cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Selective alpha particle decay of 12 C+ 12 C resonances to excited 20 Ne rotational bands observed in the 12 C( 12 C,α) 20 Ne reaction

Excitation functions of the $^{12}\mathrm{C}(^{12}\mathrm{C},\ensuremath{\alpha})^{20}\mathrm{Ne}$ reaction were measured at ${\ensuremath{\theta}}_{\mathrm{lab}}=7.5\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$ between ${E}_{\mathrm{c}.\mathrm{m}.}=14\ensuremath{-}40$ MeV and angular distributions were measured from ${E}_{\mathrm{c}.\mathrm{m}.}=17.8 \mathrm{to} 20.6$ MeV. Summed yields reveal prominent intermediate structure resonances over the entire range which correlate well to resonances previously observed in elastic data. The resonances show enhanced decays to excited rotational bands in $^{20}\mathrm{Ne}$ with reduced widths comparable to those for the elastic channel and an order of magnitude greater than those for the $^{20}\mathrm{Ne}$ ground state band. A discussion is given of the resonances as shape-isomeric states in a shell model secondary minimum in $^{24}\mathrm{Mg}$, and of the selective alpha decay as being transitions to states of related configuration in $^{20}\mathrm{Ne}$.
SmartShift: expanded load shifting incentive mechanism for risk-averse consumers

Peak demand for electricity continues to surge around the world. The supply-demand imbalance manifests itself in many forms, from rolling brownouts in California to power cuts in India. It is often suggested that exposing consumers to real-time pricing, will incentivize them to change their usage and mitigate the problem - akin to increasing tolls at peak commute times. We show that risk-averse consumers of electricity react to price fluctuations by scaling back on their total demand, not just their peak demand, leading to the unintended consequence of an overall decrease in production/consumption and reduced economic efficiency. We propose a new scheme that allows homes to move their demands from peak hours in exchange for greater electricity consumption in non-peak hours - akin to how airlines incentivize a passenger to move from an over-booked flight in exchange for, say, two tickets in the future. We present a formal framework for the incentive model that is applicable to different forms of the electricity market. We show that our scheme not only enables increased consumption and consumer social welfare but also allows the distribution company to increase profits. This is achieved by allowing load to be shifted while insulating consumers from real-time price fluctuations. This win-win is important if these methods are to be embraced in practice.
Phylogenetic Spectrum of Fungi That Are Pathogenic to Humans

Recent phylogenetic studies based on ribosomal RNA sequences have confirmed that the organisms traditionally treated as fungi include those that have evolved from several different lines (multiphyletic organisms), as has been suspected. Even organisms causing disease in humans represent at least two evolutional lines. Pythium insidiosum and Prototheca species are both believed to have evolved from one line, while the rest of the pathogens have evolved from another line. P. insidiosum is more closely related to red algae and diatoms than to fungi. Prototheca species, as has been previously postulated, are closer to blue-green algae and plants than to fungi. Pythiosis and protothecosis, however, will still be dealt with by medical mycologists because of the morphological and in vivo staining characteristics of the causative organisms. Molecular genetic studies have revealed that Pneumocystis carinii can best be categorized as a fungus, although questions regarding its fungal status may remain unanswered until additional information becomes available on its life cycle, nuclear division, cell-wall chemistry, nutritional uptake pattern, and lysine biosynthetic pathway as well as the ultrastructural characteristics of its cellular components such as the Golgi complex. The phylogeny of the agents of lobomycosis and rhinosporidiosis, although they are treated as fungi, remains unknown. Although there is no in vitro culture system for Loboa loboi and Rhinosporidium seeberi at present, a molecular approach would allow us to reveal their phylogenetic relationship, and we can hope that such attempts are forthcoming.
Coupling morphology and control in a simulated robot

The history of natural evolution displays an inseparable coupling of organic bodies and the nervous systems that control them. In contrast to this almost all research in Evolutionary Robotics to date begins with a robot body whose features are fixed and proceeds to evolve a control structure for this body. Our research program is focused on exploring the coupled evolution of both the body and the control structure in real robots. In this paper we take early steps toward this goal by exploring the space of sensor and effector selection and positioning coupled with a neural network linking them within a simulated environment. This space is explored using evolved grammars for generating both the body and neural network. Results from several problem worlds are presented and analyzed.
Analysis of surveillance data for adverse events following immunization during year 2006-2011 in Yangchun

