cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Life Cycle of the Bean Leaf Beetle, Cerotoma trifurcata (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), in Southern Minnesota

In southern Minnesota, bean leaf beetles, Cerotoma trifurcata (Forster), were first collected from emergence cages and alfalfa in mid-May. Beetle emergence peaked both years between late May and early June, which corresponded with soybean planting. Two seasonal peaks of bean leaf beetle adult abundance on soybeans were recorded. The first peak corresponded to overwintered, colonizing adults and the second to first-generation adults. Teneral adults of the first generation appeared in mid-July during soybean bloom. First-generation adult abundance peaked in late August when soybeans were beyond pod set. Beetles were present in the field until late September, when soybeans were at harvest maturity. Female beetles from both the colonizing and first generations were collected on soybeans or alfalfa and dissected. Only colonizing adults were mated and showed ovarian development. High fat content was found in early colonizing adults and first-generation adults, but fat content decreased during the period of ovarian development of colonizing females. The bean leaf beetle has a single generation in southern Minnesota and mating and ovarian development occur after emergence from overwintering sites.
A Motion-from-Form Mechanism Contributes to Extracting Pattern Motion from Plaids.

Since the discovery of neurons selective for pattern motion direction in primate middle temporal area MT (Albright, 1984; Movshon et al., 1985), the neural computation of this signal has been the subject of intense study. The bulk of this work has explored responses to plaids obtained by summing two drifting sinusoidal gratings. Unfortunately, with these stimuli, many different mechanisms are similarly effective at extracting pattern motion. We devised a new set of stimuli, obtained by summing two random line stimuli with different orientations. This allowed several novel manipulations, including generating plaids that do not contain rigid 2D motion. Importantly, these stimuli do not engage most of the previously proposed mechanisms. We then recorded the ocular following responses that such stimuli induce in human subjects. We found that pattern motion is computed even with stimuli that do not cohere perceptually, including those without rigid motion, and even when the two gratings are presented separately to the two eyes. Moderate temporal and/or spatial separation of the gratings impairs the computation. We show that, of the models proposed so far, only those based on the intersection-of-constraints rule, embedding a motion-from-form mechanism (in which orientation signals are used in the computation of motion direction signals), can account for our results. At least for the eye movements reported here, a motion-from-form mechanism is thus involved in one of the most basic functions of the visual motion system: extracting motion direction from complex scenes. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Anatomical considerations led to the proposal that visual function is organized in separate processing streams: one (ventral) devoted to form and one (dorsal) devoted to motion. Several experimental results have challenged this view, arguing in favor of a more integrated view of visual processing. Here we add to this body of work, supporting a role for form information even in a function—extracting pattern motion direction from complex scenes—for which decisive evidence for the involvement of form signals has been lacking.
Prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV-1

Several recently published randomized trials have demonstrated that a substantial proportion of the mother-to-child transmission of HIV-1 can be prevented by antiretroviral therapy late in gestation and at delivery to mother and infant. The cost implications of these findings are considerable for resource-poor settings. Preliminary data also suggest very low rates of transmission among mothers receiving maximally suppressive combination drug regimens. Prophylactic cesarean delivery has also been shown to reduce transmission in women not receiving antiretroviral agents, and may play a role in selected patients. The avoidance of breast feeding with infant formula supplementation is clearly protective against HIV-1 transmission, but may not improve infant survival in some poorer settings because of associated increases in other infectious diseases and malnutrition.
On the Development of Small & Medium-sized Enterprises

SMEs play an important role in our national economy.SMEs in our country face many interior and exterior problems in the course of development,The author discusses the establishment of three brace systems -policy system,credit system and mediating service system,and the author also analyses the opportunity for SEMs,brought by WTO and western development of China.
Lipoxygenase from potato tubers. Partial purification and properties of an enzyme that specifically oxygenates the 9-position of linoleic acid.

A lipoxygenase (EC 1.13.1.13) was partially purified from potato tubers and was shown to differ from previously characterized soya-bean lipoxygenases in the positional specificity and pH characteristics of the oxygenation reaction. The potato enzyme converted linoleic acid almost exclusively (95%) into 9-d-hydroperoxyoctadeca-trans-10,cis-12-dienoic acid. The 13-hydroperoxy isomer was only a minor product (5%). Linolenic acid was an equally effective substrate, which was also oxygenated specifically at the 9-position. The enzyme had a pH optimum at 5.5–6.0 and was inactive at pH9.0. A half-maximal velocity was obtained at a linoleic acid concentration of 0.1mm. No inhibition was observed with EDTA (1mm) and cyanide (1mm) or with p-chloromercuribenzoate (0.2mm). Haemoproteins were not involved in the lipoxygenase activity. The molecular weight of the enzyme was estimated from gel filtration to be approx. 105. Preliminary evidence suggested that the enzyme oxygenated the n–10 position of fatty acids containing a penta(n–3, n–6)diene structure.
Multiterawatt femtosecond Cr:LiSAF laser

