cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
EVALUATION OF AN ENHANCED STIMULUS–STIMULUS PAIRING PROCEDURE TO INCREASE EARLY VOCALIZATIONS OF CHILDREN WITH AUTISM

Evidence to support stimulus–stimulus pairing (SSP) in speech acquisition is less than robust, calling into question the ability of SSP to reliably establish automatically reinforcing properties of speech and limiting the procedure's clinical utility for increasing vocalizations. We evaluated the effects of a modified SSP procedure on low-frequency within-session vocalizations that were further strengthened through programmed reinforcement. Procedural modifications (e.g., interspersed paired and unpaired trials) were designed to increase stimulus salience during SSP. All 3 participants, preschoolers with autism, showed differential increases of target over nontarget vocal responses during SSP. Results suggested an automatic reinforcement effect of SSP, although alternative interpretations are discussed, and suggestions are made for future research to determine the utility of SSP as a clinical intervention for speech-delayed children.
Agilent 2100 bioanalyzer for restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of the Campylobacter jejuni flagellin gene

The Agilent 2100 bioanalyzer (Agilent Technologies, Palo Alto, Calif.) utilizes capillary electrophoresis on a microchip device (LabChip 7500; Caliper Technologies, Mountain View, Calif.) that is capable of rapidly sizing small DNA fragments. To determine whether the system could replace conventional restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) typing by agarose gel electrophoresis, we compared the analyzer with conventional flagellin RFLP for typing Campylobacter jejuni. Ninety-seven isolates representing 46 Fla types were initially analyzed. Correct Fla types were detected in 59% of the isolates. The major problem with the system was in resolving samples containing multiple DNA fragments differing from 8 to 20 bp. Overall, the bioanalyzer has the potential to replace conventional RFLP analysis by gel electrophoresis, but improvements in the chip separation are needed.
Rapid Calibration of Operational and Research Meteorological Satellite Imagers. Part I: Evaluation of Research Satellite Visible Channels as References

Operational meteorological satellites generally lack reliable onboard calibration systems for solar-imaging channels. Current methods for calibrating these channels and for normalizing similar channels on contemporaneous satellite imagers typically rely on a poorly calibrated reference source. To establish a more reliable reference instrument for calibration normalization, this paper examines the use of research satellite imagers that maintain their solar-channel calibrations by using onboard diffuser systems that rely on the sun as an absolute reference. The Visible Infrared Scanner (VIRS) on the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission(TRMM) satellite and the second Along-Track Scanning Radiometer (ATSR-2) on the second European Remote Sensing Satellite (ERS-2) are correlated with matched data from the eighth Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES-8), the fifth Geostationary Meteorological satellite(GMS-5), and with each other to examine trends in the solar channels. VIRS data are also correlated with the Terra satellite’s Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) provisional data as a preliminary assessment of their relative calibrations. As an additional check on their long-term stability, the VIRS data are compared to the relevant corresponding broadband shortwave radiances of the Clouds and the Earth’s Radiant Energy System (CERES) scanners on TRMM. No statistically significant trend in the calibration of the VIRS 0.65- and 1.64-mm channels could be detected from the comparisons with CERES data taken during 1998 and 2000. The VIRS-to-GOES-8 correlations revealed an annual degradation rate for the GOES-8 visible (0.67 mm) channel of ;7.5% and an initial drop of 16% in the gain from the prelaunch value. The slopes in the GOES-8 visible-channel gain trend lines derived from VIRS data taken after January 1998 and ATSR-2 data taken between October 1995 and December 1999 differed by only 1%‐2% indicating that both reference instruments are highly stable. The mean difference of 3%‐4.8% between the VIRS‐GOES-8 and ATSR-2‐GOES-8 gains is attributed to spectral differences between ATSR-2 and VIRS and to possible biases in the ATSR-2 channel-2 calibration. A degradation rate of 1.3% per year found for the GMS-5 visible channel was confirmed by comparisons with earlier calibrations. The MODIS and VIRS calibrations agreed to within 21% to 3%. Some of the differences between VIRS and the provisional MODIS radiances can be explained by spectral differences between the two instruments. The MODIS measures greater reflectance than VIRS for bright scenes. Although both VIRS and ATSR-2 provide temporally stable calibrations, it is recommended that, at least until MODIS calibrations are finalized, VIRS should be used as a reference source for normalizing operational meteorological satellite imagers because of its broader visible filter.
The Influence of Gamma-radiation on the Structure and Biological Activity of Oxytocin, a Cyclic Oligopeptide,

SummaryDuring irradiation in aqueous solution under various conditions, the biological activity of oxytocin was lost exponentially, and the following D37 doses were found: aerated, 270 krads; deaerated, 230 krads; N2O saturated, 170 krads; deaerated + butanol, 440 krads. Thus, the hydroxyl radical appeared to be the principal inactivating species. Hydrolysis and analysis of irradiated hormone showed that cystine and tyrosine were the main residues affected. Irradiated oxytocin was resolved into three fractions by gel filtration of Sephadex G-15: The first fraction, which was inactive, predominated in deaerated solution and appeared to consist of dimer or polymer. The third fraction was the major one from aerated and N2O-saturated solutions and had a potency close to that of the original hormone.
"Seniority-Zero" Excited States of the Pairing Hamiltonian

