cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Secretive eating and binge eating following bariatric surgery.

Objective Some individuals eat furtively and conceal evidence of eating, and this seems to occur beyond binge-eating episodes. This type of secretive eating is common among youth and emerging evidences suggests that it is a relevant marker of eating disorder psychopathology among adults with significant eating and weight concerns. Method We assessed secretive eating, loss-of-control (LOC) eating, and eating disorder psychopathology using investigator-based interviews among treatment-seeking adults experiencing LOC eating following bariatric surgery (N = 168). Participants also completed an established depression measure; height and weight were measured. Results Overall, 37% of patients reported secretive eating: 54% of patients who met criteria for binge-eating disorder except for the size criterion ("bariatric BED") and 25% of patients with subthreshold bariatric BED reported secretive eating. Many clinical variables were higher among patients with secretive eating compared to those without secretive eating; however, only eating disorder psychopathology severity and body dissatisfaction remained significantly higher among patients with secretive eating compared to those without when bariatric BED status was also included as a variable in the model. Discussion Findings suggest that among post-bariatric surgery patients with LOC eating, secretive eating signals more severe eating disorder psychopathology overall and specifically related to dissatisfaction with weight and shape. Bariatric BED status, however, has a stronger association than secretive eating with many clinical variables. Secretive eating should be assessed and considered when addressing weight and shape concerns among patients experiencing LOC eating after bariatric surgery.
The XFP (17-BM) beamline for X-ray footprinting at NSLS-II

Hydroxyl-radical mediated synchrotron X-ray footprinting (XF) is a powerful solution-state technique in structural biology for the study of macromolecular structure and dynamics of proteins and nucleic acids, with several synchrotron resources available to serve the XF community worldwide. The XFP (Biological X-ray Footprinting) beamline at the NSLS-II was constructed on a three-pole wiggler source at 17-BM to serve as the premier beamline for performing this technique, providing an unparalleled combination of high flux density broadband beam, flexibility in beam morphology, and sample handling capabilities specifically designed for XF experiments. The details of beamline design, beam measurements, and science commissioning results for a standard protein using the two distinct XFP endstations are presented here. XFP took first light in 2016 and is now available for general user operations through peer-reviewed proposals. Currently, beam sizes from 450 µm × 120 µm to 2.7 mm × 2.7 mm (FWHM) are available, with a flux of 1.6 × 1016 photons s−1 (measured at 325 mA ring current) in a broadband (∼5–16 keV) beam. This flux is expected to rise to 2.5 × 1016 photons s−1 at the full NSLS-II design current of 500 mA, providing an incident power density of >500 W mm−2 at full focus.
Excavating the “Garden of the North”: Five Centuries of Material and Social Change in Western Massachusetts: An Introduction

The recent history of western Massachusetts was shaped by a set of processes familiar in post-Columbian North America, including colonization, revolutionary repositioning in the Atlantic and world system, industrialization and deindustrialization, struggles for racial emancipation and gender and sexual equality, and the emergence of cultural reproduction to supplement, and increasingly to replace, the loss of industrial work. The particular political, economic, social, ideological, and ecological contexts of western Massachusetts are presented to provide background for the finer-grained studies in the articles that follow.
Metabolic syndrome is negatively associated with cognition among endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS)- 786C carriers in schizophrenia-spectrum disorders.

Abstract Although metabolic syndrome and cognitive inefficiencies are well-described common complications of schizophrenia, their association remains inconsistent, potentially due to poorly understood mechanisms underlying their relationship. Variability in the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene, specifically the T-786C variant, has been separately associated with cognition and metabolic syndrome, with worse outcomes for eNOS-786C carriers likely occurring via negative effects on blood vessel functioning. However, the interaction between eNOS and metabolic syndrome in cognition among adults with schizophrenia is unknown. This study aimed to test the main and interaction effects of the eNOS-786C allele in cognition using hierarchical regression analyses controlling for age, sex, education, race, and antipsychotic exposure. Metabolic syndrome, eNOS T-786C genotype, and cognitive performance were assessed in 226 community-dwelling participants with chronic schizophrenia-spectrum disorders. Results demonstrated a significant interaction between metabolic syndrome and the eNOS-786C allele. Specifically, among eNOS-786C carriers only, metabolic syndrome was independently associated with lower scores in processing speed and verbal fluency, and predicted 12.5% and 15.8% of variance in performance, respectively. These results suggest that the additive negative effects of eNOS-786C and metabolic syndrome on blood vessel functioning may be severe enough to negatively impact cognition. The finding that metabolic syndrome is associated with worse cognition only in the presence of the eNOS-786C allele may clarify extant inconsistencies in the literature. These findings provide preliminary evidence that may inform interventions to reduce cognitive morbidity among adults with schizophrenia.
Risk estimation, anxiety, and breast cancer worry in women at risk for breast cancer: A single‐arm trial of personalized risk communication

