cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Harshness: characterisation of intermittent stream habitat over space and time

Frequently disturbed environments, such as intermittent streams, are ecologically useful for studying how disturbance characteristics (e.g. frequency, magnitude) affect community structure and succession. We developed a harshness index that quantifies ecologically pertinent spatial and temporal characteristics of prairie intermittent streams that may limit or reduce diversity and abundance to predict benthic macroinvertebrate assemblage characteristics. The index incorporates 11 variables that describe the hydrological regime (e.g. average flow, flow variability, drying and flooding) and distance to perennial surface water. We started with 27 variables, but removed 16 that did not increase the predictive value of the index. The relationships among index values and annual mean macroinvertebrate assemblage characteristics (taxonomic richness, diversity, evenness and abundance) were tested over two years using seven sites that represent a range of flow permanence (recent and historical), flood magnitude (recent and historical) and surface-water connectivity. Mean annual taxonomic richness was significantly related to the harshness index. Evenness and abundance were not related to harshness. Further analyses indicated that distance to the nearest permanent habitat was less important than annual or historical hydrological parameters, even though prior research had documented higher rates of colonisation at sites that were closer to nearest permanent habitat. Both annual factors that can alter abundance and colonisation immediately (e.g. floods, drought in each year) and historical factors (e.g. probability of drying, average length of dry period over decades) may influence assemblage characteristics. Historical factors may influence evolutionary adaptations of invertebrates and may predominate when relative disturbance rates are lower such as in years with less flooding.
Histological grade predicts for recurrence in patients with uterine endometrioid carcinoma without myometrial involvement.

Aim: To evaluate clinical outcomes and identify factors predictive for recurrence in patients with 1988 (FIGO) stage IA uterine endometrioid carcinoma. Patients and Methods: Patients who underwent hysterectomy for stage IA carcinoma were identified in our database. Fisher's exact and χ 2 tests were used to identify factors that influenced outcome. Survival plots were generated according to Kaplan-Meier product-limit method and the log-rank test was used to determine significance. Results: A total of 121 patients were identified. Eighty-seven percent (n=105) had tumor FIGO grade 1, 9% (n=11) grade 2, and 4% (n=5) grade 3 tumors. Six patients (5%) experienced recurrence. The 5-year recurrence-free survival (RFS), disease-specific survival (DSS) and overall survival (OS) were 93%, 95%, and 85%, respectively. On univariate analysis, tumor FIGO grade 2/3 was strongly associated with tumor recurrence (p=0.003), DSS (p=0.016), and OS (p=0.023). The 5-year RFS, DSS, and OS were 65.1%, 73.9%, and 63.9% respectively for patients with grade 2 and 3 tumors, which were significantly less than the corresponding rates of 97.5% (p≤0.0001), 98.6% (p=0.001), and 87.7% (p=0.024) for patients with grade 1 tumors. Conclusion: In this large cohort of patients, RFS, DSS and OS were excellent. Patients with FIGO grade 2/3 tumors had worse outcomes compared to those with grade 1 tumors. Therefore, while most patients with stage IA disease do not need adjuvant treatment after hysterectomy, our results suggest that patients with higher-grade tumors have
Neurobehavioral implications of habitual snoring in children.

Objective. Current guidelines for the treatment of children with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) suggest that primary snoring (PS) in children is benign. However, PS has not been well evaluated, and it is unknown whether PS is associated with serious morbidity. This study investigated whether PS is associated with neurobehavioral deficits in children. Methods. Parents of 5- to 7-year-old snoring children in public schools were surveyed about their child’s sleeping habits. Children with a history of snoring and nonsnoring children were invited for overnight polysomnographic assessment and a battery of neurobehavioral tests. Only children who did not have a history of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and were not considered hyperactive by parental report were tested. Results. Children with a history of snoring, an obstructive apnea index of Conclusions. PS seems to be associated with significant neurobehavioral deficits in a subset of children, possibly related to increased susceptibility to sleep fragmentation. Larger studies are urgently required because current guidelines for treatment of snoring in children may require reevaluation.
The Mediating Role of Self-Discrepancies in the Relationship Between Media Exposure and Well-Being Among Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Adolescents

Extant research suggests that exposure to depictions of sexuality in the media may influence the well-being of lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) adolescents. Far less is known about the underlying processes that may explain this relationship. Self-discrepancy theory was utilized to predict that relationships between media exposure and well-being among LGB adolescents would be mediated by self-discrepancies in identity. A national survey of 573 LGB adolescents revealed that exposure to gay- and lesbian-oriented media was positively related to the well-being of LGB teens. The relationship between gay- and lesbian-oriented media exposure and well-being was mediated by self-discrepancies in identity for LGB adolescents low in sexual identity commitment. This finding suggests that increased exposure to gay- and lesbian-oriented media could decrease uncommitted LGB teens' perceived differences between their actual selves and their ideal selves, which, in turn, could increase their well-being. A positive relation...
The Effect of Documentation Structure and Task‐Specific Experience on Auditors' Ability to Identify Control Weaknesses

