cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Emic Perspectives of Risk and Support: Voices from Lower Elementary Students in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

Within US public school ecologies, roughly 45 million children spend a 12-year, full-time, government-mandated interaction with other children and adults as well as legal-, legislative-, and social-systemic factors that potently influence their developmental trajectories. Further, American children are developing in local contexts at the intersection of regional, ethnic, racial, religious, political, economic, and linguistic diversity. Therefore, any attempts to implement evidence-based programs to promote psychological well-being in schools must take into account the great diversity of American children, families, and communities. Our aim is not to tell a broad strokes story of “America’s children,” but rather to situate a specific group of New Orleans elementary school students’ perspectives on risk, protection, and well-being in both a broad, US context and their unique, culture-specific context. Through student focus groups and ecomap drawings and stories, a catalogue of risk factors, protective factors, valued competencies, and children’s responses to stress and support emerged unique to this New Orleans population of students. An insight from these data was that even young participants were quite attuned to, and could make explicit, the norms, values, and expectations that the adults in their environments hold for them. The results are presented and discussed not only in their potential to understand avenues for psychological well-being promotion, prevention, and intervention at the local level but also as a critique about children’s perspectives on risk, support, and values vis-a-vis macrosystem legislation and standard practices in American education.
Hormones in human reproduction. II. Further investigation of steroid metabolism in human pregnancy.

Abstract Following the administration of progesterone labeled with carbon 14 at position 21 to a patient with a normal pregnancy about 70 per cent of the administered radioactivity was recovered from the urine, feces, and expired air (22.62 per cent, 29.74 per cent, and 18.56 per cent, respectively). The excretion of radioactive metabolites by the skin was minimal. At present we have not accounted for the remaining 30 per cent of the administered radioactivity, but it seems likely that part of it is stored in the fat compartments of the body for a considerable length of time. There was no relationship between the urinary recovery of radioactivity and the pregnant and nonpregnant state, nor the viability of the fetus. The metabolites in urine and feces consist mainly of conjugated steroids, as pregnanediol, pregnanolone, and other unknown compounds. The elimination of tagged carbon dioxide after the administration of C 14 -21-progesterone indicates an oxidation of the side chain of the progesterone molecule, resulting in the formation of such steroids as androstenedione and related compounds which have androgenic properties. Determinations of radioactivity in the blood plasma following the intravenous and intramuscular administration of the labeled hormone demonstrated a rapid disappearance of the free steroid from the circulation due to (1) a speedy conjugation with glucuronic acid and (2) rapid diffusion into body tissues, mainly into the fat compartment. In contrast to the high concentration of radioactivity in the fat, only moderate amounts of radioactivity were demonstrated in the myometrium and the decidua of pregnant patients. Extremely low concentrations of radioactivity were found in the endometrium of non-pregnant women during the pre- and postovulatory phases of the menstrual cycle, and no radioactivity was demonstrable in the atrophic endometrium of 2 patients. The absence of estrogenic activity seems to prevent the entrance of the hormone into the cells of the mucosal layer of the uterus. This observation provides direct evidence that estrogens must prepare the endometrial cells in order that progesterone can exhibit its progestational effect. Apparently, only minimal amounts of progesterone and/or its metabolites are necessary to exert its biological effects on the endometrium. Preliminary studies on the biosynthesis of estrogens in human pregnancy revealed that cholesterol as well as testosterone can serve as a precursor of estrone. In a patient with choriocarcinoma C 14 -4-progesterone was converted into radioactive estrone. The data which we have presented here complete another milestone in the very long experimental road toward our understanding of the metabolism and biosynthesis of the steroid hormones in mammalian reproduction. It becomes increasingly apparent that our thorough understanding of their role in the normal reproductive process must precede an intelligent approach to the solution of many problems in obstetrics and gynecology.
Mechanism of heat aging of silicone resins

Silicone resins are used as dipping, varnishes and coatings for glass cloth and glass covered magnet wire, primarily in applications in which high ambient or operating temperatures obtain. The silicone resins often must be depended upon to maintain electrical and mechanical properties required in the specific application for long periods at temperatures as high as 180°C or even higher. The physical and electrical properties of silicones change both as a function of temperature and aging. A knowledge of the reasons for these changes should help both in the development of superior materials and in application to specific problems.
Hand Manipulation Skills in Hylobatids

Previous research has suggested that hylobatids possess limited ability to grasp objects because of their unique hand shape; however information on the manipulative abilities of gibbon hands is scarce. This study explores the ways gibbons use their hands to transport, manipulate, and hold objects, thus offering insight into the cognitive and functional abilities of the small apes. Our investigation monitored object contact and manipulation technique employed by two pairs of captive adult gibbons through focal animal studies by introducing various inanimate objects to their environments. Our results show that hylobatid hands are not immobile hooks, but rather hylobatids are able to manipulate objects in a variety of ways beyond those suggested in previous descriptions of object manipulation. Hylobatids use their first digit extensively during a variety of activities, most often employing the thumb when transporting small objects during travel (carrying food) and when engaging in fine-tuned motor movements. Their frequent use of the thumb alone to pick, probe, and investigate objects indicates that the thumb is of vital importance to hylobatids and is most often employed as a sensory digit.
HindSight: Encouraging Exploration through Direct Encoding of Personal Interaction History

