cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Restoring the Spiritual: Reflections on Arrogance and Myopia—Allopathic and Holistic

Over the past two decades, researchers have successfully accumulated lots of data pointing to a salutary impact of religious involvement. But progress in the religion and health field has been inhibited by the relative lack of attention to important conceptual and theoretical issues. This paper asserts that until we focus as much on the latter as on the former, this field will remain marginalized and thus ineffective in contributing to understandings of the determinants of health and healing. Careful attention to the how and why of a religion-health connection is imperative for bringing this research into the mainstream of biomedicine.
Jurisprudence as Practical Philosophy

Nowhere has H.L.A. Hart's influence on philosophical jurisprudence in the English-speaking world been greater than in the way its fundamental project and method are conceived by its practitioners. Disagreements abound, of course. Philosophers debate the extent to which jurisprudence can or should proceed without appeal to moral or other values. They disagree about which participant perspective—that of the judge, lawyer, citizen, or “bad man”—is primary and about what taking up the participant perspective commits the theorist to. However, virtually unchallenged is the view that jurisprudence is fundamentally interpretive or “hermeneutic”; that it takes for its subject a certain kind of social practice, constituted by the behavior and understandings of its participants; that its task is to explain this practice and its relations to other important social practices; and that it can properly be explained only by taking full account of participant understandings. It is, perhaps, some measure of the hegemony of Hart's influence that Ronald Dworkin mounts his fundamental challenge to Hart's positivism squarely from within this jurisprudential orthodoxy. Dworkin may have exceeded the limits of the method as Hart conceived it, but, as Stephen Perry has argued, “the seeds of Dworkin's strong version of inter-pretivism were sown by Hart himself.”
Sensorimotor Decoupling Contributes to Triadic Attention: A Longitudinal Investigation of Mother–Infant–Object Interactions

Previous developmental accounts of joint object activity identify a qualitative "shift" around 9-12 months. In a longitudinal study of 26 dyads, videos of joint object interactions at 4, 6, 9, and 12 months were coded for all targets of gaze and manual activity (at 10 Hz). At 12 months, infants distribute their sensorimotor modalities between objects handled by the parent and others controlled by the infant. Analyses reveal novel trajectories in distributed joint object activity across the 1st year. At 4 months, infants predominantly look at and manipulate a single object, typically held by their mothers. Between 6 and 9 months, infants increasingly decouple their visual and haptic modalities and distribute their attention between objects held by their mothers and by themselves. These previously unreported developments in the distribution of multimodal object activity might "bridge the gap" to coordinated joint activity between 6 and 12 months.
“Healing is a Done Deal”: Temporality and Metabolic Healing Among Evangelical Christians in Samoa

Drawing on fieldwork in independent Samoa, in this article, I analyze the temporal dimensions of evangelical Christian healing of metabolic disorders. I explore how those suffering with metabolic disorders draw from multiple time-based notions of healing, drawing attention to the limits of biomedicine in contrast with the effectiveness of Divine healing. By simultaneously engaging evangelical and biomedical temporalities, I argue that evangelical Christians create wellness despite sickness and, in turn, re-signify chronic suffering as a long-term process of Christian healing. Positioning biomedical temporality and evangelical temporality as parallel yet distinctive ways of practicing healing, therefore, influences health care choices.
Environmentally Sustainable Biofuels – The Case for Biodiesel, Biobutanol and Cellulosic Ethanol

Due to diminishing petroleum reserves and the deleterious environmental consequences of exhaust gases from fossil-based fuels, research on renewable and environmentally friendly fuels has received a lot of impetus in recent years. With oil at high prices, alternate renewable energy has become very attractive. Many of these technologies are eco-friendly. Besides ethanol, other alternatives are: biodiesel made from agricultural crops or waste cooking oil that is blended with diesel; biobutanol; gas-to-liquids (GTL) from the abundance of natural gas, coal, or biomass; oil trapped in the shale formations such as found in the western United States, and heavy oil lodged in Canadian tar sands. In this chapter, we examine advances made in environmentally friendly fuels such as biodiesel, biobutanol, and cellulosic ethanol in recent years.
Implementation of EPA's Worker Protection Standard training for agricultural laborers: an evaluation using North Carolina data.

