cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Crossing borders: Time, space, and disorientation in narrative

In this article I examine the construction of time and space as orientation elements in narratives that recount disorienting experiences. I focus on how narrators articulate orientation and on how listeners engage in interactional work to make sense of narrated events. I argue that orientation management in storytelling illustrates how the use of linguistic resources connects narrators and interlocutors to micro and macro social contexts. I also suggest that consideration of the role played by orientation in different types of narratives has two important methodological consequences: it leads analysts to look critically at received notions about narrative structure, and it opens new paths for the analysis of the multiple links between narratives and social contexts. The phenomena analyzed include vagueness in the provision of orientation details, interactional negotiations over orientation, predominance of space over time orientation in certain narratives or narrative sections, and use of shared conventions for narrating the border crossing experience. The data for the article come from 13 chronicles of the border crossing told during sociolinguistic interviews by undocumented Mexican immigrants to the United States. (Narrative, Immigrants, Orientation, Time, Space, Storytelling)
Use of a sperm analyzer for evaluating broiler breeder males. 2. Selection of young broiler breeder roosters for the sperm quality index increases fertile egg production

Abstract Previous research has shown that the sperm quality index (SQI) of rooster semen is indicative of overall semen quality. The objectives of the present experiments were to determine the correlation of the SQI with semen characteristics and fertility and to determine if selection of young males for the SQI would improve fertility. In Experiment 1 semen was collected from 35 Peterson males and was analyzed individually for sperm concentration and viability. To determine fertility, 100 µL of diluted semen was inseminated into 10 hens for each rooster. Positive correlations of the SQI with total and live sperm concentrations as well as fertility were found. A negative correlation of the SQI with the percentage of dead sperm was observed. In Experiment 2, four semen samples were collected at 2- to 3-d intervals from each of 142, 27-wk-old Peterson roosters to determine their SQI. Males were then allocated to six treatment groups based on their average SQI readings as follows: 0 to 150, 151 to 200, 201 to 250, 251 to 300, 301 to 350, and >350. For each SQI group, semen was collected weekly for 8 wk, pooled, and used at a rate of 50 µL/hen to inseminate 40 hens. The percentage of fertilized eggs increased linearly across the SQI groups, from a minimum of 65% for the 0 to 150 SQI group to a maximum of 98% for the >350 SQI group. The SQI groups of 301 to 350 and >350 produced the slowest decline in fertility over days postinsemination. Therefore, selection of males for the SQI at an early age appears to improve flock fertility.
Exploratory analysis of metadata edit events in the UNT libraries' digital collections

This paper presents the results of an exploratory analysis of edit events performed on records in the University of North Texas Libraries' Digital Collections during calendar year 2014. By comparing the amount of time that editors worked on records for certain item types and collections, we were able to isolate different categories of activities ("creating" vs. "editing") and to generalize rough benchmarks for expected editing durations depending on project criteria.
Unified Performance Analysis of Hybrid-Selection/Equal-Gain Combining

Hybrid-selection/equal-gain combining (HS/EGC) is a new diversity format in which a subset of branches with the largest signal-to-noise ratios are selected and combined per EGC rule. It provides a performance close to the hybrid-selection/maximum-ratio combining, and yet with a lower implementation complexity, and thus may be regarded as a promising candidate diversity format for multipath channels or multiple-antenna systems. In this paper, to enable HS/EGC diversity for nonconstant modulus modulation formats, we propose the relevant HS/EGC receiver structure and decision variable. By deriving the moment-generating function expression for the HS/EGC output signal amplitude and with the help of Parseval's theorem, we develop a general analytical framework to evaluate the error and outage probabilities of predetection HS/EGC for a large class of modulation formats and versatile system and channel parameters. Simulation results verify the validity and accuracy of our analysis. Some insightful findings on the effect of the system and channel parameters are provided.
Nonpathogenic Simian Immunodeficiency Virus Infections

The simian immunodeficiency viruses (SIVs) are a diverse group of viruses that naturally infect a wide range of African primates, including African green monkeys (AGMs) and sooty mangabey monkeys (SMs). Although natural infection is widespread in feral populations of AGMs and SMs, this infection generally does not result in immunodeficiency. However, experimental inoculation of Asian macaques results in an immunodeficiency syndrome remarkably similar to human AIDS. Thus, natural nonprogressive SIV infections appear to represent an evolutionary adaptation between these animals and their primate lentiviruses. Curiously, these animals maintain robust virus replication but have evolved strategies to avoid disease progression. Adaptations observed in these primates include phenotypic changes to CD4+ T cells, limited chronic immune activation, and altered mucosal immunity. It is probable that these animals have achieved a unique balance between T-cell renewal and proliferation and loss through activation-induced apoptosis, and virus-induced cell death. A clearer understanding of the mechanisms underlying the lack of disease progression in natural hosts for SIV infection should therefore yield insights into the pathogenesis of AIDS and may inform vaccine design.
The receiver collision avoidance (RCA) protocol for a single-hop WDM lightwave network

