cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Tale of Two Professors

Two African-American girls linked by genetics as first cousins, whose paths would connect them professionally as members of the academy at the same university at the same time. This is not, however, a Dickens tale. On the contrary, this story is true and this chapter chronicles their journey from the interview through the pretenure review process. It vividly illustrates the challenges and barriers each confronted as the lone African-American female, junior professor in their respective departments and the lessons learned along the way. The chapter also details how the lack of clarity among the university administration, faculty, staff, and students affected their experiences. Most notably, the section discusses how people strived to balance teaching, research, and service in the shadow of the university’s DRU (Doctoral Research University) identity crisis.
Improving robustness and modeling generality for power flow analysis

In this paper we present an equivalent circuit model for power system networks that facilitates robust and efficient AC power flow simulation and enables the incorporation of more generalized bus and line models. The circuit equations are formulated in terms of voltages and currents in rectangular coordinates using a graph theoretic algorithm that provides for optimal numerical conditioning. A current-source based generator model is introduced that provides for more robust and efficient convergence as compared to our original approach. We show that the proposed framework supports nonlinear models with insensitivity to the initial guess and converges in few iterations. We illustrate the capabilities of generalized modeling by deriving a model for a grid-connected solar panel system that includes AC, DC and semiconductor components.
Peri-Operative and Patient Factors Affecting Length of Stay in Total Joint Arthroplasty

Introduction Given the increasing prevalence of hip and knee arthroplasties performed, measures have been implemented to standardize care and effectively improve patient outcomes and decrease costs. Length of stay (LOS) directly affects costs. The purpose of this study was to identify peri-operative and patient related factors that correlated with decreased or increased LOS. Methods & Materials A retrospective chart review was conducted of 289 consecutive primary total knee (TKA) and total hip (THA) arthroplasties. Comorbidities indicated by the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), smoking and drinking status, age and BMI were recorded. Intraoperative and post-operative records were reviewed for American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Score, anesthetic type, regional nerve blocks, and blood transfusions. The TKA cohort consisted of 57 males and 86 females, while the THA cohort consisted of 73 males and 73 females. Results In the TKA group, the CCI was lowest in patients with LOS of 2 days and trended higher both in mean and maximum as LOS increased. In the THA group, the CCI was lower in patients with LOS of 1 or 2 days both in mean and maximum compared to patients with LOS of 3 or 4 days. Overall, patients with LOS of 3 or 4 days had a higher rate of blood transfusions compared to patients with LOS of 1 or 2 days (Table 1). There were no other notable trends. Discussion Decreasing the LOS has shown to increase quality of life and reduce costs. Patient comorbidities as well as perioperative outcomes will impact LOS. Identifying these factors prior to or immediately after surgery may allow for more efficient triage of patients and utilization of hospital resources.
In Vitro Photodynamic Studies of a BODIPY-Based Photosensitizer

A new halogenated 4,4-difluoro-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s-indacene (BODIPY) derivative was designed as a singlet-oxygen photosensitizer (PS) for use as a photodynamic therapy (PDT) agent, and its photophysical properties were characterized. The PS, having two iodine atom substituents, exhibited a low fluorescence quantum yield (ΦFL) of 0.02 and high singlet-oxygen-generation quantum yield (ΦΔ) of 0.93. Furthermore, in vitro photodynamic activities were evaluated to assess the potential of using the PS for PDT. A propidium iodide (PI) fluorescence assay and live-cell imaging of Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) cells demonstrated that the cellular damage is induced by the photosensitization of the BODIPY dye, which subsequently leads to cell death by necrosis.q
FACTORS AFFECTING THE WISCONSIN MASTITIS TEST1

The influence of chemical sanitizers, lysozyme, DNAase, storage time and temperature, hydrolytic rancidity, and heat treatment on the Wisconsin Mastitis Test (WMT) was studied. Concentrations of 25 to 50 ppm of iodophor and quaternary ammonium compound sanitizers caused significant reductions in WMT values. The test was not affected by chlorine, chloramine-T; or an acid sanitizer. The WMT reaction was completely destroyed by 12.5 μg or more of DNAase/9 ml of milk. Significant decreases in WMT values occurred after storage for longer than 24 hr and the rate of decline increased when storage temperatures above 4.5 C were used. Lysozyme concentrations of 50 to 200 μg/100 ml of milk decreased the rate at which the WMT values declined during storage. The test values were not affected by increases in acid degree values. Heat treatments greater than 43 C for 1 min caused severe reductions in WMT values. The effect increased as the severity of the heat treatment was increased.
Updating approximate principal components with applications to template tracking

