cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Motion Planning and Visual-Inertial Target Tracking for UAV-based Radiation Detection

This paper addresses the problem of detecting radioactive material in transit using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) of minimal sensing capability, where the objective is to classify the target's radioactivity as the vehicle plans its paths through the workspace while tracking the target for a short time interval. Assuming that the prior map of the workspace is available, this paper proposes a motion planning framework that integrates a navigation function based planner with a tightly-coupled visual-inertial localization and target tracking algorithm, and generates dynamically feasible trajectories that provably converge to a moving target while avoiding obstacles. The efficacy of the proposed approach is validated through Gazebo simulations.
Perceptions and Awareness of Overlapping Surgery in Patients With Shoulder Pain Presenting to an Orthopaedic Sports Medicine Clinic.

Purpose To determine patients’ baseline understanding of overlapping surgery and to evaluate how education changes the perception of the practice in orthopaedic shoulder pain patients at a single institution. Methods All patients who visit the clinic with a chief complaint of shoulder pain were given a 15-question survey. The initial 15-question survey assessed demographics, pre-existing knowledge on the practice of overlapping surgery, and their perception of it. They immediately read a statement on the practice of overlapping surgery. After reading the statement, patients were re-evaluated on their level of concern. Results A total of 100 patients (55 female, 45 male) completed the survey. Mean age was 53.0 (range, 18-85) years. In total, 38 (38%) had no knowledge on the practice of overlapping surgery; 27 (27%) reported their level of concern as a 1, the lowest level of concern. Overall, 84 (84%) patients reported a level of concern of 3 (median) or lower, indicating a low level of concern. A total of 95 (95%) patients reported either a decrease or no change in level of concern after reading an educational statement on overlapping surgery practices, and 60 (60%) believed there would be no impact if an overlapping surgery was performed. If a patient reported a high level of concern, the most common reasons cited were that the attending physician may not be available during the whole case (15%); that a resident, fellow, or physician assistant may jeopardize the patient’s care (24%); or that a critical step would be missed (37%). Conclusions There is a low level of baseline understanding of overlapping surgery in patients with shoulder pain. An educational component added during patient counseling proved to be effective in decreasing the level of concern. This study suggests that counseling and education on overlapping surgery may change patient perception and opinion of the practice. Clinical Relevance Serves as an evaluation of the knowledge of a specific patient population on overlapping surgery and how it changes with counseling and education.
Breast Implant-associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma: An Evidence-based Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVE This evidence-based systematic review synthesizes and critically appraises current clinical recommendations and advances in the diagnosis and treatment of BIA-ALCL. This review also aims to broaden physician awareness across diverse specialties, particularly among general practitioners, breast surgeons, surgical oncologists, and other clinicians who may encounter patients with breast implants in their practice. BACKGROUND BIA-ALCL is an emerging and treatable immune cell cancer definitively linked to textured-surface breast implants. Although the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) consensus guidelines and other clinical recommendations have been established, the evidence supporting these guidelines has not been systematically studied. The purpose of this evidence-based systematic review is to synthesize and critically appraise current clinical guidelines and recommendations while highlighting advances in diagnosis and treatment and raising awareness for this emerging disease. METHODS This evidence-based systematic review evaluated primary research studies focusing on the diagnosis and treatment of BIA-ALCL that were published in PubMed, Google Scholar, and other scientific databases through March 2020. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS The clinical knowledge of BIA-ALCL has evolved rapidly over the last several years with major advances in diagnosis and treatment, including en bloc resection as the standard of care. Despite a limited number of high-quality clinical studies comprised mainly of Level III and Level V evidence, current evidence aligns with established NCCN consensus guidelines. When diagnosed and treated in accordance with NCCN guidelines, BIA-ALCL carries an excellent prognosis.
Dissemination Patterns and Short-Term Management of Multifocal Rosette-Forming Glioneuronal Tumors.

Background Multifocal rosette-forming glioneuronal tumors (RGNTs) are challenging to manage. Gross total resection is often impossible, and data on adjunctive therapies are limited. We reviewed cases of multifocal RGNTs in the literature with special focus on dissemination patterns and management. Methods A literature review was conducted using PubMed and the key words "(multifocal OR multicentric OR satellite OR dissemination) AND glioneuronal." Results There were 21 cases of multifocal RGNTs identified. Follow-up was available in 18 cases at a median of 17 months. Progression-free survival and overall survival at 1 year were 84% and 94%, respectively. Of all cases, 43% had cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) dissemination, 48% had intraparenchymal spread, and 10% had both. The presence of CSF dissemination led to palliative care and/or death in 20% of cases (n = 2). None of the cases with intraparenchymal spread progressed. Radiotherapy was used in 50% of cases with CSF dissemination, chemotherapy was used in 20%, and CSF shunting was used in 36%. No tumors with intraparenchymal spread required adjunctive therapy or shunting. Conclusions RGNTs with CSF dissemination are more likely to behave aggressively, and early adjunctive therapies should be discussed with patients. Tumors with intraparenchymal spread grow slowly, and maximal safe resection followed by observation is likely sufficient in the short term. Long-term behavior of multifocal RGNTs is still unclear.
On the Thermal Efficiencies of Cascading Heat Exchangers: An Algorithmic Approach - II

