cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An online sparse estimation-based classification approach for real-time monitoring in advanced manufacturing processes from heterogeneous sensor data

ABSTRACTThe objective of this work is to realize real-time monitoring of process conditions in advanced manufacturing using multiple heterogeneous sensor signals. To achieve this objective we propose an approach invoking the concept of sparse estimation called online sparse estimation-based classification (OSEC). The novelty of the OSEC approach is in representing data from sensor signals as an underdetermined linear system of equations and subsequently solving the underdetermined linear system using a newly developed greedy Bayesian estimation method. We apply the OSEC approach to two advanced manufacturing scenarios, namely, a fused filament fabrication additive manufacturing process and an ultraprecision semiconductor chemical–mechanical planarization process. Using the proposed OSEC approach, process drifts are detected and classified with higher accuracy compared with popular machine learning techniques. Process drifts were detected and classified with a fidelity approaching 90% (F-score) using OSEC....
The Fault of Operation Metal Oxide Lightning Arrester is Diagnosed

The 3 kinds of fault diagnosis method (preventive testing, inspection or detection and infrared photography) for metal oxide arrester (MOA) in operation were introduced, and the influence of ambient conditions on measuring results was analyzed. Each kind of method has its advantages and shortcomings. It should be synthesized to utilize and combine the test experiences for a long period, and compare with measuring results longitudinally and laterally when carrying out MOA fault diagnosis, in order to make correct judgment and improve operation reliability of MOA
Tips and Tricks for Building Bayesian Networks for Scoring Game-Based Assessments

Game-based assessments produce multiple, dependent observations from student game play. Bayesian networks can model the dependence, but, typically, only a small amount of pilot data are available at the time the network is constructed. This paper examines the process of creating Bayesian network scoring models, focusing on several practical techniques that have been used in the construction of models for Physics Playground. In particular, the following techniques are helpful: 1i¾źThe use of evidence-centered assessment design to define latent competency variables and observable indicator variables. 2i¾źThe use of correlation matrixes to uncover and validate the conditional independence structure of the Bayes net. 3i¾źThe use of discrete IRT models to create large portion of the Bayesian networks from a single spreadsheet. 4i¾źAdjusting the Bayes net parameters using both hand tuning and a generalized EM algorithm, creating networks which are a mixture of expert opinion and data. 5i¾źUsing expected classification accuracy matrixes to judge assessment validity and reliability. 6i¾źUsing evidence balance sheets to identify unusual subjects and observable indicators.
Novel Vaccines for the Treatment of Gastrointestinal Cancers

Continuing advances in immunology and molecular biology during the past several decades have provided optimism that immunomodulatory strategies may be clinically useful in patients with cancer. Key advances have included: (1) recognition of the critical role of the antigen-presenting cell and greatly improved understanding of antigen processing and presentation, including the molecular interactions between HLA molecules and antigenic epitopes on the antigen-processing cell and the receptors on T cells, and (2) the roles of costimulatory molecules such as B7.1, ICAM-1, and LFA-3 in the induction and maintenance of an immune response. In addition, new techniques have allowed us to identify immunogenic antigenic determinants, alter their binding affinities, and evaluate the overall success of the intervention through both in vivo and in vitro assays. Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is overexpressed in a large number of gastrointestinal, lung, and breast cancers. Clinical trials have established treatment protocols using viral vectors to immunize patients to CEA without producing deleterious autoimmune phenomena. By combining various vectors to include MUC-1 and/or CEA plus costimulatory molecules in a prime-and-boost regimen, we are beginning to see signs that this intervention can not only produce changes in immune function but also potentially improve clinical outcomes. Phase III studies to test these hypotheses are under way.
Ricci curvature: An economic indicator for market fragility and systemic risk

Quantifying the systemic risk and fragility of financial systems is of vital importance in analyzing market efficiency, deciding on portfolio allocation, and containing financial contagions. At a high level, financial systems may be represented as weighted graphs that characterize the complex web of interacting agents and information flow (for example, debt, stock returns, and shareholder ownership). Such a representation often turns out to provide keen insights. We show that fragility is a system-level characteristic of "business-as-usual" market behavior and that financial crashes are invariably preceded by system-level changes in robustness. This was done by leveraging previous work, which suggests that Ricci curvature, a key geometric feature of a given network, is negatively correlated to increases in network fragility. To illustrate this insight, we examine daily returns from a set of stocks comprising the Standard and Poor's 500 (S&P 500) over a 15-year span to highlight the fact that corresponding changes in Ricci curvature constitute a financial "crash hallmark." This work lays the foundation of understanding how to design (banking) systems and policy regulations in a manner that can combat financial instabilities exposed during the 2007-2008 crisis.
Free scapular flap reconstruction of the head and neck

