cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
P177 High prevalence of unrecognised asthma in children with sickle cell disease

Background Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) affects about 1 in 1,900 children born in the UK. Respiratory morbidity affects children as well as adults with SCD and the burden may have been underestimated in the past. The published literature suggests that asthma, airway hyper-reactivity and sleep disordered breathing (SDB) are common in children with SCD. Furthermore asthma and SDB have been reported to be associated with acute chest syndrome (ACS) and vaso-occlusive crises (VOC). Children with SCD are increasingly referred to our respiratory clinic in a tertiary paediatric centre in the UK. We did an analysis of a sample of these children to gain some preliminary insights into the problem. Method A retrospective observational study was carried out using data from children with SCD who had been referred to our tertiary paediatric respiratory clinic between 1 st September 2009 and 31 st August 2014. Data was collected from electronic patient records and electronic investigation results. Results 54 patient records were evaluated. The mean age of the children was 11 years and 54% were male. The most common reason for referral was low oxygen saturation on pulse oximetry (23/54). Surprisingly, asthma and wheeze were uncommon reasons for referrals comprising only 7/54 (Figure 1). However, of all the patients 48% were discovered to have asthma and 52% had SDB. In those patients who underwent lung function testing an abnormal result was reported in 60% (25/42). In addition 71% of children who had a sleep study had an abnormal result (35/49). No association between ACS or VOC events in those patients with asthma or SDB was noted but this could have been due to the small numbers. Conclusion In this sample of children with SCD referred mainly because of low oxygen saturation, the high proportion with an abnormal sleep study and SDB might have been expected. However, the relative paucity of reported wheeze and exercise intolerance despite large numbers with abnormal lung physiology suggested that conditions such as asthma may be unrecognised in these patients.
Transcatheter Embolization of Type I Endoleaks Associated With Endovascular Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair Using Ethylene Vinyl Alcohol Copolymer.

Purpose:To evaluate the feasibility, safety, and outcome of transcatheter embolization using ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH) of type I endoleaks associated with endovascular abdominal aorti...
Rapid trait evolution drives increased speed and variance in experimental range expansions.

Range expansions are central to two ecological issues reshaping patterns of global biodiversity: biological invasions and climate change. Traditional theory considers range expansion as the outcome of the demographic processes of birth, death and dispersal, while ignoring the evolutionary implications of such processes. Recent research suggests evolution could also play a critical role in determining expansion speed but controlled experiments are lacking. Here we use flour beetles (Tribolium castaneum) to show experimentally that mean expansion speed and stochastic variation in speed are both increased by rapid evolution of traits at the expansion edge. We find that higher dispersal ability and lower intrinsic growth rates evolve at the expansion edge compared with spatially nonevolving controls. Furthermore, evolution of these traits is variable, leading to enhanced variance in speed among replicate population expansions. Our results demonstrate that evolutionary processes must be considered alongside demographic ones to better understand and predict range expansions. Spatial structure provides unique opportunities for evolution during range expansions. Here, the authors show experimentally using the red flour beetle,Tribolium castaneum, that dispersal and growth can evolve through spatial processes, increasing expansion speed and its variance.
Liberated PKA Catalytic Subunits Associate with the Membrane via Myristoylation to Preferentially Phosphorylate Membrane Substrates

Protein kinase A (PKA) has diverse functions in neurons. At rest, the subcellular localization of PKA is controlled by A-kinase anchoring proteins (AKAPs). However, the dynamics of PKA upon activation remain poorly understood. Here, we report that elevation of cyclic AMP (cAMP) in neuronal dendrites causes a significant percentage of the PKA catalytic subunit (PKA-C) molecules to be released from the regulatory subunit (PKA-R). Liberated PKA-C becomes associated with the membrane via N-terminal myristoylation. This membrane association does not require the interaction between PKA-R and AKAPs. It slows the mobility of PKA-C and enriches kinase activity on the membrane. Membrane-residing PKA substrates are preferentially phosphorylated compared to cytosolic substrates. Finally, the myristoylation of PKA-C is critical for normal synaptic function and plasticity. We propose that activation-dependent association of PKA-C renders the membrane a unique PKA-signaling compartment. Constrained mobility of PKA-C may synergize with AKAP anchoring to determine specific PKA function in neurons.
Recruiting Young Gay and Bisexual Men for a Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Intervention Through Social Media: The Effects of Advertisement Content.

