cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Intracellular study of rat substantia nigra pars reticulata neurons in an in vitro slice preparation: electrical membrane properties and response characteristics to subthalamic stimulation

The electrical membrane properties of substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNR) neurons and their postsynaptic responses to stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus (STH) were studied in an in vitro slice preparation. SNR neurons were divided into two types based on their electrical membrane properties. Type-I neurons possessed (1) spontaneous repetitive firings, (2) short-duration action potentials, (3) less prominent spike accommodations, and (4) a strong delayed rectification during membrane depolarization. Type-II neurons had (1) no spontaneous firings, (2) long-duration action potentials, (3) a prominent spike accommodation, (4) a relatively large post-active hyperpolarization, and (5) a less prominent delayed rectification. These membrane properties were very similar to those observed in substantia nigra pars compacta (SNC) neurons in slice preparations. Features commoon to both types of neurons include that (1) the input resistance was similar, (2) they showed an anomalous rectification during strong hyperpolarizations, and (3) they were capable of generating Ca potentials. Intracellular responses of both types of SNR neurons to STH stimulation consisted of initial short-duration monosynaptic excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) and a short-duration inhibitory postsynaptic potential (IPSP) followed by a long-duration depolarization. The IPSP was markedly suppressed by application of bicuculline methiodide and the polarity was reversed by intracellular injection of Cl−. In the preparations obtained from internal capsule-transected rats. STH-induced EPSPs had much longer durations than those observed in the normal preparations, while the amplitude of IPSPs and succeeding small-amplitude long-duration depolarizations was small. The results indicated that SNR contains two electrophysiologically different types of neurons, and that both types of neurons receive monosynaptic EPSPs from STh and IPSPs from areas rostral to STH.
Gamma irradiation alters the phenotype and function of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells.

To examine the effects of gamma irradiation on Tregs, changes in phenotype and suppression function in Tregs treated with or without gamma ray were analyzed. Purified CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells were irradiated at different dosages with a 137Cs source gamma ray at 4.8 Gy/min. After culture, the phenotype and function changes were determined by flow cytometry and [3H]-thymidine incorporation, respectively. A dose-dependent reduction of Tregs proliferation in response to gamma irradiation was noted, which paralleled the apoptosis induction of Tregs. Gamma irradiation downregulated the Tregs expression of CD45RO, CD62L, FOXP3, membrane TGF-β, but upregulated Bax and GITR. High dose gamma irradiation (30 Gy) significantly abolished the suppression of Tregs on CD4+CD25− T cells proliferation. Thus Tregs not only influences the phenotype but also alters their suppressive capacities. Our findings suggest that radiotherapy may be an important strategy to alter the immunologic balance of Tregs and effector cells in cancer therapy.
Scaling Riparian Conservation with River Hydrology: Lessons from Blue Elderberry along Four California Rivers

Conservation frequently requires the preservation or restoration of ecosystems in human-altered landscapes. Understanding these ecosystems requires matching patterns with processes at appropriate scales. On floodplains this necessitates coupling plant distributions with fine- and broadscale hydrologic patterns. This is particularly important when target species are of conservation concern, such as the blue elderberry (Sambucus mexicana). Blue elderberry is the sole host plant for the federally threatened Valley elderberry longhorn beetle, yet controls on the shrub’s distribution have largely been untested. We used nested hierarchical analyses to test hypotheses about the role of broad- and fine-scale variables structuring the distribution of elderberry in one undammed and three dammed rivers in California’s Central Valley (USA). Elderberry presence across the floodplains was primarily driven by broad-scale hydrologic regime, as represented by the relative elevation, floodplain width, and lateral distance of shrubs from the stream, and secondarily by sediment texture and topography. The patchy spatial distributions of elderberry were similar among the rivers, but habitat quality characteristics (i.e., controls on abundance and size) were driven by divergent variables with high stochasticity. We can improve our understanding of species distributions and outcomes of recovery efforts by scaling floodplain conservation efforts to broad-scale hydrologic patterns and by detecting crucial variables using a multi-scale methodology. Within these relatively large, self-defined landscape units, certain precautions and the application of an adaptive management approach could be employed to address the local-scale uncertainty in large-scale conservation efforts.
Rank reduction for rapid timing acquisition in multiple access communications

This work presents our new results on data-driven rank reduction for rapid timing acquisition in multiple access (MA) communications systems. The results generally apply to multiple access systems, such as code-division multiple access (CDMA) and the ultra-wide band (UWB) systems, operating over environments with severe radio interference. Our results show that when only a limited amount of data is available, rather than the tine statistics required for timing acquisition, reduced rank solutions provide more reliable timing information than high-rank solutions. Our results demonstrate that a low-rank version of the objective function for timing acquisition, using the estimated statistic is less sensitive to spurious peaks than that of the high-rank solutions
Sleep patterns in a cohort of school children with primary snoring referred to a tertiary sleep clinic in Singapore

