cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Emotional Experience of First-time Teaching Reflections from Graduate Instructors, 1997–2006

Teaching for the first time can be a challenging but rewarding experience. For first-time graduate student instructors, however, it also officially marks the transition from student to teacher—a process that can be both transformational and emotion-laden. In this article, we use content analysis of 86 first-time sociology graduate student instructors' reflections on their first semester teaching to explore the emotional aspects of first-time college teaching, an aspect that has received little attention in the existing literature. We describe the range of emotions—both positive and negative—first-time instructors highlighted in these written reflections, as well as their discussions of emotional highs and lows, emotional surprises, connections to pedagogical strategies, and the role of formal and informal departmental support in dealing with the emotional aspects of teaching. We conclude with the implications of these findings for graduate student teacher training and preparation programs and directions for future research.
A Growth Factor-repressible Gene Associated with Protein Kinase C-mediated Inhibition of Adipocyte Differentiation

The conversion of determined adipoblasts to fully differentiated adipocytes requires appropriate environmental conditions. A strict dependence on cell confluence and a facilitation by glucocorticoid hormones have previously been described. We have found that agents that are capable of activating protein kinase C, such as basic fibroblast growth factor and phorbol esters, inhibit the differentiation of the adipogenic cell line TA1 without stimulating cell growth. Here we describe the sequence and characterization of a cDNA (clone 5) that detects an RNA, the expression of which is enhanced by glucocorticoids and increasing cell density. In contrast, activators of protein kinase C including basic fibroblast growth factor, phorbol esters, and synthetic diacylglycerols inhibit clone 5 gene expression. It appears that clone 5 expression is closely linked to environmental and hormonal factors that promote the differentiation of adipogenic cells.
Foundations for a Theory of Gravitation Theories

A foundation is laid for future analyses of gravitation theories. This foundation is applicable to any theory formulated in terms of geometric objects defined on a 4-dimensional spacetime manifold. The foundation consists of (i) a glossary of fundamental concepts; (ii) a theorem that delineates the overlap between Lagrangian-based theories and metric theories; (iii) a conjecture (due to Schiff) that the weak equivalence principle implies the Einstein equivalence principle; and (iv) a plausibility argument supporting this conjecture for the special case of relativistic, Lagrangian-based theories.
Age and growth of the scalloped hammerhead shark, Sphyrna lewini, in the north-west Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico

The scalloped hammerhead, Sphryna lewini (Griffith & Smith, 1834), is a globally exploited species of shark. In order to gain insight into the life history of this species in the USA waters, age and growth was examined from specimens (n = 307) captured from the north-west Atlantic Ocean and from the Gulf of Mexico. The von Bertalanffy growth model resulted in growth parameters of L∞ = 214.8 cm fork length (FL), k = 0.13 year–1, t0 = –1.62 year for males and L∞ = 233.1 cm FL, k = 0.09 year–1, t0 = –2.22 year for females. The oldest age estimates obtained for this population were 30.5 years for both males and females, which corresponded to FL of 234 cm and 241 cm respectively. Bowker’s test of symmetry and Index of Average Per Cent Error suggests that our ageing method represents a non-biased and precise approach to the age assessment. Marginal increments were significantly different between months (Kruskal–Wallis P = 0.017) with a distinct trend of increasing monthly increment growth beginning in January. When compared to previously published studies, our growth estimates suggest slower growth than populations in the Pacific Ocean but faster growth than previously reported in the Gulf of Mexico.
The implications of, and opposition to, the methods and theories of John Wansbrough1

This article serves as an introduction to Wansbrough's methods and theories for the study of the Qur¸dn, its Tafsīr, the Sīra, and other early Islamic texts. Muslim and most non-Muslim scholars work within essentially the same framework: one which reads the literature of early Islam as history. Wansbrough has demonstrated that what these sources provide is not history per se, but salvation history, and that methods appropriate for the study of this genre are not source critical but literary critical. Through the application of these methods Wansbrough has postulated theories, which, if correct, radically alter our understanding of Islamic origins. Islamicists have tended to fixate on these theories at the expense of the methodological approach from which they are derived. Judging by the arguments raised thus far by these opponents of Wansbrough, I suggest that their aversion to his work stems as much from the unwillingness of Islamicists to accept the uncertainty inherent in his methods and the political incorrectness associated with his theories as from their theoretical conservatism and methodological naivete.
Parallelization of feature extraction techniques on consumer-level multicore system

Three different feature extractions techniques Fast Fourier Transform (FFT), Mel-Frequency Ceptral Coefficient (MFCC), and Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT) are parallelized in this study and used for classification. The Evolutionary Neural Network (ENN) is used as a classifier. In the scope of classification, ENN is a new technique that can be effectively used as a classifier. This research will help to extract the features in the most efficient way with less computation time in real life use. The parallel FFT, MFCC and DWT are developed in C# for multicore using .Net framework 4.0. The .Net framework offers comprehensive and flexible threads APIs that allow the efficient implementation of multithreaded application.
Long-term breast cancer survivors' use of complementary therapies: perceived impact on recovery and prevention of recurrence.

