cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Of Men and Money: Characteristics of Occupations that Affect the Gender Differentiation of Children’s Occupational Interests

Occupational interests become gender differentiated during childhood and remain so among adults. Two characteristics of occupations may contribute to this differentiation: the gender of individuals who typically perform the occupation (workers’ gender) and the particular goals that the occupation allows one to fulfill, such as the opportunity to help others or acquire power (value affordances). Two studies tested hypotheses about whether U.S. 6- to 11-year-olds show gender differences in their interest in novel jobs that were depicted as (a) being performed by men versus women and (b) affording money, power, family, or helping values. In Study 1, 98 children rank-ordered their preferences for experimentally-manipulated novel jobs, and they answered questions about their occupational values and the value affordances of jobs in which men and women typically work. In Study 2, a second sample of 65 children was used to test the replicability of findings from Study 1. As hypothesized, children were more interested in jobs depicted with same- than other-gender workers in both studies. Boys showed greater interest than did girls in novel jobs depicted as affording money in Study 1, but not Study 2. Explicit knowledge that men and women typically work in jobs that afford differing values increased with participants’ age.
Can Measured Synergy Excitations Accurately Construct Unmeasured Muscle Excitations

Accurate prediction of muscle and joint contact forces during human movement could improve treatment planning for disorders such as osteoarthritis, stroke, Parkinson's disease, and cerebral palsy. Recent studies suggest that muscle synergies, a low-dimensional representation of a large set of muscle electromyographic (EMG) signals (henceforth called "muscle excitations"), may reduce the redundancy of muscle excitation solutions predicted by optimization methods. This study explores the feasibility of using muscle synergy information extracted from eight muscle EMG signals (henceforth called "included" muscle excitations) to accurately construct muscle excitations from up to 16 additional EMG signals (henceforth called "excluded" muscle excitations). Using treadmill walking data collected at multiple speeds from two subjects (one healthy, one poststroke), we performed muscle synergy analysis on all possible subsets of eight included muscle excitations and evaluated how well the calculated time-varying synergy excitations could construct the remaining excluded muscle excitations (henceforth called "synergy extrapolation"). We found that some, but not all, eight-muscle subsets yielded synergy excitations that achieved >90% extrapolation variance accounted for (VAF). Using the top 10% of subsets, we developed muscle selection heuristics to identify included muscle combinations whose synergy excitations achieved high extrapolation accuracy. For 3, 4, and 5 synergies, these heuristics yielded extrapolation VAF values approximately 5% lower than corresponding reconstruction VAF values for each associated eight-muscle subset. These results suggest that synergy excitations obtained from experimentally measured muscle excitations can accurately construct unmeasured muscle excitations, which could help limit muscle excitations predicted by muscle force optimizations.
Effect of previous abdominal surgery and gallbladder appearance on biliary atresia outcomes

Abstract Background Biliary atresia (BA) is typically treated by Kasai portoenterostomy (KPE), and there is a relationship between age at surgery and outcome. We hypothesize that previous abdominal surgery (PAS) for associated congenital intestinal conditions could be used to identify BA earlier, perhaps improving prognosis. Methods A retrospective case note review was performed of all BA patients at a single centre from 1999 to 2016. Demographics and clinical outcome data were collected. Additional data on laparotomy, parenteral nutrition, and referral were collected from patients who underwent PAS. Data are median (range). Main results Two-hundred-and-fifty-seven children were reviewed. Of these, 16 (6.2%) underwent PAS on day 3 (0–23), during which 5 atretic gallbladders were noted. Gallbladder appearance was not referenced in the operation notes of 8 infants. Jaundice and acholic stools were noted at 4 (0–56) days and 21 (0–60) days, respectively. Age at KPE was comparable between PAS and the other patients (50 vs. 51days; P=0.78), but native liver survival was significantly lower after PAS (p Conclusion About 6% of infants have already undergone abdominal surgery for biliary atresia associated intestinal anomalies. Routine gallbladder examination at time of laparotomy could have aided earlier diagnosis and treatment of biliary atresia in up to 80% of patients in this cohort. However, our data suggest that clinical outcome is poorer in biliary patients who undergo prior abdominal surgery and is not improved by earlier referral. Level of evidence Prognostic study: Level III.
Online Onboarding: Library Workplace Training in a Trilingual Interactive Online Asynchronous Environment

The director of the library and learning center (LLC) instituted in 2017 a formal online orientation by requiring all student workers in the library, academic resource center, and office of information technology to take a pretest, watch an online training video, and take a posttest to successfully communicate the departments’ goals, history, and power structure (Bauer. Onboarding new employees: maximizing success. SHRM Foundation’s Effective Practice Guideline Series, 2010). Onboarding student workers, with varied schedules, who are expected to be competent with the job competencies of all job roles in an academic library department can be challenging. This chapter illustrated one academic library’s experiences training two international student workers and one librarian to design online onboarding training modules for student workers. Student workers’ pre- and post-module training are shared, and design plans for future iterations are discussed.
Mimicry of a β-Hairpin Turn by a Nonpeptidic Laterally Flexible Foldamer

The design and characterization of a proteomimetic foldamer that displays lateral flexibility endowed by intramolecular bifurcated hydrogen bonds is reported. The MAMBA scaffold, derived from meta-aminomethylbenzoic acid, adopts a serpentine conformation that mimics the side chain projection of all four residues in a β-hairpin turn.
Side influences of biometricians.