Physical and digital objects often leave markers of our use. Website links turn purple after we visit them, for example, showing us information we have yet to explore. These “footprints” of interaction offer substantial benefits in information saturated environments — they enable us to easily revisit old information, systematically explore new information, and quickly resume tasks after interruption. While applying these design principles have been successful in HCI contexts, direct encodings of personal interaction history have received scarce attention in data visualization. One reason is that there is little guidance for integrating history into visualizations where many visual channels are already occupied by data. More importantly, there is not firm evidence that making users aware of their interaction history results in benefits with regards to exploration or insights. Following these observations, we propose HindSight — an umbrella term for the design space of representing interaction history directly in existing data visualizations. In this paper, we examine the value of HindSight principles by augmenting existing visualizations with visual indicators of user interaction history ( e.g . How the Recession Shaped the Economy in 255 Charts, NYTimes). In controlled experiments of over 400 participants, we found that HindSight designs generally encouraged people to visit more data and recall different insights after interaction. The results of our experiments suggest that simple additions to visualizations can make users aware of their interaction history, and that these additions significantly impact users' exploration and insights.
When Seeing Is Better than Doing: Preschoolers’ Transfer of STEM Skills Using Touchscreen Games

The purpose of this study was to examine the extent to which character familiarity and game interactivity moderate preschoolers’ learning and transfer from digital games. The games were based on a popular television show and designed to test skills related to STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics): numerical cognition (quantity of different sets) and knowledge of a biological concept (growth). Preschoolers (3.0-5.5 years, N = 44) were assigned to play one game and watch a recording of an experimenter playing the other game. Learning was assessed during pretest and posttest using screenshots from the game. Transfer was assessed using modified screenshots (near) and real-life objects (far). Familiarity was assessed by asking children to identify the television characters and program. Findings indicate that the effectiveness of the games varied by age and condition: Younger children learned from the quantity game, but only when they watched (rather than played) the game. They did not transfer this information in either condition. Conversely, older children learned from the growth game regardless of whether they played or watched. However, older children only demonstrated far transfer if they watched (rather than played) the growth game. Thus preschoolers may benefit more by watching a video than by playing a game if the game is cognitively demanding, perhaps because making decisions while playing the game increases cognitive load. Character familiarity did not predict learning, perhaps because there was little overlap between the lessons presented in the television program and game. Findings from the current study highlight the need for more research into educational games and applications designed for preschoolers in order to establish whether, how, and for whom screen media can be educationally valuable.
Interprofessional Collaboration in Improving Oral Health for Special Populations

People with complex medical, physical, and psychological conditions are among the most underserved groups in receiving dental care and consequently have the most significant oral health disparities of any group. The traditional dental care delivery system is not able to deliver adequate services to these people with "special needs" for a variety of reasons. New systems of care are evolving that better serve the needs of these groups by using interprofessional teams to reach these individuals and integrate oral health services into social, educational, and general health systems.
Vagus nerve stimulation reduces cocaine seeking and alters plasticity in the extinction network

Drugs of abuse cause changes in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and associated regions that impair inhibitory control over drug-seeking. Breaking the contingencies between drug-associated cues and the delivery of the reward during extinction learning reduces rates of relapse. Here we used vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) to induce targeted synaptic plasticity to facilitate extinction of appetitive behaviors and to reduce relapse. Rats self-administered cocaine and were given VNS during extinction. Relapse to drug-seeking was assessed in a cued reinstatement session. We used immunohistochemistry to measure changes in the expression of the phosphorylated transcription factor cAMP response-element binding protein (pCREB) in the PFC and the basolateral amygdala (BLA), which regulate cue learning and extinction. In vivo recordings of evoked field potentials measured drug- and VNS-induced changes in metaplasticity in the pathway from the PFC to the BLA. VNS-treated rats showed improved rates of extinction and reduced reinstatement. Following reinstatement, pCREB levels were reduced in the IL and BLA of VNS-treated rats. Evoked responses in the BLA were greatly reduced in VNS-treated rats, and these rats were also resistant to the induction of LTD. Taken together, these results show that VNS facilitates extinction and reduces reinstatement. Changes in the pathway between the PFC and the amygdala may contribute to these beneficial effects.
Implicit memory and priming