Objective To analyze the occurrence of adverse events following immunization(AEFI) from year 2006 to 2011 in Yangchun.Methods The descriptive epidemiological method was used to analyze surveillance data of AEFI from year 2006 to 2011 in Yangchun.Result In these years,5,8,5,35,70,and 102 cases of AEFI were reported,annually,totally 225 cases.112 cases occurred a general reaction,97 cases had an adverse reaction,and 16 cases with incidental symptoms.No other types of AEFI and death cases were reported.Total vaccine AEFI incidence was 4.58/100 000;AEFI incidences reported for 23-valent Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine and Acellular DPT vaccine were higher,reached to 36.25/100 000 and 26.89/100 000,respectively.There had the reported cases in 15 towns or streets in the city,and a higher number of cases occured from May to October(154 cases) accounting for 68.44%,the sex ratio of male to female is 2.04∶ 1.There were a higher number of cases(141 cases) in the aged 0~1 year and 1~2 years patient groups,accounting for 62.67%.For clinical symptoms,allergic skin rashes(72 cases) were dominate,accounting for 32.00%.185 cases occurred at reaction time of 0~1 day,accounting for 82.22%.Conclusion During year 2006-2011 AEFI incidence in Yangchun was within the reported range under the national pilot estimation.There is a need to standardize immunization work,improve the quality of vaccination and strengthen AEFI surveillance,so as to reduce the occurrence of adverse events after vaccination and improve AEFI surveillance sensitivity.
TLR2-Modulating Lipoproteins of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex Enhance the HIV Infectivity of CD4+ T Cells

Co-infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis accelerates progression from HIV to AIDS. Our previous studies showed that M. tuberculosis complex, unlike M. smegmatis, enhances TLR2-dependent susceptibility of CD4+ T cells to HIV. The M. tuberculosis complex produces multiple TLR2-stimulating lipoproteins, which are absent in M. smegmatis. M. tuberculosis production of mature lipoproteins and TLR2 stimulation is dependent on cleavage by lipoprotein signal peptidase A (LspA). In order to determine the role of potential TLR2-stimulating lipoproteins on mycobacterial-mediated HIV infectivity of CD4+ T cells, we generated M. smegmatis recombinant strains overexpressing genes encoding various M. bovis BCG lipoproteins, as well as a Mycobacterium bovis BCG strain deficient in LspA (ΔlspA). Exposure of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) to M. smegmatis strains overexpressing the BCG lipoproteins, LprF (p<0.01), LprH (p<0.05), LprI (p<0.05), LprP (p<0.001), LprQ (p<0.005), MPT83 (p<0.005), or PhoS1 (p<0.05), resulted in increased HIV infectivity of CD4+ T cells isolated from these PBMC. Conversely, infection of PBMC with ΔlspA reduced HIV infectivity of CD4+ T cells by 40% relative to BCG-infected cells (p<0.05). These results may have important implications for TB vaccination programs in areas with high mother-to-child HIV transmission.
Vision 21 Delphi panel : Senior Army Medical Service Corps officers' vision of behaviors for success of future Medical Service Corps officers

A Delphi study was conducted of Army senior Medical Service Corps leaders (06s) to identify the expected behaviors and competencies needed to ensure that junior officers will achieve successful careers as Medical Service Corps officers in the 21st century. A Delphi mailing was conducted in two phases. In the first iteration, 41 behaviors were identified to be of importance. In the second mailing, the 41 behaviors were rated for relative importance on a 7-point bipolar rating scale (1 = unimportant, 7 = most important). Comparisons were made between the ratings of administrative and biomedical scientific/technical (BS/T) series. Discriminant models developed to compare demographics between administrative and BS/T officers indicated that administrative officers had more time in grade, years of service, and professional military education, whereas BS/T officers reported significantly more civilian education. Minor differences among the two groups emerged for behavior ratings; however, the final priority order of behaviors reflected a high degree of consensus from both groups.
Synthesis of optimal serial reactor structures for homogeneous reactions. Part I: Isothermal reactors

The reactor synthesis problem can simply be stated as follows: Given the reaction mechanism and kinetics, what is the optimum type and arrangement of the reactor(s) that would maximize product yield? Extensive studies for simple reaction systems (series, parallel, consecutive, etc.) using idealized plug flow and continuous stirred tank reactors have been presented in the literature. However, these studies fail to provide a systematic procedure for selecting the reactor(s) type and the rangement for complex reaction schemes. In this paper simple rules with geometrical interpretations have been developed for synthesizing isothermal reactor configurations for complex reaction schemes. A computer program capable of specifying the optimum reactor structure from a generalized configuration has also been described.
Braddon, Broughton, and Specters of Social Critique

Victorian homes, like Victorian women, could earn reputations. The pervasiveness of Victorian ghost stories revolving around the haunted house point to the vulnerability of that location. In much of mid-Victorian fiction, the image of the reputable home hinged upon the presence of a contented housewife. To disturb one was to destroy the other. This chapter highlights Mary Elizabeth Braddon and Rhoda Broughton’s ghost stories as an example of the ways Victorian women writers engage with normative representations of gender by dramatizing the vulnerability of the boundaries of the house and, consequently, the marital relationship. Braddon and Broughton use haunting as a catalyst for women to reconsider more than just the security of the house. In their short fiction, female protagonists find that the appearance of ghosts is presaged by their realization of a sense of lack in their domestic roles. Even more than their sensation fiction, hauntings in the ghost stories of these women writers cause the protagonists to acknowledge the drastic differences between the ideologies of domesticity and the reality of their complicated emotional lives.
Sensitivity to Axial Stress of Electro-Mechanical Impedance Measurements

