cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Wartime Development in Modern‐Language Achievement Testing

IF THE questionnaire submitted to foreign-language teachers by the Modern Foreign Language Study in 1925-1926 were sent out again today, it is doubtful if reading would again be rated as the central, paramount objective by as large a number as approved the recommendations of the Coleman Report.' Since 1925 even the size of the world has changed for all practical purposes. Today, the most distant point on the globe is only 60 hours from home by fast airplane. In 1925 most teachers listened to radioprograms, if at all, only through headphones, and the static from local stations was often as great as that accompanying modern broadcasts from the South Pole. Today, the pronouncements of dictators, and the coronation or abdication of kings, can be heard in almost every home in America with greater clarity than local broadcasts in 1925. To maintain that foreignlanguage teaching can be functional if guided by recommendations suited to an entirely different set of conditions, however recent, would not be an unusual, but certainly a doubtfully sane reaction of the teaching profession. Recent articles in this and other foreign-language publications give evidence of a growing realization that to serve present and very obvious future needs, modern foreign-language teaching must stress the aural-oral abilities more than ever before. The short-wave radio is increasingly inspiring a popular demand for ability to understand the spoken language, while growing American participation in world affairs is already creating a similar, if not greater, demand for ability actually to speak the foreign tongue. To insist that the adoption of ability to understand and speak the language should henceforth be the central and paramount objective of modern foreign-language teaching in elementary and secondary schools, and in lower division college classes, by no means implies that reading and writing need be thrown into discard. The proposal represents only a marked shift in primary emphasis-a putting of first things first, not from the viewpoint of method or subject-matter, but from the viewpoint of life needs outside the school.
Hierarchical Modeling of Juvenile Chinook Salmon Survival as a Function of Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Water Exports

Abstract A multiyear study was carried out in the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta system to examine the relationship between the survival of out-migrating Chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha and the amount of water exported from the system by the two major pumping stations in the southern portion of the delta. Paired releases of groups of coded-wire-tagged juvenile late-fall-run Chinook salmon were made at two locations in the delta, one in the main-stem Sacramento River and one in the interior portion of the delta where they were more likely to be directly affected by the pumping stations. Shortly after release, the fish were recovered downstream by a midwater trawl, and over a 2–4-year period the fish were recovered in ocean fishery catches and spawning ground surveys. A Bayesian hierarchical model for the recoveries was fit that explicitly accounted for the between-release variation in survival and capture probabilities as well as the sampling variation in the recoveries. The survival of the interior ...
The effect of environmental factors on morphine withdrawal in C57BL/6J mice: running wheel access and group housing.

There is evidence to suggest that the rewarding effects of drugs of abuse can be altered by environmental manipulations such as housing conditions and access to running wheels. There is less information about how these environmental manipulations alter withdrawal behaviors following the termination of chronic drug administration. The objective of this study is to examine the effects of access to running wheels and group housing on spontaneous morphine withdrawal. C57BL/6J mice were assigned to one of the three housing conditions: wheel access (singly housed), no wheels (singly housed), or group-housed (no wheels). Mice received 30 or 56 mg/kg morphine or saline (s.c.) twice daily for 5.5 days. At baseline and at 8, 24, 32, and 48 h following the final injection, latency to respond on a hot plate was determined across a range of temperatures (50, 52, 54, and 56 °C). Latency to respond decreased as a function of temperature. Response latencies during the withdrawal period were decreased in mice without wheel access treated with both 30 and 56 mg/kg of morphine. This increase in thermal sensitivity was significantly attenuated in singly housed mice with wheel access and in group-housed mice; however, the effects were less pronounced in the group-housed mice and depended upon the time during withdrawal. Both wheel access and group housing attenuate the increase in thermal sensitivity seen in morphine-treated mice during morphine withdrawal.
Nuclear k T in d+Au collisions from multi-particle jet reconstruction at STAR

This paper presents the most recent nuclear kT measurements from STAR derived from multiparticle jet reconstruction of d+Au and p+p collisions at √ s = 200 GeV. Since jets reconstructed from multiple particles are relatively free of fragmentation biases, nuclear kT can be measured with greater certainty in this way than with traditional di-hadron correlations. Multi-particle jet reconstruction can also be used for a direct measurement of the fragmentation function.
Are The Benefits Of Newer Drugs Worth Their Cost? Evidence From The 1996 MEPS

This study analyzes data on prescribed medicines from the 1996 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) to examine the association between the use of newer medicines and morbidity, mortality, and health spending. We find that people consuming newer drugs were significantly less likely to die by the end of the survey and were significantly less likely to experience work-loss days than were people consuming older drugs. Our most notable finding, however, is that use of newer drugs tends to lower all types of nondrug medical spending, resulting in a substantial net reduction in the total cost of treating a given condition.
Sampling adsorbing staircase walks using a new Markov chain decomposition method