The seniority-zero excited-state spectrum of the Hamiltonian $H=\ensuremath{\Sigma}\stackrel{}{kg0}{\ensuremath{\epsilon}}_{k}({{a}_{k}}^{\ifmmode\dagger\else\textdagger\fi{}}{a}_{k}+{{a}_{\ensuremath{-}k}}^{\ifmmode\dagger\else\textdagger\fi{}}{a}_{\ensuremath{-}k})\ensuremath{-}G \ensuremath{\Sigma}\stackrel{}{k,lg0}{{a}_{k}}^{\ifmmode\dagger\else\textdagger\fi{}}{{a}_{\ensuremath{-}k}}^{\ifmmode\dagger\else\textdagger\fi{}}{a}_{\ensuremath{-}l}{a}_{l}$ is studied in detail. Approximate excited-state wave functions of the form ${\ensuremath{\psi}}^{\ensuremath{\lambda}}=\ensuremath{\Sigma}\stackrel{}{\ensuremath{\alpha}}F(\ensuremath{\lambda},\ensuremath{\alpha})\ensuremath{\Sigma}\stackrel{}{i}D(\ensuremath{\alpha},i){{a}_{i}}^{\ifmmode\dagger\else\textdagger\fi{}}{{a}_{\ensuremath{-}i}}^{\ifmmode\dagger\else\textdagger\fi{}}\ensuremath{\Sigma}\stackrel{}{jgi}D(\ensuremath{\alpha},j){{a}_{j}}^{\ifmmode\dagger\else\textdagger\fi{}}{{a}_{\ensuremath{-}j}}^{\ifmmode\dagger\else\textdagger\fi{}}\ensuremath{\cdots}|0〉$ are developed. These solutions are compared with exact solutions of a small system and the agreement is quite good. A somewhat larger system is studied in order to see how the excited-state spectrum changes as the number of separable functions is increased. The method is applied to heavy nuclei and is in good agreement with observed ${0}^{+}$ excited states for nuclei having 144 to 150 neutrons. A theoretical ${0}^{+}$ spectrum is displayed for each even neutron system from 144 to 152 neutrons.
Law Deans in Jail - Not

As Professors Cloud and Shepard know, there is a vast difference between hyperbola, an indictment and actually going to jail. In “Law Deans in Jail” (SSRN #1990746, Jan. 25, 2012) the Professors argue that several Law School Deans and employees at U.S. News have committed federal crimes and may end up in jail. If I may analogize a law school dean to a corporate executive, the courts have no fondness for jailing corporate CEO’s (or deans). See, “The Criminal Prosecution of Corporations for Defective Products”, 12 INTERNATIONAL LEGAL PRACTITIONER 66 (Sept. 1987).I further argue that a statute criminalizing the manufacture of a lethal product (more offensive than intentionally misstating G.P.A., L.S.A.T., and post-graduation numbers) is a very bad idea. “The Criminalization of Products Liability: An Invitation to Political Abuse, Preemption and Non-Enforcement”, 57 CATHOLIC LAW REVIEW 341 (2008), (SSRN # 1327761 Misrepresentation and punitive damages is the better approach).
A high-resolution time-of-flight chemical ionization mass spectrometerutilizing hydronium ions (H 3 O + ToF-CIMS) for measurements ofvolatile organic compounds in the atmosphere

Abstract. Proton transfer reactions between hydronium ions (H3O+) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) provide a fast and highly sensitive technique for VOC measurements, leading to extensive use of proton-transfer-reaction mass spectrometry (PTR-MS) in atmospheric research. Based on the same ionization approach, we describe the development of a high-resolution time-of-flight chemical ionization mass spectrometer (ToF-CIMS) utilizing H3O+ as the reagent ion. The new H3O+ ToF-CIMS has sensitivities of 100–1000 cps ppb−1 (ion counts per second per part-per-billion mixing ratio of VOC) and detection limits of 20–600 ppt at 3σ for a 1 s integration time for simultaneous measurements of many VOC species of atmospheric relevance. The ToF analyzer with mass resolution (m∕Δm) of up to 6000 allows the separation of isobaric masses, as shown in previous studies using similar ToF-MS. While radio frequency (RF)-only quadrupole ion guides provide better overall ion transmission than ion lens system, low-mass cutoff of RF-only quadrupole causes H3O+ ions to be transmitted less efficiently than heavier masses, which leads to unusual humidity dependence of reagent ions and difficulty obtaining a humidity-independent parameter for normalization. The humidity dependence of the instrument was characterized for various VOC species and the behaviors for different species can be explained by compound-specific properties that affect the ion chemistry (e.g., proton affinity and dipole moment). The new H3O+ ToF-CIMS was successfully deployed on the NOAA WP-3D research aircraft for the SONGNEX campaign in spring of 2015. The measured mixing ratios of several aromatics from the H3O+ ToF-CIMS agreed within ±10 % with independent gas chromatography measurements from whole air samples. Initial results from the SONGNEX measurements demonstrate that the H3O+ ToF-CIMS data set will be valuable for the identification and characterization of emissions from various sources, investigation of secondary formation of many photochemical organic products and therefore the chemical evolution of gas-phase organic carbon in the atmosphere.
Patterns of attention to threat across tasks in behaviorally inhibited children at risk for anxiety.