Priming refers to an improvement or change in the identification, production, or classification of a stimulus as a result of a prior encounter with the same or a related stimulus and reflects the operation of implicit or nonconscious processes that can be dissociated from those that support explicit or conscious recollection of past experiences. This chapter examines how neuroimaging studies have provided new means of addressing theories of priming from cognitive psychology, focusing on five research areas: influences of explicit versus implicit memory, top-down attentional effects, specificity of priming, the nature of priming-related activation increases, and correlations between brain activity and behavior.
Ley ZIDRES: fundamentos normativos emergentes de legitimidad estatal en áreas rurales de Colombia

This work builds off the observations of contemporary scholarship in the study of food security to explore its potential effects on the normative foundations of state legitimacy and rural governance. Today the concept of food security is different; states no longer need to primarily rely on domestic agricultural production to feed their population. Similarly, countries with available land for agriculture like Colombia are exposed to an increasing rush for land which is transforming the dynamics of rural governance. The article suggests that central government is willing to outsource governing functions in remote areas to private investors as long as they increase economic output, control populations and provide public goods. This finding has important implications for the post-conflict scenario in Colombia.
Trends in Surgeon-Level Utilization of Sacral Nerve Stimulator Implantation for Fecal Incontinence in New York State.

BACKGROUND:There is a paucity of real-world data regarding surgeon utilization of sacral nerve stimulation for fecal incontinence compared with anal sphincteroplasty.OBJECTIVE:This study aims to examine trends in sacral nerve stimulation use compared with sphincteroplasty for fecal incontinence and
Temporal trends of biomarkers and between‐biomarker associations

We are interested in the temporal trends of biomarkers that are related to disease progression, especially the association between two temporal trends. When biological mechanisms are lacking, no parametric forms of the temporal trends are theoretically justified. In this work, we adopt joint non‐parametric local linear mixed effects modelling. By local linear regression, each temporal trend is represented by its magnitude and slope (the primary interest in medical studies) which both change with time. By mixed effects modelling, we take care of data sparsity within each subject and the large subject‐to‐subject variability. The association between two temporal trends is evaluated by the correlation coefficient matrix, assessing association in terms of both the magnitude and the slope. The joint modelling enables evaluation of the association as a continuous function of time, even if one or neither biomarker is observed at some specific time points. We apply the method proposed to a study of human immunodeficiency virus patients following anti‐retroviral therapy until viral suppression. We find that associations between some biomarkers change over time, reflecting potentially changing stages of disease.
The Nature and Origin of Antibody Diversity

This article is intended as a brief summary of what is known about the nature of the amino acid sequence diversity of antibody V regions, and the mechanisms by which that diversity is encoded in the germ line of a species and expressed by antibody-producing cells. It is this diversity that is responsible for the very existence of an antibody system which can specifically recognize the wide variety of antigens that exist. A more detailed review with more extensive literature citations has been published previously (Gottlieb, 1980).
Schur’s Algorithm Extended and Schur Continued Fractions

A generalization of Schur’s algorithm is given which provides rational interpolants at a sequence of (not necessarily distinct) points in the complex plane. The algorithm can easily be extended to functions of several variables. It is also shown that Schur continued fractions with γ0 ≠ 0 are equivalent to Perron-Caratheodory (PC-) fractions. This connection is used to obtain new formulas for the Schur parameters γn and a new characterization of positive Schur continued fractions. Continued fraction methods are used to prove convergence and obtain truncation error bounds for Schur approximants.
Phase II study of neoadjuvant IGFBP-2 vaccination with neoadjuvant carboplatin and paclitaxel in advanced ovarian cancer.

TPS5613Background: Patients with advanced ovarian cancer not amenable to primary debulking surgery are candidates for neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT). Patients achieving a complete pathologic respo...
Nietzsche on creating and discovering values

ABSTRACTThis article considers Friedrich Nietzsche’s claims about value creation alongside his proclamation that ‘nature is always value-less’ (GS 301), assessing their implications for his metaethics. It begins by weighing the evidence for a recent constructivist interpretation of Nietzsche’s metaethics, arguing that despite several apparent interpretive advantages, Nietzschean constructivism ultimately fails. Through a close reading of GS 301 and related passages, the constructivist interpretation is shown to be misguided in taking Nietzsche’s talk of value creation as expressing (or playing a significant role in) a metaethical view according to which the evaluative attitudes of philosophers ground what is valuable. Against this, it is argued that GS 301 should be understood as an assertion of the status of philosophers as the causal sources of new evaluative outlooks that shape the held values of their respective cultures, a claim developed through analysis of passages in which Nietzsche discusses his ...
Prenatal high molecular weight phthalates and bisphenol A, and childhood respiratory and allergic outcomes.