A scalable design architecture for addressing optimal temperature performance on demand is investigated and implemented in this research using novel algorithmic methods. The thermal efficiencies of cascading multiple heat exchangers (HEX) in a parallel fashion networked to multiple cold plates is presented. An in-depth, self-learning algorithmic approach is presented to characterize power and performance perspectives. Several novel algorithmic approaches aimed at reducing transient thermal solution response time for coolant flow branching to dynamically and to preemptively address the Tj rise has been investigated and implemented in this design. The dynamic algorithm also calculates the efficiency of the system based on the heat picked up by the cold plate and heat dumped by the HEX upon recirculation and forced convectively cooled by the fans blowing on the HEX relative to the ambient temperature. The apparatus once deployed, is driven by algorithmic methods without the need for human intervention and the flow control is automated. Experimental data for quad HEX configuration dissipating 4 kW on multiple cold plates is presented. The algorithm automatically branches coolant to the cold plates only when power is being dissipated by the package under the cold plate. A plug and play, adaptive, coolant flow branching system that removes human intervention and dynamically optimizes thermal efficiency based on real-time, dynamic power changing conditions is implemented and presented in this research. When implemented in data centers, this is projected to optimize TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) at the rack level and for large scale deployment & adoption at data centers.
Parental status in later life and parents’ risk of cognitive impairment

Abstract Parental status can influence parents’ well-being in significant ways, but little research has examined its impact on older adults’ cognitive health in the U.S. Using data from the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS) 2011–2019, this study examines whether parental status is related to the risk of cognitive impairment among older adults in the U.S. We found that the presence of adult children (i.e., having at least one living adult child) was associated with a lower risk of cognitive impairment for older parents. Moreover, compared to childless older adults, older parents who had three and more children, who had adult daughter(s), and who had biological/adopted adult children displayed a significantly lower risk of cognitive impairment. This study highlights the importance of adult children as resources of support and caring that may benefit older parents’ cognitive health. The findings can help to identify the most vulnerable subpopulations among aging adults so that medical workers and policy makers can design effective strategies to protect cognitive function for those “at risk” older adults.
Optical Properties of Praseodymium (Pr3+) doped bismuth boro-tellurite glasses containing CdSe nanoparticles

Abstract Adding TeO2 and growing nanoparticles of CdSe can significantly affect the optical properties of Pr3+ ions doped in bismuth borate glasses. We used a modified Judd-Ofelt analysis to obtain the intensity parameters from the optical absorption spectra. Adding TeO2 leads to an increase in the covalency of the Pr-O bond. However, the presence of CdSe nanoparticles makes Pr-O bond less covalent. Optical band gap shows a considerable decrease when nanoparticles are present. Phonon side band analysis suggests that energy levels of Pr3+ responsible for the intense red emission are populated through a cross-relaxation mechanism instead of multiphonon decay process. The blue transition of Pr3+ shows significant enhancement for the stimulated emission cross-section when CdSe nanoparticles are present. Chromaticity analysis identifies the overall light emissions from different glass samples with various standard sources. Our glass samples also possess high spectroscopic quality factors compared to similar systems doped with Pr3+ ions.
GaAs FETs: Device Physics and Modeling

Since their introduction in 1970 [1] GaAs field effect transistors have occupied an important niche in the microwave industry. GaAs FET amplifiers, oscillators, mixers, switches, attenuators, modulators, and limiters are widely used and highspeed integrated circuits based on GaAs FETs have been developed. The basic advantages of these devices include a higher electron velocity, leading to smaller transit time and faster response, and sxemi-insulating GaAs substrates, which allow one to decrease the parasitic capacitances and simplify the fabrication process.
Preexisting adrenal masses in patients with adrenocortical carcinoma: clinical and radiological factors contributing to delayed diagnosis

Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare endocrine malignancy that is usually large (>5 cm) at time of diagnosis. Delayed diagnosis significantly worsens survival. We describe adrenal gland morphology prior to ACC diagnosis and discern potential causes of delayed diagnosis. ACC patients seen at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center between 1998 and 2014 who had cross-sectional body imaging ≥3 months prior to their diagnosis. We conducted a detailed review of clinical and radiological features in these patients prior to ACC diagnosis. Of 439 patients with ACC, 25 had imaging preceding ACC diagnosis (5 with normal adrenal glands and 20 with preexisting masses). On the first available images, the median mass size was 2.8 cm (range 0-9) with median precontrast density of 36 Hounsfield units (range 17-43) and became 9 cm (range 1-18) at the time of ACC diagnosis. The median interval between first available image and ACC diagnosis was 20 months (range 3-89). In the 5 patients whose initial images showed normal adrenal glands, the time between the last normal scan and ACC diagnosis ranged from 5 to 36 months. The most common reason for delayed ACC diagnosis was the presumed benign status of the preexisting mass (n = 13, 65 %). Radiologically suspicious adrenal masses can precede ACC diagnosis and have variable growth patterns. ACC can also develop de novo within a few months in a radiologically documented normal adrenal gland. The presumed benignancy of preexisting masses based on size is the main reason for delayed ACC diagnosis.
Prevalence and correlates of perceived societal racism in older African-American adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Although experiences of racism in day-to-day life may affect minority patients' interaction with the health system and may influence health outcomes, little is known about these experiences in patients with chronic diseases. The goal of this study was to explore the frequency and correlates of perceived societal racism in 42 African Americans aged 50 and older with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Twenty-seven items of the McNeilly Perceived Racism Scale were used to assess exposure to racist incidents in employment and public domains and emotional and coping responses to perceived racism in general. Mean age was 62, 71% were women, and more than half rated their health as fair/poor (55%). Overall, 95.2% of the participants reported at least some exposure to perceived societal racism. Higher mean lifetime exposure to societal racism, based on summary scores on the perceived racism scale, was reported by men (35.0+/-19.1) than women (19.7+/-14.4) (P<.01) and by those with higher household income (30.7+/-17.3) than those with lower household income (18.6+/-15.1) (P<.05). Greater passive coping (e.g., "avoiding it," "ignoring it") was associated with being female and having lower household income and fair/poor self-rated health. The findings that perception of racism and a range of emotional and coping responses were common in older African-American patients attending two diabetes clinics suggest that physicians and other healthcare providers may need to be more aware of patients' day-to-day experiences of societal racism and the influence these experiences may have on patient trust in the medical system and their adherence to medical advice or engagement in self-management of their chronic conditions.
Split Number in Nungon

"Mixed" or "top and second" number systems (Dixon 2012:52, Corbett 2000:120-121), in which different number systems occur in different parts of a language's grammar, are not unusual in Papuan languages. The Animacy Hierarchy (Corbett 2000:56; Smith-Stark 1974) dictates that if a grammar involves more than one number system, the system that includes more number distinctions should function higher on the hierarchy (Corbett 2000:121). Papuan languages of the Finisterre branch of the Finisterre-Huon language group (Madang and Morobe Provinces, Papua New Guinea) are unusual in that number system splits may be found, not only along the Animacy Hierarchy, but between different sets of pronouns, and even between different verbal tense markings. This paper describes the number system splits in the Finisterre Papuan language Nungon and gives historical explanations for the splits between pronoun sets and some of the splits between tenses.
Pattern of distribution and cycling of SLOB, Slowpoke channel binding protein, in Drosophila

SLOB binds to and modulates the activity of the Drosophila Slowpoke (dSlo) calcium activated potassium channel. Recent microarray analyses demonstrated circadian cycling of slob mRNA. We report the mRNA and protein expression pattern of slob in Drosophila heads. slob transcript is present in the photoreceptors, optic lobe, pars intercerebralis (PI) neurons and surrounding brain cortex. SLOB protein exhibits a similar distribution pattern, and we show that it cycles in Drosophila heads, in photoreceptor cells and in neurosecretory cells of the PI. The cycling of SLOB is altered in various clock gene mutants, and SLOB is expressed in ectopic locations in tim 01 flies. We also demonstrate that SLOB no longer cycles in the PI neurons of Clk jrk flies, and that SLOB expression is reduced in the PI neurons of flies that lack pigment dispersing factor (PDF), a neuropeptide secreted by clock cells. These data are consistent with the idea that SLOB may participate in one or more circadian pathways in Drosophila.
Estimating spatial efficiency using cyber search, GIS, and spatial optimization: a case study of fire service deployment in Los Angeles County

The efficiency of public investments and services has been of interest to geographic researchers for several decades. While in the private sector inefficiency often leads to higher prices, loss of competitiveness, and loss of business, in the public sector inefficiency in service provision does not necessarily lead to immediate changes. In many cases, it is not an entirely easy task to analyze a particular service as appropriate data may be difficult to obtain and hidden in detailed budgets. In this paper, we develop an integrative approach that uses cyber search, Geographic Information System GIS, and spatial optimization to estimate the spatial efficiency of fire protection services in Los Angeles LA County. We develop a cyber-search process to identify current deployment patterns of fire stations across the major urban region of LA County. We compare the results of our search to existing databases. Using spatial optimization, we estimate the level of deployment that is needed to meet desired coverage levels based upon the location of an ideal fire station pattern, and then compare this ideal level of deployment to the existing system as a means of estimating spatial efficiency. GIS is adopted throughout the paper to simulate the demand locations, to conduct location-based spatial analysis, to visualize fire station data, and to map model simulation results. Finally, we show that the existing system in LA County has considerable room for improvement. The methodology presented in this paper is both novel and groundbreaking, and the automated assessments are readily transferable to other counties and jurisdictions.
An evolutionary multi-objective local selection algorithm for customer targeting

