cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Improving Visibility of Humanitarian Supply Chains Through Web-Based Collaboration

The study is intended to demonstrate the pathways for humanitarian supply chains following the well-established models of business supply chains. Information sharing is the core to increase visibility in supply chain collaboration. Sharing instant intelligent decisions between the humanitarian organizations improves the quality of humanitarian relief services as well as reduces the operational cost of the public service. With the use of prevalent web portal technology, humanitarian organization can implement web-based collaboration for e-transactions with partners and donor organizations. The benefit of web-based platform is the ability to interact and quickly form a need specific project in a short period of time by collecting a large number of volunteers, donors, and partners over the globe. The visibility of web-based monitoring of supply chain functions not only benefits the aid agencies to maintain appropriate level of stocking but also ensures high level of public services. The illustration of this study is a starting-point to develop models for humanitarian supply chain and establish future research agenda for emergency preparedness planning.
An Exploratory Study of the Impact of a Virtual World Learning Environment on Student Interaction and Learning Satisfaction

Research in online education has demonstrated that social presence and student interaction are important factors in learning. This study extends current research to the new learning environment of virtual worlds and explores their role in student interaction and learning satisfaction. We examined learning satisfaction in an online course using virtual world technology to assess sense of presence, social presence and student interaction. Data on multiple independent variables (measures of presence, social presence, and interaction) and dependent variables (learning satisfaction) were collected and analyzed. Our findings indicate that students did not perceive a high level of presence in the virtual world environment. No significant relationship was found between perception of presence and students’ interaction while students’ perceived social presence was significantly related to their perceived interaction and learning satisfaction.
Reductions in child mortality by preventing spina bifida and anencephaly: Implications in achieving Target 3.2 of the Sustainable Development Goals in developing countries.

Background There is an opportunity to reduce child mortality by preventing folic acid-preventable spina bifida and anencephaly (FAP SBA) in developing countries. We estimated reductions in FAP SBA-associated child mortality in 69 countries with an immediate potential for mandatory fortification of wheat flour. Methods Using data from multiple sources, we estimated the percent reductions in neonatal, infant, and under-five mortality that would have occurred by preventing FAP SBA; and the contributions of these reductions toward each country's Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) for child mortality reduction. We used the combined prevalence of spina bifida and anencephaly in selected countries before fortification, and estimated preventable child mortality associated with FAP SBA, assuming 0.5 per 1,000 live births as minimum achievable prevalence from mandatory fortification. Results Annually, 56,785 live births with FAP SBA occurred in the 69 countries examined. Of these, about 49,680 (87%) would have resulted in deaths under age 5 years, and are preventable through mandatory folic acid fortification. On average, compared to current rates, prevention of FAP SBA would have reduced the neonatal, infant, and under-five mortality by 19% (95% uncertainty interval [UI]: 16-24%), 15% (UI: 13-17%), and 14%, (95% UI: 13-17%), respectively. Prevention of FAP SBA seemed to contribute toward achieving SDG on neonatal and under-five mortality in developing countries. Conclusions Prevention of FAP SBA will lead to notable and immediate reductions in child mortality. Many countries have an opportunity to effectively move toward child mortality-related SDG targets with existing milling infrastructure for food fortification.
In Situ Hybridization Techniques for Paraffin-Embedded Adult Coral Samples

Corals are important ocean invertebrates that are critical for overall ocean health as well as human health. However, due to human impacts such as rising ocean temperatures and ocean acidification, corals are increasingly under threat. To tackle these challenges, advances in cell and molecular biology have proven to be crucial for diagnosing the health of corals. Modifying some of the techniques commonly used in human medicine could greatly improve researchers' ability to treat and save corals. To address this, a protocol for in situ hybridization used primarily in human medicine and evolutionary developmental biology has been adapted for use in adult corals under stress. The purpose of this method is to visualize the spatial expression of an RNA probe in adult coral tissue that has been embedded in paraffin and sectioned onto glass slides. This method focuses on removal of the paraffin and rehydration of the sample, pretreatment of the sample to ensure permeability of the sample, pre-hybridization incubation, hybridization of the RNA probe, and visualization of the RNA probe. This is a powerful method when using non-model organisms to discover where specific genes are expressed, and the protocol can be easily adapted for other non-model organisms. However, the method is limited in that it is primarily qualitative, because expression intensity can vary depending on the amount of time used during the visualization step and the concentration of the probe. Furthermore, patience is required, as this protocol can take up to 5 days (and in many cases, longer) depending on the probe being used. Finally, non-specific background staining is common, but this limitation can be overcome.
Defending Orthodoxy: Reviewing Robert Elsmere and Gladstone’s Works of Joseph Butler