Background The prevalence of asthma and allergy is increasing in US children. In utero exposure to chemicals used in personal care products and plastics may contribute to increase in these diseases. Methods We quantified urinary concentrations of eight phthalate metabolites and bisphenol A in mothers twice during pregnancy in 1999-2000 in Salinas, California. We assessed probable asthma, aeroallergies, eczema, and spirometry in their children at age 7, and measured T helper 1 and T helper 2 cells in blood at ages 2, 5, and 7 (N = 392). We employed Bayesian model averaging to select confounders from additional biomarkers measured in this population and controlled for them in logistic and linear regressions. Results Monocarboxyisooctyl phthalate was associated with increased odds for probable asthma (odds ratio: 1.54, 95% CI: 1.12, 2.12), and with lower forced expiratory volume in one second (β: -0.09 L, 95% CI: -0.15, -0.03) and forced expiratory flow from 25% to 75% of forced vital capacity (β: -7.06 L/s, 95% CI: -11.04, -2.90). Several other associations were attenuated in final models that controlled for additional biomarkers. Conclusion Monocarboxyisooctyl phthalate was associated with lower respiratory health after controlling for related chemical exposure, which suggests that confounding by multiple chemical exposures should be considered in future research.
Proceedings of the third ACM workshop on Mobile cloud computing and services

It is our great pleasure to welcome you to the Third Workshop on Mobile Cloud Computing and Services (MCS 2012). Like the two previous workshops, we strive to become the premium forum for discussing cutting-edge research that combines the ubiquity of the mobile platform with the power of the cloud platform. Mobile phone applications demand greater resources and improved interactivity for better user experience. Resources in cloud computing platforms such as Amazon EC2, Microsoft Azure, and Google AppEngine are a natural fit to remedy the lack of local resources in mobile devices. Mobile cloud computing refers to an infrastructure where data storage and data processing happen outside of the mobile device to enable a new class of applications previously not possible. Mobile cloud computing is poised to become a disruptive force in the mobile world. The availability of cloud computing resources on a pay-as-you-go basis, the advances in virtualization, the emergence of LTE and WiMAX, IEEE 802.11n and 60 GHz, and mobile application programming platforms create a new set of rich problems that require re-thinking old issues with a new lens. This year's workshop features several papers that lay out a bold vision for the future of this field. We hope that you will find this program interesting and thought-provoking.
High-resolution MRI of the mouse cerebral vasculature to study hemodynamic-induced vascular remodeling

Background: Hemodynamics is a driving factor behind remodeling of the cerebral vasculature, yet mechanisms of flowinduced remodeling remain incompletely understood. Studies employing serial imaging could help characterize hemodynamic-induced pathologic and physiologic remodeling of cerebral arteries. Methods: This preliminary study was performed us ing 4 mice. In 3, we induced flow-driven vascular remodeling in the Circle of Willis (CoW). This was done by ligation of the left common carotid artery (CCA), and the right external carot id and pterygopalatine arteries, which resulted in an increase of blood flow through the basilar artery and the right internal carotid artery. The remaining mouse was used as a wild-type control. In the 3 experimental mice, we performed 9.4 Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) over a span of 3 months. 3D images were reconstructed for serial computational evaluation of gross morphological changes . These measurements were verified by the terminal vascular corrosion casting and scanning electron microscope imaging. Results: This study demonstrated the feasibility to distinguish and serially measure pathologic cerebral vascular changes in the mouse CoW, specifically in the anterior vasculature. We showed that these changes were characterized by compensatory arterial dilation and increased tortuosity on the anterior cerebral artery. From scanning electron microscope images, we also found that there was microscopic damage, akin to aneurysmal remodeling, at the right olfactory artery origin. Conclusions: MRI-based serial imaging has the potential to serially characterize gross morphological changes in the CoW in response to flow manipulation. In the future, combining this analysis with computational fluid dynamics simulations will help to define the hemodynamic environments corresponding to these and other pathologic remodeling changes in the mouse CoW.
Host⁻MicroRNA⁻Microbiota Interactions in Colorectal Cancer.

Changes in gut microbiota composition have consistently been observed in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). Yet, it is not entirely clear how the gut microbiota interacts with tumor cells. We know that tumor cells undergo a drastic change in energy metabolism, mediated by microRNAs (miRNAs), and that tumor-derived miRNAs affect the stromal and immune cell fractions of the tumor microenvironment. Recent studies suggest that host intestinal miRNAs can also affect the growth and composition of the gut microbiota. Our previous CRC studies showed a high-level of interconnectedness between host miRNAs and their microbiota. Considering all the evidence to date, we postulate that the altered nutrient composition and miRNA expression in the CRC microenvironment selectively exerts pressure on the surrounding microbiota, leading to alterations in its composition. In this review article, we present our current understanding of the role of miRNAs in mediating host–microbiota interactions in CRC.
Varietal and Developmental Susceptibility of Tart Cherry (Rosales: Rosaceae) to Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae).

Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) is an invasive species of vinegar fly that infests soft-skinned and stone fruits. Since its first detection in the United States, D. suzukii has become a prominent economic threat in fruit crop industries, particularly affecting caneberry and sweet cherry growers. This study examined the susceptibility of tart cherries (Prunus cerasus) to D. suzukii and sampled for larvae and adult D. suzukii during the tart cherry growing season. Four tart cherry cultivars (Montmorency, Balaton, Carmine Jewel, and Kantorjanosi) were tested at three different ripeness stages (unripe, ripening, and ripe), in no-choice laboratory bio-assays. Field monitoring and sampling revealed that first adult D. suzukii detection occurred on 16 June, and first field larval D. suzukii detection occurred on 28 July. Adult D. suzukii populations increased through late August, and high numbers of adults overlapped with the tart cherry harvest. Lab assays indicated that tart cherry cultivars generally became more susceptible to D. suzukii as they ripened. As the fruit developed, °Brix (sugar content) increased and firmness generally decreased. Tart cherry °Brix and firmness were not correlated with the number of D. suzukii eggs per gram of fruit, but showed a significant interaction effect with the number of larvae and adults per gram of fruit. This study shows that tart cherries are largely not susceptible to D. suzukii when unripe and become susceptible as soon as the fruits change color, suggesting that fruits should be protected as soon as they begin to ripen and D. suzukii populations begin to rise.
Management of Status Asthmaticus in Childhood

Asthma morbidity and mortality in the United States are increasing. The prevalence rate increased by 29% between 1980 and 1987. Death rates for asthma increased by 31%. A 1992 report of New York City hospitals showed that 0.1% of asthma hospitalizations ended in death from 1982–1987 (1). The death rate from infancy through 19 yr of age was 188.3/10,000 of population. This report stated that death was 5.5 times higher in African Americans and 3 times more frequent in Hispanics than in Caucasians. Thirty percent of the deaths occurred in the hospital. Even during the neonatal period, acute bronchospasm has been described that resembled and responded similar to older children with status asthmaticus (2). Thus, it appears possible that all asthmatics at all ages might need to be treated with the methods presented in this chapter.
Don't lose sight of the good stuff.

We were pleased to read the correspondence from Stephen Pointing ( VR , 21 September 2019, vol 185, p 348) applauding the moving and heartfelt letter from Ashwin Jayarajan ( VR , 10 August, vol 185, p 175). The latter recounted aspects of his work in India, often under difficult conditions and with a …
Meta-analysis of drug efficacy in adult vs pediatric trials of patients with PGTC seizures.

Objective A meta-analysis of published studies was performed to determine whether the efficacy of antiseizure drugs in adults with primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures (PGTCS) is comparable with that in the pediatric population (2–12 years of age). Methods Electronic searches were conducted in EMBASE, Medline, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials for clinical trials of PGTCS in adults and children 2–12 years of age. Neurologists used standardized search and study evaluations to select eligible trials. Median percent reduction in seizure frequency from baseline and ≥50% responder rates were used to compare drug efficacy in adults and children. Results Among 7 adjunctive-therapy PGTCS trials in adults and children (2–12 years of age) that met evaluation criteria, effect sizes were consistent between adults and children for lamotrigine and topiramate. The baseline-subtracted median percent seizure reduction in seizure frequency ranged from 50.0% to 79.7% in children and 57.0% to 64.0% in adults. The ≥50% responder rate was similar between children and adults in a topiramate study (50% in children compared with 58% in adults). Conclusions This meta-analysis supports the use of drug response from antiseizure drug clinical trials for PGTCS in adults to predict comparable treatment response in children 2–12 years of age with PGTCS.
Effects of United States WIC infant formula contracts on brand sales of infant formula and toddler milks.

The United States (US) Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) provides free infant formula to low-income families with infants. State WIC agencies periodically solicit bids from manufacturers for the exclusive contract to provide infant formula in exchange for considerable rebates. Using Nielsen 2006–2015 retail scanner data, we estimated a difference-in-difference model to examine how winning a WIC infant formula contract affects sales of the new (winning) and former brands, including effects on sales of products not eligible for WIC (spillover). One year following a contract change, volume sales of WIC infant formula increased 322% (p < 0.01) for the new brand and decreased 77% (p < 0.01) for the former brand. Spillover effects included a 43% increase in sales of toddler milks for the new brand 2 years after the contract change. State WIC contracts allow manufacturers to market formula directly to consumers and may reduce breastfeeding policy effectiveness.
Pandemics, Risks and Remedies

There are lessons in every catastrophe, and the impact of Coronavirus-19 (â€œCOVIDâ€) on Americaâ€™s prisoner population has been especially catastrophic Jails and
Quenching of Spontaneous Emission via Quantum Interference: Time Evolution

A three-level atom having two close upper levels decaying to a common third level is considered. It is shown that interference between these two spontaneous transitions drastically changes the spectrum of emitted light. Particular attention is paid to the time evolution of the spectrum. This yields insight into a novel and counterintuitive aspect of the quantum theory of radiation.
A dual role for peripheral GDNF signaling in nociception and cardiovascular reflexes