Abstract The US Environmental Protection Agency has promulgated a Worker Protection Standard which requires that farmworkers receive pesticide safety training. The implementation of these regulations has not been evaluated. Using data collected through personal interviews with 270 Hispanic farmworkers recruited from 35 labor sites in an eight-county area, the authors analyzed the extent to which farmworkers received pesticide safety training, characteristics of the training, and variations in knowledge and safety behavior. Approximately a third of the farmworkers reported having ever received information or training on pesticide safety, and 25.6% reported having received training in the year in which they were interviewed. Workers with H2A visas were significantly more likely to have received training than workers without these visas. The training received varied in location, duration, and language. Most included the use of a video, as well as verbal presentation, and most included printed materials. However, few workers knew the ways in which they could be exposed to pesticides or reported using any method to protect themselves from pesticide exposure.
A computer-aided diagnostic system for wireless capsule endoscopy

Wireless capsule endoscopy (WCE) is a technology breakthrough that allows the non-invasive visualization of the entire small intestine. This swallowable capsule technology enables the investigation of the small intestine without pain or need for sedation, thus encouraging patients to undergo gastrointestinal (GI) track examinations. Nevertheless, the average viewing time ranges from one to two hours, depending on the experience of the gastroenterologist. To address this problem, we look into machine vision based approaches for automatic medical imaging analysis. The process of selecting suitable low-level features is often determined by the modality of imaging as well as the nature of diagnoses. For example, image arises from radiologic projection technique such as x-ray often shows overlapping structures while image from tomographic technique such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) shows individually bounded anatomic objects. Computational approaches for projection based images may concentrates on detecting density blobs while tomography based images may focus on the identifying the relationships among different organ boundaries. Each imaging modality imposes unique restrictions for automatic image abstraction processes. In this dissertation, we investigate low-level image features for automatic analysis in WCE imaging, which is photography based imaging modality, and propose a computer-aided diagnostic (CAD) system for indexing and assisting physicians to speed up the diagnosis time. The advancing in Very-large-scale integration (VLSI), broadband networks, and image/video standards dramatically increases the amount of digital library and multimedia database. However, a robust image understanding at the machine level remains an open issue. Today, most of the image search engines perform keyword based textual search on text annotation for visual information. Due to lacking of automatic annotation system, today's search approach on medical imaging still relies on manual annotation and hence, it is not scalable. Manual annotation is not only laborious, error prone, very costly, if a collection of images are not annotated, they are not indexed or retrieved. The aims of this system are to help physicians reducing diagnosis time with an automatic tool that detects medical significant events in the WCE domain. In addition, this system is also served as a critical piece to bridging the semantic gap between machine and human perception in medical imaging.
Natural language IAS: style metrics from semantic analysis

Stylometry is the quantification of author style such that authorship of a text can be posited, verified, or obfuscated. Style features currently in use capture the surface features of texts (such as punctuation use, misspellings, words or parts of words, and morphology), but some qualities of author style may be better captured by, or in conjunction with, meaning-based features. This poster outlines ongoing work in positing and evaluating author style quantification using meaning representation structures.
Solid-State Nanopore Characterization of Single-Strand DNA-SSB Interactions

Single strand binding protein (SSB) plays a central role in genome replication by binding single-strand (ss) regions of DNA to prevent hybridization and nuclease digestion. Here, we study ssDNA-SSB interactions using solid-state nanopores. We show that a systematic increase in the molar ratio of SSB to ssDNA results in increased translocation event depth until DNA saturation is reached. These results are recapitulated in a bulk electromobility shift assay and indicate the weak cooperativity in SSB binding under high ionic strength conditions. We demonstrate that the strong selectivity of SSB for ssDNA over double-strand molecules can be used to differentiate a heterogeneous mixture and use comparisons of linearized and circular ssDNA data to suggest structural characteristics of SSB binding at high salt.
Pulmonary hypertension detection using dynamic and static measurable parameters on CT angiography.

Objective The aim was to assess dynamic and static parameters on routine computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) that may detect pulmonary hypertension (PH). Methods Fifty patients underwent CTPA and echocardiograms. Twenty-six patients had PH, and 24 patients did not have PH. The following parameters were measured on CTPA: density of the pulmonary artery (PA), ratio between the density in the PA and the thoracic aorta (TA), the time between the start of contrast injection to the time the scan trigger density was reached, and PA diameter. Results All measured parameters showed significant correlation with PH detected by echocardiogram. The best combination of parameters for detection of PH was contrast density ratio between PA and thoracic aorta of greater than or equal to 1.5 and/or a time to scan trigger of greater than or equal to 8 seconds. Conclusions The parameters measured correlate well with PH by echocardiography. This suggests that CTPA can potentially be used to detect PH.
Bone marrow angiogenesis in patients achieving complete response after stem cell transplantation for multiple myeloma.

