cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
NURSING TRANSGRESSIONS, EXPLORING DIFFERENCE: NORTH AFRICANS IN FRENCH MEDICAL SPACES DURING WORLD WAR I

This article explores the social impact of North African soldiers’ experiences in French military hospitals during World War I. In particular, it examines improvised “Muslim hospitals” that were opened in order to isolate North Africans from French civilian society. Colonial and military officials believed that North Africans, presumed to be warlike, pathogenic, and promiscuous, could corrupt and be corrupted by the French public. Yet while existing literature tends to highlight the dehumanization of North Africans at the hands of military and medical authorities, this article, drawing from personal correspondence, photographs, and military and medical records, reveals a more ambiguous daily reality. I argue that the individual needs and desires of wounded North Africans and of French nurses, as well as material limitations and contingencies, created spaces for an unprecedented series of humanizing personal encounters. In military-medical “colonies within the metropole,” these soldiers found themselves caught between a newfound sense of affinity with the French public and a starker sense of the boundaries of colonial practice.
Computing semiparametric efficiency bounds in linear models with nonparametric regressors

Abstract We use the computational method proposed by Severini and Tripathi (2001) to obtain semiparametric efficiency bounds in linear models with nonparametric regressors in the form of conditional expectations. Examples include social-interaction models. Explicit efficiency bounds for these models, with the degree of generality assumed here, had not been described before.
MULTIMORBIDITY IN OLDER ADULTS: CAN DISEASE CLUSTER PREDICT DEPRESSION SEVERITY?

This is a pre-copyedited, author-produced version of an article accepted for publication in Innovation in Aging following peer review. The version of record Minahan, Jacquelyn. “MULTIMORBIDITY IN OLDER ADULTS: CAN DISEASE CLUSTER PREDICT DEPRESSION SEVERITY?.” Innovation in Aging vol. 3,Suppl 1 S393–S394. 8 Nov. 2019, doi:10.1093/geroni/igz038.1450 is available online at: https://doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igz038.1450. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Unsettling aerial surveillance : surveillance studies after standing rock

Aerial surveillance by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or drones played a prominent role in the “water is life” actions undertaken by “water protectors” to defend the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation’s water source from the proposed Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL). By considering how the water protectors deployed drones in their actions, this article shows that decolonizing surveillance studies in the settler-colonial context must follow the work of Indigenous studies scholars in accounting for existing colonial relations. To that end, this article argues that while aerial sousveillance measures constitute a subversive tactical response to organized surveillance by law enforcement and private security firms, the technologies and visualizations on which protest drones depend are imbricated in the workings of capital and empire.
3D light-field endoscopic imaging using a GRIN lens array

Endoscopic observation of biological tissues with quantitative depth perception, effective volumetric recognition of anatomical features, and efficient 3D navigation is critical for optical diagnostics and minimally invasive surgery for various target diseases. Light-field techniques have recently emerged as a promising approach to 3D photography and microscopy due to their scanning-free, highly scalable, and volumetric imaging capabilities. These advantages hold great potential for application to optical endoscopy, as the existing clinical endoscopy systems rely primarily on a 2D projection or use polarized glasses to provide visual parallax of complex 3D structures. Here, we report a light-field endoscopy prototype using a GRIN lens array (GLA). The GLA-based system maintains consistent spatial measurements with clinical endoscopic systems, a compact size in comparison with compound objective lenses, as well as the ability to maximally capture the angular information necessary for 3D imaging. We also present a computational strategy combining a wave-optics model and a hybrid point-spread function for high-resolution volumetric reconstruction. The system achieves spatial resolutions of 20–60 μm and 100–200 μm in the lateral and axial dimensions, respectively, across an imaging volume of ∼5 mm × 5 mm × 10 mm. We anticipate the prototype to offer a promising paradigm for glasses-free, high-resolution 3D medical endoscopy.
Complication Rates and the Benefits of Neuraxial Anesthesia in the Patient With High Comorbidity Burden Undergoing Primary Total Joint Arthroplasty.

Abstract Background The American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status classification 4 (ASA PS 4) comprises patients with “severe systemic disease that is a constant threat to life.” The purpose of this study is to conduct a retrospective analysis to report the rate of complications in the ASA PS 4 patients who undergo elective total joint arthroplasty (TJA). In addition, we report whether neuraxial anesthesia is associated with improved outcomes compared to general anesthesia in these patients. Methods The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program registry was used to extract patient records. The study population included patients aged ≥18 years who underwent TJA from 2014 to 2016 and who were classified as ASA PS 4. To measure differences in outcomes and patient characteristics, we used chi-squared tests. Odds ratios (ORs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were reported for all covariates. A P value of Results Among the patients who were ASA PS 4, 58 (1.4%) experienced 30-day mortality, 349 (8.2%) experienced 30-day readmission, 271 (6.3%) had a postoperative complication, and 504 (11.8%) required a transfusion. Those receiving neuraxial anesthesia compared to general anesthesia had lower odds of 30-day mortality (OR, 0.24; 95% CI, 0.12-0.49; P = .0001) and lower odds of perioperative transfusion (OR, 0.53; 95% CI 0.45-0.65; P Conclusion The elevated risks for ASA PS 4 patients undergoing TJA may be too high to justify surgery. Neuraxial anesthesia is a reasonable alternative to general anesthesia if pursuing TJA in patients with a very high comorbidity burden.
Increased Prevalence, Complications, and Costs of Smokers Undergoing Total Knee Arthroplasty

