cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
CAPED: context-aware personalized display brightness for mobile devices

The display remains the primary user interface on many computing devices, ranging from traditional devices such as desktops and laptops, to the more pervasive devices such as smartphones and smartwatches. Thus, the overall user experience with these computing devices is greatly determined by the display subsystem. Ideal display brightness is critical to good user experience, but actually predicting the ideal brightness level which would most satisfy the user is a challenge. Finding the right screen brightness is even more challenging on mobile devices (which is the focus of this work), as the screen tends to be one of the most power consuming components. Currently, the control of display brightness is usually done through a simplistic, static one-size-fits-all model which chooses a fixed brightness level for a given ambient light condition. Our user study and survey of research literature on vision and perception establish that the simplistic model currently used for display brightness control is not sufficient. The ideal display brightness level varies from one user to another. Furthermore, in addition to ambient light, we identify additional contextual data that also affect the ideal brightness. We propose a new system, Context-Aware PErsonalized Display (CAPED), that uses online learning to control the display brightness, and is theoretically and practically shown to improve prediction accuracy over time. CAPED enables personalization of brightness control as well as exploitation of richer contextual data to better predict the right display brightness. Our user study shows that CAPED improves the state-of-the-art brightness control techniques with a 41.9% improvement in mean absolute prediction accuracy. Our user study also shows that on average the users had 0.8 point higher satisfaction on a 5-point scale. In other words, CAPED improves the average satisfaction by 23.5% compared to the default scheme.
Comparison of 2-D Fiber Network Orientation Measurement Methods

The mechanical properties of most soft tissues are dependent on the underlying network of collagen fibers, proteoglycans, and other extracellular matrix components [1]. Similarly, the properties of in vitro tissue analogs, often created from collagen or fibrin gels, are also dependent on the organization of the biopolymers within [2]. In both materials, the overall mechanical response is inherently multi-scale and dynamic. To understand the interplay between scales a satisfactory description of the microstructure must be obtained that is both tractable for modeling purposes and faithful to the essential physics of the tissue.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Collective many-body dynamics in the vicinity of nuclear driplines

The Continuum Shell Model is a powerful theoretical tool for analysis of many-body dynamics embedded in the continuum. Here we formulate the method and use an example of a realistic shell model calculation for oxygen isotopes to demonstrate the seamless transition from bound states to resonances and cross sections in continuum within the same framework. The coupled dynamics of intrinsic states and continuum is traced further to the regime of continuum dominance that implies the decay width collectivization and onset of super-radiance. The coexistence and interplay of internal collective motion, such as giant resonances, and decay are of particular interest. Schematic and realistic calculations illustrate changes in the strength distribution and the natural appearance of the so-called pygmy mode.
Nietzsche's New Darwinism

CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 1. Biology 2. Metaethics 3. Ethics-Politics 4. Aesthetics BIBLIOGRAPHY/VOCABULARY/INDEX
The microeconomics of the allocation of teachers' time and student learning

Abstract The authors use a microeconomic theory of schools and highly detailed panel data on time allocations to examine student learning curves for reading and mathematics. In addition to examining the factors that affect student achievement, they investigate the role teachers' values play in allocating scarce learning time to students, and the subsequent effects on the distribution of learning across those students. They test hypotheses about the productivity of teachers in teaching mathematics and reading, whether marginal products vary across a sample of teachers, and whether the marginal products of time in alternate types of classroom organization significantly differ. The authors' findings are consistent with the view that more time on a subject does increase learning, but suggest that the size of the effects is small and subject to diminishing returns. With respect to teacher preferences, the results show that teachers in the sample overwhelmingly employed compensating strategies in allocating resources to the students. Teachers tend to prefer narrower distributions of learning across students than wider ones.
Hierarchies of turing machines with restricted tape alphabet size

It is shown that for any real constants b>a>=0, multitape Turing machines operating in space L"1(n)=[bn^r] can accept more sets than those operating in space L"2(n)=[an^r] provided the number of work tapes and tape alphabet size are held fixed. It is also shown that Turing machines with k+1 work tapes are more powerful than those with k work tapes if the tape alphabet size and the amount of work space are held constant.
ANAESTHETIC MANAGEMENT OF A VERY PREMATURE INFANT: Case Report

SUMMARY Anaesthesia and surgery for premature infants is becoming more common and presents additional hazards in an already precarious life. Attention to detail is mandatory in the management of these infants whose immature physiological systems have a limited ability to compensate for homeostatic imbalance. Body and skin temperatures, fluid balance, ventilation, inspired oxygen concentration and acid-base status should be controlled. Meticulous monitoring is important before, during and after surgery. A rational choice of anaesthetic agents and techniques can be made from a knowledge of the modified effects and altered metabolism of drugs in premature infants. Anaesthesia for an intrathoracic and an intra-abdominal operation on a premature infant is described. Complicating conditions were recurrent apnoea requiring 3 weeks of intermittent positive pressure ventilation, and a patent ductus arteriosus with severe congestive cardiac failure, and pneumothorax.
The Potential for Controlling Pangaeus bilineatus (Heteroptera: Cydnidae) using a Combination of Entomopathogens and an Insecticide

