregnenolone-16α-carbonitrile (PCN), barbital, phenobarbital (PB), mephobarbital, hexobarbital, and pentobarbital in potentiating the toxicity of the anesthetic fluroxene (2,2,2-trifluoroethyl vinyl ether) in male rats have been investigated. The toxicity was expressed as death, hepatic necrosis, or destruction of hepatic cytochrome P -450. Only PCN, mephobarbital, and phenobarbital induction caused death within 48 hr of the administration of fluroxene (2.5 g/kg, ip), and this was prevented by administration of cytochrome P -450 inhibitors. With PB induction the percentage of mortality correlated with the induced cytochrome P -450 concentrations. Fluroxene destroyed microsomal cytochrome P -450 in vivo , within 90 min of administration, and this destruction was enhanced over twofold by pretreatment of the rats with MC, BP, and all the barbiturates, and less significantly with BNF, Kepone, and PCN. Only the livers of mirex-, 8-hydromirex-, or MC-induced rats showed necrosis within 48 hr of administration of fluroxene, with 8-hydromirex-induced livers showing the most widespread necrosis. We conclude that a number of different forms of cytochrome P -450 can metabolize fluroxene to toxic products. Some forms of cytochrome P -450, particularly cytochrome P -448, are highly susceptible to destruction by fluroxene metabolites which probably arise from metabolism of the fluroxene vinyl group. Fluroxene-induced liver necrosis is not related to the destruction of cytochrome P -450, nor to the death of the experimental animals. Thus, the three aspects of fluroxene toxicity—mortality, cytochrome P -450 destruction and hepatic necrosis—are differentially affected.
Hip fractures and heart failure: findings from the Cardiovascular Health Study

Aims The aim of the study was to find the epidemiology of hip fractures in heart failure. The increasing survival rate for patients with heart failure places them at risk for other diseases of ageing, including osteoporosis. Methods and results We included 5613 persons from the Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS) with an average of 11.5 year follow-up. We determined incidence rates and hazard ratios (HRs) in persons with heart failure compared with persons without heart failure and mortality hazards following these fractures. Annualized incidence rates for hip fractures were 14 per 1000 person-years in heart failure and 6.8 per 1000 person-years without heart failure. Unadjusted and multivariable adjusted HRs for hip fracture associated with heart failure in men were 1.87 (95% CI 1.2–2.93) and 1.59 (95% CI 0.93–2.72), respectively. Respective HRs for women were 1.75 (95% CI 1.27–2.4) and 1.41 (95% CI 0.98–2.03). Mortality hazard was ∼2-fold greater in patients with heart failure and hip fracture compared with those having heart failure alone. Conclusion Persons with heart failure are at high risk for hip fractures. However, much of the association between hip fractures and heart failure is explained by shared risk factors. Hip fractures are a substantial contributor to mortality in men and women with heart failure.
Memory-efficient semi-quasi-arithmetic coding

A highly efficient, lookup table-based, renormalization method is proposed, which can be used by any binary arithmetic coder with the follow-on procedure. It replaces the time-consuming branching operations in the renormalization process with table lookups and some simple bit-wise operations. We show that the proposed method is much faster than the one used by the M coder in the CABAC entropy coding scheme of the H.264 video coding standard. Our method requires much less memory than the previously known, table-based quasi-coder.
Gender, software design, and occupational equity

After reviewing the work on gender bias in software design, a model of gender-role influenced achievement choice taken from Eccles [7] is presented. The paper concludes that (1) though laudable, reduction of gender bias in software design is not the most straightforward way to reduce gender inequity in the choice of computing as a career, (2) the model itself makes more clear some of the ethical issues involved in attempting to achieve gender equity on computing, and (3) efforts to reduce gender inequity in the choice of computing as a career need to be evaluated in the light of this model.
Geometrical Aspects of Integrability in Nonlinear Realization Scheme

We discuss the integrability properties of the Boussinesq equations in the language of geometrical quantities defined on an appropriately chosen coset manifold connected with the $W_{3}$ algebra of Zamolodchikov. We provide a geometrical interpretation to the commuting conserved quantities, Lax-pair formulation, zero-curvature representation, Miura maps, etc. in the framework of nonlinear realization method.
The Reiterative Nature of Budget Reform: Is There Anything New in Federal Budgeting?