Staircase walks are lattice paths from (0,0) to (2n,0) which take diagonal steps and which never fall below the x-axis. A path hitting the x-axis /spl kappa/ times is assigned a weight of /spl lambda//sup /spl kappa//, where /spl lambda/>0. A simple local Markov chain, which connects the state space and converges to the Gibbs measure (which normalizes these weights) is known to be rapidly mixing when /spl lambda/=1, and can easily be shown to be rapidly mixing when /spl lambda/ 1, known in the statistical physics community as adsorbing staircase walks. The main new ingredient is a decomposition technique which allows us to analyze the Markov chain in pieces, applying different arguments to analyze each piece.
Structural optimization of SUTBDG devices for low-power applications

In this paper, we investigate the impact of physical structure on the performance of symmetric ultrathin body double-gate devices for low-operating-power (LOP) applications. Devices with regular raised source/drain (S/D) structures have optimal spacer thicknesses governed by a tradeoff between fringing capacitance and series resistance. Expanded S/D structures improve on regular raised S/D structures by slowing down the increases in both fringing capacitance with gate height and series resistance with spacer thickness. The cost is more chip area and process complexity. Pure high-/spl kappa/ gate dielectrics raise the off-state current (I/sub OFF/) due to the fringing field-induced barrier lowering effect. Suppressing the I/sub OFF/ increase requires either a significant reduction in equivalent oxide thickness or a significant shift in gate work function. If the gate work function is tuned to maintain a fixed I/sub OFF/, devices with less abrupt S/D-channel junctions suffer a drive current (I/sub ON/) degradation, and devices with weakly coupling S/D and relatively thick bodies gain improvements in I/sub ON/. The I/sub ON/ of a device with metal S/D is significantly lower than required for LOP applications, if the S/D Schottky barrier height (SBH) is over 200 meV. We also briefly discuss the impact of mobility degradation on this structural optimization.
Use of active fluorescence to estimate phytoplankton photosynthesis in situ

We describe the theory and practice of estimating photosynthetic rates from light-stimulated changes in the quantum yield of chlorophyll fluorescence. By means of a pump-and-probe fluorescence technique, where weak probe flashes are used to measure the change in the quantum yield of fluorescence induced by the strong pump flash, it is possible to derive the absolute absorption cross sections for photosystem 2, the quantum yield for photochemistry, and the maximum rate of photosynthetic electron transport at light saturation. In conjunction with a semiempirical biophysical model of photosynthesis, these parameters can bc used to calculate the instantaneous rate of gross photosynthesis in situ under ambient irradiance. A profiling pump-and-probe fluorometer was constructed and interfaced with a CTD, and vertical profiles of variable fluorescence were obtained on four cruises in the northwest Atlantic Ocean. The derived photosynthetic rates were compared with concurrent estimates of production based on radiocarbon uptake. The correlation coefficient between the two estimates of primary production, normalized to Chl a, was 0.86; linear regression analysis yielded a slope of 1.06. There is a 3-4-fold range in the maximum change in the quantum yields of photochemistry and absorption cross-sections in natural phytoplankton communities. Uncertainties in the pump-and-probe-derived estimates of photosynthesis arc primarily due to temporal mismatches between instantaneous and time-integrated measures of production and in biological variability in the ratio of the number of PS2 reaction centers to total Chl a. Almost all measurements of phytoplankton photosynthesis in situ are based on the timedependent incorporation of radiocarbon into particulate matter or on changes in concentration of dissolved oxygen in the bulk fluid.
Three-dimensional reconstruction of objects buried in layered media using Born and distorted Born iterative methods

We develop electromagnetic inverse scattering methods to reconstruct three-dimensional (3-D) objects buried in layered media. The nonlinear inverse problem is solved iteratively via the conjugate-gradient approach; within each iteration, the problem is linearized by Born and distorted Born approximations. The forward solution for layered media is provided by the stabilized biconjugate-gradient fast Fourier transform method. The inversion results from the Born and distorted Born iterative methods are presented, and the effects of the aperture size and noise on the inversion results are also investigated. Numerical results show that these methods are capable of reconstructing an arbitrary 3-D inhomogeneous object buried in a multilayered medium with high resolution.
The management of patient encounter time in a high-stakes assessment using standardized patients.

