cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Impact of Alzheimer's pathology on cognitive trajectories in nondemented elderly.

Objective Some individuals who are asymptomatic for dementia while alive have substantial Alzheimer's disease (AD) neuropathology at autopsy. We investigated whether cognitive trajectories differ between clinically normal elderly individuals with and without AD neuropathology and how they compare with trajectories of clinically impaired individuals before dementia diagnosis. Methods Eighty-one elderly participants in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA) were followed prospectively with neurological and neuropsychological assessments before autopsy evaluation at death. Trajectories of cognitive change were estimated for a number of domains using cognitive data before a clinical diagnosis of dementia. Results Clinically normal elderly individuals with and without AD-type neuropathology have similar cognitive trajectories across different cognitive domains. In contrast, individuals with mild cognitive impairment/AD show steeper rates of longitudinal decline in several aspects of cognition compared with clinically normal elderly individuals regardless of whether the latter have AD neuropathology. Moreover, the cognitive differences between impaired and unimpaired groups can be detected years before a diagnosis of dementia. Interpretation Clinically normal individuals with and without AD neuropathology do not differ in rates of cognitive decline across a number of cognitive domains. Understanding the factors that protect some individuals with AD pathology from cognitive impairment may contribute to the maintenance of cognitive health in the elderly. Ann Neurol 2006;60:688–695
Fostering Collaborations to Support Adult Learners in Research and Writing

Many adult learners at Indiana University Northwest were unsuccessful in writing research papers. After a general discussion about this problem between the Coordinator of Library Instruction and the Coordinator of Academic Advising and Tutoring of TRIO Student Support Services, a collaboration was born. The two departments decided to combine their expertise to help students succeed in writing research papers. Initially each department offered workshops separately and the attendance was low. After combining skills and expertise into one session, not only did students attend, but they continued to seek help from the library and Student Support Services on future assignments. This paper will discuss the collaboration between the library and Student Support Services in addressing the needs of adult learners in writing research papers and the evolution of that collaboration.
Syntactic pattern classification by branch and bound search

A methodology for classifying syntactic patterns that performs a branch-and-bound search over a set of prototypes is proposed. The prototypes are first clustered hierarchically and the search is performed over the hierarchy. The proposed technique is applied to a pattern recognition system in which images are described by the sequence of features extracted from the chain codes of their contours. A rotationally invariant string distance measure is defined that compares two feature strings. The methodology discussed is compared to a nearest neighbor classifier that uses 12000 prototypes. The proposed technique decreases the time required to recognize a pattern by 93% and maintains a recognition rate of greater than 90%. >
Site-selective deposition of twinned platinum nanoparticles on TiSi2 nanonets by atomic layer deposition and their oxygen reduction activities.

For many electrochemical reactions such as oxygen reduction, catalysts are of critical importance, as they are often necessary to reduce reaction overpotentials. To fulfill the promises held by catalysts, a well-defined charge transport pathway is indispensable. Presently, porous carbon is most commonly used for this purpose, the application of which has been recently recognized to be a potential source of concern. To meet this challenge, here we present the development of a catalyst system without the need for carbon. Instead, we focused on a conductive, two-dimensional material of a TiSi2 nanonet, which is also of high surface area. As a proof-of-concept, we grew Pt nanoparticles onto TiSi2 by atomic layer deposition. Surprisingly, the growth exhibited a unique selectivity, with Pt deposited only on the top/bottom surfaces of the nanonets at the nanoscale without mask or patterning. Pt {111} surfaces are preferably exposed as a result of a multiple-twinning effect. The materials showed great promise in ...
The great thickness debate: Ice shell thickness models for Europa and comparisons with estimates based on flexure at ridges

Abstract Estimates of the thickness of the ice shell of Europa range from 30 km. The higher values are generally assumed to be estimates of the entire ice shell thickness, which may include a lower ductile layer of ice, whereas many of the smaller thickness estimates are based on analyses that only consider that portion of the ice layer that behaves elastically at a particular strain rate. One example of the latter is flexure analysis, in which the elastic ice layer is modeled as a plate or sphere that is flexed under the weight of a surface load. We present calculations based on flexure analysis in which we model the elastic ice layer as flexing under a line-load caused by ridges. We use precisely located, parallel flanking cracks as indicators of the location of greatest tensile stress induced by flexure. Our elastic thickness results are spatially variable: ∼500–2200 m (two sites) and ∼200–1000 m (one site). Thorough analysis of Europan flexure studies performed by various researchers shows that the type of model selected causes the greatest variability in the thickness results, followed by the choice of Young's modulus, which is poorly constrained for the Europan ice shell. Comparing our results to those of previously published flexure analyses for Europa, we infer spatial variability in the elastic ice thickness (at the time of load emplacement), with smooth bands having the thinnest elastic ice thickness of all areas studied. Because analysis of flexure-induced fracturing can only reveal the elastic thickness at the time of load emplacement, calculated thickness variability between features having different ages may also reflect a temporal variability in the thickness of Europa's ice shell.
A programmable dynamometer for testing rotating machinery using a three-phase induction machine