Although most of the initial studies in angiogenesis were done on solid tumors, there is now data suggesting the importance of angiogenesis in hematologic malignancies. We estimated bone marrow microvessel density before autologous stem cell transplantation and at the time of response in 13 patients with myeloma (seven complete and six partial responders) using an immunohistochemical stain for factor VIII-related antigen (von Willebrand factor). Baseline microvessel density was significantly different between bone marrow samples from patients with myeloma and morphologically normal, staging marrows from patients with limited stage Hodgkin’s disease, mean (± s.d.) 294 (±115)/mm2 vs 93 (±26)/mm2, respectively, P = 0.001. After transplantation, microvessel density continued to be high in myeloma samples compared to samples from control patients with limited stage Hodgkin’s disease, mean (± s.d.) 230 (±68)/mm2, P = 0.003. There was no difference in microvessel density at the time of complete or partial response compared to values prior to transplantation. This report confirms that increased angiogenesis is found in myeloma bone marrow prior to transplantation, and suggests that increased angiogenesis persists even after complete response.
Cutting planes for the multistage stochastic unit commitment problem

As renewable energy penetration rates continue to increase in power systems worldwide, new challenges arise for system operators in both regulated and deregulated electricity markets to solve the security-constrained coal-fired unit commitment problem with intermittent generation (due to renewables) and uncertain load, in order to ensure system reliability and maintain cost effectiveness. In this paper, we study a security-constrained coal-fired stochastic unit commitment model, which we use to enhance the reliability unit commitment process for day-ahead power system operations. In our approach, we first develop a deterministic equivalent formulation for the problem, which leads to a large-scale mixed-integer linear program. Then, we verify that the turn on/off inequalities provide a convex hull representation of the minimum-up/down time polytope under the stochastic setting. Next, we develop several families of strong valid inequalities mainly through lifting schemes. In particular, by exploring sequence independent lifting and subadditive approximation lifting properties for the lifting schemes, we obtain strong valid inequalities for the ramping and general load balance polytopes. Finally, branch-and-cut algorithms are developed to employ these valid inequalities as cutting planes to solve the problem. Our computational results verify the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Parent Satisfaction With Communication Is Associated With Physician's Patient-Centered Communication Patterns During Family Conferences.

Objectives:To evaluate the association between physician’s patient-centered communication patterns and parental satisfaction during decision-making family conferences in the PICU.Design:Single-site, cross-sectional study.Setting:Forty-four–bed PICUs in a free-standing children’s hospital.Participant
Investigation on occupational hazards in glass fiber reinforced plastic workshop of a machinery plant

[Objective]To investigate the occupational hazard factors in a glass fiber reinforced plastic production workshop,put forward the occupational prevention and control measures in this workshop. [Methods]The occupational hazard substances in this workshop were investigated,and the concentrations( intensities) of occupational hazard substances in operation sites were detected, to judge the degree of damage. [Results]The qualified rate of epoxy chloropropane concentration in glass fiber reinforced plastic production posts was 0,the highest value was 90. 0 mg / m3,and the values in different posts were 1. 65-44. 00 times higher than the standard. The qualified rate of glass fiber reinforced plastic dust in machining positions was 75%,and the maximum detection value reached 32. 0 mg / m m3,which was 4. 33 times higher than the limit.[Conclusion]The plant should install the exhaust hood in glass fiber reinforced plastic production and machining positions,issue the dust-proof respirators to workers,and arrange the inspection time reasonably,so as to effectively prevent and control the occupational hazards.
Survey on Illegal Addition Drugs in Weight-Loss Foods in 2005-2008

Objective To investigate the situation and trend of drugs added illegally into weight-loss foods in our country.Method Fifteen chemical drugs in 377 samples collected from the National Surveillance Works on HealthRelated Products in 2005-2008 were detected by ultra performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS /MS).Results The detection rate of illegal drugs in all samples was 33.4%,and was decreased from 2005 to 2008.The detection rate of illegal drugs in capsule samples (57.8%) was higher than other forms.The detection rate of sibutramine was decreasing while that of phenolphthalein was increasing.The samples in combining use of drugs accounted for 41.7% of total positive samples in 2008.Conclusion The situation of using illegal drugs in weight-loss foods was still very serious in the whole country.Much more attention should be paid by food hygiene supervision departments on combined drugs used in weight-loss products.
Measuring Method of the Fracture Toughness of ZrO_2/Al_2O_3 Ceramics by Indentation Method

The fracture toughness of ZrO2/ Al2O3 ceramics was investigated by indentation method. The influences of different magnifications and loadings on the experimental results of M31 and M34 were also studied. Results showed that the accurate crack size was hardly measured at the magnification of 600 times,therefore,it was almost accurate as measure at the magnification of 6000 times. With the loading increasing,the comparative error of fracture toughness for sample M31 gradually decreased,while the error for sample M34 appeared the change as wave. After a series of optimization loadings,the actual value of KICcould be obtained. In this paper,a number of experimental data demonstrated that the optimum loading ranges were in between 8-12 kg for M31 and 6-8 kg for M34,respectively. The pattern of crack propagation included inter-phase boundary fracture, inter-crystalline fracture and hiding fracture. Compared with inter-phase boundary fracture,inter-crystalline fracture could consume more energy,which contributed to enhancement of the strength and toughness of ceramic material.
Overdispersed Logistic Regression Model

