cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Standardized forms of Vietnamese selfhood: An ethnographic genealogy of documentation

Three standardized forms used to write the self in Vietnam structure ways of thinking about the relationship between the individual, family, and state; legitimize technical expertise and tools of self-improvement; and promote specific configurations of political economy. Two of the forms (the lý lịch autobiographical statement and the “Cultured Family” self-assessment checklist) are closely associated with socialist practices. The third (social work case file) is best classified as neoliberal. Tracing the genealogy of these forms and their ethnographic contexts reveals, however, underlying continuities in logics of individual assessment and faith in the application of technical expertise to achieve desired development outcomes. It also demonstrates that the ostensibly more coercive socialist technologies of documentation have provided narrative frameworks that enable individuals to represent themselves in other contexts, whereas the social work case file that aims to empower individuals may ultimately render them passive subjects of transnational expertise.
Oxytocin augmentation of second-trimester abortion: Safe or hazardous?

Abstract The role of oxytocin in augmenting the uterine activity of second-trimester instillation abortions is controversial. To evaluate the efficacy and safety of oxytocin augmentation, we studied 10,013 women who underwent hypertonic saline instillation procedures and 1,241 women who underwent prostaglandin F2a (PGF2a) instillation procedures in the United States in the period 1971 through 1975. Data were obtained through the Joint Program for the Study of Abortion under the auspices of the Center for Disease Control, a multi-center, prospective, cohort study. We found that concurrent administration of oxytocin was associated with a significantly shorter instillation-to-abortion time for hypertonic saline, but with a significantly longer time for PGF2a. For hypertonic saline, use of concurrent oxytocin did not affect either the success rate or the major complication rate; however, it did affect the specific type of complication that occurred. For PGF2a, use of concurrent oxytocin was associated with a lower success rate and a higher major complication rate than when PGF2a was used alone; however, the relatively small number of observations and limitations in our study design may have affected our results. When we compared the 2 main abortifacients, even when we controlled for concurrent oxytocin augmentation, unaugmented PGF2a had higher major complication rates than hypertonic saline.
Hotspot of accelerated sea-level rise on the Atlantic coast of North America

This study provides field evidence of the existence, magnitude and formative processes of a sea-level-rise hotspot located in one of the world’s most densely populated coastal areas encompassing Boston, Providence, New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Norfolk Virginia Beach.
Periprocedural and mid-term technical and clinical events after flow diversion for intracranial aneurysms

Object Flow diversion has emerged as a promising treatment alternative for cerebral aneurysms. As a new device, treatment-related events and complications are currently being characterized. Methods Data on 100 consecutive procedures with the intention to use flow diversion were prospectively collected and analyzed retrospectively. Results Ninety-five aneurysms were treated in 93 patients during 100 consecutive procedures in which the intention was to treat an intracranial aneurysm with flow diversion. Death occurred in 1% and permanent morbidity in 1%. However, periprocedural technical complications occurred in 35% of the procedures and included proximal device migration in 12%, incomplete device expansion in 9%, catheter-induced vasospasm in 6%, and artery perforation from the wire in 3%. Perioperative clinical events were seen in 28% (thromboembolism and access site complications were the most common, being observed in 6.5% of patients). Worsened extraocular motility was seen in 5.4% and resolved in 4/5 patients. Mean clinical follow-up was 17 months. There were no late clinical or technical issues resulting in permanent deficits, although one patient suffered worsening ataxia. Overall, using very strict angiographic criteria, complete angiographic obliteration was 50% at 6 months and 69% after 1 year. Conclusions Flow diversion for intracranial aneurysms is a safe and effective treatment. Technical and clinical events are common in the perioperative period. Careful perioperative care and proper management of technical and clinical events encountered is key to achieving low morbidity and mortality. Late clinical events can occur but are unlikely to result in permanent complications.
Microstrip diplexer design for X-band RF/microwave front-end applications

This paper presents a microstrip diplexer operating at 9.79 and 11.47 GHz. The proposed diplexer consists of two parallel coupled line band-pass filters (BPFs) designed using a randomly defined image impedance technique. Thus, suitable coupled line gap distance can be obtained for conventional wet-etching fabrication. This allows easy design and fabrication of the parallel coupled line type BPFs and diplexers. To increase the isolation of the proposed diplexer, quarter wavelength impedance transformers are used between the two filters. Through EM simulation, insertion losses of less than 2.5 dB are achieved in both frequency pass-bands with a good isolation. The predicted results are compared with the EM simulated results and they show a good agreement.
Strenuous exercise during pregnancy: is there a limit?

