cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cutting Edge: Committed Th1 CD4+ T Cell Differentiation Blocks Pregnancy-Induced Foxp3 Expression with Antigen-Specific Fetal Loss

Pregnancy stimulates induced Foxp3 expression among maternal CD4+ T cells with fetal specificity. Although sustained maternal regulatory CD4+ T cell (Treg) expansion is essential for maintaining fetal tolerance during pregnancy, the necessity for Foxp3+ cells with fetal specificity remains undefined. In this study, we demonstrate that mitigating Treg differentiation among maternal CD4+ T cells with a single surrogate fetal specificity elicits Ag-specific fetal loss. Using recombinant Listeria monocytogenes to prime stably differentiated Th1 CD4+ T cells with fetal I-Ab:2W1S55–68 specificity refractory to pregnancy-induced Foxp3 expression, we show that Ag delivery by cytoplasmic L. monocytogenes causes selective loss of 2W1S+ offspring through CD4 cell– and IFN-γ–dependent pathways. In contrast, CD4+ T cells primed by L. monocytogenes restricted from the cell cytoplasm are markedly more plastic for induced Foxp3 expression, with normal pregnancy outcomes. Thus, committed Th1 polarization blocks pregnancy induced Treg differentiation among maternal CD4+ T cells with fetal specificity and triggers Ag-specific fetal loss.
Online visualization of adaptive distributed sensor webs

Sensor webs for environmental monitoring integrate data from a large number of fixed and mobile sensors. The spatial and temporal distribution of these sensors varies with time when the network controllers adapt the operation of the sensors to detected events. The paper describes an approach for online visualization of data from such sensor webs. The visualization approach explicitly takes into account the varying resolutions of the sensor data and depicts the movement of mobile sensors. The sensor web visualization utilizes the Google Earth 3-D virtual globe software and data representation formats. This enables data from sensor webs to be made available on the Internet. Users download this data and control the visualization using their own desktop computer. The paper demonstrates the visualization approach on data collected from the New York Harbor Observing and Prediction System. The data includes oceanographic parameters collected using onshore and offshore sensors and from mobile platforms such as unmanned underwater vehicles and passing surface ships.
The hidden productivity: How to get more out of your equipment

In this paper, we present the use of a system aimed at improving the productivity of equipment, piloted at an Intel production facility for 300mm 45nm high volume manufacturing. We show that true toolset utilizations may be significantly lower than what is recorded, owing to various process and tool-related delays that occur during the tool ‘busy’ or ‘running’ state. We then demonstrate through a pilot case study how these delays were reduced by 37% and variation in delay was reduced 17–40% as well. This improvement represents an equivalent of up to 3–4% improvement in true utilization, far more than any single project or even aggregation of projects on the roadmap for availability improvement.
Geriatric small bowel obstruction: an analysis of treatment and outcomes compared with a younger cohort

Background Small bowel obstruction (SBO) is a common condition, but little is known about its presentation, management, and outcomes in geriatric patients.
Synthesis of (R)‐ and (S)‐amphetamine‐d3 from the corresponding phenylalanines

The synthesis of (R)-(−)- and (S)-(+)-2-amino-1-phenylpropane-3,3,3-d3 via a modification of a published procedure for the unlabelled compounds is described. The preparation of the (S)enantiomer involved in the first step the reduction of D-phenyl-alanine to (R)-2-amino-3-phenyl-1-propanol–1,1-d2 with lithium aluminum deuteride. The reduction product was treated with p-toluenesulfonyl chloride to give (R)-3-phenyl–2-(4-toluenesulfamoyl)propyl–1,1-d2 4-toluenesulfonate, which was reduced with lithium aluminum deuteride to (S)-N-(1-methyl-d3-2-phenethyl)-4-toluenesulfonamide. The latter compound was cleaved to (S)-(+)-2-amino-1-phenylpropane-3,3,3-d3 using naphthalene anion radical. The overall yield in the sequence was 32.8%, the isotopic purity of the product was 99%, and the enantiomeric purity > 99%. The methyl ester of the amino acid could also be used as starting material in the synthesis.
Mood induction in a clinically depressed population

Mood induction paradigms have become particularly useful in isolating and examining the relationship between mood and cognition relative to depressive vulnerability. The relationship between these two variables was examined using a 2 × 4 design (Diagnostic Group × Condition) whereby subjects classified as depressed (N=72) and nondepressed (N=61) were assigned to one of four conditions. It was shown that the cognitions of clinically depressed individuals were more dysfunctional than those of nondepressed subjects and that they can undergo temporary states of elation in the absence of any significant change in depressive cognition. How these results relate to cognitive theories of emotion is discussed.
Real-Time PCR Quantification of Human Adenoviruses in Urban Rivers Indicates Genome Prevalence but Low Infectivity