Cr:LiSAF has become an attractive alternative gain medium for the high intensity amplification of femtosecond optical pulses.1-4 It uniquely combines the advantages of Ti:sapphire and Nd:glass, materials commonly used as gain media in laser systems based on chirped pulse amplification.5 Cr:LiSAF has a broad spectral emission bandwidth similar to that of Ti:sapphire allowing the amplification of femtosecond optical pulses. In addition it has an upperstate lifetime of 67 μs long enough for efficient flashlamp-pumping6 leading to compact laboratory sized low- cost amplifiers using a mature technology developed over many years.
Statistical Analyses of Mutually Exclusive Competing Risks in Neonatal Studies

Following the well-established approach on how to deal with competing risks in the situation of time-to-event endpoints, cumulative incidences have to be used to analyse each single category of an outcome in the situation of competing risks without a time-to-event structure as well. This can be easily done by applying a simple chi-square test. Nevertheless, these categorial outcomes are usually combined to get a composed dichotomous outcome to face the problem on how to deal with a significant chi-square omnibus test in the situation of more than 1 df, i.e. > 2x2 tables. The aim of this report is to question the practice of combined, i.e. composed dichotomized, endpoints because important information is lost and the real effect of interest in confirmatory phase III studies may only become apparent in explorative secondary analyses. It is shown â€“ by using hypothetical data and by recalculation of published phase III studiesâ€™ results â€“ how the use of a chi-square omnibus test and the scarcely known post-hoc testing answers the real question of interest within one primary confirmatory analysis. This method reveals insight into the actual effect of a new treatment or therapy on the event of interest in the presence of a mutually exclusive competing risk.
Towards personalized precision medicine: New generation graphene protein microfluidic sensors

S glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride and HbA1C monitoring are all valuable tools in the health management of the aging population especially given the increase in diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Even for glucose monitoring, the challenges in obtaining sufficiently accurate and reliable measurements are so significant. None of them meet the even more stringent requirement of ISO 2012 and FDA. Because inaccurate systems bear the risk of false therapeutic decisions, rising health care costs, there is an urgent compelling need for significantly enhanced BG monitoring systems for PC applications. POC tests for other biomedically important analytes are generally even less accurate. The overall goal of the research in our laboratory and laboratories of our collaborators at Stanford, UC Berkeley, MIT and Rice is to develop new sensor platforms that will provide increased sensitivity and accuracy in point of care situations. Graphene-based platforms decorated by a probe protein enhance the sensitivity of pristine single layer grapheme multi-fold and offers a very accurate determination of critical analytes in the blood and other body fluids including saliva. The proposed system uses advanced graphene, Boron-doped graphene and carbon-nanotube-based sensors to transduce enzymatic binding into electrical signals that can be read and processed by a stand-alone system or even a cell-phone. These new biosensor chips will be housed in a plastic microfluidic system for sample acquisition, preparation and distribution to four separate biosensing chips. This approach will improve accuracy because it reduces operator errors, calibration problems and strip-to-strip variability, while increasing sensor sensitivity/specificity with the option to use redundant sensors for improved statistical confidence.
RIO ROSO a Robotically Installed and Online Remote Ocean Seafloor Observatory

We describe a system for ocean observatories which streams data from the seafloor to shore in near real-time without a cable or moored surface buoy. The system utilizes a Wave Glider® (Liquid Robotics, Inc.); an autonomous surfboard-sized maritime vehicle that harvests wave energy for propulsion and solar energy for electrical power. The Wave Glider acts as a communications gateway as it hovers on the surface above the observatory connecting the acoustic telemetry through the ocean column and satellite telemetry to the shore. Several deployments of a prototype system demonstrated the feasibility of this concept. We also demonstrated that a wave glider could tow a suitably designed ocean bottom package with acceptable loss of speed. In this paper, we describe such a system that can be deployed autonomously and provide real-time telemetry of data from seafloor sensors.
Practical, Broadly Applicable, α-Selective, Z-Selective, Diastereoselective, and Enantioselective Addition of Allylboron Compounds to Mono-, Di-, Tri-, and Polyfluoroalkyl Ketones

A practical method for enantioselective synthesis of fluoroalkyl-substituted Z-homoallylic tertiary alcohols has been developed. Reactions may be performed with ketones containing a polylfluoro-, trifluoro-, difluoro-, and monofluoroalkyl group along with an aryl, a heteroaryl, an alkenyl, an alkynyl, or an alkyl substituent. Readily accessible unsaturated organoboron compounds serve as reagents. Transformations were performed with 0.5–2.5 mol % of a boron-based catalyst, generated in situ from a readily accessible valine-derived aminophenol and a Z- or an E-γ-substituted boronic acid pinacol ester. With a Z organoboron reagent, additions to trifluoromethyl and polyfluoroalkyl ketones proceeded in 80–98% yield, 97:3 to >98:2 α:γ selectivity, >95:5 Z:E selectivity, and 81:19 to >99:1 enantiomeric ratio. In notable contrast to reactions with unsubstituted allylboronic acid pinacol ester, additions to ketones with a mono- or a difluoromethyl group were highly enantioselective as well. Transformations were si...
Private Emotions on the Public Stage: The Case of Envy and the American Presidency