Background: Web-based approaches, specifically social media sites, represent a promising approach for recruiting young gay and bisexual men for research studies. Little is known, however, about how the performance of social media advertisements (ads) used to recruit this population is affected by ad content (ie, image and text). Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of different images and text included in social media ads used to recruit young gay and bisexual men for the pilot test of a Web-based human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination intervention. Methods: In July and September 2016, we used paid Facebook advertisements to recruit men who were aged 18-25 years, self-identified as gay or bisexual, US resident, and had not received HPV vaccine. A 4x2x2 factorial experiment varied ad image (a single young adult male, a young adult male couple, a group of young adult men, or a young adult male talking to a doctor), content focus (text mentioning HPV or HPV vaccine), and disease framing (text mentioning cancer or a sexually transmitted disease [STD]). Poisson regression determined whether these experimental factors affected ad performance. Results: The recruitment campaign reached a total of 35,646 users who viewed ads for 36,395 times. This resulted in an overall unique click-through rate of 2.01% (717/35,646) and an overall conversion rate of 0.66% (241/36,395). Reach was higher for ads that included an image of a couple (incidence rate ratio, IRR=4.91, 95% CI 2.68-8.97, P<.001) or a group (IRR=2.65, 95% CI 1.08-6.50, P=.03) compared with those that included an image of a single person. Ads that included an image of a couple also had a higher conversion rate (IRR=2.56, 95% CI 1.13-5.77, P=.02) than ads that included an image of a single person. Ads with text mentioning an STD had a higher unique click-through rate compared with ads with text mentioning cancer (IRR=1.34, 95% CI 1.06-1.69, P=.01). The campaign cost a total of US $413.72 and resulted in 150 eligible and enrolled individuals (US $2.76 per enrolled participant). Conclusions: Facebook ads are a convenient and cost-efficient strategy for reaching and recruiting young gay and bisexual men for a Web-based HPV vaccination intervention. To help optimize ad performance among this population, researchers should consider the importance of the text and image included in the social media recruitment ads. [JMIR Public Health Surveill 2017;3(2):e33]
THE EVALUATION OF NATIONAL LIBRARY OF NIGERIA, UGANDA AND NAMIBIA LIBRARY’S WEBSITES USING HEURISTIC PRINCIPLES

This work tried to evaluate three National Library Websites from three different African countries which includes; National library of Nigeria website, National library of Uganda website and National library of Namibia website, using the ten heuristic evaluation criteria suggested by Danino. This study tried to look at other evaluation criteria as evaluated by other researchers. The research design that was adopted for this study is the descriptive research design. Method of data collection was through observation, instrument for data collection is heuristic checklist, findings showed that the library websites were adequately designed and contained all the relevant information although one of the website appeared more organized and quick linking than the others the architecture to this websites will help the visitors to the site to navigate the web easily and be able to access and retrieve information as at when due.
Enumeration of stacks of spheres

As a three-dimensional generalization of fountains of coins, we analyze stacks of spheres and enumerate two particular classes, so-called “pyramidal” stacks and “Dominican” stacks. Using the machinery of generating functions, we obtain exact formulas for these types of stacks in terms of the sizes of their bases.
Towards an extended model-based definition for the digital twin

ABSTRACTThe concept of the digital twin calls for virtual replicas of real world products. Achieving this requires a sophisticated network of models that have a level of interconnectivity. The authors attempted to improve model interconnectivity by enhancing the computer-aided design model with spatially related non-geometric data. A tool was created to store, visualize, and search for spatial data within the computer-aided design tool. This enables both model authors, and consumers to utilize information inside the CAD tool which traditionally would have existed in separate software.
What are guests scared of? Crime-related hotel experiences and fear of crime

This study aims to explore the typology of hotel crime and how it is related to guests’ fear of crime based on a cause-and-consequence model. A total of 873 TripAdvisor reviews were content-analyze...
Data Controllers, Data Processors, and the Growing Use of Connected Products in the Enterprise: Managing Risks, Understanding Benefits, and Complying with the GDPR