In-situ stress determination in structures without a reference value is a challenging experimental mechanics task, especially if it requires a non-destructive approach. One potential application of this task is the management of longitudinal loads in railroad structures. This paper examines the potential of the Electro-Mechanical Impedance (EMI) method to provide an estimation of axial stress in bar-like structures. The EMI method is completely non-destructive, as it simply involves bonding a piezoelectric element on the host structure and measuring the electrical admittance signature of the PZT-structure assembly in selected frequency bands. Analytical models are proposed to relate such admittance signatures to uniaxial applied stress, as a function of relevant parameters of the EMI monitoring system. These models compare favorably to experimental results obtained from an aluminum bar and a steel bar, where appreciable sensitivities of the EMI admittance terms are found under varying stress levels.
Sodium Hydroxide Catalyzed Dehydrocoupling of Alcohols with Hydrosilanes

An O–Si bond construction protocol employing abundantly available and inexpensive NaOH as the catalyst is described. The method enables the cross-dehydrogenative coupling of an alcohol and hydrosilane to directly generate the corresponding silyl ether under mild conditions and without the production of stoichiometric salt byproducts. The scope of both coupling partners is excellent, positioning the method for use in complex molecule and materials science applications. A novel Si-based cross-coupling reagent is also reported.
Communication: VSCF/VCI vibrational spectroscopy of H 7 O 3+ and H 9 O 4+ using high-level, many-body potential energy surface and dipole moment surfaces

The vibrational spectra of protonated water clusters continue to be of great interest and a significant challenge to theory. We report high-level, coupled-mode anharmonic (VSCF/VCI) calculations of vibrational spectra of two protonated water clusters, H7 O 3 + and H9 O 4 + , using the Watson Hamiltonian and new full-dimensional, high-level many-body potential energy and dipole moment surfaces. These many-body representations are first validated against direct CCSD(T)-F12b/aug-cc-pVTZ calculations of the double-harmonic spectra of these clusters. Then they are used with a 4-mode representation of the potential and 18 coupled modes to obtain the anharmonic coupled-mode spectra of these clusters. The calculated spectra agree well with recent Ar-tagged action spectra. In the case of H9 O 4 + , a “side-by-side” comparison shows a very good agreement with virtually every experimental feature.
Calibration of vehicle dynamics and stability control model

This publication describes a process to develop and calibrate a physics-based model for vehicle stability control. The approach consists of two phases. In the first phase, a baseline vehicle dynamics model was established using the commercially available simulation tool CarSim. The model was calibrated and validated for a variety of steady state, transient state and brake intervention handling manoeuvres using experimental test data. In the second phase, a simplified stability control model was developed in Matlab/Simulink based on representative control strategies. Subsequently, the vehicle dynamics model and stability control model developed were coupled using co-simulation and calibrated such that the closed-loop system behaviour approximated the real world test behaviour as best as possible. Finally, two case studies were developed to showcase the application of the closed-loop mathematical model in simulation-based studies addressing aftermarket vehicle modifications and their implication on vehicle stability control behaviour.
In Situ Formation of Stable Interfacial Coating for High Performance Lithium Metal Anodes

Uncontrollable growth of Li dendrites is a big problem for Li metal batteries. In this work, we described a new universal strategy of in situ formation of interfacial coating with methyl viologen to achieve stable cycling of lithium metal anode. After treating the lithium metal layer with 0.5 wt % methyl viologen in the ether electrolyte, a highly uniform, stable, and ionically conductive interfacial coating can be formed on the surface because of the electrochemical reduction. The coating layer can generate better control of the lithium ion flow and suppress the lithium dendrite growth and therefore form a uniform and stable solid electrolyte interphase. Using this approach, a lifetime of 300 cycles with Columbic efficiency of 99.1% and 400 cycles with Columbic efficiency of 98.2% at a current density of 1 mA cm–2 in ether-based electrolyte can be obtained. This lifetime is more than three times higher than the control ether electrolyte. In addition, this approach can enhance the performances of lithium ...
Consistent condom use and its correlates among female sex workers at hair salons: a cross-sectional study in Zhejiang province, China

This study investigated condom use among female sex workers (FSWs) at hair salons during commercial sexual interactions over 1 month. We explored the associations of such use with various sexual behaviours, HIV/STI risk perception and related knowledge, self-efficacy regarding condom use, exposure to behavioural interventions, and other factors. This type of information has not been reported in China and is critical for designing and modifying programs aimed at preventing HIV/STI transmission in this group of FSWs and their clients. Our data were derived from a large cross-sectional study conducted among low-tier FSWs in 21 counties within Zhejiang province, China. Data were collected from September to November 2013.Bivariable and multiple logistic regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with self-reported consistent condom use among FSWs working at hair salons. Of 1682 FSWs working at hair salons, 50.5% consistently used condom with clients during the previous month. Multivariable analysis revealed that condom use for commercial sex, consistent vaginal douching after commercial sex, adopting contraceptive measures, high scores on perceived self-efficacy regarding condom use, and exposure to interventions were associated with self-reported consistent condom use; early initiation of commercial sex, experiences with oral sex, rarely/sometimes/often using oral contraceptives, and having seen a doctor were associated with not using condoms. Commercial sex is not effectively protected, and behavioural interventions targeting FSWs should take into account the various factors that are correlated to condom use.
Efficient and Adaptive Methods for Computing Accurate Potential Surfaces for Quantum Nuclear Effects: Applications to Hydrogen-Transfer Reactions