This article will attempt to demonstrate the limitations of budget reforms to bring about fundamental change in budget outcomes. In an effort to determine the extent to which these reforms have had any lasting effect, the author first discusses the history of federal budgeting since the advent of the executive budget in 1921. Second, the author reviews three reforms that are prominent in the U.S. Congress current budget debate—enacting fixed budget targets, granting the president increased power in the budget process through enacting a line item veto, or implementing a performance-based budget. Lastly, the author will cite the limitations of each to bring about lasting changes in budget outcomes or decision processes.
The effect of selected ovulation-inducing preparations on post-stripping mortality and reproductive indicators of farmed European grayling ( Thymallus thymallus L.)

An experiment on the effects of hormonal preparations (Gonazon™ and Supergestran containing gonadotropin-releasing hormone) on the course of reproduction of farmed grayling (Thymallus thymallus L.) broodstock and their post-stripping mortality was performed at the hatchery in spring 2009. Four-year-old marked grayling females (n = 80) were randomly divided into four groups. The fish were intramuscularly injected with Supergestran at a dose of 30 μg·kg -1 body weight (Group 1), with GonazonTM at a dose of 30 μg·kg-1 (Group 2) and with saline 0.9% NaCl (Group 3), while fish of Group 4 were left without treatment (control group). No effect of treatment on the total number of ovulated females (70–80%) was found at the end of the stripping period. Slightly higher (nonsignificant) percentage of ovulated fish in the first stripping time (3 days post injection) was observed in fish treated with Gonazon. The 30-days post-ovulatory mortality remained unaffected by hormone treatments in all groups. Significant differences (P < 0.001) were found in the fertilization rate of egg samples from the first stripping time. The highest fertilization rate (98.6%) was found in fish treated with Supergestran, lower fertilization rates (61% and 65%) in fish treated with saline and control, respectively, and the lowest fertilization rate (39%) in fish treated with Gonazon. Other reproductive indicators remained unaffected by treatment in all groups. Based on our results, Supergestran is the most suitable preparation for the enhancing of artificial reproduction efficiency of farmed European grayling in fishery practice. The study brings important information about artificial reproduction of grayling broodstocks reared in controlled conditions. Egg, GnRH, Gonazon, salmonids, Supergestran
Extended School Year Policies: An Established Necessity

The study focuses on the complexities of providing extended school year services (ESY) to students with handicaps within the legal framework of Public Law 94-142 and Section 504. Issues addressed in the literature, especially in the areas of litigation and legislation, were used to examine current state ESY policies. Recommendations for the development of an ESY policy reflecting current trends based on data collected from state educational agencies and a review of the literature are provided.
Identifying Early Indicators for Autism in Self-Regulation Difficulties

Researchers have suggested that individuals with autism have difficulties with self-regulation in early infancy, which may represent an early risk factor for autism. In this study, the authors expl...
Experimental determination of minority electron mobility in p-type pseudomorphic SiGe/Si

The minority electron mobility in the p-type pseudomorphic SiGe layer has been measured. SiGe/Si n-p-n HBTs have been fabricated with MBE-grown wafers and their DC and RF characteristics were used for the estimation of the mobility by the cutoff frequency method. The measured room temperature minority electron mobility values were found to be 302.7 cm/sup 2//V.s and 90.9 cm/sup 2//V.s for Ge composition of 20% and 40%, respectively, at the doping concentration of 7/spl times/10/sup 19/ cm/sup -3/. The corresponding drift diffusion constants were 7.87 cm/sup 2//s and 2.37 cm/sup 2//s, respectively. The observed trend may be useful information for the optimization of SiGe/Si HBTs for high-speed operation.
Long-term therapy with the acorn cardiac support device normalizes gene expression of growth factors and gelatinases in dogs with heart failure

Background Passive mechanical containment of the failing left ventricle with the Acorn Cardiac Support Device (CSD) was shown to prevent progressive left ventricular dilation in dogs with heart failure and increase left ventricular ejection fraction. To examine possible mechanisms for improved cardiac function with a CSD, we examined the effect of CSD therapy on the mRNA gene expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) 2 and 9, and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMP) 1 and 2. Methods Heart failure was produced in 12 dogs by multiple sequential intracoronary microembolizations. Six dogs were implanted with the CSD and 6 served as concurrent controls. Left ventricular tissue from 6 normal dogs was used for comparison. Results Compared with normal dogs, dogs with untreated heart failure showed downregulation of mRNA expression for VEGF and bFGF, whereas upregulation of mRNA expression for MMP-2 and MMP-9 was observed. Normalization of mRNA expression for all these genes was seen after treatment with the CSD. Conclusions This study shows that preventing left ventricular dilation and myocardial stretch with the CSD promotes normalization of growth factor and MMP gene expression. These results suggest that modulation of gene activity may, in part, contribute to the improvement of left ventricular function observed with CSD therapy.
Functional Interaction between the Coactivator Drosophila CREB-Binding Protein and ASH1, a Member of the Trithorax Group of Chromatin Modifiers