Gladstone’s review of Robert Elsmere, Mary Ward’s popular novel of lost faith, appeared in the May 1888 edition of the Nineteenth Century. Ward, the niece of poet Matthew Arnold, offered her readers a sympathetic view of skepticism and rationalistic German theology. Gladstone’s review gained wide readership and sparked an important debate in the United States over liberal theology. Julia Ward Howe was among the most provocative reviewers of his review and of the orthodox Christianity he was defending. Peterson also addresses American reviews of Gladstone’s final foray into the realm of religion, his 1896 magnum opus The Works of Joseph Butler. The evangelical press fervently praised the work. The secular press, however, was largely critical of the work because he had failed to address the bishop in the context of modern scholarship.
Dead Science: Most Resources Linked in Biomedical Articles Disappear in Eight Years

Scientific progress critically depends on disseminating analytic pipelines and datasets that make results reproducible and replicable. Increasingly, researchers make resources available for wider reuse and embed links to them in their published manuscripts. Previous research has shown that these resources become unavailable over time but the extent and causes of this problem in open access publications has not been explored well. By using 1.9 million articles from PubMed Open Access, we estimate that half of all resources become unavailable after 8 years. We find that the number of times a resource has been used, the international (int) and organization (org) domain suffixes, and the number of affiliations are positively related to resources being available. In contrast, we found that the length of the URL, Indian (in), European Union (eu), and Chinese (cn) domain suffixes, and abstract length are negatively related to resources being available. Our results contribute to our understanding of resource sharing in science and provide some guidance to solve resource decay.
The embodied intersubjective space: The role of clinical intuition in somatic psychotherapy.

Interpersonal neurobiology has provided insight and given importance to right brain implicit processes within the context of psychotherapy. This includes intersubjectivity, awareness of bod...
Modeling cellular metabolomic effects of oxidative stress impacts from hydrogen peroxide and cigarette smoke on human lung epithelial cells

The respiratory system is continuously exposed to variety of biological and chemical irritants that contain reactive oxygen species, and these are well known to cause oxidative stress responses in lung epithelial cells. There is a clinical need to identify biomarkers of oxidative stress which could potentially support early indicators of disease and health management. To identify volatile biomarkers of oxidative stress, we analyzed the headspace above human bronchial epithelial cell cultures (HBE1) before and after hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and cigarette smoke extract (CSE) exposure. Using stir bar and headspace sorptive extraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, we searched for volatile organic compounds (VOC) of these oxidative measures. In the H2O2 cell peroxidation experiments, four different H2O2 concentrations (0.1, 0.5, 10, 50 mM) were applied to the HBE1 cells, and VOCs were collected every 12 h over the time course of 48 h. In the CSE cell peroxidation experiments, four different smoke extract concentrations (0%, 10%, 30%, 60%) were applied to the cells, and VOCs were collected every 12 h over the time course of 48 h. We used partial-least squares (PLS) analysis to identify putative compounds from the mass spectrometry results that highly correlated with the known applied oxidative stress. We observed chemical emissions from the cells that related to both the intensity of the oxidative stress and followed distinct time courses. Additionally, some of these chemicals are aldehydes, which are thought to be non-invasive indicators of oxidative stress in exhaled human breath. Together, these results illustrate a powerful in situ cell culture model of oxidative stress that can be used to explore the putative biological genesis of exhaled breath biomarkers that are often observed in human clinical studies.
Small bowel-small bowel intussusception with high grade obstruction due to intramural submucosal ileal hamartoma in a 5-year-old child: A case report

Abstract Introduction Intussusception is a common cause of emergency in children. We report a unusual case of intestinal obstruction due to small bowel-small bowel intussusception with an intestinal hamartoma as the lead point. Presentation of the case A 5 year old boy presented to the ED with worsening abdominal pain, emesis and bloody diarrhea. An abdominal radiograph showed evidence of small bowel obstruction and US confirmed a small bowel-small bowel intussusception with a likely cystic mass as the lead point. Given these findings, surgery was performed and revealed an intestinal hamartoma as a lead point. Discussion Intussusception in children is mostly idiopathic and usually amenable to reduction by air enema. The presence of a lead point is unusual and usually requires surgical intervention. Conclusion We report an unusual case of intussusception with small bowel obstruction due to intestinal hamartoma, a rare pathologic finding as a lead point for intussusception. Ultrasound was useful for diagnosing the intussusception and confirming the presence of a lead point.
Scalable Smart Home Interface using Occipitalis sEMG Detection and Classification

Recent advances in home automation have provided convenience for individuals with their daily tasks. Despite the added convenience to an individual, those afflicted with specific motor disabilities cannot take advantage of these advances. This paper presents a home automation system, based on surface electromyography (sEMG) readings from the occipitalis region, to control smart devices with an aim towards scalability. The system can be potentially utilized by individuals with a language disability or speech impairment such as the symptoms caused by bulbar onset amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The system utilizes an Ultracortex Mark IV headset, an OpenBCI Cyton board, a computer with the Processing IDE, and an Amazon Alexa connected to smart home devices. Code run in the Processing IDE provides an on-screen control panel keypad to represent various smart devices, a text-to-speech implementation for interfacing with the Amazon Alexa, and functions that compute and classify data received from the Cyton board. Three subjects tested the system using five smart devices: a smart bulb, three smart plugs, and a smart lock. The results yielded an 84% average accuracy from 75 trials without a machine learning algorithm and a 96% average accuracy from 75 trials with the K-Nearest Neighbors algorithm.
Universal screening for social determinants of health in pediatric sickle cell disease: A quality‐improvement initiative

