cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Therapeutic potential of peroxynitrite decomposition catalysts: a patent review

Introduction: Peroxynitrite is a cytotoxic oxidant species implicated in a host of pathologies, including inflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, radiation injury and chronic pain. With the recognition of the role of peroxynitrite in disease, numerous experimental and therapeutic tools have arisen to probe peroxyntirite’s pathophysiological contribution and attenuate its oxidative damage. Peroxynitrite decomposition catalysts (PNDCs) are redox-active compounds that detoxify peroxynitrite by catalyzing its isomerization or reduction to nitrate or nitrite.Areas covered: This review discusses recent research articles and patents published 1995 – 2014 on the development and therapeutic use of PNDCs. Iron and manganese metalloporphyrin PNDCs attenuate the toxic effects of peroxynitrite and are currently being developed for clinical applications. Additionally, some Mn porphyrin-based PNDCs have optimized pharmaceutical properties such that they exhibit greater peroxynitrite selectivity. Other class...
Self-Assembling Nanostructures: Recognition and Ordered Assembly in Protein-Based Materials

A new approach to materials design is presented, utilizing specific recognition and assembly at the molecular level. The approach described exploits the control over polymer chain microstructure afforded by biosynthesis to produce protein-based materials with precisely defined physical properties. Incorporated into these materials are recognition elements that stringently control the placement and organization of each chain within higher order superstructures. The proteins, designated Recognin A2 through Recognin E2, are recombinant polypeptides designed de novo from both natural consensus sequences and an appreciation of the physical principles governing biological recognition. These materials are designed to examine the forces involved in specific recognition and complexation. through control of charge identity and placement, a pattern for specific interaction can be introduced. A subset of these materials are programmed to spontaneously assemble into complex, multicomponent structures and represent the first step in a rational approach to nanometer-scale structural design.
Restoration of pinch in intrinsic muscles of the hand

The primary intrinsic muscles responsible for key and tip pinch are the adductor pollicis, first dorsal interosseous and flexor pollicis brevis muscles. Numerous conditions can lead to their dysfunction. Non-operative treatment consists of exercises of the compensating extensor pollicis longus and flexor pollicis longus muscles and use of adaptive devices, such as larger grips. Operative treatments include tendon transfers and joint fusions. The most common tendon transfer procedures include transfering of the extensor carpi radialis brevis to the adductor pollicis muscle or transfering of the abductor pollicis longus to the first dorsal interosseous muscle. Both require use of extension tendon grafts. In cases of joint instability or arthrosis, arthrodesis of the thumb and index finger MP or IP joints, alone or in combination, may be indicated.
Changes in CBF-BOLD coupling detected by MRI during and after repeated transient hypercapnia in rat.

The effect of hypercapnia on the cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen consumption (CMRO2) remains incompletely understood. This study examined the relationship between susceptibility (blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD)) and perfusion-weighted (flow-sensitive alternating inversion recovery (FAIR)) MRI techniques both during induction of repeated transient hypercapnia (THC) and after return to normocapnia during whisker barrel functional activation. During induction of THC the FAIR signal became significantly elevated over control after 100 s of hypercapnia (P = 0.039), with a trend of increasing significance to 5 min (P = 0.000008). The FAIR signal in the activated cortex during subsequent normocapnia was significantly increased compared to pre-THC control after each successive period of THC. The mean grouped FAIR signal increased by 81% ± 63% after one exposure (P = 0.021), by 163% ± 55% after the second exposure (P = 0.0002), and by 240% ± 54% after the third exposure (P = 0.000002). The mean grouped BOLD signal trended upward, but did not increase significantly during or after exposure 1, 2, or 3. These data demonstrate increased uncoupling of perfusion-weighted from susceptibility imaging techniques, both in nonactivated cortex during hypercapnia, and with activation after multiple exposures to THC. These results are consistent with saturation of BOLD contrast as well as with increases in CMRO2 with stimulation after multiple exposures to THC. Magn Reson Med 48:262–270, 2002. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Configural asymmetries in a visual search task

Configural asymmetries refer to a phenomenon in which the orientation of search elements causes an asymmetry in visual performance. Here, we present configural asymmetries with bicolour disk elements (left/right vs. up/down configuration). Reaction time was significantly faster for up/down compared to left/right elements. Although extensive practice with the task resulted in better overall search performance, the magnitude of the asymmetries was remarkably resistant to practice. An account of these configural asymmetries based on eye movements was ruled out by presenting displays as flashes (96 ms). Although a more complete description of the factors involved in these configural asymmetries is needed, the effects could be implemented in a model by applying different spatial weights for the processing of objects.
Parametically induced unstable oscillations in higher-order circuits

In contrast to results pertinent to systems governed by second-order linear differential equations with periodic coefficients, unstable oscillations at a frequency which is less than one-half the element variation frequency can occur in systems governed by third- and higher-order differential equations with periodic coefficients. This result is used to explain certain experimental observations in circuit and control theory.
DETERMINISTIC LEADER ELECTION ON THE ASYNCHRONOUS QRQW PRAM

