cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Upregulation of UGT2B4 Expression by 3'-Phosphoadenosine-5'-Phosphosulfate Synthase Knockdown: Implications for Coordinated Control of Bile Acid Conjugation.

During cholestasis, the bile acid–conjugating enzymes, SULT2A1 and UGT2B4, work in concert to prevent the accumulation of toxic bile acids. To understand the impact of sulfotransferase deficiency on human hepatic gene expression, we knocked down 3′-phosphoadenosine-5′-phosphosulfate synthases (PAPSS) 1 and 2, which catalyze synthesis of the obligate sulfotransferase cofactor, in HepG2 cells. PAPSS knockdown caused no change in SULT2A1 expression; however, UGT2B4 expression increased markedly (∼41-fold increase in UGT2B4 mRNA content). Knockdown of SULT2A1 in HepG2 cells also increased UGT2B4 expression. To investigate the underlying mechanism, we transfected PAPSS-deficient HepG2 cells with a luciferase reporter plasmid containing ∼2 Kb of the UGT2B4 5′-flanking region, which included a response element for the bile acid–sensing nuclear receptor, farnesoid X receptor (FXR). FXR activation or overexpression increased UGT2B4 promoter activity; however, knocking down FXR or mutating or deleting the FXR response element did not significantly decrease UGT2B4 promoter activity. Further evaluation of the UGT2B4 5′-flanking region indicated the presence of distal regulatory elements between nucleotides −10090 and −10037 that negatively and positively regulated UGT2B4 transcription. Pulse-chase analysis showed that increased UGT2B4 expression in PAPSS-deficient cells was attributable to both increased mRNA synthesis and stability. Transfection analysis demonstrated that the UGT2B4 3′-untranslated region decreased luciferase reporter expression less in PAPSS-deficient cells than in control cells. These data indicate that knocking down PAPSS increases UGT2B4 transcription and mRNA stability as a compensatory response to the loss of SULT2A1 activity, presumably to maintain bile acid–conjugating activity.
Parallel Optimization of Motion Controllers via Policy Iteration

This paper describes a policy iteration algorithm for optimizing the performance of a harmonic function-based controller with respect to a user-defined index. Value functions are represented as potential distributions over the problem domain, being control policies represented as gradient fields over the same domain. All intermediate policies are intrinsically safe, i.e. collisions are not promoted during the adaptation process. The algorithm has efficient implementation in parallel SIMD architectures. One potential application - travel distance minimization - illustrates its usefulness.
Dual-Emission Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) Real-Time PCR Differentiates Feline Immunodeficiency Virus Subtypes and Discriminates Infected from Vaccinated Cats

Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is among the most common infectious agents of cats. Five well-characterized FIV subtypes, A, B, C, D, and E, are recognized worldwide. As in HIV diagnosis, serum antibodies against FIV classically serve as an indicator of infection status. After the introduction of an inactivated FIV vaccine, this approach has become problematic, since antibodies generated by vaccination are indistinguishable from antibodies in response to infection. However, PCR detection of host-cell-integrated FIV DNA will differentiate infection-derived antibody from vaccination-derived positivity because presumably the RNA of inactivated vaccine virus will not integrate into the host genome. In this study, we established a gag gene-based dual-emission fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) real-time PCR that amplifies single-target copies of all known FIV strains and differentiates five FIV subtypes. All blood samples from experimentally FIV-infected cats (n = 5) were antibody positive and highly positive in the FIV PCR. In contrast, nine cats became antibody positive after FIV vaccination but remained negative in the FIV PCR. Of 101 FIV antibody-positive feline blood specimens submitted for FIV PCR diagnosis, 61 were positive (60%). A total of 23 of the positive PCRs identified subtype A, 11 identified subtype B1, 11 identified subtype B2/E, and 16 identified subtype C. FIV subtype D was not detected in any submitted specimens even though 13 blood specimens were from cats known to have received the FIV vaccine, which contains FIV subtype A and D inactivated virions. Therefore, this PCR quantitatively identifies FIV subtypes and unambiguously discriminates between FIV-vaccinated and FIV-infected cats.
Heat Shock Transcription Factor 2 Is Not Essential for Embryonic Development, Fertility, or Adult Cognitive and Psychomotor Function in Mice

Members of the heat shock factor (HSF) family are evolutionarily conserved regulators that share a highly homologous DNA-binding domain. In mammals, HSF1 is the main factor controlling the stress-inducible expression of Hsp genes while the functions of HSF2 and HSF4 are less clear. Based on its developmental profile of expression, it was hypothesized that HSF2 may play an essential role in brain and heart development, spermatogenesis, and erythroid differentiation. To directly assess this hypothesis and better understand the underlying mechanisms that require HSF2, we generated Hsf2 knockout mice. Here, we report that Hsf2−/− mice are viable and fertile and exhibit normal life span and behavioral functions. We conclude that HSF2, most probably because its physiological roles are integrated into a redundant network of gene regulation and function, is dispensable for normal development, fertility, and postnatal psychomotor function.
Identification of a family of calcium sensors as protein ligands of inositol trisphosphate receptor Ca2+ release channels