This paper examines the different expressions of envy as they are manifested in the historical literature on American Presidents. The concept of envy is reviewed with an emphasis on its uncertain origins, its relationships to social learning theory, and psychoanalytical explanations of the emotion. Envy is especially prominent in consumer-oriented competitive societies with discrete youth cultures such as our own. American Presidents often exhibit envy as a result of childhood experiences, their resentment of advantaged people, highly charged professional competition, and their views of history and heroes. Envy is also an important element in expressing social reform and in the uncertain search for justice and equality.
Comparison of Molecular Testing Modalities for Detection of ROS1 Rearrangements in a Cohort of Positive Patient Samples.

Introduction ROS1 gene fusions are a well-characterized class of oncogenic driver found in approximately 1% to 2% of NSCLC patients. ROS1-directed therapy in these patients is more efficacious and is associated with fewer side effects compared to chemotherapy and is thus now considered standard-of-care for patients with advanced disease. Consequently, accurate detection of ROS1 rearrangements/fusions in clinical tumor samples is vital. In this study, we compared the performance of three common molecular testing approaches on a cohort of ROS1 rearrangement/fusion-positive patient samples. Methods Twenty-three ROS1 rearrangement/fusion-positive clinical samples were assessed by at least two of the following molecular testing methodologies: break-apart fluorescence in situ hybridization, DNA-based hybrid capture library preparation followed by next-generation sequencing (NGS), and RNA-based anchored multiplex polymerase chain reaction library preparation followed by NGS. Results None of the testing methodologies demonstrated 100% sensitivity in detection of ROS1 rearrangements/fusions. Fluorescence in situ hybridization results were negative in 2 of 20 tested samples, the DNA-based NGS assay was negative in 4 of 18 tested samples, and the RNA-based NGS assay was negative in 3 of 19 tested samples. For all three testing approaches, we identified assay characteristics that likely contributed to false-negative results. Additionally, we report that genomic breakpoints are an unreliable predictor of breakpoints at the transcript level, likely due to alternative splicing. Conclusions ROS1 rearrangement/fusion detection in the clinical setting is complex and all methodologies have inherent limitations of which users must be aware to correctly interpret results.
An Ancestral Immune Surveillance System in the Amphibian Xenopus Connecting Certain Heat Shock Proteins with Classical and Nonclassical MHC Class I Molecules

Studies in the amphibian Xenopus, a vertebrate species that diverged from a common ancestor with mouse and human more than 350 million years ago, provide evolutionary insights into the convergent roles of certain hsps such as gp96 and HSP70 as well as classical and nonclassical MHC class I molecules in cancer immune surveillance. Evidence that in Xenopus gp96 and HSP70 can elicit potent antitumor responses dependent on antigen representation by nonclassical MHC class Ib molecules and presumably involving innate T cells suggests the existence of an ancestral immune surveillance system in antigen-presenting cells such as macrophages integrating hsps with classical and nonclassical MHC molecules. The particular connection revealed in Xenopus between hsps and nonclassical MHC molecules presenting conserved patterns to innate T cells affords new avenues to develop therapeutic strategies against cancer.
Nonsuicidal self-injury and disordered eating: Differences in acquired capability and suicide attempt severity.

Abstract Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) and eating disorders are both strongly related to suicide behaviors, and both can be conceptualized as painful and provocative events that associate with acquired capability for suicide. Individuals who self-injure report greater acquired capability than those who do not engage in these behaviors, but results are mixed in eating disorder samples. Given that NSSI and disordered eating (DE) commonly co-occur, it is important to examine how acquired capability for suicide and suicide attempt severity may differ between individuals who engage in either, both, or neither of these behaviors. It was expected that individuals with both NSSI and DE would report the greatest acquired capability, assessed by fearlessness about death and fear about suicide, and suicide attempt severity, compared to NSSI only, DE only, and controls. In a sample of 1179 undergraduates, results indicated no differences on fearlessness about death, but the NSSI + DE group reported the lowest scores on fear of suicide and greatest suicide attempt severity compared to the other groups. Differences between fearlessness about death and fear about suicide are discussed, as well as the possible additive effect of engaging in both direct (NSSI) and indirect (DE) self-harm on fear about suicide and suicide risk.
Electrophysiology and structural interventions in adults with congenital heart disease: Comparison of combined versus separate procedures.