Objectives The purpose of this study was to gather information regarding the appropriateness of the length of time allotted for candidates to complete the history taking and physical examination tasks in a high-stakes standardized patient (SP) assessment. Design Data were collected on actual time used by 1548 examinees for each of their 10 standardized patient encounters, for which a maximum of 15 minutes was allotted, but not required. Setting The Clinical Skills Assessment Center of the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Subjects Graduates of foreign medical schools who are seeking ECFMG certification. Results The average time spent with the standardized patient was 13·3 minutes, suggesting that the 15-minute time limit was sufficient. A positive correlation was found between data-gathering scores and patient interview times. Candidates did tend to spend more time with SPs presenting with cases involving complex histories, as well as with cases of chronic conditions. Conclusions Candidate time use varied as a function of type of clinical encounter, providing additional evidence of the content validity of the Clinical Skills Assessment.
Why When She Says No She Doesn't Mean Maybe and Doesn't Mean Yes: A Critical Reconstruction of Consent, Sex, and The Law

A little more than two years ago, a Texas woman, faced with a knife-wielding intruder demanding sex from her, tried to talk her attacker into wearing a condom to protect herself against the possibility of contracting AIDS. A grand jury refused to indict the man because jurors believed that the woman's act of self-protection implied that she had consented to sex.
Adaptive simulation: dynamic data driven application in geophysical mass flows

The ability to dynamically change data input to a computation is a key feature enabling simulation to be used in many applications. In this study, computation of geophysical mass flow is updated on the fly by changing terrain data. Accommodating such changes in a parallel environment entails new developments in parallel data management and gridding. Adaptivity, and in particular unrefinement, is critical for maintaining parallel efficiency. The application under study in this work is the result of a multidisciplinary collaboration between engineers, mathematicians, geologists, and hazard assessment personnel. In addition, adaptive gridding enables efficient use of computational resources, allowing for run-time determination of optimal computing resources. Combining these attributes allows run time conditions to inform calculations, which in turn provide up-to-date information to hazard management personnel.
Current developments in diplomacy: Who are the diplomats now?

(1997). Current developments in diplomacy: Who are the diplomats now? Diplomacy & Statecraft: Vol. 8, No. 2, pp. 1-15.
Application of highly conductive ZnO to the excitation of long-range plasmons in symmetric hybrid waveguides

Plasmonics combines attractive features of nanoelectronics and optics enabling highly integrated, subwavelength optical and electronic circuits. The wide application of plasmonic devices hinges on practical demonstrations with low losses at optical and infrared wavelengths. In this frequency regime, noble metals suffer from large losses that are difficult to compensate by adding gain material. Transparent conducting oxides, e.g., ZnO, are good alternatives to metals for plasmonic applications in the optical regime since they exhibit high conductivity and relatively small negative real permittivity values. We study Ga-doped ZnO layers grown on Al 2 O 3 at 200°C by pulsed laser deposition in Ar ambient. The bulk electrical properties, determined by Hall effect, were ρ=2.93×10 −4 Ω-cm ; μ=25.5 cm 2 /V-s ; and n=8.36×10 20 cm −3 . These values of μ and n were used to predict optical properties through the Drude dielectric function. The optical and electrical properties of the material were used to design insulator-metal-insulator (in our case, ZnO embedded in polymer) waveguides for long-range plasmons using full-wave electromagnetic models built with finite element method simulations. The models were used to predict the effect of device geometry on propagation length and losses of the plasmon mode.
Evaluation of an adaptive traffic control technique with underlying system changes

A key problem in traffic engineering is the optimization of the flow of vehicles through a given road network. Improving the timing of the traffic signals at intersections in the network is generally the most powerful and cost-effective means of achieving this goal. Recent efforts have resulted in the development of a fundamentally different approach for optimal centralized signal timing control that eliminates the need for an open-loop model of the traffic network dynamics. The approach is based on a neural network (NN) serving as the basis for the control law, with the internal NN weight estimation occurring real-time in closed-loop mode via the simultaneous perturbation stochastic approximation (SPSA) algorithm. The paper investigates the application of such a non-network-model-based approach and illustrates the approach through a simulation on a nine-intersection, mid-Manhattan, New York network. The simulated traffic network contains varying short and long-term congestion behavior and short-term stochastic, nonlinear effects. The approach results in a net 10% reduction in vehicle wait time relative to the performance of the existing, in-place strategy.
Mendelian Inheritance of Pupal Diapause in the Flesh Fly, Sarcophaga bullata

Pupal diapause (dormancy) in the flesh fly, Sarcophaga bullata, is induced by short-day photoperiods and low temperature. In this study, the inheritance mode of diapause was investigated by crossing a nondiapausing (nd) strain of S. bullata with 2 diapausing strains having different diapause capacities. The results consistently indicated that diapause incidence is inherited in a simple Mendelian pattern, thus a single gene or a small gene cluster linked to the photoperiodic clock controls the seasonal response of diapause. The fact that the nd strain lacked daily rhythmicity in adult eclosion and showed altered expression of 2 circadian clock genes suggests that the photoperiodic and circadian clocks are related through a shared molecular component in S. bullata.
Regulatory requirements for testing the donor blood supply