Introduction: Previous studies in Singaporean infants and preschool children have shown significantly later bedtimes and shorter total sleep times compared to Caucasian children. However, data on school aged children is lacking. Aim: To describe the sleep pattern in school-aged children (6-18 years) referred to a tertiary sleep clinic in Singapore with complaints of snoring. Methods: Data were collected prospectively between years 2000 to 2012 from sleep questionnaires completed by parents, prior to overnight polysomnography. Parent reported bedtime, rise time and sleep duration were analysed. Data on children with evidence of sleep disordered breathing on the sleep study were excluded. Results: 838 children (mean [SD] age = 10 [2.98] years, 70.3% males) were studied. The usual bedtime, rise time and the duration of sleep are summarised in Table 1. Conclusion: School aged children in Singapore with primary snoring have later bedtime and shorter total sleep time than recommended. This may indicate socioeconomic and cultural influences. Whether or not this observation has any impact on health, remains to be determined.
Right-Hemisphere Memory Superiority: Studies of a Split-Brain Patient

Six experiments explored hemispheric memory dif- ferences in a patient who had undergone complete corpus cal- losum resection. The right hemisphere was better able than the left to reject new events similar to originally presented materi- als of several types, including abstract visual forms, faces, and categorized lists of words. Although the left hemisphere is ca- pable of mental manipulation, imagination, semantic priming, and complex language production, these functions are appar- ently linked to memory confusions—confusions less apparent in the more literal right hemisphere. Differences between the left and right hemispheres in memory for new schematically con- sistent or categorically related events may provide a source of information allowing people to distinguish between what they actually witnessed and what they only inferred.
Mechanism of Inspiratory and Expiratory Crackles

Objective Although crackles are frequently heard on auscultation of the chest of patients with common cardiopulmonary disorders, the mechanism of production of these sounds is inadequately understood. The goal of this research was to gain insights into the mechanism of crackle generation by systematic examination of the relationship between inspiratory and expiratory crackle characteristics. Methods Patients with a significant number of both inspiratory and expiratory crackles were examined using a multichannel lung sound analyzer. These patients included 37 with pneumonia, 5 with heart failure, and 13 with interstitial fibrosis. Multiple crackle characteristics were calculated for each crackle, including frequency, amplitude, crackle transmission coefficient, and crackle polarity. Results Spectral, temporal, and spatial characteristics of expiratory and inspiratory crackles in these patients were found to be similar, but two characteristics were strikingly different: crackle numbers and crackle polarities. Inspiratory crackles were almost twice as numerous as expiratory crackles (n = 3,308 vs 1,841) and had predominately negative polarity (76% of inspiratory crackles vs 31% of expiratory crackles). Conclusion These observations are quantitatively consistent with the so-called stress-relaxation quadrupole hypothesis of crackle generation. This hypothesis holds that expiratory crackles are caused by sudden airway closure events that are similar in mechanism but opposite in sign and far less energetic than the explosive opening events that generate inspiratory crackles. We conclude that the most likely mechanism of crackle generation is sudden airway closing during expiration and sudden airway reopening during inspiration.
EXPLAINING THE GROWTH IN MUNICIPAL RECYCLING PROGRAMS: THE ROLE OF MARKET AND NONMARKET FACTORS

The implementation of thousands of municipal recycling programs in the United States has increased recycling’s portion of solid waste from 10% to 30% over the past decade. But the lack of accurate data has spurred a debate over whether the growth in recycling can be attributed to market or nonmarket factors. To address this issue, this article conducts a benefit-cost analysis of a municipal recycling program. Results suggest recycling is costly. So why, then, does it remain popular? This article suggests that local governments could be responding to households that perceive a benefit from recycling services. These benefits are estimated with a contingent valuation survey.
Cellulitis Due to Streptococcus pneumoniae: Case Report and Review

Although Streptococcus pneumoniae remains the most common cause of community-acquired bacterial pneumonia, its involvement in skin infection is notably infrequent. A review of the literature uncovered only 13 cases of pneumococcal cellulitis in adults. Distinguishing features of skin infection by S. pneumoniae included the presence of bullae, brawny erythema, and a violaceous hue in the affected skin area. Most patients with pneumococcal cellulitis had chronic illnesses or were immunocompromised because of drug or alcohol abuse. Even with appropriate antimicrobial therapy, many patients required prolonged hospitalizations and surgery for cure. We report a case of primary pneumococcal cellulitis with secondary bacteremia in an alcoholic patient who required extensive surgical therapy and whose course was additionally complicated by acute glomerulonephritis.
Mentorship experiences in a group of occupational therapy leaders.