A programmable dynamometer is proposed where the user can define the steady-state and inertial torque-speed characteristic of the load. Rotating machinery can be tested on this dynamometer to determine their transient and steady-state characteristics with a practical load. The user inputs the desired load characteristics by selecting polynomial and inertia coefficients. The system uses proportional-integral (PI) controllers to control a three-phase induction motor using indirect field orientation. Simulations show that the dynamometer offers excellent tracking of the desired torque-speed characteristic and simplicity of use. >
Implications of Chloroplast DNA Restriction Site Variation for Systematics of Acacia (Fabaceae: Mimosoideae)

Abstract Comparative restriction site mapping of the chloroplast genome of 26 accessions of Acacia plus outgroups (Caesalpinia, Albizia, and Ebenopsis) was carried out to analyze phylogenetic relationships among the subgenera of Acacia and, in particular, within Acacia subgenus Acacia. One or more taxa from each of seven New World species-groups plus two African species of Acacia subgenus Acacia were included in the analysis to generate hypotheses of the evolution and radiation of this group. Restriction maps constructed from data from 11 restriction enzymes yielded 212 informative restriction sites out of a total of 900. Parsimony analysis resulted in a total of 12 most parsimonious trees of 663 steps each. The strict consensus tree and bootstrap and decay indices indicate strong support for monophyly of Acacia subgenus Acacia and provisional support for the paraphyly of Acacia overall. Moderately to strongly supported clades within Acacia subgenus Acacia indicate that the mesically adapted A. macracanth...
Mediastinal masses in infants and children

Between the years 1954 and 1972, 109 patients with a mediastinal mass were treated at Children's Memorial Hospital. The children ranged in age from 2 hours to 16 years. Management of such patients is dependent primarily upon three factors: the age of the patient, the presenting symptoms, and the position of the mass on anterior and lateral chest roentgenograms. In this series, 50 patients had benign lesions and 59 had malignant tumors. At the most recent follow-up, 47 per cent of the children with malignant lesions were still alive.
Qualitative analysis of bibliotherapy as a tool for adults who stutter and graduate students.

Abstract Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate the use of bibliotherapy as a therapeutic tool for adults who stutter (AWS) and as an educational tool for graduate students in speech-language pathology. Bibliotherapy refers to the process of reading, reflecting upon, and discussing literature, often first person illness or disability narratives, to promote cognitive shifts in the way clients and clinicians conceptualize the experience of disability. Method Five AWS and six graduate students participated in supervised bibliotherapy using a stuttering memoir during therapy sessions. An inductive, qualitative analysis was utilized to analyze data collected from questionnaires and interviews. An additional deductive qualitative approach was utilized to explore how client data fit into an existing five-outcome model of bibliotherapy from the psychology literature. Results Graduate students reported developing essential clinical skills for working with clients who stutter, including an improved understanding of the experience of people who stutter and an increased ability to form and strengthen the therapeutic alliance. Clients reported experiencing shifts in the cognitive and affective components of the disorder. Imposing the five-outcome model on client data indicates that at least two clients in the current study experienced all five outcomes of bibliotherapy. These include client experiences of involvement, identification, catharsis, insight and universalism. Conclusion Both graduate students and clients reported benefits from reading and discussing a memoir about stuttering. Bibliotherapy can be an effective tool in therapy and clinical education when used appropriately.
A Simple, Efficient, and High-Order Accurate Sliding-Mesh Interface Approach to Spectral Difference Method on Coupled Rotating and Deforming/Stationary Domains

In this paper, we present a novel sliding-mesh interface approach to the spectral difference (SD) method on coupled rotating and deforming/stationary domains. This approach is an extension of the previously reported method for coupled rotating and stationary domains for the flux reconstruction (FR) method [1]. The use of sliding-mesh interfaces not only allows us to study flows around freely rotating bodies but can also dramatically reduce grid twists on deforming domains with large-angle rotations. We test the accuracy of the solver on an inviscid flow, and it is found that the solver is high-order accurate on coupled dynamic grids with sliding-mesh interface. Simulation of viscous flow over a plunging and pitching airfoil is also carried out to verify the solver, it is seen that the solver is accurate and is very efficient in terms of computational cost. Finally, we apply the solver to study a two-dimensional vertical axis wind turbine at different Reynolds numbers. It is found that the turbine is efficient and extracts energy from the flows at high Reynolds numbers. This solver can also be applied to other problems, such as the aerodynamics of rotorcrafts, oscillating wing wind power generators.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
3D RVE Models Able to Capture and Quantify the Dispersion, Agglomeration, and Orientation State of CNT in CNT/PP Nanocomposites