Background Social determinants of health (SDoH) are socioeconomic factors that influence health outcomes. Guidelines recommend universal screening for SDoH at clinic visits; however, models that do not require additional resources are limited in subspecialty clinics. Individuals with sickle cell disease (SCD) face the burdens of chronic illness and often racial disparities, both of which may increase their vulnerability to adverse SDoH. Hematologists can impact both quality of life and clinical outcomes for their patients by implementing screening and referral programs addressing SDoH. Methods Through prospective, quality-improvement methods, we introduced universal screening for SDoH into our pediatric hematology clinic. The intervention was a paper screener followed by a referral to local community organizations for the specific needs endorsed. The aims of this study were to determine the feasibility of universal screening for SDoH in a busy subspeciality clinic using pre-existing resources to identify the needs of our patients and to facilitate referrals between our patients and community organizations via this low touch intervention. Results Between August 2017 and November 2018, 156 screens were completed. Sixty-six percent were positive for at least one unmet social need for which 80% were referred to a relevant community organization. Forty-five percent of patients available via follow-up phone call reached out to the community organization. Conclusions There is a high burden of SDoH in families of children with SCD. Universal screening at a pediatric hematology clinic with the subsequent connection of patients with SCD to community resources is feasible using existing clinic resources.
Relationships Between Apparel Buyers’ Mediated Power and Bangladeshi Suppliers’ Psychologically Defensive Workplace Behavior

This study investigated the relationships between the social power of apparel buyers from developed countries and the psychologically defensive workplace behavior of the suppliers from a developing country. An online survey was used to collect 205 responses from the professionals who were working in the apparel exporting companies in Bangladesh. The results showed that the exercise of buyers’ reward and coercive power were associated with the suppliers’ perfectionistic workplace behavior. The exercise of buyers’ coercive power was associated with the suppliers’ arrogant-vindictive workplace behavior. The exercise of buyers’ reward power was associated with the suppliers’ narcissistic workplace behavior and coercive power was found to be statically suggestive. This study will help apparel buyers to better negotiate with Bangladeshi suppliers in maintaining proper workplace condition and compliances and industry professionals to better educate suppliers on how to deal with workplace pressure.
Functional movement screen items predict dynamic balance under military torso load

Introduction Musculoskeletal injuries threaten military readiness and impose a significant financial burden. The functional movement screen (FMS), a 7-item, preparticipation screening tool, may aid in identifying compensatory movement patterns that can hinder physical performance and lead to injuries in active-duty military personnel. The primary aim of our study was to determine if items scores from the traditional FMS or a modified FMS (mFMS) obtained under loaded conditions can predict dynamic balance scores while wearing a military load. Materials and methods Thirty physically active adults (19 males and 11 females) who qualified for Army basic training completed unloaded and loaded FMS testing. Loaded balance was assessed using the Y balance test and the Biodex balance system. The mFMS and both loaded balance assessment protocols included a military load consisting of a standard issue rucksack (M.O.L.L.E.), kevlar helmet, and weighted vest (mass = 24.2 kg). Results mFMS item scores were significantly lower than FMS scores for six of the seven movement items. Both FMS and mFMS composite scores were correlated with Y balance scores (FMS: r = 0.53, P = 0.003; mFMS: r = 0.37, P = 0.043). Participants with higher composite scores (≥15) outperformed those with lower composite scores (≤14) for the FMS (P =0.006, d = 1.16) and mFMS (P = 0.031, d = 0.75). Lasso penalized regression analyses revealed that (1) higher unloaded in-line lunge subscores predicted better Y balance scores, (2) loaded trunk stability push-up scores of three predicted worse balance on the Biodex, and (3) unloaded and loaded shoulder mobility scores of 3 predicted better performance on the Biodex balance system. Conclusions The in-line lunge subscore from the FMS was the strongest predictor of torso-loaded balance, and the FMS may be more appropriate than a torso-loaded FMS battery when predicting torso-loaded balance among adults with body composition and fitness profiles similar to those of entering military recruits. These findings provide evidence supporting the use of the conventional FMS to identify active-duty personnel who exhibit greater balance deficits and may develop related musculoskeletal injuries while performing operational tasks that require the transport of heavy loads over long distances.
Validating the Adolescent Sleep Wake Scale for use with young adults

