cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A PXRF-based chemostratigraphy and provenience system for the Cooper’s Ferry site, Idaho

Correlating archaeological finds with their associated stratigraphic context is elementary to modern excavation methods. Although micro-contextual approaches can provide invaluable perspectives, ascribing primary depositional status and associative context has traditionally been a qualitative exercise. To improve the empirical nature of this process as part of new excavations at the Cooper’s Ferry site in western Idaho, we established a chemostratigraphic framework that enables us to quantitatively relate the elemental geochemistry of sediments associated with artifacts and other samples back to a master lithostratigraphic sequence. We subjected a total of 151 PXRF readings from six lithostratigraphic units to multiple discriminant function analysis, which led to the identification of characteristic elements. To test the site’s chemostratigraphic framework, we collected PXRF readings from an infilled rodent burrow, which visually appeared to contain mixed sediments from multiple lithostratigraphic units. Statistical analysis could not relate the rodent burrow’s sedimentary geochemistry well to any of the known lithostratigraphic units, thus marking it as potentially disturbed. This methodological approach allows us to make quantitative correlations between stratigraphic units across the site and most importantly, enables us to independently evaluate whether objects from any part of the site are in direct association with “anomalous” or “regular” sediments.
Effective Teaching and Learning in Introductory Political Theory: It All Starts with Challenging and Engaging Assigned Readings

Wow what can I say, other then your class was killer for me [sic] ... I seri ously was thinking that I might have to change my major for a moment.... Then we started reading Suffering, Politics, Power: A Genealogy in Modern Politi cal Theory by Cynthia Halpem and oh my God I could understand what she was writing about. I didn't feel utterly lost and ignorant for the first time since I'd been in your class. I actually found the book to be really interesting, espe cially learning about suffering for [sic] the point of view from Hobbes and how she compared the different theorists.... No matter what happens with my grade in your class at least I know I'm coming away knowing that I've improved and I'm glad I didn't give up. Thank you. -A note from a student in Political Science 275: Introduction to Political Theory, fall, 2005
Computational-guided discovery and characterization of a sesquiterpene synthase from Streptomyces clavuligerus

Terpenoids are a large structurally diverse group of natural products with an array of functions in their hosts. The large amount of genomic information from recent sequencing efforts provides opportunities and challenges for the functional assignment of terpene synthases that construct the carbon skeletons of these compounds. Inferring function from the sequence and/or structure of these enzymes is not trivial because of the large number of possible reaction channels and products. We tackle this problem by developing an algorithm to enumerate possible carbocations derived from the farnesyl cation, the first reactive intermediate of the substrate, and evaluating their steric and electrostatic compatibility with the active site. The homology model of a putative pentalenene synthase (Uniprot: B5GLM7) from Streptomyces clavuligerus was used in an automated computational workflow for product prediction. Surprisingly, the workflow predicted a linear triquinane scaffold as the top product skeleton for B5GLM7. Biochemical characterization of B5GLM7 reveals the major product as (5S,7S,10R,11S)-cucumene, a sesquiterpene with a linear triquinane scaffold. To our knowledge, this is the first documentation of a terpene synthase involved in the synthesis of a linear triquinane. The success of our prediction for B5GLM7 suggests that this approach can be used to facilitate the functional assignment of novel terpene synthases.
An algorithm for tracking multiple wideband cyclostationary sources

In this paper, a new algorithm is presented for signal selective direction of arrival (DOA) tracking of multiple moving sources emitting narrowband or wideband cyclostationary signals. The most current array outputs are used to update the DOAs recursively and no data association is needed in this algorithm. Furthermore, by exploiting cyclostationarity, interference and noise are suppressed. Thus only sources of interest are tracked. The effectiveness of this new algorithm is demonstrated by simulations
On the von Neumann economic growth problem

We study the complexity of the von Neumann economic growth problem: $$\gamma^\ast=\max \{\gamma\mid \exists y \ne 0: y \ge 0, B-\gamma Ay \ge 0\},$$ where A and B are given two nonnegative and rational m × n-matrices, and A has no all-zero column. Let the binary data length of A and B be L. We develop an interior-point algorithm to generate a γI, such that γ*-2-1 ≤ γI ≤ γ*, in Om + nL + minm, nt iterations where each iteration solves a system of m + n linear equations.
Modification of electronic surface states by graphene islands on Cu(111)

We present a study of graphene/substrate interactions on ultrahigh-vacuum-grown graphene islands with minimal surface contamination using in situ low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy. We compare the physical and electronic structure of the sample surface with atomic spatial resolution on graphene islands versus regions of bare Cu(111) substrate. We find that the Rydberg-like series of image potential states is shifted toward lower energy over the graphene islands relative to Cu(111), indicating a decrease in the local work function, and the resonances have a much smaller linewidth, indicating reduced coupling to the bulk. In addition, we show the dispersion of the occupied Cu(111) Shockley surface state is influenced by the graphene layer, and both the band edge and effective mass are shifted relative to bare Cu(111).
Computer Analysis of Spatial Integration in Vertebrate Retinal Horizontal Cells