ABSTRACT: Our study matches workpaper preparers with reviewers to investigate whether task‐specific experience moderates the effect of fraud assessment documentation structure on the audit review team's ability to identify control weaknesses. Consistent with expectations, we find that preparers using a component documentation structure provided more favorable (and lower quality) assessments of control weaknesses than those using either a supporting or balanced documentation structure. Results indicate that preparer task‐specific experience moderated this effect. Results also indicate that reviewer task‐specific experience moderated the effect of documentation structure on reviewers' identification of control weaknesses such that experienced reviewers compensated more for the effect of component documentation than auditors with less experience. These results suggest that reviewer task‐specific experience may help reduce the previously observed “flow‐through” effect of preparer workpaper deficiencies on rev...
An adaptive nulling system for a narrow-band signal with a look-direction constraint utilizing the conjugate gradient method

The problem of iterative adjustments of the weights of a phased array with a look-direction constraint in the presence of jammers is presented. The technique described uses the adaptive conjugate method instead of the popularly used method of steepest descent to eliminate the jammer components, thus minimizing the error between the received signal and the actual one. This iterative method minimized the L/sub 2/ norm (the mean square error) and is guaranteed to converge in a finite number of steps which is not available for the present techniques utilized to solve this problem. Improvement in rate of convergence is thus achieved at the expense of algorithmic complexity. >
An Intelligent/Learning Axial Fan Design System

A computer-based axial fan design system has been developed that allows the designer to rapidly obtain a preliminary axial fan design. Program FANDES allows the designer two options to determine the preliminary design parameters for a single-stage axial fan. The first option allows the designer the ability to design an axial fan using conventional blade-element design techniques. The second option enables the designer to search a database of previously designed fans for a set of scaled fans that will satisfy the current design point requirements. The designer can then refine one of the fans in this set to possibly improve the selected fan’s performance. The database of fans is utilized and maintained by FANDES and new fans are added at the user’s request. This allows for an intelligent program that is constantly learning from previous designs. As more fans are designed and saved to the database the design process becomes more of a selection and refinement process of previously designed fans.Copyright © 1991 by ASME
Predicting effectiveness in global leadership activities

Abstract Given the importance of effective global leadership, both academics and practitioners alike have become increasingly interested in ways to develop successful global business leaders. This study of over two hundred global leaders found that high contact cross-cultural leadership development experiences and the leaders’ personality characteristics were predictors of effectiveness in global leadership activities. Testing hypotheses based on social learning theory and the contact hypothesis, extroversion is found to moderate the relationship between high contact cross-cultural leadership development experiences and effectiveness on global leadership activities: Highly extroverted leaders with a greater number of high contact cross-cultural leadership development experiences are the most effective on global leadership activities.
Venus mesosphere and thermosphere temperature structure. I. Global mean radiative and conductive equilibrium

Abstract We consider the basis for theoretical calculation of global mean temperatures of the upper atmosphere of Venus. Three significant uncertainties in determining thermospheric temperatures are revealed: the efficiency of solar EUV in degrading to heat, the enhancement of vibrational excitation of CO2 by collisions with O, and the possibility of eddy mixing. The previously assumed EUV efficiency of 0.3 must now be regarded as an upper limit because of possible further loss of energy to excitation of CO2 vibrational-rotational states. Such an energy loss appears especially likely for O ( 1 D ) and for the kinetic energy of hot atoms. An efficiency of ∼0.1 is inferred from examination of the various channels whereby energy may be lost to CO2 vibration. An EUV heating efficiency of ∼0.1 implies a global mean exospheric temperature of ∼300K or a dayside temperature of ∼400K. The calculated global mean thermospheric temperatures is yet lower in the presence of O atoms which enhance the collisional excitation of CO2 vibrations. Eddy mixing with coefficient K ⪅ 106 cm2s−1 has little effect on thermospheric temperatures, but for K ⋍ 10 7 cm 2 s −1 the effect is drastic and eddy mixing with K much larger than 107 can only be consistent with thermospheric temperatures if they are controlled primarily by a balance between heating by viscous dissipation of the mixing motions and cooling by the downward mixing of heat. Our calculations use a physically complete formulation for infrared processes. Possible simplification (i.e., cooling to space and complete NLTE) is discussed.
Selective identification of sperm fused with the surface of echinoderm eggs by DNA-specific bisbenzimide (Hoechst) fluorochromes