Although attention bias towards threat has been causally implicated in the development and maintenance of fear and anxiety, the expected associations do not appear consistently. Reliance on a single task to capture attention bias, in this case overwhelmingly the dot-probe task, may contribute to this inconsistency. Comparing across attentional bias measures could help capture patterns of behavior that have implications for anxiety. This study examines the patterns of attentional bias across two related measures in a sample of children at temperamental risk for anxiety. Children (Meanage = 10.19 ± 0.96) characterized as behaviorally inhibited (N = 50) or non-inhibited (N = 64) via parent-report completed the dot-probe and affective Posner tasks to measure attentional bias to threat. Parent-report diagnostic interviews assessed children's social anxiety. Behavioral inhibition was not associated with performance in the dot-probe task, but was associated with increased attentional bias to threat in the affective Posner task. Cross-task convergence was dependent on temperament, such that attention bias across the two tasks was only related in behaviorally inhibited children. Finally, children who were consistently biased across tasks (showing high or low attentional bias scores in both tasks, rather than high in one but low in the other) had higher levels of anxiety. Convergence across attention bias measures may be dependent on individuals' predispositions (e.g. temperament). Moreover, convergence of attention bias across measures may be a stronger marker of information processing patterns that shape socioemotional outcomes than performance in a single task.
Period Differences Between Segmental Oscillators Produce Intersegmental Phase Differences in the Leech Heartbeat Timing Network

Considerable experimental and theoretical effort has been exerted to understand how constant intersegmental phase relationships are produced between oscillators in segmentally organized pattern generating networks. The phase relationship between the segmental oscillators in the isolated timing network of the leech heartbeat central pattern generator is quite regular within individual preparations. However, it varies considerably among different preparations. Our goal is to determine how the phase relationships in this network are established. Here we assess whether inherent period differences, as suggested by the excitability-gradient hypothesis, play a role in establishing the phase relationships between the two coupled segmental oscillators of the leech heartbeat timing network. To do this we developed methods for reversibly uncoupling the segmental oscillators (sucrose knife) and pharmacological manipulation of the individual oscillators (split bath). Differences in inherent cycle periods between the third and fourth segmental oscillators (G3 and G4) were present in most (20 of 26) preparations. These period differences correlated with the phase differences observed between the segmental oscillators in the recoupled timing network, such that the oscillator with the faster cycle period, regardless of the segment in which it was located, led in phase in proportion to its period difference with the other oscillator. The phase differences between the original (coupled) and recoupled states of individual preparations were similar. Thus application and removal of the sucrose knife did not alter the period difference between the segmental oscillators in the timing network. Pharmacological manipulation of the uncoupled oscillators to alter the period difference between the oscillators led to similar correlated phase differences in the recoupled timing network. Across all experiments the uncoupled segmental oscillator with the faster cycle period established the cycle period of the timing network when recoupled. In conclusion, our findings indicate that an excitability-gradient plays a role in establishing the phase relationship between the segmental oscillators of the leech heartbeat central pattern generator since inherent period differences present between the oscillators are correlated to the phase relationships of the coupled/recoupled timing network.
Maintenance Hormonal and Chemotherapy Treatment in Metastatic Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review

Endocrine treatment is the first-line therapy in hormone-sensitive metastatic breast cancer while chemotherapy is the first option in tumors refractory to endocrine therapy and in hormone-negative disease. Optimal duration, efficacy and safety of a maintenance endocrine therapy or chemotherapy after an induction treatment are still a matter of debate. We performed a literature review to identify studies regarding maintenance hormonal and chemotherapy treatments in metastatic breast cancer. We analyzed data relating to efficacy (improvement of progression-free survival and overall survival) and safety (symptoms relief and quality of life [QoL]). Maintenance endocrine therapy could prolong progression-free survival with a better control of symptoms and improving QoL. Maintenance chemotherapy prolong the response to a previous treatment, worsening the QoL, except for metronomic capecitabine.
SSD updating technique based on OTA

SSD data in OTA authentication must be updated frequently by means of a security measure of a high level. Therefore this paper deals with the method for SSD data updating based on CAVE algorithm and then discusses the procedure of SSD data updating by means of the method above and finally works out the method for its implementation. The method discussed is advantageous in that it can minimize the probability of being attacked with a high attack resisting capacity and safe reliability. It can solve the problems in the management of parameters of A-key and provide a secure guarantee for OTA technology.
Inborn errors of lipid metabolism: early identification.

Early recognition of the seven major lipidoses in early infancy is discussed and the potential for prenatal diagnosis is considered. Establishment of such diagnosis constitutes a massive threat for the infant and is a critical assault upon family equilibrium. In view of this, treatment issues common to all seven syndromes are presented.
G602(P) Physical chastisement: Does it still happen?

