cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Asking for Help Effectively via Modeling of Human Beliefs

Autonomous robots deployed around humans must be able to ask for help when problems arise. However, people may have incorrect mental models of the robots» capabilities or task, making them unable to help. We propose a data-driven method to estimate humans» beliefs after hearing task-related utterances and build sets of utterances that influence people towards useful help in expectation. We present an example to show our method selects effective utterances when the desired help is much different than a person expects.
Impact of Fetal Somatic Growth on Pulmonary Valve Annulus Z-Scores During Gestation and Through Birth in Patients with Tetralogy of Fallot.

Previous studies have suggested reduced pulmonary valve annulus (PVA) growth and progression of pulmonary outflow obstruction in fetuses with tetralogy of Fallot (TOF). The goals of this study were to (1) investigate the trajectory of PVA growth in utero, and (2) compare two methods of z-score determination for fetal and postnatal PVA size by echocardiography in order to improve prenatal counseling for patients with TOF. Fetal echocardiograms (FE) at a single institution with a diagnosis of TOF between 8/2008 and 12/2015 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients included had at least 2 FEs and 1 immediate postnatal echocardiogram (TTE). Fetal and postnatal demographic, clinical, and echocardiographic data were collected. Fetal body surface area (BSA) was calculated by estimating fetal weight and height; z-scores were determined based on fetal gestational age (GA) and BSA for both FEs and TTEs. Fetal PVA z-scores by GA or BSA were then compared to postnatal PVA z-scores by BSA. Twenty-two patients with 44 FEs and 22 TTEs were included. GA at the first FE was 23 weeks ± 3.4 and 32 weeks ± 3.1 at the second FE. There was no difference in PVA z-scores (by BSA) between the first and second FE (p = 0.34), but a decrease in PVA z-scores (by BSA) between the second FE and TTE (− 1.6 ± 0.5 vs. − 2.0 ± 0.7; p = 0.01). Repeat comparison with fetal PVA z-scores indexed to GA revealed no difference in z-scores between the first and second FE, but an increase in PVA z-scores between the second FE (by GA) and TTE (by BSA) (− 4.1 ± 1.0 vs. − 2.0 ± 0.7; p < 0.0001). The rate of PVA growth between the two FEs (23 µm/day ± 9.8) and between the second FE and TTE (28 µm/day ± 42) remained comparable (p = 0.57); however, the rate of BSA increase was greater in later gestation (9 cm2/day ± 3 vs. 20 cm2/day ± 11; p = 0.001). In patients with TOF, the rate of PVA growth appears to remain consistent through gestation; however, somatic growth rate increases in late gestation. Fetal PVA z-scores indexed to GA are thus inaccurate in predicting postnatal PVA z-scores typically indexed to BSA. This observation should be considered during prenatal consultation and delivery planning.
A neat theory of marker passing

We describe here the theory behind the language comprehension program Wimp. Wimp understands by first finding paths between the open-class words in a sentence using a marker passing, or spreading-activation, technique. This paper is primarily concerned with the "meaning" (or interpretation) of such paths. We argue that they are best thought of as backbones of proofs that the terms (words) at either end of the paths exist in the story and show how viewing paths in this way naturally leads to the kinds of inferences which are normally thought to characterize "understanding." In a companion paper we show how this interpretation also accomplishes much of the work normally expected in the parsing of language (noun-phrase reference, word-sense disambiguation, etc) so we only briefly touch on this topic here. Wimp has been implemented and works on all of the examples herein.
Sialendoscopy for Definitive Management of a Submandibular Abscess following Radiotherapy for Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND/AIMS Sialendoscopy has as yet been shown to be ideal for the management of sialolithiasis and chronic inflammatory diseases of the salivary gland. However, its applicability to the management of a broad range of salivary gland disease is continually growing. METHODS Here we present a case report where sialendoscopy was used to successfully manage an intraparenchymal submandibular gland abscess in a patient with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma managed with primary chemoradiation. RESULTS The use of sialendoscopy enabled visualization of the patency of salivary ducts, drainage of abscess, and irrigation of antibiotic-impregnated fluid. In this particular patient, we were able to avoid a transcervical approach through a previously irradiated field, which would have necessitated concurrent tracheostomy and placed undue risk to surrounding neurovascular structures. CONCLUSION Sialendoscopy should thus, in select patients, be considered as an initial intervention for patients with intraparenchymal salivary gland abscesses in which prior therapy creates an increased risk of complication from an open transcervical approach.
Patterns in how pre-service elementary teachers formulate evidence-based claims about student cognition

Large-scale, robust implementation of teacher data-driven decision making (DDDM) is a challenging endeavor, impeded by numerous organizational, and teacher, factors. One well-documented barrier to ...
Efficient and non-blocking agreement protocols