from 10 2 to 10 4 genomes per liter. However, a plaque assay using two human tissue culture cell lines, HEK-293A and A549, yielded negative results, suggesting that adenoviruses detected by real-time PCR are likely noninfectious. Enterovirus genome was detected in 7% of the samples by reverse transcription-PCR. Analysis by Spearman’s rho rank order correlation showed significant correlations between fecal indicator bacteria and indicator virus (total coliform, fecal coliform, enterococcus, and coliphage values). However, no significant correlations were found between human adenoviruses quantified by real-time PCR and culturable coliphages or fecal indicator bacteria. Kruskal-Wallis chi-square analysis showed significant seasonal variability of all fecal indicator bacteria and coliphages, while no significant variability was observed for adenoviruses or enteroviruses. This study presents thefirst quantitative measurement of human adenovirus genomes in urban rivers and their statistical relationship to fecal indicator bacteria and coliphages. The uncoupling between high-number genome copies of adenoviruses detected by real-time PCR and the absence of infectivity detected by tissue culture suggests that genome-based detection methods are inadequate for direct assessment of human health risk. Rapid population growth and urbanization occurring along coastal regions have made southern California one of the most densely populated areas in the United States. More than twothirds of Californians visit local beaches at least once a year. Southern California beaches have unquestionably become one of the most desired beach vacation spots in the world, attracting over 100 million visitors to the shoreline annually and offering recreational activities such as swimming, diving, yachting, surfing, snorkeling, windsurfing, and fishing. Correspondingly, an increase in the volume of domestic sewage discharge and urban runoff to the coastal ocean has become a major
The Metabolic and Endocrine Response and Health Implications of Consuming Sugar-Sweetened Beverages: Findings From Recent Randomized Controlled Trials

Fructose-containing sugars, including fructose itself, high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), and sucrose have engendered considerable controversy. The effects of HFCS and sucrose in sugar-sweetened beverages, in particular, have generated intense scientific debate that has spilled over to the public. This controversy is related to well-known differences in metabolism between fructose and glucose in the liver. In addition, research studies have often been conducted comparing pure fructose and pure glucose even though neither is consumed to any appreciable degree in isolation in the human diet. Other evidence has been drawn from animal studies and epidemiologic or cohort studies. Few randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have compared HFCS with sucrose (the 2 sugars most commonly consumed in the human diet) at dosage amounts within the normal human consumption range. This review compares results of recently concluded RCTs with other forms of evidence related to fructose, HFCS, and sucrose. We conclude that great caution must be used when suggesting adverse health effects of consuming these sugars in the normal way they are consumed and at the normal amounts in the human diet, because RCTs do not support adverse health consequences at these doses when employing these sugars.
AN AUTOMATED METHOD FOR SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS USING COMPLEX VARIABLES

The complex-step method for calculating sensitivities and its use in numerical algorithms is presented. A general procedure for the implementation of this method is described in detail and a script is developed that automates its implementation. The numerical examples include the automatic conversion of a structural finite element and a two-dimensional computational fluid dynamics code. In both of these examples, the complex-step method is compared with other existing methods, namely finitedierencing, automatic dierentiation and an analytic method. The complex-step method is shown to have implementation advantages over automatic dierentiation and computational advantages over finite-dierencin g.
A Latent Transition Mixture Model Using the Three-Step Specification

The 3-step method for estimating the effects of auxiliary variables (i.e., covariates and distal outcome) in mixture modeling provides a useful way to specify complex mixture models. One of the benefits of this method is that the measurement parameters of the mixture model are not influenced by the auxiliary variable(s). In addition, it allows for models that involve multiple latent class variables to be specified without each part of the model influencing the others. This article describes a unique latent transition analysis model where the measurement models are a latent class analysis model and a growth mixture model. We highlight the application of this model to study kindergarten readiness profiles and link it to elementary students’ reading trajectories. Mplus syntax for the 3-step specification is provided.
Stability of discrete-time plants using model-based control with intermittent feedback

In this paper we study the stability of discrete-time plants in a networked control setting, employing an approach known as model-based networked control systems (MB-NCS) with Intermittent Feedback. Model-Based Networked Control Systems use an explicit model of the plant in order to reduce the network traffic while attempting to prevent excessive performance degradation, while Intermittent Feedback consists of the loop remaining closed for some fixed interval, then open for another interval. We provide a full description of the output, as well as a necessary and sufficient condition for stability of the system. We also extend our results to the case where the full state of the plant is not known, so that we resort to a state observer. Finally, we investigate the situation where the update times are time-varying, first addressing the case where they have upper and lower bounds, then moving on to the case where their distributions are i.i.d or driven by a Markov chain.
Seventeenth-Century Scribal Culture and "A Dialogue between King James and King William"