OBJECTIVE Elevated anxiety and breast cancer worry can impede mammographic screening and early breast cancer detection. Genetic advances and risk models make personalized breast cancer risk assessment and communication feasible, but it is unknown whether such communication of risk affects anxiety and disease-specific worry. We studied the effect of a personalized breast cancer screening intervention on risk perception, anxiety, and breast cancer worry. METHODS Women with a normal mammogram but elevated risk for breast cancer (N = 122) enrolled in the Athena Breast Health risk communication program were surveyed before and after receiving a letter conveying their breast cancer risk and a breast health genetic counselor consultation. We compared breast cancer risk estimation, anxiety, and breast cancer worry before and after risk communication and evaluated the relationship of anxiety and breast cancer worry to risk estimation accuracy. RESULTS Women substantially overestimated their lifetime breast cancer risk, and risk communication somewhat mitigated this overestimation (49% pre-intervention, 42% post-intervention, 13% Gail model risk estimate, P < .001). Both general anxiety and breast cancer worry declined significantly after risk communication in women with high baseline anxiety. Baseline anxiety and breast cancer worry were essentially unrelated to risk estimation accuracy, but risk communication increased alignment of worry with accuracy of risk assessment. CONCLUSIONS Personalized communication about breast cancer risk was associated with modestly improved risk estimation accuracy in women with relatively low anxiety and less anxiety and breast cancer worry in women with higher anxiety. We detected no negative consequences of informing women about elevated breast cancer risk.
Spectral signal quality of fast pressure sensitive paint measurements in turbulent shock-wave/boundary layer interactions

This study presents a critical investigation of the signal quality obtained using candidate fast pressure sensitive paint measurements in realistic, spectrally complex flows. The evaluations focus on characterizing the importance of the paint layer frequency response in conjunction with the fundamental signal-to-noise ratio limitations of the imaging system. Fast fluoro-isopropyl-butyl polymer-based paint is used primarily because of an identified characteristic attenuation pattern. Complementary high-speed pressure sensitive paint and wall static pressure measurements are performed in a turbulent, separated, scooped compression ramp shock-wave/boundary layer interaction at Mach 2.5 using a sampling rate of 4 kHz. The results reveal a systematic underprediction of the RMS pressure due to the limited frequency response of the paint. A simple frequency domain correction methodology utilizing the experimental data and a diffusion-based model of the paint response are employed to compensate for these effects. A method for determining the spectral signal-to-noise ratio of the imaging system is then presented, which is found to impose a major constraint on the upper limit of the resolvable pressure frequency. The correction is observed to provide a significant improvement in the agreement between the pressure sensitive paint and transducers, but only below the noise-dominated cutoff frequency. The relative significance of these factors is then investigated for polymer–ceramic-based, 8 kHz measurements of a planar compression ramp shock-wave/boundary layer interaction in a rectangular channel.
The Rhyme and Reason for Nursery Rhymes in the Elementary Music Classroom

Many educators have recognized how nursery rhymes can be used in classrooms to nurture the cognitive, physical, social, emotional, and music development of children. In the elementary music classro...
Joint Optimization of Processing Complexity and Rate Allocation through Entropy Tunability for 64-/256-QAM Based Radio Fronthauling with LDPC and PAS-OFDM

We experimentally demonstrate LDPC coded PAS-OFDM 64-/256-QAM signals in radio fronthauls. Through entropy allocation by adjusting the complexity and signal bandwidth, tunable power margins gain up to 3 dB and relaxed process latency are achieved.
Fluorescent microspheres as a positive indicator in an intratracheal infection model

Animal models testing the ability of vaccines and therapeutic agents to prevent pathology from induced respiratory infection are an important means of testing and validating the vaccines and therapeutic agents. However, the lack of induced pathology in test subjects could be either indicative of protection or a problem with the animal model system. This work describes the improvement of a chicken model system of intratracheal infection using fluorescent microspheres as a positive indicator of infection. It was shown that fluorescent microspheres and Mycoplasma gallisepticum bacteria both dispersed to the same areas of the chicken respiratory system and that the microspheres remained detectable in the chicken lung tissue for at least 7 days following infection. The microspheres used are detectable using a black light, allowing for visualization during necropsy. Using the updated model system, three live M. gallisepticum vaccines were tested both for their ability to elicit a humoral immune response following vaccination, and for their ability to protect from air sac lesion pathology at two different time points following vaccination. Results showed the protective effects of the different M. gallisepticum vaccines prevented the induction of pathology, consistent with previous results. The presence of the fluorescent microspheres provided a positive method of identifying the properly infected chickens and a means of differentiating failed experimental infections so that those samples could be removed, resulting in improved consistency in infection results.
86/90Y-Labeled Monoclonal Antibody Targeting Tissue Factor for Pancreatic Cancer Theranostics.

