cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Characterizing the Effect of Audio Degradation on Privacy Perception And Inference Performance in Audio-Based Human Activity Recognition

Audio has been increasingly adopted as a sensing modality in a variety of human-centered mobile applications and in smart assistants in the home. Although acoustic features can capture complex semantic information about human activities and context, continuous audio recording often poses significant privacy concerns. An intuitive way to reduce privacy concerns is to degrade audio quality such that speech and other relevant acoustic markers become unintelligible, but this often comes at the cost of activity recognition performance. In this paper, we employ a mixed-methods approach to characterize this balance. We first conduct an online survey with 266 participants to capture their perception of privacy qualitatively and quantitatively with degraded audio. Given our findings that privacy concerns can be significantly reduced at high levels of audio degradation, we then investigate how intentional degradation of audio frames can affect the recognition results of the target classes while maintaining effective privacy mitigation. Our results indicate that degradation of audio frames can leave minimal effects for audio recognition using frame-level features. Furthermore, degradation of audio frames can hurt the performance to some extend for audio recognition using segment-level features, though the usage of such features may still yield superior recognition performance. Given the different requirements on privacy mitigation and recognition performance for different sensing purposes, such trade-offs need to be balanced in actual implementations.
Arms races in the developing world: some policy implications

Abstract An arms race exists when a country’s propensity to acquire arms is influenced by a potential adversary’s military spending. When evaluating the impact of economic policies towards the developing world, e.g., foreign assistance programs, it is important to identify if an arms race exist between dyads of recipient nations. The reason is that if the impact of the policy is favorable to the country deemed to be “causing” an arms race, then the policy will not only increase the amount of weapons of the recipient country, but of the other as well. This will increase the probability of war if it is positively related to the stock of weapons of these adversaries. Consequently, this paper investigates the direction of prima facie casual relationship between the military expenditures of potential adversaries in the developing world by using parametric causality tests. We conclude that some of these country’s expenditures seem to reflect an arms race while other proposed dyads seem not to be adversaries, i.e., their expenditures are independent and therefore seem to be governed by other than an external threat.
Variation in biochemistry test results between annual wellness visits in apparently healthy Golden Retrievers.

Background Annual wellness testing is widely recommended for apparently healthy dogs, but there is little data to assist with distinguishing normal variation from clinically important changes. Objectives To define variability in biochemistry analytes between annual wellness tests in healthy Golden Retrievers. Animals Four hundred thirty-four Golden Retrievers undergoing annual health assessments by their primary care veterinarians as part of a prospective cohort study. Methods Changes in 23 biochemistry analytes were calculated between year 1 and year 2 health checks for 196 dogs classified as healthy for ≥3 consecutive years. Using a direct nonparametric method, annual change intervals were constructed to define normal variability. A validation cohort of 238 dogs without a diagnosis of systemic disease for ≥3 consecutive years were compared with the reference and annual change intervals, and the proportions of dogs outside annual change intervals and a population-based reference interval were compared by using a McNemar test. Results Annual change intervals were calculated based on 190 dogs after outlier removal. For all 23 analytes, >90% of dogs in the validation cohort were within the annual change interval. There were no significant differences in the classification by reference versus annual change intervals. Conclusions and clinical importance The annual change intervals met performance requirements for classification of dogs that did not develop systemic disease in the year following wellness testing as normal.
Immature and mature female Red Snapper habitat use in the north-central Gulf of Mexico

Abstract Red Snapper (Lutjanus campechanus) is a popular reef-associated fish species in the northern Gulf of Mexico (GOM) that supports both commercial and recreational fisheries. In this region, there is a large overlap in fork length (FL, 90%) and age (93%) range between mature and immature females. Therefore, here we investigate how age and FL of mature and immature female Red Snapper vary by artificial reef type and depth. Red Snapper (n = 695) were sampled using vertical long lines from March or April through November of 2016–2018 off the coast of Mississippi at different artificial structure types (platforms, artificial reefs, rigs-to-reefs) and depths (shallow, 20 m; mid, 20–49 m; deep, 50–100 m). To investigate habitat use of mature and immature fish respectively, we developed linear mixed-effects models. For both immature and mature fish, FL and age increased significantly with depth. Immature fish captured at artificial reefs were older than those captured at platforms, and mature fish were older and had longer FL at rigs-to-reefs than platforms and artificial reefs. The effect of depth on FL or age did not differ between mature and immature fish while the effect of structure types did. Structure types were important to predict FL for mature fish, but not for immature fish. In addition, the differences in age between rigs-to-reefs and both platforms and artificial reefs were significantly larger in mature fish than in immature fish. Larger and older mature females are found at deeper depths where fishing pressure is lower, while smaller and younger, immature fish are most often found in shallower, reef-based areas where pressure is highest. These spatial differences in maturity can help inform management regulations for the species.
Waitlist Mortality for Children Listed for Heart Transplant in the United States: How are We Doing?