Kelly shows how political poems were circulated in manuscript in the later seventeenth century, not unlike some of Miltonâ€™s own political sonnets, which had a limited manuscript circulation, and were not printed in some cases some until many years after his death. The author of the anonymously-circulated poem, â€œA Dialogue between King James and King William,â€ is Charles Blount (1654â€“1693), a radical Whig author who wrote mostly in prose. In the manuscript poem, Blount imagines a conversation between King James and King William after James fled to Ireland, when William rose to power in what is known as the Glorious Revolution of 1688.
The Role of Victim-Offender Relationship in Women’s Sexual Assault Experiences

This study's goal is to identify differences in background, assault, and postassault factors according to the victim-offender relationship. A mail survey is conducted with more than 1,000 female sexual assault survivors (response rate 90%) recruited from college, community, and mental health agency sources. Stranger assailants are associated with a greater victim perceived life threat, more severe sexual assaults, and ethnic minority victims. Positive social reactions do not vary according to the victim-offender relationship, but stranger victims report more negative social reactions from others than do victims of acquaintances or romantic partners. Assaults by strangers and relatives are associated with more posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms than assaults by acquaintances and romantic partners. As expected, survivors' social cognitive responses to rape and social reactions from support providers are stronger correlates of PTSD symptoms than demographic or assault characteristics in general, but correlates vary across victim-offender relationship groups.
Abstract 19605: Aortic Valve Morphology Influences Outcomes of Balloon Aortic Valvuloplasty in Children with Congenital Aortic Stenosis

Background: In isolated congenital aortic valve stenosis (AS) early and late outcomes following BAV vary widely despite near uniform procedural and technical factors. Anatomic factors may account for some of this variability in outcomes. We sought to identify morphologic factors that may influence outcomes of BAV. Hypothesis: Aortic valve anatomy influences outcomes after BAV. Methods: We reviewed all pts who underwent BAV at two large pediatric institutions between 2007-2013. Pre- and post-BAV echocardiography (echo) was reviewed. Anatomic indices including valve leaflet excursion, valve annulus area (AA), valve orifice area (OA), valve morphology, and raphe (fusion) length were measured on all pre- and post-BAV echo. Primary endpoint was favorable tear (FT), defined as tear along a commissure. Unfavorable tear (UT) was defined as tear into a leaflet, and no tear (NT) defined as no visible tear. Secondary endpoint was aortic insufficiency increase ≥2 degrees (AI+). Results: A total of 88 pts had complete...
Nondegenerate two-wave mixing in ruby

We demonstrate energy exchange by nondegenerate two-wave mixing (NDTWM) in ruby. Our results are in agreement with the theory ot NDTWM in Kerr media,1 when the theory is generalized to take into account a complex nonlinear index. NDTWM provides a method for determining the complex nonlinear index and the response time of the medium. NDTWM gain exceeding the absorption and reflection losses is demonstrated.
Entr'acte

Looking at new public-space formations today, the roles of new technologies grow not only prominent but also noticeably time-sensitive. Due in part to the rapidly changing nature of communications media and the diverse stakeholders, the theatrical "entr'acte" appears to be an apt model for forms and durations of public space with diverse performers (both human and material elements) of different sorts: entr'acteurs. How is public space as physical construct changing with new embedded forms of computing? How is a public formed? What new material sensibilities emerge? And what role does their essentially fleeting or transitional character play?
INTERNAL CONVERSION MEASUREMENTS OF TRANSITIONS IN $sup 181$Ta

Publisher Summary The level scheme of the strongly deformed nucleus Ta 181 has been investigated by many groups. In an experiment described in the chapter, sources were made from neutron-activated 93% enriched Hf 180 . Thin evaporated sources were prepared for use with the iron-free spectrometer. This instrument was operated in the momentum resolution range 0.05–0.1% during the course of these measurements. The chapter presents the upper intensity limits to depopulate the levels in Ta 181 above 618.9 keV. Limits are presented relative to the intensities of well-established lines in the Ta 181 conversion electron spectrum. The chapter also lists L subshell internal conversion intensity ratios together with the percentage of E2 deduced from these ratios. The data listed out in the chapter indicates that the 136.86-keV transition is pure or almost pure Ml. A pure Ml assignment gives a calculated half-life for the 618.9-keV level in good agreement with the measured value. The L subshell ratios of the anomalous 482-keV transition are being analyzed in terms of nuclear penetration effects.
Spruce Beetle Suppression in Trap Trees Treated with Cacodylic Acid

Engelmann spruce trees were frilled by hand hatchet and Silvisar® 510 (dimethylarsinic acid) was added to the frills at periodic intervals before the peak flight. period of the spruce beetle in an effort to produce lethal traps. Some trees were felled at. periodic internals after treatment and some were left standing. An evaluation was made 12–13 months after treatment. Number of attacks in samples from trees treated in mid-June and felled 2 weeks later was not significantly different than that from check trees. However, only a few live spruce beetle larvae and pupae were found in samples from trees treated at this time whereas significant numbers were found in samples from check trees.
Effects of Observing the Instructor Draw Diagrams on Learning from Multimedia Messages.