When binary data are obtained through simple random sampling, the covariance for the responses follows the binomial model (two possible outcomes from independent observations with constant probability). However, when the data are obtained under other circumstances, the covariances of the responses differ substantially from the binomial case. For example, clustering effects or subject effects in repeated measure experiments can cause the variance of the observed proportions to be much larger than the variances observed under the binomial assumption. The phenomenon is generally referred to as overdispersion or extra variation. The presence of overdispersion can affect the standard errors and therefore also affect the conclusions made about the significance of the predictors. This chapter presents a method of analysis based on work presented in:
Sebaceous gland hyperplasia

Sebaceous gland hyperplasia refers to hypertrophic enlargement of the sebaceous glands. Though benign, its predilection for cosmetically sensitive areas such as the face make efficacious treatment options desirable. While multiple therapeutic modalities are available, sebaceous hyperplasia can be treated quickly and successfully with cryosurgery.
A Prescription for the Next Health Care Crisis

This chapter begins by examining the steps that have been taken since the epidemic to safeguard the blood supply. Although these have diminished the risk of disease transmission, there are additional steps that could be taken to prevent another blood-borne viral epidemic. A new Office of Blood Product Safety (OBPS) might be established within the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to communicate information on the safety and availability of blood and blood products to the public and health care professionals. Furthermore, the costs of collection, processing, and distribution of blood for transfusion should be borne by the public, not individual patients. Another recommendation is to establish an Office for the Control of Pharmaceutical Prices (COPP) within the Department of Health and Human Services to set caps on the prices of blood products, essential drugs, and medical devices. If a pharmaceutical required for human health becomes unavailable, then this Office could authorize subsidies for its production. The chapter concludes by urging greater investment in basic and applied research to identify the causes of disease, develop diagnostic tests and therapeutic materials, and produce vaccines that might prevent future outbreaks of blood-borne diseases.
Elements of Statistical Hypothesis Testing

The signal processing problem which is the object of our study in this book is that of detecting the presence of a signal in noisy observations. Signal detection is a function that has to be implemented in a variety of applications, the more obvious ones being in radar, sonar, and communications. By viewing signal detection problems as problems of binary hypothesis testing in statistical inference, we get a convenient mathematical framework within which we can treat in a unified way the analysis and synthesis of signal detectors for different specific situations. The theory and results in mathematical statistics pertaining to binary hypothesis-testing problems are therefore of central importance to us in this book. In this first chapter we review some of these basic statistics concepts. In addition, we will find in this chapter some further results of statistical hypothesis testing with which the reader may not be as familiar, but which will be of use to us in later chapters.
Safety and Knowledge in God

In recent ‘secular’ Epistemology, much attention has been paid to formulating an ‘anti-luck’ or ‘safety’ condition; it is now widely held that such a condition is an essential part of any satisfactory post-Gettier reflection on the nature of knowledge. In this paper, I explain the safety condition as it has emerged and then explore some implications of and for it arising from considering the God issue. It looks at the outset as if safety might be ‘good news’ for a view characteristic of Reformed Epistemology, viz. the view that if Theism is true, many philosophically unsophisticated believers probably know that it’s true. A (tentatively-drawn) sub-conclusion of my paper though suggests that as safety does not by itself turn true belief into knowledge, the recent focus on it is not quite such good news for Reformed Epistemologists as they may have hoped: it’s not that safety provides a new route by which they can reach this sort of conclusion. But safety is still good news for their view at least in the sense that there is no reason arising from considering it to count these philosophically unsophisticated believers as not knowing that there’s a God. I conclude by reflecting that good news for Reformed Epistemology is perhaps bad news for the discipline of Philosophy of Religion more generally, as there’s a possible ‘reflection destroys knowledge’-implication to be drawn. Those who have been led to their religious beliefs in at least some philosophically unsophisticated ways seem to enjoy much safer religious beliefs than those who have been led to their religious beliefs by philosophical reflection, so the discipline as a whole will be adversely affected if safety is eventually accorded the role of a necessary condition for knowledge.
Tonal alternations in the Urhobo noun phrase

Urhobo is an Edoid language spoken extensively in Delta State, Nigeria. This paper examines tonal alternations in the Urhobo noun phrase with a view to providing more data that can lead to a better understanding of tonal behavior in Edoid languages. The language has two basic tones, high and low, two gliding tones, high-low (falling) and low-high (rising), plus a phenomenon of downstep, both automatic and non-automatic. A number of noun phrases are examined here and, as will become obvious later, the language relies heavily on tone to express many grammatical categories. The main points of interest from this study include the preservation of H at the expense of L, the fact that the loss of L does not result in downstep, that 'H plus following H can give H so the down step can be deleted, and that there are syntactically conditioned floating H tones in certain constructions.
Graph Methods for Multilingual FrameNets

