cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Distinguishing ischaemic optic neuropathy from optic neuritis by ganglion cell analysis

Purpose To determine whether a pattern of altitudinal ganglion cell loss, as detected and measured by optical coherence tomography (OCT), can be used to distinguish non-arteritic ischaemic optic neuropathy (NAION) from optic neuritis (ON) during the acute phase, and whether the rate or severity of ganglion cell loss differs between the two diseases. Methods We performed a retrospective, case–control study of 44 patients (50 eyes) with ON or NAION and 44 age-matched controls. Non-arteritic ischaemic optic neuropathy and ON patients had OCT at presentation and four consecutive follow-up visits. Controls had OCT at one point in time. The ganglion cell complex (GCC) was evaluated in the macula, and the retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) was evaluated in the peripapillary region. Ganglion cell complex thickness, RNFL thickness and GCC mean superior and inferior hemispheric difference were compared between NAION and ON patients at each time-point using unpaired t-tests and between disease and control subjects at first measurement using paired t-tests. Results Mean time from onset of symptoms to initial presentation was 10.7 ± 6.6 days in NAION and 11.7 ± 8.6 days in ON (p = 0.67). There was a significantly greater vertical hemispheric difference in GCC thickness in NAION patients than ON patients at all time-points (5.5–10.7 μm versus 3.1–3.6 μm, p = 0.01–0.049). Mean GCC thickness was significantly decreased at less than 2 weeks after onset in NAION compared to age-matched controls (72.1 μm versus 82.1 μm, p < 0.001), as well as in ON compared to age-matched controls (74.3 μm versus 84.5 μm, p < 0.001). Progression and severity of GCC and RNFL loss did not differ significantly between NAION and ON. Conclusion A quantitative comparison of mean superior and inferior hemispheric GCC thickness with OCT may be used to distinguish NAION from ON.
Roles of Fadama Cooperative Societies in Extension Delivery in Ikpoba Okha and Oredo Local Government Areas of Edo State.

The study ascertained the roles of fadama cooperative societies in extension delivery in Ikpoba-okha and Oredo LG.A of Edo state. A random sampling technique was used in selecting 35farmersfrom four randomly chosen cooperative societies. Findings reveal that there are more male cooperators (71.4%), with 43.2% of the cooperators within 36 to 45 years of age and 22.9% with secondary level of education. Findings also show that the cooperatives are involved in the supply of inputs, demonstration of improved farming practices and education and training of members (100.0%) respectively. Members of the cooperatives are actively involved in input supply and distribution. A significant relationship exists between cooperators level of education (r -0.29; p< 0.05) and their participation in the extension activities of their cooperatives. It is hereby recommended that cooperative societies should be effectively incorporated into the extension delivery system in the tr offarmersfor improved agricultural production.
Motives for Prescription Stimulant Misuse in a College Sample: Characteristics of Users, Perception of Risk, and Consequences of Use.

ABSTRACTBackground: Prescription stimulant misuse is increasingly prevalent in college populations, with some misuse estimates over 40%. Stimulant use is associated with a variety of health and psychological problems. Motives for use may provide insight into problematic trajectories. Objectives: The purpose of the current study was to evaluate characteristics of users and motives for prescription stimulant misuse in a large southeastern university. Method: College students reported on prescription stimulant use, motives for use, consequences associated with use, perceptions of risk, and social norms. We specifically elicited participation from prescription stimulant misusers. Of the 199 participants, 86 reported misusing prescription stimulants in the past 60 days. We assessed motives for use, rates of substance use, risk perception, normative beliefs, and consequences associated with use. We evaluated differences between misusers and non-misusers, differentiate motives subscales, and identify relationshi...
Supporting the Self-Management of Chronic Pain Conditions with Tailored Momentary Self-Assessments

To better support the self-management of chronic pain, this paper investigates how those living with the condition prefer to self-assess their pain levels using smartphones. Our work consists of three stages: design ideation and review, an in-lab user study with 10 participants resulting in nine candidate interfaces, and a 3 week field trial of two further honed measures with 12 participants. This research firstly yields a better understanding of participants' strong and sometimes contrasting preferences regarding their self-assessment of pain intensity. We additionally contribute two novel interfaces that support accurate, quick, and repeated use along with other participant-valued interactions (e.g., familiar, relatable, and highly usable). In particular, we focus on designing tailored measures that both enhance respondent motivation as well as minimize the difficulty of meaningful self-assessment by supporting the cognitive effort in translating a subjective experience into a single numerical value.
Relative reactivity of platelets from thrombopoietin- and interleukin-6- treated dogs