Objective The purpose of this study was to evaluate fetal responses to strenuous exercise in physically active and inactive women. Study Design Forty-five healthy women (15 who were nonexercisers, 15 who were regularly active, 15 who were highly active) underwent a peak treadmill test at 28 weeks' gestation to 32 weeks 6 days' gestation. Fetal well-being (umbilical artery Doppler indices, fetal heart tracing/rate, biophysical profile [BPP]) was evaluated before and after exercise. Uterine artery Doppler scans were also obtained. Results Umbilical and uterine artery Doppler indices were similar among activity groups and did not change with exercise ( P > .05). BPP and fetal heart tracings were reassuring in all groups. However, subgroup analyses showed transient fetal heart rate decelerations after exercise and elevated umbilical and uterine artery Doppler indices in 5 highly active women. After this, BPP and fetal heart tracings were reassuring. Conclusion Overall fetal well-being is reassuring after short-duration, strenuous exercise in both active and inactive pregnant women. A subset of highly active women experienced transient fetal heart rate decelerations and Doppler changes immediately after exercise. Athletes may push beyond a threshold intensity at which fetal well-being may be compromised. However, potential impact on neonatal outcomes is unknown.
Biochemical and Morphological Studies of Rat Submandibular Gland: I. Centrifugal Fractionation of Granule-Rich Fraction

Submandibular glands from male rats were homogenized in 0.34 M sucrose and 0.5 mM ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid in 10 mM HEPES buffer at a pH of 7.4. The extract was centrifuged and filtered through nuclepore filters to prepare a granule-rich fraction. Electron dense zymogen granules constituted approximately 85% of the particles in this fraction which also contained about a third of the total alkaline esterase activity in the gland.
Churg-Strauss Syndrome in Children: A Clinical and Pathologic Review

Churg-Strauss syndrome is a vasculitis accompanied by asthma and eosinophilia. It is generally considered a disease of adults; occurrence in children has been reported infrequently. Here we report 2 pediatric patients with Churg-Strauss syndrome manifesting with prominent pulmonary involvement. One, a 16-year-old with a previous history of asthma, presented with pleuritic chest pain and a peripheral pulmonary nodule complicated by an eosinophilic pleural effusion. The other patient presented at age 6 with cough, weight loss, and radiographic infiltrates. Lung biopsies revealed elements characteristic of Churg-Strauss syndrome, including eosinophilic microabscesses and vasculitis. Three- and 5-year follow-up showed continued symptoms in both patients despite medical therapy. Both patients illustrate many of the typical features of Churg-Strauss syndrome. We report these cases to expand the scant knowledge about Churg-Strauss syndrome in pediatric patients and to heighten awareness that this serious disease may affect the pediatric population. The relevant literature on Churg-Strauss syndrome, with specific reference to childhood cases, is reviewed.
High-speed photography of the first hydrogen-bomb explosion

Obtaining detailed photographs of the early stages of the first hydrogen bomb explosion in 1952 posed a number of problems. First, it was necessary to invent a continuous-access camera which could solve the problem that existing million-picture-per-second cameras were blind most of the time. The solution here was to alter an existing camera design so that two modified cameras could be mounted around a single high-speed rotating mirror. A second problem, acquiring the necessary lenses of precisely specified focal lengths, was solved by obtaining a large number of production lenses from war surplus salvage. A third hurdle to be overcome was to test the new camera at an A-bomb explosion. Finally, it was necessary to solve the almost impossible difficulty of building a safe camera shelter close to a megaton explosion. This paper describes the way these problems were solved. Unfortunately the successful pictures that were taken are still classified.
Distributors and film critics: does it take two to Tango?

Previous literature has documented the impact of critics on audience choices of movies. We investigate three issues regarding professional critics in the motion picture industry. First we document whether and to what extent critics and their recommendations exhibit a statistical bias toward specific studios. We show that reviews by a number of critics are significantly affected by the film distributor's identity. A second question is whether audiences are able to distinguish between biased and unbiased critics. We cannot support the view that audiences put less weight on the views of biased critics; in fact, they may listen to them more. Third, we try to characterize critics who are more prone to bias. Surprisingly, but in accord with reputation models, we find that more reputable critics may be more biased; in particular, critics based in L.A. tend to significantly prefer specific studios.
Cellular morphogenesis in the Saccharomyces cerevisiae cell cycle: Localization of the CDC11 gene product and the timing of events at the budding site

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae CDC3, CDC10, CDC11, and CDC12 genes encode a family of homologous proteins that are not closely related to other known proteins [Haarer BK, Ketcham SR, Ford SK, Ashcroft DJ, and Pringle JR (submitted)]. Temperature-sensitive mutants defective in any of these four genes display essentially identical pleiotropic phenotypes that include abnormal cell-wall deposition and bud growth, an inability to complete cytokinesis, and a failure to form the ring of 10 nm filaments that normally lies directly subjacent to the plasma membrane in the neck region of budding cells. We showed previously that the CDC3 and CDC12 gene products localize to the region of the mother-bud neck and are probably constituents of the ring of 10 nm filaments. We now report the generation of polyclonal antibodies specific for the CDC11 product (Cdc11p) and the use of these antibodies in immunofluorescence experiments with wild-type and mutant cells. The results suggest that Cdc11p is also a constituent of the filament ring, and thus support the hypothesis that the S. cerevisiae 10 nm filaments represent a novel type of eukaryotic cytoskeletal element. Cdc11p and actin both localize to the budding site well in advance of bud emergence and at approximately the same time, and both proteins also remain localized at the old budding site for some time after cytokinesis. Cdc11p also localizes to regions of cell-wall reorganization in mating cells and in cells responding to purified mating pheromone. Surprisingly, most preparations of affinity purified Cdc11p-specific antibodies also stained the nuclear and cytoplasmic microtubules. Although this staining probably reflects the existence of an epitope shared by Cdc11p and some microtubule-associated protein, the possibility that a fraction of the Cdc11 p is associated with the microtubules could not be eliminated.
Cold Cash: The Fantasy of Real Money