CREB-binding protein (CBP) is a coactivator for multiple transcription factors that transduce a variety of signaling pathways. Current models propose that CBP enhances gene expression by bridging the signal-responsive transcription factors with components of the basal transcriptional machinery and by augmenting the access of transcription factors to DNA through the acetylation of histones. To define the pathways and proteins that require CBP function in a living organism, we have begun a genetic analysis of CBP in flies. We have overproduced Drosophila melanogaster CBP (dCBP) in a variety of cell types and obtained distinct adult phenotypes. We used an uninflated-wing phenotype, caused by the overexpression of dCBP in specific central nervous system cells, to screen for suppressors of dCBP overactivity. Two genes with mutant versions that act as dominant suppressors of the wing phenotype were identified: the PKA-C1/DCO gene, encoding the catalytic subunit of cyclic AMP protein kinase, and ash1, a member of the trithorax group (trxG) of chromatin modifiers. Using immunocolocalization, we showed that the ASH1 protein is specifically expressed in the majority of the dCBP-overexpressing cells, suggesting that these proteins have the potential to interact biochemically. This model was confirmed by the findings that the proteins interact strongly in vitro and colocalize at specific sites on polytene chromosomes. The trxG proteins are thought to maintain gene expression during development by creating domains of open chromatin structure. Our results thus implicate a second class of chromatin-associated proteins in mediating dCBP function and imply that dCBP might be involved in the regulation of higher-order chromatin structure.
Introduction to Living Standards and Social Well-Being

Abstract This special issue contains five articles on the subject of living standards and well-being, important topics in social economics. The authors assess the so-called squirrel cage of work-and-spend, and the culture of overconsumption in the USA and other industrialized countries. They evaluate overwork and the implications for balancing work and family, and underwork and the need for a basic income. The articles in this special issue point to a myriad of policy proposals to be found not only in employer practices but through broader universal policy solutions as well, such as nationally applicable labor standards, and access to paid leave and flexible scheduling.
Practitioners' evolving views on product placement effectiveness

The practice of product (or brand) placement has grown significantly during the past 20 years; marketers now frequently use placements as the basis for multimillion dollar integrated promotional campaigns. A survey of the members of the Entertainment Resources and Marketing Association, the leading placement-industry group, was conducted to assess practitioners' beliefs. Items mirrored those used in a 1994 survey of the same group. Practitioners today believe an expanded set of brand and executional factors are important for the placement to be effective. Today's practitioners are also more likely to believe that placement leads to trade-offs between financial and creative considerations in film production.
Melatonin, Immune Modulation and Aging

Melatonin is a hormone secreted by the pineal gland in response to photoperiods and influences many important biological processes. For one, Melatonin has been shown to produce resistance to cancer and infectious diseases in aged animals. Studies in animals have demonstrated melatonin-related mechanisms of action on immunoregulation. Additionally, melatonin has been successfully used in humans, along with interleukin-2, as a treatment of solid tumors. In vivo and in vitro studies show melatonin enhances both natural and acquired immunity in animals. Despite all of this intriguing evidence, melatonin's mechanism of action on the immune system is only partially defined. It does, however, appear to act through lymphocyte receptors, and perhaps, receptors on other immune tissues, to modulate immune cells. In order to understand immunomodulation and anti-cancer effects, information on melatonin and it's interactions with other endocrine hormones are summarized.
Trajectory planning and control of a novel walking biped

This paper discusses the control of the planar underactuated two-motor, three-link walking robot originally considered by Kiefer et al. (1993). This robot consists of two legs connected to a cylindrical torso by DC-motors. A key problem that exists with this design is the generation of stable gaits while simultaneously guaranteeing bounded torso velocity. We present a solution to this problem by controlling the velocity of the hub through design of the leg trajectories. Partial feedback linearization control is used to track the desired leg trajectories, which in turn determine the zero dynamics governing the hub velocity. A detailed simulation of the robot is used to demonstrate the performance of this proposed control scheme.
Omega-3 fatty acids (from fish oils) for cystic fibrosis.