Previous reports have shown that interleukin-6 (IL-6) enhances the responsiveness of platelets to thrombin stimulation and has modest thrombocytopoietic effects in vivo. Thrombopoietin (TPO; mpl ligand) has been shown to have dramatic thrombocytopoietic effect in vivo, but little is known of its capacity to alter platelet function. In this study, a direct comparison of the effects of IL-6 and TPO on platelet function in dogs has been performed, with modest doses of TPO (1 microgram/kg/d) chosen to match or moderately exceed the platelet counts achieved with IL-6 (40 micrograms/kg/d) for 10 days. Platelet responsiveness to thrombin stimulation was assessed in TPO-treated, IL-6-treated, and control dogs by flow cytometric measurement of P-selectin expression. On day 5, the dose of thrombin promoting half maximal stimulation (EC50) of platelets was not significantly changed in TPO-treated dogs, whereas in IL-6-treated dogs the EC50 decreased to 73.1% +/- 6.1% (mean +/- 1 SD; n = 5) of control values (P < 0.01). These experiments were performed on both gel-filtered platelets and washed whole blood, indicating that the observed changes in EC50 were caused by cytokine-mediated alteration of platelets rather than plasma components. Because it has been shown that thiazole orange specifically labels a subpopulation of dog platelets that is less than 24 hours old, the thrombin responsiveness of these young, newly synthesized platelets was determined. The EC50 of thiazole orange-positive platelets from IL-6-treated dogs decreased dramatically by day 5 to 46.5% +/- 13.1% (n = 4) of control values (P < 0.001), whereas TPO-treated dogs did not significantly change. When TPO was directly incubated with platelets ex vivo, no effects on either thrombin-mediated P-selectin expression or adenosine diphosphate-induced fibrinogen binding were observed. These data show that IL-6 alters platelet function, as measured by reactivity to thrombin, whereas TPO does not. This divergence in function is observed even though TPO is equally, or more, effective at promoting platelet production under these experimental conditions.
Separate Development as a Failed Project of Social Engineering: The Flawed Logic of Hendrik Verwoerd

An earlier version of this paper was delivered as a keynote address at the outset of a conference on ‘The Golden Age of Apartheid’. That talk sought to set a tone for the conference by focusing on contradictions in the racial and cultural logic of Dr Hendrik Verwoerd, whose political interventions dominated events and reconfigured society during the period of apartheid's golden age. While ‘separate development’ presented an apparently moral (if anthropologically questionable) ‘separate cultures’ argument for ‘national development’, it was always fundamentally undercut by racist assumptions of apartheid. This seems to have been true of Verwoerd’s personal attitudes as well as his political initiatives at the time.
HZETRN radiation transport validation using balloon-based experimental data.

Abstract The deterministic radiation transport code HZETRN (High charge (Z) and Energy TRaNsport) was developed by NASA to study the effects of cosmic radiation on astronauts and instrumentation shielded by various materials. This work presents an analysis of computed differential flux from HZETRN compared with measurement data from three balloon-based experiments over a range of atmospheric depths, particle types, and energies. Model uncertainties were quantified using an interval-based validation metric that takes into account measurement uncertainty both in the flux and the energy at which it was measured. Average uncertainty metrics were computed for the entire dataset as well as subsets of the measurements (by experiment, particle type, energy, etc.) to reveal any specific trends of systematic over- or under-prediction by HZETRN. The distribution of individual model uncertainties was also investigated to study the range and dispersion of errors beyond just single scalar and interval metrics. The differential fluxes from HZETRN were generally well-correlated with balloon-based measurements; the median relative model difference across the entire dataset was determined to be 30%. The distribution of model uncertainties, however, revealed that the range of errors was relatively broad, with approximately 30% of the uncertainties exceeding ± 40%. The distribution also indicated that HZETRN systematically under-predicts the measurement dataset as a whole, with approximately 80% of the relative uncertainties having negative values. Instances of systematic bias for subsets of the data were also observed, including a significant underestimation of alpha particles and protons for energies below 2.5 GeV/u. Muons were found to be systematically over-predicted at atmospheric depths deeper than 50 g/cm2 but under-predicted for shallower depths. Furthermore, a systematic under-prediction of alpha particles and protons was observed below the geomagnetic cutoff, suggesting that improvements to the light ion production cross sections in HZETRN should be investigated.
The Emotional Toolkit: Lessons from the Science of Emotion

What do emotions do for people? This chapter presents a framework that emotions function much like a precision toolkit, with particular emotions best used to fix particular problems. This means that emotions are not always functional or always dysfunctional. Instead each emotion prepares people to deal with particular issues. The key to promoting functional emotion in our own lives, then, is to recognize what emotions do and to regulate how we express them. This chapter also brings together perspectives from the science of emotion to identify the next big questions about emotion.
Increasing adherence to adjuvant hormone therapy among breast cancer patients: A smart phone app-based pilot study.

e12523Background: Despite the proven clinical efficacy of adjuvant hormone therapy (AHT) for breast cancer survivors, evidence suggests that up to 50% of patients do not complete treatment as recom...
Simulation of stratified flows over a ridge using a lattice Boltzmann model

