cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Who's Doing It? Patterns and Predictors of Youths' Oral Sexual Experiences

Purpose: To describe patterns of heterosexual oral sexual experience in a nationally representative sample of youth aged 15 to 21 and identify social and demographic correlates of oral sexual experience among youth who had not engaged in vaginal intercourse. Methods: Descriptive analysis and multinomial logistic regression using data from Cycle 6 of the National Survey of Family Growth, conducted in 2002. Results: More youth with coital experience than virgin youth had oral sexual experience, and the proportion of both groups with oral sexual experience increased with age. Having received oral sex was more common than having given it, regardless of virginity status and gender. Although fewer females than males had ever-received oral sex, equal proportions of females and males had ever-given. Multivariate analyses revealed that white females were more likely than black females, and white males were more likely than black and Hispanic males to be virgins and to have had oral but not vaginal sex. Intact family structure, a college-educated mother, and no religious affiliation were associated with higher odds of oral sexual experience among virgin females, whereas intact family structure, no religious service attendance, and central city residence were associated with higher odds of oral sexual experience among virgin males. Conclusions: Oral sex with an opposite-gender partner is an established component of youths' initial sexual experiences, regardless of virginity status. Information on the risks of oral- genital contact should be integrated into sexual education programs targeted to youth. © 2008 Society for Adolescent Medicine. All rights reserved.
A Comparison of Presettlement and Present-day Forests in Northeastern Lower Michigan

Abstract General Land Office survey records of 1838–1846 were used to reconstruct the pre-European settlement vegetation along a soil moisture gradient in the Huron National Forest of northeastern lower Michigan. These data were compared to current forest data. Jack pine (Pinus banksiana), red pine (P. resinosa) and white pine (P. strobus) dominated fire-prone presettlement dry and dry-mesic sites on coarse-textured soils of glacial outwash plains and moraines. Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis), beech (Fagus grandifolia), sugar maple (Acer saccharum) and white pine were most important on presettlement mesic sites on medium-textured soils of moraines and kame and kettle topography. Presettlement wet-mesic sites were dominated by hemlock, white pine and aspen (Populus spp.). White cedar (Thuja occidentalis) and tamarack (Larix laricina) dominated presettlement wet sites on organic soils of outwash plains. Important presettlement forest types included: jack pine (41%), mixed conifer–northern hardwood (22%), lowland...
A New Vision of Public Enforcement

Civil rights laws are not self-enforcing. Enforcement mechanisms, therefore, need to be studied as part of the larger debate on the form and direction of civil rights law. The current decline of the ability of the private attorney general to fairly and consistently enforce our civil rights laws argues for a renewed emphasis on the importance and form of government enforcement. Focusing on the Americans with Disabilities Act, this Article presents a new vision of public enforcement. After explaining the historical, theoretical, and practical strengths of public enforcement - all things that cannot be completely outsourced - this Article suggests that public enforcement officials need to renew their commitment to structural litigation. Because public enforcement is inherently political, this Article attempts to build the case that such enforcement is needed and can be effective. In recognition that litigation, even of the structural variety, will always be an incomplete enforcement strategy, this Article also considers the role of public officials in non-litigation activity. In particular, it offers a novel application of new governance theory to public enforcement activity, concluding that government programs that focus on collaboration, information sharing, and cooperative interactions should supplement - not supplant - an aggressive litigation policy.
Lifelong Machine Learning for Topic Modeling and Beyond

Machine learning has been popularly used in numerous natural language processing tasks. However, most machine learning models are built using a single dataset. This is often referred to as one-shot learning. Although this one-shot learning paradigm is very useful, it will never make an NLP system understand the natural language because it does not accumulate knowledge learned in the past and make use of the knowledge in future learning and problem solving. In this thesis proposal, I first present a survey of lifelong machine learning (LML). I then narrow down to one specific NLP task, i.e., topic modeling. I propose several approaches to apply lifelong learning idea in topic modeling. Such capability is essential to make an NLP system versatile and holistic.
Preparation of Leadership Personnel in Adapted Physical Education: A Follow-Up Study

This study examined the need for the preparation of leadership personnel in the area of adapted physical education within the USA. Data were collected on the advertised positions in the Chronicle of Higher Education between 1991-1998 compared to the numbers of personnel prepared during a previous, similar time period (1981-1989). During the 1991-1998 time period, 87 professionals completed dissertations related to adapted physical education, while 173 positions in institutions of higher education were advertised for professionals with expertise in adapted physical education. These data indicate that there continues to be a significant need for additional doctoral personnel trained in adapted physical education for college or university teaching positions in the United States. Evidence of a need for diversified, well-qualified training programs is offered. In addition, the authors suggest promising alternate approaches to assist in meeting the needs of qualified personnel in adapted physical education for ...
Climate Change and the Endangered Species Act: Building Bridges to the No-Analog Future