Background Epidemiological and other studies suggest that a diet rich in omega-3 essential fatty acids (derived from fish oil) may have beneficial anti-inflammatory effects for chronic conditions such as cystic fibrosis (CF). Objectives To determine whether there is evidence that omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation reduces morbidity and mortality. To identify any adverse events associated with omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation. Search strategy We searched the Cochrane Cystic Fibrosis and Genetic Disorders Group's Trials Register comprising references identified from comprehensive electronic database searches and handsearches of relevant journals and abstract books of conference proceedings. Authors and persons interested in the subject of the review were contacted. Most recent search: April 2007 Selection criteria Randomised controlled trials in people with CF comparing omega-3 fatty acid supplements with placebo. Data collection and analysis Two authors independently selected the studies for inclusion in the review, independently extracted data and assessed the methodological quality of the studies. Main results Searches identified seven studies; three of which, involving 48 participants, were eligible for inclusion in the review. Two studies compared omega-3 fatty acids to olive oil controls for a six-week treatment period. One study compared omega-3 fatty acids in the form of a liquid dietary supplement containing polyunsaturated fatty acids to a liquid dietary supplement control for six months. One short-term study (19 participants) comparing omega-3 to placebo reported a significant improvement in forced expiratory volume in one second, forced vital capacity and Shwachman score and a reduction in sputum volume in the omega-3 group. The longer-term study (17 participants) demonstrated a significant increase in essential fatty acid content in neutrophil membranes in study participants taking omega-3 supplements compared to placebo, weighted mean difference 0.90 (95% confidence interval 0.46 to 1.34). Authors' conclusions This review found that regular omega-3 supplements may provide some benefits for people with CF with relatively few adverse effects, although the evidence is insufficient to draw firm conclusions or to recommend routine use of supplements of omega-3 fatty acids in people with CF. This review has highlighted the lack of data for many of the outcomes likely to be meaningful to people with or making treatment decisions about CF. A large, long-term, multicentre, randomised controlled study is needed in order to determine if there is a significant therapeutic effect and to assess the influence of disease severity, dosage and duration of treatment. Future researchers should note the need for additional pancreatic enzymes.
Team Republican: A Review Essay of Charles C.W. Cooke, The Conservatarian Manifesto: Libertarians, Conservatives, and the Fight for the Right's Future

With his book The Conservatarian Manifesto: Libertarians, Conservatives, and the Fight for the Right’s Future, Charles C.W. Cooke aims is to get good policy – or, at least, better policy – to work as good politics. The vehicle of the good politics, for Cooke, is the constellation of discourse, organization, media, mobilization, governing, and so on that I call “Team Republican.” This essay reviews and comments on Cooke’s book, mostly favorably.
Case report: forced eruption and implant site development.

Abstract It is now possible to use the orthodontic extrusion of periodontally compromised teeth to facilitate the development of a future implant site in an area where the amount of bone in the inciso-apical dimension would otherwise have been inadequate. The purpose of this case report was to analyze the hard and soft tissue changes when forced eruption is used for implant site development.
Polarizable Multipole-Based Force Field for Dimethyl and Trimethyl Phosphate

Phosphate groups are commonly observed in biomolecules such as nucleic acids and lipids. Due to their highly charged and polarizable nature, modeling these compounds with classical force fields is challenging. Using quantum mechanical studies and liquid-phase simulations, the AMOEBA force field for dimethyl phosphate (DMP) ion and trimethyl phosphate (TMP) has been developed. On the basis of ab initio calculations, it was found that ion binding and the solution environment significantly impact both the molecular geometry and the energy differences between conformations. Atomic multipole moments are derived from MP2/cc-pVQZ calculations of methyl phosphates at several conformations with their chemical environments taken into account. Many-body polarization is handled via a Thole-style induction model using distributed atomic polarizabilities. van der Waals parameters of phosphate and oxygen atoms are determined by fitting to the quantum mechanical interaction energy curves for water with DMP or TMP. Additi...
The influence of PET/Gallium (P/G) status and high-dose rituximab (HDR) in patients (pts) with aggressive, large, B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) receiving autologous stem cell transplants (ASCT)