Pancreatic cancer is highly aggressive, with a median survival time of less than 6 months and a 5-year overall survival rate of around 7%. The poor prognosis of PaCa is largely due to its advanced ...
Corona de sombra : historia, identidad y transformación en un teatro de máscaras

The plot of Corona de sombra by Rodolfo Usigli exhibits a circular trajectory: it begins and ends in an “invented” present for the visit of the historian Erasmo Ramirez to the former empress of Mexico Carlota Amalia a few hours before her death (Brussels, January 19, 1927). The complexity of the text is central: theater within the theater. Carlota and Maximiliano perform for “Juarez” (Ramirez) and the spectators. The interaction of Erasmo and Carlota, on the other hand, represents and builds another “story” for the benefit of the historian himself and the viewers/readers of the future. There are also problems of identity revealed throughout the text. In symbolic terms, Ramirez, with his historian mask, represents a mestizo, modern and young Mexico in search of a recent past (re)created in Europe by an old European woman of royal ancestry. The opposition of these racial symbols, spaces and times juxtaposed shows a conflictive history in constant reinterpretation and transformation.
Outcomes following percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy versus fluoroscopic procedures in the Medicare population.

Abstract Background In the United States, few high-quality manuscripts have directly compared the complication profiles of percutaneous endoscopic versus fluoroscopic gastrostomy. Thus, it is our goal to compare these 2 common procedures to better understand their efficacy and complication profiles. Materials and Methods A retrospective analysis of patient records from Medicare parts A/B from 2007 to 2012 was used to identify percutaneous fluoroscopic gastrostomy and percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy procedures. Patient demographics were stratified by age, sex, comorbidities, and complications. Results A total of 258,641 patients were found to have either percutaneous fluoroscopic gastrostomy (26,477, 10.2%) or percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (232,164, 89.8%). Percutaneous fluoroscopic gastrostomy experienced greater rates for all complications queried. Multivariate analysis revealed that the percutaneous fluoroscopic gastrostomy cohort had statistically significant increased odds for short-term complications, such as ileus (odds ratio 1.4, 95% confidence interval 1.22–1.54), mechanical (odds ratio 2.4, 95% confidence interval 2.28–2.58), wound infection (odds ratio 1.4, 95% confidence interval 1.24–1.52), persistent fistula after tube removal (odds ratio 1.9, 95% confidence interval 1.78–2.12), and other complications (odds ratio 2.2, 95% confidence interval 2.03–2.37), and long-term complications, including abdominal wall pain (odds ratio 1.4, 95% confidence interval 1.33–1.44), wound infection (odds ratio 1.1, 95% confidence interval 1.01–1.15), and persistent fistula after tube removal (odds ratio 1.8, 95% confidence interval 1.72–1.87). Conclusion Gastrostomy tubes are more frequently being placed via percutaneous endoscopic and fluoroscopic methods. This study suggests that those undergoing fluoroscopic placement have higher odds of developing short- and long-term postoperative complications.
Determination of Protein Phase Diagrams by Centrifugation

Liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) underlies the formation of biomolecular condensates, i.e., membrane-less compartments in cells that carry out functions related to RNA metabolism, stress adaptation, transport, or signaling. Examples of such biomolecular condensates are the nucleolus, nuclear speckles, promyelocytic leukemia protein (PML) bodies and paraspeckles in the nucleus, and stress granules and P bodies in the cytoplasm. Other structures in cells that are not typically viewed as bona fide compartments also seem to be formed via LLPS as recently elucidated, including heterochromatin, super-enhancers, and membrane receptor clusters. Key protein and/or RNA components of these biomolecular condensates form a scaffold via LLPS. Other constituents incorporate into this scaffold as clients. To understand the sequence features and interactions that mediate biomolecular condensate formation in cells, it is useful to quantify phase separation of pure components in vitro. Microscopy and turbidity measurements can be used to determine the concentration of a protein above which it phase separates, the so-called saturation concentration. Here, we describe experiments for the determination of full coexistence lines of phase-separating proteins by centrifugation. Coexistence lines are reconstructed from coexisting light and dense phase concentrations of the protein, and we present them as so-called phase diagrams. Phase diagrams allow the quantitative comparison of phase separation for proteins and their mutants under different conditions. They are thus important for our nuanced understanding of the driving forces underlying liquid-liquid phase separation in vitro. Such results have direct applicability for understanding phase separation-driven compartmentalization of cells.
Neurotization of the Nipple-Areola Complex during Implant-Based Reconstruction: Evaluation of Early Sensation Recovery