Objective:Many cancer survivors use some form of complementary therapy (CT); this is particularly true for women with breast cancer. The majority of reports on CT use in women with breast cancer have focused on CT use during cancer treatment or within a year or two of treatment completion. The purpose of this study was to evaluate longertermbreast cancer survivors’ (average, 8.7 years) frequency of CT use and their beliefs about the role of CT in cancer recovery and the prevention of cancer recurrence, as well as the relationship of CT use with current life satisfaction. Methods: A mail survey was completed by 608 breast cancer survivors a minimum of 2 years after their most recent cancer diagnosis. Participants were contacted through the American Cancer Society Reach to Recovery program in Florida. The self-report questionnaire inquired about the use of various CTs, beliefs about CT, current life satisfaction, demographic characteristics, and cancer treatment history.Results: Most of the respondents were...
Range expansion of the jumbo squid in the NE Pacific: δ15N decrypts multiple origins, migration and habitat use.

Coincident with climate shifts and anthropogenic perturbations, the highly voracious jumbo squid Dosidicus gigas reached unprecedented northern latitudes along the NE Pacific margin post 1997–98. The physical or biological drivers of this expansion, as well as its ecological consequences remain unknown. Here, novel analysis from both bulk tissues and individual amino acids (Phenylalanine; Phe and Glutamic acid; Glu) in both gladii and muscle of D. gigas captured in the Northern California Current System (NCCS) documents for the first time multiple geographic origins and migration. Phe δ15N values, a proxy for habitat baseline δ15N values, confirm at least three different geographic origins that were initially detected by highly variable bulk δ15N values in gladii for squid at small sizes ( 60 cm) converged, indicating feeding in a common ecosystem. The strong latitudinal gradient in Phe δ15N values from composite muscle samples further confirmed residency at a point in time for large squid in the NCCS. These results contrast with previous ideas, and indicate that small squid are highly migratory, move into the NCCS from two or more distinct geographic origins, and use this ecosystem mainly for feeding. These results represent the first direct information on the origins, immigration and habitat use of this key “invasive” predator in the NCCS, with wide implications for understanding both the mechanisms of periodic D. gigas population range expansions, and effects on ecosystem trophic structure.
Alteration of Cortical Functional Connectivity as a Result of Traumatic Brain Injury Revealed by Graph Theory, ICA, and sLORETA Analyses of EEG Signals

In this paper, a novel approach to examine the cortical functional connectivity using multichannel electroencephalographic (EEG) signals is proposed. First we utilized independent component analysis (ICA) to transform multichannel EEG recordings into independent processes and then applied source reconstruction algorithm [i.e., standardize low resolution brain electromagnetic (sLORETA)] to identify the cortical regions of interest (ROIs). Second, we performed a graph theory analysis of the bipartite network composite of ROIs and independent processes to assess the connectivity between ROIs. We applied this proposed algorithm and compared the functional connectivity network properties under resting state condition using 29 student-athletes prior to and shortly after sport-related mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI). The major findings of interest are the following. There was 1) alterations in vertex degree at frontal and occipital regions in subjects suffering from MTBI, (p < 0.05); 2) a significant decrease in the long-distance connectivity and significant increase in the short-distance connectivity as a result of MTBI, (p < 0.05); 3) a departure from small-world network configuration in MTBI subjects. These major findings are discussed in relation to current debates regarding the brain functional connectivity within and between local and distal regions both in normal controls in pathological subjects.
Optical imaging of finger for blood pressure monitoring of the driver

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are number one reason for human mortality around the world (Fig. 1) [1]. Pulse pressure (PP) and pulse rate (PR) are considered as the two most vital physiological markers for CVDs like myocardial infarction, cardiac arrhythmia, and heart failure. Currently, long-term PP and PR analysis is not possible due to the lack of systems that can frequently measure the data over a period of time. Motor vehicle drivers with known CVDs are at higher risk due to traffic air pollution. This paper presents our work on an inexpensive and readily deployable approach that keeps track of PP and PR with simple cameras. The computation of PP and PR makes the real-time monitoring possible. The approach makes it highly customizable and ready for on-the-go use in field by drivers, construction zone workers, healthcare workers, law enforcement agencies, etc. The video recordings of fingertips were made using a cellphone camera. The analysis extracted the pulse pressure, which was the difference bet...
Comparison of contemporary periacetabular osteotomy for hip dysplasia with total hip arthroplasty for hip osteoarthritis

We report patient-reported outcomes and complications associated with contemporary periacetabular osteotomy (PAO) surgery in treating symptomatic acetabular dysplasia and compare these outcomes with total hip arthroplasty (THA) in patients with similar demographic details. Two consecutive cohorts included patients between aged 18 to 40 years who had undergone either PAO (100 hips; 24 male, 76 female) or THA (55 hips; 18 male, 37 female). At a mean follow-up of 5.9 years (2 to 13), there was significant improvement in the modified Harris hip pain (p < 0.001, PAO and p < 0.001, THA), function (p < 0.001, PAO and p = 0.001, THA), and total scores (p < 0.001, PAO and p < 0.001, THA) within each cohort. There were no significant differences in the clinical outcome scores between the groups. Complication rates were low and similar in each cohort (p = 0.68). Similar to THA, contemporary PAO surgery is a clinically effective procedure that improves function and activity levels, provides pain relief and is associated with an acceptable complication rate.
Robotic printing and drug testing of 384-well tumor spheroids