In an increasingly competitive marketplace, one of the most interesting and challenging problems is how to identify and profile customers who are most likely to be interested in new products or services. At the same time, minimizing the number of variables used in the prediction task is important with large databases. We consider a novel application of evolutionary multi-objective algorithms for customer targeting. Evolutionary algorithms are considered effective in solving multi-objective problems because of their inherent parallelism. We use ELSA, an evolutionary local selection algorithm that maintains a diverse population of solutions approximating the Pareto front in a multi-dimensional objective space. We use artificial neural networks (ANNs) for customer prediction and ELSA to search for promising subsets of features. Our results on a real data set show that our approach is easier to interpret and more accurate than the traditional method used in marketing.
Kinetic and perfusion modeling of hyperpolarized 13 C pyruvate and urea in cancer with arbitrary RF flip angles

The accurate detection and characterization of cancerous tissue is still a major problem for the clinical management of individual cancer patients and for monitoring their response to therapy. MRI with hyperpolarized agents is a promising technique for cancer characterization because it can non-invasively provide a local assessment of the tissue metabolic profile. In this work, we measured the kinetics of hyperpolarized [1- 13 C] pyruvate and 13 C-urea in prostate and liver tumor models using a compressed sensing dynamic MRSI method. A kinetic model fitting method was developed that incorporated arbitrary RF flip angle excitation and measured a pyruvate to lactate conversion rate, Kpl, of 0.050 and 0.052 (1/s) in prostate and liver tumors, respectively, which was significantly higher than Kpl in healthy tissues [Kpl =0.028 (1/s), P<0.001]. Kpl was highly correlated to the total lactate to total pyruvate signal ratio (correlation coefficient =0.95). We additionally characterized the total pyruvate and urea perfusion, as in cancerous tissue there is both existing vasculature and neovascularization as different kinds of lesions surpass the normal blood supply, including small circulation disturbance in some of the abnormal vessels. A significantly higher perfusion of pyruvate (accounting for conversion to lactate and alanine) relative to urea perfusion was seen in cancerous tissues (liver cancer and prostate cancer) compared to healthy tissues (P<0.001), presumably due to high pyruvate uptake in tumors.
Surfactant and micellar influences on desorption and fragmentation in liquid secondary ion mass spectrometry

Abstract Two steroid glucuronides have been used as model amphiphiles to study mass spectral characteristics of nonionic surfactants in liquid secondary ion mass spectrometry (L-SIMS). The critical micelle concentrations (CMCs) of androsterone glucuronide and 11-ketoandrosterone glucuronide in glycerol were determined by difference spectrophotometry. In accordance with the theory of surfactant behavior in aqueous systems, the CMC of the former was found to be lower than that of the latter. L-SIMS experiments show that the absolute abundance of desorbed protonated molecules of each compound is highest when the analyte concentration is near the CMC. In both cases, fragment ion abundances vary significantly with analyte concentration. Above the CMC, observed higher levels of fragmentation can be rationalized by considering that in this concentration region, low levels of glycerol desorb with secondary ions, hence, less energy partitioning between MH + and glycerol is occurring. Energy partitioning with neighboring molecules in the micellar layer is also low. This causes protonated molecules to retain relatively high levels of internal energy, resulting in increased decompositions. Fragmentation at the target surface arising via collision cascade processes are also likely to become more promiment once complete analyte coverage of the glycerol drop has been achieved. L-SIMS of equimolar mixtures of the two compounds at high analyte concentrations reveals that androsterone glucuronide produces higher MH + signals, indicating that this compound tends to preferentially populate the surface in accordance with its lower CMC value. Adenosine, 1-methyladenosine, N 6 -methyladenosine, and N 6 -(2-isopentenyl)adenosine have also been investigated by L-SIMS. For these nontypical amphiphiles, absolute abundances of protonated molecules increase linearly with analyte concentration up to the solubility limit. The base portion of the nucleoside apparently induces sufficient polar interaction with the solvent to substantially diminish surface activity.
ACM-W Athena Lecture -- Large-Scale Behavioral Data: Potential and Pitfalls

