cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nazi Praxis: Colonial War and Genocide

This chapter looks at ‘three clusters’ of Nazi-German genocidal projects, using the recent formulation by eminent Holocaust historian Christopher Browning. Following Browning’s formulation, it examines Nazi genocide within the German Volksgemeinschaft (national community) of the Greater German Reich, within the German Lebensraum (living space) in the conquered eastern territories, and within the German Machtbereich (sphere of power) in central and eastern Europe, western Europe, and southeastern Europe.1 It shows how Nazi genocidal policies and practices — in each project — were shaped by imperialist-colonial thinking. It also sketches Hitler’s colonial wars for Lebensraum — in Poland, the Baltic states, and European Russia — showing how Ostkrieg (the war in the East) contained an in-built genocidal component which targeted Jewish and non-Jewish non-combatants.
Entangling Alliances: Presidents and Strategic Issue Linkage in International Negotiations

Why are issues linked in international negotiations? I propose one mechanism by which executives can use agenda control to their advantage by both forcing and blocking linkage in international negotiations. I demonstrate that the negotiator's position in a structurally divided government allows him to shape international negotiations to the negotiator's benefit even without the use of side payments. Developing insights from a spatial model, I examine case studies drawn from U.S. issue linkage and non-linkage from the Nixon administration to demonstrate the theory's plausibility. I also analyze the case of the Anglo-Japanese alliance to demonstrate the model's applicability to other settings and my model's greater ability to explain the emergence of issue linkage than existing approaches. I conclude that the importance of executive autonomy from the legislature may lie not in the ability to force linkage but to resist it.
Special issue introduction: Spatial approaches to information search

Searching for information is a ubiquitous activity, performed in a variety of contexts and supported by rapidly evolving technologies. As a process, information search often has a spatial aspect: spatial metaphors help users refer to abstract contents, and geo-referenced information grounds entities in physical space. While information search is a major research topic in computer science, GIScience and cognitive psychology, this intrinsic spatiality has not received enough attention. This article reviews research opportunities at the crossroad of three research strands, which are (1) computational, (2) geospatial, and (3) cognitive. The articles in this special issue focus on interface design for spatio-temporal information, on the search for qualitative spatial configurations, and on a big-data analysis of the spatial relation “near”.
How should we treat mild and moderate-severe Crohn's disease in 2017? A brief overview of available therapies.

Crohn’s disease (CD), one of two major subtypes of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), is defined by chronic transmural inflammation that may affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract. The etiolo...
Secure query processing in cloud NoSQL

This paper proposes “SecureNoSQL,” a security scheme for secure querying over encrypted cloud NoSQL databases. The contributions of this paper are: (1) Introduces a novel descriptive language for defining security parameters; (2) Presents the design of a secure proxy enforcing a security plan on data and on query/response. A security plan defines the main attributes and the parameters of the security scheme.
Using Data to Improve Educational Practice

Review of the book ΓC£Action Research in the Classroom: Helping Teachers Assess and Improve their WorkΓC¥ by Sr. Mary Ann Jacobs and Bruce S. Cooper There are many ways in which research can contribute to the improvement of educational practice, and action research is one of them. Action research bridges the gap that typically separates research from practice by having practitioners conduct specific projects to address their own questions and improve their effectiveness based on the answers they obtain. One of the advantages of this type of research is that results are often immediately accessible and have actionable implications. Thus, action research is a good tool for making improvements to the field based on evidence.
Where Fossils Dare and Males Matter: combined morphological and molecular analysis untangles the evolutionary history of the spider ant genus Leptomyrmex Mayr (Hymenoptera : Dolichoderinae)

The distinctive ant genus Leptomyrmex Mayr, 1862 had been thought to be endemic to Australasia for over 150 years, but enigmatic Neotropical fossils have challenged this view for decades. The present study responds to a recent and surprising discovery of extant Leptomyrmex species in Brazil with a thorough evaluation of the Dominican Republic fossil material, which dates to the Miocene. In the first case study of direct fossil inclusion within Formicidae Latreille, 1809, we incorporated both living and the extinct Leptomyrmex species. Through simultaneous analysis of molecular and morphological characters in both Bayesian and parsimony frameworks, we recovered the fossil taxon as sister-group to extant Leptomyrmex in Brazil while considering the influence of taxonomic and character sampling on inferred hypotheses relating to tree topology, biogeography and morphological evolution. We also identified potential loss of signal in the binning of morphological characters and tested the impact of parameterisation on divergence date estimation. Our results highlight the importance of securing sufficient taxon sampling for extant lineages when incorporating fossils and underscore the utility of diverse character sources in accurate placement of fossil terminals. Specifically, we find that fossil placement in this group is influenced by the inclusion of male-based characters and the newly discovered Neotropical ‘Lazarus taxon’.
Vascular endothelial dysfunction, a major mediator in diabetic cardiomyopathy.