Cyberspace, it is claimed, has engendered “virtual” realities-artificial worlds where identity is infinitely fluid, where, in the words of a famous New Yorker cartoon “nobody knows you’re a dog.” Since money supposedly makes the world go round, inevitably this in turn spawned talk about virtual money.Reactions to virtual reality range from hopes for a freedom to be achieved by breaking social chains to fears of an anomie to be suffered by severing social links. Similarly, the anticipated development of virtual money is viewed variously as a progressive force heralding a brave new world or a corrupting serpent invading the cyber-garden. These two perspectives, however, share a single, unspoken presumption that there is a “real” money to which virtual money is to be contrasted.Virtual reality is not new, however. Over fifty years ago Jacques Lacan argued that all social reality – what he called the symbolic order – is virtual in a technical sense of the term. As social subjects, we live in a society that is artificial – a human creation – albeit one that is subject to natural limitations.From this perspective, the internet “just” makes virtuality more apparent. The development of virtual currency masks the fact that all money is virtual – an artificial, contingent, social convention. It is then not surprising that there is a third reaction to virtual money – movements to create or recreate a form of money that is more real than modern money.This article raises some questions about the concept of money. I introduce a speculative account of money and markets and analyze two antithetical recent attempts to replace unsatisfactory, artificial, modern money with a seemingly more real form: the local currency and the anonymous electronic money movements.
Thienyl Difluoroboron β-Diketonates in Solution and Polylactide Media*

Difluoroboron β-diketonates have impressive optical properties in both solution and the solid state. In particular, both fluorescence and room-temperature phosphorescence are present when the dyes are confined to a rigid matrix, such as poly(lactic acid) (PLA). To expand current knowledge and color range capabilities of this unique type of multi-emitting chromophore, a series of thienyl-substituted BF2bdk complexes have been synthesized. The photophysical properties were investigated in methylene chloride solution and in the solid state as dye/PLA blends. By varying donor ability, i.e. methyl, phenyl, methoxyl, and thienyl substituents, and by changing the dye loading in the PLA media (0.1-10% dye loading) red-shifted emission was achieved, important for biological imaging applications. In dilute CH2Cl2 solution, complexes exhibited absorptions ranging from 350 - 420 nm, solid-state fluorescence in PLA ranging from 390 - 500 nm, and oxygen sensitive phosphorescence ranging from 540 - 585 nm in PLA blends. Promising candidates as dye/PLA blends serve as models for dyepolymer conjugates for application as biological oxygen nanoprobes.
Effect of monomer structure on ionic conductivity in a systematic set of polyester electrolytes

Polymer electrolytes may enable the next generation of lithium ion batteries with improved energy density and safety. Predicting the performance of new ion-conducting polymers is difficult because ion transport depends on a variety of interconnected factors which are affected by monomer structure: interactions between the polymer chains and the salt, extent of dissociation of the salt, and dynamics in the vicinity of ions. In an attempt to unravel these factors, we have conducted a systematic study of the dependence of monomer structure on ionic conductivity, σ, and glass transition temperature, T_g, using electrolytes composed of aliphatic polyesters and lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl) imide (LiTFSI) salt. The properties of these electrolytes were compared to those of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), a standard polymer electrolyte for lithium batteries. We define a new measure of salt concentration, ρ, the number of lithium ions per unit length of the monomer backbone. This measure enables collapse of the dependence of both the σ and T_g on salt concentration for all polymers (polyesters and PEO). Analysis based on the Vogel–Tammann–Fulcher (VTF) equation reveals the effect of different oxygen atoms on ion transport. The VTF fits were used to factor out the effect of segmental motion in order to clarify the relationship between molecular structure and ionic conductivity. While the conductivity of the newly-developed polyesters was lower than that of PEO, our study provides new insight into the relationship between ion transport and monomer structure in polymer electrolytes.
Abstract 1710: Epigenetic repression of regulator of G-protein signaling 2 promotes prostate cancer progression