6518 Background: P/G status has been suggested to be an important predictor of outcome in pts with LBCL who receive an ASCT. Newer conditioning regimens which include HDR have been shown to improve...
A First Look at Unstable Mobility Management in Cellular Networks

Mobility management is a prominent feature in cellular networks. In this paper, we examine the (in)stability of mobility management. We disclose that handoff may never converge in some real-world cases. We focus on persistent handoff oscillations, rather than those transient ones caused by dynamic networking environment and user mobility (e.g., moving back and force between two base stations). Our study reveals that persistent handoff loops indeed exist in operational cellular networks. They not only violate their design goals, but also incur excessive signaling overhead and data performance degradation. To detect and validate instability in mobility management, we devise MMDIAG, an in-device diagnosis tool for cellular network operations. The core of MMDIAG is to build a handoff decision automata based on 3GPP standards, and detect possible loops by checking the structural property of stability. We first leverage device-network signaling exchanges to retrieve mobility management policies and configurations, and then feed them into MMDIAG, along with runtime measurements. MMDIAG further emulates various handoff scenarios and identifies possible violations (i.e., loops) caused by the used policies and configurations. Finally, we validate the identified problems through real measurements over operational networks. Our preliminary results with a top-tier US carrier demonstrate that, unstable mobility management indeed occurs in reality and hurts both carriers and users. The proposed methodology is effective to identify persistent instabilities and pinpoint their root causes in problematic configurations and policy conflicts.
Antimicrobial Properties of Mesenchymal Stem Cells: Therapeutic Potential for Cystic Fibrosis Infection, and Treatment

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disease in which the battle between pulmonary infection and inflammation becomes the major cause of morbidity and mortality. We have previously shown that human MSCs (hMSCs) decrease inflammation and infection in the in vivo murine model of CF. The studies in this paper focus on the specificity of the hMSC antimicrobial effectiveness using Pseudomonas aeruginosa (gram negative bacteria) and Staphylococcus aureus (gram positive bacteria). Our studies show that hMSCs secrete bioactive molecules which are antimicrobial in vitro against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus pneumonia, impacting the rate of bacterial growth and transition into colony forming units regardless of the pathogen. Further, we show that the hMSCs have the capacity to enhance antibiotic sensitivity, improving the capacity to kill bacteria. We present data which suggests that the antimicrobial effectiveness is associated with the capacity to slow bacterial growth and the ability of the hMSCs to secrete the antimicrobial peptide LL-37. Lastly, our studies demonstrate that the tissue origin of the hMSCs (bone marrow or adipose tissue derived), the presence of functional cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR: human, Cftr: mouse) activity, and response to effector cytokines can impact both hMSC phenotype and antimicrobial potency and efficacy. These studies demonstrate, the unique capacity of the hMSCs to manage different pathogens and the significance of their phenotype in both the antimicrobial and antibiotic enhancing activities.
Ultrafast Pulse Propagation in Dispersion Engineered Silicon Wires

We present the first full theoretical study of femtosecond pulse propagation in silicon wires. Dispersion of the silicon wire can be engineered and lead to different pulse dynamics.
Integrating Roboticist Values into a Value Sensitive Design Framework for Humanoid Robots

A good body of work in HRI has investigated how to design humanoids to effectively serve users' needs. This user centered approach has proved fruitful, but there exists relatively little work examining the intent and values of the roboticists themselves. Furthermore, we know little of how the values of roboticists influence their own designs. Such knowledge could help designers better reflect on whether their designs effectively convey particular ethics to their users. In this study, we analyzed 27 interviews of pioneer humanoid roboticists, seeking to identify the values of such roboticists. Our results suggest that roboticists' values are shaped by a dominant engineering-based background that emphasizes robotics as a field of integration (especially humanoids). Roboticists also see robots as testbeds for learning about humans themselves. We advocate a VSD approach for humanoids that goes beyond engineering disciplines and forces values to the forefront of discussion.
Adult Psychiatric Care in the Home

Nearly a third of patients seen by providers in home-based primary care are likely to have significant mental health problems, the most common of which is major depression. In general, these conditions are under-recognized and undertreated. Providers should screen for common mental health conditions, understand basics of diagnosis for key types of illnesses, and be familiar with the options for treatment, including community resources and medications. This chapter reviews practical approaches including assessment, diagnostic criteria, interplay of medical and psychiatric conditions, tables to guide medication selection, how to manage difficult situations, and patient and provider safety.
An Empirical Study on Hybrid Recommender System with Implicit Feedback