In 4 experiments, participants viewed a short video-based lesson about how the Doppler effect works. Some students viewed already-drawn diagrams while listening to a concurrent oral explanation, whereas other students listened to the same explanation while viewing the instructor actually draw the diagrams by hand. All students then completed retention and transfer tests on the material. Experiment 1 indicated that watching the instructor draw diagrams (by viewing the instructor’s full body) resulted in significantly better transfer test performance than viewing already-drawn diagrams for learners with low prior knowledge (d = 0.58), but not for learners with high prior knowledge (d = −0.24). In Experiment 2, participants who watched the instructor draw diagrams (by viewing only the instructor’s hand) significantly outperformed the control group on the transfer test, regardless of prior knowledge (d = 0.35). In Experiment 3, participants who watched diagrams being drawn but without actually viewing the instructor’s hand did not significantly outperform the control group on the transfer test (d = −0.16). Finally, in Experiment 4, participants who observed the instructor draw diagrams with only the instructor’s hand visible marginally outperformed those who observed the instructor draw diagrams with the instructor’s entire body visible (d = 0.36). Overall, this research suggests that observing the instructor draw diagrams promotes learning in part because it takes advantage of basic principles of multimedia learning, and that the presence of the instructor’s hand during drawing may provide an important social cue that motivates learners to make sense of the material. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)
Reliability Planning of Distribution Power Network Considering the Characteristics of Short-Term Peak Load

With the development of the power system, as a new load characteristic, short-term peak load characteristics have such an increasing impact on the reliability of the power supply that it can not be ignored in the planning process. This paper proposed an effective solution to solve the low reliability problems caused by the traditional network planning which is only considered an economic objective. Firstly, we described the characteristics of the short-term peak load quantitatively and put forward its basic concepts. Based on the combined effects of the intensity of the short-term peak load, we correct the optimal power supply radius and establish equivalence substations. Then interconnecting the substations based on the equivalence substations. With the minimum distance and interconnection costs as the optimal objectives, we make a reliable plan of distribution power network which is considered the short-term peak load. The application of distribution network planning in a specified area demonstrates that the method we proposed has improved the supply reliability effectively.
Evaluation of a Portable Artificial Vision Device Among Patients With Low Vision

Importance Low vision is irreversible in many patients and constitutes a disability. When no treatment to improve vision is available, technological developments aid these patients in their daily lives. Objective To evaluate the usefulness of a portable artificial vision device (OrCam) for patients with low vision. Design, Setting, and Participants A prospective pilot study was conducted between July 1 and September 30, 2015, in a US ophthalmology department among 12 patients with visual impairment and best-corrected visual acuity of 20/200 or worse in their better eye. Interventions A 10-item test simulating activities of daily living was used to evaluate patients’ functionality in 3 scenarios: using their best-corrected visual acuity with no low-vision aids, using low-vision aids if available, and using the portable artificial vision device. This 10-item test was devised for this study and is nonvalidated. The portable artificial vision device was tested at the patients’ first visit and after 1 week of use at home. Main Outcomes and Measures Scores on the 10-item daily function test. Results Among the 12 patients, scores on the 10-item test improved from a mean (SD) of 2.5 (1.6) using best-corrected visual acuity to 9.5 (0.5) using the portable artificial vision device at the first visit (mean difference, 7.0; 95% CI, 6.0-8.0; P P P = .01). Conclusions and Relevance When patients used a portable artificial vision device, an increase in scores on a nonvalidated 10-item test of activities of daily living was seen. Further evaluations are warranted to determine the usefulness of this device among individuals with low vision.
Noninvasive monitoring of tissue viability.

Noninvasive methods of assessing tissue viability have tremendous clinical usefulness in plastic and reconstructive surgery. Eight currently available techniques are described and compared, including visual fluorescein, fluorescein photography, surface fluorometry, bidirectional Doppler, laser Doppler, photoplethysmograph, surface thermometer, and transcutaneous oxygen monitor.
Effects of 3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) pre-exposure on the aversive effects of MDPV, cocaine and lithium chloride: Implications for abuse vulnerability.

Abstract Background Drug use is thought to be a balance of the rewarding and aversive effects of drugs. Understanding how various factors impact these properties and their relative balance may provide insight into their abuse potential. In this context, the present study attempted to evaluate the effects of drug history on the aversive effects of 3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV), one of a variety of synthetic cathinones (collectively known as “bath salts”). Methods Different groups of male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to either vehicle or MDPV (1.8 mg/kg) once every fourth day for five total injections prior to taste avoidance conditioning in which a novel saccharin solution was repeatedly paired with either vehicle, MDPV (1.8 mg/kg), the related psychostimulant cocaine (18 mg/kg) or the emetic lithium chloride (LiCl) (13.65 mg/kg). Results In animals pre-exposed to vehicle, all three drugs induced significant and comparable taste avoidance relative to animals injected with vehicle during conditioning. MDPV pre-exposure attenuated the avoidance induced by both MDPV and cocaine (greater attenuation for MDPV than cocaine), but had no effect on that induced by LiCl. Conclusions These findings suggest that a history of MDPV use may reduce or attenuate MDPV and cocaine’s (but not LiCl’s) aversive effects. The implications for such changes in MDPV’s aversive effects to its potential use and abuse were discussed.
Preoperative and postoperative techniques in the prevention of pulmonary complications.