When unfertilized echinoderm eggs are treated with the DNA-specific bisbenzimide fluorochrome Hoechst 33342 and then fertilized with unlabeled sperm, a single spermatozoan bound to the egg surface becomes fluorescent. Several lines of evidence, including correlative scanning electron microscopic studies, indicate that the fluorescent sperm is, in fact, the fertilizing sperm which acquires fluorescence as a consequence of membrane fusion between the sperm and egg. Comparative studies show that several fluorochromes structurally related to H33342 can be used to selectively identify the fertilizing sperm at the egg surface and that H33258 possesses a distinct advantage when used to visualize the male and female pronuclei in eggs fixed prior to fluorochrome exposure. Finally, none of the fluorochromes tested in these studies have any discernible effect on development from the first cell division through the pluteus larva stage. These observations suggest that the fluorochrome-transfer technique for identifying the fertilizing sperm may be useful in a wide variety of studies of gamete interaction as a simple and rapid cytological indicator for sperm-egg fusion.
Immunity to the Conserved Influenza Nucleoprotein Reduces Susceptibility to Secondary Bacterial Infections

Influenza causes >250,000 deaths annually in the industrialized world, and bacterial infections frequently cause secondary illnesses during influenza outbreaks, including pneumonia, bronchitis, sinusitis, and otitis media. In this study, we demonstrate that cross-reactive immunity to mismatched influenza strains can reduce susceptibility to secondary bacterial infections, even though this fails to prevent influenza infection. Specifically, infecting mice with H3N2 influenza before challenging with mismatched H1N1 influenza reduces susceptibility to either Gram-positive Streptococcus pneumoniae or Gram-negative Klebsiella pneumoniae. Vaccinating mice with the highly conserved nucleoprotein of influenza also reduces H1N1-induced susceptibility to lethal bacterial infections. Both T cells and Abs contribute to defense against influenza-induced bacterial diseases; influenza cross-reactive T cells reduce viral titers, whereas Abs to nucleoprotein suppress induction of inflammation in the lung. These findings suggest that nonneutralizing influenza vaccines that fail to prevent influenza infection may nevertheless protect the public from secondary bacterial diseases when neutralizing vaccines are not available.
SPACE: a new approach to operating system abstraction

Object-oriented operating systems, as well as conventional O/S designs, present an overly restrictive level of abstraction to the programmer. Models of objects, processes, concurrency, etc., are embedded within the system in such a way that they are difficult to extend or replace. SPACE is an extensible operating system being developed for research into object-oriented and distributed systems design. SPACE uses capability mechanisms based on the manipulation of address spaces to provide low-level kernel primitives from which higher-level abstractions can be constructed. Standard micro-kernel abstractions such as processes, virtual memory, interprocess communication, and object models are built outside the kernel in SPACE, using the SPACE-kernel primitives: spaces, domains, and portals. Multiple versions of the standard O/S abstractions can coexist and interact. >
To Admit or Not to Admit: The Question of Research Park Size.

A theoretical model is used to explore the determinants of the optimum size of a private research park and the effect of university affiliation on that optimum size. Parks are assumed to operate as cooperatives where costs are equally shared among the member firms, and optimality occurs when the firms' average net benefits are maximized. To achieve this, existing members of a park will limit the park's size, denying entry to firms who wish to join and are willing to share the costs. University affiliation may either increase or decrease the optimum size of a park.
Monitoring oral antiplatelet therapy: is it justified?

Platelets play a key role in the initial formation and progression of intravascular thrombus. During coronary and peripheral vascular interventions, antiplatelet therapy is used to impair platelet reactivity in order to minimize adverse ischemic events. Chronic antiplatelet therapy is also administered to decrease the long term risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in patients with high atherothrombotic burden. However, due to a heterogeneous response to antiplatelet agents, a substantial number of patients with cardiovascular disease remain at risk despite adherence to therapy. Since the availability of point-of-care rapid platelet function assays, quick and reproducible evaluation of platelet function after the administration of aspirin, thienopyridines, and glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors is possible. Various definitions of suboptimal platelet inhibition with oral antiplatelet therapy and associated risk factors are presented here. An algorithm to guide optimal antiplatelet therapy based on rapi...
Increasing incidence of infantile hemangiomas (IH) over the past 35 years: Correlation with decreasing gestational age at birth and birth weight.

Background Infantile hemangiomas (IH) are the most common soft-tissue tumors of infancy, but little is known regarding their true incidence. Objectives We sought to determine the current incidence of IH and examine trends in incidence, demographics, and lesion characteristics over 3 decades. Methods The Rochester Epidemiology Project was used to identify infants residing in Olmsted County, Minnesota, who were given a diagnosis of IH between January 1, 1976, and December 31, 2010. Results In all, 999 infants were given a diagnosis of IH. Incidence increased over the 3-decade study period from 0.97 to 1.97 per 100 person-years ( P P P = .003, respectively). The overall age- and sex-adjusted incidence of IH was 1.64 per 100 person-years (95% confidence interval 1.54-1.75). Limitations The population of Olmsted County, Minnesota, is predominantly non-Hispanic white, limiting our ability to report racial differences in incidence. This was a retrospective study. Conclusions This study provides a longitudinal, population-based incidence of IH. Incidence has increased steadily over the past 3 decades, correlating significantly with decreasing gestational age at birth and birth weight in affected infants.
The Ly-1 Gene Expression in Murine Hybridomas Producing Autoantibodies

