cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Purple sea urchins Strongylocentrotus purpuratus reduce grazing rates in response to risk cues from the spiny lobster Panulirus interruptus

The classical view of trophic cascades is that predators, by consuming herbivores, exert a positive indirect effect on plants. Although this form of trophic cascade has been demonstrated in a variety of terrestrial, aquatic, and marine systems, growing evidence suggests many trophic cascades are driven by anti-predator behaviors in prey. Despite abundant evidence of behavioral responses by sea urchins to predators, there has been little examination of how predation risk may influence urchin grazing rates. To determine if purple sea urchins Strongylocentrotus purpuratus graze less in the presence of predation risk, I monitored individual urchin grazing on the kelp Macrocystis pyrifera in the presence and absence of waterborne cues from damaged conspecifics and the predatory spiny lobster Panulirus interruptus. Sea urchin grazing rates were similar in the presence and absence of damaged conspecifics, but sea urchins exposed to lobster cues, regardless of lobster diet, reduced grazing rates by 44%. Given that trophic cascades involving herbivorous sea urchins exert an impor- tant influence on primary production in kelp forests, these results suggest that predation risk may play an important but under-appreciated role in the dynamics of kelp forest food webs and primary production.
T Cells with Low Avidity for a Tissue-Restricted Antigen Routinely Evade Central and Peripheral Tolerance and Cause Autoimmunity

T cells causing autoimmunity must escape tolerance. We observed that CD8+ T cells with high avidity for an antigen expressed in the pancreas, kidney, and thymic medulla were efficiently removed from a polyclonal repertoire by central and peripheral tolerance mechanisms. However, both mechanisms spared low-avidity T cells from elimination. Neither the introduction of activated, self-antigen-specific CD4+ helper T cells nor a global inflammatory stimulus were sufficient to activate the low-avidity CD8+ T cells and did not break tolerance. In contrast, challenge with a recombinant bacterium expressing the self antigen primed the low-avidity T cells, and the animals rapidly developed autoimmune diabetes. We suggest that whereas thymic and peripheral tolerance mechanisms remove cells that can be primed by endogenous amounts of self antigen, they do not guard against tissue destruction by low-avidity effector T cells, which have been primed by higher amounts of self antigen or by crossreactive antigens.
Carbon dioxide laser use in wound sealing and epikeratophakia.

Abstract This paper presents current clinical and experimental uses of the carbon dioxide laser and the results of our human and animal tissue fusion investigations. Trials were conducted with human scleral and corneal eye bank tissue and in albino rabbits. With power settings of 100 to 200 mW, optimal laser effect consisting of slight whitening and minimal edge shrinkage occurred between 10 and 70 mJ of total energy. No tissue adherence could be demonstrated with the parameters tested. A final study was made on the feasibility of sealing an epikeratophakia lenticle to its recipient bed using the carbon dioxide laser. The average force required to remove the button in the control experiments was 6.45 g and this increased to 6.99 g after laser treatment although no fusion was apparent. This was statistically significant ( P
Dynamic diseases in neurology and psychiatry

Thirty‐two (32) periodic diseases of the nervous system are identified in which symptoms and/or signs recur. In 10/32, the recurrence of a symptom complex is one of the defining features of the illness, whereas in 22/32 oscillatory signs occur in the setting of an ongoing nervous system disorder. We discuss the possibility that these disorders may be dynamic diseases.
Resources in play: Bricolage in the Toy Store(y)

Abstract This paper analyzes the “Toy Store(y)” narrative by imagining the words and perspectives of several participants other than those from whose perspective the original story is told. By applying the lens of bricolage to a series of critical events and activities described in the Toy Store(y), I illustrate the theoretical and practical application of prior research findings on both bricolage and improvisation and extend these to make suggestions for useful future research and teaching in these areas.
Smaller scars--what is the big deal: a survey of the perceived value of laparoscopic pyloromyotomy.

Abstract Purpose Laparoscopic and open pyloromyotomies are equally safe and effective, with the principal benefit of laparoscopy being better cosmesis. The goal of this study was to measure the perceived value of laparoscopic pyloromyotomy. Methods Four hundred sixteen subjects (177 college freshmen, 126 first-year medical students, and 101 parents) were asked to complete a questionnaire after photographs of mature pyloromyotomy (open and laparoscopic) scars were shown to them. To measure the perceived value, subjects' willingness to pay hypothetical additional out-of-pocket expenses for their preferred operation was assessed. Data were analyzed using Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel test, t test and multivariable regression. Results Four hundred four surveys were complete. Overall, 74% preferred the appearance after laparoscopy. Eighty-eight percent would pay an additional out-of-pocket amount for their daughter and 85% for their son to have the cosmetic outcome after laparoscopy. Respondents were willing to pay more for their daughters ( P P P Conclusions The cosmetic benefit of laparoscopic pyloromyotomy was valued by a wide demographic with 85% being willing to pay additional expenses for their children to have smaller scars.
A model for fast axonal transport