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in American men and acquisition of androgen independence by prostate cancer is the key problem causing prostate cancer progression to highly aggressive form of cancer, leaving limited modalities in its treatment. Recent studies suggest that G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR)-stimulated androgen-independent activation of androgen receptor (AR) contributes to development of androgen independence. We previously reported that RGS2, an inhibitor of GPCR signaling, inhibits androgen-independent AR activation in prostate cancer cells (Cao et al., (2006) Oncogene, 25: 3719-3734). Here, we report that RGS2 protein expression was significantly reduced in human prostate cancer specimens compared to adjacent normal prostate tissues. Interestingly, RGS2 repression in androgen-independent prostate cancer cells and human prostate cancer specimens is not simply due to the loss of the RGS2 gene. Instead, methylation-specific PCR analysis and bisulfite sequencing indicated that methylation of the RGS2 gene promoter correlates with RGS2 down-regulation in prostate cancer cells and human prostate cancer specimens. Hypermethylation of the RGS2 gene promoter abolished its promoter activity and suppressed RGS2 gene expression. Conversely, the DNA methyltransferase inhibitor, 5-aza-2’-deoxycytidine induced re-expression of RGS2 in androgen-independent prostate cancer cells via demethylation of the RGS2 promoter to inhibit androgen-independent prostate cancer growth. Furthermore, ectopic re-expression of RGS2 in androgen-independent prostate cancer cells by RGS2-adenovirus infection suppressed tumorigenicity and growth of xenografts in castrated nude mice. Taken together, our results suggest that RGS2 repression due to hypermethylation of its promoter could unmask a latent pathway for AR activation by various GPCRs, thus contributing to prostate cancer progression. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1710.
Characterization of Adrenal Adenoma by Gaussian Model-Based Algorithm

We confirmed that computed tomography (CT) attenuation values of pixels in an adrenal nodule approximate a Gaussian distribution. Building on this and the previously described histogram analysis method, we created an algorithm that uses mean and standard deviation to estimate the percentage of negative attenuation pixels in an adrenal nodule, thereby allowing differentiation of adenomas and nonadenomas. The institutional review board approved both components of this study in which we developed and then validated our criteria. In the first, we retrospectively assessed CT attenuation values of adrenal nodules for normality using a 2-sample Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. In the second, we evaluated a separate cohort of patients with adrenal nodules using both the conventional 10HU unit mean attenuation method and our Gaussian model-based algorithm. We compared the sensitivities of the 2 methods using McNemar's test. A total of 183 of 185 observations (98.9%) demonstrated a Gaussian distribution in adrenal nodule pixel attenuation values. The sensitivity and specificity of our Gaussian model-based algorithm for identifying adrenal adenoma were 86.1% and 83.3%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of the mean attenuation method were 53.2% and 94.4%, respectively. The sensitivities of the 2 methods were significantly different (P value < 0.001). In conclusion, the CT attenuation values within an adrenal nodule follow a Gaussian distribution. Our Gaussian model-based algorithm can characterize adrenal adenomas with higher sensitivity than the conventional mean attenuation method. The use of our algorithm, which does not require additional postprocessing, may increase workflow efficiency and reduce unnecessary workup of benign nodules.
Deterministic control over high-Z doping of polydicyclopentadiene-based aerogel coatings.

We report on simple and efficient routes to dope polydicyclopentadiene (PDCPD)-based aerogels and their coatings with high-Z tracer elements. Initially, direct halogenation of PDCPD wet gels and ae...
Illuminating a New Domain: The Role and Nature of Military Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance in Cyberspace

Created in 2009 to “[synchronize] warfighting effects across the global security environment as well as providing support to civil authorities and international partners” the United States Cyber Command has spent the intervening years developing a foundation of cyber military doctrine, harnessing and integrating extant forces, and developing the critical mass needed to execute its global mission.Key among the challenges faced by the still fledgling US Cyber Command is the task of effecting intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) in a domain where real-time cognizance is the lifeblood of needed agility while observable distinctions between ISR, preparation for attack, and offensive cyber operations are small and, in many cases, dependent more on context than on objective discriminants.This paper will make the case that real-time ISR in cyber space is an essential and achievable foundation for success in military operations in or dependent on cyberspace. The paper will focus on military vice law enforcement or private sector operations, and will summarize the characteristics of the cyber domain, the attributes needed for success in dynamic and time sensitive operations, and recommend both doctrine and strategy for further development along these lines.The paper assumes that issues of when and where to employ US Cyber Command resources will be resolved in a manner that leaves the current US Cyber Command roles and responsibilities largely intact. None of what follows is intended to suggest US Cyber Command attain authorities it does not currently enjoy under extant law, policy, and tasking. In a similar vein, the paper does not directly consider the organizational structure of operating cyber forces and their support elements though, in the spirit of ‘form follows function’, insights on which structures are best suited to accomplish organizational objectives may be derived from conclusions contained herein.Note: This paper was prepared for a workshop on the strategic use of offensive cyber operations held in March 2016 and organized by the Stanford Cyber Policy Program. On August 18, 2016, this paper was submitted to the Journal of Cybersecurity for entry into its review process and perhaps for publication.
Terrestrial Gastropods of South Fox Island, Leelanau Co., Michigan, U.S.A.

