cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Thermodynamic modeling of magnetic hysteresis in AMRR cycles

Abstract Current models of Active Magnetic Regenerative Refrigeration (AMRR) cycles are not able to capture the effect of magnetic hysteresis and are therefore strictly limited to second order magnetic transition (SOMT) materials. The discovery of the giant magnetocaloric effect (GMCE) in first order magnetic transition (FOMT) materials has generated substantial interest. FOMTs yield large adiabatic temperature changes but also exhibit significant magnetic hysteresis. This work quantifies the effects of magnetic hysteresis. Thermodynamically, hysteresis is treated as a source of entropy generation that is proportional to the area swept by the hysteresis loop experienced locally by the material during one refrigeration cycle. The 1-D numerical model presented by Engelbrecht (2008) is modified to include magnetic hysteresis. Hysteresis losses are shown to be directly proportional to regenerator volume. Therefore, at large refrigeration capacity to volume ratios, AMRR beds using layered FOMT materials significantly outperform the same cycle using layered SOMT refrigerants.
From the crest to the periphery: control of pigment cell migration and lineage segregation.

Pigment cells are one of many cell types derived from the neural crest. This review focuses on the mechanisms that control the timing and pathways of migration of pigment cells into the epidermis and determinants that control the differentiation of pigment cells. Several factors may control the timing and pattern of pigment cell migration in the dorsolateral space including the loss of inhibitory molecules in the pathway, the appearance of chemotactic molecules emanating from the dispersing dermatome, and the differentiation of pigment cells, which may be the only neural crest derivative capable of utilizing the substratum found in the dorsolateral path Control of pigment cell differentiation remains controversial. A working model presented in this review suggests that multipotent neural crest cells that disperse ventrally upon separation from the neural tube preserve neurogenic ability and lose melanogenic ability, whereas those cells that are arrested at the entrance to the dorsolateral path lose neurogenic ability so that the population becomes primarily melanogenic. During the time that the latter population is arrested in migration it is speculated that the neural crest cells are exposed to an environment comprised of specific extracellular matrix molecules and/or growth factors that enhance pigment cell differentiation.
African American Women's Perspectives of Shared Parenting After Dissolution of a Violent Relationship

This study examined the perspectives of women who engaged in shared parenting with an estranged partner after dissolution of a violent relationship. Focus group data from five African American women were analyzed using content analysis. Findings indicated that new types of awareness emerged over time consistent with transitions in personal narratives, roles, and systemic changes. Notable shifts in participants' perceptions of the role that violence played in their lives occurred as children matured. Implications of these shifts on the conceptualization of shared parenting interventions are examined.
An application analysis framework for polymorphic chip multiprocessors

The SAPIENT parallel analysis framework facilitates the efficient transformation of sequential applications into multilevel parallel applications that can be executed on polymorphic chip multiprocessor architectures. We demonstrate how application characteristics are used to detect thread and data level parallelism in sequential applications and estimate parallel performance. We further demonstrate how SAPIENT determines the combination of application parallelism and polymorphic architecture configuration that maximizes performance. As an example, we present a detailed analysis of parallelism for an MPEG-2 decoder. We further summarize results for six other multimedia applications, identifying the presence of data and thread level parallelism, evaluating performance, and suggesting architecture configurations for each.
Cotinine inhibits the pro-inflammatory response initiated by multiple cell surface Toll-like receptors in monocytic THP cells

Background The primary, stable metabolite of nicotine [(S)-3-(1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinyl) pyridine] in humans is cotinine [(S)-1-methyl-5-(3-pyridinyl)-2-pyrrolidinone]. We have previously shown that cotinine exposure induces convergence and amplification of the GSK3β-dependent PI3 kinase and cholinergic anti-inflammatory systems. The consequence is reduced pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion by human monocytes responding to bacteria or LPS, a TLR4 agonist.
Putting Clinton in Context

Kurtz, Howard. Spin Cycle: How the White House and the Media Manipulate the News. New York: Touchstone Press, 1998. Pp. xxii, 346. $14 softbound. Morris, Dick. Behind the Oval Office: Getting Reelected Against All Odds. Los Angeles: Renaissance Books, 1999. Pp. xxxii, 646. $16.96 softbound. Reich, Robert B. Locked in the Cabinet. New York: Vintage Books, 1998. Pp. xv, 348. $13 softbound. Shogan, Robert. The Double-Edged Sword: How Character Makes and Ruins Presidents, from Washington to Clinton. Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 1999. Pp. xii, 284. $25 hardbound.
The Development of Computer-Assisted Instruction

Development of computer-assisted instruction (CAI) at the IBM Research Center, the Decision Sciences Laboratory of Hanscom Air Force Base, the Systems Development Corporation, the University of Illinois, and Bolt Beranek and Newman is reviewed. This review covers the period 1958-1961.
Tilings of the time-frequency plane: construction of arbitrary orthogonal bases and fast tiling algorithms