Large scale distributed databases are designed to support commercial and cloud based applications. The minimal expectation from such systems is that they ensure consistency and reliability in case of node failures. The distributed database guarantees reliability through the use of atomic commitment protocols. Atomic commitment protocols help in ensuring that either all the changes of a transaction are applied or none of them exist. To ensure efficient commitment process, the database community has mainly used the two-phase commit (2PC) protocol. However, the 2PC protocol is blocking under multiple failures. This necessitated the development of non-blocking, three-phase commit (3PC) protocol. However, the database community is still reluctant to use the 3PC protocol, as it acts as a scalability bottleneck in the design of efficient transaction processing systems. In this work, we present EasyCommit protocol which leverages the best of both worlds (2PC and 3PC), that is non-blocking (like 3PC) and requires two phases (like 2PC). EasyCommit achieves these goals by ensuring two key observations: (i) first transmit and then commit, and (ii) message redundancy. We present the design of the EasyCommit protocol and prove that it guarantees both safety and liveness. We also present a detailed evaluation of EC protocol and show that it is nearly as efficient as the 2PC protocol. To cater the needs of geographically large scale distributed systems we also design a topology-aware agreement protocol (Geo-scale EasyCommit) that is non-blocking, safe, live and outperforms 3PC protocol.
Assessing Social Vulnerability through a Local Lens: An Integrated Geovisual Approach

Vulnerability and resilience of coastal communities is increasingly important in the face of sea level rise and severe storms. Situated at the nexus of geographic information systems (GIS) and natu...
The Extended Role of Health Facility Cleaners in Maternity Care in Kenya.

CONTEXT A growing body of evidence indicates that nonclinical health care facility staff provide support beyond their traditional roles, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. It is important to examine the role of health facility cleaners in Kenya-from their perspective-to better understand their actual and perceived responsibilities in maternity care. METHODS In-depth, face-to-face interviews using a semistructured guide were conducted with 14 cleaners working at three public health facilities in Nairobi and Kiambu Counties, Kenya, in August and September 2016. Results were coded and categorized using a thematic content analysis approach. RESULTS Cleaners reported performing a range of services beyond typical maintenance responsibilities, including providing emotional, informational and instrumental support to maternity patients. They described feeling disrespected when patients were untidy or experienced bleeding; however, such examples revealed cleaners' need to better understand labor and childbirth processes. Cleaners also indicated a desire for training on interpersonal skills to improve their interactions with patients. CONCLUSION Cleaners' direct involvement in maternity patients' care is an alarming symptom of overburdened health facilities, insufficient staffing and inadequate training. This key yet overlooked cadre of health care staff deserves appropriate support and further research to understand and alleviate health system shortcomings, and to improve the quality of maternity health care provision.
Study and Mitigation of Platform Related UWB Ranging Errors

Ultra Wideband technology has been presented as a precise and accurate solution for wireless ranging. However, the noise and errors created from the low-cost, off-the-shelf UWB devices have been a challenge. Therefore, a comprehensive characterization of these errors is required for these devices to work more efficiently in real applications. This paper will cover the characterization of errors in different environment and configurations, a zscore-based error estimation and correction method for LOS scenarios, and evaluation of its performance. The result shows errors with a maximum mean of 5cm after the proposed correction.
Ovulation and ovarian wound healing are impaired with advanced reproductive age

Aging is associated with reduced tissue remodeling efficiency and increased fibrosis, characterized by excess collagen accumulation and altered matrix degradation. Ovulation, the process by which an egg is released from the ovary, is one of the most dynamic cycles of tissue wounding and repair. Because the ovary is one of the first organs to age, ovulation and ovarian wound healing is impaired with advanced reproductive age. To test this hypothesis, we induced superovulation in reproductively young and old mice and determined the numbers of eggs ovulated and corpora lutea (CLs), the progesterone producing glands formed post-ovulation. Reproductively old mice ovulated fewer eggs and had fewer CLs relative to young controls. Moreover, reproductively old mice exhibited a greater number of oocytes trapped within CLs and expanded cumulus oocyte complexes within unruptured antral follicles, indicative of failed ovulation. In addition, post-ovulatory tissue remodeling was compromised with age as evidenced by reduced CL vasculature, increased collagen, decreased hyaluronan, decreased cell proliferation and apoptosis, impaired wound healing capacity, and aberrant morphology of the ovarian surface epithelium (OSE). These findings demonstrate that ovulatory dysfunction is an additional mechanism underlying the age-related loss of fertility beyond the reduction of egg quantity and quality.
PREPARING FOR A RETURN TO SCHOOL AFTER COVID-19: CREATING EMOTIONALLY HEALING SPACES FOR CHILDREN IN BRAZILIAN SCHOOLS

I explore the preparations necessary so that schools and classrooms are prepared to meet the emotional needs of students when schools reopen after the Coivd-19 pandemic has subsided. I discuss what factors a school planning team and individual teachers need to take into account in preparing for a return to classrooms. Children may suffer general anxiety due to fear of infection; they may suffer from loneliness, depression or purposelessness; they may have a crisis in their family due to loss of income; stress may place children at risk of domestic violence; and some children may have experienced bereavements. Children who come from black families or indigenous families are at greatest risk. Recommendations for identifying children at greatest risk are offered, as well as practical suggestions for how teachers can build an emotionally safe and healing classroom space that gives students a sense of security.
Album Verses and Romantic Literary Culture: Poetry, Manuscript, Print, 1780–1850