Summary Adaptive principal component analysis is prohibitively expensive when a large-scale data matrix must be updated frequently. Therefore, we consider the truncated URV decomposition that allows faster updates to its approximation to the singular value decomposition while still producing a good enough approximation to recover principal components. Specifically, we suggest an efficient algorithm for the truncated URV decomposition when a rank 1 matrix updates the data matrix. After the algorithm development, the truncated URV decomposition is successfully applied to the template tracking problem in a video sequence proposed by Matthews et al. [IEEE Trans. Pattern Anal. Mach. Intell., 26:810-815 2004], which requires computation of the principal components of the augmented image matrix at every iteration. From the template tracking experiments, we show that, in adaptive applications, the truncated URV decomposition maintains a good approximation to the principal component subspace more efficiently than other procedures.
On Communication over Gaussian Sensor Networks with Adversaries: Further Results

This paper presents new results on the game theoretical analysis of optimal communications strategies over a sensor network model. Our model involves one single Gaussian source observed by many sensors, subject to additive independent Gaussian observation noise. Sensors communicate with the receiver over an additive Gaussian multiple access channel. The aim of the receiver is to reconstruct the underlying source with minimum mean squared error. The scenario of interest here is one where some of the sensors act as adversary (jammer): they aim to maximize distortion. While our recent prior work solved the case where either all or none of the sensors coordinate (use randomized strategies), the focus of this work is the setting where only a subset of the transmitter and/or jammer sensors can coordinate. We show that the solution crucially depends on the ratio of the number of transmitter sensors that can coordinate to the ones that cannot. If this ratio is larger than a fixed threshold determined by the network settings (transmit and jamming power, channel noise and sensor observation noise), then the problem is a zero-sum game and admits a saddle point solution where transmitters with coordination capabilities use randomized linear encoding while the rest of the transmitter sensors is not used at all. Adversarial sensors that can coordinate generate identical Gaussian noise while other adversaries generate independent Gaussian noise. Otherwise (if that ratio is smaller than the threshold), the problem becomes a Stackelberg game where the leader (all transmitter sensors) uses fixed (non-randomized) linear encoding while the follower (all adversarial sensors) uses fixed linear encoding with the opposite sign.
Liquid Plutonium — A Review of its Physical Properties

The published measurements of the physical properties of liquid plutonium and its alloys are reviewed. The unusually high viscosity is noted along with the low value for the heat of fusion and the ...
Microscopic Theory of Surface Topological Order for Topological Crystalline Superconductors.

We construct microscopic Hamiltonians for symmetry-preserving topologically ordered states on the surface of topological crystalline superconductors, protected by a ${\mathbb{Z}}_{2}$ reflection symmetry. Starting from $\ensuremath{\nu}$ Majorana cones on the surface, we show that the semion-fermion topological order emerges for $\ensuremath{\nu}=2$, and more generally, $\mathrm{SO}(\ensuremath{\nu}{)}_{\ensuremath{\nu}}$ topological order for all $\ensuremath{\nu}\ensuremath{\ge}2$ and $\mathrm{Sp}(n{)}_{n}$ for $\ensuremath{\nu}=2n$ when $n\ensuremath{\ge}2$.
Interactions among symbionts operate across scales to influence parasite epidemics

Parasite epidemics may be influenced by interactions among symbionts, which can depend on past events at multiple spatial scales. Within host individuals, interactions can depend on the sequence in which symbionts infect a host, generating priority effects. Across host individuals, interactions can depend on parasite phenology. To test the roles of parasite interactions and phenology in epidemics, we embedded multiple cohorts of sentinel plants, grown from seeds with and without a vertically transmitted symbiont, into a wild host population, and tracked foliar infections caused by three common fungal parasites. Within hosts, parasite growth was influenced by coinfections, but coinfections were often prevented by priority effects among symbionts. Across hosts, parasite phenology altered host susceptibility to secondary infections, symbiont interactions and ultimately the magnitude of parasite epidemics. Together, these results indicate that parasite phenology can influence parasite epidemics by altering the sequence of infection and interactions among symbionts within host individuals.
Looking Back and Looking Forward: Curriculum for Gifted and Talented Students

Curriculum for the gifted is guided by theories of differentiated learning that emphasize advanced content, challenging tasks, and interdisciplinary learning opportunities that differ from opportunities afforded to learners not identified as gifted. Guiding models in the field of curriculum for the gifted, including the Integrated Curriculum Model, the Schoolwide Enrichment Model, and the CLEAR Curriculum Model are discussed with relevant updates to the research incorporating these models. Additionally, advances in research instructional approaches recommended for gifted learners are discussed, including problem-based learning, STEM, online mentoring, and distance learning. The role of content standards is considered, and implications for continued research in curriculum and instruction for the gifted are examined.
Parallel-Hierarchical Processing of Biosonar Information in the Mustached Bat

Neuroethologists working with bats may read original articles in their field, but may not necessarily get an overall view of the neural processing of complex biosonar signals. Researchers outside of bat neuroethology may have little time to read original articles and may hardly get an integrated view of the neural mechanisms of bat echolocation. Therefore, in this article, I review the present state of our understanding of the neural mechanisms for processing complex biosonar signals in a schematized way. Most of the description in this article are based upon a large amount of neuroethological data, but some require further studies. To the readers who are interested in this topic and want to see the “key” data, I recommend reading my review article entitled “The Extent to Which Biosonar Information is Represented in the Bat Auditory Cortex” (Suga, 1984).
Contact lens-induced infection--a new model of Candida albicans keratitis.