This Article examines the challenges global climate change presents for the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and its primary administrative agency, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). Climate change will reshuffle ecological systems in ways that will defy prediction using existing knowledge and models, posing threats to species through primary and secondary ecological effects and the effects of human adaptation to climate change. Even assuming global-wide regulation of greenhouse gas emissions eventually yields a more stable climate variation regime, it will differ from the recent historical regime and many species will not survive the transition regardless of human interventions using the ESA. Yet many other species can survive with the assistance offered through a focused application of the ESA. The Article proposes a policy approach aimed toward that objective. Part I introduces the climate change challenge facing the FWS and explains why, after the Supreme Court's decision in Massachusetts v. EPA, the agency must develop a response. Part II examines the likely ecological consequences of climate change, for which we have no analog, and develops a typology of threats species will experience. Part III explores the pressures climate change will place on FWS policy decisions as increasingly more species face increasingly more serious imperilment as a result of climate change. Part IV methodically probes the relevant provisions of the ESA to identify the range of policy discretion the FWS has in making those decisions. Part V then lays out a plan for the FWS to use the ESA to build bridges for climate-threatened species across the climate change transition and into the no-analog future. Most significantly, I propose that the ESA not be used to regulate greenhouse gas emissions, but rather that it be focused on establishing protective measures for species that have a chance of surviving the climate change transition and establishing a viable population in the future climate regime. In particular, the ESA can help ensure that human adaptation to climate change does not prevent other species from adapting as well.
The Neo-Alexandrians: A Review Essay on Data Handbooks in Political Science

The first scholarly codifier of political data was Aristotle, who classified the constitutions of the ancient Greek world. By ironic coincidence he tutored a princeling named Alexander who shortly reduced his teacher's findings to the status of historical knowledge, by the expedient of dissolving and reforming all political entities within reach of his armies. The empire of Alexander the Great succumbed to a grievous lack of political institutionalization; but before it did the conqueror founded a city in his name wherein flourished a school, also in his name, which was thought to be the greatest of the ancient world. The Alexandrian school was famed for its scholars' accomplishments in gathering and systematizing vast quantities of information about the nature and ways of men, beasts, and the lands and seas wherein they dwelled. Little of that knowledge survived. The libraries of Alexandria were destroyed, partly by Julius Caesar's armies, later and more thoroughly by Christians who feared the corrupting influences of pagan thought. But no matter now, because the spirit of the Alexandrians is alive and flourishing in American social science.
Wind Tunnel Testing of Variable Camber Compliant Wing with Multiple Load Cell Test Fixture

This paper describes the design, setup, and testing of a unique mounting fixture built for the Variable Camber Compliant Wing developed by the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory. The intent of the Variable Camber Compliant Wing was to demonstrate an active 2D section camber change under aerodynamic load. Mounting possibilities were limited in the Vertical Wind Tunnel due to the dimensions and weight of the wing which necessitated a custom design to obtain aerodynamic force measurements. ATI Industrial Automation offers a promising solution with their wide range of multi-axis force/torque sensors which are becoming widely adopted in aerodynamic testing of small unmanned aircraft. These sensors can provide accurate results when loaded in close proximity to the balance center. However, it has been reported in literature that the error increases dramatically when loaded off the balance center. In this case, a load cell is mounted on each end of the unique fixture, forming a direct interaction between the two load cells. An extensive calibration loading procedure was performed prior to the test to develop a calibration matrix sensitive to the test setup. The intent of this paper is to present development of a correction method for this unique mounting fixture which could provide a new flexible wing testing capability in the Vertical Wind Tunnel Facility at the Air Force Research Laboratory.
Editorial comment on A.L. Halpern: Elimination of the exculpatory insanity rule.

The guest editor presents an opposing view to the previous article and defends the insanity plea as a humane alternative to retributive justice. His point-by-point rebuttal of Dr. Halpern’s article calls for retention of the rule but improvement by applying sound psychiatric principles to the requirements of the criminal justice system.
Abstract A49: Investigating the expression of inhibitory surface molecules in ovarian cancer tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes.