With the potential causes of respiratory failure defined in the first article, a rational approach to prevention can be outlined. Van De Water supplies a protocol for pulmonary prophylaxis in the "routine" surgical patient—the patient with normal lung function prior to operation. He reminds us of a fact that our English colleagues know well — routine pulmonary prophylaxis is a function of good nursing care. Special attention should be paid to the patient who is at high risk for pulmonary complications. Hechtman and colleagues discuss identification of these patients, taking us from the obvious risk factors, such as obesity and smoking, to the subtle interrelationships of cardiac and pulmonary function in patients already hospitalized with acute disease. Shah and Powers discuss pulmonary prophylaxis in high risk patients. Their article necessarily includes detailed methods of management of respiratory failure.
Elective oocyte cryopreservation for deferred childbearing.

Purpose of reviewElective oocyte cryopreservation for deferred childbearing has gained popularity worldwide, commensurate with increased knowledge regarding age-related fertility decline. The purpose of this review is to summarize recent data regarding trends in delayed childbearing, review recent f
A video-based face detection and recognition system using cascade face verification modules

Face detection and recognition in a video is a challenging research topic as overall processes must be done timely and efficiently. In this paper, a novel face detection and recognition system using three fast cascade face verification modules and an ensemble classifier is presented. Firstly, the head of a tester is serially verified by our proposed three verification modules: face skin verification module, face symmetry verification module, and eye template verification module. The three verification modules can eliminate the tilted faces, the backs of the head, and any other non-face moving objects in the video. Only the frontal face images are sent to face recognition engine. The frontal face detection reliability can be adjusted by simply setting the verification thresholds in the verification modules. Secondly, three hybrid feature sets are applied to face recognition. An ensemble classifier scheme is proposed to congregate three individual Artificial Neural Network (ANN) classifiers trained by the three hybrid feature sets. Experiments demonstrated that the frontal face detection rate can be achieved as high as 95% in the low quality video images. The overall face recognition rate and reliability are increased at the same time using the proposed ensemble classifier in the system.
Progesterone potentiates the growth inhibitory effects of calcitriol in endometrial cancer via suppression of CYP24A1.

// Amber A. Bokhari 1 , Laura R. Lee 1 , Dewayne Raboteau 1 , Jane Turbov 2 , Isabel V. Rodriguez 2 , John Wesley Pike 3 , Chad A. Hamilton 1, 4, 5 , George Larry Maxwell 5, 6 , Gustavo C. Rodriguez 2 , Viqar Syed 1, 5, 7 1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA 2 Division of Gynecologic Oncology, North Shore University Health System, University of Chicago, Evanston, IL, USA 3 Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA 4 Division of Gynecologic Oncology, and Gynecologic Cancer Translational Research Center of Excellence, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD, USA 5 John P. Murtha Cancer Center at Water Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD, USA 6 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Women’s Health Integrated Research Center, Inova Fairfax Hospital, Falls Church, VA, USA 7 Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA Correspondence to: Viqar Syed, email: viqar.syed@usuhs.edu Keywords: chemoprevention, cell proliferation, progesterone, calcitriol, vitamin D receptor Received: June 01, 2016 Accepted: October 03, 2016 Published: October 18, 2016 ABSTRACT Here, we evaluated the expression of CYP24A1, a protein that inactivates vitamin D in tissues. CYP24A1 expression was increased in advanced-stage endometrial tumors compared to normal tissues. Similarly, endometrial cancer cells expressed higher levels of CYP24A1 than immortalized endometrial epithelial cells. RT-PCR and Western blotting were used to examine CYP24A1 mRNA and protein levels in endometrial cancer cells after 8, 24, 72, and 120 h of exposure to progesterone, progestin derivatives and calcitriol, either alone or in combination. Progestins inhibited calcitriol-induced expression of CYP24A1 and splice variant CYP24SV mRNA and protein in cancer cells. Furthermore, actinomycin D, but not cycloheximide, blocked calcitriol-induced CYP24A1 splicing. siRNA-induced knockdown of CYP24A1 expression sensitized endometrial cancer cells to calcitriol-induced growth inhibition. These data suggest that CYP24A1 overexpression reduces the antitumor effects of calcitriol in cancer cells and that progestins may be beneficial for maintaining calcitriol’s anti-endometrial cancer activity.
Interventions to Improve Personal Care Skills for Individuals with Autism: A Review of the Literature

Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often experience learning challenges that impact their ability to navigate the social and vocational world of adults without disabilities. Lack of independent functioning correlates with poor postschool outcomes for many individuals with ASD. In order to improve social and vocational outcomes, instruction must focus on teaching personal care skills. Personal care skills (i.e., grooming/hygiene, dressing, eating) represent a foundational set of skills needed for individuals with ASD to achieve independence and improve quality of life. The present literature review examines and summarizes interventions to teach personal care skills to individuals with ASD. The interventions fall into four categories based on intervention components: (a) video-based instruction, (b) behavioral in vivo procedures, (c) audio cuing, and (d) social stories. The results of the reviewed studies indicated improved performance for all participants across intervention categories for a variety of personal care skills. Additional discussion includes limitations and suggestions for future research.
Executive Power, the Commander in Chief, and the Militia Clause

One of the great constitutional struggles in the United States depends on our vision of government. In dealing with that question in connection with the issues of federalism, the prevailing modern wisdom since the 1937 term of the Supreme Court is that we should not trouble ourselves unduly with the concerns of excessive concentration of power that troubled James Madison, and should instead cede vast powers to the national government in the regulation of the economy. The current disputes over the role of the President on matters of national security do not raise issues of federalism, but it does raise questions about the concentration of power. On this question, many people who are content to give the federal government vast control over the economy have become rightly uneasy about affording similar deference to the President whose claims of executive power in connection with the National Security Agency (“NSA”) surveillance dispute make it appear as though he has well-nigh exclusive power in dealing with this issue. In some settings, the claim is the more modest one—if incorrect one—that the President has received all the congressional authorization he needs when Congress passed the Authorization for Use of Military Force Act 1
Service Delivery: a Postmodern Perspective

This analysis aims to highlight the impact of the partial employee on the service delivery process. Although the services literature has explored the notion of the partial employee, postmodern thought offers a fresh perspective for further developing the partial employee notion.
Carbon Dioxide Emissions Reduction and Storage

This chapter discusses the emissions of the GHGs, with an emphasis on those emitted from coal combustion, specifically CO 2 . This is followed by discussions on the CO 2 capture technologies, transport and storage of CO 2 , and the economics of CO 2 capture and sequestration. The chapter concludes with a discussion on the permanence, monitoring, mitigation, and verification of CO 2 capture and storage.
Impact of Obesity and Adiposity on Inflammatory Markers in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis

Objective The C-reactive protein (CRP) level and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) are important disease activity biomarkers in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This study aimed to determine to what extent obesity biases these biomarkers. Methods Body mass index (BMI) associations with CRP level and ESR were assessed in 2 RA cohorts: the cross-sectional Body Composition (BC) cohort (n = 451), including whole-body dual x-ray absorptiometry measures of fat mass index; and the longitudinal Veterans Affairs Rheumatoid Arthritis (VARA) registry (n = 1,652), using multivariable models stratified by sex. For comparison, associations were evaluated in the general population using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Results Among women with RA and in the general population, greater BMI was associated with greater CRP levels, especially among women with severe obesity (P < 0.001 for BMI ≥35 kg/m2 versus 20–25 kg/m2). This association remained after adjustment for joint counts and patient global health scores (P < 0.001 in BC and P < 0.01 in VARA), but was attenuated after adjustment for fat mass index (P = 0.17). Positive associations between BMI and ESR in women were more modest. In men with RA, lower BMI was associated with higher CRP levels and ESR, contrasting with positive associations among men in the general population. Conclusion Obesity is associated with higher CRP levels and ESR in women with RA. This association is related to fat mass and not RA disease activity. Low BMI is associated with higher CRP levels in men with RA; this unexpected finding remains incompletely explained but likely is not a direct effect of adiposity.
Air-Parcel Residence Times Within Forest Canopies

We present a theoretical model, based on a simple model of turbulent diffusion and first-order chemical kinetics, to determine air-parcel residence times and the out-of-canopy export of reactive gases emitted within forest canopies under neutral conditions. Theoretical predictions of the air-parcel residence time are compared to values derived from large-eddy simulation for a range of canopy architectures and turbulence levels under neutral stratification. Median air-parcel residence times range from a few sec in the upper canopy to approximately 30 min near the ground and the distribution of residence times is skewed towards longer times in the lower canopy. While the predicted probability density functions from the theoretical model and large-eddy simulation are in good agreement with each other, the theoretical model requires only information on canopy height and eddy diffusivities inside the canopy. The eddy-diffusivity model developed additionally requires the friction velocity at canopy top and a parametrized profile of the standard deviation of vertical velocity. The theoretical model of air-parcel residence times is extended to include first-order chemical reactions over a range of of Damkohler numbers (Da) characteristic of plant-emitted hydrocarbons. The resulting out-of-canopy export fractions range from near 1 for $$Da =10^{-3}$$ to less than 0.3 at $$Da = 10$$ . These results highlight the necessity for dense and tall forests to include the impacts of air-parcel residence times when calculating the out-of-canopy export fraction for reactive trace gases.
Modelling the mean and volatility dynamic relationship between the environmental risk or exchange rate volatility surprise and Commodity Research Bureau future price index

