cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Practical theology: A current international perspective

Drawing on Thomas Kuhn’s concept of paradigms, this article explored two levels at which paradigms influence contemporary practical theology. The first level is reflective practice, where pastors and academics carry out the descriptive-empirical, interpretive, normative and pragmatic tasks of practical theological reflection on particular contexts. The second level is metatheoretical, where practical theologians make decisions about how they view the theory– praxis relationship, interdisciplinary work, the relative weight of Scripture, tradition, reason, and experience and the theological rationale that justifies their approach. The article concluded by raising two challenges to the current paradigms of practical theology: the relationship between Christian particularity and the common good, and the wound of reason.
AN EXACTLY SOLVABLE MODEL TERNARY SOLUTION WITH THREE-BODY INTERACTIONS

Abstract We consider a three-component model of rodlike molecules AA, BB, and AB, confined to the bonds of the honeycomb or three-coordinated Bethe lattice, and with three-body interactions between the molecular ends near a common lattice site. The model is equivalent to an Ising model on an associated lattice and has been previously transformed first to an Ising model on an intermediate lattice then to a standard Ising model on the original honeycomb or Bethe lattice. The exact coexistence curves for phase separation have been previously calculated for weak three-body interactions. In the present paper the same transformations are used for the case of strong three-body interactions, the difference being that in this case the Ising parameters on the intermediate lattice are complex. Exact, closed-form expressions are obtained for the two-phase coexistence surface in temperature-composition space. The exact coexistence curves are drawn for various values of a reduced three-body coupling constant and the reduced temperature. It is proved there is no phase separation in the model on these lattices if the reduced three-body coupling constant is sufficiently large.
An Object -Oriented Operator -Overloaded Quaternion Toolbox

A Fortran 95 Object-Oriented Operator-Overloaded Toolbox is presented for automating engineering and scientific applications involving quaternion algebra. The Toolbox supports basic math operations (+,-,*,/,**), standard library functions (sin, asin, exp, ln, ....), linear equations, quadratic polynomials, and matrix-vector operations for solving linear matrix equations, matrix inversion, and eigenvalue/eigenvector operations. Extensive use is made operator-overloading and generic operators for automating the often tedious calculations required for manipulating quaternion objects. A further advantage of this approach is that conventional programming language constructs are used for developing math models, which reduces programming errors. Two strategies are presented for enabling matrix capabilities: (1) re-writing core algorithms to reflect the noncommunitive behavior of quaternions, and (2) mapping quaternion matrices to higher-dimensional complex-valued matrices. The aim of the package is to facilitate and encourage further research relying on quaternion algebraic computations for applications in dynamics, control, and optimization. Numerical examples are presented for demonstrating the basic computational capabilities of the software.
Financing Agricultural Research in the New Biotechnology Era

Long-run economic growth and development depend heavily on productivity, which in turn relies on new knowledge and on the innovations created by research and development. The R&D of government agencies and public academic institutions, mainly land grant universities, has traditionally served as the major source of knowledge and innovations in U.S. agriculture. The earliest public support for research-over a century ago-was focused on agriculture. As late as 1940, almost 40% of federal R&D spending went to agricultural research (Mowery and Rosenberg). Over the past three decades, however, the agricultural research system has undergone significant changes. Federal funding for agricultural research has been stagnant in real terms since 1976, while private spending tripled between 1960 and 1992 (Fuglie et al.). Moreover, private support for public-sector research, mainly for research conducted at land grant universities, has become increasingly important (Fuglie et al.). Research collaborations between public and private sectors have also blossomed. Today, the private sector is as important as the public sector in funding and performing agricultural research. The composition of research in the two sectors has shifted as well. Although for-profit firms still concentrate on the applied research needed to develop marketable products or processes, the science-based nature of biotechnology requires them also to conduct the basic research necessary for understanding scientific discoveries. On the other side of the ledger, and encouraged by the Bayh-Dole Act (enabling universities to patent and license innovations from federally funded research) and subsequent court decisions such as Diamond vs. Chakrabarty (allowing patents on living organisms), the public sector may be shifting its research to more applied questions, producing innovations that are easier to patent and transfer. In sum, both public and private sectors conduct substantial amounts of both types of research.
Flashback: A Peer-to-PeerWeb Server for Flash Crowds

We present Flashback, a ready-to-use system for scalably handling large unexpected traffic spikes on web-sites. Unlike previous systems, our approach does not rely on any intermediate nodes to cache content. Instead, the clients (browsers) create a dynamic, self-scaling peer-to-peer (P2P) Web-server that grows and shrinks according to the load. This approach translates into a challenging problem - a P2P data exchange protocol that can operate in churn rates where more than 90% of peers can leave the overlay in under 10 seconds. This is at least an order of magnitude higher churn rate than previously addressed research. Additionally, our system operates under two strict constraints - users are assured that they upload only as much as they download and second, end-user browsing experience is preserved, i.e., low latency downloads and zero configuration or download of any software. Various innovations were required to meet these challenges. Key among them are (a) A TCP-friendly, UDP protocol (Roulette) for tit-for-tat data exchange under extreme churn, (b) A novel data structure (NOIS) for partial-data management and (c) A distributed hole-punching protocol for automatic NAT traversal. Experimental results show the effectiveness and near optimal scaling of Flashback. For a Web-server (and clients) running on a DSL-like connection, end-user latency increases only one second for every doubling in Web-server load.
Fine fuel heating by radiant flux