Ovarian cancer causes more deaths than any other cancer of the female reproductive system. However, novel therapies, including immunotherapy are now being utilized to treat this cancer. In addition, efforts have been made to identify and evaluate the subsets of cells within the tumor environment that correspond with patient overall survival. Although the presence of intraepithelial CD3+ T cells and CD8+ T cells have been correlated with patient survival and CD137, a co-stimulatory molecule, has been identified as a biomarker for tumor-reactive cells, studies have not thoroughly investigated the phenotype of the T cells, specifically the CD4+, CD8+, and CD137+ subsets. In our study, we used a multi-parameter flow cytometry to measure inhibitory molecules, Th1 cytokines, and the effector phenotype in the T-cell subsets. We observed that the CD4+ and CD8+ T cells found within the tumor environment express inhibitory receptors, very limited Th1 cytokine producing cells and a decreased expression of Granzyme B within the CD8+ subset. The CD137+ population also expressed inhibitory molecules, but was still able to exhibit an effector phenotype and comprise Th1 cytokine producing cells. In conclusion, using multi-parameter flow cytometry enabled us to investigate the expression of inhibitory molecules on the CD4+, CD8+, and CD137+ subsets and measure their effector phenotype. We found that the T cells express many inhibitory receptors and this may hinder their ability to become optimal effector cells that maintain tumor control. However, future studies utilizing antibodies that block these inhibitory receptors may increase the T cells9 ability to exhibit an increased effector phenotype and contain more Th1 cytokine producing cells. Citation Format: Jessica Chacon, Tori Yamamoto, Thomas Garrabrant, Gabor Kari, Andrew Best, Qunrui Ye, Daniel Powell, Jr. Investigating the expression of inhibitory surface molecules in ovarian cancer tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Advances in Ovarian Cancer Research: Exploiting Vulnerabilities; Oct 17-20, 2015; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2016;22(2 Suppl):Abstract nr A49.
Power’s Presence in Nurse Education

The notion of power has long been discussed in literature. There continues to exist a vast number of ideas as to what power really is and means. The author here discusses some early notions of power from the philosophical literature where there is debate as to whether power is innate or earned and bestowed upon persons. The potential for power as well as powers need for support from others is then examined in light of the nursing educational arena. Parse's humanbecoming school of thought also enlightens beliefs on power through the teaching-learning model as well as within the third principle of humanbecoming. These humanbecoming aspects are discussed regarding their presence or role in nursing academia. The column concludes with the notion that possibly the most important power possessed by all is the power to choose.
Migration Route Out of Africa Unresolved by 225 Egyptian and Ethiopian Whole Genome Sequences.

Population structure is a fundamental part of population genetics. In coalescent theory, the impact of population structure or a restriction of gene flow is well-studied (Hudson, 1990; Nordborg, 2003). Admixture is inter-mating between previously isolated populations, although the biological characteristics of genetically diverged parental populations can be debated. The pairwise sequentially Markovian coalescent model (Li and Durbin, 2011) and the multiple sequentially Markovian coalescent model (Schiffels and Durbin, 2014), both recently developed methods designed for whole genome sequence analysis, do not model admixture in a formal sense. However, simulations have shown that these models are sensitive to admixture (Li and Durbin, 2011), because admixture increases heterozygosity and consequently appears as an increase in the effective population size. The issue of ancient vs. recent admixture, and the actual time depths, is of concern due to the potentially obscuring effects of a range of evolutionary processes. Both of these models divide time into intervals, theoretically permitting detection of events at different time depths. Consequently, these genetic models have the potential to complement anthropological and archeological studies of the distant past.
Reducing Feature Set Explosion to Facilitate Real-World Review Spam Detection

Online reviews are quickly becoming one of the most important sources of information for consumers on various products and services. With their increased importance, there exists an increased opportunity for spammers or unethical business owners to create false reviews in order to artificially promote their goods and services or smear those of their competitors. In response to this growing problem, there have been many studies on the most effective ways of detecting review spam using various machine learning algorithms. One common thread in most of these studies is the conversion of reviews to word vectors, which can potentially result in hundreds of thousands of features. However, there has been little study on reducing the feature subset size to a manageable number or how best to do so. In this paper, we consider two distinct methods of reducing feature subset size in the review spam domain. The methods include filter-based feature rankers and word-frequency based feature selection. We show that there is not a one size fits all approach to feature selection, and the best way to reduce the feature subset size is dependent upon both the classifier being used and the feature subset size desired. It was also observed that the feature subset size had significant influence on which feature selection method is used.
A Techno-Economic Framework for Broadband Deployment in Underserved Areas

A large body of economic research has shown the strong correlation between broadband connectivity and economic productivity. These findings motivate government agencies such as the FCC in the US to provide incentives to services providers to deploy broadband infrastructure in unserved or underserved areas. In this paper, we describe a framework for identifying target areas for network infrastructure deployment. Our approach considers (i) infrastructure availability, (ii) user demographics, and (iii) deployment costs. We use multi-objective optimization to identify geographic areas that have the largest concentrations of un/underserved users and that can be upgraded at the lowest cost. To demonstrate the efficacy of our framework, we consider physical infrastructure and demographic data from the US and two different deployment cost models. Our results identify a list of counties that would be attractive targets for broadband deployment from both cost and impact perspectives. We conclude with discussion on the implications and broader applications of our framework.
Dynamic State Estimation-Based Protection: Status and Promise