Studies presented here demonstrate the expression of the Ly-l gene and the detection of the Ly-l cytodifferentiation antigen in murine hybridomas producing autoantibodies. We examined the transcription of the Ly-I gene in thymocytes and 140 hybridomas producing autoantibodies of various specificities which were obtained from normal and autoimmune disease prone mouse strains. As previously demonstrated thymocytes stain brightly for Ly-l by immunofluorescence and express Ly-l transcripts. In our panel of hybridomas producing autoantibodies Ly-l transcripts were detected in 31 (45%) out of 69 NZB hybridomas and 7 (88%) out of 8 viable motheaten hybridomas. S1 nuclease protection experiments showed that Ly-l transcripts detected in thymocytes and B cells are the product of the same gene. The B cell transcripts are functional since immunofluorescence and Western data presented here detected the Ly-I protein in hybridomas cells which were found to transcribe the Ly-l gene. Interestingly a polymorphic transcript...
SAR Image Formation by Pixel Classification (IF-PC)

This paper presents a novel synthetic aperture radar (SAR) image formation technique—SAR Image Formation by Pixel Classification (IF-PC). The technique is integrated with the standard backprojection image formation algorithm to form SAR images with significant reduction in side lobes and noise. The key innovative concept in the IF-PC technique is the formation of many realizations of a SAR image of the same scene from many instances of randomized and reduced apertures. The IF-PC algorithm classifies each pixel in the SAR image into either target class (associated with physical objects) or noise class (noise, sidelobes) based on the statistics of the image pixel from many realizations of the SAR image. The IF-PC technique generates both types of resulting SAR imagery: amplitude and complex images that are almost noise-free. This paper demonstrates the results using both simulation and real radar data from the U.S. Army Research Laboratory's (ARL) low-frequency SAR radar in forward-looking mode.
Clinical implications of DNA methylation in hepatocellular carcinoma

Background Epigenetics is a rapidly evolving field of genetic study applicable to nearly every aspect of genome-related research. The importance of epigenetics has been recognised in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Changes in DNA methylation patterns, including global hypomethylation and promoter hypermethylation, are thought to be early events in hepatocarcinogenesis.
Antigenic Stimulation of Kv1.3-Deficient Th Cells Gives Rise to a Population of Foxp3-Independent T Cells with Suppressive Properties

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an immune-mediated demyelinating disease of the CNS that has been linked with defects in regulatory T cell function. Therefore, strategies to selectively target pathogenic cells via enhanced regulatory T cell activity may provide therapeutic benefit. Kv1.3 is a voltage-gated potassium channel expressed on myelin-reactive T cells from MS patients. Kv1.3-knockout (KO) mice are protected from experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, an animal model of MS, and Kv1.3-KO Th cells display suppressive capacity associated with increased IL-10. In this article, we demonstrate that myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein-specific Kv1.3-KO Th cells exhibit a unique regulatory phenotype characterized by high CD25, CTLA4, pSTAT5, FoxO1, and GATA1 expression without a corresponding increase in Foxp3. These phenotypic changes result from increased signaling through IL-2R. Moreover, myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein-specific Kv1.3-KO Th cells can ameliorate experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis following transfer to wild-type recipients in a manner that is partially dependent on IL-2R and STAT5 signaling. The present study identifies a population of Foxp3(-) T cells with suppressive properties that arises in the absence of Kv1.3 and enhances the understanding of the molecular mechanism by which these cells are generated. This increased understanding could contribute to the development of novel therapies for MS patients that promote heightened immune regulation.
Interactive Wormhole Detection in Large Scale Wireless Networks

Wormhole attacks in wireless networks can severely deteriorate the network performance and compromise the security through spoiling the routing protocols and weakening the security enhancements. This paper develops an approach, interactive visualization of wormholes (IVoW), to monitor and detect such attacks in large scale wireless networks in real time. We characterize the topology features of a network under wormhole attacks through the node position changes and visualize the information at dynamically adjusted scales. We integrate an automatic detection algorithm with appropriate user interactions to handle complicated scenarios that include a large number of moving nodes and multiple worm-hole attackers. Various visual forms have been adopted to assist the understanding and analysis of the reconstructed network topology and improve the detection accuracy. Extended simulation has demonstrated that the proposed approach can effectively locate the fake neighbor connections without introducing many false alarms. IVoW does not require the wireless nodes to be equipped with any special hardware, thus avoiding any additional cost. The proposed approach demonstrates that interactive visualization can be successfully combined with network security mechanisms to greatly improve the intrusion detection capabilities
Combined regional and general anesthesia: Is it really the answer?