Aims Physical chastisement is any punishment in which physical force is used to cause pain or discomfort. Perceptions differ between cultures as to what constitutes acceptable chastisement. Studies have been carried out into physical chastisement in specific ethnic groups but there is a lack of evidence in the United Kingdom (UK) population as a whole. In order to provide meaningful preventative intervention, it is necessary to ascertain the scale and nature of the issue. The aim of this study is to determine the demographics of this problem in one region of the UK. Method Cases of non-accidental injury referred to a tertiary safeguarding unit between Jan 2014 and Sept 2015 were identified using the electronic database. A retrospective casenote review identified cases of physical chastisement – defined as any physical act carried out as a remedial measure, in a controlled manner, in response to behaviour of a child that was deemed unacceptable by the perpetrator who is a person with authority over the child. We included reflex chastisement. Data were analysed for nature of abuse, perpetrator and cohort demographics. Results 579 case notes were reviewed with 53/579 (9.2%) fitting our criteria for physical chastisement. 38/53 (72%) of the cases occurred in ethnic minority or immigrant families. The male:female ratio was 1.9:1. The age range was 2–15 years, the majority of cases being 5–10 years old. In 36/53 (68%) of the cases the child was hit with an implement, 33/36 (92%) of these cases involved ethnic minority families. In all cases, the abuser was a primary care giver: 26/53 (49%) mother or step-mother, 22/53 (42%) father or step-father and 5/53 (9.4%) both. Conclusion Unacceptable chastisement is a complex, emotive and sensitive area of safeguarding work. The negative effects on the child are well documented. The findings of our study reveal that it represents a sizeable proportion of the safeguarding workload and is more likely to occur within some ethnic minority groups. In order to further understand this problem, we must work collaboratively with social care, police, health, education and communities. Any preventative work undertaken to address this issue will need to transcend boundaries – not only between agencies but between cultures.
Genome-Wide Association Study in Immunocompetent Patients with Delayed Hypersensitivity to Sulfonamide Antimicrobials.

Background Hypersensitivity (HS) reactions to sulfonamide antibiotics occur uncommonly, but with potentially severe clinical manifestations. A familial predisposition to sulfonamide HS is suspected, but robust predictive genetic risk factors have yet to be identified. Strongly linked genetic polymorphisms have been used clinically as screening tests for other HS reactions prior to administration of high-risk drugs. Objective The purpose of this study was to evaluate for genetic risk of sulfonamide HS in the immunocompetent population using genome-wide association. Methods Ninety-one patients with symptoms after trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) attributable to “probable” drug HS based on medical record review and the Naranjo Adverse Drug Reaction Probability Scale, and 184 age- and sex-matched patients who tolerated a therapeutic course of TMP-SMX, were included in a genome-wide association study using both common and rare variant techniques. Additionally, two subgroups of HS patients with a more refined clinical phenotype (fever and rash; or fever, rash and eosinophilia) were evaluated separately. Results For the full dataset, no single nucleotide polymorphisms were suggestive of or reached genome-wide significance in the common variant analysis, nor was any genetic locus significant in the rare variant analysis. A single, possible gene locus association (COL12A1) was identified in the rare variant analysis for patients with both fever and rash, but the sample size was very small in this subgroup (n = 16), and this may be a false positive finding. No other significant associations were found for the subgroups. Conclusions No convincing genetic risk factors for sulfonamide HS were identified in this population. These negative findings may be due to challenges in accurately confirming the phenotype in exanthematous drug eruptions, or to unidentified gene-environment interactions influencing sulfonamide HS.
Coupled Plasmon Waveguide Resonance Studies of Agonist/Antagonist Binding to the Human δ-Opioid Receptor Provide New Structural Insights Into the Three-State Model for Receptor-Ligand Interactions

Traditional methods in pharmacology characterize a ligand by its binding to a receptor and/or the subsequent second messenger response. No information on the direct conformational changes of the receptor in response to the ligand is obtained. Using a new method, coupled plasmon-waveguide resonance spectroscopy, structural changes of the human δ-opioid receptor immobilized in a lipid bilayer accompanying the binding of agonists and antagonists have been investigated. This highly sensitive technique directly monitors mass density, conformation, and molecular orientation changes occurring in anisotropic thin films. The extent of conformational change versus the amount of ligand allows determination of binding constants that are in good agreement with published values for the same ligands.
Improved film properties of radiation-treated medium-chain-length poly(hydroxyalkanoates)

Medium-chain-length poly(hydroxyalkanoates) (mcl-PHAs) were synthesized from coconut oil (PHA-C), tallow (PHA-T), and soybean oil (PHA-S) by bacterial fermentation using Pseudomonas resinovorans as the producer strain. Films were solution-cast and subjected to 50 kGy of γ-irradiation. This resulted in crosslink formation based on the number of olefinic groups present in the polymer side-chains. In each case, radiation improved the tensile strength (104% and 63%), percent elongation (49% and 13%), and Young's modulus (30% and 76%) of PHA-C and PHA-T films, respectively. The greatest effect was on PHA-S, which was converted from an amorphous, liquid-like material to a solid elastomeric film. © Rapid Science Ltd. 1998
Single die broadband CMOS power amplifier and tracker with 37% overall efficiency for TDD/FDD LTE applications

This paper presents a 2.3GHz – 2.7GHz broadband CMOS FDD/TDD LTE Band 7. 38, 40 and 41 power amplifier (PA) fully integrated with a fast envelope tracker (ET) on a single 0.18µm CMOS die. The PA and the tracker achieve a 37% overall efficiency for 26.5dBm and −39dBc ACLR1. The entire design including the input/output match uses an active silicon area around 2.7mm2.
Gender, Class and Suffering in the Argentinean Telenovela Milagros:An Italian Perspective

