cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Simontool: Simulation Support for the Simon Cipher

The Simon Cipher is a low complexity, symmetric cipher that was designed for pervasive computing applications, such as radio-frequency identification (RFID) and Internet of Things; however, there has not been a hardware implementation of the Simon Cipher that addresses the unique low-power and low-device count demands for RFID. We present a bit-serial hardware implementation guide and the simontool program, which facilitates design, simulation, and verification of a bit-serial implementations of the Simon Cipher by emulating an 1-bit hardware implementation in software. This software tool will enable RFID chip designers to incorporate cutting-edge encryption algorithms in their IC designs.
Studies of influencing factors for shale gas reservoir performance

Shale gas resource plays a significant role in energy supply worldwide. For economic production of shale gas, technologies of horizontal well and hydraulic fracturing are used for shale gas reservoirs. Therefore, the productivity of the shale gas reservoirs will be influenced by both reservoir condition, and hydraulic fracture properties. In this thesis, parameters that will influence shale gas production were classified into two categories: reservoir properties and hydraulic fracture properties. Published shale gas simulation studies were surveyed for determining the typical ranges of those properties. CMG-GEM was employed to finish the reservoir simulation work, and CMGCMOST was used to complete the sensitivity analysis work. A three dimensional single phase dual-permeability shale gas reservoir model was created. Three flow mechanisms (Darcy flow, Non-Darcy flow, and Gas diffusion) as well as gas adsorption and desorption mechanism were considered in this model. Sensitivity checks for each parameter were performed to analyze the effect of factors to forecast the production of shale gas reservoir. Influences of reservoir and hydraulic fracture parameters for different time periods were quantified by simulation of 1 yr., 5 yr., 10 yr., and 20 yr. production
An annotated guide to safety belt education resources for secondary school teachers.

(1984). An Annotated Guide to Safety Belt Education Resources for Secondary School Teachers. Health Education: Vol. 15, No. 5, pp. 57-62.
Taylor’s Formula

Taylor’s formula deals with the approximation of arbitrary differentiable functions by polynomials. There are many kinds of approximation in mathematics, each with particular advantages designed for particular problems. The one studied here is designed to approximate very well in a small neighborhood of a given point. It is achieved by matching the function and its derivatives to a certain order at the point. Note that the tangent line is exactly this sort of thing. It is obtained by matching the function and the derivative at the point. The first question is how to manage the additional matching.
Electronic Monitoring of Medication Adherence: When Is High-Tech Best?

The accurate measurement of medication adherence is challenging, particularly in pediatrics. Electronic monitoring has been proposed as a possible “gold standard” for medication adherence measurement. Electronic monitoring permits the evaluation of patterns of medication use and dose-response relationship and may be a useful part of adherence promotion interventions. The use of these devices, however, is not without costs and cautions including, expense, malfunctioning, and interference with existing adherence routines. This review examines the costs and benefits of using electronic monitoring of adherence as well as the reliability and validity of electronic monitoring in general and, where possible, for specific devices (i.e., MEMS, MDIlog, and Doser). Finally, we provide recommendations for quality control protocols to minimize many of the problems encountered when using such devices. Ultimately, the choice of adherence measurement strategy should be based on the goal of the study and the resources available.
System-Level Energy Tradeoffs for Collaborative Computation in Wireless Networks

Energy is a critical performance metric in collaborative and distributed wireless networks. An integrated approach that considers system-level energy tradeoffs (such as communication versus computation energy) is essential for energy efficient application development in these networks. In this chapter, we present a system-level model for estimating the energy dissipation in these networks, and discuss energy reduction techniques for the Automatic Target Recognition (ATR) problem in a wireless environment. We show that by using our techniques and analysis up to 80% reduction can be achieved in the overall system energy. Finally, we discuss the impact of changing technology and energy costs on the effectiveness of these techniques.
The Orthopedic Examination

The effective evaluation of any child with musculoskeletal difficulties requires attention to the story the family has to tell and a thorough physical exam. The frequency of nonorganic or nonspecific causes for problems of this nature is high. Even when specific organic causes are present, their subtlety of manifestation is such that a “shotgun” or undirected approach to diagnosis is often frustrating and expensive and can even be dangerous.
Quality Improvement to Demonstrate the Lack of Reliability of the Human Papillomavirus mRNA Assay to Identify Women With Latent Human Papillomavirus Infections.

We read with interest the article by Cotton et al1 but disagree with their conclusion. Rather, we believe that human papillomavirus (HPV) mRNA assays, when used in accord with U.S. Food and Drug Administration labeling, are appropriate for use as a first-line screening tool for cervical cancer becau
Neighborhood collective efficacy and collective action: the role of civic engagement.