Abstract Over the last 30 years, there have been tremendous advances made in protecting the nation's blood supply from dangerous pathogens. From serologic testing to antigen detection to the application of nucleic acid testing, developments in technology have contributed to the reduction in the risk of transfusion transmission of hepatitis, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and West Nile virus. The Centers of Biologics Research of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has legal enforcement power and is responsible for oversight of the collection and manufacture of blood and blood products. The American Association of Blood Banks is a major voluntary standard setting organization that publishes standards, some going beyond the requirements of the FDA, to ensure blood safety. This report will highlight the major topics in blood safety and the regulatory and quality requirements that shape transfusion medicine.
Shades of Green: Measuring the Value of Urban Forests in the Housing Market

Abstract Urban areas can contain public parks, protected forests, unprotected (or undeveloped) forest areas, and trees growing around a house or in the neighborhood surrounding the house. Each type of forest cover provides different amenities to the homeowner and to society at large. In particular, while trees on a parcel of land or in a neighborhood may add value for homeowners, the ecological value of these trees as habitat is far less than large, unbroken parcels of forest. We explore different definitions of forest cover and greenness and assess the relative value of these various types of forest cover to homeowners. Using data from the Research Triangle region of North Carolina, we test the hypothesis that trees on a parcel or in the neighborhood around that parcel are substitutes for living near large blocks of forest. The findings have implications for land-use planning efforts and habitat conservation in particular.
Asymptotic Tests of Association with Multiple SNPs in Linkage Disequilibrium

We consider detecting associations between a trait and multiple single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in linkage disequilibrium (LD). To maximize the use of information contained in multiple SNPs while minimizing the cost of large degrees of freedom (DF) in testing multiple parameters, we first theoretically explore the sum test derived under a working assumption of a common association strength between the trait and each SNP, testing on the corresponding parameter with only one DF. Under the scenarios that the association strengths between the trait and the SNPs are close to each other (and in the same direction), as considered by Wang and Elston [Am. J. Hum. Genet. [2007] 80:353-360], we show with simulated data that the sum test was powerful as compared to several existing tests; otherwise, the sum test might have much reduced power. To overcome the limitation of the sum test, based on our theoretical analysis of the sum test, we propose five new tests that are closely related to each other and are shown to consistently perform similarly well across a wide range of scenarios. We point out the close connection of the proposed tests to the Goeman test. Furthermore, we derive the asymptotic distributions of the proposed tests so that P-values can be easily calculated, in contrast to the use of computationally demanding permutations or simulations for the Goeman test. A distinguishing feature of the five new tests is their use of a diagonal working covariance matrix, rather than a full covariance matrix as used in the usual Wald or score test. We recommend the routine use of two of the new tests, along with several other tests, to detect disease associations with multiple linked SNPs.
Using a Performance Budgeting System: Lessons from the Texas Experience

This chapter is a case study on the use of performance information to improve results in Texas state government from 1993 to 2002, including 10,249 pairs of observations for five bienna of performance data. It provides a number of statistical observations about the agencies that improved and those that did not, noting that most with increased performance mirrored demographic trends. Target achievement was highest among the agencies of the judiciary, but with the lowest levels of improvement, while target achievement was lowest among human service agencies, but with the highest levels of improvement. This suggests a serious mismatch between target setting and performance gains in the Texas system. Recommendations include setting targets that would improve performance.
Poisson distributions

Scientists and engineers often use Poisson's probability distribution to characterize the statistics of rare events whose average number is small. Using it correctly is crucial if we are to validate claims of discovery of new phenomena, such as a new fundamental particle (few candidate collision events among millions), a remote galaxy (few photons in the telescope among the billions emitted), or brain damage from using cell phones (few tumors among millions of users). In risk assessment, such as estimating the chance of dying from a horse kick if you're in the Prussian army or from suicide (two of its early uses), it plays a crucial role, which should interest actuaries as well as morticians. The author has noticed that the Poisson distribution is often misunderstood and misapplied, so he describes some of its interesting and relevant properties. He emphasizes visualizing what's happening in the mathematics by using Mathematica.
Evaluation of resistant starch content of cooked black beans, pinto beans, and chickpeas

Abstract Resistant starch (RS) is associated with many of the health benefits attributed to dietary fiber. In this study, RS content was determined in black beans, pinto beans, and chickpeas freshly cooked and sampled at 15-min intervals for 90 min. A second set of black bean samples, cooked identically, was held at room temperature (25 °C) for a 24-h period prior to being assayed. The analysis showed that resistant starch levels fall sharply between 15 and 30 min of cooking before achieving a steady resistant starch concentration of approximately 4 g/100 g of sample dry weight. Beans allowed to sit at 25 °C showed similar behavior, but had increased levels of resistant starch after leveling off (approximately 5 g/100 g dry weight). A texture analysis of black beans was also completed along with resistant starch analyses for pinto beans and chickpeas to provide additional results that contributed to the overall conclusions. Pinto beans had slightly higher levels of resistant starch at each time interval, but followed a pattern similar to black beans. Chickpeas had low levels of resistant starch initially and expressed little change as cooking time increased. After 60 min of cooking, all bean samples had between 3 and 5 g of resistant starch per 100 g. In order to maximize dietary consumption of RS, a cooling period for cooked legumes is advisable.
A Review of “Being Soviet: Identity, Rumour, and Everyday Life under Stalin 1939–53”