This paper focuses on volatility interactions between energy, agricultural, and environmental risk (proxy variable, DJSI) and exchange rate volatility surprise. Using five MGARCH models, our empirical results present significant own short-term and long-term persistence effects and also cross-market spillover short-term and long-term persistence effects among energy, agricultural, and environmental risk for the pre- and post-2008 financial crisis. This paper also finds that the mean and volatility spillover effects are more significant post the financial crisis than for the pre-crisis period, implying that the impact of the financial crisis is bigger post the crisis. The results provide strong evidence of spillover effects coming from the volatility surprise across markets.
Using past contribution patterns to forecast fundraising outcomes in crowdfunding

The crowdfunding mechanism has proven to be a practical way of raising funds, especially with the widespread use of the Internet. However, one limitation of current crowdfunding platforms is that it is hard for creators and backers to anticipate the success of a campaign. This paper tackles this limitation. We take a two-pronged approach to building our forecasting model. First, we explore the nature and heterogeneity of contribution dynamics in crowdfunding campaigns and compare them across two natural groups (successful and unsuccessful campaigns). We then use insights generated from our exploratory analysis and draw upon the general laws of motion for stochastic processes in order to introduce a new dynamic model for predicting crowdfunding outcomes. Our model incorporates the history and dynamics of both the focal crowdfunding campaign and other campaigns for predicting outcomes. We compare our model to other parametric and semi-parametric benchmark models, and show substantial improvements.
Surgical management of craniosynostosis in the setting of a ventricular shunt: a case series and treatment algorithm

Cerebrospinal fluid diversion via ventricular shunt is a common treatment for hydrocephalus. Change in cranial morphology associated with a sutural fusion has been termed shunt-related or induced craniosynostosis (SRC) or craniocerebral disproportion (CCD). We present a series of patients with SRC who underwent cranial vault remodeling (CVR) and our treatment algorithm. Thirteen patients were retrospectively reviewed who had SRC and CVR; 92% of patients had a ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt placed for largely intraventricular hemorrhage of prematurity (69% of patients) at a mean age of 2.2 months. The shunt revision rate was 38.4%, and 54% of patients had a programmable shunt placed initially. The mean age at time of CVR was 3.6 years old. The most commonly affected sutures (CT confirmed) were the sagittal and coronal sutures, with three patients exhibiting pancraniosynostosis. The mean time from placement of the shunt to CT evidence of sutural fusion was 2.0 years. Abnormal head shape was noted in all 13 patients; 11 of these also had either chronic headaches, papilledema, seizures, or behavioral changes in the setting of functional shunt. Mean follow-up after the initial CVR was 3.3 years. No shunt infections were attributed to the CVR. The families of all patients were contacted and reported improvement in head shape with 60% of families reporting improvement in behavior, 75% reported improvement in headaches, and 40% reported decrease in seizure frequency or intensity. Shunt setting or type was not routinely changed after CVR. Our threshold for CVR in SRC is met when shunt malfunction has been ruled out and there are (1) radiographic evidence of craniosynostosis, (2) signs of increased ICP clinically or radiographically, and (3) cranial dysmorphism, i.e., dolichocephaly. The majority of cases of SRC result in improved cranial morphology in addition to some abatement of the symptoms of increased intracranial pressure. Early involvement of an experienced craniofacial/neurosurgical team could allow for early diagnosis and intervention which may prevent progression to more severe deformities. SRC is a complex entity, with multiple etiologies, and a future study is needed.
Optimal Pricing and Workforce Composition for Service Delivery Using a Hybrid Workforce (Research in Progress)

Innovative work arrangements are increasingly being enabled by technology. On-demand technology-enabled marketplaces for a variety of skills are becoming popular. Examples include topcoder.com and odesk.com. This paper focuses on how organizations can use such on-demand marketplaces along with in-house workers to staff dynamic knowledge-intensive service environments. An economic analysis of prices paid to on-demand workers is presented. Such an analysis can be further developed to characterize the optimal workforce composition of the in-house workforce.
Automated segmentation of gingival diseases from oral images

Periodontal diseases are the largest cause of tooth loss among people of all ages and are also correlated with systemic diseases such as endocarditis. Advanced periodontal disease comprises degradation of surrounding tooth structures, severe inflammation and gingival bleeding. Inflammation is an early indicator of periodontal disease. Early detection and preventive measures can help prevent serious occurrences of periodontal diseases and in most cases restore oral health. We report a machine learning classifier, trained with annotations from dental professionals, that successfully provides pixel-wise inflammation segmentations of color-augmented intraoral images. The classifier successfully distinguishes between inflamed and healthy gingiva and its area under the receiver operating characteristic curve is 0.746, with precision and recall of 0.347 and 0.621 respectively. Dental professionals and patients can benefit from automated point-of-care early diagnosis of periodontal diseases provided by this classifier using oral images acquired by intraoral imaging devices.
Mere ownership of memory: motor manipulation during encoding affects memory for words