Diabetes mellitus is currently a major public health problem. A common complication of diabetes is cardiac dysfunction, which is recognized as a microvascular disease that leads to morbidity and mortality in diabetic patients. While ischemic events are commonly observed in diabetic patients, the risk for developing heart failure is also increased, independent of the severity of coronary artery disease and hypertension. This diabetes-associated clinical entity is considered a distinct disease process referred to as “diabetic cardiomyopathy”. However, it is not clear how diabetes promotes cardiac dysfunction. Vascular endothelial dysfunction is thought to be one of the key risk factors. The impact of diabetes on the endothelium involves several alterations, including hyperglycemia, fatty acid oxidation, reduced nitric oxide (NO), oxidative stress, inflammatory activation, and altered barrier function. The current review provides an update on mechanisms that specifically target endothelial dysfunction, which may lead to diabetic cardiomyopathy.
Size Effects Associated with Microcompression Experiments on Single-Crystal Magnesium

Microcompression is becoming an increasingly popular technique to investigate the orientation dependence and size effects associated with single crystals under uniaxial compression. Literature shows that for certain materials, as the diameter of these micro-scale pillars decreases, yield stresses and strain hardening rates may increase; however, this phenomenon has not yet fully been investigated for hexagonal close packed (hcp) materials. In this study, microcompression experiments are conducted on micropillars that are fabricated using focused ion beam (FIB) milling. These single crystal magnesium specimens are loaded in compression along the [0001] c-axis, and the stress-strain curves reveal that there are no significant size effects.
I Feel Blue: Robots and Humans Sharing Color Representation for Emotional Cognitive Interaction

The paper presents a representation of colors integrated in a cognitive architecture inspired by the Psi model. In the architecture designed for a humanoid robot, the observation and recognition of humans and objects influence the emotional state of the robot. The representation of color is an additional feature that allows the robot to be “in tune” with the humans and share with them a physical space and interactions. This representation takes into account the current hypothesis about how the human brain allows sophisticated process and manage the colors, considering both universals and linguistic approaches. The paper describes in detail the problems of color representation, the potential of a cognitive architecture able to associate them with emotions, and how they can influence the interactions with the human.
Abstract 2457: Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and stemness: Key targets of HOTAIR-miR-203 interaction in renal cell carcinoma

Background: Tumor metastasis and recurrence are major obstacles in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) treatment. RCC aggressiveness is highly associated with stemness and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) which involves increased cellular migration, invasion, inhibition of apoptosis and senescence. HOX transcript antisense RNA (HOTAIR), a lncRNA, is reported to be over-expressed, whereas miR-203 has low expression and is a tumor suppressor in various cancers. However, their association and role in RCC is not well understood. The aim of the present study was to examine the interaction of HOTAIR and miR-203 in the regulation of stemness and EMT in RCC. Experimental Procedure: ACHN, Caki-1 (human RCC cell lines), normal renal epithelial cells HK-2 and clinical specimens were used for this study. Profiling of HOTAIR and miR203 expression were done by quantitative real-time PCR and luciferase assay was performed to confirm their interaction. Attenuation of HOTAIR (25nM siRNA) and overexpression of miR-203 (10nM mimic) for 72 hours were used for functional studies. The biological role of miR-203 and its interaction with HOTAIR was also investigated using nude mouse models. Results: HOTAIR was observed to be overexpressed in RCC cell-lines and clinical specimens whereas, miR-203 was significantly under-expressed when compared to normal cells and tissues. Overexpression of miR-203 altered the cell cycle, inhibited epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and decreased cell proliferation along with induction of epithelial marker proteins and decrease in mesenchymal and stemness marker proteins. Conversely, knockdown of miR-203 in non-malignant HK-2 cells induced pro-cancerous characteristics. Direct binding of miR-203 to HOTAIR was shown by RNA immunoprecipitation and luciferase assay. Attenuation of HOTAIR expression reduced cell migration, invasion, and induced apoptosis, mimicking the effects of miR-203 overexpression. Administration of miR-203 mimic to established tumors in nude mice significantly suppressed tumor growth compared to controls. Conclusion: Our results show that HOTAIR-miR-203 interaction inhibits EMT and stemness to regulate RCC progression. Statistical analysis of the clinicopathological data from kidney cancer patients suggests that HOTAIR and miR-203 may be useful in RCC diagnostics and therapeutics. Citation Format: Pritha Dasgupta, Priyanka Kulkarni, Shahana Majid, Varahram Shahryari, Yutaka Hashimoto, Nadeem S. Bhat, Marisa Shiina, Guoren Deng, Sharanjot Saini, Soichiro Yamamura Yamamura, Yuichiro Tanaka, Rajvir Dahiya. Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and stemness: Key targets of HOTAIR-miR-203 interaction in renal cell carcinoma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 2457.
The value of residential energy efficiency in interior Alaska: A hedonic pricing analysis

