cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Improving Animal Monitoring Using Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) and Deep Learning Networks

In recent years, small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) have been used widely to monitor animals because of their customizability, ease of operating, ability to access difficult to navigate places, and potential to minimize disturbance to animals. Automatic identification and classification of animals through images acquired using a sUAS may solve critical problems such as monitoring large areas with high vehicle traffic for animals to prevent collisions, such as animal-aircraft collisions on airports. In this research we demonstrate automated identification of four animal species using deep learning animal classification models trained on sUAS collected images. We used a sUAS mounted with visible spectrum cameras to capture 1288 images of four different animal species: cattle (Bos taurus), horses (Equus caballus), Canada Geese (Branta canadensis), and white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). We chose these animals because they were readily accessible and white-tailed deer and Canada Geese are considered aviation hazards, as well as being easily identifiable within aerial imagery. A four-class classification problem involving these species was developed from the acquired data using deep learning neural networks. We studied the performance of two deep neural network models, convolutional neural networks (CNN) and deep residual networks (ResNet). Results indicate that the ResNet model with 18 layers, ResNet 18, may be an effective algorithm at classifying between animals while using a relatively small number of training samples. The best ResNet architecture produced a 99.18% overall accuracy (OA) in animal identification and a Kappa statistic of 0.98. The highest OA and Kappa produced by CNN were 84.55% and 0.79 respectively. These findings suggest that ResNet is effective at distinguishing among the four species tested and shows promise for classifying larger datasets of more diverse animals.
Curious Emotions: Roots of consciousness and personality in motivated action

Emotion drives all cognitive processes, largely determining their qualitative feel, their structure, and in part even their content. Action-initiating centers deep in the emotional brain ground our understanding of the world by enabling us to imagine how we could act relative to it, based on endogenous motivations to engage certain levels of energy and complexity. Thus understanding personality, cognition, consciousness and action requires examining the workings of dynamical systems applied to emotional processes in living organisms. If an object's meaning depends on its action affordances, then understanding intentionality in emotion or cognition requires exploring why emotion is the bridge between action and representational processes such as thought or imagery; and this requires integrating phenomenology with neurophysiology. The resulting viewpoint, "enactivism," entails specific new predictions, and suggests that emotions are about the self-initiated actions of dynamical systems, not reactive "responses" to external events; consciousness is more about motivated anticipation than reaction to inputs. (Series A)
Design and techniques for on-die power integrity noise measurement system with digital output

In this paper, the authors propose an on-die power supply noise measurement system for power integrity characterization using one bias supply. The measurement system is operated by the bias voltage provided to logical blocks such as Core and IO block in a microprocessor since another supply power rail for the measurement system can create a coupling to the existed power rails. The power supply noise is repetitive since it is created by repetitive on chip circuit activities. The voltage range that can be measured by the system is ±25% of VCC; (including noise which exceeds the power supply voltage) and the range of the noise measurement frequency is up to 1.5GHz. The proposed measurement system is composed of two main sections; one is a sampling and detection system and the other is an effective ADC. In addition, the proposed system is designed in 90nm CMOS technology and is specified to be interacted with system support such as software for a trigger signal and JTAG.
Effects of Chitosan‐Essential Oil Coatings on Safety and Quality of Fresh Blueberries

UNLABELLED Chitosan coating plus different essential oils was developed and applied to fresh blueberries in order to find more natural treatments to preserve fresh fruit quality and safety during postharvest storage. Studies were 1st performed in vitro where wild-type Escherichia coli and Penicillium digitatum were grown in suitable media, and then subjected to 6 essential oils. Three compounds, carvacrol (CAR), cinnamaldehyde (CIN), and trans-cinnamaldehyde (ECIN) had high antimicrobial capacity and were selected for an in vivo study for postharvest storage of blueberries. The selected essential oils, 0.5% each, were added into a chitosan solution and coated on fresh blueberries. After storage at 5, 10, and 20 °C for various days, fruit firmness and microbial populations were evaluated. The chitosan coating substantially decreased bacteria and yeasts/molds on the fruit, and all 3 essential oils added to the antimicrobial activities. Further dosage experiments showed that the antimicrobial activity remained even when lowering CAR concentration to 0.1% and ECIN to 0.2%. Chitosan, CAR, and ECIN also maintained fruit firmness. Our results suggest that chitosan coatings containing essential oils are effective in extending the shelf life of fresh blueberries. PRACTICAL APPLICATION Blueberries are high-value fruit with strong antioxidant capacity and other health-promoting benefits. However, microbial food safety is an increasing concern, and decay and softening limits their storability. A combination of ≥ 0.1% CAR or ≥ 0.2% ECIN with a chitosan coating effectively reduced softening of fresh berries and decay by inhibiting microbial growth.
Dual antenna baseline optimization for SAR detection of moving targets