BACKGROUND Electrophysiologic (EP) and structural interventions in adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) are typically completed during separate hospital encounters. With planning/coordination, these cases can be combined. OBJECTIVES We hypothesized that this integrated approach would yield patient and health system benefits. METHODS Consecutive ACHD patients undergoing combined interventions were matched to controls with identical but separate procedures. Primary endpoints of total hospital length of stay and cost were compared. RESULTS Sixty-six combined cases and 120 controls were identified (45% male, mean age 36.2 ± 14.2 years). The most common diagnoses were Fontan (27%), tetralogy of Fallot (23%), and transposition complexes (20%). The most common EP procedure was catheter ablation (n = 30) followed by electrophysiologic study (n = 13); the most common structural intervention was transcatheter valve replacement (n = 16) followed by angioplasty/stenting (n = 14). Compared to controls, cases showed shorter anesthesia duration (323 [IQR 238-405] vs. 355 minutes [270-498], P = 0.06), smaller contrast dose (130 [50-189] vs. 177 mL [94-228], P = 0.045), fewer venipunctures (4 [3-4] vs. 6 [5-7], P < 0.001), and fewer work days missed (2 [2-5] vs. 4 [4-6], P < 0.001). There was shorter hospital stay (30 [19-35] vs. 38 hours [26-50], P = 0.023) and a 37% reduction in hospital charges ($117,894 vs. $187,648; P = 0.039) and 27% reduction in payments ($65,757 vs. $88,859; P = 0.016), persisting after adjustment for group differences. There were no significant differences in number of complications or efficacy. CONCLUSIONS There appear to be advantages to combining ACHD interventional procedures that include reductions in hospital length of stay and cost, without detectable difference in procedural outcome.
Poster: Testing Web-Based Applications with the Voice Controlled Accessibility and Testing Tool (VCAT)

Many web applications and software engineering tools such as test generators are not accessible for users who do not use traditional input devices such as mouse and keyboard. To address this shortcoming of current applications, this work leverages recent speech recognition advances to create a browser plugin that interprets voice inputs as web browser commands and as steps in a corresponding test case. In an initial experiment, the resulting Voice Controlled Accessibility and Testing tool (VCAT) prototype for Chrome and Selenium yielded a lower overall runtime than a traditional test creation approach.
Impacts of Flash Floods

Floods can be classified in four types based on characteristics of the flood event: flash floods of a few hours duration; single-event floods of longer duration; multiple-event floods; and seasonal floods. Flash floods most frequently occur on small headwater basins in association with short-duration convective, frontal, or orographic type storms with high-intensity rain cells. The economic, social, and environmental effects of flash floods are similar to impacts of “river floods” of other types; the major differences being that the effects of flash floods generally occur with little, if any, warning over a very short time period and are generally limited to relatively small areas. However, the effects of flash floods are often catastrophic and may, depending on development and land use in the affected basins, result in large loss of life because of the sudden onset of the flood events.
Numerical Modeling Of High Speed Time Varying Plasma Antenna Using Electromagnetic 2D Particle-In-Cell Simulation

A plasma antenna as a substitute for metal antennas has been demonstrated in previous research1. However, past work has been primarily motivated by making the plasma mimic a stable conductor for transmitting or receiving electromagnetic waves1. Specifically, in a conventional short antenna, an injected current propagates down the antenna, reflects at the end, and returns to the feed in a time much shorter than a period 1. This leads to very little net current on the antenna and poor radiation. In an attempt to solve this problem, we present a new method based on blocking reflected currents in the time domain. The plasma antenna is divided into a series of segments whose conductivity can be individually controlled. Those segments turn ON and OFF, allowing injected current to propagate to the end without reflection because the reflected current pulse is selectively blocked. In order to validate this concept, we developed a 2D electromagnetic Particle In Cell (PIC) simulation 2. We perform PIC simulation of Argon-Fluoride mixture plasma. In order to model several species simultaneously and quickly, we use multi-GPU parallel processing. The input voltage is lkV pulsed, the pulsed width is 1 ns and duty ratio is 50%. We compare performance between Argon-Fluoride and Helium-Fluoride plasmas in terms of the dynamics of plasma frequency, electron velocity, plasma density and conductivity. We have identified the minimum peak voltage to create an electron channel between neighboring electrodes. The distance between electrodes should be less than 3 cm in order to have a continuous electron channel. Our simulation results show that a high-speed plasma antenna can be a potential solution to the longstanding problem of low efficiency in electrically-short antennas.
Assessment of performance of Nitinol-based arch wedge supports in bearing forces and stresses due to human movement using FEA

AbstractA computational investigation was performed in this study to evaluate the force bearing and deflection performance of a nitinol-based arch wedge support (AWS) design. Effects of force, boun...
Synthesis and Reduction of Bimetallic Methyl-Bridged Rare-Earth Metal Complexes, [(C5H4SiMe3)2Ln(μ-CH3)]2 (Ln = Y, Tb, Dy).