What did it mean to be Soviet in the tumultuous period from the eve of World War II to the end of Stalin's rule? That is the question at the core of the first academic monograph by Timothy Johnston...
Using Plasma Transforming Growth Factor Beta-1 During Radiotherapy to Select Patients for Dose Escalation

PURPOSE: The ability to prescribe treatment based on relative risks for normal tissue injury has important implications for oncologists. In non–small-cell lung cancer, increasing the dose of radiation may improve local control and survival. Changes in plasma transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) levels during radiotherapy (RT) may identify patients at low risk for complications in whom higher doses of radiation could be safely delivered. PATIENT AND METHODS: Patients with locally advanced or medically inoperable non–small-cell lung cancer received three-dimensional conformal RT to the primary tumor and radiographically involved nodes to a dose of 73.6 Gy (1.6 Gy twice daily). If the plasma TGFβ level was normal after 73.6 Gy, additional twice daily RT was delivered to successively higher total doses. The maximum-tolerated dose was defined as the highest radiation dose at which ≤ one grade 4 (life-threatening) late toxicity and ≤ two grade 3 to 4 (severe life-threatening) late toxicities occurred. RESULTS...
Experimental Examination of the Rational Method

Rainfall and runoff data collected in Baltimore, Maryland, from 20 gaged urban drainage areas ranging in size up to 150 acres have been used in a study of the Rational Method. The results suggest it may be nearly correct to assume that the frequency of occurrence of the computed design peak runoff is the same as the frequency of occurrence of the rainfall intensity selected by the designer if an appropriate C value has been selected. Presently used values of C are not adequately based on measurements of rainfall and runoff in urban areas, so large errors can occur when the Rational Method is used. In accordance with their usual design procedures, five storm drainage designers used the Rational Method to estimate 5 yr design peak runoff rates for six gaged drainage areas. These values are compared with runoff values from runoff frequency curves for these gaged areas.
Resonant transducers for solid-state plasma density modulation

We have developed transducers capable of modulating the plasma density and plasma density gradients in indium antimonide. These transducers make use of piezoelectric drivers to excite acoustic pressure resonance at 3λ/2, generating large amplitude standing waves and plasma density modulations. The plasma density has been directly measured using a laser diagnostic. A layered media model shows good agreement with the experimental measurements.
Preliminary study on pH of Xinyang maojian tea liquor

The pH of Xinyang maojian tea liquor were measured. The results showed that the pH value of tea to some extent reflect the level of tea quality. Description of different pH in different tea tenderness. The bud tea weak acid compared to the leaf tea,tea that is more tender,more weak acid,the older the tea,the stronger the acid. And high and low Xinyang maojian tea infusion of pH value compared to the results show that the pH value of tea with the decline in the quality of tea down,this is because the tenderness worse,the more organic acid content of tea.
Body-scaled perception is subjected to adaptation when repetitively judging opportunities for grasping

Experimental evidence is given that the perceptual system adapts to repetitive task execution in a perceptual two-choice judgment task. Participants were tested with respect to their perception of opportunities for plank grasping. Participants had to report whether planks were perceived as objects being graspable with either one hand or two hands. When the plank size was gradually increased and subsequently decreased, transitions from one hand judgments to two hands judgments and vice versa were observed. Analysis of the transition scores revealed that the perceptual judgments were body-scaled, as it is known in the literature. However, judgments were also found to be context dependent. Judgment transition scores were affected in a systematic way by the kind of and the number of previously made judgments. The latter quantitative impact was observed in three related experiments and suggests that perceptual judgments about opportunities for action adapt to task repetition. Overall, the experimental findings are consistent with the predictions of a dynamical systems model, which assumes that perceptual judgments are emergent properties of a self-organizing process that involves inhibitory top-down feedback.
Erosion thickness on medial axes of 3D shapes

While playing a fundamental role in shape understanding, the medial axis is known to be sensitive to small boundary perturbations. Methods for pruning the medial axis are usually guided by some measure of significance. The majority of significance measures over the medial axes of 3D shapes are locally defined and hence unable to capture the scale of features. We introduce a global significance measure that generalizes in 3D the classical Erosion Thickness (ET) measure over the medial axes of 2D shapes. We give precise definition of ET in 3D, analyze its properties, and present an efficient approximation algorithm with bounded error on a piece-wise linear medial axis. Experiments showed that ET outperforms local measures in differentiating small boundary noise from prominent shape features, and it is significantly faster to compute than existing global measures. We demonstrate the utility of ET in extracting clean, shape-revealing and topology-preserving skeletons of 3D shapes.
Robust classification under covariate shift with application to active learning