The paper deals with the detection of ground moving targets with a dual antenna synthetic aperture radar (SAR). A closed form expression of the detection performance is derived in the presence of internal clutter motion (ICM), as a function of the baseline length. On this basis the optimum baseline selection is addressed for the detection of with ICM of different intensities.
Identifying multiscale zonation and assessing the relative importance of polygon geomorphology on carbon fluxes in an Arctic tundra ecosystem

We develop a multiscale zonation approach to characterize the spatial variability of Arctic polygonal ground geomorphology and to assess the relative controls of these elements on land surface and subsurface properties and carbon fluxes. Working within an ice wedge polygonal region near Barrow, Alaska, we consider two scales of zonation: polygon features (troughs, centers, and rims of polygons) that are nested within different polygon types (high, flat, and low centered). In this study, we first delineated polygons using a digital elevation map and clustered the polygons into four types along two transects, using geophysical and kite-based landscape-imaging data sets. We extrapolated those data-defined polygon types to all the polygons over the study site, using the polygon statistics extracted from the digital elevation map. Based on the point measurements, we characterized the distribution of vegetation, hydrological, thermal, and geochemical properties, as well as carbon fluxes, all as a function of polygon types and polygon features. Results show that nested polygon geomorphic zonation—polygon types and polygon features—can be used to represent distinct distributions of carbon fluxes and associated properties, as well as covariability among those properties. Importantly, the results indicate that polygon types have more power to explain the variations in those properties than polygon features. The approach is expected to be useful for improved system understanding, site characterization, and parameterization of numerical models aimed at predicting ecosystem feedbacks to the climate.
Assessment of Reactive Hyperemia Using Peripheral Arterial Tonometry

Reactive hyperemia (RH) is characterized by temporary increase in blood flow, which occurs in a blood vessel following a brief period of ischemia. Following ischemia there is a shortage of oxygen bioavailability and a build-up of metabolic waste, which must be replenished to restore normal function [1]. An increased blood flow, an increased vessel diameter (cross-sectional area), and increased pulsatility are all characteristic normal physiological responses post ischemia. The vasodilation post ischemia is caused by release of nitric oxide into the blood stream [2]. Over time, the blood flow returns to baseline levels. Endothelial dysfunction (dysfunction of the inner lining of blood vessels), which is commonly associated with reduced nitric oxide levels in the blood stream, is a sign of cardiovascular disease and is a predictor of unsatisfactory clinical results. Peripheral Arterial Tonometry (PAT) signals from patient’s finger have been used in clinical settings to characterize cardiovascular performance, and have shown correlations to central pressures of the heart [3]. The noninvasive nature of PAT makes its applicability attractive as its clinical applications continue to advance. Therefore, PAT has a potential clinical application as a noninvasive metric, which can describe a patient’s endothelial function and overall cardiovascular health by measuring the reactive hyperemia response during a period of induced ischemia. Due to the ability of PAT to measure pulsatility of blood flow through digits, we hypothesize that reactive hyperemia responses can be measured non-invasively by recording PAT signals. Further, we hypothesize that there will be changes in reactive hyperemia responses shown through PAT signals when the length of ischemic time is altered. These results may have important clinical implications in terms of unravelling endothelial dysfunction and vascular elasticity.
Listener ratings of speech passbands

We describe a listening experiment that measures the perceived speech quality of 19 speech passbands using 8 talkers and 28 listeners. Results are referenced to the traditional wide-band and narrow-band telephony passbands. Our findings may help those who wish to select new speech coding passbands that maximize perceived speech quality under bit-rate constraints. We identify several passbands that show particular promise.
Statistical Model Checking of Mixed-Analog Circuits with an Application to a Third Order Δ – Σ Modulator

In this paper, we consider verifying properties of mixed-signal circuits, i.e., circuits for which there is an interaction between analog (continuous) and digital (discrete) quantities. We follow the statistical Model Checking approach of [You05, You06] that consists of evaluating the property on a representative subset of behaviors, generated by simulation, and answering the question of whether the circuit satisfies the property with a probability greater than or equal to some value. The answer is correct up to a certain probability of error, which is pre-specified. The method automatically determines the minimal number of simulations needed to achieve the desired accuracy, thus providing a convenient way to control the trade-off between precision and computational cost. We propose a logic adapted to the specification of properties of mixed-signal circuits, in the temporal domain as well as in the frequency domain. Our logic is unique in that it allows us to compare the Fourier transform of two signals. We demonstrate the applicability of the method on a model of a third order Δ *** Σ modulator for which previous formal verification attempts were too conservative and required excessive computation time.
Modeling a PEM fuel cell for use in a hybrid electric vehicle

Proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells have the possibility of becoming the primary power source of hybrid electric vehicles. However, a fuel cell system is large, complex and expensive. Designing and building new prototypes is difficult and expensive. The alternative is to examine different systems through simulations. This paper describes a mathematical model of the fuel cell and its use to develop the auxiliary systems necessary to apply the fuel cell in an HEV. The popular simulation program Matlab and Simulink are used the model development.
Amygdaloid Nuclei Lesions Differentially Affect Glucocorticoid-Induced Memory Enhancement in an Inhibitory Avoidance Task