Abstract: Despite the existence of more than 565 islands in the upper three United States Great Lakes, land snails have been reported from only about 1% of them. This first publication about land snails of any island in eastern Lake Michigan reports on the 38 species (10,162 individuals) of land snails we found on South Fox Island. We examined leaf litter samples collected from 14 localities on South Fox Island in the years 1993 and 1997. We provide identification notes and habitat notes (beech-maple forest, cedar forest, meadow) for each of the species. The number of species, 38, on South Fox Island is about average when compared to the number of species from six other islands in the upper three Great Lakes that have had comparable sampling intensity. We report the northernmost published localities for two minute snails, Carychium nannodes G.H. Clapp, 1905 and Striatura meridionalis (Pilsbry and Ferriss, 1906), and one of the northernmost localities for the minute snail Guppya sterkii (Dall, 1888). The a...
Massively Parallel Biophysical Analysis of CRISPR-Cas Complexes on Next Generation Sequencing Chips

CRISPR-Cas nucleoproteins target foreign DNA via base pairing with a crRNA. However, a quantitative description of protein binding and nuclease activation at off-target DNA sequences remains elusive. Here, we describe a chip-hybridized association-mapping platform (CHAMP) that repurposes next-generation sequencing chips to simultaneously measure the interactions between proteins and ∼107 unique DNA sequences. Using CHAMP, we provide the first comprehensive survey of DNA recognition by a type I-E CRISPR-Cas (Cascade) complex and Cas3 nuclease. Analysis of mutated target sequences and human genomic DNA reveal that Cascade recognizes an extended protospacer adjacent motif (PAM). Cascade recognizes DNA with a surprising 3-nt periodicity. The identity of the PAM and the PAM-proximal nucleotides control Cas3 recruitment by releasing the Cse1 subunit. These findings are used to develop a model for the biophysical constraints governing off-target DNA binding. CHAMP provides a framework for high-throughput, quantitative analysis of protein-DNA interactions on synthetic and genomic DNA. PAPERCLIP.
Computer Security and Privacy for the Physical World

Many physical processes today are augmented with computerized control. Everything ranging from homes to cities are being digitally connected to each other, and to software. Although these connections have resulted in many useful benefits, malicious entities have exploited this new Internet of Things (IoT) to cause damage. In this talk, I'll briefly discuss recent results in securing these emerging IoT systems. I will also outline a few open questions in the field.
Timing Is Everything: An Exploration of Executive Careers Pre- And Post- General Manager Positions

In this study, we took a temporal perspective to explore (a) what are the major paths of work experiences that lead up to senior executive positions, (b) how do different paths of work experiences ...
The Influence of Conflict on Creativity-Relevant Intragroup Processes Over Time

In this extended abstract, we review the preliminary findings from a study examining the relationship between conflict and creativity-relevant intragroup processes over time. More specifically, we examine whether task and relationship conflict have lingering effects on team creative processes and information sharing. We examine these relationships with two-wave longitudinal data collected from 141 individuals across 32 project teams in an academic setting. Our preliminary analysis suggests that, beyond the effect of information sharing at time 1, task conflict and trust interact to influence subsequent information sharing at time 2. The results for relationship conflict suggest that it is trust that has lingering effects on both of these creativity-relevant processes, not relationship conflict. Additional analysis is underway to further explore how conflict and creativity-relevant processes unfold over time.
Programmable Gates Using Hybrid CMOS-STT Design to Prevent IC Reverse Engineering

This article presents a rigorous step towards design-for-assurance by introducing a new class of logically reconfigurable design resilient to design reverse engineering. Based on the non-volatile spin transfer torque (STT) magnetic technology, we introduce a basic set of non-volatile reconfigurable Look-Up-Table (LUT) logic components (NV-STT-based LUTs). An STT-based LUT with a significantly different set of characteristics compared to CMOS provides new opportunities to enhance design security yet makes it challenging to remain highly competitive with custom CMOS or even SRAM-based LUT in terms of power, performance, and area. To address these challenges, we propose several algorithms to select and replace custom CMOS gates with reconfigurable STT-based LUTs during design implementation such that the functionality of STT-based components and therefore the entire design cannot be determined in any manageable time, rendering any design reverse engineering attack ineffective. Our study, conducted on a large number of standard circuit benchmarks, concludes significant resiliency of hybrid STT-CMOS circuits against various types of attacks. Furthermore, the selection algorithms on average have a small impact on the performance of the circuit. We also tested these techniques against satisfiability attacks developed recently and show that these techniques also render more advanced reverse-engineering techniques computationally infeasible.
Uterine Natural Killer Cells.