This paper introduces a new, graph-based view of the data of the FrameNet project, which we hope will make it easier to understand the mixture of semantic and syntactic information contained in FrameNet annotation. We show how English FrameNet and other Frame Semantic resources can be represented as sets of interconnected graphs of frames, frame elements, semantic types, and annotated instances of them in text. We display examples of the new graphical representation based on the annotations, which combine Frame Semantics and Construction Grammar, thus capturing most of the syntax and semantics of each sentence. We consider how graph theory could help researchers to make better use of FrameNet data for tasks such as automatic Frame Semantic role labeling, paraphrasing, and translation. Finally, we describe the development of FrameNet-like lexical resources for other languages in the current Multilingual FrameNet project. which seeks to discover cross-lingual alignments, both in the lexicon (for frames and lexical units within frames) and across parallel or comparable texts. We conclude with an example showing graphically the semantic and syntactic similarities and differences between parallel sentences in English and Japanese. We will release software for displaying such graphs from the current data releases.
Polyphosphate-Accumulating Bacteria: Potential Contributors to Mineral Dissolution in the Oral Cavity

Bacteria that accumulate polyphosphates have previously been shown to dynamically influence the solubility of phosphatic minerals in marine settings and wastewater. Here, we show that dental plaque, saliva, and carious lesions all contain abundant polyphosphate-accumulating bacteria. Saturation state modeling results, informed by phosphate uptake experiments using the model organism Lactobacillus rhamnosus, which is known to inhabit advanced carious lesions, suggest that polyphosphate accumulation can lead to undersaturated conditions with respect to hydroxyapatite under some oral cavity conditions. The cell densities of polyphosphate-accumulating bacteria we observed in some regions of oral biofilms are comparable to those that produce undersaturated conditions (i.e., those that thermodynamically favor mineral dissolution) in our phosphate uptake experiments with L. rhamnosus These results suggest that the localized generation of undersaturated conditions by polyphosphate-accumulating bacteria constitutes a new potential mechanism of tooth dissolution that may augment the effects of metabolic acid production.IMPORTANCE Dental caries is a serious public health issue that can have negative impacts on overall quality of life and oral health. The role of oral bacteria in the dissolution of dental enamel and dentin that can result in carious lesions has long been solely ascribed to metabolic acid production. Here, we show that certain oral bacteria may act as a dynamic shunt for phosphate in dental biofilms via the accumulation of a polymer known as polyphosphate-potentially mediating phosphate-dependent conditions such as caries (dental decay).
Ophthalmic manifestations of endocrine disorders—endocrinology and the eye

Disorders of the endocrine system usually manifest in a multi-organ fashion. More specifically, many endocrinopathies become apparent in the eye first through a variety of distinct pathophysiologic disturbances. The eye provides physicians with valuable clues for the recognition and management of numerous systemic diseases, including many disorders of the endocrine pathway. Recognizing ophthalmic manifestations of endocrine disorders is critical not only for rapid diagnosis and treatment, but also to prevent significant morbidity and mortality. In this review, we discuss relevant ophthalmic findings associated with key disorders of the pancreas, thyroid gland, and hypothalamic-pituitary axis, as well as with multiple hereditary endocrine syndromes. We have chosen to focus on diabetes mellitus (DM), Graves' ophthalmopathy, pituitary tumors, and some less common disorders that underscore the unique relationship between the eye and the endocrine system.
Unilateral Symptomatic Hypertrophic Olivary Degeneration Secondary to Midline Brainstem Cavernous Angioma: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Background Hypertrophic olivary degeneration (HOD) is a rare phenomenon in the dento-rubro-olivary pathway caused by lesion or disruption of the fibers of the Guillain-Mollaret triangle. Hemorrhage of pontine and midbrain cavernous angiomas can rarely lead to HOD portending neurologic deterioration and possible concomitant life-threatening complications; for this reason, it may define a poignant consideration in planning intervention. Case Description The patient was a 57-year-old woman with known midbrain-pontine cavernous angioma. For several years, the lesion had been stable, as shown by imaging follow-up, until 10 months before the patient presented with falls, dysarthria, and headache. Imaging showed some decrease in size as well as blood product around the cavernous angioma, suggesting interim period hemorrhage and interval development of HOD. Conclusions The literature regarding imaging recommendations for stable cavernous angioma in the midbrain-pontine junction is reviewed. The implication of HOD for patient outcome is discussed and a comment is made on how the development of HOD may affect management of the cavernous angioma.
Effects of Cellular Glycine on Cell Proliferation

The biosyntheses of a number of cellular molecules, including purines, heme, and proteins, are dependent on glycine precursors. Additionally, glycine serves as an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain. Glycine is synthesized from serine and tetrahydrofolate (THF) in a reversible reaction catalyzed by serine hydroxymethyltransferase (SHMT), which exists as cytoplasmic and mitochondrial isozymes. Cellular glycine concentrations are tightly regulated (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7), and both hypo- and hyperglycinemia have been linked to severe neurological and developmental abnormalities (7). Glycine can be catabolized to CO2 and NH3 in tissues that express the glycine cleavage system (GCS), an enzymatic complex of 4 mitochondrial proteins whose action is folate-dependent (2).
A Rare Case of Mediastinal Bronchogenic Cyst Infected by Salmonella enteritidis