A single-hop wavelength division multiplexing (WDM)-based local lightwave network employing a passive star topology is considered. The system consists of a single control and a number of data channels. Each station is equipped with a transmitter and a receiver, both of which are tunable over all the channels. Nodes employ the control channel to arbitrate their access to the data channels. Two random-access protocols, improved slotted-ALOHA/ALOHA (ISAA) and slotted-ALOHA/N-switch (SANS), were introduced for such a system by N. Mehravari (1990). A new protocol called the receiver collision avoidance (RCA) protocol is presented and analyzed. The RCA protocol is based on the same network architecture as the ISAA and the SANS protocols, but nonzero channel propagation delay and nonzero transceiver tuning time are used. The RCA protocol is capable of detecting and avoiding receiver collisions, and, by the deterministic channel assignment policy, it can avoid data channel collisions. It has better throughout performance than the ISAA protocol, and its throughput is very close to the ideal results obtained under the SANS protocols with a reasonable choice of network parameters. >
A virtual machine environment for teaching the development of system software

An environment for teaching system software concepts is discussed. The DLX architecture serves as a simple yet effective platform for instruction. The environment consists of several components, including a DLX virtual machine (VM) and a graphical user interface (GUI), both written by the authors. Collectively, these components provide a framework upon which concepts ranging from operating systems topics to network protocols can be taught in an intuitive and efficient manner.
Editorial: autoimmunity to vimentin and lupus nephritis.

Lupus nephritis affects up to 60% of adults and 80% of children with lupus. Despite vast improvements in the survival and well being of patients with this disease our current understanding of its pathogenesis is incomplete and the risk of end stage renal disease is still unacceptably high.
Variables associated with fruit and vegetable intake in adolescents.

Objectives: To assess individual, social, and family environmental factors related to fruit and vegetable intake among white and black adolescents aged 11-15 years (n=736). Methods: Self-report questionnaire. Results: Preferences, availability at home, family dinner frequency, snack choice, self-efficacy, modeling, normative beliefs, and social outcome expectations were significant associates of fruit and vegetable intake. Multivariate models indicated that these associations varied by categories of intake. Availability was the most consistent associate whereas fruit preference, availability, family dinner frequency, and self-efficacy were the strongest associates. Conclusions: Results highlight the important influence of the family environment on fruit and vegetable intake.
Patient Education and Emotional Support Practices in Abortion Care Facilities in the United States

Abstract Purpose Little is known about how patient education and emotional support is provided at abortion facilities. This pilot study documents 27 facilities' practices in this aspect of abortion care. Methods We conducted confidential telephone interviews with staff from 27 abortion facilities about their practices. Main Findings The majority of facilities reported they rely primarily on trained nonclinician staff to educate patients and provide emotional support. As part of their informed consent and counseling processes, facilities reported that staff always provide patients with information about the procedure (96%), assess the certainty of their abortion decisions (92%), assess their feelings and provide emotional support (74%), and provide contraceptive health education (92%). Time spent providing these components of care varied across facilities and patients. When describing their facility's care philosophy, many respondents expressed support for “patient-centered,” “supportive,” “nonjudgmental” care. Eighty-two percent agreed that it is the facility's role to provide counseling for emotional issues related to abortion. Conclusions All facilities valued informed consent, patient education, and emotional support. Although the majority of facilities considered counseling for emotional issues to be a part of their role, some did not. Future research should examine patients' preferences regarding abortion care and counseling and how different approaches to care affect women's emotional well-being after having an abortion. Practice Implications This information is important in light of current, widespread legislative efforts that aim to regulate abortion counseling, which are being proposed without an understanding of patient needs or facility practices.
Lateral Variability in Coals in Western North Slope, Alaska: ABSTRACT

Results of our investigation of foot-by-foot sections from drill cores of two North Slope coals of Cretaceous age from Cape Beaufort and Kukpowruk River indicate drastic changes in environment during formation of the seams. Indicative of these changes are unusually wide variations in the petrographic composition and ash characteristics within the seam. For instance, the Kukpowruk samples showed an increase in semi-fusinite from 1.3% at the bottom to 32% at the top. Furthermore, the concentrations of Fe2O3 + CaO + MgO in the Kukpowruk seam ranged from a low of 7.2% to a high of 80.9%. Similar changes were found in the samples from Cape Beaufort. The variability in these coals was further identified by changes in the swelling behavior of the coal and to a lesser extent by rank characterization. Changes in the coal structure and its low temperature ash were also studied by means of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. End_of_Article - Last_Page 683------------
Lead-induced alterations of apoptosis and neurotrophic factor mRNA in the developing rat cortex, hippocampus, and cerebellum