Experiments were conducted wherein wood shavings and Ponderosa pine needles in quiescent air were subjected to a steady radiation heat flux from a planar ceramic burner. The internal temperature of these particles was measured using fine diameter (0.076mm diameter) type K thermocouples. A narrow angle radiometer was used to determine the emissive power generated by the burner. A model was developed to predict the steady-state temperature of a cylindrical particle with an imposed radiation heat flux under both quiescent air (buoyancy-induced cooling) and windy (forced convection cooling) conditions. Excellent agreement was observed between the model predictions and the experimental data. Parametric studies using the validated model explore the effect of burner (flame) temperature and distance, fuel size, and wind speed. The data suggest that ignition of the fuel element by radiation heating alone is likely only under circumstances where the fire is very intense (such as crown fires), and even then may still be dependent on pilot ignition sources.
Effect of walking velocity on hindlimb kinetics during stance in normal horses.

Summary The objectives of this study were to measure the effect of walking velocity on net joint moments and joint powers in the hindlimb during stance and to use the data to predict these variables at different walking velocities. Videographic and force data were collected synchronously from 5 sound horses walking over a force plate at a range of velocities. Force and kinematic data from 56 trials were combined using an inverse dynamic solution to determine net joint moments and joint powers. Analysis by simple regression and correlation (P 0.30, r>0.50) showed that, in early stance, there were significant velocity-dependent increases in the peak magnitudes of the following variables: extensor moment and positive power at the hip, flexor moment and positive power at the stifle, extensor moment, negative and positive power at the tarsus, and flexor moment and negative power at the fetlock. In late stance, there were significant velocity-dependent increases in the peak magnitudes of the following variables: flexor moment at the hip, negative power at the stifle and flexor moment and positive power at the tarsus. As velocity increased, the hip showed an increase in energy generation, whereas the tarsus showed increases in both energy generation and absorption. It is concluded that an increase in walking velocity is associated with increases in peak magnitudes of the net joint moments and joint powers in the hindlimb; and that energy generation at the hip makes the largest contribution to the increase in velocity.
Stochastic adaptive control for time-varying systems via an auxiliary variable

This paper presents an adaptive control scheme for systems having fast time-varying parameters. The auxiliary variable in gain scheduling is introduced into a stochastic adaptive control algorithm based on parameter estimation. It is shown that the sensitivity in the presence of noise is greatly reduced and this scheme tracks time-varying parameters more efficiently than some previous methods.
Surgical outcomes in American Indian veterans: a closer look.

Background American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/ANs) male veterans have considerably higher postoperative mortality rates than their Caucasian counterparts, but similar postoperative morbidity rates even after adjusting for major preoperative risk factors. This study seeks to explain the discrepancy in morbidity and mortality. Study Design We obtained data from the Veterans Affairs National Surgical Quality Improvement Program on major, noncardiac, surgical procedures performed from 1991 to 2002 for all AI/AN men (n = 2,155), and a random sample of Caucasian men (n = 2,264), matched by site. We compared the number and types of postoperative complications and mortality rates for those patients in whom complications developed. We also examined complication and mortality rates by whether they occurred after hospital discharge, or by specific type of surgical procedure. Preoperative risk factors were assessed in patients who died. Chi-square or Fisher's exact tests were used for all comparisons. Results AI/ANs and Caucasians did not differ by number of complications but Caucasian patients had considerably higher rates for three specific complications. There was no difference in deaths after discharge or in mortality rates after specific surgical procedures. The groups differed considerably in the types of procedures performed. Among patients who died, three preoperative risk factors, ie, hemiplegia, diabetes, and wound infection, occurred more frequently among AI/AN than Caucasian veterans. Conclusions We cannot fully explain higher postoperative mortality rates experienced by AI/AN relative to Caucasian veterans after examining complications, types of procedures, and other relevant factors. AI/ANs with certain preoperative risk factors can be vulnerable to 30-day postoperative mortality and benefit from closer postoperative surveillance.
Forecasting and control using adaptive connectionist networks