We present two sampling measures to gauge critical regions of potential energy surfaces. These sampling measures employ (a) the instantaneous quantum wavepacket density, an approximation to the (b) potential surface, its (c) gradients, and (d) a Shannon information theory based expression that estimates the local entropy associated with the quantum wavepacket. These four criteria together enable a directed sampling of potential surfaces that appears to correctly describe the local oscillation frequencies, or the local Nyquist frequency, of a potential surface. The sampling functions are then utilized to derive a tessellation scheme that discretizes the multidimensional space to enable efficient sampling of potential surfaces. The sampled potential surface is then combined with four different interpolation procedures, namely, (a) local Hermite curve interpolation, (b) low-pass filtered Lagrange interpolation, (c) the monomial symmetrization approximation (MSA) developed by Bowman and co-workers, and (d) a ...
Greater distance to an academic medical center is associated with poorer melanoma prognostic factors: The University of Colorado Experience

Author(s): Snyder, Blake M; Mounessa, Jessica S; Fazzari, Melissa; Caravaglio, Joseph V; Kretowicz, Alexandra; Braunberger, Taylor; Wells, Keith; Dunnick, Cory A; Dellavalle, Robert P; Alkousakis, Theodore | Abstract: Introduction: Numerous studies report a correlation between distance to diagnostic provider in an academic medical center and poorer prognosis ofdisease. Limited research on this topic exists with respect to melanoma.Methods: This was a retrospective chart review of 1,463 adults (≥18 years) initially diagnosed with melanoma between 2006-2016. Associations between distance traveled and Breslow depth and presence of metastatic disease were assessed via cumulative and binary logistic regression models, adjusting for patient and tumor characteristics.Results: Subjects traveling ≥50 miles had 58% greater odds of having an increased Breslow depth than those traveling less than that distance (OR: 1.58; 95% CI: 1.24-2.01; pl0.0001), and had four times the odds of presenting with metastatic disease (OR: 4.04; 95% CI: 3.00-5.46; pl0.0001).Discussion: We highlight the correlation between increased distance to our academic medical center with greater Breslow depths and the presence ofmetastatic disease at presentation.Conclusion: Future studies assessing other factors and regional differences that limit access to diagnosis might help improve screening efforts to prevent poorer prognosis for patients in these areas.
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: implications of status grandfathered plan

What is the perspective of today's employers when facing the decision of whether to retain status as a grandfathered plan under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA)? This article reviews the mandated benefit and underwriting changes for grandfathered employer group health insurance plans. It then describes the challenges employers face in maintaining grandfathered status and the potential advantages and disadvantages to doing so. Finally, the author demonstrates how the employers' perspective is one where the absence of government information and guidance on complex-related issues prevents employers from making fully informed decisions. In effect, employers are being forced to choose whether to maintain grandfathered status without the benefit of knowing what the final rules are.
Imaging in Acute Abdominal Pain

Given the broad range of diagnoses that may cause acute abdominal pain, several important diseases are examined in other chapters in this book. Guidelines regarding the imaging of ureteral calculi, ectopic pregnancy, hepatobiliary disease, and vascular disease can be found in their respective chapters. Other frequent etiologies of acute abdominal pain are discussed in this chapter as individual entities.
The cost of capital: U.S.-based multinational corporations versus U.S. domestic corporations

Abstract Using firm-level panel data, this paper examines whether the cost of capital (COC) differs significantly between U.S.-based multinational corporations (MNCs) and U.S. domestic corporations (DCs). The results suggest that U.S.-based MNCs have higher COC than U.S. DCs and that industry importantly influences COC. The study also finds that there is a significant time effect on COC, and the time effect follows the trend of the U.S. economic growth rate. Using a Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo approach, we estimate jointly cost of equity, cost of debt, and capital structure, and find that the higher cost of capital for MNCs is due mainly to their higher cost of equity and greater use of equity financing; the cost of debt financing does not differ significantly for MNCs versus DCs.
Bivariate Severity Analysis of Train Derailments using Copula-Based Regression Models

AbstractThe far-reaching consequences of train derailments have been a major concern to industry and government despite their relatively low occurrence. These consequences include injury, loss of l...
Abstract 34: Predominant Periodontal Bacteria Augments Ischemic Stroke Outcomes

Background: Chronic infection and persistent systemic inflammation are important risk factors for poor stroke outcomes. Chronic periodontitis (PD) are among the most common chronic immunoinflammato...
Investigation of chemical associations and leaching behavior of heavy metals in sodium sulfide hydrate stabilized stainless steel pickling sludge