The complexes [Cp′2Ln(μ-CH3)]2, (Cp′ = C5H4SiMe3; Ln = Y, Tb, Dy) were reduced to determine if these methyl-bridged complexes would form mixed valent 4fn5d1 Ln(II)/4fn Ln(III) compounds or bimetall...
When It’s Broken, Don’t 'Fix' It: Why Noneconomic Damage Caps Fatally Flaw Federal Due Process Jurisprudence

All state civil jury trial clauses, like their federal counterpart, find their interpretative basis in the English common law and all states recognize the historic origin of the civil jury trial right. Nevertheless, tort reformists have argued that excessive jury verdicts in personal injury cases have caused significant increases in tort litigation expenses and insurance premiums for medical professionals. Sufficiently convinced that civil jury trial procedure was broken, many state legislatures imposed fixed caps on recovery for noneconomic damage in personal injury cases. But no preliminary finding of excessiveness triggers any state’s noneconomic damage cap. Moreover, the Court has established the compensatory award, which consist of economic and noneconomic damages, as the starting point of a due process reasonableness review of a punitive award. This starting point erroneously assumes plaintiffs receive full compensation for the noneconomic value of an injury. This Article investigates state law statutory caps on noneconomic damage awards in personal injury cases. This Article discusses cap-affirming jurisprudence, which primarily relies on legislative authority to mandate juryless fact-finding but fails to reconcile traditional constitutional and common law norms. This Article also explores cap-disapproving jurisprudence, which primarily relies on the traditional fact-finding role of the civil jury but fails to address claims of excessiveness. This Article analogizes a similar tension in federal criminal jury trial clause jurisprudence between legislative authority to mandate juryless fact-finding at sentencing and the criminal jury trial right. This Article implores cap-approving state supreme courts to recognize traditional limits on legislative authority to alter constitutional rights and argues that noneconomic damage caps in common law-based personal injury cases significantly flaw the Court’s Due Process Clause reasonableness review of punitive damage awards. This Article maintains that caps are unnecessary, as excessive and arbitrary awards are a violation of due process. Unlike other works on this subject, this Article proposes a framework that advances the state’s dual interests to protect civil defendants from unreasonably high awards and severely injured plaintiffs from arbitrarily low awards. This framework also addresses and cures the constitutional defect that noneconomic damage caps produce in federal due process punitive damage jurisprudence.
Feasibility and Acute Safety Study of Radiofrequency Energy Delivery to the Vena Caval Wall Via an Inferior Vena Cava Filter in Swine

Retrievable inferior vena cava (IVC) filters are self-expanding metallic devices implanted in the IVC to prevent migration of thrombi from the deep veins of the legs and pelvis to the lungs. The risk of complications from the filters increases with duration of implantation, but retrieval may be difficult due to intimal hyperplasia around the components of the filter. In this study, the potential for delivery of radiofrequency (RF) energy to the IVC wall via the filter was investigated. IVC filters were deployed in 4 swine while attached to a snare connected to a 480 kHz RF generator. Energy ranging from 0 to 48 kJ was applied via the filter followed by re-sheathing and withdrawal of the filter while connected to a force measurement device. Resheathing forces for the 0-energy cohort and pooled data from the 6-24 kJ cohorts were 4.50±0.70 N and 4.50±0.75 N, respectively. Petechial hemorrhages and variable non-occlusive thrombi were noted in some cohorts including the 0-energy cohort, consistent with delivery and acute retrieval of an IVC filter. Histologically, the extent of RF-induced injury was subtle at 6 kJ with focal areas of homogenized collagen while the 12 kJ cohort showed segmental tissue charring with coagulation necrosis which was more extensive for the 24 kJ cohort. The 48 kJ energy caused more extensive and non-target organ damage. The study demonstrated feasibility of delivery of RF to the IVC wall via a deployed filter, supporting further study of the ability of local RF heating of the IVC wall to inhibit the neointimal hyperplasia or as an aid in retrieval.
Role of climate and city pattern

Abstract The human fingerprint called urbanization is a widespread phenomenon that has assumed increasing importance over the years, leading to the fact that more than half of the world's population actually lives in cities. The explosive and sudden growth of the urban settlements increased the vulnerability of their governing systems in terms of managing capacity as well as ability to defend citizens from environmental risks. The issue of climate change strongly enhances this vulnerability and imposes to fully reconsider the way we planned the urban development that characterize the city itself. To govern this problem policy actions, based on a strong scientific evidence, is necessary to address adaptation and mitigation strategies for the urban environment. In this frame the word resilience, defined as the capacity of a system to overpass a critical situation, is utilized in the regeneration processes and has to be considered an integral part of the processes of construction of the city itself.
DIFFUSION OF INNOVATION UNDER MODIFIED MARKET STRUCTURE: THE CASE OF SURROGATE BUYERS

Since its introduction to marketing in the early 60’s, though innovation diffusion research has made significant progress, most existing models have ignored the role of social and market structures in which the diffusion takes place. Further, existing models assume that the end-user is also the sole decision maker in adopting an innovation. This paper examines the role of a specific kind of market structure in the diffusion process. This structure includes the presence of an intermediary — a surrogate buyer — to whom the end-user delegates the task of adopting an innovation.
Geographic Mapping for Global Health Research

Geographic mapping represents one of the most efficient approaches for students and researchers to establish a global perspective on a specific medical, health and behavioral issues. In this chapter, we introduce the application of the free software R program packages available in geographic mapping. We demonstrate various mapping methods and R program codes using country-specific data for population and population density as examples.
Enhancing Social Connectedness in Anxiety and Depression Through Amplification of Positivity: Preliminary Treatment Outcomes and Process of Change.

