cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Circulating CD8+ MAIT cells correlate with improved outcomes in anti-PD1 treated melanoma patients.

While much of the research concerning factors associated with responses to immunotherapies focuses on the contributions of conventional peptide-specific T cells, the role of unconventional T cells, such as mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells, in human melanoma remains largely unknown. MAIT cells are innate-like T cells expressing a semi-invariant T cell receptor restricted to the non-classical MHC class I molecule MR1 presenting vitamin metabolites derived from bacteria. In this prospective clinical study, we sought to characterize MAIT cells in melanoma patients and determine their association with clinical outcomes. We identified tumor-infiltrating MAIT cells in melanomas across metastatic sites and found that the number of circulating MAIT cells is reduced in melanoma patients. However, circulating MAIT cell frequency is restored by anti-PD1 treatment in responding patients, correlating with treatment responses in which patients with high frequencies of MAIT cells exhibited improved overall survival. These data provide evidence for leveraging MAIT cells and their functions as novel targets for future therapies.
Routes to Roots: Direct Evidence of Water Transport by Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi to Host Plants

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) form symbiotic associations with 80% of surveyed land plant species and are well-recognized for accessing and transferring nutrients to plants1. Yet AMF also perform other essential functions, notably improving plant-water relations2. Some research attributes the role of AMF in plant-water relations solely to enhancing plant nutrition and osmoregulation for plants partnered with AMF3,4,5, while indirect evidence suggests AMF may transport water to plants1,6,7. Here, we used isotopically-labeled water and a fluorescent dye to directly track and quantify water transport by AMF to plants in a greenhouse experiment. We specifically assessed whether AMF can access water in soil unavailable to plants and transport it across an air gap to host plants. Plants grown with AMF that had access to a physically separated 18O-labeled water source transpired twice as much, and this transpired water contained three times as much label compared to plants with AMF with no access to the separated labeled water source. We estimated that water transported by AMF could explain 46.2% of the water transpired. In addition, a fluorescent dye indicated that water was transported via an extracytoplasmic hyphal pathway.
First-Day Use of the Newborn Weight Loss Tool to Predict Excess Weight Loss in Breastfeeding Newborns

Background and Objectives: Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended for most newborns. However, exclusively breastfed newborns sometimes experience excess weight loss (EWL, loss ≥10% of birth weight)...
An Examination of Work Characteristics, Fatigue, and Recovery Among Acute Care Nurses.

Objective To examine self-perceived fatigue among nurses and to quantify levels of fatigue and the ability to recover from fatigue between worked shifts across various work characteristics. Background Fatigue is associated with working long hours, disruption of sleep, and inadequate time to recover between shifts. Fatigue degrades the nurses' performance leading to poorer patient outcomes and increased occupational injuries. Methods This quantitative study surveyed 573 nurses across 5 hospitals in the southeastern United States. Results Significant levels of acute fatigue were associated with working labor and delivery and medical-surgical units and working a 12-hour shift. Nurses working night shift and on the behavioral health unit showed a significantly lower ability to recover between worked shifts. Conclusions Fatigue threatens safety and the quality of patient care. Leaders should ensure that nurses take duty-free breaks and schedule adequate time off to recover between worked shifts.
Development and implementation of a novel Web-based gaming application to enhance emergency medical technician knowledge in low- and middle-income countries.

Background Increasing access to high-quality emergency and prehospital care is an important priority in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). However, ensuring that emergency medical technicians (EMTs) maintain their clinical knowledge and proficiency with procedural skills is challenging, as continuing education requirements are still being introduced, and clinical instructional efforts need strengthening. We describe the development and implementation of an innovative asynchronous learning tool for EMTs in the form of a Web-based trivia game. Methods Over 500 case-based multiple-choice questions (covering 10 essential prehospital content areas) were created by experts in prehospital education, piloted with EMT educators from LMICs, and delivered to EMTs through a Web-based quiz game platform over a 12-week period. We enrolled 252 participants from nine countries. Results Thirty-two participants (12.7%) completed the entire 12-week game. Participants who completed the game were administered a survey with a 100% response rate. Ninety-three percent of participants used their mobile phone to access the game. Overall, participants reported that the interface was easy to use (93.8% agreed or strongly agreed), the game improved their knowledge (100% agreed or strongly agreed), and they felt better prepared for their jobs (100% agreed or strongly agreed). The primary motivators for participation were improving patient care (37.5%) and being recognized on the game's leaderboard (31.3%). All participants reported that they would engage in the game again (43.8% agreed and 56.3% strongly agreed) and would recommend the game to their colleagues (34.4% agreed and 65.6% strongly agreed). Conclusions In conclusion, a quiz game targeting EMT learners from LMICs was viewed as accessible and effective by participants. Future efforts should focus on increasing retention and trialing languages in addition to English.
Harnessing the power of light with photomechanical materials