Abstract Objective There is a need for examination of sleep across the entire adolescence to young adulthood developmental period (AYA; ages 12–25 years). The Adolescent Sleep Wake Scale (ASWS) is a 28-item measure of overall subjective sleep quality, including five sleep behavior domains (difficulty going to bed, falling asleep, maintaining sleep, reinitiating sleep, and returning to wakefulness), and has been validated to assess overall sleep quality and insomnia symptoms in adolescents (12–18 years). The current study aimed to examine whether the ASWS could be used to assess sleep across the AYA period by investigating the validity of the measure in a national sample of young adults (ages 19–25) using validated adult sleep measures. Materials and methods A national sample recruited through Amazon's MTurk (N = 332; Mean age = 23.37 (SD = 1.55); 53.8% female; 51.4% Caucasian) completed an online survey including the ASWS, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI). Bivariate correlational analyses were performed to explore convergent and discriminant validity. Results The ASWS total score was strongly correlated with both the PSQI total score (r = −0.68) and ISI (r = −0.71) total score. The subscales of the PSQI, including Sleep Latency, Sleep Disturbance, and Daytime Dysfunction were correlated with corresponding ASWS domains. There were weak correlations with other subscales. Internal consistency was good (α = 0.88). Conclusions Our results suggest that the ASWS measures areas of sleep problems in a manner consistent with the most frequently utilized self-report assessment in adults and supports the use of the ASWS across AYA.
Ker-I Ko and the Study of Resource-Bounded Kolmogorov Complexity

Ker-I Ko was among the first people to recognize the importance of resource-bounded Kolmogorov complexity as a tool for better understanding the structure of complexity classes. In this brief informal reminiscence, I review the milieu of the early 1980’s that caused an up-welling of interest in resource-bounded Kolmogorov complexity, and then I discuss some more recent work that sheds additional light on the questions related to Kolmogorov complexity that Ko grappled with in the 1980’s and 1990’s.
Rural-Urban Differences in College Students' Cardiovascular Risk Perceptions.

Objective: To examine rural-urban differences in college students’ cardiovascular risk perceptions. Participants: College students in rural (n = 61) and urban (n = 57) Kentucky counties were recrui...
Loyalty over Fairness: Acceptance of Unfair Supreme Court Procedures:

Evidence of procedural fairness leads individuals to support Supreme Court decisions, even ones with which they disagree. Yet, in some settings, unfair behavior is seen as acceptable, even praisewo...
Empirical recovery of learning progressions through the lens of educators

Abstract Learning progressions represent the relationship between concepts within a domain and how students develop increasingly sophisticated thinking therein. Typical evidence sources used to validate theorized learning progressions are also used to validate the use and interpretation of assessments, such as student cognitive interviews and psychometric analyses of item responses on assessments (Alonzo, 2018; Duschl et al., 2011). However, evidence from student responses to assessment items may reflect an interaction with the assessment itself more so than students’ domain-specific knowledge and understanding (Lai et al., 2017; Penuel et al., 2014). In this manuscript, we propose that educators’ perspectives may serve as an independent source of evidence that can be integrated with traditional evidence sources (e.g., cognitive interviews with students, psychometric data) to overcome this shortcoming. This manuscript describes two studies that used surveys to draw on educator knowledge of students to identify upper and lower bounds of a learning progression (MMaRS study) and to understand the order of intermediary phases of learning (ESTAR study). For both studies, participants included mathematics educators who were classroom teachers or curriculum and assessment developers in relevant grades. Survey results yielded meaningful information to support or modify the hypothesized learning progressions for the respective studies, supporting the proposition that educators’ perspectives can meaningfully complement commonly used evidence to validate the structure of learning progressions. Advantages and limitations to this approach are described.
The Social Distance Scale (v1): A Screening Instrument to Assess Patient Adherence to Prevention Strategies during Pandemics.

Background: This paper describes the development of a brief self-report screening measure of adherence to social distancing and self-protective behaviors in pandemic situations. Items measured behaviors currently established as primary strategies to prevent and reduce the spread of the COVID-19 infection. Methods: An item pool of 29 questions was generated with the aim of estimating the frequency of specific behaviors and were written to avoid confounding the description of behavioral actions with evaluative judgements. Responses were collected from 401 young adults using an anonymous online survey. Results: An Exploratory Factor Analysis was conducted with the purpose of item reduction and subscale development. A 14-item Social Distance Scale emerged, consisting of four subscales: Isolation from Community (IC), Work from Home (WH), Family Contact (FC), and Protective Behaviors (PB). The initial psychometric evaluation of the scales indicated adequate internal consistency and test-retest reliability. (4) Conclusions: The Social Distance Scale (v1) is a promising new instrument which may be applied at the population or individual level. It may be used in conjunction with COVID-19 testing to measure interactions between social distancing factors and transmission. In addition, a reliable screening measure has utility for health service providers to assess patient risk and to provide educational/counseling.
Ultrasound shear wave elastography measurement of the deep posterior cervical muscles: Reliability and ability to differentiate between muscle contraction states.