Purpose A model of experimental keratomycosis was established that mimics human disease in which the only fungi present are those that are actively growing within the cornea. Methods Dutch-belted rabbits received a subconjunctival injection of triamcinolone acetonide to one eye. One day later the epithelium was removed from the central cornea and a standardized inoculum of Candida albicans blastoconidia was placed on the corneal surface and covered with a contact lens. The lids were closed with a lateral tarsorrhaphy. After 24 hours, the lid sutures and contact lens were removed. Five days later the animals were killed, and their corneas were subjected to separate isolate recovery and histology studies. A group of similarly infected rabbits without corticosteroid injection served as controls. Results Both groups developed invasive corneal disease. Although isolate recovery was not significantly different from corticosteroid-treated rabbits compared with controls, fungal biomass was increased. Hyphal invasion was limited to the anterior cornea in control eyes, but penetrated deep stroma in most of the corticosteroid-treated rabbits. Conclusions Invasive corneal disease can be established with a surface inoculum. Corticosteroid administration increased corneal penetration of hyphae. Quantitative isolate recovery is not a reliable measure of the fungal load within the cornea.
Outbreak: Foodborne Illness and the Struggle for Food Safety

This book examines the interplay between government regulation, civil liability, and private governance in food safety regulation. It offers general lessons about how complex regulatory systems work, with application to areas beyond food safety — such as environmental protection, financial regulation, health and safety, and labor standards. The book chronicles efforts dating back to the 1800s to combat widespread contamination by pathogens such as E. coli and salmonella that have become frighteningly familiar. Over time, deadly foodborne illness outbreaks caused by infected milk, poison hamburgers, and tainted spinach have spurred steady scientific and technological advances in food safety. Nevertheless, problems persist. Inadequate agency budgets restrict the reach of government regulation. Pressure from consumers to keep prices down constrains industry investments in safety. The limits of scientific knowledge leave experts unable to assess policies’ effectiveness and whether measures designed to reduce contamination have actually improved public health. Outbreak offers practical reforms that will strengthen the food safety system’s capacity to learn from its mistakes and identify cost-effective food safety efforts capable of producing measurable public health benefits.
A Deep Learning-Based Stalk Grasping Pipeline

The need for fast and precise measurements of plant attributes makes robotic solutions an ideal replacement for labor-intensive phenotyping processes. In this work we present a deep learning-based high throughput, online pipeline for in-situ sorghum stalk detection and grasping. We use a variation of Generative Adversarial Network (GAN) for stalk segmentation trained on a relatively small number of images followed by a grasp point generation pipeline. The presented pipeline is robust to field challenges such as occlusions, high stalk density and lighting variation, and was deployed on a custom-built ground robot. We tested our end-to-end system in a field of Sorghum bicolor in South Carolina, USA, achieving an average grasping accuracy of 74.13% and a stalk detection F1 score of 0.90. Grasp point detection for plant manipulation takes an average of 0.98 seconds, and pixel-wise stalk detection takes 0.2 seconds per image.
Differentially Private Principal Component Analysis Over Horizontally Partitioned Data

Principal Component Analysis (PCA) is widely adopted in various data mining and machine learning applications, it computes a low dimension subspace that captures the most variances of the underlying data. The area of distributed computing provides a promising domain for PCA, where it has been studied in many fields. In big data era, large volume and high dimensional data are generated at all times. For instance, mobile devices become the important producer and carrier for personal information, which can provide a considerable social utility. However, the current distributed PCA protocol cannot provide the efficiency and scalability with respect to such large amounts of data. Furthermore, the privacy issue arises when data contains sensitive information. The data owner would not prefer to sharing the data in cleartext, and the inference from PCA should also be prevented. Motivated to resolve these challenges, in this paper, we design and implement a highly efficient and largely scalable privacy preserving distributed PCA protocol, in which the ( $\epsilon, \delta$ )-Differential Privacy is guaranteed. In the experiments, we evaluate the protocol in terms of efficiency and utility, and shows that it maintains a high data utility while preserving the privacy.
Animal Abuse among High-Risk Youth: A Test of Agnew's Theory.

Concern over animal abuse among policy-makers, law enforcement officials, and the general public remains high. Although research has marked animal abuse as an indicator of a variety of deviant outc...
Information Personalization in a Two Dimensional Product Differentiation Model: Impact of Market Structure and the Quality-Fit Ratio

In this research, we use a game-theoretic model to examine personalization of information in a twodimensional product differentiation model, when consumers attach importance to preference fit as well as product quality. We report the equilibrium in terms of two factors: one, the extent of firms ex-ante horizontal differentiation; and two, the Quality-Fit (Q-F) Ratio, which measures the relative strength of consumer preferences on each dimension of product differentiation. Under different conditions, personalization adoption by one firm in a duopoly can be profitable for neither firm, one firm or both firms. We also highlight conditions under which investments in personalization and product quality can be complements or substitutes to each other. Finally, we show that different values of the Q-F Ratio can lead a competitor to respond to a firms personalization by either increasing investments in its own quality (aggressive response) or by reducing investments in its own quality (defensive response).
Logics of Accountability: Cross-National Patterns in School-Level Controls.