Album Verses and Romantic Literary Culture: Poetry, Manuscript, Print, 1780-1850 offers an incisive contribution to conversations in Romantic studies about the links between different media. Samant...
FDR control in GWAS with population structure

Abstract We present a comprehensive statistical framework to analyze data from genome-wide association studies of polygenic traits, producing distinct and interpretable discoveries while controlling the false discovery rate. This approach leverages sophisticated multivariate models, correcting for linkage disequilibrium, and accounts for population structure and relatedness, adapting to the characteristics of the samples at hand. A key element is the recognition that the observed genotypes can be considered as a random sample from an appropriate model, encapsulating our knowledge of genetic inheritance and human populations. This allows us to generate imperfect copies (knockoffs) of these variables which serve as ideal negative controls; knockoffs are indistinguishable from the original genotypes in distribution, and independent from the phenotype. In sharp contrast with state-of-the-art methods, the validity of our inference in no way depends on assumptions about the unknown relation between genotypes and phenotype. We develop and leverage a model for the genotypes that accounts for arbitrary and unknown population structure, which may be due to diverse ancestries or familial relatedness. We build a pipeline that is robust to the most prominent possible confounders, facilitating the discovery of causal variants. Validity and effectiveness are demonstrated by extensive simulations with real data, as well as by the analysis of several phenotypes in the UK Biobank. Finally, fast software is made available for researchers to apply the proposed methodology to Biobank-scale data sets.
Do Orthopedic Surgery Residency Program Web Sites Address Diversity and Inclusion

Background:Orthopedic surgery is one of the least diverse medical specialties. Other medical specialties have employed diversity-related initiatives to increase the number of students underrepresen...
Cesarean section and the risk of emergency peripartum hysterectomy in high-income countries: a systematic review

Our objective was to determine the incidence and mortality rates associated with emergency peripartum hysterectomy, factors that lead to uncontrolled hemorrhage and emergency peripartum hysterectomy, and to determine the relationship between cesarean section and risk of emergency peripartum hysterectomy. Studies published between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2012 were identified using PubMed, OVID and Web of Science databases. Studies were included if they reported incidence rates for emergency peripartum hysterectomy, factors that lead to hemorrhage and emergency peripartum hysterectomy, or the association of emergency peripartum hysterectomy with cesarean section in high-income countries. Four hundred and fifty-one studies were identified, and 52 were included. The incidence of emergency peripartum hysterectomy ranged from 0.20 to 5.09 per 1000 deliveries with a median incidence rate of 0.61 per 1000 deliveries. These rates have increased over time. Rates varied by region/country, specifically with the United States reporting higher rates than North American, Asian, Oceania, and European countries. The most common factor leading to emergency peripartum hysterectomy was placental abnormalities. Both cesarean section and prior cesarean section were strong risk factors for emergency peripartum hysterectomy with higher risks conferred for each additional cesarean section. The mean percentage of maternal deaths for EPH survivors was 3.0 %. Given the association of cesarean section with emergency peripartum hysterectomy, the increased risk of emergency peripartum hysterectomy should be factored into the decision of whether to proceed with cesarean delivery, particularly for women who desire more children.
Extractive Industries and African Democracy: Can the “Resource Curse” be Exorcised?

By the well-known “resource curse,” the abundance of oil and other valuable minerals has been associated with patrimonialism and repression—in Africa and elsewhere. This article demonstrates a self-sustaining dynamic: lack of accountability enables elite appropriation of resources which in turn raises the monetary value of political control and finances continued repression. Several initiatives have been taken in recent years to foster transparency in mineral production and revenue, but with marginal impact. Lifting the curse requires a robust global effort to discourage “plunder oil.” This is unlikely as long as the benefits of cheap oil to the importing countries outweigh the costs to the population of the exporting countries. The oil addiction of developed and emerging economies remains an oil malediction for African democracy. But launching a sustained international debate could eventually bear fruit.
System limitations due to chromatic dispersion and receiver bandwidth for 2-D time-wavelength OCDMA systems

We investigate chromatic-dispersion effects of pulse-spreading and wavelength-skew on a 2-D time-wavelength, optical code division multiple access system (OCDMA). We find that wavelength skew, which is specific to a bit-parallel system, overwhelmingly dominates the OCDMA system performance. For a 3-wavelength and 7-chip-time optimized code, a 10-Gchip/sec system is limited to under 4 kms.
Space-time adaptive processing with sparse antenna arrays

Sparse, or thinned arrays can provide the resolution and accuracy of a large aperture without the hardware expense of a fully populated array. This paper examines application of thinned arrays to an airborne radar that employs space-time adaptive processing (STAP) to reject ground clutter. It is shown that the rank of the clutter covariance matrix depends on the precise thinned configuration. Upper and lower bounds for the clutter covariance matrix are provided. An irregularly spaced thinned array can have the same rank as a filled array if all potential synthetic aperture positions get sampled at least once during the coherent processing interval. Beamspace STAP approaches with irregularly spaced arrays generally require more degrees of freedom (DOF) than that of a filled array because a thinned array beamspace transform cannot generally effect shifted subaperture beams. With additional DOF (and still much less than fully adaptive) a randomly spaced thinned array beamspace approach call still provide relatively low loss and avoid the additional angle-Doppler blind zones that result from regularly spaced thinned arrays.
''Minor'' BCL2 breakpoints in follicular lymphoma: frequency and correlation with grade and disease presentation in 236 cases.