The peanut burrower bug, Pangaeus bilineatus (Say), is an important pest of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) in the southern United States. Current control methods for this pest, which are based on the use of chemical insecticides, have not been successful. Our objective was to determine if entomopathogens applied alone or in combination with a standard chemical insecticide would provide superior levels of P. bilineatus mortality compared with the standard chemical applied alone. Specifically, we investigated the efficacy of an entomopathogenic nematode, Heterorhabditis bacteriophora Poinar (Oswego strain), and a fungus, Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin (GHA strain), applied alone or in combination with chlorpyrifos. When applied as single treatments, the two entomopathogens were not pathogenic, that is, they did not cause mortality in P. bilineatus adults that was different from the nontreated control. However, 3 and 7 d posttreatment, the combination of the H. bacteriophora and chlorpyrifos caused higher mortality than the nematode, fungus, or insecticide alone, or the combination of chlorpyrifos and B. bassiana. The nature of the interaction between H. bacteriophora and chlorpyrifos was synergistic, which is of particular interest, given that this is the first time a synergy is being reported between a nematode that was not pathogenic when applied alone and a chemical insecticide. B. bassiana and its combination with the chlorpyrifos did not significantly increase insect mortality compared with chlorpyrifos alone or the control. Based on the observation of synergy, the combination of H. bacteriophora and chlorpyrifos should be investigated further for potential adoption in the management of P. bilineatus.
Design rules for nanomedical engineering: from physical virology to the applications of virus-based materials in medicine

Physical virology seeks to define the principles of physics underlying viral infections, traditionally focusing on the fundamental processes governing virus assembly, maturation, and disassembly. A detailed understanding of virus structure and assembly has facilitated the development and analysis of virus-based materials for medical applications. In this Physical Virology review article, we discuss the recent developments in nanomedicine that help us to understand how physical properties affect the in vivo fate and clinical impact of (virus-based) nanoparticles. We summarize and discuss the design rules that need to be considered for the successful development and translation of virus-based nanomaterials from bench to bedside.
The Importance of Monitoring Patients’ Responses to Medications: Increased Arousal after Administration of Zolpidem in Those with Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy—A Case Study

In rehabilitation, nurses are the first team members to note or be told when a patient is having a positive or negative response to a medication. In brain injury medicine, medications are often used to augment cognitive or physical rehabilitation by increasing alertness, attention, focus, concentration, improving sleep, decreasing agitation, or easing spasticity and rigidity. Rehabilitation nurses not only should be aware of how medications work but also how medications may work differently in a chronically ill or disabled population. This article describes a 51-year-old man who suffered a hypoxic ischemic brain injury and how his neurological complications were managed with a nonbenzodiazepine medication which the Food and Drug Administration approved for the treatment of insomnia.
Predicting a Decadal Shift in North Atlantic Climate Variability Using the GFDL Forecast System

Decadal prediction experiments were conducted as part of phase 5 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5) using the GFDL Climate Model, version 2.1 (CM2.1) forecast system. The abrupt warming of the North Atlantic Subpolar Gyre (SPG) that was observed in the mid-1990s is considered as a case study to evaluateforecastcapabilitiesandbetterunderstandthereasonsfortheobservedchanges.InitializingtheCM2.1 coupledsystemproduces highskillinretrospectivelypredictingthemid-1990s shift,whichisnotcapturedbythe uninitializedforecasts. Allthehindcasts initialized intheearly1990s show awarmingoftheSPG;however,only the ensemble-mean hindcasts initialized in 1995 and 1996 are able to reproduce the observed abrupt warming and the associated decrease and contraction of the SPG. Examination of the physical mechanisms responsible forthesuccessfulretrospectivepredictionsindicatesthatinitializingtheoceaniskeytopredictingthemid-1990s warming.The successful initialized forecasts showan increased Atlanticmeridional overturning circulation and North Atlantic Current transport, which drive an increased advection of warm saline subtropical waters northward, leading to a westward shift of the subpolar front and, subsequently, a warming and spindown of the SPG. Significant seasonal climate impacts are predicted as the SPG warms, including a reduced sea ice concentration over the Arctic, an enhanced warming over the central United States during summer and fall, and anorthwardshiftofthemeanITCZ.Theseclimateanomaliesaresimilartothoseobservedduringawarmphase of the Atlantic multidecadal oscillation, which is encouraging for future predictions of North Atlantic climate.
GTRACK: A PC program for computing Goldstein's growth constancy index and an alternative measure of tracking