Theory suggests that by strengthening collective efficacy among neighbors, neighborhoods can more effectively engage in collective action. The research linking the two components of collective efficacy-social cohesion and social control-with collective action is limited. This study uses structural equation modeling with a nationally representative sample from the United States Census Bureau's American Housing Survey (N = 22,106) to analyze these relationships. This analysis finds that neither component of collective efficacy is directly associated with collective action. Instead, social cohesion is negatively, directly associated with civic engagement, social control is positively directly associated with civic engagement, and civic engagement is positively associated with collective action. Social cohesion and social control are indirectly associated with collective action when including civic engagement. Understanding the associations between collective efficacy, civic engagement, and collective action is informative for understanding effective and efficient community participation to facilitate change.
Spatial control of condensation and desublimation using ice nucleating proteins

On a subfreezing surface, nucleating embryos usually form as supercooled condensate that later freezes into ice, as opposed to desublimation. Ice nucleating proteins (INPs) have been widely used to quickly freeze existing supercooled water; however, nobody has studied how they might affect the initial mode of embryo formation. We show that INPs deposited on a substrate can switch the mode of embryo nucleation to desublimation, rather than supercooled condensation, beneath a critical temperature. By patterning a hydrophobic surface with an array of hydrophilic stripes, the INPs can be selectively deposited by evaporating water that exclusively spreads along the hydrophilic regions. The resulting array of desublimating ice stripes created dry zones free of condensation or frost in the intermediate areas, as the hygroscopic ice stripes served as overlapping humidity sinks.On a subfreezing surface, nucleating embryos usually form as supercooled condensate that later freezes into ice, as opposed to desublimation. Ice nucleating proteins (INPs) have been widely used to quickly freeze existing supercooled water; however, nobody has studied how they might affect the initial mode of embryo formation. We show that INPs deposited on a substrate can switch the mode of embryo nucleation to desublimation, rather than supercooled condensation, beneath a critical temperature. By patterning a hydrophobic surface with an array of hydrophilic stripes, the INPs can be selectively deposited by evaporating water that exclusively spreads along the hydrophilic regions. The resulting array of desublimating ice stripes created dry zones free of condensation or frost in the intermediate areas, as the hygroscopic ice stripes served as overlapping humidity sinks.
Early Polycystic Kidney Disease

Over 700 persons either having polycystic kidney disease (PKD) or related to persons having that disease were studied at the University of Colorado Health Science Center for more than 20 years.(1–4) This study was begun in 1960 when it was observed that the ultrasound image of the adult form of PKD was quite distinctive.(4) This distinctive pattern offered a potential for earlier diagnosis of PKD and for more effective family screening without the radiation exposure accompanying the excretory urogram.
Daily rhythms in lactate metabolism in the medial prefrontal cortex of mouse: Effects of light and aging

Abstract Aging is associated with reduced circadian (daily) rhythm amplitude in physiology and behavior, and decreased function of the prefrontal cortex (PFC). Similar effects are seen in younger mice experiencing circadian desynchrony (CD) caused by exposure to 20h light-dark cycles (T20). Given changes in PFC structure/function, underlying metabolic functioning of the PFC may also occur. We aimed to determine whether there are similarities in neurometabolism between Aged and CD mice. Using enzymatic amperometric biosensors, we recorded lactate concentration changes in the medial PFC in freely-behaving mice. Young mice displayed a circadian rhythm of lactate, which was severely blunted by CD, while Aging only changed the rhythm in constant conditions. We simultaneously probed the relationship between arousal state and PFC lactate rhythms, showing relationships between arousal state and lactate concentration, and documenting changes that occurred in CD and aging. Finally, using RT-qPCR, we found changes in genes related to metabolism and plasticity in both Aged and CD mice. Together, these data suggest both Aging and light cycle manipulation can disrupt mPFC neurometabolism. Highlights Lactate recordings were taken in Aged and circadian desynchronized (CD) mice. Lactate displayed a circadian rhythm in Control mice which was blunted in CD mice. The sleep state/lactate relationship was influenced by Aging, CD, and light. Both Aging and CD changed the expression of genes related to neurometabolism.
MITRAL VALVE CLIPPING FOR NEW ONSET DEGENERATIVE SEVERE MITRAL REGURGITATION IN A PATIENT WITH LEFT VENTRICULAR ASSIST DEVICE

Functional mitral regurgitation (MR) in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy is known to improve with left ventricular assist device (LVAD). If degenerative MR develops in patients with LVAD, there are not many options. 66 years old man with history of non-ischemic cardiomyopathy status post LVAD (
Introduction: Overview of the Human Eye, Mammalian Retina, and the Retinoid Visual Cycle