The concept of sensate autologous breast reconstruction is not novel, and prior literature has focused mainly on sensate abdominally based breast reconstruction. The goal of this article is to present the authors' results with a novel technique performing sensate implant-based reconstruction. A database was prospectively maintained for patients who underwent implant-based sensate breast reconstruction. The anterior branch of the lateral fourth intercostal is identified and preserved during the mastectomy by the breast surgeon. A processed nerve allograft is used as an interpositional graft connecting the donor nerve to the targeted nipple-areola complex. The sensory recovery process was objectively monitored using a pressure-specified sensory device. Thirteen patients underwent the proposed technique. Eight patients with 15 breasts were monitored for sensory recovery. For sensory measurement, the nipple had a mean threshold of 67.33 ± 34.48 g/nm. The upper inner (29 ± 26.75 g/nm) and upper outer (46.82 ± 32.72 g/nm) nipple-areola complex quadrants demonstrated better scores during the moving test compared with the static test. Mean time between the test and surgery was 4.18 ± 2.3 months, and mean time between the second test and surgery was 10.59 ± 3.57 months. Threshold improvements were documented after the second test for all nipple-areola complex areas evaluated. This is the first study to report on early results obtained after performing sensate implant-based breast reconstruction. More studies are required to determine the long-term outcomes and impact on quality of life and to assess whether patient or breast characteristics impact the success of this procedure.
The predictive value of preimplant pulmonary function testing in LVAD patients

BACKGROUND The predictive value of preoperative pulmonary function testing (PFT) in left ventricular assist device (LVAD) patients remains unknown. This study evaluates the relationship between abnormal PFTs and postimplant outcomes in LVAD patients. METHODS LVAD implants from January 2004 to December 2018 at a single institution were included. Patients were stratified based on the presence of abnormal preoperative PFTs, and the primary outcome was respiratory adverse events (AE). Secondary outcomes included 1-year overall postimplant survival, and complications including bleeding, renal failure, thromboembolism, and device malfunction. RESULTS The total of 333 patients underwent LVAD implant, 46.5% (n = 155) with normal PFTs and 53.5% (n = 178) with abnormal PFTs. Patients with abnormal PFTs were noted to have higher rates of respiratory AEs (25.9% vs. 15.1%, p = .049). In multivariable analysis, the impact of PFTs was most significant when forced expiratory volume in 1 s/forced expiratory volume (FEV1/FVC) ratio was less than 0.5 (hazard ratio [HR] 16.32, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.70-156.78). The rates of other AEs including bleeding, renal failure, right heart failure, and device malfunction were similar. One-year overall postimplant survival was comparable between the groups (56.8% vs. 68.8%, p = .3183), though patients in the lowest strata of FEV1 (<60% predicted) and FEV1/FVC (<0.5) had elevated risk-adjusted hazards for mortality (HR 2.63, 95% CI, 1.51-4.60 and HR 18.92, 95% CI, 2.10-170.40, respectively). CONCLUSIONS The presence of abnormal preoperative PFTs is not prohibitory for LVAD implantation although it can be used for risk stratification for respiratory AEs and mortality, particularly in patients with severely reduced metrics. The importance of careful patient selection should be underscored in this higher risk patient subset.
Montessori Middle School and the Transition to High School: Student Narratives.

This narrative study investigated through storytelling the experiences of five students who attended a Montessori middle school and then transitioned to a public high school. The testimonies of the participants highlighted that, to help students make a successful transition to high school, it is useful to consider three elements: (a) developing academic and social-emotional skills, (b) fostering positive attitudes toward learning, and (c) creating opportunities to practice self-reliance, self-advocacy, and grit. The experience of these particular students accentuates the ability of a Montessori middle school to emphasize both academic rigor and the social-emotional skills that build the fortitude necessary for students to successfully transition to high school. This study suggests that Montessori middle school practices may foster the intellectual and emotional growth of students so that they can successfully transition to high school and are potentially buffered from many of the detrimental academic and emotional impacts of ninth grade.
Impact of thoracotomy approach on right ventricular failure and length of stay in left ventricular assist device implants: an intermacs registry analysis.

Introduction Traditionally, implantation of Left Ventricular Assist Devices (LVADs) is performed via median sternotomy . Recently, less invasive thoracotomy approaches are growing in popularity as they involve less surgical trauma, potentially less bleeding, and may preserve right ventricular function . We hypothesized implantation of LVADs via thoracotomy has less perioperative right ventricular failure (RVF) and shorter postoperative length of stay (LOS). Methods Continuous flow LVAD implants from Intermacs between February 6, 2014 - December 31, 2018 were identified. Patients implanted via thoracotomy were propensity matched in a 1:1 ratio with patients implanted via sternotomy. Outcomes were compared between sternotomy and thoracotomy approach and by device type (axial, centrifugal-flow with hybrid levitation (CF-HL), centrifugal-flow with full magnetic levitation devices (CF-FML)). The primary outcome was time to first moderate or severe RVF. Secondary outcomes included survival and LOS. Results Overall 978 thoracotomy patients were matched with 978 sternotomy patients. Over the study period, 242 thoracotomy patients and 219 sternotomy patients developed RVF with no significant difference in time to first moderate to severe RVF by surgical approach overall ( p = 0.27) or within CF-HL (p = 0.36) or CF-FML devices (p = 0.25). Survival did not differ by implant technique (150 deaths in thoracotomy group, 154 deaths in sternotomy group; p = 0.58). However, sternotomy approach was associated with a significantly shorter LOS (17 Vs 18 days, p = 0.009). Conclusion As compared to sternotomy, implantation of continuous flow LVADs via thoracotomy approach does not reduce moderate to severe RVF or improve survival but does reduce post-operative LOS. Device type did not influence outcomes and most centers did a small volume of thoracotomy implants.
Population Pharmacokinetics of Tadalafil in Pediatric Patients with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: A Combined Adult/Pediatric Model