This paper reviews Goldstein’s ‘growth constancy index,’ .$, a measure of tracking which can be used to determine whether or not individuals maintain their relative positions in the distribution of a given measurement as that distribution changes over time. We suggest that F is an appropriate measure of tracking when the (standardized) measurements arise in the context of a Model I ANOVA, but that the intraclass correlation coefficient, r,, may be preferred when a Model II ANOVA is applicable. We also describe - and make available - a PC program which allows the user to choose between Model I and Model II, and computes the appropriate tracking index and confidence intervals for the corresponding parameter.
Networks with Learned Unit Response Functions

Feedforward networks composed of units which compute a sigmoidal function of a weighted sum of their inputs have been much investigated. We tested the approximation and estimation capabilities of networks using functions more complex than sigmoids. Three classes of functions were tested: polynomials, rational functions, and flexible Fourier series. Unlike sigmoids, these classes can fit non-monotonic functions. They were compared on three problems: prediction of Boston housing prices, the sunspot count, and robot arm inverse dynamics. The complex units attained clearly superior performance on the robot arm problem, which is a highly non-monotonic, pure approximation problem. On the noisy and only mildly nonlinear Boston housing and sunspot problems, differences among the complex units were revealed; polynomials did poorly, whereas rationals and flexible Fourier series were comparable to sigmoids.
Neuropsychological, neurological, and neuroanatomical profile of Williams syndrome.

The general aim of our research is to understand the brain mechanisms that underlie language and cognition. In this paper, we present a new line of investigation which attempts to forge links between a specific neu-rodevelopmental disoder, a specific neuro-psychological profile, and abnormal brain organization. We report on a dissociation between language and cognitive functions in Williams syndrome adolescents, in contrast to age-and IQ-matched Down syndrome adolescents. The Williams syndrome individuals exhibit an unusual fractionation of higher cortical functioning, with marked cognitive deficits, but selective sparing of syntax. Differences in spatial cognitive abilities in the 2 groups are investigated, showing peaks and valleys of abilities specific to Williams syndrome individuals. These neurobehavioral profiles are explored in light of new evidence regarding neurologic and neuroanatomical differences between the 2 matched groups of adolescents. Results from these combined studies should help clarify the neural systems that mediate language and cognitive functions.
Nonresponse bias in a longitudinal measurement design examining substance use across the transition out of high school

Abstract Background Intensive longitudinal methods are used to study the daily-level, within-person associations between substance use and its predictors and consequences. By definition, these designs require greater respondent effort than more traditional longitudinal designs, the result of which may be increased unit nonresponse and, more importantly, nonresponse bias. The present study contrasts the nonresponse properties of a measurement burst design with those of a single 1-year follow-up (“control”) design, with a particular emphasis on the retention of young adults who did not plan to graduate from college. Methods High school seniors (N = 318) from three Midwestern schools completed an in-school baseline survey in spring 2012. Respondents were then randomized into a measurement burst or control group. Four, eight, and twelve months after baseline, young adults in the measurement burst group received a 30-min follow-up web survey, followed by 14 days of web-based daily surveys. Young adults in the control group received only a 30-min follow-up web survey 12 months after baseline. Response rates, predictors of nonresponse, and relative nonresponse biases for measures of sociodemographics, college plans, and substance use were compared between the two measurement groups. Results Compared to the control design, the measurement burst design had greater relative nonresponse bias for statistics measuring substance use, but lower relative nonresponse bias for the statistic measuring college plans. Conclusion Intensive longitudinal methods have the potential to retain non-college attending young adults during the transition to adulthood. Nonresponse adjustment weights should be used to correct for any detected bias.
Porcine factor VIII: pharmacoeconomics of inhibitor therapy

The treatment of acquired haemophilia is characteristically exceedingly expensive and thus a cost-benefit analysis of the several available treatment strategies is urgently needed. To address this issue, decision-analysis techniques were used to construct a cost-minimization model to compare the cost of treatment with porcine factor VIII (pFVIII), human FVIII (hFVIII) or an activated prothrombin complex concentrate (APCC). This model was based upon the results of a comprehensive literature search of all relevant clinical studies and case series. To supplement these data, a panel of haemophilia specialists was presented with a clinical scenario describing an acquired haemophilia patient with an acute haemorrhage in whom the human and porcine inhibitor titres were initially unknown. Based on this scenario and on their own clinical experience, the expert panel assessed the applicability of the model as initially constructed, assigned probabilities of success to each treatment and recommended appropriate initial dosing and follow-up regimens. This information was incorporated into the model and a simulation was conducted from which the costs of care were calculated. Sensitivity analyses were then conducted on all parameters. The results of the model show that treatment initiated with pFVIII would be more cost effective compared with treatment sequences initiated with an APCC or hFVIII, respectively. The model indicates that initial treatment with pFVIII in this scenario may be the preferred strategy clinically, as well as on economic grounds.
Wire loop methods for retrieval of trapped inferior vena cava filters: 10-f versus 16-f sheath technique.