A three-dimensional thermal lattice Boltzmann model (TLBM) using multi-relaxation time method was used to simulate stratified atmospheric flows over a ridge. The main objective was to study the efficacy of this method for turbulent flows in the atmospheric boundary layer, complex terrain flows in particular. The simulation results were compared with results obtained using a traditional finite difference method based on the Navier–Stokes equations and with previous laboratory results on stably stratified flows over an isolated ridge. The initial density profile is neutral stratification in the boundary layer, topped with a stable cap and stable stratification aloft. The TLBM simulations produced waves, rotors, and hydraulic jumps in the lee side of the ridge for stably stratified flows, depending on the governing stability parameters. The Smagorinsky turbulence parameterization produced typical turbulence spectra for the velocity components at the lee side of the ridge, and the turbulent flow characteristics of varied stratifications were also analyzed. The comparison of TLBM simulations with other numerical simulations and laboratory studies indicated that TLBM is a viable method for numerical modeling of stratified atmospheric flows. To our knowledge, this is the first TLBM simulation of stratified atmospheric flow over a ridge. The details of the TLBM, its implementation of complex boundaries and the subgrid turbulence parameterizations used in this study are also described in this article.
Nonsedating H1 antihistamines in chronic urticaria

Histamine type I (H 1 ) receptor antagonists are the principal therapy for chronic urticaria. Their usefulness, however, is sometimes compromised by undesirable central nervous system (CNS) side effects such as daytime sedation and anticholinergic side effects such as dry mouth. Second-generation, nonsedating antihistamines (terfenadine, astemizole, loratadine, and cetirizine hydrochloride) are just as effective as the potent first-generation antihistamines such as hydroxyzine. Yet they do not cause the CNS and anticholinergic side effects seen with the older agents. Cardiovascular side effects, which have been recently reported with terfenadine and astemizole, are dose related and rare, generally occurring in patients who overdose or who take concomitant medications that increase serum antihistamine levels
Central Sleep Apnea Due to Drug or Substance

Various drugs alter respiratory function; however, patients receiving chronic opioid therapy for pain control are at risk of exceptionally complex and potentially lethal disorders of breathing during sleep. In addition to central apneas in as many as 75% of these patients, other disturbances of respiration during sleep are also frequently observed, including ataxic breathing (Biot's respiration), hypoventilation, and obstructive apneas. All commercially available narcotics are μ-opioid receptor agonists and reduce neuronal activity of both pain and respiratory neurons, including those found in discrete regions of the brainstem involved with respiratory control. These drugs suppress all parameters of respiration: breathing frequency, tidal volume, chest and abdominal wall compliance, upper airway patency, cough reflex, and chemoresponsiveness to hypercapnia and hypoxia. The clinical presentation of patients with opioid-induced central apneas during sleep is further complicated by numerous comorbidities and the use of other medications. There is currently no consensus regarding optimal therapy. Patients receiving opioids respond paradoxically to continuous positive airway pressure. Some may respond satisfactorily to adaptive servoventilation or bi-level positive airway pressure with a backup rate. Oxygen therapy, alone or with airway pressure, is indicated to correct hypoxemia.
Vehicle control synthesis using phase portraits of planar dynamics

Phase portraits provide control system designers strong graphical insight into nonlinear system dynamics. These plots readily display vehicle stability properties and map equilibrium point location...
The role of integrated behavioral health in caring for patients with metabolic disorders

This review of integrated behavioral health (IBH) provides a background on IBH models, and the benefits of IBH in pediatric practice with an emphasis on how IBH specialists can collaborate with families and clinicians. An overview of intellectual disability (ID) and psychiatric disorders focused on disorders of inborn errors of metabolism (IEM) highlights issues in assessment and monitoring of these patients with implications for clinical practice and the role of IBH in caring for patients with IEM disorders.
Some Results on Repeated Risktaking

Publisher Summary This chapter presents some results on repeated risktaking. Repeated risktaking raises many interesting questions about rational behavior. Thus, rationality perhaps calls for further conditions, and the avoidance of extreme irregularity certainly requires them. Properness says that if one would reject each of two independent gambles, one would reject their sum; this indeed implies that the sum is worse than either. It does not say the same for acceptance. This asymmetry is natural if one feels that two gambles might each be attractive alone but so risky that one is enough. The increased risk of combined gambles strengthens. There are a variety of interesting, repeatable risks ranging from speeding tickets to accidental death.
Much ado about nothing: Zeros and the extreme right:

The literature surrounding extreme right parties in Europe has developed dramatically over the past two decades. However, the analysis of electoral success for these parties has produced muddled re...
Transnational Theological Encounters

