cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Choice of Payment Method in Mergers & Acquisitions: the Company Features and Macro Economic Shocks

Payment methods in MA are the premise,under which a company could smoothly finish the MA transaction,and it is also the security to guarantee the success of MA integration.Based on 265 MA transactions taking place during 2006 and 2009,and by using logistic regression,this thesis has built a multiple regression model which includes not only company feature variables but also macroeconomic shocks variables into one research framework,to examine the specific determinants of payment methods of MA in Chinese MA market.The results of the study show that: when the bidders choose payment method,they pay more attention on the debt financing ability,target company's information asymmetry,the company future investment opportunities,as well as the influence of the economic development level and monetary policy;Considering less the threat of diluted control,and there is no significant relationship between the extent of stock market development and MA payment method.This means that "market timing" theory is not suitable for Chinese MA market.
Euthyroid Low Thyroxine (T4) and Triiodothyronine (T3) States in Prematures and Sick Neonates

This article reviews the ontogenesis of thyroid system function in the human fetus and newborn and characterizes thyroid function in the premature infant. Thyroid function disorders associated with neonatal adaptation and illness also are reviewed; these include transient hypothyroxinemia, transient primary hypothyroidism, and the syndrome of nonthyroidal illness.
Economic and GHG Emission Analysis of Implementing Sustainable Measures in Existing Public Buildings

AbstractBuildings in the United States are responsible for 72% of the nation’s electricity consumption, 39% of energy consumption, 39% of carbon dioxide emissions, and 13% of potable water consumption. These significant energy and water consumptions and their carbon emissions contribute to global warming, ozone depletion, and air pollution. To reduce these negative impacts of buildings and improve their economic performance, there is an increasing demand for integrating sustainable measures in public buildings such as energy-efficient lighting; motion sensors for interior lighting; motion sensors for lighting of vending machines; motion sensors for exhaust fans; solar daylight tubes; energy-efficient HVAC systems; thermal-pane glass; vestibule entrances; energy-efficient hand dryers; solar photovoltaic systems; and water-saving toilets and urinals. Despite the recent increase in the availability of these sustainable building measures and technologies, there is a pressing need to analyze the economic and g...
A systematic review of the relationship between asthma, overweight, and the effects of physical activity in youth.

Abstract Purpose The association of asthma and overweight in youth is well studied. However, the temporal relationship between asthma and overweight, the strength of their association, and mediating factors involved in this relationship remain unclear. This review investigates the relationship between asthma and overweight in youth, while examining the role of physical activity as a mediator. Methods A systematic review of literature was conducted using PubMed and Medline databases. Studies conducted among youth aged 0–18 years, published in English between 2000–2014 were included. The Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology guidelines were consulted to evaluate quality of selected citations. Results A comprehensive search yielded 143 studies in PubMed and 133 studies in Medline databases. Of these, 75 studies met the eligibility criteria. The review found varying hypotheses regarding the temporal relationship between asthma and overweight in youth; existing evidence supports the mediation of this association by decreased expenditure of energy due to reduced physical activity. Negative self-perception or parental perception of exercise ability due to asthma symptoms secondary to physical exertion was identified as a determinant of physical activity in asthmatic youth. Conclusions Physical activity likely mediates the relationship between asthma and overweight in youth. Temporality of this relationship remains unclear.
Assessment of Linguistic Needs of Korean American Students in Northern New Jersey: Implications for Future Directions

Abstract In recent years, there has been a rapid increase of Asian- American students in Northern New Jersey. As an initial step toward developing a comprehensive education satisfying the linguistic and educational needs of the students, we conducted a survey to assess: (1) the linguistic needs of Korean American (a representative Asian ethnic group) students; and (2) the educational aspirations of the parents for their children. Major findings of the study were: (1) There was a strong need for an improved proficiency of the students both in English and Korean; (2) the parents needed education about the U.S. educational philosophy and system. This, of course, hinges on their acquiring a basic proficiency in English to be able to communicate with the school system; (3) there was a lack of information and understanding of the cultural and educational background of the Asian American students on the part of the teachers. To satisfy these needs, we foresee a critical need for an Asian Resource Center. Through...
Aspects of Chaotic Response of an Elastic-Plastic Beam to Impulsive Loading

We present some illustrative results from recent numerical studies of the elasticplastic response of a beam to a short transverse force pulse. The beam ends are attached to fixed pins. The beam is initially straight and stress free. What are the final deflections?
Dust traps as planetary birthsites: basics and vortex formation