Abstract Residents of Interior Alaska are faced with a cold climate and relatively high energy prices, which results in high home energy expenditures. Increasing the energy efficiency of the housing stock can help reduce household energy expenditures. Following a spike in oil prices in 2008, legislation was passed, which created the Home Energy Rebate Program. Homeowners participating in the program were eligible to receive up to a $10,000 rebate for preapproved home energy efficiency improvements. This paper examines the effect of the Home Energy Rebate program on the selling prices of single-family residences in the Fairbanks North Star Borough from 2008 through 2015 using a hedonic pricing analysis. The results show that homes that completed the Home Energy Rebate program in the Fairbanks North Star Borough sell for a 15.1–16.5% price premium over similar homes that did not complete the program, which indicates that investments in residential energy efficiency are compensated. This is the first study to examine the impact of energy efficiency on house prices in a market with a subarctic climate.
Social Trust and Civil Society Vibrancy in Post-Genocide Rwanda: A Constructivist Approach to Civic Participation

This paper discusses the evolution of trust in the post-genocide Rwanda and its potentialities to foster a conducive atmosphere for strong civil society. It particularly seeks to determine whether there is association between the current perceptions of trust and civil society vibrancy in post-genocide Rwanda by addressing, first, whether civil societys vibrancy is in any way dependent on existing interpersonal trust and, second, whether trust has been relevant in maintaining civil societys internal strengths during the bargaining process with the state. Specifically, has trust solidified unity at the intra-group level and has it promoted a conducive environment for reciprocity among group members by enabling players to engage civically and responsibly? The paper will the address Rwandan civil societys vibrancy from different geographic, historic, political, cultural, and circumstantial contexts. Particularly, the paper draws a parallel between trust as perceived and lived in pre-genocide Rwanda and that which followed erosion of social capital during and after the genocide. The paper also seeks to establish a trajectory that social trust has followed in Rwanda and how that has enabled dialogue between society and state partners in Rwanda. It draws from the modern theorizing on social movements and social capital as ingredients of democratic political systems and culture.
A Force Controlled Under Actuated Robotic Hand with Mechanical Intelligence and Proprioceptive Compliant Actuation

A three-finger under actuated robotic hand with dexterous force control and inherent compliance is developed and tested. A simplified biomimetic finger design is generated and applied, with mechanical intelligence principles carefully designed and embedded such that optimal trajectories for grabbing are naturally followed and the fingers can automatically conform to the goal object. A generalizable potential energy flow theory is then proposed to explain the mechanism behind the mechanical intelligence. The theory is also supported by experimental results. Quasi-direct drive actuators were developed to actuate the robotic hand with proprioceptive force sensing and inherent compliance. The hand performs delicate force controlled manipulation with a simple compliance controller implemented.
Cultural Districts: Mixing the Arts and Other Businesses

Cultural districts are urban areas with a high concentration of artistic activities that are viewed as a catalyst for economic and social development. Reorienting the trajectory of the book investigating how arts connect with place toward cultural districts brings attention to how the arts have been connected to the city focusing on a specific area. This chapter starts with a brief history of the concept and continues illustrating the conceptualization of four typologies and providing an overview of issues linked to understanding their mechanisms, their governance, their stakeholders, and their economic impact. In the section about cultural districts in the United States, I discuss state-designated programs and then, using the lens of thirdspace, I highlight the relational, multilayered, and dynamic connections between the arts and the place emerging in cultural districts in Austin, Denver, and Boston. In the final case study, I analyze governance processes in Berkeley and Oakland, California.
Anomaly Detection for Astronomical Data

Modern astronomical observatories can produce massive amount of data that are beyond the capability of the researchers to even take a glance. These scientific observations present both great opportunities and challenges for astronomers and machine learning researchers. In this project we address the problem of detecting anomalies/novelties in these large-scale astronomical data sets. Two types of anomalies, the point anomalies and the group anomalies , are considered. The point anomalies include individual anomalous objects, such as single stars or galaxies that present unique characteristics. The group anomalies include anomalous groups of objects, such as unusual clusters of the galaxies that are close together. They both have great values for astronomical studies, and our goal is to detect them automatically in un-supervised ways. For point anomalies, we adopt the subspace-based detection strategy and proposed a robust low-rank matrix decomposition algorithm for more reliable results. For group anomalies, we use hierarchical probabilistic models to capture the generative mechanism of the data, and then score the data groups using various probability measures. Experimental evaluation on both synthetic and real world data sets shows the effec- tiveness of the proposed methods. On a real astronomical data sets, we obtained several interesting anecdotal results. Initial inspections by the astronomers confirm the usefulness of these machine learning methods in astronomical research
Kinetic asymmetry allows macromolecular catalysts to drive an information ratchet.