Recent attempts at limiting the entry of Muslims into the United States, including the promulgation of the executive order “Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry Into the United States” and calls for a “Muslim registry” are based in ideas of Islam as a monolithic ahistorical and acultural entity which “hates us” and endorses barbaric action against non-Muslims. Fueling these images is the belief that authority to speak on behalf of Islam is vested in specific individuals, and that actions “Islam” calls for are self-evident from examinations of the Qur’an and Hadith, and from the proclamations of religious leaders. American media figures and politicians have supported their self-representation as top-down movements, in which a few leaders transmit their interpretations of sacred texts to unquestioningly obedient followers. This assumption shapes policy approaches to Islam and Muslims globally. I draw on two years of multi-sited ethnographic research on transnational Islamic movements operating in Pakistan and the United States in order to demonstrate that, despite these movements seemingly leader-driven creation of knowledge, male and female members contribute significantly to the discourses around which they form themselves as subjects. These interjections are shaped by local ideas of good and bad as well as members’ own beliefs and practices. My work examines the ways in which Islamic practice in America absorbs multiple strands of theology developed in movement-bases, and combines them with local sources of authority to form a uniquely American Islam.
A Brief Summary of EEG Artifact Handling

The applications of Electroencephalogram (EEG) have been extended to out of laboratory and clinics recently due to the advancements in the technical capabilities. There are various advantageous of EEG, making it a preferable method for a wide range of applications; it is a noninvasive method, it is portable, it offers good time resolution and sufficient spatial resolution, besides there are low cost EEG systems available for a commercial use. Since the early uses of EEG, mainly as monitoring of diseases and pathologies, sleep staging and event related potential researches, it has been intertwined with undesired signal types which we call as artifacts. These pose great challenges in the practice of EEG based methods such as averaging for monitoring and diagnosis of diseases, and single-trial signal analysis for a relatively recent application in brain-computer interfaces. However, many techniques have been developed and under study for better detection and mitigation of these adverse events. The main artifact types and their handling are discussed in this brief summary.
Spherical Video Coding With Motion Vector Modulation to Account For Camera Motion

Emerging immersive multimedia applications critically depend on efficient compression of spherical (360-degree) videos. Current approaches project spherical video onto planes for coding with standard codecs, without accounting for the properties of spherical video, a severe sub-optimality that motivates this work. A common type of spherical video is dominated by camera translation. We recently proposed a powerful motion compensation technique for such videos which builds on the observation that, with camera translation, stationary points are perceived as moving along geodesics that meet at the point where the camera translation vector intersects the sphere. However, the approach follows standard coding procedures and translates all pixels in a block by the same amount on their respective geodesics, which is sub-optimal. This paper analyzes the appropriate rate of translation along geodesics and its dependence on the elevation of a pixel on the sphere with respect to the camera velocity pole. The analysis leads to a new approach that modulates the effective motion vectors within a block such that they perfectly capture the perceived individual motion of each pixel. Consistent gains in the experiments provide evidence for the efficacy of the proposed approach.
Quo vadis, citizenship? A long-term assessment of policy continuity, convergence, and change in contemporary Europe

In recent decades, European governments have faced persistent pressures to manage the effects of mass immigration on their societies. As a result, citizenship policies have received increasing amou...
A role for the general transcriptional factor II -I (TFII-I) in Src-mediated transcriptional suppression of SSeCKS/Gravin/AKAP12

168 SSeCKS (Src-suppressed Ckinase substrate), also called gravin/AKAP12, is a large scaffolding protein with metastasis suppressor activity. Two major isoforms of SSeCKS are expressed in most cell and tissue types under the control of two independent promoters, designated α and β (a third promoter, γ, is expressed only in the testes). SSeCKS transcript and protein levels are severely decreased in Src-transformed fibroblasts and in many epithelial tumors. Previously, we reported that repression of SSeCKS by v-Src is primarily controlled at the level of transcription and mediated by recruitment of HDAC1 into an USF1-Sp1-Sp3 complex binding to the SSeCKS α proximal promoter (1). We sought to identify proteins whose abundance on the SSeCKS α proximal promoter was affected by v-Src. Therefore, proteins from NIH3T3/v-Src nuclear lysates pulled down by SSeCKS α proximal promoter oligonucleotides (containing both the E- and GC-boxes) were subjected to Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry/Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis, resulting in the identification of the General Transcriptional Factor II-I (TFII-I). v-Src does not alter the protein abundance and nuclear translocation of TFII-I but it enhances TFII-I binding levels at the α proximal promoter at least 5-fold, correlating with an increase in TFII-I tyrosine phosphorylation. The requirement for TFII-I for Src-mediated suppression of SSeCKS transcription in both NIH3T3/v-Src and prostate cancer cells, as determined by siRNA-mediated knockdown experiments, will be presented. These data suggest that TFII-I may complex with Sp1, Sp3, HDAC1, and USF1 to facilitate Src-mediated downregulation of SSeCKS. 1. Bu, Y. and Gelman, I. H. (2007) J. Biol. Chem.282, 26725-26739. Supported by Department of Defense grant PC040256 and National Institutes of Health grant CA94108.
Blood flow restriction exercise stimulates mobilization of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells and increases the circulating ACE2 levels in healthy adults.