We present a simple model for low-mass planet formation and subsequent evolution within "transition" discs. We demonstrate quantitatively that the predicted and observed structure of such discs are prime birthsites of planets. Planet formation is likely to proceed through pebble accretion, should a planetary embryo ($M\gtrsim 10^{-4}\,$M$_\oplus$) form. Efficient pebble accretion is likely to be unavoidable in transition disc dust traps, as the size of the dust particles required for pebble accretion are those which are most efficiently trapped in the transition disc dust trap. Rapid pebble accretion within the dust trap gives rise, not only to low-mass planets, but to a large accretion luminosity. This accretion luminosity is sufficient to heat the disc outside the gravitational influence of the planet and makes the disc locally baroclinic, and a source of vorticity. Using numerical simulations we demonstrate that this source of vorticity can lead to the growth of a single large scale vortex in $\sim 100$ orbits, which is capable of trapping particles. Finally, we suggest an evolutionary cycle: planet formation proceeds through pebble accretion, followed by vortex formation and particle trapping in the vortex quenching the planetary accretion and thus removing the vorticity source. After the vortex is destroyed the process can begin anew. This means transition discs should present with large scale vortices for a significant fraction of their lifetimes and remnant planets at large ~10AU separation should be a common outcome of this cycle.
Gneimosim: Multiscale Internal Coordinates Molecular Dynamics for Proteins

The Internal Coordinate Molecular Dynamics (ICMD) method is an attractive MD method that allows the study of the dynamics of proteins and other polymer in internal coordinates such as bonds, angles and torsions. The ICMD method is a convenient platform to coarsen the dynamics model at hierarchical levels by simply making the internal coordinates rigid and excluding them from the dynamics model, while still using accurate all-atom forcefields. This feature makes ICMD highly suitable for multi-scale simulations of protein macromolecular complexes.The coupled nature of the ICMD coordinates and the high complexity of ICMD equations required sophisticated mathematical techniques, that remained a bottleneck in its widespread adoption. Another long-standing bottleneck has been the increased rigidity in constrained ICMD methods, distorting the potential energy profiles and affecting the probability density functions of states and barrier-crossing rates. We have made significant advances in rigorously addressing these challenges through the Generalized Newton-Euler Inverse Mass Operator (GNEIMO) method, by implementing a fast and efficient algorithm to calculate the Fixman correction potential for branched molecules. Additionally, we have developed the Hybrid ICMD method that allows the user to free up the desired bond angle degrees of freedom, removing the distortions in the potential energy surface and yielding more accurate thermodynamic properties.Thus the GNEIMO ICMD method now provides an internal coordinates MD method with complete range of granularity ranging from all all-atom to coarse grain level of dynamics. We have demonstrated with examples that these methods together successfully remove the distortions in the potential energy landscapes observed in constrained ICMD simulations. We have used this integrated platform for the refinement of low resolution X-ray crystallographic data as well as Cryo-EM density to fit structural protein models.
Image-guided transorbital roof craniotomy via a suprabrow approach: a surgical series of 72 patients.

Objective Many subfrontal and orbitofrontal craniotomy techniques have been developed. We present our results with the transorbital roof craniotomy, a frontal craniotomy that incorporates the orbital roof and is performed via a suprabrow incision. This technique was used in 72 patients, primarily for tumor resection. Methods Charts were retrospectively reviewed for all patients undergoing transorbital procedures. A total of 72 patients underwent 82 transorbital craniotomies from September 1995 to July 1999. The primary indication for the transorbital approach was mass lesion of the orbit, anterior fossa, or parasellar region. Results A total of 47 women and 25 men with a mean age of 53 years underwent 82 procedures. The primary pathological finding was meningioma, which occurred in 40 patients (55.6%), followed by craniopharyngioma (6.9%), pituitary macroadenoma (6.9%), schwannoma (5.5%), and hemangioma (5.5%). Simpson Grade I or II resection was achieved in 54% of patients, with Simpson Grade III to V resection achieved in the remaining 46%. Forty-one patients presented with visual loss in 43 cases, with 44.2% experiencing postoperative visual improvement, 46.5% remaining unchanged, and 9.3% worsening. Overall morbidity was 18.4%, with cerebrospinal fluid leak being the most common complication (6.6%). No patients died. Conclusion The transorbital roof craniotomy is an evolutionary approach that provides excellent exposure to the orbit, anterior fossa, and parasellar region with little significant morbidity and, in our series, no mortality. Although we have used this approach primarily for resection of mass lesions, future directions for this procedure will likely lie in treating vascular lesions and lesions of the interpeduncular fossa.
K+ transport by rat colon: adaptation to a low potassium diet

Recent studies with the isolated perfused rat kidney have demonstrated the existence of an intrinsic renal adaptation to conserve K+ in response to ingestion of a low K+ diet for 3 days. To determine whether the colon alters its K+ transport properties in a similar fashion, we measured transmural 86Rb fluxes across sheets of distal colonic epithelium under short-circuit conditions. Preliminary studies using a double-isotope technique demonstrated that 86Rb and 42K fluxes were similar; therefore 86Rb flux was considered equivalent to K+ flux. The distal half of the colon from each rat was divided into two segments, referred to as early and late distal colon. Experiments were carried out using rats fed a K+ -free, control (0.15 mmol/g), and high K+ (1.13 mmol/g) powdered diet of otherwise identical electrolyte content. Net K+ secretion (Jnet) by the early distal colon was reduced from 0.45 in the controls to -0.02 mueq X cm-2 X h-1 by a low K+ diet as a result of a decrease in serosal-to-mucosal flux (Jsm), with no change in mucosal-to-serosal flux (Jms). Conductance (GT) and short-circuit current (Isc) were unchanged. Jnet by the late distal colon averaged 0.17 in the controls and 0.01 mueq X cm-2 X h-1 with a low K+ diet, but this difference was not significant statistically. In comparison with the controls, a high K+ diet had no effect on Jnet by the early distal colon (0.48 mueq X cm-2 X h-1) but increased Jnet by the late distal colon substantially (0.77 mueq X cm-2 X h-1).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Future Directions in Machine Learning

