cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
AUTOSAR Extensions for Predictable Task Synchronization in Multi-Core ECUs

Multi-core processors are becoming increasingly prevalent, with multiple multi-core solutions being offered for the automotive sector. Recognizing this trend, the AUTomotive Open System ARchitecture (AUTOSAR) standard version 4.0 has introduced support for multi-core embedded real-time operating systems. A key element of the AUTOSAR multi-core specification is the spinlock mechanism for inter-core task synchronization. In this paper, we study this spinlock mechanism from the standpoint of timing predictability. We describe the timing uncertainties introduced by standard test-and-set spinlock mechanisms, and provide a predictable priority-driven solution for inter-core task synchronization. The proposed solution is to arbitrate critical sections using the well-established Multi-processor Priority Ceiling Protocol [3], which is the multiprocessor version of the ceiling protocol for uniprocessors [1, 2] used by AUTOSAR. We also present the associated analysis that can be used in conjunction with the AUTOSAR task model to bound the worst-case waiting times for accessing shared resources. The timing predictability provided by our protocol is an important requirement for automotive applications from both certification and validation standpoints.
Youth Leaving Foster Care: A Developmental, Relationship-based Approach to Practice

The intent of Youth Leaving Foster Care is to offer a theoretical framework for guiding policies, programs, and services to young people transitioning from out-of-home care placement. This book add...
On moment behavior of a class of stochastic difference equations

Abstract We consider a class of stochastic difference equations whose solutions are projections of vector Markov processes. It is shown that the Chapman-Kolmogorov equation leads to useful recurrence integral relations for determining the moments of the solution process; the simple moments at a given time can be generated directly and the mixed moments can be determined using the method of Kronecker products. This formulation also has the advantage that, under certain conditions, the asymptotic behavior of the moments can be predicted by means of the Jentzsch's theorem.
What do you mean, you're uncertain?: The interpretation of cue words and rising intonation in dialogue

This paper investigates how rising intonation affects the interpretation of cue words in dialogue. Both cue words and rising intonation express a range of speaker attitudes like uncertainty and surprise. However, it is unclear how the perception of these attitudes relates to dialogue structure and belief co-ordination. Perception experiment results suggest that rises reflect difficulty integrating new information rather than signaling a lack of credibility. This leads to a general analysis of rising intonation as signaling that the current question under discussion is unresolved. However, the interaction with cue word semantics restricts how much their interpretation can vary with prosody.
One Hundred Dollars and a Dead Man Ethical Decision Making in Ethnographic Fieldwork

This article provides a narrative of the author’s research on Clay, a teenage cocaine dealer, the author’s efforts to help Clay’s family, and of events that culminate in Clay’s murder of his mother’s friend. Following the narrative, the author reflects on the relationship of this case study to questions and concerns raised in previous discussions of ethical decision making during fieldwork. These include the extent of responsibility researchers have for the safety and well-being of research subjects, the emotional costs of researching drug users and sellers, and fear of exploiting research subjects. The author concludes that, while no recipe for ethical fieldwork can be written, a review of dilemmas faced by previous ethnographers can enable researchers to anticipate difficulties and to establish useful guidelines before entering the field.
Implementation of a couple-based HIV prevention program: a cluster randomized trial comparing manual versus Web-based approaches

Despite great need, the number of HIV prevention implementation studies remains limited. The challenge for researchers, in this time of limited HIV services agency resources, is to conceptualize and test how to disseminate efficacious, practical, and sustainable prevention programs more rapidly, and to understand how to do so in the absence of additional agency resources. We tested whether training and technical assistance (TA) in a couple-based HIV prevention program using a Web-based modality would yield greater program adoption of the program compared to training and TA in the same program in a manual-based modality among facilitators who delivered the interventions at 80 agencies in New York State. This study used a cluster randomized controlled design. Participants were HIV services agencies (N = 80) and up to 6 staff members at each agency (N = 253). Agencies were recruited, matched on key variables, and randomly assigned to two conditions. Staff members participated in a four-day, face-to-face training session, followed by TA calls at two and four months, and follow-up assessments at 6, 12, and 18 months post- training and TA. The primary outcomes examined number of couples with whom staff implemented the program, mean number of sessions implemented, whether staff implemented at least one session or whether staff implemented a complete intervention (all six sessions) of the program. Outcomes were measured at both the agency and participant level. Over 18 months following training and TA, at least one participant from 13 (33%) Web-based assigned agencies and 19 (48%) traditional agencies reported program use. Longitudinal multilevel analysis found no differences between groups on any outcomes at the agency or participant level with one exception: Web-based agencies implemented the program with 35% fewer couples compared with staff at manual-based agencies (IRR 0.35, CI, 0.13-0.94). Greater implementation of a Web-based program may require more resources and staff exposure, especially when paired with a couple-based modality. Manual-based and traditional programs may hold some advantage or ease for implementation, particularly at a time of low economic resources. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01863537
Implicit theories of intelligence predict achievement across an adolescent transition: a longitudinal study and an intervention