A LTHOUGH GENERAL anesthesia continues to be the most common form of anesthesia for the patient with cardiac disease, there is increasing interest in combined regional-general anesthetic techniques. lT2 The selection of one anesthetic technique over another involves the consideration of several factors, including a riskbenefit analysis of each technique, patient and surgeon preferences, and an individual anesthesiologist’s skills. In addition, factors such as anesthetic cost and additional time to provide the anesthetic must be considered. New information from clinical trials indicates that selected cardiac patients may benefit from the use of one or more combined regionalgeneral anesthetic techniques. Although further outcome studies are needed, it appears that these techniques may decrease perioperative morbidity and mortality in selected patients. This review will summarize data from studies evaluating combined regional-general anesthetics and indicate when these techniques may be appropriate for patients with cardiac disease.
Ecological and genetic evidence that low-order streams inhibit dispersal by red-backed salamanders (Plethodon cinereus)

While many studies have examined the barrier effects of large rivers on animal dispersal and gene flow, few studies have considered the barrier effects of small streams. We used displacement experiments and analyses of genetic population structure to examine the effects of first-order and second-order streams on the dispersal of terrestrial red-backed salamanders, Plethodon cinereus (Green, 1818). We marked red-backed salamanders from near the edges of one first-order stream and one second-order stream, and experimentally displaced them either across the stream or an equal distance far- ther into the forest. A comparison of return rates indicated that both streams were partial barriers to salamander movement, reducing return rates by approximately 50%. Analysis of six microsatellite loci from paired plots on the same side and on opposite sides of the second-order stream suggested that the stream did contribute to genetic differentiation of salamander populations. Collectively, our results imply that low-order streams do influence patterns of movement and gene flow in red-backed salamanders. We suggest that given the high density of first-order and second-order streams in most land- scapes, these features may have important effects on species that, like red-backed salamanders, have limited dispersal and large geographic ranges. Resume´ : Alors que de nombreux travaux ont examinel'effet de barriere des grandes rivieres sur la dispersion et le flux genique chez les animaux, peu d'etudes se sont interessees aux effets de barriere produits par les petits cours d'eau. Nous avons utilisedes experiences de deplacement et des analyses de structure genetique de population pour determiner les ef- fets de cours d'eau d'ordres 1 et 2 sur la dispersion de la salamandre rayee, Plethodon cinereus (Green, 1818), un amphib- ien terrestre. Nous avons marquedes salamandres rayees recoltees pres des berges d'un cours d'eau d'ordre 1 et d'un autre d'ordre 2 et les avons deplacees experimentalement ou bien sur la berge opposee ou alors a une distance equivalente vers l'interieur de la foret. Une comparaison des taux de retour indique que les deux cours d'eau constituent des barrieres partielles au deplacement des salamandres, ce qui reduit les taux de retour de l'ordre de 50 %. L'analyse de six locus mi- crosatellites dans des parcelles appariees sur la meme berge ou alors sur des berges opposees du cours d'eau d'ordre 2 in- dique que le cours d'eau contribue ala differentiation genetique des populations de salamandres. Dans leur ensemble, nos resultats laissent croire que les cours d'eau d'ordres inferieurs influencent les patrons de deplacement et le flux genique chez la salamandre rayee. Nous croyons qu'etant donnela forte densitede cours d'eau d'ordres 1 et 2 dans la plupart des paysages, ces structures peuvent avoir un important effet sur les especes qui, al'instar des salamandres rayees, ont une dis- persion reduite et une aire de repartition etendue. (Traduit par la Redaction)
Extravasated protein as a cause of limbic seizure-induced brain damage: an evaluation using kainic acid.

Tonicoclonic seizure-induced alterations in cerebrovascular permeability (CVP) to protein (CVP-p) have been recognized for several years (see Klatzo, 1983). Although the mechanisms of this permeability change are not completely understood, free arachidonic acid (Bazan, 1970; Rodriguez de Turco et al., 1983; Siesjo et al., 1983) has been implicated (Chan et al., 1983). Several other characteristics of the change are known. The morphologic basis for increased CVP-p appears to be the pinocytotic vesicle, sometimes coalescing to form transendothelial channels which effectively shunt endothelial tight junctions (Westergaard, 1980). Alterations in CVP-p also depend partly on the increased arterial blood pressure accompanying seizures (Johansson and Nilsson, 1977). However, as Nitsch and Klatzo (1983) pointed out, the degree of hypertension attained during an attack would not be,in the absence of the seizure, of sufficient magnitude to provoke increases in CVP-p. Thus, seizure-induced disturbances in CVP-p probably involve an interaction between global systemic factors and more localized molecular phenomena occurring in the microenvironment of recruited neurons. Adding to the complexity of CVP alterations, there appears to be a pathoclisis whereby certain regions are more prone to alterations in CVP than are other recruited regions.
Calculated transport properties of CdO: thermal conductivity and thermoelectric power factor