Abstract We investigate the feasibility of applying connectionist networks with hidden units to forecasting and process control. We place the focus on establishing parallels with the adaptive control theory and develop a particular approach which embeds input-output pairs in a state space using delay coordinates. This approach has a theoretical basis and can, in principle, be applied to represent advance maps for nonlinear autonomous systems evolving on attractors, nonlinear control systems with state-dependent discontinuities, discrete event systems and approximate system inverses. This claim is justified in the case of discontinuous, Heaviside basis functions, by making reference to the Fourier approximation theory. A heuristic, parallel algorithm which uses error broadcasting is developed to adapt the representations. The algorithm is similar to the PERCEPTRON and ADALINE with LMS (least mean square) tuning when the hidden units are inactive. Performance is illustrated via simulation. We cancel noise generated by a deterministic system, represent a supervisor for a sequence control problem, develop a predictive controller and solve an inverseproblem. The application of connectionist networks to one-step ahead control and “input matching” requires that the high frequency gain or its inverse, be projected away from zero. This prevents the algorithm from “going to sleep”. It is also necessary to constrain the parameter estimates to avoid the infinite parameter drift. The simulation examples indicate that connectionist networks and parallel computation may hold the promise of solving difficult process control and forecasting problems.
XeCl excimer emission from a linear plasma array

Summary form only given, as follows. Plasmas which generate XeCl excimer radiation are particularly promising because of the large cross-section for stimulated emission and the relatively long lifetime of the excimer state. Experimental studies were performed on XeCl microhollow cathode discharge sources, 200 micrometer in diameter and 500 micrometer apart arranged in the form of a string up to 1 cm in length. The discharge array where the individual discharges were operated in the abnormal glow mode, was found to be stable and scaleable in length. Results of experiments in dc and pulsed mode with respect to optical emission at 308 nm will be reported.
Ideology, Generics, and Common Ground

Are sagging pants cool? Are cows food? Are women more submissive than men? Are blacks more criminal than whites? Taking the social world at face value, many people would be tempted to answer these questions in the affirmative. And if challenged, they can point to facts that support their answers. But there is something wrong about the affirmative answers. In this chapter, I draw on recent ideas in the philosophy of language and metaphysics to show how the assertion of a generic claim of the sort in question ordinarily permits one to infer that the fact in question obtains by virtue of something specifically about the subject so described, i.e., about women, or blacks, or sagging pants. In the examples I’ve offered, however, this implication inference is unwarranted. The facts in question obtain by virtue of broad system of social relations within which the subjects are situated, and are not grounded in intrinsic or dispositional features of the subjects themselves. The background relations are obscured, however, and as a result, the assertion is at least systematically misleading; a denial functions to block the problematic implication. Revealing such implications or presuppositions and blocking them is a crucial part of ideology critique.
Cardiac PET perfusion: prognosis, risk stratification, and clinical management.

Myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) with PET has expanded significantly over the past decade. With the wider availability of PET scanners and the routine use of quantitative blood flow imaging, the clinical use of PET MPI is expected to increase further. PET MPI is a powerful tool to identify risk, to quantify risk, and to guide therapy in patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease. A large body of evidence supports the prognostic value of PET MPI and ejection fraction in intermediate- to high-risk subjects, in women, in obese individuals, and in post-coronary artery bypass grafting individuals. A normal perfusion study indicates low risk (
A central role for microvillous receptor presentation in leukocyte adhesion under flow

Leukocyte adhesion to endothelium requires specialized mechanisms for contact initiation under flow. L-selectin (CD62L), an efficient initiator of adhesion, is clustered on the tips of leukocyte microvilli. To test whether microvillous presentation is critical for contact formation ("tethering"), we transfected lymphoid cells with chimeras of L-selectin and CD44, an adhesion molecule that is excluded from microvilli. CD44 transmembrane and intracellular (TM-IC) domains targeted the L-selectin ectodomain to the planar body, whereas L-selectin TM-IC segments conferred CD44 ectodomain clustering on microvilli. Wild-type and chimeric transfectants bound similarly to anti-ectodomain MAbs in static assays, but MAb binding under flow was much more efficient in the context of microvillous presentation. Similarly, wild-type and chimeric L-selectin possessed equivalent lectin activity, but microvillous presentation dramatically enhanced contact initiation on a native ligand. These findings demonstrate a critical role for receptor topography in leukocyte adhesion and suggest a novel regulatory mechanism of leukocyte trafficking.
Concurrent Impairments in Sleep and Memory in Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment

Whereas patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) experience difficulties forming and retrieving memories, their memory impairments may also partially reflect an unrecognized dysfunction in sleep-dependent consolidation that normally stabilizes declarative memory storage across cortical areas. Patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) exhibit circumscribed declarative memory deficits, and many eventually progress to an AD diagnosis. Whether sleep is disrupted in aMCI and whether sleep disruptions contribute to memory impairment is unknown. We measured sleep physiology and memory for two nights and found that aMCI patients had fewer stage-2 spindles than age-matched healthy adults. Furthermore, aMCI patients spent less time in slow-wave sleep and showed lower delta and theta power during sleep compared to controls. Slow-wave and theta activity during sleep appear to reflect important aspects of memory processing, as evening-to-morning change in declarative memory correlated with delta and theta power during intervening sleep in both groups. These results suggest that sleep changes in aMCI patients contribute to memory impairments by interfering with sleep-dependent memory consolidation. (JINS, 2012, 18, 490–500)
Spall and Damage in Convergent Geometry Using Pulsed Power