Molecular machines carry out their function by equilibrium mechanical motions in environments that are far from thermodynamic equilibrium. The mechanically equilibrated character of the trajectories of the macromolecule has allowed development of a powerful theoretical description, reminiscent of Onsager’s trajectory thermodynamics, that is based on the principle of microscopic reversibility. Unlike the situation at thermodynamic equilibrium, kinetic parameters play a dominant role in determining steady-state concentrations away from thermodynamic equilibrium, and kinetic asymmetry provides a mechanism by which chemical free-energy released by catalysis can drive directed motion, molecular adaptation, and self-assembly. Several examples drawn from the recent literature, including a catenane-based chemically driven molecular rotor and a synthetic molecular assembler or pump, are discussed. The mechanism by which macromolecular catalysts use energy from exergonic reactions to move, adapt, and assemble has been unclear. In this Perspective article, R. Dean Astumian shows that in addition to disequilibrium of the catalyzed reaction, kinetic asymmetry is the essential feature required to drive non-equilibrium response by an information ratchet mechanism.
Effects of high-fat diet on liver injury after small bowel resection.

Abstract Background The optimal regimen for enteral nutritional support in the management of children with short bowel syndrome (SBS) is not well characterized. A high fat, enteral diet is theoretically beneficial due to increased caloric density and enhanced structural adaptation. We therefore sought to determine the long-term effects of a high fat diet (HFD) on liver injury, a common complication of SBS, compared to a standard chow (SC) diet. Methods Using a parenteral nutrition-independent model of resection-associated liver injury, C57BL/6 mice underwent a sham operation or a 50% or 75% proximal small bowel resection (SBR). Mice in each group were then fed either a HFD (35% kcal fat) or SC (13% kcal fat). At post-operative week 15, markers of liver injury were quantified. Results Liver triglyceride levels were increased from 7- to 19-fold in mice on the HFD compared to mice fed SC in the sham, 50%, and 75% resection groups. Serum ALT (2.2-fold increase in 75% resected mice compared to sham controls) and AST (2.0- and 2.7-fold increases in 50% and 75% resected mice, respectively) levels as well as fibrotic liver staining were elevated only in resected mice fed a HFD. Conclusion Long-term enteral feeding of HFD in our murine SBS model is associated with hepatic steatosis and liver injury. Our observation that liver steatosis and injury occur independent of parenteral nutrition suggests that enteral feeding composition and magnitude of intestinal loss may make a significant contribution to intestinal failure-associated liver disease.
Haptic Pattern Exploration in an Arm-Mounted Solenoid Array

A haptic device with a row of 4 solenoids was used to present 7 kinds of pattern stimuli to the forearm. Patterns were uniquely named (e.g. “choppy-motor”), with 3 variants per pattern, designed to be “bad”, “moderate”, and “good” representations of the verbally-announced sensation. Participants were asked to rank each pattern on a 5-point Likert scale, ranking how well a sensation corresponded to its name. Each participant completed two trials, separated by a 5-min break, ranking the 21 randomized pattern variants twice. The results show general likability for most of the “good” variants of the patterns. Pattern likability increased between trials, indicating that increased exposure to this modality may increase believability of patterns. Data shows a positive, near linear relationship between pattern variant quality and participant’s rankings, indicating that participants can distinguish accurate patterns from inaccurate ones.
Nausea and Vomiting Not Related to Cancer Therapy: Intractable Problem or Clinical Challenge?

Purpose Unlike therapy-related nausea and vomiting (chemotherapy or radiotherapy induced), nausea and vomiting (N/V) in patients with advanced cancer is often multicausal and thus presents unique challenges. Few professional guidelines address the palliative management of N/V, and those that do are insufficiently detailed to bolster clinical decision-making. Nonetheless, oncology advanced practitioners (APs) are frequently challenged to manage these high-impact symptoms. This requires collaborating with other oncology care providers and cultivating a knowledge base to educate and mentor professional colleagues to optimize N/V unrelated to treatment. Methods Literature reviewed included current and classic articles that address the physiologic bases of N/V related to disease and with malignant bowel obstruction, agents used to alleviate nausea or N/V, and nonpharmacologic adjunctive measures. This information was framed within palliative care and symptom management clinical experience. Results This review article summarizes what is known about the neuropharmacology of N/V in advanced disease. Focused assessment, pharmacologic agents (antiemetics, central neuromodulators, and peripheral prokinetic agents), and nondrug adjunctive measures that may be useful for N/V are included. Conclusions Managing N/V in advanced cancer is a quality-of-life imperative that requires persistence and interprofessional collaboration among oncology APs and other clinicians to personalize management. This work can change the perception that N/V related to progressive disease is frequently intractable to one that considers it as a manageable clinical challenge.
Superresolution Microscopy of Cold Atoms in an Optical Lattice

A new superresolution imaging technique reveals the behavior of cold atoms in an optical lattice with a spatial resolution of 32 nm and moir\'e patterns that are hugely magnified images of the microscopic atomic density distribution itself.
The impact of health-related supports in senior housing on ambulance transfers and visits to emergency departments: The Right Care, Right Place, Right Time Project.