We describe a deterministic algorithm for the leader election problem on the asynchronous QRQW PRAM which runs in O(log n/log log n) time and O(n) work using $\frac{{n\,\log \,\log \,n}}{{\log \,n}}$ processors.
Clinical Criteria for the Diagnosis of Vascular Dementia: A Multicenter Study of Comparability and Interrater Reliability

Background Several clinical criteria have been developed to standardize the diagnosis of vascular dementia (VaD). Significant differences in patient classification have been reported, depending on the criteria used. Few studies have examined interrater reliability. Objective To assess the concordance in classification and interrater reliability for the following 4 clinical definitions of VaD: the Hachinski Ischemic Score (HIS), the Alzheimer Disease Diagnostic and Treatment Centers (ADDTC), National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke–Association Internationale pour la Recherche et l'Enseignement en Neurosciences (NINDS-AIREN), and Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition ( DSM-IV ). Methods Structured diagnostic checklists were developed for 4 criteria for VaD, 2 criteria for Alzheimer disease (AD), and 4 criteria for dementia. Twenty-five case vignettes, representing a spectrum of cognitive impairment and subtypes of dementia, were prepared in a standardized clinical format. Concordance in case classification using different criteria and interrater reliability among 7 ADDTCs given a specific set of criteria was assessed using the κ statistic. Results The frequency of a diagnosis of VaD was highest using the modified HIS or DSM-IV criteria, intermediate using the original HIS and ADDTC criteria, and lowest using the NINDS-AIREN criteria. Scores for interrater reliability ranged from κ = 0.30 (ADDTC) to κ = 0.61 (original HIS). Conclusions Clinical criteria for VaD are not interchangeable. Depending on the criteria selected, the reported prevalence of VaD will vary significantly. The traditional HIS has higher interrater reliability than the newer criteria for VaD. Prospective longitudinal studies with clinical-pathological correlation are needed to compare validity.
Dietary Salt, Urinary Calcium, and Kidney Stone Risk

Both salt-loading studies and reports of free-living populations find that urinary calcium excretion increases approximately 1 mmol (40 mg) for each 100 mmol (2300 mg) increase in dietary sodium in normal adults. Renal calcium stone-formers with hypercalciuria appear to have greater proportional increases in urinary calcium (approximately 2 mmol) per 100 mmol increase in salt intake. Thus, reduction of dietary NaCl may be a useful strategy to decrease the risk of forming calcium-containing kidney stones.
Systemic mediators induce fibrogenic effects in normal liver after partial bile duct ligation.

: Background/Aims: Collagen production by activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) is a key event in liver fibrosis, and a number of factors have been characterized that trigger HSC activation and collagen production. However, it remains unclear if these factors act locally at the site of injury or also affect HSCs distant to the site of injury. Methods: A model of partial bile duct ligation (PBDL) in which fibrogenesis can be compared between the injured ligated lobe and the non-ligated lobe. Results: After PBDL, HSCs showed an increased expression of procollagen type I α1 mRNA and collagen-reporter gene activity not only in the ligated lobe, but also in the non-ligated lobe, albeit at a lower level. In contrast, an increase in the number of desmin- and α-smooth muscle actin positive HSCs, and accumulation of inflammatory cells were observed only in the ligated lobe. Although transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) mRNA was increased only in the ligated lobe, Smad2/3 were activated in the ligated and the non-ligated lobe. These data suggest that the systemic increase in profibrogenic mediators including TGF-β induces collagen transcription in the uninjured liver. Conclusion: Systemic profibrogenic mediators from the injury site affect the residual non-injured liver.
Treatment of deep intramuscular and musculoskeletal abscess: Experience with 99 CT-guided percutaneous catheter drainage procedures

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this article is to describe our experience draining deep muscular and musculoskeletal abscess collections with CT guidance, emphasizing clinicopathologic factors associated with drain failure, and to further analyze patient outcomes according to whether the process involves muscle alone or also involves adjacent bone or joint (skeletal involvement).MATERIALS AND METHODS. The details of percutaneous catheter drainage were retrospectively recorded for all drainages performed over a 9-year period. The technical and clinical successes of percutaneous catheter drainage were determined. Multifactor logistic regression analysis was used to identify predictors of drain failure (malignancy, age, chemotherapy, surgery, infection, complexity, size, days in situ, and skeletal involvement). These parameters were assessed in all patients, those with muscle involvement alone and those with musculoskeletal collections.RESULTS. Eighty-nine of 94 patients underwent one percutaneous drainage proced...
Mixed image format environments: comparisons, tradeoffs, and issues