The introduction of the microprocessor-based numerical relay in the 1980s resulted in multifunctional, multidimensional, communications-enabled complex protection systems for zone and system protection. The increasing capabilities of this technology created new unintended challenges: 1) complexity has increased and selecting coordinated settings is a challenge leading to occasional miscoordination; 2) protection functions still rely on a small number of measurements (typically three voltages and three currents) limiting the ability of protection functions to dependably identify the type of fault conditions; and 3) present approaches are incapable of dealing with hidden failures in the protection system. Statistically, 10% of protection operations are misoperations. This paper presents a new approach to protection that promises to eliminate the majority of the problems that lead to misoperations. The approach is described, demonstrated in the laboratory, compared to traditional protection functions and its application to a substation coordinated protection system capable of detecting and dealing with hidden failures is described. This paper also discusses the planned field testing of the approach.
Analysis of distributed mobility anchoring for 4G systems

As 3G wireless systems evolve towards 4G, various wireless network technology organizations looking at network architectures for 4G are considering a redesign of the network away from the traditional centralized, hierarchical design to wards a more distributed operation of network functions. In this article, we present some mechanisms for distributed operation of the mobility anchoring function for 4G systems, with a view to highlighting the tradeoffs that drive the design choice of whether to centralize or distribute the mobility anchoring function. We analyze various aspects of distributed mobility anchoring, such as processing requirements at base stations and management of IP address pools. Our analysis shows that if certain trends in the deployment of wireless networks continue to materialize, then distributed mobility anchoring can be a feasible solution for 4G networks.
Severe maternal morbidity and comorbid risk in hospitals performing <1000 deliveries per year.

Background While research has demonstrated increasing risk for severe maternal morbidity in the United States, risk at lower volume hospitals remains poorly characterized. More than half of all obstetric units in the United States perform Objective We sought to characterize maternal risk profiles and severe maternal morbidity at low-volume hospitals in the United States. Study Design We used data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample to evaluate trends in severe maternal morbidity and comorbid risk during delivery hospitalizations in the United States from 1998 through 2011. Comorbid maternal risk was estimated using a comorbidity index validated for obstetric patients. Severe maternal morbidity was defined as the presence of any 1 of 15 diagnoses representative of acute organ injury and critical illness. Results A total of 2,300,279 deliveries occurred at hospitals with annual delivery volume P Conclusion Our findings demonstrate increasing maternal risk at hospitals performing
Evolutionary stability of coexistence due to the storage effect in a two-season model

The question of species coexistence has been central to ecology since its founding. Ever-present environmental variation may be one answer to that question. Previous models have demonstrated that species can exploit this variation to coexist with competitors by having different environmental responses (the storage effect). When traits governing species’ environmental response can evolve, however, coexistence is not assured. In this study, we use a continuous time, two-season model to determine the evolutionary outcome of competing species evolving in their seasonal performance trait. We extend the competitive exclusion principle to show that the storage effect can allow no more than N species to coexist on N discrete seasons with no relative nonlinearity. We find a broad region of parameter space where coexistence is evolutionarily stable. The size of this region depends on the period of fluctuations relative to the individual lifespan. Relatively long period fluctuations yield a large coexistence region, but as the period decreases, the region narrows and disappears asymptotically. Finally, we cast our adaptive dynamics technique in terms of Chesson’s concept of equalizing and stabilizing mechanisms to demonstrate that the breakdown in coexistence at short periods is due to loss of the stabilizing covariance between the environment and competition.
Microglia activation in a pediatric rabbit model of tuberculous meningitis.

ABSTRACT Central nervous system (CNS) tuberculosis (TB) is the most severe form of extra-pulmonary TB and disproportionately affects young children where the developing brain has a unique host response. New Zealand white rabbits were infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis via subarachnoid inoculation at postnatal day 4-8 and evaluated until 4-6 weeks post-infection. Control and infected rabbit kits were assessed for the development of neurological deficits, bacterial burden, and postmortem microbiologic and pathologic changes. The presence of meningitis and tuberculomas was demonstrated histologically and by in vivo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The extent of microglial activation was quantified by in vitro immunohistochemistry as well as non-invasive in vivo imaging of activated microglia/macrophages with positron emission tomography (PET). Subarachnoid infection induced characteristic leptomeningeal and perivascular inflammation and TB lesions with central necrosis, a cellular rim and numerous bacilli on pathologic examination. Meningeal and rim enhancement was visible on MRI. An intense microglial activation was noted in M. tuberculosis -infected animals in the white matter and around the TB lesions, as evidenced by a significant increase in uptake of the tracer 124 I-DPA-713, which is specific for activated microglia/macrophages, and confirmed by quantification of Iba-1 immunohistochemistry. Neurobehavioral analyses demonstrated signs similar to those noted in children with delayed maturation and development of neurological deficits resulting in significantly worse composite behavior scores in M. tuberculosis -infected animals. We have established a rabbit model that mimics features of TB meningitis in young children. This model could provide a platform for evaluating novel therapies, including host-directed therapies, against TB meningitis relevant to a young child9s developing brain.
Fertility Desires and Intentions Among U.S. Women by Disability Status: Findings from the 2011-2013 National Survey of Family Growth