Abstract This article presents an original study on stabilization of heavy metals in SSPS using sodium sulfide hydrate. The speciation and pH dependent leaching of the target heavy metals (Cr, Cu, Ni and Zn) based on GB 5085.3 and GB 16889 in both raw SSPS and stabilized products were examined. Results indicated that Cr and Ni are the two main toxic elements in SSPS. The BCR sequential extraction indicated that 55.2% of Cr in raw SSPS exist as Fe-Mn oxides, while water soluble Cr which is mainly consists of Cr(VI) accounts for 3.50%. After stabilization, the residual fraction Cr reached to more than 60% and Cr(VI) was not detected. The leaching concentration of Ni meets the limit of reuse SSPS, meanwhile, the sum proportion of sulfides and residual Ni increased from 8.68% to a maximum value of 31.82%. pH dependent leaching tests expound that the leaching concentrations of Cr, Ni, Cu and Zn are significantly high at pH = 2. The leaching concentrations of Cu, Ni and Zn are extremely low when pH varied from 7 to 13. The best stabilization pH span is from 5.5 to 10 for SSPS. The XRD and SEM-EDS analysis showed that the major compounds in treated SSPS were bassanite and plaster of Paris (POP). Since the extreme conditions such as pH = 2 or pH = 13 are infrequently, the stabilized SSPS can be safely reused in roadbed materials, bricks and concrete aggregates based on China HJ/T 301.
Effects of Varying Heat Treatments on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Blown Powder Inconel 625

Blown powder deposition (BPD) is an additive manufacturing (AM) technique which builds components in a layer by layer fashion. In BPD AM, metal powder is fed through nozzles into the path of a laser beam which is attached to a robotic arm. This increases the size of the build envelope beyond the limitations of powder-bed AM systems. After fabrication, the specimens are subjected to various heat treatments to relieve residual stresses and optimize the mechanical properties. As AM processing is relatively new, heat treatment standards are still being developed. Key to standardization is obtaining an understanding of the key parameters by evaluating differences in BPD materials built by different vendors. This study evaluates the effects of varying heat treatments on the mechanical response of Inconel 625 specimens obtained from four different vendors.
Silicon-Chip Mid-Infrared Frequency Comb Generation

We report the first on-chip integrated mid-infrared frequency comb using a silicon optical parametric oscillator ring resonator. We demonstrate a 750-nm-wide comb centered at 2.6 um.
Beyond Personal Responsibility: Examining the Effects of Narrative Engagement on Communicative and Civic Actions.

Moving beyond personal responsibility-taking behaviors, this paper examines communicative (interpersonal talk and online message sharing) and civic (public policy support and intention to donate) b...
Cycles, waves, and pulses: Retinoic acid and the organization of spermatogenesis

Background Spermatogenesis in mammals is organized in a manner that maximizes sperm production. The central aspect of this organization is the cycle of the seminiferous epithelium that is characterized by an asynchronous repeating series of germ cell associations. These cell associations are the result of a fixed point of entry into the cycle at regular short time intervals and the longer time required for cells to fully differentiate and exit the cycle. Objective This review will examine the current information on the action and metabolism of retinoic acid in the testis, the interaction of retinoic acid (RA) with the cycle and the spermatogenic wave, and the mechanisms that can lead to synchronous spermatogenesis. Finally, the unique applications of synchronous spermatogenesis to the study of the cycle and the mass isolation of specific germ cell populations are described. Materials and methods Retinoic acid metabolism and spermatogonial differentiation have been examined by gene deletions, immunocytochemistry, chemical inhibitors, and mass spectrometry. Results, discussion, and conclusion Both the Sertoli cells and the germ cells have the capacity to synthesize retinoic acid from retinol and in the mouse the entry into the cycle of the seminiferous epithelium, and the subsequent conversion of undifferentiated spermatogonia into differentiating spermatogonia is governed by a peak of RA synthesis occurring at stages VIII-IX of the cycle. Normal asynchronous spermatogenesis can be modified by altering RA levels, and as a result the entire testis will consist of a few closely related stages of the cycle.
Associations among Negative Urgency, Sensation Seeking, Alcohol Use, Self-Esteem, and Casual Sexual Behavior for College Students

Background: The present study proposed a moderated mediation model of relations among negative urgency, sensation seeking, alcohol use, self-esteem, and casual sexual behavior among college student...
Technical note: Relationship between placentome location and gene expression in bovine pregnancy.