As the extent of the networked image environments grows, it becomes increasing likely that multiple image formats will be present within a network. This paper addresses the general evolution of this environment through a specific examination of three image formats likely to be present: Digital Image Communication in Medicine (DICOM) Image Processing and Interchange (IPI)-Image Interchange Format (IIF) and the National Image Transmission Format (NITF). For each format, its approach to image format development and data encapsulation are both presented and compared to the other formats, and distinguishing capabilities and limitations are identified. A possible integration scheme for IIF and DICOM is presented and the relationship of NITF to IPI-IIF and DICOM is identified. Since a mixed image format environment could include acquired imagery, reference imagery material, or even document imagery, generalized interoperability will be a requirement of future systems. Results are generalized to provide an indication as to how this problem may be addressed.
Herpes simplex keratitis: classification, pathogenesis and therapy

Herpes simplex virus (HSV)-1 remains a common cause of unilateral corneal disease and the leading cause of corneal blindness in the developed world. Despite advances in therapy, HSV keratitis remains a significant public-health concern and a cause of significant ocular morbidity. The mainstays of therapy continue to be topical trifluridine or acyclovir, oral acyclovir and topical corticosteroids. There are numerous challenges ahead in the preventative therapeutic management of HSV keratitis. This is despite 20 years of intensive research towards understanding the virology and host-mediated responses to infection. There is increasing recognition of the role of transplantation in transmitting HSV directly or in activating quiescent HSV disease in patients undergoing keratoplasty for other primary diagnoses. The ability of HSV to establish latency, despite immunological recognition by the host, makes the prospects for the development of an effective vaccine by mimicking the host immune response to natural in...
Economic evaluation of Haemophilus influenzae type B vaccination in Indonesia: a cost-effectiveness analysis.

Background Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) causes significant morbidity and mortality in children under five years of old. A safe and effective vaccine is available but is not in general use in developing countries. This paper evaluates the cost-effectiveness of introducing Hib vaccine in Indonesia as an addition to the country’s current DTP‐Hepatitis B vaccination program. Methods The economic analysis uses a societal perspective and is based on a 1-year birth cohort of 4.234 million. The disease status of children with and without Hib vaccination is modeled for the year, and health consequences are modeled over the expected life of the child. One-way, two-way, probabilistic and worst-case sensitivity analyses were performed to evaluate the robustness of the results. Results Implementation of Hib vaccination in Indonesia would avert 76 700 cases of invasive infection, more than 7 150 deaths and 273 000 disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). Compared to no vaccine, the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) is US $67 per DALY averted based on UNICEF pricing, whereas the program would save US $3.7 million with GAVI pricing. The result is not sensitive to uncertainty in disease incidence, costs of treatment or the probability of developing immunity. Conclusion The model demonstrates significant cost-effectiveness of implementation of a Hib vaccination program for Indonesian society.
Malicious code detection for open firmware

Malicious boot firmware is a largely unrecognized but significant security risk to our global information infrastructure. Since boot firmware executes before the operating system is loaded, it can easily circumvent any operating system-based security mechanism. Boot firmware programs are typically written by third-party device manufacturers and may come from various suppliers of unknown origin. We describe an approach to this problem based on load-time verification of onboard device drivers against a standard security policy designed to limit access to system resources. We also describe our ongoing effort to construct a prototype of this technique for open firmware boot platforms.
From Policy to Practice: Strategies to Meet Physical Activity Standards in YMCA Afterschool Programs

Background In 2011, the U.S. Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) adopted activity standards recommending that afterschool programs (ASPs) ensure all children engage in a minimum of 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) daily during the ASP. ASPs decide how to accomplish this standard, for which few effective strategies exist. Purpose To evaluate strategies designed to help ASPs meet the MVPA standard. Design Single group intervention with pretest and three follow-up measures repeated-cross-sectional design with a subsample cohort. Setting/participants Four large-scale YMCA ASPs, serving approximately 500 children each day. Intervention Community-based participatory development of strategies focused on modification of program schedules, professional development training, and weekly checklists to evaluate activity opportunities. Main outcome measures Accelerometry-derived MVPA classified as meet or fail-to-meet the 30 minutes’ MVPA/day standard collected over a minimum of 4 nonconsecutive days at baseline (fall 2011) and three follow-up assessments (spring 2012, fall 2012, spring 2013). Random intercept logistic regression models evaluated the probability of meeting the standard for boys and girls, separately (analyzed summer 2013). Results A total of 895 children (aged 5–12 years, 48.4% girls) representing 3654 daily measures were collected across the four assessments. The percentage of girls and boys meeting the MVPA standard at baseline was 13.3% and 28.0%, respectively. By spring 2013, this increased to 29.3% and 49.6%. These changes represented an increase in the odds of meeting the 30 minutes’ MVPA/day standard by 1.5 (95% CI=1.1, 2.0) and 2.4 (95% CI=1.2, 4.8) for girls and boys, respectively. Conclusions The strategies developed herein represent an effective approach to enhancing current practice within YMCA ASPs to achieve existing MVPA standards. Additional work is necessary to evaluate the scalability of the strategies in a larger sample of ASPs.
From homogeneity to heterogeneity: the multicultural future of higher education