Objectives We compared fertility desires and intentions among women with disabilities and women without disabilities in the United States, using a new evidence-based measure of disability. Methods We analyzed data from a sample of 5601 US women 15-44 years of age in the 2011-2013 National Survey of Family Growth. The data were analyzed via cross-tabulation and logistic regression. We classified women into those with a disability and those without a disability. Results Women with disabilities were about as likely to want a baby (61%) as women without disabilities (60%). But only 43% of women with disabilities intended to have a baby in the future, compared with 50% of women without disabilities. Thus, the difference between the percent who want a baby and the percent who intend to have one was larger for disabled women. Women with disabilities were also less certain of their fertility intentions. Multivariate analysis shows that having a disability lowers the odds of intending another birth, after controlling for several other determinants of fertility intentions. Conclusions for Practice All women, regardless of disability status, desired more children than they actually planned to have, but the gap was larger for most groups of women with disabilities than for non-disabled women. Given the sample sizes available in this analysis, future research should use more detailed classifications of disability, however, we have shown that women living with disabilities constitute large populations with unexplored family planning needs.
Somatomedin and Growth Hormone in Psychosocial Dwarfism

The diagnosis of psychosocial dwarfism (PSD) was made in a 7 year old boy upon admission to the hospital. In the period following admission, he grew at a slightly accelerated rate of 0.6 cm in 24 days (extrapolated growth rate — 9.1 cm/yr); his caloric intake was 1663 calories/day (147 cal/kg/day), stimulable growth hormone was 5.9 ng/ml and somatomedin activity was in the hypopituitary range (0.24, 0.05 U/ml). In the following period of marked catch-up growth of 8.6 cm in 102 days (extrapolated growth rate 30.8 cm/yr), his caloric intake decreased significantly to 1514 cal/day (106 cal/kg/day, 0.005 < p < 0.01), stimulabe growth hormone in this period was 13.6 ng/ml and somatomedin activity normalized (0.98 U/ml).
RIPped for neuroinflammation

Activation of the receptor interacting serine/threonine kinase (RIPK) 3 mediates an inflammatory type of cell death called necroptosis; in addition, RIPK3 has necroptosis-independent roles in inflammation, although these are not well defined. In a recent study published in Cell, Daniels and colleagues demonstrate that RIPK3 controls West Nile virus infection by promoting neuroinflammation in the central nervous system without affecting neuronal death.
Predicting falls in community dwelling older adults using the Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale.

Abstract Objectives Falls are a significant problem associated with aging, and can lead to serious consequences including injury and death. The purpose of this study was to determine whether balance confidence differed between future fallers and non-fallers, and whether the construct prospectively predicted falls. Methods Forty-five community dwelling older adults aged 65 or older completed the Activities-specific Balance Confidence scale (ABC) and reported falls experienced during the next 6 months. Results Eleven (24.4%) subjects were fallers, and had significantly poorer ABC scores (x = 50.6%) than their non-faller counterparts (x = 76.3%). The regression model was significant, where the ABC score predicted falls at 6 months. Discussion Our findings suggest that balance confidence differs between fallers and non-fallers, and that ABC scores can predict future falls in community dwelling older adults. Conclusion Balance confidence is a fall risk predictor, and thus a critical component of fall risk assessment. Balance confidence should be measured regularly in community dwelling older adults using the ABC.
Host Factors Involved in Ebola Virus Replication

Ebola virus (EBOV) is a highly pathogenic emerging virus that represents a serious threat to global public health and a major priority for biodefense. The 2014 West African outbreak demonstrated the potential of EBOV to cause an epidemic affecting thousands of people. The severity of disease and high case fatality rate of EBOV is largely due to the host response elicited by the virus. EBOV infection hijacks a number of host pathways to carry out replication and stimulate potent inflammatory responses, while simultaneously subverting the host antiviral immune response. Together, these events trigger a complex, systemic, often lethal febrile disease characterized by high levels of inflammatory cytokines, acute hepatitis and liver dysfunction, immune antagonism, gastrointestinal distress, and, in some cases, hemorrhage caused by coagulopathy and vascular leakage. This review presents current knowledge about the particular host responses induced and disrupted by EBOV infection and how these contribute to virus replication, immune evasion, pathogenesis, and disease outcome.
What Role May Admissions Office Diversity and Practices Play in Equitable Decisions