The focus of this study is to investigate the capabilities of 3D RVE models in predicting the tensile modulus of carbon nanotube polypropylene (CNT/PP) composites which differ slightly in the dispersion, agglomeration and orientation states of CNT within the PP matrix. The composites are made using melt mixing followed by either injection molding or melt spinning of fibers. The dispersion, agglomeration and orientation of CNT within the PP are experimentally altered by using a surfactant and by forcing the molten material to flow through a narrow orifice (melt spinning) that promotes alignment of CNT along the flow/drawing direction. An elaborate image analysis technique is used to quantify the CNT characteristics in terms of probability distribution functions (PDF). The PDF are then introduced to the 3D RVE models which also account for the CNT-PP interfacial interactions. It is concluded that the 3D RVE models can accurately distinguish among the different cases (dispersion, distribution, geometry and alignment of CNT) as the predicted tensile modulus is in good agreement with the experimentally determined one.
Optical antenna arrays of carbon nanotubes and their fabrication on polyimide and transparent conducting oxides for direct device integration

Vertically-aligned carbon nanotubes/nanofibers grown on various substrates by a direct-current plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition method have been shown experimentally to function as classical low-loss dipole antenna arrays at optical frequencies. Two fundamental antenna effects, e.g., the polarization effect and length matching effect, directly observed on large-scale CNT arrays in visible frequency range, hold them promising for industry-level fabrication of devices including linear/beam-splitting polarizers, solar energy converters, THz demodulators, etc., some of which will, however, require or prefer a flexible and/or transparent conducting substrate to be compatible for multi-level integration and low-cost manufacturing process. A low-energy dark discharge fabrication technique is therefore devised which successfully yields CNT antennas directly on polyimide films and transparent conducting oxides (ITO, ZnO) with the absence of a buffer layer.
Mapping Regime Political Variation and Policy Change

Policy regimes are “political-institutional arrangements that define the relationship between social interests, the state, and economic actors” (Eisner 1993, 2). Quite simply, policy regimes serve as the context in which agendas are set, solutions are formulated and adopted, and policies are implemented. Jochim and May (2013) suggest that regimes often override subsystem arrangements to bring some semblance of order and cohesion to disparate policy arenas. Still, a regimes ability to serve as a macro level constraint is not constant or uniform across policy areas or through time. The strength of any particular regime, and by strength we mean its ability to shape policy and constrain the autonomy of subsystems, is based on how well it is able to handle the tension between the old and new regimes, the variation of subsystem politics in play, and the particular combination of political, social and economic challenges with which it is faced. These features of the political system, along with the origins of the regime — heresthetics, leadership, or arbitrage (Schneider, Teske and Mintrom 1995) — determine whether/how a regime takes hold. We examine regime politics in three policy realms, illustrating how variation in a regime politics condition a regime’s ability to alter policy dynamics.
In vivo estimation of lactose hydrolysis in premature infants using a dual stable tracer technique.

To investigate their putative capacity for lactose digestion, primed continuous orogastric infusions of [1-13C]glucose and D-[1-13C]lactose were administered on consecutive days to five premature i...
Germanium Far Infrared Blocked Impurity Band Detectors

We report on the development of Germanium Blocked Impurity Band (BIB) photoconductors for long wavelength infrared detection in the 100 to 250.μm region. Liquid Phase Epitaxy (LPE) was used to grow the high purity blocking layer, and in some cases, the heavily doped infrared absorbing layer that comprise theses detectors. To achieve the stringent demands on purity and crystalline perfection we have developed a high purity LPE process which can be used for the growth of high purity as well as purely doped Ge epilayers. The low melting point, high purity metal, Pb, was used as a solvent. Pb has a negligible solubility <1017 cm−3 in Ge at 650°C and is isoelectronic with Ge. We have identified the residual impurities Bi, P, and Sb in the Ge epilayers and have determined that the Pb solvent is the source. Experiments are in progress to purify the Pb. The first tests of BIB structures with the purely doped absorbing layer grown on high purity substrates look very promising. The detectors exhibit extended wavelength cutoff when compared to standard Ge:Ga photoconductors (155 μm vs. 120 μm) and show the expected asymmetric current-voltage dependencies. We are currently optimizing doping and layer thickness to achieve the optimum responsivity, Noise Equivalent Power (NEP), and dark current in our devices.
Turning Introductory Comparative Politics and Elections Courses into Social Science Research Communities Using Wikipedia: Improving Both Teaching and Research

This article advocates a lesson plan for introductory comparative politics and elections courses. The authors argue that Wikipedia (yes, Wikipedia) provides a unique platform for improving learning outcomes and a useful social good from traditional stu- dent papers on elections. The proposed lesson plan can achieve this in at least three ways: (1) by providing social incentives for learning and a method for students to contribute to social science knowledge from their earliest courses, the incorporation of Wikipedia edit- ing can improve student learning and retention; (2) incorporating an online information component can help both future students and researchers by improving the quality and quantity of easily accessible and well-referenced information about historical and upcom- ing elections; and (3) the use of the Wiki format is becoming increasingly common in both business and government. Teaching the basics of editing is an increasingly useful skill for students to learn for future employment.
The Mathematical and the Hermeneutical: On Heidegger’s Notion of the Apriori