Follicular lymphomas are frequently associated with the t(14;18)(q32;q21). This translocation can be detected by karyotype, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). In addition to the breakpoints currently used for diagnosis located in the major breakpoint region (MBR) and the minor cluster region (mcr), recent studies have reported the existence of other breakpoints (3′ BCL2, 5′mcr, and icr). In this study, we examined the frequency of all five breakpoints in 236 cases of follicular lymphomas by real-time PCR analysis. The distribution of breakpoint sites consisted of MBR in 118 cases (50%), mcr in 11 (5%), icr in 32 (13%), 3′ BCL2 in 13 (6%), and 5′ mcr in three cases (1%). These findings illustrate significantly higher frequency of the icr breakpoint as compared with the more frequently studied mcr. Correlation of breakpoints with histology showed that MBR breakpoints occur more frequently in grade 2 lymphomas (P = 0.042). A majority of the PCR-negative cases (75%) contained an IGH/BCL2 translocation with FISH methods, suggesting the presence of other BCL2 breakpoints. Correlation of breakpoints with survival did not reveal significant differences. Diagnostic laboratories should consider expanding their PCR methods to include other BCL2 breakpoints and correlating with FISH methods when appropriate.
Survival of airborne bacteria in a high urban concentration of carbon monoxide.

Vegetative cells of Serratia marcescens 8UK, Sarcina lutea, and spores of Bacillus subtilus var. niger were held in aerosols, with and without an urban concentration of CO (85 μliters per liter or ppm), for up to 6 hr at 15 C and a relative humidity (RH) of approximately 0, 25, 50, 75, and 95%. It was found that CO enhanced the death rate of S. marcescens 8UK at least four- to sevenfold at low RH (ca. 1 to 25%), but protected the cells at high RH (ca. 90%). Death rates of S. lutea, with or without added CO, were comparatively low over the entire RH range. However, in the first hour, airborne S. lutea held in CO-containing air were more stable than those in air without added CO (i.e., CO protection). A marked increase in the death rate (up to 70-fold) occurred in the subsequent 5 hr within the RH range of approximately 0 to 75%. Statistical analysis indicated that aerosol decay rates of B. subtilus var. niger spores decreased significantly, when held in a CO-containing as compared to a non-CO-containing atmosphere, in the 0 to 85% RH range. Thus, the data presented indicate that CO in the urban environment may have a protective or lethal effect on airborne bacteria, dependent upon at least the microbial species, aerosol age, and relative humidity. A mechanism for CO death enhancement and protection of airborne S. marcescens 8UK is suggested to involve CO uncoupling of an energy-requiring death mechanism and an energy-requiring maintenance mechanism at high and low RH, respectively.
Microglia in the TBI brain: The good, the bad, and the dysregulated

As the major cellular component of the innate immune system in the central nervous system (CNS) and the first line of defense whenever injury or disease occurs, microglia play a critical role in neuroinflammation following a traumatic brain injury (TBI). In the injured brain microglia can produce neuroprotective factors, clear cellular debris and orchestrate neurorestorative processes that are beneficial for neurological recovery after TBI. However, microglia can also become dysregulated and can produce high levels of pro-inflammatory and cytotoxic mediators that hinder CNS repair and contribute to neuronal dysfunction and cell death. The dual role of microglial activation in promoting beneficial and detrimental effects on neurons may be accounted for by their polarization state and functional responses after injury. In this review article we discuss emerging research on microglial activation phenotypes in the context of acute brain injury, and the potential role of microglia in phenotype-specific neurorestorative processes such as neurogenesis, angiogenesis, oligodendrogenesis and regeneration. We also describe some of the known molecular mechanisms that regulate phenotype switching, and highlight new therapeutic approaches that alter microglial activation state balance to enhance long-term functional recovery after TBI. An improved understanding of the regulatory mechanisms that control microglial phenotypic shifts may advance our knowledge of post-injury recovery and repair, and provide opportunities for the development of novel therapeutic strategies for TBI.
The Impact of State Abortion Policy on the Price of an Abortion

This study empirically examines whether restrictive state abortion laws have an indirect effect on the demand for abortions by increasing the price charged by abortion providers as a result of complying with the laws. The empirical results found that, over the period 2000-2011, state enforcement of a two-visit law and a TRAP law caused an increase in the real price charged by abortion providers by between 13%-15% for a two-visit law and 17%-19% for a TRAP law. These empirical results suggest that these two restrictive state abortion laws indirectly reduce abortion demand through their impact on the price of an abortion.
Ending Global Poverty: Gain Without Much Pain

Those who are economically well off may admit that global poverty is a great evil that demands significant action on their part but also believe that morality -- duty or obligation -- cannot reasonably require them to make great sacrifices. We may resolve this tension if we think less in terms of the duties of individuals to the word's poor and more in terms of collective action; that is, in terms of the institutions, policies, and practices that make it easier for the wealthy to help the poor and more likely that the poor will receive the help they need.
Teenage pregnancy: a theoretical analysis of a social problem.