This study examined the involvement of the amygdala in the effects of glucocorticoids on the formation of memory for aversive training. Male Sprague-Dawley rats with neurochemically induced lesions of either the basolateral (BLA), central (CEA), or medial amygdala (MEA) were trained in a one-trial inhibitory avoidance task. Systemic (sc) injections of either vehicle, corticosterone (0.3 mg/kg) or the more selective glucocorticoid receptor (GR) agonist dexamethasone (0.3 mg/kg) were administered immediately after training, and retention was tested 48 h later. Retention of animals with lesions of the CEA was impaired, but retention of animals with BLA or MEA lesions was unimpaired. CEA-lesioned animals had increased locomotor activity as indicated by the number of crossings between the starting and shock compartments. Dexamethasone enhanced retention in sham-operated controls as well as in animals with lesions of the CEA, but did not enhance retention of animals with BLA or MEA lesions. Post-training corticosterone did not affect retention. Neither dexamethasone nor corticosterone altered the number of crossings between compartments. These findings are consistent with previous evidence suggesting that the effects of glucocorticoids on memory storage are mediated by an activation of GRs, and indicate that the BLA and MEA nuclei are critical areas involved in integrating these hormonal influences on learning and memory.
Case Study in Reading Disability: An Emergent Literacy Perspective:

This case study chronicles the development of reading and writing in an eight-year-old student identified as learning disabled. The study is rooted in the forms of multiple theoretical perspectives...
Small numbers limit the use of the inpatient pediatric quality indicators for hospital comparison.

Objective The aim of this study was to determine the percentage of hospitals with adequate sample size to meaningfully compare performance by using the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) pediatric quality indicators (PDIs), which measure pediatric inpatient adverse events such as decubitus ulcer rate and infections due to medical care, have been nationally endorsed, and are currently publicly reported in at least 2 states. Methods We performed a cross-sectional analysis of California hospital discharges from 2005–2007 for patients aged Results Unadjusted California-wide event rates for PDIs during the study period (N = 2 333 556 discharges) were 0.2 to 38 per 1000 discharges. Event rates for specific measures were, for example, 0.2 per 1000 (iatrogenic pneumothorax in non-neonates), 19 per 1000 (postoperative sepsis), and 38 per 1000 (pediatric heart surgery mortality), requiring patient volumes of 49 869, 419, and 201 to detect an event rate twice the statewide average; 0%, 6.6%, and 25%, respectively, of California hospitals had this pediatric volume. Conclusion Using these AHRQ-developed, nationally endorsed measures of the quality of inpatient pediatric care, one would not be able to identify many hospitals with performance 2 times worse than the statewide average due to extremely low event rates and inadequate pediatric hospital volume.
Naming the Cultural Forces That Push Us Toward War

Anthropology and archaeology have demonstrated that human societies can pass hundreds and even thousands of years in peace. Patriarchal cultures, however, go to war rather regularly. Militarism and warfare are continual features of a patriarchal society because they reflect and instill patriarchal values and fulfill essential needs of such a system. Men under patriarchy must prove dominance and control, must distance their character from that of "lowly" women, must survive the toughest violent initiation to enter full manhood, must shed the sacred blood of the hero, and must collaborate with death in order to hold it at bay. Such patriarchal pressures on men have traditionally reached resolution in ritual fashion on the battle-field. Unless peace efforts address the cultural pressures as well as the economic and political factors pushing us toward war, we will be unable to build a lasting peace.
Firefighter's personal protective equipment and the chronotropic index

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of personal protective equipment (PPE) on cardiovascular and metabolic responses during incremental exercise, and to determine if PPE affects the relationship between heart rate (HR) and oxygen uptake when expressed as the chronotropic index (CI). Ten male participants performed graded exercise tests under three conditions: control (CON), (PPE) and weighted vest (WV) (same weight as PPE). Time to exhaustion was significantly longer in the CON compared to the other conditions (p < 0.01). Submaximal oxygen uptake and HR were significantly lower in the CON compared to the PPE and WV conditions. The CI (CON, 32.2 ± 4.5; PPE, 31.7 ± 5.7; WV, 32.6 ± 4.9) was similar in all three conditions. This study has shown that additional weight and encapsulating clothing leads to elevations in HR and oxygen uptake compared to a control condition, however, the CI remains unaffected. Practitioner Summary: Firefighters wear personal protective equipment that is designe...
Adaptive torque control of friction stir welding for the purpose of estimating tool wear

In this paper, an adaptive torque controller for friction stir welding (FSW) that can estimate parameters such as probe radius which may be changing throughout the welding process is presented. Imp...
A Critique of Exchange Rate Treatment in Agricultural Trade Models: Comment