Anxiety and depressive disorders are often characterized by perceived social disconnection, yet evidence-based treatments produce only modest improvements in this domain. The well-established link between positive affect (PA) and social connectedness suggests that directly targeting PA in treatment may be valuable. A secondary analysis of a waitlist-controlled trial (N = 29) was conducted to evaluate treatment response and process of change in social connectedness within a 10-session positive activity intervention protocol—Amplification of Positivity (AMP)—designed to increase PA in individuals seeking treatment for anxiety or depression (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02330627). Perceived social connectedness and PA/negative affect (NA) were assessed throughout treatment. Time-lagged multilevel mediation models examined the process of change in affect and connectedness throughout treatment. The AMP group displayed significantly larger improvements in social connectedness from pre- to post-treatment compared to waitlist; improvements were maintained through 6-month follow-up. Within the AMP group, increases in PA and decreases in NA both uniquely predicted subsequent increases in connectedness throughout treatment. However, experiencing heightened NA throughout treatment attenuated the effect of changes in PA on connectedness. Improvements in connectedness predicted subsequent increases in PA, but not changes in NA. These preliminary findings suggest that positive activity interventions may be valuable for enhancing social connectedness in individuals with clinically impairing anxiety or depression, possibly through both increasing positive emotions and decreasing negative emotions.
Automatic Phonocardiography Analysis Using Discrete Wavelet Transform

This paper presents an intelligent algorithm for analyzing the heart sound signal using multi-resolution analysis based on discrete wavelet transform (DWT). This signal processing technique can not only compress and encrypt the phonocardiogram (PCG) signal but also reduces the noises and the murmurs from the PCG signal. This information can assist the cardiologists for taking appropriate actions to diagnosis for the initial stage of the cardiovascular dis- order. We have presented an efficient data compression algorithm based on DWT, energy packing efficiency (EPE), and run-length encoding (RLE) that can compress the signal about 93.70% without losing any pathological information. Further, this paper explores an end-to-end encryption technique using the compression algo-rithm to maintain patient confidentiality. After the compression of the PCG signal, the noises and the murmurs are effectively separated from the signal by reusing DWT. The performance of this algorithm has been evaluated by using 5 normal and 18 abnormal PCG signals available in the University of Michigan Heart Sound and Murmur Library. This method can be used in real time for the remote monitoring of the heart sound.
Impaired neurocognitive function in glioma patients: from pathophysiology to novel intervention strategies.

Purpose of review This review succinctly summarizes the recent literature regarding etiological contributors to impaired neurocognitive function (NCF) in adult patients with glioma. A brief overview of intervention and prevention strategies is also provided. Recent findings A majority of patients with glioma exhibit NCF deficits, most frequently in memory and executive functioning. Impairments are often disabling and associated with reduced quality of life and survival. Cause is multifactorial and includes the tumour itself, treatments received and associated comorbidities. Although modern techniques such as brain mapping, dosing modifications and prophylactic medication aim to improve the NCF outcomes following neurosurgical resection and radiation therapy, a sizeable proportion of patients continue to evidence treatment-related NCF declines related to adverse effects to both local and distributed cerebral networks. Numerous patient and tumour characteristics, including genetic markers and sociodemographic factors, influence the pattern and severity of NCF impairment. Some rehabilitative and pharmacologic approaches show promise in mitigating NCF impairment in this population, though benefits are somewhat modest and larger scale intervention studies are needed. Summary Research regarding NCF in patients with glioma has dramatically proliferated, providing insights into the mechanisms underlying impaired NCF and pointing to potential interventions, though further work is needed.
Increases in multimorbidity with weight class in the United States