Current machine learning algorithms identify statistical regularities in complex data sets and are regularly used across a range of application domains, but they lack the robustness and generalizability associated with human learning. If machine learning techniques could enable computers to learn from fewer examples, transfer knowledge between tasks, and adapt to changing contexts and environments, the results would have very broad scientific and societal impacts. Increased processing and memory resources have enabled larger, more capable learning models, but there is growing recognition that even greater computing resources would not be sufficient to yield algorithms capable of learning from a few examples and generalizing beyond initial training sets. This paper presents perspectives on feature selection, representation schemes and interpretability, transfer learning, continuous learning, and learning and adaptation in time-varying contexts and environments, five key areas that are essential for advancing machine learning capabilities. Appropriate learning tasks that require these capabilities can demonstrate the strengths of novel machine learning approaches that could address these challenges.
Nitrogen Rate Effects on Cry3Bb1 and Cry3Bb1 + Cry34/35Ab1 Expression in Transgenic Corn Roots, Resulting Root Injury, and Corn Rootworm Beetle Emergence.

Nitrogen (N) application rates have been recommended historically for maximum economic yield of corn (Zea mays L.), but not for optimal expression or impacts of Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner) Cry protein(s) on target insects. This study explored the need to adjust N rates to optimize expression of corn rootworm-active Bt (Bt-RW) protein(s) in a single and a pyramided trait hybrid and resulting impacts on beetle emergence and root injury, under field conditions. The experiment featured a factorial treatment arrangement in a split-plot randomized complete block design with six N rates as the main plots and three hybrids (MON88017 expressing Cry3Bb1, MON88017 x DAS-59122 expressing Cry3Bb1 + Cry34/35Ab1, and a non-Bt-RW hybrid) as the subplots. Corn roots were sampled at the beginning of, and after, peak larval feeding to determine Bt-expression levels using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Beetles were collected every 2-3 d during emergence using cut-plant emergence cages. Cry3Bb1 expression was significantly reduced when little or no N was applied. Cry34Ab1 and Cry35Ab1 expression was highly variable and unaffected by N rate. Beetle emergence increased with N rate in the non-Bt-RW hybrid while root injury declined. Provided Bt-RW hybrids had sufficient applied N, root injury was relatively low. Results indicate that N management could affect Bt-RW expression and success of insect resistance management plans provided N is applied at rates that enhance production of susceptible beetles emerging from the non-Bt-RW (refuge) hybrid, and achieve optimal expression and efficacy of Bt traits.
Ionic Liquid Anion Controlled Nanoscale Gold Morphology Grown at a Liquid Interface

Two different ionic liquids comprising the tetrabutylphosphonium cation ([P4444]) paired with the strongly coordinating anions 6-aminocaproate ([6-AC]) or taurinate ([tau]) were prepared and employed in an aqueous/organic liquid bilayer system to generate nanoscale gold by Au(OH)4– photoreduction. Generally, as the concentration of ionic liquid in the organic phase was increased, the resulting quasi-spherical gold nanoparticles were smaller in size and presented less aggregation, leading to marked increases in the catalytic efficiency for 4-nitrophenol reduction using borohydride. The diffusion of the ionic liquids across the liquid/liquid interface was also investigated, revealing partition coefficients of 6.0 and 7.6 for [P4444][6-AC] and [P4444][tau], respectively. Control studies elucidated that biphasic interfacial reduction was necessary to achieve stable nanoparticles possessing high catalytic activity. When the ionic liquid anion was instead replaced by the weakly coordinating bis(trifluoromethyls...
Outcomes of Ventricular Tachycardia Ablation Using Percutaneous Left Ventricular Assist Devices

Background— Although percutaneous left ventricular assist devices (pLVADs) facilitate mapping and ablation of hemodynamically unstable ventricular tachycardia (VT), there is limited data whether clinical outcomes are improved. We sought to retrospectively compare the outcomes of patients undergoing scar-related VT ablation with and without pLVAD support. Methods and Results— The study population comprised 194 patients (109 pLVAD and 85 non-pLVAD). The pLVAD group more often had dilated cardiomyopathy (33% versus 13%; P =0.001), New York Heart Association heart failure class ≥III (51% versus 25%; P P P =0.04). Procedure times (422±112 versus 330±92 minutes; P P =0.02), and length of subsequent hospitalization (median 6 versus 4 days; P =0.001) were all higher in the pLVAD group. During median follow-up of 215 days, the primary end point (recurrent VT, heart transplantation, or death) occurred in 36% of the pLVAD versus 26% of the non-pLVAD groups ( P =0.14). After propensity matching for differences between groups, no differences were seen between groups for both acute procedural outcomes and the primary end point. Conclusions— In this large single-center scar-related VT ablation experience, despite the worse clinical status of the patients selected for pLVAD support, clinical outcomes were better than expected and were similar to healthier patients not receiving hemodynamic support. Patients with dilated cardiomyopathy presenting with electrical storm, advanced heart failure, and severe left ventricular dysfunction most frequently received hemodynamic support during VT ablation.
A blow to boundaries