In a recent article in this Journal, Chambers and Just criticize partial equilibrium models of trade which attempt to show the effect of currency devaluation on domestic prices. Three of their main points are (a) cross-price effects cannot be ignored, (b) the response of domestic prices to exchange rate disturbances may (but need not) be different from their response to foreign price disturbances, and (c) demand systems derived from weakly separable utility functions may be useful in constructing trade models. We read the Chambers-Just note with ambivalence because we have made all of
Fractals and self-organized criticality in anti-inflammatory drugs

Abstract Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) act through inhibiting prostaglandin synthesis, a catalytic activity possessed by two distinct cyclooxygenase (COX-1 and COX-2) isozymes encoded by separate genes. The discovery of COX-2 launched a new era in NSAID pharmacology, resulting in the synthesis, marketing, and widespread use of COX-2 selective inhibitors. Extensive structural studies of the biology of prostaglandin synthesis and inhibition have explained some of the differences between COX-1 and COX-2 functionality, but others are still unexplained. Notably these include molecular differences that cause COX-1 inhibitors to produce a slight decrease, and COX-2 inhibitors to induce a significant increase, in heart attacks and strokes. These differences were unexpected because of the 60% overall COX-1 and COX-2 sequence similarity and the 1–2 conservation of catalytic sites. Hydropathic analysis shows important bicyclic differences between COX-1 and COX-2 on a large scale outside the catalytic pocket. These differences involve much stronger amphiphilic interactions in COX-2 than in COX-1, and may explain the selective antiplatelet effectiveness of COX-2. Success of the non-Euclidean structural analysis is the result of using the new Brazilian hydropathicity scale based on self-organized criticality (SOC) of universal protein modules.
The Authority of Affect

A while ago I pulled the short straw, and became chair of my department. One nice part of the job is to praise people I work with, which I can do sincerely because they are very praiseworthy. I also have to read a lot of praise by others; the familiar things-project evaluations, letters of recommendation, promotion dossiers, and so on and so forth. As a result, I have learnt to attend to praise a little more closely. One characteristic way in which even sincere praise can be hollow is by being general and formulaic. Formulaic praise-saying only the sorts of things admirers generally say-fails to convince precisely because it does not draw out distinctive praiseworthy detail, the very aspects that a true admirer is well-placed to notice. Telling praise, on the other hand, sometimes displays what are naturally construed as subtle flaws in the admired one. Yet it presents these features in such detail as to show that the admirer has really considered and so is probably really taken with the admired one. Conversely, formulaic praise, by showing no evidence that its author has seen determinate details in the one who is being praised, leaves us wondering whether the author is really taken with his subject. There is then a reliable inference from the specificity of praise to the affective engagement with the admired one on the part of the admirer. New lovers sometimes ask "What do you love about me?" It is a dangerous question. For the answer can reveal whether they have really been seen, and hence whether they are really loved. These observations serve to introduce a thesis that I would like to explore. Seeing the utterly specific ways in which a situation, animal or person is appealing or repellent requires an appropriate affective engagement with the situation, animal or person. Absence of appropriate affect makes us aspectblind. The world then appears more neutral than it is, and our immediate evaluational thought and judgement becomes impoverished. Intrinsic motivation is lost, and eventually our own ongoing activity lacks a kind of ready intelligibility, which the giving of reasons to ourselves hardly makes up for.
Building a personal health record from a nursing perspective.

Abstract Objective A complex set of needs—increased accessibility to and interest in health information, more respect for patients’ rights, advanced information technologies, and pressure to seek cost-effective healthcare delivery—made the personal health record (PHR) necessary. Nursing, as essential to healthcare, must be represented in a PHR, but few studies have explored the nurse's role in the development and expansion of the PHR. The aim of this project was to design and develop an Internet-based PHR, IowaPHR, in order to demonstrate how nursing can be integrated into the PHR. Methods In addition to the common features of the PHR as detailed by previous studies, IowaPHR contains the following innovations: (1) the information embraces major community health concerns; (2) an interactive feature—the self-assessment and feedback field—was created by transforming a standardized nursing language into appropriate questions adjusted for consumer vocabulary level; and (3) a user-friendly interface was equipped with trends in health conditions and a diary function. This PHR was then evaluated by experts in terms of content, ease of navigation, time needed to complete tasks, ability to find desired information, and site presentation. Results In the evaluation of this PHR, experts assigned high scores to four items. Completion of the tasks took an average of 16.25 min. Conclusion Allowing self- or caregivers to observe health conditions through completion of the questions on our PHR will precisely address clinic visitors’ health problems, assist in planning interventions, and promote education of and empowerment for health care. This PHR will provide a new way for nursing informatics to enhance the capacity of nursing in consumer health and to make a difference in the larger context of health informatics.
A further analysis of physiological changes in rats in the forced swim test.

