Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Research and the Band Director: Marriage not Divorce

The pair of articles in the Instrumental Division of this issue of Update seem to be perfect companion pieces. James Byo speaks of intellectually aggressive band directors who get past the artificial barriers between researchers and teachers and apply research results to their own situations. His article illustrates the process of transferring knowledge so that research can be more meaningful to practitioners. He discusses the responsibility of the practitioner as well as of the researcher to establish a mutually inclusive relationship. James Arnold, the author of the second article, has shown himself to fit Byo's characterization of an intellectually aggressive teacher. He is an experienced band director who has taught in isolated rural settings and who now teaches at Columbus High School in Columbus, Georgia. The article relates some of his experiences in applying research findings to his teaching. He read research from many disparate sources and apparently unrelated settings and made the transfers to his own unique situation. He tried to implement a certain type of rehearsal strategy in his teaching that he had encountered in reading the research literature. As a result of his reading, he also knew that there might be a difference between what he perceived he was doing and what he actually did, so he used videotape self analysis, which he had also read about, to assess his efforts. Between these two articles—Byo's recommendations and examples and Arnold's actions—we have an illustration of the relevance of research and its implementation. The purpose of research in music education is to enhance music teaching and understanding. Without interaction between the teacher/experimenter and the researcher/teacher leading to the application of research, both lose, and ultimately the students will suffer from music settings that might have been made more rewarding.
An ALS-like syndrome with new HIV infection and complete response to antiretroviral therapy

A 32-year-old woman presenting with a rapidly progressive ALS-like syndrome was found to be HIV positive with a CD4 count of 44/mm3. The patient recovered completely during 1 year after treatment with nelfinavir, zidovudine, and lamivudine, and recovery is sustained nearly 4 years later. Recovery was accompanied by HIV RNA becoming undetectable in plasma and CSF.
Leaf Nitrogen Content Indirectly Estimated by Leaf Traits Derived From the PROSPECT Model

Leaf nitrogen content has so far been quantified through empirical techniques using hyperspectral remote sensing. However, it remains a challenge to estimate the nitrogen content in fresh leaves through inversion of physically based models. Leaf nitrogen has been found to correlate with leaf traits (e.g., leaf chlorophyll, dry matter, and water) well through links to the photosynthetic process, which provides potential to estimate nitrogen indirectly. We therefore set out to estimate leaf nitrogen content by using its links to leaf traits that could be retrieved from a physically based model (PROSPECT) inversion. Leaf optical (directional-hemispherical reflectance and transmittance between 350 and 2500 nm) and leaf biochemical (nitrogen, chlorophyll, dry matter, and water) properties were measured. Correlation analysis showed that the area-based nitrogen correlations with leaf traits were higher than mass-based correlations. Hence, simple and multiple linear regression models were established for area-based nitrogen using three leaf traits (leaf chlorophyll content, leaf mass per area, and equivalent water thickness). In addition, the traits were retrieved by the inversion of PROSPECT using an iterative optimization algorithm. The established empirical models and the leaf traits retrieved from PROSPECT were used to estimate leaf nitrogen content. A simple linear regression model using only retrieved equivalent water thickness as a predictor produced the most accurate estimation of nitrogen (R2 = 0.58, normalized RMSE = 0.11). The combination of empirical and physically based models provides a moderately accurate estimation of leaf nitrogen content, which can be transferred to other datasets in a robust and upscalable manner.
Knowing your body and being compassionate with yourself

10 Introduction . 11 Method . 14 Results . 18 Discussion . 51 References . 58 Part Two: Mixed Methods Empirical Paper . 68 Abstract . 70. 70
A comparison of stable-isotope probing of DNA and phospholipid fatty acids to study prokaryotic functional diversity in sulfate-reducing marine sediment enrichment slurries.