A novel, non-terminal surgical procedure to remove a single placentome from the pregnant ewe for gene expression and histological analyses was recently developed in our laboratory. This technique allows for evaluation of nutritional insults on placental development at more than one stage of gestation using a single animal. Early attempts to develop a similar technique in cattle were met with complications due to inaccessibility of the gravid uterine horn because of its location and mass. One alternative is to collect a placentome from the contralateral uterine horn; however, the question remains as to whether gene expression varies among placentomes based on location relative to the fetus. Pregnant heifers were maintained on forage during early gestation and later moved into pens with a Calan gate system (American Calan, Northwood, NH). On gestational day (GD) 158, five heifers were assigned to receive a hay-based diet formulated to meet 100% of NRC requirements, and five heifers were fed 70% of NRC requirements until necropsy on GD244. At necropsy, a single representative placentome was selected for analysis from the antimesometrial side: (1) of the gravid uterine horn central to the amnion, (2) over the allantois immediately adjacent to the amnion, (3) in the tip of the gravid uterine horn, and (4) in the tip of the contralateral uterine horn. Mean placentome weight was greater (P 0.05) by dietary treatment or location of the placentome. Results indicate that location of the placentome in relation to the fetus does not impact gene expression, enhancing the efficacy of nonterminal methodologies for sampling gene expression in placentomes.
How Can We Decide? When Ought a Person with Disabilities Be Moved from Their Home to Full-Time Residential Care?

A family member with disabilities is usually moved to full-time residential care when a crisis occurs in the home. Alternatively, this paper creates criteria to decide if a family member ought to b...
Gender discrimination and women's HPA activation to psychosocial stress during the postnatal period.

Stress due to discrimination may contribute to physiological dysregulation and health risk during the postnatal period. This study examined longitudinal associations between gender discrimination a...
Do adults produce phonetic variants of /t/ less often in speech to children?

Abstract The surface phonetic details of an utterance affect how ‘native’ a speaker sounds. However, studies have shown that children’s acquisition of context-appropriate variation (sometimes called allophones) is late. This study’s goal was to understand how caregivers use phonetic variation in the production of American English /t/ in child-directed speech (CDS), compared to in adult-directed speech (ADS). We hypothesized that mothers modify their input to children in order to produce more limited variation in CDS than in ADS, to potentially assist children in the development of contrastive phonemic categories. To this end, we recorded eight mothers of children under the age of 2 years in both ADS and CDS conditions. Results reveal that CDS contains significantly more canonical cues to /t/ than ADS does, and fewer non-canonical cue patterns, including fewer unreleased tokens and fewer glottalized tokens in utterance-medial position. Also, we found larger aspiration duration differences in CDS between aspirated singleton [th] vs. unaspirated [t] in /st/ contexts, suggesting that mothers exaggerate this cue to the phonemic context in which the /t/ occurs. Overall, the findings suggest that CDS more clearly signals the phonemic category, which could in turn assist children learn the relationship between the underlying and surface forms.
More than One-Half of Adults Hospitalized for COVID-19 Still Report Significant Symptoms at Four Months Postdischarge

SGLT2 inhibitors, the diabetes medications ending in -flozin, and GLP-1 receptor agonists, the -tide medications, decrease cardiovascular and renal outcomes to a greater extent than placebo or other treatments. They should be considered in addition to metformin and other glucose-lowering treatments for most patients with type 2 diabetes.
Complex fracture network simulation and optimization in naturally fractured shale reservoir based on modified neural network algorithm

Abstract Creating the optimum Complex Fracture Network (CFN) during hydraulic fracturing by propagating Hydraulic Fractures (HF) stimulating and connecting the existing Natural Fractures (NF) is of great importance to fractured shale reservoirs' development. However, it yet haven't obtained enough research. Facing this urgent demand, a comprehensive CFN configuration, and optimization numerical investigation, considering geomechanics and economic effects, is proposed. An HF propagation model is constructed coupling the Displacement Discontinuity Method (DDM) and the fluid flow function, together with a power-law probability NF pattern, to simulate the CFN propagation considering the rock and fluid mechanics. Then the CFN productivity in shale reservoirs is simulated by the Embedded Discrete Fracture Model (EDFM) with shale gas flow model, in which the complexly distributed fractures and the adsorption and slippage effect of shale gas are described. Based on the above, a framework for CFN optimization is developed, in which the net present value (NPV) is adopted as the objective function to consider the economic viability. A state-of-the-art Neural Network Algorithm (NNA) is employed and further improved into a Modified Neural Network Algorithm (M-NNA) in this study, which presents 89% optimization searching accuracy tested by the complex multi-extreme benchmark function, far better than the 28% accuracy of the original PSO algorithm. The M-NNA is then adopted as the optimization algorithm in the CFN optimization framework. Finally, as an example, a case of CFN propagation and production is simulated under the coupling effects of geomechanical and fluid parameters, results show that the CFN provides nearly 90% of the total gas production; furthermore, the CFN for aligning and alternating fracturing placements are simulated and optimized considering the geological and economical influence, the results demonstrate that the alternating fracturing placement constructs better CFN configuration and leads to higher economic revenue.
Correction to: Predictors of Satisfaction with Autism Treatment Services During COVID­19.

In the original article there is an error in the Introduction Section (Sentence 2 of the Introduction after the Abstract) and it has been corrected in this erratum.
Science, healthcare system, and government effectiveness perception and COVID-19 vaccination acceptance and hesitancy in a global sample: an analytical cross-sectional analysis.