Pimm argues that setting global limits for environmental damage is a flawed idea that should be abandoned. Pimm explaines that the original boundaries idea looked at nine environmental processes affected by humanity, such as fresh water use, and the safe global limits for them, were one of those, the extinction rate was argued to have breached the limit of 10 per million species a year and was into tipping point territory and an extinction rate changes over time and is often far from global in impact.
The Child with Abdominal Distention

Abdominal distention in children has a wide differential diagnosis, but may be grouped into Ascites, Neoplasm and Organomegaly. This chapter will mainly focus on of hepato-biliary neoplasms.
Design, Synthesis, and Characterization of Binaphthalene Precursors as Photoactivated DNA Interstrand Cross-Linkers.

Most recently, alkylation via photogenerated carbocations has been identified as a novel mechanism for photoinduced DNA interstrand cross-link (ICL) formation by bifunctional aryl compounds. However, most compounds showed a low efficiency for DNA cross-linking. Here, we have developed a series of new 1,1′-binaphthalene analogues that efficiently form DNA ICLs upon 350 nm irradiation via generated 2-naphthalenylmethyl cations. The DNA cross-linking efficiency depends on the substituents at position 4 of the naphthalene moiety as well as the leaving groups. Compounds with NO2, Ph, H, Br, or OMe substituents led to 2–4 times higher DNA ICL yields than those with a boronate ester group. Compounds with trimethylammonium salt as a leaving group showed slightly better cross-linking efficiency than those with bromo as a leaving group. Some of these compounds showed a better cross-linking efficiency than that of traditional alkylating agents, such as nitrogen mustard analogues or quinone methide precursors. These ...
Dialysis of schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia is probably the greatest health problem facing the world today. This is true because it is a common illness, which beginning early in adulthood usually afflicts and incapacitates the sufferer throughout life and is an illness for which no really satisfactory treatment has been found.
Functional Structure of the Human X Chromosome

Superimposed on the gene map and the banding pattern, the human X chromosome can be divided into functional regions, which mostly reflect inactivation-activation phenomena. These are presented in Fig. 23.1. Some of the evidence on which these interpretations are based will be discussed in this chapter.
The Genova Science Festival

The third edition of the Genova Science Festival (Italy, 27 October - 8 November 2005) has concluded with extraordinary results 54 000 sold tickets (between passes and dailies), a strong increase of 50% in respect to 2004 and a total of 216 000 visits to the numerous programmed events. The article reports on the reasons for this success, and launches the idea for a new initiative: a “European Academy for Scientific Explainers”
Detection of Salmonella from Chicken Rinses and Chicken Hot Dogs with the Automated BAX PCR System

The BAX system with automated PCR detection was compared with standard cultural procedures for the detection of naturally occurring and spiked Salmonella in 183 chicken carcass rinses and 90 chicken hot dogs. The automated assay procedure consists of overnight growth (16 to 18 h) of the sample in buffered peptone broth at 35 degrees C, transfer of the sample to lysis tubes, incubation and lysis of the cells, transfer of the sample to PCR tubes, and placement of tubes into the cycler-detector, which runs automatically. The automated PCR detection assay takes about 4 h after 16 to 24 h of overnight preenrichment. The culture procedure consists of preerichment, enrichment, plating, and serological confirmation and takes about 72 h. Three trials involving 10 to 31 samples were carried out for each product. Some samples were spiked with Salmonella Typhimurium, Salmonella Heidelberg, Salmonella Montevideo, and Salmonella Enteritidis at 1 to 250 cells per ml of rinse or 1 to 250 cells per g of meat. For unspiked chicken rinses, Salmonella was detected in 2 of 61 samples with the automated system and in 1 of 61 samples with the culture method. Salmonella was recovered from 111 of 122 spiked samples with the automated PCR system and from 113 of 122 spiked samples with the culture method. For chicken hot dogs, Salmonella was detected in all 60 of the spiked samples with both the automated PCR and the culture procedures. For the 30 unspiked samples, Salmonella was recovered from 19 samples with the automated PCR system and from 10 samples with the culture method. The automated PCR system provided reliable Salmonella screening of chicken product samples within 24 h.
Cerebral Aneurysms in Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease: A Comparison of Management Approaches