OBJECTIVES The development of occupational therapy leaders is a long-held goal of many members of the American Occupational Therapy Association and of state associations. The initiation of mentor programs is a common means to accomplish this goal. These programs take time and effort, and, although occupational therapists have described how mentorship programs work in the literature, there are few articles that describe the actual mentorship experiences of occupational therapy leaders. METHOD To study the experiences of elected occupational therapy leaders, a 30-item questionnaire was distributed at the annual meeting of the Committee of State Association Presidents and completed by 53 respondents. Results were analyzed, and cross tabulations were run between selected items. RESULTS Respondents were frequently exposed to role models, were assisted by sponsors, were mentored by other occupational therapists, and served as mentors themselves. There was little evidence that the respondents were mentored by high-powered individuals who helped launch their careers. CONCLUSION More than half of the respondents were mentored by other occupational therapists, and only 29% of the respondents reported that they surpassed the status and position of their mentors. Plans to initiate mentorship programs should include activities that promote powerful leaders who move beyond the status and position of their mentors, so that occupational therapists can represent the interests of the profession to others.
Experiences applying game theory to system design

We applied techniques from game theory to help formulate and analyze solutions to two systems problems: discouraging selfishness in multi-hop wireless networks and enabling cooperation among ISPs in the Internet. It proved difficult to do so. This paper reports on our experiences and explains the issues that we encountered. It describes the ways in which the straightforward use of results from traditional game theory did not fit well with the requirements of our problems. It also identifies an important characteristic of the solutions we did eventually adopt that distinguishes them from those available using game theoretic approaches. We hope that this discussion will help to highlight formulations of game theory which are well-suited for problems involving computer systems.
A finite-element model of inner ear hair bundle micromechanics

Understanding hair-cell micromechanics is central to the discussion of mechanotransduction in these cells. This paper presents a finite-element model that characterizes the stiffness and deflection properties of an inner-ear hair bundle. Average morphological dimensions were used for sterocilia height (6, 8, and 10 microns), diameter (0.25 microns), and rootlet separation (0.5 microns) for a single bundle column containing three rows. Stereocilia material properties were described as isotropic, homogeneous, linearly elastic, and nearly incompressible. Young's modulus for the stereocilia ranged from a maximum of actin and down. The column of stereocilia were coupled by linear elastic material modeling tip and lateral links. When the hairs were deflected by a static force applied to the tip of the tallest cilium, the hair-bundle model yielded a stiffness of 9.5 x 10(-4) to 21 x 10(-4) N/m, which was in the range of typical experimental values but approximately a factor of 4-10 times the average of all experimental values. Model parameters such as bundle size, shape, and material properties were systematically varied to determine each component's contribution to bundle stiffness. Additionally, tip-link tensions were determined for a range of deflections in a five cilium model and were shown to be proportionally graded in magnitude along the bundle staircase.
A QoS-sensitive approach for timeliness and freshness guarantees in real-time databases

The demand for real-time database services has been increasing recently. Examples include sensor data fusion, decision support, Web information services, and online trading. In these applications, it is desirable to execute transactions within their deadlines using temporally consistent data. Due to the high service demand, real-time databases can be overloaded. As a result, many transactions may miss their deadlines, or data temporal consistency constraints can be violated. To address these problems, we present a QoS management scheme to support guarantees on deadline miss ratio and data freshness (temporal consistency) even in the presence of unpredictable workloads and data access patterns. Using our approach, admitted user transactions can be processed in time using fresh data. A simulation study shows that our QoS-sensitive approach can achieve a significant performance improvement, in terms of deadline miss ratio and data freshness, compared to several baseline approaches. Furthermore, our approach shows a comparable performance to the theoretical oracle that is privileged by a complete future knowledge of data accesses.
A flap course for orthopaedic surgeons in low-income countries: addressing a global health-care disparity

Abstract Background The burden of complex orthopaedic trauma in low-income countries is compounded by insufficient plastic surgeons to assist in management of soft tissue injuries. To address this global health-care disparity, we created a soft tissue management course to train orthopaedic surgeons from low-income countries in flap reconstruction. Methods The Institute for Global Orthopedics & Traumatology hosts a 3-day course to teach orthopaedic surgeons from low-income and middle-income countries flaps using cadaver dissection and didactic lectures. Precourse and postcourse assessments were used to evaluate the course's effect. Findings In 4 years, 156 surgeons have attended the course from more than 25 different countries. Of 48 participants from the 2010 course, 90% indicated that soft tissue management training would be useful for upper extremity trauma cases and 96% for lower extremity trauma cases. A 1-year postcourse use survey was sent to all the surgeons attending the 2012 course, with 32 of 44 surgeons completing the survey. The respondents collectively undertook 594 flaps with 554 reported as successful (93•3%). Of the successful flaps, 116 flaps were believed to have prevented a subsequent amputation. 31 (97%) of 32 surgeons disseminated information to either colleagues or residents, and through dissemination of information a further 28 surgeons are now undertaking flaps. Interpretation The skills and knowledge gained at this course by orthopaedic surgeons from low-income countries were recorded to be quickly and extensively used in their countries by our 1-year postcourse survey. This course represents a unique collaboration with physicians in low-income countries that might have the ability to provide a sustainable effect in addressing global health care disparities. Funding None.
Dormancy, germination requirements and storage behaviour of seeds of Convolvulaceae (Solanales) and evolutionary considerations