The ability of pulsed-power to magnetically accelerate and drive high-precision liner-target implosions facilitates studies of material properties such as damage in cylindrically convergent geometry. Spallation damage experiments are usually conducted in a planar geometry, allowing for one-dimensional analysis of evolution of failure characteristics. Cylindrical experiments allow for a careful analysis of the effect of convergence and two-dimensional strains and shear stresses on the spallation profile of a material. This paper reports on a series of recent experiments to provide data describing the onset of failure of a well-characterized material (aluminum) in a cylindrically convergent geometry. Experimental data includes post-shot collection of the damaged target for subsequent metallographic analysis, dynamic VISAR velocimetry to infer the target material spallation strength and damage model parameters, and transverse radial radiography to assess drive and impact symmetry. This data is used to develop and validate damage and failure models. The theoretical basis, designs and results are presented for these experiments using explosively-driven pulsed power facilities.
A Modified Transorbital Baboon Model of Reperfused Stroke

Background and Purpose —Although pathophysiological studies of focal cerebral ischemia in nonhuman primates can provide important information not obtainable in rodent models, primate experimentation is limited by considerations of cost, availability, effort, and ethics. A reproducible and quantitative model that minimizes the number of animals necessary to detect differences between treatment groups is therefore crucial. Methods —Eight male baboons (weight, 22±2 kg) underwent left transorbital craniectomy followed by 1 hour of temporary ipsilateral internal carotid artery occlusion at the level of the anterior choroidal artery together with bilateral temporary occlusion of both anterior cerebral arteries (A1) proximal to the anterior communicating artery. A tightly controlled nitrous oxide–narcotic anesthetic allowed for intraoperative motor evoked potential confirmation of middle cerebral artery (MCA) territory ischemia. Animals survived to 72 hours or 10 days if successfully self-caring. Outcomes were assessed with a 100-point neurological grading system, and infarct volume was quantified by planimetric analysis of both MRI and triphenyltetrazolium chloride–stained sections. Results —Infarction volumes (on T2-weighted images) were 32±7% (mean±SEM) of the ipsilateral hemisphere, and neurological scores averaged 29±9. All animals demonstrated evidence of hemispheric infarction, with damage evident in both cortical and subcortical regions in the MCA vascular territory. Histologically determined infarction volumes differed by <3% and correlated with absolute neurological scores ( r =0.9, P =0.003). Conclusions —Transorbital temporary occlusion of the entire anterior cerebral circulation with strict control of physiological parameters can reliably produce reperfused MCA territory infarction. The magnitude of the resultant infarct with little interanimal variability diminishes the potential number of animals required to distinguish between 2 treatment regimens. The anatomic distribution of the infarct and associated functional deficits offer comparability to human hemispheric strokes.
An optimization network for solving a set of simultaneous linear equations

A network for solving systems of simultaneous linear equations based on Hopfield's neural network model with continuous, real-valued outputs is described. The network is composed of highly interconnected simple neurons with a linear transfer function at each node. It is guaranteed to converge to a correct solution for all solvable systems of equations irrespective of the choice of the node transfer function; the use of complex nonlinearities at the nodes only affects the network convergence time. When a system which admits a solution is given as input, the network converges spontaneously and rapidly to a very accurate solution in all cases. When an unsolvable system is provided as input, the network outputs fail to converge and make the energy function close to zero even after a very large number of iterations. >
0.9V 12mW 2MSPS algorithmic ADC with 81dB SFDR

An ultra low-voltage CMOS two-stage algorithm ADC incorporating background digital calibration is presented. The adopted low-voltage circuit technique achieves high-accuracy high-speed clocking without the use of clock boosting or bootstrapping. A resistor-based input sampling branch demonstrates high linearity and inherent low-voltage operation. The proposed background calibration accounts for capacitor mismatches and finite opamp gain error in the MDAC stages via a novel digital correlation scheme involving a two-channel ADC architecture. The prototype ADC, fabricated in a 0.18 /spl mu/m CMOS process, achieves 81 dB SFDR at 0.9V and 2MSPS (12MHz clock) after calibration. The ADC operates up to 5MSPS (30MHz clock) with 4dB degradation. The total power consumption is 12mW, and the active die area is 1.4 mm/sup 2/.
White Women Getting Real About Race: Their Stories About What They Learned Teaching in Diverse Classrooms

(2014). White Women Getting Real About Race: Their Stories About What They Learned Teaching in Diverse Classrooms. NASPA Journal About Women in Higher Education: Vol. 7, No. 2, pp. 248-251.
High Performance Offline and Online Distributed Collaborative Filtering