The human eye is a part of the sensory nervous system and is the organ responsible for conscious light perception and vision. Its intricate and complex anatomy has evolved to effectively focus incoming light from the surrounding environment and to harness its energy by efficiently utilizing the physicochemical properties of retinoids. This remarkable organ is capable of phototransduction, which involves the conversion of photon energy into an integrated neural signal that propagates through the optic nerve as an action potential to the visual cortex of the brain. There, the neural signal is processed to give rise to color differentiation, brightness perception, contrast, and depth perception. Loss of visual acuity or blindness presents a significant negative impact on quality of life. Irreversible blindness affects nearly 60 million individuals worldwide, with the leading causes including age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, and retinal vascular disease. In this chapter, we will provide basic background information of the human eye and retina required for readers unfamiliar with the field of ophthalmic drug discovery. The purpose of this chapter is to help facilitate a thorough understanding of the subsequent chapters of this volume that focus on key ophthalmic diseases, recent developments in drug discovery efforts toward treating these diseases, and the challenges faced in the delivery of drugs to their ocular targets. Thus, this chapter will provide a general overview that begins with the gross anatomical features of the human eye followed by a description of the histology of the mammalian retina. We will next provide morphological and functional details concerning the various cell types that comprise the many layers of the retina, and we will conclude by describing the series of reactions that constitute the visual retinoid cycle and the various key proteins that facilitate it.
Reconceptualizing the p-value from a likelihood ratio test: a probabilistic pairwise comparison of models based on Kullback-Leibler discrepancy measures

Discrepancy measures are often employed in problems involving the selection and assessment of statistical models. A discrepancy gauges the separation between a fitted candidate model and the underl...
Optimizing Cuckoo Filter for high burst tolerance, low latency, and high throughput.

In this paper, we present an implementation of a cuckoo filter for membership testing, optimized for distributed data stores operating in high workloads. In large databases, querying becomes inefficient using traditional search methods. To achieve optimal performance it is necessary to use probabilistic data structures to test the membership of a given key, at the cost of getting false positives while querying data. The widely used bloom filters can be used for this, but they have limitations like no support for deletes. To improve upon this we use a modified version of the cuckoo filter that gives better amortized times for search, with less false positives.
Development of a Culturally Valid Instrument Examining HPV Knowledge and Beliefs of Lakota Women on the Pine Ridge Reservation.

IntroductionThe aim of this article is to describe the modification of an instrument to secure cultural validity using cognitive interviewing to adequately examine and address health issues in a di...
Clinical presentation and management of atypical and recalcitrant acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis.

Acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP) is a severe cutaneous adverse reaction (SCAR) characterized by sterile non-follicular pustules on an erythematous base that form rapidly after drug exposure. AGEP is mediated by numerous cytokines produced by drug specific T-cells that mediate neutrophilic intracorneal, subcorneal, and/or intraepidermal pustule development. Though genetic susceptibility is not fully understood, individuals with mutations in IL-36RN may be at increased risk of AGEP development. AGEP commonly presents with leukocytosis and fever in the acute pustular phase and follows a self-limited desquamative recovery phase upon removal of offending drug. Severe cases of AGEP may have multisystem organ involvement. Atypical presentations of AGEP include localized eruptions and cases with overlapping clinical and histopathological features associated with Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis, drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms, and generalized pustular psoriasis. Most cases of AGEP clear rapidly with systemic corticosteroids, but severe or recalcitrant cases may require other systemic therapies such as cyclosporine, and intravenous immunoglobulin.
Mechanical valve prosthesis in pregnant patients

Introduction Pregnancy-induced hypercoagulable states present an anticoagulation management challenge in patients with mechanical prosthetic valves (PHV). In pregnant patients a thrombosed mechanical PHV presents a high risk of morbidity and mortality for both mother and fetus. We present a complex case of a pregnant patient with a thrombosed PHV. Methods N/A Results N/A Discussion A 32 y.o. female at 17 weeks gestation with rheumatic heart disease, s/p mechanical mitral (MVR) and aortic (AVR) valve replacement in 2002, was transferred for management of her thrombosed mitral PHV. The patient had been switched from warfarin to therapeutic low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) pre-partum. She first noticed increased shortness of breath at 10-11 weeks gestation and serial TTE revealed progressively increasing MV pressure gradients due to an immobile mitral PHV disk. Based on concerns that continued pregnancy would complicate maternal outcome and fetal age, a multi-specialty suggestion was made and pregnancy was terminated at our institution. The patient underwent a reoperation aimed at replacing the thrombosed mitral PHV. Intraoperatively, TEE showed that the mitral PHV disks had unrestricted motion and gradients decreased (from 9 mmHg to 3 mmHg). Subsequently, the patient underwent a thrombectomy of the mechanical mitral PHV. The anticoagulation management of pregnant women with mechanical PHV is challenging. The hypercoagulable state in pregnancy should be balanced by anticoagulation with its associated risks of teratogenicity and bleeding. The treatment options include thrombolysis, thrombectomy and valve replacement. The 2014 ACC/AHA guidelines provide guidance, based on class B or Class C evidence. The decision to switch the patient from warfarin to LMWH is controversial due to current ACC/AHA guidelines to continue warfarin up to 5 mg during pregnancy. Pregnancy termination is questionable due to multiple case reports showing the ability to continue pregnancy with thrombolysis, as long as the patient does not develop CHF. At the end, this patient's thrombosis resolved with heparin, and surgical thrombectomy and pregnancy termination could have been avoided. On the other hand, surgical thrombectomy, exposure to CPB and stress of cardiac surgery leads to ∼50% risk of miscarriage.
Plasma and cerebrospinal fluid inflammation and the blood-brain barrier in older surgical patients: the Role of Inflammation after Surgery for Elders (RISE) study.