Background Determinants of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance are complex; how perceptions of the effectiveness of science, healthcare and government impact personal COVID-19 vaccine acceptance is unclear, despite all three domains providing critical roles in development, funding and provision, and distribution of COVID-19 vaccine. Objective To estimate impact of perception of science, healthcare systems, and government along with sociodemographic, psychosocial, and cultural characteristics on vaccine acceptance. Design We conducted a global nested analytical cross-sectional study of how the perceptions of healthcare, government and science systems have impacted COVID-19 on vaccine acceptance. Setting Global Facebook, Instagram and Amazon Mechanical Turk (mTurk) users from 173 countries. Participants 7411 people aged 18 years or over, and able to read English, Spanish, Italian, or French. Measurements We used Χ2 analysis and logistic regression-derived adjusted Odds Ratios (aORs) and 95% CIs to evaluate the relationship between effectiveness perceptions and vaccine acceptance controlling for other factors. We used natural language processing and thematic analysis to analyse the role of vaccine-related narratives in open-ended explanations of effectiveness. Results After controlling for confounding, attitude toward science was a strong predictor of vaccine acceptance, more so than other attitudes, demographic, psychosocial or COVID-19-related variables (aOR: 2.1; 95% CI: 1.8 to 2.5). The rationale for science effectiveness was dominated by vaccine narratives, which were uncommon in other domains. Limitations This study did not include participants from countries where Facebook and Amazon mTurk are not available, and vaccine acceptance reflected intention rather than actual behaviour. Conclusions As our findings show, vaccine-related issues dominate public perception of science’s impact around COVID-19, and this perception of science relates strongly to the decision to obtain vaccination once available.
What are Propositions

This paper defends the view that propositions – that is, what are picked about by complement clauses and the range of quantifiers like that in ‘Sanna believes all that Matti said' – are states of affairs. States of affairs – and thus propositions – are not, in the primary sense, representational; what is representational and what is true or false in the first instance are mental states and sentence tokens that represent propositions. There is, it is argued, a derivative sense in which propositions are bearers of truth, but truth in that sense is a derivative, non-explanatory notion. This view is contrasted with views like the one Scott Soames develops in What is Meaning?. It's argued that this view is superior to Soames' in various ways.
Power assist EVA glove development

Structural modeling of the EVA glove indicates that flexibility in the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint can be improved by selectively lowering the elasticity of the glove fabric. Two strategies are used to accomplish this. One method uses coil springs on the back of the glove to carry the tension in the glove skin due to pressurization. These springs carry the loads normally borne by the glove fabric, but are more easily deformed. An active system was also designed for the same purpose and uses gas filled bladders attached to the back of the EVA glove that change the dimensions of the back of the glove and allow the glove to bend at the MCP joint, thus providing greater flexibility at this joint. A threshold control scheme was devised to control the action of the joint actuators. Input to the controller was provided by thin resistive pressure sensors placed between the hand and the pressurized glove. The pressure sensors consist of a layer of polyester film that has a thin layer of ink screened on the surface. The resistivity of the ink is pressure dependent, so an extremely thin pressure sensor can be fabricated by covering the ink patch with another layer of polyester film and measuring the changing resistance of the ink with a bridge circuit. In order to sense the force between the hand and the glove at the MCP joint, a sensor was placed on the palmar face of the middle finger. The resultant signal was used by the controller to decide whether to fill or exhaust the bladder actuators on the back of the glove. The information from the sensor can also be used to evaluate the effectiveness of a given control scheme or glove design since the magnitude of the measured pressures gives some idea of the torque required to bend a glove finger at the MCP joint. Tests of this actuator, sensor, and control system were conducted in an 57.2 kPa glove box by performing a series of 90 degree finger bends with a glove without an MCP joint assembly, a glove with the coil spring assembly, and with the four fingered actuated glove. The tests of these three glove designs confirm the validity of the model.
Perceived need for HIV testing among rural and urban African American cocaine users