Natural killer (NK) cells are members of a rapidly expanding family of innate lymphoid cells (ILCs). While most previously studied NK cells were derived from the mouse spleen and circulate in the blood, we and others previously found tissue-resident NK (trNK) cells in many tissues that resemble group 1 ILCs (ILC1s). During pregnancy, NK cells are the most abundant lymphocytes in the uterus at the maternal-fetal interface and are involved in placental vascular remodeling. Prior studies suggested that these uterine NK (uNK) cells are mostly derived from circulating NK cells. However, the virgin uterus contains mostly trNK cells and it has been challenging to determine their contribution to uNK cells in pregnancy as well as other potential function(s) of uNK cells due to the dynamic microenvironment in the pregnant uterus. This review focuses on the origins and functions of the heterogeneous populations of uNK cells during the course of pregnancy.
L’expression contemporaine de l’islam dans Jeux de rubans d’Emna Belhaj Yahia et Les intranquilles d’Azza Filali

La montee de l’islamisme ainsi que l’eclosion de nouvelles manifestations religieuses longtemps opprimees par les regimes politiques de Bourguiba and de Ben Ali attise, chez une certaine intelligentsia laique tunisienne, une « panique parole ». Neanmoins, il s’avere que le traitement litteraire accordee a ces memes questions par des auteures tunisiennes comme Azza Filali et d’Emna Belhaj Yahia dans leurs romans Les intranquilles et Jeux de Rubans permet d’amorcer une reflexion critique innovante sur la situation actuelle de la Tunisie post-revolutionnaire sans pour autant tomber dans les ambivalences simplistes vacillant entre cliches orientalistes surannes et proselytisme islamiste.
Subscribe to Open: Modeling an open access transformation

The introduction of Plan S, an initiative for open access launched by a group of primarily European national funding agencies and two foundations in late 2018, prompted discussion about how publishers will transition to full open access. Many current open access models involve article processing charge (APC) payments. Here we describe an alternative model, Subscribe to Open (S2O).
Structure and Bonding in a Diamond‐Shaped Tin Cluster Possessing a cyclo‐Sn4 Core

A tetrameric cluster composed entirely of (aryl)Sn units, [DMPSn]4 (DMP=2,6-dimesitylphenyl), has been prepared by reduction of [DMPSnCl]2 with a variety of reductants. This cluster was characterized in solution by multinuclear NMR spectroscopies, as well as in the solid-state by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. This species is stereochemically nonrigid in solution and possesses a cyclo-Sn4 core whose DMP substituents are equivalent at higher temperatures. The solid-state molecular structure is remarkably unsymmetrical and possesses a nearly planar cyclo-Sn4 core. The DMP substituents are arranged such that three are approximately coplanar, while one is nearly perpendicular to the cyclo-Sn4 core. Density functional theory calculations for a [PhSn]4 model system show that this distorted geometry about the cyclo-Sn4 core maximizes σ-bonding between the Sn centers in a manner reminiscent of trans-bent bonding in the heavy group 14 analogues of alkenes and alkynes.
Presidential Rhetoric and Nationalism: Evidence from Russia and Ukraine

This article leverages saliency theory to explore how regimes may use state-controlled media to intensify nationalism and gain legitimacy. I explore mainstream news coverage in Russia and Ukraine with a particular emphasis on how political leadership frames nationalist rhetoric in the two countries to emphasize certain issues over others. I focus on relevant media content that contains nationalist rhetoric before and after the invasion of Russia into Ukraine’s territory in the spring of 2014. Content analysis suggests that political leaders in both countries have focused on political issues, while largely ignoring economic issues in their nationalist rhetoric. The analysis also shows that state leaders can successfully promote nationalism by emphasizing cultural issues and concerns.
A Note on S.Weinberg, "Massless Particles in Higher Dimensions"

In [1], Weinberg made a conjecture about the little-group representations of massless particles that can be created out of the vacuum by the action of a local operator in $d$ dimensions, generalizing his old result [2] in $d=4$. In this note, I prove his conjecture and extend it to arbitrary irreps of $so(1,d-1)$.
Dynamic Hard Pruning of Neural Networks at the Edge of the Internet.

Neural Networks (NN), although successfully applied to several Artificial Intelligence tasks, are often unnecessarily over-parametrized. In fog/edge computing, this might make their training prohibitive on resource-constrained devices, contrasting with the current trend of decentralising intelligence from remote data-centres to local constrained devices. Therefore, we investigate the problem of training effective NN models on constrained devices having a fixed, potentially small, memory budget. We target techniques that are both resource-efficient and performance effective while enabling significant network compression. Our technique, called Dynamic Hard Pruning (DynHP), incrementally prunes the network during training, identifying neurons that marginally contribute to the model accuracy. DynHP enables a tunable size reduction of the final neural network and reduces the NN memory occupancy during training. Freed memory is reused by a \emph{dynamic batch sizing} approach to counterbalance the accuracy degradation caused by the hard pruning strategy, improving its convergence and effectiveness. We assess the performance of DynHP through reproducible experiments on two public datasets, comparing them against reference competitors. Results show that DynHP compresses a NN up to $10$ times without significant performance drops (up to $5\%$ relative error w.r.t. competitors), reducing up to $80\%$ the training memory occupancy.
Whither Global Value Chains: The Shifting Role of Taiwanese FDI in Mainland China