The inositol trisphosphate (InsP3) receptor (InsP3R) is a ubiquitously expressed intracellular Ca2+ channel that mediates complex cytoplasmic Ca2+ signals, regulating diverse cellular processes, including synaptic plasticity. Activation of the InsP3R channel is normally thought to require binding of InsP3 derived from receptor-mediated activation of phosphatidylinositol lipid hydrolysis. Here we identify a family of neuronal Ca2+-binding proteins as high-affinity protein agonists of the InsP3R, which bind to the channel and activate gating in the absence of InsP3. CaBP/caldendrin, a subfamily of the EF-hand-containing neuronal calcium sensor family of calmodulin-related proteins, bind specifically to the InsP3-binding region of all three InsP3R channel isoforms with high affinity (Ka ≈ 25 nM) in a Ca2+-dependent manner (Ka ≈ 1 μM). Binding activates single-channel gating as efficaciously as InsP3, dependent on functional EF-hands in CaBP. In contrast, calmodulin neither bound with high affinity nor activated channel gating. CaBP1 and the type 1 InsP3R associate in rat whole brain and cerebellum lysates, and colocalize extensively in subcellular regions in cerebellar Purkinje neurons. Thus, InsP3R-mediated Ca2+ signaling in cells is possible even in the absence of InsP3 generation, a process that may be particularly important in responding to and shaping changes in intracellular Ca2+ concentration by InsP3-independent pathways and for localizing InsP3-mediated Ca2+ signals to individual synapses.
Learning to extract temporal signal patterns from temporal signal sequence

We propose an approach that extracts patterns from a temporal signal sequence without prior knowledge about the lengths, positions and the number of the patterns. Previous research (Hong et al., 1999) proposes a scheme for extracting recurrent patterns from a noise free signal without temporal warping. To handle noise and nonlinear temporal warping, a threshold finite state machine (TFSM) is proposed to perform spatial-temporal data modeling. The TFSM is first roughly initialized. A variance of segmental K-means is used to train the TFSM. The training results give us both the patterns embedding in the signal sequence and the trained TFSM that can be used to represent and detect the patterns.
Pneumatically Driven Microcage for Microbe Manipulation in a Biological Liquid Environment

This paper describes the design, fabrication, and force analysis of a pneumatically driven microcage. Pneumatic actuation, suitable to function in a wide range of environments, is especially useful for operation in a small liquid space. The capture of single motile microbes (Volvox and Stentor ~400 mum) in aqueous environments is demonstrated with the microcage. The setup for the capture experiment includes a visualization scheme, a robotic micropositioner, and an electropneumatic control system that facilitates the underwater tracking of the moving microbes and the operation of the microcage for subsequent capture
Ray theory vs normal mode theory in wave propagation problems

The Euler-Maclaurin expansion, as a possible tool for summing mode series in wave propagation problems, is examined for the problem of a dipole radiating monochromatic energy between two parallel plates. When the expansion is applied to this problems it is found that the expansion formula transforms the mode series into the known ray theory solution.
Checkpoint inhibitors in the treatment of cutaneous malignant melanoma

Advanced malignant melanoma has historically been considered a uniformly lethal disease. Recent scientific strides have led to unprecedented understanding of both the molecular alterations and the mechanisms of immune evasion in this malignancy. The realization that an intense and dynamic interplay of stimulatory and inhibitory signals occurs in the “immune synapses” among T cells, tumor cells and dendritic cells, led to the development and subsequent clinical testing of agonist and antagonist monoclonal antibodies (mAb) that can modulate these signals. The resulting positive outcomes of the clinical trials utilizing CTLA-4, PD-1 and PD-L1 modulating drugs, has catapulted the field of immunotherapy into the realm of standard treatment. In this article we review the most important agents and clinical data feeding the ongoing paradigm change in the treatment of advanced melanoma.
Production of a YY Male Brook Trout Broodstock for Potential Eradication of Undesired Brook Trout Populations

AbstractBrook Trout Salvelinus fontinalis introduced outside of their native range often negatively impact native aquatic fauna or provide marginal fisheries and are frequently targeted for manual or piscicide removal in lakes and streams. Unfortunately, complete eradication of exotic Brook Trout populations via these methods is rarely achieved; new approaches are needed. A potential alternative is a Trojan Y Chromosome (TYC) program in which hatchery-produced genetically YY male fish would be regularly released into an undesired population over time, skewing the population towards 100% males, theoretically resulting in wild population extirpation. We developed two genetic sex markers for Brook Trout and employed juvenile sex reversal methods commonly used in commercial aquaculture to develop a YY broodstock that can produce offspring for possible future use as biological control agents. Our search for genetic sex markers proved successful, with genotypic sex determination for two assays matching the obse...
Hypernatremia and Sodium Intake as Risk Factors for Intraventricular Hemorrhage in Preterm Infants