Attending a selective college or university has a notable impact on the likelihood of graduation, graduate school attendance, social networks, and career earnings. Given these short-term and long-term benefits, surprisingly little research has directly explored the factors that might promote or detract from equitable admissions decisions at these schools. This study examined a unique national sample of 311 undergraduate admissions officers who work at selective institutions to explore this issue. Among the descriptive findings, more than half of respondents reported that they consider applicants’ demonstrated interest in attending their institution when making a recommendation, about two-thirds review at least 100 applications during busy weeks, and almost half were working at their alma mater. Moreover, in a simulation of admissions scoring, admissions officers from historically underrepresented groups were more likely to admit low-SES applicants, whereas participants with more work experience and who were employed at their alma mater provided less equitable recommendations.
Stability of fair trade-off solution between radar and communication objectives on hostile interference

One of the challenges in jointly designing a system to support both communication and radar is that such a system has multiple objectives to address simultaneously. This challenge becomes more difficult when considering the potential for adversarial interference. A question that arises is what are appropriate design criteria that are stable when facing hostile interference, and from this arrive at realistic solutions to the trade-off between the two objectives. To address this question, we first show that the bargaining tradeoff can be correctly embedded in a uniform manner using the α-fairness tradeoff criteria. To investigate the impact of hostile interference, a zero sum game between the system and a jammer is formulated. It is proved that, within an interval for the fairness coefficient that is bounded by two cooperative solutions (maximizing total performance and minimizing total delay in objectives), the equilibrium exists and is unique. Moreover, the bargaining solution is the median point of this interval, while outside of this interval the existence of the equilibrium, and thus of stability of the system can be quite sensitive to jamming.
The significance of clutch size, egg coloration, and other reproductive traits of mourning doves

4 INTRODUCTION 5 THE REPRODUCTIVE STRATEGY 9 SECTION II. WHY DO MOURNING DOVES LAY ONLY TWO EGGS? 23 ABSTRACT 24 INTRODUCTION 25 METHODS 27 RESULTS 30 DISCUSSION 45 SECTION III. THE CONVOLUTION OF EGG COLORATION AND INCUBATION CONTINUITY IN MOURNING DOVES 50 ABSTRACT 5
Autologous stem cell transplantation in the management of multiple myeloma

Autologous stem cell transplantation has been shown to improve the survival in patients with multiple myeloma. Seven randomized clinical trials have been reported demonstrating the superiority of stem cell transplantation in inducing disease responses, increasing complete remissions, and prolonging event-free survival (Table 10.1).
Predicted quadriceps vs. quadrupled hamstring tendon graft size using 3-dimensional MRI.

Abstract Background The objective of this study is to (1) compare the predicted cross-sectional area and diameter between quadriceps tendon and quadrupled hamstring autografts, and (2) assess the predicted size of the quadriceps tendon graft in patients with hamstrings that are insufficient for use in ACL reconstruction. Methods A retrospective review of 54 knee 3D MRIs was conducted. Quadriceps tendon graft area was defined as a one-centimeter wide area of quadriceps tendon, measured three centimeters above the patella perpendicular to tendon axis. Quadrupled hamstring graft area was defined as double the combined areas of the gracilis and semitendinosus tendon, measured three centimeters above the joint line perpendicular to tendon axis. Pearson correlation was used to compare the quadriceps tendon and quadrupled hamstring grafts. Results Mean cross-sectional area of quadrupled hamstring and quadriceps tendon grafts were 47.2 mm2 and 84.4 mm2 respectively. A statistically significant positive correlation exists between quadrupled hamstring graft and quadriceps tendon graft cross-sectional area (r = 0.41; p = 0.002). Nine of the 54 patients had predicted quadrupled hamstring grafts deemed insufficient for use in ACL reconstruction ( 8 mm. Conclusion There is a positive correlation between predicted quadriceps tendon and quadrupled hamstring grafts. While 17% of patients in this series had predicted insufficient quadrupled hamstring grafts, all of the patients had predicted quadriceps tendon grafts of sufficient size for ACL reconstruction. Quadriceps tendon grafts are a viable alternative in patients at-risk for insufficient quadrupled hamstring grafts. Level of evidence IV
Tobacco use and chemosensory impairments among current adult tobacco users in the US: Data from NHANES 2013-2014.