Abstract Group III/IV muscle afferents transduce nociceptive signals and modulate exercise pressor reflexes (EPR). However, the mechanisms governing afferent responsiveness to dually modulate these processes are not well characterized. We and others have shown that ischemic injury can induce both nociception-related behaviors and exacerbated EPRs in the same mice. This correlated with primary muscle afferent sensitization and increased expression of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) in injured muscle and increased expression of GDNF family receptor α1 (GFRα1) in DRGs. Here we report that increased GDNF/GFRα1 signaling to sensory neurons from ischemia/reperfusion affected muscle modulated nociceptive-like behaviors, increased EPRs, and group III/IV muscle afferent sensitization. This appeared to have taken effect through increased CREB/CREB-binding protein mediated expression of the purinergic receptor P2X5 in the DRGs. Muscle GDNF signaling to neurons may play an important dual role in nociception and sympathetic reflexes and could provide a novel therapeutic target for treating complications from ischemic injuries.
Shattering the illusion of control: Multi-shot versus single-shot gambles

JONATHAN J. KOEHLERThe University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA!BRIAN J. GIBBSStanford University Stanford, CA, USAROBIN M. HOGARTHUniversity of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USAABSTRACTThe illusion of control refers to a phenomenon whereby people believe theirchances of success at a task are greater than would be warranted by objectiveanalysis. This article raises two questions. First, how robust is the illusion ofcontrol? Second, how might the illusion be 'shattered?' Previous experimentaldemonstrations involved situations that can be likened to unique or single-shotgambles. If, however, the phenomenon is robust, it should occur in repeatedor multi-shot gambles in which the outcome depends on a series of gambles involv-ing the same underlying random process. It should also appear in single-shotgambles that are framed so as to superficially resemble multi-shot gambles. Welabel this the strong illusion of control hypothesis. On the other hand, becausepeople have a better appreciation of probabilistic concepts in tasks they are ableto represent as relative frequencies, the introduction of a multi-shot or "pseudo-multi-shot" context might cue people to the random nature of the task, therebyshattering the illusion. The i\-eak illusion of control hypothesis holds that theillusion of control will occur in single-shot but not in multi-shot or pseudo-multi-shot gambles. Two studies are reported that support the weak hypothesis. Alterna-tive explanations are considered and implications are discussed.KEY WORDS Illusion of control Randomness Relative frequenciesUnder the so-called illusion of control (Langer, 1975) decision makers act as though they exertcontrol over processes that are in fact determined by chance mechanisms. For example, people havebeen found to act as though lottery tickets they themselves select have a greater chance of winningthan tickets allocated to them by others. According to Langer (1975), the illusion is most likelyto occur in situations where, although chance determines outcomes, cues are present that are moretypically associated with outcomes determined by skill. These include factors such as competition,choice, familiarity, cognitive activity, and involvement.The illusion of control has been defined as 'an expectancy of a personal success probability inappro-priately higher than the objective probability would warrant' (Langer, 1975, p. 313), We note thatCCC 0894-3257/94/030183-09 Received W March 1993© 1994 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Accepted 12 April 1994
Comparative Biological Waste Treatment Design

A series of equations are presented which can be employed for the design of most aerobic biological treatment processes including activated sludge, aerated lagoons, and extended aeration. These rel...
Intracervical Foley catheter with and without oxytocin for labor induction with Bishop score ≤3: a secondary analysis.

BACKGROUND The combination method for cervical ripening with a Foley catheter and concurrent oxytocin administration has been shown to reduce the total time from induction to delivery when compared with a Foley catheter only in patients with an unfavorable cervix (Bishop score of OBJECTIVE This study aimed to determine if inducing labor with a Foley catheter and concurrent oxytocin administration reduced the total time from induction to delivery in subjects with a Bishop score of ≤3 compared with those who only received a Foley catheter without oxytocin for cervical ripening. STUDY DESIGN This was a secondary analysis of a randomized, multicenter trial of patients with a live singleton pregnancy at ≥24 weeks’ gestation undergoing labor induction with a Foley catheter and a Bishop score of 1 cesarean delivery, unexplained bleeding, nonreassuring fetal tracing, major fetal anomalies, or other contraindications for vaginal delivery. The subjects were randomized to receive an intracervical Foley catheter only or with concurrent oxytocin infusion. The primary outcome for this analysis was the time from induction to delivery. Secondary outcomes included delivery at ≤12 hours, time to delivery ≤24 hours, cesarean delivery, total time of oxytocin infusion, need for additional ripening agents, postpartum hemorrhage, chorioamnionitis, and neonatal intensive care unit admission. RESULTS A total of 322 patients were enrolled in the primary trial; 151 subjects had an initial Bishop score of ≤3 and were included in the secondary analysis (n=77 for Foley catheter with oxytocin and n=74 for the Foley catheter only). The demographics were similar in both groups. Those with a Bishop score of ≤3 who received a Foley catheter with concurrent oxytocin administration had a shorter time from induction to delivery than those patients who received a Foley catheter only for cervical ripening (21.3 vs 27 hours; P=.005). The group with a Foley catheter and oxytocin administered concurrently also had a shorter time from induction to delivery after adjusting for body mass index, parity status, and first Bishop score (21.5 vs 26.7 hours; P=.007). They also were more likely to deliver within 24 hours (74% vs 46%; P=.001) and not to require additional ripening agents (4% vs 15%; P=.04). Patients with the Foley catheter only method were more likely to receive additional ripening agents, but had fewer hours of oxytocin infusion (19.1 vs 12.4 hours; P CONCLUSION Concurrent Foley catheter and oxytocin infusion significantly reduced the time from induction to delivery in patients with a Bishop score of ≤3 when compared with a Foley catheter only, particularly in multiparous patients.
Uncertainty quantification for principal component regression