Convolvulaceae is the only family in the asterid clade with species that produce physically dormant seeds, and most studies on germination in this family have focused on scarified seeds. However, no study has been done on the taxonomic/evolutionary pattern of seed dormancy in Convolvulaceae. We determined the moisture content of non-treated seeds and water uptake and germination percentages for non-treated and manually scarified seeds of 46 species in 11 of the 12 tribes in this family. Germination was tested over a range of temperatures in light/dark and in the dark. The effect of drying and storage at low temperatures was tested on seeds of Erycibe henryi and Maripa panamensis, the only species with high initial moisture content. Non-treated fresh seeds of Bonamia menziesii, M. panamensis and E. henryi imbibed water, whereas those of the other 43 species did not. Manually scarified seeds of all these 43 species took up large amounts of water. Therefore, seeds of 43 of the 46 species are physically dormant, and three are non-dormant. Seeds of all 46 species germinated after imbibition, except those of Cuscuta europaea, which are reported to have combinational dormancy. M. panamensis and E. henryi seeds are recalcitrant and those of the other 44 species orthodox. In Convolvulaceae, basal tribes or tribes derived from basal tribes contain species with non-dormant recalcitrant, physically dormant orthodox and combinationally dormant orthodox seeds. Physical dormancy of seeds in this family possibly evolved from a non-dormant recalcitrant seed-producing ancestor closely related to Erycibeae.
Classification of RRSS linkages

This paper classifies the movement of the RRSS spatial linkage in terms of its link dimensions. The constraint equation for this chain relates the rotation angles of the input crank and coupler around the two revolute joints. The condition for a real valued solution for the coupler angle as a function of the input angle yields a quartic polynomial. We use three polynomial discriminants obtained from this quartic to find explicit conditions for the cases available for the movement of the input crank. A similar analysis characterizes the coupler movement by determining conditions that ensure real solutions for the input angle as a function of the coupler angle. Combining the results we obtain parameters that characterize movement of the RRSS linkage. Examples for the various cases are provided.
Redundancy, Modality, and Priority in Dual Task Interference

This study examined the effects of several properties of a simulated in-vehicle-task (IVT) on interference with a concurrent tracking task, which simulated vehicle control. We compared auditory, visual and redundant delivery of IVT information, under conditions when the visual display was close and separated from the tracking task. In the first experiment we varied whether the tracking or the IVT was emphasized, and in the second experiment we added instruction in the use of redundant displays. IVT messages varied in length. The results from 20 participants in each experiment revealed (a) an effect of priority on the tracking task only, suggesting that separate resources were used for each task, (b) an advantage for auditory over visual delivery only when the visual display was separated, suggesting that visual costs relate to peripheral, not central resources, (c) no benefit and sometimes noticeable costs for the redundant display, compared to the single modality displays in experiment 1, and (d) an impr...
Geometry and Loading Effects on the Compressive Strength of Fibrous Composites

This work addresses the important engineering problem of the com pressive strength of fibrous laminated composites, bridging the micromechanics relevant to compressive failure due to fiber kinking with the global characteristics of a composite structure Simple modeling incorporates the influence of boundary conditions, laminate thickness and layup configuration, as well as the importance of the microgeometry. The mechanism of failure under compression is assumed to be microbuckling of fibers that localizes at points with the maximum initial imperfection and leads to the formation and, under critical conditions, propagation of kink bands. To analyze the mechanics of kinking and to calculate the critical compressive stress, a steady state kink propagation model is utilized for the layers under compression in the fiber direction. The analysis results are used to gain a better understanding of the influence of the macrogeometry (laminate thick ness and gauge length) in addition to the microgeometry (fiber dia...
Correlation of quality of life and functional outcome measures for cervical spondylotic myelopathy