This paper explores multiple logics of accountability by examining patterns of control of various school functions under different accountability systems. Research has shown that accountability is a global phenomenon, but how accountability is understood and enacted is locally contextualized, which implies the existence of multiple logics of accountability in practice. By linking theoretical arguments rooted in literature to empirical evidence observed in TALIS 2013, we aim to theorize logics of accountability and then demonstrate the existence of those logics across countries. We first developed a framework of logics of accountability: control-based, professional-based, test-based, and process-based accountability. We then empirically analyzed three types of control—external, internal, and mixed control—at the school level across countries and within four content areas—assessment, human resource, curriculum, and budget—to infer how each country consistently follows a logic of accountability in their schooling practices. We found that a few countries followed a relatively pure form of control-based, professional-based, and process-based logic; however, most countries followed mixed-forms of logic. Our findings provide a systematic approach for the mapping of accountability logics across countries and suggest that more thought should be paid to how the underlying logic of accountability should manifest across these different functions.
Associations of Tobacco and Alcohol Use with Risk of Neuroendocrine Tumors of the Small Intestine in Utah

Background: Incidence of small-intestine neuroendocrine tumors (SINT) has been increasing in the United States over the past 40 years, with higher incidence in Utah than elsewhere. As information about how these tumors arise is limited, elucidating lifestyle factors associated with SINT in a statewide cohort could potentially identify those at risk to help mitigate their effects. Methods: Cases of SINT with a carcinoid histology (8240 or 8241) diagnosed in Utah from 1996 to 2014 with no prior history of cancer within 5 years (n = 433) were matched to population controls (1:10 ratio). Tobacco and alcohol exposures before case diagnosis were identified from International Classification of Diseases codes in statewide medical records and from self-reported data captured at patient encounters beginning in 1996. Multivariate logistic regression was used to estimate risk of SINT associated with tobacco and alcohol in cases compared with controls. Results: An increased risk of SINT was observed in tobacco-exposed individuals compared with unexposed [OR, 1.44; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.11–1.86; P = 0.006]. Those who were exposed to alcohol exhibited an increased risk of SINT (OR, 1.62; 95% CI, 1.05–2.49; P = 0.03). Conclusions: This study supports tobacco and alcohol use as risk factors for SINT, independent of family history. However, low rates of smoking and alcohol use in Utah coupled with higher rates of SINT suggest other factors may contribute to development of these tumors. Impact: Although tobacco and alcohol modestly contribute to risk, our study suggests in addition to greater detection of tumors, other as-of-yet undefined exposures may drive rising SINT incidence.
A Novel Cell-Free Fluorescent Assay for HDL Function: Low Apolipoprotein A1 Exchange Rate Associated With Increased Incident Cardiovascular Events

BACKGROUND Cholesterol efflux capacity is a tissue culture assay for HDL function that is not amenable for high-throughput monitoring of risk assessment. METHODS We devised a cell-free HDL function assay to measure the exchange rate of exogenous apoA1 into serum HDL using NBD/Alexa647 double-labeled apoA1, whose NBD/Alexa647 emission ratio increased upon exchange into HDL. ApoA1 exchange rate (AER) was assayed by incubating labeled apoA1 with human serum, and the rate of the increase of the NBD/Alexa647 ratio over time was calculated as AER. RESULTS Fast protein liquid chromatography analysis of serum confirmed that the labeled apoA1 selectively exchanged into the HDL lipoprotein fraction. Characterization studies demonstrated that the AER assay had excellent intra- and inter-day reproducibility, was stable over 3 freeze-thaw cycles, and yielded similar results with serum or plasma. We quantified AER in serum from randomly selected stable subjects undergoing elective diagnostic coronary angiography (n = 997). AER was correlated with HDL-cholesterol (r = 0.58, P < 0.0001) and apoA1 levels (r = 0.56, P < 0.0001). Kaplan-Meier survival plot showed subjects in the lowest quartile of AER experienced a significantly higher rate of incident major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE = myocardial infarction, stroke, or death) (P < 0.0069 log rank). Moreover, compared to subjects in the lowest AER quartile, the remaining subjects showed significantly lower incident (3 year) risk for MACE, even after adjustment for traditional risk factors and apoA1 (HR 0.58; 95% CI 0.40-0.85; P = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS In a prospective cohort of stable subjects undergoing elective diagnostic cardiac evaluations, low AER was associated with increased incident risk of MACE.
An Intrapatient Concordance Study of Mismatch Repair Protein Immunohistochemical Staining Patterns in Patients with Muir-Torre Syndrome