Rats were tested in the forced swim test in 35 or 20 cm of water or in an open field to evaluate the effects of different intensities of stress on blood gases, electrolytes, and metabolic indices, compared to nontested controls. Animals tested in the open field did not differ from controls on any measure. Immersion in deep water resulted in a greater mixed metabolic and respiratory acidemia (low pH, low bicarbonate, high pCO2), higher glucose and higher lactate levels than immersion in shallow water which in turn resulted in greater metabolic acidemia (low pH, low bicarbonate), and higher glucose and lactate levels than occurred in open field or control animals. In contrast to immersion in deep water, immersion in shallow water resulted in an initial hypocapnia followed by a hypercapnia. Immersion in deep water also resulted in higher potassium levels, lower bicarbonate and total carbon dioxide levels, and a higher anion gap than immersion in shallow water, testing in the open field, or in controls. In a second study, lactate infusion resulted in a metabolic alkalemia (increased pH and bicarbonate levels) and an increase in total carbon dioxide levels. These results indicate that test parameters from forced swim testing (e.g., water depth) can significantly affect the rat's physiological response to testing. The effects of forced swim testing are not simply due to general stress; and the physiological changes seen in conjunction with forced swim testing (e.g., acidemia) are not due to lactate alone.
Acculturation and depressive symptoms among pregnant and postpartum Latinas.

Objectives Among childbearing Latinas, higher acculturation has been found to be significantly associated with increased risk for mental health problems (Acevado (Child Abuse Neglect, 24:11–127, 2000)), although these findings have been inconsistent (Beck (Maternal Child Nurs, 31(2), 114–120, 2006)). The aims of this study are to assess and compare the prevalence of elevated depressive symptoms among pregnant and postpartum U.S.- and Mexican-born Latinas, and to describe the relation of elevated depressive symptoms and acculturation indicators. Methods A convenience sample of 439 pregnant and postpartum Latinas attending Public Health Clinics in San Antonio, Texas was screened for depressive symptoms using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) Scale. Women with a score of 21 or greater were classified as having elevated depressive symptoms. Sociodemographic data, including birth country and language of interview, were collected as indicators of acculturation. Results 21% of the sample had moderate depressive symptoms; 15% met the threshold for high depressive symptoms. Bivariate analysis showed Latinas who were U.S.-born, single, preferred English or were pregnant were more likely to express elevated levels of depressive symptoms. Being U.S.-born, pregnant and single was significantly associated with moderate levels of depressive symptoms in logistic regression analyses controlling for other variables in the model. Controlling for other variables, being pregnant and single was significantly associated with high levels of depressive symptoms. Conclusions Higher acculturation, pregnancy and single status were positively associated with elevated depressive symptoms. Screening for depression during pregnancy is important for this population group, given Latinas’ high rates of fertility and births to single women, particularly among more acculturated, U.S.-born Latinas.
Inertial fusion energy : A clearer view of the environmental and safety aspects

A consistent method for the comparison of environmental, safety, and health (ES&H) characteristics of fusion power plant designs is developed. Such comparisons enable identification of trends in fusion ES&H characteristics and can be used to increase the likelihood of fusion achieving its full potential with respect to ES&H characteristics. A large number of radiological hazard indexes are defined in three different categories of hazard: accidents, occupational and routine exposures, and waste disposal. Using a consistent set of computer codes, data libraries, and assumptions, these radiological hazard indexes are calculated and compared for five inertial and two magnetic fusion energy power plant designs. The results of the analysis are threefold: The utility of low-activation materials (LAMs) is confirmed, the tremendous potential for the use of thick-liquid system for first-wall protection is validated, and the strong need for materials that can last for the lifetime of the power plant is shown. The conservative radionuclide release fractions that are used show that all but one of the designs has only a minute chance of producing any early fatalities during an accident. The need for remote maintenance in most designs is confirmed, and the possibility of disposing of most fusion wastes via shallow land burial (if the methodology ofcurrent regulations is applied to fusion wastes) is shown. The need for more research in LAMs and for the experimental measurement of radionuclide release fractions under accident conditions is emphasized.
Accuracy of surface fit registration for PET and MR brain images using full and incomplete brain surfaces.

Objective: The accuracy of a surface-fitting image registration technique has been investigated for matching [ 18 F]fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) and [ 15 O]H 2 O PET brain images with MR images. Use of partial-brain surfaces (a single hemisphere or a limited number of slices) was investigated to simulate cases in which severe brain defects or limited axial field of view would preclude using the entire brain surface. Materials and Methods: Three FDG and three H 2 O scans were performed on five volunteers, in addition to volume MR studies. Fiducial markers were placed on the subjects' scalps to provide references for registration accuracy. The registration procedure was applied to each PET-MR set, using the surfaces defined by locating the brain edge in multiple slices for each set. Results: The surfaces fit well, with only 1% scaling necessary for the best fit. Errors in fiducial marker positions between MRI and transformed PET were <2 mm in the transverse directions and <4.5 mm in the axial direction. Fits based on the partial surfaces worked well and gave results very similar to the full-brain fits. Conclusion: The surface-fitting technique is accurate for FDG and H 2 O PET studies, even when part of the brain surface cannot be used
Comparing Responsiveness of Six Common Patient-Reported Outcomes to Changes Following Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Prospective Studies

