cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
3D printed three-flow microfluidic concentration gradient generator for clinical E. Coli-antibiotic drug screening

This paper presents a symmetric three-flow microfluidic concentration gradient generator, made possible by a 3D microchannel network fabricated via ultra-high resolution Multijet 3D printing. The prototype fluidic device is utilized as an effective tool for the expedited screening of multi-drug combinations. It rapidly generates 15 discrete combinations of three input drugs which are used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value of the three individual antibiotics, as well as to perform simultaneous clinical three-way antibiotic interaction studies on ampicillin-resistant Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria. The results from individual antibiotic experiments are used to determine the discrete MIC values, and the multi-drug study reveals clinically relevant antagonistic, synergistic and suppressive interactions between the three different families of antibiotics commonly used to combat antibiotic resistant infections. Furthermore, a simple and effective method of visual interpretation of the experimental results is employed, demonstrating this device's use as an effective multi-drug screening platform for applications in point-of-care biomedical research and clinical medicine.
Family Communication about End-of-Life Decisions and the Enactment of the Decision-Maker Role

End-of-life (EOL) decisions in families are complex and emotional sites of family interaction necessitating family members coordinate roles in the EOL decision-making process. How family members in the United States enact the decision-maker role in EOL decision situations was examined through in-depth interviews with 22 individuals who participated in EOL decision-making for a family member. A number of themes emerged from the data with regard to the enactment of the decision-maker role. Families varied in how decision makers enacted the role in relation to collective family input, with consulting, informing and collaborating as different patterns of behavior. Formal family roles along with gender- and age-based roles shaped who took on the decision-maker role. Additionally, both family members and medical professionals facilitated or undermined the decision-maker’s role enactment. Understanding the structure and enactment of the decision-maker role in family interaction provides insight into how individuals and/or family members perform the decision-making role within a cultural context that values autonomy and self-determination in combination with collective family action in EOL decision-making.
Explore hidden information for indoor floor plan construction

The lack of digital floor plans in most buildings has become a huge obstacle to pervasive indoor location based services (LBS). Recently there has been quite some research that leverages various sensing data such as inertial, WiFi and images from ubiquitous mobile devices (e.g., smartphones) to construct floor plans at large scale and low costs. Although great efforts are made to improve the accuracy and robustness against sensing data errors and noises, the quality of reconstructed maps is still limited. In this paper, we explore the hidden geometric structure information of indoor environments, such as collinearity of doors along hallways, right-angle corners, and polygon/circular shapes of rooms to optimize floor plans. Such prior knowledge about building structures provide new spatial relationships among floor plan elements. Thus we can further improve the quality of reconstructed maps. Real experiments in two large buildings show that 90-percentile landmark location errors are reduced by more than 50% to within 1m, and most orientation errors are corrected. The overall shape of the map has become much closer to the ground truth as well.
Lattice Monte Carlo for quantum Hall states on a torus

The Monte Carlo method is very useful for studying various model states proposed for the fractional quantum Hall systems. In this paper, we introduce a lattice Monte Carlo method based on an exact lattice formalism for quantum Hall problems defined on a torus. This ``lattice representation'' is applied to study the many body Berry phase of the composite-Fermi liquid phase in a half-filled Landau level. The Monte Carlo result agrees with the exact numerical result found on small systems sizes and is consistent with the prediction from the Dirac fermion low-energy effective theory. Many other aspects of other model states, including the structure factor, Coulomb energy and particle-hole symmetry, are studied and discussed.
Small Beads, Big Picture: Assessing Chronology, Exchange, and Population Movement through Compositional Analyses of Blue Glass Beads from the Upper Great Lakes

As European explorers and displaced native newcomers entered the Upper Great Lakes region during the 17th and 18th centuries, they introduced unfamiliar material types, such as glass beads, that both local and non-local people incorporated into exchange networks and technological systems. Blue glass beads recovered at archaeological sites dating from A.D. 1630 to 1730 and attributed to historically documented peoples, Ho-Chunk, Potawatomi, Meskwaki, Tionontate-Wendat, Anishinaabeg, and other groups, were analyzed using a minimally invasive technique, laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). Identified patterns of variation in glass-bead composition reflect the timing and directions of trade among diverse communities, illustrating how a materials-science approach can reveal social and economic outcomes of intercultural interaction and colonialism. Since European-made glass trade beads circulated globally at this time, the results are comparable to those of beads from other regions worldwide for clarifying site chronologies and delineating broader patterns of material exchange.
Exploring MXenes as Cathodes for Non‐Aqueous Lithium–Oxygen Batteries: Design Rules for Selectively Nucleating Li2O2

The potential of MXenes, an emerging class of layered materials, is investigated as cathode materials for rechargeable Li-O2 battery chemistry, exploring MXenes from the primary standpoint of the key challenge of rechargeability, which translates to selectivity towards lithium peroxide, the primary discharge product. This study captures the effects of three primary electronic-structure-tuning variables: The termination group and its coverage of the surface as well as the transition metal. The trends are rationalized with regard to the thermodynamic nucleation overpotential, determined through the computed free energy of the adsorbed intermediate LiO*2 . Design rules for identifying MXene cathode materials are developed based on discharge product selectivity and stability against potential decomposition products. Of all investigated MXenes, analysis suggests that Ni4 N3 (OH)2 exhibits the lowest nucleation overpotential and identifies mixed-transition-metal MXenes as a promising exploration direction.
Obesity does not affect early outcomes in children with newly diagnosed Crohn disease.