We study the mechanisms of the photomechanical response of dye-doped polymers and liquid crystal elastomers by characterizing the stress/strain response function to modulated light of a variety of material compositions with the specific goal of optimizing the photomechanical response Figure of Merit (FOM), which quantifies the efficiency with which light energy is converted to mechanical work. We discuss experiments that vary the parameters, which define the FOM to study the underlying mechanisms. Large and dramatic length changes and bending angles are commonly observed in materials with a small Young’s modulus even when the light-induced stress is small. However, useful devices require large forces, which may not always lead to large displacements in stiff materials. We use the concept of a photomorphon, the smallest photomechanical material element, to guide in the design of the most efficient materials and describe the photomechanical analog of the optical transistor.
Neutrophil-epithelial interactions augment infectivity and pro-inflammatory responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection

In response to viral infection, neutrophils release inflammatory mediators as part of the innate immune response, contributing to pathogen clearance through virus internalization and killing. Pre-existing co-morbidities, correlating to incidence of severe COVID-19, are associated with chronic airway neutrophilia and examination of COVID-19 lung tissue revealed a series of epithelial pathologies associated with infiltration and activation of neutrophils. To determine the impact of neutrophil-epithelial interactions on the infectivity and inflammatory response to SARS-CoV-2 infection, we developed a co-culture model of airway neutrophilia. We discovered that SARS-CoV-2 infection of the airway epithelium alone does not result in a notable release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, however in the presence of neutrophils, the inflammatory response is both polarized and significantly augmented, epithelial barrier integrity in impaired and viral load of the airway epithelium increased. This study reveals a key role for neutrophil-epithelial interactions in determining inflammation, infectivity, and outcomes in response to SARS-CoV-2 infection. HighlightsO_LIWe have developed a model to study neutrophil-epithelial interactions which better reflects the in vivo situation than monocultures C_LIO_LINeutrophils significantly augment SARS-CoV-2 mediated, pro-inflammatory cytokine release from the epithelium indicating a key interaction C_LIO_LISARS-CoV-2 infection leads to a polarized inflammatory response in differentiated airway epithelium C_LIO_LIDisruption of the epithelial barrier via addition of neutrophils or cytokines leads to increased infection C_LIO_LIStudy reveals a key role for neutrophil-epithelial interactions in determining outcome/infectivity C_LI
British Academic Life Writing and Meritocratic Virtue

If British academic memoirs disclosed the personal origins of professional careers, they also became themselves intellectual performances subject to critical disciplinary judgment. Ambiguity, irony...
SARS-CoV-2 infections in 165 countries over time.

Abstract Background: Understanding the dynamics of the COVID-19 pandemic and evaluating the efficacy of control measures requires knowledge of the number of infections over time. This number, however, often differs from the number of confirmed cases because of a large fraction of asymptomatic infections and different testing strategies. Methods: This study uses death count statistics, age-dependent infection fatality risks, and stochastic modeling to estimate the prevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections among adults (aged 20 years or older) in 165 countries over time, from early 2020 until June 25, 2021. The accuracy of the approach is confirmed through comparison with previous nationwide seroprevalence surveys. Results: The estimates presented reveal that the fraction of infections that are detected vary widely over time and between countries, and hence confirmed cases alone often yield a false picture of the pandemic. As of June 25, 2021, the nationwide cumulative fraction of SARS-CoV-2 infections (cumulative infections relative to population size) was estimated as 98% (95% confidence interval [CI] 93–100%) for Peru, 83% (95% CI 61–94%) for Brazil, and 36% (95% CI 23–61%) for the United States. Conclusions: The time-resolved estimates presented expand the possibilities to study the factors that influenced and still influence the pandemic’s progression in 165 countries.
"Friction by Definition": Conflict at Patient Handover Between Emergency and Internal Medicine Physicians at an Academic Medical Center.

Introduction: Patient handoffs from emergency physicians (EP) to internal medicine (IM) physicians may be complicated by conflict with the potential for adverse outcomes. The objective of this study was to identify the specific types of, and contributors to, conflict between EPs and IM physicians in this context. Methods: We performed a qualitative focus group study using a constructivist grounded theory approach involving emergency medicine (EM) and IM residents and faculty at a large academic medical center. Focus groups assessed perspectives and experiences of EP/IM physician interactions related to patient handoffs. We interpreted data with the matrix analytic method. Results: From May to December 2019, 24 residents (IM = 11, EM = 13) and 11 faculty (IM = 6, EM = 5) from the two departments participated in eight focus groups and two interviews. Two key themes emerged: 1) disagreements about disposition (ie, whether a patient needed to be admitted, should go to an intensive care unit, or required additional testing before transfer to the floor); and 2) contextual factors (ie, the request to discuss an admission being a primer for conflict; lack of knowledge of the other person and their workflow; high clinical workload and volume; and different interdepartmental perspectives on the benefits of a rapid emergency department workflow). Conclusions: Causes of conflict at patient handover between EPs and IM physicians are related primarily to disposition concerns and contextual factors. Using theoretical models of task, process, and relationship conflict, we suggest recommendations to improve the EM/IM interaction to potentially reduce conflict and advance patient care.
Gate Drive Circuit Design

The MOS-gate structure of the insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) simplifies the gate drive requirements. Starting with the basic gate drive circuit, this chapter introduces more complex drive strategies such as the asymmetric gate drive, the two-stage gate drive, the active gate drive, the variable resistance gate drive, and the digital gate drive. The IGBT gate drive approach can be tailored to reduce its switching losses.
Spontaneous Improvement of Chiari I Malformation and Syringomyelia in a Patient With Cystic Fibrosis: Case Report.

