cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effective adaptive spatial-temporal technique for clutter rejection in IRST

In IRST applications, cluttered backgrounds are typically much more intensive than the equivalent sensor noise and intensity of the targets to be detected. This necessitates the development of efficient clutter rejection technology for track initialization and reliable target detection. Experimental study shows that the best existing spatial filtering techniques allow for clutter suppression up to 10 dB, while the desired level (for the reliable detection/tracking) is 25-30 dB or higher. This level of clutter suppression can be achieved only by implementing spatial-temporal rather than spatial filtering. In addition, the clutter rejection algorithm should be supplemented by a jitter compensation technique. Otherwise, due to the blurring effect, temporal filtering cannot be applied effectively. This paper discusses a novel adaptive spatial-temporal technique for clutter rejection. The algorithm is developed on the basis of the application of robust and adaptive methods that are invariant to the prior uncertainty with respect to statistical properties of clutter and adaptive with respect to its variability. The developed clutter rejection technique is based on a multi-parametric approximation of clutter which, after estimation of parameters, leads to an adaptive spatial-temporal filter. The coefficients of the filter are calculated adaptively to guarantee a minimum of empirical mean-square values of the filtering residual noise for every time moment. The adaptive spatial-temporal filtering allows one to suppress any background, regardless of its spatial variation. Simultaneously, the algorithm estimates LOS drift and allows for jitter compensation. Results of simulation show that the algorithm gives a tremendous gain compared to the best existing spatial techniques.© (2000) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Synthetic and analytic thought: Similarities and differences among art and science students

Abstract: Evidence is presented suggesting that differences as well as similarities exist between the thought processes of art and science students during the insight phase of problem solving. The nature of these thought processes was investigated at different time periods throughout the creative process with 122 students in art and science. Half of the subjects solved tasks corresponding to their orientation, and the other half solved problems not of their orientation. This allowed an evaluation of the variance attributable to task, as opposed to orientation. After solving the task, subjects completed the Feelings and Thoughts Questionnaire (FTQ) and a battery of personality inventories, including the NEO Personality Inventory, the Adjective Check List, and the Experience Inquiry. The FTQ is a self‐report inventory in which subjects rate lists of adjectives describing the thoughts and emotions that occurred before, during, and after the insight. Internal consistency and convergent validity were establish...
Sources of complex dynamics in two-sector growth models☆

This paper develops a tractable multisectoral dynamic equilibrium model and provides a fairly complete analysis of the dynamics that may arise along the intertemporal competitive equilibrium path. Despite the fact that the environment displays neither random nor deterministic variability, the model may produce oscillations in aggregate variables such as output. consumption, and investment. We show that these oscillations can be exactly periodic, of any finite period ,I. and even totally aperiodic (chaotic). We characterize the parameter values for which each of these cases occur. but also provide some strong global asymptotic stability results.
Fast projectors for iterative 3D PET reconstruction

We describe a fast forward and back projector pair based on inverse Fourier rebinning for use in iterative fully 3D image reconstruction. The fast projector pair is used as part of a factored system matrix that models detector-pair response with a shift variant sinogram blur kernel. In this way we are able to combine the computational advantages of Fourier rebinning with iterative reconstruction using accurate system models. The forward projector uses the exact inverse rebinning equation to map stacked 2D transaxial projections into a full 3D sinogram. The back projector is simply the transpose of the forward projector and differs from the true exact rebinning operator in the sense that it does not require reprojection to compute missing lines of response (LOR). The inverse rebinning projector differs in performance by less than 1% in RMS error from the fully 3D geometric projector computed using solid angle calculations of voxel-wise sensitivity along each LOR. The cost of forward and back projection for the microPET Focus220 small animal scanner using the inverse rebinning projector is 5 to 15 times less than that for the fully 3D geometric projector, depending on the reconstructed field of view and voxel size. We compare performance between the inverse rebinning and 3D geometric projectors using simulated point and phantom data and in vivo FDG mouse data.
Physician Interaction with Electronic Health Records: The Influences on Digital Natives and Digital Immigrants

The integration of EHR (Electronic Health Records) in IT infrastructures supporting organizations enable improved access to and recording of patient data, enhanced ability to make better and more-timely decisions, and improved quality and reduced errors. Despite these benefits, there are mixed results as to the use of EHR. The literature suggests that the reasons for the limited use relate to policy, financial and usability considerations, but it does not provide an understanding of reasons for physicians' limited interaction and adaptation of EHR. Following an analysis of qualitative data, collected in a case study at a hospital using interviews, this research explains how physicians interact with EHR. The key contribution of this research is explaining how physicians interact with EHR in terms of concepts that are grounded in the real world experiences of physicians.
Regional Assessment of Asia

Asia is home to 60 % of the world’s population, and there are large variations in the region with regard to urbanization levels and urban growth rates. While some countries have populations that are predominantly urban (Singapore, 100 %; Malaysia, 72 %; Japan, 67 %; Indonesia, 54 %), others have populations that are predominantly rural (Bangladesh, 28 %; Vietnam, 29 %; India, 30 % Lao People’s Democratic Republic, 33 %; Thailand, 34 %). Despite these variations, three characteristics define the region.
Phase I chemoprevention study of piroxicam and alpha-difluoromethylornithine.