Objective:To compare the responsiveness of six common patient-reported outcomes (PROs) following autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI).Design:A systematic search was conducted to identify reports of PROs following ACI. Study quality was evaluated using the modified Coleman Methodology Score (mCMS). For each outcome score, pre- to postoperative paired Hedge’s g effect sizes were calculated with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Random effects meta-analyses were performed to provide a summary response for each PRO at time points (TP) I (<1 year), II (1 year to <2 years), III (2 years to <4 years), IV (≥4 years), and overall.Results:The mean mCMS for the 42 articles included was 50.9 ± 9.2. For all evaluated instruments, none of the mean effect size CIs encompassed zero. The International Knee Documentation Committee Subjective Knee Form (IKDC) had increasing responsiveness over time with TP-IV, demonstrating greater mean effect size [confidence interval] (1.78 [1.33, 2.24]) than TP-I (0.88 [0.69, 1.07]). ...
An existence result for maximizations with respect to cones

A sufficient condition is given for the existence of a solution to a generalized Pareto maximization problem in which maximization is defined in terms of cones. This result generalizes the fact that an upper semicontinuous real-valued function achieves its maximum on a compact set.
Toxoplasmosis in Young Jamaicans

Of 511 young (1-19 years of age) Jamaicans sampled for IgG antibodies to Toxoplasma by the ELISA method, there was an overall prevalence of 45 per cent. Seropositivity ranged from 24-26 per cent in the 2-year-olds, up to 54 per cent in the 5-9-year-olds. There was no significant difference in prevalence between the sexes, but there was a statistically significant difference between the rates from rural uplands (58 per cent), urban uplands (46 per cent), rural lowlands (40 per cent), and urban lowlands (32 per cent).
Gene therapeutic strategies for neuroprotection : Implications for Parkinson's disease

Abstract Gene transfer methodologies are being explored as strategies to restore and preserve neuronal function in Parkinson's Disease. This technology represents a new therapeutic modality, holding promise for continuous and localized delivery of neuroprotective molecules. Two primary approaches for gene transfer have emerged: in vivo and ex vivo. Recent advances in the construction and characterization of gene transfer vectors have generated more efficient vehicles to deliver and express candidate therapeutic genes. Direct gene transfer into the CNS can be achieved with replication-deficient viral vectors of several types: adenovirus, adeno-associated virus, and herpes simplex virus. These vector systems are being evaluated in models of Parkinson's disease. Strategies to deliver genes include those that either augment dopamine biosynthesis or attenuate loss of dopaminergic neurons. A discussion of the various approaches is detailed.
Oxidation of peptidyl lysine by an amine oxidase from bovine aorta

Abstract An amine oxidase was purified from bovine aorta approximately 150-fold. The enzyme eluted from columns of Sephadex G-200 in the area of catalase and actively catalyzed the oxidation of benzylamine, simple alkylamines, but not tryptamine, histamine, or tyramine. Although DL-lysine was not oxidized, hydrogen peroxide production and the presence of α-aminoadipic- δ -semialdehyde could be demonstrated when peptidyl lysine was incubated with enzyme preparations.
Adhesive receptors on malaria-parasitized red cells

Abstract Antigenic variation, rosetting and cytoadhesion are key determinants in the survival and virulence of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum . These properties reside in a multi-gene protein family called P. falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1), encoded by the large and diverse var gene family. PfEMP1 plays a central role in the biology of P. falciparum and its interaction with the human host. The molecular mechanism and the domains involved in cytoadherence, rosetting and antigenic variation are beginning to unfold. Domains mediating rosetting and adhesion to several key host receptors have already been identified. Understanding the role of PfEMP1 in the pathogenesis and survival of malaria parasites is the key for the development of anti-adhesion vaccines and therapeutics to reduce the mortality and morbidity of P. falciparum infections.
Aziridinone and 2-azetidinone and their protonated structures. An ab initio molecular orbital study making comparisons with bridgehead bicyclic lactams and acetamide

Abstract Ab initio molecular orbital calculations optimized at the 6-31G * level have been performed for aziridinone, 2-azetidinone and acetamide and their O- and N-protonated structures. Aziridinone is calculated to have a strongly pyramidal nitrogen and only 12.7 kcal mol t of “operational” resonance energy compared with the 20.5 kcal mol −1 of “operational” resonance energy in acetamide. The very low N-inversion barrier for aziridinone is associated with the 27.9 kcal mol 1 of “pure” resonance energy calculated in planar aziridinone, the N-inversion transition state. This is further supported by the exceedingly short C-N bond (1.302 A) which is reminiscent of cyclopropene. For comparison, the “operational” and “pure” resonance energies of 2-azetidinone are 19.2 and 24.9 kcal mol −1 respectively and the “pure” resonance energy of acetamide is 26.5 kcal mol −1 . 2-Azetidinone is O-protonated (anti to N) but aziridinone protonates at nitrogen to generate a ring-opened acylium ion. It appears that ring-closed and -opened N-protonated aziridinones exist as isomers and this is consistent with mass spectral determinations of the corresponding phenyl derivatives. Structural and energy data and core eigenvalues (N, O and carbonyl C) are given for aziridinone, 2-azetidinone, acetamide, two earlier-studied bridgehead bicyclic lactams (l-azabicyclo[2.2.2]octan-2-one (“2-quinuclidone”) and 1-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonan-2-one) and their protonated derivatives.
Foundations of the nuclear shell model