The amount of data generated by systems is growing quickly because of the appearance of mobile devices, wearable devices, and The Internet of Things (IoT), to name a few. Because of that, the importance of personalized recommendations by recommender systems becomes more important for consumers inundated with vast amount of choices. Many different types of data are generated implicitly (for example, purchase history, browsing activity, and booking history), and less intrusive recommendation systems can be built upon implicit feedback. There are previous efforts to build a recommender system with implicit feedback by estimating the latent factors or learning the personalized ranking but these approaches do not fully take advantage of various types of information that can be created from implicit feedback such as implicit profiles or a popularity of items. In this paper, we propose a hybrid recommender system which exploits implicit feedback and demonstrate better performance of the proposed recommender system based on the expected percentile ranking and a precision-recall curve against two state-of-the-art recommender systems, Bayesian Personalized Ranking (BPR) and Implicit Matrix Factorization methods, using hotel reservation data.
Expression and characterization of recombinant plant trans-acting factors

Transcriptional regulation is a critical mechanism that is used by all organisms to control complex developmental pathways. In most cases where the regulatory mechanism has been elucidated, it has been found that sequence-specific DNA-binding proteins play pivotal roles in this process. These regulatory factors are thought to bind to specific sequences in the target gene(s) and subsequently influence the transcriptional activity of the particular promoter through interaction with other proteins. Thus, study of the structural and functional properties of trans-acting factors are critical for a comprehensive model of gene regulation.
Network Error Correction Coding in Packetized Networks

This paper, we studies basic properties of network error correction codes, their construction, and correction capability for various kinds of errors. Our discussion is confined to the single source multicast case. We define the minimum rank of a network error correction code. This plays the same role that minimum distance has played in classical coding theory. We prove the existence of codes that can correct errors up to the full error correction capability in singleton bound. Even when the rank of the error is higher than the error correction capability, we show that the error can be corrected with very high probability under reasonable assumptions
A Experiência como segmento do turismo: relatos sobre o Vale das Experiências / RS

Possuidor de belezas naturais e historicas, o Vale do Paranhana, localizado no estado do Rio Grande do Sul, oferece opcoes variadas de lazer e turismo, com destaque aos esportes de aventura. Inspirado nas caracteristicas pertencentes ao Turismo de Experiencia e visando a melhoria dos produtos e servicos voltados ao turismo, ocorreu, na regiao,a elaboracao do Projeto Vale das Experiencias. Fundamentado em bibliografia especializada sobre tal segmento do turismo, a presente pesquisa objetiva apresentar o projeto, destacando seu encaminhamento e caracterizando seus usuarios. Atraves de uma metodologia qualitativa, de carater exploratorio-descritivo, e baseado na analise dos dados, coletados atraves instrumentos como questionario e entrevistas, constatou-se que, apesar de bem estruturado, o projetoprecisa de uma melhor divulgacao, assim como o segmento de Turismo de Experiencianecessita ser maisexplorado.
Feminism and the Carceral State: Gender-Responsive Justice, Community Accountability, and the Epistemology of Antiviolence

Building on recent feminist scholarship on the complicity of feminist antiviolence movements in the build-up of mass incarceration, this essay analyzes the epistemic occupation of feminist antiviolence work by carceral logic, taking the Gender-Responsive Justice and Community Accountability movements as countervailing examples. Both strategies claim to be a feminist response to violence. Gender-Responsive Justice arises from feminist criminology and has genealogical roots in the American prison reformatory movement. Community Accountability stems from grassroots intersectional and decolonial feminisms that are fundamentally at odds with the professionalization and state-centrism of the mainstream antiviolence movement. We argue that Gender-Responsive Justice is a form of carceral humanism that repackages carceral control as the caring provision of social services, while Community Accountability advances a radically creative abolitionist and decolonial project of an irreducibly epistemological order.
Postmaterialism and Support for the Environment in the United States