A model is developed for the electrically coupled horizontal cells of the vertebrate retina. The model consists of a weighted distributed-parameter network in which the elements have direct cellular significance: transmembrane conductance and capacitance, and radial coupling resistance. Membrane polarization is viewed as a change in the overall membrane conductance in response to photoreceptor influence. Model simulation is implemented on a computer using a circuit analysis program. As a structural representation of the S-space, the model accurately spreads potential, but fails to integrate photoreceptor activity spatially like the S-space. It has been suggested that retinal scattering is the cause of this discrepancy, but the analysis here indicates that photoreceptor coupling is probably the major influence.
A 35-Year-Old Man With Recurrent Pneumonias, Eczema, Coarse Facial Features, and Cystic Lung Lesions

A 35-year-old African-American man presented with a 4-week history of cough with white-colored sputum. He also reported fever, night sweats, and a 21-lb weight loss over the past month despite good appetite. His medical history was significant for eczema since childhood and recurrent pneumonias started in 2001. He had 2-pack-year history of smoking and a history of consumption of six beers per day, but he had quit both behaviors 2 months prior to the hospital admission. He worked for a painting company.
Danger Zone Entrepreneurs: The Importance of Resilience and Self‐Efficacy for Entrepreneurial Intentions

Little is known about the drivers of entrepreneurial decisions during war. We empirically examine the effects of perceived danger, entrepreneurial self-efficacy, and resilience on entrepreneurial intentions in adverse conditions with primary survey data from Afghanistan. Our findings suggest that perceived danger is negatively related to an individual's entrepreneurial intentions, but marginally less so among highly resilient individuals. Our findings also suggest that even under conditions of war, individuals develop entrepreneurial intentions if they are able to grow from adversity (resilience) and believe in their entrepreneurial abilities (entrepreneurial self-efficacy). Practical implications for role modeling and entrepreneurship training are then discussed.
The Spectra of the Doubly and Triply Ionized Rare Earths

The present status of our knowledge of the structure of the spectra of the doubly and triply ionized spectra of the rare earths is derived partly from experimental data of the emission spectra of the free ions which provide the energy level scheme in great detail but are difficult and laborious to analyze. For the lower levels knowledge of the structure comes from the crystal absorption and fluoresence spectra. In all cases approximate theoretical calculations of the energies are essential.
Propagation in helical and narrow-band slow wave structures

A variational analysis is developed for a large class of helical slow-wave structures and illustrated for a narrow tape helix. A 2 × 2 determinantal equation accurately describes the dispersion of the wave with predominant n = 1 mode component, both in the ordinary and anomalous regions. A 3 × 3 determinantal equation would be necessary to describe well the dispersion of the ordinary TWT wave at low frequencies. The analysis is modified to include the presence of a filamentary electron beam. It is shown how the equation for the incremental propagation constant takes the Pierce form, provided the frequency does not lie too near cutoff. A variational analysis is also made of the propagation in a general narrow-band cavity chain interacting with a longitudinally-confined beam. It is shown how the equation for the incremental phase shift per cavity is formally related to Pierce's equation for the incremental propagation constant in a helix TWT. Provided certain necessary (but not sufficient) conditions are met, an appropriately-defined C3parameter exists for the cavity chain. The resonant-slot coupled cavity chain is treated variationally and it is shown how a very accurate dispersion relation obtains. The waves in this structure interacting with a beam are also described formally, under certain conditions, by the Pierce equation for the TWT.
Design of sufficiently strongly self-checking embedded checkers for systematic and separable codes

Totally self-checking (TSC) circuits are considered. If the first erroneous output is a noncodeword then the TSC goal is said to be achieved. The author has recently defined a new class of checkers which meet the TSC goal, namely, the strongly self-checking (SSC) checkers. A TSC or SSC checker can be guaranteed to meet the TSC goal if it receives the required set of codeword tests from the functional circuit. However, in practice, it is not always possible to ensure this for embedded checkers. A design for a sufficiently strongly self-checking (SSSC) embedded checker for systematic and separable codes is presented. SSSC checkers can be used when it is impossible to design a TSC or SSC checker based on the available set of codewords from the functional circuit. >
The Two-Stage Model to the Problem of Free Will

Random noise in the neurobiology of animals allows for the generation of alternative possibilities for action. In lower animals, this shows up as behavioral freedom. Animals are not causally predetermined by prior events going back in a causal chain to the origin of the universe. In higher animals, randomness can be consciously invoked to generate surprising new behaviors. In humans, creative new ideas can be critically evaluated and deliberated. On reflection, options can be rejected and sent back for “second thoughts” before a final responsible decision and action.
Diapers full of … pampered, hugged, and “luved” babies: Teaching ideological criticism through diapers