A derivation of the nuclear shell model is given. A closed-shell nucleus without degeneracy is considered to invalidate the Gladstone expansion. The two-body effective potential depends not only on the local density and the local relative momentum but on the energies of the interacting nucleons and on the local analog of the total momentum of the pair. The single-particle energies are not equal to the removal energies. (C.E.S.)
Nonpharmacologic Airway Clearance Techniques in Hospitalized Patients: A Systematic Review

Nonpharmacologic airway clearance techniques are used to reduce the sequelae of obstructive secretions. We systematically reviewed comparative studies of nonpharmacologic interventions that health professionals can employ to achieve mucus clearance in hospitalized or postoperative patients without cystic fibrosis, over the age of 12 months. We searched MEDLINE and other databases from 1990 to 2012 to identify relevant literature. Two reviewers independently assessed each study against predetermined inclusion/exclusion criteria. Two reviewers also independently extracted data regarding subject and intervention characteristics and outcomes, and assigned overall quality ratings. The 32 studies meeting the review criteria included 24 randomized controlled trials, 7 crossover randomized controlled trials, and one prospective cohort study. Studies were typically small and together included a total of 2,453 subjects (mean 76/study). Studies generally examined chest physical therapy/physiotherapy modalities in postoperative or critically ill subjects or those with COPD. Interventions, comparators, and populations varied considerably across studies, hampering our ability to draw firm conclusions. Interventions, including conventional chest physical therapy/physiotherapy, intrapulmonary percussive ventilation, and positive expiratory pressure, typically provided small benefits in pulmonary function, gas exchange, oxygenation, and need for/duration of ventilation, among other outcomes, but differences between groups were generally small and not significant. Harms of the techniques were not consistently reported, though airway clearance techniques were generally considered safe in studies that did comment on adverse effects. Further research with clearly characterized populations and interventions is needed to understand the potential benefits and harms of these techniques.
Probing cAMP-Dependent Protein Kinase Holoenzyme Complexes Iα and IIβ by FT-IR and Chemical Protein Footprinting

Although individual structures of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) catalytic (C) and regulatory (R) subunits have been determined at the atomic level, our understanding of the effects of cAMP activation on protein dynamics and intersubunit communication of PKA holoenzymes is very limited. To delineate the mechanism of PKA activation and structural differences between type I and II PKA holoenzymes, the conformation and structural dynamics of PKA holoenzymes Ialpha and IIbeta were probed by amide hydrogen-deuterium exchange coupled with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and chemical protein footprinting. Binding of cAMP to PKA holoenzymes Ialpha and IIbeta leads to a downshift in the wavenumber for both the alpha-helix and beta-strand bands, suggesting that R and C subunits become overall more dynamic in the holoenzyme complexes. This is consistent with the H-D exchange results showing a small change in the overall rate of exchange in response to the binding of cAMP to both PKA holoenzymes Ialpha and IIbeta. Despite the overall similarity, significant differences in the change of FT-IR spectra in response to the binding of cAMP were observed between PKA holoenzymes Ialpha and IIbeta. Activation of PKA holoenzyme Ialpha led to more conformational changes in beta-strand structures, while cAMP induced more apparent changes in the alpha-helical structures in PKA holoenzyme IIbeta. Chemical protein footprinting experiments revealed an extended docking surface for the R subunits on the C subunit. Although the overall subunit interfaces appeared to be similar for PKA holoenzymes Ialpha and IIbeta, a region around the active site cleft of the C subunit was more protected in PKA holoenzyme Ialpha than in PKA holoenzyme IIbeta. These results suggest that the C subunit assumes a more open conformation in PKA holoenzyme IIbeta. In addition, the chemical cleavage patterns around the active site cleft of the C subunit were distinctly different in PKA holoenzymes Ialpha and IIbeta even in the presence of cAMP. These observations provide direct evidence that the R subunits may be partially associated with the C subunit with the pseudosubstrate sequence docked in the active site cleft in the presence of cAMP.
Valuing and practicing competency-based supervision: A transformational leadership perspective.