Bronchogenic cysts are rare congenital malformations which arise from abnormal budding of the primitive tracheobronchial tube and can localize to either the mediastinum or lung parenchyma. They remain clinically silent in most adults unless they become infected or are large enough to compress adjacent structures. Infections involving bronchogenic cysts are often polymicrobial. Gram-positive, Gram-negative, and mycobacterial infections have been reported, though frequently a pathogen is not identified. We present the case of a 46-year-old female with known history of bronchogenic cyst who presented with suspected postobstructive pneumonia. She underwent cyst excision with culture positive for Salmonella enteritidis, an extremely rare finding on review of the literature. The patient recovered following a three-week course of antibiotics for extraintestinal salmonellosis.
Who is studied in de novo fear conditioning paradigms? An examination of demographic and stimulus characteristics predicting fear learning

Abstract A common challenge in fear conditioning studies is that a relatively large proportion of individuals fail to acquire a differential conditioned skin conductance response (SCR). Researchers have identified demographic factors associated with poorer fear learning and explored the use of different fear conditioning paradigms across various populations. However, few studies have strategically aimed to enhance acquisition by manipulating the unconditioned stimulus (UCS). In the current manuscript, we examined whether demographic factors predicted failure to condition (n = 274) and explored whether modifications to the UCS enhanced fear learning (n = 143). Results indicated that race, but not age, education, or gender, predicted failure to condition. Stepwise logistic regression demonstrated that race was the most influential of these predictors; African Americans were less likely to acquire a conditioned SCR, compared to non-African Americans. Also, use of a compound UCS (i.e., electric shock combined with a scream noise) led to nearly double the rate of acquisition of a conditioned SCR. Hence, use of a compound UCS may provide a way to reduce the number of excluded individuals in studies of fear-conditioned SCR and thereby improve the representativeness of research samples.
Estimation of Treatment Effects in Randomized Trials with Noncompliance and a Dichotomous Outcome

We propose a class of estimators of a received treatment effect on a dichotomous outcome among the treated subjects within covariate and treatment arm strata in randomized trials with non-compliance. Recent articles by Vansteelandt and Goethebeur (2003), and Robins and Rotnitzky (2004) have presented consistent and asymptotically linear estimators of a causal odds ratio, which rely, beyond correct specification of a model for the causal odds ratio, on a correctly specified model for a (potentially high dimensional) nuisance parameter. In this article we propose consistent, asymptotically linear (and locally efficient) estimators of a causal relative risk and a new parameter -- called a switch causal relative risk -- which only rely on the correct specification of a model for the parameter of interest. As in Robins and Rotnitzky (2004), our estimators are always consistent, asymptotically linear at the null hypothesis of no-treatment effect -- thereby providing valid testing procedures -- since, by construction, our model for the causal relative risk always includes the value 1.
Approximations for the strength distribution and size effect in an idealized lattice model of material breakdown

Abstract Various random network models have been developed recently to explain certain features of fracture development in materials, including the character of ‘cracks’, the form of the strength distribution, the size effect, and the connection to percolation theory. Applications include fibrous composites, random fuse networks, superconducting networks, dielectrics and elastic lattices. Because of extreme analytical difficulties researchers have relied on Monte Carlo simulation to validate various scaling hypotheses and approximations. Since only small network sizes are presently accessible, features which eventually emerge at the largest scale may not be uncovered. To shed light on this issue we consider a simple, idealized model where elements have strength zero or one with probabilities α or 1 − α, respectively. The load of a failed element is redistributed equally onto the nearest surviving neighbors, and open boundary conditions are considered for simplicity of calculation. Various exact, asymptotic and numerical results are obtained including a careful evaluation of any errors. Features of the results are in conflict with some of those in the literature for more complex stress redistribution situations. For α close to one, the mean strength of the network is dominated by small-scale bm boundary effects which may persist up to relatively large network sizes (1000 × 1000) before large-scale effects ultimately dominate.
Role of skin-sparing mastectomy in breast reconstruction.