Courses: Communication Criticism, Rhetorical Criticism, Introduction to Rhetoric, Introduction to Communication, Media Studies, and Persuasion courses.Objective: The aim of this activity is to introduce and explain the method of ideological criticism through commonplace advertising.
Protection of Direct-Seeded Tomatoes From Early Insect Injury with Systemic Insecticides in Georgia

Tomato seeds were treated with systemic insecticides sprayed on the seed furrow or incorporated in a seeded plug mix and planted with a plug mix planter. Carbofuran spray and plug mix treatment gave effective control of flea beetles, Epitrix spp, and the Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say), with little or no phytotoxicity to the seedlings.
Crystal chemistry of chemically delithiated layered oxide cathodes of lithium ion batteries

The structural and chemical stabilities of layered Li1-xCoO2-δ, Li1-xNi0.85Co0.15O2-δ and Li1-xNi0.5Mn0.5O2-δ (0 ≤ (1-x) ≤ 1) cathodes have been investigated by chemically extracting lithium from the corresponding LiMO2 with the oxidizer NO2BF4 in acetonitrile medium. While Li1-xCoO2-δ and Li1-xNi0.85Co0.15O2-δ begin to form a P3-type and a new O3-type (designated as O3’) phases, respectively, for (1-x) < 0.5 and (1-x) < 0.3, Li1-xNi0.5Mn0.5O2-δ maintains the initial O3-type structure without forming any second phase. Chemical analysis with a redox titration indicates that the Li1-xCoO2-δ, Li1-xNi0.85Co0.15O2-δ, and Li1-xNi0.5Mn0.5O2-δ systems begin to lose oxygen from the lattice, respectively, for (1-x) < 0.5, < 0.3 and < 0.4, which is accompanied by an onset of a decrease in the c parameter. The oxygen loss signals chemical instability and the trend in instability correlates with the charging voltage profiles of the cathodes.
Abstract PR6: Genetically determined differences in arsenic metabolism efficiency influence risk for premalignant skin lesions in Bangladesh: Mendelian randomization and gene-environment interaction.

Arsenic is a class-I human carcinogen, and exposure through drinking water is a serious public health in many countries, increasing risk for a wide array of diseases, including cancers of the bladder, kidney, lung, and skin. Observational studies suggest that individuals who metabolize arsenic quickly are at lower risk for toxicities such as arsenical skin lesions. Because single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the arsenite methyltransferase (AS3MT) gene region are known to effect arsenic metabolism efficiency (AME), Mendelian randomization can be used to determine if the association between AME and arsenic toxicity is causal, or due to unmeasured confounding factors (e.g., nutritional status). Using data on 2,060 randomly-selected participants from an arsenic-exposed Bangladeshi cohort, we estimated associations for two AS3MT SNPs (rs9527 and rs11191527) with relative concentrations of three arsenic metabolites measured in urine that represent AME: inorganic arsenic (iAs), monomethylarsonic acid (MMA), and dimethylarsinic acid (DMA). Using data on 2,483 skin lesion cases and 2,857 controls, we generated SNP-based predictions of “genetically-determined” arsenic metabolite levels and tested these predicted values for association with case-control status. Our results confirmed the causal role of AME in arsenic toxicity, with casual odds ratios of 0.90 (95% CI: 0.86-0.94), 1.20 (CI: 1.12-1.29), and 1.25 (CI: 1.15-1.37) for one standard deviation increases in DMA%, MMA%, and iAs%, respectively. These directions of these associations are consistent with those observed in prior observational studies. Using data on a subset of cases and controls with prospective arsenic exposure measures, we further demonstrate the causal role of AME in arsenic toxicity by providing evidence for interaction between water arsenic and AS3MT genotypes in relation to skin lesion risk (P=0.02). In summary, we have used Mendelian randomization and gene-environment interaction analysis to confirm the causal role of AME in arsenic toxicity. With this relationship firmly established, future studies can utilize AS3MT SNPs to assess the causal role of arsenic exposure in relation to a wide array of health conditions with hypothesized connections to arsenic, even when prospective exposure data is not available. This proffered talk is also presented as Poster 16. Citation Format: Brandon L. Pierce, Lin Tong, Maria Argos, Farzana Jasmine, Muhammad Kibriya, Habibul Ahsan. Genetically determined differences in arsenic metabolism efficiency influence risk for premalignant skin lesions in Bangladesh: Mendelian randomization and gene-environment interaction. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Post-GWAS Horizons in Molecular Epidemiology: Digging Deeper into the Environment; 2012 Nov 11-14; Hollywood, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2012;21(11 Suppl):Abstract nr PR6.
Biomphalaria havanensis is a Natural First Intermediate Host for the Trematode Bolbophorus damnificus in Commercial Catfish Production in Mississippi