team and of course the patient, and the consensus was that the described approach was the best solution in these circumstances. Indeed, at most recent follow-up, the patient has been interventionand complication-free at 17 months after the procedure and continues to maintain excellent flows of more than 1,000 mL/min. Furthermore, both her basilic and brachial veins remain intact should she need construction of a new AVF in this arm at a later time. No bridges were burned with our approach. Notwithstanding her favorable outcome, given her particular concerns it would have been unethical to deny her an informed discussion of this and other possible treatment options and forced surgery on her as the only option. Finally, it is important to note that our report is very clearly a technical report and not a policy statement. We are simply reporting on an approach employed in a particular clinical setting. We do not routinely advance policy statements, agendas, or initiatives, nor do we second guess our patients in such forums. We believe that it is our primary duty to critically and objectively inform the medical and scientific communities of our experience; we respectfully hope that this is what we have done here.
On incremental file system development

Developing file systems from scratch is difficult and error prone. Using layered, or stackable, file systems is a powerful technique to incrementally extend the functionality of existing file systems on commodity OSes at runtime. In this article, we analyze the evolution of layering from historical models to what is found in four different present day commodity OSes: Solaris, FreeBSD, Linux, and Microsoft Windows. We classify layered file systems into five types based on their functionality and identify the requirements that each class imposes on the OS. We then present five major design issues that we encountered during our experience of developing over twenty layered file systems on four OSes. We discuss how we have addressed each of these issues on current OSes, and present insights into useful OS and VFS features that would provide future developers more versatile solutions for incremental file system development.
Holomorphic Curves and Real Three-Dimensional Dynamics

In this paper we describe new tools for studying smooth dynamical systems on three-manifolds. We also mention some interesting open problems.
Role of membrane trafficking in plasma membrane solute transport

Cells can rapidly and reversibly alter solute transport rates by changing the kinetics of transport proteins resident within the plasma membrane. Most notably, this can be brought about by reversib...
A Review of "Digitization and Digital Archiving: A Practical Guide for Librarians"

There are many guides and books available on digitization and digital archiving. In the thirty-odd years since technology began providing libraries and consumers with the machines and tools to digi...
A Proposed Semantics for the Sampled Values and Metadata of Scientific Values

We propose semantics for the manipulation of sample values and metadata for scientific data. Our approach uses domain knowledge from an ontology; computational knowledge about dimensions, units, coordinate systems, etc; and cultural and linguistic norms. It recombines annotated values with specialized operators. This semantics does several types of dynamic error checking and results in “selfdocumented computation”.
Tracking interspecies transmission and long-term evolution of an ancient retrovirus using the genomes of modern mammals

Mammalian genomes typically contain hundreds of thousands of endogenous retroviruses (ERVs), derived from ancient retroviral infections. Using this molecular 'fossil' record, we reconstructed the natural history of a specific retrovirus lineage (ERV-Fc) that disseminated widely between ~33 and ~15 million years ago, corresponding to the Oligocene and early Miocene epochs. Intercontinental viral spread, numerous instances of interspecies transmission and emergence in hosts representing at least 11 mammalian orders, and a significant role for recombination in diversification of this viral lineage were also revealed. By reconstructing the canonical retroviral genes, we identified patterns of adaptation consistent with selection to maintain essential viral protein functions. Our results demonstrate the unique potential of the ERV fossil record for studying the processes of viral spread and emergence as they play out across macro-evolutionary timescales, such that looking back in time may prove insightful for predicting the long-term consequences of newly emerging viral infections.
Graphene-Enhanced Oxygen Reduction by MN4 Type Cobalt(III) Catalyst

A nanocomposite of a dichloro-amido-macrocyclic cobalt(III) complex (1) and graphene was developed and characterized using various microscopic and spectroscopic techniques such as X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. The nanocomposite was evaluated for electrocatalytic activity toward oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in fuel cell applications. This complex (1) showed efficiency in a wide range of pH (acidic and basic) conditions for successful ORR. Apart from pH studies, the ratio of electrocatalyst 1 to graphene was varied for developing the optimal ORR catalyst. The use of graphene as a carbon support along with 1 in ORR studies not only resulted in increased current density but also a positive shift of the reduction potential by 140 mV (with respect to the Ag/AgCl reference electrode). Investigation of the catalytic mechanism using rotating disk electrode and rotating ring-disk electrode studies revealed its mechanism in...
FISH PREDATION ON GIANT WATER BUG (HETEROPTERA: BELOSTOMATIDAE)EGGS IN AN ARIZONA STREAM