Purpose Studies suggest that pediatric heart transplant (HT) waitlist mortality has declined. The impact of factors like refinements to the heart allocation system, patient selection, greater ABO incompatible (ABO-I) HT and VAD support are unknown. We examined the 20-year trend in waitlist mortality to identify factors associated with declining mortality and whether allocational inefficiencies persist. Methods All children Results Overall 11,374 patients met inclusion criteria (3,248 in Era 1; 5,378 in Era 2; 2,748 in Era 3). Waitlist mortality declined significantly across eras (21%, 17%, 13%, P Conclusion Pediatric HT waitlist mortality has declined significantly over the past 20 years. There is evidence to suggest that greater VAD use, revisions to organ allocation, refinements in patient selection and ABO-I transplant may all contribute. Organ allocation inefficiencies persist under the current allocation system suggesting opportunities for allocation improvement may still exist.
Artifacts and mind-dependence

I defend the intention-dependence of artifacts (IDA), which says that something is an artifact of kind K only if it is the successful product of an intention to make an artifact of kind K. I consider objections from two directions. First, that artifacts are often mind- and intention-dependent, but that this isn’t necessary, as shown by swamp cases. I offer various error theories for why someone would have artifact intuitions in such cases. Second, that while artifacts are necessarily mind-dependent, they aren’t necessarily intention-dependent. I consider and reject three kinds of cases which purport to show this: accidental creation, automated production, and mass production. I argue that intentions are present in all of these cases, but not where we would normally expect.
Phase Transitions in QCD

In this chapter we introduce the concept of phase transition and we discuss the chiral and deconfinement phase transitions of QCD. We discuss the infinite quark limit, for which we have a deconfinement phase transition due to the breaking of the Z(3) symmetry, and for which the Polyakov loop is the order parameter. We also consider the opposite, massless quark limit, for which the chiral condensate is the order parameter. We finish the chapter by discussing the Columbia plot, which is the quark-mass dependence of the order of the phase transition.
Interventions for Tobacco Smoking Cessation in Adults, Including Pregnant Persons.

A 27-year-old patient, R.C., with a history of generalized anxiety disorder presents for a wellness examination. R.C. previously smoked a pack of cigarettes per day but has cut down to half a pack per day and started using electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) and is interested in eventually quitting the use of tobacco products.
Mycotic aneurysm of the distal radial artery after cardiac catheterisation.

A mycotic aneurysm of the distal radial artery following access for cardiac catheterisation is a rare complication that has not been described in the literature. We present the case of an 84-year-old man who developed bacteraemia and cellulitis over his left first dorsal webspace 2 days after undergoing cardiac catheterisation through the distal radial artery at the anatomic snuffbox. Ultrasound scanning and CT imaging were concerning for a possible pseudoaneurysm at that location. Once we confirmed that the patient had adequate flow through his hand with angiography and an Allen’s test, we explored his left hand and found a mycotic aneurysm of the distal radial artery with surrounding frank purulence. We resected the aneurysm and ligated the artery. Pathology confirmed that this was a mycotic aneurysm. The patient quickly recovered from his infection after this definitive treatment.
Visual exploration of genomic data

In this study, we present methods for comparative visualization of DNA sequences in two dimensions. First, we illustrate a transformation of gene sequences into numerical trajectories. The trajectory visually captures the nucleotide content of each sequence, allowing for fast and easy visualization of long DNA sequences. Then, we project the relative placement of the trajectories on the 2D plane using a spanning-tree arrangement method, which allows the efficient comparison of multiple sequences. We demonstrate with various examples the applicability of our technique in evolutionary biology and specifically in capturing and visualizing the molecular phylogeny between species.
Good and Bad Idealizations in Political Theory

This article criticizes Laura Valentini's criterion for distinguishing good and bad idealizations in normative political theory. I argue that, on an attentive reading of her criterion, all ideal theories she discusses must be written off as incorporating bad idealizations. This fact makes Valentini's criterion trivially implausible, for it is argued that there are good idealizations that succeed in promoting the action-guiding goal of ideal theory. Upon rejecting an attempt to salvage the idealizations that Valentini marks off as bad, I develop an alternative criterion for demarcating good and bad idealizations. The criterion holds that the standing of a theory's idealized assumptions depends on whether the stipulated idealizations can be feasibly realized in the non-ideal world, and thus on whether the principles that the theory generates can be made relevant for real-world practice. I also claim that the feasibility criterion better reflects the function of idealization in promoting action-guidance. Unlike Valentini's criterion, the feasibility criterion yields the result that Rawls' theories of domestic and international justice both incorporate bad idealizations.
Reset noise suppression in two-dimensional CMOS photodiode pixels through column-based feedback-reset

We present a new CMOS photodiode imager pixel with ultralow read noise through on-chip suppression of reset noise via column-based feedback circuitry. In a 0.5 /spl mu/m CMOS process, the pixel occupies only 10/spl times/10 /spl mu/m/sup 2/ area. Data from a 256/sup 2/ CMOS imager indicates imager operation with read noise as low as 6 electrons without employing on- or off-chip correlated double sampling. The noise reduction is achieved without introducing any image lag, and with insignificant reduction in quantum efficiency and full-well.
Some Remarks on Productivity and its Decompositions

This paper provides a brief history of the Malmquist productivity index and its decomposition. Theoretical and empirical issues related to the index are discussed along with directions for future research.
Characterization of the thymus leukemia (TL) product encoded by the BALB/c T3c gene by DNA-mediated gene transfer. Comparison to the T13c product and BALB/c leukemia TL.