Over the last decade, the rise of web services has made it possible to gather traces of human behavior in situ at a scale and fidelity previously unimaginable. Large-scale behavioral data enables researchers and practitioners to detect adverse drug reactions and interactions, to understand how information diffuses through social networks, how people browse and search for information, how individual learning strategies are related to educational outcome, etc. Using examples from search, I will highlight how observational logs provide a rich new lens onto the diversity of searchers, tasks, and interactivity that characterize information systems today, and how experimental logs have revolutionized the way in which web-based systems are designed and evaluated. Although logs provide a great deal of information about what people are doing, they provide little insight about why they are doing so or whether they are satisfied. Complementary methods from observations, laboratory studies and panels are necessary to provide a more complete understanding of and support for search which is increasingly a core fabric of people's everyday lives. The CHI community should lead the way in shaping best practices and policy in behavioral log studies. Susan Dumais is a Distinguished Scientist at Microsoft and Deputy Managing Director of the Microsoft Research Lab in Redmond. Prior to joining Microsoft Research, she was at Bell Labs and Bellcore, where she worked on Latent Semantic Analysis, techniques for combining search and navigation, and organizational impacts of new technology. Her current research focuses on user modeling and personalization, context and search and temporal dynamics of information. She has worked closely with several Microsoft product groups (Bing, Windows Desktop Search, SharePoint, and Office Online Help) on search-related innovations. Susan has published widely in the fields of information science, human-computer interaction and cognitive science, and holds several patents on novel retrieval algorithms and interfaces. Susan is also an adjunct professor in the Information School at the University of Washington. She is Past-Chair of ACM's Special Interest Group in Information Retrieval (SIGIR), and serves on several editorial boards, technical program committees, and government panels. She was elected to the CHI Academy in 2005, an ACM Fellow in 2006, received the SIGIR Gerard Salton Award for Lifetime Achievement 2009, was elected to the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) in 2011, and received the ACM Athena Lecturer Award, and Tony Kent Strix Award in 2014.
Ripple Theory of Surface Tension in Superfluid Helium

The ripple theory of surface tension in superfluid helium, originated by Atkins and developed by Brouwer and Pathria, implies a surface instability.
Formation of pollution particulate nitrogen compounds by NO-soot and NH3-soot gas-particle surface reactions

Abstract Three reduced forms of nitrogen are associated with ambient air pollution particulates: ammonium and two additional species assigned to amine and/or amide and to nitrile. Nitrogen species of the same type and behavior can be synthesized in soot (or graphite) interactions with NO or NH3. Volatile hydroxyl and carboxyl ammonium salts (and/or physically adsorbed ammonia species) are produced in soot-NO and soot-NH3 reactions at ambient temperatures, while amines, amides and nitriles are produced at higher temperatures. The proposed mechanism is in qualitative agreement with the field observations. The experiments were performed with the aid of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, ESCA.
Theory and Practice Grenfell, Michael (with contributions from Adrian Blackledge, Cheryl Hardy, Stephen May, & Robert Vann). Bourdieu, Language and Linguistics. New York: Continuum, 2011. Pp. viii, 259. $150.00, cloth. ISBN 978–1–84706–569–8.

The article reviews the book "Bourdieu, Language and Linguistics," by Michael Grenfell with Adrian Blackledge, Cheryl Hardy, Stephen May, and Robert Vann.
Hemodynamic principles in the control of coronary blood flow.

Abstract The effects of atherosclerotic epicardial stenoses on coronary vascular resistance can be understood in terms of basic principles of fluid mechanics. Resistance is directly related to the pressure drop across the stenosis and inversely related to flow. Even with a fixed anatomic stenosis, however, resistance is not fixed; it increases as flow across the stenosis increases. This exacerbates the pressure drop across the stenosis that develops as a result of flow; at high flows, large pressure drops can occur. This characteristic of flow through stenotic lesions can contribute to a “steal” phenomenon between either epicardial or intramural coronary arteries. Studies have also shown the clinical importance and influence of dynamic alterations in coronary resistance, occurring either at the large or small vessel level. In addition, compressive forces exerted by the myocardium or by elevated intraventricular pressures can increase coronary vascular resistance, and thus interfere with myocardial perfusion. All of these factors must be considered in order to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms leading to myocardial ischemia and, therefore, to the clinical syndrome of angina pectorls.
Cervical parakeratosis/hyperkeratosis as an important cause for false negative results of Pap smear and human papillomavirus test.