ABSTRACTPostmaterialist theory suggests that under conditions of continuously expanding economic and personal security, younger generations will be less oriented to acquiring material goods and more committed than their older peers to attaining postmaterial social goals such as increased free self-expression and a healthy natural environment. Using the latest World Values Survey sample for the United States, ordinary least squares (OLS) and logit regressions are employed to test whether youth is a predictor of postmaterialism as theory suggests, and whether postmaterialism positively predicts environmental concern and individual actions in support of the environment. Age is found to be a negative and statistically significant factor in explaining variation in the postmaterialism index, and this index is in turn found to be a statistically significant positive factor in explaining individual environmental concern and activism. A combination of increased economic security and entrance of younger generations...
Does flooding effect the apparent survival and body condition of a ground foraging migrant passerine

Natural disturbances play a fundamental role in maintaining habitat and landscape heterogeneity; however, these events can also have negative effects on some species. While we know that disturbances can reduce habitat quality for many species, leading to diminished populations and altered community structure, the effect of these events on individuals that continue to occupy affected areas remains unknown. We focused on understanding the impact of flood-mediated reduction of habitat quality on Swainson’s Warblers (Limnothlypis swainsonii). In 2008, a catastrophic flood event occurred on the Mississippi River and its tributaries, severely affecting one of two locations where we had studied territorial males since 2004. To determine the impact of flooding on this species, we evaluated how body condition and apparent survival of males differed between locations and in pre-flood (2004–2007) and post-flood (2008–2010) periods. Body condition did not differ between locations after the flood, suggesting that flooding did not cause food limitation for this obligate ground forager. Apparent survival in the post-flood period was lower at both locations and led to near population extirpation at the heavily flood-impacted site. Overall, this study demonstrates the vulnerability of species to extreme hydrological events, an increasing threat due to climate change. Future research should focus on identifying species that are vulnerable to these events and determining appropriate conservation strategies. Conservation for the Swainson’s Warbler should focus on identifying and conserving the highest elevation, least flood prone areas within bottomland hardwood forests and managing those areas for thick understory vegetation.
Vernal nitrogen and phosphorus retention by forest understory vegetation and soil microbes

Northern hardwood forests experience annual maximal loss of nutrients during spring. The vernal dam hypothesis predicts that spring ephemeral herbs in northern hardwood forests serve as sinks for nutrients during this season and reduce the loss of nutrients from the terrestrial ecosystem. Soil microbes of northern hardwood forests also sequester nutrients during spring. We compared the vernal nutrient acquisition ability of a soil microbial community and an understory plant community with species of mixed leaf phenology. We monitored nitrogen and phosphorus pool sizes in understory vegetation and soil microbes during spring from 1999 through 2001 in a northern hardwood forest in the Catskill Mountains, New York. Vegetation nutrient content increased during two spring seasons by an average of 3.07 g N m−2 and 0.19 g P m−2 and decreased during one spring by 0.81 g N m−2 and 0.10 g P m−2. Evergreen, wintergreen, and deciduous plant species were able to sequester nutrients during spring. Soil microbial nutrient content decreased during one spring by 1.29 g N m−2 and remained constant during the other two springs. Streamwater nitrogen losses were not correlated with biotic nutrient uptake suggesting a temporal disconnect between the two processes. We conclude that understory vegetation is a larger potential sink for vernal nutrients than are soil microbes in this northern hardwood forest and understory and species representing multiple phenologies are capable of vernal nutrient uptake.
Infection Control and Prevention Considerations

Due to the nature of their underlying illness and treatment regimens, cancer patients are at increased risk of infection. Though the advent and widespread use of anti-infective agents has allowed for the application of ever-greater immune-suppressing therapies with successful treatment of infectious complications, prevention of infection remains the primary goal. The evolutionary changes of microorganisms, whereby resistance to anti-infective therapy is increasingly common, have facilitated a paradigm shift in the field of healthcare epidemiology. No longer is the focus on "control" of infection once established in a healthcare environment. Rather, the emphasis is on prevention of infection before it occurs. The most basic tenet of infection prevention, and the cornerstone of all well-designed infection prevention and control programs, is hand hygiene. The hands of healthcare workers provide a common potential source for transmission of infectious agents, and effective decontamination of the hands reduces the risk of transmission of infectious material to other patients. Once infection is suspected or established; however, implementation of effective control strategies is important to limit the spread of infection within a healthcare environment. This chapter outlines the basic tenets of infection prevention, principles of isolation precautions and control measures, and elements for a successful infection control and prevention program.
Boosting MEMS Piezoelectric Transformer Figures of Merit via Architecture Optimization