Biometricians have contributed much to statistical methodology that is of interest to workers in other fields. It has been well worth while, for instance, for statisticians in the physical sciences and in industry to read the biometric literature and to develop close contacts with outstanding biometricians like the man whom this volume is to honor. In the chemical and pharmaceutical industries, in particular, the lead of biometricians has been followed since the days of `Student’.
American Political Economy in Global Perspective: The Welfare State as the Center of Public Finance and Political Conflict

The essence of the welfare state is government-protected minimum standards of income, nutrition, health and safety, education, and housing assured to every citizen as a social right, not as charity (Wilensky, 1965: xii). In the abstract this is an ideal embraced by both political leaders and the mass of people in every affluent country, but in practice it becomes expensive enough and evokes enough ambivalence to become the center of political combat about taxes, spending, and the proper role of government in the economy. In public expenditures, the welfare state is about half to three-quarters of what modern governments do. The core programs of the welfare state, often subsumed under the general heading of “social security,” have taken the form of social insurance against the basic risks of modern life: job injury, sickness, unemployment, disability, old age, and income lost because of illness, shifts in family composition, or other random shocks (wars, depression, recessions). Because the welfare state is about shared risks crosscutting generations, localities, classes, ethnic and racial groups, and educational levels, it is a major source of social integration in modern society. Because it lends a measure of stability to household income, it has also been an important stabilizer of the economy in the downswings of the business cycle especially since World War II. Because the welfare state is the center of efforts to rein in public spending and because many economists and public officials assume that social spending is the root of our economic troubles, I shall first concentrate on its economic effects, with special attention to why reform efforts are most successful where social partners negotiate realistic compromises. Later I broaden the analysis to include noneconomic effects.
Noninvasive ventilatory support to reverse weight loss in Duchenne muscular dystrophy: A case series.

Abstract This case series of five patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy demonstrates the nutritional advantages of instituting noninvasive intermittent positive pressure ventilatory support via 15 mm angled mouthpieces to relieve tachypnea and provide more time to swallow food safely. In each case weight loss was reversed.
Vagal Tone as a Putative Mechanism for Pragmatic Competence: An Investigation of Carriers of the FMR1 Premutation

Pragmatic language skills exist across a continuum in typical and clinical populations, and are impaired in many neurodevelopmental disorders, most notably autism. The mechanisms underlying pragmatic impairment are poorly understood, although theory suggests dampened vagal tone plays a role. This study investigated the FMR1 premutation as a genetic model that may lend insight into the relationship between vagal function and pragmatic ability. Participants included 38 women with the FMR1 premutation and 23 controls. Vagal tone accounted for significant variance in pragmatics across both groups and statistically mediated the effect of FMR1 premutation status on pragmatic ability. Results support vagal tone as a biophysiological correlate of pragmatic ability, which informs potential mechanistic underpinnings and could have implications for targeted treatment.
Glucose and Lactate Transport in Pancreatic Cancer: Glycolytic Metabolism Revisited

Membrane transporters fulfill essential roles in maintaining normal cellular function in health. In cancer, transporters likewise facilitate the aberrant characteristics typical of proliferating tumor cells. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is remarkable in its aggressiveness, and its metabolism is supported by a variety of membrane transporters. Glucose transporter 1 is upregulated in pancreatic cancer, enables rapid cellular uptake of glucose, and contributes to the invasiveness and metastatic ability of the disease. Likewise, the machinery of glycolysis, enzymes such as pyruvate kinase type M2 and hexokinase 2, is particularly active and ultimately leads to both lactate and tumor formation. Lactic acid channels and transporters include monocarboxylate transporters 1 and 4, connexin43, and CD147. In conjunction with glucose transporters and glycolytic metabolism, lactic acid transport helps perpetuate tumor cell metabolism and contributes to the formation of the unique tumor microenvironment in pancreatic cancer. These transporters may serve as potential therapeutic targets.
Multiplex SYBR Green and duplex TaqMan real-time PCR assays for the detection of Photorhabdus Insect-Related (Pir) toxin genes pirA and pirB