The authors consider expansions which give arbitrary orthonormal tilings of the time-frequency plane. These differ from the short-time Fourier transform, wavelet transform, and wavelet packets tilings in that they change over time. They show how this can be achieved using time-varying orthogonal tree structures, which preserve orthogonality, even across transitions. The method is based on the construction of boundary and transition filters; these allow us to construct essentially arbitrary tilings. Time-varying modulated lapped transforms are a special case, where both boundary and overlapping solutions are possible with filters obtained by modulation. They present a double-tree algorithm which for a given signal decides on the best binary segmentation in both time and frequency. That is, it is a joint optimization of time and frequency splitting. The algorithm is optimal for additive cost functions (e.g., rate-distortion), and results in time-varying best bases, the main application of which is for compression of nonstationary signals. Experiments on test signals are presented. >
Collision Effects on Two Coordinating Robots in Assembly and the Effect Minimization

When two robot arms execute coordinated motions in assembly, collision between the two end-effectors cannot be avoided. The collision effects on the motions of two coordinating robots are studied in this paper. At the moment of a collision, an impulse exerted on the two end-effectors is generated. This impulse will cause abrupt velocity-changes in robot motions. The direction of the impulse depends on the relative orientation of the end-effectors when the collision takes place. The magnitude of the impulse, on the other hand, depends on the relative velocity between the two end-effectors immediately before the collision, the joint positions, and the inertia matrices of the two robots. The minimization of the abrupt velocity-changes is discussed. The study reveals that to reduce the abrupt velocity-changes, the two coordinating robots must be symmetrical in all aspects, and the direction vector of the impulse must be an eigenvector of the Jacobian inertia matrix for the robot arms. Since the two conditions impose constraints on the robot trajectories, the approach of minimization is valid only when the two robot arms follow pre-planned paths.
The epidemiology of mental retardation of unknown cause.

Objective. To describe selected infant and maternal characteristics for children with mild and severe mental retardation (MR) of unknown cause. Study Design. Children with MR of unknown cause born in California between 1987 and 1994 were identified through service agency records and compared with the total population of California live births for selected characteristics recorded on the birth certificate. Results. For both children with mild and severe MR, risk was increased among males, low birth weight children, and children born to women of black race, older age at delivery, and lower level of education. Increased risk for mild MR was found for multiple births, second or later-born children, and children whose mothers were born outside of California. Increased risk for severe MR was observed among children born to Hispanic mothers; children born to Asian mothers also had increased risk for severe MR but decreased risk for mild MR. Conclusions. These results provide clues for understanding the underlying causes of MR and suggest that both biological and social factors are important.
Environment-invariant compensation for reverberation using linear post-filtering for minimum distortion

Speaker identification systems work quite well in controlled environments but their performance degrades severely in the presence of the reverberation that is frequently encountered in realistic acoustical environments. In this paper we develop an algorithm to make speaker identification systems more robust to reverberation by passing sequences of cepstral features through a short FIR filter. The coefficients of the filter are chosen to minimize the mean square differences between compensated features in the training and testing environments. Surprisingly, the resulting filter coefficients are relatively invariant to the actual nature of the reverberation. The use of the post-filtering approach is shown to improve speaker identification accuracy, especially when reverberation times are relatively long.
Development of a Novel Approach for Breast Cancer Prediction and Early Detection Using Minimally Invasive Procedures and Molecular Analysis: How Cytomorphology Became a Breast Cancer Risk Predictor

With enhanced public awareness, advances in breast imaging, and emphasis on early breast cancer detection and prevention, more women are seeking consultation to assess the status of their breast health. Risk assessment has become an integral part of established multi-disciplinary breast care, and breast cancer risk reduction interventions have received a great deal of attention. Similarly, interest in identification of high-risk individuals has increased significantly. Atypical proliferative changes in breast epithelial cells are ranked high among various known breast cancer risk factors and, in recent years, have been the subject of several investigations. Breast tissue and fluid in the ductal system provide a rich source of cells and biomarkers that have the potential to aid in the assessment of short-term risk of breast cancer development, and assess responses to interventional prevention efforts. There are three minimally invasive procedures currently being utilized to sample breast tissue in asymptomatic high-risk individuals. These procedures are: fine-needle aspiration biopsy, nipple aspiration fluid, and ductal lavage. In this review article, the merits and limitations of each procedure are presented, and the contribution of cytomorphology and molecular analysis in breast cancer prediction is highlighted. In addition, the role of Masood Cytology Index as a surrogate endpoint biomarker in chemopreventative trials is discussed.
Guiding simulation with increasingly refined abstract traces