Our understanding of the relationship between plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) remains limited, which poses an obstacle to the identification of blood-based markers of neuroinflammatory disorders. To better understand the relationship between peripheral and central nervous system (CNS) markers of inflammation before and after surgery, we aimed to examine whether surgery compromises the blood-brain barrier (BBB), evaluate postoperative changes in inflammatory markers, and assess the correlations between plasma and CSF levels of inflammation. We examined the Role of Inflammation after Surgery for Elders (RISE) study of adults aged ≥ 65 who underwent elective hip or knee surgery under spinal anesthesia who had plasma and CSF samples collected at baseline and postoperative 1 month (PO1MO) (n = 29). Plasma and CSF levels of three inflammatory markers previously identified as increasing after surgery were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay: interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP), and chitinase 3-like protein (also known as YKL-40). The integrity of the BBB was computed as the ratio of CSF/plasma albumin levels (Qalb). Mean Qalb and levels of inflammation were compared between baseline and PO1MO. Spearman correlation coefficients were used to determine the correlation between biofluids. Mean Qalb did not change between baseline and PO1MO. Mean plasma and CSF levels of CRP and plasma levels of YKL-40 and IL-6 were higher on PO1MO relative to baseline, with a disproportionally higher increase in CRP CSF levels relative to plasma levels (CRP tripled in CSF vs. increased 10% in plasma). Significant plasma-CSF correlations for CRP (baseline r = 0.70 and PO1MO r = 0.89, p < .01 for both) and IL-6 (PO1MO r = 0.48, p < .01) were observed, with higher correlations on PO1MO compared with baseline. In this elective surgical sample of older adults, BBB integrity was similar between baseline and PO1MO, plasma-CSF correlations were observed for CRP and IL-6, plasma levels of all three markers (CRP, IL-6, and YKL-40) increased from PREOP to PO1MO, and CSF levels of only CRP increased between the two time points. Our identification of potential promising plasma markers of inflammation in the CNS may facilitate the early identification of patients at greatest risk for neuroinflammation and its associated adverse cognitive outcomes.
Comparison of checkpoint inhibitor treatment-related cutaneous adverse events in racial and ethnic minority and Caucasian cohorts at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

2632Background: Immune-related cutaneous adverse events (irCAEs) are the most common and often the first toxicity of immune checkpoint inhibitors (CPIs). In the general population, irCAEs occur on ...
Silent pivoting: listening for the inaudible in the remote university

One word defined academic life during the pandemic: pivoting. It means more than hinging on an idea or an action – pivoting also suggests turning to something or changing direction. Across the worl...
Examining the Accelerated Playback Hypothesis of Time-Compression in Multimedia Learning Environments: A Meta-Analysis Study:

With the explosion of multimedia learning environments and the use of digital time-compression algorithms in common software and hardware, we need guidance on how to use this technology without sac...
Bridging the Gap: Designing an MSW Curriculum that Integrates Research and Practice

Systematic inquiry is an inherent part of social work practice. Despite this fact, social work students and practitioners continue to view research as difficult, intimidating and irrelevant. This d...
Culture Purity Assessments and Morphological Dissociation in the Pleomorphic Microorganism Bacterionema matruchotii

The inherent pleomorphism of Bacterionema matruchotii resulting from its mode of reproduction was enhanced by temporal effects of culture age and growth condition and by the more lasting effects of rough to intermediate to smooth morphological dissociation. Routine morphological observations with a single growth condition were inadequate to permit unambiguous judgements of culture purity. Multiple criteria were required. Pleomorphism and the undetected presence of contaminants in primary and successive cultures of B. matruchotii can explain the emergence of unrelated bacteria from B. matruchotii reported previously by others and ascribed to genetic instability.
Surveillance and Community: Language Policing and Empowerment in a World of Warcraft Guild

A case study of a World of Warcraft guild explores the relationship between participatory surveillance, public discipline, empowerment, and fun. The guild under investigation in this paper is a self-labeled "safe space" guild for female, LGBT, and other minority members of the gaming population. To promote the safe space environment, the guild's members actively enforce prohibitions against offensive language. A comparison is made between the participatory surveillance model employed by the members of the guild and the top-down policies and discipline enacted by the parent company, Blizzard Entertainment; this comparison demonstrates the effects of co-existing models of surveillance in the game community. Furthermore, the effects of the guild's practice of public discipline of rule breakers are analyzed as a method of shaming that enhances the effects of the guild's rules. Finally, by examining reactions from members of the guild, personal and community empowerment are the outcomes of participation in the system. Recommendations are made to incorporate elements of participatory surveillance into games in conjunction with unilateral surveillance typically employed by game developers.
EGG YOLK FACTOR OF STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS I. Nature of the Substrate and Enzyme Involved in the Egg Yolk Opacity Reaction