Marine sediment slurries enriched for anaerobic, sulfate-reducing prokaryotic communities utilizing glucose and acetate were used to provide the first comparison between stable-isotope probing (SIP) of phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA) and DNA (16S rRNA and dsrA genes) biomarkers. Different 13C-labelled substrates (glucose, acetate and pyruvate) at low concentrations (100 microM) were used over a 7-day incubation to follow and identify carbon flow into different members of the community. Limited changes in total PLFA and bacterial 16S rRNA gene DGGE profiles over 7 days suggested the presence of a stable bacterial community. A broad range of PLFA were rapidly labelled (within 12 h) in the 13C-glucose slurry but this changed with time, suggesting the presence of an active glucose-utilizing population and later development of another population able to utilize glucose metabolites. The identity of the major glucose-utilizers was unclear as 13C-enriched PLFA were common (16:0, 16:1, 18:1omega7, highest incorporation) and there was little difference between 12C- and 13C-DNA 16S rRNA gene denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) profiles. Seemingly glucose, a readily utilizable substrate, resulted in widespread incorporation consistent with the higher extent of 13C-incorporation (approximately 10 times) into PLFA compared with 13C-acetate or 13C-pyruvate. 13C-PLFA in the 13C-acetate and 13C-pyruvate slurries were similar to each other and to those that developed in the 13C-glucose slurry after 4 days. These were more diagnostic, with branched odd-chain fatty acids (i15:0, a15:0 and 15:1omega6) possibly indicating the presence of Desulfococcus or Desulfosarcina sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) and sequences related to these SRB were in the 13C-acetate-DNA dsrA gene library. The 13C-acetate-DNA 16S rRNA gene library also contained sequences closely related to SRB, but these were the acetate-utilizing Desulfobacter sp. , as well as a broad range of uncultured Bacteria. In contrast, analysis of DGGE bands from 13C-DNA demonstrated that the candidate division JS1 and Firmicutes were actively assimilating 13C-acetate. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis also confirmed the presence of JS1 in the 13C-DNA from the 13C-glucose slurry. These results demonstrate that JS1, originally found in deep subsurface sediments, is more widely distributed in marine sediments and provides the first indication of its metabolism; incorporation of acetate and glucose (or glucose metabolites) under anaerobic, sulfate-reducing conditions. Here we demonstrate that PLFA- and DNA-SIP can be used together in a sedimentary system, with low concentrations of 13C-substrate and overlapping incubation times (up to 7 days) to provide complementary, although not identical, information on carbon flow and the identity of active members of an anaerobic prokaryotic community.
A Survey of State Laws

determining eligibility for specific learning disability (SLD) than establishing a severe discrepancy between ability and achievement, response to intervention (RTI) represents various models that share these common characteristics: (a) multiple tiers of scientific, researchbased interventions; (b) continuous progress monitoring; and (c) systematic decision points to screen students for an evaluation for special education (e.g., Batsche et al., 2001). The professional literature is replete with rhetoric and, to a lesser extent, research concerning implementing RTI.
Effects of the estrous cycle on the efficacy of oocyte collection and in vitro embryo production in Duroc-breed.

Collection efficacy and in vitro embryo developmental ability of oocytes obtained from Duroc-breed ovary donors at different stages of the estrous cycle (days 6, 12 and 16 after estrus) were performed. The numbers of collected oocytes did not differ significantly among the different estrous cycle groups (total 72-90 oocytes per gilt). However, the blastocyst rates of oocytes collected on days 12 and 16 (9.2% and 19.4%, respectively) were significantly higher than those on day 6 (1.1%). More oocytes were obtained on day 16 from small follicles (<2 mm in diameter; 85.3 oocytes per gilt) than from medium-sized (≥2-<6 mm) and large (≥6 mm) follicles (17.5 and 12.8 oocytes, respectively). The blastocyst rates in both the medium-sized and large follicle groups (20.0% and 19.2%, respectively) were significantly higher than that in the small follicle group (6.3%). The blastocyst cell numbers in both the medium-sized and large follicle groups (39.4 and 43.3 cells, respectively) were significantly higher than that in the small follicle group (30.6 cells). The results suggest that oocyte collection from cycling Duroc pigs can be carried out efficiently from the late luteal to follicular stage. Those oocytes collected from medium-sized and large follicles show better embryo development.
Frequency-Tunable Filtering Power Divider With New Topology