We combine abstraction refinement and simulation to provide a more efficient approach to checking invariant properties whose only counterexamples are very long traces. We allow each transition of an abstract error trace to map to multiple transitions of the concrete error trace and simulate pseudorandom vectors to build segments of the concrete trace. This approach addresses the capacity limitation of the formal verification engine as well as the short-sightedness of the simulator, thus providing a more effective technique for deep, subtle bugs.
Reducing annual energy consumption by proper selection of HVAC equipment

Many of the procedures used by HVAC designers were intended primarily at providing a workable rather than optimum energy systems. It was a common practice to include large safety factors to ensure proper operation under all conditions. To the designer, the extra cost of the oversized equipment was justified. What was not understood was the heavy penalty on annual energy consumption this procedure produces. The purpose of this paper is to present quantitative examples of how over sizing augments annual energy consumption. As an example, a simple heating system employing a boiler is examined. The boiler is quoted as having an efficiency of 80%. What is often not understood is that this efficiency only applies to the steady-state operation of the boiler. The annual efficiency in actual usage will be considerably less. This annual efficiency can be found by using the part-load efficiency of the boiler and the Bin method of annual energy estimation. For the above boiler, the annual efficiency was found to be 44%. If the boiler was oversized by 100%, the annual efficiency drops to 38%. The above results can be extended to effect substantial improvements in energy consumption. A single large boiler can be replaced by two smaller boilers whose combined capacity meet the design loads. By using this arrangement, the annual system efficiency can be increased to 64%. The added cost of the extra equipment can be quickly recovered by the large savings in operating costs.
Light-weight context recovery for efficient and accurate program analyses

To compute accurate information efficiently for programs that use pointer variables, a program analysis must account for the fact that a procedure may access different sets of memory locations when the procedure is invoked under different callsites. This paper presents light-weight context recovery, a technique that can efficiently determine whether a memory location is accessed by a procedure under a specific callsite. The paper also presents a technique that uses this information to improve the precision and efficiency of program analyses. Our empirical studies show that (1) light-weight context recovery can be quite precise in identifying the memory locations accessed by a procedure under a specific call-site and (2) distinguishing memory locations accessed by a procedure under different callsites can significantly improve the precision and the efficiency of program analyses on programs that use pointer variables.
Enhancements to the Freeway Facilities Method in the Highway Capacity Manual to Enable Reliability Analysis

The Highway Capacity Manual (HCM) methodology provides a fast and reliable approach for the analysis of freeway traffic operations; research is ongoing to add a reliability analysis component to the method. Several key methodological enhancements are needed to make the method ready for reliability analysis; these enhancements are described and illustrated in this paper and include (a) the incorporation of the drop in capacity in the queue discharge flow compared with the prebreakdown flow; (b) the addition of a speed adjustment factor (SAF) as a new calibration factor for the modeling of nonrecurrent congestion sources, such as weather and incidents; (c) the explicit incorporation of SAFs and capacity adjustment factors (CAFs) into the HCM methodologies for merge, diverge, and weave segments; (d) the development of new SAF and CAF default values for freeways; and (e) the addition of new congestion performance measures. The enhancements overcome key limitations in the existing HCM 2010 freeway facility met...
LONG QT SYNDROME

The long QT syndrome (LQTS) is a disorder of cardiac ion channels that affect repolarization. The characteristic manifestations are prolongation of the QT interval and T-wave abnormalities on the ECG and exercise or emotion precipitation of syncope and sudden death, resulting from the ventricular tachyarrhythmia torsade de pointes (TDP) (Fig. 1). The ion-channel dysfunction may be acquired or inherited. The acquired form is more common, usually caused by administration of QT-prolonging drugs (Tables 1 and 2), which for the most part impair the function of the I Kr delayed rectifier channel. The inherited form is caused by mutations of genes that encode for cardiac ion channels, principally the I Kr and I Ks delayed rectifier potassium channels, with a minority of cases caused by mutations of the gene that encodes for the cardiac sodium channel. Inherited LQTS has become a particularly important entity for several reasons. It is estimated to be present in 1 in 7000 persons in the United States and thus is not a rare disorder. It may cause as many as 3000 unexpected deaths in children and young adults per year. Further, recent discoveries concerning the molecular genetics and pathophysiology of LQTS have provided important insights into the mechanisms of arrhythmias, not only in LQTS but in general. These findings may provide molecular strategies for arrhythmia prevention in some of the estimated 300,000 to 400,000 sudden cardiac deaths 100 that occur annually in the United States, including an estimated 7000 to 8000 in young persons.
An Integrative Model of Pediatric Medical Traumatic Stress