Modern enterprises increasingly purchase and deploy products and services from third parties that collect data as part of providing the services. In this context, there is a common belief that the enterprise must be the “data controller” (in the terminology used in European data protection law), and the third-party provider must be a “data processor” acting on behalf of the enterprise. However, such a blanket rule is neither required by the law nor reflective of reality. There are many instances in which a third-party provider acts in whole, or in part, as a data controller. While the characterization of the third-party provider as a controller or a processor has certain legal ramifications, the difference may be less significant under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) than under prior European data protection law. Legal compliance, risk mitigation, and appropriate protection of personal data can be achieved whether using products and services provided by data controllers or data processors; and there are pros and cons to each approach. This paper describes the data protection obligations on organizations that purchase and deploy products and services that collect and transmit data to a third-party provider. For each obligation, it will discuss the similarities and differences (if any) in those obligations between those cases where the data is collected by a data processor and those where the data is collected by a data controller. This paper focuses on those obligations imposed by the European GDPR; but because many of the principles and obligations occur in other privacy laws around the world, many of the conclusions can be generalized for global approaches to compliance.
Segmental colitis associated with diverticulosis: systematic evaluation of 486 cases with meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Segmental colitis associated with colonic diverticulosis is a new and emerging entity. We systematically evaluated 486 cases of this entity and performed qualitative meta-analysis on this information. METHODOLOGY: This diagnosis was made on a 64-year old man by colonoscopic biopsy. His clinical symptoms included hematochezia and crampy lower abdominal pain. PubMed Search using terms such as segmental colitis, colitis associated with diverticulosis was made without language or time barrier. Additional papers were manually added from the reference lists of key articles. Qualitative meta-analysis was done using the well-established methods of qualitative research, e.g. diagramming, theme repetition without serious contradiction, theme saturation and investigator reflexivity. To facilitate qualitative meta-analysis, summary sheets of publications were created. RESULTS: This search produced 486 cases with this entity. The prevalence in patients with diverticulosis is 0.3% to 1.3%. There were 58.7% men. The mean age was 63.6 (range 26-87) years. The most common presenting symptoms were rectal bleeding, diarrhea and abdominal pain. Fever, leucocytosis and rectal involvement were characteristically absent. Endoscopic appearance and histology may resemble ulcerative colitis. Many of these patients have a benign course with spontaneous resolution or may respond to 5-aminosalucylates or steroids. CONCLUSIONS: This is a new and emerging entity. There is male predominance and it occurs in relatively elderly patients. It can be distinguished from acute diverticulitis by clinical, endoscopic and histological features. Most have a benign course.
Studies on luteinizing hormone and its subunits: development and application of a radioligand receptor assay and properties of the hormone-receptor interaction.

Publisher Summary This chapter presents studies on luteinizing hormone (LH) and its subunits. It also describes the development and application of a radioligand receptor assay and properties of the hormone-receptor interaction. The use of biological assays for gonadotropins has progressed from the earlier qualitative tests to the more modern quantitative approaches. Biological assays suffer from ubiquitous and unavoidable problems related to the use of whole animals, which are reflected by the lack of adequate sensitivity and relatively poor precision. The high affinity of target tissues for tropic hormones offers the possibility for the development of sensitive, highly specific, and precise in vitro bioassays, utilizing the principles of competitive protein binding-saturation analysis. Such systems would have the advantages of relative independence from factors related to plasma half-life and in vivo metabolism and would allow structure-function studies that might not be feasible if whole animal assays were the only ones available. The chapter also discusses the application of this system to quantitation of LH activity in human and animal pituitary fractions, to the fundamental aspects of hormone-receptor binding, and to structure-function relationships of LH.
Estimates of Eddy Current Response to Subsurface Cracks from 2-D Finite Element Code Predictions

Using a two dimensional finite element code, the response of a U-core eddy current probe was computed for a subsurface flaw in a stainless steel medium. Next, using a three dimensional scattering model, the change in coil impedance was calculated for the same situation. From a comparison of these two results, it was concluded that the two dimensional finite element code overestimates the eddy current sensor response for the practical problem at hand by a factor of 10. This agreed well with the result obtained using an approximate technique described in this paper to estimate the true response from two dimensional calculations. Application of such desensitization factor should allow the two dimensional calculations to be effectively used in design studies.
Why Do Europeans Ban Hate Speech? A Debate Between Karl Loewenstein And Robert Post

European countries restrict hate speech, the United States does not. This much is clear. What explains this difference? Too often the current discussion falls back on a culturally rich but normatively vacant exceptionalism (American or otherwise) or a normatively driven convergence perspective that fails to address historical, cultural and experiential differences that distinguish countries and legal systems. Inspired by the development discourse of historical sociology, this article seeks to record instances where Americans or Europeans have argued their approach to hate speech laws was more “advanced” or “modern.” To that end this article focuses on two authors whose writing appears to make these claims: Karl Loewenstein and Robert Post. A German Jewish emigre fleeing Nazi Germany, Loewenstein warned Americans that fascism was a new, modern phenomenon that required a new democracy, one that could protect itself by restricting speech. Post’s position on democracy is quite different – he finds hate speech restrictions largely incompatible with democratic legitimacy. While at times Post shows an exceptionalist unwillingness to judge Europe for its lack of hate speech laws, at other points he is quite willing to say that a stable successful democracy does not ban hate speech. Tracking the competing claims of Loewenstein and Post opens the door to a more fluid analysis of European and American positions on hate speech – one that is both comparative and normative.
Peirce and Descartes