OBJECTIVE To test the impact of placing a wellness team (nurse and social worker) in senior housing on ambulance transfers and visits to emergency departments over 18 months. DATA SOURCES/STUDY SETTING Intervention sites included seven Boston-area buildings, with five buildings at comparable settings acting as controls. Data derive from building-level ambulance data from emergency responders; building-level Medicare claims data on emergency department utilization; and individual-level baseline assessment data from participants in the intervention (n = 353) and control (n = 208) sites. STUDY DESIGN We used a pre/postdifference in difference quasi-experimental design applying several analytic methods. The preintervention period was January 2016-March 2017, while the intervention period was July 2017-December 2018. DATA COLLECTION/EXTRACTION METHODS Emergency responders provided aggregate transfer data on a daily basis for intervention and control buildings; the Quality Improvement Organization provided quarterly aggregate data on emergency department visit rates; and assessment data came from a modified Vitalize 360 assessment and coaching tool. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS The study found an 18.2% statistically significant decline in ambulance transfers in intervention buildings, with greater declines in buildings that had fewer services available at baseline, compared to other intervention sites. Analysis of Medicare claims data, adjusted for the proportion of residents over 75 per building, found fewer visits to emergency departments in intervention buildings. CONCLUSIONS Health-related supports in senior housing sites can be effective in reducing emergency transfers and visits to emergency departments.
Eye Gaze During Controversial Conversations Depends on Agreement and Conversational Role

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of conversational role (speaking versus listening) and conversational agreement (agreement versus disagreement) on eye gaze toward the interlocutor in the context of controversial, political conversations. Previous studies have only examined these variables independently of one another and typically not in face-to-face conversations. Participants briefly discussed four historically partisan social issues with an experimental confederate posing as a participant, who either agreed or disagreed with the viewpoints endorsed by the participant. Participants’ gaze toward the confederate was recorded using a hidden video camera. Consistent with previous research, our results showed that participants looked at the confederate more when listening than speaking. Notably, the magnitude of this listening-speaking difference depended on agreement condition; compared to a baseline non-controversial conversation, disagreement (but not agreement) exacerbated the listening-speaking difference, particularly by increasing gaze during listening. Follow-up analyses showed that emotion, gender, and political ideology did not moderate this effect. Together, these results shed light on factors that affect eye gaze during politically-charged conversations and show that both conversational role and level of agreement work together to exert an influence.
Problems: State Equations of Electrical Circuits

In this chapter, state equations are applied to solve the basic and advanced problems of electrical circuit analysis. In this chapter, the problems are categorized in different levels based on their difficulty levels (easy, normal, and hard) and calculation amounts (small, normal, and large). Additionally, the problems are ordered from the easiest problem with the smallest computations to the most difficult problems with the largest calculations.
Controversial Areas in Axillary Staging: Are We Following the Guidelines?

Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) has been the standard of care for clinically node-negative women with invasive breast cancer (IBC); however, there is less agreement on whether to perform SLNB when the risk of metastasis is low or when it does not affect survival or locoregional control. An Institutional Review Board-approved survey was sent to members of the American Society of Breast Surgeons asking in which scenarios surgeons would recommend SLNB. Descriptive statistics and multivariable analysis were performed using SPSS software. There was a 23% response rate; 68% identified as breast surgical oncologists, 6% as surgical oncologists, 24% as general surgeons, and 2% as other. The majority practiced in a community setting (71%) versus an academic setting (29%). In a healthy female with clinical T1N0 hormone receptor-positive (HR+) IBC, 83% favored SLNB if the patient was 75 years of age, versus 35% if the patient was 85 years of age. Academic surgeons were less likely to perform axillary staging in a healthy 75-year-old (odds ratio [OR] 0.51 [0.32–0.80], p = 0.004) or a healthy 85-year-old (OR 0.48 [0.31–0.74], p = 0.001). For DCIS, 32% endorsed SLNB in women undergoing lumpectomy, with breast surgical oncologists and academic surgeons being less likely to endorse this procedure (OR 0.54 [0.36–0.82], p = 0.028; and OR 0.53 [0.34–0.83], p = 0.005, respectively). Despite studies showing that omitting SLNB in older patients with HR+ IBC does not impact regional control or survival, most surgeons are still opting for axillary staging. In addition, one in three are performing SLNB for lumpectomies for DCIS. Breast surgical oncologists and academic surgeons were more likely to be practicing based on recent data and guidelines. Practice patterns are changing but there is still room for improvement.
Investigation on the Stress of Chinese Pediatricians Under the Outbreak of COVID-19