Objective To guide assessment and intervention for patients and families, a model for assessing and treating pediatric medical traumatic stress (PMTS) is presented that integrates the literature across pediatric conditions. Methods A model with three general phases is outlined--I, peritrauma; II, early, ongoing, and evolving responses; and III, longer-term PMTS. Relevant literature for each is reviewed and discussed with respect to implications for intervention for patients and families. Results Commonalities across conditions, the range of normative responses to potentially traumatic events (PTEs), the importance of preexisting psychological well-being, developmental considerations, and a social ecological orientation are highlighted. Conclusions Growing empirical support exists to guide the development of assessment and intervention related to PMTS for patients with pediatric illness and their parents. The need for interventions across the course of pediatric illness and injury that target patients, families, and/or healthcare teams is apparent. The model provides a basis for further development of evidence-based treatments.
Elements of nucleotide specificity in the Trypanosoma brucei mitochondrial RNA editing enzyme RET2.

The causative agent of African sleeping sickness, Trypanosoma brucei, undergoes an unusual mitochondrial RNA editing process that is essential for its survival. RNA editing terminal uridylyl transferase 2 of T. brucei (TbRET2) is an indispensable component of the editosome machinery that performs this editing. TbRET2 is required to maintain the vitality of both the insect and bloodstream forms of the parasite, and, with its high-resolution crystal structure, it poses as a promising pharmaceutical target. Neither the exclusive requirement of UTP for catalysis, nor the RNA primer preference of TbRET2 is well understood. Using all-atom explicitly solvated molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, we investigated the effect of UTP binding on TbRET2 structure and dynamics, as well as the determinants governing TbRET2’s exclusive UTP preference. Through our investigations of various nucleoside triphosphate substrates (NTPs), we show that UTP pre-organizes the binding site through an extensive water-mediated H-bonding network, bringing Glu424 and Arg144 sidechains to an optimum position for RNA primer binding. In contrast, CTP and ATP cannot achieve this pre-organization and thus preclude productive RNA primer binding. Additionally, we have located ligand-binding “hot spots” of TbRET2 based on the MD conformational ensembles and computational fragment mapping. TbRET2 reveals different binding pockets in the apo and UTP-bound MD simulations, which could be targeted for inhibitor design.
The Spirit of Capitalism and the Boundaries of Citizenship in Post-Wall Germany

Immediately after the fall of the Berlin Wall in November 1989, one of the most pervasive media images consisted of East Germans on a frenetic, collective shopping spree. For many western Germans, as well as for much of the world, the “triumph” of capitalism and democracy seemed to be reflected and confirmed in the “consuming frenzy” (Konsumrausch) of the “Ossis” (East Germans). Although these images of consumption following the collapse of socialism were new, they were structured by and contributed to a dominant narrative of “democratization” and national legitimacy in which access to consumer goods and consumer choice are defined as fundamental rights and democratic expressions of individualism. Indeed, many observers have since suggested that the transitions of 1989 were not about demands for political or human rights, but for consumer rights (e.g., Bauman 1992; Borneman 1992; Drakulic 1991). They were also, I would add, about consumer rites—about the making of citizen-consumers.
A Coupled Air-Sea-Monsoon Oscillator for the Tropospheric Biennial Oscillation

Abstract The cause of the tropospheric biennial oscillation (TBO) in a simple coupled ocean–atmosphere model is examined. The model is first reduced to a pair of coupled linear first-order differential equations, piecewise in time, for analysis. It is found that two ingredients are essential for the biennial oscillation in the model. The first ingredient is the amplification of SST perturbations in both the Indian Ocean and western Pacific in opposite directions during the northern autumn, winter, and spring seasons, reflecting a positive feedback process. The second ingredient is the decay and change of signs of the SST anomaly in the western Pacific during the northern summer, representing a negative feedback process. Under such a scenario, the simple model exhibits a regular biennial oscillation. Diagnosis of the model TBO reveals that the western Pacific SST and zonal wind anomalies have a lagged correlation at a timescale of 2–3 months, similar to observations. Such a phase lag results from both remo...
Advertising Specialties: A Note on Recall

The effectiveness of a sponsor’s communication program is often used to determine the amount and scheduling of advertising. However, very little research evidence exists on recall in the area of specialty advertising. The purpose of this study is to explore the recall of advertising specialties. Awareness rates were measured at different points in time for 3 specialties in order to secure knowledge about the decay of information.
The Nature of Environmental Experience

This paper discusses a series of presuppositions that have traditionally directed research in environment and experience. It describes, alternatively, a methodology based on different assumptions that will enable the researcher to avoid the biases and conclusions these presuppositions necessitate, and relates a series of studies that display the salient elements of environmental experience. The results of these studies have suggested a number of characteristics of environmental experience and specific modes of experiencing the environment. The fundamental tenet is that environmental experience is that continuing product of an active endeavor by an individual to create for himself a situation within which he can optimally function and achieve his own particular pattern of satisfaction. Finally, it is concluded that no single mode or combination of modes of environmental experience represent a “true” view of the environment, and that as scientists we should emulate the individual and develop a view of the environment that will optimally enable us to carry out our goals both as students and as concerned human beings.
Micro-CT in the Assessment of Pediatric Renal Osteodystrophy by Bone Histomorphometry