We present first-principles calculations of the thermal and electronic transport properties of the oxide semiconductor CdO. In particular, we find from theory that the accepted thermal conductivity $\ensuremath{\kappa}$ value of $0.7\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\mathrm{W}\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}{\mathrm{m}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}{\mathrm{K}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ is approximately one order of magnitude too small; our calculations of $\ensuremath{\kappa}$ of CdO are in good agreement with recent measurements. We also find that alloying of MgO with CdO is an effective means to reduce the lattice contribution to $\ensuremath{\kappa}$, despite MgO having a much larger thermal conductivity. We further consider the electronic structure of CdO in relation to thermoelectric performance, finding that large thermoelectric power factors may occur if the material can be heavily doped $p$ type. This work develops insight into the nature of thermal and electronic transport in an important oxide semiconductor.
Understanding the end user: the key to managing end-user computing

The End-User Characteristics Matrix, a mapping of user characteristics onto four end-user taxonomies, provides a more detailed perspective on the end user as developer/operator of computer-based information systems. Understanding individual end users is probably the most critical element to effectively managing end-user computing. Yet many managers do not really understand the end user they are attempting to manage. The purpose of this paper is to develop a framework which will allow the manager of end users to identify and describe user characteristics which differentiate, define, and help us better understand the end user.
Hijab in the American workplace: visibility and discrimination

AbstractWhile the initial purpose of this article was to outline online collective action (OCA) towards promoting the rights of hijab-wearing Muslim women in the workplace, it became apparent that there were substantial impediments to this solidarity. Thus, the bulk of it takes up these obstacles, arguing that American hijabis face structural discrimination and Muslims in the United States are subjected to heightened discrimination when they are highly visible to the mainstream culture. This article reviews two cases of workplace discrimination against hijabis and the reactions to these incidents on the Huffington Post, Los Angeles Times, and hijab-oriented blogs. Findings indicate that intolerance of Muslims is prevalent across various political affiliations and apprehension associated with hijabi rights could be related to the perceived decline of white privilege. The analysis also demonstrates that there may be impediments to solidarity with hijabi rights within Muslim communities due to disagreements ...
Near real-time atrocity event coding

In recent years, mass atrocities, terrorism, and political unrest have caused much human suffering. Thousands of innocent lives have been lost to these events. With the help of advanced technologies, we can now dream of a tool that uses machine learning and natural language processing (NLP) techniques to warn of such events. Detecting atrocities demands structured event data that contain metadata, with multiple fields and values (e.g. event date, victim, perpetrator). Traditionally, humans apply common sense and encode events from news stories but this process is slow, expensive, and ambiguous. To accelerate it, we use machine coding to generate an encoded event. In this paper, we develop a near-real-time supervised machine coding technique with an external knowledge base, WordNet, to generate a structured event. We design a Spark-based distributed framework with a web scraper to gather news reports periodically, process, and generate events. We use Spark to reduce the performance bottleneck while processing raw text news using CoreNLP.
Hepatocyte-specific PPARA expression exclusively promotes agonist-induced cell proliferation without influence from nonparenchymal cells.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α (PPARA) is a nuclear transcription factor and key mediator of systemic lipid metabolism. Prolonged activation in rodents causes hepatocyte proliferation and hepatocellular carcinoma. Little is known about the contribution of nonparenchymal cells (NPCs) to PPARA-mediated cell proliferation. NPC contribution to PPARA agonist-induced hepatomegaly was assessed in hepatocyte (Ppara△Hep)- and macrophage (Ppara△Mac)-specific Ppara null mice. Mice were treated with the agonist Wy-14643 for 14 days, and response of conditional null mice was compared with conventional knockout mice (Ppara-/- ). Wy-14643 treatment caused weight loss and severe hepatomegaly in wild-type and Ppara△Mac mice, and histological analysis revealed characteristic hepatocyte swelling; Ppara△Hep and Ppara-/- mice were protected from these effects. Ppara△Mac serum chemistries, as well as aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase levels, matched wild-type mice. Agonist-treated Ppara△Hep mice had elevated serum cholesterol, phospholipids, and triglycerides when compared with Ppara-/- mice, indicating a possible role for extrahepatic PPARA in regulating circulating lipid levels. BrdU labeling confirmed increased cell proliferation only in wild-type and Ppara△Mac mice. Macrophage PPARA disruption did not impact agonist-induced upregulation of lipid metabolism, cell proliferation, or DNA damage and repair-related gene expression, whereas gene expression was repressed in Ppara△Hep mice. Interestingly, downregulation of inflammatory cytokines IL-15 and IL-18 was dependent on macrophage PPARA. Cell type-specific regulation of target genes was confirmed in primary hepatocytes and Kupffer cells. These studies conclusively show that cell proliferation is mediated exclusively by PPARA activation in hepatocytes and that Kupffer cell PPARA has an important role in mediating the anti-inflammatory effects of PPARA agonists.
Lagrangian coherent structures in the thermosphere: Predictive transport barriers