Background Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is a risk factor for formation of intracranial aneurysms (IAs), though the ideal screening and treatment strategies in this population are unclear. Objective To report outcomes of observation, open surgical, or endovascular management of ruptured and unruptured aneurysms in patients with ADPKD. Methods We performed a retrospective analysis of all patients with ADPKD and IAs at a single center from 2000 to 2016. Results Forty-five patients with ADPKD harboring 71 aneurysms were identified, including 11 patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Of 22 aneurysms managed with observation, none ruptured in 136 yr of clinical follow-up. Thirty-five aneurysms were treated with open surgery and 14 with an endovascular approach. Among treated aneurysms, poor neurologic outcome (modified Rankin scale >2) was seen only in patients presenting with SAH (17% SAH vs 0% elective, P = .06). Acute kidney injury (AKI) was also significantly associated with SAH presentation (22% SAH vs 0% elective, P = .05). Neither procedural complications nor AKI were associated with treatment modality. Among 175 yr of radiographic follow-up in patients with known IAs, 8 de novo aneurysms were found, including 3 that were treated. Of 11 patients with SAH, 7 ruptured in the setting of previously known ADPKD, including 2 with prior angiographic screening and 5 without screening. Conclusion Poor outcomes occurred only with ruptured presentation but were equivalent between treatment modalities. Screening is performed only selectively, and 64% (7 of 11) of patients presenting with SAH had previously known ADPKD.
Detecting clinical and simulated dissociative identity disorder with the Test of Memory Malingering.

Objective Few studies have assessed malingering in individuals with complex trauma and dissociation. This is concerning because these individuals' severe and ranging symptoms are associated with elevations on some, but not all, validity scales that detect symptom exaggeration. Dissociative individuals may experience dissociative amnesia, yet no study to date has examined how to distinguish clinical from malingered amnesia with dissociative samples. The current study examined whether the Test of Memory Malingering (TOMM) can accurately distinguish patients with clinically diagnosed dissociative identity disorder (DID) and simulators coached to imitate DID. Method Utility statistics classify individuals' TOMM scores as suggestive of clinical or simulated DID. TOMM scores from 31 patients diagnosed with DID via structured interviews were compared to those of 74 coached DID simulators. Results Discriminant analyses found scores from TOMM Trials 1 and 2 and total TOMM scores accurately classified clinical or simulated DID group status. In addition, TOMM Trial 1 demonstrated high specificity (87%) and positive predictive power (94%), as well as moderate sensitivity (78%), negative predictive power (63%), and overall diagnostic power (81%). Despite exposure to DID-specific information, simulators were not able to accurately feign the DID group's TOMM scores, which is inconsistent with the iatrogenic/sociocultural model of DID. Conclusion The TOMM shows promise as useful in clinical and forensic contexts to detect memory malingering among DID simulators without sacrificing specificity. Accurate distinction between genuine and feigned complex trauma-related symptoms, including dissociative memory, is integral to the accurate diagnosis of traumatized populations. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).
Application of modulation excitation-phase sensitive detection-DRIFTS for in situ/operando characterization of heterogeneous catalysts

This work describes the application of in situ/operando modulation excitation-phase sensitive detection-diffuse reflectance Fourier transform spectroscopy (ME-PSD-DRIFTS) for the characterization of heterogeneous catalysts. ME was enabled using a low void-volume diffuse reflectance cell which allowed rapid gas exchange (gas residence times <2 s) and by periodic feed concentration changes to the reaction cell by a simple switching valve system that provided quasi-square shaped modulation. PSD analysis of a relatively large data set of rapid scan spectra over many periodic cycles was done via a discrete Fourier transform (DFT)/frequency filtering/inverse discrete Fourier transform (IDFT) procedure. A general description of the ME-PSD principle, mathematical framework, guidelines for planning, running, and interpreting results was provided while focusing on ME-PSD-DRIFTS. Aspects such as the modulation frequency and amplitude, modulation waveform, sampling rate, in situ cell residence time, and limitations and future opportunities for ME-PSD-DRIFTS were also discussed. The proposed DFT/IDFT methodology uncovered the use of frequency magnitude plots for the evaluation of spectra baseline shifts, signal response to modulation, the response waveform type, noise, and signal decay/growth. Additionally, ethanol dehydration on γ-Al2O3 was presented as an example of application of the ME-PSD-DRIFTS methodology.
(341) Quantifying Chronic Pain: A Mixed-Methods Analysis of Chronic Pain Sufferers’ Public and Private Discourse