A model for fast axonal transport is developed in which the essential features are that organelles may interact with mechanochemical cross-bridges that in turn interact with microtubules, forming an organelle-engine-microtubule complex which is transported along the microtubules. Computer analysis of the equations derived to describe such a system show that most of the experimental observations on fast axonal transport can be simulated by the model, indicating that the model is useful for the interpretation and design of experiments aimed at clarifying the mechanism of fast axonal transport.
Signal propagation, with application to a lower bound on the depth of noisy formulas

We study the decay of an information signal propagating through a series of noisy channels. We obtain exact bounds on such decay, and as a result provide a new lower bound on the depth of formulas with noisy components. This improves upon previous work of N. Pippenger (1988) and significantly decreases the gap between his lower bound and the classical upper bound of von Neumann. We also discuss connections between our work and the study of mixing rates of Markov chains. >
Maternal Education and Investments in Children's Health

Maternal education differences in children's academic skills have been strongly linked to parental investment behaviors. This study extended this line of research to investigate whether these same maternal education patterns in parenting are observed among a set of parenting behaviors that are linked to young children's health. Drawing on data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Birth Cohort (n = 5,000) and longitudinal models incorporating random effects, the authors found that higher levels of maternal education were associated with more advantageous health investment behaviors at each phase of early development (9 months, 2 years, 4 years, 5 years). Moreover, these disparities were typically largest at the developmental stage when it was potentially most sensitive for children's long-term health and development. These findings provide further evidence of a developmental gradient associated with mothers' education and new insight into the salience of mothers' education for the short- and long-term health and well-being of their children.
Quasi-Optical Power Combining of Solid-State Millimeter-Wave Sources

Very efficient power combining of solid-state millimeter-wave sources may be obtained through the application of quasi-optical resonators and monotfthic source arrays. Through the theory of reiterative wavebeams (beam modes) with application of the Lorentz reciprocity theorem, it is shown that planar source arrays containing 25 individual elements or more result in very efficient power transfer of energy from the source arrays to the fundamental wave-beam mode. It is further shown that for identical sources within a properly designed quasi-optical power combiner, the output power tends to increase much faster that number of source elements.
The Impact of Financial Information and Voluntary Disclosures on Contributions to Not‐For‐Profit Organizations

This study uses a field‐based experiment combined with a follow‐up laboratory experiment to investigate whether accounting information reduces perceived uncertainty about nonprofit operations. Potential donors were sent, via a direct mail campaign, fundraising appeals containing varying amounts of financial and nonfinancial information in order to determine whether individual donors are more likely to contribute when accounting information or voluntary disclosures are provided. Participants in a lab experiment were asked to assess the usefulness of the different versions of the fundraising appeals. A logistic regression provides evidence that some donors who have previously donated use financial accounting information when making a donation decision. The results are inconclusive regarding whether donors use nonfinancial service efforts and accomplishments disclosures to determine whether and how much to give, but participants in the lab experiment judged the nonfinancial disclosures to be useful for makin...
Affective disorder and substance abuse in women with bulimia.

One hundred and eight women with bulimia were evaluated for affective disorder and alcohol or drug abuse, by means of the DSM-III diagnostic criteria. In this sample, 43.5% had a history of affective disorder and 18.5% had a history of alcohol or drug abuse. Approximately 56% of the bulimia patients scored within the moderate to severe range of depression on the Beck Depression Inventory. Language: en
Induction of Unbalanced Growth and Death of Streptococcus sanguis by Oxygen

Abstract Streptococcus sanguis has normal streptococcal morphology when grown in a nitrogen atmosphere but undergoes gross morphological alterations when grown in the presence of oxygen (O cells). Studies were made of the relationship between the development of pleomorphism and the loss of viability which accompanied it in O cultures of S. sanguis. The development of pleomorphism appears to involve two events. The first step, or triggering event, occurs in log-phase cultures in the presence of oxygen. The second step, or manifestation of pleomorphism, occurs at stationary phase in the presence or absence of oxygen. The loss of viability appears to be related both to the length of time the culture is exposed to oxygen as well as to a specific event which occurs at the transition from log to stationary phase. Oxygen also induced a state of unbalanced growth in S. sanguis in which the proportions of deoxyribonucleic acid, ribonucleic acid, and protein synthesized were altered. The relationship of these alterations to the development of pleomorphism is discussed.
An economical double-delay-line amplifier

Abstract The design, characteristics and performance of an economical double-delay-line amplifier for use in nuclear pulse spectrometry are presented. The amplifier's performance is compared with commercial amplifiers. The amplifier, which costs less than $ 200 to construct, is found to have better resolution and noise characteristics than the commercial amplifiers with which it was compared.
How Context Matters: Predicting Men’s Homophobic Slang Use