In supervised machine learning, model performance can decrease significantly when the distribution generating the new data varies from the distribution that generated the training data. One of the situations is covariate shift which happens a lot when labeled training data is missing, hard to get access to or very expensive to uniformly collect. All (probabilistic) classifiers will suffer from covariate shift. This motivates our research. Generally, we try to answer this question: how can we deal with covariate shift and generate predictions that are robust and reliable? We propose to develop a general framework for classification under covariate shift that is robust, flexible and accurate.
The Postwar Medicalization of Planning: Planned Parenthood’s Conservative Comic, Escape from Fear

ABSTRACTIn light of recent criticism targeting Planned Parenthood, this essay turns to Planned Parenthood’s 1956 comic book, Escape from Fear, as a rich historical text for considering the implications underlying the negotiation of ideological positions in the context of an increasingly conservative society. In this case study, I contend that this Planned Parenthood comic book uses a generically familiar romance narrative in ways appealing to conservative readers and situating birth control as a normative part of the ideal American . However, beyond normalizing white, middle-class, heterosexual, married women’s use of Planned Parenthood resources, this domestication of contraception also subtly masked the normalization of professionalized medicine within the . While contemporary readers should be wary of this narrative’s medicalization of women’s bodies, the comic book’s subtle representation of expanded female autonomy and authority also signals how women’s health organizations might cons...
Trends in US Adult Fruit and Vegetable Consumption

Publisher Summary A lack of an improvement in Fruit and Vegetable (FV eating out is common and convenient but facilitates consumption of larger portion sizes with extra energy and fat content; advertising for nutritionally poor foods is much more widespread than for the promotion of FV access to fruits and vegetables may be limited in disadvantaged neighborhoods. Third, confusion over implementing the Dietary Guidelines into daily practice deters individuals from trying to meet F&V recommendations. Without formal education or access to pertinent information, many Americans are missing important messages about the health benefits of including F&V in their daily diet. Consumption of fruits and vegetables among US adults is below United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommended servings. Low consumption has a negative effect on a healthy diet. A healthy diet that includes a variety of fruits and vegetables may protect against preventable chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease and diabetes. To increase consumption, concerted efforts must address individual behaviors and the social and physical environments in which individuals interact and obtain fruits and vegetables.
Is there a time limit for systemic menopausal hormone therapy

In deciding whether it is time to stop hormone therapy, in addition to the patient's age we need to consider her preferences, symptoms, quality of life, time since menopause, hysterectomy status, and personal risks of osteoporosis, breast cancer, heart disease, stroke, and venous thromboembolism. This article presents the evidence for and against extending hormone therapy and a guide for making this highly individualized and shared decision.
Sexual futures, queer gestures, and other Latina longings

Queer and Latin@ bodies, Juana Maria Rodriguez argues in her sumptuously written Sexual Futures, Queer Gestures, and other Latina Longings, have always been read as excessive. Our bodies, she write...
Alterations in the immune cell composition in premalignant breast tissue that precede breast cancer development

Purpose: Little is known about the role of the immune system in the earliest stages of breast carcinogenesis. We studied quantitative differences in immune cell types between breast tissues from normal donors and those from women with benign breast disease (BBD).Experimental Design: A breast tissue matched case-control study was created from donors to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Tissue Bank (KTB) and from women diagnosed with BBD at Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN) who either subsequently developed cancer (BBD cases) or remained cancer-free (BBD controls). Serial tissue sections underwent immunostaining and digital quantification of cell number per mm2 for CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, CD20+ B cells, and CD68+ macrophages and quantification of positive pixel measure for CD11c (dendritic cells).Results: In 94 age-matched triplets, BBD lobules showed greater densities of CD8+ T cells, CD11c+ dendritic cells, CD20+ B cells, and CD68+ macrophages compared with KTB normals. Relative to BBD controls, BBD cases had lower CD20+ cell density (P = 0.04). Nearly 42% of BBD cases had no CD20+ B cells in evaluated lobules compared with 28% of BBD controls (P = 0.02). The absence of CD20+ cells versus the presence in all lobules showed an adjusted OR of 5.7 (95% confidence interval, 1.4-23.1) for subsequent breast cancer risk.Conclusions: Elevated infiltration of both innate and adaptive immune effectors in BBD tissues suggests an immunogenic microenvironment. The reduced B-cell infiltration in women with later breast cancer suggests a role for B cells in preventing disease progression and as a possible biomarker for breast cancer risk. Clin Cancer Res; 23(14); 3945-52. ©2017 AACR.
Why Did Europe Conquer the World? By Philip T. Hoffman. (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2015. Pp. 288. $29.95.)