We caught 3 brown trout (Salrrw trotta) in the White Mountains of east central Arizona just after daybreak on the morning of 20 April 1997. The fish were taken in the South Fork of the Little Colorado River, elevation ca 2350 m, ca 10 km southeast of Springerville, Arizona. The 3 fish ranged in size from 18 to 20 cm TL. The brown or German trout, a European species, has been widely distributed in the United States since its introduction to North America in the late 19th century (Carlander 1969). This species was introduced to the White Mountains of Arizona sometime in the 1920, (Miller 1972). Brown trout are pro­ duced in hatcheries and released in Arizona streams including the Little Colorado River to provide a sports fishery. Pooled stomach contents of the 3 fish con­
Analysis of the Conceptual Framework of China's New Accounting System

This study provides an analysis of the conceptual framework of the new accounting system that came into effect in China on July 1, 1993. The analysis is made by comparing the conceptual frameworks of Canada, the United States, and the International Accounting Standards Committee as bases of comparison. The conclusions are that, while China's conceptual framework is based on many common aspects found in Western conceptual frameworks, differences result from China's unique cultural, political, and economic history. These differences must be acknowledged to understand information produced by their accounting system.
Treatment of Advanced Prostate Cancer With Cyclophosphamide, Doxorubicin and Methotrexate

Twenty-three patients with advanced prostate cancer who had failed previous hormone therapy were treated with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and methotrexate on a 3-week course. Of the 22 evaluable patients, over one-half had poor performance status, increased acid and alkaline phosphatase levels, and pain. Parameters which improved in greater than 50% of cases included acid and alkaline phosphatase levels, pain, performance status, and measurable lesions (lung and soft tissue). Initial parameters associated with a significantly decreased survival were age greater than 66 years, increased pain, poor performance status, and increasing alkaline phosphatase. Prior radiation therapy was associated with increased drug toxicity, lower doses of chemotherapy, and decreased survival (not significant). There was a significant relationship between the degree of improvement of acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, pain, and performance status to increased survival. Three categories of response were defined based on these parameters. The mean survival of seven patients with partial response (106 weeks) is significantly longer than that of seven with measurable response (57 weeks) and eight with no response (26 weeks). Four patients had severe leukopenia and one died of sepsis. These results compare favorably with previous reports of chemotherapy treatment of advanced prostate cancer.
Patient education for weight loss: comparing strategies.

An instrument to assess educational needs of clients who want to lose weight should be developed in order to define appropriate approaches for specific individuals.
Feasibility of collecting 24-h urine to monitor sodium intake in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Background: Twenty-four–hour urine sodium excretion is recommended for monitoring population sodium intake. Because of concerns about participation and completion, sodium excretion has not been collected previously in US nationally representative surveys. Objective: We assessed the feasibility of implementing 24-h urine collections as part of a nationally representative survey. Design: We selected a random half sample of nonpregnant US adults aged 20–69 y in 3 geographic locations of the 2013 NHANES. Participants received explicit instructions, started and ended the urine collection in a urine study mobile examination center, and answered questions about their collection. Among those with a complete 24-h urine collection, a random one-half were asked to collect a second 24-h urine sample. Sodium, potassium, chloride, and creatinine excretion were analyzed. Results: The final NHANES examination response rate for adults aged 20–69 y in these 3 study locations was 71%. Of those examined (n = 476), 282 (59%) were randomly selected to participate in the 24-h urine collection. Of these, 212 persons [75% of those selected for 24-h urine collection; 53% (equal to 71% × 75% of those selected for the NHANES)] collected a complete initial 24-h specimen and 92 persons (85% of 108 selected) collected a second complete 24-h urine sample. More men than women completed an initial collection (P = 0.04); otherwise, completion did not vary by sociodemographic characteristics, body mass index, education, or employment status for either collection. Mean 24-h urine volume and sodium excretion were 1964 ± 1228 mL and 3657 ± 2003 mg, respectively, for the first 24-h urine sample, and 2048 ± 1288 mL and 3773 ± 1891 mg, respectively, for the second collection. Conclusion: Given the 53% final component response rate and 75% completion rate, 24-h urine collections were deemed feasible and implemented in the NHANES 2014 on a subsample of adults aged 20–69 y to assess population sodium intake. This study was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as {"type":"clinical-trial","attrs":{"text":"NCT02723682","term_id":"NCT02723682"}}NCT02723682.
Improved Survival Using a Quadripolar Cardiac Resynchronization Lead: Truth, Fiction-or Something in Between?