Persons with chronic pain experience negative health outcomes associated with experiences of stigmatization and delegitimization. Because stigma and doubts of legitimacy stem from how cultures create, value, and communicate knowledge, this research considers how persons with chronic pain navigate cultural perceptions of pain when they make rhetorical decisions about what and how they communicate. This project is particularly concerned with how persons with chronic pain do or do not take advantage of a preference for quantification in U.S. medical contexts. For example, persons with chronic pain might quantify their pain on a numerical scale, in terms of time required to complete an everyday task, or in terms of medicinal dosage or expenses. To that end, this poster reports on the results of a two-part mixed-methods study: 1) a statistical analysis of 2,105 tweets about daily chronic pain experiences, and 2) a discourse analysis of 15 interviews with persons with chronic pain. By drawing data from two different sources—social media posts and research interviews—this study allows for comparison of public and private discourses by persons with chronic pain, finding that both groups use rhetorics of quantification but for different purposes and audiences. In addition to expanding scholarship on the communication trends and challenges among persons with chronic pain, this study contributes to this area of scholarship a rare examination of communication outside an explicitly medical context. That is, in addition to discourses with medical professionals, this study provides insight into how persons with chronic pain communicate about pain with family, friends, coworkers, and even strangers. The findings of this study are relevant to both medical professionals and laypersons who communicate with persons with chronic pain and wish to mitigate the risk of incidental stigmatization or delegitimization in their writing or speech.
Hepatitis C Coinfection and Mortality in People Living with HIV in Middle Tennessee.

HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) coinfection is associated with poor health outcomes. This study was designed to assess risk factors for and mortality with coinfection before direct-acting antiviral...
The Impact of Contextualized Emotions on Self-Regulated Learning and Scientific Reasoning during Learning with a Game-Based Learning Environment

The goal of this study was to examine college students’ (n = 61) contextualized emotions during in-game actions while playing Crystal Island, a game-based learning environment where students are tasked with solving the mystery of what illness impacted all island inhabitants. We examined emotions during in-game actions: during book reading, after scanning food items for the transmission source, and after submitting a final diagnosis. We dichotomized each activity’s feedback into a positive or negative outcome: a relevant or irrelevant book for solving the mystery, testing food items that generate a positive or negative result, or submitting a correct or incorrect final diagnosis. Results revealed that expressing joy while reading a relevant book and expressing confusion after a positive scan significantly positively predicted overall game score, which we used as a proxy for problem-solving performance. Implications include understanding different levels of emotions students express during learning with all advanced learning technologies.
Death-Related Grief and Disenfranchised Identity: A Communication Approach

The death of close relationship partners forces individuals to engage in a number of challenging grief-related tasks, including reconstructing a narrative about the relationship, re-situating their relationship with the deceased individual, and developing a new sense of self post-loss. The dominant narrative of grief, as described by Neimeyer, Klass, and Dennis (2014), assumes that “normal” grief performances are linear and finite, failing to acknowledge the subjectivity inherent in bereavement experiences. In this review, we illuminate the discord between the dominant narrative of grief and the subjective experience of it. We draw upon Doka’s (2002) theory of disenfranchised grief to propose that grief is not just a possible temporary state of disenfranchisement, but rather a perpetual state of disenfranchisement. This disenfranchisement is mainly a function of the social and personal binds that individuals find themselves in while navigating the lines between the dominant narrative of grief and their personal experience and performance of bereavement. We propose a communicative approach to grief as a solution to the problem articulated in this review, and suggest several new avenues for research on grief.
Automated analysis of natural speech in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis spectrum disorders.

Objective We implemented automated methods to analyze speech and evaluate the hypothesis that cognitive and motor factors impair prosody in partially distinct ways in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Methods We recruited 213 participants, including 67 with ALS (44 with motor ALS, 23 with ALS and frontotemporal degeneration [FTD]), 33 healthy controls, and neurodegenerative reference groups with behavioral variant FTD (n = 90) and nonfluent/agrammatic primary progressive aphasia (n = 23). Digitized, semistructured speech samples obtained from picture descriptions were automatically segmented with a Speech Activity Detector; continuous speech segments were pitch-tracked; and duration measures for speech and silent pause segments were extracted. Acoustic measures were calculated, including fundamental frequency (f0) range, mean speech and pause segment durations, total speech duration, and pause rate (pause count per minute of speech). Group comparisons related performance on acoustic measures to clinical scales of cognitive and motor impairments and explored MRI cortical thinning in ALS and ALS-FTD. Results The f0 range was significantly impaired in ALS spectrum disorders and was related to bulbar motor disease, and regression analyses related this to cortical thickness in primary motor cortex and perisylvian regions. Impaired speech and pause duration measures were related to the degree of cognitive impairment in ALS spectrum disorders, and regressions related duration measures to bilateral frontal opercula and left anterior insula. Conclusion Automated analyses of acoustic speech properties dissociate motor and cognitive components of speech deficits in ALS spectrum disorders.
Intraoperative impedance planimetry (EndoFLIP™) results and development of esophagitis in patients undergoing peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM).

Peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) is a minimally invasive treatment for achalasia. Considerable evidence demonstrates a high incidence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) after POEM. The endoluminal functional lumen imaging probe (FLIP) uses impedance planimetry to obtain objective measurements of the gastroesophageal junction. This study aims to determine whether FLIP measurements collected at the time of POEM are associated with the development of reflux esophagitis postoperatively. Patients who underwent POEM between 2012 and 2019 who subsequently had esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) were included. Intraoperative FLIP measurements before and after myotomy, clinical data from EGD, and reflux specific quality of life questionnaires were collected. Comparisons between groups were made using the Wilcoxon rank-sum and Fisher’s exact tests. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to determine optimal cutoffs of measurements to classify patients into those with high risk of postoperative esophagitis and those with lower risk. A total of 43 patients were included. Of those, 25 (58.1%) were found to have esophagitis on postoperative EGD: four patients (16%) with LA Grade A, five (20%) with LA Grade B, 11 (44%) with LA Grade C and two (8%) with LA grade D esophagitis. Patients with a final distensibility index ≥ 2.7 and a final cross-sectional area ≥ 83 were significantly more likely to develop esophagitis on postoperative EGD (p = 0.016 and p = 0.008, respectively). Gastroesophageal reflux disease health-related quality of life (GERD-HRQL) and reflux symptom index (RSI) scores were not significantly different in patients who developed esophagitis and those who did not. Reflux affects some patients after POEM. We show that FLIP measurements collected during POEM may help predict which patients are more likely to develop reflux esophagitis postoperatively. Subjective symptoms on quality of life questionnaires are not reliable in determining which patients are at risk for esophagitis.
A Systematic Review of Ten Years of Research on Human Interaction with Social Robots

While research and development related to robotics has been going on for decades, the past decade in particular has seen a marked increase in related efforts, in part due to technological advances,...
Strengthening the Evidence for Maternal and Child Health: Implementing the New Performance Measurement Framework for the Title V Maternal and Child Health Block Grant

The Health Resources and Services Administration’s Maternal and Child Health Bureau (HRSA MCHB) developed a three-tiered performance measure framework for the Title V Maternal and Child Health Block Grant program (MCH Title V). The third tier, evidence-based/informed strategy measures (ESMs) are developed by states to address National Performance Measures (NPM) goals. To support states’ efforts, MCHB funded the “Strengthen the Evidence for Maternal and Child Health” (STE) to: (1) define the concept of evidence for the field with an emphasis on strength; (2) identify available evidence for each NPM, (3) translate ESM research for use at the state level; and (4) provide technical assistance (TA) to states to facilitate implementation. The program conducted evidence reviews defining an “evidence continuum” emphasizing a continuum of strength, provided individual and group TA to MCH Title V grantees, launched a TA referral system, and reviewed state ESMs to assess use of evidence-based/informed strategies. Ten evidence reviews identified multiple strategies as having “emerging” or “moderate” evidence. TA reached all MCH Title V programs, encompassing 59 US states and jurisdictions, and the TA referral system effectively partnered with MCHB resources. All MCH Title V states and territories submitted ESMs for the Block Grant program’s first year reporting requirement. STE is the first program to review available evidence on effective strategies addressing NPMs for MCH Title V. Identifying actionable next steps responsive to state needs will be a key factor for continued implementation of ESMs and achieving improvements in MCH.
When “Tried and True” Advocacy Strategies Backfire: Narrative Messages Can Undermine State Legislator Support for Early Childcare Policies

A core principle of policy advocacy is that to engage decision makers in the urgency, complexity, and controversy of problems, advocates must effectively tell the story of those issues. Policy stories, or narratives, paint mental pictures of what a problem is, who is affected, and how it came to be. Yet, the persuasive effects of narratives on one key group, state legislators, remain understudied. Drawing from the Narrative Policy Framework (NPF), media advocacy, and public interest communications, we sought to inform advocacy strategy by illuminating state legislators’ responses to messages about public investments in quality childcare for all. Contrary to expectations, we found that narratives can have unintended effects challenging or even diminishing legislator support. We discuss implications for advocacy strategy.
REGULATION OF FLOWERING TIME IN WHEAT

Vernalization is the requirement of a long exposure to cold temperatures to induce flowering. In wheat and barley, the VRN-1 and VRN-2 genes are mainly responsible for this requirement. The alleles for winter growth habit are the ancestral forms of these genes in the Triticeae, and independent mutations in both genes have resulted in the recurrent generation of spring forms in the temperate cereals. The VRN-1 gene is a meristem identity gene (≊ APETALA1) and is dominant for spring growth habit. Reduction of VRN-1 transcript levels by RNA interference (RNAi) result in a delay in flowering of 2–3 weeks, suggesting that the transcript level of VRN-1 is critical for the determination of flowering time in wheat ~~~ The spring wheat and barley lines characterized so far show deletions in the promoter or the first intron of VRN-1 suggesting that they are important regulatory regions. Mutations in any of these regions in a single VRN-1 copy in polyploid wheat are sufficient to determine a spring growth habit. We propose that these mutations interfere with the recognition of a repressor coded or regulated by VRN-2. Analysis of the allele frequencies of the different combinations of dominant Vrn-A1, -B1, and -D1 in common spring wheat varieties from California and Argentina suggests that some of these combinations might have an adaptative value ~~~ The VRN-2 gene is a Zinc-finger CCT transcription factor and is dominant for the winter growth habit. This gene is down-regulated by vernalization, releasing the transcription of the VRN-1 genes and promoting flowering. Mutations in the CCT domain or deletions of the VRN-2 gene are associated with a spring growth habit in both barley and diploid wheat. Reduction of VRN-2 transcript levels by RNAi in winter wheat variety Jagger resulted in the increase of VRN-1 transcript levels and in a significant acceleration of flowering time ~~~We have recently proposed the existence a feedback regulatory loop between VRN-1 and VRN-2, which is responsible for the transcription of recessive vrn-1 alleles several days after the initiation of the transcription of the dominant Vrn-1 alleles, in plants showing different combinations of dominant and recessive alleles. We found here that the induction of the recessive alleles is mediated by the down-regulation of VRN-2 after the initiation of transcription of the dominant Vrn-1 allele. Once VRN-2 is repressed, the recessive vrn-1 alleles can be transcribed. Three experiments supporting this hypothesis are discussed
One Shield, Two Responses: Contentious Civic Activism in Postcommunist Europe