Like any screening method, Pap and HPV tests are subject to false negative results. Aim: We investigated the possible relationship between cervical parakeratosis/hyperkeratosis and a false negative result for both Pap and human papillomavirus (HPV) testing. Methods: A total of 551 cases with diagnostically adequate cervical biopsies and Pap tests performed concurrently were examined. Results: The vast majority of the cases (75.5%) were of concordance in diagnosis. Among the 135 discordant diagnoses were 98 with low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL) biopsy and negative Pap test and 34 with negative biopsy and LSIL Pap test. With rare exceptions, no significant discordance between concurrent biopsy and Pap test was found in the cases of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL). Cervical parakeratosis/hyperkeratosis was noted in 87.8% of the LSIL biopsies with concurrent negative Pap tests. An 83.3% HPV-negative rate was also observed in this group. By comparison, parakeratosis/hyperkeratosis was less frequent (62.6%) in the SIL biopsies with concordant concurrent SIL Pap tests and usually seen focally when present. The negative HPV rates for these concordant LSIL and HSIL groups were 12.7% and 0.0%, respectively. Conclusion: Cervical parakeratosis/hyperkeratosis is an important cause for the negative results of Pap and HPV tests in LSIL, and practising gynaecologist and pathologist should be aware of this possible diagnostic dilemma.
PO-0602 What Do Parents Think About Probiotic Use In Preterm Infants?

Background and aim Meta-analyses show that probiotics significantly reduce necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and/or mortality in high-risk preterm infants. Since January 2013, our centre has offered a routine combination probiotic (Infloran ® ) to preterm infants. We provide written parental information and give parents the opportunity to opt out. We wanted to evaluate parents’ opinions on probiotic use in preterm infants. Methods In December 2013 we conducted a postal survey of all 80 sets of parents of the 90 babies given probiotics in the period Jan–Nov 2013 who survived to discharge. Results No parents have yet declined probiotics in our NICU. Responses were received from 53 parents. Of these, 74% considered it unnecessary to inform parents prior to starting probiotics; 90% had not worried that their baby was being given live bacteria; 88% were unconcerned about possible unknown risks of probiotics; 88% reported their anxieties in the NICU were eased by knowing their baby was receiving probiotic treatment. Almost all (96%) considered that parents of high-risk premature babies born at other units that do not yet offer probiotics should nevertheless still have the right to be informed of the evidence that probiotics reduce NEC and save lives; moreover 64% felt that, given the current evidence, those parents should not only have a right to be informed but should also be allowed the option of probiotics for their babies. Conclusion Parents informed of the evidence and offered the option of probiotic prophylaxis for their babies appear to understand and appreciate the evidence and enthusiastically embrace probiotic usage.
Pathogenesis of pleural infection.

Abstract: The pleura responds to the presence of infecting organisms with a vigorous inflammatory response associated with an exudation of white blood cells and proteins. The development and outcome of pleural infections is a function of a balance between the virulence of the invading microorganism and the immune reaction involving professional immune cells as well as the pleural mesothelial cells. Most commonly, pleural infection occurs after invasion through the lung parenchyma and a breach in the viscera pleura resulting in the formation of a parapneumonic process. Upon infection, the microorganisms are recognized by the pleural mesothelial cell, which remains the first line of defence. Pleural responses to infection include those of innate immunity as well as adaptive or acquired immunity. Innate and acquired immune responses are closely linked. In this review, we discuss the different virulence factors that allow microorganisms to infect the pleura and the role of the pleural mesothelial cells in bridging the innate and acquired immune responses.
Analysis of the Konus catalog of gamma-ray bursts with the thermal synchrotron model

Approximately 150 reported gamma-ray burst spectra of the Konus catalog are analyzed using the thermal synchrotron model. An overwhelming majority of these spectra can be satisfactorily fitted by theoretical thermal synchrotron spectra of mildly relativistic electrons in strong magnetic fields, making the strong-field neutron star picture at least self-consistent. Valuable additional information is also extracted from various spectral features contained in many of the events.
Who Wears Hijab with the President: Constructing a Modern Islam in Tunisia

In comparison to other Muslim states, Tunisia is often described as secular. However, the official Tunisian relation to and construction of religion is more complex. The government bans Hijab from public institutions such as schools, but on certain occasions the president publicly welcomes women wearing some forms of hijab. Underlying this seeming contradiction is a governmental attempt to develop a modern form of Islam that emphasizes the position of women in Tunisia as fully modern. The master narrative of modernization posits an inevitable triumph of modernity over tradition, making traditional forms of hijab acceptable, but contemporary forms of hijab challenge this assumed inevitable progression. The state views the status of women as modern as particularly vulnerable. While otherwise modern men may freely adopt traditional clothing styles on ritually important occasions, women have no flexibility in shifting between modernity and tradition.
ReSASC: a resampling-based algorithm to determine differential protein expression from spectral count data.