Given a national push toward bundled payment models, the purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence as well as the effect of smoking on early inpatient complications and cost following elective total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in the United States across multiple years. Using the nationwide inpatient sample, all primary elective TKA admissions were identified from 2012 to 2014. Patients were stratified by smoking status through a secondary diagnosis of "tobacco use disorder." Patient characteristics as well as prevalence, costs, and incidence of complications were compared. There was a significant increase in the rate of smoking in TKA from 17.9% in 2012 to 19.2% in 2014 (p < 0.0001). The highest rate was seen in patients < 45 years of age (27.3%). Hospital resource usage was significantly higher for smokers, with a length of stay of 3.3 versus 2.9 days (p < 0.0001), and hospital costs of $16,752 versus $15,653 (p < 0.0001). A multivariable logistic model adjusting for age, gender, and comorbidities showed that smokers had an increased odds ratio for myocardial infarction (5.72), cardiac arrest (4.59), stroke (4.42), inpatient mortality (4.21), pneumonia (4.01), acute renal failure (2.95), deep vein thrombosis (2.74), urinary tract infection (2.43), transfusion (1.38) and sepsis (0.65) (all p < 0.0001). Smoking is common among patients undergoing elective TKA, and its prevalence continues to rise. Smoking is associated with higher hospital costs as well as higher rates of immediate inpatient complications. These findings are critical for risk stratification, improving of bundled payment models as well as patient education, and optimization prior to surgery to reduce costs and complications.
Case report: hepatobronchial lymphatic communications in single ventricle patients as a pathophysiological mechanism of plastic bronchitis: diagnosis and treatment.

Background Plastic bronchitis is a rare but devastating complication in single ventricle patients after Fontan completion. Recent advances in dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance lymphangiogram demonstrate the typical pathophysiological mechanism of the thoracic duct leaking lymphatic fluid towards the bronchi resulting in intraluminal casts. This has been termed abnormal pulmonary lymphatic perfusion and has been successfully treated in 94% of patients with thoracic duct occlusion. However, in some cases, this aberrant flow is not identified and therefore no intervention is available. This case report identifies a newly discovered origin of abnormal lymphatic flow from the liver to the bronchi and the treatment of these patients. Case summary We report two cases of plastic bronchitis in single ventricle patients with no identified abnormal lymphatic pulmonary perfusion from the thoracic duct. Both patients underwent liver lymphangiogram and demonstrated aberrant flow from the hepatic lymphatic ducts to the bronchi. These were successfully occluded, and plastic bronchitis symptoms resolved in both cases. Discussion The recent discovery of the abnormal pulmonary lymphatic perfusion from the thoracic duct to the bronchi has allowed successful treatment of 94% of single ventricle patients with plastic bronchitis. The discovery of hepatobronchial lymphatic perfusion reveals an occult aetiology of plastic bronchitis and a second target for embolization and successful treatment.
Multidisciplinary Treatment of a Pediatric Orbital Roof Fracture: Case Report and Literature Review

Pediatric orbital roof fractures are a relatively rare trauma. In children, fractures of the facial skeleton can be associated with significant morbidity. Potential complications of orbital roof fracture include both neurosurgical complications such as frontal lobe injury, dural tears, or herniation, and ophthalmologic and reconstructive surgery problems such as proptosis, diplopia, and extraocular muscle entrapment. In most cases, surgical intervention is unnecessary, as these fractures are minimally displaced. When surgery is warranted, however, for displaced fractures or those associated with complications, a multidisciplinary approach is often indicated. Here, we report a case of a 10-year-old boy with a superiorly displaced orbital roof fracture resulting from a bicycle brake handle injury. The primary fragment was intracranially displaced and embedded in the inferior frontal lobe, causing frontal lobe herniation and left globe proptosis. A transcranial approach was performed using an autologous bone graft. In our case, a multidisciplinary surgical approach facilitated repair of both the dural and orbital injuries and multi-layer separation of the 2 spaces.
Making Old People Work: Three False Assumptions Supporting the “Working Longer Consensus”:

Pensions and social insurance—key parts of the welfare state—redistribute income and wealth across class by providing, or not providing, practical and legitimate access to basic income without requ...
Microcomputers for computer-assisted instruction in anesthesiology.

This article discusses the suitability of microcomputers and microcomputer languages for computer-assisted instruction. The advantages and disadvantages of using computers in general and microcomputers in particular for CAI are presented. Programming techniques for different types of CAI programs are discussed. Finally, we have summarized several articles on CAI in anesthesia and have concluded that CAI programs are an effective method of presenting certain types of instruction in the specialty.
The Environmental Effects on Virulence Factors and the Antifungal Susceptibility of Cryptococcus neoformans .