Two studies explored the role of implicit theories of intelligence in adolescents' mathematics achievement. In Study 1 with 373 7th graders, the belief that intelligence is malleable (incremental theory) predicted an upward trajectory in grades over the two years of junior high school, while a belief that intelligence is fixed (entity theory) predicted a flat trajectory. A mediational model including learning goals, positive beliefs about effort, and causal attributions and strategies was tested. In Study 2, an intervention teaching an incremental theory to 7th graders (N=48) promoted positive change in classroom motivation, compared with a control group (N=43). Simultaneously, students in the control group displayed a continuing downward trajectory in grades, while this decline was reversed for students in the experimental group.
Merkel Cells in Somatosensation

Merkel cells are rare epidermal cells whose function in the skin is still debated. These cells localize to highly touch-sensitive areas of vertebrate epithelia, including palatine ridges, touch domes, and finger tips. In most cases, Merkel cells complex with somatosensory afferents to form slowly adapting touch receptors; it is unclear, however, whether mechanosensory transduction occurs in the Merkel cell, the somatosensory afferent, or both. Classic anatomical results suggest that Merkel cells are sensory cells that transduce mechanical stimuli and then communicate with sensory afferents via neurotransmission. This model is supported by recent molecular, immunohistochemical and physiological studies of Merkel cells in vitro and in intact tissues. For example, Merkel cells express essential components of presynaptic machinery, including molecules required for release of the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate. Moreover, Merkel cells in vitro and in vivo are activated by mechanical stimuli, including hypotonic-induced cell swelling. Although these findings support the hypothesis that Merkel cells are sensory receptor cells, a definitive demonstration that Merkel cells are necessary and sufficient to transduce touch awaits future studies.
Effect of Monovalent-Divalent Cation Exchange on the Swelling of Polyacrylate Hydrogels in Physiological Salt Solutions

The volume transition induced by monovalent-divalent cation exchange of fully neutralized polyacrylate hydrogels was investigated in aqueous NaCl solutions. The variation of the osmotic swelling pressure, shear modulus, and mixing pressure was measured when Na(+) ions were substituted by divalent or trivalent cations. Alkali metal salts move freely throughout the entirely network, and alkaline earth metal salts (CaCl(2), SrCl(2)) promote aggregation of polyacrylate chains, but these aggregates are relatively weak. Transition metal salts (CoCl(2), NiCl(2)) form stronger interchain associates. Rare earth cations (La(3+) and Ce(3+)) bind practically irreversibly to the polymer. Experimental data indicate that transition metal cations modify both the elastic and mixing components of the free energy, while alkaline earth metal cations affect primarily the mixing term. The behavior of freely swollen gels was compared with similar gels subjected to uniaxial compression. In uniaxially compressed gels, volume transition occurs at lower cation concentrations than in the corresponding undeformed gels. The shift of the transition point increases with the deformation ratio and is larger for Co(2+) than for Ca(2+).
DISTRIBUTION-INVARIANT RISK MEASURES, INFORMATION, AND DYNAMIC CONSISTENCY

In the flrst part of the article, we characterize distribution-invariant risk measures with convex acceptance and rejection sets on the level of distributions. It is shown that these risk measures are closely related to utility-based shortfall risk. In the second part of the paper, we provide an axiomatic characterization for distributioninvariant dynamic risk measures of terminal payments. We prove a representation theorem and investigate the relation to static risk measures. A key insight of the paper is that dynamic consistency and the notion of \measure convex sets of probability measures" are intimately related. This result implies that under weak conditions dynamically consistent dynamic risk measures can be represented by static utility-based shortfall risk.
INSTRUMENTALISM, REALISM, AND RESEARCH ON THE DIFFUSION OF INNOVATION

Research on the diffusion of innovation has been dominated for many years by an approach to scientific reasoning developed most thoroughly and influentially by Hagerstrand. Recently there has been a shift away from this approach. However, this shift has not been previously noted in the literature. After presenting the characteristics of the two perspectives in terms of the instrumentalist and realist conceptions of science, this article provides some evidence for the shift and identifies several key issues for future research.
Left heart border straightening in severe mitral stenosis

A 27-year-old Hispanic female, in second trimester of her pregnancy, presented to our emergency department (ER) with gradually worsening shortness of breath. The physical exam was significant for a loud S1, mid-diastolic murmur of mitral stenosis and basilar crackles. A …
High voltage DC shifted RF switch-mode power supply system design for gas lasers excitation

A prototype DC-to-high-voltage DC-shifted RF switch-mode converter was designed, fabricated, and used to excite a low-power CO/sub 2/ laser. A novel concept was used in designing the ferrite transformer which reduces the leakage inductance. A modified voltage multiplier design was used to produce the high-voltage DC-shifted RF. Converter performance analysis, laser efficiency measurements, and the effect of various converter output parameters on laser performance were obtained and are analyzed. >
Superconducting Cavity Beam Test in CESR