Background and objectives Computed tomography (CT) measurements can distinguish between cortical and trabecular bone density in vivo. High-resolution CTs assess both bone volume and density in the same compartment, thus potentially yielding information regarding bone mineralization as well. The relationship between bone histomorphometric parameters of skeletal mineralization and bone density from microcomputed tomography (μCT) measurements of bone cores from patients on dialysis has not been assessed. Design, setting, participants, & measurements Bone cores from 68 patients with ESRD (age =13.9±0.5 years old; 50% men) and 14 controls (age =15.3±3.8 years old; 50% men) obtained as part of research protocols between 1983 and 2006 were analyzed by bone histomorphometry and μCT. Results Bone histomorphometric diagnoses in the patients were normal to high bone turnover in 76%, adynamic bone in 13%, and osteomalacia in 11%. Bone formation rate did not correlate with any μCT determinations. Bone volume measurements were highly correlated between bone histomorphometry and μCT (bone volume/tissue volume between the two techniques: r=0.70; P Conclusions Measures of bone volume can be accurately assessed with μCT. Bone mineral density is lower in patients with excessive osteoid accumulation and higher in patients with adynamic, well mineralized bone. Thus, bone mineralization may be accurately assessed by μCT of bone biopsy cores. Additional studies are warranted to define the value of high-resolution CT in the prediction of bone mineralization in vivo.
The influence of bilingualism on statistical word learning

Statistical learning is a fundamental component of language acquisition, yet to date, relatively few studies have examined whether these abilities differ in bilinguals. In the present study, we examine this issue by comparing English monolinguals with Chinese-English and English-Spanish bilinguals in a cross-situational statistical learning (CSSL) task. In Experiment 1, we assessed the ability of both monolinguals and bilinguals on a basic CSSL task that contained only one-to-one mappings. In Experiment 2, learners were asked to form both one-to-one and two-to-one mappings, and were tested at three points during familiarization. Overall, monolinguals and bilinguals did not differ in their learning of one-to-one mappings. However, bilinguals more quickly acquired two-to-one mappings, while also exhibiting greater proficiency than monolinguals. We conclude that the fundamental SL mechanism may not be affected by language experience, in accord with previous studies. However, when the input contains greater variability, bilinguals may be more prone to detecting the presence of multiple structures.
Zen in the craft of acting.

ZEN IN THE CRAFT OF ACTING Patti Lynn Heying May 12,2007 In fulfillment of the thesis project requirement for the Master of Fine Arts Degree at the University of Louisville, I portrayed the role of Paulina in William Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale. The production was directed by Dennis Krausnick, co-founder of Shakespeare and Company in Lennox, Massachusetts. This document explores the nature of zen in acting: a euphoric, heightened state of awareness sometimes achieved during a performance. I will examine how the rehearsal process for this particular play prepared the cast to better achieve moments of zen. I will also describe how to apply these same tactics to other plays in order to achieve similar results.
Effect of Succinic Acid 2,2-Dimethyl Hydrazide on Flowering and Gibberellic Acid Contents of Sweet Cherry (Prunus Avium L.)

SummaryApplications of Alar to young sweet cherry trees for two successive seasons promoted flower bud formation. The starch content of the treated branches was higher than that of the control shoots, but the lignin contents were equal except in the terminal part. Stem diameter was increased by the treatment, but neither the average transverse diameter of the xylem cells nor their wall thickness was measurably changed. While causing a reduction in diffusible GA from apices of upright shoots, Alar did not affect the amount which diffused from horizontal or laterally oriented shoot apices. The amounts of diffusible and extractable gibberellin-like substances from the apices of upright shoots decreased with time; Alar treatment accentuated the decrease.
Interventional management in hypertension: where do we stand?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW Device-based interventions to lower drug-resistant hypertension have made the management of this disorder more complicated. In this review, we will focus on developments in this approach to blood pressure care which have appeared over the last year in a published or abstract form. RECENT FINDINGS Much of the recent literature in this area is characterized by very large office systolic blood pressure reductions, on the order of 25 mmHg at 6 months after intervention. However, the largest and the most rigorously conducted trial of renal denervation failed to meet its efficacy endpoint. We will review some speculations on why that may have occurred. SUMMARY There is little guidance for the management of drug-resistant hypertension in existing guidelines due largely to an absence of clinical trials with hard cardiovascular outcomes; thus, most of the literature relies on short-term (generally less than 1 year) studies that are oriented toward efficacy (i.e., blood pressure reduction per se). With the failure of the Symplicity HTN3 trial to meet its efficacy endpoint, the entire field of renal denervation is under careful scrutiny. From this reviewer's perspective, this finding seems to be more of a speed-bump than a 'road closed' sign for renal denervation, a prompt to reconsider the adequacy of denervation techniques and an encouragement to continue the search for robust predictors of clinical response.
Network Monitor and Control of Disruption-Tolerant Networks