First described by Toth in 1991 [1], skin-sparing mastectomy (SSM) has emerged as the preferred method of mastectomy for women with early stage breast cancer who require mastectomy and desire immediate reconstruction. SSM involves removal of the entire breast gland, nipple-areolar complex, previous biopsy sites, and axillary sampling via either sentinel lymph node biopsy or formal axillary dissection. Benefits include improved aesthetic and functional results, with equivalent risk of recurrence and no increase in complications. This chapter will provide details of surgical anatomy and technique, review our institutional experience with SSM, and provide case examples from our clinical practice.
Characterization of Microbial Communities in Agroecosystems

Substrate utilization and stress response patterns were assessed for bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes in both wheat and prairie systems. Landscape position was also a potential source of variation among the samples. The data were further analyzed according to distinct isolate groupings. Bacterial isolates from the tilled systems had higher carbon source utilization as compared to prairie isolates, while actinomycetes isolates from the prairie system had higher carbon sources utilization as compared to the tilled system isolates. Overall, actinomycetes isolate responses were higher for both the tilled and prairie systems. Actinomycetes isolates also had the highest growth rates in the presence of stressors for both systems as compared to bacterial and fungal isolates. Microbial substrate utilization differed with landscape position. The isolates from the tilled system had higher substrate utilization from foot slope, while the isolates from the prairie system had higher substrate utilization responses from side slope. Ridge top responses were similar. Relationship analyses among the substrates, isolates, and management systems support these findings. Actinomycetes had strong associations with arginine, sorbitol, xylan, streptomycin, and penicillin. Investigations of this nature can provide insight into the unknown of functional diversity. By isolating individual subsets of the community, and monitoring their nutritional strategies and performance under stress, we can gain valuable information into responses from different management systems.
Social adjustment of adolescent cancer patients transitioning off active treatment: A short-term prospective mixed methods study.

Background Psychosocial follow-up in survivorship is a standard of care in pediatric oncology; however, little is known about patients' psychosocial functioning during the transition off active treatment, a unique time in the cancer journey. This study examined the social adjustment of adolescent cancer patients during this transition period, which has been understudied to date. Procedure Participants were 21 patients (ages 12-18 years; age M = 14.71 years; 62% female, 81% White) with various cancer diagnoses. Patients and their parents completed the Social Competence subscale of the Youth Self-Report (YSR) and Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), respectively, PedsQL Social Functioning subscale, and a semistructured interview 1-2 months prior to ending treatment (time 1) and 3-7 months after ending treatment (time 2). Results YSR and CBCL social competence scores were within the normal range at both time points. PedsQL social functioning scores were more consistent with norms for pediatric cancer samples at time 1 and norms for healthy children at time 2, with self-reported scores significantly improving from time 1 to time 2. A subset of patients had elevated social concerns at time 1, a number that decreased by time 2. Interviews revealed both positive and negative themes related to peer relationships and support, quantity of friends, and socialization. Conclusions Most adolescent cancer patients are socially well adjusted as they transition off treatment, although a subset have elevated concerns. Interviews provide insight into complex social experiences not captured on questionnaires. Patients may benefit from screening and support during this unique time.
The amendment of the U.S. stock act and the prices of stocks most held by congress

This paper examines the returns of stocks most frequently held by members of the US Congress surrounding the amendment to the “Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge” (STOCK) Act, which relaxed so...
Evidence-Based Practice: Use in Answering Queries and Developing Systematic Reviews

Abstract Proper research, analysis, and use of evidence-based practice (EBP)/medicine are all extremely important when responding to clinicians' queries about patient-specific scenarios encountered in everyday practice. The modified systematic approach to answering drug information and medical-related questions is a commonly employed process that results in finding pertinent evidence and eliminating unnecessary information relative to the question posed. Collecting the necessary background material, categorizing the request, and determining the true question being asked will save time and direct efforts toward the retrieval of relevant tertiary and primary literature. Developing an appropriate search strategy and conducting a thorough search of the literature will yield quality resources and information. These results should be validated and verified in more than one source to ensure uniformity of data. Correct analysis and synthesis of gathered information are also essential for applying to patient-specific situations. Of course, without proper and clear communication of the formulated response, as well as supporting documentation, the information conveyed will not be helpful to the user. Additionally, the provision of robust and strong EBP is vital when offering recommendations to practitioners and creating systematic reviews for institutions.
The Wedding as a Reproductive Ritual

Research on patterns of marriage has determined that marriages serve as a reproductive contract between men and women. Marriage usually lasts for periods of time sufficient to raise a child until h...
Selecting Goals for an Introductory Computer Programming Course.

THE instructional use of computers in the secondary schools is growing rapidly. One can divide instructional uses of com puters into two categories?those that re quire student knowledge of computer pro gramming and those that do not. In the latter category, one typically finds com puter-managed instruction, various forms of computer-assisted instruction (such as drill and practice, tutorial, and gaming and simulation), and use of canned pro grams to do the computations involved in solving particular problems. Computer programming, on the other hand, is a fundamental tool in general problem solv ing. That is, the computer is an essential tool to many people who attempt to apply mathematics to "real life" problems. Thus it is natural that computing should come into the mathematics classroom, and that mathematics teachers should get involved in the teaching of computer programming. This article discusses some potential goals of an introductory computer-pro gramming course. It focuses on goals that are often overlooked and on goals that are relatively independent of the computer hardware and software used in teaching computing.
Cells Lacking the PolQ Polymerase Are Moderately Sensitive to Ionizing Radiation and the Oxidant Induced Toxicity of Paraquat and Bleomycin.