Using DNA-mediated gene transfer, we have studied the TL protein products encoded by both the T3c and T13c BALB/c genes. Biochemically, the proteins differed in their m.w. and pI points; serologically, although both molecules were recognized by TL alloantiserum, only the T13c protein was recognized by monoclonal TL antibodies. Interestingly, both proteins were serologically and immunochemically recognized by leukemia-specific TL.4 antiserum. The quantity of cell surface T13 was significantly greater than T3 possibly due to the less efficient splicing of T3 transcripts in the L cell nucleus; both genes directed the synthesis of cytoplasmic RNA containing an unspliced intron 3 as assessed by S1 analysis. In toto, the results suggest that T3c is similar or perhaps identical with the novel TL product previously identified on the surface of certain x-ray-induced BALB/c leukemias.
Children and Government

This chapter addresses the influence that government has on children's development. Government exerts its influence as part of the social ecological macrosystem through direct funding of programs, laws that constrain or encourage behavior, support for research, and the creation of institutions to uphold laws or implement policies. Because government's roles are to affect both the mean and the distribution of outcomes for children, we focus on the problem of poverty, its impact on children, and ways government tries to buffer children from those outcomes. After providing a history of government policies that affect families and children, we synthesize the state of knowledge about how specific public policies in domains such as health, education, and social services affect children's development. We ground this synthesis in relational developmental systems theory, which asserts a bidirectional relation between a child and his or her context. We describe methods that developmental scientists use to study public policies. We highlight the contemporary challenge of optimizing children's development in a context of economic uncertainty, federal deficit, and an aging population. Finally, we argue that children's development can be optimized through more systematic, evidence-based policy making that is grounded in developmental science. Keywords: antipoverty programs; education policy; evidence-based programs; government; health care; juvenile justice; macrosystem; means-tested programs; public policy; poverty
Darwin’s Sleepwalkers: Naturalists, Nature, and the Practices of Classification

Darwin used taxonomic arguments widely in his work on transformism and natural selection, especially in attempts to persuade other (typically non-transformist) naturalists of the correctness of his ideas in Origin of Species. But, as has long been noticed, classificatory practices in natural history were by no means turned on their head in the wake of his work. Darwin succeeded in coopting, or else leaving untouched, the taxonomic conclusions of his colleagues, because he needed to use their conclusions as evidence for his transformist views: time and again, he made points by referring to what a typical naturalists would make of things. By telling them that the kind of knowledge that their taxonomy produced was really about genealogical relationships, Darwin tried to tell naturalist that their judgments were correct even though they had not previously known why this was so: they were sleepwalkers, finding their way in the dark, and Darwin would illuminate them. His argumentative style continually attempted to draw existing practices of classification to his assistance, and made the judgments of his colleagues into surrogate phenomena that would provide evidence for his views. Those colleagues thus constituted a society that established nature by its own practices.
A mold and transfer technique for lead-free fluxless soldering and application to wafer-level low-temperature thin-film packages

This paper demonstrates a technique to pre-mold and transfer lead-free solder balls for MEMS/electronics packaging applications. A reusable bulk micromachined silicon wafer is used to mold a solder paste and remove excess flux prior to transfer to a host wafer that may contain released MEMS. This technique has been used to fabricate low temperature thin film vacuum packages. Long term (>5 months) reliability of these packages at room temperature and pressure is demonstrated through integrated Pirani gauges. Data from preliminary accelerated lifetime testing (thermal cycling and autoclave soaking) is also offered.
Adolescents sex-typed friendship experiences: does having a sister versus a brother matter?