The impact of obesity on pediatric Crohn disease (CD) remains poorly characterized. We aimed to evaluate disease-related outcomes in overweight and obese children with CD, compared to normal-weight children. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of children with newly diagnosed CD enrolled in the ImproveCareNow Network. Patients were stratified into normal weight, overweight, and obese groups using standardized weight percentiles. A total of 898 children were included, with 87 children (10%) being overweight and 43 children (5%) being obese; baseline characteristics were similar between groups. There was no significant difference in number of visits in remission during 1 year between normal weight, overweight, and obese children. At 1-year follow-up, nutritional status, growth status, or medication use also did not differ between groups. Hence, obesity does not appear to adversely affect CD outcomes in children with newly diagnosed CD in the first year after diagnosis.
Modeling of Surface Permanent Magnet Motors With Cogging and Saturation Effects Included

A method for modeling permanent magnet motors including saturation effects on cogging and motive torque is described. This method rivals the accuracy of finite element analyses but solves 4–5 orders of magnitude faster, depending on several factors. Simulation results match well with laboratory measurements.
A Developmental-Ecological Model of the Relation of Family Functioning to Patterns of Delinquency

Person-centered approaches to understanding delinquent and criminal careershave identified several distinct pathways or patterns of delinquent behavior(Gorman-Smith et al., 1998; LeBlanc and Kaspy, in press; Loeber et al.,1991; Loeber et al., 1993). In addition, research suggests that there maybe etiological variations that correspond to these different pathways(Gorman-Smith et al., 1998). That is, there may be different configurationsof risk factors associated with different types of delinquent and criminaloffending. If this is so, understanding these relations can have importantimplications for intervention and prevention. However, there have been fewstudies that examine how the configuration of risk factors may vary inrelation to different delinquency pathways. The current study brings aperson-centered analysis to examine how patterns of family functioningrelate to patterns of offending. In addition, this study contextualizesthese relations by examining how these relations vary as a function ofcommunity setting. This study expands upon previous research that hasidentified four basic patterns of delinquent behavior among a sample ofminority male adolescents living in poor urban neighborhoods (Gorman-Smithet al., 1998).
Liquid Standards in Fluorescence Spectrometry

ABSTRACT The use of spectrofluorimetric measurements has expanded tremendously in all fields during the last few decades. Because of this expansion, it has become of paramount importance to develop well-characterized secondary standards to produce reliable data, to interpret this data accurately, and to compare data among laboratories. In this paper, the current state of solution standards for fluorescence spectrometry including uses, requirements, and documentation is reviewed. The standards are used for instrument calibration or correction for wavelength accuracy, sensitivity, stability, source variation, detection system spectral responsivity, and measurement veracity. In turn, the values assigned to these standards are used to determine directly the same parameters for the chemical systems under study including the corrected excitation and emission spectra, quantum yields, and decay times. Included also are lists of standards, new literature values for the various fluorescence parameters, and a brief discussion of some of the problems and pitfalls in the use of the standards.
The Dimensions of Driver Performance during Secondary Manual Tasks

This analysis identified the underlying dimensions of driver performance using data obtained from drivers engaged in secondary manual tasks. Randomly chosen subjects balanced for age and gender used one of five advanced navigation and communication systems while driving on a closed roadway. Fifteen driver performance variables were averaged and standardized across subjects for 79 tasks. There were high correlations between all variables. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) found that the vector of loadings defining the first principal component (PC1) was positive for all 15 variables, accounting for 61 percent of the total variation across all tasks. It is interpreted as overall driver demand. PC2 loaded with one sign on event detection and response variables, but opposing sign on visual-manual workload variables. It identified tasks making drivers more inattentive to outside events than expected, given a task’s visual-manual workload, and accounted for 17 percent of total variation. It is interpreted as low-workloadbut-high-inattentiveness. PC3 had loadings of opposing sign for peripheral vs. central event variables (5 percent of total variation). It is interpreted as peripheral insensitivity. The first three components together accounted for 83 percent of total variation, which is deemed substantial. Thus most of the information available through the 15 original variables can be summarized by only three PC variables. Because the vectors of loadings defining the components are orthogonal to each other as defined by PCA, no single variable by itself can capture all the important variations in driver performance during secondary manual tasks. A multivariate design and analysis is required.
Analysis of the statistical and convergence properties of ionic transport coefficients with application to the solid electrolyte Li2OHCl