In this paper, we present a new frequency-tunable filtering power divider structure and its design method. For achieving the frequency filtering characteristic, the power divider uses a single resonator or multiple resonators. One of the unique features of the presented structure is that the last resonator is coupled to the two outputs, and this allows for minimizing the number of the resonators used in the power divider design. For verifying the presented structure and design method, we have designed filtering power dividers using frequency-tunable substrate-integrated resonators. It is shown that the operating frequency of the divider can be adjusted maintaining excellent impedance matching performance.
From the barn to the operating room and back: The Amish way of life leads to improved throughput and outcomes following trauma

BACKGROUND The Amish culture is known for simple living, reluctance to use modern technology, and a heavy emphasis on church and family relationships. We hypothesized that the strong work ethic and social structure of the Amish would lead to improved outcome following trauma. METHODS Trauma registry was queried for all patients from years 2000 to 2010. Patients separated into Amish versus non-Amish. Groups were compared using univariate logistic regression, with the first outcome variable being mortality and the second being hospital length of stay (LOS) greater than 5 days. Factors significant on univariate analysis were included in the multivariate models for the same dependent variables. RESULTS From 2000 to 2010, our Level II trauma center admitted 18,337 trauma patients, 802 (4.4%) of whom were Amish. When adjusted for age of 65 years or older, Injury Severity Score (ISS) of 16 or greater, and the occurrence of at least one complication, the Amish are at 96% lower odds for having an overall hospital LOS greater than 5 days (odds ratio, 0.51; 95% confidence interval, 0.40–0.66; p < 0.001). The Amish have a 72% lower odds of dying following trauma, when controlling for age of 65 years or older, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of 13 or less, ISS of 16 or greater, and Revised Trauma Score (RTS) of 7 or less (odds ratio, 0.58; 95% confidence interval, 0.33–0.96; p = 0.036). The hospital LOS model had a receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.77, and the mortality model had a receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.88. CONCLUSION When adjusted for injury severity, age, and physiology, the Amish have a 72% lower odds of dying following trauma than their non-Amish counterparts. When adjusted for injury severity, age, physiology, and complications, the Amish have a 96% lower odds of having an extended hospital LOS than their non-Amish counterparts. Understanding the unique social structure of the Amish population may allow scarce social services’ resources to be shifted to more underserved areas. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Epidemiologic, level III.
Religion, family, and ritual: The production of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and transgender outsiders-within

This article analyzes the experiences of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people who attended family weddings in order to understand how outsiderwithin status can be produced during religious ritual. Though all participants constructed themselves as outsiders relative to religion during weddings, only those from religiously conservative families linked their position to family dynamics. Results challenge the idea that rituals necessarily produce a sense of belonging, bring empirical attention to religion as an ongoing family issue for GLBT people, and suggest that religious diversity and liberalism can promote family cohesion.
Treatment of symptomatic osteoporosis in children: a comparison of two pamidronate dosage regimens

Abstract Bisphosphonate treatment for bone fragility has expanded beyond children with osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) to those with other causes of low bone mass. However, clinical efficacy and optimal dosing in non-OI patients has not been established. We conducted a retrospective descriptive study of patients with non-OI-related bone fragility to describe the effects of two different pamidronate treatment regimens on the bone mineral density (BMD) and fracture rate of these children. Between 2000 and 2009, 15 non-OI patients aged 8–16 years received pamidronate 1 mg/kg intravenously for 1 day every 3 months (4 mg/kg/year) or 1 mg/kg/day for 3 days every 4 months (9 mg/kg/year). After 1 year of pamidronate, the two groups had a comparable increase in adjusted BMD and reduction in fragility fractures. No serious adverse effects were observed. Since the long-term effects of bisphosphonate are unknown, large trials are needed to delineate the minimal effective dose in these patients.
From Frustrated to Empowered: Exploring the Process of How Mid-Level Student Affairs Professionals Make Meaning of the Responsibility for Assessing Student Learning Outcomes