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide insights for educators when adapting their pedagogy to suit the increasingly diverse international student body. Design/methodology/approach – Archival analysis was conducted at three levels: students’ teaching style preference; epistemology of the students’ home culture; and national sociocultural dimensions. Findings – The study elucidates the importance of recognizing heterogeneity rather than homogeneity of the increasingly international student body. It extends understanding of sociocultural underpinnings of different student learning styles and encourages educators to increase their cultural empathy to adapt their pedagogy. Originality/value – This paper helps forge the way to a truly global learning environment. Understanding, adapting to and celebrating the differences among international students helps to create more inclusive learning about our global community.
On the Use of Power Laws for Estimates of Wind Power Potential

Abstract The evaluation of wind power potential at a proposed aerogenerator site by extrapolation from measured winds at a reference level is investigated. It is shown that the total mean wind power density is not particularly sensitive to the selection of roughness length or power law exponent; over the entire likely range of these parameters the wind power in the mean flow at typical aerogenerator hub heights is within 1.4–4 times the power at a reference height of about 10 m. In lieu of in situ profile measurements, it is suggested that a power law exponent of 1/7 is adequate for realistic but conservative estimates of the available wind power except at extremely rough sites where the estimates may only be conservative.
S3. The Outlook of Physician Histories: J. Marion Sims and "The Discovery of Anesthesia".

The fact that doctors have a long tradition of writing medical history to interpret and direct their profession is well established. But readers (particularly modern physician readers) can also understand physicianauthored histories as offering commentary and analysis of the world beyond medicine. In this essay, we offer a reading (perhaps a modern one) of J. Marion Sims’s 1877 article, ‘The Discovery of Anaesthesia’ which exemplifies the stance of looking both inward and outward from the medical field. We begin by discussing Sims, including the complicated legacy he left as a physician. Next, we review late 19th-century history with a focus on Reconstruction. Finally, we show how the modern reader can use Sims’s article both to trace the first use of ether and nitrous oxide for surgical anaesthesia and to provide a window into the 19thcentury medical profession and the post-Civil War period. Through this study, we hope to show how to read both medicine and the world around it in physician histories.
HORMONAL REGULATION OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SEED DORMANCY

ABA abscisic acid. CN cotylenin E. CP cordycepin. DOT dark osmotic treatment. E ethephon. FC fusicoccin. GA gibberellic acid. K kinetin. LOT light osmotic treatment. PEG polyethylene glycol-6000. P...
Size Oblivious Programming with InfiniMem

Many recently proposed BigData processing frameworks make programming easier, but typically expect the datasets to fit in the memory of either a single multicore machine or a cluster of multicore machines. When this assumption does not hold, these frameworks fail. We introduce the InfiniMem framework that enables size oblivious processing of large collections of objects that do not fit in memory by making them disk-resident. InfiniMem is easy to program with: the user just indicates the large collections of objects that are to be made disk-resident, while InfiniMem transparently handles their I/O management. The InfiniMem library can manage a very large number of objects in a uniform manner, even though the objects have different characteristics and relationships which, when processed, give rise to a wide range of access patterns requiring different organizations of data on the disk. We demonstrate the ease of programming and versatility of InfiniMem with 3 different probabilistic analytics algorithms, 3 different graph processing size oblivious frameworks; they require minimal effort, 6---9 additional lines of code. We show that InfiniMem can successfully generate a mesh with 7.5 million nodes and 300 million edges 4.5i¾?GB on disk in 40i¾?min and it performs the PageRank computation on a 14i¾?GB graph with 134i¾?million vertices and 805 million edges at 14i¾?min per iteration on an 8-core machine with 8i¾?GB RAM. Many graph generators and processing frameworks cannot handle such large graphs. We also exploit InfiniMem on a cluster to scale-up an object-based DSM.
Abstract 43: Using matrix factorization to discover clinically-relevant molecular signatures across cancers

With increasing ubiquity of genome-wide assays it is now common to molecularly subtype cancers to predict patient therapy response. However identifying high-performing, robust molecular signatures for predictions remains difficult. Presented here is work towards a novel machine-learning algorithm that discovers intuitively understood and clinically relevant stratifying molecular signatures. This classification method, as well as many competing methods (SVM, random forests, Bayes nets, etc.), were applied by predicting drug-sensitivity to hundreds of compounds tested on the NCI60 cell lines. This new drug-sensitivity prediction method competes with and in many cases outperforms leading classifiers. The prediction results, as well as the molecular signatures that they are derived from, are publicly available for web-browsing through a new extension to the UCSC Cancer Genomics Browser, hgClassifications (http://genome-cancer.soe.ucsc.edu/hgClassifications). Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 43. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-43
Direct Analysis of Intact Biological Macromolecules by Low-Energy, Fiber-Based Femtosecond Laser Vaporization at 1042 nm Wavelength with Nanospray Postionization Mass Spectrometry