My purpose in this paper is not merely to provide a historical analysis of the difference between Peirce and Descartes, but to show how present-day interpretations of Peirce’s semeiotic fail to do justice to his most basic insights. In the last 50 years or so, Peirce has been frequently mentioned and quoted. The renaissance of Peirce studies is caused to a large extent by the great popularity of his semeiotic. Yet, it must be pointed out that the present view of Peirce as it is presented in numerous semeiotic studies seriously misconstrues the original sense of Peirce’s concepts and theories. Without going into all the details, I would like to argue that the main difference between Peirce and his so-called followers is related to the question of the opposition between realism and nominalism, between objectivism and transcendentalism, between logic and naive experience.
The Analysis of Models with Qualitative or Censored Dependent Variables

Traditionally economists have dealt with models designed to explain the variation in a dependent variable which could be assumed continuous and normally distributed. Economics, however, as a theory of choice, can be applied not only to questions about how much to produce or consume but also“whether” to produce or consume a certain item. More generally, individual economic units often must choose between a finite set of alternatives. Economists are interested in what factors are considered by the decision making unit and in quantifying their individual effects. Some examples of situations where such choices arise are: (i) a household must decide whether to buy or rent a suitable dwelling; (ii) a Senator must decide on whether to vote yes or no on a particular piece of legislation; (iii) a consumer must choose which of perhaps several shopping areas to visit and a mode of transportation; (iv) members of a household must decide whether to take part-time or fulltime employment, or whether or not to seek a second job; and (v) a person must decide whether or not to attend college.
Automatic and Strategic Processing of Threat Stimuli: A Comparison Between PTSD, Panic Disorder, and Nonanxiety Controls

This study evaluated 2 hypotheses derived from the theoretical work of A. T. Beck and D. A. Clark (1997). Two anxiety disorder groups, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and panic disorder (PD), and a nonanxiety control group participated in a modified-Stroop study. The study evaluated whether the diagnostic groups could be differentiated on the basis of responses to stimulus valence and content at different stages of information processing (IP). We found no support for the hypothesis that the diagnostic groups would be sensitive to stimulus valence at automatic stages of IP. Consistent with the second of our 2 hypotheses, the PD group showed delayed vocal responses when processing disorder-specific threat stimuli at strategic stages of IP. The PTSD group showed a generalized valence effect at strategic stages of IP, evincing delayed vocal responses to all stimuli with negative valence. The clinical implications of these findings are discussed, as are directions for future research.
Assessing the impact of motivation and ability on team-based productivity using an agent-based model

It is common for organizations to hire workers based on their knowledge, skills, and abilities. However, despite capable workers being hired, productivity may suffer if employees’ motivational needs are not satisfied. We developed an agent-based model to simulate the completion of tasks by teams of workers in an organization. Each worker is described by an ability value and a 3-parameter motive profile expressing the individual’s needs for affiliation, achievement, and power. During each time step, each worker contributes to an assigned task at a rate determined by the worker’s ability and motive profile, the task’s difficulty and proximity to completion, and the team’s experience. When a task is completed by a team, the workers are re-assigned to a new team and task. At the end of 365 time steps, the model outputs the total number of completed tasks, which is the primary measurement of productivity. Model simulations demonstrate that hiring workers based on their ability and motivational strengths can lead to increased productivity. Additional model simulations illustrate the benefit of identifying failing tasks and re-assigning new teams to these tasks in real-time.
Prepositioning of assets and supplies in disaster operations management: Review and research gap identification

Abstract Prepositioning of assets and supplies prior to a disaster strike accelerates the response activities as it reduces the supply chain burden associated with humanitarian relief items. Unlike prior survey papers on pre-disaster and post-disaster humanitarian logistics, our paper has a specific focus on prepositioning of assets and supplies in the domain of natural disasters. The first aim of our paper is to review the main Operations Research and Management Science (OR/MS) journal papers published between 2000 and 2018 on this topic. We have statistically analyzed these papers based on contributions in different journals, number of papers per year, and type of disaster. We have also categorized the papers based on their decision variables into three categories: Allocation papers (“A”), Location papers (“L”), and Location-Allocation papers (“LA”). After that, we have assessed our current literature based on some of the methodological issues in Humanitarian Operations that gathered by Kovacs and Moshtari (2018). The second aim of our paper is research gap identification. Our key findings in this domain are that there is a lack of papers that: consider demand-side costs in their proposed model objectives; deal with uncertainty in funding, budget, asset and supply quantities, and infrastructure; considering prepositioning as a risk mitigation strategy; take reliability into account for reducing the risk of loss; consider prepositioning of medical staff and emergency crew; discuss the best time to start prepositioning of supplies and assets in confronting a foreseen disaster; use social media to better prepare for upcoming disasters.
GPU road network graph contraction and SSSP query