Abstract Acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND), also known as Early mortality syndrome (EMS), is a recently emerged lethal disease that has caused major economic losses in shrimp aquaculture. The etiologic agents are Vibrio spp. that carry Photorhabdus Insect-Related (Pir) toxin genes pirA and pirB. A multiplex SYBR Green real-time PCR was developed that detects pirA, pirB, and two internal control genes, the shrimp 18S rRNA and the bacterial 16S rRNA genes in a single reaction. The pirB primers amplify the 3'-end of the pirB gene allowing the detection of Vibrio spp. mutants that contain a complete deletion of pirA and the partial deletion of pirB. The assay also detects mutants that contain the entire pirA gene and the deletion of the pirB gene. Since both toxin genes are needed for disease development, this assays can distinguish between pathogenic strains of Vibrio spp. that cause AHPND in shrimp and mutants that do not cause disease. The amplicons for pirA, pirB, 18S rRNA and 16S rRNA showed easily distinguishable melting temperatures of 78.21 ± 0.18, 75.20 ± 0.20, 82.28 ± 0.34 and 85.41 ± 0.21 °C respectively. Additionally, a duplex real-time PCR assay was carried out by designing TaqMan probes for the pirA and pirB primers. The diagnostic sensitivity and specificity was compared between the SYBR Green and TaqMan assays. Both assays showed similar sensitivity with a limit of detection being 10 copies for pirA and pirB, and neither assays showed any cross reaction with other known bacterial and viral pathogens in shrimp. The high sensitivity of both assays make them suitable for the detection of low copies of the pirA and pirB genes in AHPND causing Vibrio spp. as well as for detecting non-pathogenic mutants.
COGNITIVE VARIABILITY AND BRAIN AGING IN LATE-LIFE DEPRESSION

Introduction Dispersion across cognitive test scores, a measure of variability in cognitive performance, may be an indication of pathological aging. The aim of the current study was to investigate the association of test dispersion with structural brain variables and cognitive decline in non-demented older adults with major depression (MD) and healthy controls (HC). We hypothesized that those with greater dispersion would have lower hippocampal volumes (HPC) and higher white matter hypointensities (WMH) and that dispersion would predict cognitive decline at one-year follow-up. Methods Subjects included 121 MD and 39 HC subjects who participated in the NBOLD study at UConn Health. Inclusion criteria were age 60+ and a psychiatrist's diagnosis of MD for the patient group. Dementia and other major neuropsychiatric illnesses were exclusion criteria. Dispersion was calculated as the standard deviation of z-scores divided by group mean z-scores of a demographically adjusted neuropsychological test performance across a comprehensive battery. Results Dispersion positively correlated with WMH in both HC (r=0.386; p =.001) and MD (r=0.318; p=0.001), and negatively correlated with left HPC volume in MD (r=-0.191; p=0.034). Linear regression analyses accounting for baseline cognitive performance, demographics, and depression found that dispersion predicted cognitive tasks performed at a year follow up. For older adults with MD word list (WL) 1-3 (p=.038), WL delayed recall (DR) (p=.020) and symbol digit modality test (SDMT) (p=.035) were predictors. For HC dispersion was predicted for logical memory (LM) DR (p=.004) and Benton test (p=.003). Conclusions Dispersion is correlated with evidence of brain aging in older adults with MD. Future studies may look at ways to reduce dispersion in older adults and help prevent cognitive decline. This research was funded by Research reported in this poster was supported by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under linked Award Numbers RL5GM118969, TL4GM118971, and UL1GM118970. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health. Educational and research grant from the Leo and Anne Albert Charitable Trust.
Radiology Practice Consolidation: Fewer but Bigger Groups Over Time.

Abstract Purpose The aim of this study was to assess recent trends in US radiology practice consolidation. Methods Radiologist practice characteristics were obtained from the Medicare Physician Compare database for 2014 and 2018. Radiologists were classified on the basis of their largest identifiable practice affiliations. Single-specialty radiology practices were identified using practice names. Temporal trends in practice sizes were assessed. Results At the individual radiologist level from 2014 to 2018, the fraction of all radiologists in groups with 1 or 2 members declined from 3.2% to 2.1%, 3 to 9 members from 10.2% to 6.7%, 10 to 24 members from 18.2% to 14.1%, 25 to 49 members from 16.6% to 15.1%, and 50 to 99 members from 13.3% to 11.5%. In contrast, the fraction in groups with 100 to 499 members increased from 15.7% to 21.8% and with ≥500 members from 22.9% to 28.7%. At the practice level, the fraction of all radiologists’ practices with 1 or 2 members decreased from 26.9% to 22.8%, whereas the fraction with 100 to 499 members increased from 7.6% to 10.2% and with ≥500 members from 2.5% to 4.1%. Similar shifts were present for single-specialty radiology practices and all geographic regions nationally. The 30,492 radiologists identified in 2014 were affiliated with 4,908 group practices, including 2,812 single-specialty practices. In comparison, the 32,096 radiologists identified in 2018 were affiliated with 4,193 group practices (a 14.6% decline), including 2,216 single-specialty practices (a 21.2% decline). Conclusions In very recent years, the US radiologist workforce has consolidated, leading to increased practice sizes and a substantial decline in the number of distinct practices, disproportionately affecting single-specialty radiology practices. The impact of this consolidation on cost, quality, and patient access merits further attention.
Comparison of Pharmacokinetic Parameters of a Polypeptide, the Bowman-Birk Protease Inhibitor (BBI), and Its Palmitic Acid Conjugate