Background: The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has posed a severe threat to international health and the economy. Clinicians, the main staff involved in fighting against the pandemic, are under great pressure. However, relevant mental stress studies are lacking at present. Objectives: This study aimed to explore the mental stress level and its influencing factors among Chinese pediatricians under the outbreak of COVID-19, aiming to provide a certain theoretical basis for relevant psychological intervention among medical staff. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 352 in-service pediatricians were selected from nine hospitals in Jiangsu province, China, in February 2020. The online survey was performed to collect general information. Meanwhile, the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scale were employed for assessment. Afterward, the stress level and influencing factors among pediatricians were analyzed through descriptive analysis, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), correlation analysis, and multiple linear regression analysis. Results: The mean score of PSS-10 showed moderate stress on the whole. Pediatricians from outpatient and emergency departments had significantly higher perceived stress than those from other departments. The perceived stress was significantly associated with age, educational level, professional title, work experience, and physical condition. Stepwise multiple linear regression showed that age, professional title, and physical condition had a linear relationship with the individual’s perceived stress. Besides, Pearson correlation analysis indicated that perceived stress was associated with anxiety level and sleep quality. Conclusions: Under the outbreak of COVID-19, pediatricians suffer from relatively high levels of mental stress. The influencing factors include education, age, professional title, work experience, and physical condition. Typically, the anxiety level and sleep quality are correlated with the mental stress among pediatricians.
The Impact of Evaluation Mode and Social Comparison on the Quality of Integrative Ideas in Asynchronous Online Discussions: Theory Development and Field Experiment Design.

Online course management systems are commonly used for course-related discussions. Effective discussion design should encourage both idea sharing and idea integration. Idea integration is considered the most fruitful phase of the creative process, and is essential for harnessing the collective value of the ideas generated in a group. Integrative ideas, however, are scarce, because idea integration requires extra perceptive and cognitive effort. To integrate ideas, individuals must recognize different dimensions of shared ideas and create logical associations among the differentiated dimensions. In this study, based on Cognitive Evaluation and Social Comparison theories, both a theoretical basis and field experiment design have been proposed for studying the impact of evaluation mode (informational vs. controlling) and social comparison (vs. lack thereof) on the quality of integrative ideas generated in classroom online discussions. The proposed theory and field experiments will inform discussion design and will contribute to literature on brainstorming and creativity.
Ionizing the galaxy

Throughout the Milky Way and other galaxies, there exists a diffuse red glow given off by ionized hydrogen. The mechanism by which this diffuse ionized gas occurs is a matter of debate, as discussed in the Perspective by Reynolds. Some of the questions may be answered as sensitive new instruments acquire data about the spectroscopic properties of the faint red glow. This in turn should add to our understanding of the nature of the interstellar medium.
Throughput Potential of Overlay Cognitive Wireless Mesh Networks

In this paper we consider a cognitive radio overlay model applied to single channel, single radio wireless mesh network and investigate the performance and fairness. Specifically we challenge the nominal mesh capacity of $O(\frac{1}{n})$ and provide proof that under certain constraints total mesh capacity can approach $O(\frac{1}{2})$ with an average per node throughput of $O(\frac{1}{n_a})$ where n a is the number of data generating active nodes. We provide an analysis of overlay communication using dirty paper coding on the sequential transmissions in wireless mesh networks.
AQM controller parameter optimization to support TCP traffic

In this paper, we make use of the best selected performance index called the integral of time multiplied by absolute error (ITAE), which is a quantitative measure to gauge the performance of a control system to achieve the minimum control error and fastest system response. By applying the ITAE performance index into a PI/spl I.bar/PP controller for active queue management (AQM) in IP routers, we can further tune the parameters for the controller to achieve some optimum control while minimizing control errors. We have analyzed the dynamic model of the TCP congestion control under this ITAE, and used OPNET simulation tool to verify the derived optimized parameters of the controllers.
Electrophysiologic measures of diabetic neuropathy: mechanism and meaning.

Abstract Whole nerve electrophysiologic procedures afford a battery of measures that can provide a noninvasive and objective index of the onset and progression of diabetic polyneuropathy (DPN). Advances in physiologic procedures, digital hardware, and mathematical models have allowed assessment of activity in slower conducting fibers, as well as measures that reflect changes in refractory periods and threshold excitability. These expanded options can augment standard measures of maximal conduction velocity and compound amplitude and greatly enhance the sensitivity of whole nerve measures to both structural (e.g., demyelination) and “nonstructural” (e.g., redistribution of ion channels) deficits associated with DPN. The mechanisms underlying the physiologic events in DPN are multifactorial and their sequence is complex, with different mechanisms contributing to change at overlapping, but distinct points in the progression. Factors influencing early change in velocity may differ from those contributing to chronic deficits and these mechanisms may also differ in their response to various putative therapies. This review attempts to summarize the pattern of whole nerve electrophysiologic change associated with DPN, outlines the strengths and limitations of the various measures that are feasible, and discusses the specific impact of known pathophysiologic mechanisms on these end points.
Lutein and zeaxanthin concentrations in rod outer segment membranes from perifoveal and peripheral human retina.