China’s entry into and developmental gains through global value chains (GVC) was facilitated by foreign direct investment in subsidiaries of foreign, especially Taiwanese, enterprises. These investments brought specific capabilities, as well as developmental challenges, which have continued to shape the performance of domestic Chinese enterprises. In the aftermath of the Global Financial Crisis, China’s role in GVCs has shifted with an increasingly important role for domestic firms and declining competitiveness in labor intensive buyer-driven value chains. Most importantly, a new generation of China-oriented foreign investment in digital and value-added services is helping add new life to the manufacturing economy and concentrating investment again in China’s coastal urban areas.
Swimming of microorganisms in quasi-two-dimensional membranes

Biological swimmers frequently navigate in geometrically restricted media. We study the prescribed-stroke problem of swimmers confined to a planar viscous membrane embedded in a bulk fluid of different viscosity. In their motion, microscopic swimmers disturb the fluid in both the membrane and the bulk. The flows that emerge have a combination of two-dimensional (2-D) and three-dimensional (3-D) hydrodynamic features, and such flows are referred to as quasi-two-dimensional. The cross-over from 2-D to 3-D hydrodynamics in a quasi-2-D fluid is controlled by the Saffman length, a length scale given by the ratio of the 2-D membrane viscosity to the 3-D viscosity of the embedding bulk fluid. We have developed a computational and theoretical approach based on the boundary element method and the Lorentz reciprocal theorem to study the swimming of microorganisms for a range of values of the Saffman length. We found that a flagellum propagating transverse sinusoidal waves in a quasi-2-D membrane can develop a swimming speed exceeding that in pure 2-D or 3-D fluids, while the propulsion of a 2-D squirmer is slowed down by the presence of the bulk fluid.
AdamKucharski. The Rules of Contagion: Why Things Spread and Why They Stop. New York City, New York: Basic Books, 2020. $30.00. pp. 352. Hardcover. ISBN: 9781541674318

Kucharski aptly moves through epidemiological and social network theory to explain the spread of these diseases as well as explain how and why theories and modeling approaches are used to better understand contagion. Firmly entrenched in theory and history, Kucharski brings out the rules of contagion through learning from past outbreaks as well as adding in key insights on the statistical and behind the scenes aspects of tracking outbreaks. [Extracted from the article] Copyright of World Medical & Health Policy is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Prior Pro-inflammatory Polarization Changes the Macrophage Response to IL-4

Abstract Tissue repair is largely regulated by diverse macrophage populations whose functions are timing- and context-dependent. The early phase of healing is dominated by pro-inflammatory macrophages, also known as M1, followed by the emergence of a distinct and diverse population that is collectively referred to as M2. The extent of the diversity of the M2 population is unknown. M2 macrophages may originate directly from circulating monocytes or from phenotypic switching of pre-existing M1 macrophages within the site of injury. The differences between these groups have not been investigated, but have major implications for understanding and treating pathologies characterized by deficient M2 activation, such as chronic wounds, which also exhibit diminished M1 macrophage behavior. This study investigated the influence of prior M1 activation on human macrophage polarization to an M2 phenotype in response to IL-4 treatment in vitro. Compared to unactivated (M0) macrophages, M1 macrophages upregulated several receptors that promote the M2 phenotype, including the primary receptor for IL-4. M1 activation also changed the macrophage response to treatment with IL-4, generating an M2-like phenotype with a distinct gene and protein expression signature compared to M2 macrophages prepared directly from M0 macrophages. Functionally, compared to M0-derived M2 macrophages, M1-derived M2 macrophages demonstrated increased migratory response to SDF-1α, and conditioned media from these macrophages promoted increased recruitment of endothelial cells in transwell assays. Together, these findings indicate the importance of prior M1 activation in regulating subsequent M2 behavior, and suggest that augmentation of M1 behavior may be a therapeutic target in dysfunctional tissue repair. Summary sentence M1 macrophages that are switched to an M2 phenotype exhibit a distinct functional phenotype compared to M2 macrophages derived directly from unactivated (M0) macrophages.
Sugar or Fat? Renal Tubular Metabolism Reviewed in Health and Disease

The kidney is a highly metabolically active organ that relies on specialized epithelial cells comprising the renal tubules to reabsorb most of the filtered water and solutes. Most of this reabsorption is mediated by the proximal tubules, and high amounts of energy are needed to facilitate solute movement. Thus, proximal tubules use fatty acid oxidation, which generates more adenosine triphosphate (ATP) than glucose metabolism, as its preferred metabolic pathway. After kidney injury, metabolism is altered, leading to decreased fatty acid oxidation and increased lactic acid generation. This review discusses how metabolism differs between the proximal and more distal tubular segments of the healthy nephron. In addition, metabolic changes in acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease are discussed, as well as how these changes in metabolism may impact tubule repair and chronic kidney disease progression.
Collective action problems and governance barriers to sea-level rise adaptation in San Francisco Bay