Abstract The challenge of computing ionic transport coefficients from first principles is to achieve the necessary convergence with respect to system size, simulation time, and configurational sampling. Unfortunately current computer resources are not yet available for such convergence studies at the fully first principles level. In this work, a lattice kinetic Monte Carlo model is used to study the convergence properties of transport coefficients, using the Li sub-lattice of the Li ion electrolyte Li2OHCl as an example system. The specific transport coefficients representing tracer diffusion, effective diffusion, and mobility are carefully studied for their convergence properties. Additionally, ion pair correlations of the effective diffusion are recast as a sum over events which allows for a detailed study of the nature of the correlation in terms of time and spatial separation. This experience suggests a general method of performing simulations by using first a kinetic Monte Carlo model followed by a first principles molecular dynamics study. For the Li2OHCl system, the kinetic Monte Carlo results provide both a reference for the Haven ratio due to purely geometric effects and a measure of the computational effort needed to obtain meaningful molecular dynamics results. The combination of the two methods provides further evidence of anti-correlated Li-ion motion in this system as predicted in a previous study.
Effect of Media Use on Adolescent Body Weight.

Introduction Adolescents spend a substantial amount of time consuming media, including watching television, playing video games, and using electronic devices to access the internet. We examined the relationship between prolonged media use on screen devices and its potential association with obesity through several mechanisms. Methods We used data from 659,288 eighth and eleventh grade students who participated in the 2015-2016 School Physical Activity and Nutrition (SPAN) survey in Texas to examine the associations between hours of media use per day and 3 behaviors related to obesity: timing of last food intake, unhealthy eating behavior, and sleep hours. Also, mediation analyses were conducted to examine the pathways between hours of media use and body mass index (BMI). Results Compared with adolescents who used media 2 hours or less per day, those who used media 6 hours or more had higher odds of nighttime eating (odds ratio [OR], 3.16; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.76-5.66) and inadequate sleep (OR, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.05-2.36) and a higher coefficient for Unhealthy Eating Index score (3.87; 95% CI, 1.3-6.37). Mediation analysis demonstrated that for males sleep hours and timing of last food intake mediated the pathway between hours of media use and BMI. For females, unhealthy eating behavior mediated this pathway. Conclusion Adolescents who used electronic media 6 or more hours at night had higher odds of unhealthy eating behavior and inadequate sleep hours than those with 2 hours' use or less. Attention to behaviors associated with adolescents' prolonged media use is needed to reduce risk of obesity.
Energy Efficiency Assessment of Integrated Energy System in Substation Area

The substation area integrated energy system provides energy support for the normal operation of the substation, and its energy consumption level has a significant impact on the grid loss. This paper analyzes the distribution of energy consumption of substation from three aspects: equipment, substation electricity and office electricity. The basis, index and weight of energy efficiency assessment are established by analytic hierarchy process, and a scientific and complete energy efficiency assessment of substation station area integrated energy system is formed. The system provides a reference for energy saving and consumption reduction in substations. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed method is verified by an example.
Management of Edentulous Patients

Edentulism, defined as the complete loss of all dentition, is a worldwide phenomenon. Edentulism occurs because of biologic disease processes, such as dental caries, periodontal diseases, trauma, and oral cancer. Edentulism is accompanied by several comorbidities that can significantly influence an individual. Although the rate of edentulism is declining, the number of edentulous patients continues to rise because of the increase in population. The management of edentulous patient has been addressed since the early days of dentistry. This article describes complete dentures and their maintenance, and advanced technology in complete dentures, and in implant-retained and implant-supported prosthesis.
To gate or not to gate: an evaluation of respiratory gating techniques to improve volume measurement of murine lung tumors in micro-CT imaging

Small animal imaging has become essential in evaluating new cancer therapies as they are translated from the preclinical to clinical domain. However, preclinical imaging is faced with unique challenges that emphasize the gap between mouse and man. One example is the difference in breathing patterns and breath-holding ability, which can dramatically affect tumor burden assessment in lung tissue. Our group is developing quantitative imaging methods for the preclinical arm of a co-clinical trial studying synergy between immunotherapy (anti-PD-1) and radiotherapy in a soft tissue sarcoma model. To mimic imaging performed in patients, primary sarcomas lesions are imaged with micro-MRI, while detection of lung metastases is performed with micro-CT. This study addresses whether respiratory gating during micro-CT acquisition improves lung tumor volume quantitation. Accuracy and precision of lung tumor measurements was determined by performing experiments involving simulations, a pocket phantom and in vivo scans with and without prospective respiratory gating. Sensitivity and precision of segmentation with and without gating was studied using simulated lung tumors. A clinically-inspired “pocket phantom” was used during in vivo mouse scanning to aid in refining and assessing the gating protocols. Finally, we performed a series of in vivo scans on tumor-bearing mice while varying the animal’s position (test-retest), and performing the analyses in triplicate to assess the effects of gating. Application of respiratory gating techniques reduced variance of repeated volume measurements and significantly improved the accuracy of tumor volume quantitation in vivo.
A reanalysis of a randomized trial on meditation for migraine headaches: Distraction is not enough but meditation takes time.