OBJECT Studies comparing surgical treatments for cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) are heterogeneous, using a variety of different quality of life (QOL) outcomes and myelopathy-specific measures. This study sought to evaluate the relationship of these measures to each other, and to better understand their use in evaluating patients with CSM. METHODS A retrospective study was performed in all patients with CSM who underwent either ventral or dorsal cervical spine surgery at a single tertiary-care institution between January 2008 and July 2013. Severity of myelopathy was assessed pre- and postoperatively using both the Nurick scale and the modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association (mJOA) classification of disability. Prospectively collected QOL outcomes data included Pain Disability Questionnaire (PDQ), Patient Health Questionnaire–9 (PHQ-9), and EQ-5D. Spearman rank correlations were calculated to assess the construct convergent validity for each pair of health status measures (HSMs). To assess each HS...
Maximum-Likelihood Estimation of Forecast and Observation Error Covariance Parameters. Part I: Methodology

Abstract The maximum-likelihood method for estimating observation and forecast error covariance parameters is described. The method is presented in general terms but with particular emphasis on practical aspects of implementation. Issues such as bias estimation and correction, parameter identifiability, estimation accuracy, and robustness of the method, are discussed in detail. The relationship between the maximum-likelihood method and generalized cross-validation is briefly addressed. The method can be regarded as a generalization of the traditional procedure for estimating covariance parameters from station data. It does not involve any restrictions on the covariance models and can be used with data from moving observers, provided the parameters to be estimated are identifiable. Any available a priori information about the observation and forecast error distributions can be incorporated into the estimation procedure. Estimates of parameter accuracy due to sampling error are obtained as a by-product.
Amino-Terminal Pro-B-Type Natriuretic Peptide for Diagnosis and Prognosis in Patients With Renal Dysfunction: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract Objectives This study sought to determine if amino-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) has different diagnostic and prognostic utility in patients with renal dysfunction. Background Patients with renal dysfunction have higher NT-proBNP, which may complicate interpretation for diagnosis of acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) or prognosis. Methods We searched MEDLINE and EMBASE through August 2014 for studies with a subgroup analysis by renal function of the diagnostic or prognostic ability of NT-proBNP. Results For diagnosis, 9 studies were included with 4,287 patients and 1,325 ADHF events. Patients were mostly divided into subgroups with and without renal dysfunction by an estimated glomerular filtration rate of 60 ml/min/1.73 m2. In patients with renal dysfunction, the area under the curve (AUC) for NT-proBNP ranged from 0.66 to 0.89 with a median cutpoint of 1,980 pg/ml, while the AUC ranged from 0.72 to 0.95 with a cutpoint of 450 pg/ml in patients with preserved renal function. For prognosis, 30 studies with 32,203 patients were included, and mortality in patients with renal dysfunction (25.4%) was twice that of patients with preserved renal function (12.2%). The unadjusted pooled risk ratio for NT-proBNP and mortality was 3.01 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.53 to 3.58) in patients with preserved renal function and was similar in patients with renal dysfunction (3.25; 95% CI: 2.45 to 4.30). Upon meta-regression, heterogeneity was partially explained if patients with heart failure or coronary artery disease were enrolled. Conclusions NT-proBNP retains utility for diagnosis of ADHF in patients with renal dysfunction with higher cutpoints. Elevated NT-proBNP confers a worse prognosis regardless of renal function.
The Refundable Child Tax Credit: Now You See it, Now You Don't

This article discusses the current tax code with respect to the child tax credit (CTC), including some of the history of its evolution. Three specific problems with the refundable portion of the credit are described. These problems arise because of the poor wording and logical inconsistency in the current tax code, at least partly due to the evolution of this particular credit over time and partly due to technical tax corrections which are not consistent with Congressional intent. Suggestions for improving the tax code are given.
Preventing Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infection: Protection to a 'T'.

A lack of knowledge about the correlates of maternal immunity required for protection of the placenta and fetus against congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) transmission has complicated vaccine development. New work from Bialas and colleagues demonstrates a critical role for maternal CD4+ T cells in controlling viremia and preventing CMV-associated fetal disease.
Detection of symmetry-protected topological order in AKLT states by exact evaluation of the strange correlator

The strange correlator [Phys. Rev. Lett. 112, 247202 (2014)] has been proposed as a measure of symmetry protected topological order in one- and two-dimensional systems. It takes the form of a spin-spin correlation function, computed as a mixed overlap between the state of interest and a trivial local product state. We demonstrate that it can be computed exactly (asymptotically, in the Monte Carlo sense) for various Affleck-Kennedy-Lieb-Tasaki states by direct evaluation of the wave function within the valence bond loop gas framework. We present results for lattices with chain, square, honeycomb, cube, diamond, and hyperhoneycomb geometries. In each case, the spin quantum number $S$ is varied such that $2S$ (the number of valence bonds emerging from each site) achieves various integer multiples of the lattice coordination number. We introduce the concept of strange correlator loop winding number and point to its utility in testing for the presence of symmetry protected topological order.
Silica-based highly nonlinear fiber advances