For nearly a decade, NASA and many researchers in the international community have been developing Internet-like protocols that allow for automated network operations in networks where the individual links between nodes are only sporadically connected. A family of Disruption-Tolerant Networking (DTN) protocols has been developed, and many are reaching CCSDS Blue Book status. A NASA version of DTN known as the Interplanetary Overlay Network (ION) has been flight-tested on the EPOXI spacecraft and ION is currently being tested on the International Space Station. Experience has shown that in order for a DTN service-provider to set up a large scale multi-node network, a number of network monitor and control technologies need to be fielded as well as the basic DTN protocols. The NASA DTN program is developing a standardized means of querying a DTN node to ascertain its operational status, known as the DTN Management Protocol (DTNMP), and the program has developed some prototypes of DTNMP software. While DTNMP is a necessary component, it is not sufficient to accomplish Network Monitor and Control of a DTN network. JPL is developing a suite of tools that provide for network visualization, performance monitoring and ION node control software. This suite of network monitor and control tools complements the GSFC and APL-developed DTN MP software, and the combined package can form the basis for flight operations using DTN.
Data Information Literacy: Librarians, Data, and the Education of a New Generation of Researchers

The main objective of the DIL (Data Information Literacy) Project and hence the book, Data Information Literacy: Librarians, Data and the Education of a New Generation of Researchers, was to answer...
Procalcitonin as a biomarker of bacterial infection in pediatric patients after congenital heart surgery.

Background: Bacterial infection (BI) after congenital heart surgery (CHS) is associated with increased morbidity and is difficult to differentiate from systemic inflammatory response syndrome caused by cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Procalcitonin (PCT) has emerged as a reliable biomarker of BI in various populations. Aim: To determine the optimal PCT threshold to identify BI among children suspected of having infection following CPB. Setting and Design: Single-center retrospective observational study. Setting and Design: Single-center retrospective observational study. Statistical Analysis: The Wilcoxon rank-sum test was used for nonparametric variables. The diagnostic performance of PCT was evaluated using a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results: Ninety-eight patients were included. The median age was 2 months (25th and 75th interquartile of 0.1-7.5 months). Eleven patients were included in the BI group. The median PCT for the BI group (3.42 ng/mL, 25th and 75th interquartile of 2.34-5.67) was significantly higher than the median PCT for the noninfected group (0.8 ng/mL, 25th and 75th interquartile 0.38-3.39), P = 0.028. The PCT level that yielded the best compromise between the sensitivity (81.8%) and specificity (66.7%) was 2 ng/mL with an area under the ROC curve of 0.742. Conclusion: A PCT less than 2 ng/mL makes BI unlikely in children suspected of infection after CHS.
3-Alpha-Androstanediol and Prostatic Growth: Comparison of 3-Alpha-Androstanediol Formation in Prostates from 8 Species Including Man and Dog

AbstractTo determine whether the formation of 3-alpha-androstanediol is critical for androgen-mediated growth of the prostate the conversion of dihydrotestosterone to 3-alpha-androstanediol was assessed in homogenates of 60 normal prostates from 8 species. Rates (nmol. times gm. tissue–1 times hour–1) in the presence of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate as cofactor were as follows: dog 271, mouse 200, rat 160, opossum 109, rabbit 24, guinea pig 13, man 11 and cat 9. There was no correlation between prostate size and 3-alpha-androstanediol formation in the entire group. Therefore, either differences in the response to 3-alpha-androstanediol within the prostate or variations in the metabolism of 3-alpha-androstanediol must be more important than the rate of its formation for the development of prostatic hypertrophy in the dog.
Urine Purine Metabolite Determination by UPLC-Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Inborn errors of purine metabolism, either deficiencies of synthesis or catabolism pathways, lead to a wide spectrum of clinical presentations: urolithiasis (adenine phosphoribosyltransferase), primary immune deficiency (adenosine deaminase deficiency and purine nucleoside phosphorylase deficiency), severe intellectual disability, and other neurological symptoms (Lesch-Nyhan disease, adenylosuccinase deficiency, and molybdenum cofactor deficiency). A rapid quantitative purine assay was developed using UPLC-MS/MS to determine purine nucleoside and base concentrations in urine. Taking advantages of ultra performance liquid chromatography, we achieved satisfactory analyte separation and recovery with a polar T3 column in a short run time with no requirement of time-consuming sample preparation or derivatization. This targeted assay is intended for diagnosis and management of purine diseases, newborn screening follow-up of SCID, and evaluation of autism spectrum disorders.
Mitral valve replacement for mitral regurgitation due to Libman-Sacks endocarditis. Report of a case.