A two-step Phase I study of piroxicam (PXM) and a-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) alone and in combination was initiated to assess toxicity and the impact of these drugs on several biological markers. In step 1, 12 subjects with a history of skin cancers were assigned to receive PXM 10 mg every day (q.d.) or 10 mg every other day (q.o.d.). The dosage of PXM 10 mg q.o.d. was tolerated. No changes were seen in 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) or urinary polyamine levels. Steady-state serum levels of PXM were consistent with the oral dose level. In step 2, 31 subjects with stage 0 or I nonmelanoma skin cancers, stage A or B prostate or colon cancer, or stage I breast cancer or who had a family history of cancer were randomized to receive DFMO 0.5 g/m2, PXM 10 mg q.o.d., or the combination of DFMO and PXM. In addition to the biological markers of TPA-induced ODC activity in skin biopsies and urinary polyamine levels, we measured urinary 11-dehydrothromboxane B2, a specific metabolite of thromboxane A2. Of the 12 subjects on DFMO/PXM, 2 dropped out for non-drug-related reasons. Three developed grade-2 drug-related toxicities. One subject developed dyspnea that resolved and was able to continue on the study for 6 months. One subject who developed diarrhea that resolved after 5 days was also able to restart the drug without a recurrence. A third subject described intermittent episodes of tinnitus starting 4 h after taking PXM that lasted only 5 s and did not progress on treatment. Comparing the 6-month measurements with pretreatment, DFMO/PXM or DFMO significantly reduced TPA-induced ODC levels (Ps, 0.03 and 0.05). Urinary polyamine levels of spermidine decreased slightly with the DFMO/PXM or DFMO alone, whereas putrescine decreased with PXM alone. Levels of 11-dehydrothromboxane B2 were depressed by PXM and PXM/DFMO. The doses of DFMO/PXM determined in step 2 are potential starting dosages for Phase IIa and IIb chemoprevention trials.
Rewriting the rewritten: postmodernism, Scott Romine's microSouths, and the Southern novelist

ABSTRACTThis essay explores the ways that a critical understanding of Southern literature informed the creative part of my PhD. I was faced with the idea that my ‘Southern’ novel, because it borrows from a long tradition of the Southern aesthetic, might be considered parody. The dominant critical thought on Southern literature suggests that the South as a distinct region is no more. It has been homogenised by Late Capital modalities, and the identity of the South, in general, has become more informed by popular culture. Why then, I ask, do these older narratives still appear? I argue in this essay that these older forms are not outdated – or parody without the ability to signify – but, rather, that they offer roles for people to play, grounding them in and even creating their realities. The New South / No South exists beside older versions of the South, still at work shaping the values of the people who inhabit the region.
Olfactory Responses of Face Flies, Musca autumnalis,1, 2 to Bovine Feces

Behavioral tests using a Y-tube olfactometer demonstrated that male and female face flies, Musca autumnalis DeGeer, were attracted to the odor of fresh bovine feces. Daily testing of female flies showed no significant response during the 1st 4 days. Peak attraction, with 84% of the flies responding, occurred on day 7. The number of females attracted and the number with mature ova correlated positively and significantly. Males were significantly attracted on day 1; however, response did not increase with age as in the case of female flies. Bovine diet also was found to affect the attractiveness of feces. The loci of the olfactory receptors were the basal flagellar subsegments, or funiculi, of the antennae. Oviposition tests indicated that bovine fecal odor also stimulated oviposition; however, contact was necessary to elicit maximum egg deposition; 43 and 86% reductions in ovipositon resulted from treatments involving antennectomy and nylon mesh over the surface of the feces, respectively. Simultaneous antennectomy and nylon mesh over the fecal surface stopped oviposition. Antennae again were shown to be the primary receptor organs.
Product formation from the gas-phase reactions of OH radicals and O3 with a series of monoterpenes

The formation yields of nine carbonyl products are reported from the gas-phase OH radical-initiated reactions (in the presence of NO x ) and the O3 reactions with seven monoterpenes. The products were identified using GC/MS and GC-FTIR and quantified by GC-FID analyses of samples collected on Tenax solid adsorbent cartridges. The identities of products from camphene, limonene and β-pinene were confirmed by comparison with authentic standards. Sufficient quantities of products from the 3-carene, limonene, α-pinene, sabinene and terpinolene reactions were isolated to allow structural confirmation by proton NMR spectroscopy. The measured total carbonyl formation yields ranged from non-detectable for the OH radical reaction with camphene and the O3 reactions with 3-carene and limonene to ∼0.5 for the OH radical reaction with limonene and the O3 reaction with sabinene.
Effects of growth inhibitors on response of rat's uterus to estrogen.