This is the Author's Pre-Print. The journal's official website is: http://jls.sagepub.com.
Calcium alternans in a couplon network model of ventricular myocytes: role of sarcoplasmic reticulum load

Intracellular calcium (Ca) alternans in cardiac myocytes have been shown in many experimental studies, and the mechanisms remain incompletely understood. We recently developed a “3R theory” that links Ca sparks to whole cell Ca alternans through three critical properties: randomness of Ca sparks; recruitment of a Ca spark by neighboring Ca sparks; and refractoriness of Ca release units. In this study, we used computer simulation of a physiologically detailed mathematical model of a ventricular myocyte couplon network to study how sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca load and other physiological parameters, such as ryanodine receptor sensitivity, SR uptake rate, Na-Ca exchange strength, and Ca buffer levels affect Ca alternans in the context of 3R theory. We developed a method to calculate the parameters used in the 3R theory (i.e., the primary spark rate and the recruitment rate) from the physiologically detailed Ca cycling model and paced the model periodically to elicit Ca alternans. We show that alternans only occurs for an intermediate range of the SR Ca load, and the underlying mechanism can be explained via its effects on the 3Rs. Furthermore, we show that altering the physiological parameters not only directly changes the 3Rs but also alters the SR Ca load, having an indirect effect on the 3Rs as well. Therefore, our present study links the SR Ca load and other physiological parameters to whole cell Ca alternans through the framework of the 3R theory, providing a general mechanistic understanding of Ca alternans in ventricular myocytes.
Lightweight recoverable virtual memory

Recoverable virtual memory refers to regions of a virtual address space on which transactional guarantees are offered. This paper describes RVM, an efficient, portable, and easily used implementation of recoverable virtual memory for Unix environments. A unique characteristic of RVM is that it allows independent control over the transactional properties of atomicity, permanence, and serializability. This leads to considerable flexibility in the use of RVM, potentially enlarging the range of applications than can benefit from transactions. It also simplifies the layering of functionality such as nesting and distribution. The paper shows that RVM performs well over its intended range of usage even though it does not benefit from specialized operating system support. It also demonstrates the importance of intra- and intertransaction optimizations.
Performance evaluation of exclusive cache hierarchies

Memory hierarchy performance, specifically cache memory capacity, is a constraining factor in the performance of modern computers. This paper presents the results of two-level cache memory simulations and examines the impact of exclusive caching on system performance. Exclusive caching enables higher capacity with the same cache area by eliminating redundant copies. The experiments presented compare an exclusive cache hierarchy with an inclusive cache hierarchy utilizing similar L1 and L2 parameters. Experiments indicate that significant performance advantages can be gained for some benchmark through the use of an exclusive organization. The performance differences are illustrated using the L2 cache misses and execution time metrics. The most significant improvement shown is a 16% reduction in execution time, with an average reduction of 8% for the smallest cache configuration tested. With equal size victim buffer and victim cache for exclusive and inclusive cache hierarchies respectively, some benchmarks show increased execution time for exclusive caches because a victim cache can reduce conflict misses significantly while a victim buffer can introduce worst-case penalties. Considering the inconsistent performance improvement, the increased complexity of an exclusive cache hierarchy needs to be justified based upon the specifics of the application and system.
Reassociation rate limited displacement of DNA strands by branch migration

Large branched DNA structures are constructed by two-step reassociation of separated complementary strands from restriction fragments of different lengths. The displacement of DNA strands initially annealed to longer complementary DNA sequences, a process mediated by branch migration, is very rapid and has thus far been followed only under conditions which are second order, DNA reassociation rate limiting. The average lifetime of branched DNA leading to displacement of 1.6 Kb strands is estimated to be less than 10 seconds under conditions of DNA reassociation, Tm-25 degrees C. Several DNA-binding drugs, including intercalating dyes, have been tested to determine their influence, if any, on the kinetics of DNA strand displacements by branch migration. Only actinomycin D was found to have significant effect under the conditions we have described. The kinetics of the strand displacement in the presence of low concentrations of actinomycin D remain second order and slower rate of strand displacement must be attributed to decreased rate of reassociation of DNA strands to form the branched intermediates. Consideration is given to the potential manipulation of DNA structures at site-directed branches and the limitations due to rapid strand displacements. The feasibility of constructing sufficiently large branched DNA regions to approach first order, branch migration rate limiting kinetics is also discussed.
Adaptation to Early Knee Osteoarthritis: The Role of Risk, Resilience, and Disease Severity on Pain and Physical Functioning

Background Radiographic joint changes are used to diagnose osteoarthritis; however, they alone do not adequately predict who experiences symptoms.
Usefulness of Corticosteroid Therapy in Decreasing Epinephrine Requirements in Critically Ill Infants With Congenital Heart Disease