Abstract The DNA polymerase POLQ (pol theta) can bypass abasic sites in DNA and thymine glycol, a common product of reactive oxygen species damage to DNA. POLQ may also have a back-up role in base excision repair. To explore the role of POLQ in tolerance of DNA damage following irradiation, and exposure to agents that induce oxidative stress we established bone marrow stromal cell lines from the PolQ+/+ and PolQ−/− mice. Irradiation survival curves were obtained for PolQ +/+, and 2 clones of PolQ −/− cells. Dose-response experiments using the free radical generators paraquat, hydrogen peroxide and bleomycin were done on 2 clones each of PolQ +/+ and PolQ −/− cells. There was no significant difference over 23 weeks in cumulative granulopoiesis in LTBMCs from PolQ +/+ and PolQ −/− mice. PolQ+/+ cells and 2 independent clones of PolQ−/− cells were exposed to 0 – 8 Gy of gamma radiation, and colony forming ability was measured. PolQ −/− cells were more sensitive to irradiation as shown by decreased Do from 1.38 + 0.06 Gy for PolQ +/+ cells compared to 1.27 + 0.16 and 0.98 + 0.10 (p = 0.0316) Gy for PolQ −/− clones 1 and 3 respectively. Micronucleated reticulocytes were measured in peripheral blood of PolQ+/+, +/− or −/− mice after irradiation with 75 cGy or 700 cGy. Before irradiation, PolQ−/− mice had a higher fraction of MN- reticulocytes compared to PolQ+/+. Forty hr after irradiation, MN reticulocytes in PolQ−/− mice increased to 8.53 ± 1.48%, compared to 2.35 ± 0.12% and 2.55 ± 0.17% in PolQ+/+ mice (p = 0.0032). PolQ +/+ and PolQ −/− cells were exposed to paraquat (0–20 mM), hydrogen peroxide (0–40 uM) and bleomycin (0–5 ug/ml) for 1 hr prior to plating. After 7 days, the cells were stained and colonies of 50 cells or greater were counted. Statistical analysis was done using ANCOVA. PolQ −/− cells were modestly more sensitive to paraquat (p
The influence of pre-fire growth patterns on post-fire tree mortality for common conifers in western US parks

Fire severity in forests is often defined in terms of post-fire tree mortality, yet the influences on tree mortality following fire are not fully understood. Pre-fire growth may serve as an index of vigour, indicating resource availability and the capacity to recover from injury and defend against pests. For trees that are not killed immediately by severe fire injury, tree growth patterns could therefore partially predict post-fire mortality probabilities. Here, we consider the influence of multiple growth patterns on post-fire tree mortality for three common conifer species in the western USA. Using observations from 1 to 9 years following prescribed fires in USA national parks across five western states, we show that post-fire conifer mortality was related not only to fire-caused injuries (crown scorch and bole char), but also to average growth rate and long-term (25 years) growth patterns (counts of abrupt growth declines and possibly growth trends). Our results suggest that pre-fire conditions affecting tree vigour may influence post-fire tree mortality probabilities. Environmental conditions (such as rising temperatures and moisture stress), independent of fire intensity, may thus cause expressed fire severity to increase in western forests.
Cache-Zoomer: On-demand High-resolution Cache Monitoring for Security

Information leakage through timing channels is an increasing threat in most computer systems. Among various hardware components, the CPU caches expose the largest attack surface for timing channels since they are usually shared among multiple processor cores. Recently, cache-based covert timing channels have been exploited by well-known attacks, such as Meltdown, for information leakage. Prior works have explored use of existing hardware performance counters linked to caches in order to detect covert channels. Unfortunately, current hardware performance counters only capture a single cache-wide statistic relating to the activities of an entire cache. As a result, such coarse-grained cache monitoring is very unlikely to capture the adversaries that typically work with limited subsets of cache blocks. To solve the resolution problem in existing cache hardware performance counters, we propose Cache-Zoomer, a framework that provides on-demand high-resolution cache monitoring. Cache-Zoomer uses a small set of configuration registers for on-demand monitoring of specific regions in the cache. At runtime, Cache-Zoomer dynamically selects the cache sub-areas with high frequency of miss patterns for improved monitoring. We demonstrate the efficiency of Cache-Zoomer on various types of cache timing channel attacks with different bandwidths. Our results show that Cache-Zoomer is able to swiftly detect all the cache timing channels studied, while incurring negligible (< 1%) area and power overheads. Our proposed Cache-Zoomer is versatile and can be adapted to other applications such as performance analysis as well.