PURPOSE. In addition to acting as an optical filter, macular (carotenoid) pigment has been hypothesized to function as an antioxidant in the human retina by inhibiting the peroxidation of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. However, at its location of highest density in the inner (prereceptoral) layers of the foveal retina, a specific requirement for antioxidant protection would not be predicted. The purpose of this study was to determine whether lutein and zeaxanthin, the major carotenoids comprising the macular pigment, are present in rod outer segment (ROS) membranes where the concentration of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, and susceptibility to oxidation, is highest. METHODS. Retinas from human donor eyes were dissected to obtain two regions: an annular ring of 1.5- to 4-mm eccentricity representing the area centralis excluding the fovea (perifoveal retina) and the remaining retina outside this region (peripheral retina). ROS and residual (ROS-depleted) retinal membranes were isolated from these regions by differential centrifugation and their purity checked by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and fatty acid analysis. Lutein and zeaxanthin were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography and their concentrations expressed relative to membrane protein. Preparation of membranes and analysis of carotenoids were performed in parallel on bovine retinas for comparison to a nonprimate species. Carotenoid concentrations were also determined for retinal pigment epithelium harvested from human eyes. RESULTS. ROS membranes prepared from perifoveal and peripheral regions of human retina were found to be of high purity as indicated by the presence of a dense opsin band on protein gels. Fatty acid analysis of human ROS membranes showed a characteristic enrichment of docosahexaenoic acid relative to residual membranes. Membranes prepared from bovine retinas had protein profiles and fatty acid composition similar to those from human retinas. Carotenoid analysis showed that lutein and zeaxanthin were present in ROS and residual human retinal membranes. The combined concentration of lutein plus zeaxanthin was 70% higher in human ROS than in residual membranes. Lutein plus zeaxanthin in human ROS membranes was 2.7 times more concentrated in the perifoveal than the peripheral retinal region. Lutein and zeaxanthin were consistently detected in human retinal pigment epithelium at relatively low concentrations. CONCLUSIONS. The presence of lutein and zeaxanthin in human ROS membranes raises the possibility that they function as antioxidants in this cell compartment. The finding of a higher concentration of these carotenoids in ROS of the perifoveal retina lends support to their proposed protective role in age-related macular degeneration. (Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2000;41:1200‐1209)
Optimal operation of microgrids under conditions of uncertainty

This paper proposes a method to optimally operate microgrids under conditions of uncertainty introduced by renewable energy sources, under both grid connected and islanded mode. Uncertainty is quantified with probability distribution and confidence levels are used to establish likelihood of forecast error. The optimization problem is formulated as a quadratic programming problem and the optimality of the solution is shown mathematically by proving the convexity of the problem. The optimization is carried out with the combined objective of minimizing total operating cost and carbon emission. The proposed optimization method is then tested against a priority controller for an extended time-horizon of 24 hours. Furthermore, under islanded mode of operation, for extended time-horizon, a key decision making task of whether to provide energy to non-critical loads or to store excess energy is addressed.
Receptors of 1,25-Dihydroxycholecalciferol in Rat Intestine

Abstract Following a 62.5-pmole dose of 1,25-dihydroxy-[3H]cholecalciferol, 80% of the 3H in intestinal mucosa of vitamin D-deficient rats is located in the crude nuclear debris fraction. Of the radioactivity associated with the crude nuclear debris fraction, 30 to 45% is found associated with pure chromatin while more than 50% of the radioactivity is either extranuclear or loosely bound to the nuclei. A low density protein fraction which apparently contains this radioactivity was isolated from the nuclear debris fraction. Both chromatin and this lipoprotein complex have highly specific binding activity for 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol.
Sliding geometries in deformable image registration

Regularization is used in deformable image registration to encourage plausible displacement fields, and significantly impacts the derived correspondences. Sliding motion, such as that between the lungs and chest wall and between the abdominal organs, complicates registration because many regularizations are global smoothness constraints that produce errors at object boundaries. We present locally adaptive regularizations that handle sliding objects with locally planar and tubular geometries. These regularizations allow discontinuities to develop in the displacement field at sliding interfaces and increase the independence with which regions surrounding distinct geometric structures can behave. Validation is performed by registering inhale and exhale abdominal computed tomography (CT) images and artificial images of a sliding tube. The sliding registration methods produce more realistic correspondences that may better reflect the underlying physical motion, while performing as well as the diffusive regularization with respect to image match.
Assessing early numeracy: Significance, trends, nomenclature, context, key topics, learning framework and assessment tasks