A significant culture change to a competency-based approach to supervision reflects the current zeitgeist in professional psychology education and training. Accreditation, credentialing, regulation, and training have all been transformed to competency-based approaches. However, the transition within a program to a competency-based approach is not always smooth. This article addresses specific leadership competencies that facilitate change, with attention paid to the supervisory process. Because most leaders in professional psychology have traditionally engaged in transactional leadership, a shift is required to transformational leadership, a style associated with effective change. As a backdrop to the focus on a transformational leadership approach and competency-based supervision, this article first overviews the competencies movement, particularly competency-based clinical supervision. Then transformational leadership is applied to changing educational and training cultures and climates to ensure the consistent and comprehensive implementation of a competency-based approach to clinical supervision. Strategies are offered for implementing such an approach to competency-based clinical supervision, as well as for overcoming barriers to implementation.
Human Antibodies that Neutralize HIV-1: Identification, Structures, and B Cell Ontogenies

Antibodies that neutralize diverse strains of HIV-1 develop in ∼20% of HIV-1-infected individuals, and isolation and structural characterization of these antibodies are revealing how they recognize the envelope glycoprotein spike. Broadly reactive neutralizing antibodies utilize just a few sites of spike vulnerability and converge on select modes of recognition. These antibodies have unusual features: uncommonly long complementarity-determining loops, extensive somatic mutation, or both. Recent advances in next-generation sequencing of antibody-gene transcripts are providing genetic records of the development of neutralizing antibodies. These records inform an understanding of the naive B cell repertoire, of somatic mutation, and of the resulting antibody features that are critical to effective HIV-1 neutralization; based on these, we propose an ontogeny and structure-based system of antibody classification. The human immune system is capable of developing antibodies that broadly neutralize HIV-1—and an increasingly detailed view is accumulating for how effective immunity against HIV-1 can be generated.
Reinforcing effect of an informative stimulus that is not a positive discriminative stimulus

A stimulus associated with non-reinforcement is reinforcing when it predicts reinforcement.
Impact of Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction Diagnosis of Enterovirus Infections on the Care of Febrile Children † 903

Impact of Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction Diagnosis of Enterovirus Infections on the Care of Febrile Children † 903
Cyclins, cyclin dependent kinases, and regulation of steroid receptor action

Steroid receptors (SR), which are ligand activated transcription factors, and their coactivators are phosphoproteins whose activities are regulated by cell signaling pathways. Many of the identified phosphorylation sites in these proteins contain Ser/Thr-Pro motifs suggesting that they are substrates for cyclin dependent kinases and/or for mitogen activated protein kinases. An analysis of the roles of cyclins and their kinases in regulating receptor action has revealed that there are both stimulatory and inhibitory actions of cyclins, that some of the actions are independent of the partner kinases and that these activities are receptor specific. Consistent with this finding, the limited analyses of receptor activity as a function of cell cycle reveal distinct patterns of activation. SR often regulate cell proliferation. Thus, the cross-talk between cyclins and their kinases and the SR provides a means for integrating the actions of the SR with the cell cycle status of cells.
Absence of Eosinopenic Response to AGTH Administration by the Aerosol Route in Normal Subjects.

SummaryObservations on 6 normal subjects showed that eosinopenia did not occur following aerosol administration of ACTH, indicating that ACTH is not absorbed from the bronchopulmonary tree.
Electric-field profile and current control of a long epitaxial GaAs n layer

Control of the cathode current is used to achieve an electric-field bias above the negative-resistance threshold field on an extended length of GaAs epitaxial layer grown on a semi-insulating substrate. The cathode current is controlled with a Schottky-barrier contact strip parallel to the cathode.
An Engineering Approach to Upgrade NOAA's Tidal Observation Network Instrumentation

This paper describes the evolution and ongoing engineering effort to increase instrument reliability and maintain high data quality in NOAA's National Tide and Water Level Observation Network. In 1978, data sets were below desired quality because extensive processing was necessary to obtain the required data products. A corrective maintenance program was initiated to provide an immediate short term solution. Parallel efforts to correct manufacturing design deficiencies and improve long term reliability were initiated. Modified instruments were then subjected to a rigorous reliability test program. The successful test results provided the impetus to undertake a pilot project to upgrade a portion of the Network in conjunction with the introduction of an Integrated Logistics Support Plan. In 1979, over 60 stations were upgraded with a significant increase in the reliability and data quality. An additional two hundred stations were designated for upgrade in 1980. In 1981, the pilot project is transitioning into an upgrade program to complete the entire network.
AGGREGATION OF 2,3-DIHYDROXY-ETIOCHLORIN I. AN AMPHIPHILIC MODEL COMPOUND FOR PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY AND GREEN HEME d

The crystal structure of 2,3-dihydroxy-etiochlorin I has been determined to obtain information on its aggregation behavior. Cis-dihydroxychlorins serve as model compounds for green heme d and show promising photonecrotic activity in photodynamic therapy. The compound shows strong aggregation in the solid state facilitated by intramolecular hydrogen bonding between one hydroxy group and pyrrole nitrogens of neighboring molecules. This novel type of aggregation leads to chain-type aggregates in the crystal. The title compound 4 crystallized in the monoclinic space group Ia (Z = 4) with unit cell dimensions a = 9.902(4) A, b = 26.430(9) A, c = 10.823(5), beta = 104.47(3) A, V = 2743(2) A3. The structure was refined to an R-value of 0.097 on the basis of 1150 reflections with F > 4.0 sigma (F) (130 K).