BACKGROUND AND IMPORTANCE Syringomyelia is highly associated with Chiari I malformation, but the pathophysiologic mechanism of syrinx formation and its relation to downward cerebellar tonsillar displacement remains elusive. Cough, Valsalva maneuver, and other physiological strains transiently exacerbate the clinical symptoms of these conditions, exert profound effects on the flow dynamics across the craniospinal junction, and are thought to play an important role in the pathogenesis of syringomyelia. CLINICAL PRESENTATION We report the case of a patient with cystic fibrosis who presented during an exacerbation of bronchiectasis and was found to have a Chiari I malformation with associated syringomyelia. Eight months later, when the patient had returned to baseline pulmonary status, repeat imaging showed interval improvement in both the size of the syrinx and descent of cerebellar tonsils. CONCLUSION This rare case of spontaneous improvement of syringomyelia and Chiari I malformation attributable to relief from chronic cough offers interesting insight into the mechanism of these disorders. ABBREVIATIONS FEV1, forced expiratory volume in 1 secondFVC, forced vital capacity.
The crossing number of K1,m ,n

A longstanding problem of crossing number, Zarankiewicz's conjecture, asserts that the crossing number of the complete bipartite graph K"m","n is @[email protected][email protected][email protected][email protected][email protected][email protected][email protected]?, which is known only for [email protected]?6. It is natural to generalize Zarankiewicz conjecture and ask: What is the crossing number for the complete multipartite graph? In this paper, we prove the following lower bounds for the crossing number of K"1","m","n in terms of the crossing number of the complete bipartite graph: cr(K"1","m","n)>=cr(K"m"+"1","n"+"1)[email protected][email protected][email protected][email protected][email protected][email protected]?;cr(K"1","2"M","n)>=12(cr(K"2"M"+"1","n"+"2)+cr(K"2"M"+"1","n)-M(M+n-1)). As a corollary, we show that: 1.cr(K"1","m","n)>=0.8594Z(m+1,n+1)[email protected][email protected][email protected][email protected][email protected][email protected]?; 2.If Zarankiewicz's conjecture is true for m=2M+1, then cr(K"1","2"M","n)=M^[email protected][email protected][email protected][email protected][email protected][email protected]?; 3.cr(K"1","4","n)[email protected][email protected][email protected][email protected][email protected][email protected]?.
Studies on human thyroxine-binding globulin. 8. Isoelectric focusing evidence for microheterogeneity of thyroxine-binding globulin.

Abstract Highly purified thyroxine-binding globulin from pooled human serum homogeneous by conventional criteria, subjected to isoelectric focusing in polyacrylamide gels in a pH gradient from 3–6, produced a pattern of at least nine stainable protein bands. All of these bands appeared to bind thyroxine. Completely desialylated thyroxine-binding globulin subjected to isoelectric focusing produced the same number and pattern of bands located at a different area in the pH gradient. Thyroxine-binding globulin purified from the serum of a single donor was subjected to isoelectric focusing. This thyroxine-binding globulin had the same pattern of protein bands with the exception that one of the major bands seen in the thyroxine-binding globulin from pooled serum was absent. Several possible explanations for these phenomena are discussed.
Improved algorithms for load balancing in circuit-switched hypercubes

The authors present efficient parallel algorithms for balancing load in circuit-switched hypercubes, which use the e-cube algorithm to route messages between the processing elements. Performance of the hypercube system can be significantly improved by transferring load, at regular intervals of time, from the overloaded processors to the underloaded processors. A centralized algorithm, based on a minimum-cost network flow model, for balancing load in the hypercube systems was developed by Bokhari. This algorithm requires O(N/sup 2/n/sup 2/) time to balance load in an n-cube with N=2/sup n/ processing elements. The authors develop efficient network models-network models in which every arc has unit capacity-to solve the load balancing problem. They also present distributed algorithms for balancing load in the hypercube systems. They show that the distributed algorithms perform better than the centralized algorithms in most practical situations. >
Gradation and map analysis in area-class maps