Although many studies have explored the mechanisms of skeletal muscle growth and adaptation with hypoxia exercise interventions, less attention has been given to the potential for vascular adaptati...
Heavy Metals and Selenium in Herring Gulls (LARUS ARGENTATUS) NESTING IN COLONIES FROM EASTERN LONG ISLAND TO VIRGINIA

With increasing interest in assessing the health or well-being ofcommunities and ecosystems, birds are being used asbioindicators. Coloniallynesting species breed mainly in coastal areas that are alsopreferred for humandevelopment, exposing the birds to various pollutants. Inthis paper concentrations of heavy metal and selenium in the feathers ofHerring Gulls(Larus argentatus) nesting in several colonies fromMassachusetts toDelaware are reported. There were significant differencesamong colonies forall metals, with metal concentrations being two to nearly fivetimes higher atsome colonies than others. Selenium showed the leastdifference, and cadmium showed the greatest difference among sites. Concentrations of lead werehighest at Prall‘s Island; mercury was highest at Shinnecock,Huckleberry andHarvey, and manganese was highest at Captree.
Simulating gas hydrate formation in the southern hydrate ridge, Cascadia Margin

Abstract The Cascadia Margin in the Pacific Ocean is a widely investigated region for oceanic gas hydrates. In this study, numerical simulation models are developed to simulate the flow of methane gas up fault zones in the Southern Hydrate Ridge of the Cascadia Margin. Three different hydrate formation scenarios, common to hydrate formation mechanisms in similar settings, are simulated. The tested scenarios are based on both field observations and previous numerical simulation assessments in similar subsea hydrate reserves. Results predict that gas hydrates in this region can be formed from gas migration up faults from deeper sources. The hydrate distribution follows the slope of the southern hydrate ridge but can be disjointed at places due to the presence of low salinity fluids, which results in higher hydrate saturations. The dominant mechanisms of gas migration into the region are advection and buoyancy driven. Capillary pressure forces, density differences, and hydraulic pressure differentials define the migration pathways along with high permeability pathways through faults. The timing of gas hydrate formation ranges between 2000 years and 1650 years for the modeling scenarios tested with the likelihood that the formation time is closer to 1650 years due to the likely presence of multiple faults acting as migration pathways for the gas. For the modeling scenarios tested, the gas hydrate mass generated ranges from 6.46 × 105 kg to 6.837 × 105 kg for the unit vertical cross-section used in the simulations. Predicted results of hydrate saturation are calibrated to field measured well log data for validation and verification.
PREDICTORS OF VIRAL MENINGTIS IN CHILDREN IN A LYME-ENDEMIC AREA

Objective Children with viral meningitis may present with symptoms similar to those of Lyme meningitis. Current technology for reporting viral culture or Lyme serology often precludes a rapid diagnosis in the emergency department setting. We report our experience with clinical and laboratory predictors for the differentiation of viral and Lyme meningitis. Methods Children aged 2–18 years presenting to a single paediatric emergency department in a Lyme-endemic region during the months of May to October over three consecutive years were prospectively enrolled when the attending physician had a suspicion of meningitis. Historical and physical examination findings were documented. Standards for laboratory evaluation of such patients included cerebrospinal fluid studies (cell count, Gram stain, bacterial culture, total protein, glucose) and peripheral Lyme titres/serology. Further diagnostic evaluation was at the discretion of the attending physician. The study received approval from the Institutional Review Board. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 11.5 for Windows (SPSS Inc, Chicago, Illinois, USA). Results A total of 80 patients was enrolled. Of these, 44 had viral meningitis (55%), 12 had Lyme meningitis (15%) and 24 did not have aseptic meningitis (30%). Only the absence of cranial nerve palsy and the absence of the erythema chronicum migrans rash predicted viral meningitis. Other factors including headache, photophobia, cerebrospinal fluid lymphocyte and monocyte predominance were not helpful in predicting viral meningitis. Conclusions Clinical and rapidly available laboratory data often fail to identify viral meningitis in a Lyme endemic area. The absence of the erythema chronicum migrans rash and cranial nerve palsy may support the diagnosis of viral meningitis.
Myeloid Resistance is Not Futile: Biomarkers of Immunotherapy in Bladder Cancer

The majority of patients with urothelial cancer do not respond to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) directed at the PD-(L)1 axis. Recently, robust profiling data was used to derive predictive biomarker signatures for both pro-tumorigenic immunity and adaptive anti-tumor immunity; combining these has greater predictive power than either alone. Clinically, these results suggest that myeloid cells may be primary drivers of non-responsiveness in urothelial cancer.
Advertising, incentives, and the upsell: how advertising differentially moderates customer- vs. retailer-directed price incentives' impact on consumers' preferences for premium products.