Little is known regarding how multimorbidity combinations associated with obesity change with increase in body weight. This study employed data from the national Cerner HealthFacts Data Warehouse to identify changes in multimorbidity patterns by weight class using network analysis. Networks were generated for 154 528 middle-aged patients in the following categories: normal weight, overweight, and classes 1, 2, and 3 obesity. The results show significant differences (P-value<0.05) in prevalence by weight class for all but three of 82 diseases considered. The percentage of patients with multimorbidity (excluding obesity) increases from in 55.1% in patients with normal weight, to 57.88% with overweight, 70.39% with Class 1 obesity, 73.99% with Class 2 obesity, and 71.68% in Class 3 obesity, increasing most substantially with the progression from overweight to class 1 obesity. Most prevalent disease clusters expand from only hypertension and dorsalgia in normal weight, to add joint disorders in overweight, lipidemias in class 1 obesity, diabetes in class 2 obesity, and sleep disorders and chronic kidney disease in class 3 obesity. Recognition of multimorbidity patterns associated with weight increase is essential for true precision care of obesity-associated chronic conditions and can help clinicians identify and address preclinical disease before additional complications arise.
Gray Literature Searching Options: Million Short and Carrot2 Search Engines

Librarians searching for gray literature often turn to Google®; however, other options exist that complement Google® searches. Two search engines, Million Short and Carrot2 Search, offer alternativ...
Public Memory, Digital Media, and Prison Narratives at Robben Island (La Mémoire Publique, Les Médias Numériques Et Les Récits De La Prison À Robben)

English Abstract: In this article, the authors analyze face-to-face and interactive tours of Robben Island, South Africa. Using ethnographic and rhetorical research methods, they consider the ways in which the Island employs themes of triumph over oppression as a form of nation building. In addition, they consider the ways in which museum narratives may limit how visitors think about social justice in contemporary South Africa. French Abstract: Dans cet article, les auteurs analysent les visites en face-a-face interactives de Robben Island, en Afrique du Sud. A l'aide des methodes de recherche ethnographique et rhetorique, ils considerent les facons dont l'ile utilise les themes du triomphe sur l’oppression comme forme de construction de la nation. En outre, ils considerent la facon dont les recits des musees peuvent limiter la facon dont les visiteurs reflechissent a la justice sociale en Afrique du Sud contemporaine.
Slavery and the Maroon Community: Barry Unsworth, Sacred Hunger

Sacred Hunger represents the global slave trade and the wealth and privilege it created in mid-eighteenth-century England. Like other novels, it artfully contrasts an imperial exceptionalist state reaping capitalist profit with an imaginary sociality functioning through the barter and exchange of goods and services, consensual decision-making, and implicit commitments to equality and justice. This chapter explores Unsworth’s extensive research on slavery, the middle passage, and its impacts. It analyzes exceptionalist assumptions and practices in the country-house and on the slave ship, contrasted with the egalitarian sociality based on trade and sharing in the Maroon community. The chapter establishes the narrative’s use of omniscience to create a broadly inclusive text, while it replaces imperial certainty with an inclusive, empathetic perspective.
Subanalytic Stratifications and Bisimulations

Decidability results for the verification of hybrid systems consist of constructing special finite state quotients called bisimulations whose properties are equivalent to those of the original infinite state system. This approach has had success in the case of timed automata and linear hybrid automata. In this paper, the powerful frameworks of stratification theory and subanalytic sets are presented and used in order to obtain bisimulations of certain analytic vector fields on analytic manifolds.
Radar Data Quality Control and Assimilation at the National Weather Radar Testbed (NWRT)

Abstract : LONG-TERM GOALS: Study and develop advanced approaches for radar data quality control (QC) and assimilation that will not only optimally utilize Doppler wind information from WSR-88D and Terminal Doppler Weather Radar (TDWR) but also take full advantage of rapid and flexible agile-beam scans from the phased array radar at NWRT. OBJECTIVES: Develop new variational methods to improve the existing radar wind analysis system so it can be applied to any radar scans to produce real-time vector wind displays and monitor data quality. Study radar data quality problems and develop statistically reliable quality control (QC) techniques. Explore new data assimilation techniques to optimally utilize the phased array scan capabilities.
Evaluating user knowledge in large scale online knowledge communities

It is an important knowledge management task to evaluate a user's domain knowledge in a knowledge community. We present a new domain knowledge representation method that considers both user-document associations and document-topic relevance. We provide three alternative user-document association models with varying syntactic and semantic inferences and two alternative document-topic relevance models with different assumptions on knowledge diffusion. We compare the effectiveness of different knowledge representation methods using the combinations of these alternatives. Using a real data set collected from the Sun forums, we find that the vector space model for user-document association combined with the medium-level diffusion model outperform all other model combinations.
Symmetry-Directed Control of Electronic Coupling for Singlet Fission in Covalent Bis–Acene Dimers