Abstract Objective : Migraine headaches affect about approximately 15% of the population and some notable efforts have been made to develop meditation interventions to address pain and mood among this population. However, key active ingredients and the necessary duration of meditation interventions to produce an effect are still unknown. The purpose of this study is to assess key meditation ingredients that positively impact mood and headache factors across different meditation techniques and to establish an initial time or” dose” needed to reach proactive treatment efficacy. Method : In this longitudinal study, three active management forms of meditation were compared to a cognitive distraction meditation to assess the effects on migraine headaches and emotions over a 30 day period when practiced 20 min per day. Results : The active group showed significant decreases in anger (p = .005) and migraine pain (p = .002) over time. Further analysis showed that the bulk of the change for the active management group occurred in the final 10 days, after 20 days of practice of the technique (p Conclusion : This suggests that cognitively active forms of meditation are more effective in reducing migraine headache pain and negative mood than distraction techniques. However, individuals engaging in these strategies need to consistently practice these techniques for approximately 20 days to proactively reduce migraine headache pain and negative mood.
From the Birth of Nations to the European Union: Colonial and Decolonial Developments in the Baltic Region

This chapter analyzes the trajectory of Baltic developments from the 1860s until the present with an emphasis on historical continuities over different periods of colonial rule. Latvian and Estonian national consciousness started to develop under both Baltic German and Russian rule. After two decades of independence, Soviet annexation in 1940 gradually imposed a centralized Soviet colonial regime. We see a paradoxical structure of repetition there, where decolonial movements of the Soviet era used strategies borrowed from nineteenth-century German romanticism and were domesticated into the Baltic cultural realm during the 1860s–1880s. Following the tradition of Baltic song festivals allows us to outline the seesaw structure of decolonial movements, where relative gains are partially lost in subsequent strengthenings of colonial rule.
Fermentation of Antarctic Red Yeast AN5 and Its Effect on Sea Cucumber Body Composition

Red yeast is a common type of marine yeast and is often used as a probiotic in aquaculture. In this experiment, the red yeast AN5 isolated from sea ice was studied in the 22 nd Antarctic survey, and the fermentation growth conditions of yeast were optimized. The optimal fermentation conditions for AN5 were as follows: 2% molasses, 0.5% yeast powder, 50 mL medium in 250 mL flask, initial pH=3.0, temperature 20°C, and cultivation for 4 days. Under optimized conditions, the number of yeast cells can reach 5.81×10 7 cells· ml − 1 . Component analysis of AN5 showed that the contents of water, crude protein, total sugar, and crude fat were 69.15%, 42.00%, 32.08%, and 0.39%, respectively. Juvenile sea cucumbers were fed a diet containing 0.3 g polar yeast per cubic meter water volume. After two months of culture, compared with the control, the water and fat content of the juveniles did not change substantially, while the protein and polysaccharide content increased significantly. Therefore, the polar red yeast can be fermented in large quantities and used as a microecological preparation in the cultivation of sea cucumber.
Data Analytics Applications in Latin America and Emerging Economies

The popularity of data analytics has flourished. Continuous advances in hardware have enabled the processing and analysis of huge volumes of data. Analytics is now applied in management and many ot...
A Review of Latino/Latinx Participants in Mindfulness-Based Intervention Research

Mindfulness-based programs (MBPs) have become increasingly popular in the treatment of stress and a variety of other health concerns. Recent research has considered the usefulness of MBPs for youth and adults from historically-underserved and -marginalized populations who experience race-related stress and health disparities; however, the use of MBPs for Latinx populations is not well understood. This review examined the feasibility and efficacy of MBPs in peer-reviewed studies wherein the majority of participants identified as either Latino or Hispanic. To practice inclusivity beyond male/female binaries, the term “Latinx” is used here. A systematic literature search across 5 databases yielded 20 articles eligible for inclusion. Generally, the existing research suggests that MBPs are feasible and acceptable in Latinx populations, and may yield positive changes in a variety of psychosocial and health-related outcomes, including mental health symptomatology (e.g., depression, anxiety), health behaviors (e.g., HIV transmission–related behaviors), and physical health indicators (e.g., BMI), although the majority of studies did not include a control group thereby limiting causal inference. Effect sizes ranged from small to large with stronger effects typically seen for mental health–related outcomes. Limitations of the existing research include small sample sizes, a lack of rigor in intervention design, and limited description of how interventions might be culturally or socially adapted. From an interdisciplinary perspective, recommendations for future research are described, including suggestions for culturally relevant adaptations to MBPs (e.g., congruent emotion regulation techniques, analogies) and anti-oppression practices for practitioners (e.g., understanding race-based trauma and deep listening).
Quantifying the Exploration of the Korat Solver for Imperative Constraints