PHAST is to date one of the fastest algorithms for performing single source shortest path (SSSP) queries on road-network graphs. PHAST operates on graphs produced in part using Geisberger's contraction hierarchy (CH) algorithm. Producing these graphs is time consuming, limiting PHAST's usefulness when graphs are not available in advance. CH iteratively assigns scores to nodes, contracts (removes) the highest-scoring node, and adds shortcut edges to preserve distances. Iteration stops when only one node remains. Scoring and contraction rely on a witness path search (WPS) of nearby nodes. Little work has been reported on parallel and especially GPU CH algorithms. This is perhaps due to issues such as the validity of simultaneous potentially overlapping searches, score staleness, and parallel graph updates. A GPU contraction algorithm, CU-CH, is presented which overcomes these difficulties by partitioning the graph into levels composed of independent sets of nodes (non-adjacent nodes) with similar scores. This allows contracting multiple nodes simultaneously with little coordination between threads. A GPU-efficient WPS is presented in which a small neighborhood is kept in shared memory and a hash table is used to detect path overlap. Low-parallelism regions of contraction and query are avoided by halting contraction early and computing APSP on the remaining graph. A PHAST-like query computes SSSP using this contracted graph. Contraction of some DIMACS road network graphs on an Nvidia P100 GPU achieves a speedup of 20 to 37 over Geisberger's serial code on a Xeon E5-2640 v4. Query times on CU-CH- and CH-contracted graphs were comparable.
Innovating with Health System Partners: Value Propositions and Business Models

The field of digital health is highly competitive and rapidly evolving. Health care stakeholders are increasingly interested in technological innovation to improve health care quality and delivery, health outcomes for patients, and overall operational performance, but are also risk-averse and experience challenges in identifying best-fit solutions from among the multitude products and services offered by digital health companies. In contrast, digital health entrepreneurs are intent on developing partnerships and business relationships with health care clients, but often have difficulty distinguishing themselves from the pack.
Agency Discourse and the Reproduction of Hierarchy in Mathematics Instruction

AbstractThere is widespread agreement that students should be supported to experience intellectual agency. However, “traditional,” teacher-centered forms of instruction tend to limit students’ oppo...
A response surface analysis investigation of the effects of (mis)alignment between interpersonal values and efficacies on interpersonal problems

OBJECTIVE In this study we examined whether discrepancies between interpersonal values and interpersonal efficacies are associated with distress, and provide a framework through which similar questions regarding intrapersonal alignment may be investigated. METHOD Using interpersonal circumplex scales, we assessed interpersonal values and efficacies in two large samples (undergraduate N = 1,453, community N = 1,099) and used response surface analysis to model the alignment of these variables and their association with interpersonal distress. RESULTS We found that there were significant positive relationships between larger mismatches and greater distress. We also found that extremity in both matches and mismatches predicted more distress. At a more specific level, people who valued warmth but reported low efficacy for warm behavior reported problems related to being too cold to others. CONCLUSION This study highlights the value of elaborating within-person discrepancies across personality levels, provides a model for doing so organized around the interpersonal circumplex, and specifies connections between value-efficacy discrepancies and interpersonal distress.
Cardiovascular Disease Risk Assessment and Management in Survivors of Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation

Long-term survivors of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) are at greater risk for developing late effects, with increased risk of mortality compared to the general population. This includes a 2-3 fold increased risk of metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease. While screening and appropriate treatment for metabolic syndrome and CVD is recommended for long-term HCT survivors, specific guidelines in this high risk population is limited. The Cleveland Clinic Blood and Marrow Transplant Survivorship program was established in 2016 to improve the long-term care of transplant recipients. Patients are systematically evaluated at 100 days, and 1-, 2-, and 5-years post-HCT by an advanced practice practitioner (APP) in a consultative model, in which the visit is primarily focused on health maintenance and late effects. In an effort to improve our practice of CVD screening and prevention, we created specific guidelines focusing on the 4 core clinical measures of metabolic syndrome: increased body weight/visceral adiposity, elevated lipids, increased blood pressure, and hyperglycemia/insulin resistance. Table 1 shows our survivorship programs approach to evaluating CVD risk in allogeneic HCT survivors and the subsequent preventive and management recommendations, that are based on American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association guidelines. The recommendations were further modified to account for common challenges providers identify in the unique HCT population, such as multiple HCT medication interactions, organ dysfunction and graft versus host disease. In addition, we encourage patients to follow up with their primary care providers to continue management and monitoring. Education is also provided on healthy lifestyle changes including exercise recommendations and healthy eating. Specific goals and targets are reviewed with patients and their caregivers. Dieticians, physical therapy, smoking and tobacco cessation are available and offered when appropriate. We present a platform for guideline-driven and multidisciplinary approach to assessment, prevention and management of CVD risk-factors in allogeneic HCT survivors. Data is being collected to evaluate the impact of medication, education and the systematic management of these patients and overall incidents of CVD events.
Teaching Academic Honesty in CS50