SummaryAminopterin, beryllium, cadmium, and strychnine proved effective in reducing the physiological activity of estradiol. All compounds except strychnine effected a decrease in total nitrogen content in the uteri of ovariectomized rats receiving estradiol. Such inhibition was associated with a decrease of water in the uterine tissue and the absence of fat and glycogen. Thus, the inhibitory process is associated with these physiological changes.
Infectivity of Fall Armyworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus Enhanced by a Fluorescent Brightener

Studies were designed to determine the effect of the optical brightener, Tinopal LPW, on the infectivity of two preparations each of two isolates of the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith), nuclear polyhedrosis virus (SfMNPV). The viral preparations were diluted in either water or 0.1% Tinopal and applied to the surface of meridic diet without formalin. Three-d-old fall armyworm larvae were held individually on the treated diet for the duration of the assay (8 d). The addition of 0.1% Tinopal to the virus in the bioassay greatly enhanced inactivity of the SfMNPV. LC50s in polyhedral inclusion bodies (PIN) per cup ranged from 185 to 4,910 when tested in water and from 0.0162 to 3.36 when tested in 0.1% TinopaI. LC90s ranged from 13,800 to 305,000 per cup for virus in water and from 25.4 to 5,720 PIN per cup for virus in 0.1% TinopaI.
Research on Web multimedia courseware system based on . NET

Now, many problems of Web applications program, such as developing, arrangement, across-platform and portability etc., need to be resolved. Aimming at the design and development of Web multimedia courseware based on. NET, the following pivotal . NET technologies: XML, code behind, Web service, database management, server controls, arrangement of applications, were lied stress on discussing. The relative technology and implement methods for constructing distributed Web multimedia courseware were introduced with a example.
Study of Digital Demodulation Method for DPSK-PM Modulated Signals

A simple digital demodulation method is proposed for the DPSK-PM modulated signals,which are commonly used in the satellite USB(Unified S-band) tracking telemetry and command system.The demodulation algorithm is simulated after the principle of algorithm was introduced.Through simulation,the validity of this algorithm is proved.This algorithm has great instructive meaning for the foundation of simulation flat for information confront of spaceflight tracking telemetry and command link.
Leveraging Real-Life Facts to Make Random Passwords More Memorable

User-chosen passwords fail to provide adequate security. System-assigned random passwords are more secure but suffer from memorability problems. We argue that the system should remove this burden from users by assisting with the memorization of randomly assigned passwords. To meet this need, we aim to apply the scientific understanding of long-term memory. In particular, we examine the efficacy of augmenting a system-assigned password scheme based on textual recognition by providing users with verbal cues—real-life facts corresponding to the assigned keywords. In addition, we explore the usability gain of including images related to the keywords along with the verbal cues. We conducted a multi-session in-lab user study with 52 participants, where each participant was assigned three different passwords, each representing one study condition. Our results show that the textual recognition-based scheme offering verbal cues had a significantly higher login success rate (94 %) as compared to the control condition, i.e., textual recognition without verbal cues (61 %). The comparison between textual and graphical recognition reveals that when users were provided with verbal cues, adding images did not significantly improve the login success rate, but it did lead to faster recognition of the assigned keywords. We believe that our findings make an important contribution to understanding the extent to which different types of cues impact the usability of system-assigned passwords.
Microstructural Characterization of a Commercial Hot‐pressed Boron Carbide Armor Plate

Detailed microstructural characterization was carried out on a commercial-grade hot-pressed boron carbide armor plate. The boron carbide grains have close to B4C stoichiometry, and most of them have no planar defects. The most prominent second phase is intergranular graphite inclusions that are surrounded by multiple boron carbide grains. Submicrometer intragranular and intergranular BN and AlN precipitates were also observed. In addition, fine dispersions of AlN nanoprecipitates were observed in some but not all grains. No intergranular films were found. These microstructural characteristics are compared with the lab-consolidated boron carbide and their effects on the mechanical properties of boron carbide are addressed.
Nonlinear wave diffraction

The high-frequency asymptotics of solutions of wave equations are described by ray theory in which the wave energy propagates along a set of curves in space-time, called rays. Two examples of ray theories are the geometrical optics theory of light and semi-classical quantum mechanics. When applicable, ray theory is extremely powerful and it often provide surprisingly accurate quantitative results.
Association of somatic mutations in DNA damage repair (DDR) genes with efficacy of platinum-based chemotherapy in advanced urothelial carcinoma.