This paper begins by contrasting the two basic ways of defining a social problem (i.e., as a "problem" in society or of society). The implications of these two definitions are discussed within the context of the various approaches which have emerged from each. A typology is then developed which allows these divergent approaches to be synthesized into three broad categories (Social Disorganizational, Social Definitional, and Social Organizational). This typology helps to further clarify the implications of isolating certain noxious conditions (whether personal or social) and conceptualizing them as social problems. These implications for the emergence, scope, and possible solution to the problem of teenage pregnancy are discussed. The paper concludes with a theoretical critique that leaves little room for optimism about the piecemeal solutions to teenage pregnancy offered by either the social disorganizational or the social definitional approaches, yet it recognizes the unlikely prospects that the holistic solution is likely to be adopted soon. The paper thus concludes that this problem is likely to be with us for some time to come, and the best that we can hope to do is to treat the symptoms.
COMPARISON OF ABDOMINAL COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY AND ABDOMINAL ULTRASOUND IN SEDATED DOGS

Abdominal ultrasound (US) is used frequently as a first-line screening tool for abdominal disease. Although computed tomography (CT) is superior to US in the diagnosis of some abdominal diseases, a major impediment is the requirement of general anesthesia to prevent motion and for safe restraint. With multidetector helical CT, faster examinations allow general anesthesia to be avoided, while producing diagnostic-quality images. Abdominal US and CT were compared for lesion detection in 27 sedated dogs, divided into three even groups based on body weight. Lesions were categorized further as to subjective clinical relevance. In dogs less than 25 kg, there is no significant difference in lesion detection between CT and US. In dogs weighing greater than 25 kg, more lesions were detected with CT than with US (P = 0.0001), including clinically relevant lesions (P = 0.0277). From these results, it appears that CT has an advantage in lesion detection in dogs greater than 25 kg, making it a better screening test for abdominal disease in these patients.
The Kondo Effect in Mesoscopic Quantum Dots

A dilute concentration of magnetic impurities can dramatically affect the transport properties of an otherwise pure metal. This phenomenon, known as the Kondo effect, originates from the interactions of individual magnetic impurities with the conduction electrons. Nearly a decade ago, the Kondo effect was observed in a new system, in which the magnetic moment stems from a single unpaired spin in a lithographically defined quantum dot, or artificial atom. The discovery of the Kondo effect in artificial atoms spurred a revival in the study of Kondo physics, due in part to the unprecedented control of relevant parameters in these systems. In this review, we discuss the physics, origins, and phenomenology of the Kondo effect in the context of recent quantum dot experiments. After a brief historical introduction (Section 1), we first discuss the spin-1/2 Kondo effect (Section 2) and how it is modified by various parameters, external couplings, and nonideal conduction reservoirs (Section 3). Next, we discuss measurements of more exotic Kondo systems (Section 4) and conclude with some possible future directions (Section 5). Keywords: Kondo effect; quantum dot; single-electron transistor; mesoscopic physics; Anderson model; Coulomb blockade; tunneling transport; magnetism; experimental physics
Remarkable Medical Writing

In this chapter the reader will find stories of medical writers who have received the Pulitzer Prize and other writing awards. Also presented are some tongue-in-cheek special awards in biomedical writing, such as the most intriguing title, the most arcane use of jargon, and the heaviest medical tome. There is a section on the most unnecessary articles published in the scientific literature, and another on the most intriguing first sentences in clinical reports. The most readable medical journal, the most recognized medical book, and most influential scientific paper of all time are named, as well as the most infamous medical report of the modern era.
Drug-Induced Neuroprotection From Global Ischemia Is Associated With Prevention of Persistent but Not Transient Activation of Nuclear Factor-κB in Rats

Background and Purpose—Nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) is an oxidative stress responsive transcription factor that is transiently activated in most forebrain neurons in response to transient global ische...
Nuclear rceptor-estrogen complex: In vivo and in vitro binding of estradiol and estriol as influenced by serum albumin