We aspire to teach academic honesty in CS50 at Harvard University not only by addressing academic dishonesty when it occurs but by addressing it before it does. By way of communication, course- and campus-wide awareness of policy, just-in-time prompts, interventional conversations, and problem sets have we tried to preempt submission of plagiarized work. But few interventions have had significant or lasting effects on the number of instances thereof. Most impactful has been the addition of one sentence to the course's syllabus, a "regret clause" that encourages students to come forward within 72 hours of some dishonest act on their part, before the course itself is even aware. While we might zero the work in question in such cases, we commit to not escalating the matter further to the university's honor council, where the outcome might instead be admonishment, probation, or even required withdrawal from the university itself. We instead advise students on how best to move forward and connect them as needed with support structures on campus for academics and mental health. Since 2014 have 89 students invoked the clause, between 1% and 3% of the course's student body each year.
Women Are Underrepresented and Receive Differential Outcomes at ASM Journals: a Six-Year Retrospective Analysis.

ABSTRACT Despite 50% of biology Ph.D. graduates being women, the number of women that advance in academia decreases at each level (e.g., from graduate to postdoctorate to tenure track). Recently, scientific societies and publishers have begun examining internal submissions data to evaluate representation and evaluation of women in their peer review processes; however, representation and attitudes differ by scientific field, and to date, no studies have investigated academic publishing in the field of microbiology. Using manuscripts submitted between January 2012 and August 2018 to the 15 journals published by the American Society for Microbiology (ASM), we describe the representation of women at ASM journals and the outcomes of their manuscripts. Senior women authors at ASM journals were underrepresented compared to global and society estimates of microbiology researchers. Additionally, manuscripts submitted by corresponding authors that were women received more negative outcomes than those submitted by men. These negative outcomes were somewhat mediated by whether or not the corresponding author was based in the United States and by the type of institution for United States-based authors. Nonetheless, the pattern for women corresponding authors to receive more negative outcomes on their submitted manuscripts held. We conclude with suggestions to improve the representation of women and decrease structural penalties against women. IMPORTANCE Barriers in science and academia have prevented women from becoming researchers and experts that are viewed as equivalent to their colleagues who are men. We evaluated the participation and success of women researchers at ASM journals to better understand their success in the field of microbiology. We found that women are underrepresented as expert scientists at ASM journals. This is, in part, due to a combination of both low submissions from senior women authors and more negative outcomes on submitted manuscripts for women compared to men.
Psychosocial Recovery after Natural Disaster: International Advocacy, Policy, and Recommendations

Natural disasters of various kinds are occurring throughout the regions of the world, particularly in recent times. While the health consequences of these events have been recognized, the emotional sequelae suffered by people immediately and over a long term are also a priority. Similarly, disaster risk reduction and structural resilience has been emphasized in terms of alarm systems and building codes relative to coastlines, yet more attention to the psychosocial resilience of people is warranted. While mounting literature suggests the need for psychosocial interventions to assist survivors and the extended global community to address these important psychosocial impacts, more action, support and research are called for, to establish an evidence base for such programs. To support these efforts, and for them to be effective, policies are necessary on the national and intergovernmental level. The purpose of this chapter is threefold. First, I describe extensive advocacy on the part of psychologists regarding psychosocial resilience and recovery. Second, I review significant and ground-breaking government agreements and policies that currently support such efforts. Third, I highlight the importance of these agreements as a foundation for interventions. This chapter concludes with suggestions for future research and advocacy directives to achieve emotional resilience before and after disasters.
A Poly-Pharmacy Approach to Mitigate Acute Radiation Syndrome

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Radiation and Nuclear Countermeasures Program, was tasked by the United States Congress and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to identify and fund early-to-mid-stage development of medical countermeasures (MCMs) to treat radiation-induced injuries. In developing MCMs to treat various sub-syndromes (e.g., hematopoietic, gastrointestinal, lung), it is important to investigate whether a poly-pharmacy approach (i.e., drug cocktails) can provide additive benefits to mitigate injuries arising from the acute radiation syndrome (ARS). In addition, potential drug-drug interactions must be examined. For this reason, a workshop was held, which centered on understanding the current state of research investigating poly-pharmacy approaches to treat radiation injuries. The first session set the stage with an introduction to the concept of operations or support available for the response to a nuclear incident, as this is the key to any emergency response, including MCM availability and distribution. The second session followed the natural history of ARS in both humans and animal models to underscore the complexity of ARS and why a poly-pharmacy approach may be necessary. The third session featured talks from investigators conducting current MCM poly-pharmacy research. The meeting closed with a focus on regulatory considerations for the development of poly-pharmacy approaches or combination treatments for ARS.
Genetic architecture of a mutation’s expressivity