Heidegger’s most penetrating reflections on the essence of mathematical physics inevitably turn on the sense in which it is mathematical. And in a fashion which has come to be known as “Heideggerian,” he bases his reflections on the original Greek sense of mathesis and mathemata, so that the notion of the “mathematical” is thereby broadened from its current reference to the “apriori” discipline that deals with number, quantity and the like, to the comprehensive sense of a process of learning in which we come to know what we already know, where the mathemata, what is thereby known, refers to any apriori knowledge whatsoever.
Transforming Experience of Computer Science Software Development Through Developing a Usable Multiplayer Online Game in One Semester

We present an instructional design of computer science project-based course to transform studentsâ experiences of acquiring software development skills. In a collaborative classroom emulating a typical industry work setting, students will collectively create and build a Multiplayer Online Game using a variety of complex software components. A course was taught to design and develop a working Multiplayer Online Game within one semester: building a ready-to-usable game in one semester with whole classmates presents significant challenges to cope with and stimulate students to realize the important aspects of teamwork and software engineering principles. Students present their progress, discuss future milestones and trouble shoots, update documents for clearer communication and utilize source control tool throughout the semester. Unlike usual class setting, all students worked collaboratively together like one company to achieve the goal. In the class, students started from concept design and developed specific components of working Multiplayer Online Game, while broadly learning game design, 3D graphics, Game Engine, Server-client architecture, Game Protocol, network programming, database, Software Engineering principles, and large application development as a team project. The course was successfully transferred to CSULA in Fall Quarter, 2013.
Diffuse normolipaemic plane xanthomatosis. An abnormal complement component profile.

A patient with diffuse normolipaemic plane xanthomatosis, a benign monoclonal gammopathy, and a low total serum complement level is described. Functional haemolytic assays revealed decreased levels of C1, C4 and C2 components and elevated levels of the two terminal components C8 and C9. Radial immunodiffusion demonstrated low levels of C1q and C4 and a high level of C3. Both functional and immunochemical studies revealed extremely low levels of the inhibitor of C1 esterase. Anticomplementary activity was not present in the patient's serum. Despite low concentrations of the early reacting components of the classic complement pathway, the alternate pathway seemed to be intact. It was concluded that the patient had the recently delineated syndrome of acquired deficiency of the C1-esterase inhibitor.
Progression of Peripheral Artery Disease to Critical Limb Ischemia

Critical limb ischemia (CLI), often considered the end stage of peripheral artery disease (PAD), is a tipping point in the balance between metabolic supply and demand of the lower extremity. This balance hinges on many factors, and the progression from stable PAD to CLI depends on the complex interplay of these variables. Despite the fact that PAD is classically categorized by disease severity, the natural history of PAD progression and general development of CLI does not follow a strictly linear path, a fact characterized by the often insidious clinical presentation of CLI. From a pathophysiologic perspective, CLI is the final result of the common atherogenic pathway that causes PAD. However, CLI manifests only in selected case largely due to a loss of compensatory mechanisms that leads to overt tissue ischemia. Many of the risk factors that contribute to the development of PAD are also responsible for its progression and ultimately for development of CLI, and important information can be gleaned from their modification both in PAD and CLI.
COMPARISON OF FOUR METHODS FOR ENUMERATING SOMATIC CELLS IN MILK WITH AN ELECTRONIC COUNTER

Four chemical fat dispersion methods for conducting the Electronic Somatic Cell Count of milk were studied. The four methods were Rapid/Fixation/Dispersion, Somafix/Somaton, and two methods reported by the International Dairy Federation. Results were critically affected by variations in several procedural factors: type of test tube used for cell fixation and fat dispersion; ratio of milk to diluent; duration of cellular fixation; temperature and duration of fat dispersion; aging of milk samples before analysis; aging of fixed and dispersed samples; and method to agitate samples after fixation and dispersion. After standardization of procedures, the four methods were used, under regulatory testing conditions, to determine the cellular content of three groups of 50 samples of bulk herd milk. A Wisconsin Mastitis Test was done on each and a Direct Microscopic Somatic Cell Count was done on the latter two groups of samples. Attempts to fix cells and disperse fat simultaneously with a Rapid/Fixation/Dispersion...
Adjuvant Chemotherapy Is Associated With Improved Overall Survival in Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer After Achievement of a Pathologic Complete Response to Chemoradiation