Many durable goods firms use price promotion strategies and advertising simultaneously to impact consumer preferences among vertically differentiated product offerings. In this research, we use a large secondary dataset of automotive purchases (N = 323,959) to investigate how advertising spending differentially moderates the positive impact of both customer- and retailer-directed price incentives on consumers’ premium level of purchase for vertically differentiated products. We find that higher advertising spending magnifies the positive impact of customer-directed price incentives on consumers’ preference for more premium purchases. In contrast, higher advertising spending attenuates the positive impact of retailer-directed price incentives on consumers’ preference for more premium purchases. Our work is distinct from previous research, which has almost exclusively focused on the CPG industry and the effects of advertising and price promotions on general demand metrics—instead of consumers’ preferences for premium products. Our work has important implications for practitioners and consumer welfare.
Homecoming and College Transition Narratives of Student Military Veterans

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the homecoming and college transition narratives constructed by student veterans in order to help college clinicians a) to more holistically und...
A Shared Control Method for Collaborative Human-Robot Plug Task

Humans are superior to robots in performing complex assembly tasks primarily due to their dexterity and sensorimotor abilities. When humans and robots collaborate to complete an assembly task, it is critical to provide the robot with sufficiently precise manipulation capabilities and formulate a shared control method that coordinates human and robot actions. In this study, we are investigating human-robot collaboration in completing an assembly task, namely the plug task. The plug task, motivated by the 2015 DARPA Robotics Challenge Finals, involves inserting a plug connected with a cable into a paired socket. The human holds the socket while the robot is grasping the cable and manages to insert the plug. We estimate an initial socket pose based on human subjects’ data. With the statistically calculated initial guess, the robot could act instantly from the beginning to move the plug towards an initial target. The actual socket pose is updated using the Kalman filter in real-time. Besides, the system continuously updates the cable model and tracks the plug to enable visual servoing to complete the plug task. The result of an extensive experimental study demonstrates that the proposed approach demonstrates fast and accurate performance as well as flexibility when compared to a state-of-the-art method based on interactive probabilistic movement primitives.
Assessing the role of short-term weather forecasts in fire manager tactical decision-making: a choice experiment

Weather plays an integral role in fire management due to the direct and indirect effects it has on fire behavior. However, fire managers may not use all information available to them during the decision-making process, instead utilizing mental shortcuts that can bias decision-making. Thus, it is important to evaluate if (and how) fire managers use information like weather forecasts when making tactical decisions. We explore USDA Forest Service fire manager confidence in relative humidity, precipitation, and wind models. We then use a choice experiment where key weather attributes were varied to explore how sensitive fire managers were to changes in specific weather variables when choosing to directly or indirectly attack a fire that is transitioning to extended attack. Respondents were less confident in the accuracy of wind and precipitation forecasts than relative humidity or weather forecasts more generally. The influence of weather information on the decision depended on the framing used in the choice experiment; specifically, whether respondents were told the initial strategy had been to directly or indirectly attack the fire. Across conditions, fire managers generally preferred to indirectly attack the fire. Decisions about the tactics to apply going forward were more sensitive to time in season when the fire was occurring and wind and precipitation forecasts than to other attributes. The results have implications for the design of decision support tools developed to support fire management. Results suggest how fire managers’ use of fire weather information to evaluate forecast conditions and adjust future management decisions may vary depending on the management decision already in place. If fire weather-based decision support tools are to support the use of the best available information to make fire management decisions, careful attention may be needed to debias any effect of prior decisions. For example, decision support tools may encourage users to “consider the opposite,” i.e., consider if they would react differently if different initial decision with similar conditions were in place. The results also highlight the potential importance of either improving wind and precipitation forecast models or improving confidence in existing models.
Political stories: media narratives of political participation by Asian immigrants in the US and Canada

How is the political participation of Asian immigrant communities portrayed by local mainstream media? How does coverage vary over time, by immigrant group, and by host country? This article examines the civic presence of Indian and Vietnamese immigrants in Boston, San Jose, Toronto, and Vancouver from 1985 to 2005. We measure civic presence using a database of 224 articles from the primary newspaper of record in each city, representing a 10% random sample of all articles covering the political participation of these groups. We find that both the frequency and tone of mainstream news coverage vary based on a combination of group-level characteristics and national reception contexts, such that the civic presence of Asian-origin immigrant communities differs significantly between national-origin groups, and for the same group across countries. These findings point to the need for more heterogeneous approaches to the study of “Asian” minority politics in North America.
Statistification or Mystification? The Need for Statistical Thought in Visual Data Mining

Many graphics are used for decoration rather than for conveying information. Some purport to display information, but provide insufficient supporting evidence. Others are so laden with information that it is hard to see either the wood or the trees. Analysing large data sets is difficult and requires technically efficient procedures and statistically sound methods to generate informative visualisations. Results from big data sets are statistics and they should be statistically justified. Graphics on their own are indicative, but not substantive. They should inform and neither confuse nor mystify. This paper will NOT introduce any new innovative graphics, but will discuss the statistification of graphics - why and how statistical content should be added to graphic displays of large data sets. (There will, however, be illustrations of the Ugly, the Bad and the possibly Good).
Inactivation of glucagon by plasma membranes of rat liver.