The first use of a superconducting accelerating structure in a storage ring is described. Two 5-cell 1500 MHz ''muffin tin'' superconducting niobium cavities (1 m active length) were operated in the Cornell 8 GeV e/sup +/e/sup -/ storage ring, CESR. A 6.1 mA beam was captured and stored at 3.5 GeV using only the superconducting cavity. Up to 12.5 kW was transferred to the beam by the cavity. Single bunch currents up to 12 mA were reached in conjunction with the normal 500 MHz RF. Beam induced higher order mode (HOM) powers of 290 W were carried to room-temperature loads by four couplers and waveguides; no HOM-induced cryogenic dissipation was detectable. Q's of the 76 most prominent resonances were measured. Transverse and longitudinal beam instabilities were studied by mechanically sweeping the tune of the cavities; current thresholds are compared to theory. The cavity exhibited the ability to survive breakdown at high incident power without degradation.
Location Privacy Protection for Smartphone Users

As smartphones are increasingly used to run apps that provide users with location-based services, the users' location privacy has become a major concern. Existing solutions to this concern are deficient in terms of practicality, efficiency, and effectiveness. To address this problem, we design, implement, and evaluate LP-Guardian, a novel and comprehensive framework for location privacy protection for Android smartphone users. LP-Guardian's overcomes the shortcomings of existing approaches by addressing the tracking, profiling, and identification threats while maintaining app functionality. We have implemented and evaluated LP-Guardian's on Android 4.3.1. Our evaluation results show that LP-Guardian's effectively thwarts the privacy threats, without deteriorating the user's experience (less than 10% overhead in delay and energy). Also, LP-Guardian's privacy protection is shown to be achieved at a tolerable loss in app functionality.
Linear tunable phase shifter using a left-handed transmission line

We demonstrate a compact, linear, and low loss variation hybrid phase shifter using a left-handed (LH) transmission line. For frequencies from 4.3 to 5.6 GHz, this phase shifter gives a nearly linear phase variation with voltage, with a maximum deviation of /spl plusmn/7.5/spl deg/. Within this frequency range, the maximum insertion loss is 3.6 dB, and the minimum insertion loss is 1.8 dB over a continuously adjustable phase range of more than 125/spl deg/, while minimum return loss is only 10.2 dB. Furthermore, this phase shifter requires only one control line, and it consumes almost no power.
Winter respiratory viruses and health care use: A population-based study in the Northwest United States

To quantify health care use among adults during influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) seasons, we identified a cohort of veterans aged >or=18 years who used Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities in Oregon and Washington states as their source of health care. During 1998-2000, veterans accrued 237,159 person-years of follow-up. Using VA data sources, we measured acute cardiopulmonary hospitalizations and primary care and urgent care visits. Differences between rates of study events when influenza and/or RSV were circulating and event rates when neither virus was circulating were used to calculate winter virus-attributable morbidity. Inpatient and outpatient event rates were consistently higher during winter virus season, compared with non-winter virus season. Annual rates of cardiopulmonary hospitalizations attributable to influenza or RSV infection ranged from 0.8 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.1-1.5) per 1000 low-risk individuals aged 18-49 years, to 10.6 (95% CI, 7.5-13.6) per 1000 high-risk individuals aged >or=65 years. Each year, circulation of influenza and RSV coincide with predictable increases in medical care use.
Against Radical Credal Imprecision

A number of Bayesians claim that, if one has no evidence relevant to a proposition P, then one's credence in P should be spread over the interval [0, 1]. Against this, I argue: first, that it is inconsistent with plausible claims about comparative levels of confidence; second, that it precludes inductive learning in certain cases. Two motivations for the view are considered and rejected. A discussion of alternatives leads to the conjecture that there is an in-principle limitation on formal representations of belief: they cannot be both fully accurate and maximally specific.
WHY ARE BETTER SEATS “UNDERPRICED”?

Faced with competition, one's behavior often depends on that of his competitors. The determination of price is one response to competition, and an important one indeed. But it is not the only one. All contracting parties may gain, if price can be reduced to encourage restraints on behavior. This paper shows that “behavior which restrains behavior” may be effectively induced by the simple expedient of a reduction in price.
Oscillatory modulations in human fusiform cortex during motion-induced blindness: intracranial recording.