Abstract Shah, D. B. (University of Wisconsin, Madison) and J. B. Wilson. Egg yolk factor of Staphylococcus aureus. I. Nature of the substrate and enzyme involved in the egg yolk opacity reaction. J. Bacteriol. 85:516–521. 1963.—Some pathogenic staphylococci produce an opacity reaction when grown in media containing egg yolk. The egg yolk factor is a lipase with a requirement for a fatty acid acceptor, rather than any of the three lecithinases. Highest amounts of egg yolk factor were obtained in Heart Infusion broth rather than nutrient broth or Casman's synthetic medium. The lowest density lipo-protein (lipovitellenin) isolated by ultracentrifugation of egg yolk has been identified as the opacity-producing substrate. The lipase acts on the lipid moiety, resulting in alterations in the solubility of lipovitellenin. Lipolysis is optimal at pH 8. The optimal pH for the opacity reaction is at pH 5.5 and 8. The protein (vitellenin) in lipovitellenin has an isoelectric point at pH 5.5. It is proposed that slight alterations in the stabilizing lipid due to lipolysis and the very low solubility of vitellenin may drastically alter the solubility of lipovitellenin at pH 5.5.
Authorship similarity detection from email messages

It is easy to hide the true identity of the author of an email. The author's actual name, email address, etc. can be changed arbitrarily to deceive an email receiver. For example, a sender can change his/her identity in the email header to send different emails to various recipients. Therefore, in this paper, we investigate techniques for authorship similarity detection from the text content of a short length, topic-free email. 150 stylistic cues are identified for this problem. A frequent pattern and machine learning based method is proposed. Extensive experiment results are also presented for the Enron email data set.
The State as Pimp: Prostitution and the Patriarchal State in Japan in the 1940s

This article explores the state organization of prostitution in Japan in the 1940s. The Japanese military and the colonial government in Korea created “comfort divisions” (iantai) for Japanese sold...
Load distribution-survivable lightpath routing for the optical virtual private network

The optical virtual private network (OVPN) services are expected to be one of the major applications in the future optical networks. To establish the OVPN, the lightpaths (virtual connections) are layout through the provider optical network element and finally connected to the client edge devices. Service reliability is one of the major requirements in the OVPN design. We propose a mathematical model for an efficient lightpath routing called load distribution-survivable lightpath routing (LD-SLR) which can mitigate the impact of the failure disruption in the OVPN by introducing the load distribution concept to the survivable lightpath routing. Our results show that the LD-SLR produces an efficient lightpath routing for both sparse and dense virtual network design compared to other lightpath routing models in literature.
Reduced toxicity of an aqueous coal-conversion effluent following waste disposal treatment.

The Solvent Refined Coal process, which produces fuel low in sulfur and ash from coals high in these substances, gives rise to a wastewater with a high pH value and high contents of sulfur, phenol, and cresols, but treatment of the wastewater in an ''oxycontact'' bioreactor followed by sand and carbon filtration has been shown to be feasible. Experiments carried out to assess the toxicity of the treated waste to an aquatic organism.
Body weight, food intake and energy regulation in exercising and melatonin-treated siberian hamsters

The coupling among energy intake, storage, and expenditure was examined in male Siberian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus sungorus) given access to running wheels for 14 weeks. Half of the hamsters were injected with melatonin in a schedule that mimics the effects of short photoperiods by decreasing body weight, carcass lipid content, and testis weight. The exercise-induced body weight increases which are seen in Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) were not found in Siberian hamsters. Instead, the Siberian hamsters maintained their body weights, compensating for the increased energy demands of exercise by increasing their food intakes. Exercise did not affect carcass composition. Melatonin treatment decreased food intake and carcass lipid stores but did not affect voluntary exercise. The previously reported decrease in testis weight was seen in all melatonin-treated hamsters, but the stimulation of brown adipose tissue growth was not. Thus, exercising Siberian hamsters, unlike exercising Syrian hamsters, appear to exhibit a tight coupling among energy intake, storage, and expenditure.
Nonequilibrium chemical and radiation coupling phenomena in AOTV flowfields

A flowfield model for the nonequilibrium stagnation region of high altitude entry vehicles which includes nonequilibrium chemistry, multitemperature, viscous, conduction, and diffusion effects is presented. It contains coupled nongray nonequilibrium radiative transfer for atoms and molecules and local thermodynamic nonequilibrium phenomena. Comparison with Fire 2 flight data verifies that the model is reasonably accurate; and it has been applied to two AFE trajectory points, a high speed return from Mars, a series of points at 80 km for 12 to 16 km/sec, and three altitudes at 16 km/sec. Based on these results shock slip is significant, radiation cooling/coupling is minor at AFE conditions but important by 14 km/sec and dominant at 16 km/sec, radiation for the AFE is small but important and primarily molecular, above 12 km/sec atomic radiation is a significant or dominant portion of the total heating, and local thermodynamic nonequilibrium is important and should be included in all models.
Background shifts affect explanatory style: how a pragmatic theory of explanation accounts for background effects in the generation of explanations.