Abstract Liver plasma membranes rapidly convert glucagon, at physiological concentrations, to a substance that no longer binds to its specific binding sites or activates adenylate cyclase. Inactivation occurs in the presence of albumin and is not completely blocked by a 1000-fold excess of insulin, adrenocorticotropic hormone, and secretin. Des-His-glucagon, which competitively inhibits binding of glucagon and activation of adenylate cyclase by the hormone, binds to liver membranes with an affinity approximately one-tenth that of glucagon. Binding of des-His-glucagon is also reduced after incubation with liver membranes but to a much lesser extent than is the binding of glucagon. As previously found for the processes of glucagon binding and activation of adenylate cyclase, the process of inactivation of glucagon is blocked by treatment of liver membranes with heat, urea, trypsin, or phospholipase A. The specific activity of the glucagon-inactivation process increases to the same extent as does glucagon-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity in the membranes compared to a 1500 x g sediment of liver homogenate. Dipeptidyl aminopeptidase I, a soluble liver enzyme which can degrade glucagon, is present in the membrane fraction but is not responsible for glucagon inactivation by the membranes, to which the inactivation process is firmly bound. The product of glucagon inactivation has not been identified but is very similar to glucagon in its chromatographic behavior and appears not to be des-His-glucagon. These findings indicate that liver plasma membranes may be an important site for specific inactivation of glucagon. A possible relationship between the glucagon inactivation process and the receptor for glucagon is discussed.
WEBARM: Mobile Code Based Agent for Web Application Response Measurement - Software Implementations and Analysis

WEBARM enables end-to-end response time measurement for Web applications through Web page instrumentation. WEBARM-agents are a form of mobile code capable of moving with the Web application to monitor response time. WEBARM includes the software components responsible for interception and processing of the WEBARM API calls including support for response time measurement, collection, and communication. This work provides an assessment of WEBARM instrumentation impact on application response times as well as insights into the design issues involved. We first provide a general overview of alternative approaches to Web response time measurement. We then consider alternative WEBARM agent software designs, focusing on techniques to store timers across Web page references and communicate logged data to a server. Next, we present measurement results for the implementation alternatives to provide insight into the overhead involved with instrumentation and the developed designs. Finally, we present conclusions and a description of future work.
Neural net control vs. anticipatory fuzzy control for a flexible beam: a comparison

An anticipatory fuzzy controller has been developed which combines traditional fuzzy logic with feedback concepts and a system model to predict system behavior. Fuzzy rules in the system are 'nested' so that it is not necessary to evaluate all rules at each time step if some smaller subset of rules will produce acceptable system behavior. A neural network has been trained to emulate this controller, to eliminate the necessity of using a model in the final system. The results of the anticipatory fuzzy controller with perfect model prediction and the neural net trained to replace this controller are compared here. >
Separate but Taxed: A Rejection of the Steamlined Sales Tax Project through a Commerce Clause and Federalist Analysis

Sales and use taxes, which are levied by forty-five states, have long been an important source of revenue for state and local governments. The rigid structure of these long-standing taxes, however, has been strained by the rapid evolution of the online economy. As a result, the Multistate Tax Commission (“MTC”) devised a plan, the Streamlined State Sales Tax Project (“STP”), to recapture some of the revenue that state and local governments might otherwise lose as consumer purchases migrate from local retailers to online sellers. This plan, approved reciprocally by the states, but not by Congress, was designed by state legislators to comply with legal guidelines articulated by the Supreme Court. This Comment argues, however, that if a foreign merchant challenges these laws, the STP would be declared unconstitutional based on a modern understanding of the Commerce Clause and a structural, federalist reasoning. Part I discusses the evolution of sales and use taxes and their importance to state and local governments. Part II discusses the rising tension between the structure of sales and use taxes and the structure of the American economy. Part II also documents the STP—the states’ recent response to this tension—and explains the STP’s legal underpinnings. Part III analyzes the potential legal challenges the STP would face from a foreign merchant and concludes that while it is likely constitutional on due process grounds, the STP is unconstitutional under the Commerce Clause based on stare decisis and federalist reasoning.
Off-label uses of drugs in children.

As we approach the new millennium, very little has changed regarding the labeling of prescription drugs for use in infants and children. Along with pregnant women, infants and children remain therapeutic orphans. This condition is understandable because there are very few therapeutic indications that are unique to this patient population and the absolute quantities of drugs required by these patients remains relatively small. On an actuarial basis, humans spend only approximately 16 years as children, whereas they spend another 60 to 80 years as adults. As a result, there is very little incentive for pharmaceutics companies to develop drugs and drug dosing guidelines for infants and children. Careful review has revealed that >70% of all the Physicians' Desk Reference (PDR) entries have either no existing dosing information for pediatric patients or explicit statements that the safety and efficacy in children have not been determined. In the best of circumstances, there are age-specific admonitions because of lack of dosing information for infants and children. The resulting conundrum can be illustrated best by a case presentation. A 6-month-old infant, born 29 weeks premature, presents to a physician's office in respiratory distress. His medical history is significant for developing bronchopulmonary dysplasia as well as for prematurity. Vital signs are temperature: 37.7°C; pulse: 180; respiration: 72; blood pressure: 84/56; physical examination: intercostal retractions, increased anteroposterior diameter, bilateral diffuse expiratory wheezing, nasal flaring; treatment: albuterol 2.5 mg in 2 mL normal saline by nebulization. While receiving the aerosol, the patient's pulse rate climbs to 215 beats per minutes and he becomes cyanotic despite theo2 used to nebulize the drug. The physician is called by the nurse and witnesses the patient turn black with eyes rolled back. He then suffers a respiratory arrest. Resuscitation is unsuccessful. When confronted with a similar clinical emergency, most … Address correspondence to Jeffrey L. Blumer, PhD, MD, Pediatric Pharmacology and Critical Care, Rainbow Babies and Children Hospital, 11100 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH 44106.
Fine-needle aspiration biopsy of uveal melanoma: outcomes and complications