Purpose. The alteration of the pharmacokinetic parameters of the poly-peptide BBI through conjugation with palmitic acid was examined. Methods. 125I-BBI or l25I-Pal-BBI was administered iv to 6 week old CF-1 mice at a dose of 3mg/kg. The mice were sacrificed at 5, 10, 20, 60, 120, 240, 360, and 480 min and the total radioactivity was determined for blood and each organ. The blood was analyzed on a Sephadex G-50 size-exclusion column to determine the amount of intact polypeptide present in the blood. From the amount of intact polypeptide at each time point, the pharmacokinetic parameters were determined. Results. By conjugating three palmitic acids to each BBI molecule, the area under the curve (AUC) and mean residence time (MRT) increase by a factor of 10.8 and 2.8, respectively. There was also a difference in the organ distribution between the two treatments; while 125I-BBI was rapidly cleared from the kidneys, l25I-Pal-BBI was predominantly to the liver. Subsequent studies suggested that the binding of the conjugate to non-albumin serum proteins was most likely the cause of the altered pharmacokinetics. Conclusions. The residence time in the blood and the lipophilicity of BBI were increased upon conjugation with palmitic acid through a reversible disulfide linkage. Pharmacokinetic studies showed an increase in the AUC and a decrease in kidney clearance in palmitic acid conjugates, indicating a potential increase of the therapeutic efficacy of the polypeptide drug.
Stochastic Interference Modeling and Experimental Validation for Pulse-Based Terahertz Communication

The transmission of one-hundred-femtosecond-long pulses by following an ON-OFF keying modulation spread in time has been proposed as a way to enable Terahertz (THz)-band (0.1–10 THz) communications over short distances. Such modulation minimizes the probability of collisions due to the very small time that the channel is occupied by a user. However, given that many of the envisioned applications involve very large node densities, multi-user interference becomes unavoidable. In this paper, a stochastic model of multi-user interference is developed and experimentally validated. The model takes into account the fact that the interference power at the receiver is not a combination of the received powers from the individual nodes, but the power of the combination of the received signal amplitudes. For this, first, a mathematical framework is developed to compute the probability density function (PDF) of the interference generated by one interfering node at the receiver, starting from the PDFs of the pulse received energy and the PDF of the pulse shape. Then, the model is extended to account for multiple nodes which can constructively or destructively interfere. The developed model is experimentally validated by means of an innovative setup and the extensive numerical results are provided to analyze the trends of multi-user interference in pulse-based THz communications.
A Conceptualization of Cause-Related Marketing: A Consumer Behavior Perspective

Cause-related marketing is an area of marketing that integrates a variety of concepts including promotion, fund raising, and public relations. However, little is known about the underlying reasons for the consumers' attraction to such programs. It is our view that three factors -- type of cause, knowledge about the cause, and relevance of the cause -- are likely to influence consumers' attitude toward this type of program and ultimately the firm sponsoring such programs.
IN VITRO REPLICATION OF ADENOVIRUS DNA

ABSTRACT We have characterized a soluble enzyme system from adenovirus-infected cells that is capable of replicating exogenously added adenovirus DNA in vitro. Maximal DNA synthesis is observed when DNA-protein complex, isolated from purified virions, is added as template. Under these conditions DNA replication in the in vitro system closely resembles adenovirus DNA replication in vivo. Replication begins at or near either terminus of the template, and daughter strand synthesis proceeds exclusively in the 5′ to 3′ direction. Thus, the r daughter strand is synthesized from right to left on the conventional map of the adenovirus genome, and the 1 daughter strand is synthesized from left to right. The ends of the in vitro product are tightly associated with protein. In contrast, when deproteinized adenovirus DNA is added to the in vitro system, the limited DNA synthesis that is observed appears to be due to a repair-like reaction. In particular, synthesis begins at many sites within the template, and the synthetic product consists largely of short DNA chains that are covalently linked to template DNA strands. These results suggest that the specificity of initiation of in vitro replication depends upon the integrity of the 55K terminal protein attached to the 5′ ends of the DNA strands of adenovirus DNA-protein complex.
Experience of Chicagoland acute care hospitals in preparing for Ebola virus disease, 2014–2015

During the 2014–2015 Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak, hospitals in the United States selected personal protective equipment (PPE) and trained healthcare personnel (HCP) in anticipation of receiv...
Hot water sanitization of a commercial mushroom disk slicer to inactivate Listeria monocytogenes