Cryptococcus neoformans is a facultative intracellular pathogen responsible for fungal meningoencephalitis primarily in immunocompromised individuals. It has become evident the pathogenicity of C. neoformans is dependent on the fungal cell's environment. The differential expression of virulence factors, based on the cell's environmental conditions, is one mechanism allowing for the environmental control of the pathogenic ability of C. neoformans. Here, we discuss how these virulence factors (including melanin, the polysaccharide capsule, and Antiphagocytic protein 1) have been shown to be differentially expressed dependent on the cell's environment. The genetics and signaling pathways leading to the environmental-dependent regulation of virulence factors will also be examined. Susceptibility to antifungal therapeutics is also regulated by the environment, and thus affects the pathogenic abilities of C. neoformans and disease outcomes. This review will also examine the role of the C. neoformans's environment on antifungal susceptibilities, and the genetics and signaling pathways responsible for these susceptibility alterations. By examining the complex interplay between the environment and the pathogenicity of C. neoformans, we have a better understanding of the intricacies of the pathogen-environment interaction and how to exploit this interaction to develop the most effective treatment protocols.
The relationship between vitamin C or thiamine levels and outcomes for severe sepsis patients admitted to the ICU.

Preliminary data have produced conflicting results regarding whether initial vitamin C levels in patients with severe sepsis correlate with mortality outcomes. We hypothesized that low plasma ascorbic acid or thiamine levels in severe sepsis patients admitted from the Emergency Department (ED) to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) would be associated with increased mortality and an increased incidence of shock. Retrospective analysis of a prospective database of severe sepsis patients admitted to the ICU at an urban, academic medical center. Ascorbic acid and thiamine levels were analyzed in relation to survivors vs. non-survivors and shock vs. non-shock patients. 235 patients were included; mean age, 59.4 years ± 16.8 years; male, 128 (54.5%); in-hospital mortality, 16.6% (39/235); mean APACHE3 score, 61.8 ± 22.8; mean ascorbic acid level (reference range 0.40–2.10 mg/dL), 0.23 mg/dL (95% CI 0.07–4.02); and the mean thiamine level (reference range 14.6–29.5 nmol/L), 6.0 nmol/L (95% CI 4.0–9.5). When survivors were compared to non-survivors, survivors were more likely to be male (57.7% [113/196] vs. 38.5% [15/39]) and have lower APACHE3 scores (58.2 ± 22.6 vs. 79.9 ± 16.0). For the total cohort of 235 patients, there was no statistically significant relationship between a patient’s initial ascorbic acid or thiamine level and either survival or development of shock. In this analysis of early plasma samples from patients with severe sepsis admitted from the ED to the ICU, we found that mean ascorbic acid and thiamine levels were lower than normal range but that there was no relationship between these levels and outcomes, including 28 day mortality and development of shock.
NLR immune receptor RB is differentially targeted by two homologous but functionally distinct effector proteins.

Abstract Plant nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat (NLR) receptors mediate immune responses by directly or indirectly sensing pathogen-derived effectors. Despite significant advances in the understanding of NLR-mediated immunity, the mechanisms by which pathogens evolve to suppress NLR activation triggered by cognate effectors and gain virulence remain largely unknown. The agronomically important immune receptor RB recognizes the ubiquitous and highly conserved IPI-O RXLR family members (e.g., IPI-O1) from Phytophthora infestans, and this process is suppressed by the rarely present and homologous effector IPI-O4. Here, we report that self-association of RB via the coiled-coil (CC) domain is required for RB activation and is differentially affected by avirulence and virulence effectors. IPI-O1 moderately reduces the self-association of RB CC, potentially leading to changes in the conformation and equilibrium of RB, whereas IPI-O4 dramatically impairs CC self-association to prevent RB activation. We also found that IPI-O1 associates with itself, whereas IPI-O4 does not. Notably, IPI-O4 interacts with IPI-O1 and disrupts its self-association, therefore probably blocking its avirulence function. Furthermore, IPI-O4 enhances the interaction between RB CC and IPI-O1, possibly sequestering RB and IPI-O1 and subsequently blocking their interactions with signaling components. Taken together, these findings considerably extend our understanding of the underlying mechanisms by which emerging virulent pathogens suppress the NLR-mediated recognition of cognate effectors.
Performance comparison of r2SCAN and SCAN metaGGA density functionals for solid materials via an automated, high-throughput computational workflow