Importance Appropriate use criteria for Muir-Torre syndrome (MTS) screening suggest that mismatch repair protein (MMRP) immunohistochemical (IHC) testing is usually appropriate in patients with 2 or more sebaceous neoplasms (SNs). While MTS is known to be caused by a germline mutation in mismatch repair genes, data are limited as to whether individual sebaceous tumors in these patients with multiple lesions show identical MMRP IHC staining patterns. Objective To determine concordance of MMRP IHC staining patterns in lesions of patients with MTS who have multiple SNs. Design, Setting, and Participants This retrospective single-center case series evaluated 38 SNs in 11 patients with MTS confirmed by genetic testing for MMRP IHC staining patterns. Tumor sites were classified as either facial or extrafacial. Data were collected between January 1, 2007, and January 1, 2018. Main Outcomes and Measures In each patient, MMRP IHC staining patterns for SNs were compared with one another to evaluate intrapatient concordance between lesions, and to the patient’s known germline mutation. Results A total of 11 patients (7 women and 4 men) with MTS, with a mean (SD) age of 59.3 (10.6) years at time of SN biopsy, were identified. There was high concordance between MMRP IHC staining results (2-4 lesions per patient) and the patient’s mutation status, with 36 of 38 total lesions (95%) matching (sensitivity, 94.7%; 95% CI, 82.3%-99.4%). Extrafacial site tumors represented 16 of 38 total lesions (42%) and demonstrated 100% concordance of IHC results to germline mutation. Only 1 of 11 patients (9%) demonstrated discordant results, with both lesions in this patient occurring on a facial site. Conclusions and Relevance In patients with known MTS, SNs present with highly concordant MMRP IHC staining profiles across multiple lesions. There is also a strong association with underlying germline mutations. A diagnosis of MTS might be supported by MMRP IHC when the pretest probability is high.
Improved cookstoves as a pathway between food preparation and reduced domestic violence in Uganda

Abstract Women experiencing domestic violence make tradeoffs and negotiations within their constrained environments to reduce the risk they and their children face. In societies where failure to fulfill domestic duties is considered justification for abuse, women may reduce their risk by ensuring adequate and quality food is available when needed. Improved cookstoves can help women prepare quality food at lower cost and in a timely manner. When food preparation is a trigger for domestic violence, use of improved cookstoves could be one personal coping strategy which women employ to reduce their risk of exposure to domestic violence. This paper examines the pathway between improved cookstoves and prevalence of domestic violence in Uganda. We follow a program that offered improved cookstoves to randomly selected villages in northern Uganda. The cookstoves project aimed at reducing the biomass used and improving the air breathed during cooking so to improve the health of mothers and children. As a consequence of the cookstoves project, we find reduced level of domestic violence in the households that received improved cookstoves. We present this evidence as a support to the argument that there is a link between abuse and food preparation in societies where women are expected to fulfill this domestic role.
Optimal Bidding of Li-ion BESS in Regulation Markets Considering Capacity Degradation

The grid deployment of lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery energy storage systems (BESS) has grown fast during recent years. One emerging grid application is using Li-ion BESS in frequency regulation markets for tracking fast-moving frequency regulation signals, such as PJM’s RegD signal. However, Liion batteries may encounter fast capacity degradation when tracking these signals. To effectively incorporate the cycling induced degradation cost into the optimal bidding in regulation markets, we develop a statistical feature-based method for capacity degradation estimation. The fractional absolute moment (FAM) of the state-of-charge (SoC) profile is selected as the input feature of a linear regression model that produces an estimate of the capacity degradation as the model’s output. Subsequently, the optimal bidding problem is formulated as a convex optimization model to maximize the daily profit of Li-ion BESS in a regulation market. Simulation results show that the proposed model provides, for frequency regulation, cost-effective capacity bidding and 5-min economic basepoints which achieve a tradeoff between regulation credit and battery degradation cost.
A Hierarchical-Based Web-Platform for Crowdsourcing Distinguishable Image Patches

In this work, we present an open-source web-platform for crowdsourcing a unique kind of image labels. This is done by introducing image segments that we refer to by the term “distinguishable patches”; as the name implies, a distinguishable patch is a small segment of an image that identifies a particular object. Although these distinguishable patches will naturally be part of the object; more often than not, these distinguishable patches combined will not cover the entire body of the object, which makes the nature of the data collected distinct and rather different than what would be obtained from a traditional image segmentation system. To minimize human labeling efforts while maximizing the amount of labeled data collected, we introduce a novel top-bottom hierarchical approach to automatically determine the size and the location of the patches our system will present to individuals (referred to by “workers”) for labeling, based on previously labeled patches. The three processes of: determining the size and location of the patch, assigning a particular patch to the right worker, and the actual cropping of these patches, all happen in real-time and as the workers are actively using our web-platform. As far as the authors are aware, this unique form of image data has not been collected in the past, and its impact has not been explored, which makes this work highly valuable and important to the research community. One of the many ways that the authors are interested in using these distinguishable patches would be to improve the accuracy of a machine learning image classification system, by providing an enriched dataset of images that not only contain a single label for each image, but rather a spatial distribution of the distinguishability of an object in each image.
Cardiac functional magnetic resonance imaging at 7T: Image quality optimization and ultra-high field capabilities

Cardiac functional magnetic resonance imaging at 7T: Image quality optimization and ultra-high field capabilities
A cluster-randomized controlled trial of an elementary school drinking water access and promotion intervention: Rationale, study design, and protocol.