This letter documents the design and demonstration of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) piezoelectric transformers with a measured boost in effective figure of merit as high as 4.2X. This boost is enabled by an architecture approach, which takes transformers with figures of merit limited by the inherent effective electromechanical coupling factor, ${k}_{\textsf {eff}}^{\textsf {2}}$ , and device quality factor, and provides enhanced effective transformer figures of merit through architecture optimization. This is enabled by a parallel input series out transducer architecture inspired by prior approaches with multi-layer bulk piezoelectric transformers but first demonstrated here in MEMS with discrete transformers fabricated with ~45-MHz lead-zirconate-titanate (PZT)-on-silicon electromechanical resonators.
A Compact Electrolytic-Free Two-Stage Universal Input Offline LED Driver With Volume-Optimized SSC Energy Buffer

This paper presents a single-phase, two-stage electrolytic-free offline LED driver that utilizes a hybrid film-ceramic stacked switched capacitor (SSC) energy buffer in place of limited-life electrolytic capacitors for twice-line-frequency energy buffering. The proposed LED driver comprises a front-end power factor correction (PFC) stage, followed by an isolated dc–dc conversion stage, with an SSC energy buffer connected across the intermediate dc bus. For the design of SSC energy buffer, an improved capacitance ratio optimization methodology is presented that incorporates the energy densities of commercially available capacitors and minimizes the passive volume of the buffer. Compared to a single capacitor, the optimized SSC energy buffer, comprising three switches, reduces the passive volume of the energy buffer by greater than 40%. A simple and robust control scheme is also proposed to interface the SSC energy buffer with the PFC converter. A prototype 300-W LED driver based on the proposed architecture, designed for universal input voltage range (90–305 Vrms) and 12-V output voltage is built and tested. The SSC energy buffer achieves a peak efficiency of 98.5% and maintains an efficiency of above 96% across a wide output power range, thus minimally impacting the overall system efficiency. Finally, the impact of the intermediate dc-bus voltage ripple on overall LED driver efficiency is investigated. It is found that there is negligible change in the efficiency when the intermediate dc-bus voltage ripple ratio is varied between 3% and 7.5%.
Comparison of Correlated Comorbidities in Male and Female Sexual Dysfunction: Findings From the Third National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles (Natsal-3)

Abstract Background Many of the same mechanisms involved in the sexual arousal-response system in men exist in women and can be affected by underlying general medical conditions. Aim To assess whether sexual function in men and women is correlated with similar comorbidities. Methods This study was a secondary analysis of the 3rd National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles (Natsal-3), a prospective stratified probability sample of British individuals 16 to 74 years old interviewed from 2010 to 2012. We assessed for an association between sexual function and the following comorbidities: heart attack, heart disease, hypertension, stroke, diabetes, chronic lung disease, depression, other mental health conditions, other neurologic conditions, obesity, menopause, incontinence, smoking status, and age. Outcome An association was found between multiple medical comorbidities and sexual dysfunction in women and in men. Results 6,711 women and 4,872 men responded to the survey, were in a relationship, and reported sexual activity in the past year. The average age of the women was 35.4 ± 14.1 and that of the men was 36.8 ± 15.6. There was an association between sexual function and all variables assessed except for chronic lung disease, heart attack, and incontinence in women compared with stroke, other neurologic conditions, incontinence, and smoking status in men. Comorbidities associated with erectile dysfunction included depression, diabetes, and other heart disease, whereas comorbidities associated with difficulty with lubrication included depression and other heart disease. Menopause was predictive of sexual dysfunction. Male sexual function appeared to decline after 45.5 years of age. Clinical Implications Physicians should be aware of the correlation between medical comorbidities and sexual dysfunction in women and men and should ask patients about specific symptoms that might be associated with underlying medical conditions. Strengths and Limitations Use of a stratified probability sample compared with a convenience sample results in capturing of associations representative of the population. Inclusion of multiple comorbidities in the multivariate analysis allows us to understand the effects of several variables on sexual function. Although this study shows only an association, further research could determine whether there is a causal relation between comorbidities and sexual dysfunction in women. Conclusion Multiple medical comorbidities are associated with sexual dysfunction not only in men but also in women. Polland A, Davis M, Zeymo A, et al. Comparison of Correlated Comorbidities in Male and Female Sexual Dysfunction: Findings From the Third National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles (Natsal-3). J Sex Med 2018;15:678–686.