AbstractThe digenetic trematode Bolbophorus damnificus is a significant hindrance to the production of farm-raised catfish in the southeastern USA. Severe infections with Bolbophorus damnificus can result in death, but the real damage lies in mild to moderate infections, which can go unnoticed by producers. Research has shown even mild infections can inhibit production to the point of operating at a net loss. The ramshorn snail Planorbella trivolvis is the first intermediate host for Bolbophorus damnificus and is prevalent in most commercial catfish ponds in the Southeast. Management practices aimed at controlling Bolbophorus damnificus infections primarily focus on reducing snail populations in ponds. Other aquatic snail species are also commonly associated with commercial catfish ponds, although little is known about their contributions to trematode infections in catfish. In the summer of 2014, 804 snails Biomphalaria havanensis (synonym: Biomphalaria obstructa) were collected from a single commercial c...
The dual track. Contribution toward a neurobehavioral model of cerebral processing.

This contribution seeks to propose a unified field theory that can integrate the domain of inquiry of psychoanalysis (mind) with the findings from brain laterality studies (brain) in order to allow for a composite that can enhance the perspectives of each domain.
Bermuda: An Efficient MapReduce Triangle Listing Algorithm for Web-Scale Graphs

Triangle listing plays an important role in graph analysis and has numerous graph mining applications. With the rapid growth of graph data, distributed methods for listing triangles over massive graphs are urgently needed. Therefore, the triangle listing problem has been studied in several distributed infrastructures including MapReduce. However, existing algorithms suffer from generating and shuffling huge amounts of intermediate data, where interestingly, a large percentage of this data is redundant. Inspired by this observation, we present the "Bermuda" method, an efficient MapReducebased triangle listing technique for massive graphs.Different from existing approaches, Bermuda effectively reduces the size of the intermediate data via redundancy elimination and sharing of messages whenever possible. As a result, Bermuda achieves orders-of-magnitudes of speedup and enables processing larger graphs that other techniques fail to process under the same resources. Bermuda exploits the locality of processing, i.e., in which reduce instance each graph vertex will be processed, to avoid the redundancy of generating messages from mappers to reducers. Bermuda also proposes novel message sharing techniques within each reduce instance to increase the usability of the received messages. We present and analyze several reduce-side caching strategies that dynamically learn the expected access patterns of the shared messages, and adaptively deploy the appropriate technique for better sharing. Extensive experiments conducted on real-world large-scale graphs show that Bermuda speeds up the triangle listing computations by factors up to 10x. Moreover, with a relatively small cluster, Bermuda can scale up to large datasets, e.g., ClueWeb graph dataset (688GB), while other techniques fail to finish.
Federal and state responses to domestic minor sex trafficking: the evolution of policy

Domestic minor sex trafficking (DMST) is a rapidly growing problem in the United States, yet legislative efforts to address victim needs have begun only recently. DMST is an issue that spans several areas of social work practice, as emerging research shows that most children and youths exploited in commercial sex have typically experienced prior abuse, neglect, or other forms of trauma. Many have been involved with the child welfare and juvenile justice systems and are often lured by promises of love, security, protection, and belonging. Policy development to address DMST is still relatively new and evolving at both federal and state levels, but the general trend is to recognize such minors as victims rather than perpetrators of sex crimes. In this article the authors trace the development of legislation addressing DMST at the federal and state levels, with a particular focus on states' "safe harbor laws" that provide limited or total criminal immunity and a varying range of services to victims. Although space limitation precludes a detailed discussion of specific state laws, comparative analysis of representative provisions are discussed, highlighting social work application and further policy and research implications.
The effectiveness and value for money of cash-based humanitarian assistance: a systematic review

ABSTRACTThis review aimed to assess evidence on effectiveness and value for money of cash-based humanitarian assistance. We followed standard procedures for review of (quasi) experimental studies and adapted procedures for studies reporting costs, cost-effectiveness, cost–benefit or cost–utility of unconditional cash transfer, conditional cash transfer and voucher programmes in humanitarian settings. Of 4094 identified studies, only five met effectiveness review inclusion criteria. These five, plus five others, met cost review inclusion criteria. Although limited conclusions about comparative effectiveness and value for money can be drawn from this review, findings do provide important insights for consideration in design and evaluation of programmes in crisis-affected settings.
DAMAGE THRESHOLD OF THE SOUTHERN GREEN STINK BUG, NEZARA VIRIDULA, (HEMIPTERA: PENTATOMIDAE) ON FRESH MARKET TOMATOES

Southern green stink bug (SGSB), Nezara viridula (L.), damage to fresh market tomato, Lycopersicum esculentum Mill., quality was studied in 1984. The effect of SGSB density and feeding duration on ...
Information Semantics and Antinomies