A major impediment to anti-cancer drug development is the lack of a reliable and inexpensive tumor model to test the efficacy of candidate compounds. This need has emerged due to the insufficiency of widely-used monolayer cultures to predict drug efficacy in vivo. Spheroids, 3D compact clusters of cancer cells, mimic important characteristics of tumors and provide a tissue analog for drug testing. Here we present a novel spheroid formation microtechnology that is simple to use and allows high throughput drug screening in 384-microwell plates. This approach is based on a polymeric aqueous two-phase system. The denser aqueous phase is mixed with cancer cells at a desired density. Using a robotic liquid handler, a drop of this cell suspension is dispensed into each well of a 384-microwell plate containing the second, immersion aqueous phase. Cancer cells remain contained in the drop, which rests on the well bottom, and form a spheroid during incubation. The use of liquid handling robotics ensures precise dispensing of a single drop, resulting in a single spheroid per well and homogenously sized spheroids within each plate. We confirmed the consistency of production of spheroids and demonstrated their biological relevance to tumors. A proof of concept study with spheroids of triple negative breast cancer cells treated with a standard chemotherapeutic compound, doxorubicin, showed the potential of this method for drug testing. This spheroid culture microtechnology presents key advantages over existing methods such as the ease of drug and viability reagent addition, ability to analyze spheroids without transferring them to a new plate, and the elimination of the need for specialized plates or devices to form spheroids. Incorporating this technology in anti-cancer drug development pipeline will help examine the efficacy of drug candidates more effectively and expedite discovery of novel drugs.
Strepogenin Activity of Synthetic Peptides Related to Oxytocin

SummaryA number of synthetic peptides representing various sequences occurring in oxytocin have been assayed for strepogenin activity with Lactobacillus casei. Several of these simpler peptides have been found to have high strepogenin activity. As the oxytocin molecule was simplified by the omission of the first two amino acid residues at the terminal amino position, strepogenin activity was not significantly altered. Thus the disulfide of the hfeptapeptide isoleucylglutaminylas-paraginylcysteinylprolylleucylglycinamidehad activity comparable with oxytocin. Further shortening of the sequence from the amino end led to the peptide glutaminylasparag-inylcysteinylprolylleucylglycinamide disulfide with diminished potency; and when the gluta-minyl residue was omitted in addition, activity fell markedly. When amino acid residues were omitted towards the carboxamide end of the active heptapeptide amide disulfide, 2 resulting peptides isoleucylglutaminylasparag-inylcysteinamide disulfide and isoleucylgluta-minylas...
Information-Guided Noise Reduction in Forward−Backward Semiclassical Dynamics

Information-guided noise reduction (IGNoR) [Chem. Phys. Lett. 2004, 400, 446], a procedure for reducing the statistical error in Monte Carlo integration of oscillatory functions, is generalized to cases where both the prototype function and remaining integrand are complex-valued. The method is applied to the forward-backward semiclassical dynamics approximation of time correlation functions. Illustrative calculations of velocity autocorrelation functions in supercritical argon and liquid neon are presented.
Analysis on Increasing Finding Effectiveness of TB Patients by Enhancement of Hospital Referral

Objective To investigate the effect of comprehensive hospital referral on raising the finding level of pulmonary tuberculosis patients.Methods We applied descriptive methods to analyze the data of the component of the first diagnosed patients in TB prevention and treatment institutions between 2003 and 2006,active TB detectable rate and the data of direct network report,referral and tracing of general hospital between 2005 and 2006.Results The number of the first diagnosed patients has increased year by year in TB prevention and treatment institution.The proportion of referral in first diagnosed patients went up to 49.3% in 2006 from 21.7% in 2003.The tracing arrival rate of direct network report patients was 63.5% and the overall arrival rate was 84% in 2006.Conclusions It is an effective way to improve the level of finding TB patients that strengthening the general hospital referral.
Sheltered Workshops: United States v. Rhode Island:

Federal legislation, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504, and the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act, mandates that individuals with disabilities be integrated in all ...
Prolongation of islet allograft survival in mice by combined treatment with pravastatin and low-dose cyclosporine.