Introduction Among US adults 40 years and older, about 23% report problems with their ability to smell, and 19% report problems with their ability to taste. Chemosenses are a first line of defence against environmental hazards (e.g. fires and leaking gas). A potential risk factor of chemosensory disorders includes nicotine product use, such as cigarette use. This study aims to assess the relationship of taste and smell alterations with type of recent nicotine product use (e.g. inhaled versus smokeless), recent cigarette use, and mentholation status based on data from NHANES 2013-2014. Methods A total of 3186 men and women, 40 years and older, from NHANES 2013-2014 were assessed for smell and taste impairment, according to their recent nicotine product use. Taste impairment was identified as inability to identify quinine as bitter in the whole-mouth taste test. Impairment of smell was defined as failing to identify six or more of eight specific odors. Logistic regression models were adjusted for age, gender, and race/ethnicity. Results Approximately 13% of participants failed the smell examination. No significant association between smell examination outcome and recent nicotine product use was found, though recent cigarette use showed a trend toward positive association (OR=1.66, 95% CI: 0.76-3.63) and mentholation status showed a trend toward negative association (OR=0.57, 95% CI: 0.22-1.49) on smell examination results. About 17% of participants failed the taste examination, and trends toward positive association were seen between taste examination outcomes and both recent nicotine product use (OR=1.28, 95% CI: 0.99-1.65) and recent cigarette use (OR=1.30, 95% CI: 0.50-3.40). Conclusions Findings indicate that recent use of nicotine products has an inconsistent relationship to dysfunctions in taste and smell. However, limiting the use of inhaled nicotine products, such as from cigarette use, could prove beneficial to a person's taste and smell ability.
Plasmonics meet 2D materials: enhanced light-matter interactions in the flatland (Conference Presentation)

Monolayer two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides (2D-TMDCs) have gained immense attention for their desirable transport properties and direct bandgap that have led to a plethora of studies on modern nanoelectronic and optoelectronic applications. These properties are known to occur exclusively in TMDCs when thinned down to one or few monolayers. However reduced dimensionality poses a significant challenge for photonics and optoelectronics applications due to poor light absorption and emission dictated by the volume of semiconductor material. Plasmonic nanostructures have been widely studied for enhancing light-matter interactions in wide variety of material systems resulting in increased emission and absorption properties. 2D Materials provide the ultimate lower limit in terms of material thickness, therefore investigation of plasmon/2D Material hybrid material systems with a specific aim to enhance light-matter interactions is essential for practical optoelectronic applications. In this talk, I will discuss increased photoluminescence emission from MoS2 using both periodic plasmonic nanodisc arrays as well as a single plasmonic optical antenna. I will also describe a method for understanding and identifying the contributions of excitation and emission field enhancements to the overall photoluminescence enhancement using a tapered gold antenna. Additionally, I will describe a systematic study in which we have demonstrated increased light absorption in a monolayer WS2 film.
Abstract # 2076 The acute and long-term impact of prenatal dietary supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids on the behavioral phenotype of the Fmr1 knockout mouse

Previous work has supported the role of omega-3 fatty acids in the attenuation of the behavioral phenotype of the male Fmr1 knockout mouse model. Given the association of earlier interventions with better prognoses in children with neurodevelopmental disorders, this study aims to expand upon the current knowledge through the inclusion of a prenatal treatment of omega-3 fatty acids. In the present study, male FVB/129 Fmr1 wildtype and female Fmr1 heterozygous breeding pairs were assigned to one of three diet conditions one week prior to pairing: standard lab chow, EPA/DHA enriched chow, and a diet controlling for the fat increase. On postnatal day (PD) 9, isolation-induced ultrasonic vocalizations were recorded from pups. Upon reaching PD60, the same subjects were tested in several behavioral assays, including open field, elevated plus maze, social partition, nose poke assay, delay fear conditioning, and pre-pulse inhibition. Preliminary analyses of the results indicate that prenatal dietary treatment with omega-3 fatty acids reduces hyperactivity, normalizes anxiety levels and enhances fear learning in the delay fear conditioning task in adulthood. To date, clinical trials for children with neurodevelopmental disorders have been largely ineffective, and studies suggest most parents of these children will try at least one alternative therapy during their child’s lifetime. As such, studies like these are important for assessing the impact of such an intervention on the development of autistic behaviors.
Understanding Contexts: How Explanatory Theories Can Help

To rethink the nature and roles of context in ways that help improvers implement effective, sustained improvement interventions in healthcare quality and safety. Critical analysis of existing concepts of context; synthesis of those concepts into a framework for the construction of explanatory theories of human environments, including healthcare systems. Published literature in improvement science, as well as in social, organization, and management sciences. Relevant content was sought by iteratively building searches from reference lists in relevant documents. Scientific thought is represented in both causal and explanatory theories. Explanatory theories are multi-variable constructs used to make sense of complex events and situations; they include basic operating principles of explanation, most importantly: transferring new meaning to complex and confusing phenomena; separating out individual components of an event or situation; unifying the components into a coherent construct (model); and adapting that construct to fit its intended uses. Contexts of human activities can be usefully represented as explanatory theories of peoples’ environments; they are valuable to the extent they can be translated into practical changes in behaviors. Healthcare systems are among the most complex human environments known. Although no single explanatory theory adequately represents those environments, multiple mature theories of human action, taken together, can usually make sense of them. Current mature theories of context include static models, universal-plus-variable models, activity theory and related models, and the FITT framework (Fit between Individuals, Tasks, and Technologies). Explanatory theories represent contexts most effectively when they include basic explanatory principles. Healthcare systems can usefully be represented in explanatory theories. Improvement interventions in healthcare quality and safety are most likely to bring about intended and sustained changes when improvers use explanatory theories to align interventions with the host systems into which they are being introduced.
Identification of Hispanic English Language Learners in Special Education