The association between sodium intake in the first week of life and risk of intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) in preterm infants was studied by retrospective review of charts of 722 preterm infants with a birth weight of <1.5kg admitted to the tertiary care neonatal intensive care unit at St Louis Children’s Hospital between Jan 2002 and Dec 2006.
Effects on Blood Pressure of Injection of Kidney Extracts of Dogs with Renal Hypertension

A rise in blood pressure may be produced in dogs either by partial obstruction of the renal arteries1 or by ligation of the ureters.2 Since the latter procedure often causes a marked decline in the renal blood flow,3 it seems likely that the hypertension is in both instances related in some way to ischemia of the kidneys. It was shown by Tigerstedt and Bergman4 that saline extracts of the kidney of rabbits produced a sustained rise in blood pressure when injected into other rabbits. The object of our experiments was to determine whether extracts prepared from ischemic kidneys, removed from dogs with hypertension, had a greater pressor effect than similar extracts of normal kidneys.The freshly removed kidneys were chopped up with scissors and ground with carborundum and 0.9% salt solution. The suspension so obtained was centrifuged and the supernatant fluid was kept in the ice box until used. Amounts corresponding to 5 gm. of kidney tissue were administered intravenously to normal unanesthetized dogs. Chan...
Representations of differential operators on a Lie group, and conditions for a Lie algebra of operators to generate a representation of the group

Representation des groupes de Lie. Theorie des perturbations. Le cas G=SL(2,R). Theoremes d'integrabilite. Le cas de l'algebre de Lie de Heisenberg. Theoreme d'extentabilite. Representations auto-adjointes. Exemple
Ultrastructural demonstration of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)

Using an electronmicroscopic peroxidase-antiperoxidase technique in combination with a three-step fixation procedure according to Willingham, the ultrastructural site of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) could be shown in cells of a human lymphoblastic leukemia cell line (MOLT 4). TdT appeared in the cytoplasm of the cells associated with large membrane bound granules from 150 to 600 nm in diameter usually arranged in aggregates. TdT-positive spaces were completely segregated form the rest of the cytoplasm and seemed to be interconnected by a tubular system. No TdT was detected in the nuclei.
New Technique in Study of HIV-1 Drug Resistance Across the World

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) drug resistance emerges due to sub-optimal treatment or poor adherence to highly active antiretroviral therapy(HAART).However,even with strong adherence,undetectable viral loads with HAART are difficult to maintain for years of treatment.Typically,a single mutation in a HIV-1 gene targeted by a specific antiretroviral drug (ARV) can confer resistance but with triple drug combination regimens,at least three ARV resistant mutations are necessary for treatment failure.Emergence of these ARV resisitant mutations is often temporal and related to differential drug half lives as well as the fitness of the drug resistant variant.The specific ARV resistant mutations are well known in the cases of the major drug classes,i.e.non-nucleoside RT inhibitors(NNRTIs,e.g.nevirapine),nucleoside RT inhibitors(INIs,e.g.raltegravir).Nonetheless,different HIV-1 genetic backgrounds(e.g.subtypes) and secondary mutations can result in hugher or lower levels of HIV-1 drug resistance.In addition,specific ARVs such CCR5 antagonists (e.g.mataviroc) may select for multiple mutational pathways for resistance which are still unknown.Based on our research in Uganda,China,Argentina,and other countries around the world,we have developed new technique to study the emergence of HIV-1 drug resistance in different HIV-1 subtypes aside from subtype B that predominates Europe and North America.To better understand phenotypic drug resistance,we developed a novel system to rapidly PCR amplify the HIV-1 target genes from patients and then cloning into an HIV-1 laboratory strain using yeast recombination.This chimeric virus is then used in drug susceptibility assays.The use of yeast as opposed to bacterial clone allows for largar HIV-1 gene replacements and avoids the need for specified cloning sites.Since phenotypic assays are often more involved and costly,we also developed a genotypic drug resistance assay that involves specific oligonucleotide ligation assays at the majority drug resistance mutation sites.The frequency of the drug resistant mutations is determined using multiplex Luminex technology.
Culture and Intellectual Property

The aim of this chapter is to provide a critical understanding as to how and why cultural factors affect people’s attitudes towards IPP. Four topics are discussed and supported by case examples, using the USA and China as comparators. First, the chapter examines how different levels of education can impact on people’s understanding of IP and how IP training can change people’s attitudes towards IPP. Second, the ways in which religious principles can directly and indirectly affect IP attitudes are examined. Third, the effects of different social classes on positive or negative attitudes towards IP are considered. Finally, the impact of language as a cultural element affecting IP understanding is discussed.
Assessing and Treating Co-occurring Mental Illness