Objective Motion-induced blindness (MIB) is an illusory phenomenon, in which a static target surrounded by moving distracters is perceived to disappear. We determined the electrocorticographic (ECoG) correlates of MIB.
Effects of Multi-Stage Coupling and Disk Flexibility on Mistuned Bladed Disk Dynamics

The effects of disk flexibility and multi-stage coupling on the dynamics of bladed disks with and without blade mistuning are investigated. Both free and forced responses are examined using finite element representations of example single- and two-stage rotor models. The reported work demonstrates the importance of proper treatment of interstage (stage-to-stage) boundaries in order to yield adequate capture of disk-blade modal interaction in eigenfrequency veering regions. The modified disk-blade modal interactions resulting from interstage-coupling-induced changes in disk flexibility are found to have a significant impact on (a) tuned responses due to excitations passing through eigenfrequency veering regions, and (b) a design’s sensitivity to blade mistuning. Hence, the findings in this paper suggest that multi-stage analyses may be required when excitations are expected to fall in or near eigenfrequency veering regions or when the sensitivity to blade mistuning is to be accounted for. Conversely, the observed sensitivity to disk flexibility also indicates that the severity of unfavorable structural interblade coupling may be reduced significantly by re-designing the disk(s) and stage-to-stage connectivity. The relatively drastic effects of such modifications illustrated in this work indicate that the design modifications required to alleviate veering-related response problems may be less comprehensive than what might have been expected.Copyright © 2001 by ASME
Escaping femininity, claiming respectability: Culture, class and young women in Turkey

Synopsis Drawing on interview-based ethnographic research in Ankara, this article studies formations of femininity across social classes in urban Turkey. It centers on four young women, who have unequal access to economic resources and different cultural meanings. Through their biographies, this paper examines the effects of social class on experiences of gender and negotiations of femininity, on the one hand. And on the other, it demonstrates common narratives that young women employ in negotiating gender. While they commonly escape certain forms of femininity, which they frequently describe as traditional, backward, or submissive, they also employ alternative narratives such as independence, career success, moderation, chastity, and religiosity to attest self-value and respectability. Studying young women's experiences of gender and their negotiations of power provides fertile ground for further exploration of the construction of gender and class in relational terms.
Contemporary Employment in Psychology and Future Trends

How are new psychology doctorates faring when seeking their first professional position? What are the criteria by which applicants are judged? Is there any point to trying to get a job in academe? Are practice jobs easier to come by? What about consulting? In this chapter, we will use a number of data sources to answer questions like these regarding employment in psychology. Using data from the biennial APA Doctorate Employment Surveys, as well as data from the National Science Foundation and the National Survey of Postsecondary Faculty (NSOPF) conducted by the U.S. Department of Education, we will sketch a picture of the current employment situation for doctoral-level psychologists in the United States. Data will be presented on employment settings, salaries, perceptions of the marketplace, time to employment and any changes in these over time.
2001 presidential address.

This year the renal community, the United States, and the world endured two tragedies. The first of these, the events of September 11, will be remembered for many years to come. The magnitude of the devastation and pain inflicted on so many innocent people is difficult for us to grasp. Our thoughts
Less is more: long-term in vitro exposure to low levels of silver nanoparticles provides new insights for nanomaterial evaluation.

In view of the vast number of new nanomaterials (NMs) that require testing and the constraints associated with animal models, the majority of studies to elucidate nanotoxicological effects have occurred in vitro, with limited correlation and applicability to in vivo systems and realistic, occupational exposure scenarios. In this study, we developed and implemented a chronic in vitro model coupled with lower, regulatory dosages in order to provide a more realistic assessment of NM-dependent consequences and illuminate the implications of long-term NM exposure. When keratinocytes were exposed to 50 nm silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs), we determined that chronically dosed cells operated under augmented stress and modified functionality in comparison to their acute counterparts. Specifically, Ag-NP exposure through a chronic mechanism increased p38 activation, actin disorganization, heightened ki67 expression, and extensive gene modification. Additionally, chronic Ag-NP exposure altered the way in which cells pe...
Ammonia detoxication in liver from humans.

SummaryThe detoxication of ammonia in homogenates of liver from fetal and adult human beings has been studied. Amount of urea synthesized in a day for each case has been calculated from the rate-limiting step of the urea cycle. Similar data are presented for glutamine synthetase and glutamic acid dehydrogenase. Values for human beings have been compared to similar values for the rat, and differences have been discussed.
Technology and Policy for the Internet of Things in Africa

The Internet of Things (IoT) has been called the 'next Internet,' with the ability to transform how we interact with the physical world on a scale similar to the way the Internet transformed how we interact with each other. As global economic growth increasingly shifts to developing countries, few technology trends hold greater promise or greater challenge for these nations than that posed by the IoT. Enabling and managing the Internet of Things transformation will require innovative policy and regulation, particularly in these developing countries. In this paper we examine a number of key challenges for the development of the Internet of Things in an African context. These include technology, policy, regulation, privacy and security, and capacity development.Expansion of the traditional Internet has proceeded more slowly in developing countries than elsewhere, constrained by infrastructure, cost, energy availability, technical expertise, and even literacy rates. Similar issues will impact the development of the Internet of Things in Africa, and the proliferation of connected devices will increase the demand on available resources such as bandwidth and network capacity. Despite the many constraints, Africa is in a unique position to craft and apply innovative IoT policy. They are less encumbered by legacy interests, infrastructure, and policy, have lower spectrum utilization, and frequently have centralized governments capable of rapidly adopting and effecting new policies.By examining some key concepts relating to the IoT in Africa we begin to construct the conceptual framework for further discussion, other research, and for crafting appropriate and flexible policy which advances Internet of Things innovation in developing countries.
Polycystic ovarian disease. A report of 301 patients.