Previous reports have recently shown the prototypic neurotoxicant, lead, to induce apoptosis in the brains of developing organisms. In the current study, timed-pregnant rats were exposed to lead acetate (0.2% in the drinking water) 24 hrs following birth at postnatal day 1 (PND 1). Dams and pups were continuously exposed to lead through the drinking water of the dam until PND 20. Postnatal exposure in the pups resulted in altered mRNA levels of the following apoptotic and neurotrophic factors: caspase 2 and 3, bax, bcl-x, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Ribonuclease protection assays were conducted to measure the factors simultaneously at the following postnatal time points: 9, 12, 15, 20, and 25 days. Our results suggest a brain region- and time-specific response following lead acetate exposure. The region most vulnerable to alterations occurs in the hippocampus with alterations beginning at PND 12 in which caspase 3, bcl-x, and BDNF increase with lead exposure. Significant treatment effects were not observed for both the cortex and cerebellum.
Lack of effect of propranolol on canine coronary collateral development during progressive coronary stenosis and occlusion

Objective: The aim was to test the effect of propranolol, a β adrenergic receptor blocking drug which diminishes myocardial ischaemia, on coronary collateral development. Methods: Dogs were chronically instrumented with a left circumflex coronary artery Doppler flow probe, ameroid constrictor, pneumatic occluder, and left atrial and aortic catheters. Haemodynamic studies and measurements of normal myocardial and collateral blood flows were performed at least weekly after surgery, or sooner if the left circumflex artery occluded spontaneously, in eight control dogs and seven animals treated with propranolol, 240 mg twice daily (a dose which successfully attenuated the chronotropic effect of a graded infusion of isoprenaline). In dogs in which the left circumflex artery occluded within the first four weeks after surgery, collateral blood flow was measured during exercise on a motorised treadmill. Results: There was no difference between the groups in the rate or pattern of coronary collateral development, magnitude of collateral flow before or after spontaneous left circumflex occlusion, and collateral vascular reserve during exercise. At the time of coronary occlusion resting collateral flow was equivalent to normal perfusion levels in both groups and averaged 87-96% of normal flows during exercise. Conclusions: Propranolol has no observable effect on coronary collateral development despite its acknowledged ability to prevent or attenuate myocardial ischaemia. Cardiovascular Research 1993; 27 :249-254
Nitrogen-Corrected Apparent Metabolizable Energy Value of Crude Glycerol for Laying Hens

ABSTRACT An experiment was conducted with laying hens to determine the AMEn value of crude glycerol, a coproduct of biodiesel production. Crude glycerol (87% glycerol, 9% water, 0.03% methanol, 1.26% Na, and 3,625 kcal/kg of gross energy) was obtained from a commercial biodiesel production facility (Ag Processing Inc., Sergeant Bluff, IA). A total of forty-eight 40-wk-old laying hens (Hy-Line W-36) were placed in metabolic cages (2 hens/ cage) and given free access to the experimental diets. A corn and soybean meal-based basal diet (18% CP, 2,875 kcal/kg of AMEn, 4.51% Ca, 0.51% nonphytate P) was formulated with 15% glucose·H2 O and 1% Celite. Four dietary treatments were created by substituting 0, 5, 10, or 15% crude glycerol for glucose·H2 O (3,640 kcal/kg of AMEn). After 7 d of dietary adaptation, excreta were collected twice daily for 3 d, freeze-dried, and analyzed for contents of DM, Kjeldahl N, acid-insoluble ash, and gross energy. Egg production was recorded daily, and eggs were collected on d 7 and 8 of the experiment for calculation of egg mass (egg production × egg weight). Feed consumption was measured over the 10-d experimental period. Egg-production data were analyzed by ANOVA with 4 treatments and 6 replications in a completely randomized experimental design. The AMEn value of crude glycerol was estimated as the slope of the linear relationship between the inclusion rate of dietary crude glycerol and the glucose-corrected AMEn value of the experimental diets. No significant treatment effects (P > 0.1) were apparent for egg-production rate (93.0%), egg weight (56.1 g), egg mass (52.2 g/d), or feed consumption (104 g/d). Linear regression analysis (P
Information Technology (IT) Use and Children's Academic Performance

In this research we examined relationships between IT use and children’s academic performance. Gender, race, and income were also considered. IT use was operationalized as frequency of Internet use, videogame playing and cell phone use. Academic performance was operationalized as GPAs and performance on standardized tests of reading, mathematics and visual-spatial skills. Participants were 482 children, average age 12 years old. One-third were African American and two-thirds were Caucasian American. Results indicated that greater Internet use was associated with better reading skills, but only for children initially low in reading skills. Videogame playing was associated with better visual- spatial skills but also with lower GPAs. Gender, race and income were related to both IT use and academic performance, but not the relationships between the two. Conclusions regarding the complexity of relationships between IT use and academic performance are discussed.
Phosphorylation of Coronin 1B by Protein Kinase C Regulates Interaction with Arp2/3 and Cell Motility