Lagrangian coherent structures (LCSs) in the time-varying flow of the upper atmosphere are found. The Horizontal Wind Model 2014 (HWM14) is used to simulate the neutral winds of the thermosphere at 150, 250, and 350 km altitude, for quiet and active geomagnetic conditions. Then LCS analysis of HWM14 winds at 100 km altitude is used to investigate space shuttle water vapor plume transport. LCSs are found to exist in the lower thermosphere, but are more prominent at 250 km and 350 km, at 40° - 80° latitudes on the dayside. Ionosphere-thermosphere coupling manifests in the response of thermospheric LCSs to geomagnetic activity. The LCSs shift equatorward and eastward, developing a more complex topology in the apparent form of two cells in the northern hemisphere high latitude zone. We also show for the first time that the LCS demarcates the high-latitude boundary of shuttle plume observations after 48 hours of transport.
Continental‐extent patterns in amphibian malformations linked to parasites, chemical contaminants, and their interactions

Widespread observations of malformed amphibians across North America have generated both concern and controversy. Debates over the causes of such malformations-which can affect >50% of animals in a population-have continued, likely due to involvement of multiple causal factors. Here, we used a 13-year dataset encompassing 53,880 frogs and toads from 422 wetlands and 42 states in the conterminous USA to test hypotheses relating abnormalities and four categories of potential drivers: (i) chemical contaminants, (ii) land use practices, (iii) parasite infection, and (iv) targeted interactions between parasites and pesticides. Using a hierarchically nested, competing-model approach, we further examined how these associations varied spatially among geographic regions. Although malformations were rare overall (average = 1.6%), we identified 96 hotspot sites with 5%-25% abnormal individuals. Using the full dataset of 934 collections (without data on parasite infection), malformation frequency was best predicted by the presence of oil and gas wells within the watershed. Among collections also examined for parasite infection (n = 154), average parasite load and its interaction with pesticide application positively predicted malformations: wetlands with a greater abundance of the trematode Ribeiroia ondatrae were more likely to have malformed amphibians, but these effects were strongest when pesticide application was also high, consistent with prior experimental research. Importantly, however, the influence of these factors also varied regionally, helping explain divergent results from previous studies at local scales; parasite infection was more influential in the West and Northeast, whereas pesticide application and oil/gas wells correlated with abnormalities in the Northeast, Southeast, and western regions of the USA. These results, based on the largest systematic sampling of amphibian malformations, suggest that increased observations of abnormal amphibians are associated with both parasite infection and chemical contaminants, but that their relative importance and interaction strength varied with the spatial extent of the analysis.
Wideband channel tracking for mmWave MIMO system with hybrid beamforming architecture: (Invited Paper)

Millimeter-wave (mmWave) systems require a large number of antennas at both base station (BS) and user equipment (UE) for a desirable link budget. Due to time varying channel under UE mobility, up-to-date channel state information (CSI) is important to obtain the beamforming gain. The overhead cost of frequent channel estimation becomes a bottleneck to achieve high throughput. In this paper, we propose the first mmWave frequency selective channel tracking technique for hybrid analog and digital beamforming architecture. During tracking, this technique exploits mmWave channel sparsity and uses only one training symbol to update the CSI. Our simulation study utilizes a dynamic channel simulator that builds on top of recently proposed geometric stochastic approach from mmMAGIC project at 28 GHz. Assuming 10m/s moving speed and 200 deg/s rotation speed at UE, the proposed algorithm maintains the 80% of the spectral efficiency as compared to static environment over a time window of 100 ms. The proposed tracking algorithm reduces the overhead by 3 times as compared to existing channel estimation technique.
Structural characterization of metal complexes in aqueous solutions: a XAS study of stannous fluoride

The identity and structure of tin(ii)-fluoride complexes formed in aqueous solutions is determined by combining X-ray absorption spectroscopy, thermodynamic modeling and quantum mechanical calculations. Spectroscopic measurements confirm the presence of 3 stannous fluoride complexes, SnF+, SnF02 and SnF3-, with mean Sn-F bond distances that increase linearly, from 1.98 to about 2.04 A, as a function of the coordination number. Computational ab initio calculations indicate that the stannous fluoride complexes form localized σs-p bonds, with the stereochemically active lone pair of the Sn(ii) atom distorting the geometry of the complexes. In addition, the SnF3- complex exhibits loosely coordinated water, which is removed upon addition of glycerol to lower the solvent activity. Our results provide spectroscopic confirmation of the stannous fluoride complexes proposed in the literature, and explain why glycerol additions stabilize solutions of Sn(ii) against oxidation.
An Unusual Case of Ototoxicity with Use of Oral Vancomycin