Tools that explore very large state spaces to nd bugs, e.g., when model checking, or to nd solutions, e.g., when constraint solving, can take a considerable amount of time before the search termi- nates, and the user may not get useful feedback on the state of the search during that time. Our focus is a tool that solves im- perative constraints to provide automated test input generation for systematic testing. Speci cally, we introduce a technique to quantify the exploration of Korat, a well-known tool that explores the bounded space of all candidate inputs and enumerates desired inputs that satisfy given constraints. Our technique quanti es the size of the input space as it is explored by the Korat search, and provides the user exact information on the size of the remaining input space. In addition, it allows studying key characteristics of the search, such as the distribution of solutions as the search nds them. We implement the technique as a listener for the Korat search, and present initial experimental results using it.
Atomistic Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Surfactant-Induced Wettability Alteration in Crevices of Calcite Nanopores

Wettability alteration is an important mechanism in surfactant-facilitated enhanced oil recovery (EOR) in oil-wet carbonate reservoirs. An in-depth understanding of how surfactants influence the wettability of calcite surfaces is of crucial importance. In this study, atomistic molecular dynamics simulations were used to elucidate how the nonionic and anionic surfactants influence the wettability at the corners of angular calcite pores. A multicomponent oil model was constructed based on a chemical analysis of an unconventional reservoir crude oil. It was found that the inclusion of the calcite surface water layer caused a significant decrease in the attraction between the surface and the surfactant molecules from hundreds of kJ/mol to essentially zero. The surface water layer is therefore critical for an accurate description of calcite wettability. Simulated flooding of the oil-filled calcite pore with both types of surfactants was compared to that with blank brine. It was found that the tested surfactants alter the wettability of the calcite surface mainly by hydrophobic interactions with the adsorbed polar oil components and by weakening the interactions between polar and nonpolar oil components. The wettability alteration resulted in a 20–30° reduction in contact angles, while the ratio of the polar-to-nonpolar oil components within the pore decreased by approximately 50% by the surfactants as compared to just brine. The results presented in this work can provide guidance for selection of the most effective surfactants for oilfield applications.
Treating Withdrawal and Pain in Inpatients With Opioid Use Disorder: A Brief Educational Intervention for Internal Medicine Residents

Introduction Despite the effectiveness of opioid agonist therapy (OAT) for treating patients with opioid use disorder (OUD), insufficient education remains a barrier to prescribing. Internal medici...
Towards multi-party targeted model poisoning attacks against federated learning systems

Abstract The federated learning framework builds a deep learning model collaboratively by a group of connected devices via only sharing local parameter updates to the central parameter server. Nonetheless, the lack of transparency in the local data resource makes it prone to adversarial federated attacks, which have shown increasing ability to reduce learning performance. Existing research efforts either focus on the single-party attack with impractical perfect knowledge setting and limited stealthy ability or the random attack that has no control on attack effects. In this paper, we investigate a new multi-party adversarial attack with the imperfect knowledge of the target system. Controlled by an adversary, a number of compromised devices collaboratively launch targeted model poisoning attacks, intending to misclassify the targeted samples while maintaining stealthy under different detection strategies. Specifically, the compromised devices jointly minimize the loss function of model training in different scenarios. To overcome the update scaling problem, we develop a new boosting strategy by introducing two stealthy metrics. Via experimental results, we show that under both perfect knowledge and limited knowledge settings, the multi-party attack is capable of successfully evading detection strategies while guaranteeing the convergence. We also demonstrate that the learned model achieves the high accuracy on the targeted samples, which confirms the significant impact of the multi-party attack on federated learning systems.
Earthquake and Postearthquake Fire Testing of a Midrise Cold-Formed Steel-Framed Building. I: Building Response and Physical Damage

AbstractTo advance understanding of the multihazard performance of midrise cold-formed steel (CFS) construction, a unique multidisciplinary experimental program was conducted on the Large High-Perf...
Hip Arthroscopy Prior to Periacetabular Osteotomy Does Not Increase Operative Time or Complications: A Single Center Experience.