Coronins are a conserved family of WD repeat-containing, actin-binding proteins that regulate cell motility in a variety of model organisms. Our results show that Coronin 1B is a ubiquitously expressed member of the mammalian Coronin gene family that co-localizes with the Arp2/3 complex at the leading edge of fibroblasts, and co-immunoprecipitates with this complex. Pharmacological experiments show that the interaction between Coronin 1B and the Arp2/3 complex is regulated by protein kinase C (PKC) phosphorylation. Coronin 1B is phosphorylated by PKC both in vitro and in vivo. Using tryptic peptide mapping and mutagenesis, we have identified serine 2 (Ser-2) on Coronin 1B as the major residue phosphorylated by PKC in vivo. Rat2 fibroblasts expressing the Coronin 1B S2A mutant show enhanced ruffling in response to phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and increased speed in single cell tracking assays. Cells expressing the Coronin 1B S2D mutant have attenuated PMA-induced ruffling and slower cell speed. Expression of the S2A mutant partially protects cells from the inhibitory effects of PMA on cell speed, whereas expression of the S2D mutant renders cells hypersensitive to its effects. These data demonstrate that Coronin 1B regulates leading edge dynamics and cell motility in fibroblasts, and that its ability to control motility and interactions with the Arp2/3 complex are regulated by PKC phosphorylation at Ser-2. Furthermore, Coronin 1B phosphorylation is responsible for a significant fraction of the effects of PMA on fibroblast motility.
Microinjection of glutamate into the pedunculopontine tegmentum induces REM sleep and wakefulness in the rat

The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that the cells in the brain stem pedunculopontine tegmentum (PPT) are critically involved in the normal regulation of wakefulness and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. To test this hypothesis, one of four different doses of the excitatory amino acid L-glutamate (15, 30, 60, and 90 ng) or saline (control vehicle) was microinjected unilaterally into the PPT while the effects on wakefulness and sleep were quantified in freely moving chronically instrumented rats. All microinjections were made during wakefulness and were followed by 6 h of polygraphic recording. Microinjection of 15- ng (0.08 nmol) and 30-ng (0.16 nmol) doses of L-glutamate into the PPT increased the total amount of REM sleep. Both doses of L-glutamate increased REM sleep at the expense of slow-wave sleep (SWS) but not wakefulness. Interestingly, the 60-ng (0.32 nmol) dose of L-glutamate increased both REM sleep and wakefulness. The total increase in REM sleep after the 60-ng dose of L-glutamate was significantly less than the increase from the 30-ng dose. The 90-ng (0.48 nmol) dose of L-glutamate kept animals awake for 2-3 h by eliminating both SWS and REM sleep. These results show that the L-glutamate microinjection into the PPT can increase wakefulness and/or REM sleep depending on the dosage. These findings support the hypothesis that excitation of the PPT cells is causal to the generation of wakefulness and REM sleep in the rat. In addition, the results of this study led to the identification of the PPT dosage of L-glutamate that optimally induces wakefulness and REM sleep. The knowledge of this optimal dose will be useful in future studies investigating the second messenger systems involved in the regulation of wakefulness and REM sleep.
Infancy: Phonological Development

This article provides an overview of phonological development with a focus on production patterns in the period between birth and 3 years. General requirements of phonological acquisition are presented, including an overview of speech perception as it relates to production and a brief discussion of mental representations. Descriptions are provided of the ages and stages of prelinguistic vocal development, the relationship between babble and speech, and phonological characteristics of first words, including effects of ambient language and individual differences. Finally, development of segmental, syllabic, and prosodic features of the phonologies of children acquiring English is presented, and common error patterns are described.
β-Ecdysone levels in pharate pupae of the stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans and interaction with the chitin inhibitor diflubenzuron☆

Abstract The β-ecdysone titer in pharate pupae of the stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans (L.), exposed to diflubenzuron [Thompson-Hayward TH 6040; N-[[(4-chlorophenyl)amino]carbonyl]-2,6-difluorobenzamide] as larvae in artificial diet was analyzed by high-pressure liquid chromatography. No significant differences between treated and control groups were found in the β-ecdysone titers within the first 10 hr after pupariation.
Professional and youth perspectives on higher education-focused interventions for youth transitioning from foster care

Youth transitioning from foster care to adulthood access and succeed in college at much lower rates than the general population. A variety of services exist to support youth with their postsecondary goals, but few if any have evidence for their effectiveness. As part of a National Institute on Drug Abuse-funded intervention development project to design Fostering Higher Education, a structured, testable postsecondary access and retention intervention for youth transitioning from foster care to adulthood, focus groups were conducted with community stakeholders to collect recommendations for how to most effectively structure the intervention. Analyses of focus group findings resulted in four theme groups: (1) general recommendations for intervention development; (2) recommendations for an educational advocacy intervention component; (3) recommendations for a mentoring intervention component; and (4) recommendations for a substance abuse prevention intervention component. These themes offered a variety of important insights for developing interventions in a way that is usable for youth and feasible for communities to implement.
Reinvesting in the Lives of Youth A Targeted Approach to Reducing Recidivism

Justice reinvestment strategies have been proposed to allow financial resources originally allocated for imprisonment to be reinvested into community-based alternatives. According to this perspecti...
Research on the Evaluation Index Framework of Urban Power Network