Abstract A group of 301 women with polycystic ovarian disease is presented. The 127 patients, whose diagnoses were confirmed surgically, were divided into those with normal or thickened tunica albuginea for purposes of classification. They were further subdivided on the basis of ovarian size (i.e., normal or enlarged). Presenting symptoms of hirsutism, menstrual dysrhythmia, and infertility were compared in each group. No significant differences were noted except that hirsutism occurred more commonly in those with thickened tunica. The effect of prednisone therapy on each of these symptoms was evaluated. Improvement compared favorably with results of wedge resection reported in a recent review. 12
Use of photodynamic therapy in the treatment of refractory carcinoma in situ

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a new and innovative approach to the treatment of malignant disease. This treatment modality involves administration of a photosensitizer, which is retained in malignant tissue, followed by exposure of that tissue to light corresponding to one of the absorption bands of the drug, with resultant cell death. Several photosensitizers are currently under study, but haematoporphyrin derivative (HPD) is the drug that has been used almost exclusively in clinical urological trials. Both direct and indirect methods have been used to document the preferential concentration or retention of HPD in malignant urothelium. Although this drug is not a perfect tumour localization aid, it is perhaps the best that has thus far been studied for transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder. Over the past decade of investigation, PDT has become established to the point that it is now being tested in phase II and III trials against standard and approved drugs for the treatment of noninvasive transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder.
Disruption of Type 2 Iodothyronine Deiodinase Activity in Cultured Human Glial Cells by Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers

Polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) flame retardants are endocrine disruptors and suspected neurodevelopmental toxicants. While the direct mechanisms of neurodevelopmental toxicity have not been fully elucidated, it is conceivable that alterations in thyroid hormone levels in the developing brain may contribute to these effects. Cells within the brain locally convert thyroxine (T4) to the biologically active triiodothyronine (T3) through the action of the selenodeiodinase type 2 iodothyronine deiodinase (DIO2). Previous studies have demonstrated that PBDEs can alter hepatic deiodinase activity both in vitro and in vivo; however, the effects of PBDEs on the deiodinase isoforms expressed in the brain are not well understood. Here, we studied the effects of several individual PBDEs and hydroxylated metabolites (OH-BDEs) on DIO2 activity in astrocytes, a specialized glial cell responsible for production of more than 50% of the T3 required by the brain. Primary human astrocytes and H4 glioma cells were expose...
A Cluster-Randomized, Community-Based, Tribally Delivered Oral Health Promotion Trial in Navajo Head Start Children:

The authors tested the effectiveness of a community-based, tribally delivered oral health promotion (OHP) intervention (INT) at reducing caries increment in Navajo children attending Head Start. In a 3-y cluster-randomized trial, we developed an OHP INT with Navajo input that was delivered by trained Navajo lay health workers to children attending 52 Navajo Head Start classrooms (26 INT, 26 usual care [UC]). The INT was designed as a highly personalized set of oral health-focused interactions (5 for children and 4 for parents), along with 4 fluoride varnish applications delivered in Head Start during academic years of 2011 to 2012 and 2012 to 2013. The authors evaluated INT impact on decayed, missing, and filled tooth surfaces (dmfs) increment compared with UC. Other outcomes included caries prevalence and caregiver oral health-related knowledge and behaviors. Modified intention-to-treat and per-protocol analyses were conducted. The authors enrolled 1,016 caregiver-child dyads. Baseline mean dmfs/caries prevalence equaled 19.9/86.5% for the INT group and 22.8/90.1% for the UC group, respectively. INT adherence was 53% (i.e., ≥3 child OHP events, ≥1 caregiver OHP events, and ≥3 fluoride varnish). After 3 y, dmfs increased in both groups (+12.9 INT vs. +10.8 UC; P = 0.216), as did caries prevalence (86.5% to 96.6% INT vs. 90.1% to 98.2% UC; P = 0.808) in a modified intention-to-treat analysis of 897 caregiver-child dyads receiving 1 y of INT. Caregiver oral health knowledge scores improved in both groups (75.1% to 81.2% INT vs. 73.6% to 79.5% UC; P = 0.369). Caregiver oral health behavior scores improved more rapidly in the INT group versus the UC group (P = 0.006). The dmfs increment was smaller among adherent INT children (+8.9) than among UC children (+10.8; P = 0.028) in a per-protocol analysis. In conclusion, the severity of dental disease in Navajo Head Start children is extreme and difficult to improve. The authors argue that successful approaches to prevention may require even more highly personalized approaches shaped by cultural perspectives and attentive to the social determinants of oral health (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01116739).
Oscillatory Microprocessor for Growth and in Situ Characterization of Semiconductor Nanocrystals