Purpose To report outcomes and complications of fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) of uveal melanoma performed for diagnostic and prognostic purposes. Methods Prospective interventional case series of 150 consecutive patients with a clinical diagnosis of uveal melanoma. The FNAB approach (transcorneal (TCO), transscleral (TSC) and transvitreal (TVT) was primarily determined by the location of the tumour. The FNAB was performed using a 25-gauge needle using a previously published technique. Prognostication was done using fluorescent in situ hybridisation detection of monosomy of chromosome 3. Results FNAB was obtained via TCO (8), TSC (71) and TVT (64) approach and impression smear in seven cases. Diagnostic yield was 92%. False-negative results were observed in 8%. Diagnostic yield was significantly correlated to biopsy approach (TCO 100%, TSC 96%, TSV 86%; p=0.029) and tumour size (basal diameter >5.0 mm; height >2.5 mm). Persistent haemorrhage (subretinal haemorrhage or vitreous) requiring surgical intervention (1%) and rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (1%) were rare. Endophthalmitis, hypotony, tumour recurrence, episcleral seeding were not observed over the average follow-up of 37 months. Prognostication could be performed in 85% of cases. Overall, only 47% of eligible patients enrolled into the adjuvant therapy trial. Conclusions FNAB for uveal melanoma with 25-gauge needle is a safe procedure that can yield diagnostic and prognostic information in vast majority of cases (92% and 85%, respectively). Even so, only about half of the eligible cases eventually enrolled into the adjuvant therapy trial. Possibility of negative FNAB yield should be considered when counselling patients with small tumours. Alternative means of diagnostic biopsy and methods of prognostication need to be assessed for small tumours.
Hydroxyl Fasudil, an Inhibitor of Rho Signaling, Improves Erectile Function in Diabetic Rats: A Role for Neuronal ROCK

Introduction The pathogenesis of diabetic erectile dysfunction (ED) includes neuropathy, but the molecular basis for neurogenic ED is incompletely understood. The RhoA/ROCK pathway has been implicated in diabetic neuropathy and in ED, but its role in diabetic neurogenic ED is not known.
The tridimensional ultrastructure of native collagenous fibrils, cytochemical evidence for a carbohydrate matrix

An accompanying report (2) characterized a filamentous component of native collagenous fibrils that was identifiable with the protein, collagen. The present study investigated the space-filling matrix embedding the filaments. Unfixed adventitia of the rat aorta, “inertly dehydrated” and embedded in hydroxypropyl methacrylate (HPM), was the principal object of study. The matrix (but not the filaments) of collagenous fibrils was vigorously stained with acidic phosphotungstic acid (PTA). Employed in this way, this electron stain is highly selective for macromolecular carbohydrates (17). Further evidence of the carbohydrate character of the matrix has been derived from digestion experiments with both broad and narrow spectrum proteases. While these destroyed the filamentous component of native fibrils, the matrix material largely survived. The matrix when stained with acidic PTA appeared to be essentially amorphous, in marked contrast to the punctate patterns of stain observed when lead citrate was used to demonstrate the proteinaceous filaments, reinforcing the belief that two entirely different components of fibrils were being visualized by the two stains. In unfixed fibrils, particularly in HPM embedments, the matrix commonly cleaved to produce cords of indefinitive thickness. Their course followed that of the filaments, and demonstrated a spiraled pattern. Thus, the entire structure of fibrils carbohydrates, as well as, proteins exhibited a helical arrangement.
Casimir energy of Higgs-field configurations in a Coleman-Weinberg-type theory

The Casimir energy, the quantum correction part of the energy, of a class of space-dependent scalar field configurations is examined in a Coleman-Weinberg-type lambdaphi/sup 4/ theory in the d-dimensional regularization scheme. For the cases when the scalar field is dependent on only one space coordinate and partially excludes its fluctuations from a region of space, we develop formulas effective for evaluating the full one-loop Casimir energy. As an application, we evaluate a simple case and find that the Casimir energy yields the familiar quantum correction to the volume energy, an extra surface energy whose coefficient is finite for d or =5 are due to sharp boundaries of the configuration.