The scapular flap network is unsurpassed in versatility in its application to head and neck reconstructive problems. There are rare contraindications to the use of the flap, including previous extensive axillodorsal surgery or radiation. In this case, the opposite back could be the donor site (unless the spinal accessory nerve was sacrificed on that side and an osteocutaneous flap is planned). The disadvantages are relatively minor: the need for repositioning the patient, the lack of sensation in the flap, and the limitation of the length of the bone available on the direct bone pedicle to 14 cm (not counting the bone available vascularized through the thoracodorsal fascia medially). Every microsurgeon faced with the usual complicated reconstructive problems in the head and neck would benefit from familiarity with this important donor site, with its long history of safe application in microvascular surgery.
Should a diagnosis of osteopenia trigger clinical action

Osteopenia is far more widespread than osteoporosis, its incidence in the older age-groups being roughly three times that of osteoporosis. Furthermore, almost one-sixth of the young-adult population are--by definition--osteopenic (< 1% have osteoporosis). The National Osteoporosis Foundation guidelines suggest intervention at T-scores of -2.0 or lower; however, risk factors are built into various sets of guidelines, such that intervention may be desirable at T-scores of -1.0. The risk of fracture is, in fact, greater at lower bone mineral densities (BMD) throughout the entire range of BMD values. Thus, osteopenia is a management issue. This article considers the risks of fracture in terms of BMD and other factors, and recommends action that answers the prevention needs of the individual patient.
Geometric Toys in the Attic? A Corpus Analysis of Early Exposure to Geometric Shapes.

Abstract Preschoolers' experiences with shapes are important because geometry is foundational to aspects of mathematics and it is now part of the Common Core for school-readiness. Exposure to shapes also provides experiences that are key to developing spatial thinking more broadly. Yet achieving a strong conceptual understanding of geometric categories can extend well into elementary school ( Satlow and Newcombe, 1998 ) despite a general sense that many kindergarten children “know their shapes.” The extended time period may be partially a product of the nature of the spatial input to which children are exposed. This study characterizes the geometric input preschoolers receive from three sources: shape books, sorters, and interactive digital content. These shape materials were examined for the types of shapes they include. Shapes were further classified as canonical (e.g., equilateral triangles) vs. non-canonical (e.g., isosceles or scalene), and whether the shape was presented as a geometric form vs. everyday object and in isolation vs. embedded in a scene. The quantity of shape terms was documented for each shape material. The level of sophistication of associated shape language was assessed by tracking the presence of geometric adjectives and explicit definitions. Findings suggest that children are exposed to a limited number of shape categories and very few non-typical variants within those categories. Shapes were typically labeled with only a single generic identifier (e.g., triangle ) and few of the materials provided explicit definitions, geometric adjectives (e.g., scalene ), or identified similarities and differences across shapes. Findings suggest a need for more thoughtful design of shape learning materials to provide variety and evoke discussion of their defining properties.
Optimization of a Digital Medicine System in Psychiatry

Background Nonadherence to medication compromises the effectiveness of psychiatric treatments in patients with serious mental illness (SMI). A newly developed digital medicine system (DMS) offers an opportunity to objectively assess and report patient medication adherence. DMS includes a wearable sensor that receives a data signal from a medication tablet with an embedded ingestible sensor after ingestion of the medication and transmits that data to the patient's mobile device to display health care information for the patient and treatment team. Methods/results Development of a DMS requires a program that investigates safety, tolerability, and usability of the system in patients with SMI. It necessitates rapid design adaptation of the individual components and the integrated system and human factors studies with the intended users. This article describes the program's methodology and shows results from 3 early studies, conducted in 2013 and 2014, to illustrate diversity of the programs' methodology. First, a standard 28-day study showed minimal skin irritation and demonstrated acceptable wearability of the wearable sensor. Second, a 16-week study provided usability feedback from patients with SMI and caregivers to improve the mobile application. Third, end-to-end bench-level integrated system testing led to multiple substudies of a master protocol (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02091882) to investigate various aspects of the system (eg, ingestible sensor detection and latency). Conclusions To develop a DMS in psychiatry, the system's multiple components must be considered simultaneously using various methodologies. A focus on usability, along with agile evaluation and feedback across studies, provides an optimal strategy for ensuring patient acceptance and successful regulatory review.
The Surgical Management of Cushing’s Disease

The prompt and effective lowering of increased cortisol becomes essential for the well-being of patient’s with Cushing’s disease. As 80% of patients with the clinical signs and symptoms of Cushing’s disease have a pituitary source of excessive and uncontrolled adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) secretion, well-trained pituitary surgeons are required to deal with this complex disease. At present, surgical removal of a pituitary adenoma which is the source of excessive ACTH provides the most reliable method of reducing cortisol, with the potential for “cure” of the tumor and immediate remission of disease. The most popular methods are endonasal microsurgical or endoscopic approaches, which have become increasingly safe and effective. The goals of surgery are to reverse the endocrinopathy and restore normal pituitary function; eliminate mass effect and restore normal neurological function; eliminate or minimize the possibility of tumor recurrence; and obtain a definitive histologic diagnosis. Reported long-term recurrence rates mandate close monitoring in this patient population.
A Randomized Controlled Comparison of Emotional Freedom Technique and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy to Reduce Adolescent Anxiety: A Pilot Study.