Big data analytics is a hot research area both in academia and industry. It envisages processing massive amounts of data at high rates to generate new insights leading to positive impact (for both users and providers) of industries such as E-commerce, Telecom, Finance, Life Sciences and so forth. We consider collaborative filtering (CF) and Clustering algorithms that are key fundamental analytics kernels that help in achieving these aims. High throughput CF and co-clustering on highly sparse and massive datasets, along with a high prediction accuracy, is a computationally challenging problem. In this paper, we present a novel hierarchical design for soft real-time (less than 1-minute.) distributed co-clustering based collaborative filtering algorithm. We study both the online and offline variants of this algorithm. Theoretical analysis of the time complexity of our algorithm proves the efficacy of our approach. Further, we present the impact of load balancing based optimizations on multi-core cluster architectures. Using the Netflix dataset(900M training ratings with replication) as well as the Yahoo KDD Cup(2.3B training ratings with replication) datasets, we demonstrate the performance and scalability of our algorithm on a large multi-core cluster architecture. In offline mode, our distributed algorithm demonstrates around 4x better performance (on Blue Gene/P) as compared to the best prior work, along with high accuracy. In online mode, we demonstrated around 3x better performance compared to baseline MPI implementation. To the best of our knowledge, our algorithm provides the best known online and offline performance and scalability results with high accuracy on multi-core cluster architectures.
FLIP protects against hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced endothelial cell apoptosis by inhibiting Bax activation.

Hypoxia/reoxygenation causes cell death, yet the underlying regulatory mechanisms remain partially understood. Recent studies demonstrate that hypoxia/reoxygenation can activate death receptor and mitochondria-dependent apoptotic pathways, involving Bid and Bax mitochondrial translocation and cytochrome c release. Using mouse lung endothelial cells (MLEC), we examined the role of FLIP, an inhibitor of caspase 8, in hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced cell death. FLIP protected MLEC against hypoxia/reoxygenation by blocking both caspase 8/Bid and Bax/mitochondrial apoptotic pathways. FLIP inhibited Bax activation in wild-type and Bid / MLEC, indicating independence from the caspase 8/Bid pathway. FLIP also inhibited the expression and activation of protein kinase C (PKC) (, ) during hypoxia/reoxygenation and promoted an association of inactive forms of PKC with Bax. Surprisingly, FLIP expression also inhibited death-inducing signal complex (DISC) formation in the plasma membrane and promoted the accumulation of the DISC in the Golgi apparatus. FLIP expression also upregulated Bcl-XL, an antiapoptotic protein. In conclusion, FLIP decreased DISC formation in the plasma membrane by blocking its translocation from the Golgi apparatus and inhibited Bax activation through a novel PKC-dependent mechanism. The inhibitory effects of FLIP on Bax activation and plasma membrane DISC formation may play significant roles in protecting endothelial cells from the lethal effects of hypoxia/reoxygenation. Ischemia caused by arterial occlusion, shock, transplantation, or respiratory failure often causes increased cell death. Ischemic lungs suffer profound losses of ATP due to the reduced availability of oxygen and nutrients and concomitant inhibition of oxidative phosphorylation and anaerobic glycolysis (27). Latent, but potentially lethal, ischemic damage may cause cells in different regions of the lung to sustain reperfusion injury when reoxygenated by restitution of blood flow. The
CASE STUDY: Feed Intake and Performance of Heifers Sired by High- or Low-Residual Feed Intake Angus Bulls1

ABSTRACT The objective of this project was to investigate the effects of selecting sires for residual feed intake (RFI) on the performance of their daughters. Bulls with low or high estimated breeding values (EBV) for RFI were selected from the Angus Society of Australia sire summary and mated to Angus cross commercial cows at the Kansas State University Cow-Calf Unit in 2005 and 2006. The average EBV of low- and high-RFI bulls were −0.55 and 0.27 kg DM, respectively. Heifers born in 2006 were tested for feed intake in 2 groups (n = 24, n = 26), and heifers born in 2007 (n = 42) were sent to a commercial bull test facility for feed intake and BW gain tests. Body weights were collected every 14 d and used to calculate midtest BW and ADG. Actual feed intake was regressed on midtest metabolic BW and ADG to calculate an expected feed intake for each heifer. Residual feed intake was calculated by subtracting the expected intake from the actual intake. There were no significant differences between heifers sired by lowor high-RFI EBV bulls in RFI, feed intake, G:F, or BW gain (P > 0.05). Heifers in this study were being developed on a less energy-dense diet than the diet used to rank their sires. Genetic differences in RFI calculated in growing bulls may not have been expressed on the lower plane of nutrition of these developing heifers.
The Foreign Policy of William Morris Hughes of Australia