Abstract Background In locally advanced rectal adenocarcinoma, 15% to 20% of patients treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiation (nCRT) achieve a pathologic complete response (pCR). The benefit of adjuvant chemotherapy is controversial in rectal cancer. Our objective was to evaluate the effect of clinical risk factors and adjuvant chemotherapy usage on the outcomes of the pCR patient population. Patients and Methods We performed a retrospective study using the National Cancer Data Base from 2006 to 2013. The primary outcome was overall survival (OS). The association between OS and patient characteristics (demographics, tumor variables, and treatment) was examined using multivariable Cox regression modelling. Results A total of 2891 patients were identified who had achieved a pCR. Of these 2891 patients, 2102 received nCRT and 789 received nCRT followed by adjuvant chemotherapy. The median follow-up duration was 43.2 months. The factors significantly associated with OS included age (P Conclusion Our findings showed a significant improvement in OS for patients who received nCRT plus adjuvant chemotherapy compared with those who received nCRT alone. The nCRT plus adjuvant patients were more likely to be younger, have a lower comorbidity score, have clinical ≥ T3 disease, and have clinical node-positive disease. Thus, a selection bias could have been present. Nonetheless, even in the setting of already excellent outcomes, for patients with locally advanced rectal adenocarcinoma who achieve a pCR, the additional benefit of adjuvant chemotherapy should be weighed against the potential for toxicity.
Lattice-Boltzmann lattice-spring simulations of influence of deformable blockages on blood fluids in an elastic vessel

Abstract In this work, the authors utilize a lattice-Boltzmann lattice-spring method to simulate the deformation of blockages and fluid properties in an elastic blood vessel for the first time. Precisely, in this method, the lattice Boltzmann method is used to capture fluid behavior, and the lattice spring model is employed to mimic the deformation of the blood vessel and blockages while the immersed boundary method is applied to deal with the fluid-solid interaction. A validation of the present method is carried out by comparing the simulation results with a theoretical prediction of deformation of a pulmonary blood vessel in a steady flow. Subsequently, the method is applied to study the relationship between the fluid properties and the deformation of blockages. It is found that the blockages are rotated and expanded to the vessel central area so that a narrow gap or opening is formed in the blood vessel. The opening and flow rates decrease and the pressure drop increases as the thickness and deformation of the blockages increase.
Abstract TP114: Modulation of Blood Accumulation and Angiogenic Responses by PGE2-EP3 Signaling After ICH in Aged Mice

With the population aging at an accelerated rate, the prevalence of stroke and financial burden of stroke-related health care costs is expected to continue to increase. Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a devastating stroke subtype more commonly affecting the elderly population, whom display increased mortality and worse functional outcomes compared to younger patients. This study aimed to investigate the contribution of the prostaglandin E 2 (PGE 2 ) E prostanoid (EP) receptor subtype 3 in modulating anatomical outcomes and functional recovery following ICH in 24-mo-old mice. PGE 2 levels are dramatically upregulated following brain injury and have been shown to modulate the deleterious excitotoxic and neuroinflammatory processes resulting from activation of glial cells and infiltration of blood cells and proinflammatory molecules through its four EP receptors, EP1-4. EP3 is the most abundant EP receptor in the brain and we have previously shown that signaling through the PGE 2 -EP3 axis exacerbates ICH outcomes in young mice. Here, we show that EP3 receptor deletion results in 17.9±6.1% less ICH-induced brain injury (p=0.0336) and improves neurological functional recovery, as identified by lower neurological deficit scores at 48h (p=0.0013) and 72h (p=0.0063), and increased gross (p=0.0038) and fine motor (p=0.0556) movements and decreased resting time (p = 0.0280) at 72h. Immunohistological staining was performed to investigate possible mechanisms of EP3-mediated neurotoxicity. Identified mechanisms include reduced blood accumulation (p=0.0277) and modulation of angiogenic and astroglial responses, where EP3 -/- mice have increased striatal astrogliosis (p=0.0498) and VEGF immunoreactivity (p=0.0115), and tended to have increased cortical astrogliosis (p=0.1874). Using this aged cohort of mice, we have confirmed and extended our previous results in young mice demonstrating the deleterious role of the PGE 2 -EP3 signaling axis in modulating brain injury and functional recovery after ICH, further supporting the notion of the EP3 receptor as a putative therapeutic avenue for the treatment of ICH.
In Vitro Secretion of Angiogenic Activity by Ovine Follicles

Earlier investigators noted the tremendous vascularity of ovarian follicles (1–3). This rich blood supply is reflected by the large rate of blood flow to ovarian follicles compared with other tissues (4). During the estrous cycle, growth of vascular beds and increased blood flow accompanies tissue growth of developing follicles (1,2,4), whereas degeneration of follicular blood vessels occurs during atresia (1,5). These observations suggest that an-giogenesis is an important component of follicular function.
Receptivity of Young Adult Hookah Users to Health Warning Labels

Objectives We examined the receptivity of non-college young adult hookah users to health warning labels. Methods We conducted in-person qualitative interviews with 23 hookah users, aged 18-29 in Austin, Texas, who were not currently enrolled in college/university. Data were transcribed, coded, and thematically analyzed using NVivo Pro, version 11. Results Gaps in knowledge were evident regarding the level of chemical exposure, cancer risks, and negative health consequences of hookah use. Respondents preferred warning labels that factually listed health consequences rather than labels that used "sensationalistic" wording (eg, "kills") or technical terms. Participants thought placement of hookah warning labels would be most effective on product packaging or on the door of establishments selling hookah. Respondents thought most of the warning labels would be effective in deterring hookah use; however, the majority stated they would likely continue to use hookah over the next year. Conclusions Non-college-attending young adult hookah users preferred hookah health warning labels that are simple, factual, informative, and non-sensationalistic. These results may inform regulations regarding the packaging of tobacco products, specifically in the design and placement of warning labels, which may result in better user message receptivity.
Where are they now? Retention strategies over 25 years in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) Study.