This study examines the connections between having a sister versus a brother and coming from a same-sex versus an opposite-sex sibling dyad and the degree of sex-typing in adolescents' friendship experiences, including the qualities of their friendships (i.e., intimacy, control) and their friends' personal attributes (i.e., sex-typed leisure interests, expressive and instrumental personality qualities). Participants were 159 firstborn-secondborn adolescent sibling pairs (M = 14.94 years and M = 12.43 years, respectively) and a close friend of each sibling (N = 636, including siblings and friends). Data were collected during home visits with siblings and telephone interviews with friends of siblings. The results suggested that sisters may learn control tactics from their brothers that they apply in their friendships; boys, however, were less likely to model the emotional intimacy that characterized their sisters' experiences with friends. In addition, coming from an opposite-sex sibling dyad was linked to sex-typing in friends' personal attributes, particularly their masculine leisure interests and instrumental personality qualities. Sisters and brothers may provide unique opportunities to learn about sex-typed relationship experiences in early adolescence, a time when gender segregation in the peer context is pervasive.
Abstract 2752: Genetic variants in MMPs genes as predisposition factors for ovarian cancer risk and clinical outcome

Ovarian cancer is the leading cause of death resulting from the cancer of female reproductive system. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of zinc-dependent and structure related endopeptidases that have been implicated in the development and prognosis of cancers including ovarian cancer. In this case control study of 417 ovarian cancer cases and 417 healthy controls, we genotyped a comprehensive panel of 266 potential functional single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 23 MMP genes and analyzed their associations with ovarian cancer risk, and overall survival and response to chemotherapy in ovarian cancer cases who received platinum-based chemotherapy with surgery. The analysis was further restricted to 339 Caucasian ovarian cancer cases and 349 Caucasian healthy controls to minimize potential confounding by population stratification. We observed 24 SNPs significantly associated with the risk of ovarian cancer, 4 of which remained significant after adjusting for multiple comparisons using q value at 10% level. The top 3 SNPs were from MMP20 and the most significant association was observed for SNP rs2292730 (OR = 2.03, 95% CI = 1.39 − 2.96, P = 0.0002, recessive model). We then analyzed the cumulative effect of the top four SNPs on ovarian cancer risk by counting the number of unfavorable genotypes in each individual and found a significant gene-dosage effect (P for trend Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2752.
Analysis of a cardiovascular disease genetic risk score in the Diabetes Heart Study

Aims It remains unclear whether the high cardiovascular disease (CVD) burden in people with type 2 diabetes (T2D) is associated with genetic variants that contribute to CVD in general populations. Recent studies have examined genetic risk scores of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) identified by genome-wide association studies for their cumulative contribution to CVD-related traits. Most analyses combined SNPs associated with a single phenotypic class, e.g., lipids. In the present analysis, we examined a more comprehensive risk score comprised of SNPs associated with a broad range of CVD risk phenotypes.
Crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis of human α-galactosidase A complex

Abstract Human α-galactosidase A (α- d -galactoside galactohydrolase; EC 3.2.1.22), the glycosylated lysosomal enzyme deficient in Fabry disease, has been crystallized as a complex with the inhibitor N -6-aminohexanoyl-α- d -galactopyranosylamine. The "hanging drop" method of vapor diffusion was used to grow crystals from solutions containing 50 mM sodium phosphate (pH 4·0 to 4·5), 120 to 170 mM ZnCl 2 and 8 to 10% polyethylene glycol 3350. X-ray diffraction data collected from these crystals indicate that the crystals belong to the orthorhombic space group C 222 1 with cell dimensions of a = 93·8 A, b = 141·1 A and c = 184·4 A. The crystals diffract to a resolution of 3 A and native data have been collected to 3·5 A resolution. Assuming one dimer per asymmetric unit with a total molecular mass of 110 kDa (with oligosaccharide chains), the Matthews' coefficient is V m = 2·77 A3/dalton corresponding to a solvent content of 55% (v/v). The self-rotation function reveals that a non-crystallographic 2-fold axis relates the subunits of each dimer.
Leupeptin selectively inhibits human platelet responses induced by thrombin and trypsin; a role for proteolytic activation of phospholipase C.

Abstract Thrombin and trypsin induce serotonin release and aggregation in human platelets. Both proteases induced activation of phospholipase C as reflected by formation of inositol phosphates and phospnorylation of the resultant 1,2-diacylglycerol to phosphatidic acid. Also, thrombin and trypsin activate protein kinase C and myosin light chain kinase as indicated, respectively, by phosphorylation of the 40,000 and 20,000 dalton proteins. Leupeptin, a known inhibitor of serine proteases, blocks all the observed responses of human platelets to trypsin and thrombin. Leupeptin does not inhibit serotonin release and aggregation induced by other platelet stimuli such as collagen, platelet-activating factor, ionophore A23187, and arachidonic acid. The implication of a proteolytic-mediated pathway in the transmembrane signalling involved in platelet activation is discussed.
Natural sample spaces and the inversion of conditional judgments

