cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Quantifying the Impact of User Attentionon Fair Group Representation in Ranked Lists

In this work, we introduce a novel metric for auditing group fairness in ranked lists. Our approach offers two benefits compared to the state of the art. First, we offer a blueprint for modeling of user attention. Rather than assuming a logarithmic loss in importance as a function of the rank, we can account for varying user behaviors through parametrization. For example, we expect a user to see more items during a viewing of a social media feed than when they inspect the results list of a single web search query. Second, we allow non-binary protected attributes to enable investigating inherently continuous attributes (e.g., political alignment on the liberal to conservative spectrum) as well as to facilitate measurements across aggregated sets of search results, rather than separately for each result list. By combining these two elements into our metric, we are able to better address the human factors inherent in this problem. We measure the whole sociotechnical system, consisting of a ranking algorithm and individuals using it, instead of exclusively focusing on the ranking algorithm. Finally, we use our metric to perform three simulated fairness audits. We show that determining fairness of a ranked output necessitates knowledge (or a model) of the end-users of the particular service. Depending on their attention distribution function, a fixed ranking of results can appear biased both in favor and against a protected group1.
Prospective Validation of a Transcriptomic Metric in Severe Trauma

Objective: To prospectively validate a previously discovered transcriptomic biomarker consisting of 63 blood leukocyte gene expression (S63) values to discriminate between trauma patients who rapidly recover and those with prolonged hospital stays who would benefit from early biological interventions. Background: Many severe trauma patients are successfully resuscitated but have complicated clinical trajectories leading to long-term functional, physical, and cognitive deficiencies. Identifying those trauma patients early would improve treatment plans and resource allocation. Unfortunately, current clinical scores and biomarkers used in trauma clinical trials have typically lacked adequate predictive ability. Methods: An independent, prospective, observational cohort study was performed involving 127 trauma subjects. The prospective cohort included patients admitted between October 2013 and August 2016 at 2 United States Level-1 trauma centers. An additional secondary analysis was performed using the Activation of Coagulation and Inflammation in Trauma (ACIT2) database of 26 trauma patients. Results: The S63 transcriptomic metric (AUC 0.80) outperformed clinical markers and plasma interleukin-6 for prospectively predicting trauma patients who require intensive care unit stays longer than 5 days with ongoing organ dysfunction. The same metric applied to an existing dataset (ACIT2) was similarly effective (AUC 0.85) at predicting multiorgan failure. Conclusions: A single transcriptomic metric of blood leukocyte gene expression can be used in blunt trauma cohorts at 24 hours to distinguish patients who rapidly recover from those with complicated clinical trajectories. The transcriptomic metric has been operationalized on an Food and Drug Administration 510(k)-cleared platform otherwise used for cancer diagnostics. This metric is only modestly improved when combined with clinical markers.
Dental professionals' knowledge, attitudes, and practice behaviors related to human papillomavirus vaccination.

Objectives In Arizona, human papillomavirus (HPV)-related cancers are declining, with the exception of oropharyngeal cancer (OPC). HPV-related OPC is largely caused by persistent infection with oncogenic HPV strains, many of which the 9-valent HPV vaccine offers protection. Little is known about dental professionals' willingness to promote the HPV vaccine to prevent OPC. The current study assessed Arizona dental professionals' knowledge, attitudes, willingness, and current practice behaviors related to HPV vaccine promotion. Responses between dentists and hygienists were also compared. Methods A convenience sample of 711 dentists and hygienists attending a regional conference were recruited and asked to complete a 34-item survey assessing knowledge and attitudes about HPV, the HPV vaccine, HPV-related OPC, and their willingness to promote and administer the HPV vaccine. Fisher's exact tests and Mann-Whitney U tests were used for data analysis. Results Most respondents answered HPV knowledge questions correctly but did not know HPV-related OPC has a more favorable prognosis than other head and neck cancers. Dentists were more confident discussing and recommending the HPV vaccine. Both dentists and hygienists were willing to refer patients to their non-dental primary care providers for vaccination; however, they were less confident in administering the vaccine if it fell within their scope of practice. They reported willingness to receive training to recommend the vaccine. Conclusions Given the willingness of respondents to receive training related to HPV vaccine communication, future research should develop and test talking points and communication training to aid dentists and hygienists in their promotion of the HPV vaccine.
Professional credential program: impacting early childhood inclusive learning environments

For more than three decades, the inclusion of children with disabilities in early childhood education settings has been developing worldwide in educational research, policy, and real-world practice...
Relationship between NT-pro Brain Natriuretic Peptide and Filling Pressures in Ambulatory Patients with Left Ventricular Assist Devices and Accuracy to Detect Need for Optimization