1. Masura J, Gavora P, Formanek A, Hijazi Z. Transcatheter closure of secundum atrial septal defects using the new self-centering Amplatzer septal occluder. Cathet Cardiovasc Intervent 1997;42:388–393. 2. Rickers C, Hamm C, Stern H, Hofmann T, Franzen O, Schrader R, Sievert H, Schranz D, Michel-Behnke I, Vogt J, Kececioglu D, Sebening W, Eicken A, Meyer H, Matthies W, Kleber F, Hug J, Weil J. Percutaneous closure of secundum atrial septal defect with a new self centering device (“Angel Wings”). Heart 1998;80:517–521. 3. Sievert H, Babic U, Hausdorf G, Schneider M, Hopp H, Pfeiffer D, Pfisterer M, Friedli B, Urban P. Transcatheter closure of atrial septal defect and patent foramen ovale with the ASDOS device (a multi-institutional European trial). Am J Cardiol 1998;82:1405–1413. 4. Hausdorf G, Kaulitz R, Paul T, Carminati M, Lock J. Transcatheter closure of atrial septal defect with a new flexible, self-centering device (the STARFlex occluder). Am J Cardiol 1999;84:1113–1116. 5. Zamora R, Rao P, Lloyd T, Beekman R, Sideris E. Intermediate term results of phase I Food and Drug Administration trials of buttoned device occlusion of secundum atrial septal defects. J Am Coll Cardiol 1998;31:674–676. 6. Berger F, Jin Z, Ishihashi K, Vogel M, Ewert P, Alexi-Meshkishvili V, Weng Y, Lange P. Comparison of right ventricular haemodynamics of surgical versus interventional closure of atrial septal defects. Cardiol Young 1999;9:484–487. 7. Berger F, Vogel M, Alexi-Meskishvili V, Lange P. Comparison of results and complications of surgical and Amplatzer device closure of atrial septal defects. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1999;118:674–680.
Steroids and Carcinogenesis

This issue of the role of steroids in carcinogenesis is one of the hardest the FDA has to face. The definition of a carcinogen is in part at fault. The FDA can usually talk only about carcinogens, and isn’t afforded the opportunity, at least in a variety of reports, of separating direct carcinogens from promoters of carcinogenesis. Once one is forced to lump these entities together, then the scientific aspects of the roles of steroids in carcinogenesis disappear. As biologists, we should, at least, have the luxury of thinking about types of carcinogens we are dealing with. It is now a reasonable and accepted assumption that steroids are not complete carcinogens.
Can the identification of an idle line facilitate its removal? A comparison between a proposed guideline and clinical practice

Background There are 250,000 cases of central line-associated blood stream infections in the United States annually, some of which may be prevented by the removal of lines that are no longer needed. Objective To test the performance of criteria to identify an idle line as a guideline to facilitate its removal. Methods Patients with central lines on the wards were identified. Criteria for justified use were defined. If none were met, the line was considered "idle." We proposed the guideline that a line may be removed the day following the first idle day and compared actual practice with our proposed guideline. Results One hundred twenty-six lines in 126 patients were observed. Eighty-three (65.9%) were peripherally inserted central catheters. Twenty-seven percent (n= 34) were placed for antibiotics. Seventy-six patients had lines removed prior to discharge. In these patients, the line was in place for 522 days, of which 32.7% were idle. The most common reasons to justify the line included parenteral antibiotics and meeting systemic inflammatory response (SIRS) criteria. In 11 (14.5%) patients, the line was removed prior to the proposed guideline. Most (n = 36, 47.4%) line removals were observed to be in accordance with our guideline. In another 29 (38.2%), line removal was delayed compared to our guideline. Conclusions Idle days are common. Central line days may be reduced by the consistent daily reevaluation of a line's justification using defined criteria. The practice of routine central line placement for prolonged antibiotics and the inclusion of SIRS criteria to justify the line may need to be reevaluated. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2016;11:489-493. © 2016 Society of Hospital Medicine.
Criminal Behavior and Local Resistance: The Sociolegal Significance of the Hawaiian Cockfight

This Article analyzes the sociolegal significance of a highly localized form of illegal behavior: the Hawaiian cockfight. Drawing on ethnographic data gathered at illegal cockfights in Hawaii, and in-depth confidential interviews of cockfighters, I depict this crime as it occurs on the ground, from the perpetrators’ perspective. Cockfighting has at least two meanings in the lives of men who engage in it. First, it functions as a means of expressing an identity as a "local" of Hawaii, embodying a positive cultural assertion that honors perpetrators’ family histories and establishes perpetrators’ value as intelligent, trustworthy members of the local community. Second, in the throes of legal, economic, and demographic changes to Hawaii, cockfighting has become a "resistance" activity that stands in opposition to these developments, particularly because of the overarching sense of futility locals experience with regard to the legal system. These two purposes, identity and resistance, are opposite sides of the same coin. In asserting local identity, cockfighters are able to communicate who they are; in resisting changes, they are able to communicate who they are not. This Article also argues for the importance of local context in designing law enforcement measures, and demonstrates the importance of cultural legitimacy to policing, even if cultural relativity plays no role in determining criminality.
Predators: The Social Construction of “Stranger-Danger” in Washington State as a Form of Patriarchal Ideology