Judgments of frequency or probability require formation of an appropriate sample space (i.e., consideration of the set of outcomes that could occur or that could be true). In judgments of the form A given B, the conditioning information, B, delineates the relevant sample space. We propose that when this relevant sample space corresponds to a natural category, appropriate samples are drawn and relatively accurate judgments are made. When the sample space does not correspond to a natural category, a related but inappropriate sample space is substituted and errors occur. Subjects in good sample-space conditions made judgments that had natural categories as the conditioning event (e.g., of 100 randomly selected men, how many prefer brown rather than blue?). Subjects in bad sample-space conditions made judgments that had natural categories as the conditioned event (e.g., of 100 randomly selected people who prefer brown rather than blue, how many are men?). Subjects made complementary judgments that should sum to 100%. As predicted, bad sample-space subjects were much more likely than good sample-space subjects to make errors by deviating from 100%. Data indicated that these errors resulted from subjects' inverting the judgment (e.g., from gender |preference to preference| gender), incorrectly using the natural category as the sample space. Implications are drawn for processes underlying judgments of conditional events and for the understanding of natural kinds in the social realm.
Duplex accuracy compared with angiography in the Veterans Affairs Cooperative Studies Trial for Symptomatic Carotid Stenosis

Duplex ultrasonography is frequently used for noninvasive screening for extracranial occlusive disease. In a multicenter, prospective, randomized trial for carotid endarterectomy in symptomatic patients, the duplex ultrasound examination was compared with conventional angiographic findings for internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis in 178 patients. Angiograms were interpreted by radiologists both at local medical centers and at a central site; the angiographic determination of ICA stenosis was calculated as percent diameter at the point of maximal narrowing compared with the normal distal ICA. Comparisons were made for 328 arteries, including both the symptomatic (> 50% stenosis determined by angiography) and the asymptomatic (variable degrees of stenosis) sides. Duplex ultrasonography sensitivity varied from 0.24 for 30 to 49% stenosis to 0.71 for 50 to 79% stenosis and 0.91 for ICA occlusion. Using a 50% stenosis cutpoint, duplex ultrasonography sensitivity was 0.90 with a specificity of 0.76. Duplex scan readings underestimated the degree of stenosis in the 30 to 49% stenosis group in 48% of the cases. There was no apparent relationship between the accuracy of stenosis determinations and that of external carotid artery stenosis, carotid plaque morphology, or ulceration determinations by ultrasound. On the basis of the benefit provided by carotid endarterectomy in symptomatic patients with high-grade lesions, duplex ultrasound accuracy is essential if noninvasive testing is used to make clinical decisions. In situations in which duplex findings may not be reliable, such as in the mild-to-moderate stenosis and occlusion categories, carotid angiography may be indicated.
The glucose/insulin system and vitamin C: Implications in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

The cellular uptake of vitamin C (ascorbic acid, ASC) is promoted by insulin and inhibited by hyperglycemia. If a rise in plasma ASC is uncoupled from insulin replacement in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) then the degree of hyperglycemia could account for "tissue scurvy" in IDDM. Leukocyte ASC is lower in IDDMs compared with nondiabetics when vitamin C consumption is adequate and our data suggest that this is a variable component of the pathophysiology of IDDM. The complications of diabetes mellitus are believed to result from either the intracellular accumulation of sorbitol or the nonenzymatic glycoxidation of proteins or both. With respect to the abnormal cellular accumulation of sorbitol, vitamin C supplementation has been shown to be effective in several studies of adults with diabetes; the situation regarding the prevention of protein glycoxidations by supplementation is presently unclear. The roles of ASC as an aldose reductase inhibitor and a water soluble antioxidant in body fluids are potentially very important as adjuncts to tight glycemic control in the management of diabetes. Tissue saturation and maximal physiologic function in IDDM may require supplemental vitamin C intake.
Plasmid-determined tetracycline resistance in Streptococcus faecalis: Tandemly repeated resistance determinants in amplified forms of pAMα1 DNA☆

Abstract We recently reported that the six-megadalton plasmid pAMα1 (one of two plasmids in Streptococcus faecalis strain DS-5C1) undergoes a gene amplification as a result of extended growth (many generations) of cells in the presence of a subinhibitory concentration of tetracycline. In this communication we present a detailed analysis of this phenomenon using the newly constructed S. faecalis strain DT-11, a strain devoid of plasmid DNA other than pAMα1. It was found that during growth of strain DT-11 in the presence of tetracycline a gradual increase in plasmid size was observed, and this could be correlated with an increase in the level of tetracycline resistance. On the basis of analyses using sucrose density-gradient sedimentation, electron microscopy and the restriction endonuclease EcoRI, it was clearly established that the enlarged DNA contained repeated units of a 2.65 megadalton segment containing the tetracycline resistance determinant. This value (2.65 megadaltons) also corresponds to the amount of DNA deleted from the plasmid in easily obtainable tetracycline sensitive variants. EcoRI digestion of the amplified DNA structures generated three fragments designated α1,α2 and α3 with molecular weights of 4.20 × 106, 1.75 × 106 and 0.90 × 106, respectively. Unamplified pAMα1 was cleaved in only two places by the enzyme, while the plasmid of tetracycline sensitive variants (i.e. DNA missing the 2.65 megadalton sequence on which the tetracycline resistance determinant resides) is totally insensitive. In the case of amplified molecules the relative amount of the α2 fragment with respect to the α1 fragment is much higher than for normal pAMα1. The data indicate that the α2 fragment contains the tetracycline resistance determinant; and in the amplified state the additional copies are arranged in tandem connected together by the α3 fragment(s). The data support models which we proposed previously with regard to the mechanism of amplification. It was also observed that in the amplified state the total amount of closed circular plasmid DNA relative to chromosomal DNA was found to be similar to that for the case of unamplified DNA, indicating that when the molecules are larger there are fewer of them.
Heterosexual romantic relationships and sexual behaviors of young adolescent girls.