Purpose We examined whether N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) can serve as a noninvasive marker of filling pressures in ambulatory patients with continuous flow left ventricular assist devices. Methods We retrospectively identified patients who had an outpatient right heart catheterization and NT-proBNP performed the same day between 01/01/2012 and 12/18/2018 at our institution. We evaluated the correlations between NT- proBNP and right atrial pressure (RA), pulmonary artery pressure (PA) and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP). The best cut off for NT-proBNP to predict patients that were hemodynamically optimized (CVP Results A total of 40 patients were included in the study, Patients characteristics are shown in Table 1. The median NT-proBNP was 1114 pg/mL(IQR 553-2056). The correlations between NT-proBNP and RA (r = 0.58;p Conclusion NT-proBNP level is elevated in ambulatory patients with continuous flow left ventricular assist devices and has a moderate correlation with filling pressures. The best cutoff value identified to predict need of hemodynamic optimization had low sensitivity and specificity.
Semi-Arid Shrublands Require Little On-Going Management to Remain Suitable for Black-Capped Vireos

The recently delisted black-capped vireo (Vireo atricapilla, hereafter “vireo”) nests in shrublands from south-central Oklahoma to southwestern Tamaulipas, Mexico. Vireos are considered to be “conservation-reliant” because they require on-going habitat maintenance and control of brown-headed cowbirds (Molothrus aster, hereafter “cowbird”). Most long-term research has been conducted in comparatively mesic parts of the vireo range, but more arid shrublands comprise the larger proportion of their distribution. Our study area is in a Nature Conservancy preserve in southwestern Texas (Val Verde County), which does not manage vireo habitat or cowbird populations. We examined change in habitat characteristics (2002 vs 2017) and bird detections (1997-2001 vs 2013-2017) at two sites: a mesic alluvial terrace and an adjacent semi-arid canyon. The alluvial site is recovering from a historic flood in the 1950s that scoured vegetation to bare ground; the canyon site has not experienced any major disturbance in that time frame. Vireo and cowbird detections declined at the alluvial site but not at the canyon site. Several important vegetation characteristics of the alluvial site changed significantly: density of leaf cover at lower heights (<1 m) decreased, the number of shrubs increased, and tree height increased. At the canyon site, leaf density increased in all height classes above 0.5 m, shrub width increased, and the number of shrubs increased. While the alluvial site has become less suitable for vireos, the canyon site has supported breeding vireos throughout our study period despite lack of landscape management or cowbird control. Our data suggest that in more arid parts of the vireo range, undisturbed shrublands persist as mature viable habitat for extended periods, possibly in perpetuity, with little or no need for management. These low-maintenance shrublands will be especially important for the long-term persistence of black-capped vireo populations.
The First Decade of the Human Systems Simulation Laboratory: A Brief History of Human Factors Research in Support of Nuclear Power Plants

The Human Systems Simulation Laboratory (HSSL) was established as a research simulator at Idaho National Laboratory (INL) for control room modernization of U.S. nuclear power plants. The effort began in 2010 with the initial identification of the needs to provide support to utilities for instrumentation and control (I&C) system upgrades and for human factors of emerging human-system interaction (HSI) concepts. By 2011, working with nuclear energy utilities and simulator vendors, the first full-scope training simulator was acquired for the HSSL, which enabled direct design and evaluation work on the same I&C and HSI that were found at plants. By 2012, the first glasstop bays were acquired, allowing crews to operate the simulator in a full-scale representation of their home plants. Additional plant models were acquired, and a dedicated purpose-built lab space was established in 2014. That same year, the first functional HSI prototypes were developed, allowing operator-in-the-loop benchmark studies of existing and modernized control room concepts. Specific control systems were designed, prototyped, and evaluated across full-scope studies. New technologies were added and tested such as overview displays, prognostic HSIs, computer-based procedures, and microworld simulators for advanced reactor types. Novel human factors evaluation methods were developed and tested encompassing formative evaluation techniques in support of safety cases, wearable eye tracking, and microtask studies. In 2020, the HSSL received a significant facility and hardware upgrade. The purpose of the HSSL remains to conduct research that supports a wide range of human factors needs related to control rooms.
Extracting multiple bridge frequencies from test vehicle – a theoretical study

Abstract The coupled differential equation group for the vehicle bridge interaction system is reestablished to include both the vehicle and bridge damping effects. The equation group can be uncoupled and closed-form solutions for both the bridge and vehicle can be obtained under the assumption that the vehicle acceleration magnitude is much lower than the gravitational acceleration constant. Then based on a simply supported boundary condition scenario, several critical parameters including bridge damping, vehicle frequency, vehicle speed, vehicle mass, and vehicle damping are studied to investigate their effects on extracting multiple bridge frequencies from the vehicle. The results show that the bridge damping plays a significant role in the vibration behaviour of both the vehicle and the bridge compared to the vehicle damping. The vehicle is preferred to be designed with a high frequency beyond the interested bridge frequencies to be extracted since low vehicle frequency tends to attenuate bridge frequencies that are higher than the vehicle frequency. A camel hump phenomenon can be observed on the extracted bridge frequencies from the vehicle, especially for scenarios that involve high bridge vibration mode and high vehicle speed. Vehicle speed is preferred to be maintained low to meet the theoretical assumption and to reduce the camel hump phenomenon. Although vehicle mass is not necessarily limited in this study, there is a magnitude balance among vehicle mass, vehicle speed, and damping to meet the theoretical assumption. This theoretical work may give some indications for designing a special field test vehicle to monitor bridge in a more comprehensive way.
TREBLE: a generalizable framework for high-throughput behavioral analysis