Abstract The influence of serum albumin (SA) on the ability of estradiol (E2) and estriol (E3) to promote the translocation of the receptor-estrogen complex to the nucleus of uterine cells was examined. Uteri from immature rats were incubated with E2 or E3in vitro in the presence or absence of SA and the translocation of the receptor-estrogen complex was measured by the [3H]estradiol exchange assay. In the absence of SA estradiol is more potent in causing the translocation of the receptor to the nucleus (50% saturation: E2 at 2 nM, E3 at 6 nM). However, the reverse is true when SA is present in the incubation medium (50% saturation: E2 at 18 nM, E3 at 9nM). Thus the presence of SA in the incubation medium strongly influences the amount of estrogen available for receptor binding and may explain why the ability of E3 to cause transloeation in vivo is equal to or greater than that of E2. These results suggest that SA may play an important role in determining the relative potencies of estrogens in vivo with regard to the transloeation process and the subsequent induction of uterine responses. Furthermore, these data indicate that extrapolation of relative potencies for estrogens based on in vitro determinations in the absence of SA must be viewed with caution.
Aphasia severity, semantics, and depression predict functional communication in acquired aphasia

Background: The functional communication deficits that result from aphasia are well known, although contributing factors have not been systematically studied. Although overall aphasia severity is directly related to communication ability, the contribution of cognitive and mood factors is less understood. Aims: This study attempted to identify predictors of functional communication in patients with acquired aphasia at various points post‐unilateral left hemisphere stroke. Methods & Procedures: A total of 57 patients with aphasia due to left hemisphere stroke completed a comprehensive battery of aphasia diagnostic, neuropsychological, mood, and functional communication measures. Significant predictors of functional communication were identified with multiple hierarchical regression analysis. Outcomes & Results: Over and above the contribution of aphasia severity, depression (sadness and anger), semantic processing, and reading comprehension accounted for a significant amount of variance in functional commun...
Acceptance of long-acting reversible contraceptive methods by adolescent participants in the Contraceptive CHOICE Project.

Background Adolescent women have a high risk of unintended pregnancy. Currently, there are little data about their choice to initiate long-acting reversible contraception (LARC).
Estimating crystallinity in high density polyethylene fibers using online Raman spectroscopy

Online Raman spectra, obtained at different points along the spin line during pilot-scale nonisothermal melt spinning of high density polyethylene (HDPE) fibers, are presented for the first time. The fraction of the crystalline phase corresponding to each spectrum was determined from the normalized integrated intensity of the 1418 cm−1 Raman band. It is well established that this band represents the orthorhombic crystalline phase in polyethylene. The estimates of percent crystallinity obtained from decomposition of the Raman spectrum were compared with the percent crystallinity from differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements. It is concluded that online Raman spectroscopy can be successfully used to monitor the development of crystallinity in HDPE fibers as a function of distance from the spinneret. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 88: 545–549, 2003
Crystallization and Stoichiometry of Binding of a Complex between a Rat Intestinal Fc Receptor and Fc

Fc receptors expressed in the gut of newborn rodents bind to maternal immunoglobulin in milk at pH 6·5, and transport it to the bloodstream of the neonate, where it dissociates at pH 7·4. The rat intestinal Fc receptor (FcRn) consists of a heavy chain, with significant sequence similarity to the heavy chain of class I MHC molecules, complexed to the class I light chain, β2-microglobulin. Although FcRn is predicted to contain a groove analogous to that which serves as the MHC peptide-binding site, the immunoglobulin ligand of FcRn is a macromolecule instead of a peptide. We have expressed and crystallized a secreted form of FcRn, and here report the crystallization of a complex between FcRn and its Fc ligand. Isolated FcRn-Fc complexes crystallize in space group I222 or I 212121 with unit cell dimensions a =125 A, b=152 A and c=216 A. The crystals diffract to 5·5 A resolution with anisotropic diffraction to 3·5 A. Data collection from cryopreserved cystals may allow the resolution limit to be extended, since the major reason for the poor resolution appears to be radiation decay. Even a low-resolution view of how FcRn binds Fc would be of interest to see if the binding site corresponds to the functional part of an MHC molecule. Since the structure of Fc is known, and a structure determination of FcRn is underway, it may be possible to locate the Fc binding site on FcRn at low resolution. As an initial characterization of the FcRn-Fc mode of interaction, and to facilitate the structure determination, we have determined the stoichiometry of binding of FcRn to Fc. We show that two FcRn molecules bind per Fc, as determined by analysis of gels of washed crystals, a column binding assay, and isothermal titration calorimetry.
Analysis of Cs 2 LiYCl 6 :Ce 3+ (CLYC) waveforms as read out by solid state photomultipliers

Cs2LiYCI6:Ce3+ (CLYC) is a new inorganic scintillator that has recently garnered attention for its ability to detect and discriminate between gammas and thermal neutrons. While scintilla tors are typically coupled to traditional photomultiplier tubes for data acquisition, this setup may not be feasible in all applications. Solid state photomultipliers offer potential advantages including smaller size, added robustness, no high voltage requirement, and imperviousness to magnetic fields. We investigate the waveform structure of CLYC emission when coupled to a SensL silicon photomultiplier and a Hamamatsu multi-pixel photon counter. We report on the ability to provide pulse-shape discrimination for gamma and thermal neutron separation.
Effects of Membrane Calcium Flux Localizations and Realistic T-Tubule Geometry on Cardiac Excitation-Contraction Coupling