Tadalafil 40 mg once daily is approved for adult patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). To investigate and potentially fulfill an unmet need in pediatric patients with PAH, pharmacokinetic (PK) data were explored in a pediatric phase Ib/II study and pooled with prior phase III (pulmonary arterial hypertension and response to tadalafil [PHIRST-1]) adult data to develop the first population PK model for tadalafil in pediatric patients with PAH. H6D-MC-LVIG (NCT01484431) was an open-label, multicenter, multiple ascending dose study in pediatric patients with PAH, while PHIRST-1 was a phase III, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel design study in adults with PAH who received one of five treatments (tadalafil 2.5, 10, 20, or 40 mg, or placebo orally, once daily). PK data from the studies were pooled to develop a pediatric population PK model for tadalafil that characterized relationships among dose, exposure, and the effects of covariates with an aim to develop a population PK model that could simulate concentration–time profiles and assess exposure-matched dosing strategies in a pediatric PAH population. In line with the observed data, modeling and simulation demonstrated that the doses studied in the pediatric population produced area under the concentration–time curves (AUCs) within the range of those associated with improved exercise ability in adults with PAH. The analyses included 1430 observations from 305 adult patients (PHIRST-1: 69 males and 236 females, 1102 observations) and 19 pediatric patients (LVIG: 6 males and 13 females, 328 observations) who received tadalafil once daily at different dose levels. The best-fit base model retained an effect of weight on apparent volume of distribution (V/F), fixed to the allometric scaling value of 1, and did not include an effect of weight on apparent clearance (CL/F). Other covariate effects were that bosentan increased CL/F, V/F decreased with decreasing body weight, and bioavailability (F) decreased with increasing dose and decreasing age. The PK model reliably predicted the observed concentrations and overall variability evident from the overlap of the individual observed concentrations with the distributions of simulated concentrations. A one-compartment model parameterized in terms of F, absorption rate constant, CL/F, and V/F described the data well. The model demonstrated that plasma tadalafil concentrations in pediatric patients aged 2 to < 18 years were similar to those in adults at similar doses, and confirmed that dosing of 40 mg once daily in pediatric patients with a bodyweight ≥ 40 kg, and a dose of 20 mg once daily in patients with a body weight < 40 kg and aged ≥ 2 years are suitable for phase III evaluation. LVIG: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01484431 (2 December 2011). PHIRST-1: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00125918 (2 August 2005).
Trends in access to care among rural patients served at HRSA-funded health centers.

PURPOSE Nearly one-fifth of Americans live in rural areas and experience multiple socioeconomic and health disparities. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)-funded health centers (HCs) provide comprehensive primary care in rural communities. However, no prior research has examined trends in access to care in rural HC patients. We examined the change in access to care among patients served at rural HRSA-funded HCs in the United States between 2009 and 2014. METHODS We compared patients by year to examine measures of access using multilevel generalized structural equation logistic regression models with random effects. We used the 2009 and 2014 cross-sectional Health Center Patient Surveys and identified 2,625 adult rural HC patients. Dependent variables were subjective (unmet need/delay in medical care, mental health, dental care, and prescription medications) and objective measures (preventive care and other health care utilization) in access to care. Our independent variable of interest was time, comparing access in 2009 and 2014. RESULTS Rural HC patients reported higher predicted probability of influenza vaccine receipt (37% vs 51%), and lower unmet (25% vs 14%) and delayed medical care (36% vs 18%) between 2009 and 2014. Any emergency department visits in the last year increased (32% vs 46%) and mammogram (70% vs 55%) and Pap test (83% vs 72%) screening rates decreased. CONCLUSIONS Observed increases in access to care among rural HC patients are positive developments but the challenges to access care still persist. Remote services, such as telehealth, could be cost-effective means of improving access to care among rural patients with limited provider supply.
Community Conflict Associated with PTSD and Negative Outcomes for United Nations Police Officers

The present study offers a unique comparison of workplace stressors and negative psychosocial outcomes for United Nations police officers with and without community conflict directed toward members of their national UNPOL contingents. Research participants included 409 United Nations police officers who had been targeted by community conflict directed at their respective agency. The results from the study suggest that the current form of community conflict relevant to police officers includes both in-person and social media attacks, and that such community conflict is a predictor of negative outcomes for officers beyond those attributable to workplace stressors within their police agencies. These findings could guide police departments to develop community-relations programs to reduce the incidence or to respond effectively to these community attacks. Present results also indicate that the sense of powerlessness experienced in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms is a consistent “link” between such community conflicts and a variety of negative psychosocial outcomes for police officers.
A note on Schumpeter’s innovation hypothesis