Understanding the relationships between neural activity and behavior represents a critical challenge, one that requires generalizable statistical tools that can capture complex structures within large datasets. We developed Time-REsolved BehavioraL Embedding (TREBLE), a flexible method for analyzing behavioral data from freely moving animals. Using data from synthetic trajectories, fruit flies, and mice we show how TREBLE can capture both continuous and discrete behavioral dynamics, can uncover behavioral variation across individuals, and can detect the effects of optogenetic perturbation in an unbiased fashion. By applying TREBLE to the freely moving mouse, and medial entorhinal cortex (MEC) recordings, we show that nearly all MEC neurons encode information relevant to specific movement patterns, expanding our understanding of how navigation is related to the execution of locomotion. Thus, TREBLE provides a flexible framework for describing the structure of complex behaviors and their relationships to neural activity.
EL DESARROLLO HISTÓRICO DE LAS DIETISTAS EN CHILE: 1939-1950. DEL PRIMER CURSO DE DIETISTAS AL PRIMER CONGRESO NACIONAL DE DIETÉTICA

El objetivo central del presente articulo es reconstruir el desarrollo profesional de las dietistas desde la creacion en 1939 de un primer curso de formacion hasta la convocatoria al Primer Congreso Nacional de Dietetica de 1950. Se indaga en las razones que movieron a la Junta Central de Beneficencia a crear dicho curso, el modelo europeo que inspiro a sus fundadores, asi como la orientacion profesional que tuvo en sus primeros anos. Se busca demostrar la vinculacion existente entre los diagnosticos criticos sobre la alimentacion popular que se da en los anos 1930, la urgencia por reformar la cocina hospitalaria y la oferta de formacion que se hacia a las alumnas, reclutadas entre enfermeras, auxiliares y economas. Este primer periodo de constitucion finaliza con la creacion de la Asociacion de Dietistas y la convocatoria en 1950 al Primer Congreso Nacional de Dietetica. Palabras clave: nutricion; dietistas; cocina hospitalaria; Esteban Kemeny.
Effective recruitment strategies for African-American men and women: the Nutritious Eating with Soul study

Previous studies have found it challenging to recruit African-American (AA) participants into health education research studies. The goal of this article is to describe the recruitment methods used for the Nutritious Eating with Soul (NEW Soul) study, a 2-year randomized behavioral health education intervention, conducted in two cohorts, with emphasis on methods used for reaching men. Participants indicated how they learned about the study on an online screening questionnaire from a list of the recruitment strategies we employed. Due to limited recruitment of men in Cohort 1, recruitment strategies for Cohort 2 focused on reaching men. Across the two cohorts, a total of 568 (23% men) participants completed the online screener and 159 (21% men) completed all baseline assessments and enrolled in the study. The most effective methods for completing screening questionnaires were radio ads, referrals from friends and family, TV interviews, social media posts and community events. Men were primarily recruited via radio ads, whereas women were more often recruited through TV and social media. Radio was an effective way to recruit AA adults into nutrition interventions, particularly men. In addition, low-cost methods, such as personal referrals, social media posts and community events were also effective strategies.
Biology of Platelet-Rich Plasma

Platelets are anucleate derivatives of megakaryocytes that can release almost 4000 unique proteins stored in one of three types of granules: dense granules, alpha (α)-granules, or lysosomes. Platelet α-granules release several growth factors (GFs), cytokines, chemokines, and proteolytic enzymes that can promote healing and tissue regeneration by stimulating cell proliferation, differentiation, migration along with matrix remodeling, and angiogenesis. Treatment using autologous preparation of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) containing platelets whose concentration is three- to fivefold above baseline in the blood is widely popular in sports medicine and maxillofacial surgery, and more recently has gained traction in dermatology. PRP preparation is rapid, requiring minimal specialized equipment and training, and is relatively safe, easy, and affordable compared to other tissue regeneration therapies such as tissue engineering, gene therapy, or cell therapy. GFs secreted by platelets in PRP cause dermal matrix remodeling to enhance skin rejuvenation and healing of wounds and scars while keratinocyte and dermal papilla cell growth and proliferation are key features induced by GFs to promote wound healing and hair regeneration. Although achievements from use of PRP in clinical dermatology are invigorating, there is limited understanding about the basic science further complicated by lack of standardization in the clinical setting resulting in variable and inconsistent clinical response.
The "Own" and the "Wise" Revisited: Physical Disability, Stigma, and Mental Health among Couples.