Purpose: To compare the heterosexual romantic relationships of a cohort of sexually experienced and sexually inexperienced adolescent girls, to describe the perceptions of the appropriateness of the age of first intercourse, and to evaluate the reasons why sexually experienced girls chose to have sexual intercourse the first and the most recent times they had sexual intercourse. Methods: Girls ( n = 174) with a mean age of 14.5 years were recruited from an urban-based adolescent clinic to participate in a longitudinal study of psychosexual development. The subjects were interviewed regarding their views about relationships and sexual behaviors. For the purposes of this study, data were analyzed from the first wave of data collection. Results and Conclusions: The results of this study revealed that sexually experienced girls were more likely than sexually inexperienced ones to share unique information and spend time with their boyfriends, and to anticipate that their relationships would last longer. Regardless of sexual experience, 35% of their relationships were not mutually exclusive, which places the sexually experienced girls at risk for sexually transmitted infections. Most of the girls felt that they had been "too young" at the time of first intercourse. The reasons the adolescent girls gave for having intercourse the first time and the most recent time were correlated. It would be useful to incorporate the results of this study into subsequent research which identifies strategies to aid girls to postpone the initiation of intercourse, and maintain exclusive sexual relationships. Helping sexually experienced girls consider why they have had intercourse in the past can aid future decision-making.
Electronic Emissions Security: Danger in the Air

Most organizations have measures to protect their network infrastructure from intruders. With the growth AND AVAILABILITY of wireless, some intruders now are aiming their attacks there. The potential for damage from these types of attacks is significant due to their nature. However, there is another type of wireless attack on organizational resources that also poses a significant vulnerability. That is electromagnetic radiation, also called radio frequency emissions (RFE), from unprotected systems and networks.
Phosphines: Nucleophilic organic catalysts for the controlled ring‐opening polymerization of lactides

A new metal-free synthetic approach to the controlled ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of lactide with nucleophilic phosphines as transesterification catalysts is described. P(Bu)3, PhPMe2, Ph2PMe, PPh3, and related phosphines are commercially available, inexpensive catalysts that generate narrowly dispersed polylactides with predictable molecular weights. These organic catalysts must be used in combination with an initiator, such as an alcohol, to generate an alcoholate ester α-end group upon ROP. A likely polymerization pathway is through a monomer-activated mechanism, with minimal active species, facilitating narrow molecular weight distributions. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 844–851, 2002; DOI 10.1002/pola.10168
The development knowledge construction model based on constructivist theories to support ill-structured problem solving process of industrial education and technology students

The objectives of this research were to design and develop the knowledge construction model based on the constructivist theories to support ill-structured problem solving process of industrial education and technology students, to study the ill-structured problem solving process of learners who learnt from developed knowledge construction model, to study learning achievement of learners who learnt from developed knowledge construction model, and to study learners' opinions who learnt from developed knowledge construction model. The target group was 40 third-year undergraduate students within the first semester of the academic year 2009 in the Department of Educational Communications and Technology, faculty of Industrial Education and Technology, King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi. The research design of this study was Type II developmental research (Richey and Klein, 2007) including 3 phases: 1) the model development, 2) the model validation, and 3) the model use. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected and analyzed. Mean, standard deviation and correction were employed to analyze learning achievement. Photocal analysis was employed to analyze ill-structured problem solving process from interviewing. The findings of this studies were as follows: firstly, the results of studying the knowledge construction model based on the constructivist theories to support ill-structured problem solving process of industrial education and technology students consisted of following essentials: 1) ill-structured problems, 2) data bank for problem solving, 3) the support center of excellence for ill-structured problem solving, 4) cognitive tools for ill-structured problem solving, 5) ill-structured problem solving process transfer center by related cases, 6) sharing and social collaboration for problem solving, 7) consulting and knowledge center by experts, 8) scaffolding and cognitive strategies for ill-structured problem solving, and 9) coaching. Secondly, the result of studying the ill-structured problem solving process of learners was students can learn and solve problems by using the ill-structured problem solving process. Thirdly, the result of studying the learning achievements studies found that there were 70% of qualified students. Finally, the result of studying the learners' opinions studies were learning contents, media network, and design are appropriate, and also support knowledge construction and problem solving process of students.
Challenging epistemology: Interactive proofs and zero knowledge