This paper reports on a preliminary experiment to determine if gradation on area-class maps facilitates complex map analysis tasks. Twenty-nine subjects were shown either a traditional (crisp) map or one of three graded maps created from the same underlying data, and asked to perform analysis tasks involving two different spatial scales and levels of mental map development. Performance on simple lookup tasks was highest using the crisp map, but each of the more complex tasks was performed with greatest accuracy using a map that depicted gradation between regions. The results suggest that portrayal of gradation on area-class maps may facilitate complex analysis tasks involving global map comprehension and memory of map pattern.
Do NLP and machine learning improve traditional readability formulas

Readability formulas are methods used to match texts with the readers' reading level. Several methodological paradigms have previously been investigated in the field. The most popular paradigm dates several decades back and gave rise to well known readability formulas such as the Flesch formula (among several others). This paper compares this approach (henceforth "classic") with an emerging paradigm which uses sophisticated NLP-enabled features and machine learning techniques. Our experiments, carried on a corpus of texts for French as a foreign language, yield four main results: (1) the new readability formula performed better than the "classic" formula; (2) "non-classic" features were slightly more informative than "classic" features; (3) modern machine learning algorithms did not improve the explanatory power of our readability model, but allowed to better classify new observations; and (4) combining "classic" and "non-classic" features resulted in a significant gain in performance.
Association of Implanting Abnormalities with Growth Performance of Feedlot Steers

Abstract Crossbred steers (n = 1, 183, mean initial BW = 320 ± 33 kg) were used in an observational study to determine associations between implanting abnormalities and feedlot growth performance. Initial implant status (determined by palpation) was recorded during administration of a terminal implant. Status of the terminal implant was recorded 21 d after reimplant, post-mortem in a packing plant, and post-mortem in a laboratory. At each of the four examinations, implants were classified by palpation as either: 1) normal, 2) abscessed, 3) bunched pellets, 4) separated pellets, 5) partial retention, 6) total failed retention, 7) placed in the cartilage, 8) placed in the inner 1/3 of the ear, or 9) fluid-filled. Least square means for ADG were determined for both the initial period (d 0 to 59) and the terminal period (d 60 to harvest) using initial BW, reimplant BW, pen, health status, liver status, lung status, and implant status as covariates. Average daily gain for the initial period did not differ (P>0.40) across implant status. In the overall model, there was a trend (P
Propofol administration in patients with methylmalonic acidemia and intracellular cobalamin metabolism disorders: a review of theoretical concerns and clinical experiences in 28 patients

Methylmalonic acidemia and intracellular cobalamin metabolism disorders represent a heterogeneous group of inborn errors of metabolism. Most patients will require diagnostic and/or therapeutic procedures frequently requiring sedation or anesthetic management due to neurological and neurocognitive impairments. It has been stated that propofol is contraindicated in this population. We report our experience with propofol administration in a large series of patients. Twenty eight patients (14 mut, seven cblC, three cblA, three cblB, one cblG) aged 2–35.6 years enrolled in a natural history study (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00078078) and required anesthetics for 39 diagnostic or therapeutic procedures. Data were collected on the anesthetic technique, perianesthetic course, and adverse events related to propofol. Propofol was used as the sole induction agent in most cases (36/39) and as the primary maintenance agent in all cases. Infusion rates were 100–400 mcg kg−1 min−1 (mean = 214). Infusion duration was 60–325 min (mean = 158) and total doses ranged between 270–3610 mg (mean = 1217). Adverse events were recorded in two cases; neither appeared to be related to propofol administration. Propofol is an effective, safe induction and maintenance agent for elective short procedures requiring anesthesia in patients with MMA and cobalamin metabolism disorders. Despite multiple comorbidities and propensity toward instability, those affected can receive anesthesia with an acceptable safety profile, if metabolically and hemodynamically stabilized prior to the event. A review of the perianesthetic records of 28 patients with isolated MMA and intracellular cobalamin metabolism disorders suggests that propofol anesthesia can be administered safely to these patients, in the setting of metabolic stability.
Solution-based Ag-doped ZnSe thin films with tunable electrical and optical properties

We demonstrate a solution-processed large-area method to fabricate intrinsic and silver (Ag)-doped ZnSe thin films with tunable electrical and optical properties. The resulting films were extensively characterized and incorporated as the active layer for TFTs (thin film transistors) and as the buffer layer in solar cells. The effect of Ag-doping on the transport characteristics of the Ag-doped ZnSe films is also discussed.
Prolonged Exposure Therapy

Prolonged exposure (PE) is an efficacious and effective treatment for PTSD that has been studied extensively and disseminated around the world. The theoretical underpinning of PE is emotional processing theory (EPT; Foa and Kozak 1985, 1986), an influential theory of pathological anxiety and therapeutic recovery. In this chapter, we briefly review EPT’s account of the development and treatment of PTSD. We then describe the structure and key components of PE and illustrate its delivery using a case example. Next we provide an overview of the most common challenges faced by therapists delivering PE and discuss ways of overcoming these obstacles to maximize benefit from PE. We end our discussion with a summary of the extensive evidence supporting the efficacy and effectiveness of PE for a wide range of PTSD sufferers.
Mixture modeling and inference for recognition of multiple recurring unknown patterns