Utilizing data from a cross-sectional community survey of 455 heterosexual couples in which at least one partner has a physical disability, we examine the associations between stigma and psychologi...
Comment on FDIC Request for Information on Standard Setting and Voluntary Certification for Models and Third-Party Providers of Technology and Other Services, RIN 3064–ZA18

The FDIC proposes to designate private standards setting organizations (SSOs) and certifying organizations (COs) for use in the supervision of third party technology service providers (fintechs) that partner with banks in providing financial products and services. This comment cautions against the use of such third parties in bank supervision broadly and specifically in the context of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's August 2019 proposal to create expansive safe harbors from Fair Housing Act disparate impact liability when algorithmic models are using in risk assessments.
OPTN is a host intrinsic restriction factor against neuroinvasive HSV-1 infection

Fast-replicating neurotropic herpesviruses exemplified by herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) naturally infect the central nervous system (CNS). However, most individuals intrinsically suppress the virus during a primary infection and preclude it from significantly damaging the CNS. Optineurin (OPTN) is a conserved autophagy receptor with little understanding of its role in neurotropic viral infections. We show that OPTN selectively targets HSV-1 tegument protein, VP16, and the fusion glycoprotein, gB, to degradation by autophagy. OPTN-deficient mice challenged with HSV-1 show significant cognitive decline and susceptibility to lethal CNS infection. OPTN deficiency unveils severe consequences for recruitment of adaptive immunity and suppression of neuronal necroptosis. Ocular HSV-1 infection is lethal without OPTN and is rescued using a necroptosis inhibitor. These results place OPTN at the crux of neuronal survival from potentially lethal CNS viral infections. During herpesvirus infection, most individuals intrinsically suppress a primary infection and therewith preclude potential damage or neurodegeneration of the CNS. Here, Ames et al. show that Optineurin (OPTN), a conserved autophagy receptor, restricts HSV-1 spread, degrades viral VP16 through autophagy and is neuroprotective against HSV infection in vivo.
The association of health literacy and postoperative complications after colorectal surgery: A cohort study

Background Health literacy is a determinant of health. Few studies characterize its association with surgical outcomes. Methods Retrospective cohort study of patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery 2015-2020. Health literacy assessed using Brief Health Literacy Screening Tool. Outcomes were postoperative complications, LOS, readmissions, mortality. Results Of 552 patients, 46 (8.3%) had limited health literacy, 506 (91.7%) non-limited. Median age 57.7 years, 305 (55.1%) patients were female, 148 (26.8%) were Black. Limited patients had higher rates of overall complications (43.5% vs. 24.3%, p = 0.004), especially surgical site infections (21.7% vs. 11.3%, p = 0.04). Limited patients had longer LOS (5 vs 3.5 days, p = 0.006). Readmissions and mortality did not differ. On multivariable analysis, limited health literacy was independently associated with increased risk of complications (OR 2.03, p = 0.046), not LOS (IRR 1.05, p = 0.67). Conclusion Limited health literacy is associated with increased likelihood of complications after colorectal surgery. Opportunities exist for health literate surgical care to improve outcomes for limited health literacy patients.
Cumene hydrogenation turnover rates on Mo2C: CO and O2 as probes of the active site

The use of CO and O2 chemisorption to titrate surface sites on β-Mo2C was examined using cumene (isopropylbenzene) hydrogenation as a test reaction. The tests were carried out using β-Mo2C samples prepared at two different temperatures so as to deposit different amounts of pyrolytic carbon on their surfaces. Synthesis at 961 K produced a surface that was substantially free of pyrolytic carbon (90% clean), while synthesis at 981 K produced a surface that was contaminated with carbon (25% clean). It was found that O2 uptakes were about six times higher than CO uptakes, but both gave consistent turnover rates for the reaction.
Phosphate uptake kinetics of Artemisia tridentata roots exposed to multiple soil enriched-nutrient patches

Summary Root phosphate (P) uptake capacity in a nutrient-rich soil patch (termed the Primary Patch) was assessed as the rest of the root system was exposed to different mineral nutrient conditions in the form of other nutrient-rich patches (Additional Patches) in a factorial experiment. The experimental design involved different numbers of Additional Patches with different phosphate concentrations, [P i ]. In addition to testing the effect of the total quantity of added P on root uptake capacity in the Primary Patch, the influence of the distribution of the added P was also tested. The [P i ] and number of Additonal Patches were chosen such that the total quantity of P added was the same among some treatments which afforded a test of the influence of the concentration and distribution of Additional Patches on the uptake capacity of the roots in the Primary Patch. As the number and the concentration of Additional Patches increased, the upake capacity of Primary Patch roots was expected to be reduced relative to roots from untreated Control Patches. Averaged across all treatments, roots from the Primary Patch exhibited greater uptake capacities than the Control Patch roots (i.e., roots from unamended soil). With substantial enrichment of P i in the Additional Patches, the uptake capacity of roots was reduced in both the Primary and Control Patch roots. However, the concentration and number of Additional Patches had no clear influence on P uptake capacities in the Primary Patch. The P uptake capacity of roots from the Additional Patches with low and moderate [P i ] did not differ from the uptake capacity of roots in the Control Patches. However, for roots in the Additional Patches with high [P i ] (equivalent [P i ] to that of the Primary Patch) the uptake capacities were significantly greater that those of the Control Patch roots. In an ancillary P acquisition experiment, plants procured less P from the Primay Patch if there were four Additional Patches than if there were only two Additional Patches. This suggests that P acquisition occurred in the Additional Patches and that regulation at the whole-plant level reduced the uptake of P from the Primary Patch. In contrast, the root uptake kinetics did not seem to be as responsive to added P i presented in the Additional Patches.
Advances in the neurosurgical management of epilepsy caused by hypothalamic hamartoma