Computational materials discovery efforts utilize hundreds or thousands of density functional theory (DFT) calculations to predict material properties. Historically, such efforts have performed calculations at the generalized gradient approximation (GGA) level of theory due to its efficient compromise between accuracy and computational reliability. However, high-throughput calculations at the higher metaGGA level of theory are becoming feasible. The Strongly Constrainted and Appropriately Normed (SCAN) metaGGA functional offers superior accuracy to GGA across much of chemical space, making it appealing as a general-purpose metaGGA functional, but it suffers from numerical instabilities that impede it's use in high-throughput workflows. The recently-developed r2SCAN metaGGA functional promises accuracy similar to SCAN in addition to more robust numerical performance. However, its performance compared to SCAN has yet to be evaluated over a large group of solid materials. In this work, we compared r2SCAN and SCAN predictions for key properties of approximately 6,000 solid materials using a newly-developed high-throughput computational workflow. We find that r2SCAN predicts formation energies more accurately than SCAN and PBEsol for both strongly- and weakly-bound materials and that r2SCAN predicts systematically larger lattice constants than SCAN. We also find that r2SCAN requires modestly fewer computational resources than SCAN and offers significantly more reliable convergence. Thus, our large-scale benchmark confirms that r2SCAN has delivered on its promises of numerical efficiency and accuracy, making it a preferred choice for high-throughput metaGGA calculations.
Deriving Information from Complex Data Sets: Impact of Forage on Fatty Acids in Cow Milk

Abstract Machine learning and classical statistics were used to unravel the complex data set generated by the analysis of 77 fatty acids in milk from 76 cows fed 3 forages. Multivariate analysis of variance – principal components analysis (mANOVA-PCA) was used to deconvolute the data and determine the variance contributed by the main experimental factors: forage, the arbitrary cow groups, cow-to-cow variability, and milking day. All four factors contributed significantly to the data variance at the 99% confidence level as did the cross-factor variances. Cow-to-cow variance constituted 51% of the total variance of the data set and had to be removed before the significance of the other factors could be determined. The 3 forages were then found to generate milk fatty acid profiles that were significantly different. The PCA loadings showed that the major contributors to separate clustering of the forages were the less concentrated branched chain fatty acids. Fatty acids with even numbers of carbons were more concentrated, contributed high signal levels, and high noise, but were not significant in discriminating between forages. Classical paired analysis also removed the cow-to-cow variance and allowed discrimination between forages. The results showed that forages can significantly impact the fatty acid composition of milk.
The Open Future of Course Content Development and Dissemination

An emergent Open Education (OE) movement characterized by an abundance of information and interaction opportunities, as well as new connections between content, curriculum and community, presents the potential of profound impact on educational access and quality. Fueled by the affordance of networks and technology tools, OE presents the ability to overcome traditional assumptions about the development and delivery of educational resources and the opportunity to radically alter the economics and ecology of education. While the open education movement points to promising opportunities, there is clearly a need for a fresh perspective on how we think about resources and the relationships available to education to constructively leverage this new ecology blending technology and open education resources in powerful ways. This chapter builds on recent efforts at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and elsewhere illuminating some of the transformative possibilities. It also highlights some of the technological, organization, and cultural dimensions of “readiness” needing to be addressed for the promise of the open education movement to be realized.
SU-E-T-246: Detector Selection for Small Field Measurements, a Comparative Study

Purpose: To compare commercially available detectors for small field dosimetry. Methods: PTW (Freiburg, Germany) diode E, PTW microDiamond, and SunNuclear (Melbourne, FL) Edge detector were used to measure output factors, PDD, and profiles on a Varian iX linear accelerator (Varian Medical Systems, Palo Alto, CA) using 6MV and 18MV photon beams. The water tank was set to 100cm SSD. Centering profiles at 5cm and 20cm depth confirmed an offset <0.1mm. High resolution PDD (0.1mm) aligned the collecting volume at water surface. For setup and linearity verification, PDD and profiles were matched to annual measurements, which were performed with an A1SL ion chamber.Scans were taken for 6X and 18X, for 10cmx10cm, 10cmx2cm, 10cmx1cm, and 10cmx0.5cm fields. Profiles were measured at Dmax (6X=1.5cm, 18X=3.5cm), 5cm, 10cm, and 20cm depths. All fields used 10cmx10cm jaws with the MLC defining the field in the X-direction. PDDs used 2mm step size and 0.2s discrete collecting time. Profiles used 1mm step size and a 0.4s discrete collecting time. Results: The PTW diode E and Edge detector exhibit centering stability, but all detectors require vertical shifts from Vendor defined vertical alignment. Output factor measurements reveal good agreement between detectors. The Edge detector demonstrates the sharpest penumbra and the closest consistent match to ion chamber measurements in the out of field regions for 6MV (3.2%). Each detector provides comparable curve quality for PDDs, with a maximum difference across detectors giving a standard deviation of 0.6% at 30cm depth, 18X, and 10cmx0.5cm. Profiles match closely across all detectors, depths, energies, and field sizes. The microDiamond detector produces the largest penumbra width, largest deviation from ion chamber dose in the tail region for 6MV, and exhibits centering instability. Conclusion: Based on our findings, the Edge detector was chosen for stereotactic measurements. The PTW diode E is an acceptable alternative.
Ethnoecology: Situated Knowledge/Located Lives

Ethnoecology: Situated Knowledge/Located Lives. Virginia D. Nazarea, ed. Tucson: University of Arizona Press, 2003. 299 pp.
Behavioral Responses of Odontocetes to Playback of Anthropogenic and Natural Sounds