A FRAIL, deaf, dyspeptic little man is still, after some three decades of governmental service, one of the outstanding politicians in Australia.' Although he left the cabinet when the Labor Party took charge in the fall of 1941, William Morris Hughes is now a member of the Advisory War Council. He is also the leader of the United Australian Party.2 There is little doubt that he will be one of the representatives of the Commonwealth when the next group of statesmen sit around the peace table, and that he will voice his convictions quite determinedly. An examination of some of his past views on foreign policy may well afford clues as to the position that he will take at the next peace conference. William Morris Hughes was only twenty years of age when he quit his work as a coal miner in Wales and left for the "land down under" in 1884.3 His first occupations on the island-continent were varied. He served as an actor, boundary rider, book salesman, cook, drover, locksmith, journalist, umbrella mender, school teacher, and labor organizer. His active interest in politics began with his work as a promoter of union activities. In 1894 he was elected to the legislature of New SouthWales on the Labor ticket. When Australia was federated, he was promoted by the same party to the Federal Parliament and twice became Prime Minister of the Commonwealth. The efforts of Hughes were largely responsible for the adoption of compulsory military training in Australia in 1909 and for the beginning of an Australian navy.4 When the European conflict opened in 1914, Australia was ready to stand firmly against the Central Powers. "We will defend the Empire to our last man and our last shilling," pledged Laborite Fisher, who became Prime Minister in September 1914. The next year witnessed the appointment of Fisher as commissioner to England, and his Attorney General,
The diagnostic accuracy of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography and computed tomography in staging bladder cancer: a single-institution study and a systematic review with meta-analysis

The purpose of this study was to assess the diagnostic accuracy of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose with positron emission tomography and computed tomography (FDG–PET–CT) to predict nodal metastases in patients with bladder cancer (BC) scheduled to undergo radical cystectomy (RC). We retrospectively reviewed records of patients diagnosed with BC and scheduled to undergo RC at our center from January 2011 through February 2015, who also underwent FDG–PET–CT at the time of diagnosis. All patients underwent RC and an extended pelvic lymph node dissection as the reference standard. The primary endpoints were the sensitivity, specificity and overall accuracy of FDG–PET–CT in detecting lymph node metastasis. We also examined its accuracy in identifying distant metastasis. In addition, we conducted a protocol-driven systematic review and meta-analysis of accuracy of FDG–PET–CT for preoperative staging of BC, as compared to CT alone, as reported in individual studies. To assess the methodological quality of eligible studies, we used the QUADAS-2 tool (a revised tool for the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies) and pooled diagnostic accuracy measures using Meta-DiSc statistical software. For detecting nodal metastases in 78 patients, the sensitivity of FDG–PET–CT was 0.56 (95 % CI 0.29–0.80) and the specificity, 0.98 (95 % CI 0.91–1.00). Pooled sensitivity and specificity for detecting lymph node metastasis were 0.57 and 0.95, respectively. Positive likelihood ratio was 9.02. All lesions that were suspicious for distant metastasis were found to be positive on biopsy. FDG–PET–CT was more accurate than CT alone in staging BC in patients undergoing surgery. Standardization of FDG–PET–CT protocol and cost-effectiveness analysis are required before widespread implementation of this technology.
Using FAQs to Help Users Help Themselves

Four years ago, UMBC's "tier 1" Technology Support Center [1] (formerly Help Desk) moved from the obscure basement of our main Division of Information Technology (DoIT) building to the bright, open first floor of our new Information Commons in the Library. Since then, the TSC has virtually reinvented itself by also focusing on helping users help themselves. We completely revamped our campus knowledgebase [2] that has grown from 3k annual page views to more than 400k. As a result, support phone calls have been reduced 30% and ticket volume has decreased 3% (since FY10) or remained flat while all other campus support requests have skyrocketed through widespread adoption [3] of our RT (Request Tracker) ticketing system. Guided by an excellent orientation manual with a novel, but simple ticket-grading rubric [4] encouraging support staff to recommend relevant FAQ articles as an acceptable initial resolution to user support requests, student consultants now resolve half of all the TSC's tickets each week; previously they were not allowed to do so for fear they would make mistakes. With just two FT staff and 12-15 student consultants resolving 8k of DoIT's overall 25k tickets annually, the TSC has become a model of efficiency and effectiveness. Overall, DoIT enjoys a 90% "excellent" customer satisfaction rating on an optional survey every customer receives following a resolved ticket.
Active chirping for pulse compression using integrated-optic phase modulators

The generation of ultrashort optical pulses by compression techniques has received much attention recently with the chirp and dispersive delay line approach proving very successful.1 In most cases, the chirp is obtained by a passive nonlinear interaction in a single-mode optical fiber (self-phase modulation). This approach has the disadvantage that the chirp rate depends on the peak optical power and thus Is applicable only to highpower pulses. In addition, power fluctuations (noise) are enhanced in this nonlinear process. An alternative approach to inducing a frequency sweep is to phase modulate the pulse electrooptically.2,3 We designate this as active chirping, since power is supplied to the system. Following the phase modulator with a diffraction grating pair delay line results in a fairly compact pulse compressor with performance that is independent of optical power.
The Character and Economic Morality of the Tea Party Movement