Scientific and rational evaluation indices of urban power network performance are the guarantee of carrying on evaluation work regularly and objectively.This paper analyzes existed problems of present indices, presents design principle and framework of evaluation indices of urban power network performance,explains this framework indices in detail and compares with the ones abroad,meanwhile proposes some specific suggestions for the evaluation work of urban power network in China.
Effect of DOC on evaporation from small Wisconsin lakes

Summary Evaporation (E) dominates the loss of water from many small lakes, and the balance between precipitation and evaporation (P–E) often governs water levels. In this study, evaporation rates were estimated for three small Wisconsin lakes over several years using 30-min data from floating evaporation pans (E-pans). Measured E was then compared to the output of mass transfer models driven by local conditions over daily time scales. The three lakes were chosen to span a range of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations (3–20 mg L −1 ), a solute that imparts a dark, tea-stain color which absorbs solar energy and limits light penetration. Since the lakes were otherwise similar, we hypothesized that a DOC-mediated increase in surface water temperature would translate directly to higher rates of evaporation thereby informing climate response models. Our results confirmed a DOC effect on surface water temperature, but that effect did not translate to enhanced evaporation. Instead the opposite was observed: evaporation rates decreased as DOC increased. Ancillary data and prior studies suggest two explanatory mechanisms: (1) disproportionately greater radiant energy outflux from high DOC lakes, and (2) the combined effect of wind speed ( W ) and the vapor pressure gradient ( e s − e z ), whose product [ W ( e s − e z )] was lowest on the high DOC lake, despite very low wind speeds ( −1 ) and steep forested uplands surrounding all three lakes. Agreement between measured (E-pan) and modeled evaporation rates was reasonably good, based on linear regression results ( r 2 : 0.6–0.7; slope: 0.5–0.7, for the best model). Rankings based on E were similar whether determined by measured or modeled criteria (high DOC −1 (C.V. 9%), but statistically significant differences between lakes resulted in substantial differences in cumulative E that were consistent from year to year. Daily water budgets for these lakes show that inputs were dominated by P and outputs by E; and our findings indicate that subtle changes in the variables that drive E can have measurable effects on water levels by shifting the balance between P and E.
Review article: Closing the research gap at the interface of learning and clinical practice

Purpose The dialogue at the interface of education and clinical practice highlights areas of critical importance to the development of new approaches for educating anesthesiologists. The purpose of this article is to examine the literature on education and acquisition of competence in three areas relevant to the interface of learning and clinical practice, with the aim to suggest a research agenda that adds to the evidence on preparing physicians for independent practice. The three areas are: 1) transitions across the continuum of education; 2) the effect of reductions in hours of clinical training on competence; and 3) efforts to incorporate the competencies and CanMEDS roles into teaching and evaluation.
Mechanisms of cell uptake, inflammatory potential and protein corona effects with gold nanoparticles.

Aim: To assess inflammation, cellular uptake and endocytic mechanisms of gold nanoparticles (AuNP) in human epidermal keratinocytes with and without a protein corona. Materials & methods: Human epidermal keratinocytes were exposed to 40 and 80 nm AuNP with lipoic acid, polyethylene glycol (PEG) and branched polyethyleneimine (BPEI) coatings with and without a protein corona up to 48 h. Inhibitors were selected to characterize endocytosis. Results & conclusion: BPEI-AuNP showed the greatest uptake, while PEG-AuNP had the least. Protein coronas decreased uptake and affected their mechanism. AuNP uptake was energy-dependent, except for 40 nm lipoic-AuNP. Most AuNP were internalized by clathrin and lipid raft-mediated endocytosis, except for 40 nm PEG was by raft/noncaveolae mediated endocytosis. Coronas inhibited caveolae-mediated-endocytosis with lipoic acid and BPEI-AuNP and altered 40 nm PEG-AuNP from raft/noncaveolae to clathrin. Inflammatory responses decreased with a plasma corona. Results suggest prot...
Morphometry of the human clavicle and intramedullary canal: A 3D, geometry-based quantification.

Midshaft clavicle fractures are a very common occurrence. The current treatment of choice involves internal fixation with superior or anterior clavicle plating, however their clinical success and particularly patient satisfaction are decreasing. The implementation of intramedullary devices is on the rise, but data describing the intramedullary canal parameters are lacking. The aim of this study is to quantify the geometry of the clavicle and its intramedullary canal, and to evaluate the effect of gender and anatomical side. This study used three-dimensional image-based models with novel and automated methods of standardization, normalization, and bone cross-section evaluation. The data obtained in this study present intramedullary canal, and clavicle diameter and center deviation parameterized as a function of clavicle length as well as its radius of curvature and true length. Results showed that both right-sided and female clavicles were shorter and thicker, but only females showed a statistically significant difference in size compared to males (p < 0.0001). The smallest clavicle and intramedullary canal diameters were seen at different clavicle lengths (45% and 52%), suggesting that the narrowest region of intramedullary canal cannot be appreciated based on external visualization of the clavicle alone. The narrowing of the intramedullary canal is of special interest because this is a potential limiting region for surgical planning and intramedullary device design. Furthermore, the location and value of maximum lateral curvature displacement is different in the intramedullary canal, implying there exists an eccentricity of the intramedullary canal center with respect to the clavicle center. © 2017 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 35:2191-2202, 2017.
The Structure of Compacted Clays