How very wet this water is. —L. Frank Baum, The Marvelous Land of Oz [(1)][1] Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) has revolutionized heart failure therapy. Multiple randomized controlled clinical trials have demonstrated improvements in important outcomes including salutary change in
Dynamic Modulus Properties of Objet Connex 3D Printer Digital Materials

This paper examines the damping properties of digital materials from the Objet Connex 3D Printer from Stratsys. The Objet Connex printer is a unique 3D printer because in a single print job, ten different materials with different stiffness can be utilized. The printer utilizes two base materials and mixes them in different ratios to obtain varying stiffness levels. The first base material, VeroWhitePlusTM is a rigid opaque plastic and the second base material, TangoPlusTM is a rubbery translucent material. This 3D printer has a variety of applications including the development of metastructures for vibration suppression. It has been demonstrated that both the VeroWhitePlusTM and TangoPlusTM materials exhibit viscoelastic behavior but extensive studies have not be carried out to determine the Young’s Modulus and loss factor data in terms of frequency. This paper is the first step towards that goal. The paper begins by going into more detail about the properties of the printer and examines some previous work on determining the material properties. Next, the test method used it outlined and lastly the experimental set-up is described. In order to obtain data for a high range of frequencies, the material must be tested at various temperatures.
Targeting of detoxification potential of microorganisms and plants for cleaning environment polluted by organochlorine pesticides

Abstract The goal of presented work is the development phytoremediation method targeted to cleaning environment polluted with organochlorine pesticides, based on joint application of specially selected plants and microorganisms. Initial degradation of pesticides carry out by microorganisms; the forming dehalogenated products easily uptake by the plants and undergo oxidative degradation via plant detoxification enzymes. This approach can complete degradation of toxicants and their mineralization into nontoxic compounds. In the presented work the results of using selected strains from genera Pseudomonas and plants phytoremediators in the model experiments are given. It has been shown that the using developed technological approach effectively decreased degree of pollution in artificially polluted soil samples.
Improved Infrastructure and Agricultural Exports from Central Asia

Related papers have been presented at (1) the China-Arab States Agricultural Symposium in Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China, on 11 th . September 2015, held in conjunction with China-Arab States Expo 2015, (2) the International Association of Agricultural Economists (IAAE) Inter-Conference Symposium on Agricultural Transitions along the Silk Road; Restructuring, Resources and Trade in the Central Asia Region in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on 4 th . - 6 th . April 2016, (3) an FAO staff seminar on 17 th . June 2016, and (4) the IAMO/FAO conference Regional and International Cooperation in Central Asia and South Caucasus: Recent Developments in Agricultural Trade in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on 2 nd . to 5 th . November 2016. I am grateful for helpful comments by participants in these events.
Exploring Undergraduate Black Womyn’s Motivations for Engaging in “Sister Circle” Organizations

The purpose of this critical qualitative inquiry was to explore what motivated undergraduate Black womyn (UBW) to engage in “Sister Circle”- type student organizations—or groups that center race and gender. Using a critical race feminist theoretical lens, data were collected through a combination of one-on-one interviews and focus groups. Through this project, we found that participants were motivated to engage in “sister circle” organizations because they were interested in observing how Black womyn co-existed in community, finding role models who may have had similar experiences to provide guidance, and finding a space to discuss and be more of themselves. This study demonstrates that external factors influenced by interlocking systems of oppression are pushing UBW to find and create spaces where they can resolve these negative experiences and messages in productive and healthy ways.
Tubulin and Its Isoforms

Tubulin is a highly conserved αβ dimeric protein present and is essential for all eukaryotes. αβ-Tubulin dimers assemble into microtubules, dynamic polymers important in a variety of functions, most noticeably, mitosis. Tubulin assembly and disassembly are linked to guanosine triphosphate hydrolysis. A variety of proteins interact with tubulin, affecting the stability of microtubules and their function. Numerous ligands bind to tubulin and influence its assembly properties, among them several drugs that have proved to have anticancer properties. γ-Tubulin is a tubulin isoform involved in the nucleation of microtubules. Additional tubulin isoforms have been recently identified but their functions remain ill-defined.
We don’t get any training: the impact of a professional development model on teaching practices of chemistry and biology graduate teaching assistants