Among logicians and linguists there are long standing widespread opinions about the foundations of semantics which, like any other scientific opinion, should be scrutinized in the light of recent advances. According to one of the opinions in question, to keep a sharp distinction between a language and its metalanguages is necessary under the penalty of contradictions. The second opinion is that there is a substantive difference between the semantical antinomies and the set theoretical antinomies. To exemplify, the liar’s antinomy is considered semantical (it supposedly confuses a language with its metalanguage) but Russell’s antinomy is viewed as set theoretical (as it allegedly deals with the concept of a set). The third opinion to be critically examined holds that there is a sharp cleavage between syntax and semantics of a language. According to this view, syntax should determine all well formed sentences independently of any semantics. Only after that does semantics assign values to the well formed sentences and to their parts. Finally, among logicians, there is a suspicion that a natural language is doomed to trouble, inconsistencies, unresolvable ambiguities. Montague and others have done a great deal to allay some such fears but further defence of natural language and its own logic is needed.
Identification and Targeting of Cortical Ensembles

Breaking the neural code requires the characterization of physiological and behavioral correlates of neuronal ensemble activity. To understand how the emergent properties of neuronal ensembles allow an internal representation of the external world, it is necessary to generate empirically grounded models that fully capture ensemble dynamics. We used machine learning techniques, often applied in big data pattern recognition, to identify and target cortical ensembles from mouse primary visual cortex in vivo leveraging recent developments in optical techniques that allowed the simultaneous recording and manipulation of neuronal ensembles with single-cell precision. Conditional random fields (CRFs) allowed us not only to identify cortical ensembles representing visual stimuli, but also to individually target neurons that are functionally key for pattern completion. These results represent the proof-of-principle that machine learning techniques could be used to design close-loop behavioral experiments that involve the precise manipulation of functional cortical ensembles.
Sleeping With the Enemy, Victim Empowerment, and the Thrill of Horror

This chapter considers Sleeping With the Enemy’s post-aware and postfeminist perspectives as shaped by the conventions of the Gothic romance, the suspense thriller, and the horror film. The chapter critiques the film’s eroticization of violence, dismissal of resources for abused women, stereotypically monstrous abuser, and heroic victim empowerment.
Evaluating the Path Integral

The path integral giving the integral representation of any physical question encountered in statistical data assimilation is addressed in this chapter. We first outline the three methods for evaluating the path integral. The first two are variants on a stationary path approximation to the integral and its corrections presented as an infinite series. The series is identical to perturbation theory corrections to statistical physics and field theory estimations of path integrals encountered in those analyses. We work solely in discrete time and discrete space, so the infinities of field theory do not appear.
Fundamental Kinetics of Drug Excretion in Breast Milk

We have emphasized the variance of the M/P ratio with time after dosing (1). This variance is kinetically determined. Accordingly, variance in the M/P ratio may be confounded by factors altering the kinetic profile of drug concentration in the fluid of reference i.e., blood or milk. These factors include dose, route and duration of administration. We have evaluated each of these for their contribution to the temporal variance of the M/P ratio (2). These pharmacological manipulations were performed by using the goat as an animal model and with acetaminophen (APAP) as the test drug. Acetaminophen was chosen because it has a short elimination half-life and can be administered by either the oral or intravenous route in the goat.
On the Microfoundations of Spillovers: Spinoffs, Mobility, Networks and Regions

Technological externalities are considered a critical driver of both region agglomeration and superior performance for local firms, especially in R &D intensive industries. A variety of researchers...
Algorithms of Oppression [Book Review]

The book is a well-researched analysis of what the author names, "technological redefining." The author describes, and illustrates, how discrimination is “embedded in computer code and, increasingly, in artificial intelligence technologies that we are reliant on, by choice or not.” The book’s publication is particularly timely, given recent focused attention on the societal impact of technology companies, including related to election hacking, consumer privacy, and the psychological effect of social networks. The text is well-illustrated with screenshots from searches that reveal the embedded racism of the Internet. For example, deep machine learning, which is using algorithms to replicate human thinking, is predicated on specific values from specific kinds of people — namely, the most powerful institutions in society and those who control them.” Since Google derives much of its income from advertising, the ranking of search engine results is explicitly skewed to favor advertisers and not consumers. Many users have difficulty distinguishing between paid advertising and organic search results. The author argues that the harmful effects of digital media in real life necessitate an increase in government regulation.
Glucose regulates protein turnover and growth-related mechanisms in rainbow trout myogenic precursor cells.

Abstract Rainbow trout are considered glucose intolerant because they are poor utilizers of glucose, despite having functional insulin receptors and glucose transporters. Following high carbohydrate meals, rainbow trout are persistently hyperglycemic, which is likely due to low glucose utilization in peripheral tissues including the muscle. Also, rainbow trout myogenic precursor cells (MPCs) treated in vitro with insulin and IGF1 increase glucose uptake and protein synthesis, whereas protein degradation is decreased. Given our understanding of glucose regulation in trout, we sought to understand how glucose concentrations affect protein synthesis, protein degradation; and expression of genes associated with muscle growth and proteolysis in MPCs. We found that following 24 h and 48 h of treatment with low glucose media (5.6 mM), myoblasts had significant decreases in protein synthesis. Also, low glucose treatments affected the expression of both mstn2a and igfbp5. These findings support that glucose is a direct regulator of protein synthesis and growth-related mechanisms in rainbow trout muscle.
Opioid misuse initiation: Implications for intervention.