Abstract Purpose In 1991, we described the recruitment and goals for a cohort of young adults. At the time, little was known about long-term retention of young, healthy and mobile adults or minorities. We present retention strategies and rates over 25 years, and predictors of participation at the year 25 follow-up examination of the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) Study, a longitudinal investigation of coronary artery disease risk factors in a biracial population initially ages 18–30 years recruited from four U.S. centers in 1985. Methods CARDIA has employed a range of strategies to enhance retention, including two contacts per year, multiple tracking methods to locate participants lost-to-follow-up, use of birthday and holiday cards, participant newsletters, examination scheduling accommodations and monetary reimbursements, and a standing committee whose primary purpose has been to continually review retention rates and strategies and identify problems and successes. Results For 25 years, CARDIA has maintained >90% contact with participants between examinations, over 80% at any 2-year interval, and a 72% 25-year examination attendance rate. Baseline predictors of year 25 examination attendance include white race, female sex, older age, higher education, nonsmoking and moderate alcohol consumption. Conclusion Consistent use of multiple retention strategies, including attention to contact rates and sharing of best strategies across study centers, has resulted in high retention of a diverse, initially young, biracial cohort.
Montesquieu's Liberalism and the Problem of Universal Politics

Dubbed 'the oracle' by no less an authority than James Madison, Montesquieu stands as a theoretical founder of the liberal political tradition. But equally central to his project was his account of the relationship of law to each nation's particular customs and place, a teaching that militates against universal political solutions. This teaching has sometimes been thought to stand in tension with his liberal constitutionalism. In this book, Keegan Callanan argues that Montesquieu's political particularism and liberalism are complementary and mutually reinforcing parts of a coherent whole. In developing this argument, Callanan considers Montesquieu's regime pluralism, psychological conception of liberty, approach to political reform, and account of 'the customs of a free people', including the complex interaction of religion and commerce. Callanan concludes that, by re-orienting our understanding of liberalism and redirecting our attention toward liberty's distinctive preconditions, a return to Montesquieu's political philosophy leaves us better prepared to confront liberal democracy's contested claim to universality.
Large-Scale Synthesis and Comprehensive Structure Study of δ-MnO2

Layered δ-MnO2 (birnessites) are ubiquitous in nature and have also been reported to work as promising water oxidation catalysts or rechargeable alkali-ion battery cathodes when fabricated under appropriate conditions. Although tremendous effort has been spent on resolving the structure of natural/synthetic layered δ-MnO2 in the last few decades, no conclusive result has been reached. In this Article, we report an environmentally friendly route to synthesizing homogeneous Cu-rich layered δ-MnO2 nanoflowers in large scale. The local and average structure of synthetic Cu-rich layered δ-MnO2 has been successfully resolved from combined Mn/Cu K-edge extended X-ray fine structure spectroscopy and X-ray and neutron total scattering analysis. It is found that appreciable amounts (∼8%) of Mn vacancies are present in the MnO2 layer and Cu2+ occupies the interlayer sites above/below the vacant Mn sites. Effective hydrogen bonding among the interlayer water molecules and adjacent layer O ions has also been observed ...
The Effects of Affirmative Action on Minority Persons: Research in the Lewinian Tradition

Kurt Lewin’s philosophy of science, and not his field theory per se, is what has influenced my work as a social psychologist. Being a third generation Lewinian, I did not have the pleasure or privilege to be taught by Kurt Lewin. Thus, I am not privy to the unrecorded assumptions and inner workings specific to Lewin’s field theory. But because I have worked with one of his students, John Thibaut, and have studied Lewin’s writings I approach the investigation of social psychological phenomena in a way that is Lewinian in heritage. In this paper, I will outline the characteristics of Lewin’s philosophy of science which are important in my orientation as a researcher. Then I will attempt to show how those characteristics are integrated into my research on minority responses to the social policy of affirmative action.
Physics-Based Simulation to Enable Ultrasound Monitoring of HIFU Ablation: An MRI Validation

High intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is used to ablate pathological tissue non-invasively, but reliable and real-time thermal monitoring is crucial to ensure a safe and effective procedure. It can be provided by MRI, which is an expensive and cumbersome modality.
Examining Curricular Approaches to Developing Undergraduates' Innovation Capacities.