An automated two-phase small scale platform based on controlled oscillatory motion of a droplet within a 12 cm long tubular Teflon reactor is designed and developed for high-throughput in situ studies of a solution-phase preparation of semiconductor nanocrystals. The unique oscillatory motion of the droplet within the heated region of the reactor enables temporal single-point spectral characterization of the same nanocrystals with a time resolution of 3 s over the course of the synthesis time without sampling while removing the residence time limitation associated with continuous flow-based strategies. The developed oscillatory microprocessor allows for direct comparison of the high temperature and room temperature spectral characteristics of nanocrystals. Utilizing this automated experimental strategy, we study the effect of temperature on the nucleation and growth of II–VI and III–V semiconductor nanocrystals. The automated droplet preparation and injection of the precursors combined with the oscillator...
Working Memory Training in Deaf Children with Cochlear Implants

Verbal working memory is significantly delayed in many prelingually deaf children who receive cochlear implants. Because of the importance of working memory for language, learning, and daily functioning, these delays present a significant challenge to cognitive development and quality of life. In order to address the consequences of working memory delays in normal-hearing children, several computer-based, game-like programs have been developed with the goal of improving working memory. Research on these working memory training programs using normal-hearing samples has demonstrated improvement on measures of abilities that are similar to the trained working memory tasks. Findings have been suggestive but less consistent about improvement in other abilities such as fluid intelligence, attention, concentration, and academic skills. In a pilot study of a working memory training program in a sample of prelingually deaf, early implanted children and adolescents with cochlear implants, we found improvement after training on measures of working memory and sentence repetition. Results were less robust for measures of fluency/speed, and the magnitude of improvement (with the notable exception of sentence repetition skills) declined during a 6-month follow-up period. Larger samples and randomized, controlled designs are recommended as a next step to develop and evaluate novel working memory training interventions for children with cochlear implants.
The Feast Before Famine and Fighting: The Origins and Consequences of Social Complexity in the Mirador Basin, Guatemala

Archeological investigations in northern Guatemala have provided a strong record of the origins, dynamics, and collapse of social, political and economic complexity in the Preclassic periods of Maya civilization. Extensive isotope, pollen, and phytolith analyses have indicated that the marsh regions of the Mirador Basin provided the economic engines that gave rise to the cultural sophistication through abundant natural resources and agricultural exploitation. Sophisticated terrace systems provided rich agricultural productivity that allowed population growth, ideological solidarity, and economic prosperity which fueled a rapid and dynamic cultural florescence during the Middle and Late Preclassic periods of Maya civilization (ca. 1000 B.C.–A.D. 150). This trajectory however, led to a conspicuous consumption of labor and resources which blinded the societies and/or their leadership to the abuses of power, environment, and productivity by rampant and unnecessary use of resources, environmental degradation, an ascribed elite formation and the burdens of an increasing top-heavy administrative bureaucracy. The stresses on societies, which apparently were inclusive of, and exacerbated by, excessive erosion, droughts and periods of dessication, as well as associated social upheavals led to a posture of militaristic behavior, indicative of predatory, symptomatic conflict. The combination of these factors generated the “perfect storm” which ultimately resulted in demographic collapse.
Decidual arteriolopathy with or without associated hypertension modifies the underlying histomorphology in placentas from diabetic mothers.

Aim The aim of this study was to retrospectively document the impact of hypertensive conditions in pregnancy and decidual arteriolopathy on the patterns of placental injury in maternal diabetes mellitus (MDM). Methods Among all 5248 > 20 weeks’ placentas, the frequencies of 19 selected clinical and 24 placental phenotypes were compared between 287 MDM placentas and 4961 remaining placentas (control group [CG]) before and after further exclusion of 85 and 611 patients with hypertensive conditions (gestational hypertension, pre-eclampsia, chronic hypertension). Results Cesarean section rate, heavy placentas, decidual arteriolopathy, microscopic chorionic pseudocysts, and chorangiosis were more common in MDM than in the CG both before and after exclusion of hypertensive conditions. The frequencies of preuterine patterns of chronic hypoxic placental injury and plasma cell deciduitis became statistically significant only after exclusion of hypertensive conditions. Conclusion Hypertensive conditions of pregnancy may obscure the underlying preuterine placental hypoxic pattern in MDM placentas. Even in normotensive patients, decidual arteriolopathy, and shallow placental implantation significantly impact placental histomorphology in MDM.
Plume detection with emphasis on phenomenology, signal models, and exploitation algorithms

The remote detection, identification and quantification of chemical vapor plumes in the atmosphere are difficult problems that have been addressed using longwave hyperspectral sensors. Chemical detection algorithms compare the sensor's spectral measurements to a library of known chemical signatures to decide whether or not a plume is present. Detection of the chemical plume is an important step in the processing pipeline, but the main goal of the system is to accurately identify which single chemical or mixture of chemicals is present in the plume. In this paper, we provide the key equations and methods used for chemical detection and identification, system performance evaluation, as well as a comparison of state-of-the-art processing algorithms. We show that a good practical approach is a two-step algorithm design that uses a bank of single-chemical detectors, followed by an identification algorithm that makes a final decision about the chemicals in the plume.
In situ vaccination: Harvesting low hanging fruit on the cancer immunotherapy tree.