A fiber-based laser with a pulse duration of 435 fs and a wavelength of 1042 nm was used to vaporize biological macromolecules intact from the condensed phase into the gas phase for nanospray postionization and mass analysis. Laser vaporization of dried standard protein samples from a glass substrate by 10 Hz bursts of 20 pulses having 10 μs pulse separation and <50 μJ pulse energy resulted in signal comparable to a metal substrate. The protein signal observed from an aqueous droplet on a glass substrate was negligible compared to either a droplet on metal or a thin film on glass. The mass spectra generated from dried and aqueous protein samples by the low-energy, fiber laser were similar to the results from high-energy (500 μJ), 45-fs, 800-nm Ti:sapphire-based femtosecond laser electrospray mass spectrometry (LEMS) experiments, suggesting that the fiber-based femtosecond laser desorption mechanism involves a nonresonant, multiphoton process, rather than thermal- or photoacoustic-induced desorption. Direc...
Teaching Administrative Ethics in Nonprofit Management: Recommendations to Improve Degrees, Certificates, and Concentration Programs

The first protection against ethical lapses in the nonprofit sector presumably is to provide a sound foundation in ethical training at institutions of higher learning. To understand what we hypothe...
Effects of Membrane Charge and Order on Membrane Binding of the Retroviral Structural Protein Gag.

UNLABELLED The retroviral structural protein Gag binds to the inner leaflet of the plasma membrane (PM), and many cellular proteins do so as well. We used Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) Gag together with membrane sensors to study the principles governing peripheral protein membrane binding, including electrostatics, specific recognition of phospholipid headgroups, sensitivity to phospholipid acyl chain compositions, preference for membrane order, and protein multimerization. We used an in vitro liposome-pelleting assay to test protein membrane binding properties of Gag, the well-characterized MARCKS peptide, a series of fluorescent electrostatic sensor proteins (mNG-KRn), and the specific phosphatidylserine (PS) binding protein Evectin2. RSV Gag and mNG-KRn bound well to membranes with saturated and unsaturated acyl chains, whereas the MARCKS peptide and Evectin2 preferentially bound to membranes with unsaturated acyl chains. To further discriminate whether the primary driving force for Gag membrane binding is electrostatic interactions or preference for membrane order, we measured protein binding to giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) containing the same PS concentration in both disordered (Ld) and ordered (Lo) phases. RSV Gag and mNG-KRn membrane association followed membrane charge, independent of membrane order. Consistent with pelleting data, the MARCKS peptide showed preference for the Ld domain. Surprisingly, the PS sensor Evectin2 bound to the PS-rich Ld domain with 10-fold greater affinity than to the PS-rich Lo domain. In summary, we found that RSV Gag shows no preference for membrane order, while proteins with reported membrane-penetrating domains show preference for disordered membranes. IMPORTANCE Retroviral particles assemble on the PM and bud from infected cells. Our understanding of how Gag interacts with the PM and how different membrane properties contribute to overall Gag assembly is incomplete. This study examined how membrane charge and membrane order influence Gag membrane association. Consistent with previous work on RSV Gag, we report here that electrostatic interactions provide the primary driving force for RSV Gag membrane association. Using phase-separated GUVs with known lipid composition of the Ld and Lo phases, we demonstrate for the first time that RSV Gag is sensitive to membrane charge but not membrane order. In contrast, the cellular protein domain MARCKS and the PS sensor Evectin2 show preference for disordered membranes. We also demonstrate how to define GUV phase composition, which could serve as a tool in future studies of protein membrane interactions.
Integer-forcing source coding: Successive cancellation and source-channel duality

Integer-forcing is a technique that exploits the algebraic structure of a linear or lattice code to realize “single-user” encoding and decoding algorithms with significant rate gains over conventional strategies. It was originally proposed for the Gaussian MIMO multiple-access channel. Subsequent efforts have generalized this strategy to the Gaussian MIMO broadcast channel and the Gaussian distributed source coding problem. Our prior work has established uplink-downlink duality for integer-forcing. Here, we propose a successive cancellation generalization of integer-forcing source coding. We then develop source-channel duality results that connect the achievable rates of this scheme to those of successive integer-forcing channel coding.
Precipitation Dominates Interannual Variability of Riverine Nitrogen Loading across the Continental United States.

Excessive nitrogen loading to waterways leads to increased eutrophication and associated water quality impacts. An understanding of the regional and interannual variability in nitrogen loading and associated drivers is necessary for the design of effective management strategies. Here we develop a parsimonious empirical model based on net anthropogenic nitrogen input, precipitation, and land use that explains 68% of the observed variability in annual total nitrogen flux (QTN) (76% of ln(QTN)) across 242 catchment years. We use this model to present the first spatially and temporally resolved estimates of QTN for all eight-digit hydrologic unit (HUC8) watersheds within the continental United States (CONUS), focusing on the period 1987–2007. Results reveal high spatial and temporal variability in loading, with spatial variability primarily driven by nitrogen inputs, but with interannual variability and the occurrence of extremes dominated by precipitation across over three-quarters of the CONUS. High interan...
Comprehensive Multicultural Curriculum: Self-Awareness as Process