Abstract Industrial food slicing equipment that is difficult to clean and sanitize can become a reservoir of Listeria monocytogenes. Some commercial mushroom slicing operations have attempted to manage cross-contamination risks by periodically immersing detachable slicer heads in heated water maintained at varying temperatures for different times. In this study, the efficacy of hot water disinfection treatments to eliminate L. monocytogenes from commercial mushroom slicers was examined. Fourteen L. monocytogenes strains, including several obtained from mushrooms or mushroom processing environments, were screened for heat tolerance at 60 °C for 6 min. The 6 most heat tolerant strains were used to prepare a microbial cocktail for thermal inactivation studies. Heat tolerance of planktonic cells was not affected by incubation at 30 °C for up to 7 days, or the extent to which they adhered to stainless-steel coupons under the same conditions. Respective L. monocytogenes D50, D60, and D70-values of 11.5 min, 1.90 min, and 1.0 min were not higher than D-values for a L. innocua isolate at the same temperatures. Heat penetration studies, conducted on the slicer head immersed in a heated clean-out-of-place (COP) wash tank, determined that the slowest-to-heat food contact location (cold spot) was the at the interface of one of the blade-spacers with the horizontal slicer drive shaft. A microbial challenge study was conducted by disassembling the slicer head, inoculating the cold spot with 7 log cells L. innocua surrogate, and subjecting the reassembled slicer head to water temperatures of 55 °C, 65 °C, or 75 °C for 93, 16.4, or 6.5 min. Complete elimination of L. innocua cells for each slicer head treatment demonstrated the feasibility of hot water sanitization treatments to minimize L. monocytogenes food safety risks.
Taking a Moment for Life: Remembering Black Queer Lives Through Performance:

This essay foregrounds Black and queer youth stories of encountering and surviving violence, as reenacted through Tell It!: A Contemporary Chorale for Black Youth Voices. A performance ethnography,...
Highly Efficient Dye-sensitized Solar Cells with Composited Food Dyes

As a representative of third-generation solar cells, dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) possess the advantages of easy fabrication and relatively high power conversion efficiency (PCE). However, th...
Exploring the susceptible or pathogenic genes of biliary atresia by monozygotic twins’ pedigrees

Objective Currently the pathogenesis of biliary atresia (BA) has remained unclear.This study was to explore the susceptible or pathogenic genes of BA by monozygotic twins’ pedigrees at whole exome level. Methods Five monozygotic twins’ BA pedigrees were collected.There were 4 pedigrees in discordance for BA and 1 pedigree in accordance for BA.After a definite diagnosis of type Ⅲ BA by intraoperative cholangiography, they underwent Kasai operation.Their clinical data were collected and 4 ml peripheral venous blood samples obtained from all family members of 5 monozygotic twins’ BA pedigrees.DNA was isolated from whole peripheral venous blood.Whole exome sequencing was employed and data quality was controlled strictly.The results of 5 pedigrees were analyzed for detecting genetic mutations. Results Twins in F5 pedigree were in accordance for BA.Two compound heterozygous mutations (SSPO, TTN) were shared by two patients in a recessive mode.And 2/6 patients had the mutation of gene ABCA13 in the mode of incomplete penetrance.Located in a conserved sequence, the mutation played a detrimental role in the structure and function of protein.IFNA10 was correlated with the incidence of BA by family-based association test. Conclusions The strategy of exploring the susceptible or pathogenic genes in BA through monozygotic twins’ BA pedigrees at exome level using multiple models is a feasible approach for elucidating the etiology of BA.The mutations of SSPO, ABCA13 and IFNA10 may be associated with BA type Ⅲ. Key words: Biliary atresia; Susceptible genes; Pathogenic genes; Whole exome sequence
LPS-Induced Inflammation Prior to Injury Exacerbates the Development of Post-Traumatic Osteoarthritis in Mice

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a debilitating and painful disease characterized by the progressive loss of articular cartilage. Post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA) is an injury-induced type of OA that persists in an asymptomatic phase for years before it becomes diagnosed in ~50% of injured individuals. While PTOA is not classified as an inflammatory disease, it has been suggested that inflammation could be a major driver of PTOA development. Here we examined whether a state of systemic inflammation induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) administration 5-days prior to injury would modulate PTOA outcomes. RNA-seq analysis at 1-day post-injury followed by μCT and histology characterization at 6-weeks post injury revealed that LPS administration causes more severe PTOA phenotypes. These phenotypes included significantly higher loss of cartilage and subchondral bone volume. Gene expression analysis showed that LPS alone induced a large cohort of inflammatory genes previously shown to be elevated in synovial M1 macrophages of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, suggesting that systemic LPS produces synovitis. This synovitis was sufficient to promote PTOA in MRL/MpJ mice; a strain previously shown to be resistant to PTOA. The synovium of LPS treated injured joints displayed an increase in cellularity and immunohistological examination confirmed that this increase was in part due to an elevation in type 1 macrophages. LPS induced the expression of Tlr7 and Tlr8 in both injured and uninjured joints, genes known to be elevated in RA. We conclude that inflammation prior to injury is a very important risk factor for the development of PTOA and that correlating patient serum endotoxin levels or their state of systemic inflammation with PTOA progression may help develop new, effective treatments to lower the rate of PTOA in injured individuals. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Resilience vs. Vulnerability: Psychological Safety and Reporting of Near Misses

Introduction: Psychological safety, a shared belief that interpersonal risk-taking is safe, is an important determinant of incident reporting. However, how psychological safety affects near- miss r...
A novel tool for standardizing clinical data in a semantically rich model.