Abstract Objective: The objective of this pilot study was to compare the efficacy of Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) with that of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in reducing adolescent anxiety. Design: Randomized controlled study. Settings: This study took place in 10 schools (8 public/2 private; 4 high schools/6 middle schools) in 2 northeastern states in the United States. Participants: Sixty-three high-ability students in grades 6–12, ages 10–18 years, who scored in the moderate to high ranges for anxiety on the Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale-2 (RCMAS-2) were randomly assigned to CBT (n = 21), EFT (n = 21), or waitlist control (n = 21) intervention groups. Interventions: CBT is the gold standard of anxiety treatment for adolescent anxiety. EFT is an evidence-based treatment for anxiety that incorporates acupoint stimulation. Students assigned to the CBT or EFT treatment groups received three individual sessions of the identified protocols from trained graduate counseling, psychology, o...
Polynomial homotopy continuation in Macaulay2

While primarily symbolic, the computer algebra system Macaulay2 has acquired a range of numerical tools in the recent years. We describe the design changes in its NumericalAlgebraicGeometry package and the corresponding changes in the core of the system. We also discuss support packages and other packages that depend on methods provided by homotopy continuation.
International Relations Resources on the Web

(2000). International Relations Resources on the Web. Problems of Post-Communism: Vol. 47, No. 4, pp. 59-60.
Robot-assisted Laparoscopic Resection of Renal Vein Leiomyosarcoma.

Leiomyosarcoma, a rare and aggressive retroperitoneal tumor, arises from the smooth muscle of the tunica media. Accurate preoperative diagnosis is rare as the origin is often unclear, and its involvement of the vessels makes biopsy prohibitively dangerous (Maturen et al, 2013 6 ). Herein, we describe the laparoscopic dissection of a retroperitoneal renal vein tumor using a robotic approach.
Evaluating Students’ Clinical Skills

Twelve undergraduate students conducted informational interviews with applicants to the Psychology Learning Center, a college level educational program, (a) to determine the reliability of a newly developed rating instrument and (b) to evaluate the effects of the Center on Ss’ acquisition of practical clinical skills. The Ss’ performances as interviewers were rated by three expert clinicians using the new rating instrument. The raters achieved unusually high agreement on the definition of clinical skills due to a combination of (a) behavioral definitions of characteristics useful in interviews with (b) previously developed clinical judgments. Learning Center Ss consistently were rated more skillful in conducting these interviews than their matched controls and were rated higher on awareness of their mistakes and abilities.
Sanctions and Decision-Making Processes in Russia: Towards a Better Understanding?

Sanctions are a method for countries to coerce a change in policy. In theory, when Russia’s largest trading partners all placed sanctions on Russia following its annexation of Crimea, Russia would have eventually decided to withdraw from the region to reestablish its trade relations. Three years later, no such change in policy has occurred. This leads to the question: are sanctions on Russia ineffective? To better understand the extent to which sanctions on Russia are effective, this paper seeks to explore how one can best understand Russian foreign policy decision-making concerning Crimea in response to economic sanctions. To assess this question, I consider the Russian perception of the sanctions, applying Expected Utility Theory and Prospect Theory to investigate if either offer a useful framework for understanding the situation. Ultimately, I argue that Prospect Theory offers a useful lens to view the Russian foreign policy decision-making behavior while under sanctions.
Child maltreatment characteristics as predictors of heterogeneity in internalizing symptom trajectories among children in the child welfare system

Abstract This study investigated heterogeneity in the developmental trajectories of internalizing symptoms among 541 children who were involved with the child welfare system and examined child maltreatment characteristics, including types, level of harm, and timing, as predictors of internalizing trajectory patterns. Secondary longitudinal research was conducted using data from the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being-I, collected from 1999 to 2007 in the United States. Three distinct trajectory groups were identified: high–decreasing; low–increasing; and low–stable Sexual abuse, emotional abuse, neglect, and more severe levels of harm from maltreatment predicted membership in two maladaptive groups compared to the low–stable group. The findings of the study suggest the importance of providing a thorough assessment of the type and severity of maltreatment experiences and continued monitoring of internalizing symptoms for children with child welfare involvement.
Detection of an electron beam in a high density plasma via an electrostatic probe