Hypothalamic hamartoma (HH) is an uncommon intrinsically epileptogenic lesion of the hypothalamus that is associated with medically intractable epilepsy. Intractable seizures caused by HH may lead to progressive cognitive delay and are also associated with generation of secondary epileptic foci. Therefore, early referral and surgery for children with HH is critical. Recent advances in minimally invasive neurosurgical techniques, including endoscopy, radiosurgery, magnetic resonance-guided laser interstitial ablation, and deep brain stimulation, have increased both the variety and feasibility of treatment options available for treating the intractable seizures caused by HH. In this manuscript, we review emerging techniques available for treatment of intractable seizures associated with HH.
Incentive effects on self-report of drug use and other measures of response quality in the alcohol and drug services study

The Alcohol and Drug Services Study (ADSS) was conducted for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration between 1996 and 1999 to assess the nation’s substance abuse treatment system. The sample for ADSS was selected using a multi-stage stratified design. Clients were sampled from selected substance abuse treatment facilities as part of the Phase II sample. Client follow-up comprised interviews and urine specimen collection in Phase III of the survey. One component of ADSS examined the impact of different incentive payments on measures of response rate and response quality using ADSS Phase III client interview data. To test for the effects of four payment levels, several measures of response quality were used. The analysis of consistency involving respondent self-reports, abstracted record data, and urine test results showed no conclusive evidence that incentive payments have any positive or negative effect on data consistency. The analysis of item non-response rates showed that an increase in incentive payments was associated with a subtle decrease in item type non-response rates. Furthermore, mixed results were observed when analyzing the relationship between incentive payment and clients reporting more (or less) of certain types of behavior.
Specific interference among strains of Newcastle disease virus. 3. Mechanisms of interference.

Abstract Newcastle disease virus (NDV) does not induce the production of interferon in chick embryo cells unless it has been inactivated. When it has been inactivated it induces the production of interferon, but this plays no role in the interference with NDV-L since NDV-L is insensitive to interferon. Other evidence also suggests that interferon is not involved in the interference with NDV-L. That a large fraction of the interference induced by both active and inactive virus is encountered at the cell surface is suggested by the reversibility of the interference in the presence of antiviral antibody. Adsorption of NDV-L to cells is reduced equally by pretreatment of the cells with similar concentrations of active or inactive NDV-B1. This may be due to destruction by viral RDE of the cells' receptors for NDV or to a blocking of these receptors. The rate at which NDV-L escapes from antibody inactivation is greatly retarded in cells in which interference has been induced. The effect is greatest in cells in which interference has been induced by inactivated virus in spite of the fact that this induces lower levels of interference than does active virus. Reduced attachment and reduced rates of the process measured by the escape of attached virus from antibody inactivation may account for all the interference induced by inactive virus, but for only a small fraction of the interference induced by active virus. A number of possible explanations for this have been discussed.
Looking at the Bigger Picture: An Integrated Approach to Evaluation of Chat Reference Services

Abstract Virtual reference offers some unique new opportunities for evaluation due to the richness of the transcripts and other automatically collected data. To put evaluation of virtual reference into context, however, libraries should view and evaluate virtual reference as part of the whole of a library's reference service. Holistic evaluation pursues an integrated approach to evaluating the total of a library's reference service.
The mechanism of ligand-induced structural changes in glutamate dehydrogenase. Studies of the rate of depolymerization and isomerization effected by coenzymes and guanine nucleotides.

Abstract Changes in the weight average molecular weight and the spectrum of the reduced coenzyme subsequent to addition of coenzyme and guanine nucleotides to bovine liver glutamate dehydrogenase have been measured using stopped flow techniques. The data are consistent with an ordered sequence of events with respect to ligand-induced depolymerization of the enzyme. A mechanism is proposed for the ligand-induced effects which assumes that the ligand binding steps are in rapid equilibrium and that after ligands bind to the enzyme there are at least two conformational changes with the one induced by the guanine nucleotide occurring after that induced by the coenzyme. When DPNH is used as coenzyme, an additional, relatively slow conformational change is observed as a consequence of DPNH binding to a second, presumably nonactive site. A computer data fitting program is described which, using the assumed mechanism, allows determination of the apparent rate constants for these processes for each of the four pairs of nucleotides (TPNH-GTP, TPNH-GDP, DPNH-GTP, and DPNH-GDP). It is shown that each pair of nucleotides is associated with a different set of rate constants and, as a consequence, yields a rather different time and nucleotide concentration dependence of isomerization and depolymerization of the polymeric enzyme. Of most complexity are the results observed for the DPNH-GDP pair, in which depolymerization is clearly biphasic. For this case, the extent of one phase relative to the other is dependent on enzyme concentration. Only half-saturation with coenzyme (0.5 mole per mole of polypeptide chain) is required to give complete depolymerization in the presence of saturating GTP concentrations. There is no evidence for cooperative interactions between sites on the six polypeptide chains of the monomer.
Scheduling Structured Systems