Author(s): Moreno, Gala D; Schmidt, Laura A; Ritchie, Lorrene D; McCulloch, Charles E; Cabana, Michael D; Brindis, Claire D; Green, Lawrence W; Altman, Emily A; Patel, Anisha I | Abstract: IntroductionPromoting water consumption among children in schools is a promising intervention to reduce sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) intake and achieve healthful weight. To date, no studies in the United States have examined how a school-based water access and promotion intervention affects students' beverage and food intake both in and out of school and weight gain over time. The Water First trial is intended to evaluate these interventions.MethodsInformed by the PRECEDE-PROCEED model and Social Cognitive Theory, the Water First intervention includes: 1) installation of lead-free water stations in cafeterias, physical activity spaces, and high-traffic common areas in lower-income public elementary schools, 2) provision of cups/reusable water bottles for students, and 3) a 6-month healthy beverage education campaign. A five year-long cluster randomized controlled trial of 26 low-income public elementary schools in the San Francisco Bay Area is examining how Water First impacts students' consumption of water, caloric intake from foods and beverages, and BMI z-score and overweight/obesity prevalence, from baseline to 7nmonths and 15nmonths after the start of the study. Intervention impact on outcomes will be examined using a difference-in-differences approach with mixed-effects regression accounting for the clustering of students in schools and classrooms.DiscussionThis paper describes the rationale, study design, and protocol for the Water First study. If the intervention is effective, findings will inform best practices for implementing school water policies, as well as the development of more expansive policies and programs to promote and improve access to drinking water in schools.
Pelvic Organ Prolapse

Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a common women’s health issue, particularly in the postmenopausal population. The etiology of POP is multifactorial with risk factors including vaginal delivery, parity, age, and body mass index (BMI). These risk factors are associated with injury to, or strain on, the pelvic floor musculature and connective tissue structures that provide support to the pelvic organs. A thorough history and physical exam can help screen for and assess the extent of POP. Treatment of POP consists of both conservative and surgical options. It is important for a women’s health provider to be able to discuss conservative management of POP with patients and help them navigate surgical options in conjunction with specialists. Comprehensive knowledge of the diagnosis and management of POP is essential for any provider in the field of women’s health.
Impact of Pre-Filter Dilution on IgG Removal in Membrane-Based Therapeutic Plasma Exchange (mTPE).

INTRODUCTION Previous studies have demonstrated that a "one plasma volume exchange" would result in an estimated 63% decline in pretreatment IgG levels. We evaluated the use of pre-filter dilution with normal saline as a method to prevent filter failure without decreasing the efficiency of IgG removal. METHODS 21 treatment sessions were analyzed and all received pre-filter dilution with normal saline. Primary outcome was to determine whether pre-filter dilution resulted in decreased treatment efficiency in removing the targeted IgG. Secondary outcome was filter failure in conjunction with the combined use of pre-filter heparin and saline infusions. RESULTS 21/21 treatments (100%) received pre-filter dilution with saline solution and 19/21 (90.47 %) also received pre-filter heparin (bolus and/or hourly infusion). We demonstrated a 60-70% decline in pretreatment IgG levels. CONCLUSION Pre-filter dilution during mTPE based treatment did not result in a demonstrable decrease in efficiency of IgG removal while maintaining filter patency. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
A Note on Propitiating Leprechauns in the Crying of Lot 49

During Oedipa Maas's first evening at the Echo Courts motel, where she meets with the lawyer Metzger, "On the doorsill," we read, "the Paranoids, as we leave milk to propitiate the leprechaun, had set a fifth of Jack Daniels" (40). J. Kerry Grant's Companion to The Crying of Lot 49 notes, "While Irish folklore is replete with tales involving the propitiation of leprechauns, I have been unable to find any specific reference to the leaving of milk for that purpose" (41). Grant has an ally of sorts in the Irish innkeeper, Tatie (J. M. Kerrigan), in the film The Luck of the Irish, who informs and admonishes the visiting American freelancer, Stephen Fitzgerald (Tyrone Power). When Fitzgerald returns downstairs from his room to retrieve some forgotten items, he observes Tatie taking a bottle from the bar and quietly, and somewhat drunkenly, placing it outside the front door.
Coping with Separation: Adaptive Responses of Women Prisoners

This study is a descriptive analysis of the adaptation responses of inmates at a correctional institution for women located in the midwest of the United States. Data for the study were collected and analyzed using a qualitative methodological approach. This investigation extends the literature on women prisoners by examining the inmates' perceptions of the deprivations of incarceration; how inmates respond to the deprivations of incarceration; and the impact that relationships outside of prison has on the inmates' response to incarceration.
Dynamic regulation of cleavage and polyadenylation in differentiation and development (225.3)