In the 1990s the Argentinean telenovela Milagros was broadcast on network television in Italy. The show was enormously popular with the residents of Sasso, a hilltop community in central Italy where I conducted my fieldwork. The women with whom I watched the program identified with the protagonist’s circumstances and shared a special kinship with her. A modern day Madonna figure, she was deeply admired for her courage and elicited an almost religious devotion from her fans. In the face of rapid social change, this pious vision of femininity valorizes suffering and provides a metaphor for understanding broader gender inequalities.
Computation Methods of LEED Intensity Spectra

A review of the dynamical methods used in lowenergy electron diffraction (LEED) intensity spectra computations is given. LEED intensity spectra have been used to extract the position where a surface atom sits with respect to other atoms of a solid. To obtain a successful surface structure determination, many trial geometries must be calculated, with different registries and varying interlayer spacings. This puts a premium on computation efficiency as well as the general flexibility of the methods used. In the past five to six years, a number of computation methods have been proposed for the calculation of LEED intensity spectra. We shall give an outline of some of the most useful methods and attempt a brief comparison among the methods. Each computation scheme usually offers some unique features which make it more suitable for certain kinds of surface structures than others. Conversely, no one method can claim to be superior for the analysis of all surface structures of current interest. We shall point out the criteria used for the selection of computation methods in making surface structure determination more efficient.
Stewardship Climate Scale: An Assessment of Reliability and Validity

While stewardship theory is often used to explain family business outcomes, no prior empirical study has used a validated measure of stewardship. We, therefore, surveyed 846 managers and subordinat...
Ab Initio Multiple Spawning Photochemical Dynamics of DMABN Using GPUs

The ultrafast decay dynamics of 4-(N,N-dimethylamino)benzonitrile (DMABN) following photoexcitation was studied with the ab initio multiple spawning (AIMS) method, combined with GPU-accelerated linear-response time-dependent density functional theory (LR-TDDFT). We validate the LR-TDDFT method for this case and then present a detailed analysis of the first ≈200 fs of DMABN excited-state dynamics. Almost complete nonadiabatic population transfer from S2 (the initially populated bright state) to S1 takes place in less than 50 fs, without significant torsion of the dimethylamino (DMA) group. Significant torsion of the DMA group is only observed after the nuclear wavepacket reaches S1 and acquires locally excited electronic character. Our results show that torsion of the DMA group is not prerequisite for nonadiabatic transitions in DMABN, although such motion is indeed relevant on the lowest excited state (S1).
Tongue retaining devices for obstructive sleep apnea: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Abstract Objective Tongue Retaining Devices (TRD) anteriorly displace the tongue with suction forces while patients sleep. TRD provide a non-surgical treatment option for patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). Our objective was to conduct a systematic review of the international literature for TRD outcomes as treatment for OSA. Methods Three authors independently and systematically searched four databases (including PubMed/MEDLINE) through June 26, 2016. We followed guidelines set within the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). Results Sixteen studies with 242 patients met criteria. The overall means ± standard deviations (M ± SD) for apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) decreased from 33.6 ± 21.1/h to 15.8 ± 16.0/h (53% reduction). Seven studies (81 patients) reported lowest oxygen saturation (LSAT), which improved from 79.8 ± 17.5% to 83.9 ± 8.6%. Four studies (93 patients) reported Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS), which decreased from 10.8 ± 4.8 to 8.2 ± 4.5, p Conclusion Current international literature demonstrates that tongue retaining devices reduce apnea-hypopnea index by 53%, increase lowest oxygen saturation by 4.1 oxygen saturation points, decrease oxygen desaturation index by 56% and decrease Epworth sleepiness scale scores by 2.8 points. Tongue retaining devices provide a statistically effective alternative treatment option for obstructive sleep apnea.
Relationship between Rural, Low-Income Mothers’ Health Literacy and Depressive Symptoms in the Family Context

Rural, low-income mothers face higher risk for poor health literacy and depression compared to the general population. While the association between health literacy and depression has been documented, the underlying mechanism of this relationship is not clear. Focusing on 304 low-income mothers in rural communities, this study examined the role of family context—alliance between parents and prevalence of healthful eating and physical activity in the home—in this association. Hierarchical regression followed by mediation analyses were conducted on mother’s depressive symptoms controlling for mothers’ demographic characteristics and access to healthcare. Lower health literacy was significantly associated with higher risk for depressive symptoms with parenting alliance partially mediating the relationship between health literacy and depressive symptoms. The finding suggests that alliance between parents is a critical aspect of mothers’ social support system that may offset the negative impacts of poor health literacy on their mental health. Possible discrepancies between mothers’ knowledge and their actual behaviors as well as mothers’ awareness of low health literacy and their sense of need for assistance are presented along with implications for healthcare professionals and social workers.
Tunneling Nanotubes are Novel Cellular Structures That Communicate Signals Between Trabecular Meshwork Cells