After 100 years of debate, it is clear that cancer is recognized by the immune system and this has generated immense interest in cancer immunotherapy. The systemic nature of the immune system gives immunotherapy the ability to treat metastatic disease, which currently requires chemotherapy that frequently fails. Like chemotherapy, most immunotherapy is systemically applied in an effort to generate systemic antitumor immune response. However, local administration of immunostimulatory reagents into a recognized tumor by in situ vaccination (ISV) can also generate systemic antitumor immunity to fight metastatic disease. Conventional vaccines contain antigens and immune adjuvants. With ISV, the tumor itself supplies the antigen and the treatment only applies immune adjuvant directly to the tumor. While current immunotherapy often fails to eliminate cancer because of local immunosuppression mediated by tumors, effective ISV changes the tumor microenvironment from immunosuppressive to immunostimulatory, stimulates presentation of tumor antigens by antigen-presenting cells to T cells, and generates systemic antitumor immunity that promotes antigen-specific effector T-cell attack of both treated and importantly, untreated metastatic tumors. The advantages of ISV are: simple and cost-effective; minimal systemic side effects; feasible and flexible adjuvant delivery; exploiting all tumor antigens in the tumor avoids the need to identify antigens; utilizing all antigens in the tumor minimizes immune escape; and potential synergy when combined with other therapies. This review puts ISV into the broader context of cancer immunotherapy, including the use of nanoparticles, and outlines research needed in order to manifest the potential of ISV for clinical use. This article is categorized under: Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Nanomedicine for Oncologic Disease.
Search for Planets and Early Life in Other Solar Systems an Introduction

The subject discussed by most authors in this section is the potential of our technology to detect planets around other stars. The subject is of fundamental importance to the question of life, because we assume that life may originate and evolve only on planets. If planets were found near other stars, then with the development of proper instruments we could go one step further and search for a spectroscopic evidence of early life on these planets as discussed by Dr. Owen. Similar spectroscopic studies are currently carried out for the other bodies of our solar system. As was pointed out by Dr. Soffen in Montreal, in spite of the generally negative results of the Viking experiments on Mars, and the rather pessimistic prospects for other planets and satellites, the possibility that life might exist in our solar system, outside the earth, lias not yet been completely eliminated. Continued exploration of our solar system in the coming decades could yield useful insights into planetary evolution, the conditions necessary for the origin of life, and possibly on the question of interstellar travel and galactic colonization as discussed by Dr. Papagiannis. Space exploration, therefore, will remain an important companion to astronomical searches for signs of life in the Cosmos.
41 Delineating the molecular connections between mitotic aneuploidy, micronucleation, and cellular fragmentation in pre-implantation bovine embryos

Whole chromosomal abnormalities (aneuploidy) that arise during early embryo development are a major contributor to in vitro fertilization failure. It is estimated that ~50 to 80% of human embryos contain aneuploid cells, which contribute to high levels of chromosomal mosaicism detected by pre-implantation genetic screening. Previous studies estimate that 32 to 88% of bovine embryos are aneuploid at the 2-cell stage, advocating cattle as a physiologically relevant model to study the mechanisms mediating meiotic and/or mitotic errors. In cleavage-stage human embryos, a process called cellular fragmentation is associated with aneuploidy, and when used in conjunction with assessment of early mitotic timing, can largely distinguish chromosomally normal and abnormal embryos. We recently demonstrated that some cellular fragments contain chromosomal material that likely began as mis-segregated chromosomes that were encapsulated into micronuclei. Given that bovine embryos exhibit cellular fragmentation, albeit to a lesser extent than human embryos, we hypothesise that cellular fragmentation is a response to micronucleation and represents a conserved mechanism to eliminate mis-segregated chromosomes from the pre-implantation embryo. Using a combination of live-cell imaging, single-cell DNA-sequencing, whole-embryo RNA-sequencing, quantitative RT-PCR, and multicolour confocal microscopy, we aim to further investigate the correlation between these phenomena using in vitro-produced bovine embryos. Similar to humans, the first three mitotic divisions are able to successfully predict progression to the blastocyst stage (N = 84). Bovine embryos frequently contained multi-/micro-nuclei, and DNA-sequencing of individual bovine blastomeres up to 12 cells confirmed that ~58 to 87% of cleavage-stage bovine embryos are aneuploidy (N = 38) and often detectable by abnormal cell divisions. Transcriptional profiling of fragmented versus non-fragmented bovine embryos via RNA-sequencing identified a small subset of differentially abundant genes at the 4-cell stage. Pathway analysis showed reduced abundance of genes associated with the cytoskeleton, microtubules, and spindle in 4-cell embryos with cellular fragmentation as well as enrichment of membrane targeting and vesicle fusion pathways. The potential role of these cellular components in micronucleation and cellular fragmentation is being assessed by microinjecting bovine zygotes with fluorescently labelled mRNA mCherry-H2B (chromatin marker) and mCitrine-LaminB1 (nuclear envelope marker), followed by overnight live-cell multicolour confocal imaging (Zeiss LSM 880 with AiryScan; Zeiss, Thornwood, NY, USA). Results from these studies contribute to our knowledge of early embryogenesis with translational application to help ameliorate embryonic loss in women and cattle.
SHORT STATURE, BIG VALVE DISEASE: A CASE OF TURNER'S SYNDROME