Abstract Genetic background often influences the phenotypic consequences of mutations, resulting in variable expressivity. How standing genetic variants collectively cause this phenomenon is not fully understood. Here, we comprehensively identify loci in a budding yeast cross that impact the growth of individuals carrying a spontaneous missense mutation in the nuclear-encoded mitochondrial ribosomal gene MRP20. Initial results suggested that a single large effect locus influences the mutation’s expressivity, with one allele causing inviability in mutants. However, further dissection revealed that in fact many additional loci shape the mutation’s expressivity, collectively leading to a wide spectrum of mutational responses. These results exemplify how complex combinations of loci can produce a diversity of qualitative and quantitative responses to the same mutation. Significance Statement Mutations can show different phenotypic effects depending on the individuals in which they occur (or background effects). These background effects are important to understand because they impact the contributions of mutations to traits of biomedical, evolutionary, and agricultural significance. While it is known that a main cause of background effects is genetic interactions between mutations and pre-existing genetic variants, the architectures of these interactions are not well characterized. Here, we use show that a large number of genetic variants influence the effect of a spontaneous mutation in a cross of two yeast strains. These loci individually tend to have small impacts, but collectively they cause the mutation to show a range of effects that extends from lethal to near zero.
Out-of-step detection using Zubov's approximation stability boundaries

This paper presents a new out-of-step detection method for multi-machine power systems based on approximate stability boundaries. The boundaries are constructed based on Zubov's method of stability analysis. The proposed out-of-step detection method first constructs a series of boundaries in power angle - frequency (δ-ω) plane, and tracks the trajectory of each generator in the δ-ω plane after the disturbance to differentiate out-of-step from stable power swings. The electrical parameters needed to construct approximate stability boundaries are obtained directly from Phasor Measurement Units (PMUs) located at the generator's terminal. The effectiveness of the proposed method is tested in a Single Machine Infinite Bus (SMIB) and the IEEE 3-machine 9-bus system. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm is capable of detecting out-of-step conditions in multi-machine power systems without using network reduction techniques.
The Impact of Legal Abortion on the Wage Distribution: Evidence from the 1970 New York Abortion Reform

Three years before the ruling on Roe v. Wade, New York became the first state to allow all women legal access to abortion on demand. In this study, I determine the extent to which this change in reproductive rights impacted the characteristics of mothers giving birth in New York, their newborns, and these children’s future wages. I first use birth certificate data and a regression discontinuity design to examine the socioeconomic status of infants conceived in the weeks before and after New York’s reform. This analysis suggests that after abortion’s legalization, children were born into families with greater resources. Next, using reported age and quarter of birth in the 2005 to 2010 American Community Surveys, I estimate the probability that a worker’s mother completed her first trimester of pregnancy after the New York reform and thus had access to legal abortion. I then compare the wages of native-born New Yorkers reporting the same age (in whole years) but with different estimates of mother’s abortion access. By allowing women to better-time their births, the legalization of abortion increased the eventual wages of black, Hispanic, and lower-wage workers.
Quantitative Analysis of HSV Gene Expression during Lytic Infection

Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) is a human pathogen that establishes latency and undergoes periodic reactivation, resulting in chronic recurrent lytic infection. HSV lytic infection is characterized by an organized cascade of three gene classes; however, successful transcription and expression of the first, the immediate early class, is critical to the overall success of viral infection. This initial event of lytic infection is also highly dependent on host cell factors. This unit uses RNA interference and small molecule inhibitors to examine the role of host and viral proteins in HSV lytic infection. Methods detailing isolation of viral and host RNA and genomic DNA followed by quantitative real-time PCR allow characterization of impacts on viral transcription and replication, respectively. Western blots can be used to confirm quantitative PCR results. This combination of protocols represents a starting point for researchers interested in virus-host interactions during HSV lytic infection.
Partial atrioventricular canal with congestive heart failure in the first year of life: Surgical options