Overrepresentation of English language learners (ELLs) in special education is a current problem. Urban school professionals indicated that inappropriate placement is linked to a multiplicity of factors. Scarce data exist regarding the relationship between school professional efficacy beliefs, the availability of bilingual programs and personnel for ELLs, and successful academic outcomes. School employees are still confused about the proper placement of English language learners (ELLs). What is enough time to acquire a second language and learn with success? Without other substantial program choices, children are referred to special education. Furthermore, many students in need of special education may be overlooked and remain in ESL programs for their entire school career. The aim of this study was to identify the role staff member’s efficacy plays in the proper determination of an ELL with a language difference or disability. Child study team (CST) members ( ) working with a large Hispanic ELL population participated in semistructured interviews to determine the role their efficacy beliefs exert during assessment of linguistically diverse students. Overwhelmingly, staff members noted that they did not feel competent when making decisions regarding ELLs. Therefore, staff members placed the children into special education each time. The practice implications come from the prominent themes that include significant in-district professional development on second language acquisition, facilitation of second language through use of first language through bilingual staff, and committed bilingual programs to meet ELL needs. Additionally, universities must provide coursework that furthers second language acquisition theories and strategies for all teacher candidate programs.
Ambulatory central veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in lung transplant candidates.

Abstract Veno-Arterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (VA ECMO) has emerged as a fundamental tool in selected lung transplant candidates with respiratory and cardiac dysfunction as a bridge to transplantation. Central VA ECMO provides the most reliable route of oxygenation and circulatory support. We describe a technique of minimally invasive central VA ECMO that spares the sternum. This tunneled approach minimizes the risk of catheter–associated infections and allows the patient to be ambulatory.
Endogenous IL-33 and Its Autoamplification of IL-33/ST2 Pathway Play an Important Role in Asthma

IL-33 and its receptor ST2 are contributing factors to airway inflammation and asthma exacerbation. The IL-33/ST2 signaling pathway is involved in both the onset and the acute exacerbations of asthma. In this study, we address the role of endogenous IL-33 and its autoamplification of the IL-33/ST2 pathway in Ag-dependent and Ag-independent asthma-like models. Wild-type, IL-33 knockout, ST2 knockout mice were either intratracheally administrated with 500 ng of rIL-33 per day for four consecutive days or were sensitized and challenged with OVA over 21 d. In wild-type mice, IL-33 or OVA induced similar airway hyperresponsiveness and eosinophilic airway inflammation. IL-33 induced its own mRNA and ST2L mRNA expression in the lung. IL-33 autoamplified itself and ST2 protein expression in airway epithelial cells. OVA also induced IL-33 and ST2 protein expression. In IL-33 knockout mice, the IL-33- and OVA-induced airway hyperresponsiveness and eosinophilic airway inflammation were both significantly attenuated, whereas IL-33-induced ST2L mRNA expression was preserved, although no autoamplification of IL-33/ST2 pathway was observed. In ST2 knockout mice, IL-33 and OVA induced airway hyperresponsiveness and eosinophilic airway inflammation were both completely diminished, and no IL-33/ST2 autoamplification was observed. These results suggest that endogenous IL-33 and its autoamplification of IL-33/ST2 pathway play an important role in the induction of asthma-like phenotype. Thus an intact IL-33/ST2 pathway is necessary for both Ag-dependent and Ag-independent asthma-like mouse models.
Embolotherapy for Hepatic Oncology: Current Perspectives and Future Directions.

Primary and secondary liver cancers are a major cause of mortality worldwide. Transarterial liver-directed therapy, or embolotherapy, represents an important locoregional treatment strategy for primary and secondary liver tumors. Embolotherapeutic modalities include bland embolization (transarterial embolization), chemoembolization (transarterial chemoembolization), and radioembolization or selective internal radiotherapy. A brief technical overview of embolotherapeutic modalities as well as supportive evidence for the treatment of most common primary and secondary liver tumors will be discussed in this review. Several potential future applications, including synergy with systemic therapy, interventional theranostics, and artificial intelligence will also be reviewed briefly.