An electron beam is detected by a 1D floating potential probe array in a relatively high density (1012–1013 cm−3) and low temperature (~5 eV) plasma of the Magnetic Reconnection Experiment. Clear perturbations in the floating potential profile by the electron beam are observed. Based on the floating potential profile and a current balance equation to the probe array tips, the effective width of the electron beam is determined, from which we determine the radial and toroidal beam current density profiles. After the profile of the electron beam is specified from the measured beam current, we demonstrate the consistency of the current balance equation and the location of the perturbation is also in agreement with field line mapping. No significant broadening of the electron beam is observed after the beam propagates for tens of centimeters through the high density plasma. These results prove that the field line mapping is, in principle, possible in high density plasmas.
Steroid Regulation of rRNA Synthesis

The components of the mammalian ribosome are encoded by three classes of genes. Class I genes encode the 45S pre-rRNA precursor of 5.8S, 18S, and 28S RNA species. Class II genes encode the ribosomal proteins, whereas, class III genes encode the 5S ribosomal RNA species. During ribosome biogenesis expression of these genes is coordinated to the extent that approximately stoichiometric amounts of the components are produced. Biosynthesis of the ribosomal components is also regulated by a large number of physiological stimuli including steroidal and peptide hormones. The three classes of genes are transcribed by their respective RNA polymerases (I, II, and III) and the formal possibility exists that coordinate expression of ribosomal components may reflect changes in the rate of transcription of the cognate genes. It is likely, however, that post-transcriptional regulation may prevail with respect to certain gene products. The complexity of this process has stimulated interest in understanding the regulatory mechanisms which govern the biosynthesis of the ribosomal components. This review will consider a limited aspect of the phenomenon, namely, regulation of synthesis of the structural RNAs. Primarily, hormonal regulation of expression of class I genes will be considered.
Fluorescence-Lifetime Based Sensing in Tissues and Other Random Media with Measurements of Photon Migration

The development of fluorescent and phosphorescent dyes which excite and re-emit in the near-infrared wavelength region now promises the capacity for non-invasive biochemical sensing in tissues. Fluorescence intensity and fluorescence lifetime spectroscopies are established methods by which fluorophores can provide sensing in dilute, non-scattering samples. However, fluorescence intensity or fluorescence lifetime spectroscopy in tissues or other scattering media is a complex problem. In order to extract the intrinsic fluorescence intensity for identification of the fluorophore concentration and yield, a priori information about tissue absorption and scattering must be obtained. Richards-Kortum1 developed a simple model which relates the fluorescence of a homogeneous scattering medium to the concentrations of chromophores which can generate emission light and attenuate both excitation and emission light. This model corrects fluorescence spectra using the attenuation spectra collected at the excitation wavelength in order to empirically account for attenuation due to scattering and non-remitting chromophores. Sinaasappel and Sterenborg2 developed a dual-wavelength approach for determining the uniform concentration of a photodynamic agent in tissues which eliminates the contribution of scatter and chromophore absorption in a homogeneous medium. While these and other CW (continuous wave) measurements3–5 provide concentration and yield information, they nonetheless may not describe the local environment which influences the intrinsic fluorescence.
Textbook development and selection

Textbooks remaina staple within school curricula worldwide, presenting teachers and students with the official knowledge of school subjects as well as the preferred values, attitudes, skills, and behaviors of experts in those fields. Textbooks are commodities, political objects, and cultural representations and, therefore, are the site and result of struggles and compromise in order to determine how and by whom they will be produced, how and by whom their contents will be selected, how and to whom they will be distributed, and how teachers and students will make use of them.
Disturbed Sleep Behaviors and Melatonin in Sleep Dysfunction and Treatment of Cystic Fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis (CF) patients experience clinically significant sleep dysfunction, resulting in impaired cognitive function, decreased activation, decreased affect, and lowered quality of life. The exact mechanism driving this dysfunction still is unknown, but it appears linked to disease severity, nocturnal hypoxemia, and frequent instances of sleep disturbance. Melatonin is a neurohormone that is secreted in the pineal gland of mammals and is available without a prescription as a supplement in some countries, including the United States. Melatonin is a key molecule in regulating the natural sleep–wake cycle, and administration of exogenous melatonin is known to lower body temperature and awareness as well as induce sleep. Melatonin is useful for increasing subjective sleep quality in CF patients. Melatonin likely would reverse detrimental effects on sleep loss brought on by β-antagonists and likely would help to maintain a healthy sleep–wake cycle. Melatonin would not address the underlying causes of sleep dysfunction and disturbances would remain an issue. Melatonin potentially could worsen episodes of nocturnal hypoxemia by increasing rapid eye movement sleep and encouraging hypoventilation. Melatonin possesses antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, which could improve lung health and sleep by proxy.
The Normative Force of Law: Individuals and States