This note reveals that while the monopolist has ideal incentives to innovate, consistent with Schumpeter’s original hypothesis, the oligopolist’s incentive to innovate is non-monotonic in its marke...
Contracts as pairs of projections

Assertion-based contracts provide a powerful mechanism for stating invariants at module boundaries and for enforcing them uniformly. In 2002, Findler and Felleisen showed how to add contracts to higher-order functional languages, allowing programmers to assert invariants about functions as values. Following up in 2004, Blume and McAllester provided a quotient model for contracts. Roughly speaking, their model equates a contract with the set of values that cannot violate the contract. Their studies raised interesting questions about the nature of contracts and, in particular, the nature of the any contract. In this paper, we develop a model for software contracts that follows Dana Scott's program by interpreting contracts as projections. The model has already improved our implementation of contracts. We also demonstrate how it increases our understanding of contract-oriented programming and design. In particular, our work provides a definitive answer to the questions raised by Blume and McAllester's work. The key insight from our model that resolves those questions is that a contract that puts no obligation on either party is not the same as the most permissive contract for just one of the parties.
Orphanhood, Poverty and the Care Dilemma: Review of Global Policy Trends

The care and protection of children experiencing orphanhood presents a major child-care policy challenge. This paper draws on a review of the literature to document divergent conceptualizations of orphanhood, how the hurdles for the care of orphans reflect wider issues of poverty and inequality, as well as the ways in which different care interventions (familial, institutional, community-based and rights-based) might be appropriated for children in need. It is argued that the map of contemporary orphanhood overlaps with the contours of global poverty, inequality, age-based deprivations and marginalization. An example of a ‘globalised’ model of orphan care, namely SOS Children’s Villages, is presented and its implications for policy are examined. The paper highlights the significance of fighting poverty and enhancing the care-giving capabilities of extended families in the care and protection of children from a rights-based perspective. It suggests that external interventions should primarily address the structural causes of poverty and marginality, rather than amplifying inequalities through the selective support of orphans in economically vulnerable communities.
Participatory Research for Adaptive Ecosystem Management

Summary Participatory research involves members of interested communities who work with researchers to apply their joint skills and experience to explore issues of mutual concern. There is an increasingly explicit federal mandate for participatory research efforts involving stakeholder groups in public land management. This paper presents a case study of one effort ongoing in the Hayfork Adaptive Management Area (AMA) on the Six Rivers and Shasta-Trinity national forests of northern California. There, a network of U.S. Forest Service staff, scientists, local nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and nontimber forest product harvesters (wildcrafters) has been working to address ecological, economic, and social aspects of harvesting nontimber forest products (NTFP) from public land. This paper discusses the challenges of NTFP management on public lands and analyzes participatory research as an approach for addressing some of these challenges.
Immobilized sialyltransferase fused to a fungal biotin-binding protein: Production, properties, and applications

A β-galactoside α2,6-sialyltransferase (ST) from the marine bacterium Photobacterium sp. JT-ISH-224 with a broad acceptor substrate specificity was fused to a fungal biotin-binding protein tamavidin 2 (TM2) to produce immobilized enzyme. Specifically, a gene for the fusion protein, in which ST from Photobacterium sp. JT-ISH-224 and TM2 were connected via a peptide linker (ST-L-TM2) was constructed and expressed in Escherichia coli. The ST-L-TM2 was produced in the soluble form with a yield of approximately 15,000 unit/300 ml of the E. coli culture. The ST-L-TM2 was partially purified and part of it was immobilized onto biotin-bearing magnetic microbeads. The immobilized ST-L-TM2 onto microbeads could be used at least seven consecutive reaction cycles with no observed decrease in enzymatic activity. In addition, the optimum pH and temperature of the immobilized enzyme were changed compared to those of a free form of the ST. Considering these results, it was strongly expected that the immobilized ST-L-TM2 was a promising tool for the production of various kind of sialoligosaccharides.
Gender, Race, and Risk: Intersectional Risk Management in the Sale of Sex Online

Sex worker experience of risk (e.g., physical violence or rape) is shaped by race, gender, and context. For web-based sex workers, experience of risk is comparatively minimal; what is unclear is how web-based sex workers manage risk and if online advertising plays a role in risk management. Building on intersectionality theory and research exploring risk management in sex work, we content-analyzed 600 escort advertisements from Backpage.com ( http://www.backpage.com ) to explore risk management in web-based sex work. To guide our research we asked: Do advertisements contain risk management messages? Does the use of risk management messaging differ by sex worker race or gender? Which groups have the highest overall use of risk management messages? Through a multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) we found that advertisements contained risk management messages and that uses of these phrases varied by race and gender. Blacks, women, and transgender women drove the use of risk management messages. Black and White transgender women had the highest overall use of these phrases. We conclude that risk management is an intersectional practice and that the use of risk management messages is a venue-specific manifestation of broader risk management priorities found in all venues where sex is sold.
Slowing Down Medicine: The Plural Worlds of Hospice Care