Cognitive scientists are interested in explanation because it provides a window into the cognition that underlies one’s understanding of the world. We argue that the study of explanation has tended to focus on what makes an explanation “bona fide” as opposed to the processes involved in how the explanation is generated. In the current study, we asked participants to respond to the request for an explanation within a novel domain after we manipulated their initial exposure to the domain, and thus the background of the request. In two experiments, we found evidence that the background shaped participants’ interpretations of the prompt for the explanation and that this, in turn, influenced whether they used a causal or functional style of explanation when responding to the prompt. We also asked participants to evaluate a number of explanations and found that the manipulation of the background did not have the same effect on the evaluative tasks. Our data support a pragmatic approach (e.g. The scientific image. Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1980) to the study of explanation generation, a philosophical approach which argues that the background influences the interpretation of the question, the development of a relevance relation which connects the question and explanation, and the identification of some set of candidate answers. We also suggest there is an important difference between the process of generating an explanation and evaluating an explanation, a difference that has escaped the attention of cognitive scientists thus far.
Methohexital infusion technique for conscious sedation

Abstract Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate a methohexital infusion technique for conscious sedation in oral surgical procedures. Patients were evaluated for recall, comfort, recovery, and surgeon's estimate of cooperation. Materials and Methods: Twenty adult (mean age, 29 years) ASA I or II patients requiring various dentoalveolar procedures were entered into the study. Administration of 1.5 μg/kg fentanyl and 1 mg midazolam were given until sedation was achieved. An infusion of methohexital was started using 50 μg/kg/min and increased as needed to 75 μg/kg/min. Postoperatively, visual analog scales were used to evaluate the efficacy of the technique. Results: The average total amount of methohexital infused was 257 mg for an average surgical time of 88 minutes. Recovery times were short and uneventful. Patients were cleared for discharge in under 35 minutes. No cardiac or respiratory side effects were noted other than a mild increase ( Conclusion: The continuous infusion of methohexital for conscious sedation has been shown to be safe, effective, inexpensive, and well accepted by patients and surgeons.
Implementation of a crystallization step into the purification process of a recombinant protein

Identification of crystallization conditions of new proteins is still regarded as a tedious trial-and-error work, especially when the crystallization step has to meet the requirements of a given purification process. The traditional screening kit method and a multifactorial approach were compared against each other with regard to their ability to find new crystallization conditions that are compatible to the purification process of a recombinant aprotinin variant. Overall, the multifactorial approach turned out to be 10-fold more efficient. The new crystallization conditions were scaled up and implemented into the purification process as a bulk storage step. The aprotinin variant derived from this process was fully characterized biochemically.
Stable solid-phase Rh antigen

Numerous investigators have attempted to isolate the Rh antigens in a stable, immunologically reactive form since the discovery of the Rh system over 56 years ago. We report here a successful and reproducible approach to solubilizing and adsorbing the human Rh antigen(s) to a solid-phase matrix in an antigenically active form. Similar results were obtained with rabbit A/D/F red blood cell antigens. The antigen preparation was made by dissolution of the red blood cell membrane lipid followed by fragmentation of the residual cytoskeleton in an EDTA solution at low ionic strength. The antigenic activity of the soluble preparations was labile in standard buffers but was stable in zwitterionic buffers for extended periods of time. Further studies showed that the antigenic activity of these preparations was enhanced, as was their affinity for plastic surfaces, in the presence of acidic zwitterionic buffers. Adherence to plastic surfaces at low pH maintained antigenic reactivity and specificity for antibody was retained. The data show that this approach yields a stable form of antigenically active human Rh D antigen that could be used in a red blood cell-free assay for quantitative analysis of Rh D antibody and for Rh D antibody immunoadsorption and purification.
Diopside-jadeite join at 16–22 GPa