A case of mitral valve replacement for Libman-Sacks endocarditis is described. The incidence of this lesion and the difficulty in diagnosis is discussed. Due to the frequency of this lesion, the ineffectiveness of steroid therapy in preventing its occurrence, and the increasing longevity of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), more patients with hemodynamically significant valvular lesions may require valve replacement. The advantages of the porcine xenograft are discussed. This case demonstrates that patients with SLE can tolerate an open-heart operation and should be considered for operative intervention when their cardiac disease warrants it.
Approximate Cell Decomposition

In this chapter we investigate another cell decomposition approach to path planning which is known as the approximate cell decomposition approach. It consists again of representing the robot’s free space C free as a collection of cells. But it differs from the exact cell decomposition approach in that the cells are now required to have a simple prespecified shape, e.g. a rectangloid shape. Such cells do not in general allow us to represent free space exactly. Instead, a conservative approximation of this space is constructed, hence the name of the approach. As with the exact cell decomposition approach, a connectivity graph representing the adjacency relation among the cells is built and searched for a path.
Synthesis of Acetone-Derived C6, C9, and C12 Carbon Scaffolds for Chemical and Fuel Applications

A simple, inexpensive catalyst system (Amberlyst 15 and Ni/SiO2–Al2O3) is described for the upgrading of acetone to a range of chemicals and potential fuels. Stepwise hydrodeoxygenation of the produced ketones can yield branched alcohols, alkenes, and alkanes. An analysis of these products is provided, which demonstrates that this approach can provide a product profile of valuable bioproducts and potential biofuels.
Acquisition and Storage of Clinical Samples to Establish PDX Models

Abstract Obtaining and propagating patient-derived samples is a complex process that requires a high degree of coordination among a number of different services spanning from the clinic to the research side, and presents challenges that are administrative, procedural, and technical. Patients need to be selected according to specific criteria and consented to the correct institutional review board protocol; surgery and pathology personnel need to be alerted; samples must be retrieved and delivered to research personnel in a timely and organized manner; samples must be skillfully processed and implanted in mice or stored for subsequent analysis; and sample annotation and proper documentation of each step has to be maintained throughout the entire process. In this chapter, we will discuss the key aspects of this intricate process.
Asymmetric response of ferroelectric/metal oxide heterojunctions for catalysis arising from interfacial chemistry

Recently there has been interest in the use of ferroelectricity to modify a material's surface chemistry and enhance its catalytic properties. When a metal oxide catalyst is supported by a switchable ferroelectric underlayer, modifications to the free surface electronic structure can induce changes to the free energy profile of a gas-surface catalytic reaction that either promote or suppress the reaction. The modification of surface properties results from a combination of interface chemistry, surface reconstructions involving adsorbates, and complex interactions between the two, although these interactions are often not characterized in detail. Using the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) on barium titanate/anatase (BTO/TiO2) heterostructures as a case study, we use density functional theory to determine how the OER Gibbs free energy profile depends on the polarization of the ferroelectric and the number of TiO2 monolayers. For positive polarizations, the profile is found to be sensitive to the number of TiO2 monolayers, shows extended finite size effects, and deviates substantially from that of unsupported anatase. For negative polarizations, the monolayer dependence is suppressed and the OER profiles remain similar to that of unsupported anatase independent of the number of TiO2 monolayers. To understand the origin of the differences, we analyze in detail the layer-by-layer rumpling, interface chemistry, surface reconstructions, and interface and surface dipoles. The unbalanced response to negative and positive polarizations is shown to arise from the underlying chemistry of the BTO/TiO2 interface. While the interfacial bonding is largely fixed for negatively polarized systems, it is variable and can be tuned by the presence of nearby surface adsorbates for positively polarized systems. The asymmetry limits the effectiveness of the heterojunction. While positively polarized systems are good candidates for the selective enhancement of catalytic reactions involving negatively charged species at the metal oxide free surface, the negatively polarized systems do not effectively enhance catalytic reactions involving positively charged species. Our work points to interface design rules to overcome this limitation and realize heterojunctions with enhanced catalytic functionality.
All About the TJX Companies

Companies that decide to start up businesses are in it to make profits no matter how bad the market is. However, TJX Companies Inc, continue to provide brand name products for their customers at prices that are 20-60% less than most departmental and specialty stores. This idea enables the company to make profit and maintain its place ahead of its competitors making them more valuable and desirable by numerous investors.
College Students' Cybersecurity Risk Perceptions, Awareness, and Practices