The sub-cellular anatomy and ionic flux distributions are considered important in calcium (Ca) regulation and their variations over time may hold clues to the progression of heart diseases. To investigate how these coupled processes may affect the cardiac cell function we developed 3D continuum model of Ca-signaling, buffering and diffusion in rat ventricular myocytes. The model geometry was derived from high definition light and electron microscopy images in rodent cardiac cells through a process called tomographic reconstruction [1, 2]. The current model includes: the 3D geometry of a single t-tubule and its surrounding half-sarcomeres; spatially distributed Ca handling proteins along the t-tubule and surface membrane; stationary and mobile Ca buffers (ATP, calmodulin, fluo-3, troponin C). A finite element software package SMOL-SubCell was used to solve the PDE system on cluster of computers [3]. In agreement with experiment [4,5], model suggests that the rat t-tubule anatomy and the heterogeneous distribution of Ca fluxes along the cell membrane might be important mechanisms for maintaining uniform Ca concentration in presence of 100 microM fluo-3 and sarcoplasmic reticulum inhibited. In the absence of fluo-3, model predicts that the overall Ca distribution can not be maintained uniform when the membrane Ca fluxes were heterogeneously distributed.[1] Hayashi et al., J Cell Science 122:1005-1013, 2009.[2] Yu et al., J Structural Biol 164:304-313, 2008.[3] Smoluchowski Solver (SMOL), http://mccammon.ucsd.edu/smol/[4] Scriven et al., Ann NY Acad Sci 976:488-499, 2002.[5] Cheng et al., Pflugers Arch 428:415-417, 1994.Supported by NBCR (NIH grant 2 P41 RR08605), NIH GM31749, NSF MCB-0506593, MCA93S013, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, SDSC, Accelrys, inc., W. M. Keck foundation.∗Corresponding author: amihaylo@ucsd.edu
Caring and Agency: Noddings on happiness in education

Abstract In this short essay I express my own deep sympathy with Nel Noddings’s ethic of care and applaud her stubborn resistance in Happiness and Education to what John Dewey would have called false dualisms, such as those between intelligence and emotion, theory and practice, or vocation and academic studies.However, I question whether the sort of caring relation she depicts so beautifully in this and many other books is sufficiently robust to alone carry the weight of the moral life that she supports, and whether her suspicion of community, while sounding important cautions, does not leave us with an ethical vision that is too thin to deliver the sort of education she prescribes. To this end, I argue that she judges Victor Frankl’s conception of freedom too harshly and his response to human suffering with an uncharacteristic lack of charity. Following well-known communitarian arguments of MichaelWalzer and CharlesTaylor I suggest that some account of a situated human agent who can choose freely to ente...
Somatic hypermutation in B cells: an optimal control treatment

The vertebrate immune system generates high-affinity antibodies to external antigens through a process of somatic hypermutation that takes place in germinal centers formed in the secondary lymphoid tissues. B cells proliferating in these germinal centers experience random mutations in the genes encoding the variable region of their immunoglobulin molecules and are subsequently selected for high-affinity binding to antigen. These germinal center reactions last for only about 2 weeks, yet in that time typically produce multiple point mutations resulting in affinity increases of factors of ten to a hundred or more. We have attempted to understand this extraordinary effectiveness by causing the problem of affinity maturation as an optimization problem in which a quantity that we call the total affinity is maximized as a functional of mu(t), the mutation rate as a function of time. We have developed a single-compartment model for the process and an optimization algorithm based on the Pontryagin maximum principle. Our results show that the optimum mutation schedule is one with brief bursts of high mutation rates interspersed between periods of mutation-free growth. Though this result at first seems highly non-physiological, we show that, in fact, it provides a framework within which the anatomy and kinetics of the germinal center reaction can be understood.
Manufacturing advantages for remote control of medium current ion implant systems

Abstract The advantages of remote control of the existing ion implant systems will be discussed. Factors for consideration are, in the order of importance, radiation, maintenance, and environment control. By removing the controls and monitors from the equipment, operating personnel are moved from a potential radiation area to a radiation-free area and operation can now be classified as “non-radiation” workers. All system maintenance is performed in the equipment core area without disrupting either the clean room equipment or adjacent equipment. For the system operating in a maintenance mode, the controls rotate 90° into the equipment core area. The wafer load and machine control areas are isolated from the clean room via doors and sliding windows. The remote control modification replaces hand-driven leak valves and control potentiometers with motor drives. The source parameters located at high voltage and previously observed by the operator through a lead window are now monitored by a closed circuit TV system and displayed at the control console.
Acid degradation products of deoxyribonucleic acid