We consider the problem of finding unknown patterns that are recurring across multiple sets. For example, finding multiple objects that are present in multiple images or a short DNA code that is repeated across multiple DNA sequences. Earlier work on the topic includes a statistical modeling approach in which the same template is placed at a random position in multiple independent sets. Using mixture modeling, we propose an extension to the approach that allows the detection of multiple templates placed across multiple sets. Moreover, we present an expectation-maximization algorithm for jointly estimating multiple templates based on a mixture of non-Gaussian distributions. To address the non-convexity of the problem, a robust initialization method is presented and theoretical guarantees are provided. We evaluate the performance of the algorithm on both synthetic data and real-world data consisting of electrical voltage recordings of home appliance activations. Our results indicate that the proposed algorithm significantly improves the detection accuracy relative to the single pattern model.
Late Evaluation of Patients Undergoing Valve Replacement with the Björk-Shiley Prosthesis

Abstract This study analyzes 484 patients who survived mitral, aortic, or mitral and aortic valve replacement using the Bjork-Shiley prosthesis from January, 1970, through December 31, 1974. Long-term follow-up of 1½ to 6½ years (mean, 3.67 yr) was done on 435 patients (98.2%). Eighty to 85% of the patients have improved noticeably. Thromboembolic problems occurred in 6.9%, representing 1.5 emboli per 1,000 patient-months. Anticoagulant bleeding problems occurred in 6.4% of the patients; late mortality was 15%. Actuarial survival curves showed patients at risk to 6 years having a 79% chance of survival. The same analysis according to preoperative New York Heart Association Functional Classification showed a striking reduction in survival in Class IV patients. The Bjork-Shiley prosthesis is a good choice for valve replacement today. Earlier diagnosis and treatment are needed to obtain better long-term survival.
Epidemiology of low prevalence chronic diseases in South Carolina: epilepsy, ALS, and Sarcoidosis

for SBP at 133cM). We also found several linkage regions within 1.2 LOD Score 1.9 (LOD 1.80 for SBP and LOD 1.56 for DBP near 95cM on chromosome 9; LOD 1.77 at 20cM and LOD 1.76 at 70cm for SBP, LOD 1.22 at 24cM and LOD 1.56 at 190cM for DBP on chromosome 2; LOD 1.56 at 147cM for DBP on chromosome 5). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, although evidence of linkage for blood pressure is weak, our finding provided additional evidence of linkage between BP and several genomic regions reported in other studies. Some regions harbor candidate genes. Some regions were the same linkage regions as diabetes or obesity linkage regions in our study.
Photosynthesis in an invasive grass and native forb at elevated CO2 during an El Niño year in the Mojave Desert

Annual and short-lived perennial plant performance during wet years is important for long-term persistence in the Mojave Desert. Additionally, the effects of elevated CO2 on desert plants may be relatively greater during years of high resource availability compared to dry years. Therefore, during an El Nino year at the Nevada Desert FACE Facility (a whole-ecosystem CO2 manipulation), we characterized photosynthetic investment (by assimilation rate-internal CO2 concentration relationships) and evaluated the seasonal pattern of net photosynthesis (A net) and stomatal conductance (g s) for an invasive annual grass, Bromus madritensis ssp. rubens and a native herbaceous perennial, Eriogonum inflatum. Prior to and following flowering, Bromus showed consistent increases in both the maximum rate of carboxylation by Rubisco (V Cmax) and the light-saturated rate of electron flow (J max) at elevated CO2. This resulted in greater A net at elevated CO2 throughout most of the life cycle and a decrease in the seasonal decline of maximum midday A net upon flowering as compared to ambient CO2. Eriogonum showed significant photosynthetic down-regulation to elevated CO2 late in the season, but the overall pattern of maximum midday A net was not altered with respect to phenology. For Eriogonum, this resulted in similar levels of A net on a leaf area basis as the season progressed between CO2 treatments, but greater photosynthetic activity over a typical diurnal period. While g s did not consistently vary with CO2 in Bromus, it did decrease in Eriogonum at elevated CO2 throughout much of the season. Since the biomass of both plants increased significantly at elevated CO2, these patterns of gas exchange highlight the differential mechanisms for increased plant growth. The species-specific interaction between CO2 and phenology in different growth forms suggests that important plant strategies may be altered by elevated CO2 in natural settings. These results indicate the importance of evaluating the effects of elevated CO2 at all life cycle stages to better understand the effects of elevated CO2 on whole-plant performance in natural ecosystems.
Raman and XPS characterization of fuel-cladding interactions using miniature specimens