Traditionally, counselor education programs offer a single multicultural (MC) course. Multiple courses or inclusion of MC information across the curriculum are preferred over the “one course” model; however, the “multiple courses” model is onerous on a program’s credits, and in the “inclusion” model, the degree and uniformity of MC material is difficult to coordinate and guarantee across courses. The authors will describe a curriculum that combines the one course and infusion models to deliver comprehensive MC training in a counselor education program. This curriculum includes MC self-awareness Labs aimed at raising students’ consciousness of the role that their identities play in interpersonal dynamics, and therefore, in clinical work. The paper will describe briefly the overall structure of the curriculum, and in more detail, the MC self-awareness Labs. The authors will highlight the importance, when it comes to MC pedagogy, of not simply conveying content, but also facilitating a transformative process.
On the examination of the reliability of statistical software for estimating regression models with discrete dependent variables

The numerical reliability of statistical software packages was examined for logistic regression models, including SAS 9.4, MATLAB R2015b, R 3.3.1., Stata/IC 14, and LIMDEP 10. Thirty unique benchmark datasets were created by simulating alternative conditional binary choice processes examining rare events, near-multicollinearity, quasi-separation and nonlinear transformation of variables. Certified benchmark estimates for parameters and standard errors of associated datasets were obtained following standards set-out by the National Institute of Standards and Technology. The logarithm of relative error was used as a measure of accuracy for numerical reliability. The paper finds that choice of software package and procedure for estimating logistic regressions will impact accuracy and use of default settings in these packages may significantly reduce reliability of results in different situations.
A polyvalent mediterranean, or the trope of nomadism in the literary oeuvre of Igiaba Scego and Abdourahman A. Waberi

I argue that novelists Igiaba Scego and Abdourahman A. Waberi, building on the work among others of Nuruddin Farah, engage the trope of nomadism so as to propose a pre-colonial imaginary of a Somali polyvalent cosmopolitanism as a possible tool for thinking through our contemporary geographies of Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. Cet article propose que les romanciers Igiaba Scego et Abdourahman A. Waberi re-travaillent la thematique du nomadisme afin de creer un imaginaire somalien pre-colonial a la fois cosmopolite et polyvalent dans son cosmopolitisme. En dialogue notamment avec le romancier Nuruddin Farah, Scego et Waberi nous offrent ainsi des outils pour penser une geographie plus fluide entre l’Afrique, l’Europe et le Moyen-Orient.
Performance modeling and valuation of snow-covered PV systems: examination of a simplified approach to decrease forecasting error

The advent of modern solar energy technologies can improve the costs of energy consumption on a global, national, and regional level, ultimately spanning stakeholders from governmental entities to utility companies, corporations, and residential homeowners. For those stakeholders experiencing the four seasons, accurately accounting for snow-related energy losses is important for effectively predicting photovoltaic performance energy generation and valuation. This paper provides an examination of a new, simplified approach to decrease snow-related forecasting error, in comparison to current solar energy performance models. A new method is proposed to allow model designers, and ultimately users, the opportunity to better understand the return on investment for solar energy systems located in snowy environments. The new method is validated using two different sets of solar energy systems located near Green Bay, WI, USA: a 3.0-kW micro inverter system and a 13.2-kW central inverter system. Both systems were unobstructed, facing south, and set at a tilt of 26.56°. Data were collected beginning in May 2014 (micro inverter system) and October 2014 (central inverter system), through January 2018. In comparison to reference industry standard solar energy prediction applications (PVWatts and PVsyst), the new method results in lower mean absolute percent errors per kilowatt hour of 0.039 and 0.055%, respectively, for the micro inverter system and central inverter system. The statistical analysis provides support for incorporating this new method into freely available, online, up-to-date prediction applications, such as PVWatts and PVsyst.
Database Design for Information Retrieval: A Conceptual Approach

The literature on database design most often deals with processes for well-structured organizations. In contrast, this book provides a step-by-step approach to the development of the conceptual scheme for systems that do not yet exist, and in which the process of information flow has not been worked out. It shows how to analyze data that at first seems chaotic and disorganized to achieve a highly structured, useful data representation: a data dictionary. Using the entity-relationship model, it gives thorough instructions on procedures for integrating individual sections, or individual databases, into a coherent system. To prepare for data collection, it demonstrates how to establish a system of rules that determine the representation of each item so that conflicts between data as they appear in the real world and as they should be recorded in the database are resolved. Also offered is a set of criteria for evaluating the database scheme.
An Application of Artificial Intelligence for Computer-Aided Design and Manufacturing