This paper describes the nature of clay structure, a term referring to the arrangement of particles and the electrical forces acting between them. The effects of forces and environmental factors on structure are inferred from the principles of colloid chemistry and crystal chemistry.
The impact of radiation degraded li-ion battery to mobile robots

Nuclear power is playing an important role in energy supply in modern society. The safety of nuclear power plant is thus an important issue. Due to the harmful effects of radiation to human body, robots are used when and where the radiation level in the plant is high. Thus study of the radiation effects on robots, especially on the critical components of robots becomes an urgent issue. In this paper, we investigate the impact of the radiated lithium-ion battery to mobile robots. Mobile robots especially visual tracking guided robot can be used to perform multiple tasks in a nuclear environment. Under radiation, the lithium-ion battery will degrade in terms of capacity, which means if the battery is used as a normal battery, the mobile robot will not perform satisfactorily. We first present the result on the battery degradation due to radiation. Then we study the impact to the robot if it is powered by a radiated battery. The performance of the robot is evaluated under two different conditions, before and after the radiation, and by three different experiments. The radiation effects on the robot performance are shown and analyzed.
Ablation of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation using a second-generation cryoballoon catheter or contact-force sensing radiofrequency ablation catheter: A comparison of costs and long-term clinical outcomes.

INTRODUCTION Although noninferiority of cryoballoon ablation (CBA) and radiofrequency catheter ablation for antral pulmonary vein isolation (APVI) has been reported in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF), it is not clear whether contact force sensing (CF-RFA) and CBA with the second-generation catheter have similar procedural costs and long-term outcomes. The objective of this study is to compare the long-term efficacy and cost implications of CBA and CF-RFA in patients with PAF. METHODS AND RESULTS A first APVI was performed in 146 consecutive patients (age: 63 ± 10 years, men: 95 [65%], left atrial diameter: 42 ± 6 mm) with PAF using CBA (71) or CF-RFA (75). Clinical outcomes and procedural costs were compared. The mean procedure time was significantly shorter with CBA than with CF-RFA (98 ± 39 vs. 158 ± 47 minutes, P < 0.0001). Despite a higher equipment cost in the CBA than the CF-RFA group, the total procedure cost was similar between the two groups (P = 0.26), primarily driven by a shorter procedure duration that resulted in a lower anesthesia cost. At 25 ± 5 months after a single ablation procedure, 51 patients (72%) in the CBA, and 55 patients (73%) in the CF-RFA groups remained free from atrial arrhythmias without antiarrhythmic drug therapy (P = 0.84). CONCLUSIONS The procedure duration was approximately 60 minutes shorter with CBA than CF-RFA. The procedural costs were similar with both approaches. At 2 years after a single procedure, CBA and CF-RFA have similar single-procedure efficacies of 72-73%.
Abstract 21319: Racial Differences in the Prevalence of Atrial Fibrillation in Patients With Dual-Chamber Pacemakers

Introduction: Several cohort studies have reported racial differences in prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF). This may be due to ascertainment bias. Thus, we aimed to determine incidence of AF w...
The Assessment of Executive Functioning Using the Barkley Deficits in Executive Functioning Scales

The assessment of executive functioning (EF) has been plagued by several problems, not the least of which is the lack of any consensus definition for the term itself (Castellanos, Sonuga-Barke, Milham, & Tannock, 2006). Despite frequent use of the term in various research papers and books over the past 40 years since the term was first coined by Pribram in 1973, more than 30 definitions exist for the term (Barkley, 2012a) and at least as many different constructs have been placed under it, making it more akin to an “umbrella” term or meta-construct (Eslinger, 1996). Typically, reviews of the scientific findings on EF often sidestep the problem of definition and simply list those constructs thought to be included in the term, such as inhibition, working memory, planning, and problem-solving (Frazier, Demareem, & Youngstrom, 2004; Hervey, Epstein, & Curry, 2004; Willcutt, Doyle, Nigg, Faraone, & Pennington, 2005). The reviews then discuss findings with regard to measures of these constructs without further consideration for the rather glaring problem of specifying just what makes these constructs representative of EF while other neuropsychological functions are not so classified. What specific, operational criterion can be used to determine what mental functions are or are not EF? To my knowledge, none have previously existed. Declaring that EF is what the prefrontal cortex (PFC) does is unhelpful as this simply refers to a different level of analysis at the neurological level rather than defining the term properly at the neuropsychological one, thus conflating two distinct levels of scientific analysis (Denckla, 1996). It is also prone to circularity of argument, in that EF is stated to be what the PFC does and then declaring that what the PFC does is EF.
Genes, Stress, and Cardiovascular Reactivity