Background Incidence rates of HIV continue to be disproportionately high among African Americans compared to other races, especially in the South. Although we have some information about testing among African Americans, most surveys do not include homeless, impoverished, or other disenfranchised and therefore hard-to-reach groups, many of whom may be particularly high-risk for HIV infection, and few studies have compared HIV testing among rural and urban African Americans. The purpose of this study, therefore, is to address this gap by systematically examining perceived need for HIV testing among rural as compared to urban African American cocaine users. Methods This is a cross-sectional, community-based study of 400 not-in-treatment African American cocaine users residing in selected rural and urban areas of Arkansas. We used respondent-driven sampling methods to fill our sample. Face-to-face computer-assisted interviews were conducted in study offices lasting 1½ – 2 hours. A logistic regression model was used to examine the association between perceived need for HIV testing and rural/ urban residence, while controlling for demographic and clinical characteristics. Covariates in the model included: demographics (age, gender, education, health insurance), clinical characteristics (lifetime drug abuse treatment, lifetime mental health treatment, routine health-care visit in past year, general health status, ever being tested for hepatitis C or gonorrhea, number of times tested for HIV), access factors (ease of access to HIV testing, availability of HIV testing, skepticism towards medical care, stigma for HIV testing) and behavioral risk factors (perceived risk of acquiring HIV, number of sex partners, inconsistent condom use, ever trading sex for foods or drugs). Results We did not find significant differences among rural and urban African American cocaine users’ perceived need for HIV testing. Female gender, perceived risk for acquiring HIV, stigma, and receipt of testing for other sexually transmitted diseases were each positively and significantly related to perceived need to be tested for HIV in multivariate regression analysis in which all other variables were held constant. Receipt of routine medical care in the past year, being tested for HIV from 3–5 times, and skepticism towards medical care were negatively and significantly related to perceived need for HIV testing. Behavioral risk factors or general health status were not significantly associated with perceived need for HIV testing. Access to testing was not perceived as a significant barrier to testing. Conclusions
Susceptibility genes for familial Alzheimer's disease on chromosomes 19 and 21: a reality check.

Linkage data from 92 FAD kindreds were analyzed by lod score analysis under various assumptions of disease penetrance, marker allele frequencies, and heterogeneity. Multilocus linkage analysis supports the existence of a gene in 40%-65% of families with predominantly late-onset illness (after age 65) on chromosome 19 between D19S13 and ATP1A3. Evidence for a second FAD gene on chromosome 21 is weaker and stems primarily from a few families with early-onset disease. Our findings also indicate that choice of the genetic model for FAD and marker allele frequencies may be crucial to conclusions about linkage and heterogeneity
Role Over/Underload

Role overload occurs when an individual experiences excessive role demands. Keywords: role overload; role conflict; workload; job demands; stress; job satisfaction
Comparing Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing in End-Stage Liver Disease Patients

Abstract Poor cardiopulmonary fitness has been associated with worse outcomes in liver transplant candidates. Purpose To determine if a modified 3-minute step test (potentially office based) is feasible and equivalent to standard cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) in liver transplant candidates with severe decompensation. Methods Five patients with Childs-Pugh C end-stage liver disease and severe debility awaiting liver transplantation performed both standard CPET and the modified 3-minute step test (Shape medical systems). Results All 5 patients were able to complete both tests. Mean age was 59.8 ± 9 years, mean MELD score was 20 (range 13–26), and mean BMI was 27.6 kg/m 2 (range 16.4–37.2). Peak V o 2 was similar with a mean of 901 mL/min (step test) compared to 856 mL/min (cycle test), P = .64. V o 2 at a respiratory exchange ratio (RER) of 1.0 was similar with both tests (681 mL/min (step) vs 646 mL/min (cycle), P = .69. V e /V co 2 slope (ventilatory efficiency) was similar (40 vs 39, P = .94). The ventilatory compensation point (i.e. anaerobic threshold) was also similar (∼80% of peak Vo 2 ) for both studies. Conclusion The modified 3-minute step test provides a simplified, potentially office-based assessment of cardiopulmonary exercise capacity and gas exchange measures as standard testing in patients with decompensated end-stage liver disease, with similar tolerability.
Speaker recognition employing waveform based signal representation in nonorthogonal multiple transform domains

Automatic speaker recognition (ASR) technique employing split vector quantized speech representation in multiple transform domains is presented. In this approach, a set of appropriate transform domains are selected and a vector quantized codebook is generated in each of these selected transform domains for the signal waveform. For each speaker, each signal vector is represented from the codebooks that yield the highest accuracy of representation. The algorithm is given and a performance measure is developed and used to evaluate the algorithm performance. Improved speech recognition accuracy was consistently obtained employing the proposed technique in comparison with vector quantization employing single transform VQ representations. Sample results for 10 speakers are presented to illustrate the considerable performance improvement for ASR.
A new international growth reference for young children

Anthropometric references for infants and young children are among the most used tools for assessing paediatric well-being. At the population level growth references are useful for predicting general emergencies related to food and nutrition, assessing the equity of distribution of economic resources within and between communities, evaluating the suitability of general weaning practices, and for screening and following at-risk groups. For individuals, growth references are the mainstay to growth monitoring and promotion, help identify the optimal timing of the introduction of complementary foods, often are used to assess maternal lactation performance, are applied in the detection of growth faltering, and help in the diagnosis of failure to thrive and excessive growth.
Oscillating perceptions: the ups and downs of the CLOCK protein in the mouse circadian system

A functional mouse CLOCK protein has long been thought to be essential for mammalian circadian clockwork function, based mainly on studies of mice bearing a dominant negative, antimorphic mutation in the Clock gene. However, new discoveries using recently developed Clock-null mutant mice have shaken up this view. In this review, I discuss how this recent work impacts and alters the previous view of the role of CLOCK in the mouse circadian clockwork.
A critical evaluation of occlusal therapy: occlusal adjustment procedures

There are many approaches to occlusal adjustment, but some may be more effective than others.