Abstract This essay explores what (if anything) research on interactive zero knowledge proofs has to teach philosophers about the epistemology of mathematics and theoretical computer science. Though such proof systems initially appear ‘revolutionary’ and are a nonstandard conception of ‘proof’, I will argue that they do not have much philosophical import. Possible lessons from this work for the epistemology of mathematics—our models of mathematical proof should incorporate interaction, our theories of mathematical evidence must account for probabilistic evidence, our valuation of a mathematical proof should solely focus on its persuasive power—are either misguided or old hat. And while the differences between interactive and mathematical proofs suggest the need to develop a separate epistemology of theoretical computer science (or at least complexity theory) that differs from our theory of mathematical knowledge, a casual look at the actual practice of complexity theory indicates that such a distinct epistemology may not be necessary.
The Reader's Body: Reader Response and the Consuming Body in Helen Dunmore's Talking to the Dead

Discourses of food and food consumption provide a site where mind and body intersect: prescriptions for the flesh that originate within a linguistic framework are powerful forces within contemporar...
12/15-Lipoxygenase Is an Interleukin-13 and Interferon-γ Counterregulated-Mediator of Allergic Airway Inflammation

Interleukin-13 and interferon-γ are important effectors of T-helper cells. Interleukin-13 increases expression of the arachidonic acid-metabolizing enzyme, 15-lipoxygenase-1, in a variety of cell types. 15-lipoxygenase-1 is dramatically elevated in the airways of subjects with asthma. Studies in animals indicate that 15-lipoxygenase-1 contributes to the development of allergic airway inflammation but is protective in some other forms of inflammation. We tested the hypothesis that the ability of interleukin-13 and interferon-γ to counterregulate allergic airway inflammation was potentially mediated by counterregulation of 12/15-lipoxygenase, the mouse ortholog of 15-lipoxygenase-1. The airways of mice were treated with interleukin-13 or interferon-γ one day prior to each of the four allergen exposures. Interleukin-13 augmented and interferon-γ inhibited allergic airway inflammation independently of systemic IgE and mucosal IgA responses but in association with counterregulation of 12/15-lipoxygenase. Interleukin-13 and interferon-γ counterregulate 12/15-lipoxygenase potentially contributing to the effects of these cytokines on allergic airway inflammation.
Flow study of an extracardiac connection with persistent left superior vena cava.

Background Numerous studies have sought to optimize the design of total cavopulmonary connections with a single superior vena cava. This study was directed to the 2% to 4.5% of the population with dual superior venae cavae, investigating the flow fields associated with such total cavopulmonary connection anatomies. Additionally, it demonstrates the potential use of computational designs and simulations as surgical planning tools. Methods A 3-dimensional model of a total cavopulmonary connection with bilateral superior venae cavae was reconstructed from a patient's magnetic resonance images and investigated experimentally and numerically to assess the power losses and flow structures within the connection. On the basis of these results, a virtual operation was performed in the computer to improve the original connection design. The modified anatomy was studied numerically. Results Because of a smooth connection with an extracardiac conduit and no major dimension mismatch between the baffle and the connecting vessels, the original anatomy yielded smooth flow fields, low power losses, and few disturbances. However, a large offset between the inferior vena cava and the left superior vena cava resulted in flow stasis and unbalanced hepatic flow distribution. Shifting the inferior vena cava and positioning it between the 2 superior venae cavae resulted in a 7% decrease in power losses and eliminated the associated flow stasis regions in the main pulmonary artery segment. Conclusions This study demonstrates the potential use of computer-aided design and numeric simulations for surgical planning. It shows that locating the inferior vena cava between the superior venae cavae may lead to better-balanced lung perfusion. This may require suturing the right and left superior venae cavae closer to each other during the hemi-Fontan or Glenn stage.
Some properties of the haemolymph juvenile hormone esterases in Galleria mellonella larvae and Tenebrio molitor pupae

Abstract The apparent molecular weight, the K m , and the sensitivity to different organophosphates of the haemolymph juvenile hormone esterase (JHE) in the larvae of Galleria mellonella was determined. The apparent molecular weight, determined by gel filtration methods, was estimated to be 60,000. The apparent K m of the enzyme was 1.79 μM. The enzyme was insensitive to diisopropylphosphofluoridate (DFP) but was sensitive to paraoxon and 0-ethyl-S-phenylphosphoramidothiolate (EPPAT). The sensitivity of JHE in pupae of Tenebrio molitor to organophosphates was also determined. It was found to be insensitive to DFP and EPPAT.
Endovascular management of adult coarctation and its complications: intermediate results in a cohort of 22 patients.