Transcripts of most mammalian genes display alternative cleavage and polyadenylation (APA). Sites of APA (pAs) located in the 3’-most exon typically lead to mRNA isoforms with different 3’ untransl...
Who else is bidding? The Pareto optimality of disclosing bidder identities

This paper examines whether the seller of an object should reveal the identities of the participating bidders before bids become due. It is shown that when bidders experience identity dependent externalities and auction participation is exogenous, then for a large class of standard auction mechanisms, a policy of revelation serves to realize a higher surplus because it improves the accuracy of each bidder's estimate of her ex-post willingness-to-pay, and therefore changes the auction allocation in a more ex-post efficient manner. Furthermore, it is shown that the policy of revelation increases both the expected seller revenues as well as ex-ante expected bidder payoffs.
GIS-based analysis of marginal price variation with an application in the identification of candidate ethanol conversion plant locations

Facility location decisions require large investments of capital and represent long-term commitments for businesses. For firms that are highly dependent on access to raw materials, plant location has a major impact on direct material costs and, hence, on total product costs, pricing, and profitability. In the procurement of bulky, low-value raw materials, the cost of transportation represents a large portion of the final delivered cost. Depending on the commodity, the price paid is often a function of the maximum delivered cost (marginal price) of attaining a target quantity at a particular location. Such costs differ considerably from one candidate location to another if there is significant spatial variation in the quantities of the raw materials and the costs to produce them. In addition, the quality of a transportation network can play a role in the relative marginal prices among candidate locations. An adequate assessment of marginal price is essential for identifying promising areas for plant location. In this paper, we describe a methodology for generating marginal price surfaces when the number of potential supply points and the number of candidate plant locations are both very large. We present a GIS-based application of the methodology for the identification of promising locations for switchgrass-to-ethanol conversion plants.
Relationship of social cognitive theory concepts to mothers' dietary intake and BMI

Women tend to have the greatest responsibility for and influence on the home food environment. Understanding theoretical concepts as they pertain to mothers' food-related behaviours could inform the development of interventions that enhance mothers' ability to create healthy family food environments that support optimal child development and help attenuate obesity rates. Likert scales assessed Social Cognitive Theory concepts [i.e. self-efficacy, self-regulation (sets goals, self-reward, self-monitoring, environmental structuring), outcome expectations] and coping of 201 mothers in the context food-related activities. ANOVA determined whether diet and BMI differed among mothers scoring in the highest, middle, and lowest tertiles on the Likert scales. For self-efficacy, coping, sets goals, and outcome expectations scales, lowest tertile mothers had significantly higher BMIs than highest tertile mothers. The lowest tertile for self-efficacy, self-reward, and self-monitoring consumed significantly less fibre, vitamin C, magnesium, potassium, and fruit and vegetables than upper tertiles. On the self-efficacy scale, the lowest tertile consumed significantly more calories, fat, and cholesterol than higher tertiles. Environmental structuring scale findings indicate users of television during dinner had significantly lower intakes of fibre, vitamin C, magnesium, potassium, and fruits and vegetables than those almost never using TV during dinner. Stepwise regression revealed self-monitoring, environmental structuring, self-reward, and outcome expectations were significant positive predictors of self-efficacy. Self-monitoring was a significant positive predictor of outcome expectations. Associations between theoretical concepts, mothers' dietary intakes, and BMIs point to the need to incorporate components that build self-efficacy, self-regulation, outcome expectations, and coping skills into health promotion interventions.
Using public television’s “Trillion Dollar Bet” as a primer on financial risk.

In this special topics classroom discussion/ project, the financial management issues of systemic and model risks are examined, the Efficient Markets Hypothesis is analyzed, and the emerging field of Behavioral Finance is introduced. This interactive approach of having students respond to a list of instructor-prepared discussion issues/questions during the showing of the video is a great break from courses that are straight-lecture in orientation. The potential to require a follow-up assignment where students act as market participants in a virtual financial market on www.pbs.org adds to the interactive nature of the project.
The Origins of English Puritanism

The history of English Puritanism has changed dramatically over the past forty years, but our understanding of the origins of Puritanism has remained relatively unchanged. This article examines some accounts of the origins of Puritanism, evaluates them in the light of recent historiographical developments, and suggests an alternate approach to the question.
Materials Science: erasing electron mass.