This ethnography reflects on a non-profit hospice care organization in the Midwestern US where caregivers “slow down” medical care by acknowledging the plurality of forces that constitute the illness experience, philosophically departing from their biomedical, non-hospice counterparts. It demonstrates the ontological effect of “slowing down” and attending to a set of patient problems that extends beyond the biological, or any distinct, domain. The result is a medical world that privileges the embodied, lived expression of disease—rather than the statistical, clinical expression—resulting in medical care that is enmeshed in the variables of everyday life. I therefore situate hospice care in a historical moment witnessing the emergence of a sophisticated and “non-modern” (Latour 1991) form of medical care.
Analysis of cardiac sarcomere efficiency and heat generation

The efficiency of the heart is studied at the sarcomere level in order to find an optimal operating point for the heart. At this point, the heart is said to be best coupled or 'matched' to the circulation. The effects of pacing versus no pacing and of acute versus chronic adaptation are considered. These effects are studied in a mathematical model. The rate of heat loss in the sarcomere is assumed to balance the rate of production. This phenomenon is studied under both constant heart rate and/or constant mean aortic pressure. The results show a maximum in the rate of heat loss when the heart rate is constant. However, for a given mean aortic pressure, the rate of heat loss determines the cardiac output. This latter case is shown to be dependent on the left ventricular size. >
A hierarchical volumetric shadow algorithm for single scattering

Volumetric effects such as beams of light through participating media are an important component in the appearance of the natural world. Many such effects can be faithfully modeled by a single scattering medium. In the presence of shadows, rendering these effects can be prohibitively expensive: current algorithms are based on ray marching, i.e., integrating the illumination scattered towards the camera along each view ray, modulated by visibility to the light source at each sample. Visibility must be determined for each sample using shadow rays or shadow-map lookups. We observe that in a suitably chosen coordinate system, the visibility function has a regular structure that we can exploit for significant acceleration compared to brute force sampling. We propose an efficient algorithm based on partial sum trees for computing the scattering integrals in a single-scattering homogeneous medium. On a CPU, we achieve speedups of 17--120x over ray marching.
The effects of ovariectomy and administration of progesterone on the adrenal X-zone and the uterus.

THE FIRST PREGNANCY in a young adult mouse has a very marked effect on the adrenal cortex. The X-Zone, comprising nearly half of the cortical tissue in young nori-bred female mice, disappears in most instances by the fourteenth day of pregnancy (I). This effect of pregnancy on the adrenal cortex is of sufficient interest to call for further analysis. It has been shown that in males the X-Zone is promptly responsive to testis hormone; it hypertrophies following castration (I) and this hypertrophy is inhibited by androgens (2). In addition, the presence of a well developed X-Zone tends to be associated with a stimulation of the seminal vesicle epithelium in castrates (3, 4). These relationships suggest that the X-Zone may produce androgens, and in sufficient quantity to influence the seminal vesicles, although other interpretations are by no means excluded by present evidence.
Trust in E-Commerce: Social Networks vs. Institutional Credibility

E-Commerceâ€™s virtuality poses questions concerning trust between buyer and seller. Web 2.0 formats have provided new complications for these questions. Companies are creating more social networking sites, experimenting with ways to use such networks for marketing purposes. This paper explores the issue of trust in social networking site transactions vs. those at more established e-commerce sites. The authors apply the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) to assess the level of trust in different types of e-commerce sites. TAM measures trust along several dimensions and includes potential explanatory factors, such as ease of use, perceived usefulness, search and research capabilities, security, value of product recommendations, and value of customer reviews. The authors directed the respondents to assess amazon.com, Facebook, and eBayâ€”sites with different levels of institutional credibility and social networking affiliations. The data suggest definite differences exist between the sites, perhaps explained by institutional credibility and social networking.
Simulation and Counterconditioning as Adjuncts to Pharmacotherapy for Invasive Pediatric Procedures

Behavioral counterconditioning was conducted during simulated medical routines to supplement medical management of five children's distress during invasive procedures (bone marrow aspiration, lumbar puncture, tracheostomy care, venipuncture, and finger pricks). Preferred activities were paired in vivo with medical stimuli, and differential positive reinforcement was provided contingent on engagement with the preferred activities and on compliance with adult instructions, first during simulations and later during actual procedures. Data on cooperation, escape/avoidance, and negative vocalizations were evaluated using both single-subject experimental methods and a baseline-treatment group statistical comparison. Results support the benefits of this approach as an adjunctive intervention to decrease behavioral distress in some children requiring repeated invasive procedures. Discussion emphasizes the potential for training medical personnel to implement these techniques preventively, for decreasing or discontinuing sedation for some children treated under local anesthesia, and for preparing children with developmental disabilities for invasive procedures.
Ultrasound-guided contrast-enhanced sentinel node biopsy of the head and neck in a porcine model.