A combination of laser Raman spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was applied in a study of fuel–cladding chemical interactions on miniature oxide-coated HT-9 disks at elevated temperature. The experiments were intended as a preliminary step toward the development of a quick-screening technique for candidate alloys for cladding materials and actinide-based mixed oxide fuel mixtures. The results indicated that laser Raman spectroscopy was capable of determining the major oxides on HT-9 and how they changed in composition due to heating. However, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was necessary to identify the role of the metallic phases and provide depth resolution. Using the two techniques the kinetics of chromia growth were shown to be affected by the presence of an applied oxide coating. A single replacement reaction involving residual reduced metal within the coating was also identified.
Behavioral Consequences of Embeddedness: Effects of the Underlying Forms of Exchange

Network structures have strong effects on the frequency and terms of negotiated exchanges, shaping who exchanges with whom and who fares better or worse. In this study we ask how exchange patterns of commitment and inequality are affected when negotiated exchanges are combined with reciprocal exchanges in more complex relationships of embeddedness. Drawing on the organizational literature on embeddedness and economic performance and the social exchange literature on forms of exchange and integrative bonds, we predict that embedding negotiated exchanges in a relationship of reciprocal exchange will increase the strength of behavioral commitments and reduce the effects of structural power differences on inequality. We base these predictions on two theoretical mechanisms that link forms of exchange to bonds of attachment: the relational climate of trust and solidarity created by reciprocal exchange, and the more cooperative task structure of negotiated exchange. A laboratory experiment provides substantial s...
The reflectance of single cones in the living human eye

PURPOSE. Individual cones were imaged in the living human eye with the Rochester adaptive optics ophthalmoscope. In all eyes, there were large differences in the reflectance of different cones, even when all the photopigment was bleached. To help understand what produces this spatial variation, the investigators explored whether it is a static or a dynamic property of the cone mosaic. METHODS. Fully bleached cone images were acquired in three eyes with an adaptive optics system. Images were collected over a 10-minute period approximately every hour for 24 hours. The temporal variation in cone directionality was measured in one eye. Finally, the experimental data on the temporal variation of absorption were compared with findings in various models of reflectance. RESULTS. Cone reflectance changes over time appear to be independent from cone to cone. These temporal changes are present in all three cone classes. The spatiotemporal variation in cone reflectance is not caused by the spatiotemporal variation in the optical axes of cones. This, along with the modeling results, suggest that changes in the reflectance affect the light that passes through photopigment in the receptors rather than the stray light, and that the changes are related to the outer segment‐retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) interface. CONCLUSIONS. The reflectance of individual cones is a dynamic property of the mosaic. Changes can be observed over periods of minutes as well as many hours. The cause of the variation is not known but may be related to the process of disc shedding in receptors. (Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2003;44:4580 ‐ 4592)
Development and validation of an explicit aggressive beliefs and attitudes scale

This work outlines the development and validation of a new self-report measure that assesses explicit aggressive beliefs and attitudes within the normal adult population (using 7 samples, total N = 3,533). These explicit aggressive beliefs and attitudes are expected to reflect aggressive biases including hostile attribution, potency, retribution, victimization by powerful others, derogation of target, and social discounting. The resulting scale is reliable with a hierarchical 6-factor structure, and displays convergent and discriminant validity. Criterion-related validity studies indicate incremental effects over socially desirable response bias, related implicit and explicit aggression measures, and is predictive of self-reported and other-reported aggression-related behaviors.
The inconsistent definitions for tuberculosis currently used in the literature

Abstract Aims To assess the definitions used by authors for pulmonary and extrapulmonary tuberculosis, definitions which are ostensibly standardized in the literature by the World Health Organization (WHO), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and American Thoracic Society (ATS) definitions. Methodology Thirty-seven papers used for the study of extrapulmonary tuberculosis, identified by PubMed and Google Scholar searches identified through an earlier study on extrapulmonary tuberculosis and updated, were analyzed for specifics regarding how extrapulmonary, pulmonary, pleural and disseminated tuberculosis were defined. Data were tabulated and analyzed using STATA 11. Results Thirty-one (84%) of the papers provided data on the numbers of pulmonary and extra-pulmonary cases. The papers were from 34 institutions in 20 nations. Only 14 (38%) of the series reported the number of patients with combined pulmonary and extrapulmonary disease. Among all patients, in only four were the combined patients analyzed as a completely separate category with combined cases otherwise excluded (11), counted as extrapulmonary (7), as pulmonary (3) or both extrapulmonary and pulmonary (1) tuberculosis or unclearly documented (11). Pleural disease was included as extrapulmonary in 25 patients (68%), but as pulmonary in 4 (11%), and there was no criterion in the remaining 8 (22%). In 18 of the studies where disseminated or miliary disease were defined, 5 of the disseminated were categorized otherwise (e.g., along with combined pulmonary and extrapulmonary cases). Conclusion There is much confusion in the categorization of clinical tuberculosis. The standardized WHO, CDC, and ATS definitions are not always adhered to in collating and analyzing tuberculosis data by authors studying extrapulmonary tuberculosis. The recommendation that pleural disease be considered extrapulmonary is not adhered to in a sizable percentage (32%) of studies and the exclusion of disseminated or miliary disease in a subset of patients is also inconsistent. More restrictive guidelines are needed in the definitions used for tuberculosis so that studies and meta-analyses can be performed with greater validity.
The Influence of Youth Assets on the Career Decision Self-Efficacy in Unattached Jamaican Youth.