The article critically examines Washington State's Predator Law (1990). The most controversial part of the law provides for the indefinite civil commitment of “sexually violent predators.” Under the legislation, husbands who victimize their wives and children cannot be defined as predators, I argue that the social construction of predators as sick strangers is an ideological construct. This non-conspiratorial construct diverts attention from the fact that male intrafamilial violence is by far the greatest threat to the safety of women and children. These diversionary tendencies in the predator discourse constitute a hitherto scarcely publicized backlash against feminist arguments about the need for criminal laws that work in the interests of all women and children.
The Absence of Demonstrable Specific Antibodies in Rabies Caused by Fixed Virus

Our inability to isolate, grow, and identify microscopically the causal agent in rabies has rendered the study of its biologic reactions doubly difficult. A great number of organisms have been described. (Noguchi1 has recently described an organism with which he has been able to produce rabies in animals.) Despite the fact that in the prevalent prophylactic treatment in rabies we are able to attain an immunity, or better a resistance, of an exceedingly high degree, specific serum reactions, especially reactions of diagnostic value, are as yet unknown. The mechanism of the immunity and the factors which produce this immunity have not been definitely determined so as to be generally accepted.
Providing Breastfeeding Support in the Hospital Setting for Mothers Who Have Infants With Down Syndrome

Breastfeeding is the gold standard when it comes to infant feeding due to the significant health benefits it offers infants. The advantages of breast milk are even greater for infants with Down syndrome because of their increased risk for infections and gastrointestinal issues. However, because babies with Down syndrome often experience unique challenges that can compromise successful breastfeeding, the hospital uses special techniques in the nursery to ensure the mothers have the necessary education to initiate breastfeeding and to troubleshoot should problems arise. The techniques outlined are designed to address issues of hypotonia, sleepiness, and tongue thrusting, which are common in babies with Down syndrome.
Surgical Pathology Examination of the Prostate Gland: Practice Survey by American Society of Clinical Pathologists

The American Society of Clinical Pathologists surveyed 395 members who represented the spectrum of anatomic pathology practice among the membership. The results of how respondents fix, section, process, and report radical prostatectomy specimens, transurethral prostatectomy specimens, and needle biopsy specimens is presented, with a commentary based on the current medical literature.
NGL Demethanizer Control

The recovery of valuable heavier hydrocarbons from natural gas is accomplished in a series of distillation columns. The first column is a cryogenic high-pressure column in which the methane is taken overhead and the ethane and heavier hydrocarbons are produced as a bottoms product called “natural gas liquid” (NGL). This demethanizer column uses compression and expansion to achieve the required low temperatures (190 K) for achieving liquids at the operating pressure of 25 atm. The column has a complex configuration of side-reboilers that use the ambient-temperature natural-gas feed stream to partially reboil the column and precool the feed. Additional feed precooling occurs using the cold methane gas product stream from the top of the column and using an external refrigerant. Finally a portion of the cold feed is expanded in a turbine and fed near the top of the column while the remainder is flashed and fed to the top tray as reflux. The system has many components and is extensively energy integrated.This ...
Erosion of an inflatable penile prosthesis reservoir into an ileal conduit.

Abstract We report an unusual complication of an Inflatable penile prosthesis. The penile prosthesis reservoir had been placed intra-abdominally and it eroded into an ileal conduit. The reservoir was removed endoscoplcally but the patient ultimately required creation of a new ileal conduit. Placement of reservoirs intraperitoneally risks erosion into the bowel.
Clinical Utility of Chest Computed Tomography in Patients with Rib Fractures CT Chest and Rib Fractures.