Silica-based highly nonlinear fiber is utilized as platforms for various optical applications, taking advantage of its features including ultra-low loss, longitudinal uniformity, and controllability of dispersion characteristics as we herein discuss.
Elites and Economic Development: Comparative Studies on the Political Economy of Latin American Cities

This book is a detailed comparative analysis of development politics in four urban regions of Latin America, two in Mexico and two in Colombia. John Walton has based his studies on the assumption that the problems of economic growth are essentially political, that is, are problems of choice, decision-making, and the exercise of power. His fundamental purpose has been to discover how elites of different kinds are more and less successful in the promotion of economic development, which he defines as a process in the organization of a society leading not only to higher levels of efficient output but also to a more equitable distribution of benefits. At the time, the four cities compared were the second- and third-largest metropolitan areas in each country, Guadalajara and Monterrey in Mexico, Medellin and Cali in Colombia. This selection allows the author to pair, across countries, cases of early and large-scale industrialization (Monterrey and Medellin) with cases of more recent industrial growth in agricultural-commercial centers (Guadalajara and Cali). Walton presents historical introductions to each of the regions and integrates these with original fieldwork and interviews with more than three hundred members of the political and economic elites. The findings are extensive, but in general they demonstrate that where political and economic power is more broadly distributed, where elites are more open and accessible, and where organizational life is more active and coordinated, regions tend to develop qualitatively as well as quantitatively, showing increases both in productivity and in such benefits as public services, housing, education, and a more balanced distribution of income. If these characteristics are absent, regions may be industrialized but do not provide a broad sharing of the benefits. Walton places a good deal of emphasis on the role of foreign investments, demonstrating that the more penetrated regions are also the less developed. Finally, the results of these studies are used to evaluate and advance theories of underdevelopment and particularly of economic dependency."
Optical Properties of α − M n S

Optical characteristics of $\ensuremath{\alpha}\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{M}\mathrm{n}\mathrm{S}$ have been determined from 0.02 to 14 eV. Single crystals were used for measurements above 0.05 eV. The shift with temperature of the $^{6}A_{1g}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}^{4}A_{1}$ crystal-field splitting peak is shown to be reasonably attributed to the effect of magnetic ordering. A broad weak band near 1 eV may be either an impurity band or the unallowed transition $\mathrm{Mn}(3{d}^{++})\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\mathrm{Mn}(3{d}^{+})$. The absorption edge at 2.8 eV is explained as due to transitions from the wide ${\mathrm{S}}^{2\ensuremath{-}}(3p)$ band to the narrow ${\mathrm{Mn}}^{+}(3d)$ band. Two tiny peaks in the edge at 2.96 and 3.05 eV are suggested to be zero-phonon spin-orbit-split exciton peaks associated with this transition. High-energy absorption structure taken from Kramers-Kronig analysis of ultraviolet reflectance data are assumed to be associated with wide-band to wide-band transitions as in nonmagnetic compounds. A simple band diagram is suggested to explain the electronic transitions. The reststrahlen reflectance on a pressed powder was analyzed and the following parameters obtained: low- and high-frequency dielectric constants, 20 and 6.8; longitudinal and transverse optical mode frequencies, 320 and 185 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$.
Polymer Nanoparticle Assemblies: A Versatile Route to Functional Mesostructures

Fabricating macromolecular mesoscale assemblies containing disparate components with targeted molecular order for each of the components on the nanoscale and targeted assembly of the components in the mesoscale is a challenge. In this Perspective, we explore the self-assembly of polymer nanoparticles as a viable route to obtain tunable mesostructured materials. We describe the state-of-the-art methods available for and the challenges to obtain spherical and nonspherical polymer nanoparticles. We discuss the predicted ordered assemblies and disordered assemblies of nanoparticles and the challenges to obtain these assemblies in polymer nanoparticles. We also comment on the rich and future opportunities in the burgeoning field of polymer nanoparticle assemblies.
De novo DNA methylation by DNA methyltransferase 3a controls early effector CD8+ T-cell fate decisions following activation.

Abstract DNMT3a is a de novo DNA methyltransferase expressed robustly after T-cell activation that regulates plasticity of CD4+ T-cell cytokine expression. Here we show that DNMT3a is critical for directing early CD8+ T-cell effector and memory fate decisions. Whereas effector function of DNMT3a knockout T cells is normal, they develop more memory precursor and fewer terminal effector cells in a T-cell intrinsic manner compared with wild-type animals. Rather than increasing plasticity of differentiated effector CD8+ T cells, loss of DNMT3a biases differentiation of early effector cells into memory precursor cells. This is attributed in part to ineffective repression of Tcf1 expression in knockout T cells, as DNMT3a localizes to the Tcf7 promoter and catalyzes its de novo methylation in early effector WT CD8+ T cells. These data identify DNMT3a as a crucial regulator of CD8+ early effector cell differentiation and effector versus memory fate decisions.
Carbocationic Polymerization: Styrene and Substituted Styrenes