Pravastatin, a 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitor, is known to have suppressive effects on immune and inflammatory cells. We have previously shown in mice and dogs that this agent prevents primary nonfunction of islet iso- and autografts by reducing inflammation at the graft site. The present study was designed to further investigate whether pravastatin has a synergistic effect with cyclosporine (Cs) to prolong islet allograft survival in mice. Unpurified 3000 BALB/c newborn islets were transplanted under the renal capsule of a streptozotocin-diabetic C57BL/6 mouse. Pravastatin and Cs were administered for 10 days starting on the day of grafting (day 0). Five groups were set up based on the treatment protocol: group 1, treatment with 40 mg/kg pravastatin; group 2, 30 mg/kg Cs; group 3, 50 mg/kg Cs; group 4, 40 mg/kg pravastatin and 30 mg/kg Cs; group 5, vehicle alone. Graft survival was indicated by blood glucose levels sustained at 250 mg/dl for 2 consecutive days. Hyperglycemia persisted in six of the eight (75%) mice and grafts were rejected in 3.6 +/- 0.5 days (mean +/- SD) in group 5. In group 1, grafts were also rejected in 3.8 +/- 0.8 days, but blood glucose was transiently 60 days, the other rejected the graft on day 15, and the remaining four died with functioning grafts between 9 and 13 days due to Cs toxicity. A combination of a low dose of Cs and pravastatin (group 4) prolonged graft survival for >19 days in five of the eight mice, and for 7-13 days in the remaining three mice. Histological examination of the grafts in this group showed significantly reduced local inflammation. Results indicate a synergistic effect of pravastatin and Cs on prevention of islet allograft rejection.
Optimal Control and Its Application to the Life-Cycle Savings Problem

Throughout the course of this thesis, we give an introduction to optimal control theory and its necessary conditions, prove Pontryagin’s Maximum Principle, and present the life-cycle saving under uncertain lifetime optimal control problem. We present a very involved sensitivity analysis that determines how a change in the initial wealth, discount factor, or relative risk aversion coefficient may affect the model the terminal depletion of wealth time, optimal consumption path, and optimal accumulation of wealth path. Through simulation of the life-cycle saving under uncertain lifetime model, we are not only able to present the model dynamics through time, but also to demonstrate the feasibility of the model. Chapter
Pre- and Early Colonial Igbo Worlds

The Igbo-speaking people of southeastern Nigeria have inhabited, for perhaps four thousand years, the territory situated between the Niger and Cross rivers of West Africa, just north and somewhat east of the Niger Delta. For centuries, it appears that they lived self-sufficiently although not in isolation, producing their own food, textiles, and iron goods, and importing only salt and fish from Delta traders and more luxurious items like copper and beads from more distant locales. With the arrival of European mercantilists in the Delta region in the fifteenth century, Igbo traders acted as middlemen in the slave trade, exchanging slaves for local currency (such iron rods and, later, cowrie shells) and sometimes whiskey with Delta slavers, who themselves exchanged their human cargo for European-manufactured products such as textiles and armaments. The Delta towns of Bonny and Calabar became bustling centers of commerce in human beings, many of them being what we would today call Igbo.
Quantization of solitons

Solitons on fibers are ideal for all optical switching operations.1 Squeezed solitons promise to provide improved measurement capabilities.2 The self-induced transparency (SIT) in CdS has been proposed as a particularly convenient means of squeezing.3 For this reason it is important to understand the quantization problem of solitons. Several authors have attacked the problem in the case of the nonlinear Schrodinger equation (NSE) both numerically4 and analytically.5 A particularly simple approach to quantization can be worked out in the limit of a linearized approximation. Since all switching and squeezing operations employ pulses with many photons (n > 10), the linearization is always legitimate.
Opera and Modern Spectatorship in Late Nineteenth-Century Italy

At the turn of the twentieth century Italian opera participated to the making of a modern spectator. The Ricordi stage manuals testify to the need to harness the effects of operatic performance, activating opera's capacity to cultivate a public. This book considers how four operas and one film deal with their public: one that in Boito's Mefistofele is entertained by special effects, or that in Verdi's Simon Boccanegra is called upon as a political body to confront the specters of history. Also a public that in Verdi's Otello is subjected to the manipulation of contemporary acting, or one that in Puccini's Manon Lescaut is urged to question the mechanism of spectatorship. Lastly, the silent film Rapsodia satanica, thanks to the craft and prestige of Pietro Mascagni's score, attempts to transform the new industrial medium into art, addressing its public's search for a bourgeois pan-European cultural identity, right at the outset of the First World War.
Are Stopped Strings Preferred in Sad Music

String instruments may be played either with open strings (where the string vibrates between the bridge and a hard wooden nut) or with stopped strings (where the string vibrates between the bridge and a performer's finger pressed against the fingerboard). Compared with open strings, stopped strings permit the use of vibrato and exhibit a darker timbre. Inspired by research on the timbre of sad speech, we test whether there is a tendency to use stopped strings in nominally sad music. Specifically, we compare the proportion of potentially open-to-stopped strings in a sample of slow, minor-mode movements with matched major-mode movements. By way of illustration, a preliminary analysis of Samuel Barber's famous Adagio from his Opus 11 string quartet shows that the selected key (B-flat minor) provides the optimum key for minimizing open string tones. However, examination of a broader controlled sample of quartet movements by Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven failed to exhibit the conjectured relationship. Instead, major-mode movements were found to avoid possible open strings more than slow minor-mode movements.
Detection of Borrelia miyamotoi and other tick-borne pathogens in human clinical specimens and Ixodes scapularis ticks in New York State, 2012–2015