Label-free methods for MS/MS quantification of protein expression are becoming more prevalent as instrument sensitivity increases. Spectral counts (SCs) are commonly used, readily obtained, and increase linearly with protein abundance; however, a statistical framework has been lacking. To accommodate the highly non-normal distribution of SCs, we developed ReSASC (resampling-based significance analysis for spectral counts), which evaluates differential expression between two conditions by pooling similarly expressed proteins and sampling from this pool to create permutation-based synthetic sets of SCs for each protein. At a set confidence level and corresponding p-value cutoff, ReSASC defines a new p-value, p', as the number of synthetic SC sets with p > p cutoff divided by the total number of sets. We have applied ReSASC to two published SC data sets and found that ReSASC compares favorably with existing methods while being easy to operate and requiring only standard computing resources.
RNAi targeting micro-calpain increases neuron survival and preserves hippocampal function after global brain ischemia

The calpain family of cysteine proteases has a well-established causal role in neuronal cell death following acute brain injury. However, the relative contribution of calpain isoforms has not been determined in in vivo models. Identification of the calpain isoform responsible for neuronal injury is particularly important given the differential role of calpain isoforms in normal physiology. This study evaluates the role of m-calpain and micro-calpain in an in vivo model of global brain ischemia. Adeno-associated viral vectors expressing short hairpin RNAs targeting the catalytic subunits of micro- or m-calpain were used to knockdown expression of the targeted isoforms in adult rat hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons. Knockdown of micro-calpain, but not m-calpain, prevented calpain activity 72 h after 6-min transient forebrain ischemia, increased long-term survival and protected hippocampal electrophysiological function. These findings represent the first in vivo evidence that reducing expression of an individual calpain isoform can decrease post-ischemic neuronal death and preserve hippocampal function.
Data Processing Algorithms for Generating Textured 3D Building Facade Meshes from Laser Scans and Camera Images

In this paper, we develop a set of data processing algorithms for generating textured facade meshes of cities from a series of vertical 2D surface scans and camera images, obtained by a laser scanner and digital camera while driving on public roads under normal traffic conditions. These processing steps are needed to cope with imperfections and non-idealities inherent in laser scanning systems such as occlusions and reflections from glass surfaces. The data is divided into easy-to-handle quasi-linear segments corresponding to approximately straight driving direction and sequential topological order of vertical laser scans; each segment is then transformed into a depth image. Dominant building structures are detected in the depth images, and points are classified into foreground and background layers. Large holes in the background layer, caused by occlusion from foreground layer objects, are filled in by planar or horizontal interpolation. The depth image is further processed by removing isolated points and filling remaining small holes. The foreground objects also leave holes in the texture of building facades, which are filled by horizontal and vertical interpolation in low frequency regions, or by a copy-paste method otherwise. We apply the above steps to a large set of data of downtown Berkeley with several million 3D points, in order to obtain texture-mapped 3D models.
Melatonin affects circadian rhythmicity in lizards

Subcutaneous Silastic capsules which continuously released melatonin at low rates (10 μg/day) either (i) lengthened the period of the freerunning activity rhythm in two iguanid lizard species (Sceloporus occidentalis andS. olivaceus) exposed to either continuous illumination or continuous darkness or (ii) induced arrhythmicity inS. olivaceus exposed to continuous illumination. These results and previous observations that two melatonin synthesizing sites in lizards, the pineal organ and lateral eyes, are involved in circadian rhythmicity suggest that melatonin may be a chemical messenger between the pineal or eyes and other elements of the circadian system.
Classification Errors in a Domain-Independent Assessment System

We present a domain-independent technique for assessing learners' constructed responses. The system exceeds the accuracy of the majority class baseline by 15.4% and a lexical baseline by 5.9%. The emphasis of this paper is to provide an error analysis of performance, describing the types of errors committed, their frequency, and some issues in their resolution.
The effects of cold on hemostasis.

Abstract In vitro coagulation times and in vivo bleeding times were proportionally prolonged as the rabbit ear temperature was lowered from ambient temperature to 1°C. Cooling of the ear caused an increase in bleeding rather than the decrease generally attibuted to cold application. The effects of temperature on the various aspects of hemostasis are discussed, and the pertinent literature is reviewed. An optimal nonfreezing cold temperature which could consistently enhance hemostasis could not be determined.
The translation of a Newtonian droplet in a 4-constant Oldroyd fluid

Abstract The viscoelastic correction to the Hadamard—Rybczynski terminal velocity was calculated for the retarded motion translation of a finite viscosity Newtonian droplets in a 4-constant Oldroyd fluid. The droplet translational velocity can be enhanced or hindered relative to the Hadamard—Rybczinski value depending upon the degree of shear thinning, and elongational and memory effects in the viscoelastic fluid. Specifically, it is found that for a large droplet viscosity, for which surface mobility is negligible, shear thinning and fluid memory enhance translational motion. At the other extreme, when the droplet surface is very mobile (i.e. for gas bubbles) the translational velocity can be enhanced or hindered relative to the Hadamard—Rybczynski value depending on the relative influence of the memory and the elongational properties of the viscoelastic phase.
Finite element stress analysis on the effect of splinting in fixed partial dentures.