This chapter specifically focuses on co-occurring mental health conditions associated with opioid use disorders. Psychiatric syndromes discussed include mood disorders, anxiety disorders, posttraumatic stress disorder, personality disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and psychotic disorders. This text is designed to provide concise information pertaining to the epidemiology and treatment of opioid use disorders and comorbid mental illnesses.
Programming Boot Camp to retain women in IT: An experience report

Underrepresented students in computing can face critical challenges to retention including lack of prior exposure to programming and feelings of isolation due to a non-diverse classroom. Consequently, students may delay enrolling in programming courses, which interrupts progress towards their degree and decreases confidence in their ability to succeed in college and computing careers. One strategy to overcome the perceived and actual difficulties undergraduate students encounter in an introductory programming course is to participate in a summer Programming Boot Camp (PBC). PBC is a short-term, intense event focused on improving Java programming skills, providing career and professional development, and building a stronger network with faculty, peers, and industry experts. In this paper, we describe the structure and format of a weeklong PBC held at Georgia Gwinnett College (GGC) for female computing undergraduates. We report on the impacts of the program in terms of increasing confidence, improving programming skills, and encouraging student engagement.
A Comparison of Own Group, Peer and Instructor Evaluation Scores for Group Oral Presentations

The purpose of this study is to determine if there is a bias in the scoring of students own group work relative to the scoring assessed by other students and their instructor of the same group work. One hundred seventy-five students in six classes over two semesters rated their own group and other group's oral presentations. Students gave their own group presentation an average score of 95 percent compared to a peer average score of 90 percent and an instructor average of 89 percent. Because of this apparent bias, it is recommended that peer evaluation alone and not the combination of peer and self evaluation be used to determine group oral presentation scores.
Medical Care Activities Among Spouses of Older Adults With Functional Disability: Implications for Caregiving Difficulties and Gains

Objectives Spouses of older adults with functional disability often provide help with their partner's medical care. Yet little is known about the implications of these activities for spouses' caregiving experiences. We examined how spouses' medical care activities are linked to both positive and negative aspects of caregiving (difficulties and gains), and whether these associations vary by their age, gender, or education. Design Retrospective analysis of data from the 2011 National Health and Aging Trends Study and National Study of Caregiving cross-sectional studies. Setting Caregivers and care recipients/proxies were interviewed by telephone at home. Participants Nationally representative U.S. sample of 345 spousal caregivers and their community-dwelling care recipients aged 65 years and older. Measurements Caregivers' self-reported sociodemographics, care activities, health conditions, well-being, and support resources. Care recipients (or proxies) reported on their health conditions and dementia status. Results A higher number of health system interaction tasks (e.g., making appointments) were significantly associated with greater emotional caregiving difficulties, whereas a higher number of medical/nursing tasks (e.g., giving shots/injections) were significantly linked to greater caregiving gains. A higher number of medical/nursing tasks were also significantly associated with greater physical difficulties for caregiving wives and spouses with less education. Conclusions Medical care activities may have both positive and negative consequences for spousal caregivers, which depend partly on sociodemographics. This study underscores the importance of ensuring that spouses have the resources and support needed to provide complex care to their partners.
Brentuximab vedotin in CD30+ primary cutaneous T‐cell lymphomas: a review and analysis of existing data

Background The utility of brentuximab vedotin (BV) in CD30+ systemic lymphomas is established, however evidence for treating primary cutaneous lymphoma remains limited. This study aimed to evaluate BV in treating CD30+ transformed mycosis fungoides (MF) and primary cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphoma (PC-ALCL). Methods A literature review was conducted, and we analyzed data from published trials and case reports obtained via search of Ovid-MEDLINE® and PubMed databases. The search yielded 372 reports, and 10 publications met inclusion criteria. Sixty-one patients with CD30+ transformed MF and seven with PC-ALCL were included. Results Mean age at BV initiation was 60.8 years (67 – PC-ALCL; 60.1 – MF), and 4.1 therapies were attempted prior to BV (3.1 – PC-ALCL; 4.2 – MF). The overall response rate was 67.7% (100% – PC-ALCL; 63.9% – MF), with 16.2% of patients experiencing complete response (100% – PC-ALCL; 6.6% – MF). Mean time to clinical response was 5.3 and 9.3 weeks for PC-ALCL and MF, respectively. Mean response duration for patients with PC-ALCL was 7.6 and 7.8 months for MF. Peripheral neuropathy (57.2%) and fatigue (35.6%) were the most commonly reported adverse effects. Conclusions This analysis summates the current evidence regarding the use of BV in treating CD30+ MF and PC-ALCL. Preliminary results indicate that BV is effective for CD30+ CTCL, however additional studies with larger sample sizes are necessary. The study provides clinicians with the clinical context in which BV may be appropriate as well as information regarding therapeutic expectations and outcomes.
Effect of access design on intracoronal bleaching of endodontically treated teeth: An ex vivo study.