While singlet fission (SF) has developed in recent years within material settings, much less is known about its control in covalent dimers. Such platforms are of fundamental importance and may also find practical use in next-generation dye-sensitized solar cell applications or for seeding SF at interfaces following exciton transport. Here, facile theoretical tools based on Boys localization methods are used to predict diabatic coupling for SF via determination of one-electron orbital coupling matrix elements. The results expose important design rules that are rooted in point group symmetry. For Cs-symmetric dimers, pathways for SF that are mediated by virtual charge transfer excited states destructively interfere with negative impact on the magnitude of diabatic coupling for SF. When dimers have C2 symmetry, constructive interference is enabled for certain readily achievable interchromophore orientations. Three sets of dimers exploiting these ideas are explored: a bis-tetracene pair and two sets of aza-substituted tetracene dimers. Remarkable control is shown. In one aza-substituted set, symmetry has no impact on SF reaction thermodynamics but leads to a 16-fold manipulation in SF diabatic coupling. This translates to a difference of nearly 300 in kSF with the faster of the two dimers (C2) being predicted to undergo the process on a nearly ultrafast 1.5 ps time scale.
The Influence of Periphyton and Rock Texture on the Diel Drift Periodicity of a Hydropsychid Caddisfly

ABSTRACT Hydropsychid caddisflies are among the many groups of invertebrates that drift at night supposedly to avoid visual feeding predators such as fish. Little is known concerning how drift patterns of hydropsychid caddisflies change when abiotic factors, such as the quality of the habitat, are modified. In the laboratory, I investigated drift patterns of fifth-instar Hydropsyche slossonae while varying periphyton food levels (periphyton-covered and periphyton-absent rocks) and substrate texture (rough, sand-covered rocks). Larval drift peaked shortly after dark and the timing of the peak drifting period was inflexible across rock types. However, fewer larvae drifted from the periphyton-covered rocks than from either the periphyton-absent or rough-textured rocks. Thus, periphyton availability may be used by caddiflies to assess the quality of a microhabitat, but periphyton presence does not influence diel drift periodicity.
Suppression of expression: Rights in jeopardy

This study examines the status of free speech on our nation's college and university campuses. The authors suggest that the very survival of academe, as institutions where free thought and inquiry are developed, may depend upon taking positive steps to revitalize the values and virtues inherent in freedom of expression.
Randoop: feedback-directed random testing for Java

RANDOOP for Java generates unit tests for Java code using feedback-directed random test generation. Below we describe RANDOOP's input, output, and test generation algorithm. We also give an overview of RANDOOP's annotation-based interface for specifying configuration parameters that affect RANDOOP's behavior and output.
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator trial may be used as a screening tool prior to spinal cord stimulator implantation

This is a prospective pilot study looking at the utility of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulator (TENS) trial as a screening tool prior to spinal cord stimulator (SCS) implant to identify patients who may fail a SCS trial. The accepted screening test prior to a permanent SCS implant is a SCS trial. Patients may fail the SCS trial due to several causes of which one is the inability to tolerate stimulation induced paresthesias. Twenty five patients scheduled for a SCS trial for the treatment of refractory pain secondary to Failed Back surgery syndrome underwent a TENS trial and psychological evaluation by personnel uninvolved in the SCS trial. Data was collected by personnel not involved in the SCS trial or permanent placement. Twenty patients completed the study. Data collected included area of coverage, paresthesia tolerance, pain and anxiety measured on a VAS scale. Comparability between the groups were analyzed using Pearson's correlation, Fisher Exact test and simple regression analysis. We noted a significant correlation between ability to tolerate TENS and SCS induced paresthesias. Statistically significant correlation was also noted between pre SCS trial anxiety score and high pain score during SCS trial. We conclude that there is potential applicability of a TENS trial as a non invasive screening tool which may promote cost effectiveness and decrease unnecessary procedural risks to the patient by avoiding SCS trial in select patients.
A new role for surfactants in the formation of cobalt nanoparticles

During wet-chemical synthesis of nanoparticles it is believed that surfactants interact with the particles after their nucleation thereby controlling their crystal structure, shape and size. Contrary to this, our investigations presented in this paper reveal a new role for surfactants: influencing the reaction pathways, prior to nucleation, leading to the formation of cobalt nanoparticles. The results from the mechanistic investigation of the influence of various surfactants on the formation of cobalt nanoparticles carried out using time dependent FT-IR spectroscopy support this observation. The utilization of different surfactants such as oleic acid (OA), trioctylphosphine oxide (TOPO), octadecylamine (ODA), and trioctylphosphine (TOP) led to differences in reaction pathways and reaction intermediates, prior to the nucleation, leading to the formation of Co nanoparticles with very different properties. The particle size and size distribution were obtained from transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The electronic and geometric properties of the cobalt nanoparticles obtained were determined using synchrotron radiation based X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and the magnetic properties were measured using SQUID magnetometry.
Maps of mean gas velocity for stratified flows with and without atomization

Abstract The variation of gas velocity in the streamwise direction was measured for air and water flowing in a horizontal 9.53 cm pipe. Secondary flows are inferred from these measurements. At low gas velocities a stratified pattern with little or no entrainment was observed. Contours of constant velocity suggest the existence of two or more secondary cells, which create an upward flow at the walls and a downward flow at the center in the top part of the pipe. At high gas velocities and at large enough liquid flows, that entrainment is significant, droplet stratification causes a secondary pattern with downward flow at the wall.