People differ in the magnitude and duration of cardiovascular response to stress. Individual reaction to the stressful experience of everyday life and the controlled stressors of laboratory experiments varies substantially. These individual differences are stable over time and across situations (see Chapter 1), and they are associated with one’s family history of cardiovascular disease (see Chapter 9). To briefly summarize decades of research, individual differences in cardiovascular stress reactivity aggregate in families and characterize individuals. The origin of the differences is due primarily to genetic variation transmitted across generations.
Second Nature, Critical Theory and Hegel’s Phenomenology

While Hegel’s concept of second nature has now received substantial attention from commentators, relatively little has been said about the place of this concept in the Phenomenology of Spirit. This...
The Weapon-Target Assignment Problem

Abstract Research addressing the Weapon Target Assignment (WTA) Problem, the problem of assigning weapons to targets while considering their effective probability of kill, began with Manne’s seminal work in 1958. In the years following, improved modeling and solution techniques have been developed, along with improvements in computing power, which have enabled researchers to consider more complex variants of the problem, to include models with fewer assumptions and models in which time is a parameter. Herein, we review the various model formulations, exact algorithms, and heuristic algorithms for the static and dynamic WTA. We place the formulations into a comparable form and use this form to provide insight into the evolution of the defense-related WTA problem. The solution methods are comparatively analyzed and an analysis of the influence of past work is conducted. More recent developments are introduced and discussed.
Metastasis Suppressor NME1 Directly Activates Transcription of the ALDOC Gene in Melanoma Cells.

BACKGROUND/AIM NME/NM23 nucleoside diphosphate kinase 1 (NME1) is a metastasis suppressor gene, exhibiting reduced expression in metastatic cancers and the ability to suppress metastatic activity of cancer cells. We previously identified NME1-regulated genes with prognostic value in human melanoma. This study was conducted in melanoma cell lines aiming to elucidate the mechanism through which NME regulates one of these genes, aldolase C (ALDOC). MATERIALS AND METHODS ALDOC mRNA and protein expression was measured using qRT-PCR and immunoblot analyses. Promoter-luciferase constructs and chromatin immunoprecipitation were employed to measure the impact of NME1 on ALDOC transcription. RESULTS NME1 enhanced ALDOC transcription, evidenced by increased expression of ALDOC pre-mRNA and activity of an ALDOC promoter-luciferase module. NME1 was detected at the ALDOC promoter, and forced NME1 expression resulted in enhanced occupancy of the promoter by NME1, increased presence of epigenetic activation markers (H3K4me3 and H3K27ac), and recruitment of RNA polymerase II. CONCLUSION This is the first study to indicate that NME1 induces transcription through its direct binding to the promoter region of a target gene.
Direct Conversion Semiconductor Detectors for Radiation Imaging

This chapter discusses the key properties of photoconductive materials for high-performance direct conversion detectors for medical imaging applications. It presents two commercially available direct conversion photoconductors, amorphous selenium (a-Se) for large area x-ray imaging and cadmium zinc telluride (CZT) for high-resolution positron emission tomography (PET). Direct conversion detector technology differs from that of indirect conversion by the conversion of incident radiation to charge, which is collected with the aid of an applied bias that drifts the generated charge toward the electrodes. The ultimate choice of conversion material depends on the application, since different radiation energies are used for different imaging modalities, and a material's probability to absorb photons is dependent on factors such as atomic number. For x-ray imaging, the modulation transfer function (MTF) can be used for characterizing the spatial resolution of the system and the detective quantum efficiency (DQE) can be used to quantify the signal quality in terms of signal-to-noise ratio (SNR).
ABIDES: Towards High-Fidelity Market Simulation for AI Research.

We introduce ABIDES, an Agent-Based Interactive Discrete Event Simulation environment. ABIDES is designed from the ground up to support AI agent research in market applications. While simulations are certainly available within trading firms for their own internal use, there are no broadly available high-fidelity market simulation environments. We hope that the availability of such a platform will facilitate AI research in this important area. ABIDES currently enables the simulation of tens of thousands of trading agents interacting with an exchange agent to facilitate transactions. It supports configurable pairwise network latencies between each individual agent as well as the exchange. Our simulator's message-based design is modeled after NASDAQ's published equity trading protocols ITCH and OUCH. We introduce the design of the simulator and illustrate its use and configuration with sample code, validating the environment with example trading scenarios. The utility of ABIDES is illustrated through experiments to develop a market impact model. We close with discussion of future experimental problems it can be used to explore, such as the development of ML-based trading algorithms.
Argia nataliae n. sp. from Colombia (Odonata: Coenagrionidae).