Borrelia miyamotoi (Bm) is a recently emerging bacterial agent transmitted by several species of ixodid ticks. Diagnosis of Bm infection can be challenging, as the organism is not easily cultivable. We have developed and validated a multiplex real-time PCR to simultaneously identify Bm infection and the agents causing human granulocytic anaplasmosis and human monocytic ehrlichiosis, Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Ehrlichia chaffeensis, respectively. The assay is 100% specific; highly sensitive, detecting 11 gene copies of Bm DNA in both whole blood and cerebral spinal fluid; and provides rapid results in less than two hours. A retrospective study of 796 clinical specimens collected between the years 2012 and 2014 and a prospective study of 366 clinical specimens were performed utilizing this novel assay to evaluate the frequency of Bm infection in New York State (NYS). Eight clinical specimens (1%) were found to be positive for Bm, 216 were positive for A. phagocytophilum, and 10 were positive for E. chaffeensis. Additionally, we tested 411 I. scapularis ticks collected in NYS during 2013 and 2014 in a separate multiplex real-time PCR to determine the prevalence of Bm, A. phagocytophilum, Borrelia burgdorferi s.s., and Borrelia species. Our results indicated rates of 1.5%, 27%, 19.7%, and 8.8% respectively. The ability to monitor both the frequency and geographic distribution of Bm cases and the prevalence and geographic distribution of Bm in ticks will help create a better understanding of this emerging tick-borne pathogen.
A PTD-MM hybrid formulation for scattering from flat plates

Hybrid methods which combine the Moment Method (MM) with high frequency techniques such as Geometrical Theory of Diffraction (GTD) or Physical Optics (PO) have been the subject of research for many years. Ray-based hybrid methods are useful for problems involving a small object such as an antenna located in front of a large screen for which canonical asymptotic solutions are available. In the past, GTD has been successfully combined with MM for analyzing wire antennas in the presence of curved or planar surfaces [1]. In GTD/MM hybrid, MM is applied only over the antenna while GTD is employed to account for the presence of the nearby scattering centers such as edges. Edge diffracted fields are then considered to be effective sources in the MM solution. For antenna radiation problems (e.g., monopole mounted on a disc), it is usually possible to find a specular diffraction/reflection point on the surface of the reflecting screen. Then, diffracted fields can be calculated accurately without ray tracing. However, an extensive ray tracing is usually necessary for scattering problems.
Double perovskite Ba2FeMoO6 − δ as fuel electrode for protonic-ceramic membranes

Abstract In this paper, we present the development of double-perovskite Ba2FeMoO6 − δ (BFMO) fuel electrodes for use with BaCe0.2Zr0.7Y0.1O3 − δ (BCZY27) proton-conducting ceramic membranes in promotion of methane dehydroaromatization (MDA). The MDA application presents unique processing and operational challenges for this fuel electrode. The electrode must demonstrate adequate electronic conductivity under high-temperature reducing conditions in hydrocarbon-containing environments. The electrode must also catalyze rapid transfer of hydrogen from the gas phase into the protonic-ceramic membrane, while simultaneously showing limiting catalytic activity with the hydrocarbon gases. In this study, the suitability of the BFMO material for the membrane-assisted MDA application was explored against qualitative and quantitative metrics. The performance of BFMO materials synthesized by solid-state reaction was compared with that by the modified-Pechini method. The particle size of BFMO synthesized by solid-state reaction was found to be substantially larger than powders synthesized using the modified-Pechini method. BFMO showed excellent chemical stability under exposure to 5% H2, and reasonable stability in 10% CH4 at 750 °C, with no carbon formation observed under exposure to methane. Electrode microstructure and adhesion to the BCZY27 membrane were improved through use of a composite BFMO-BCZYYb (BaCe0.7Zr0.1Y0.1Yb0.1O3 − δ) electrode with addition of a CuO sintering aid. The minimum area-specific resistance of the electrode reached 6.8 Ω cm2 at 750 °C under 5% H2, 3% H2O, balance Ar.
Statistical measures of spatial and spectral control with binary aperiodic nanostructures

We describe the influence of the large number of degrees of freedom from a binary nanostructure using a multivariate statistical method. This analysis provides design guidelines to achieve spatial and spectral field control for applications.
Putting the “I” back in team

ABSTRACTIn the summer of 2013, staff in the Access Services unit of an academic library began a cross-training and collaboration project in an effort to provide continued library service to the campus community. The cross-training was established in an attempt to address a shortage of staff as a result of budget cuts. The cross-training resulted in the transitioning of the Access Services units and the creation of a collaborative team. The development of cross-training and its benefits are addressed in addition to lessons learned.
A new model for rolling element bearing defect size estimation

Abstract A new model based on the Hertzian contact theorem is proposed to estimate the size of a line spall defect located on the bearing’s outer race. The entry point can be determined from the ball-race geometry relation, while the exit point can be identified from the time domain signal. Therefore, the defect size can be estimated from the vibration signal without requiring additional bearing load and stiffness measurements. Experiments were performed on a 3-axis CNC machine tool at speeds ranging from 500 to 3000 rpm and three line spall defects were estimated using the proposed method. The proposed model is demonstrated to estimate defect size with minimal speed related error, offset error, and standard deviation.
A Test of Emergent Constraints on Cloud Feedback and Climate Sensitivity Using a Calibrated Single-Model Ensemble