Although the cationic polymerization of styrene and substituted styrenes (referred to here collectively as ‘styrenes’) belongs to one of the oldest and most studied polymerization systems, it is not yet completely understood. In this chapter we shall try to review selectively and critically the existing literature on the cationic polymerization of styrene and its derivatives as well as other chemical reactions involving similar intermediates, and we shall attempt to give an overall picture of these systems by discussing the chemistry of the participating elementary reactions. First we shall describe the polymerizability of different derivatives of styrene in kinetic and thermodynamic terms. Then we shall review the peculiarities of different initiation systems and attempt to characterize the resulting chain carriers. We shall focus on the discussion of the chemistry of initiation, propagation, transfer and termination reactions and different factors influencing their relative importance. Finally we shall briefly describe the copolymerization of styrenes, emphasizing the reactivities of monomers and growing species. Because of the limited size of this chapter we cannot cover all phenomenological observations. The interested reader should consult the comprehensive reviews which describe this field extensively.1 – 5
"Just Wear Dark Underpants Mainly": Learning from Adolescents' and Young Adults' Experiences with Early Discontinuation of the Contraceptive Implant.

Abstract Study Objective Long-acting reversible contraception, including the contraceptive implant, is recommended for teens and young women. However, some young women discontinue the implant early, and we seek to better understand their experiences. Design, Setting, and Participants We conducted interviews with 16 young women ages 14 to 24 who presented for removal of the contraceptive implant within 6 months after placement at outpatient adolescent, family medicine, and obstetrics and gynecology clinics. We coded and analyzed transcripts to identify themes and develop a thematic framework. Interventions and Main Outcome Measures We explored decision-making regarding placement and removal of the implant, differences between anticipated and experienced side effects, and recommendations for counseling. Results The participants reported experiencing significant side effects that led to removal, most often frequent or heavy bleeding or mood changes. These healthy young women were unprepared for these symptoms, despite remembering being told about possible side effects. Participants wanted more concrete examples of possible side effects, and personal stories of side effects experienced by others, rather than general terms such as irregular bleeding or mood changes. Few discussed problems with their providers; instead, they relied on the Internet or friends to help decide when to remove the implant. Nearly half of the participants did not start new contraception after removal, although they voiced a continued desire to avoid pregnancy. Conclusion We identified a need for more descriptive counseling about side effects experienced by individuals, and guidance on what to do about problems encountered after placement.
Trends in HLT Research: A Survey of LDC’s Data Scholarship Program

Since its inception in 2010, the Linguistic Data Consortium’s data scholarship program has awarded no cost grants in data to 64 recipients from 26 countries. A survey of the twelve cycles to date ― two awards each in the Fall and Spring semesters from Fall 2010 through Spring 2016 ― yields an interesting view into graduate program research trends in human language technology and related fields and the particular data sets deemed important to support that research. The survey also reveals regions in which such activity appears to be on a rise, including in Arabic-speaking regions and portions of the Americas and Asia.
When less is more: focused pruning of knowledge bases to improve recognition of student conversation

Expert knowledge bases are effective tools for providing a domain model from which intelligent, individualized support can be offered. This is even true for noisy data such as that gathered from activities involving ill-defined domains and collaboration. We attempt to automatically detect the subject of free-text collaborative input by matching students' messages to an expert knowledge base. In particular, we describe experiments that analyze the effect of pruning a knowledge base to the nodes most relevant to current students' tasks on the algorithm's ability to identify the content of student chat. We discover a tradeoff. By constraining a knowledge base to its most relevant nodes, the algorithm detects student chat topics with more confidence, at the expense of overall accuracy. We suggest this trade-off be manipulated to best fit the intended use of the matching scheme in an intelligent tutor.
The Dream: Global Trade Relations in a New World Order

“East Asia’s stunning development path owed much to the nature of American power and of the region’s structure of alliances, producing economic successes that have never been matched elsewhere. The United States not only guaranteed the security of Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, allowing them to focus on economic development; it also provided them with the incalculable advantages of technical assistance, educational exchanges and nearly unfettered access to America’s vast markets. Crucially, it did not, at least initially, insist that these countries open their own markets in return. It took two decades for China to come out of its shell when America’s then president, Richard Nixon, paid a visit to Beijing. The ground for China’s opening to America was prepared by a rupture in its relations with the Soviet Union in 1960. For over four decades it has been an unambiguous beneficiary of the American order. Without America to keep its neighborhood secure and underpin open markets, China could not have reaped such gains from the market-led reforms it launched in the late 1970s.” The Economist (2017b). This chapter aims to illustrate how shifts in the global economic order have developed – and have been transformed over the years – as well as consequences of new trade relationships for the current US administration in its bid to restore the country to its leading global economic role.
Looking Under the Hood: Deep Neural Network Visualization to Interpret Whole-Slide Image Analysis Outcomes for Colorectal Polyps