Phase relations on the diopside-jadeite join were experimentally determined at 16–22 GPa pressures and temperatures in the vicinity of 1500 °C under hydrous and 2100 °C under anhydrous conditions, using a split-sphere anvil apparatus (USSA-2000). Starting compositions on the diopside-jadeite join produced assemblages containing CaSiO3 perovskite. This assured that the coexisting garnet with compositions in the ternary system Mg2Si2O6(En)-CaMgSi2O6(Di)-NaAlSi2 O6(Jd) had the maximum Ca content possible under the given conditions. Garnet reached its maximum Ca content at 17 GPa, and exsolved CaSiO3 perovskite at higher pressures. The garnet composition closest to the join, En5Di47.5Jd47.5 (mol%), was reached at 18–19 GPa and 2100 °C. The maximum Na content of garnet limited by the coexisting pyroxene did not exceed 51 mol% jadeite at 22 GPa and 2100 °C. At 22 GPa, pyroxene was replaced with NaAlSiO4 (calcium ferrite structure) and stishovite under anhydrous conditions, while in the presence of H2O a new hydrous Na-bearing phase with the ideal composition Na7(Ca, Mg)3AlSi5O9(OH)18 was synthesized instead. Garnet coexisting with CaSiO3 perovskite and MgSiO3 ilmenite at 22 GPa and 1400 °C was En51Di9Jd40, coincidentally identical to the first garnet forming in the ternary system at 13 GPa. The new data are applicable to the Earth's transition zone (400–670 km depths) and suggest that the transformation from eclogite to garnetite would occur primarily over a limited depth interval from 400 to 500 km. Gaps in the observed garnet compositions suggest immiscibility, which could potentially cause a sharp 400 km discontinuity in an eclogitic mantle.
Emotional Undertones in Eczema in Children

Although eczema and other allergic conditions are commonly classified among the psychosomatic disorders, usually with the implication that a disturbance of the relationship between mother and child...
Meteoritic Evidence for the Infall of Large Interstellar Dust Aggregates during the Formation of the Solar System

The presence of the short-lived radionuclide 26Al in some of the refractory inclusions of chondritic meteorites but not in others appears to mean that the substance of the 26Al-free inclusions was brought together in the presolar interstellar medium, before the astrophysical event occurred that synthesized solar system 26Al. The 26Al-free inclusions can be understood as evaporation residues that formed from presolar dust aggregations when they were intensely heated by gas drag as they fell into the solar nebula during the collapse phase of solar system formation. The inclusions containing 26Al were formed from dust that had been seeded with that nuclide prior to aggregation and thermal processing.
An Acidic Sequence in Neurogranin is Required to Modulate Ca2+ Binding to Calmodulin

Background: Neurogranin (Ng) and PEP-19 are small proteins with no known intrinsic activity other than binding to calmodulin (CaM) via their IQ motifs, yet they have been implicated in numerous normal and pathological processes. We showed that PEP-19 is intrinsically disordered, and that an acidic sequence adjacent to its IQ motif is required for PEP-19 to modulate Ca2+ binding to CaM, and to sensitize HeLa cells to ATP-induced Ca2+ release. Goals: Ng has an acidic sequence, but with significantly different composition than PEP-19. Thus, the goals of the current study were to determine: 1) If the acidic sequence in Ng is required to modulate Ca2+ binding to CaM; and 2) Use NMR to compare the effects of Ng derivatives on the conformation of CaM. Results: Ng greatly increases the Ca2+ koff at the C-domain of CaM, but has little effect on the kon, thereby decreasing Ca2+ binding affinity. The peptide Ng(29-49), which includes only the consensus IQ motif does not increase the Ca2+ koff, but Ng(13-49), which includes the acidic region of Ng mimics the effect of intact Ng on Ca2+ binding to CaM. The 1H 15N HSQC spectra of Ng show it to be an intrinsically disordered protein. Effects of Ng protein and peptides on the NMR spectra of CaM are consistent with their relative effects on Ca2+ binding. Also, effects of Ng (29-49) on amide chemical shift perturbations and backbone dynamic properties of CaM are different from Ng or Ng(13-49), especially in the apo state. Conclusions: Modulating Ca2+ binding to CaM relies on the acidic region of both PEP-19 and Ng. Tuning Ca2+ mobilization pathways by PEP-19 and Ng expands the biological significance of these intrinsically disordered regulators of CaM signaling.
The Synthesis of Phospholipids in Human Atheromatous Lesions

Femoral arteries, abdominal aortas, one renal artery, and one coronary artery removed from patients injected with P32 phosphate showed in most instances an active incorporation of the label into the phospholipids of intima and adventitia. A comparison of the specific activities of arterial plaque and plasma phospholipids suggests that the excess arterial phospholipids are originally derived from synthesis by the arterial wall, or at least undergo continuous renewal in situ.
Robust adaptive compensation for a class of nonlinear systems

A robust adaptive design method is proposed for the on-line compensation of uncertainties, for a class of nonlinear systems, As an extension of previous work, the adaptive part of the control law uses a constructive Gaussian network without any prior training, and the control law provides robustness using a systematically designed sliding mode term. In the design, learning and control bounds are guaranteed by properly constructing the control architecture using the proposed methods. The robust adaptive control strategy, with the proposed design guidelines, has been validated using a hardware example case of a nonlinear robotic linkage system. Experiments have shown that the inclusion of the proposed stable learning and robust terms into the control design, using the proposed constructive methods, results in improved system performance for the example case system.
Corticosteroid injection for carpal tunnel syndrome.