AbstractThe nonmedical use of opioids (e.g., prescription painkillers and heroin) has drastically increased over the past two decades. Despite the popular media narrative suggesting initiation ofte...
Sedation and Analgesia for Interventional EUS

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) has progressively transformed in the past two decades from a primarily diagnostic modality to a minimally invasive interventional transluminal platform that now allows for tissue sampling, drug delivery, biliary and luminal access, amongst other innovative applications of the technology. One constant for all interventional EUS procedures is the need for sedation and analgesia. Notwithstanding, each plan for sedation and analgesia for an individual procedure needs to be customized to particular patient- and procedure-related circumstances. There is a continuum of sedation that may be provided for endoscopic procedures, including minimal sedation, moderate sedation, deep sedation and general anesthesia [1]. A personalized sedation and analgesia plan for each patient is optimal. There are very few studies of sedation in patients undergoing interventional EUS procedures. Future studies in this area are needed to further understand the safest, most efficient and cost-effective strategy for sedation and analgesia in these patients.
Adsorption of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and its effect on the consolidation of suspensions of nanocrystalline CeO2 particles

CeO2 particles with an average size of ∼9 nm were synthesized under hydrothermal conditions. The adsorption of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) on to the particle surfaces was measured in aqueous suspensions in the pH range of ∼3.7 to 11.5. The amount of adsorbed PVP decreased significantly with increasing pH value. For suspensions prepared at a pH value of ∼3.7, complete adsorption occurred for ∼2.5 wt % of PVP added to the suspension. Further additions of PVP produced a gradual increase in the adsorption until a limiting value was reached when the total amount of PVP added to the suspension was 10 wt %. At this PVP concentration, ∼6 wt % of the PVP was adsorbed and ∼4 wt % remained free in solution. The effect of the adsorbed PVP on the microstructural homogeneity of films deposited by spin coating of suspensions was investigated. With no addition of PVP, crack-like voids were prevalent in the dried and sintered films. Crack-free films were obtained from suspensions containing 10 wt % of PVP. Higher PVP additions (25 wt %) produced an increase in the viscosity of the suspension but no observable change in the microstructural homogeneity of the films. The use of adsorbed polymers for steric stabilization coupled with data from the adsorption isotherms is shown to provide a rational approach to the deposition of homogeneous films from suspensions of nanocrystalline particles.
Human DENND1A.V2 Drives Cyp17a1 Expression and Androgen Production in Mouse Ovaries and Adrenals

The DENND1A locus is associated with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a disorder characterized by androgen excess. Theca cells from ovaries of PCOS women have elevated levels of a DENND1A splice variant (DENND1A.V2). Forced expression of this variant in normal theca cells increases androgen biosynthesis and CYP17A1 expression, whereas knockdown of the transcript in PCOS theca cells reduced androgen production and CYP17A1 mRNA. We attempted to create a murine model of PCOS by expressing hDENND1A.V2 using standard transgenic approaches. There is no DENND1A.V2 protein equivalent in mice, and the murine Dennd1a gene is essential for viability since Dennd1a knockout mice are embryonically lethal, suggesting that Dennd1a is developmentally critical. Three different hDENND1A.V2 transgenic mice lines were created using CMV, Lhcgr, and TetOn promoters. The hDENND1A.V2 mice expressed hDENND1A.V2 transcripts. While hDENND1A.V2 protein was not detectable by Western blot analyses, appropriate hDENND1A.V2 immunohistochemical staining was observed. Corresponding Cyp17a1 mRNA levels were elevated in ovaries and adrenals of CMV transgenic mice, as were plasma steroid production by theca interstitial cells isolated from transgenic ovaries. Even though the impact of robust hDENND1A.V2 expression could not be characterized, our findings are consistent with the notion that elevated hDENND1A.V2 has a role in the hyperandrogenemia of PCOS.
Remaking "the people": Immigrant farmworkers, environmental justice and the rise of environmental populism in California's San Joaquin Valley.