The use of subsystems is fundamental to the modeling of hierarchical hardware using recurrence equations. Scheduling adds temporal information to a system and is thus a key step in the synthesis of parallel hardware from algorithms. It determines such things as the placement of pipeline registers, the latency and throughput of the circuit, and the order and rate that inputs are consumed and outputs produced. This paper will show how to extend usual dependence analysis to derive the additional dependences on the timing function needed when subsystems are used.
Instructions emphasizing speed improves hemiparetic arm kinematics during reaching in stroke

BACKGROUND Stroke severely compromises the capacity for skilled motor control including the ability to reach with the stroke-affected upper-extremity. Research incorporating intensive motor therapies has broadly demonstrated the ability to improve hemiparetic reaching post-stroke, yet the role of specific task parameters has received less attention. These task parameters, such as speed-of-performance, may be important to the structure and delivery of motor rehabilitation. The objective of the study was to determine the influence of task pacing demands on hemiparetic reaching strategies in survivors of stroke. METHODS Kinematic motion analysis was used to examine upper-extremity reaching patterns in 11 survivors of stroke. Participants were instructed to reach between two targets at a self-selected pace and as fast as possible. Outcome measures included maximal movement speed, accuracy, movement smoothness, and reaching strategies (anterior trunk flexion, elbow extension, and shoulder flexion). RESULTS Participants reached significantly faster and smoother during the task that emphasized speed while maintaining target accuracy. Participants used significantly less anterior trunk displacement during the fast condition, yet no change in shoulder flexion. CONCLUSION Task parameters that emphasize speed positively influence reaching strategies with the more-affected upper-extremity. Survivors of stroke were able to respond to changes in pacing demands while significantly reducing reliance on compensatory trunk movement. This outcome highlights the need to further understand the impact of task parameters during intensive motor therapies.
Fluoride salts and container materials for thermal energy storage applications in the temperature range 973 - 1400 K

Multicomponent fluoride salt mixtures were characterized for use as latent heat of fusion heat storage materials in advanced solar dynamic space power systems with operating temperatures in the range of 973 to 1400 K. The melting points and eutectic composition for many systems with published phase diagrams were verified, and several new eutectic compositions were identified. Additionally, the heats of fusion of several binary and ternary eutectics and congruently melting intermediate compounds were measured by differential scanning calorimetry. The extent of corrosion of various metals by fluoride melts was estimated from thermodynamic considerations, and equilibrium conditions inside a containment vessel were calculated as functions of the initial moisture content of the salt and free volume above the molten salt. Preliminary experimental data on the corrosion of commercial, high-temperature alloys in LiF-19.5CaF2 and NaF-27CaF2-36MgF2 melts are presented and compared to the thermodynamic predictions.
The Orbits of the Inner Uranian Satellites from Hubble Space Telescope and Voyager 2 Observations

This article presents revised orbital elements for the 10 small Uranian satellites discovered by the Voyager 2 spacecraft. The elements have been determined from a fit to astrometric observations made with the Hubble Space Telescope and imaging data acquired by Voyager 2. An assessment of the accuracy of the orbits represented by the elements is provided, as are comparisons with orbits found by previous investigators.
The Multichannel Spectrum Analyzer

The MCSA is a special-purpose digital signal processor. Its main function is to filter a wide-band signal into many narrower bands, so that each of the output bands has a bandwidth that is a better match to the signal being searched for.
Cost minimization in utility computing systems

SUMMARY Utility computing is a form of computer service whereby the company providing the service charges the users for using the system resources. In this paper, we present system-optimal and user-optimal price-based job allocation schemes for utility computing systems whose objective is to minimize the cost for the users. The system-optimal scheme provides an allocation of jobs to the computing resources that minimizes the overall cost for executing all the jobs in the system. The user-optimal scheme provides an allocation that minimizes the cost for individual users in the system for providing fairness. The system-optimal scheme is formulated as a constraint minimization problem, and the user-optimal scheme is formulated as a non-cooperative game. The prices charged by the computing resource owners for executing the users jobs are obtained using a pricing model based on a non-cooperative bargaining game theory framework. The performance of the studied job allocation schemes is evaluated using simulations with various system loads and configurations. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Ethics and germline gene editing