The purpose of this study was to understand whether and the extent to which undergraduate students’ exposure to and participation in a set of innovation-specific curricular learning interventions p...
Vibrational analysis of a rate-slowing conformational kinetic isotope effect

Abstract An enthalpy-entropy approach to analyzing a rate-slowing conformational kinetic isotope effect (CKIE) in a deuterated doubly-bridged biaryl system is described. The computed isotope effect (kH/kD = 1.075, 368 K) agrees well with the measured value (kH/kD = 1.06, 368 K). The rate-slowing (normal isotope effect) nature of the computed CKIE is shown to originate from a vibrational entropy contribution defined by the twenty lowest frequency normal modes in the ground state and transition state structures. This normal entropy contribution is offset by an inverse vibrational enthalpy contribution, which also arises from the twenty lowest frequency normal modes. Zero point vibrational energy contributions are found to be relatively small when all normal modes are considered. Analysis of the HZPE, Hvib, and Svib energy terms arising from the low frequency vibrational modes reveals their signs and magnitudes are determined by larger vibrational energy differences in the labeled and unlabeled ground state structures.
Amazing Grace: An Analysis of Barack Obama's Raciolinguistic Performances

A large number of American researchers have recently been dedicated to theorize about language and races as a unified social process rather than as two independent disciplines. Within this “new” field of study called raciolinguistics, in which it is intended to apply the different linguistic methods to analyze and solve the most relevant problems on the relations between language, race and power, one can observe how language shapes ethnoracial identities as well as the role it plays in racialization and its importance in the concepts of race and racism, in general. The scope of this paper is to also theorize about language and race but with special attention to how both processes nurture and constitute each other. Through President Barack Obama’s discourse, it is intended to demonstrate what speaking as a racialized subject and as one of the most important social figures in today’s America implies. Likewise, through what is said or what media mentions about his way of speaking, one is able to distinguish why this interdiscipline proposes that race is sociolinguistically constructed and not only socially.
Predicting text reading skills at age 8 years in children born preterm and at term.

Abstract Background Children born preterm are at risk for developing reading difficulties and for decrements in other cognitive skills compared to children born at term. Aims To assess how domains of function, often negatively impacted by preterm birth, predict reading development in children born preterm and at term. Study design Longitudinal descriptive cohort study. Subjects Preterm (n = 48; gestational age 22–32 weeks, 30 males) and term (n = 41, 18 males) participants were assessed at age 6 years on a battery of verbal and non-verbal cognitive skills and reassessed at age 8 using the Gray Oral Reading Tests-5. Linear regressions assessed the contributions of phonological awareness, language, executive function, and non-verbal IQ at age 6 to reading outcome at age 8. Results Children born preterm had lower scores than children born at term on all measures (Cohen's d from 0.46 to 1.08, all p Conclusions Non-verbal cognitive skills improved the prediction of reading outcome only in the preterm group, suggesting that reading decrements represent a component of global deficits. These findings have implications for evaluation of children born preterm at school entry and treatment of reading difficulties.
Toward Green IoT: Energy Solutions and Key Challenges

With the ongoing worldwide development of IoT, an unprecedented number of IoT devices imperatively consume a substantial amount of energy. IoT devices have been predicted to be the leading energy guzzler in Information and Communications Technology by 2020. In considering the finite amount of brown energy sources along with their potential harmful impacts to the climate and environment, we propose to leverage "free" green energy to power IoT devices and revolutionarily enable wireless charging of these devices. Specifically, we propose to green IoT in three steps, namely, ambient green energy harvesting, green energy wireless charging and green energy balancing, in which the latter step reinforces the former step to ensure the availability of green energy. We lay out the basic design principles for these three steps, shed some light on the solutions and present the corresponding challenges individually.
Addressing Sexism With Children: Young Adults' Beliefs About Bias Socialization.

College students' beliefs concerning socializing children about sexism and other culturally important topics were investigated using mixed methods. In Study 1, participants (N = 71) defined sexism and explained their beliefs about addressing sexism with children. Thirty-five percent argued against childhood sexism-socialization. Emergent themes provided insights about how sexism is viewed and yielded data needed to design a closed-ended socialization-beliefs survey. In Study 2, students (N = 141) completed this survey and reported their feminist beliefs and childhood-socialization experiences. Childhood sexism-socialization was more commonly endorsed by women, stronger feminists, and those who had themselves experienced childhood sexism-socialization. Descriptive data document socialization beliefs about 21 culturally important topics. Results suggest that programs aimed at socializing children about sexism should also address beliefs of the adults responsible for program implementation.
Sequence-dependent nucleosome nanoscale structure characterized by atomic force microscopy