Two-dimensional graphite could be useful in carbon-based electronic devices. How electrons move in these structures seems best described by relativistic quantum physics, modelling them as if they have no mass at all.
Improved measurement of complex permittivity using artificial neural networks with scaled inputs

A procedure is described to enhance the accuracy of microwave measurements of the complex permittivity of a dissipative medium.Monopole probe measurements are used in conjunction with two real-valued neural networks, which are integrated together to reconstruct the complex permittivity from the measured reflection coefficients. The approach is tested over the frequency range from 2.5 to 5 GHz, for the real part of the permittivity in the range 3–10 and the imaginary part in the range 0– 0.5. The performance of the network is also demonstrated for a reduced frequency range from 3.5 to 5 GHz. Less than 4% error was observed in the presence of white Gaussian noise with an SNR of 10dB. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett, 2011; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/mop.26221
Glial-Derived Prodegenerative Signaling in the Drosophila Neuromuscular System

We provide evidence for a prodegenerative, glial-derived signaling framework in the Drosophila neuromuscular system that includes caspase and mitochondria-dependent signaling. We demonstrate that Drosophila TNF-α (eiger) is expressed in a subset of peripheral glia, and the TNF-α receptor (TNFR), Wengen, is expressed in motoneurons. NMJ degeneration caused by disruption of the spectrin/ankyrin skeleton is suppressed by an eiger mutation or by eiger knockdown within a subset of peripheral glia. Loss of wengen in motoneurons causes a similar suppression providing evidence for glial-derived prodegenerative TNF-α signaling. Neither JNK nor NFκβ is required for prodegenerative signaling. However, we provide evidence for the involvement of both an initiator and effector caspase, Dronc and Dcp-1, and mitochondrial-dependent signaling. Mutations that deplete the axon and nerve terminal of mitochondria suppress degeneration as do mutations in Drosophila Bcl-2 (debcl), a mitochondria-associated protein, and Apaf-1 (dark), which links mitochondrial signaling with caspase activity in other systems.
Pyrolysis of tetralin

Abstract The pyrolysis of tetralin has been studied at 500 °C. The pyrolysis products resulting from the decomposition of 1- 13 C-tetralin were analysed by 13 C n.m.r. spectroscopy to determine the carbon redistribution in these substances. Some results were confirmed by experiments with 14 C-labelled compounds. Under the conditions employed, carbon scrambling is observed only in the aliphatic portion of the products. The primary mode of decomposition of tetralin proceeds via homolysis of the 1–8a bond. No equilibrium between tetralin and naphthalene plus hydrogen takes place in the absence of a catalyst.
A tandem combinatorial model for the prebiogenesis of diverse tetrapyrrole macrocycles

The extant biosynthesis of tetrapyrrole macrocycles has been considered a paradigm for the prebiotic formation of such molecules, yet only a few analogous non-enzymic reactions along the overall process have been demonstrated. In a prior study, the aqueous non-enzymic reaction of a dione and an aminoketone (δ-aminolevulinic acid) afforded uroporphyrinogen, Nature's last universal precursor to all extant tetrapyrroles. Here, in one flask the non-enzymic combinatorial reaction of two diones (substituents = acetic acid and methyl) and two aminoketones (substituents = propionic acid and ethyl) yields four pyrroles, which upon subsequent combinatorial reaction afford a distribution of porphyrinogens. A software program for virtual library generation predicts 538 porphyrinogens from this [2 × 2] reaction (owing to combinations and permutations) of which there are 25 sets of isomers based on condensed formulas of substituents. The collection spans the entire range of polarity enabled by the biosynthesis including uro- (number of carboxylic acids = 8), copro- (4), meso- (2), and etio-porphyrinogen (0). The first two are successive intermediates in the extant biosynthesis, the latter two resemble in polarity the advanced biosynthetic products protoporphyrin and chlorophyll. Upon consideration of substituent patterns, the porphyrins (obtained by oxidation of the porphyrinogens) can be grouped into one of four polarity categories (predicted percentage): hydrophilic (0.4%), uncertain (83.6%), amphiphilic (15.6%), and hydrophobic (0.4%). HPLC and mass spectrometry data are consistent with expectations to the limit of analytical capabilities. Thus, in terms of the polarity of the tetrapyrrole macrocycles formed, an all-at-once non-enzymic combinatorial process recapitulates features of the stepwise biosynthetic pathway.
Exact and approximate methods for parallel multiple-area spatial scheduling with release times

Spatial scheduling problems involve scheduling jobs that each require certain amounts of two-dimensional space within a processing area of limited width and length. Thus, this requires not only assigning time slots to each job but also locations and orientations within the limited physical processing space as well. Such problems, often encountered in shipbuilding and aircraft manufacturing, are generally difficult to solve, and there is a relatively small amount of literature addressing these problems compared to other types of scheduling. In this paper, we consider a particularly complex class of spatial scheduling problems that involve scheduling each job into one of several possible processing areas in parallel to minimize the total amount of tardy time. In addition, each job has a release time before which it may not be processed. We introduce two methods for solving this type of problem: an integer programming (IP) model and a heuristic algorithm. We perform computational tests and comparisons of each method over a large number of generated benchmark problems with varying characteristics, and also compare these to a more naive heuristic. Solving the IP model was effective for small problems but required excessive amounts of time for larger ones. The heuristic was effective and produced solutions of comparable quality to the IP model for many problems while requiring very little computational time.