The current kerfuffle around the use of CRISPR/Cas9 and other gene editing technologies in human germline research is the latest in a series of related controversies at the intersection of science, medicine, and ethics [1]. Soon after a prominent ad hoc group of scientists called for a moratorium on clinical applications of germline gene editing [2], a research group from China published an article that described the genetic modification of human embryos [3]. Although these experiments were performed in nonviable, triploid embryos that were neither intended nor suitable for clinical use, the work nonetheless demonstrates how the prospect of manipulating the human germline elicits hopes and fears and triggers moral debates. Are such concerns warranted? Should research be put on hold while ethical and legal debates take place? Similar tensions arose in the past with recombinant DNA technology, assisted reproductive technologies, gene‐transfer research, human cloning, embryonic stem cell research, and mitochondrial replacement therapy. What, if anything, might be learned from these prior debates? CRISPR/Cas9 is an efficient, inexpensive, and precise method to edit genes at the level of individual nucleotides, which enables the exploration of myriad scientific questions. Moreover, it promises potential new treatments for many human diseases: HIV infection has been targeted, for example, by editing the CCR5 receptor in somatic cells using TALEN (transcription activator‐like effector nucleases) [4]. Of course, the prospect of altering the germline opens an even greater range of possibilities. For example, germline editing might be the only means of treating genetic diseases, which are otherwise fatal in utero . In addition, gene editing technologies could eventually supplant the need for assisted reproductive technologies in those who are affected by certain genetic diseases. Correcting the faulty gene in the …
Effects of teaching an introductory psychology laboratory using a computerized research tool

In the introductory psychology laboratory at Drexel University, we employ courseware modules that transform the computer into various pieces of psychological research equipment. Students enrolled in this course use the courseware modules in a series of experiments that investigate motor learning, perception, memory, and other psychological phenomena. In choosing this form of computerization, we have encountered challenges to our methods of instruction, both in the laboratory and in the lecture hall. Opportunities, in the form of financial and programming assistance, have also resulted from our computerization efforts.
A nationwide prehospital stroke survey

Objectives. To identify deficiencies in stroke knowledge among prehospital providers. Methods. A nationwide multiple-choice survey was sent to 689 paramedics (EMT-Ps) and 294 advanced EMTs (EMT-Is) from a random selection of the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians database. Of the 23 questions, five addressed demographic information, four quantity of training, five general knowledge, and seven management, and two open-ended questions addressed the signs, symptoms, and risk factors of stroke. The EMT-P and EMT-I answers were compared using chi-square analysis or Fisher's exact test. Results. Of the 355 (36%) respondents, 256 (72%) were EMT-Ps and 99 (28%) were EMT-Is. Virtually all the EMT-Ps (99%) and EMT-Is (98%) knew that a stroke injures the brain, but only 199 (78%) of the EMT-Ps and 47 (47%) of the EMT-Is correctly defined a transient ischemic attack (TIA) (p < 0.001). Slurred speech, weakness/paralysis, and altered mental status were the three most commonly cited symptoms of stroke by...
An evaluation of EPA’s National-Scale Air Toxics Assessment (NATA): Comparison with benzene measurements in Detroit, Michigan

Abstract The U.S. EPA periodically evaluates ambient concentrations, human exposures, and health risks for 180 hazardous air pollutants plus diesel particulate matter using modeled estimates from the National-Scale Air Toxics Assessment (NATA). NATA publishes estimates at the spatial resolution of U.S. Census tracts, which are subdivisions of a county. These local scale, model-predicted estimates from NATA are used extensively in community-based assessments; however, evaluation of NATA’s ambient concentrations and human exposure estimates against measurement data has been limited to date. This paper compares modeled annual average benzene results from the 2002 NATA with measured results from the 2004 to 2007 Detroit Exposure and Aerosol Research Study (DEARS) as a case study of the quality of NATA results. NATA model estimates support community-scale characterization and assessment. Benzene is particularly important as it was estimated by the 2002 NATA as the largest single air toxic pollutant in terms of cancer risk in the U.S. We found that the average ambient concentrations of benzene predicted by NATA were within 5 percent, on average, of the 24-h integrated average ambient concentrations measured in DEARS. The NATA human exposure estimates, which include only outdoor sources for benzene, were, on average, approximately half the measured breathing zone concentrations from DEARS. Our analyses support that the factors driving higher DEARS personal benzene concentrations relative to the NATA predicted exposure values are likely due, at least in part, to indoor sources. This work points to further community-scale modeling research to improve characterizations and assessments of human exposures.
High field localized proton spectroscopy in small volumes: greatly improved localization and shimming using shielded strong gradients.