Background Periacetabular osteotomy (PAO) is a well-established procedure to improve function and reduce pain in the non-arthritic dysplastic hip. PAO and hip arthroscopy are often performed together; however, there is concern that hip arthroscopy increases difficulty of PAO due to arthroscopic fluid extravasation. The purpose of the current study was to examine the effect of performing hip arthroscopy prior to PAO under the same anesthetic on PAO operative time and postoperative complications. Methods A retrospective review of all PAO cases during a two-year period at a single academic institution was performed. Cases were stratified into two groups based on whether concomitant hip arthroscopy was performed. In the combined hip arthroscopy and PAO group, hip arthroscopy was performed prior to PAO under the same general anesthetic in all cases. Student t-test was utilized to compare the operative times between the two study groups and Chi Square was used to compare categorical variables. Results During the two-year study period, 93 total PAO cases in 86 patients (mean age: 23.5 + 8.7 years; 81.4% female) were performed. Of these, 67 PAO surgeries (72.0%) were performed following hip arthroscopy. The total complication rate was 2.2% with one postoperative complication occurring in each group. There was no difference in mean PAO operative time between the two study groups (PAO: 127.6 + 18.0 minutes; PAO with hip arthroscopy: 125.4 + 16.8 minutes; p=0.570). Conclusion Performing hip arthroscopy prior to PAO under the same general anesthetic does not significantly increase PAO operative time or postoperative complications.Level of Evidence: IV.
Visual Memory Processing During Hypnosis: Does it Differ from Waking?

Cognitive processing differences in waking and hypnotic states have been suggested by several studies. While previous studies have examined self-reports of imagery vividness (Coe et al., 1980; Sanders, 1967), this paper presents a series of investigations using more objective visual memory tasks to investigate the hypothesis that hypnosis can facilitate imagery processing such that either visual memory is better encoded or the preferred mode of scanning visual information is shifted within the highly hypnotizable individual.
Establishing a Comprehensive Center for Diagnosis and Therapy of Swallowing Disorders

This chapter discuses some historical facts relating to the development of the multidisciplinary Swallowing Center concept. It also offers a perspective of the Swallowing Center concept 25 years after its original inception. The developments and changes in the world of swallowing disorders e.g. the establishment of a Journal devoted to swallowing and its disorders and the formation of a Dysphagia Research Society, to name just two of the many developments, are presented and discussed. The advantages and limitations of a multidisciplinary Swallowing Center are also discussed.
Geographic Support for the Ordination of Same Sex Clergy by American Lutheran and Presbyterian Denominations

Four major Christian denominations have removed barriers for gays and lesbians to serve as clergy or church leaders. We examine the backgrounds and accounts of two: the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and Presbyterian Church, USA (PCUSA). We explore the geographic patterns of support and opposition to noncelibate same-sex ordinations. The August 2009 adoption of the ELCA Social Statement on Human Sexuality is a contentious issue. Between its adoption and December 31, 2012, about 640 congregations, or 6 % of all ELCA congregations, had officially withdrawn. The geographic pattern of withdrawals is consistent with the overall distribution of ELCA churches. Many withdrawals came from traditional strongholds in the Upper Midwest Region. New England states had very low rates of withdrawal (<1 %) while Iowa, Texas, North Carolina, and South Dakota showed relatively high rates. Texas showed high rates of withdrawal centered on south central and southeastern Texas and especially the San Antonio metropolitan area. Overall, congregations in major urban centers tended to stay with the ELCA while those in suburban and rural counties were more likely to withdraw. The PCUSA results revealed a mixed record of support and opposition to Amendment 10-A, which was ratified in May 2011. The amendment removed an existing amendment that prohibited ordination of sexually active unmarried Presbyterians from church offices. While there was strong support from presbyteries in the Northeast and Middle West, there were also presbyteries in the Great Plains, South and Southwest that supported the ordination of same-sex clergy and elders. The opposition was strongest in the South Atlantic and South, but the opposition was not uniform across presbyteries in these regions. Opposition was also strong in the Pacific Northwest, California and the rural Great Plains. The largest presbyteries supported the amendment. A mix of rural and urban presbyteries, large and small presbyteries in all regions contributed to its passage.
Modulating Ca2+ entry into endothelial tubes by controlling membrane potential during muscarinic receptor activation (664.7)

Coupling of intracellular Ca2+ [Ca2+]i to hyperpolarization of endothelial cells underlies smooth muscle cell relaxation in resistance vessels. Whether membrane potential (Vm) influences [Ca2+]i levels in the endothelium remains controversial. To resolve the impact of Vm on Ca2+ influx, Fura-2 photometry was evaluated during intracellular current injection (-5 to +5 nA; 20 s pulses) to control Vm of endothelial tubes (width, 60 µm; length, ≤ 1 mm) freshly isolated from superior epigastric arteries of adult (4-6 mo) male C57BL/6 mice (n蠅4). Relative to resting Vm (-40±2 mV), current injection hyperpolarized (Vm in mV; -1 nA: -52±2, -3 nA: -64±2, -5 nA: -79±2) and depolarized (+1 nA: -33±1, +3 nA: -13±2, +5 nA: 8±3) cells. Under resting conditions, changing Vm did not affect [Ca2+]i (e.g., F340/F380 = 0.68±0.03 at rest and -5 nA). However, during exposure to acetylcholine (ACh; 100 nM, ~EC50), the plateau phase of the [Ca2+]i response was either enhanced [∆F340/F380 & ∆Vm (mV); -1 nA: 0.07±0.02 & -10±...
Complete nucleotide sequence of the rabbit β-like globin gene cluster. Analysis of intergenic sequences and comparison with the human β-like globin gene cluster