Abstract The deep posterior cervical muscles (DPCM), specifically the semispinalis cervicis and cervical multifidus, are often impaired in patients with neck disorders and have been assessed by several imaging techniques. Prior ultrasound shear wave elastography (SWE) imaging and reliability assessments of the DPCM were performed utilizing similar positioning as assessments for the more superficial cervical extensors. Our objectives were to describe an SWE imaging technique for the DPCM, establish intra-rater reliability of DPCM SWE, and compare DPCM shear modulus during rest and submaximal contraction in both prone and seated positions in individuals without spinal pain. In sixteen participants, the DPCM was located using B‐mode ultrasound, then muscle shear modulus was assessed via SWE at both rest and with contraction against a 2‐kg resistance applied at the C2 spinous process. Within‐day intra‐rater reliability was moderate to good (ICC = 0.70–0.88). The DPCM were stiffer during contraction than at rest in the prone position (p = 0.002), and at rest in sitting versus at rest in prone (p = 0.003). Further research is needed to assess DPCM-specific SWE in symptomatic individuals and compare DPCM shear modulus to electromyography across contraction intensities.
Aircraft events correspond with vocal behavior in a passerine.

Airports can affect birds by hindering acoustic communication. Here, we investigated the impacts of aircraft events on vocal behavior in wood thrush (Hylocichla mustelina) breeding one mile from an airport in Ithaca, NY, USA. We identified the number of wood thrush songs between 0500 and 0800 h at various distances from the airport and on days with various morning flight schedules. We also analyzed the number of sites from which birds sang during the peak of aircraft events (proxy of number of wood thrush). We found that birds sang more from 0600 to 0640 h when there were aircraft events during this period. This increased vocal behavior is likely explained by increased song output per individual wood thrush, rather than more wood thrush vocalizing. Increased song rate may negatively affect wood thrush fitness through increased energetic demands and/or time tradeoffs with other important behaviors, such as foraging. Identifying the noise thresholds associated with fitness costs (if any) and how different behavioral strategies (i.e. changing the pattern of vocalizations) may allow individuals to evade these costs would be useful for establishing conservation policy in breeding habitats used by passerines, such as the wood thrush.
Incidence of Heterotopic Ossification with NSAID Prophylaxis Is Low After Open and Arthroscopic Hip Preservation Surgery.

Purpose We evaluate the incidence of heterotopic ossification (HO) development with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) prophylaxis in patients after open and arthroscopic hip preservation surgery. Methods A retrospective review identified patients who underwent hip preservation surgery at a single institution within the past 3 years. Patients who underwent hip arthroscopy with or without periacetabular osteotomy (PAO) or femoral osteotomy (FO) were included. Those who did not receive 3-month postoperative radiographs were excluded. The incidence and Brooker classification (BC) of HO in patients taking Naproxen or another NSAID (meloxicam, celecoxib, indomethacin, or aspirin alone) was assessed using AP radiographs available from 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-up appointments. Univariate analysis was conducted to compare numerical means and categorical data (significance level P = .05). Results A total of 328 hips (284 patients) were included. All patients received hip arthroscopy, while 71 patients (21.6%) received concurrent periacetabular osteotomy (PAO; n = 65) or femoral osteotomy (FO; n = 6). Overall, 276 hips (84.4%) received Naproxen for HO prophylaxis. In total, 5 of 328 hips (1.5%) developed HO (4, BC I; 1, BC III). The rate of HO development was significantly higher in males versus females (4 of 121 (3.31%) vs 1 of 207 (.48%), P = .0441). All 5 patients received arthroscopic cam resection and labral repair, and 1 patient also received PAO. Three patients in the Naproxen group (.91%) developed HO, which was not statistically different from those taking a different NSAID (.61%, P = .1797). Conclusion The incidence of HO development was low with NSAID prophylaxis after hip preservation surgery.
A rare etiology of pulmonary nodules