Abstract : The long-term goal of this research project is to safely study responses of beaked whales to naval sounds in order to understand the causal chain of events leading from sound exposure to risks of stranding and to measure the exposure required to elicit responses that are safe but indicate potential for risk. The project is designed to provide critical information required to develop measures to protect beaked and other whales from risk of exposure to sonar and other sounds. A critical objective for understanding possible links between sonar exposure and injury or stranding involves developing techniques to safely study how beaked whales respond to sound. This project will establish, test and refine new protocols for studying beaked whales using established sound playback experiment paradigms; define responses of beaked whales and other species of odontocete whales to mid-frequency active (MFA) sonar and natural sounds such as those from killer whales; and measure exposure parameters for sounds that evoke a behavioral response. The approach for this study involves controlled exposures to tagged whales where the scientific team controls the sound source. The WHOI team helped design and plan the study, built, tested and calibrated sound and orientation recording tags (Digital Archival Tag - DTAG), tagged beaked and pilot whales, and is helping to analyze and write up the results. Field efforts were conducted at the Atlantic Undersea Test and Evaluation Center (AUTEC) on Andros Island, Bahamas, adjacent to the deep canyon of the Tongue of the Ocean (TOTO). AUTEC has a 600 square mile, permanent range of 82 bottom mounted hydrophones which can be used for detecting and locating cetaceans on the range using the NUWC marine mammal monitoring equipment. Tagging research has been conducted on this site to establish baseline data and continued collaboration will occur with the Bahamas Marine Mammal Research Organization (BMMRO) for vessels and staff.
An english-hindi statistical machine translation system

Recently statistical methods for natural language translation have become popular and found reasonable success. In this paper we describe an English-Hindi statistical machine translation system. Our machine translation system is based on IBM Models 1, 2, and 3. We present experimental results on an English-Hindi parallel corpus consisting of 150,000 sentence pairs. We propose two new algorithms for the transfer of fertility parameters from Model 2 to Model 3. Our algorithms have a worst case time complexity of O(m3) improving on the exponential time algorithm proposed in the classical paper on IBM Models. When the maximum fertility of a word is small, our algorithms are O(m2) and hence very efficient in practice.
Lightning, precipitation and vegetation at landscape scale

We investigated the question “Is there a relationship between seasonality in precipitation and vegetative cover in Pole Canyon, NM?” GIS and statistical methods were used to determine the degree of association between either summer or winter precipitation and percent canopy cover for trees, graminoids and total vegetation. Monsoon (summer) precipitation was predicted for the years 1986–1994 from lightning strike and relative humidity data by multiple regression. Winter precipitation, the percent of annual precipitation that occurs during winter, and vegetative cover were derived from the Forest Service Terrestrial Ecosystem Survey. Vegetation and precipitation data were ranked and classified (e.g., high, medium, low) and cross-tabulations were generated to compare the spatial distribution of vegetation classes within each precipitation class.
A Further Case for Unregulated Truck Transportation

A FREQUENT ALLEGATION IS THAT THE UNREGULATED TRUCK- TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRY CHRONICALLY SUFFERS FROM EXCESSIVE COMPETITION BECAUSE OF THE INDUSTRY'S STRUCTURAL CHARACTERISTICS. THIS PAPER EXAMINES THE EVIDENCE REGARDING THE PERFORMANCE OF THE INDUSTRY WITH RESPECT TO THIS ALLEGED TENDENCY. ALTERNATIVE EXPLANATIONS FOR EXCESSIVE COMPETITION ARE CRITICALLY EXAMINED. RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN RATES AND COSTS AND BETWEEN RATES AND DISTANCE, AND UTILIZATION OF CAPACITY IN THE EXEMPT SECTOR SUGGEST THAT THE ABSENCE OF REGULATION HAS NOT RESULTED IN EXCESSIVE COMPETITION. THE FINDINGS OF THIS PAPER STRENGTHEN THE CASE FOR UNREGULATED FREIGHT RATES IN TRUCK TRANSPORTATION. /AUTHOR/
Social Cognition: Understanding Self and Others

Introduction: What Does It Mean to ""Know"" Something? 1. Naive Realism: The Construction of Reality in the Pursuit of Social Knowledge 2. Automaticity and Control 3. Categories and Category Structure: Person Memory Informs Impression Formation Processes 4. On Schemas and Cognitive Misers: Mental Representation as the Building Blocks of Impressions 5. Dual-Process Models 6. Attribution 7. Correspondence Bias and Spontaneous Trait Inference 8. Shortcoming and Biases in Person Perception 9. On Perceptual Readiness: Chronic Sources of Judgmental Influence 10. Temporary Accessibility/Priming Effects: Assimilation and Contrast in Impression Formation 11. Stereotypes and Expectancies 12. Control of Stereotypes and Expectancies 13. From the Intra- to the Interpersonal: Bridging the Gap from Cognition to Behavior
Detecting physics at the post-grand-unified-theory and string scales by linear colliders