DNA sequence plays an important role in the assembly of nucleosomes, and DNA motifs with high specificity to nucleosomes have been identified. At the same time, important questions such as how the DNA sequence changes DNA wrapping and how the DNA sequence contributes to the interaction between the nucleosomes remain unclear. Here, we addressed these questions by comparing nanoscale properties of nucleosomes assembled on the highest nucleosome positioning sequence, the 601 motif, and essentially random DNA sequences. We used atomic force microscopy to measure the nucleosome positions and the DNA wrapping. The studies showed that nucleosomes assemble on the nonspecific sequence without any preference for position on DNA, but they wrap the same DNA length as DNA of the same length with the 601 sequence. Experiments with longer DNA containing the 601 motif along with nonspecific DNA, capable of forming dinucleosomes, revealed that dinucleosomes assembled on hybrid sequences show a preference for positioning near each other, with one always assembling on the 601 motif. These findings point to the interaction between the nucleosomes and suggest that internucleosomal interactions may play a large role in nucleosome positioning.-Stormberg, T., Stumme-Diers, M., Lyubchenko, Y. L. Sequence-dependent nucleosome nanoscale structure characterized by atomic force microscopy.
Stability-Constrained Microgrid Operation Scheduling Incorporating Frequency Control Reserve

This paper presents a two-stage microgrid scheduling strategy in which the frequency control reserve (FCR) is incorporated to ensure economic, reliable, and stable microgrid operation in a joint energy and ancillary service market environment. In addition, to using such reserve to limit frequency excursions caused by uncertainties of active loads and renewable generation, this paper is focused on determining the optimal provision of reserve for microgrid operation mode switching to assure sufficient reserve is available and readily deployable at the disposal of the microgrid operator. The scheduling problem is formulated as a two-stage chance-constrained programming (CCP) model where the power balance chance constraints are used to determine the trade-off between operational economy and stability risk exposure. The chance-constrained formulation is then approximated as a deterministic mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) model for solution. Two sets of policy studies are performed through simulation to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed strategy in enhancing the operational performance of a microgrid through optimal scheduling.
ZCOMP: Reducing DNN Cross-Layer Memory Footprint Using Vector Extensions

Deep Neural Networks (DNNs) are becoming the prevalent approach in computer vision, machine learning, natural language processing, and speech recognition applications. Although DNNs are perceived as compute-intensive tasks, they also apply intense pressure on the capacity and bandwidth of the memory hierarchy, primarily due to the large intermediate data communicated across network layers. Prior work on hardware DNN accelerators leverages the cross-layer data sparsity via fully-customized datapaths. However, dynamically compressing/expanding such data is a challenging task for general-purpose multi-processors with virtual memory and hardware-managed coherent cache hierarchies. In this paper, we observe that the DNN intermediate data is either sequentially streamed or reshaped with a regular transformation between layers. Hence, accesses to this data can tolerate a sequential or block sequential compression/expansion without requiring random element retrieval. Based on this insight, we propose ZCOMP, a CPU vector ISA extension tailored for DNN cross-layer communication. ZCOMP compactly represents zero value compression/expansion and fully automates the metadata generation, storage and retrieval which eliminates the need for several extra instruction executions and register usage. ZCOMP can be targeted both for inference and training to dynamically compress/expand cross-layer data before being written to memory. Our evaluations for individual layers and end-to-end DNN networks demonstrate that ZCOMP offers substantial data traffic reduction, both on-chip across cache-hierarchy and off-chip to DRAM, and performance improvements over no compression and existing AVX512 compression approaches.
All-trans Retinoic Acid Counteracts Diarrhea and Inhibition of Downregulated in Adenoma Expression in Gut Inflammation

Background Intestinal epithelial apical membrane Cl-/HCO3- exchanger DRA (downregulated in adenoma, SLC26A3) has emerged as an important therapeutic target for diarrhea, emphasizing the potential therapeutic role of agents that upregulate DRA. All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), a key vitamin A metabolite, was earlier shown by us to stimulate DRA expression in intestinal epithelial cells. However, its role in modulating DRA in gut inflammation has not been investigated. Aims Our aim was to analyze the efficacy of ATRA in counteracting inflammation-induced decrease in DRA in vitro and in vivo. Methods Interferon-γ (IFN-γ)-treated Caco-2 cells and dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-treated C57BL/6J mice served as in vitro and in vivo models of gut inflammation, respectively. The effect of ATRA on IFN-γ-mediated inhibition of DRA function, expression, and promoter activity were elucidated. In the DSS colitis model, diarrheal phenotype, cytokine response, in vivo imaging, myeloperoxidase activity, and DRA expression were measured in the distal colon. Results All-trans retinoic acid (10 μM, 24 h) abrogated IFN-γ (30 ng/mL, 24 h)-induced decrease in DRA function, expression, and promoter activity in Caco-2 cells. All-trans retinoic acid altered IFN-γ signaling via blocking IFN-γ-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of STAT-1. All-trans retinoic acid cotreatment (1 mg/kg BW, i.p. daily) of DSS-treated mice (3% in drinking water for 7 days) alleviated colitis-associated weight loss, diarrheal phenotype, and induction of IL-1β and CXCL1 and a decrease in DRA mRNA and protein levels in the colon. Conclusion Our data showing upregulation of DRA under normal and inflammatory conditions by ATRA demonstrate a novel role of this micronutrient in alleviating IBD-associated diarrhea.