Abstract The nucleotide sequence of the entire β-like globin gene cluster of rabbits has been determined. This sequence of a continuous stretch of 44.5 × 103 base-pairs (bp) starts about 6 × 103 bp upstream from e (the 5′-most gene) and ends about 12 × 103 bp downstream from β (the 3′-most gene). Analysis of the sequence reveals that: (1) the sequence is relatively A + T rich (about 60%); (2) regions with high G + C content are associated with OcC repeats, a short interspersed repeated DNA in rabbits: (3) the distribution of polypurines, polypyrimidines and alternating purine/pyrimidine tracts is not random within the cluster; (4) most open reading frames are associated with known globin coding regions, OcC repeats or long interspersed repeats (LI repeats); (5) the most prominent open reading frames are found in the LI repeats: (6) different strand asymmetries in base composition are associated with embryonic and adult genes as well as the tandem LI repeats at the 3′ end of the cluster; and (7) essentially all the repeats appear to have been inserted by a transposon mechanism. A comparison of the sequence with itself by a dot-plot analysis has revealed nine new members of the OcC family of repeats in addition to the six previously reported. The OcC repeats tend to be clustered, particularly in the e-γ and γ-ψδ intergenic regions. Dot-plot comparisons between the rabbit and the human clusters have revealed extensive sequence matches. Homology starts about 6 × 103 bp 5′ to e or as far upstream as the rabbit sequence is available. It continues throughout the entire cluster and stops about 0.7 × 103 bp 3′ to β, at which point several repeats have inserted in both rabbits and humans. Throughout the gene cluster, the homology is interrupted mainly by insertions or deletions in either the rabbit or the human genome. Almost all of the insertions are of known short or long repeated DNAs. The positions of the insertions are different in the two gene clusters, which indicates that both short and long repeats have been transposing throughout the genome for the time since the mammalian radiation. An alignment of rabbit and human sequences allows the calculation of the substitution rate around e. Sequences far removed from the gene are evolving at a rate equivalent to the pseudogene rate, although some short regions show an apparently higher rate. The fact that rate of divergence of the intergenic and flanking DNA is about the same as the rate of divergence of pseudogenes indicates that this rate is a good approximation of the neutral rate of evolution.
Trajectory reconstructions. I: Trace evidence in flight

This paper reviews the use of trace evidence recovered from spent bullets in helping to establish trajectories. The use of information derived from such trace evidence combined with that from geometrical techniques of trajectory reconstruction and other data is discussed. Five cases are reviewed in which the analysis of trace evidential materials adhering to bullets was used to help reconstruct the event.
Preventing the "neutral" chaplain? The potential impact of anti-"extremism" policy on prison chaplaincy

The value and contribution of prison chaplaincy is investigated in seven prisons in England and Wales. The “neutral” chaplain is identified as a key element of the narrative of contemporary chaplaincy co-constructed by chaplains, prisoners and staff. It is argued that the “neutrality” of the chaplain is, in part, aligned with contemporary norms of respecting diversity and offering equality of opportunity. The relationship between the “neutrality” of the prison chaplain and a second public policy frame – preventing “extremism” and “radicalisation” as part of a wider response to terrorism is examined. It is argued that the “Prevent Strategy” is in danger of compromising the perceived “neutrality” of the chaplain, which offers the wrong kind of “security” – confidential “safe” space in which people can be human; rather than the very different desired “safety” of identifying, assessing and minimising the risk of “extremism.”
Clothing and export diversification : still a route to growth for low-income countries ?

Can the clothing sector be a driver of export diversification and growth for today's low-income countries as it was in the past for countries that have graduated into middle income? This paper assesses this issue taking into account key changes to the market for clothing: the emergence of India and especially China as exporting countries; the rise of global production chains; the removal of quotas from the global trading regime but the continued presence of high tariffs and substantial trade preferences; the increasing importance of large buyers in developed countries and their concerns regarding risk and reputation; and the increasing importance of time in defining sourcing decisions. To assess the importance of the factors shaping the global clothing market, the authors estimate a gravity model to explain jointly the propensity to export clothing and the magnitude of exports from developing countries to the E U and US markets. This analysis identifies the quality of governance as an important determinant of sourcing decisions and that there appears to be a general bias against sourcing apparel from African countries, which is only partially overcome by trade preferences.
Combining Formal Methods and Safety Analysis – The ForMoSA Approach

In the ForMoSA project [18] an integrated approach for safety analysis of critical, embedded systems has been developed. The approach brings together the best of engineering practice, formal methods and mathematics: traditional safety analysis, temporal logics and verification, and statistics and optimization.
The significance of extracellular production and winter photosynthesis to estimates of primary production in a woodland stream community