This paper translates Ostrom’s “diagnostic approach” for social-ecological systems to identify the collective action problems and core governance barriers for sea-level rise adaptation in the San Francisco Bay Area. The diagnostic approach considers variables related to the resource system, the resource units, the users, and the governance system. Coupled ecological-infrastructure models identify two core collective action problems: vulnerability interdependency and adaptation interdependency. Qualitative social science case study methods identify the key structural governance and behavioral barriers to cooperation and ongoing activities to address them. The diagnostic approach is potentially applicable to any coastal regions that are vulnerable to sea-level rise and also other climate adaptation issues where vulnerability and adaptation interdependencies require overcoming governance challenges to collective action.
Increased knee flexion and varus moments during gait with high-heeled shoes: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Abstract Background High-heeled shoes have been thought to alter lower extremity joint mechanics during gait, however its effects on the knee remain unclear. Research question This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the effects of high-heeled shoes on the sagittal- and frontal-plane knee kinetics/kinematics during gait. Methods 1449 studies from 6 databases were screened for the following criteria: 1) healthy adult females, 2) knee joint kinematics/kinetics reported for the early stance phase during gait under varying shoe heel heights (including barefoot). Excluded studies included those mixing different shoe styles in addition to altering the heel heights. A total of 14 studies (203 subjects) met the selection criteria, resulting in 51 and 21 Cohen’s d effect sizes (ESs) comparing the differences in knee sagittal- (flexion) and frontal-plane (varus) moment/angle, respectively, between shoes with higher heels and shoes with lower heels/barefoot. Results Meta-analyses yielded a significant medium-to-large effect of higher heels compared to lower heels on increasing knee flexion moment (overall ES = 0.83; P Significance Given the association between increased knee flexion/varus moments and risk of developing knee osteoarthritis (OA), women who wear high-heel shoes frequently and for a long period may be more susceptible to knee OA. Preventive treatments, such as lower extremity muscle strengthening, may help improve shock absorption to decrease knee loading in high-heel users.
Can online auctions beat online catalogs

In this paper, we report the results of an extensive study comparing the price paid in 473 online auctions with the prevailing prices of identical goods sold through online catalogs. Our results reveal a striking phenomenon: auction winners enjoy an average discount of 25% relative to the catalog prices for identical items sold at the same site. The average discount grows to 39% if identical items are on sale only on other sites. We also find that this discount is a function of the monetary value of the items being auctioned and more expensive items are typically associated with lower discount rates. We use these results to characterize the major costs that are imposed on online auction participants and we analyze the impact of these costs on the resulting auction closing price. Our information economics model provides an explanation for the deep discounts observed in our research and provides some conceptual guidelines for online auction design.
Safety of routine childhood vaccinations: An epidemiological review

Immunisations have been one of the most cost-effective public health interventions in human history. Despite remarkable progress, several challenges face immunisation programs worldwide. Paradoxically, despite vaccines’ clear effectiveness in reducing risks of diseases that were previously widely prevalent and caused substantial morbidity and mortality, current vaccination policies have become increasingly controversial due to concerns about vaccine safety. Vaccines, like other pharmaceutical products, are not entirely risk-free. While most known adverse effects are minor and self-limited, some vaccines have been associated with very rare but serious adverse effects. Because such rare effects are often not evident until vaccines come into widespread use, ongoing surveillance programs to monitor vaccine safety are needed. Such monitoring will be essential if the public is to accept the increasing number of new vaccines made possible by biotechnology. The interpretation of data from vaccine safety research is complex and is associated with some uncertainty. Effectively communicating this uncertainty and continuing to improve understanding of rare risks and risk factors are essential for “mature” immunisation programs to maintain public confidence in immunisations.
Full Steam Ahead--Probably

It has long been argued that complex systems like Earth's climate may be in a state of maximum entropy production. In such a state, the work output-or, crudely, the product of the heat flux and the temperature gradient driving it-is maximized. But, as [Lorenz][1] explains in his Perspective, no reason for why systems should choose this state has been known. He highlights a recent paper that shows how the maximum entropy production state can become the most probable state. [1]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/299/5608/837
A Refined Conjecture for Factorizations of Iterates of Quadratic Polynomials over Finite Fields

Jones and Boston conjectured that the factorization process for iterates of irreducible quadratic polynomials over finite fields is approximated by a one-step Markov model. In this paper, we find unexpected and intricate behavior for some quadratic polynomials, in particular for those whose critical orbits have large cycle and small tail. We also propose a multistep Markov model that explains these new observations better than the model of Jones and Boston.