In this paper, I employ statistical analyses of Tea Party supporters using national and local surveys and personal interviews with local Tea Party leaders throughout the country, meeting in local diners and coffee shops. I argue that Tea Party supporters are statistically distinct from non-Tea Party Republicans on a myriad of issues, even including their strength of commitment to fiscal conservatism. Tea Party supporters are less loyal Republicans, have less trust in government and are angrier at DC politics. They have a more negative view of the economy despite being disproportionately less impacted by the financial crisis. The Tea Party is also roughly split between Tea Party conservatives and Tea Party libertarian leaners, with a slightly larger share of Tea Party conservatives. Despite similar perceptions of the economy, government and economic issue positions, they are statistically distinct on social and cultural issues. I also discuss a unique economic morality shared by Tea Party supporters based on equilibrating actions and consequences, rewarding success and punishing failure, a Lockean view of liberty, opportunity and upward economic mobility in American Society.
Aluminium-containing scales in water distribution systems: Prevalence and composition

Aluminium (Al) deposits in distribution systems can have important detrimental effects on tap water quality because they can increase turbidity and interfere with disinfection, and they can increase energy loss during water transport. Disruption of the scales could cause the release of associated trace metals. However, there is also the possibility that they have a protective effect on pipe surfaces and thereby reduce metal ion release, assisting with treatment optimization for regulatory compliance. However, relatively little is known about this effect and the composition of these deposits, so little reliable guidance can be given on impacts of treatment changes forced by current and anticipated regulations. In this paper, we summarize what is known about these scales and the sources of the aluminium. We also present new data on the elemental composition of scales found in selected systems in the USA and discuss implications for future study design and important areas of future research that is needed.
Using Commercial Audience Measurement Data in Academic Research

ABSTRACTSurveys, although widely used to measure media exposure, are blunt instruments. In today’s complex media environments it is difficult to accurately recall usage. Audience measurement data, often collected by the media industries for commercial purposes, offer an alternative. However, unlike surveys, where individuals are the unit of analysis, audience measurement companies report data aggregated at the level of media outlets. Despite this limitation, audience measurement data may be analyzed for deciphering media use patterns in theoretically productive ways.
Simultaneous determination of 6 plant growth regulator residues in plant origined foods by UPLC-MS/MS

Objective To establish a UPLC- MS/MS method for determination of paclobutrazol,gibberellic acid,2,4- dichlorophenoxyacetic acid,thidiazuron,forchlorfenuron,and 4- chlorophenoxyacetic acid in plant origined foods. Methods Samples were pretreated by Qu ECh ERS method and extracted with acetonitrile containing 1% acetic acid,followed by clean- up using the powder of C_(18) and magnesium sulfate. The 6 target plant growth regulators were separated using C_(18)BEH( 2. 1 mm ×100 mm,1. 7 μm) column as separation column,acetonitrile and 0. 1% ammonia water as mobile phase,gradient elution,flow rate of 0. 3 ml/min,with column temperature 35 ℃. Except the detection condition of paclobutrazol MS was ESI+,the rest of the gibberellin and 2,4- dichlorobenzene oxygen ethanoic acid,thidiazuron,forchlorfenuron,4- chlorophenoxyacetic acid were all ESI-. Results 6 kinds of plant growth regulator had a good linear relationship in the concentration range( r≥0. 999 0).The detection limits of paclobutrazol,gibberellic acid,2,4- dichlorophenoxyacetic acid,thidiazuron,forchlorfenuron,and 4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid were 0. 05 μg/kg,1. 0 μg/kg,0. 5 μg/kg,0. 5 μg/kg,0. 1 μg/kg and 1. 0 μg/kg,respectively.The rates of recovery were 80. 2% to 115. 8% and the relative standard deviations were 2. 34%- 5. 20%. Conclusion The method is simple,Sensitivity and accuracy can meet the detection requirements of 6 kinds of plant growth regulators in plant origined foods.
Influence of Wengyuan DC Grounding Electrode Current of Niuzhai-Conghua HVDC Project on DC Bias of Adjacent Power Transformers

According to the surrounding substation characteristics of Wengyuan DC grounding electrode of Niuzhai-Conghua HVDC Project,experiments on DC grounding electrode current distribution are carried out,and then the influence of the DC grounding electrode current on DC bias of power transformers is calculated. The results showthat the 220 k V side neutral point of transformer in Wengjiang Station being ungrounded or installing blocking device can reduce the bias current flowing into the AC system,and the influence of AC system can also be reduced to minimum by grounding the neutral points of transformers in Guandu and Huilong Station and ungrounding other neutral points of transformers in the power supply area of Wengjiang Station.
Surface characterization and cytotoxicity analysis of plasma sprayed coatings on titanium alloys

In the realm of biomaterials, metallic materials are widely used for load bearing joints due to their superior mechanical properties. Despite the necessity for long term metallic implants, there are limitations to their prolonged use. Naturally, oxides of titanium have low solubilities and form passive oxide film spontaneously. However, some inclusion and discontinuity spots in oxide film make implant to adopt the decisive nature. These defects heighten the dissolution of metal ions from the implant surface, which results in diminishing bio-integration of titanium implant. To increase the long-term metallic implant stability, surface modifications of titanium alloys are being carried out. In the present study, biomimetic coatings of plasma sprayed hydroxyapatite and titanium were applied to the surface of commercially pure titanium and Ti6Al4V. Surface morphology and surface chemistry were studied using scanning electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, respectively. Cyclic potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were carried out in order to study their electrochemical behavior. Moreover, cytotoxicity analysis was conducted for osteoblast cells by performing MTS assay. It is concluded that both hydroxyapatite and titanium coatings enhance corrosion resistance and improve cytocompatibility.
Misplacing empathy and misdiagnosing depression. How to differentiate among depression's many faces.