Abstract Standardizing clinical information in a semantically rich data model is useful for promoting interoperability and facilitating high quality research. Semantic Web technologies such as Resource Description Framework can be utilized to their full potential when a model accurately reflects the semantics of the clinical situation it describes. To this end, ontologies that abide by sound organizational principles can be used as the building blocks of a semantically rich model for the storage of clinical data. However, it is a challenge to programmatically define such a model and load data from disparate sources. The PennTURBO Semantic Engine is a tool developed at the University of Pennsylvania that transforms concise RDF data into a source-independent, semantically rich model. This system sources classes from an application ontology and specifically defines how instances of those classes may relate to each other. Additionally, the system defines and executes RDF data transformations by launching dynamically generated SPARQL update statements. The Semantic Engine was designed as a generalizable data standardization tool, and is able to work with various data models and incoming data sources. Its human-readable configuration files can easily be shared between institutions, providing the basis for collaboration on a standard data model.
Screening, brief intervention and referral to treatment (SBIRT) by nurses to college students who use electronic cigarettes.

OBJECTIVE To examine how screening, brief intervention and referral to treatment (SBIRT) influenced nurses' knowledge, attitude, responsibility and confidence when caring for college students using electronic cigarettes (EC). PARTICIPANTS Nurses (n = 8) in an urban university campus in the US. METHODS Training sessions included classroom instruction on SBIRT and EC, and practice with a standardized patient. Surveys administered pre and post training, and at conclusion. Measurement included nurse's knowledge of SBIRT and EC; and attitude, confidence and responsibility when using SBIRT. Students with past 90-day EC use were administered SBIRT by nurses and referred to health educator on request. RESULTS Over 6 weeks, 103 students reported EC use, 80 received SBIRT and 36 were referred to health educator. Nurses gained knowledge, supported using SBIRT, and reported that skills increased. CONCLUSIONS SBIRT is a motivational interviewing skill that nurses can learn to use to engage with college students who use EC.
Group Gender Diversity, Individual Power and Influence, and Collective Risk-Taking

Using the multiple Emmy Award-winning television game show, Cash Cab, as a pseudo-laboratory, we find that the presence (or addition) of one powerful or influential female in (or to) a small (previously homogeneous male) group significantly reduces the group’s willingness to take qualitatively excessive financial risks. If, however, a group (of at least three persons) consists of one such female, adding more females does not significantly alter the risk-taking behavior of the group. Overall, our results show that an individual’s or a subgroup’s share of power and influence, not just numerical strength, determines whether their tendencies (e.g., relative risk-taking behavior) manifest in collective decisions/outcomes. Our findings have external implications for studies in other settings (e.g., the corporate board).
DeepAL: Deep Active Learning in Python.

We present DeepAL, a Python library that implements several common strategies for active learning, with a particular emphasis on deep active learning. DeepAL provides a simple and unified framework based on PyTorch that allows users to easily load custom datasets, build custom data handlers, and design custom strategies without much modification of codes. DeepAL is open-source on Github and welcome any contribution.
Sprache und schlußfolgerndes Denken

Virginia und Grace Kennedy sind eineiige Zwillinge. Sie leben in San Diego und wurden uberwiegend von ihrer deutschsprechenden Grosmutter aufgezogen und betreut. Im Alter von 7 Jahren verstanden sie Englisch, Deutsch, eine Zeichensprache und etwas Spanisch. Daruber hinaus konnten sie sich untereinander verstandigen — in einer „Privatsprache“, die sonst kein Mensch verstand. Howes berichtete (1977) in der New York Times uber die beiden Madchen. Als Beispiel fur die Art und Weise ihrer sprachlichen Verstandigung untereinander gab er folgenden Dialog beim Spiel mit dem Puppenhaus wieder: „... Dugon, thash yom, dinckin, du-ah?“, fragte Virginia, die von ihrer Schwester ‚Cabenga‘ gerufen wird. Grace, die ‚Poto‘ genannt wird, nickte und gab eine Antwort, die etwa so klang: „Snup aduck, chase diedipanna“ Darauf begannen beide augenblicklich, die Puppenmobel wegzuraumen (s. Abb. 8.1).
Approximation Using Fuzzy Perturbed Neural Networks

This chapter deals with the determination of the rate of convergence to the unit of each of three newly introduced here fuzzy perturbed normalized neural network operators of one hidden layer. These are given through the fuzzy modulus of continuity of the involved fuzzy number valued function or its high order fuzzy derivative and that appears in the right-hand side of the associated fuzzy Jackson type inequalities.
MO‐FG‐BRD‐01: Real‐Time Imaging and Tracking Techniques for Intrafractional Motion Management: Introduction and KV Tracking

Intrafraction target motion is a prominent complicating factor in the accurate targeting of radiation within the body. Methods compensating for target motion during treatment, such as gating and dynamic tumor tracking, depend on the delineation of target location as a function of time during delivery. A variety of techniques for target localization have been explored and are under active development; these include beam-level imaging of radio-opaque fiducials, fiducial-less tracking of anatomical landmarks, tracking of electromagnetic transponders, optical imaging of correlated surrogates, and volumetric imaging within treatment delivery. The Joint Imaging and Therapy Symposium will provide an overview of the techniques for real-time imaging and tracking, with special focus on emerging modes of implementation across different modalities. In particular, the symposium will explore developments in 1) Beam-level kilovoltage X-ray imaging techniques, 2) EPID-based megavoltage X-ray tracking, 3) Dynamic tracking using electromagnetic transponders, and 4) MRI-based soft-tissue tracking during radiation delivery. Learning Objectives: 1. Understand the fundamentals of real-time imaging and tracking techniques 2. Learn about emerging techniques in the field of real-time tracking 3. Distinguish between the advantages and disadvantages of different tracking modalities 4. Understand the role of real-time tracking techniques within the clinical delivery work-flow
Cell Membrane Properties of the Arterial Smooth Muscle from Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