Background Chest CT is more sensitive than a chest X-ray (CXR) in diagnosing rib fractures; however, the clinical significance of these fractures remains unclear. Objectives The purpose of this study was to determine the added diagnostic use of chest CT performed after CXR in patients with either known or suspected rib fractures secondary to blunt trauma. Methods Retrospective cohort study of blunt trauma patients with rib fractures at a level I trauma center that had both a CXR and a CT chest. The CT finding of ≥ 3 additional fractures in patients with ≤ 3 rib fractures on CXR was considered clinically meaningful. Student’s t-test and chi-square analysis were used for comparison. Results We identified 499 patients with rib fractures: 93 (18.6%) had CXR only, 7 (1.4%) had chest CT only, and 399 (79.9%) had both CXR and chest CT. Among these 399 patients, a total of 1,969 rib fractures were identified: 1,467 (74.5%) were missed by CXR. The median number of additional fractures identified by CT was 3 (range, 4 - 15). Of 212 (53.1%) patients with a clinically meaningful increase in the number of fractures, 68 patients underwent one or more clinical interventions: 36 SICU admissions, 20 pain catheter placements, 23 epidural placements, and 3 SSRF. Additionally, 70 patients had a chest tube placed for retained hemothorax or occult pneumothorax. Overall, 138 patients (34.5%) had a change in clinical management based upon CT chest. Conclusions The chest X-ray missed ~75% of rib fractures seen on chest CT. Although patients with a clinical meaningful increase in the number of rib fractures were more likely to be admitted to the intensive care unit, there was no associated improvement in pulmonary outcomes.
Ultraviolet Light Makes dGMP Floppy: Femtosecond Stimulated Raman Spectroscopy of 2′-Deoxyguanosine 5′-Monophosphate

The ultrafast dynamics of 2′-deoxyguanosine 5′-monophosphate after excitation with ultraviolet light has been studied with femtosecond transient absorption (TA) and femtosecond stimulated Raman spectroscopy (FSRS). TA kinetics and transient anisotropy spectra reveal a rapid relaxation from the Franck–Condon region, producing an extremely red-shifted stimulated emission band at ∼440 nm that is formed after 200 fs and subsequent relaxation for 0.8–1.5 ps, consistent with prior studies. Viscosity dependence shows that the initial relaxation, before 0.5 ps, is the same in water or viscous glycerol/water mixtures, but after 0.5 ps the dynamics significantly slow down in a viscous solution. This indicates that large amplitude structural changes occur after 0.5 ps following photoexcitation. FSRS obtained with both 480 and 600 nm Raman pump pulses observe very broad Raman peaks at 509 and 1530 cm–1, as well as a narrower peak at 1179 cm–1. All of the Raman peaks decay with 0.7–1.3 ps time constants. The 1530 cm–1...
On the feature specificity of value-driven attention

When an otherwise inconspicuous stimulus is learned to predict a reward, this stimulus will automatically capture visual attention. This learned attentional bias is not specific to the precise object previously associated with reward, but can be observed for different stimuli that share a defining feature with the reward cue. Under certain circumstances, value-driven attentional biases can even transfer to new contexts in which the reward cues were not previously experienced, and can also be evident for different exemplars of a stimulus category, suggesting some degree of tolerance in the scope of the underlying bias. Whether a match to a reward-predictive feature is necessary to support value-driven attention, or whether similar-looking features also receive some degree of elevated priority following associative reward learning, remains an open question. Here, I examine the impact of learned associations between reward and red- and green-colored stimuli on the processing of other colors. The findings show that even though other colors experienced during training were non-predictive with respect to reward, the speed with which targets possessing these colors were identified in a subsequent test phase was affected by their similarity to the high-value color. Thus, value-driven attentional biases for stimulus features are imprecise, as would be predicted by a sensory gain model of value-driven attention.
Metrics for Performance Evaluation of Patient Exercises during PhysicalTherapy

Objective: The article proposes a set of metrics for evaluation of patient performance in physical therapy exercises. Methods: Taxonomy is employed that classifies the metrics into quantitative and qualitative categories, based on the level of abstraction of the captured motion sequences. Further, the quantitative metrics are classified into modelless and model-based metrics, in reference to whether the evaluation employs the raw measurements of patient performed motions, or whether the evaluation is based on a mathematical model of the motions. The reviewed metrics include root-mean square distance, Kullback Leibler divergence, log-likelihood, heuristic consistency, Fugl-Meyer Assessment, and similar. Results: The metrics are evaluated for a set of five human motions captured with a Kinect sensor. Conclusion: The metrics can potentially be integrated into a system that employs machine learning for modelling and assessment of the consistency of patient performance in home-based therapy setting. Automated performance evaluation can overcome the inherent subjectivity in human performed therapy assessment, and it can increase the adherence to prescribed therapy plans, and reduce healthcare costs.
Collegiate Women: Domesticity and Career in Turn-of-the-Century America

(1979). Collegiate Women: Domesticity and Career in Turn-of-the-Century America. The Journal of Higher Education: Vol. 50, No. 5, pp. 693-695.
Concurrent Social Disadvantages and Chronic Inflammation: The Intersection of Race and Ethnicity, Gender, and Socioeconomic Status