Background. An important subgroup of patients with partial atrioventricular canal require an operation in the first year of life because of refractory congestive heart failure. Methods. From June 1982 to April 1995, of 128 patients with partial atrioventricular canal, 35 patients (27%) underwent surgical treatment at less than 1 year of life. Associated cardiac anomalies were present in 22 patients. Only 7 patients (20%) had Down's syndrome. Five patients with left ventricular hypoplasia underwent aortic coarctectomy (3 patients) or Norwood operation (2 patients). The other 30 patients underwent anatomic repair in 24 cases and aortic coarctectomy in 6. The surgical results of patients submitted for anatomic repair were retrospectively correlated with the echocardiographic mitral valve diameter. Results. There were 7 deaths (29%) after anatomic repair, 2 (22%) after aortic coarctectomy, and 2 (100%) after Norwood operation. Infants with a mitral valve diameter less than 2.5 × 10 −2 m/m 2 died at repair. In a mean follow-up of 73.5 months there were five secondary mitral valve plasties and three repairs after aortic coarctectomy. Conclusions. Among patients with partial atrioventricular canal, there is an important subgroup with clinical signs of heart failure in the first year of life. Left-sided obstructive lesions and complex mitral valve anomalies seem to play a fundamental role in the clinical evolution and prognosis of these patients. The echocardiographic mitral valve diameter may be useful for determining the correct surgical indication.
Geometry Optimization of IPM Machines Using Orthogonal Experimental Design Method and Artificial Neural Network

Interior permanent magnet (IPM) machines are widely used in various applications due to many advantages such as high power density, high efficiency, low manufacturing cost and wide constant power operating range. However, high torque pulsation of IPM machines is a major drawback especially when concentrated windings are adopted. Rotor geometry has significant effect on torque pulsations in IPM machines. In this paper, a novel technique for rotor geometry optimization is proposed. Interactive effects of different rotor parameters on machine performance are studied using orthogonal experimental design (OED) method. An artificial neural network (ANN) is modeled thereafter to find the optimum rotor geometry design. The validity of the results is verified by finite element analysis (FEA).
Stewarding Our First-Year Students into the Information Ecosystem: A Case Study

Librarians play a critical role in educating undergraduate students, the next generation of global citizens, about navigating the information landscape. This article explores the collaboration among three librarians and six different departments within the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) at a large research university to develop a first-year experience course focusing on three learning objectives relating to information literacy: information ethics, effective research strategies, and evaluating resources. Now in its third year, the 1-credit first-year experience course has evolved in order to better promote and assess students’ abilities to negotiate multiple perspectives and complexities in the information landscape.
Chloride channels and transporters in human corneal epithelium

Abstract Transport of water and electrolytes is critical for corneal clarity. Recent studies indicate another important function of transport of ions and electrolytes – establishing wound electric fields that guide cell migration. We found chloride (Cl−) flux is a major component of the corneal wound electric current. In order to elucidate the mechanisms of Cl− transport, we studied Cl− channels and transporters in human corneal epithelial (HCE) cells. We tested a transformed human corneal epithelial cell line (tHCE), primary cultures of human corneal epithelial cells (pHCE), and human donor corneas. We first used RT-PCR to determine expression levels of mRNA of CLC (Cl− channels/transporters of CLC gene family) family members and CFTR (cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator) in HCE cells. We then confirmed protein expression and distribution of selected CLC family members and CFTR with Western blot and immunofluorescence confocal microscopy. Finally, Cl− currents were recorded with electrophysiological techniques. The mRNAs of CLC-2, CLC-3, CLC-4, CLC-5, CLC-6, and CFTR were detected in the HCE cell line. CLC-1 and CLC-7 were not detectable. Western blot and immunostaining confirmed protein expression and distribution of CLC-2, CLC-3, CLC-4, CLC-6 and CFTR in human corneal epithelium. CLC-2 preferentially labeled the apical and basal layers, while CLC-3 and CLC-4 labeled only the superficial layer. CLC-6 and CFTR labeling showed a unique gradient with strong staining in apical layers which gradually decreased towards the basal layers. Corneal endothelium was positive for CLC-2, CLC-3, CLC-4, CLC-6 and possibly CFTR. Human corneal epithelial cells demonstrated voltage dependent Cl− currents. HCE cells express functional Cl− channels and transporters. CLC-2, CLC-3, CLC-4, CLC-6, and CFTR had distinct expression patterns in human corneal epithelium. Those molecules and their distribution may play important roles in maintaining resting Cl− fluxes and in regulating Cl− flux at corneal wounds, which may be a major contributor to wound electrical signaling.
A COGNITIVE MODEL OF IMITATIVE DEVELOPMENT IN HUMANS AND MACHINES

Several algorithms and models have recently been proposed for imitation learning in humans and robots. However, few proposals offer a framework for imitation learning in noisy stochastic environments where the imitator must learn and act under real-time performance constraints. We present a novel probabilistic framework for imitation learning in stochastic environments with unreliable sensors. Bayesian algorithms, based on Meltzoff and Moore's AIM hypothesis for action imitation, implement the core of an imitation learning framework. Our algorithms are computationally efficient, allowing real-time learning and imitation in an active stereo vision robotic head and on a humanoid robot. We present simulated and real-world robotics results demonstrating the viability of our approach. We conclude by advocating a research agenda that promotes interaction between cognitive and robotic studies of imitation.