Principal component regression is an effective dimension reduction method for regression problems. To apply it in practice, one typically starts by selecting the number of principal components k, then estimates the corresponding regression parameters using say maximum likelihood, and finally obtains predictions with the fitted results. The success of this approach highly depends on the choice of k, and very often, due to the noisy nature of the data, it could be risky to just use one single value of k. Using the generalized fiducial inference framework, this paper develops a method for constructing a probability function on k, which provides an uncertainty measure on its value. In addition, this paper also constructs novel confidence intervals for the regression parameters and prediction intervals for future observations. The proposed methodology is backed up by theoretical results and is tested by simulation experiments and compared with other methods using real data. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that a full treatment for uncertainty quantification is formally considered for principal component regression.
The Usability of Online Quizzes: Evaluating Student Perceptions

This study focuses on assessment, an essential component of teaching and learning. It examines the usability of online quizzes and determines what features of Blackboard-based testing are most beneficial from a student perspective. A survey of 395 students provides new insights that can help teachers, administrators, course providers, trainers, and instructional technology specialists make informed choices in developing and implementing online assessments. The author concludes that instructors should move away from the “one-size-fits-all” approach towards flexible, learner-centered models.
The Microbial Status and Remediation of Contents in Mold-Contaminated Structures

Publisher Summary Damp and moldy structures are potentially harmful to the occupants. A related major and largely uninvestigated subject also relevant to the occupants of mold-contaminated structures is the status of their contents inside these structures. The possibility exists that the contents may be contaminated by fungal colonies or conidia and mycotoxins. This chapter discusses the issue of the contents potentially being contaminated by mold conidia and mycotoxins, presents some recent research performed in this area, and examines some sterilizing procedures that have been found to be effective in eliminating fungal conidia and mycotoxins on home contents. The obstacles regarding the determination of levels of conidia/mycotoxins and fungal fragments on contents are such that it is possible that those levels are never determined. The strategy in light of this deficiency is to assume that the contents can potentially have high numbers of conidia, mycotoxins, or fragments and to use a cleaning technique on them. Although no technique is perfect, a few can inactivate conidia and mycotoxins from a wide range of organisms.
Native Chemical Ligation of Polypeptides

The total synthesis and semisynthesis of proteins allows the site-specific incorporation of unnatural amino acids, post-translational modifications, and biophysical/biochemical probes into the target molecule. Among the various chemical and enzymatic approaches available for the synthesis/semisynthesis of proteins, the native chemical ligation technique has proven especially useful and is the exclusive focus of this unit. This unit first discusses how to choose the ligation site(s) in the target protein and then outlines how to obtain the necessary polypeptide building blocks using either chemical synthesis or recombinant DNA expression. Next, the synthesis of a protein by native chemical ligation of two polypeptide fragments is described. The synthesis of a protein from three polypeptide fragments using a sequential native chemical ligation strategy is also described. Support protocols describe how to obtain the necessary polypeptide fragments using either chemical synthesis or recombinant DNA expression.
Molecular Biology of Cancer

Over the past 50 years, our understanding of cancer has grown dramatically. Conceptual models that explain the tumor development process have been formulated. The biological characteristics that account for the behavior of tumor cells in experimental systems and in vivo and the genetic alterations that account for these changes have been catalogued in detail. Additionally, new preventative strategies and therapeutic agents using this wealth of information are now being formulated. In this chapter, we present a brief overview of our current understanding of cancer as a disease as well as give specific examples of some of the approaches being adopted to combat it. Keywords: tumorigenesis; cancer; apoptosis; angiogenesis; oncogene; tumor suppressor gene; gene therapy; cell cycle
Proceedings of the 14th ACM SIGPLAN symposium on Principles and practice of parallel programming