Introduction. Systemic absorption of oral vancomycin is poor due to the size of the molecule and its pharmacokinetics. It has an elimination half life of 5–11 hours in patients with normal renal function. We present a rare case of ototoxicity after oral vancomycin administration and detectable serum vancomycin levels 24 hours after cessation of vancomycin. Case Presentation. A 42-year-old woman with a history of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and previously treated Clostridium difficile colitis presented with abdominal pain and diarrhea for two weeks. Clostridium difficile infection was confirmed by PCR, and at the time of diagnosis and initiation of therapy, the patient had normal renal function. Vancomycin was initiated at a dose of 125 mg po q6h. After the third dose of oral vancomycin, the patient reported new symptoms of lightheadedness, sensations of “buzzing” and whistling of bilateral ears, and decreased perception of hearing described as “clogged ears.” The patient reported to the emergency department the next day due to worsening of these symptoms, and vancomycin dosing was reduced to every 8 hours; however, the patient reported the auditory symptoms persisted. On day three, vancomycin was discontinued with gradual resolution of symptoms over the next 12 hours. On day four, a serum random vancomycin level obtained 24 hours after the last dose was detectable at 2 mcg/dl. Temporal association of the patient’s symptoms and improvement with cessation of therapy along with a detectable vancomycin level indicates systemic absorption of oral vancomycin with subsequent ototoxicity. Discussion. The potential for absorption of oral vancomycin is not well described and is attributed to compromised intestinal epithelium allowing for increased drug absorption. Few studies suggested that oral vancomycin may result in therapeutic or even potentially toxic levels of serum vancomycin in patients with impaired renal function. Ototoxicity may be a transient or permanent side effect of vancomycin therapy and is related to high serum levels. Symptoms usually resolve after decreasing the dose or cessation of vancomycin. No detectable serum vancomycin levels were found in 98% of the patients treated with oral vancomycin in a prospective study. The described case is unusual because despite normal renal function, the patient still developed ototoxicity, and systemic absorption of the drug was confirmed with a measurable vancomycin level approximately 24 hours after the drug was stopped. Additionally, the only other medication prescribed to the patient at the time of vancomycin administration was metformin at a dose of 500 mg po bid which has no known idiosyncratic interactions potentiating adverse side effects to vancomycin. This case reflects that some patients may be more susceptible to increased systemic absorption via the oral route, and the possibility for ototoxicity should be considered and discussed with patients while prescribing oral vancomycin.
Transmesenteric Method of Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt Placement: tmTIPS

Intrahepatic portosystemic shunting is a commonly accepted method of treatment of variceal bleeding in patients with portal hypertension. The procedure lowers portal pressure andeffectively helps to control bleeding in the majority of patients. In most published series, the transjugular approach has been used for the procedure. This fact is reflected in the first letter of the commonly accepted acronym, TIPS, transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt.
Microlaparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomy in the morbidly obese patient.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to demonstrate a minimally invasive, novel variation, microlaparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomy (MAVH) of a previously established technique, laparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH), in the morbidly obese patient. METHODS This was a prospective, descriptive feasibility study (Canadian Task Force classification 11-2) conducted at a university-affiliated hospital and private community hospital. Seven morbidly obese women with an average body mass index of 45.8 kg/m2 (range, 40.6 to 51.5) underwent microlaparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomy (MAVH). Microlaparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomy (MAVH), classified as Type 1B, including unilateral or bilateral occlusion and division of the ovarian artery(ies), either medial or lateral to the ovary(ies), with or without dissection of the adjacent broad ligament under microlaparoscopic guidance, in addition to incision of the vesicouterine peritoneum. RESULTS The median duration of surgery was 109.1 minutes (range, 86 to 134), median blood loss was 207 mL (range, 100 to 350), and average length of stay in the hospital was 33.7 hours (range, 23 to 48). The complication rate was 0%. CONCLUSION Microlaparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomy (MAVH) is a safe and effective, more minimally invasive method of performing laparoscopic hysterectomies in select morbidly obese patients.
Teaching Online Social Skills to Students with Emotional and Behavioral Disorders.

Students with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBDs) often lack appropriate social skills. Participation in direct and explicit instruction related to social skills is common in their educationa...
Learning and Generalization Controlled by Contradiction

SG (Specific to General) is a network that learns from a training set containing examples. Each example gives an input pattern along with the output that the network should produce for that input. The training set is a subset of the complete mapping from input to output. Therefore, the network should not only converge to a representation that contains the information given by the training set, but also generalize that information so that the network will respond well to inputs that it has not been trained on.
Towards a “Treadmill Test” for Cognition: Reliable Prediction of Intelligence From Whole-Brain Task Activation Patterns

Identifying brain-based markers of general cognitive ability, i.e., "intelligence", has been a longstanding goal of cognitive and clinical neuroscience. Previous studies focused on relatively static, enduring features of the brain such as gray matter volume and white matter structure. In this report, we investigate prediction of intelligence based on task activation patterns during the N-back working memory task as well as six other tasks in the Human Connectome Project dataset, encompassing 19 task contrasts. We find that whole brain task activation patterns are a highly effective basis for prediction of intelligence, achieving a 0.68 correlation with intelligence scores in an independent sample, which exceeds results reported from other modalities. Additionally, we show that tasks that tap executive processing and that are more cognitively demanding are particularly effective for intelligence prediction. These results suggest a picture analogous to treadmill testing for cardiac function: Placing the brain in an activated task state improves brain-based prediction of intelligence.