This paper discusses the question of whether individuals and states have duties to comply with law. It argues against all deontological accounts, and defends an instrumental account. On the instrumental account, private individuals frequently have no moral reason to comply with law. High government officials, and states, by contrast, typically have strong moral reason to comply. One upshot is that areas of law that are often regarded as in some sense marginal, such as international law and underenforced constitutional law, are in fact where law has its greatest moral force.
Classification with Vertex-Based Graph Convolutional Neural Networks

Graph convolutional neural networks (CNNs) use data that is supported on an arbitrary graph rather than a grid. Most current approaches to classification on graph data use spectral domain based graph CNNs and do not work for directed graphs. A more recent approach, topology adaptive graph convolution networks (TAGCN), uses graph based convolution from graph signal processing defined in the vertex domain instead of the spectral domain. In this paper, we use TAGCN to classify different time periods during the week based on New York City taxi data defined on a directed graph. We achieve an accuracy of 88% using a single graph convolutional layer. We classify the entire graph signal instead of classifying individual nodes in the graph.
Sub-GeV Atmospheric Neutrinos and CP Violation in DUNE.

We propose to use the unique event topology and reconstruction capabilities of liquid argon time projection chambers to study sub-GeV atmospheric neutrinos. The detection of low energy recoiled protons in DUNE allows for a determination of the leptonic $CP$-violating phase independent from the accelerator neutrino measurement. Our findings indicate that this analysis can exclude a range of values of ${\ensuremath{\delta}}_{CP}$ beyond the $3\ensuremath{\sigma}$ level. Moreover, the determination of the sub-GeV atmospheric neutrino flux will have important consequences in the detection of diffuse supernova neutrinos and in dark matter experiments.
Development of a fully implicit 3-D geomechanical fracture simulator

Abstract Hydraulic fracturing modelling is a multi-physics problem which must be solved in the reservoir domain, fracture domain, and wellbore domain. The physical phenomena that need to be quantitatively modelled include solid deformation and fluid flow in the poroelastic reservoir, fluid flow in the fractures, and fluid and proppant transport in the wellbore. These problems which are tightly coupled with each other in a highly non-linear manner are solved together implicitly for the first time. This fully implicit, parallelized 3D hydraulic fracturing simulator is capable of simulating simultaneous propagation of multiple fractures in multi-well pads. In this new simulator, four sets of governing equations are coupled implicitly and solved simultaneously. The solid deformation equations and reservoir pressure equations are discretized using the finite volume method while the fracture pressure equation is discretized using the finite area method. Fluid flow in the wellbore is modelled considering wellbore compressibility, perforation pressure drop, and wellbore friction pressure drop. A Barton-Bandis contact model is applied to model fracture closure due to stress shadow effects as well as production. The simulator is parallelized using the distributed memory approach with domain decomposition to improve the computation efficiency. We first validated our simulator with two well-known model problems and the numerical results show good agreement with the existing analytical solutions. We compare the performance of the new simulator with the past explicit methods and show that the new simulator offers significant improvement in numerical stability and computation speed. Finally, the simulator is applied to simulate and analyze one stage of a fracturing treatment with five fractures propagating simultaneously to show the unique capabilities of our simulator.
Editorial boards of 45 journals devoted to school and educational psychology: International characteristics and publication patterns

To assess and promote internationally representative scholarship, several past studies have examined the geographic affiliation of journals’ editorial board members and authors. The present study i...
Synthetic mammalian signaling circuits for robust cell population control

In multicellular organisms, cells actively sense, respond to, and control their own population density. Synthetic mammalian quorum sensing circuits could provide insight into principles of population control and improve cell therapies. However, a key challenge is avoiding their inherent sensitivity to “cheater” mutations that evade control. Here, we repurposed the plant hormone auxin to enable orthogonal mammalian cell-cell communication and quorum sensing. Further, we show that a “paradoxical” circuit design, in which auxin stimulates and inhibits net cell growth at different concentrations, achieves population control that is robust to cheater mutations, controlling growth for 43 days of continuous culture. By contrast, a non-paradoxical control circuit limited growth but was susceptible to mutations. These results establish a foundation for future cell therapies that can respond to and control their own population sizes.
Teaching toward contextual instruction in the classroom

Background and purpose: As instructors look for ways to incorporate necessary nursing concepts that address a myriad of student learning outcomes, educational practices must shift from decontextualized instruction to teaching toward salience. The purpose of this teaching strategy was to provide context to classroom instruction and integrate clinical practice with theory. As such, a pedagogical approach for contextual instruction in the classroom is presented. Methods: Contextual instructional strategies that bring clinical experiences into the classroom was presented showing the possibilities for classroom context in education allowing for students to have a deeper understanding of course concepts and topics where context to action was applied. Results: Using contextual teaching in the classroom allows students to be engaged in active inquiry where actions and decisions regarding care become “the lecture”. Conclusions: Contextual pedagogical instruction through the use of clinical experiences encourages instructional practices that motivate students and provide relevance for what they are learning.
Expanding Access to Medications for Opioid Use Disorder: Program and Policy Approaches from Outside the Veterans Health Administration.