The ability of linear colliders to test physics at the post-GUT scale is investigated. Using current estimates of measurements available at such accelerators, it is seen that soft breaking masses can be measured with errors of about (1\char21{}20)%. Three classes of models in the post-GUT region are examined: models with universal soft breaking masses at the string scale, models with horizontal symmetry, and string models with Calabi-Yau compactifications. In each case, linear colliders would be able to test directly theoretical assumptions made at energies beyond the GUT scale to a good accuracy, distinguish between different models, and measure parameters that are expected to be predictions of string models.
Career orientation and the global IT workforce: research in progress

The internationalization of the IT workforce brings new cultural values into the professional environment. Understanding these cultural values is important, because individuals should be able to determine whether their values are matched for working in a particular culture, and whether they will need to adapt their behaviors. This study is designed to identify the career orientations possessed by IT personnel who are U.S. Caucasian vs. Asian Indian in cultural background. Preliminary results of this exploratory study suggest that there is a significant difference between the means of the U.S. and the Asian sample for the Creativity/Entrepreneurship variables.
Tales from Facebook

Miller, D. (2011). Tales from Facebook. Malden, MA: Polity Press. 218 pages. In his book, Tales from Facebook, anthropologist Daniel Miller explores how twelve Trinidadian (or Trini) individuals us...
Programming experiments with pocket programmable calculators

The use of programmable calculators as research equipment for stimulus presentation and response recording, in addition to their use in mathematical and statistical analysis, is proposed. The calculators may be used alone or in conjunction with other equipment in programming experiments.
Multi-agent reward analysis for learning in noisy domains

In many multi-agent learning problems, it is difficult to determine, a priori, the agent reward structure that will lead to good performance. This problem is particularly pronounced in continuous, noisy domains ill-suited to simple table backup schemes commonly used in TD(λ)/Q-learning. In this paper, we present a new reward evaluation method that provides a visualization of the tradeoff between coordination among the agents and the difficulty of the learning problem each agent faces. This method is independent of the learning algorithm and is only a function of the problem domain and the agents' reward structure. We then use this reward property visualization method to determine an effective reward without performing extensive simulations. We test this method in both a static and a dynamic multi-rover learning domain where the agents have continuous state spaces and where their actions are noisy (e.g., the agents' movement decisions are not always carried out properly). Our results show that in the more difficult dynamic domain, the reward efficiency visualization method provides a two order of magnitude speedup in selecting a good reward. Most importantly it allows one to quickly create and verify rewards tailored to the observational limitations of the domain.
Neurosurgery in the Past and Future. An Appraisal

The brain is the centre-point of communication between the human being and the universe. It defines consciousness which is an integral part of human evolution, from which arise inventions and discoveries. The study of the human brain has always been challenging. The functions of a large portion of the brain are still poorly understood and unexplored. The limited understanding of the physiology, anatomy, and pathophysiology of the central nervous system has allowed us to develop investigative modalities for diagnosis and to further evolve therapeutic strategies to obtain either control or cure.
Generation of 3D Skin Equivalents Fully Reconstituted from Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs)

Recent generation of patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cells (PS-iPSCs) provides significant advantages for cell- and gene-based therapy. Establishment of iPSC-based therapy for skin diseases requires efficient methodology for differentiating iPSCs into both keratinocytes and fibroblasts, the major cellular components of the skin, as well as the reconstruction of skin structures using these iPSC-derived skin components. We previously reported generation of keratinocytes from human iPSCs for use in the treatment of recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB) caused by mutations in the COL7A1 gene. Here, we developed a protocol for differentiating iPSCs into dermal fibroblasts, which also produce type VII collagen and therefore also have the potential to treat RDEB. Moreover, we generated in vitro 3D skin equivalents composed exclusively human iPSC-derived keratinocytes and fibroblasts for disease models and regenerative therapies for skin diseases, first demonstrating that iPSCs can provide the basis for modeling a human organ derived entirely from two different types of iPSC-derived cells.
No well-defined remnant Fermi surface in Sr2CuO2Cl2

In angle-resolved photoelectron spectra of the antiferromagnetic insulators ${\mathrm{Ca}}_{2}{\mathrm{CuO}}_{2}{\mathrm{Cl}}_{2}$ and ${\mathrm{Sr}}_{2}{\mathrm{CuO}}_{2}{\mathrm{Cl}}_{2},$ a sharp drop of the spectral intensity of the lowest-lying band is observed along a line in k space equivalent to the Fermi surface of the optimally doped high-temperature superconductors. This was interpreted as a signature of the existence of a remnant Fermi surface in the insulating phase of the high-temperature superconductors. In this paper it is shown that the drop of the spectral intensity is not related to the spectral function but is a consequence of the electron-photon matrix element.
Effect of sex on ethanol consumption and conditioned taste aversion in adolescent and adult rats