This study investigated the implementation of best teaching practices by science graduate teaching assistants [GTAs] (3 chemists and 2 biologists) in five inquiry-based, interdisciplinary chemistry-biology experiments during a six-week professional development (PD) program, Engage PD. Additionally, we examined GTAs’ experiences in implementing specific PD aspects. The PD program took place as the GTAs taught sections of biology and chemistry laboratory courses, each comprising five interdisciplinary experiments. The PD aspects included defining expected learning outcomes, subject-matter knowledge, relevance to real-world and chemistry-biology connections, and other active classroom teaching practices. Data were collected through classroom observations, reflection questionnaires, and individual interviews. Findings indicated that 57% of the PD aspects investigated were implemented in the five interdisciplinary experiments. Results also revealed GTAs’ initial areas of struggle in implementing specific PD aspects. Perceived implementation difficulties were attributed to individual perceptions and beliefs, and contextual factors. Through practice, continuous feedback, and reflections, most GTAs overcame the hurdles and refined their teaching. Findings imply the need to design training PD programs that offer mentoring and support to GTAs and future faculty in implementing teaching innovations. The teaching context and reflection prompts are helpful in identifying areas of difficulties and how to improve.
Regulative Distance, Cultural Distance, Host Country Risk, and the Choice of Subsidiary Activity: Evidence from Brazilian Multinationals

This study examines the relationship between regulative distance, cultural distance, and host country risk, as well as the choice of production or distribution activities by emerging country multin...
Psychological Well-Being and Physical Health: Associations, Mechanisms, and Future Directions:

A paradigm shift in public health and medicine has broadened the field from a singular focus on the ill effects of negative states and psychopathology to an expanded view that examines protective p...
Dietetic support of medical practice.

The importance of the nutritional status of the patient in acute and chronic disease states is well documented.1 Actual assessment of the nutriture of an individual patient is difficult2 and motivating a permanent change in food intake for health reasons is equally if not more difficult to achieve.3Physicians have the right to expect professional dietetic personnel to help them design appropriate dietary regimens, as well as to help patients achieve the desired behavior changes.
Management of asthma: Adherence, inhaler technique and self-management

Hetal Dhruve describes how increasing adherence to inhaled therapies, optimising inhaler technique and engaging the patient in self-management can improve asthma control and quality of life
Piezoelectric stacked transducer evaluation and comparison for optimized energy harvesting

AbstractThe primary focus of this research is on the application and optimization of direct piezoelectric effect in energy harvesting from low frequency mechanical vibrations such as from roadway t...
Comparison of step heating and modulated frequency thermography for detecting bubble defects in colored acrylic glass

Step heating thermography and modulated frequency thermography are two commonly used inspection methods. This research compares active step heating thermography and modulated frequency thermography for use in detecting defects with diameters of 1.98 mm to 6 mm buried at depths of 1.5 to 4 mm beneath sample surfaces. Experiments were conducted using colored acrylic samples. Step heating thermography can detect shallowly buried defects as early as 4 seconds after heating. Also, lengthening heating time allows step heating thermography to reveal differences between defects of 4 to 6 mm in diameter buried 1.5 mm to 4 mm beneath glass surface. Modulated frequency thermography provides a higher signal-to-noise ratio of 1.3 for smaller defects. Thus it can be used to detect defects with diameters as small as 1.98 mm buried 4 mm beneath the glass surface. However, this level of detection requires phase frequency to be lowered by an order of 10 −3 . An open problem is to develop a systematic method and/or heuristics for determining the appropriate frequency for different defect types.
Academic Motivation and Engagement across Three Generations of Latino/a Junior High School Students

A significant body of research has now established the critical importance of academic engagement and motivation in determining adolescents’ academic outcomes. Researchers have also begun examining...
Long-Term Programming of CD8 T Cell Immunity by Perinatal Exposure to Glucocorticoids

Early life environmental exposure, particularly during perinatal period, can have a life-long impact on organismal development and physiology. The biological rationale for this phenomenon is to promote physiological adaptations to the anticipated environment based on early life experience. However, perinatal exposure to adverse environments can also be associated with adult-onset disorders. Multiple environmental stressors induce glucocorticoids, which prompted us to investigate their role in developmental programming. Here, we report that perinatal glucocorticoid exposure had long-term consequences and resulted in diminished CD8 T cell response in adulthood and impaired control of tumor growth and bacterial infection. We found that perinatal glucocorticoid exposure resulted in persistent alteration of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Consequently, the level of the hormone in adults was significantly reduced, resulting in decreased CD8 T cell function. Our study thus demonstrates that perinatal stress can have long-term consequences on CD8 T cell immunity by altering HPA axis activity.
Deep Brain Stimulation Results in Greater Symptomatic Improvement in Tourette Syndrome than Conservative Measures: A Meta-Analysis.