To mitigate morbidity and mortality of the drug-related overdose crisis, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) can increase access to treatments that save lives—medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD). Despite an increasing need, MOUD continues to be underutilized due to multifaceted barriers that exist within broader macro- and microenvironments. To promote MOUD utilization, policymakers and healthcare leaders should (1) identify and implement person-centered MOUD delivery systems (e.g., the Medication First Model, community-informed design); (2) recognize and address MOUD delivery gaps (e.g., the Best-Practice in Oral Opioid Agonist Collaborative); (3) broaden the definition of the MOUD delivery system (e.g., access to MOUD in non-clinical settings); and (4) expand MOUD options (e.g., injectable opioid agonist therapy). Increasing access to MOUD is not a singular fix to the overdose-related crisis. It is, however, a possible first step to mitigate harm, and save lives.
Impact of Distance to School on Housing Price: Evidence from a Quantile Regression

This paper investigates the impacts of distance to school and other factors on residential housing prices in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, US. To better address the effect of potential outlier problems, we employ quantile regression techniques. Our estimation results show that distance to all three school levels including elementary, middle and high schools has a significant impact on house values: the closer a house is to schools, the higher price a house will have. In addition, we find that distance to elementary schools and distance to middle schools play a more important role than distance to high schools in affecting housing price.
Development of high technology readiness level, all-reflective spatial heterodyne spectrometers for high resolving power/etendue remote sensing of extended emissions in the NUV to EUV

All reflective spatial heterodyne spectrometers (SHS) are a compact self-scanning Fourier transform spectrometer (FTS) device capable of providing line-resolved measurements of wide-field emissions at far greater sensitivity than existing echelle- based instruments at large telescopes. Their use of reflective optical components further enables their use in UV, particularly at wavelengths below 160 nm where options for transmitting elements are few or non-existent. We have been developing advanced prototype SHS instruments that are optimized to provide single-line and broadband performance in the UV. These prototypes do not require large telescopes to achieve sensitivity and are sufficiently compact that can be incorporated in the SmallSat and robotic probes. In this presentation I will describe the basic functionality of the SHS, our previous development, and the progress toward flight-ready instruments that can be incorporated into future mission concepts. All reflective spatial heterodyne spectrometers (SHS) are a compact self-scanning Fourier transform spectrometer (FTS) device capable of providing line-resolved measurements of wide-field emissions at far greater sensitivity than existing echelle- based instruments at large telescopes. Their use of reflective optical components further enables their use in UV, particularly at wavelengths below 160 nm where options for transmitting elements are few or non-existent. We have been developing advanced prototype SHS instruments that are optimized to provide single-line and broadband performance in the UV. These prototypes do not require large telescopes to achieve sensitivity and are sufficiently compact that can be incorporated in the SmallSat and robotic probes. In this presentation I will describe the basic functionality of the SHS, our previous development, and the progress toward flight-ready instruments that can be incorporated into future mission concepts.
A Quantitative Analysis of Surgical Smoke Exposure as an Occupational Hazard.

OBJECTIVE We hypothesized that OR airborne PM was different in quantity and mutagenic potential than office air and cigarette smoke. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA Exposure to surgical smoke has been equated to cigarette smoking and thought to be hazardous to health care workers despite limited data. METHODS PM was measured during 15 operations in ORs with 24.8 ± 2.0 air changes/h, and in controls (cigarettes, office air with 1.9-2.9 air changes/h). Mutagenic potential was assessed by gamma Histone 2A family member X staining of DNA damage in small airway epithelial cells co-cultured with PM. RESULTS Average PM concentration during surgery was 0.002 ± 0.002 mg/m3 with maximum values at 1.08 ± 1.30 mg/m3. Greater PM correlated with more diathermy (ρ = 0.69, P = 0.006). Values were most often near zero, resulting in OR average values similar to office air (0.002 ± 0.001 mg/m3) (P = 0.32). Cigarette smoke average PM concentration was significantly higher, 4.8 ± 5.6 mg/m3 (P < 0.001). PM collected from 14 days of OR air caused DNA damage to 1.6% ± 2.7% of cultured cells, significantly less than that from office air (27.7% ± 11.7%, P = 0.02), and cigarette smoke (61.3% ± 14.3%, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS The air we breathe during surgery has negligible quantities of PM and mutagenic potential, likely due to low frequency of diathermy use coupled with high airflow. This suggests that exposure to surgical smoke is associated with minimal occupational risk.
Christos Tsiolkas's Style