Objectives To determine the effect of access design on intracoronal bleaching with 35% carbamide peroxide on discolored teeth. Materials and Methods Forty-two intact maxillary central incisors were selected, sectioned and artificially stained using whole blood. Color measurements were performed with a spectrophotometer: before staining (T1), after staining (T2), at 7 (T3), and 14 (T4) days postbleaching. After T1, specimens were stratified and divided randomly into two groups according to access design (N = 20): G1: contracted endodontic cavity (CEC) access performed with a #848-010M bur and G2: traditional endodontic cavity (TEC) access done with a #1157 bur. Canals were obturated, a cervical barrier was placed and 35% carbamide peroxide was sealed in the chamber for 7 days and replaced at 7 days for an additional 7 days. Data were collected based on CIELAB-CIE1976 (L*a*b*) system. Repeated measures SNK anova was used to evaluate the effects of access design and time on color change (ΔE*) and luminosity (L*) (α < 0.05). Results For CEC, L* was significantly different at all times points (P .05). There was no statistical difference for ΔE* between CEC and TEC designs at any time point (P > .05). Conclusions In general, teeth accessed with CEC or TEC designs showed statistically similar bleaching when using 35% carbamide peroxide. However, lightness values were only reestablished with bleaching through a TEC access design. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE Despite the current trend to conserve tooth structure when performing endodontic access cavities, the use of conservative access designs for bleaching discolored maxillary central incisors affected the acceptability threshold when compared with a traditional access design. These smaller accesses might not be an alternative treatment option when internal bleaching in the esthetic zone is anticipated.
User-Friendly InSAR Data Products: Fast and Simple Timeseries Processing

Interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) methods provide high-resolution maps of surface deformation applicable to many scientific, engineering, and management studies. Despite its utility, the specialized skills and computer resources required for InSAR analysis remain as barriers for truly widespread use of the technique. Reduction of radar scenes to maps of temporal deformation evolution requires not only detailed metadata describing the exact radar and surface acquisition geometries, but also a software package that can combine these for the specific scenes of interest. Furthermore, the range-Doppler reference frame and radar coordinate system itself are confusing, so that many users find it hard to incorporate even useful products in their customary analyses. Finally, the sheer data volume needed for interferogram time series makes InSAR analysis challenging for many analysis systems. We show here that it is possible to deliver radar data products to users that address all of these difficulties, so that the data acquired by large, modern satellite systems are ready to use in more natural coordinates, without requiring further processing, and in as small volume as possible.
Policymaking as Power-Building

The problem of balancing power through institutional design — always a central concern of constitutional theory — has taken on even greater salience in current scholarship in light of contemporary concerns over economic inequality and failures of American democracy today. This paper extends these concerns into the realm of administrative law and the design of regulatory policy. I argue that in an era of increasing (and increasingly interrelated) economic and political inequality, we must design public policies not only with an eye towards their substantive merits, but also in ways that redress disparities of power. In particular, we can design policies to institutionalize the countervailing power of constituencies that are often the beneficiaries of egalitarian economic policies, yet lack the durable, long-term political influence to sustain and help implement these policies over time. This concept of “policymaking as power-building” rests on a descriptive and normative claim. Descriptively, the paper shows how historical and contemporary analyses of administrative governance indicates that regulatory institutions and policies are already involved in shaping and responding to the balance of power among civil society groups. Normatively, the paper argues that this reality should be harnessed to pro-actively design policies that mitigate power disparities, and in so doing promote greater democratic responsiveness through regulatory policy design. The paper develops this argument through case studies of power-balancing policy design in local regulatory bodies around economic development initiatives, and in federal regulation around the case of financial reform. The paper then theorizes a more general framework for designing similar power-shifting policies that are portable across substantive areas of law and policy and across federal, state, or local level administration. This framework should be of interest to policymakers, advocacy groups, and other practitioners designing regulatory policies and concerned about dangers of capture and disparate influence. This account of policymaking as power-building synthesizes literatures in law, social science, and political theory to offer a more institutionally-rich account of power and the interactions between constituencies on the one hand and policymaking institutions on the other. It also extends the current debates on power and public law, law and inequality, and administrative and local government law.
Using Checklists to Train Preservice Early Childhood Professionals for Fidelity of Implementation of Assessment

In this chapter, the findings of a study examining the Fidelity of Implementation of Assessment (FOI-A) for the Battelle Developmental Inventory—Second Edition (BDI-2) across one New England state are used to provide recommendations for training within preservice programs. Programs for early childhood educators, Early Intervention professionals, and school psychologists would benefit from the inclusion of checklists, as they can support preservice professionals in remembering key steps to setup, implementation, and documentation of data. The focus of this chapter is on supporting professionals through their early experiences learning standardized tests. From their first administration of a standardized test through their graduation, this chapter will demonstrate how to use these checklists in practical ways to support early implementations of standardized tests through coursework, clinical assignments, and field experiences. By infusing these reflective practices associated with checklists from the beginning of their programs, high levels of FOI-A can be promoted from the earliest training experiences.
Exposure to routine availability of immediate postpartum LARC: effect on attitudes and practices of labor and delivery and postpartum nurses