Both winter photosynthesis and the release of extracellular DOC are commonly ignored in stream production studies. We examined these contributions in a second-order stream under a completely closed deciduous canopy. We estimate that in Sandy Run approximately 26% of the annual autochthonous particulate carbon is produced between December and March. Measured winter rates of photosynthesis were not significantly different than summertime rates. Contrary to implicit assumptions often made about stream primary productivity, winter production was as important as summer production. Highest rates of carbon assimilation, however, were measured in the spring and fall, and were significantly correlated with standing crops of stream algae as measured by chlorophyll concentration. The recovery of released DOC from stream algae indicated that this contribution was equivalent to 5% of the particulate contribution. Rates of DOC production were significantly correlated with rates of particulate production. We estimate that had winter photosynthesis and extracellular DOC production been ignored in Sandy Run, annual productivity would have been underestimated by about a third.
Subsidence and eustasy at the continental margin of eastern North America

Biostratigraphic data from the COST B-2 well off New York and four deep commercial wells off Nova Scotia have been used to remove the effect of sediment loading at the Atlantic-type continental margin off the East Coast of North America. The resulting subsidence contains terms due to both 'tectonic' and 'eustatic' effects. By assuming the tectonic subsidence is thermal in origin these effects can be separated. The 'eustatic' effects have been isolated by least squares fitting an exponential curve to the subsidence data. The resulting sea-level curve shows a maximum rise in sea level during the Late Cretaceous era which probably does not exceed 150 m. The tectonic subsidence has been interpreted in terms of a simple thermal model for the cooling lithosphere. Based on this model the thermal thickness of the lithosphere and the total amount of crustal thinning are estimated. These estimates which are consistent with surface ship gravity and GEOS-3 altimeter measurements are used to define the structural elements which control the tectonic evolution of the margin.
Epigenetic regulation of Foxp3 expression in regulatory T cells by DNA methylation

Foxp3, a winged-helix family transcription factor, serves as the master switch for CD4+ regulatory T cells (Treg). We identified a unique and evolutionarily conserved CpG-rich island of the Foxp3 nonintronic upstream enhancer and discovered that a specific site within it was unmethylated in natural Treg (nTreg) but heavily methylated in naive CD4+ T cells, activated CD4+ T cells, and peripheral TGFβ-induced Treg in which it was bound by DNMT1, DNMT3b, MeCP2, and MBD2. Demethylation of this CpG site using the DNA methyltransferase inhibitor 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine (Aza) induced acetylation of histone 3, interaction with TIEG1 and Sp1, and resulted in strong and stable induction of Foxp3. Conversely, IL-6 resulted in methylation of this site and repression of Foxp3 expression. Aza plus TGFβ-induced Treg resembled nTreg, expressing similar receptors, cytokines, and stable suppressive activity. Strong Foxp3 expression and suppressor activity could be induced in a variety of T cells, including human CD4+CD25− T cells. Epigenetic regulation of Foxp3 can be predictably controlled with DNMT inhibitors to generate functional, stable, and specific Treg.
Generalized compressed tree machines

Parallel machines interconnecting up to thousands of processors have been proposed and recently built. One of the earliest and the most prominent one is a complete binary tree machine. The authors propose a family of tree machines called generalized compressed tree machines. Generalized compressed tree machines may, in general, be viewed as a derivative of the complete binary tree networks. >
Mode‐Locking: Selected Advanced Topics

This chapter contains sections titled: Soliton Fiber Lasers: Artificial Fast Saturable Absorbers Soliton Mode‐Locking: Active Modulation and Slow Saturable Absorbers Stretched Pulse Mode‐Locking Mode‐Locked Lasers in the Few‐Cycle Regime Mode‐Locked Frequency Combs Problems
Thermodynamics of the dissociation of ammonium ion in seawater from 5 to 40°C

The dissociation constant of NH 4 + and the associated thermodynamic functions ΔH° and ΔS° in synthetic seawaters of salinity 20.31, 35.00, and 44.55‰ have been determined by emf measurements of cells without liquid junction over the temperature range 5 to 40°C. Cells with hydrogen electrodes and silver-silver chloride electrodes, whose standard potentials in seawater media were determined in an earlier investigation, were used. At a given temperaturet (in °C), pK a varies linearly with the formal ionic strengthI f (uncorrected for ion pairing) according to pK a=pK a w +(0.1552−0.0003142t)I f where pK a w is the pK in pure water. The medium effect of seawater on ΔH° amounts to less than 200 cal-mole−1 for a change inI f from 0 to 0.72 mole-kg−1, and ΔS° is less than 1 cal-°K−1-mole−1 in all of the media studied, as it is in water. The observed salt effect on pK a is in close agreement with values predicted from theories of ion-ion interactions.