The present study expands the career decision self-efficacy (CDSE) literature by focusing on a sample of unattached Jamaican youth to determine if youth assets (protective factors like family communication and peer role models) were predictive of increased CDSE. Unattached youth are defined as those that do not have a job or are not currently enrolled in any educational or other training program. Participants consisted of 921 unattached Jamaican youth (557 females) ranging from 16 to 25 years of age. Participants completed the Career Decision Self-Efficacy-Short Form Scale and the Youth Asset Survey. Results from multiple regression analyses revealed that female youth reported higher CDSE scores than their male counterparts. Results also indicated that youth who reported making more responsible choices, having higher future aspirations, and having more peer and nonparental adult role models had higher CDSE scores. Implications for practice are discussed relative to the culture of Jamaica and unattached youth.
Chromatic vision in human infants: Conditioned operant fixation to “hues” of varying intensity

Infants 11-12 weeks old were conditioned using social, visual, and auditory reinforcement to look longer at the “red” (or “green”) members of “red-green” pairs. No attempt was made to match intensities, which instead ranged over relative values from 200 to 1. Thus, wavelength, and not intensity differences, provided the basis for successful discrimination.
The internal pressurization creep of Zr alloys for spent-fuel dry storage feasibility

A short review of creep results on Zircaloy-4 tubing under closed-end internal pressurization is presented with the express purpose of applying the results to dry-storage feasibility. Data reveal inconsistencies with regard to the underlying creep mechanism at intermediate and high stresses. A lack of relevant results is noted on transitional creep mechanisms as stresses and temperatures are lowered, along with the dangers involved in blind extrapolation of short-term creep results to conditions encountered during dry storage that could lead to nonconservative estimates of creep rates, creep strains, and lifetimes due to the dominance of viscous creep mechanisms at these conditions. The plausible influence of alloying elements, such as niobium and vanadium, on the underlying creep mechanism(s) is enumerated. Further research is warranted on the characterization of creep mechanisms in Zircaloys in terms of not only the mechanical data, but also the microstructural investigations.
Effects of Mesoporous Silica Coating and Post-Synthetic Treatment on the Transverse Relaxivity of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles.

Mesoporous silica nanoparticles have the capacity to load and deliver therapeutic cargo and incorporate imaging modalities, making them prominent candidates for theranostic devices. One of the most widespread imaging agents utilized in this and other theranostic platforms is nanoscale superparamagnetic iron oxide. Although several core–shell magnetic mesoporous silica nanoparticles presented in the literature have provided high T2 contrast in vitro and in vivo, there is ambiguity surrounding which parameters lead to enhanced contrast. Additionally, there is a need to understand the behavior of these imaging agents over time in biologically relevant environments. Herein, we present a systematic analysis of how the transverse relaxivity (r2) of magnetic mesoporous silica nanoparticles is influenced by nanoparticle diameter, iron oxide nanoparticle core synthesis, and use of a hydrothermal treatment. This work demonstrates that samples which did not undergo a hydrothermal treatment experienced a drop in r2 (...
Automated detection and classification of positive vs. negative robot interactions with children with autism using distance-based features

Recent feasibility studies involving children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) interacting with socially assistive robots have shown that some children have positive reactions to robots, while others may have negative reactions. It is unlikely that children with ASD will enjoy any robot 100% of the time. It is therefore important to develop methods for detecting negative child behaviors in order to minimize distress and facilitate effective human-robot interaction. Our past work has shown that negative reactions can be readily identified and classified by a human observer from overhead video data alone, and that an automated position tracker combined with human-determined heuristics can differentiate between the two classes of reactions. This paper describes and validates an improved, non-heuristic method for determining if a child is interacting positively or negatively with a robot, based on Gaussian mixture models (GMM) and a naive-Bayes classifier of overhead camera observations. The approach achieves a 91.4% accuracy rate in classifying robot interaction, parent interaction, avoidance, and hiding against the wall behaviors and demonstrates that these classes are sufficient for distinguishing between positive and negative reactions of the child to the robot.
Exact confidence intervals for a common location of several truncated exponentials

In this paper we consider the problem of constructing exact confidence intervals for a common location of several truncated exponentials with unknown and unequal scale parameters. These inteivals are based on combining suitable pivots as well as the so-called P-values.
Carbaryl Control of Chalcidoid Parasites from Alfalfa Leafcutting Bees