Abstract Objectives Nurses play an integral role in intrapartum and postpartum patient education. This exploratory study aims to assess the attitudes, knowledge, and practices of labor and delivery and postpartum nurses regarding contraception and evaluate for changes in these measures 1 year after an institutional initiative allowing routine availability of immediate postpartum long-acting reversible contraception (LARC). Study design In 2014, Montefiore Medical Center began to routinely offer comprehensive immediate postpartum contraception. The initiative included education and feedback sessions for labor and delivery and postpartum nurses on contraception, including immediate postpartum initiation of LARC. Nurses completed anonymous surveys at the beginning of the initiative (n=59) and at 1 year (n=56). We compared baseline and 1 year survey results of contraceptive knowledge, attitudes and practices using χ2 test, Fisher's Exact Test, or t test as appropriate. Results Nurses who stated they counseled patients on contraception “always” or “most of the time” increased from 27/59 (46%) to 40/56 (71%) (p=.005). The number of nurses who would recommend the intrauterine device and implant for postpartum contraception increased from 1/59 (2%) to 18/56 (32%) (p Conclusions Experience working in a location with routine access to immediate postpartum contraception is associated with increased awareness among nurses of postpartum contraceptive options, especially LARC, and increased contraceptive counseling. Concerns about the impact of hormonal contraception on breastfeeding, specifically DMPA, are persistent and prevalent. Implications Labor and delivery and postpartum nurses' knowledge regarding immediate postpartum contraception, particularly LARC methods, may change with exposure to routine access to these methods. This exposure may also impact nurses' practices of providing patient counseling on what methods are appropriate for postpartum women.
Crucial Answers about Humanoid Capital

Inside AI research and engineering communities, explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) is one of the most provocative and promising lines of AI research and development today. XAI has the potential to make expressible the context and domain-specific benefits of particular AI applications to a diverse and inclusive array of stakeholders and audiences. In addition, XAI has the potential to make AI benefit claims more deeply evidenced. Outside AI research and engineering communities, one of the most provocative and promising lines of research happening today is the work on "humanoid capital" at the edges of the social, behavioral, and economic sciences. Humanoid capital theorists renovate older discussions of "human capital" as part of trying to make calculable and provable the domain-specific capital value, value-adding potential, or relative worth (i.e., advantages and benefits) of different humanoid models over time. Bringing these two exciting streams of research into direct conversation for the first time is the larger goal of this landmark paper. The primary research contribution of the paper is to detail some of the key requirements for making humanoid robots explainable in capital terms using XAI approaches. In this regard, the paper not only brings two streams of provocative research into much-needed conversation but also advances both streams.
Familie der Paramyxoviren und Rötelnvirus

Paramyxoviridae bilden eine grose Familie von Viren, zu der 3 Genera gehoren: Paramyxovirus (Mumps, Parainfluenza Typen 1–5, Newcastle Disease Virus [NDV]), Morbillusvirus (Masern, Hundestaupe, Rinderpest), Pneumovirus (Respiratory Syncytial Virus [RS-Virus]). Rotelnvirus wurde aufgrund seiner physikalischen und biochemischen Eigenschaften in das Genus Rubivirus der Famihe Togaviridae eingeordnet. Wegen seiner epidemiologischen und klinischen Ahnlichkeiten mit den Paramyxoviren wird der Erreger jedoch in diesem Kapitel besprochen. Sehr verschiedenartige Erkrankungen werden durch einzelnen Mitglieder der Familie der Paramyxoviren hervorgerufen, neben respiratorischen Erkrankungen gehoren hierzu Masern, Mumps sowie akute und chronische neurologische Erkrankungen.
Vesicular Sorting to Axons and Dendrites

Neuronal polarity underlies vectorial electrical signaling by vertebrate neurons. To ensure the proper conduction of electrical signals, channels and receptors have to be distributed to the correct locations. Equalizing the distribution of channels and receptors to uniformity on the membrane would affect the excitability and firing properties of the neuron and lead to dysfunctional and/or nonfunctional circuits. Neuronal function therefore relies on successfully compartmentalizing the neuronal plasma membrane and creating a multitude of molecularly distinct subdomains. At the most basic, one can distinguish proteins enriched on the axon from proteins enriched on the soma and dendrites, the somatodendritic domain. Furthermore, many proteins are found enriched in subdomains of the somatodendritic or axonal domains, such as synapses, distal or proximal dendrites, soma, axon initial segments, and nodes of Ranvier. Several mechanisms are discussed which contribute to the nonhomogeneous distribution of receptors and channels in the membrane.
The Present State of Aesthetic Theory