This article takes up a specific feature of Christos Tsiolkas's writing, his style. Focusing on Tsiolkas's fourth novel, The Slap , this article argues that Tsiolkas’s style is an inarticulate style: a style that does not always use the right word at the right moment, that employs language for narrative utility rather than its own sake, and that sporadically departs from standard usage and correctness in ways that do not appear artistically motivated. My argument is that The Slap is notable among contemporary fiction in that what I consider to be Tsiolkas’s worst sentences are the most revealing of his inclinations as a novelist. Consequently, I depart from what has become a standard formula in Tsiolkas's reception, that where Tsiolkas succeeds as a writer he succeeds in spite of his style. Finally, this article also contributes to recent debates about the purpose and vocabulary of Australian literary discussion: how critics debate the work of a prize-winning author, how criticism and praise operate in critical judgements, and the significance of style in evaluations of literature.
Mapping Causal Variants with Single Nucleotide Resolution Reveals the Biochemical Drivers of Phenotypic Change

Understanding the sequence determinants that give rise to diversity among individuals and species is the central challenge of genetics. Despite ever-greater numbers of sequenced genomes, most genome-wide association studies cannot distinguish causal variants from linked passenger mutations spanning many genes. We report that this inherent challenge can be overcome in model organisms. By pushing the advantages of inbred crossing to its practical limit in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, we improved the statistical resolution of linkage analysis to single nucleotides. This 'super-resolution' approach allowed us to map 370 causal variants across 26 quantitative traits. Our data systematically unmasked complex genetic architectures, revealing that multiple closely linked driver mutations frequently act on the same quantitative trait. Causal variants comprise an extraordinarily diverse set of biochemical perturbations, providing mechanistic insight into the basis of phenotypic change. Single nucleotide mapping thus complements traditional deletion and overexpression screening paradigms and opens new frontiers in quantitative genetics.
A Web-Based Calculator for Predicting the Occurrence of Wound Complications, Wound Infection, and Unplanned Reoperation for Wound Complications in Patients Undergoing Surgery for Spinal Metastases.

Background In the present study, we identified the risk factors for wound complications, wound infection, and reoperation for wound complications after spine metastasis surgery and deployed the resultant model as a web-based calculator. Methods Patients treated at a single comprehensive cancer center during a 7-year period were included. The demographics, pathology, comorbidities, laboratory values, and operative details were collected. Factors with P Results Of the 330 patients included, 29 (7.6%) had experienced a surgical site infection. The independent predictive factors for wound-related complications were a higher Charlson comorbidity index (CCI; odds ratio [OR], 1.41 per point; P Conclusions Low platelet counts, poorer health status, more invasive surgery, and revision surgery all independently predicted the risk of wound complications, including infection and unplanned reoperation for infection. Validation of the calculators in a prospective study is merited.
Urea carboxylase and allophanate hydrolase. Two components of adenosine triphosphate:urea amido-lyase in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The ATP:urea amido-lyase reaction of yeast has been shown to consist of two distinct activities, an avidin-sensitive, thiourea-insensitive urea carboxylase and an avidin-insensitive, thiourea-sensitive allophanate hydrolase. Mutants lacking each of these activities have been isolated and were found to complement each other.
Job characteristics and work organization factors associated with patient-handling injury among nursing personnel

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to explore the association of worker characteristics and work organization factors with prevalence of patient-handling injury among nursing personnel in an acute-care inpatient setting. Self-administered questionnaires (n = 585) captured worker characteristics and patient-handling injuries within the previous 6 months. Karasek's Job Content Questionnaire measured work organization factors, including job strain (high psychological demand, low decision latitude). We created a novel measure (job strain(PHYSICAL)) reflecting high physical demand and low decision latitude, providing a more direct physiologic link to our outcome. Log-binomial regression was used to calculate prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Patient-handling injuries were prevalent (35%), and incident reports were filed infrequently for injuries receiving medical care. Prevalence of injury was higher among aides compared to nurses [adjusted PR 1.4, 95%CI (1.1-1.8)] as well as among those with high [adjusted PR 1.6, 95%CI (1.2-2.4)] or mid [adjusted PR 1.9, 95%CI (1.4-2.7)] levels of job dissatisfaction. The novel definition of job strain (job strain(PHYSICAL): high physical demand, low decision latitude) was more strongly associated with patient-handling injury than the traditional definition of job strain (high psychological demand, low decision latitude). These findings add to a growing body of literature on the highly contextual nature of work organization factors.
Classical Optics and Its Applications: Scanning optical microscopy