FROM FRUSTRATED TO EMPOWERED: EXPLORING THE PROCESS OF HOW MID-LEVEL STUDENT AFFAIRS PROFESSIONALS MAKE MEANING OF THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ASSESSING STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES Evan Baum, Ph.D. George Mason University, 2015 Dissertation Director: Dr. Jan Arminio This dissertation explored the process by which ten mid-level student affairs professionals at ten different large public universities make meaning of their responsibilities for assessing student learning outcomes. The study was informed by literature from a diverse range of disciplines, including psychology, management, sociology, and education, which provided a foundation for studying the experiences of participants at cognitive, intrapersonal, and interpersonal levels. This study utilized grounded theory for its methodology, which guided the development of sampling criteria, data collection protocols, and data analysis procedures. Participants in the study were identified by themselves or a colleague as being “superb” at fulfilling their responsibilities for assessing student learning outcomes in a programmatic functional area within student affairs. After being recruited, participants were interviewed, and subsequently kept a reflective journal over an eight-week period. Following the final submission of their journal to the researcher, participants were interviewed again to collect additional data and also to member-check preliminary findings. Following a multi-step memoing and coding process to analyze the data that was collected, a theoretical model emerged to illustrate that participants understood their responsibilities through four overlapping lenses of the self, team/department, division/institution, and external audiences. Within each lens, the findings illustrated the growth of participants from holding a frustrated mindset towards their responsibilities in assessing student learning outcomes, to an empowered mindset, influenced and aided by four meaning making catalysts. The final chapter discussed the implications of the study’s theoretical model and related findings for student affairs professionals at all levels, faculty members in student affairs graduate preparation programs, leaders in student affairs associations, as well as other higher education researchers.
A Hybrid Microfluidic/CMOS Capacitive Sensor Dedicated to Lab-on-Chip Applications

A hybrid microfluidic/IC capacitive sensor is presented in this paper for highly integrated lab-on-chips (LoCs). We put forward the design and implementation of a charge based capacitive sensor array in 0.18-mum CMOS process. This sensor chip is incorporated with a microfluidic channel using direct-write microfluidic fabrication process (DWFP). The design, construction and experimental results as well are demonstrated using four different chemical solutions with known dielectric constants. The proposed highly sensitive CMOS capacitive sensor (ap530 mV/fF) along with low complexity DWFP emerges as clear favorite for LoC applications.
Markerless tracking using planar structures in the scene

We describe a markerless camera tracking system for augmented reality that operates in environments which contain one or more planes. This is a common special case, which we show significantly simplifies tracking. The result is a practical, reliable, vision-based tracker. Furthermore, the tracked plane imposes a natural reference frame, so that the alignment of the real and virtual coordinate systems is rather simpler than would be the case with a general structure-and-motion system. Multiple planes can be tracked, and additional data such as 2D point tracks are easily incorporated.
BALB/c mice have more CD4+CD25+ T regulatory cells and show greater susceptibility to suppression of their CD4+CD25− responder T cells than C57BL/6 mice

Increasing evidence indicates that CD4+CD25+ T regulatory (Treg) cells control a wide spectrum of immune responses. The initial identification of CD4+CD25+ Treg cell as a “professional suppressor” was based on observations made in BALB/c mice. This mouse strain is well known to preferentially develop T helper cell type 2 responses, to be more susceptible to intracellular parasite infection, to have a higher tumor incidence, and to be more resistant to the induction of autoimmune diseases, as compared with C57BL/6 (B6) mice. We therefore decided to compare Treg cell function of B6 and BALB/c mice. We observed that the frequency of CD4+CD25+ T cells in the thymus and peripheral lymphoid organs of BALB/c mice was higher than in B6 mice. CD4+CD25+ Treg cells from both mouse strains shared similar phenotypic properties, including expression of characteristic immunological markers and hyporesponsiveness to T cell receptor cross‐linking and in their capacity to suppress proliferation of BALB/c CD4+CD25− T responder (Tres) cells. However, CD4+CD25− Tres cells from B6 mice were notably less susceptible to suppression by CD4+CD25+ Treg cells from either mouse strain. Our data suggest that the number and the level of suppression of CD4+CD25+ Treg cells for CD4+CD25− Tres cells may be dictated by genetic background. Our data also suggest that differences in the CD4+CD25+ Treg cell number and the susceptibility of CD4+CD25− Tres cells may, at least in part, account for the differences in immune response between B6 and BALB/c strains of mice.
Credit card fraud detection with a neural-network