Since man became aware of his having experiences of beauty, they have been an object of wonder and hence of philosophic reflection. What is the nature of these experiences ? What is the character of the objects which elicit them? What function do they play in the human economy? This effort to work out satisfactory answers for these questions will be found to be reminiscen-of the figure in Plato’s Ion where the artistic inspiration is represented by an image of iron rings held together by magnetic force. The Muse is the first ring; the inspired creation and the appreciator are the other rings. To explain in more literal terms the nature of this magnetic force and of the rings which it holds together is to develop a theory of aesthetic value. In certain respects the present interpretation of this image remains within the ambit of Platonic philosophy; in others it is modern. Thus it is intended to embody criticism of both ancient and modern aesthetic thought and seeks to retain characteristics of both kinds, despite the very considerable differences between them.
Expressing numerical uncertainty

In Russian, numeral expressions can be made approximate through Approximative Inversion, whereby the noun and the numeral appear to exchange positions. Approximative Inversion has been analyzed as head movement, where a head containing the noun raises to the left of the numeral, but this leads to incorrect semantics. I propose that Approximative Inversion involves post-nominal generation of the numeral in a reduced relative structure, where it is associated with a feature marking speaker uncertainty. This feature triggers a round-number reading of the numeral, resulting in what appears to be number approximation due to speaker uncertainty.
Mimimally invasive endoscopic technique of harvesting free gracilis muscle flap to lower donor site morbidity: A feasibility study in cadavers

Endoscopic mobilization and harvesting of the gracilis muscle for free transfer applications and the versatility of this method are discussed in this report. This procedure was performed in 12 fresh human cadaver limbs (from six cadavers) to master the surgical technique for future clinical applications. Through two separate 2 cm incisions, one placed proximally and one distally along the axis of the muscle, the endoscope allowed the gracilis muscle and its related anatomical structures to be viewed, particularly the dominant vascular pedicle. The muscle flap, along with its vascular pedicle and motor nerve, were successfully harvested with the aid of endoscopy. The potential clinical advantages of endoscopically harvesting the gracilis muscle flap include shortening of the size of the surgical scar, relief of postoperative pain and hastened recovery of function.
Scaffolding Visual Learning for Argument and Critical Reading

NOTE: This teaching activity showcase is one of two during the 1:00pm-2:30pm session. AÂ It will be presented within that session from 1:00pm to 1:40pm.BRIEF SESSION DESCRITION:This activity offers students the chance to use visual learning to support critical reading and inquiry into challenging texts. Scaffolding the visual learning aspect of the activity allows students to think and write individually, have a visual A¢â¬AdiscussionA¢â¬Â using notecards on a whiteboard, and then work in small-groups to focus their A¢â¬AdiscussionA¢â¬Â on a specific argument about a theme or concept that is stated in the text. AÂ The basics of this activity rely on inquiry, critical reading skills, and argument, which are cornerstones of higher education. Instructors across the disciplines will experience this activity as "students" and be able to adapt and adopt this activity at any point in the semester to push studentsA¢â¬â¢ reading and thinking skills further._________________________________________________________________FULL ABSTRACT:Visual learning activities offer an alternative mode of support for critical reading and inquiry tasks. In my English classes, scaffolding visual learning activities has fostered increased student engagement and team work skills while giving students new ways to dissect challenging texts and concepts. This session will focus on one scaffolded visual learning activity, and will then break down adaptations that faculty from a variety of disciplines can use. The first part of this activity consists of a free-write, in which students are asked to respond to questions about the text that they have read. After completing the free-write, students will break into groups and each focus on a different theme (or concept) taken from the text and from the questions that they responded to. Each student will write on a notecard a strong question centered on that theme or concept. Using the whiteboards in active-learning classrooms, students will spend time moving the note cards around, commenting on or answering the questions in writing, and using whiteboard markers to show connections and categorize ideas. Finally, students will discuss their findings from their A¢â¬AconversationA¢â¬Â on the whiteboard, and use their discussion to create a thesis statement or argument about their theme as stated in the text.
Intraparty Cleavages and Partisan Attitudes Toward Labor Policy

Although one in every four jobs in the U.S. is considered low-wage—encompassing millions of jobs held by Republicans and Democrats alike—little is known about partisans’ views on policies that govern the workplace. This study examines the issue using two separate national surveys and administrative data to assess partisan attitudes toward two components of labor policy: (1) support for unionization; and (2) the role of labor unions in the workplace. The close association between labor unions and Democrats anticipates predictable attitudinal differences among partisans. However, this presupposes the absence of alternative policy reasoning. The results indicate that experience constitutes such an alternative: lower-income Republicans and Republicans from union households break from party cues and offer support for worker unionization—notably in low-wage industries including fast-food and retail—and see labor unions as important institutions that improve working conditions and job security. Democrats who come from union households offer more consistent and greater support for worker unionization than non-union Democrats, and like union Republicans, see unions as important institutions in the workplace. The results point to the importance of experience and the workplace for policy attitudes. The findings suggest that labor policy may constitute an important, if overlooked, domain with cross-cutting attitudinal cleavages based, to some extent, on one’s place in the labor market, rather than one’s place in partisan politics.
A Darkling Decade