Turner's syndrome (TS) has known associated cardiac defects. Well described abnormalities are bicuspid aortic valve (AV) and mitral valve (MV) prolapse and/or regurgitation (MR). However, yet to be described is a mix of MV disease with myxomatous, rheumatic, and congenital defects. A 23-year-old
Impact of Stimulus Polarity on oVEMP Response Using the Belly-Tendon Electrode Montage

Background One stimulus parameter not well established with respect to the ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potential (oVEMP) is stimulus polarity. Many research studies traditionally record oVEMPs using alternating polarity primarily. Purpose The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of stimulus polarity on the oVEMP response under three different conditions (condensation, rarefaction, and alternating) with updated but established recording procedures-the belly-tendon electrode montage. Research design oVEMPs were assessed with changes in stimulus polarity in the seated upright position. Study sample Thirty otologically normal participants (60 ears) with no history of hearing or balance disorders and normal middle ear function. Data collection and analysis Five hundred-hertz air-conducted tone bursts at 95-dB nHL were used to evoke the oVEMP response while recordings were made from the contralateral eye to acoustical stimulation using the belly-tendon electrode montage. Measurements were made using three polarities: alternating, condensation, and rarefaction. Natus Bio-logic AEP hardware and software was used for all data collection and analysis. Results Condensation stimulus phase provided the largest response amplitude compared with alternating and/or rarefaction. Rarefaction provided the earliest latency among stimulus polarities. Conclusions Condensation is a more effective stimulus polarity regarding response amplitude when recording the oVEMP. This study further supports the use of the belly-tendon electrode montage for recording the oVEMP response.
Digital tomosynthesis based digital volume correlation: A clinically viable noninvasive method for direct measurement of intravertebral displacements using images of the human spine under physiological load

PURPOSE We have developed a clinically viable method for measurement of direct, patient-specific intravertebral displacements using a novel digital tomosynthesis based digital volume correlation technique. These displacements may be used to calculate vertebral stiffness under loads induced by a patient's body weight; this is particularly significant because, among biomechanical variables, stiffness is the strongest correlate of bone strength. In this proof of concept study, we assessed the feasibility of the method through a preliminary evaluation of the accuracy and precision of the method, identification of a range of physiological load levels for which displacements are measurable, assessment of the relationship of measured displacements with microcomputed tomography based standards, and demonstration of the in vivo application of the technique. METHODS Five cadaveric T11 vertebrae were allocated to three groups in order to study (a) the optimization of digital volume correlation algorithm input parameters, (b) accuracy and precision of the method and the ability to measure displacements at a range of physiological load levels, and (c) the correlation between displacements measured using tomosynthesis based digital volume correlation vs. high resolution microcomputed tomography based digital volume correlation and large scale finite element models. Tomosynthesis images of one patient (Female, 60 yr old) were used to calculate displacement maps, and in turn stiffness, using images acquired in both standing and standing-with-weight (8 kg) configurations. RESULTS We found that displacements were accurate (2.28 µm total error) and measurable at physiological load levels (above 267 N) with a linear response to applied load. Calculated stiffness among three tested vertebral bodies was within an acceptable range relative to reported values for vertebral stiffness (5651-13260 N/mm). Displacements were in good qualitative and quantitative agreement with both microcomputed tomography based finite element (r2 = 0.762, P < 0.001) and digital volume correlation (r2 = 0.799, P < 0.001) solutions. For one patient tested twice, once standing and once holding weights, results demonstrated excellent qualitative reproducibility of displacement distributions with superior endplate displacements increasing by 22% with added weight. CONCLUSIONS The results of this work collectively suggest the feasibility of the method for in vivo measurement of intravertebral displacements and stiffness in humans. These findings suggest that digital volume correlation using digital tomosynthesis imaging may be useful in understanding the mechanical response of bone to disease and may further enhance our ability to assess fracture risk and treatment efficacy for the spine.