Argia nataliae n. sp. (Holotype ♂: COLOMBIA, Antioquia Department, Estacion Cristalina, about. 28 km west of Puerto Berrio, ca. 6.41 N, 74.58 W, 16 ii 1917, Jesse Hunter & Edward Bruce Williamson leg., in University of Michigan [UMMZ]) is described and illustrated and compared with similar species.
Genome-wide mapping of regions preferentially targeted by the human DNA-cytosine deaminase APOBEC3A using uracil-DNA pulldown and sequencing.

Activation-induced deaminase (AID) and apolipoprotein B mRNA-editing enzyme catalytic subunit (APOBEC) enzymes convert cytosines to uracils, creating signature mutations that have been used to predict sites targeted by these enzymes. Mutation-based targeting maps are distorted by the error-prone or error-free repair of these uracils and by selection pressures. To directly map uracils created by AID/APOBEC enzymes, here we used uracil-DNA glycosylase and an alkoxyamine to covalently tag and sequence uracil-containing DNA fragments (UPD-Seq). We applied this technique to the genome of repair-defective, APOBEC3A-expressing bacterial cells and created a uracilation genome map, i.e. uracilome. The peak uracilated regions were in the 5′-ends of genes and operons mainly containing tRNA genes and a few protein-coding genes. We validated these findings through deep sequencing of pulldown regions and whole-genome sequencing of independent clones. The peaks were not correlated with high transcription rates or stable RNA:DNA hybrid formation. We defined the uracilation index (UI) as the frequency of occurrence of TT in UPD-Seq reads at different original TC dinucleotides. Genome-wide UI calculation confirmed that APOBEC3A modifies cytosines in the lagging-strand template during replication and in short hairpin loops. APOBEC3A's preference for tRNA genes was observed previously in yeast, and an analysis of human tumor sequences revealed that in tumors with a high percentage of APOBEC3 signature mutations, the frequency of tRNA gene mutations was much higher than in the rest of the genome. These results identify multiple causes underlying selection of cytosines by APOBEC3A for deamination, and demonstrate the utility of UPD-Seq.
Preliminary Investigation of a Self-monitoring Application for a Postsecondary Student with Autism

Increasing numbers of transition-age youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are pursuing postsecondary education and may benefit from interventions to support them in the college environment. The purpose of this study was to examine the efficacy of a self-monitoring application (app) to increase on-task classroom behavior of a postsecondary student with ASD. An alternating treatment design with a baseline and best treatment condition was utilized to examine the efficacy of a technology-based self-monitoring app, I-Connect. One 19-year-old male postsecondary student with ASD used the I-Connect app in a large, lecture-style introductory-level course at a public university. Self-monitoring prompts were delivered via a handheld tablet, and on-task behavior was measured using momentary time sampling. The participant demonstrated an increase in on-task behavior when using the I-Connect app. However, a functional relation between the use of the app and on-task behavior cannot be concluded due to limitations in the research design. Implications and suggestions for future research related to supporting postsecondary students with ASD using technology-based self-monitoring interventions are discussed.
Serial Transverse Enteroplasty (STEP)

This chapter describes the surgical procedure for serial transverse enteroplasty (STEP) as performed by the following approach: open. The text includes an introduction that outlines the indications, risks, alternatives, essential steps, needed equipment, and variations in technique for the procedure in question. This is followed by a template operative dictation, which provides the reader with an operative report, such as is found in a patient chart or electronic medical record. A description is provided of the following critical concepts for this procedure: preoperative assessment with upper gastrointestinal (GI) follow through, abdominal entry, complete lysis of adhesions, assessment of bowel length and dilation, serial transverse enteroplasty, reassessment of bowel length, and abdominal closure.
Bariatric surgery outcomes when assisted by fellows and residents: an MBSAQIP analysis of 477,670 patients.

Abstract Background Previous reports of bariatric surgery outcomes when cases are assisted by residents and/or fellows have been inconclusive. Objective To compare bariatric surgery outcomes for cases with surgical trainees (ST; residents and fellows) versus nonsurgical trainees (nST; all other assistants) using the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP) Registry. Setting Academic teaching. Methods The MBSAQIP Registry was reviewed (2015–2017) for Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy, and revision surgery based on ST and nST status. Univariate, multivariate logistic regression, and propensity matching analyses were performed. Results Of 477,670 cases, 26.8% were performed with ST. For ST patients 79.9% were female (versus 80.3% nST) and mean body mass index was 45.2 ± 8 kg/m2 (versus 45.0 ± 8.1 kg/m2 nST). Overall, 31.7% of patients underwent Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (versus 25.7% nST), 65.9% underwent sleeve gastrectomy (versus 71.6% nST), and 2.4% of patients had revision surgery (versus 2.7% nST). After matching, no difference in 30-day mortality was observed between groups. However, ST patients had higher incidence of deep vein thrombosis (P = .004), pulmonary embolism (P = .005), superficial surgical site infection (P Conclusion Overall, there was no difference observed in 30-day mortality between the ST and nST groups. However, despite lower 30-day reoperation rates, ST patients exhibited higher rates of postoperative deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, superficial surgical site infection, postoperative sepsis, blood transfusions, 30-day readmission rates, and longer operative times than nST patients.