AbstractA calibrated single-model ensemble (SME) derived from the NCAR Community Atmosphere Model, version 3.1, is used to test two hypothesized emergent constraints on cloud feedback and equilibri...
Common allergies in urban adolescents and their relationships with asthma control and healthcare utilization

Urban adolescents suffer a disproportionate burden of asthma morbidity, often in association with allergies. Literature is limited on comparing various types of allergies regarding prevalence and associations with asthma morbidity in urban dwelling adolescents. The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence of common allergies reported by urban adolescents and to assess their relationships to healthcare utilization and asthma control. Study participants included 313 urban adolescents (12–20 years of age) with persistent asthma who were recruited from three states in the United States. Self-report data were collected on nine indoor and outdoor allergies, healthcare utilization, and asthma exacerbation. Logistic regressions and zero-inflated Poisson regressions were conducted to examine the relationships between allergies and asthma morbidity. The mean age of participants was 14.58 (± 1.97) and 52% were female, and 79% were black. Seventy-three percent (n = 229) reported one or more allergies. Dust mite and grass allergies were most common, each reported by 50%. The prevalence of pest allergies (cockroach and mouse) was 27.5% and 19%, respectively. Those with pest allergies were more likely to report ED visits (cockroach- Odds Ratio (OR) = 2.16, 95% CI 1.18–3.94, p = .01; mouse- OR = 2.13, 95% CI 1.09–4.07, p = .02), specialist visits (cockroach-OR = 2.69, 95% CI 1.60–4.54, p < .001; mouse- OR = 2.06, 95% CI 1.15–3.68, p = .01) and asthma exacerbation (cockroach-OR = 2.17, 95% CI 1.26–3.74, p < .001; mouse- OR = 2.30, 95% CI 1.26–4.18, p = .01). Cockroach allergies were associated with 2.2 times as many nights in the hospital (95% CI 1.053–3.398, p = 0.036) and 2.2 times as many specialist visits (95% CI 1.489–3.110, p < 0.001), and mouse allergy was associated with 1.6 times as many ED visits (95% CI 1.092–2.257, p = 0.015) compared to those without pest allergies. Concomitant occurrence of allergies is ubiquitous among urban adolescents with asthma. Only pest allergies, of those examined, appear to have implications for poorly controlled asthma, exacerbation and acute healthcare utilization. To reduce asthma burden in urban adolescents, identification and management of high-risk adolescents with pest allergen sensitization and exposure are warranted.
Characterization of Rat Glomerular Cells in Vitro

The renal glomerulus contains at least three cell types: endothelial cells, glomerular epithelial cells (GEC), and mesangial cells. The endothelial cell which lines the glomerular capillary wall is characterized by the presence of fenestrae approximately 1000 A in diameter. The role that these cells play in glomerular function is not clear. However, studies by Ryan and Karnovsky (1976) demonstrate that under good flow conditions in the rat, plasma albumin and IgG molecules do not penetrate significantly beyond the fenestrae. This suggests that this layer may participate in the restriction of macromolecular passage across the glomerular capillary wall. GEC display multiple foot processes (podocytes) applied to the outside of the glomerular basement membrane (GBM). GEC have several functions attributed to them: (1) they participate in the synthesis of the GBM (Kurtz and Feldman, 1962; Walker, 1973); (2) they participate in the filtration process through pinocytosis of filtered proteins that may have leaked through the GBM (Farquhar, 1975); and (3) they participate in the filtration process by exerting an influence upon water flux during ultrafiltration (Ryan and Karnovsky, 1975). Since is has been demonstrated that intrinsic negatively charged glycoproteins in the filtration barrier are important in restricting the passage of anionic macromolecules across the GBM (Chang et al., 1975; Rennke et al., 1975), the highly charged cell coat of the podocytes may participate in this effect.
Validating a traumatic brain injury measure of participation in spinal cord injury

Introduction/Background Participation is a key concept in the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health and a central rehabilitation outcome, but agreement on measuring participation is lacking. Participation Assessed with Recombined Tools–Objective (PART-O) was developed for traumatic brain injury (TBI), used in the TBI Model Systems, and endorsed as a common data element. However, the content of PART-O is not unique to TBI and the instrument may be applicable to other populations. The aim of this research is to determine the psychometric properties of PART-O in people with spinal cord injury (SCI). Material and method The PART-O items were administered to 468 people with SCI from 4 months to 40 years post injury along with the most frequently used measure of participation in SCI: the Craig Handicap Assessment and Reporting Technique (CHART). The PART-O was administered a second time, 2–4 weeks later to assess test-retest reliability. Rasch analysis was used to ensure a unidimensional linear measure and evaluate the psychometric properties of PART-O in SCI. Results To achieve unidimensionality and maintain ordered steps within item categories, 3 competing items (hours per week spent working, in school, and homemaking) were summed into a testlet, and infrequently endorsed categories were combined. The resulting measure was unidimensional (first contrast less than 2.00) with all items fitting well (no infit or outfit above 1.40 and no disordered categories in any item), and acceptable person separation (2.00) and reliability (0.80). PART-O had a normal distribution with no ceiling or floor effects. The test-retest reliability was 0.97 and the correlation between PART-O and CHART was 0.79. Conclusion The PART-O shows promise for expanding its use into SCI. It is highly correlated with the legacy CHART instrument, and it has advantages over CHART, of being a normally distributed linear measure without ceiling effects.
Recovery and Personhood in the Diagnostic Formulation and Treatment of Serious Mental Illness: A Commentary:

The present article is a commentary on Pavlo and colleagues’ alternative person centered and recovery oriented diagnostic framework. Three strengths of the framework are identified, including the i...
Sensing Fruit Ripeness Using Wireless Signals

This paper presents FruitSense, a novel fruit ripeness sensing system that leverages wireless signals to enable non-destructive and low-cost detection of fruit ripeness. Such a system can reuse existing WiFi devices in homes without the need for additional sensors. It uses WiFi signals to sense the physiological changes associated with fruit ripening for detecting the ripeness of fruit. FruitSense leverages the larger bandwidth at 5GHz (i.e., over 600MHz) to extract the multipath-independent signal components to characterize the physiological compounds of the fruit. It then measures the similarity between the extracted features and the ones in ripeness profiles for identifying the ripeness level. We evaluate FruitSense in different multipath environments with two types of fruits (i.e, kiwi and avocado) under four levels of ripeness. Experimental results show that FruitSense can detect the ripeness levels of fruits with an accuracy over 90%.
Multimodal Transgastric Local Pancreatic Hypothermia Reduces Severity of Acute Pancreatitis in Rats and Increases Survival.

Background & Aims Acute pancreatitis (AP) of different etiologies is associated with the activation of different signaling pathways in pancreatic cells, posing challenges to the development of targeted therapies. We investigated whether local pancreatic hypothermia, without systemic hypothermia, could lessen the severity of AP induced by different methods in rats. Methods A urethane balloon with 2 polyurethane tubes was placed inside the stomach of rats. AP was induced in Wistar rats by the administration of cerulein or glyceryl tri-linoleate (GTL). Then, cold water was infused into the balloon to cool the pancreas. Pancreatic temperatures were selected based on those found to decrease acinar cell injury. An un-perfused balloon was used as a control. Pancreatic and rectal temperatures were monitored, and an infrared lamp or heating pad was used to avoid generalized hypothermia. We collected blood, pancreas, kidney, and lung tissues and analyzed them by histology, immunofluorescence, immunoblot, cytokine and chemokine magnetic bead, and DNA damage assays. The effect of hypothermia on signaling pathways initiated by cerulein and GTL was studied in acinar cells. Results Rats with pancreatic cooling developed less severe GTL-induced AP compared with rats that received the control balloon. In acinar cells, cooling decreased the lipolysis induced by GTL, increased the micellar form of its fatty acid, lowered the increase in cytosolic calcium, prevented the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (by 70%–80%), and resulted in a 40%–50% decrease in the uptake of a fatty acid tracer. In rats with AP, cooling decreased pancreatic necrosis by 48%, decreased serum levels of cytokines and markers of cell damage, and decreased markers of lung and renal damage. Pancreatic cooling increased the proportions of rats surviving 6 hours after induction of AP (to 90%, from Conclusions In rats with AP, transgastric local pancreatic hypothermia decreases pancreatic necrosis, apoptosis, inflammation, and markers of pancreatitis severity and increases survival.
Validation of a diatom-based index of water quality confirms its utility in monitoring of the Lake Erie's nearshore area

Abstract We conducted a validation of the Planktonic Diatom Index (PDI) to demonstrate the utility of a water quality index for the monitoring of Lake Erie's nearshore pelagial zone. Using a large, independent dataset from the Western and Central Basins of Lake Erie for validation ensures realistic assessment of the performance of the index. Diatom-based biomonitoring allows for the inference of integrative information about water quality based on diatom species composition. The PDI is based on the assumption that phosphorus, an established proxy for eutrophication, is instrumental in the structuring of diatom communities. In this study, PDI scores and measured total phosphorus were significantly correlated (r2 = 0.34, r2 = 0.63 outliers removed). However, when samples were considered on a basin-wide basis, the PDI scores were not significantly predicted by measured total phosphorus in the Western Basin. We suggest that snapshot phosphorus measurements are less likely to represent the overall condition in the highly variable, eutrophic Western Basin. When multiple phosphorus measurements were averaged over time, the relationship with the integrative PDI scores was more apparent (r2 = 0.52). Through validation with an independent dataset, we show that the PDI is likely a monitoring tool that provides a robust assessment of water quality in the pelagial zone of the nearshore waters in Lake Erie.
Impact of a void in the equine medial femoral condyle on bone stresses and peak contact pressures in a finite element model