The initial period after the Dirichlets’ return from Italy was pleasant and hopeful. On his way back to Berlin, Dirichlet had stopped to visit Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy and other family members and friends in Frankfurt. Felix had written to his sisters , who were still in Italy, that Dirichlet was lively and well, sported an enormous beard, and could hardly be recognized, not only because of the beard, but because he appeared younger, heavier, and generally healthier than he had been when they last saw him.
Bayesian inference for water column and sediment inversion in ocean acoustics

Bayesian methods provide inference on unknown parameters given prior beliefs and a statistical model for the observations in a noisy environment. It was shown in “Sequential filtering and linearization for inversion in the Seabed Characterization Experiment,” J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 144, 1913 (2018) how geometry and sediment parameter estimation in an oceanic experiment can be achieved with a two-stage Bayesian approach. Here, we demonstrate the potential of the method for inversion with a different data set presenting challenges in identifying features of the acoustic field necessary for the second stage of the estimation process. The water column sound speed is complex in this experiment, necessitating a complex inverse model. The transmitted signals are lfm pulses and probability densities of multipath arrival times are calculated at the receivers. For the forward and inverse calculations, we compute the Jacobian matrix for sound speed estimation using EOF coefficients. The inversion, employing the direct and surface and bottom paths, leads to inference on the geometry and the water column sound speed profile. Using the computed probability densities and introducing one more arrival, sediment property densities are calculated. Results are in excellent agreement with expected values for the site. [Work supported by ONR.]Bayesian methods provide inference on unknown parameters given prior beliefs and a statistical model for the observations in a noisy environment. It was shown in “Sequential filtering and linearization for inversion in the Seabed Characterization Experiment,” J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 144, 1913 (2018) how geometry and sediment parameter estimation in an oceanic experiment can be achieved with a two-stage Bayesian approach. Here, we demonstrate the potential of the method for inversion with a different data set presenting challenges in identifying features of the acoustic field necessary for the second stage of the estimation process. The water column sound speed is complex in this experiment, necessitating a complex inverse model. The transmitted signals are lfm pulses and probability densities of multipath arrival times are calculated at the receivers. For the forward and inverse calculations, we compute the Jacobian matrix for sound speed estimation using EOF coefficients. The inversion, employing the direct ...
Customer Injustice and Employee Performance: Roles of Emotional Exhaustion, Surface Acting, and Emotional Demands–Abilities Fit:

This paper develops and tests a process model examining the sequential mediating roles of emotional exhaustion and surface acting on the relationships between employee perceptions of unfair treatme...
Productivity of educational psychologists in educational psychology journals, 1997-2001

Abstract What are the most productive institutions and who are the most prolific individual scholars conducting educational psychology research? What are the topics of primary interest to educational psychologists? These were the questions that guided this study, which was a follow-up to our previous investigation of faculty productivity for the period from 1991–1996. Publications in five educational psychology journals were examined. The University of Maryland retained its top ranking for productivity in educational psychology. Richard Mayer of the University of California-Santa Barbara was the most-published educational psychologist for the most recent period, as well as for the entire period (1991–2001). Reading research remains the most popular focus for educational psychology research followed by motivation.
Mercury Emissions, Atmospheric Concentrations, and Wet Deposition across the Conterminous United States: Changes over 20 Years of Monitoring

Mercury is a global pollutant whose supply to the environment has greatly increased due to human activities resulting in adverse effects on human and wildlife health. In response, the United States...
The Great Debate

This chapter provides an overview of the contemporary debate on modern nihilism. Charles Taylor, Hubert Dreyfus, and Sean Dorrance Kelly—the main voices of this debate—adopt the “overcoming” strategy against the malaise of nihilism. They argue that human culture could be redeemed from nihilism with the help of the sacred or a non-human power. The use of this strategy has resulted in an impasse in the discussion. I introduce Richard Rorty as a participant in this conversation, despite initially appearing as an unlikely interlocutor. My claim is that a reconfiguration of Rorty’s pragmatist philosophy can help reframe and advance the debate.
Iterative Learning Control for Robot Manipulators with Non-Repetitive Reference Trajectory, Iteration Varying Trial Lengths, and Asymmetric Output Constraints

In this work, we propose a novel iterative learning control (ILC) scheme for non-repetitive reference trajectories tracking problems of robot manipulators over an iteration domain with varying trial lengths, subject to asymmetric constraint requirements on joint angles. To address iteration varying trial lengths, unlike the existing approaches based on the contraction mapping analysis, a new structure of ILC laws has been presented in this work, using analysis based on composite energy functions. A novel universal barrier function is proposed to deal with joint angle constraints. We show that under the proposed novel ILC scheme, beyond a small initial time interval in each iteration, the joint angle tracking error is uniformly converging to zero over the iteration domain, and the joint velocity tracking error is asymptotically converging to zero in the sense of certain L 2 norm. In the end, a simulation example on a two-degree-of-freedom robot manipulator is presented to demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed scheme.