It is our great pleasure to welcome you to the 14th ACM SIGPLAN Symposium on Principles and Practice of Parallel Programming (PPoPP'09). Since its inception (as PPEALS) in 1988, PPoPP has served as a leading forum for research in all aspects of parallel software, including theoretical foundations, programming models, algorithms, applications, and systems software. These topics have now moved to center stage in their relevance to mainstream computing, as parallelism becomes ubiquitous with the widespread adoption of homogeneous and heterogeneous multicore processors. This year's call attracted 109 paper submissions, which is a record for PPoPP. Each paper was read by at least three members of the program committee, and additional external reviews were solicited when needed. At an in-person meeting of the program committee in October 2008, 26 papers were selected for presentation at the conference that spanned a broad range of software topics (languages, compilers, tools, runtimes) for a diversity of hardware platforms (multicore, accelerators, and high end computing). Authors of high quality submissions that could not be accepted as full papers were invited to present their work as posters. 14 of 20 accepted this invitation; 2 other posters were chosen from among 6 poster submissions. Following last year's successful co-location with the International Symposium on High-Performance Computer Architecture (HPCA) as back-to-back events, the PPoPP and HPCA conference committees decided to go one step further in 2009 and co-locate the conferences in both space and time as a single federated event. As a result, attendees of one conference have the option of attending talks at another conference, and a number of events (two keynotes, two panels, a poster session, and the conference excursion) have been scheduled as shared events. Given the significance of software-hardware co-design in addressing future research challenges in parallel systems, we hope that this coordination of PPoPP and HPCA will foster greater interaction between the two communities. In addition, our hope is that this overlap will strengthen participation in the workshops and tutorials that preceded both conferences, including the 4th ACM SIGPLAN Workshop on Transactional Computing (TRANSACT 2009).
Oil production, agriculture, and groundwater quality in the southeastern Gulf Coast Aquifer, Texas.

Associations between groundwater quality and land usewere evaluated in the southeastern Gulf Coast Aquifer,Texas. Data from 19 234 oil/gas wells and 256 water wellswere mapped with a geographic information system (GIS) andstatistically analyzed. Water wells near oil/gas wells hadsignificantly higher levels of chloride, bromide, and totaldissolved solids (TDS). Bromide-chloride ratios were alsohigher at water wells near oil/gas wells. Shallower waterwells had significantly higher chloride, bromide, TDS, andnitrate concentrations. Nitrate concentrations were higherbeneath cropland compared to other land uses. Results ofthis study suggest that oil/gas production and agriculturehave impacted water quality in the Gulf Coast Aquifer.
The major genetic defect responsible for the polymorphism of S-mephenytoin metabolism in humans.

The metabolism of the anticonvulsant drug mephenytoin exhibits a genetic polymorphism in humans, with the poor metabolizer trait being inherited in an autosomal recessive fashion. There are large interracial differences in the frequency of the poor metabolizer phenotype, with Oriental populations having a 5-fold greater frequency compared to Caucasians. Impaired metabolism of mephenytoin and a number of other currently used drugs results from a defect in a cytochrome P450 enzyme recently identified as CYP2C19. Attempts over the past decade to define the molecular genetic basis of the polymorphism have, however, been unsuccessful. We now report that the principal defect in poor metabolizers is a single base pair (G–>A) mutation in exon 5 of CYP2C19, which creates an aberrant splice site. This change alters the reading frame of the mRNA starting with amino acid 215 and produces a premature stop codon 20 amino acids downstream, which results in a truncated, non-functional protein. We further demonstrate that 7/10 Caucasian and 10/17 Japanese poor metabolizers are homozygous for this defect, indicating that this is the major defect responsible for the poor metabolizer phenotype. Finally, the familial inheritance of the deficient allele was found to be concordant with that of the phenotypic trait.
Elevated primary productivity of calcareous nannoplankton associated with ocean anoxic event 1b during the Aptian/Albian transition (Early Cretaceous)

[1] Previous isotopic investigations of Aptian/Albian oceanic anoxic event (OAE) 1b from the western North Atlantic (Blake Nose) posited that increased sea surface temperatures and decreased salinity led to stratification of the upper water column, resulting in lowered dissolved oxygen and enhanced organic matter preservation. We examined calcareous nannofossils from the same site in the western North Atlantic (Blake Nose) to evaluate changes in surface water conditions prior to, during, and after the Aptian/Albian OAE1b. The results of our analysis conflict somewhat with the previous interpretation that OAE1b at Blake Nose was linked to water column stratification. The signal from calcareous nannofossils indicates that in the late Aptian, prior to OAE1b, oligotrophic conditions in the surface waters were replaced by mesotrophic conditions that persisted throughout the OAE event and into the early Albian. We speculate that increased surface water productivity facilitated to some degree the development of OAE1b at Blake Nose.