Purpose The actin cytoskeleton of trabecular meshwork (TM) cells plays a role in regulating aqueous humor outflow. Many studies have investigated stress fibers, but F-actin also assembles into other supramolecular structures including filopodia. Recently, specialized filopodia called tunneling nanotubes (TNTs) have been described, which communicate molecular signals and organelles directly between cells. Here, we investigate TNT formation by TM cells. Methods Human TM cells were labeled separately with the fluorescent dyes, DiO and DiD, or with mitochondrial dye. Fixed or live TM cells were imaged using confocal microscopy. Image analysis software was used to track fluorescent vesicles and count the number and length of filopodia. The number of fluorescently labeled vesicles transferred between cells was counted in response to specific inhibitors of the actin cytoskeleton. Human TM tissue was stained with phalloidin. Results Live-cell confocal imaging of cultured TM cells showed transfer of fluorescently labeled vesicles and mitochondria via TNTs. In TM tissue, a long (160 μm) actin-rich cell process bridged an intertrabecular space and did not adhere to the substratum. Treatment of TM cells with CK-666, an Arp2/3 inhibitor, significantly decreased the number and length of filopodia, decreased transfer of fluorescently labeled vesicles and induced thick stress fibers compared to vehicle control. Conversely, inhibiting stress fibers using Y27632 increased transfer of vesicles and induced long cell processes. Conclusions Identification of TNTs provides a means by which TM cells can directly communicate with each other over long distances. This may be particularly important to overcome limitations of diffusion-based signaling in the aqueous humor fluid environment.
No Pot of Message

Complying with the flattering invitation to write in a rather personal vein on what I believe, I have taken the liberty of sketching an autobiographical background to the development of my philosophical point of view. I did this in the hope that it might be of some interest, if not of some slight use, to young ‘budding’ philosophers.
Accurate Isomerization Enthalpy and Investigation of the Errors in Density Functional Theory for Dihydroazulene/Vinylheptafulvene Photochromism Using Diffusion Monte Carlo

We investigate the isomerization enthalpy of the dihydroazulene/vinylheptafulvene (DHA/VHF) molecular photoswitch system derivatives using electronic structure calculation methods including density functional theory (DFT), quantum Monte Carlo (QMC), and coupled cluster (CCSD(T)). Recent efforts have focused on tuning the isomerization enthalpy of the photoswitch for solar thermal energy storage applications using substitutional functional groups on its five- and seven-membered carbon rings, predominantly using DFT for the energy predictions. However, using the higher accuracy QMC and CCSD(T) methods, we show that in many cases DFT incorrectly predicts the isomerization enthalpy, and the errors depend on the functional groups substituted and the choice of the DFT functional. Isomerization of the DHA to VHF molecule is an electrocyclic ring-opening reaction on the five-membered ring of the DHA isomer. We find that the DFT errors are correlated to the electrocyclic ring-opening reactions of cyclobutene and c...
Effects of microtopographic variation and macroalgal cover on morphometrics and survival of the annual form of eelgrass (Zostera marina).

Abstract A disjunct population of the annual form of the seagrass Zostera marina that occurred in the upper intertidal zone of Yaquina Bay, Oregon was sampled to determine whether there were differences in recruitment, growth, survivorship and morphology associated with microtopographic location on the sand flat. Population responses of seagrass found in areas differing by only a few cm in vertical elevation were compared. There was higher plant abundance and higher number of shoots per plant in microtopographic low areas. Plants in lower areas also had significantly longer shoots, greater total above ground biomass, greater biomass per shoot, and greater biomass of reproductive spathes than plants growing in immediately adjacent, microtopographic high areas. Cover of green macroalgae was higher and accumulated more rapidly in microtopographic high areas as compared to low areas, and both spatially and temporally was correlated with decreased recruitment and increased plant loss in these slightly elevated areas. While impacts of desiccation may have played some role in determining the influence of microtopographic variation on the annual Z. marina population, macroalgal effects appear to be predominant.
Student Predisposition to Instructor Feedback and Perceptions of Teaching Presence Predict Motivation Toward Online Courses

As debates over the value and effectiveness of online courses continue, more research is needed to assist in identifying predictors of positive student outcomes in online courses. Building from previous research in Feedback Intervention Theory (Kluger & DeNisi, 1996) and the Community of Inquiry framework (Anderson, Rourke, Garrison, & Archer, 2001; Garrison, Anderson, & Archer, 1999), this study sought to identify predictors of student motivation toward online courses. Results from a hierarchical multiple regression, using data from 170 online undergraduate students, suggest that student predisposition to receiving instructor feedback and student perceptions of teaching presence provide strong prediction of student motivation toward online courses.
Incomplete Markets (Utility over Terminal Wealth)

This chapter studies an individual’s portfolio optimization problem. In this optimization, the solution differs depending on whether the market is complete or incomplete. This chapter investigates the optimization problem in a complete markets setting, and the next chapter analyzes incomplete markets.
Emotion Awareness and Antisocial Behavior

In this chapter Savitsky and Eby extend a line of thinking and research that Savitsky began in his doctoral dissertation. In that study, Savitsky showed that under particular experimental conditions, subjects’ punitive attitudes and behaviors were differentially influenced by various emotion-specific facial expressions of the victims. Savitsky and his students have continued to develop evidence for the importance of emotion communication (expressive signals and their interpretation) in various types of interpersonal transactions.
Intron Conservation in a UV-Specific DNA Repair Gene Encoded by Chlorella Viruses