Abstract The acid hydrolysis of calf thymus DNA by normal HCl at 100° results primarily in nucleotides containing one more phosphate than pyrimidine, a number of which have been isolated and identified by ion-exchange chromatography. This is consistent with an elimination mechanism that leaves on the pyrimidine residue those phosphates formerly lying between purine and pyrimidine residues. It also indicates that the loss of purine residues is a necessary prerequisite to the rupture of the polynucleotide chain by mild acidic hydrolysis. The presence of nucleotides containing equal amounts of pyrimidine and phosphate may be caused by the hydrolysis of phosphate from the initial products. About 33% of the phosphate appears as inorganic phosphate after 1 hour of hydrolysis; the bulk of this appears to be phosphate originally lying between purine residues in the original DNA. There is a slow rise to a new plateau of 50% at 3 to 4 hours. The sum of inorganic plus monoesterified phosphate remains constant from 1 hour to 4 hours, indicating a slow hydrolysis of monoester phosphate, presumably from the 3′ positions. The presence of all varieties of mono-, di-, and trinucleotide sequences that are possible from cytidylic and thymidylic acids indicates that all possible sequences of pyrimidine and of purine nucleotides exist in thymus DNA.
Using Fry's Graph to Describe the Variation of Readability: A Corrected Procedure.

Abstract A method proposed by McCuaig and Hutchings to assess the internal readability variation of books using the Fry Readability Formula was empirically tested. In each of sixteen books examined, the McCuaig and Hutchings method was found to consistently underestimate the observed readability variation. An explanation of this underestimation is presented. In addition, the authors of this paper propose a change in the logic of McCuaig and Hutchings’ method which eliminates this underestimation.
Vegetables- and antioxidant-related nutrients, genetic susceptibility, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma risk

Genetic susceptibility to DNA oxidation, carcinogen metabolism, and altered DNA repair may increase non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) risk, whereas vegetables- and antioxidant-related nutrients may decrease risk. We evaluated the interaction of a priori-defined dietary factors with 28 polymorphisms in these metabolic pathways. Incident cases (n = 1,141) were identified during 1998-2000 from four cancer registries and frequency-matched to population-based controls (n = 949). We estimated diet-gene joint effects using two-phase semi-parametric maximum-likelihood methods, which utilized genotype data from all subjects as well as 371 cases and 311 controls with available diet information. Adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) were lower among common allele carriers with higher dietary intakes. For the GSTM3 3-base insertion and higher total vegetable intake, the risk was 0.56 (0.35-0.92, p interaction = 0.03); for GSTP1 A114V and higher cruciferous vegetable intake, the risk was 0.52 (0.34-0.81, p interaction = 0.02); for OGG1 S326C and higher daily zinc intake, the risk was 0.71 (0.47-1.08, p interaction = 0.04) and for XRCC3 T241M and higher green leafy vegetable intake, the risk was 0.63 (0.41-0.97, p interaction = 0.03). Calculation of the false positive report probability determined a high likelihood of falsely positive associations. Although most associations have not been examined previously with NHL, our results suggest the examined polymorphisms are not modifiers of the association between vegetable and zinc intakes and NHL risk.
On velocity discontinuities in elastoplastic bicrystals in channel die compression

Abstract Possible consequences of including lattice straining in f.c.c. bicrystal models in channel die compression are investigated. It is determined that the tangential velocity discontinuities which emanate from the interface edges in rigid/plastic models are not eliminated by taking crystal elasticity into account.
Parametric Studies of a Coupled Transport/Hyperelastic Model for High Energy Density Nastic Materials

The focus of this research is to optimize the performance of a high energy density active material based upon biological processes. This material uses controlled transport of charge and fluid across a selectively permeable membrane to achieve bulk deformation, similar to nastic movements in the plant kingdom. The membrane utilizes biological ion pumps, ion channels, and ion exchangers surrounding a spherical inclusion in a polymer matrix. This work examines the effect of the geometry of the inclusion and the surrounding matrix on the predictions of the model.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Single-stroke language-agnostic keylogging using stereo-microphones and domain specific machine learning

Mobile phones are equipped with an increasingly large number of precise and sophisticated sensors. This raises the risk of direct and indirect privacy breaches. In this paper, we investigate the feasibility of keystroke inference when user taps on a soft keyboard are captured by the stereoscopic microphones on an Android smartphone. We developed algorithms for sensor-signals processing and domain specific machine learning to infer key taps using a combination of stereo-microphones and gyroscopes. We implemented and evaluated the performance of our system on two popular mobile phones and a tablet: Samsung S2, Samsung Tab 8 and HTC One. Based on our experiments, and to the best of our knowledge, our system (1) is the first to exceed 90% accuracy requiring a single attempt, (2) operates on the standard Android QWERTY and number keyboards, and (3) is language agnostic. We show that stereo-microphones are a much more effective side channel as compared to the gyroscope, however, their data can be combined to boost the accuracy of prediction. While previous studies focused on larger key sizes and repetitive attempts, we show that by focusing on the specifics of the keyboard and creating machine learning models and algorithms based on keyboard areas combined with adequate filtering, we can achieve an accuracy of 90% - 94% for much smaller key sizes in a single attempt. We also demonstrate how such attacks can be instrumentalized by a malicious application to log the keystrokes of other sensitive applications. Finally, we describe some techniques to mitigate these attacks.