Histopathological characterization of colorectal polyps is an important principle for determining the risk of colorectal cancer and future rates of surveillance for patients. The process of characterization is time-intensive and requires years of specialized medical training. In this work, we propose a deep-learning-based image analysis approach that not only can accurately classify different types of polyps in whole-slide images, but also generates major regions and features on the slide through a model visualization approach. We argue that this visualization approach will make sense of the underlying reasons for the classification outcomes, significantly reduce the cognitive burden on clinicians, and improve the diagnostic accuracy for whole-slide image characterization tasks. Our results show the efficacy of this network visualization approach in recovering decisive regions and features for different types of polyps on whole-slide images according to the domain expert pathologists.
Pathophysiology, Associations, and Consequences of Parasomnias

Parasomnias are undesirable physical events or experiences that occur during the wake–sleep transition, within sleep, or during arousals from sleep. While no clear neuropathologic cause has been found, aberrant activity of the brain's locomotor centers, sleep state instability, and variations in sleep inertia are among the pathophysiological causes underlying parasomnias. Certain parasomnias are associated with underlying neurological or psychiatric conditions. Secondary causes such as medications with central nervous system effects have been implicated in playing a role in precipitating or causing parasomnias. Underlying primary sleep disturbances that predispose to nocturnal arousals have also been shown to be associated with parasomnias. Consequences not only include disrupted sleep and excessive daytime sleepiness, but extend to involve disturbance of bed partners, as well as potential injury and harm to oneself as well as others.
Erosion of the plasmasphere during a storm

The erosion of the plasmasphere during a storm is analyzed using the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Sami3 is Also a Model of the Ionosphere (SAMI3) ionosphere/plasmasphere code, coupled to the Rice Convection Model (RCM) of the inner magnetosphere and ring current. We reproduce the commonly-observed post-storm plasmasphere profile, with strong erosion outside of a sharp, post-storm plasmapause and weak erosion inside the plasmapause. We find that inclusion of the ring current E field sharpens the post-storm plasmapause. In the case of a weak storm, erosion inside the post-storm plasmapause might not occur. In all cases, plasma flows are dominated by E × B drifts. For strong storms, we find that erosion, both inside and outside of the post-storm plasmapause, is caused by outward E × B drifts.
Therapeutic Applications of Ayahuasca and Other Sacred Medicines

Therapeutic applications of the psychedelics or hallucinogens found cross-culturally involve treatment of a variety of physical, psychological, and social maladies. Modern medicine has similarly found that a range of conditions may be successfully treated with these agents. The ability to treat a wide variety of conditions derives from variation in active ingredients, doses and modes of application, and factors of set and setting manipulated in ritual. Similarities in effects reported cross-culturally reflect biological mechanisms, while success in the treatment of a variety of specific psychological conditions points to the importance of ritual in eliciting their effects. Similar bases involve action on the serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter systems that can be characterized as psychointegration: an elevation of ancient brain processes.
Debugging with domain-specific events via macros

Extensible languages enable the convenient construction of many kinds of domain-specific languages (DSLs) by mapping domain-specific surface syntax into the host language's core forms in a layered and composable way. The host language's debugger, however, reports evaluation and data details in ways that reflect the host language, instead of the DSL in its own terms, and closing the gap may require more than correlating host evaluation steps to the original DSL source. In this paper, we describe an approach to DSL construction with macros that pairs the mapping of DSL terms to host terms with a mapping to convert primitive events back to domain-specific concepts. Domain-specific events are then suitable for presenting to a user or wiring into a domain-specific visualization. We present a core model of evaluation and events, and we present a language design---analogous to pattern-based notations for macros, but in the other direction---for describing how events in a DSL's expansion are mapped to events at the DSL's level.
Efficiently summarizing attributed diffusion networks

Given a large attributed social network, can we find a compact, diffusion-equivalent representation while keeping the attribute properties? Diffusion networks with user attributes such as friendship, email communication, and people contact networks are increasingly common-place in the real-world. However, analyzing them is challenging due to their large size. In this paper, we first formally formulate a novel problem of summarizing an attributed diffusion graph to preserve its attributes and influence-based properties. Next, we propose ANeTS, an effective sub-quadratic parallelizable algorithm to solve this problem: it finds the best set of candidate nodes and merges them to construct a smaller network of ‘super-nodes’ preserving the desired properties. Extensive experiments on diverse real-world datasets show that ANeTS outperforms all state-of-the-art baselines (some of which do not even finish in 14 days). Finally, we show how ANeTS helps in multiple applications such as Topic-Aware viral marketing and sense-making of diverse graphs from different domains.