Large dsDNA-containing chlorella viruses encode a pyrimidine dimer-specific glycosylase (PDG) that initiates repair of UV-induced pyrimidine dimers. The PDG enzyme is a homologue of the bacteriophage T4-encoded endonuclease V. The pdg gene was cloned and sequenced from 42 chlorella viruses isolated over a 12-year period from diverse geographic regions. Surprisingly, the pdg gene from 15 of these 42 viruses contain a 98-nucleotide intron that is 100% conserved among the viruses and another 4 viruses contain an 81-nucleotide intron, in the same position, that is nearly 100% identical (one virus differed by one base). In contrast, the nucleotides in the pdg coding regions (exons) from the intron-containing viruses are 84 to 100% identical. The introns in the pdg gene have 5′-AG/GTATGT and 3′-TTGCAG/AA splice site sequences which are characteristic of nuclear-located, spliceosomal processed pre-mRNA introns. The 100% identity of the 98-nucleotide intron sequence in the 15 viruses and the near-perfect identity of an 81-nucleotide intron sequence in another 4 viruses imply strong selective pressure to maintain the DNA sequence of the intron when it is in the pdg gene. However, the ability of intron-plus and intron-minus viruses to repair UV-damaged DNA in the dark was nearly identical. These findings contradict the widely accepted dogma that intron sequences are more variable than exon sequences.
A Preliminary Note on Spatial EEG Correlates of Olfactory Conditioning

The vertebrate olfactory epithelium (100–200 µm thick) covers roughly 100 cm2 and contains 106–108 receptor cells. Each receptor cell has a broad response characteristic to odorants (Lancet, 1986). Odorant information is conveyed topographically to the main olfactory bulb (OB) via the primary olfactory nerve (PON) as spatial patterns of spike trains generated by the noninteracting receptor cells. The PON fibers converge onto 103 glomeruli in the OB glomerular layer. Within each glomerulus (80–150 µm in diameter), 103–105 PON fibers synapse with the apical dendrites of 102–103 mitral and tufted cells. The mitral and tufted cells form reciprocal synapses with 103–104 deep-lying granule cells. Mitral—granule cell interactions are mediated by a sigmoidal gain function (Eeckman and Freeman, 1986). Under synaptic driving, the nonspiking granule cells generate electric dipoles with common instantaneous orientation perpendicular to the bulbar surface. These field potentials form the predominant component of the EEG activity recorded at the bulbar surface (Freeman, 1975). Mitral cell axons converge to form the lateral, olfactory tract (LOT), which projects topographically to the anterior olfactory nucleus but nontopographically to the prepiriform cortex. These structures project back to the bulb in a similar fashion.
Biomechanics of Human Gait – Slip and Fall Analysis

In this article, the biomechanics of human gait is presented to elaborate on the ‘human’ aspects of slip and fall accidents. This information will provide a better understanding of the relationship between the ‘biomechanics of human gait’ and ‘slip and fall accidents’ and may assist in formulating cogent expert opinions.
Phonetic Features by Bables with Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate

Twenty-three babies with nonsyndromlc unilateral cleft lip and palate were audiotaped at regular intervals from 5 to 35 months of age. Narrow phonetic transcription of their comfort-state vocalizat...
Hierarchical Signal Segmentation and Classification for Accurate Activity Recognition

The objective of this work is to determine various modes of locomotion and in particular identify the transition time from one mode of locomotion to another as accurately as possible. Recognizing human daily activities, specifically modes of locomotion and transportation, with smartphones provides important contextual insight that can enhance the effectiveness of many mobile applications. In particular, determining any transition from one mode of operation to another empowers applications to react in a timely manner to this contextual insight. Previous studies on activity recognition have utilized various fixed window sizes for signal segmentation and feature extraction. While extracting features from larger window size provides richer information to classifiers, it increases misclassification rate when a transition occurs in the middle of windows as the classifier assigns only one label to all samples within a window. This paper proposes a hierarchical signal segmentation approach to deal with the problem of fixed-size windows. This process begins by extracting a rich set of features from large segments of signal and predicting the activity. Segments that are suspected to contain more than one activity are then detected and split into smaller subwindows in order to fine-tune the label assignment. The search space of the classifier is narrowed down based on the initial estimation of the activity, and labels are assigned to each sub-window. Experimental results show that the proposed method improves the F1-score by 2% compared to using fixed windows for data segmentation. The paper presents the techniques employed in our team's (The Drifters) submission to the SHL recognition challenge.
The New Cambridge History of American Foreign Relations

Since their first publication, the four volumes of The Cambridge History of American Foreign Relations have served as the definitive source for the topic, from the colonial period to the Cold War. This third volume of the updated edition describes how the United States became a global power - economically, culturally and militarily - during the period from 1913 to 1945, from the inception of Woodrow Wilson's presidency to the end of the Second World War. The author also discusses global transformations, from the period of the First World War through the 1920s when efforts were made to restore the world economy and to establish a new international order, followed by the disastrous years of depression and war during the 1930s, to the end of the Second World War. Throughout the book, themes of Americanisation of the world and the transformation of the United States provide the background for understanding the emergence of a trans-national world in the second half of the twentieth century.
Association of Probiotic Consumption and Body Mass Index in the US Population: Insights from NHANES (P21-022-19)