We have measured the cytoplasmic free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]) and cell contraction simultaneously using freshly isolated single vascular smooth muscle (VSM) cells from bovine carotid artery. In K+-stimulated cells the increase in [Ca2+]i preceded the initiation of cell contraction and remained elevated after the maximum contraction was achieved. In contrast, in hormone-stimulated cells, the rise in [Ca2+]i was transient, lasting less than 30 s, and it then declined gradually to near resting levels while the cells continued to contract. Thus, during hormonal stimulation low levels of Ca2+ may act synergistically with protein kinase C to produce sustained VSM contraction. The hypothesis that increased Ca2+ sensitivity of norepinephrine (NE)-stimulated SHR caudal artery is due to an increased Ca2+ influx, an increased Ca2+ release, and/or an increased activation of protein kinase C was tested. NE-stimulated Ca2+ influx as well as Ca2+ release from SR was significantly increased (P<0.05) in SHR caudal artery as compared with WKY. Furthermore, phorbol esters, potent activators of protein kinase C, produced significantly greater (P< 0.05) potentiation of NE-stimulated contraction in SHR caudal artery rings as compared with WKY. Thus, a synergistic action between increased [Ca2+]i and protein kinase C could account for the increased Ca2+ sensitivity observed in the SHR VSM cell.
Spontaneous fluctuations in cerebral oxygen supply: An introduction

Spontaneous, low frequency (4–12 cpm) fluctuations, independent of the cardiac and respiratory cycles, in human and animal brains were first recorded with the O2 polarographic technique in the late 1950s. They were seen in NADH and cytochrome oxidase and associated with spontaneous vasomotion pial and large cerebral arteries. Renewed interest in spontaneous fluctuations was generated by studies with laser-Doppler flowmetry (LDF), reflectance oximetry and functional MRI. Spontaneous fluctuations were consistently produced when cerebral perfusion was challenged by systemic or local manipulations; the fluctuation amplitude reached 30–40% of the mean. The most potent stimuli are hypotension, hyperventilation, cerebral artery occlusion and cerebral vasoconstriction elicited, for example, by a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor but not by indomethacin. The fluctuations are suspended by CO2 and halothane at concentrations that produce hyperemia. Recently, spontaneous fluctuations were recorded by LDF microprobes in areas as small as 130 μm and by video-microscopy in single capillaries. The fluctuations were absent in severe, focally ischemic brain territories. The dependence of spontaneous fluctuations on intravascular pressure argues for the importance of a myogenic mechanism, however, neuronal modulation may also play a role. Coherence of small vessel vasomotion may be required for the emergence of regional flow fluctuations. There is a need to elucidate the spatial and frequency domains in which fluctuations are present under normal physiological conditions and those in which they may reflect brain injury and pathologies of diagnostic or prognostic value.
Practical dynamic thermal management on intel desktop computer

Fueled by increasing human appetite for high computing performance, semiconductor technology has now marched into the deep sub-micron era. As transistor size keeps shrinking, more and more transistors are integrated into a single chip. This has increased tremendously the power consumption and heat generation of IC chips. The rapidly growing heat dissipation greatly increases the packaging/cooling costs, and adversely affects the performance and reliability of a computing system. In addition, it also reduces the processor's life span and may even crash the entire computing system. Therefore, dynamic thermal management (DTM) is becoming a critical problem in modern computer system design. Extensive theoretical research has been conducted to study the DTM problem. However, most of them are based on theoretically idealized assumptions or simplified models. While these models and assumptions help to greatly simplify a complex problem and make it theoretically manageable, practical computer systems and applications must deal with many practical factors and details beyond these models or assumptions. The goal of our research was to develop a test platform that can be used to validate theoretical results on DTM under well-controlled conditions, to identify the limitations of existing theoretical results, and also to develop new and practical DTM techniques. This dissertation details the background and our research efforts in this endeavor. Specifically, in our research, we first developed a customized test platform based on an Intel desktop. We then tested a number of related theoretical works and examined their limitations under the practical hardware environment. With these limitations in mind, we developed a new reactive thermal management algorithm for single-core computing systems to optimize the throughput under a peak temperature constraint. We further extended our research to a multicore platform and developed an effective proactive DTM technique for throughput maximization on multicore processor based on task migration and dynamic voltage frequency scaling technique. The significance of our research lies in the fact that our research complements the current extensive theoretical research in dealing with increasingly critical thermal problems and enabling the continuous evolution of high performance computing systems.
Multicasting in the forward link of CDMA cellular systems