Why did Western Europe, which had been a cultural and technological backwater after the fall of the Roman Empire, suddenly embark on the path of global domination around 1500? How did it succeed? M...
Application of IR thermometry to understanding brain function

Gliomas are a deadly class of brain tumor for which surgery is currently standard treatment. However, important functional areas must be avoided during tumor removal. Currently intraoperative stimulation-based mapping addresses this, however it has low spatial resolution (~ 1cm) and requires many stimulations. We explore an alternate approach to functional mapping via infrared thermography. Activated brain tissue recruits additional blood supply (neurovascular coupling), which raises local temperature. Intraoperative thermal imaging (ITI) can map several areas simultaneously with relatively high resolution (~0.1 mm). We present our experiences using ITI on two glioma patients, and compare our findings to the stimulation-based gold standard. Initial data suggests good correspondence between these methods, and opens possibilities for a complementary approach. Ultimately, the goal of ITI is to improve patient outcomes by precisely defining the extent of surgical resection and prevent postoperative neurologic deficits.
The Use of Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry in the Identification of Ancient Sorghum Seeds

Our initial experiments showed that gas chromatographic profiles of fatty acid methyl esters obtained by the methylation of extracts of artificially charred sorghum seeds might be useful in identifying separate races and sub-races of sorghum. Accordingly, a library of fatty acid ester profiles of over 125 accessions of artificially charred (2 h at 125° C) sorghum was acquired from the Tropical Agricultural Research Station in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. Additionally, each GC profile was statistically analyzed to give 2-D plots and Euclidean distances from the resulting dendrograms, which subsequently served as reference profiles stored in the computer-generated library. Charred ancient sorghum seeds from the early neolithic site of Nabta Playa, southern Egypt, were analyzed in a similar way and were found to contain fatty acids. However, a second batch of ancient seeds from the same site contained no detectable fatty acids, possibly because they were completely charred, unlike the first batch. Issues for future research are discussed.
Differences in integrin expression during avian corneal stromal development.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether there are changes in integrin expression associated with the spatial and temporal variations in matrix expression that occur during specific stages in corneal stromal development. METHODS: Immunofluorescence techniques were used to analyze beta 1-containing integrins and alpha v beta 3 localization both in situ and in cell cultures. RESULTS: In situ, beta 1 and alpha v beta 3 were present with different patterns of localization, and these varied with developmental stage. beta 1-containing integrins were present on most cells, whereas alpha v beta 3 was present on cells at the corneal-scleral epitheliomesenchymal interface during migration of keratocyte precursors; very little alpha v beta 3 was localized in keratocytes. Keratocytes and undifferentiated periocular mesenchyme cells grown in vitro also exhibited differences in localization of beta 1-containing integrins and alpha v beta 3. All focal adhesions contained beta 1, whereas a subset contained both beta 1 and alpha v beta 3, indicating potential functional differences in focal adhesions. In addition, most periocular mesenchyme cells exhibited alpha v beta 3-containing focal adhesions throughout, but the majority of keratocytes contained only peripherally located alpha v beta 3-positive focal adhesions. The localization of both beta 1-containing integrins and alpha v beta 3 was modulated by time allowed for attachment and spreading. CONCLUSIONS: Keratocytes and undifferentiated periocular mesenchyme cells exhibit developmental differences in integrin localization in situ. These two cell types also exhibit different patterns of alpha v beta 3 localization in vitro, possibly as a result of developmental differences in ligand-binding properties. beta 1-containing integrins and alpha v beta 3 define different types of focal adhesions, implying different functions. These differences in expression may be important in the initiation of cellular migration in the early stages of corneal development, as well as in the transition from the undifferentiated to the differentiated keratocyte phenotype.
Consequences of Self-Regulatory Perseveration: The Depressive Spiral

We are proposing that the inability to exit a self-regulatory cycle focused on a lost source of self-worth, meaning, or emotional security sets in motion a process that ultimately culminates in a state of depression. We also posit that many of the symptoms typically associated with depression are produced by the high level of self-focus that results from continued engagement of the self-regulatory cycle on an irreducible discrepancy. If these propositions are correct, we should be able to explain how such self-regulatory perseveration produces the various symptoms commonly associated with depression.
Modification of Nano-sized Materials for Drug Delivery