Involving the body in learning increases the impact information has on memory (Johnson-Glenberg et al. in Front Psychol 7(1819):1–22, 2016), especially when that information is self-relevant (Truong et al. in J Exp Psychol Hum Percept Perform 42(3):375–385, 2016). Yet, prior research has only examined the effect of self-relevant movement (i.e., toward the self or away from the self) on memory through passive joystick flexion or extension (Oakes and Onyper in Cognit Process 18:325–333, 2017). Therefore, the current research sought to replicate the “toward: remember” and “away: forget” motor-induced self-reference effects on memory with actual body movement. Participants in two experiments took notes on a word list and either pushed notes away, pulled notes toward them, moved notes laterally, or wrote the words in a list. Results showed that participants who pulled hand-written notes toward them had better recall than those who pushed notes away from them or moved them laterally. Results suggest implicitly taking ownership of material in an embodied manner may influence how much is recalled.
Computing Nonlinear Normal Modes of Aerospace Structures Using the Multi-harmonic Balance Method

The extreme environments that hypersonic vehicles experience during flight expose the thin structural panels to high aerodynamic pressure loading and large temperature gradients, leading to a highly nonlinear structural response. Reduced order models (ROMs) provide an efficient means to compute nonlinear response, however, the accuracy of a ROM is highly dependent on how it is made: the number of modes included within the basis set and the load scaling factors used. The authors have previously proposed to validate ROMs by computing the Nonlinear Normal Modes (NNMs) of the ROMs and using them to compare ROMs of increasing order. The NNMs are a useful metric because they are independent of a specific loading scenario, yet if the NNMs are reproduced accurately then the response to various resonant inputs will also be accurate. This framework has proven challenging to apply to curved structures because they can exhibit complex softening-hardening behavior as well as many nested internal resonance branches. The numerical integration and shooting method that has been used to compute the NNMs typically tracks all the internal resonances, and so it becomes slow and tends to require manual intervention. This work seeks to address these challenges by applying a Multi-Harmonic Balance (MHB) method rather than the shooting algorithm used previously. One attractive feature of the MHB method is the fact that one can filter out internal resonance branches from the solution by limiting the number of harmonics included. This filtering property will be explored, to ascertain the extent to which it can be used to skip internal resonances and identify the primary backbone branch of the NNMs. Particular attention will be paid to balancing the number of harmonics required to obtain an accurate primary backbone branch, including modal interactions that occur along the backbone. The method is applied to a clamped-clamped flat beam, a complex aerospace panel structure and a curved beam to demonstrate the capabilities.
Culturing Hydra of the Same Species but of Different Sizes

Size and morphology are controlled by patterning agents such as morphogenetic and positional information fields. In order to study the nature of these fields it is useful to be able to modify them. Controlling hydra size by varying the amounts of food given to them provides an experimental method for manipulating the sizes and properties of patterning fields, and also for obtaining hydra of particular sizes for experiments.
Computational Models for the Analysis of Attention

The resurgence of interest in the cognitive sciences since the early 1970s has been accompanied by a dramatic acceleration in the development of theoretical models. Cognitive scientists develop models in order to characterize the formal properties of the processes that they are studying. Efforts to model cognition led to a recent focus on “neural networks,” computer-based computational systems that simulate the characteristics of actual neural brain processes. Neural networks are designed by means of computational modeling, which is a direct result of advances in the fields of mathematical psychology and computer science. Computational models are created with the hope that they will provide a formal mathematical basis for understanding cognitive and behavioral processes. These models seek to specify the parameters underlying information processing and therefore are of considerable interest to investigators of attentional phenomena. Although at times these models seem to do little more than provide a mathematical description of processes that are typically characterized less formally, they may be useful for identifying the constraints and parameters underlying attentional operations.
Quantum Noise Reduction Using a Nonlinear Sagnac Loop with Positive Dispersion

Recent experiments at MIT using light from a mode-locked Nd:YLF laser at 1.3µm in a fiber Sagnac loop have achieved noise levels 5.1dB below shot noise. In these experiments, squeezing is limited by the gaussian shape of the pump pulses. We show that by operating the interferometer away from 1.3µm that limitation can be overcome. For these wavelengths the group velocity dispersion of silica fibers creates negative correlations between the noise on different parts of the pump.
CATEGORY OF SPACES OF AVAILABLE STATES WITH APPLICATION TO MODELLING OF COMPUTER LANGUAGES

Abstract Methodologies of the Category Theory of Structural Sets and the Theory of Categories are developed and applied for construction and analysis of the Category of Spaces of Available States, in particular finite spaces. This category then is used as the basis for modeling computer systems and their machine and assembler languages. Examples include such computers as IBM/4341 and Apple II. The methodologies developed are the basis for analysis and automated design of computer systems and their languages.