The availability of shielded gradients facilitates accurate single-voxel localized spectroscopy. Exact localization (90−99%) of volumes as small as 2 × 2 × 2 mm is demonstrated using a modified stimulated echo sequence. Strong gradient pulses (up to 200 mT/m) are employed to clear the stimulated echo of unwanted magnetization, enabling superior (single-scan) shimming of the selected volume. In vivo and in vitro proton NMR results at 4.7 T are presented. © 1989 Academic Press, Inc.
FM sideband injection locking of diode lasers

The injection locking of a laser diode to FM sidebands of a second, modulated laser has been investigated. Locking to sidebands as far as 9.5 GHz removed from the fundamental lasing frequency was observed.
“Am I doing it right?”: Older widows as interview participants in qualitative research

Abstract This article explores older widows' strategies as participants in qualitative interviews. Older women often do not think that their experiences are of value to others, and their comments reflect this belief. In addition, they attempt to transform the interview into a social occasion. Their strategies include asking whether or not they are doing a good job as research participants, suggesting that their talk may be unimportant, uttering concerns that their stories might be too negative, and altering the social context by taking on the role of hostess during the interview. There is much to be learned from interviewing members of stigmatized groups whose voices are often silent or ignored both by researchers and society in general and from an awareness of the uncertainty with which they approach the research encounter.
Rewriting the rules for end joining via enzymatic splicing of DNA 3′-PO4 and 5′-OH ends

There are many biological contexts in which DNA damage generates “dirty” breaks with 3′-PO4 (or cyclic-PO4) and 5′-OH ends that cannot be sealed by DNA ligases. Here we show that the Escherichia coli RNA ligase RtcB can splice these dirty DNA ends via a unique chemical mechanism. RtcB transfers GMP from a covalent RtcB–GMP intermediate to a DNA 3′-PO4 to form a “capped” 3′ end structure, DNA3′pp5′G. When a suitable DNA 5′-OH end is available, RtcB catalyzes attack of the 5′-OH on DNA3′pp5′G to form a 3′–5′ phosphodiester splice junction. Our findings unveil an enzymatic capacity for DNA 3′ capping and the sealing of DNA breaks with 3′-PO4 and 5′-OH termini, with implications for DNA repair and DNA rearrangements.
Effect of Electrolyzed Water for Reduction of Foodborne Pathogens on Lettuce and Spinach

The ability of electrolyzed water (EW) to inactivate foodborne pathogens on the surfaces of lettuce and spinach was investigated. Lettuce and spinach leaves were inoculated with a cocktail of 3 strains each of Escherichia col O157:H7, Salmnonella Typhimurium, and Listeria monocytogenes and treated with acidic electrolyzed water (AC-EW), alkaline electrolyzed water (AK-EW), alkaline electrolyzed water followed by acidic electrolyzed water (sequential treatment, AK-EW + AC-EW), deionized water followed by acidic electrolyzed water (sequential treatment, DW + AC-EW), and deionized water (control, DW) for 15, 30 s, and 1, 3, and 5 min at room temperature (22 +/- 2 degrees C). For all 3 pathogens, the same pattern of microbial reduction on lettuce and spinach were apparent. The relative efficacy of reduction was AC-EW > DW + AC-EW approximately = AK-EW + AC-EW > AK-EW > control. After a 3-min treatment of AC-EW, the 3 tested pathogens were reduced below the detection limit (0.7 log). DW + AC-EW and AK-EW + AC-EW produced the same levels of reduction after 5 min when compared to the control. AK-EW did not reduce levels of pathogens even after a 5-min treatment on lettuce and spinach. Results suggest that AC-EW treatment was able to significantly reduce populations of the 3 tested pathogens from the surfaces of lettuce and spinach with increasing time of exposure.
SEPARATION AND IDENTIFICATION OF TRYPTAMINE-RELATED INDOLE BASES BY GAS CHROMATOGRAPHIC METHODS.

Abstract The possibility of separating and identifying a number of indole bases related to tryptamine by gas chromatographic techniques has been investigated. Methods were found for the separation of positional isomers of phenolic amines and related compounds in this series. The major indole base of epena, a South American snuff with reported hallucinogenic properties, was found to be 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine.
The opioid receptor system and alcoholism: a genetic perspective.

Over the past decade, mounting evidence has implicated the endogenous opioid receptor system as a central player in the etiology of alcohol drinking behavior in animals and alcoholism in humans. Much of this work is a product of a pharmacological approach, where differences in opioid receptor pharmacology have been found to predict drinking behavior in animal models of alcoholism, including rats and mice selectively bred for alcohol preference and avoidance. This review considers the opioid receptor system and alcoholism from a genetic standpoint, and discusses investigation into opioid receptor pharmacology in animal models of alcoholism as work that paved the way for the more recent molecular genetic studies implicating the δ-, and particularly, the μ opioid receptors as genetically linked to alcoholism-associated phenotypes in animal models of the disease. These genetic studies are set within the broader context of the candidate gene approach for alcoholism, where opioid receptor genes are taken to be partial, rather than complete, risk factors for alcoholism. Building upon these findings, the recent genetic association between alcoholism and the μ opioid receptor gene in humans is discussed. Finally, the translation of such genetic association studies between opioid receptor genes and alcoholism to a pharmacogenetic approach, allowing for the evaluation of putative relationships between genotype and pharmacological response profiles, is suggested to address the etiological question of what the molecular mechanism is underlying opioid receptor genetic risk for alcoholism phenotypes.