This is not another article about the ubiquity of depression in older patients, the many faces of depression, the scourge and epidemic of depression. This is about sharpening the definition of depression, limiting the diagnosis and ultimately enhancing the treatment of depression in late life.
Exercise Increases and Browns Muscle Lipid in High-Fat Diet-Fed Mice.

Muscle Lipid increases with high-fat feeding and diabetes. In trained athletes, increased muscle lipid is not associated with insulin resistance, a phenomenon known as the athlete’s paradox. To understand if exercise altered the phenotype of muscle lipid, female C57BL/6 mice fed CTL or high fat diet (HFD for 6 or 18 wk) were further divided into sedentary or exercising groups (CTL-E or HFD-E) with voluntary access to running wheels for the last 6 wk of experiments, running 6 h/night. Diet did not affect running time or distance. HFD mice weighed more than CTL after 18 wk (p<0.01). Quadriceps muscle TG was increased in running animals and in sedentary mice fed HFD for 18 wk (p<0.05). In exercised animals, markers of fat: Plin1, aP2, FSP27 and Fasn, were increased significantly in HFD groups. Ucp1 and Pgc1a, markers for brown fat, increased with exercise in the setting of high fat feeding. Fndc5, which encodes irisin, and CytC, were sensitive to exercise regardless of diet. Plin5 was increased with HFD and unaffected by exercise; The respiratory exchange ratio was 15% lower in the 18 wk HFD group compared with CTL (p<0.001) and 10% lower in 18 wk HFD-E compared to CTL-E (p<0.001). Increased Ucp1 and Pgc1a in exercised muscle of running mice suggests that a beige/brown fat phenotype develops, which differs from the fat phenotype that induces insulin resistance in high fat feeding. This suggests that increased muscle lipid may develop a ‘brown’ phenotype in the setting of endurance exercise training, a shift that is further promoted by HFD.
Linking parent perceptions of children's weight to early coronary risk factors: results from the CARDIAC Project.

Introduction: Obesity is a public health threat because of the increasing prevalence in childhood and its causal relationship to the leading cause of death in America, heart disease. Detecting early signs of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in children and appropriately intervening to reverse the unhealthy trajectory associated with childhood obesity is of great importance. The objective of this study is to observe parental perception of their child’s body mass index (BMI) and find associations between inaccurately estimated children and CVD risk factors. Methods: This study analyzed the association between 147 rural fifth grade students’ lipid profiles and parents’ self-reported survey who participated in the 2008–2011 Coronary Artery Risk Detection in Appalachian Communities study. Results: After controlling for covariates, underestimated children were more likely to have higher log-transformed triglyceride and systolic blood pressure values and overestimated children were more likely to have lower systolic blood pressure. Conclusions: Underestimating a child’s BMI is associated with coronary risk-related factors, while overestimating a child’s BMI is associate with a protective CVD marker. A follow-up study examining the development of CVD risk factors in children of parents who inaccurately estimate their BMI would help clarify this relationship. Knowledge of how parental perceptions directly influence higher lipid levels in children could have an impact on public health efforts in the fight against childhood obesity in rural environments.
The Role of Rhinoviruses in Virus-Induced Asthma

Publisher Summary Viral respiratory infections influence airway function and asthma through two distinct pathways. In infancy, respiratory viral infections, particularly respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), provoke wheezing. Infants with reduced lung function are at greatest risk for developing wheezing with RSV infection, yet only a subset of wheezing infants will go on to develop persistent asthma. Viral infections are the most important trigger for acute asthma symptoms in children, and this association exists in many adults with asthma. Experimental models that combine viral infection and allergen exposure have identified potential links between virus- and allergen-induced inflammation, and suggest several possible mechanisms by which virus-induced cytokines could enhance pre-existing airway inflammation in asthma. While there is an increasing amount of information suggesting that cytokines may be an important part of this association, their role must be verified with additional studies comparing the upper and lower airway immune responses to viral infections in people with asthma versus normal controls.
Thermal management to avoid the collapse of current gain in power heterojunction bipolar transistors

One undesirable thermal phenomenon occurring in power heterojunction bipolar transistor is the collapse of current gain. This paper presents the electrical, electrical-thermal, thermal, and material approaches to avoid the collapse, and thus to improve the transistor output power.