Objective To predict bone and medial meniscal stresses and contact pressures in an equine stifle with a medial femoral condyle (MFC) intact or with a 2-cm3 subchondral bone void, under varying degrees of internal femoral rotation (IFR). Study design Finite element model (FEM) of a cadaveric equine stifle loaded to 8000 N. Methods The FEM was constructed from computed tomography (CT) of the right, extended stifle of a yearling. The CT image was segmented into relevant anatomic structures and meshed into 4-node tetrahedrons. Bone material properties were assigned according to Hounsfield units, soft tissue properties were estimated from published data, and the model was loaded to 8000 N in 155° extension. Results The main stresses found in the intact MFC were in compression, with very small areas of shear and tension. Adding a 2-cm3 MFC void increased peak compression stress by 25%, shear by 50%, and tension by 200%. An MFC void also increased tension and shear placed on the medial meniscus by 30%. Under load, IFR of 2.5° and 5° increased MFC peak stresses 8%-21%. Conclusion A 2-cm3 MFC void in an equine stifle FEM increased stress in the bone and meniscus. Internal femoral rotation slightly increased predicted bone stress. Clinical significance Increases in bone and meniscal stress predicted in an MFC with a void provide evidence to understand the persistence of voids and mechanism of damage to the medial meniscus.
New Case Detection by Cascade Testing in Familial Hypercholesterolemia: A Systematic Review of the Literature.

Background: The prevalence of familial hypercholesterolemia is 1 in 250, but <10% of patients are diagnosed. Cascade testing enables early detection of cases through systematic family tracing. Esta...
Using curcumin to turn the innate immune system against cancer.

Abstract Curcumin has been at the center of vigorous research and major debate during the past decade. Inspired by its anti-inflammatory properties, many curcumin-based products are being sold now to manage various forms of arthritis. Parallel preclinical studies have established its role in dissolving beta-amyloid plaques, tau-based neurofibrillary tangles, and also alpha-synuclein-linked protein aggregates typically observed in Parkinson’s disease. In cancer research, most cancer cells in culture are eliminated by curcumin at an IC50 of 15–30 µM, whereas the maximum in vivo curcumin concentration achieved in humans is only about 6 µM. Additionally, a decade ago, no improvement over the placebo groups was observed in clinical studies using free curcumin as an anticancer agent. The lack of anticancer efficacy was attributed to its low bioavailability, which results from the low water-solubility and high metabolic rate in vivo. Newer lipid-complexed or antibody-targeted forms have been used and these studies have revealed an exciting property of curcumin, which involves repolarization of the tumor-promoting, tumor-associated microglia/macrophages (TAMs) into a tumoricidal form and recruitment of natural killer cells from the periphery. This review will cover some efforts to explore the effect of appropriately-delivered curcumin to dramatically alter the tumor microenvironment, thereby launching an indirect attack on the tumor cells and the tumor stem cells. Reviewing some aspects of immunotherapy, this article will argue for the use of the innate immune cells in cancer therapy.
The Linguistic Sign and the Language System

According to the structuralist interpretation, Saussure’s linguistics is to be credited chiefly for its influential conception of an arbitrary linguistic sign. However, the thesis of linguistic arbitrariness, according to which signification is an internal property of the language system, offers an initial and provisional understanding of linguistic signification that is, ultimately, revised in the course of Saussure’s lectures. Even though a reader of the Course may glean some of the complications befalling the linguistic sign from the later chapters, the reader is unlikely to perceive them as organic developments of the initial discussion of the linguistic sign from the more influential Chap. 1. The architecture of parts and chapters suggests that each presents an element of a complete doctrine, whereas Saussure presents testable, evolving, and revisable hypotheses in his lectures. The lecture notes demonstrate that, ultimately, Saussure does not support the structuralist view of the sign. While language is arbitrary and unmotivated by natural laws, it is constrained by social conventions as they evolve over time. Language is situated in the sociohistorical world of cultural signification from the start.
Small-Area Variation in the Care of Low-Risk Neonates in Massachusetts and Texas

BACKGROUND: The success of neonatal intensive care in improving outcomes for critically ill neonates led to rapid growth of NICU use in the United States, despite a relatively stable birth cohort. Less is known about NICU use among late-preterm and term infants, although recent studies have observed wide variation in their care patterns. In this study, we measure special care days (SCDs) (intermediate or intensive), length of stay, and readmission rates among low-risk neonates across regions within 2 states. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, we analyzed data from Massachusetts (all payer claims) and Texas (BlueCross BlueShield) from 2009 to 2012. A low-risk cohort was defined by identifying newborns with diagnostic codes indicating a gestational age ≥35 weeks and birth weight ≥1500 g and excluding infants with diagnoses and procedures generally necessitating nonroutine care. Outcomes were measured across neonatal intensive care regions by diagnosis and payer type. RESULTS: We identified 255 311 low-risk newborns. SCD use varied nearly sixfold across neonatal intensive care regions. Use was highest among commercially insured Texas infants (8.42 per 100), followed by Medicaid-insured Massachusetts infants (6.67 per 100) and commercially insured Massachusetts infants (5.15 per 100). Coefficients of variation indicated high variation within each payer-specific cohort and moderate to high variation across each condition. No consistent relationship between regional SCD use and 30-day readmissions was identified. CONCLUSIONS: Use of NICU services varied widely across regions in this cohort of low-risk infants. Further investigation is needed to delineate outcomes associated with patterns of care received by this population.