â¢Political disenfranchisement and racism form the bedrock of rural California geography.â¢Environmental justice organizing has built a progressive base in the San Joaquin Valley.â¢Control over local governance can scale up and strengthen environmental justice.â¢Opposing populisms in Kern County, CA are situated distinctly in neoliberal crisis.â¢Resistance to farmworker disposability is being expressed in environmental terms.
Stereotyped Beliefs About Adolescents and Parent and Teen Well-Being: The Role of Parent-Teen Communication:

Stereotyped beliefs about the teen years may guide individuals’ cognition, behaviors, and well-being. This study explored associations between parents’ generalized views of typical adolescents and ...
Co-Constructing Meaning in the Time of Coronavirus

In the midst of the physical, economic, racial, and psychological turmoil triggered by the coronavirus pandemic, people are also confronted with a crisis of meaning. Sharing one's crisis narrative ...
Regional economic integration on China’s Inland periphery: the Jilin-Northeast Asia Case

Why has China’s economic integration with Asia lagged in the northeast despite high expectations since the 1990s? China-centered integration in Asia is best understood at the Chinese subnational le...
Figaro: A Tabletop Authoring Environment for Human-Robot Interaction

Human-robot interaction designers and developers navigate a complex design space, which creates a need for tools that support intuitive design processes and harness the programming capacity of state-of-the-art authoring environments. We introduce Figaro, an expressive tabletop authoring environment for mobile robots, inspired by shadow puppetry, that provides designers with a natural, situated representation of human-robot interactions while exploiting the intuitiveness of tabletop and tangible programming interfaces. On the tabletop, Figaro projects a representation of an environment. Users demonstrate sequences of behaviors, or scenes, of an interaction by manipulating instrumented figurines that represent the robot and the human. During a scene, Figaro records the movement of figurines on the tabletop and narrations uttered by users. Subsequently, Figaro employs real-time program synthesis to assemble a complete robot program from all scenes provided. Through a user study, we demonstrate the ability of Figaro to support design exploration and development for human-robot interaction.
Furthering fair housing: Prospects for racial justice in America’s neighborhoods, edited by Justin P. Steil, Nicholas F. Kelly, Lawrence J. Vale, and Maia S. Woluchem: Philadelphia, PA, Temple University Press, 2021

The federal Fair Housing Act (FHA) passed in 1968 has long had a dual mandate: ameliorating discrimination and creating more integrated neighborhoods. Far more attention and commitment has been pai...
Distributed Control of Robotic Swarms from Reactive High-Level Specifications

This paper presents a distributed strategy for automatically synthesizing controls for robotic swarms such that they achieve reactive, high-level formation tasks. In our framework, a user specifies formation and location-based swarm tasks, which may include reactions to environmental events, using linear temporal logic. Then, we synthesize a centralized finite automaton that represents the symbolic behavior of the swarm. To execute the automaton, we develop an auction-based decentralized algorithm that assigns robots to different locations and formations using only information from neighboring robots. To guarantee that the swarm can achieve the specified high-level tasks, we use integer programming to obtain the maximum and minimum number of robots that need to be sent to different locations during each symbolic transition, and we incorporate the constraints on sub-swarm sizes into the auction-based assignment algorithm. We demonstrate our control framework in simulation and with ten Anki-Vector robots in the lab.
Sunday evening, August 29, 2010—Chicago, IL

“Forgive me, Monsignor, for I have sinned.” The monsignor recognized the young man’s voice, but even if he hadn’t he knew who was in the adjacent, confessional cubicle. The young Father Brandon Langer had requested a special confession.
1-Ethyl-3-methyl-1H-imidazol-3-ium spiro-penta-borate.

In the anion of the title compound, (C6H11N2)[B5O6(OH)4], both six-membered borate rings adopt a flattened boat conformation with the spiro-B atom and its opposite O atom deviating from the remainders of the rings by 0.261 (3)/0.101 (2) and 0.160 (3)/0.109 (2) A, respectively. The imidazolium cation also deviates from planarity due to rotation of the ethyl group (as indicated by the C—N—C—C torsion angle) by 71.4 (2)° out of the plane of the heterocycle. In the crystal, the anions are connected in a three-dimensional network through O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds, forming channels along the a-axis direction. The cations are situated in the channels, forming C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds with the anions.
Silvicultural Best Management Practice Compliance Monitoring Programs in the Southern United States

Passage of the Clean Water Act (CWA) of 1972 prompted states to invest significant resources to develop programs to control nonpoint source (NPS) pollution from forestry and other activities. Forestry-related agencies and organizations have since developed silvicultural best management practice (BMP) guidelines to reduce NPS pollution, maintain stream integrity, and meet state water quality standards. To determine the effectiveness and implementation level of best management practices (BMP) on public and private forestland, states further developed and implemented their BMP compliance monitoring programs. This study documents the similarities and differences in efforts, methods, resources, and expenditures among BMP compliance monitoring programs across the 13 southern states. 29(1):48–52.
Another Case of “Shopping Bag” Tremor: A Difficult to Classify Action Tremor

This letter was written in response to : Zesiewicz T, Vu T, Carranza MA, et al. Unusual wrist tremor: unilateral isometric tremor? Tremor Other Hyperkinet Mov. 2014; 4: http://tremorjournal.org/article/view/194
A retrospective study of positive antibody screens at delivery in Rh-negative parturients