Introduction Pulmonary nodules are a frequent finding on chest imaging studies, with differential including multiple benign entities, but malignancy is often also a concern. Computed Tomography (CT) and Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans have improved the characterization of pulmonary nodules. However, many nodules remain indeterminate and require periodic monitoring. Here we report two nodular pulmonary amyloidosis cases as a rare etiology of enlarging pulmonary nodules with FDG avidity. Case presentation Case 1: 75-year-old woman with a history of asthma, emphysema, bronchiectasis, and a 48 pack-year smoking history was found to have subcentimeter groundglass pulmonary nodules in the right lower lobe (RLL). Follow-up imaging demonstrated an increased solid component of a RLL bulla associated with mild FDG uptake on PET scan. A CT-guided biopsy revealed amyloid deposition. Case 2: 77-year-old man with a history of interstitial lung disease, asbestos exposure, prior tobacco use, and atrial fibrillation treated with amiodarone was found to have a 1.6cm RLL nodule. Follow-up imaging identified an interval increase to 2.0cm associated with moderate FDG uptake on PET scan. Transthoracic biopsy identified amyloid deposition. Discussion Nodular pulmonary amyloidosis is a rare form of amyloidosis which may present as an enlarging pulmonary nodule with FDG avidity, raising concern for malignancy. A CT-guided biopsy is a safe way to establish a diagnosis. Recent studies have demonstrated an association between nodular pulmonary amyloidosis and marginal zone lymphomas, which warrants longitudinal follow-up for evolution to lymphoproliferative disorder.
Redox homeostasis involvement in the pharmacological effects of metformin in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Significance Metformin has been proposed as a treatment for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The primary target of metformin, the electron transport chain complex I in the mitochondria, is associated with redox homeostasis in immune cells, which plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. This review addresses the evidence and knowledge gaps on whether a beneficial effect of metformin in lupus may be due to a restoration of a balanced redox state. Recent Advances: Clinical trials in SLE patients with mild to moderate disease activity and preclinical studies in mice have provided encouraging results for metformin. The mechanism by which this therapeutic effect was achieved is largely unknown. Metformin regulates redox homeostasis in a context-specific manner. Multiple cell types contribute to SLE, with evidence of increased mitochondrial oxidative stress in T cells and neutrophils. Critical issues The major knowledge gaps are whether the efficacy of metformin is linked to a restored redox homeostasis in the immune system, and if it does, in which cell types it occurs? We also need to know which patients may have a better response to metformin, and whether it corresponds to a specific mechanism? Finally, the identification of biomarkers to predict treatment outcomes would be of great value. Future directions Mechanistic studies must address the context-dependent pharmacological effects of metformin. Multiple cell types as well as a complex disease etiology should be considered. These studies must integrate the rapid advances made in understanding how metabolic programs direct the effector functions of immune cells.
'Extra-Ordinary' Ergonomics: How to Accommodate Small and Big Persons, The Disabled and Elderly, Expectant Mothers, and Children

"EXTRAORDINARY" INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS OF PEOPLE Introduction Overview Defining Ergonomics Defining Extraordinary Individuals and Population Groups A Day in the Life of My Mother Differing from "The Norm" Capabilities of the Mind Sensing the Environment Responding to Stimuli Summary ASSESSMENT METHODS AND TECHNIQUES Overview Measurement Teams Anthropometric Techniques Assessing Energetic Capabilities Assessing Muscle Strength Assessing Mental Workload Assessing Vision Capabilities Assessing Auditory Capabilities Assessing Smelling and Tasting Capabilities Assessing Taction Senses Assessing Response Times Assessing Complex Capabilities Systematic Gathering of Information Summary PRINCIPLES OF HUMAN FACTORS ENGINEERING Overview Striving for Better Designs Proper Design Procedures Designing for Body Strength Designing for "Signal Loop" Designing for Groups of People, and for Individuals Summary DESIGN FOR MOVEMENT WITH SPECIAL SOLUTIONS FOR THE VERY SMALL & BIG, FOR THOSE WITH LOW BACK PROBLEMS, AND FOR BEDRIDDEN PERSONS Overview Design for Motion Instead of Posture Design for Very Small and Very Big People Design to Avoid Harm and Injury Summary DESIGN FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES Overview Defining and Measuring Disabilities "Ergonomics of One" Locomotion Aids Use of Computers Consumer Products Selection of Assistive Technology Sources of Information and Advice Summary DESIGN FOR AGING Overview What to Expect as One Ages Aging-Related Changes and Their Ergonomic Counteractions Designing for the Older Person Designing Computer Systems for the Aging Designing Living Quarters for the Aging Sources of Information and Advice Summary DESIGN FOR EXPECTANT MOTHERS Overview Special Designs for Women? Changes in Body Dimensions of Expectant Mothers Changes in Work Capacity During Pregnancy Ergonomic Design Recommendations Summary DESIGN FOR CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS Overview Children Grow into Adolescents Anthropometry of Children and Adolescents Body Mass of Children and Adolescents Body Strength of Children and Adolescents Designing for Children and Adolescents Designing "Safe" Openings Summary References Appendix Index
Southeast Alaskan shelf from southern tip of Baranof Island to Kayak Island: Currents, mixing and chlorophyll-a

Abstract During 2011 and 2013, an integrated ecosystem study was undertaken on the Southeast Alaska shelf and slope. As part of that study, a total of 8 moorings were deployed each year along the coast of Baranof and Chichagof Islands, in Cross Sound and at Icy Point. In addition, 18 satellite-tracked drifters were deployed during the two field years. The goals of this manuscript are to describe: the coastal currents in southeastern Alaska; the processes affecting them; and how the physics modify the nutrients and primary production in the region. Mixing in Cross Sound is an important source of nutrients for the shelf north of the sound, resulting in prolonged production during summer. While the Alaska Coastal Current is not a continuous feature along the entire Gulf of Alaska coast, it does exist from southern tip of Baranof Island to Cross Sound, and again northwest of Yakutat. The narrowness of this shelf coupled with the meanders and eddies in the Alaska Current result in large amounts of on-shelf flow of slope water and off-shelf flow of coastal water. While local currents and summer winds were similar in 2011 and 2013, 2011 was characterized by low chlorophyll-a concentrations throughout the spring–summer, while chlorophyll concentrations in 2013 were typical. The cause of this difference remains unclear, but bottom-up processes likely contributed to the low chlorophyll-a concentrations in 2011.
Essay: Telling Stories of Shareholder Supremacy