Disadvantaged social statuses, such as being female, poor, or a minority, are associated with increased psychosocial stress and elevated circulating concentrations of C-reactive protein, a biomarker of chronic inflammation and indicator of cardiovascular health. Individuals’ experience of embodying psychosocial stress revolves around the multiplicative effects of concurrent gender, socioeconomic, and racial and ethnic identities. This study expands on prior research by examining chronic inflammation at the intersection of race and ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic status, and age group to understand which demographic subgroups in society are most vulnerable to the cumulative effects of social disadvantage. Using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007–2010, the findings reveal inflammation disparities between non-poor whites and the following demographic subgroups, net of sociodemographic and biological factors: young poor Hispanic women, young poor white men, young poor and non-poor Hispanic men, middle-aged poor and non-poor black women, middle-aged poor and non-poor black men, and middle-aged poor Hispanic men. Disparities in inflammation on account of social disadvantage are most evident among those aged 45–64 years and diminish for those 65 and older in both men and women.
Abstract TP278: Positive Impact of a Stroke Bundle Program

Introduction: There are limited comparative data on the impact of a stroke bundle program on patient outcomes. We aimed to assess the magnitude of change that could occur during transitions of care...
Should living donor liver transplantation be an option when deceased donation is not

When a liver transplantation candidate is declined for listing to receive a deceased organ, sometimes a loved one comes forward and offers to be a living donor. This raises the ethical question of whether a patient who is not eligible for deceased donor liver transplantation should be eligible for living donor liver transplantation. We compare living organ donation in kidney and liver transplantation and explore key ethical concepts of justice, fairness, and societal trust. Ultimately, because there is no alternative life-preserving therapy in end-stage liver disease, and because transplantation with a living donor organ does not involve removing a resource from the common pool of transplant organs, we argue that a standard of "slightly less benefit" than that required for deceased transplantation should be used to determine the acceptability of living donor liver transplantation.
Operation STEM: increasing success and improving retention among first-generation and underrepresented minority students in STEM

In 2012, Cleveland State University implemented a comprehensive program, called Operation STEM (OpSTEM), funded by two National Science Foundation grants, federal work study, and Cleveland State University. Its goal is to increase retention and graduation rates among Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) students by helping them complete the precalculus-calculus sequence successfully. OpSTEM targets freshmen pursuing STEM majors who are members of minority groups that are underrepresented in STEM, and/or first-generation college students. The majority of OpSTEM Scholars begin their mathematics coursework at the beginning of the precalculus sequence. OpSTEM provides these students with many services: a two-week summer institute, mandatory supplemental instruction, project-based instruction, mentoring, STEM speakers, free summer calculus, college success workshops, social activities, and stipends based on participation in these activities and successful completion of coursework. The implementation of the OpSTEM program created an experimental design with two treatment groups, where one group received all the treatments and one group received only mandatory supplemental instruction. They were both compared to a control group from before OpSTEM began. Student data collected have demonstrated that mandatory supplemental instruction alone is effective at increasing the pass rate for precalculus courses, and the additional services and incentives provided the other treatment group increases the pass rate even further. This is especially significant because the population that received all the services (OpSTEM Scholars) is a population that is more at-risk than the typical population. The ultimate goal of OpSTEM is to increase retention and completion among STEM students by helping them succeed in the precalculus-calculus sequence. Additional time is needed to assess the rates at which these students are completing STEM degrees, but preliminarily data show that OpSTEM Scholars’ retention rate is higher than the university’s retention rate as a whole and higher than the university’s retention rate in STEM fields in particular.
Prenatal Maternal Depressive Symptoms Predict Early Infant Health Concerns.

Recent research suggests that health disparities among low-SES and ethnic minority populations may originate from prenatal and early life exposures. Postpartum maternal depressive symptoms have been linked to poorer infant physical health, yet prenatal depressive symptoms not been thoroughly examined in relation to infant health. In a prospective study of low-income Mexican American mothers and their infants, women (N = 322, median age 27.23, IQR = 22.01–32.54) completed surveys during pregnancy (median gestation 39.50, IQR = 38.71–40.14 weeks) and 12 weeks after birth. We investigated (1) if prenatal depressive symptoms predicted infant physical health concerns at 12 weeks of age, (2) whether these associations occurred above and beyond concurrent depressive symptoms, and (3) if birth weight, gestational age, and breastfeeding were mediators of prenatal depression predicting subsequent infant health. Higher prenatal depressive symptoms were associated with more infant physical health concerns at 12 weeks (p < .001), after accounting for 12-week maternal depressive symptoms, breastfeeding, gestational age, and birth weight. Twelve-week maternal depressive symptoms were concurrently associated with more infant health concerns (p < .01). Birth weight, gestational age, and breastfeeding were not associated with maternal depression or infant health concerns. Results establish a link between prenatal depressive symptoms and an elevated risk of poor health evident shortly after birth. These findings underscore the importance of the prenatal period as a possible sensitive period for infants’ health, and the need for effective interventions for depression during pregnancy to mitigate potentially teratogenic effects on the developing fetus and reduce risks for later health concerns.
Learning-Based, Fine-Grain Power Modeling of System-Level Hardware IPs