Using data from a credit card issuer, a neural network based fraud detection system was trained on a large sample of labelled credit card account transactions and tested on a holdout data set that consisted of all account activity over a subsequent two-month period of time. The neural network was trained on examples of fraud due to lost cards, stolen cards, application fraud, counterfeit fraud, mail-order fraud and NRI (non-received issue) fraud. The network detected significantly more fraud accounts (an order of magnitude more) with significantly fewer false positives (reduced by a factor of 20) over rule-based fraud detection procedures. We discuss the performance of the network on this data set in terms of detection accuracy and earliness of fraud detection. The system has been installed on an IBM 3090 at Mellon Bank and is currently in use for fraud detection on that bank's credit card portfolio. <<ETX>>
Effects of Maternal Smoking on the Placental Expression of Genes Related to Angiogenesis and Apoptosis during the First Trimester

Objective Maternal cigarette smoking is reportedly associated with miscarriage, fetal growth restriction and placental abruption, and is paradoxically associated with a decreased risk of developing preeclampsia. In the present study, we investigated the gene expression levels of villous tissues in early gestation. We compared the expression levels of the genes related to angiogenesis and apoptosis in the villous tissues obtained from smoking and non-smoking pregnant women. Materials and Methods We collected villous tissue samples from 57 women requesting surgical termination due to non-medical reasons at 6–8 weeks of gestation. The maternal cigarette smoking status was evaluated by the level of serum cotinine and patients were divided into active smokers and non-smokers by the serum cotinine level. The placental levels of VEGFA, PGF, FLT1, HIF1A, TP53, BAX and BCL2 mRNA were quantified by real time PCR. Results The gene expression level of PGF and HIF1A in the active smoker group was significantly higher than that in the non-smoker group. We did not observe any significant differences in the VEGFA or FLT1 expression between the groups. In active smoker group, the gene expression levels of TP53 and BAX were significantly higher than those in the non-smoker group. The ratio of BAX/BCL2 mRNA in the active smoker group was significantly higher than that in the non-smoker group. Conclusions Our findings revealed that smoking might affect the placenta during early pregnancy. Maternal cigarette smoking in early pregnancy may be associated with villus hypoxia, which may influence angiogenesis and apoptosis.
The use of the 25 Sprotte needle markedly reduces post-dural puncture headache in routine neurological practice

Objectives The objectives of this article are to test the feasibility of lumbar puncture (LP) using 25-gauge (G) needles in daily neurological practice and to compare the risk of post-dural puncture headache (PDPH) with four types of needles. Methods In a prospective rater-blind study, pros and cons of four different LP needles, the 20G Quincke (20Q), 22G Sprotte (22S), 25G Whitacre (25W) and 25G Sprotte (25S), were evaluated in 394 LPs performed by seven neurologists. The neurologist performing the LP recorded the type and size of needle, intensity of pain, safety, time of the procedure and failure or success. Between five and 15 days later another neurologist, blind to the type of needle used, completed an ad-hoc questionnaire for PDPH. Results PDPH developed in 35.9% patients when using a 20Q needle, and in 12.9%, 6.8% and 1.6%, respectively, when using a 22S, 25W or 25S needle. The difference in incidence of PDPH following LP performed with the 20Q needle and the 25S or 22S was statistically significant (p < 0.001 and p = 0.008, respectively) and it approached significance when comparing the 25S and 25W (p = 0.06). As 25W and 25S needles need CSF aspiration, LP requires more time and skill. Pain caused by LP was similar with the four needles. Conclusion The use of the 25S needle in diagnostic LP reduces the frequency and severity of PDPH.