The knowledge required to integrate aircraft manufacturing characteristics and constraints into the structural design process is beyond the proficiency of a single engineer. Concurrent Engineering (CE) enables the integration of design with manufacturing to permit trades based not only on product performance, but also on other criteria not easily evaluated, such as producibility and support. A decision support system, or Knowledge-Based System, that can direct manufacturing issues during the preliminary design process would be an invaluable tool for system designers. The objective of this technical paper is to clearly describe the development of a Knowledge-Based System (KBS) for the determination of manufacturing processes for selected airframe structural components for the wing of the High Speed Civil Transport (HSCT). The KBS evolving with this research will be utilized within an integrated design environment along with existing tools to demonstrate its functionality as a design tool. The system will empower engineers to design the strongest, lightest possible wing structure at the least cost that meets the load-carrying requirements for a specified aircraft range. The paper outlines the knowledge- and rule-base development required to build the KBS. The interfaces and relations to CAD packages, external synthesis and analysis codes, as well as links to cost estimating software and methods are discussed.
Perturbation Theory in the Diffusion Approximation

Derives a generalized first-order perturbation formula for the diffusion equation. Characterizes cross-section perturbations as being one of two types: (a) order EPSILON crosssection changes over a volume of order one or (b) order one cross-section changes over a volume of order EPSILON. Attempts to show that, within the context of diffusion theory, the classic first-order perturbation formula applies to perturbations of type (a), but not type (b). Points out that this conclusion was demonstrated earlier for a special case of the type (b) perturbation, namely an order EPSILON shift in an internal interface. Finds that, for this problem, the usual perturbation formula consistently overestimates the perturbed eigenvalue, whereas the generalized perturbation formula always produces an underestimate.
The Relationship Between Endplate Pathology and Patient-reported Symptoms for Chronic Low Back Pain Depends on Lumbar Paraspinal Muscle Quality.

STUDY DESIGN Cross-sectional cohort study of chronic low back pain (CLBP) patients and matched controls. OBJECTIVE To explore the interplay between vertebral endplate damage and adjacent paraspinal muscle (PSM) quality, and to test their association in a cohort of patients with CLBP and matched controls. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA Nonspecific CLBP is challenging to diagnose, in part, due to uncertainty regarding the source of pain. Delineating interactions among potential CLBP mechanisms may enhance diagnosis and treatment customization. METHODS We collected advanced MRI imaging on 52 adult subjects, including 38 CLBP patients and 14 age- and sex-matched asymptomatic control subjects. Mean multifidus and erector spinae fat fraction (FF) was measured throughout the spine using an IDEAL MRI sequence. Presence of cartilage endplate (CEP) defects was determined at each disc level using UTE MRI. Logistic regression was used to test association of PSM FF, CEP defects, modic changes (MC), disc degeneration, and their interplay. RESULTS We observed that CEP defects were the strongest predictor of nonspecific CLBP (OR: 14.1, P < 0.01) even after adjusting for MC and disc degeneration (OR: 26.1, P = 0.04). PSM quality did not independently distinguish patient and control groups, except for patients with high self-reported disability.At specifically L4L5, CEP damage was most prevalent and CEP damage was significantly associated with CLBP (OR: 3.7, 95% CI: 1.2-21.5, P = 0.03). CEP damage at L4L5 was predictive of CLBP when adjacent to PSMs with greater FF (MF, OR 14.7, P = 0.04; ES, OR: 17.3, P = 0.03), but not when PSM FF was lower and comparable to values in control, asymptomatic subjects. CONCLUSION These results demonstrate the clinically important reciprocity between passive and dynamic spinal stabilizers, and support the notion that therapies targeting the PSMs may provide clinical benefit even in the presence of other spinal pathologies. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 4.
The Subacromial Bursa is a Viable Source of Autologous Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Rotator Cuff Repair

Objectives:Chronic rotator cuff tears still represent a significant source of morbidity and functional decline in the general population. The purpose of this study was to establish protocols for is...
Type 2 Diabetes and Musculoskeletal Symptoms Among Midlife Women

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to describe the association between type 2 diabetes and musculoskeletal symptoms among midlife women from 4 major racial/ethnic groups in the United States.Meth...
Improved low-frequency sound measurements for impact insulation class (IIC) rating using a comparison technique

In multistory buildings, the isolation of sound from floor to ceiling is a major concern. The building codes use an impact insulation class (IIC) rating defined by ASTM to characterize the acoustical performance of floor–ceiling assemblies due to impacts. The measurement process defined in this standard has repeatability and reproducibility limitations due to low-frequency, non-diffuse sound fields in receiving rooms. A comparison method is proposed in this article that uses a reference sample with known sound power to calculate the room or path contribution to the measured sound pressure level, which is then used to calculate the sound power of the floor–ceiling assembly. The proposed method is tested for a small-scale hardboard plate, and the test results are within 1 to 2 dB of baseline sound power values. A simply supported plate used as the reference plate showed MAC values higher than 0.9 for analytical and experimental mode shapes. The analytical natural frequencies are within 1% to 2% of experimental frequencies and analytical sound power values are within 1-2 dB of experimental data. This study showed that for a small-scale assembly, the new method was able to characterize the room contribution within 1 to 2 dB. © 2020 Institute of Noise Control Engineering
Abstract TP285: Dimethyl Fumarate Protects Against Hypoxic-Ischemic Brain Damage and Attenuates Reactive Gliosis in an Nrf2-Dependent Manner: Focus on Hippocampal Injury