Purpose Rhesus- (Rh-) negative women receiving anti-D antibodies antenatally often have a positive antibody screen at delivery. We investigated the incidence of positive antibody screens at delivery in this population and examined how the presence of positive antibody screens affected the time required to obtain type and screen or type and crossmatch results.
Autoantibodies against apolipoprotein A‐1 and phosphorylcholine for diagnosis of non‐ST‐segment elevation myocardial infarction

To explore the diagnostic accuracies of anti-apolipoproteinA-1 (anti-ApoA-1) IgG and anti-phosphorylcholine (anti-PC) IgM alone, expressed as a ratio (anti-ApoA-1 IgG/anti-PC IgM), and combined with the Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) score for non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) (NSTEMI-TIMI score) to create a new diagnostic algorithm - the Clinical Autoantibody Ratio (CABR) score - for the diagnosis of NSTEMI and subsequent cardiac troponin I (cTnI) elevation in patients with acute chest pain (ACP).
A new solution to moore's paradox

Moore's paradox pits our intuitions about semantic oddnessagainst the concept of truth-functional consistency. Most solutions tothe problem proceed by explaining away our intuitions. But``consistency'' is a theory-laden concept, having different contours indifferent semantic theories. Truth-functional consistency is appropriateonly if the semantic theory we are using identifies meaning withtruth-conditions. I argue that such a framework is not appropriate whenit comes to analzying epistemic modality. I show that a theory whichaccounts for a wide variety of semantic data about epistemic modals(Update Semantics) buys us a solution to Moore's paradox as a corollary.It turns out that Moorean propositions, when looked at through the lenseof an appropriate semantic theory, are inconsistent after all.
Tour Scheduling and Rostering

In this article, we examine the problem of scheduling a service operation; that is, defining the set of shifts for workers that best meets the demand profile, and of assigning individual workers to those shifts. Tour scheduling identifies the number of agents assigned to specific start and end times over the course of the planning period. Rostering is the process of assigning individual agents to specific shift schedules. In this article, we develop a basic example based on a call center application. We discuss how the problem can be formulated and solved as an integer program. We then discuss how the problem can grow unwieldy as staffing flexibility increases and discuss approaches for dealing with that problem. Finally, we identify issues that arise in other, noncall center applications. Keywords: tour scheduling; shift scheduling; rostering; scheduling; call centers
Patient Expectations Prior to Coloplast Titan Penile Prosthesis Implant Predicts Postoperative Satisfaction

ABSTRACT Introduction Managing and understanding expectations of patients prior to inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) surgery is a critical. Clinicians vary in the way they explain the operation, and patients have varied expectations prior to surgery. Aims The goal is to understand the role that preoperative counseling and patients' realistic understanding of IPP surgery play in determining postoperative satisfaction. Methods 21 Patients underwent IPP surgery, and received a preoperative expectations survey, then, 4 months later, gave a single score of 1–100 (1 is very dissatisfied, 100 is extremely satisfied). Main Outcome Measures The results were correlated with an R 2 value and visualized on a scatter plot. This significance is tested using a two-tailed test. Results Lower preoperative expectations scores correlated almost linearly with higher satisfaction scores after surgery. The R (Pearson) value was −0.489, with an R 2 of 0.239. This was significant using a two-tailed test, with a P value of 0.0245. Conclusion Giving patients an accurate description of the procedure and setting realistic expectations leads to higher postoperative satisfaction. Kramer AC, and Schweber A. Patient expectations prior to Coloplast titan penile prosthesis implant predicts postoperative satisfaction.
A far-sighted view of myopia

Retinal neurons can differentiate between different types of defocus to mediate changes in ocular growth.
High School Graduation Rates in the Metro-Detroit Area: What Really Affects Public Secondary Education

Education is essential to the future productivity of workers in the Metropolitan Detroit area, so determining what impacts high school graduation is vital to predicting the future success of our economy. This research investigates what key aspects in our society affect the high school graduation rate: poverty level, violent crime rate, student body, class size, local school taxes, and standardized test scores. Results from multiple regressions using school district and city data from the CCD and FBI suggest that poverty levels and violent crime in the Metro Detroit area significantly, negatively influence high school graduation rates. Reforms to public policy reducing crime and poverty rates in Metro Detroit could improve high school graduation rates and help minimize the potential for the Motor City to lose its cutting edge in the auto industry and help diversify Michigan’s future human capital. This article is available in Undergraduate Economic Review: http://digitalcommons.iwu.edu/uer/vol5/iss1/4 Undergraduate Economic Review A publication of Illinois Wesleyan University
Seeing the World Anew: The Radical Vision of Martin Waldseemüller's 1507 & 1516 World Maps. By John W. Hessler and Chet Van Duzer

A review of this work must be distinct from the usual book review, in which the text is evaluated for content and literary style. This work, in essence, is to be regarded as a ‘production’ and shou...