Abstract Statement of problem. Long-span fixed partial dentures usually require splinting of multiple abutments to overcome mechanical problems associated with the long edentulous span. Most information and indications for the use of multiple splinted abutments have been empirically derived. Purpose. This study analyzed the stress levels in the teeth and supporting structures of a fixed prosthesis and ascertained how the addition of multiple abutments in a fixed prosthesis modifies the stresses and their deflection. Material and methods. The finite element method was used to analyze mechanical behaviors of a prosthesis and its supporting structures when a fixed prosthesis with several designs replaced a mandibular second premolar and a first molar. Variations of the standard finite element model were made by changing the number of splinted teeth and the level of bone support. Results. A reduction of stress and deflection was observed in the supporting structures when a fixed partial denture was fabricated and teeth were splinted together. Increasing the number of splinted abutments did not reveal a proportional reduction of stress in the periodontium. Stress concentrations were seen in the connectors of prosthesis and in the cervical dentin area near the edentulous ridge. Conclusion. Increasing the number of the splinted abutment did not compensate for the mechanical problems of a long-span fixed partial denture sufficiently. (J Prosthet Dent 1999;81:721-8.)
Applying Anthropology to American Indian Correctional Concerns

Opportunities abound for the application of anthropological methods, techniques, and data in addressing issues relative to incarceration. Over the last sixteen years, I have worked in a variety of capacities with and on behalf of Native American inmates incarcerated in the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services. My roles as teacher, consultant, trainer, and expert witness have evolved over the years, in response to the changing concerns of the Indian prisoners.
Specification of the stimulus-reinforcer relation in multiple schedules: Delay and probability of reinforcement

Control of pigeons’ keypecking by a stimulus-reinforcer contingency was investigated in the context of a four-component multiple schedule. In each of three experiments, pigeons were exposed to a schedule consisting of two two-component sequences. Discriminative stimuli identifying each sequence were present only in Component 1, which was 4, 6, or 8 sec in duration, while reinforcers could be earned only in Component 2 (30 sec in duration). Control by a stimulus-reinforcer contingency was sought during Component 1 by arranging a differential relation between Component 1 cues and schedule of reinforcement in Component 2. In Experiment 1, rate of keypecking during Component 1 varied with the presence and absence of a stimulus-reinforcer contingency. When a contingency was introduced, rate of keypecking increased during the Component 1 cue associated with the availability of reinforcement in Component 2. In Experiment 2, the stimulus-reinforcer contingency was manipulated parametrically by varying the correlation between Component 1 cues and Component 2 schedules of reinforcement. Responding in Component 1 varied as a function of strength of the stimulus-reinforcer contingency. The relatively high rates of Component 1 responding observed in Experiments 1 and 2 pose difficulties for conceptions of stimulus-reinforcer control based on probability of reinforcement. In these two experiments, the stimulus-associated probabilities of reinforcement in Component 1 were invariant at zero. An alternate dimension of stimulus-reinforcer control was explored in Experiment 3, in which Component 1 cues were differentially associated with delay to reinforcement in Component 2, while probability of reinforcement was held constant across components. When the stimulus-reinforcer contingency was in force, rate of responding in Component 1 varied inversely with delay to reinforcement in Component 2. In a quantitative analysis of data from Experiments 2 and 3, relative rate of responding during Component 1 was strongly correlated with two measures of relative delay to reinforcement.
Comparative aging and life histories in mammals

A comparative assessment of aging and longevity in mammals has four uses in aging research. These are: (1) hypothesis formulation and evaluation, (2) investigating the generality of putative aging mechanisms, (3) isolating key physiological factors influencing aging rate, and (4) allowing the most appropriate choice of animal models for particular research questions. The first use requires detailed information on a wide variety of species, and I will examine general patterns of aging in a sample of over 600 species of mammals. The second use requires the selection of several models as distantly related to one another as feasible. The third use is best served by evaluating species or populations as closely related to one another as possible, assuming that they differ substantially in aging rate. The fourth use requires a logic of animal model selection, as well detailed information about a wide range of species. Specific examples of each use will be given.
How Do Families Matter? Age and Gender Differences in Family Influences on Delinquency and Drug Use

Parenting practices, age, and gender all influence adolescent delinquency and drug use, but few studies have examined how these factors interact to affect offending. Using data from 18,512 students in Grades 6, 8, 10, and 12, this study found that across grades, parents treated girls and boys differently, but neither sex received preferential treatment for all practices assessed, and younger children reported more positive parenting than older students. Family factors were significantly related to delinquency and drug use for both sexes and for all grades. However, particular parenting practices showed gender and age differences in the degree to which they were related to outcomes, which indicates complexities in parent/child interactions that must be taken into account when investigating the causes of adolescent offending and when planning strategies to prevent the development of problem behaviors.