In recent decades, considerable scholarly efforts have been invested in exploring college students' cybersecurity awareness and practices. However, there has been a dearth of research on what specific factors drive students' perceptions and behavior. In our previous qualitative research [1] we identified four such latent factors: routinization and ritualization of risk, optimistic bias, self-efficacy bias, and the 'Can-I-Live' syndrome. In this study, we use an online survey of college students at a large public university in the U.S. Pacific Northwest (N=498) and quantify the prevalence of these latent factors, along with some additional measures of awareness and behavior. We report the findings of the quantitative analysis as well as their implications for cybersecurity scholars and practitioners.
Narrating neoliberalism: alternative education teachers’ conceptions of their changing roles

AbstractThe signifier ‘alternative’ in education has largely shifted from progressive or humanizing pedagogies to deficit framings requiring alternate graduation criteria. This development is part of broader neoliberal educational reform efforts that disrupt longstanding conceptions of teachers’ roles. This study serves to investigate long-term teachers’ understandings of their shifting roles in one secondary-level alternative education program in New York City. Specifically, this narrative analysis study explores participating teachers’ meanings around agency and their ability to form the relationships that they argue are central to meaningful pedagogies. Findings demonstrate a sense of loss regarding teacher agency and relationships, and a belief that neoliberal reform efforts have limited possibilities for a shared sense of purpose and collaboration.
Leadership Development and the Study of Expertise

As this book has shown, navigating quandaries is no easy task. In fact, its authors have prompted you to weigh platforms, theories, and leadership skillsets when attempting to do so. You have explored how quandaries require more than a “by-the-book” response and an exercise of current knowledge—they require you to learn beyond your current leadership knowledge. Quandaries hold the promise of developing leaders. If quandaries have this potential, how do you unlock it? In this chapter, we call attention to three levels of leadership expertise. We also maintain that there are four psychological processes that can support your pursuit of leader expertise: identity, self-efficacy, self-regulation, and goal orientation.
Preliminary Interpretations of Transthoracic Echocardiograms by Cardiology Fellows.

Background Echocardiograms are often obtained after business hours on an urgent or emergent basis to assist in the care of patients with complex presentations. Considerable variation exists among academic medical centers with regard to who performs and interprets these studies, with different levels of cardiology fellow involvement in scanning and/or interpreting. On-call echocardiographic interpretation can be educationally valuable for cardiologists in training but may come at the expense of patient care. The aim of this study was to examine the agreement of preliminary fellows' interpretations of weekend on-call transthoracic echocardiograms with official attending cardiologists' interpretations. Methods Cardiology fellows perform preliminary interpretations of sonographer-obtained echocardiograms obtained on weekends, with final reports performed by attending cardiologists the following business day. In this study, 358 consecutive echocardiograms obtained on weekends over a 12-month period were reviewed. Discrepancies between the preliminary and final interpretations were categorized as either major (diagnoses with implications for urgent change in management) or minor (diagnoses without such implications). All discrepancies were also categorized as a missed diagnosis, an overcall (of severity), or an undercall. Results No preliminary interpretation was identified in 18.4% of the studies (66 of 358). Of the remaining on-call echocardiograms ( n = 292), the overall discrepancy rate in interpretations between fellows and attending cardiologists was 16.8%. Out of these, the minor discrepancy rate was 14.4% (42 of 292), and the major discrepancy rate was 2.4% (seven of 292). Misses, overcalls, and undercalls accounted for 29%, 31%, and 40% of all discrepancies, respectively. Conclusions The results indicate that although minor discrepancies between fellows' and attending cardiologists' interpretations were common (14.4%), major discrepancies were uncommon (2.4%) and similar to major discrepancy rates from the radiology literature. In general, discrepant interpretations were more likely to result from changes in severity, but misses accounted for almost all of the major discrepancies. Further research is needed to compare the clinical impact of different models of on-call echocardiographic services.
Structural equation modelling trees for invariance assessment

Large-scale assessment data have become increasingly popular in educational research. Factor model invariance testing is also a key feature of educational research, as scholars seek to identify situations where scales work comparably for different subgroups in the population. There exist a variety of methods for assessing invariance; however, standard approaches for this purpose can be cumbersome with a large number of groups, and do not typically accommodate invariance assessment across multiple variables simultaneously. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the use of Structural Equation Modelling Trees for invariance assessment with complex large scale assessment data. The results of the study, involving Programme for International Student Assessment reading interest inventory data, found a lack of invariance based on nation of residence, language spoken in the home and family socioeconomic status. Advantages, and disadvantages, of SEMtree when compared to other methods for invariance assessment are discussed in light of these findings.