To determine the association between probiotic consumption through food or supplements and Body Mass Index (BMI) in National Health And Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data. This large US population based cross-sectional study includes 2005–2014 NHANES data. We utilized 24-hour Dietary Recall (DR) interviews and Dietary Supplement Use 30-Day recall (DSQ) to extract the Probiotic Food (PF) and Probiotic Supplements (PS) consumption, respectively, using text search terms. Adults (≥18 years), who responded to DR interviews and DSQ, were included, while pregnant women were excluded from the study. Differences in probiotic consumers and non-consumers were assessed with χ2/Wilcoxon tests. To assess the relationship among probiotic consumption and BMI, we performed multiple linear regression while adjusting for confounders such as gender, race, age, Healthy Eating Index (HEI), Kcal consumption, physical activity and antibiotic use. Results of associations were analyzed separately for PF and PS, and weighted to reflect national estimates. Study included 15,104,111 (13.8%) PF consumers and 94,421,839 (86.2%) non-consumers. PF consumers were generally female (63.2% vs. 51.6%), white (77.6% vs. 67.1%), older [mean (±SD) 48.54 ± 0.99 vs. 46.29 ± 0.55 years], had higher HEI [57.52 ± 0.86 vs. 52.33 ± 0.37] and Kcal consumption [3861.77 ± 63.70 vs. 3737.49 ± 31.62], but similar physical activity (46.9% vs. 46.9%) and antibiotic use (4.9% vs. 4.6%) compared to non-consumers. We also identified 1108,619 (1.1%) PS users and 101,698,442 (98.9%) non-users. Compared to non-users, PS users were commonly female (67.8% vs. 51.8%), white (84.5% vs. 66.4%), older [52.60 ± 3.11 vs. 46.36 ± 1.06 years], had higher HEI [60.92 ± 2.41 vs. 52.70 ± 0.37], similar physical activity (45.3% vs. 45.0%) and Kcal Consumption [3599.08 ± 182.06 vs. 3737.43 ± 31.83], but more antibiotic users (9.4% vs. 4.5%). After adjusting for confounders, the weighted mean BMI was 0.48 kg/m² [95% Confidence Interval (CI) = (−0.68) – (−0.28)] lower for PF consumers than non-consumers. PS users had even lower weighted mean BMI [−1.10 kg/m², 95% CI = (−1.71) – (−0.48)] compared to non-users. In this large nationally representative population-based study, probiotic consumption via food or supplement was associated with lower body mass index. None.
Feasibility, Acceptability, and Preliminary Efficacy of a Brief Online Sexual Health Program for Adolescents

This study evaluated the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a 45-minute interactive, online sexual health program for adolescents, called Health Education and Relationship Trai...
The Universal as Substance: Z.13 1038b8–1039a3—Problems of Interpretation

Z.13 1038b8–1039a3 introduces a Platonic view that takes universals to be substance. 1038b8–16 offers two arguments against it. 1038b16–1039a3 then introduces the view of an interlocutor who thinks he can rescue universals in spite of 1038b8–16 and offers Aristotle’s response to that view. All of this gives rise to a host of problems, including the following: How is ‘substance’ being used here? What conclusion(s) does 1038b8–16 support? How do the two arguments in 1038b8–16 fit one another? How should 1038b8–15’s idion assumption be understood? What is the interlocutor’s view, and how can he think it escapes the augments in 1038b8–16? What is Aristotle’s response to this view? How does all of this fit with what is said in 1038b8–16?
The Value of Green Energy: Optimal Investment in Mutually Exclusive Projects and Operating Leverage

We study investments in exclusive projects with different cost structures. Our analysis incorporates the possibility of producing a stochastic revenue stream from two alternative technologies with a stochastic variable cost and a fixed cost, respectively, and accounts for project managersâ€™ endogenous operating decisions. The optimal investment decision is characterized by two possibly nonmonotone boundaries. We examine the effect of operating leverage on managerial policies, investment decisions, and values and carry out an application to power generation projects. We assess the impact of knowledge acquisition, that is, investments in growth options. (JEL G13, Q40, Q42, L94)
Applying Genetic Algorithms for Recommending Adequate Competitors in Mobile Game-Based Learning Environments

Mobile game-based learning (MGBL) exploits an entertaining environment for providing digital education. Such an approach involves the construction of students’ groups for gaming towards advancing their knowledge. However, building adequate groups has important pedagogical implications, since the recommendation of appropriate collaborators could further enhance the students’ cognitive abilities. Towards this direction, this paper presents a MGBL application for the tutoring of computer programming. In this application, the system recommends to each student four peers to play with as competitors using genetic algorithm. The genetic algorithm finds the most adequate peers for each student by taking into consideration students’ learning modality, previous knowledge, current knowledge and misconceptions. As such, the student can select from the list one person from the proposed ones, who share common characteristics. The two main reasons why homogeneous groups are chosen to be formed are to promote fair competition and to provide adaptive game content based on players’ characteristics for improving their learning outcomes. Our MGBL application was evaluated using students’ t-test with promising results.