This essay presents and evaluates two emerging approaches to postcommunist civil society: the pessimistic one which focuses on explaining the weakness of postcommunist civil society, and the emerging hopeful one which contends that civil society is alive and well in East-Central Europe. Subsequently, I make the argument that scholarship must move beyond the dispute over whether the postcommunist civil society is strong or weak. The potentially more fruitful question to ask is: Under what conditions do postcommunist citizens mobilize and engage in civic activism? We would benefit from shifting the focus from debating the robustness of civil society to explaining the variation in civic engagement. To this end, I examine why the U.S. missile defense shield plans drew a significantly different civic response in the Czech Republic and in Poland.
Session 8: Localization and Mapping

This session consisted of five papers in the area of localization and mapping addressing challenges that stem from the nonlinear motion and measurement models involved and the need to reliably recognize locations described with laser or visual data.
Getting its from bits

The inventor of the term ‘black hole’, John Wheeler, has a gift for memorable phrases. ‘Getting its from bits’ is another of his creations. It refers not to an object, but to a vision of a world derived from pure logic and mathematics. That vision has to a remarkable extent been embodied in modern physics — here is a progress report.
Adaptive Segmentation of Multi-modal 3D Data Using Robust Level Set Techniques

A new 3D segmentation method based on the level set technique is proposed. The main contribution is a robust evolutionary model which requires no fine tuning of parameters. A closed 3D surface propagates from an initial position towards the desired region boundaries through an iterative evolution of a specific 4D implicit function. Information about the regions is involved by estimating, at each iteration, parameters of probability density functions. The method can be applied to different kinds of data, e.g for segmenting anatomical structures in 3D magnetic resonance images and angiography. Experimental results of these two types of data are discussed.
A marketing game: Consumer choice and the Ising model

In this paper we present an outline for a marketing/consumer choice problem using graphical games and Markov random fields. We consider a simple marketing scenario and cast it as a coordination game on a network. We consider Glauber dynamics for the strategy update dynamics and then consider the corresponding equilibrium Ising distribution. The parameters of the network are the interaction and marketing strengths, the former being the exponential parameters on statistics describing the relative strategies of the players on the network, the latter being the exponential parameters applied to the strategies of the players, representing an external field. We discuss how marketers for the two brands can estimate the network parameter from data and thereby estimate not only the interaction strengths, but also his opponent's marketing strength. Connecting an equilibrium Gibbs distribution with the set of typical configurations, we discuss how marketers can then use understanding of the interaction and marketing strengths to select a new marketing strength to help drive the current configuration into the typical set for a new equilibrium Gibbs distribution. We briefly discuss the possible influence of phase transitions on this approach.
Women Reading Women in the Apocalypse: Reading Scenario 1, the Letter To Thyatira (Rev. 2.18-29)

Women reading (interpreting) women characters in the Apocalypse demon strate that the category of gender is an important component in any reading strategy, particularly where women are drawn to type, theologically and ideologically, as they are in the Apocalypse. Using the letter to Thyatira (Rev. 2.18-29), and the attention given the woman prophet in the Thyatiran community, this study surveys interpretations from other woman scholars and introduces anthropological studies that link women, sex and food, a triad John also utilizes in the Thyatiran letter. In sum, Thyatirans are literally 'eating culture', and the conflict represented in the letter is a conflict for authority, a conflict about who will set and maintain group boundaries—a woman prophet who is an insider in the community or John, an outsider, who has the only voice the reader hears?
Differences in Collagen Metabolism between Normal and Osteoarthritic Human Articular Cartilage

Normal human articular cartilage synthesizes only one type of a chain, which exhibits the chromatographic behavior of the αl(II) chains described for chick and bovine cartilage. Osteoarthritic cartilage, on the other hand, synthesizes in addition a collagen containing α2 chains and β components. The different structural features of the two types of collagen may account for some of the functional defects of osteoarthritic cartilage.
Application of screw theory to lumped-parameter modelling of elastically coupled rigid bodies

AbstractThis work considers the problem of modelling elastically coupled rigid bodies, with application to modelling and computer simulation of spatial, flexural mechanisms. Two modelling methods are presented, both of which use elements of screw theory and dual number calculus. The potential utility of the methods is demonstrated by simulating the behaviour of a complex spatial, flexural mechanism.