As the field of nanotechnology advances, many nano-sized materials have been successfully used in drug delivery systems. However, recent practices in offering drugs with long circulation time and efficient targeting, and/or developing new therapeutic strategies are challenging nano-sized drug delivery carriers with more defined biological properties and functionalities. Most nano-sized delivery vehicles and materials currently being used cannot completely fulfill these requirements. To address these issues, syntheses of new carrier materials and modification of existing nano-sized materials with tunable properties are considered to be two effective strategies thus far. In this review article, we will focus on the latter. It is thought that through modification one can control and tailor the properties of nano-sized materials in a predictable manner, as well as provide them with precise properties and functionalities. These modifications can bring new and unique capabilities to many drug delivery systems. Recent progress on drug delivery applications for modified and functionalized nano-sized materials will be highlighted, after the methods used to modify nano-sized materials are discussed briefly.
College Academic Assistance Programs and Practices

Most public institutions offer some form of academic assistance to help their students adjust to the demands of college level learning tasks. Because these academic assistance efforts vary considerably, ranging from an emphasis on functional reading to an emphasis on strategic learning, it is important to describe these programs and their instructional methodologies and to review the pertinent research supporting them. After examining four critical issues confronting all academic assistance programs, the authors examined the goals, assessment procedures, salient features, and program evaluation methods of four prevalent program models: learning to learn courses, supplemental instruction, required programs for underprepared students, and integrated reading/writing courses. They concluded by outlining suggestions for future research and by listing specific questions that college students need to ask about the programs at their institutions.
Smoking Cessation in the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease

This article reviews the epidemiologic evidence linking smoking to cardiovascular disease and smoking cessation to a reduction in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The nature of the smoking habit is examined in an attempt to understand why smokers have difficulty giving up the habit. Current smoking cessation techniques are evaluated. The article concludes with a six-step program for physicians to use to help their patients stop smoking.
Expression of NY-ESO-1 cancer testis antigen in prostate cancer.

e16544Background: Poor outcomes in castrate resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) patients is a growing concern urging the need for innovative treatments. Cancer testis antigens (CTAs) like NY-ESO-1 are...
Review of Cinzia D. Solari. On the Shoulders of Grandmothers: Gender, Migration, and Post-Soviet Nation-State Building.

Book review of Cinzia D. Solari. On the Shoulders of Grandmothers: Gender, Migration, and Post-Soviet Nation-State Building. Routledge, 2018. xiv, 258 pp. Illustrations. Tables. Appendix. Notes. Bibliography. Index. $41.95, paper.
Isohemagglutinin titering performed on an automated solid‐phase and hemagglutinin‐based analyzer is comparable to results obtained by manual gel testing

Background Isohemagglutinins (anti-A and anti-B) mediate hemolytic transfusion reactions, antibody-mediated rejection of solid-organ transplants, and delayed engraftment after stem cell transplant. However, quantification of isohemagglutinins is often labor intensive and operator dependent, limiting availability and interfacility comparisons. We evaluated an automated, solid-phase and agglutination-based antibody titer platform versus manual gel testing. Study design and methods Plasma samples were obtained from 54 randomly selected patients. Titers were determined by our laboratory's standard assay (manual dilution followed by manual gel testing) and were compared to results obtained on a fully automated blood bank analyzer (Galileo NEO, Immucor). The analyzer determined immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies using solid-phase and immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies by direct hemagglutination. Results Isohemagglutinin titers obtained by manual gel versus the automated assay generally (>80%) agreed within one doubling dilution, and always (100%) agreed within two dilutions. Among O samples, the gel titer and the highest titer obtained with the automated assay (either IgG or IgM) were similar in paired, nonparametric analysis (p = 0.06 for anti-A; p = 0.13 for anti-B). Gel titers from group A and group B patients were slightly higher than the highest titer obtained using the automated assay (p = 0.04 for group A; p = 0.009 for group B), although these differences were within the accepted error of measurement. Conclusion Manual and automated methodologies yielded similar isohemagglutinin titers. Separate quantification of IgM and IgG isohemagglutinins via automated titration may yield additional insight into hemolysis, graft survival after ABO-incompatible transplantation, and red blood cell engraftment after ABO-incompatible stem cell transplant.
NivaDuck - A Scalable Pipeline to Build a Database of Political Twitter Handles for India and the United States

We present a scalable methodology to identify Twitter handles of politicians in a given region and test our framework in the context of Indian and US politics. The main contribution of our work is the list of the curated Twitter handles of 18500 Indian and 8000 US politicians. Our work leveraged machine learning-based classification and human verification to build a data set of Indian politicians on Twitter. We built NivaDuck, a highly precise, two-staged classification pipeline that leverages Twitter description text and tweet content to identify politicians. For India, we tested NivaDuck’s recall using Twitter handles of the members of the Indian parliament while for the US we used state and local level politicians in California state and San Diego county respectively. We found that while NivaDuck has lower recall scores, it produces large, diverse sets of politicians with precision exceeding 90 percent for the US dataset. We discuss the need for an ML-based, scalable method to compile such a dataset and its myriad use cases for the research community and its wide-ranging utilities for research in political communication on social media.