Vulnerability to alcoholism is determined by many factors, including the balance of pleasurable vs. aversive alcohol-induced sensations: pleasurable sensations increase intake, while aversive sensations decrease it. Female sex and adolescent age are associated with lower sensitivity to intake-reducing effects and more rapid development of alcohol abuse. This study assessed voluntary drinking and the aversive effects of alcohol to determine whether these measures are inversely related across the sexes and development. Voluntary drinking of 20 % ethanol in an every-other-day (EOD) availability pattern and the dose–response relationship of ethanol conditioned taste aversion (CTA) were assessed in male and female adolescent and adult rats. CTA was sex specific in adult but not adolescent rats, with adult females exhibiting less aversion. Voluntary ethanol consumption varied according to age and individual differences but was not sex specific. Adolescents initially drank more than adults, exhibited greater day-to-day variation in consumption, were more susceptible to the alcohol deprivation effect, and took longer to establish individual differences in consumption patterns. These results show that the emergence of intake patterns differs between adolescents and adults. Adolescents as a group initiate drinking at high levels but decrease intake as they mature. A subset of adolescents maintained high drinking levels into adulthood. In contrast, most adults consumed at steady, low levels, but a small subset quickly established and maintained high-consumption patterns. Adolescents also showed marked deprivation-induced increases. Sex differences were not observed in EOD drinking during either adolescence or adulthood.
Common occurrence of APC and K-ras gene mutations in the spectrum of colitis-associated neoplasias

Abstract Background/Aims: Chronic colitis is associated with an increased risk of colorectal neoplasia, creating a need for early diagnosis in this population. Little is yet known of the genetic changes of early lesions. Cases of colitis-associated neoplasia were analyzed for APC and K- ras mutations with special emphasis given to the spectrum of noninvasive lesions. Methods: Ten patients were studied. APC mutations were screened by an in vitro synthesized protein assay, and K- ras mutations were screened by a ligation assay. Results: APC mutations were found in 5 patients, including dysplasias. K- ras mutations were present in 5 patients and in all classes of lesions, including 5 of 14 lesions indefinite for dysplasia. In only 2 patients were no mutations found. Conclusions: Mutations of APC and K- ras are common in colitis-associated neoplasia and can occur early in neoplastic progression. Serrated lesions and lesions indefinite for dysplasia may harbor genetic changes and thus are clonal, highlighting the importance of distinguishing them histologically. Assays for APC and K- ras mutations are promising as adjuncts to surveillance programs. Care will be needed in their application because the confident diagnosis of early lesions presumed to be of lesser clinical importance will raise new issues concerning prudent patient management.
Non-enzymatic hydrolysis of adenosine phosphates.

ENERGY transfer in living systems usually involves reactions in which adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is converted to adenosine di (ADP) or monophosphate (AMP) and inorganic phosphate. Similar reactions were probably necessary to provide energy for prebiological evolution. Concentrations of these compounds are affected by non-metabolic destruction, principally hydrolysis releasing orthophosphate. Thus the rates of such hydrolysis are of interest with respect both to present living systems and to the origin of life. Hydrolysis of ATP and ADP has been studied previously at selected temperatures and pH, both in distilled water and in the presence of several inorganic ions which might act as catalysts1,2. The present work is concerned with reactions of ATP, ADP and AMP over a range of temperatures in distilled water, in 0.02 moles Ca2+ (previously reported to act as a catalyst), and in a synthetic seawater containing present oceanic concentrations of Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Sr2+, Cl−, SO4, HCO3−, Br− and H2BO3−. The latter medium was chosen as being as reasonable a representation as possible of primitive seawater, because the composition of the primitive seas, though not exactly known, was probably not drastically different from that of the present ones3.
A Hobbesian Defense of International Criminal Law

I argue that when a Hobbesian State sovereign is not protecting, or is actively oppressing, his subjects, this opens the door for the possibility that another State or international institution could intervene to protect these people who are not having their security protected. Pursuing peace often means forming alliances and agreements that will lead to the establishment of a society that creates laws that are obeyed. Hobbes is quite explicit in allowing for just this possibility, and given that this is true, as I show, one wonders why Hobbes has been misunderstood for so long. The uncharitable explanation is that some theorists have seized on one quotation, which I examine in detail, and largely taken it out of context.
Nerve transfers in tetraplegia I: Background and technique.

Background: The recovery of hand function is consistently rated as the highest priority for persons with tetraplegia. Recovering even partial arm and hand function can have an enormous impact on independence and quality of life of an individual. Currently, tendon transfers are the accepted modality for improving hand function. In this procedure, the distal end of a functional muscle is cut and reattached at the insertion site of a nonfunctional muscle. The tendon transfer sacrifices the function at a lesser location to provide function at a more important location. Nerve transfers are conceptually similar to tendon transfers and involve cutting and connecting a healthy but less critical nerve to a more important but paralyzed nerve to restore its function. Methods: We present a case of a 28-year-old patient with a C5-level ASIA B (international classification level 1) injury who underwent nerve transfers to restore arm and hand function. Intact peripheral innervation was confirmed in the paralyzed muscle groups corresponding to finger flexors and extensors, wrist flexors and extensors, and triceps bilaterally. Volitional control and good strength were present in the biceps and brachialis muscles, the deltoid, and the trapezius. The patient underwent nerve transfers to restore finger flexion and extension, wrist flexion and extension, and elbow extension. Intraoperative motor-evoked potentials and direct nerve stimulation were used to identify donor and recipient nerve branches. Results: The patient tolerated the procedure well, with a preserved function in both elbow flexion and shoulder abduction. Conclusions: Nerve transfers are a technically feasible means of restoring the upper extremity function in tetraplegia in cases that may not be amenable to tendon transfers.
Anion binding characteristics of the band 3 / 4,4-dibenzamidostilbene-2,2-disulfonate binary complex: evidence for both steric and allosteric interactions.