N i T ticos ured b not c rnat ysio after v s h rand onths d up s uct ticos and s lini -week f ID a res and o ct t the s ded c t of c es w (inc el) w d s ysio mHE PATIENT 44-year-old right-handed man, a surgeon, has sy oms of numbness and tingling in his right th ndex, and middle fingers, and the radial half of hi nger, when operating and when driving a car. Sy oms are similar but less severe on the left sid escribes being awakened from sleep several time ight and having to shake his hand and wrist olding them dependant in order for the paresthesia ubside. He has tried intermittent neutral wrist sp pplication, as well as unscheduled nonsteroidal a nflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) without appreciable i rovement in his symptoms. On examination, it ound that he has diminished cervical spine rang otion, but he has no lower motor neuron signs pper extremity or upper motor neuron signs in ower extremity. He has a positive Tinel’s sign ove edian nerve at the carpal tunnel on the right a egative Tinel’s sign on the left. He has bila halen’s sign and negative symptom reproduction ompression or percussion of the median nerve in roximal forearm. His static 2-point discrimination m throughout, and he has normal palmar abduc trength on both sides. He has no visible muscle ng or fasciculations. He asks whether or not a co teroid injection would be helpful in terms of resolu f symptoms.
Evaluating conflation methods using uncertainty modeling

The classic problem of computer-assisted conflation involves the matching of individual features (e.g., point, polyline, or polygon vectors) as stored in a geographic information system (GIS), between two different sets (layers) of features. The classical goal of conflation is the transfer of feature metadata (attributes) from one layer to another. The age of free public and open source geospatial feature data has significantly increased the opportunity to conflate such data to create enhanced products. There are currently several spatial conflation tools in the marketplace with varying degrees of automation. An ability to evaluate conflation tool performance quantitatively is of operational value, although manual truthing of matched features is laborious and costly. In this paper, we present a novel methodology that uses spatial uncertainty modeling to simulate realistic feature layers to streamline evaluation of feature matching performance for conflation methods. Performance results are compiled for DCGIS street centerline features.
The Far-Ultraviolet Spectrum of T Tauri between 912 and 1185 Å

We report on a Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer (FUSE) spectroscopic observation of the pre–main-sequence star T Tauri, the defining object of pre–main-sequence stars. The FUSE satellite is the only UV instrument currently available that can acquire high-quality spectra between 912 and 1185 A. The spectrum of T Tau was acquired between 2000 January 15 and 16. Serendipitous observing conditions resulted in a very low noise spectrum that allowed the detection of several weak features, including the first detection of H2 Werner-band emission in an extrasolar object.
Twitter Connections among Local Health Departments as Potential Pathways for Dissemination

Implementing evidence-based public health strategies results in a greater likelihood of success for local health departments and is consistent with health department accreditation standards. Social media has the potential to allow local health departments to connect with one another and share evidence-based strategies. We sought to examine patterns of social media connections among local health departments on Twitter. Descriptive and visual network approaches were used to examine the network, exponential random graph modeling was used to model the likelihood of a Twitter connection between departments. Larger departments were central to the network and departments sharing a border were more likely connected, as were health departments in the same state. Dissemination across this network would be facilitated by larger departments and between departments in the same state. By developing the network beyond these typical connections, health departments could be exposed to new strategies or new ways of implementing existing strategies.
Brownian motion of harmonic systems with fluctuating parameters: I. Exact first and second order statistics of a mechanical oscillator

Abstract Exact first and second order statistics of a damped mechanical oscillator with a fluctuating frequency and driven by a fluctuating force are obtained. All the cumulants of the fluctuating frequency are assumed to be delta correlated, while those of the driving force are of arbitrary form. The oscillator results depend only on the first and second order statistics of the driving force and on the coefficients of the first and second cumulants of the frequency fluctuations. Thus neither the higher order statistics of the driving force nor the coefficients of the higher cumulants of the frequency fluctuations need to be specified. When the fluctuating quantities are both delta correlated, the dynamics of the correction functions are shown to be independent of the frequency fluctuations.
Valve noise reduction

In a valve having a plug and valve seat for controlling the flow of fluid between an inlet port and an outlet port, the plug has radial serrations on its bottom face and has a length for establishing turbulence during the last 1/4 of its stroke as the plug is lifted from the valve seat, the flow through said valve seat being modulated by the turbulence.
Public Perceptions about Food Safety in the United States and Japan1

Consumer concerns over pesticide residues and food additives have been growing in industrialized societies, including the United States and Japan. However, little comparative research has been carried out to determine which household characteristics may be significantly associated with these heightened concerns, and whether or not the same factors are useful for understanding variation in these worries in more than one society. This paper examines food safety attitudes in Seattle, Washington, and Kobe, Japan, and discovers that while the absolute level of expressed concern is higher in Kobe, the predictive power of household characteristics in explaining attitudinal differences within countries is similar. Implications for rural areas and future research on family structures in capitalist societies are discussed.