This article describes a comprehensive and novel approach to assessment in early numeracy. Topics include the significance of early numeracy, developing a nomenclature for early numeracy, and describing the context for the development of this approach to assessment. The largely unrealised importance of numerals and numeral sequences in early numeracy, the significance of counting and its distinction from saying a number word sequence, the important topics of structuring numbers in the range 1 to 20 and conceptual place value, the Learning Framework in Number and its use in profiling children’s early numeracy knowledge, and important assessment tasks are explored.
Towards rapid throughput NMR studies of full wine bottles

Abstract A rapid throughput method for the quantitation of the oxidation level of intact full bottles of wine based on the 1 3 ¯ 3 1 ¯ water suppression pulse sequence is described. The ideal pulse sequence suppresses water in the 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum while uniformly and phase coherently exciting the resonances pertaining to ethyl alcohol at 1.1 ppm and oxidation products at 2.1 ppm. The anticipated results of the pulse sequence based on simulations are tested in small sample and full bottle standards and an application to the detection of wine spoilage in more than century old wine is provided.
The Ever-Studied Isle

[First paragraph]Cuba Transnational. Damian J. Fern andez (ed.). Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2005. xvii + 216 pp. (Cloth US$ 65.00)Cuba’s Aborted Reform: Socioeconomic Effects, International Comparisons, and Transition Policies. Carme lo Mesa-Lago & Jorge F. Pere z-Lope z. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2005. xx + 223 pp. (Cloth US$ 59.95)Cuba, the United States, and the Post-Cold War World: The International Dimensions of the Washington-Havana Relationship. Moris Morley & Chris McGillion (eds.). Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2005. xi + 286 pp. (Cloth US$ 65.00)There are perhaps few countries other than France for which the ratio of academic word per population is higher than Cuba. Notwithstanding its symbolic significance over the past fifty years, it is important to remember that we are talking of a small island of something over ten million souls exporting sand and sugar. Even the Cuban diaspora has benefited from this arguably undeserved notoriety, and hardly a week goes by without yet another exile memoir. Over the past two weeks (this is being written in mid-August 2006), the attentionmeter once again jumped as Fidel’s illness and the temporary (?) transfer of power was documented by the global media. Given all this attention, new books on Cuba face a daunting challenge: to say something new about a place that has been much studied, but which, in many ways, has remained the same for the past half century. Is there something we don’t yet know?
Some effects of streptomycin on RNA metabolism in Escherichia coli

Streptomycin is known to allow considerable ribonucleic acid synthesis even after it has stopped protein synthesis in sensitive cells. This “streptomycin RNA” has now been shown to resemble chloramphenicol RNA in that (1) it has a relatively normal size distribution when purified and fractionated by means of sucrose density-gradient centrifugation ; (2) a portion of it is incorporated into abnormally slowly sedimenting particles; and (3) a portion (perhaps the same portion as in (2)) is unstable both in cells and in cell extracts. Streptomycin can also cause a net stimulation of RNA synthesis, and at low drug concentrations this stimulation precedes detectable slowing of protein synthesis. The early stimulation has been shown to involve each of the major centrifugally-separable classes of normal RNA as well as messenger RNA. In addition, the ribosomal components in this case are incorporated into normal ribosomal subunits. Similar results were obtained using very low concentrations of chloramphenicol. It is proposed that the stimulation of RNA synthesis by both drugs may be the result of inhibition of protein synthesis too slight to be detected directly. While the effects of chloramphenicol and streptomycin on RNA synthesis thus appear quite similar, their effects on RNA stability differ significantly. Streptomycin-treated cells undergo a generalized RNA breakdown which contrasts with the limited breakdown to which both chloramphenicol RNA and streptomycin RNA are susceptible. The present findings are discussed with reference to the regulation of RNA synthesis as well as to the possible mechanisms of action of streptomycin.
Swelling-Induced Cavitation of Elastic Spheres

Swelling, generally referring to volumetric change and typically due to mass addition from some diffusive or transport mechanism, is central to a variety of physical phenomena. Here we consider the role of swelling as it relates to the inflation of hollow spheres and to cavity formation at the center of solid spheres. The swelling is modeled in terms of a prescribed scalar field that gives the local free volume. The finite deformation theory of incompressible hyperelasticity is generalized so as to include the effect of this swelling field directly in the stored energy density. The general framework is based on global energy minimization wherein the stored energy density is minimized at the locally prescribed swollen state. On this basis it is found that both inflation and cavitation can be caused solely by swelling. This result is intuitive with respect to inflation where it follows from a simple uniform swelling field. In contrast, to obtain swelling-induced cavitation we consider a non-uniform swelling field and study how this field can cause a cavity to nucleate, grow, shrink and disappear.