Accurate power and performance models are needed to enable rapid, early system-level analysis and optimization. There is, however, a lack of fast yet fine-grain power models of hardware components at such high levels of abstraction. In this article, we present novel learning-based approaches for extending fast functional simulation models of accelerators and other hardware intellectual property components (IPs) with accurate cycle-, block-, and invocation-level power estimates. Our proposed power modeling approach is based on annotating functional hardware descriptions with capabilities that, depending on observability, allow capturing data-dependent resource, block, or input and output (I/O) activity without a significant loss in simulation speed. We further leverage advanced machine learning techniques to synthesize abstract power models using novel decomposition techniques that reduce model complexities and increase estimation accuracy. Results of applying our approach to various industrial-strength design examples show that our power models can predict cycle-, basic block-, and invocation-level power consumption to within 10%, 9%, and 3% of a commercial gate-level power estimation tool, respectively, all while running at several order of magnitude faster speeds of 1-10Mcycles/sec. Model training and synthesis takes less than 34 minutes in all cases, including up to 30 minutes for training data and trace generation using gate-level simulations.
Longitudinal Assessment of Critical Thinking Skills Across a Dental Curriculum.

Critical thinking and problem-solving are two of the most frequently desired goals for dental student learning, but greater understanding is needed of how students’ critical thinking skills develop from the beginning to the end of the curriculum. The aim of this study was to use students’ performance on critical thinking assessments at five time points from the first to the fourth years to longitudinally assess their critical thinking development across the curriculum. In 2014–16, the performance of students in two successive graduating classes at one U.S. dental school was collected from five assignments designed to, among other things, assess critical thinking. Those assignments ranged from a case study in the Cariology I course in fall of the first year to an OSCE completed before graduation. Students were divided into four quartiles from lowest- to highest-achieving based on the first (baseline) assessment, and those quartiles were tracked to determine each student’s progress over the four years. The results showed that, for both cohorts, students who ranked in the top quartile remained in the top of the class for all subsequent assessments. Also in both cohorts, the students who had the lowest scores on the initial assessment of critical thinking skills showed statistically significant improvements over time, increasing their scores by 9.4% (cohort 1, p
On the Comparison of Type 1 and Interval Type 2 Fuzzy Logic Controllers Used in a Laser Tracking System

Abstract This study is an extension of our previous researches for a type-1 fuzzy logic controller used in a Laser Tracking System (LTS). In a LTS the control objective is for a laser beam to track a retro-reflecting moving target through adjustment of joint angles and velocities of a two Degrees-Of-Freedom (DOF) tracking gimbals on which tracking mirrors are mounted. This is done based on two types of feedback signals: Distance reading, obtained by a laser interferometer and off-center distance error of the returning laser beam, as measured by a four-quadrant photo-detector. The LTS control system should effectively provide a high-speed and smooth tracking on the target with lowest steady state errors. A complete LTS consists of laser interferometer transducer subsystem, opto-electronic beam steering subsystem, gimbals driving subsystem and the digital control subsystem. As high tracking accuracy and high tracking speed are both vital for LTS operation, a design of a high performance controller is critical. This paper shows that an interval type 2 fuzzy logic controller (IT2FLC) can outperform a type 1 fuzzy logic controller (T1FLC) in such applications. Complete and extensive simulation studies are discussed and analyzed with a performance comparison between a type 1 and an interval type 2 FLC. The advantages of utilizing an IT2FLC over T1FLC to improve the control and tracking performance for a LTS with random noises are confirmed by simulation results.
Gut commensals make choline too.

Hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine to choline was found to be catalysed by phospholipase D enzymes from diverse members of the gut microbiota, revealing a mechanism by which commensals obtain choline for subsequent production of disease-associated trimethylamine.
“Gamifying” Online American National Government: Lessons Learned From the First Year of Developing “Citizenship Quest”

This article considers the development of an ongoing team-based project to incorporate a game into an online American National Government class. We start by suggesting that play, and the games that...
Conflict Style Associations with Cooperativeness, Directness, and Relational Satisfaction: A Case for a Six‐Style Typology

Past research has been inconsistent in identifying the number and type of conflict styles individuals perceive themselves to use. Many typologies of conflict styles are built on the premise that level of cooperation versus competition, as well as directness versus indirectness, underlie various conflict styles. Grounded in a communication perspective, the present study uses dyadic data from 256 romantic couples to examine how self‐reported tendencies to use each of six conflict styles—collaborating, compromising, competitive fighting, yielding, avoiding, and indirect fighting—associate with how (un)cooperative and (in)direct partners generally perceive actors to be during conflict, as well as how relationally satisfied both members of the dyad are. The associations that emerged suggest each of the six styles has a unique profile, that a comprehensive typology of conflict styles should include indirect fighting as well as a more neutral avoiding style, and that compromising is a weak form of collaborating that is lower in cooperativeness and directness.