Introduction: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) has emerged as a safe and effective therapy for refractory Tourette syndrome (TS). Recent studies have identified several neural targets as effective in reducing TS symptoms with DBS, but, to our knowledge, none has compared the effectiveness of DBS with conservative therapy. Methods: A literature review was performed to identify studies investigating adult patient outcomes reported as Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS) scores after DBS surgery, pharmacotherapy, and psychotherapy. Data were pooled using a random-effects model of inverse variance-weighted meta-analysis (n = 168 for DBS, n = 131 for medications, and n = 154 for behavioral therapy). Results: DBS resulted in a significantly greater reduction in YGTSS total score (49.9 ± 17.5%) than pharmacotherapy (22.5 ± 15.2%, p = 0.001) or psychotherapy (20.0 ± 11.3%, p < 0.001), with a complication (adverse effect) rate of 0.15/case, 1.13/case, and 0.60/case, respectively. Conclusion: Our data suggest that adult patients with refractory TS undergoing DBS experience greater symptomatic improvement with surprisingly low morbidity than can be obtained with pharmacotherapy or psychotherapy.
Review of Christina Klein, Cold War Cosmopolitanism: Period Style in 1950s Korean Cinema

Christina Klein’s new book, Cold War Cosmopolitanism: Period Style in 1950s Korean Cinema explores the ‘period style’ of the 1950s, looking specifically at South Korean filmmaker Han Hyung-mo’s oeu...
Implementation of pharmacogenomic testing in oncology care (PhOCus): study protocol of a pragmatic, randomized clinical trial.

Background:Many cancer patients who receive chemotherapy experience adverse drug effects. Pharmacogenomics (PGx) has promise to personalize chemotherapy drug dosing to maximize efficacy and safety....
Optimized Data Rate Allocation for Dynamic Sensor Fusion over Resource Constrained Communication Networks

This paper presents a new method to solve a dynamic sensor fusion problem. We consider a large number of remote sensors which measure a common Gauss-Markov process and encoders that transmit the measurements to a data fusion center through the resource restricted communication network. The proposed approach heuristically minimizes a weighted sum of communication costs subject to a constraint on the state estimation error at the fusion center. The communication costs are quantified as the expected bitrates from the sensors to the fusion center. We show that the problem as formulated is a difference-of-convex program and apply the convex-concave procedure (CCP) to obtain a heuristic solution. We consider a 1D heat transfer model and 2D target tracking by a drone swarm model for numerical studies. Through these simulations, we observe that our proposed approach has a tendency to assign zero data rate to unnecessary sensors indicating that our approach is sparsity promoting, and an effective sensor selection heuristic.
Combined Motor and Sensory Intraoperative Neuromonitoring for Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy Surgery Causes Confusion: A Level-1 Diagnostic Study.

Study design Level-1 diagnostic study. Objective The purpose of this study was to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of combined motor and sensory intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) for cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM). Summary of background data Intraoperative neuromonitoring during spine surgery began with sensory modalities with the goal of reducing neurological complications. Motor monitoring was later added and purported to further increase sensitivity and specificity when used in concert with sensory monitoring. Debate continues, however, as to whether neuromonitoring reliably detects reversible neurologic changes during surgery or simply adds set-up time, cost, or mere medicolegal reassurance. Methods Neuromonitoring data using combined motor and sensory evoked potentials for 540 patients with CSM undergoing anterior or posterior decompressive surgery were collected prospectively. Patients were examined postoperatively to determine the clinical occurrence of new neurologic deficit which correlated with monitoring alerts recorded per established standard criteria. Results The overall incidence of positive IONM alerts was 1.3% (N = 7) all of which were motor alerts. All were false positives as no patient had clinical neurological deterioration post-operatively. The false-positive rate was 1.4% (N = 146) for anterior surgeries and 1.3% (N = 394) for posteriors with no statistical difference between them (P = 1.0, Fisher exact test). There were no false-negative alerts, and all negatives were true negatives (N = 533). The overall sensitivity of detecting a new neurologic deficit was 0%, overall specificity 98.7%. Conclusion Combined motor and sensory neuromonitoring for CSM patients created a confusing choice between the motor or sensory data when in disagreement in 1.3% of surgical patients. Criterion standard clinical examinations confirmed all motor alerts were false positives. Surgical plan was negatively altered by following false motor alerts early on, but disregarded in later cases in favor of sensory data. Neuromonitoring added set-up time and cost, but without clear benefit in this series.Level of Evidence: 4.
Dielectric and mechanical properties of hypersonic radome materials and metamaterial design: A review

Abstract This review paper examines ten current ceramic radome materials under research and development and provides a comprehensive overview of available high temperature and high frequency data from literature. An examination of metamaterials for radio-frequency transparent radomes is given and our preliminary experimental results of a high-temperature metamaterial design are presented. The next-generation hypersonic vehicles’ radome temperatures will exceed 1000℃ and speeds will exceed Mach 5. An ideal radome material will have a high flexural strength, low dielectric constant and loss tangent, and high resistance to thermal shock and corrosion. The microstructural effect on the dielectric and mechanical properties and the effects of environmental factors such as rain are discussed. The impact of metamaterial structure on key radome factors such as boresight error, gain, and polarization is examined. After examining the associated benefits with the use of metamaterials, our preliminary results for a potential high-temperature metamaterial design are presented.