INTRODUCTION 1 I. NARRATIVES OF CORPORATE LAW 4 A. Heroic Entrepreneurs and Medieval Oppressors 4 B. Castrating the Father 8 C. Protecting the Widows 10 D. Corporate Plutocracy and the Democratic Narrative 11 E. Moments in the Market and Pieces of Property 13 F. Narratives of Predestination and Justification by Works, Bell Curves, and Chaos 14 II. PUTTING THE NARRATIVES TO WORK 16 A. Stories of Corporate “Personhood”: the Firm as Clint Eastwood . 17 B. Stories of Shareholder Entitlement: the Stockmarket as Entrepreneur 28 CONCLUSION 32
Superconductor Measurement Techniques and Cryostat Design

This introduction to measurement cryostat design includes illustrations of several practical cryostats for testing low-current thin-films and high-current bulk superconductors. Heat transfer is the heart of most cryostat designs and illustrative calculations are given. Other topics that will be discussed include optimal heat sinking of instrumentation leads, wire materials selection, practical vacuum-tight electrical fixtures, vapor-cooled current leads, high-temperature-superconductor current leads, and variable temperature apparatus. A few properties of technical materials for constructing cryostats will be summarized.
Neural Substrates of Binocular Form Perception: Filtering, Matching, Diffusion, and Resonance

A fundamental goal of visual science is to explain how an unambiguous global visual representation is synthesized in response to ambiguous local visual cues. The vast data base of visual perception has demonstrated strong interactions between the perceived depths, lightnesses, and forms of a scene (Beck, 1972; Harris, 1980; Kaufman, 1974), interactions that many artists have used to their advantage, tacitly or explicitly. These interactions amply demonstrate the context sensitivity and coherence of visual properties. In contrast to this coherence within the data, visual theory can be broken up into a multiplicity of specialized visual models. The results reviewed herein suggest one reason for this dichotomy between data and theory. One way of putting the issue is as follows: Whereas many theoretical approaches have used known mathematics and technology to understand visual processes, we have found that visual processes can suggest new mathematics and technology capable of better integrating the visual data landscape.
Dynamic state and input aggregation

In this paper we study a model reduction technique for sparse networked energy systems. Our method differs from standard model reduction techniques in that it aims to preserve the sparsity of the system and also preserves the total energy of the system. We apply our technique to constrained and soft-constrained linear optimal control problems. We show through numerical examples that our method is comparable to standard model reduction techniques in terms of sub-optimality but have faster solution times because of its ability to preserve sparsity.
Half-Factorial Domains, a Survey

Let D be an integral domain. D is atomic if every nonzero nonunit of D can be written as a product of irreducible elements (or atoms) of D. Let 1 (D) represent the set of irreducible elements of D. Traditionally, an atomic domain D is a unique factorization domain (UFD) if α 1… α n = β 1… β m for each ai and β j ∈I (D) implies: 1. n =m, 2. there exists a permutation б of {1,... ,n} such that α 1 and β б (i) are associates.
Reduced instruction set computers

The infulential computer architects believe that conventional microprocessor architectures have reached a performance limit and represent a dead end in processor evolution. A new approach, the Reduced Instruction Set Computer (RISC) has emerged from research laboratories and is poised to enter the marketplace. RISC processors achieve performance by a careful selection and streamlining of the instruction set making possible a high-performance pipelined implementation. But not all microprocessor designers agree with the RISC approach. Panelists will address the future role of RISC and whether it will displace conventional architectures in the next generation. To be debated is whether or not there is a need for a new architecture, even if technically superior, in the existing volume marketplace. Possibly, as technology advancements appear, the mood could change during the next five years.
Heterogeneity and unusually high affinity in the interactions of adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate with specific binding proteins from liver and hepatoma cells.