Dipping the leafcells of alfalfa leafcutting bees, Megachile Pacifica (Panzer), in an aqueous carbaryl suspension can effectively control reparasitism by the chalcidoid parasites Monodontomerus sp., Tetrastichus sp., and Melittobia sp. in the laboratory. Carbaryl, applied as a residue to the leafcells, had LC50 values of 2.0×10-2 g carbaryl/ml water and 2.1×10-1 g carbaryl/ml water for the ♂ and ♀ bees, respectively. Monodontomerus sp., with an LC50, of 4.1×10-4 g carbaryl/ml water, were the most tolerant parasites. A dose of 1.4×10-2 g carbaryl/ml water controlled the parasites without serious consequences for the bees.
Human Neurophysins as Potential Tumor Markers for Small Cell Carcinoma of the Lung: Application of Specific Radioimmunoassays

A study of 61 patients with small cell carcinoma of the lung using specific RIAs for 2 human neurophysins (HNPs) has revealed that plasma levels of 1 or both HNPs are substantially elevated (> 3 times) in 62% of the patients before the commencement of therapy. These elevated HNPs may be a consequence of production/release by tumor. Eighteen patients with elevated plasma HNPs and 14 with normal values were followed during therapy. All of the patients with normal pre-therapy levels maintained these normal levels regardless of the course of their disease. For all patients with elevated HNP levels before therapy, there was good agreement between changes in these elevated values and clinically assessed responses. Partial or complete remission (12 patients) was associated with a 2- to 30-fold reduction in HNP levels, progressive disease (6 patients) was associated with a rise in HNP levels, and relapse after a previous objective response (6 patients) was associated with an increase in plasma HNPs over values found during remission. For many of the patients in clinical remission, HNPs remained elevated above normal values, and RIA data seem to forecast recurrent disease several weeks before clinical recognition. These data provide good evidence that our RIAs for HNPs can provide a valuable guide to therapeutic management of small cell carcinoma of the lung.
Finite element analysis of dynamic instability of layered composite plates using a high-order bending theory

Abstract A high-order deformation theory of plate bending has been developed for the static bending analysis of layered composite plates in a previous work. In the present paper, a dynamic instability analysis based on the same high-order deformation theory is presented. The boundaries of the principal instability domains are studied for different cases of plates. The comparison between the high-order theory and the classical theory is presented for various thickness-to-side length ratios, different boundary conditions, different longitudinal to transverse elastic moduli ratios, and different numbers of layers.
Lateralized dual task interference in left-handers: initial value differences do not affect the outcome.

Abstract The study was conducted to clarify factors involved in dual-task finger-tapping interference. Left-handers, as assessed by hand-writing preference and left-hand baseline tapping advantage, tapped both alone and while solving anagrams. Even though the left-hand baseline tapping advantage was experimentally removed on some (adjusted) trials, greater left- than right-hand tapping interference was observed during concurrent task performance. This result coupled with previous findings for right-handed subjects [Kee and Cherry, Neuropsychologia, Vol. 28, pp. 313–316, 1990] indicates that lateralized interference effects are not merely due to initial baseline tapping differences as proposed by Willis and Goodwin [Neuropsychologia, Vol. 25, pp. 719–724, 1987].
Gaussian beams, complex rays, and the analytic extension of the Green's function in smoothly inhomogeneous media

Summary. Some relations between Gaussian beams, complex rays and the analytic extension of the Green's function in smoothly inhomogeneous media are shown in this paper. It is found that: (1) a single Gaussian beam is a paraxial approximation of the analytical extension of the ray-approximated Green's function in smoothly inhomogeneous media by putting the source point into a complex space. The Gaussian beam approximation of the Green's function has an advantage in computational efficiency and stability and can avoid the singularity problems at caustics, but also introduces a parabolic approximation to the wavefront and an angle-dependent amplitude damping. Therefore the validity of the Gaussian beam approximation should be checked using other methods. (2) Complex-ray tracing, which does not involve the paraxial approximation, can also avoid the singularity problemsm though without the computational efficiency. Therefore, it should be used to verify the Gaussian beam approximation, whenever possible. (3) The decomposition of a plane wave into an ensemble of Gaussian beams is equivalent to approximating the Green's function (the kernel of the ray-Kirchhoff method) with a single Gaussian beam. This introduces a parabolic approximation to the wavefront and a Gaussian windowing for arrival angles which may cause some problems in modelling wave propagation and scattering and has no advantages over other methods. (4) The representation of a point source field by a superposition of Gaussian beams, on the other hand, is equivalent to approximating the Green's function with a bundle of overlapped Gaussian beams. This representation is similar to a Maslov uniform asymptotic representation. It has no caustics and has improved accuracies at the caustics for quasi-plane waves compared to the extended WKBJ method.
Particle filtering in high-dimensional systems with Gaussian approximations

In this paper we introduce a new multiple particle filtering approach for problems where the state-space of the system is of highdimension. We propose to break the space into subspaces and to perform separate particle filtering in each of them. The two critical operations of particle filtering, the particle propagation and weight computation of each particle filter are performed wherever necessary with the aid of parametric distributions received from other subspaces. The proposed method is demonstrated by computer simulations and the results show an excellent performance when compared to other implementations of multiple particle filtering.