A novel kinetic approach was used to measure monovalent anion binding to better define the mechanistic basis for competition between stilbenedisulfonates and transportable anions on band 3. An anion-induced acceleration in the release of 4,4'-dibenzamidostilbene-2,2'-disulfonate (DBDS) from its complex with band 3 was measured using monovalent anions of various size and relative affinity for the transport site. The K1/2 values for anion binding were determined and correlated with transport site affinity constants obtained from the literature and the dehydrated radius of each anion. The results show that anions with ionic radii of 120-200 pm fall on a well-defined correlation line where the ranking of the K1/2 values matched the ranking of the transport site affinity constants (thiocyanate < nitrate ≅ bromide < chloride < fluoride). The K1/2 values for the anions on this line were about 4-fold larger than expected for anion binding to inhibitor-free band 3. Such a lowered affinity can be explained in terms of allosteric site-site interactions, since the K1/2 values decreased with increasing anionic size. In contrast, iodide, with an ionic radius of about 212 pm, had a 10-fold lower affinity than predicted by the correlation line established by the smaller monovalent anions. These results indicate that smaller monovalent anions have unobstructed access to the transport site within the ban d3/D BDS binary complex, while iodide experiences significant steric hindrance when binding. The observation of steric hindrance in iodide binding to the band 3/D BDS binary complex, but not in the binding ofsmaller monovalent anions, suggests that the stilbenedisulfonate binding site is located at the outer surface of an access channel leading to the transport site.
Excitation energy transfer in molecular complexes: transport processes, optical properties and effects of nearby placed metal nano-particles

Excitation energy transfer (EET) in molecular systems is studied theoretically. Chromophore complexes are considered which are formed by a butanediamine dendrimer with four pheophorbide-a molecules. To achieve a description with an atomic resolution and to account for the effect of an ethanol solvent a mixed quantum classical methodology is utilized. Details of the EET and spectra of transient anisotropy showing signatures of EET are presented. A particular control of intermolecular EET is achieved by surface plasmons of nearby placed metal nanoparticles (MNP). To attain a quantum description of the molecule-MNP system a microscopic theory is introduced. As a particular application surface plasmon affected absorption spectra of molecular complexes placed in the proximity of a spherical MNP are discussed.
Conflict resolution and collaborative fault detection using stochastic dynamic programming

This paper presents a framework based on stochastic dynamic programming that facilitates the implementation of collaborative fault detection through conflict resolution. A conflict arises when two fault detectors draw opposing conclusions regarding the presence of a fault. We use stochastic dynamic programming to optimally resolve conflicts and to control data gathering actions that can improve decision-making. Since stochastic dynamic programming suffers from the curse of dimensionality, we also present and evaluate an approximate dynamic programming (ADP) approach based on decomposition of states, solving decomposed MDPs, and recombination of value functions. A spacecraft fault detection example is included to demonstrate the implementation of the proposed framework and of the corresponding ADP approach.
Liquid crystal electrohydrodynamics in the presence of a magnetic field: the dynamic scattering transition

We have studied electrohydrodynamic convection in the nematic liquid crystal MMBA in the conduction regime in the presence of a competing magnetic field. This field substantially alters the behaviour of the system, causing a metastable surface deformation and travelling waves. The magnetic field also alters the transition between the two dynamic scattering modes so that both states retain anisotropic ordering. A scaling relation is found describing this hysteretic transition. We report the existence of a stable mixed state of DSM 1 and DSM 2.
Metaphors: How are they different for the poet, the child and the everyday adult?

Abstract This paper considers differences and similarities in the way children, poets and everyday adults make and understand metaphors. Samuel Levin (1976, in Pragmatics of language and literature , Amsterdam: North Holland Publishers; and 1979, in Metaphor and thought , Cambridge: Cambridge University Press) has argued that metaphors involve changing concepts of the world rather than shifts in word meanings. His theory rests on the idea that metaphors are to be understood literally and that the poem is a kind of speech act containing an implicit invitation for the reader to enter the poet's world. Werner's (1948, The comparative psychology of mental development , New York: International Universities Press) theory of physiognomic perception is discussed in order to show how childrens' as well as poet's metaphors are meant to be taken literally. While the meaning structure underlying adult and child metaphors is similar the intentionality and boundaries of use may differ for young children. Goffman's (1974, Frame analysis , New York: Harper and Row) theory of frames in discourse is presented in order to explore contexts other than poems in which a metaphor user might issue an invitation for a listener to enter his or her world.