Abstract The binding of adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) to proteins has been further characterized in postmitochondrial supernatant fractions from rat liver and cultured hepatoma (HTC) cells. Possible explanations for the high binding affinity (Kd l 0.5 nm) and nonlinear Scatchard binding plots are considered. Examination of the membrane filtration method used to measure the binding indicates that essentially all of the protein in the extracts is retained and that nonspecific adsorption of cyclic AMP is not a serious problem under the conditions used. At high concentrations of cyclic AMP, the amount of binding increases linearly over a range of protein concentrations. The binding studied is highly selective for cyclic AMP as shown by competition studies with related compounds. The time required to reach binding equilibrium at 0° varies with the pH, the nature of the sample, and the cyclic AMP concentration. The observation of nonlinear Scatchard binding plots requires a wide range of cyclic AMP concentrations, and this in turn necessitates binding times of several hours or more to achieve equilibrium at all points. The kinetics of release of bound cyclic AMP are heterogeneous for both liver and HTC extracts, showing a range of half times from minutes to days. An evaluation of the instability of binding activity under assay conditions shows that this instability cannot cause the upward curvature seen in Scatchard plots, but it could account for the additional plateau or region of downward curvature observed with liver samples. Prior exposure of a liver sample to pH 4 or to elevated temperatures eliminates the component(s) responsible for the plateau and transforms the Scatchard binding curve at pH 4 into one showing only the upward curvature characteristic of HTC samples. The high affinity portion of the heterogeneous Scatchard plots is markedly reduced by increasing the salt concentration in the binding reaction at pH 4, but not at pH 6.5. Treatment with HgCl2 in the cold also produces some selective elimination of the higher affinity portion of the HTC Scatchard binding curve. Although these selective effects on different regions of the HTC Scatchard plot are consistent with the presence of multiple components with differing affinities for cyclic AMP, other explanations cannot be ruled out. Negatively cooperative interactions among identical binding sites would also account for the curvature, and these interactions might be sensitive to some of the agents used. In addition, theoretical considerations show that the interaction between a single binding component and the catalytic subunit of a protein kinase can generate nonlinear Scatchard plots similar to those observed.
Instruments to Measure Strength

Abstract The various devices which have been used to measure human strength during the past 250 years are illustrated and their principle of operation described. An effort was made to select instruments which were unique when first employed or which were radical modifications of original devices. Only the early investigators are mentioned in connection with any single instrument.
Acrometastasis: First Metatarsophalangeal Joint Pain Due to Metastatic Lung Cancer: A Case Report.

Cancer metastasis is the most common malignant neoplasm of bone in adults, accounting for about 20% to 30% of patients with metastatic disease1,2. Metastatic disease of the hand or foot (acrometastasis) is rare, occurring in only 0.007% to 0.3% of cancer patients1; acrometastasis to only the bones of the foot accounts for 33% to 50% of these cases3. Acrometastases are generally late manifestations of occult cancer and are associated with a poor prognosis. The tumors that have predilection for the hands and feet are from the lung, breast, and kidney. Although acrometastasis is rare, a high clinical suspicion must exist in evaluating a patient with a known history of cancer4. Many authors report that acrometastasis has been mistakenly identified as infection, osteomyelitis, gout, rheumatoid arthritis, Reiter syndrome, Paget disease, reflex sympathetic dystrophy, and ligamentous strain5-7. Consequently, symptoms are overlooked or misdiagnosed, resulting in delayed or inappropriate treatment. Early diagnosis and treatment are important for improving the quality of life of these patients. This case report describes a patient with a known history of cancer whose treatment of acrometastasis was not started for months because of a delayed diagnosis. The patient was informed that the details of the case would be prepared for publication, and he provided consent. A sixty-seven-year-old man with a medical history of non-small-cell lung cancer treated with surgical resection and radiation therapy, chronic anemia, type-2 diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, aortic stenosis, and gout presented to his primary care provider with right foot …
Religion and national stereotypes: A German protestant example

Les protestants allemands, au XIX-XX s., ont cede souvent a la depreciation chauvine des etrangers, Francais, Anglais, Russes, generalement comme suite aux guerres
The Child Assessment Schedule (CAS) Diagnostic Interview: A Report on Reliability and Validity

This paper describes data relevant to the reliability and validity of the Child Assessment Schedule (CAS). The CAS, a diagnostic instrument for children, was designed for clinical assessment as well as collection of research data. Information relevant to making a differential diagnosis is solicited within a format of standardized questions and response items. Two independent reliability studies have been conducted with a total of 63 children. Interrater reliability for the total CAS score was found to be high in both studies (0.91 and 0.90). High interrater reliability was also demonstrated for subscales of the CAS. Data relevant to the concurrent validity of the CAS are also presented.
Predictable deployment in component-based enterprise distributed real-time and embedded systems

Component-based middleware, such as the Lightweight CORBA Component Model, are increasingly used to implement large-scale distributed real-time and embedded (DRE) systems. In addition to supporting the quality of service (QoS) requirements of individual DRE systems, component technologies must also support bounded latencies when effecting deployment changes to DRE systems in response to changing environmental conditions and operational requirements. This paper makes three contributions to the study of predictable deployment latencies in DRE systems. First, we describe OMG's Deployment and Configuration (D&C) specification for component-based systems and discuss how conventional implementations of this standard can significantly degrade deployment latencies. Second, we describe architectural changes and performance optimizations implemented within the Locality-Enhanced Deployment and Configuration Engine (LE-DAnCE) implementation of the D&C specification. Finally, we analyze the performance of LE-DAnCE in the context of component deployments on 10 nodes for a representative DRE system consisting of 1,000 components. Our results show LE-DAnCE's optimizations provide a bounded deployment latency of less than 2 seconds with 2 percent jitter.
You Can’t Air That: four cases of controversy and censorship in American television programming

You Can’t Air That: four cases of controversy and censorship in American television programming DAVID S. SILVERMAN Syracuse, New York, Syracuse University Press, 2007 181 pp., index, bibliography, ...