Introduction: Recently, based on the purported antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties, dimethyl fumarate (DMF) has exhibited protective potential in various acute and chronic neurological c...
Influencing Photo Sharing Decisions on Social Media: A Case of Paradoxical Findings

We investigate the effects of perspective taking, privacy cues, and portrayal of photo subjects (i.e., photo valence) on decisions to share photos of people via social media. In an online experiment we queried 379 participants about 98 photos (that were previously rated for photo valence) in three conditions: (1) Baseline: participants judged their likelihood of sharing each photo; (2) Perspective-taking: participants judged their likelihood of sharing each photo when cued to imagine they are the person in the photo; and (3) Privacy: participants judged their likelihood to share after being cued to consider the privacy of the person in the photo. While participants across conditions indicated a lower likelihood of sharing photos that portrayed people negatively, they – surprisingly – reported a higher likelihood of sharing photos when primed to consider the privacy of the person in the photo. Frequent photo sharers on real-world social media platforms and people without strong personal privacy preferences were especially likely to want to share photos in the experiment, regardless of how the photo portrayed the subject. A follow-up study with 100 participants explaining their responses revealed that the Privacy condition led to a lack of concern with others’ privacy. These findings suggest that developing interventions for reducing photo sharing and protecting the privacy of others is a multivariate problem in which seemingly obvious solutions can sometimes go awry.
Improving the clinical significance of preclinical immunotherapy studies through incorporating tumor microenvironment-like conditions

Frequently, the results generated when testing novel antitumor immunotherapies in vitro do not correlate with data collected in in vivo models and/or in clinical settings. It is our hypothesis that this discrepancy is caused by the use of in vitro conditions, such as normoxia, a two-dimensional surface, optimal growth media, and lack of cell complexity and heterogeneity. These conditions do not accurately reflect the tumor microenvironment (TME) that the tested immunotherapeutic strategies experience in vivo. While there are many variables which can have an impact upon the antitumor efficacy of an immunotherapy, the immunosuppressive TME is one in which several of the conditions commonly found in vivo can be mimicked in vitro. These conditions, which include hypoxia, low pH, low glucose, presence of adenosine, cell complexity and heterogeneity, as well as the three-dimensional structure of TME, can all affect immune cell–tumor cell interactions. Here, we discuss the impact that these conditions, either individually or in combination, can have on these interactions. Furthermore, we propose that performing in vitro assays under TME-like conditions improves the clinical relevance of the yielded results. This, in turn, contributes to accelerate the speed, reduce the cost, and increase efficiency of screening novel immunotherapies and eventually the development of prospective clinical trials.
Microstructural inhomogeneities and sea water corrosion in laser-deposited Ti–6Al–4V alloy matrix/carbide particulate composite surfaces

Metal matrix/carbide particulate composite surface layers were produced on Ti–6Al–4V alloy samples by injecting metal carbide particles into laser-melted surfaces followed by rapid solidification. Hard, wear-resistant surfaces were produced on a strong alloy which normally has poor wear resistance. The corrosion behaviour of the composite surface was evaluated after a month's exposure to flowing sea water. A variety of solidification products was found in the laser-deposited surface layers, but corrosion was observed only in the carbide particulate phase in the WC-injected sample. No corrosion was observed in the TiC-injected sample nor in the Ti–6Al–4V base alloy. Corrosion in the WC-injected sample was related to the formation of a narrow interphase zone surrounding the particulate phase and a thin reaction zone on the surface of the particulate phase during solidification. The titanium-rich interphase zone formed a galvanic couple with the WC particulate. Crevice-type corrosion initiated at the interface between the two phases and proceeded into the particulate phase assisted by the reaction zone. Electrochemical test results revealed a high corrosion rate for the WC-injected sample and almost none for both the TiC-injected sample and the Ti–6A1–4V base alloy, confirming the microstructural observations.
VAE for Joint Source-Channel Coding of Distributed Gaussian Sources over AWGN MAC

In this paper, we introduce a framework for Joint Source-Channel Coding of distributed Gaussian sources over a multiple access AWGN channel. Although there are prior works that have studied this, they either strongly rely on intuition to design encoders and decoder or require the knowledge of the complete joint distribution of all the distributed sources. Our system overcomes this. We model our system as a Variational Autoencoder and leverage insight provided by this connection to propose a crucial regularization mechanism for learning. This allows us to beat the state of the art by improving the signal reconstruction quality by almost 1dB for certain configurations. The end-to-end learned system is also found to be robust to channel condition variations of ±5dB and shows a drop in signal reconstruction quality by at most 1dB. Finally, we propose a novel lower bound on the optimal distortion in signal reconstruction and empirically showcase the tightness of the bound in comparison with the existing bound.