The diffraction-limited focusing of a laser beam to either explore or modify a surface is the basis of several important technologies. Examples include scanning optical microscopy, optical disk data storage, and laser printing. The size of the focused spot and the corresponding depth of focus are important factors in determining the performance characteristics of these systems. In this chapter we examine methods of forming the focused spot, and clarify the relation between spot size and depth of focus. Principle of operation The essential features of a scanning optical microscope are shown in Figure 37.1. A laser beam is sent through an objective lens to form a focused spot on the sample. Ideally, the objective is corrected for all aberrations, yielding a diffraction-limited focused spot. The light reflected from the sample returns through the objective and is redirected by the beam-splitter to a detection module. The detection module may be designed to monitor the power, the phase, or the polarization state of the returning beam. The electrical signal S ( x , y ) produced by the detector is thus representative of the small area of the sample illuminated by the focused spot at and around the point ( x , y ). The sample is moved to different locations by the XY stage on which it is mounted; the signal S ( x , y ), plotted against the sample's position, yields an image of the sample's surface over the desired area.
Functional studies cast light on receptor states

Contemporary analysis of the functional responses of G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) usually addresses drug-receptor interactions from the perspective of the average behavior of the receptor population. This behavior is characterized in terms of observed affinity and efficacy. Efficacy is a measure of how well a drug activates the receptor population and observed affinity a measure of how potently a drug occupies the receptor population. The latter is quantified in terms of the dissociation constant of the ligand-receptor complex. At a deeper level of analysis, drug-receptor interactions are described in terms of ligand affinity constants for active and inactive receptor states. Unlike observed affinity and efficacy, estimates of receptor state affinity constants are unperturbed by G proteins, guanine nucleotides, or other signaling proteins that interact with the receptor. Recent advances in the analysis of the functional responses of GPCRs have enabled the estimation of receptor state affinity constants. These constants provide a more fundamental measure of drug-receptor interactions and are useful in analyzing structure-activity relationships and in quantifying allosterism, biased signaling, and receptor-subtype selectivity.
Two and three-dimensional motion models for the left-ventricular wall

The authors present a unified framework for visual motion tracking of nonrigid objects with specific applications to the left ventricular endocardial wall motion. The theory is based on differential geometry and considers both two-dimensional contours and three-dimensional surfaces and in each case uses an elastic model of the object with constraints on the types of motion allowed for tracking the movement. The basic theme in both two- and three-dimensional analysis is to match shape properties in consecutive time instances and deduce quantitative information about the motion of the wall. >
Placement of protein and RNA structures into a 5 A-resolution map of the 50S ribosomal subunit.

We have calculated at 5.0 A resolution an electron-density map of the large 50S ribosomal subunit from the bacterium Haloarcula marismortui by using phases derived from four heavy-atom derivatives, intercrystal density averaging and density-modification procedures. More than 300 base pairs of A-form RNA duplex have been fitted into this map, as have regions of non-A-form duplex, single-stranded segments and tetraloops. The long rods of RNA crisscrossing the subunit arise from the stacking of short, separate double helices, not all of which are A-form, and in many places proteins crosslink two or more of these rods. The polypeptide exit channel was marked by tungsten cluster compounds bound in one heavy-atom-derivatized crystal. We have determined the structure of the translation-factor-binding centre by fitting the crystal structures of the ribosomal proteins L6, L11 and L14, the sarcin–ricin loop RNA, and the RNA sequence that binds L11 into the electron density. We can position either elongation factor G or elongation factor Tu complexed with an aminoacylated transfer RNA and GTP onto the factor-binding centre in a manner that is consistent with results from biochemical and electron microscopy studies.
The Relationship Between Oxytocin, Phosphoinositide-Specific Phospholipase C, and Phasic Myometrial Contractions

OBJECTIVES: Oxytocin-stimulated uterine contractions are associated with repetitive cycles of elevated cytosolic calcium, ie, cytosolic calcium oscillations. The studies in this report were per formed to test the hypothesis that phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC) is an important component of the myometrial intracellular oscillator.METHODS:In vitro isometric contraction studies were performed using longitudinal strips of myometrium from nonpregnant, adult Sprague-Dawley rats. Cumulative dose-response studies were performed using oxytocin and aluminum fluoride with and without 2-nitro-4-carboxyphenyl- N,N-diphenylcarbamate (NCDC), an inhibitor of PI-PLC.RESULTS:Stimulation of G-proteins coupled to PI-PLC with aluminum fluoride resulted in a significant increase in phasic myometrial contractions comparable to those produced by oxytocin. Inhibition of PI-PLC with NCDC resulted in significant suppression of oxytocin- and aluminum fluoride-stimulated myometrial contractions. In contrast, doses t...