Objective: To determine the safety and effectiveness of current endovascular treatment in adult patients with thoracic aortic coarctation and its complications. Methods: A cohort of 22 patients was treated for late presenting primary or recurrent coarctation or aneurysmal formation at varying intervals following childhood intervention. Results: Ten patients with recently discovered de novo coarctations were treated with balloon-expandable stents, and an endoluminal graft (ELG) was used in one additional patient. In the other 11 patients with recurrent lesions, three underwent repeat balloon dilation and stenting; eight patients with recurrence with aneurysms received ELGs. The gradients across the coarctation decreased from 49 + 16 to 4 + 7 mmHg (p = 0.001), and the diameters increased from 10 + 4 to 19 + 4 mm ( p = 0.001 In five of the eight patients (63%) with aneurysms, the ELG covered the subclavian artery, and a carotid subclavian bypass was necessary. Two patients required iliac artery access. No early major complications occurred. At mean follow-up of 31 + 15.6 months, one patient with type II leak resolved spontaneously and another developed neck dilation and type I leak, requiring a second ELG placement. All patients except one had improvements in symptoms and better hypertension control. Conclusions: We conclude that primary or secondary endovascular intervention in adults with de novo or recurrent coarctation and aneurysms is feasible with good intermediate results.
Ca2+ Release From Intracellular Stores Is an Initial Step in Hypoxic Pulmonary Vasoconstriction of Rat Pulmonary Artery Resistance Vessels

Background A reduction in oxygen tension in the lungs is believed to inhibit a voltage-dependent K + (Kv) current, which is thought to result in membrane depolarization leading to hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV). However, the direct mechanism by which hypoxia inhibits Kv current is not understood. Methods and Results Experiments were performed on rat pulmonary artery resistance vessels and single smooth muscle cells isolated from these vessels to examine the role of Ca 2+ release from intracellular stores in initiating HPV. In contractile experiments, hypoxic challenge of endothelium-denuded rat pulmonary artery resistance vessels caused either a sustained or transient contraction in Ca 2+ -containing or Ca 2+ -free solution, respectively (n=44 vessels from 11 animals). When the ring segments were treated with either thapsigargin (5 μmol/L), ryanodine (5 μmol/L), or cyclopiazonic acid (5 μmol/L) in Ca 2+ -containing or Ca 2+ -free solution, a significant increase in pulmonary arterial tone was observed (n=44 vessels from 11 animals). Subsequent hypoxic challenge in the presence of each agent produced no further increase in tone (n=44 vessels from 11 animals). In isolated pulmonary resistance artery cells loaded with fura 2, hypoxic challenge, thapsigargin, ryanodine, and cyclopiazonic acid resulted in a significant increase in [Ca 2+ ] i (n=18 cells from 6 animals) and depolarization of the resting membrane potential (n=22 cells from 6 animals). However, with prior application of thapsigargin, ryanodine, or cyclopiazonic acid, a hypoxic challenge produced no further change in [Ca 2+ ] i (n=18 from 6 animals) or membrane potential (n=22 from 6 animals). Finally, application of an anti-Kv1.5 antibody increased [Ca 2+ ] i and caused membrane depolarization. Subsequent hypoxic challenge resulted in a further increase in [Ca 2+ ] i with no effect on membrane potential (n=16 cells from 4 animals). Conclusions In rat pulmonary artery resistance vessels, an initial event in HPV is a release of Ca 2+ from intracellular stores. This rise in [Ca 2+ ] i causes inhibition of voltage-dependent K + channels (possibly Kv1.5), membrane depolarization, and an increase in pulmonary artery tone.
Two forms of biotin-responsive multiple carboxylase deficiency

Biotin-responsive multiple carboxylase deficiencies are classified into early and late forms. The early form showed higher urinary excretion of 3-hydroxyisovalerate and 3-hydroxypropionate than the late form and was associated with normal plasma biotin concentrations. It is proposed that holocarboxylase synthetase and intestinal biotin absorption are defective in the early and late forms respectively.
Iterative methods for solving linear equations

This paper presents some of the original versions of the conjugate-gradient method for solving a system of linear equations of the formAx=k.
A comparison of numerical pseudodiffusion and atmospheric diffusion

Abstract Some numerical pseudodiffusions reported in the literature were compared with atmospheric diffusion for urban to regional scale modeling. For grid sizes of 0.5 and 5 km, such as are used in urban and mesoscale modeling, most of the numerical schemes produced numerical diffusion smaller than natural diffusion. However, for 50 km grid sizes like those used in regional models, about half of the numerical schemes produced artificial diffusion larger than natural diffusion.
Cracking the cracking problem with Coons patches

We present a new approach to solving the cracking problem. The cracking problem arises in many contexts in scientific visualization and computer graphics modeling where there is need for an approximation based upon domain decomposition that is fine in certain regions and coarse in others. This includes surface rendering, approximation of images and multiresolution terrain visualization. In general, algorithms based upon adaptive refinement strategies must deal with this problem. The new approach presented here is simple and general. It is based upon the use of a triangular Coons patch. Both the basic idea of using a triangular Coons patch in this context and the particular Coons patch that is used constitute the novel contributions of this paper.