Objective To test the feasibility of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS)–guided sentinel lymph node biopsy (SNB) of the head and neck in a porcine model. Study Design and Setting In this prospective, nonrandomized study, methylene blue and Sonazoid were injected into the lateral tongue or floor of mouth (FOM) of four swine. Real-time CEUS was used to identify contrast in the lymphatic channels flowing to the sentinel lymph node (SLN). Endoscopic or open SNB was performed. Neck dissection was then performed, and the residual nodal packet was examined for remaining contrast-enhancing or blue dye–stained nodes. Results In all eight procedures, the SLN was visualized with ultrasound and blue dye. Seven procedures identified a single SLN, and one identified two SLNs. Subsequent neck dissections revealed no other nodes containing methylene blue or contrast in the nodal specimen or operative bed. Conclusion/Significance CEUS-guided SNB of the head and neck in swine is feasible, with success comparable to blue dye–guided SNB. This technique may offer several advantages over traditional techniques, and warrants further study.
A role for novel cell-cycle proteins in podocyte biology

Cell-cycle proteins influence almost all aspects of embryogenesis and differentiation. In adults, these proteins control cell division and regeneration after injury. During the past several years, their roles in controlling reaction to stress have been demonstrated in several organ systems. In the kidney, the cell types affected include both tubular and glomerular compartments. Now a novel cell cycle-related protein is shown to influence podocyte biology.
Interferometric Predcition and Least Squares Subtraction of Surface Waves

Surface waves are one of the main types of coherent noise in land seismic surveys, and standard filtering methods, such as f − k filtering, are not always effective. We describe an interferometric method for predicting surface waves and their removal from raw seismic data by a least squares matching filter. The interferometric method enables the prediction of surface waves by using crosscorrelation between two different traces. Compared to other surface wave filtering methods, the interferometric method can ”naturally” predict surface waves from other shot gathers without the use of an a priori velocity model. A land seismic field data contaminated by high energy surface waves is used to test the effectiveness of the interferometric prediction and subtraction strategies. Preliminary results with a single data set suggest that surface waves can be predicted and mostly attenuated by this method.
The inhibition by saccharin and cyclamate of phosphotransferase and phosphohydrolase activities of glucose-6-phosphatase.

Saccharin and cyclamate were found to inhibit the glucose-6-phosphate phosphohydrolase and PPi-glucose phosphotransferase activities of beef liver microsomal glucose-6-phosphatase (d-glucose-6-phosphate phosphohydrolase, EC 3.1.3.9). The extent of inhibition decreased with increasing pH in the range pH 4–8. At pH 5.6 inhibition by both compounds was competitive with respect to phosphate substrates and non-competitive with respect to glucose Ki values for saccharin and cyclamate were, respectively, 6.5 and 26 mM for the phosphohydrolase reaction, and were 16 and 68 mM with respect to PPi and 110 and 190 mM with respect to glucose for the phosphotransferase reaction. Of a variety of structural analogs of saccharin and cyclamate, saccharin was the most effective inhibitor tested.
Time-constant reduction in charge-sensitive preamplifiers

Abstract A technique is described for reducing the time-constant of a charge-sensitve amplifier without reducing the size of the feedback parameters.
The Force-field Puzzle and Mindreading in Non-human Primates

What is the relation between philosophical theorizing and experimental data? A modest set of naturalistic assumptions leads to what I term the force-field puzzle. The assumption that philosophy is continuous with natural science, as captured in Quine’s force-field metaphor, seems to push us simultaneously towards thinking that there have to be conceptual constraints upon how we interpret experimental data and towards thinking that there cannot be such conceptual constraints, because all theorizing must be accountable to data and observation. The key to resolving the force-field puzzle is to take a more nuanced view of how conceptual constraints can be accountable to data and observation. This can be done by developing conceptual arguments in conjunction with interpretative frameworks for making sense of experimental evidence. This paper shows how attending to important differences between different types of mindreading yields tools for interpreting experimental and observational data in a manner consistent with a (conceptually derived) constraint that I have developed elsewhere. This is the first-order constraint that second-order thinking, or thinking about thinking, is only available to language-using creatures.
Riemann problem method for generalized Heisenberg equation

Abstract We consider a Hamiltonian system generalizing the classical Heisenberg ferromagnets equation. This system is analogous to the self-induced-transparency equations. We use, as usually, the first equation of the Lax pair to find the Riemann boundary condition. Its time dependence is provided by the dynamical Hamiltonian equations.