We present a new technique for improving the throughput in a code-division multiple-access cellular communication system. The technique that we propose takes advantage of the use of power control in the forward link. We select pairs of users that require significantly different transmission powers. Nonuniform signaling is used to add an additional message to the signal sent with the higher transmission power The user whose signal has the lower transmission power demodulates its usual message and also extracts the additional message from the signal transmitted with the higher power The throughput can be doubled to many users in the system with only a very small increase in interference to adjacent cells.
The Function of Epistemic Justification

There is a venerable and thoroughly entrenched tradition of regarding epistemic justification as playing an essential cognitive role in the acquisition, maintenance, or even loss of knowledge. Hold fixed that p is true and that S believes that p. Given this, whether S comes to know that p, still knows that p, or no longer knows that p essentially depends upon whether S has acquired, sustained, or lost justification for believing that p. I shall call any theory which regards epistemic justification as playing this essential epistemological function in cognition a Jn-theory. To simplify, we will say that a Jn-theorist is one who holds that - when the truth of p is held constant and S's belief that p is held constant - S's knowledge that p varies directly with the victory of S's justification and indirectly with its defeat.
Multilevel neural network system for EEG spike detection

The design and evaluation of an artificial neural network system for the detection of epileptogenic spikes is described. The system is composed of smaller neural network modules which are trained individually and organized in two levels. The first-level modules are trained to recognize candidate spikes in single referential electroencephalogram (EEG) channels. Original digitized data with a running window of 100 ms provided the input for the first-level modules. A second-level module is used for the spatial integration of 16 first-level modules. The system was trained and tested using clinical EEG data interpreted by four expert electroencephalographers. The results show that spikes can be recognized directly from unprocessed EEG and a second-level neural network can integrate spatial EEG information and eliminate false detections. >
Commentary: Reflections on the Relationship Between Idealogy and Research

Lederman believes WWC is flawed for at least two reasons. First, he criticizes the underlying assumption of the project that “scientific evidence can only be provided by causal research designs (aka The Scientific Method). I applaud and agree with Lederman’s suggestion that we use a much wider range of research methods and that we always keep in mind the foundational assumptions of the research frameworks we use.
Cellular uptake of long chain free fatty acids: the structure and function of plasma membrane fatty acid binding protein

Publisher Summary Non-esterified long chain fatty acids (LCFA) are important energy substrates, building blocks for the complex lipid components of cellular membranes, and precursors of biological mediators, such as the prostaglandins and leukotrienes. The chapter discusses the mechanisms of cellular uptake of long chain fatty acids. The apparent saturability of LCFA uptake challenged the long-held view that LCFA uptake occurred solely by passive diffusion. Saturability is a necessary, but not sufficient, condition to establish the existence of facilitated transport. The significance of putative LCFA transport systems lies in the roles they play in human physiology, pathophysiology, and disease. The chapter summarizes adipocytes and HepG2 cells that suggests important roles for regulated plasma membrane expression of mAspAT in LCFA transport systems that contribute to the pathogenesis of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and EtOH-associated fatty liver, whereas identification of mAspAT, FAT, and an FATP in particular human placental plasma membranes suggests that they are important for transplacental LCFA transport. Facilitated transport mechanisms increasingly appear to be critical providers of energy substrates to skeletal and cardiac muscle. Finally, a selective LCFA uptake defect is reportedly the basis of a syndrome of recurrent bouts of nonketotic, hypoglycemic acidosis and liver failure requiring transplantation in children. Current work in the field of fatty acids transport provides convincing evidence that cellular LCFA is a regulatable, protein mediated process of considerable, potential clinical importance.
Differential regulation of matrix metalloproteinases in varicella zoster virus-infected human brain vascular adventitial fibroblasts

Upon reactivation, varicella zoster virus (VZV) spreads transaxonally, infects cerebral arteries and causes ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke, as well as aneurysms. The mechanism(s) of VZV-induced aneurysm formation is unknown. However, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), which digest extracellular structural proteins in the artery wall, play a role in cerebral and aortic artery aneurysm formation and rupture. Here, we examined the effect of VZV infection on expression of MMP-1, -2, -3, and -9 in primary human brain vascular adventitial fibroblasts (BRAFS). At 6 days post-infection, VZV- and mock-infected BRAFs were analyzed for mRNA levels of MMP-1, -2, -3 and -9 by RT-PCR and for corresponding total intra- and extracellular protein levels by multiplex ELISA. The activity of MMP-1 was also measured in a substrate cleavage assay. Compared to mock-infected BRAFs, MMP-1, MMP-3 and MMP-9 transcripts, cell lysate protein and conditioned supernatant protein were all increased in VZV-infected BRAFs, whereas MMP-2 transcripts, cell lysate protein and conditioned supernatant protein were decreased. MMP-1 from the conditioned supernatant of VZV-infected BRAFs showed increased cleavage activity on an MMP-1-specific substrate compared to mock-infected BRAFs. Differential regulation of MMPs in VZV-infected BRAFs may contribute to aneurysm formation in VZV vasculopathy.