4532 Background: Platinum-based chemotherapy (PBC) is standard of care in the neoadjuvant and metastatic UC settings. Recent work identified mutations in ERCC2, RB1, FANCC and ATM as potential pred...
Impact of initial visual acuity on anti-VEGF treatment outcomes in patients with macular oedema secondary to retinal vein occlusions in routine clinical practice

Aim To determine the impact of initial visual acuity (VA) on anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) treatment outcomes in patients with macular oedema secondary to retinal vein occlusions in routine clinical practice. Methods A retrospective study was conducted at a single academic institution to identify 177 treatment naive patients with macular oedema secondary to branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO), hemiretinal vein occlusion (HRVO) and central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) treated with intravitreal anti-VEGFs. Exclusion criteria included prior intravitreal injection or presence of active confounding ocular disease. Patients were stratified by initial VA; main outcomes measured were average change in VA and mean absolute change in central subfield thickness (CST) at 6 and 12 months. Results Patients with BRVO with initial VA of 20/40 or better had no significant changes in average letters gained and CST from baseline (+2.6 letters, p=0.42; −48.94 µm, p=0.12) compared with patients with initial VA between 20/50 and 20/300 (+13.2 letters, p Conclusions For macular oedema secondary to retinal vein occlusion, anti-VEGF treatment can result in a greater improvement in average letters gained and in CST for those with poor initial VA compared with those with better initial VA.
Onodera's Prognostic Nutritional Index as an Independent Prognostic Factor in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma

Objective To evaluate the relationship between the Onodera Prognostic Nutritional Index (OPNI) and overall survival, as well as recurrence-free survival, in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) patients following nephrectomy. Materials and Methods Three hundred forty-one patients who underwent nephrectomy for ccRCC were analyzed. The optimum OPNI cutoff score of 44.7 was determined by receiver operating characteristic analysis and patients were placed in either the low or high OPNI group, with OPNI values of ≤44.7 and ≥44.8, respectively. Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed to evaluate the univariate impact of the OPNI groups on overall survival and recurrence-free survival. OPNI's association with overall survival and recurrence-free survival, with adjustments for other patient and tumor qualities, was assessed with univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis. Results Median (95% CI) overall survival times for the low and high OPNI groups were 21.1 months and 37.9 months, respectively. OPNI was determined to be an independent prognostic factor in multivariate analysis, and after controlling for patient and tumor characteristics, the low OPNI group experienced a 1.67-fold (hazard ratio: 1.67, 95% confidence interval: 1.05-2.68) increased risk of overall mortality. Conclusion Preoperative OPNI is a valuable independent prognostic indicator of overall survival and recurrence-free survival in patients with ccRCC following nephrectomy.
Prevalence, Correlates, and Predictors of Insomnia in the US Army prior to Deployment.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence, correlates, and predictors of insomnia in US Army personnel prior to deployment. METHODS: Cross-sectional cohort design assessing insomnia and other psychosocial variables in active duty service members (N = 4,101), at Fort Hood, Texas, prior to military deployment. Insomnia was defined as an Insomnia Severity Index ≥15. RESULTS: The prevalence of insomnia was 19.9%. Enlisted personnel were five times more likely to report insomnia than officers (odds ratio [OR] =5.17). Insomnia was higher among American Indian/Alaskan Natives than other groups (ORs = 1.86-2.85). Those in the Insomnia Group were older, had longer military careers, and reported more marriages, children, and military deployments (ds = 0.13-0.34) than the No Insomnia group. The Insomnia Group reported more severe mental health symptoms, more recent stressful life events, greater childhood abuse, and lower levels of trait resilience, social support, and unit cohesion (Cohen ds=0.27-1.29). After controlling for covariates, the Insomnia Group was more likely to have a history of head injuries and clinically significant posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, alcohol use problems, back pain, extremity pain, headaches, and fatigue (ORs = 1.40-3.30). A simultaneous logistic regression found that greater PTSD, depression, fatigue, stressful life events, headaches, anxiety, alcohol use problems, extremity pain, history of head injury, childhood physical neglect, back pain, number of times married, and lower leader support/unit cohesion and tangible social support were statistically significant predictors of insomnia status. CONCLUSIONS: Insomnia occurs in about one of five service members prior to a military deployment and is associated with a wide array of psychosocial stressors and mental and physical health problems.Copyright © 2016 Associated Professional Sleep Societies, LLC. All rights reserved. Language: en
Palimpsest-Postscript: Tracing the Past in the Present

The biracial taxonomies of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, in which pan-blackness and pan-whiteness became dominant and were sutured to particular images and ideologies, have left traces that erupt in moments of crisis. Several years ago, for example, a digitally manipulated image of President Obama superimposed with a Hollywood iteration of the Batman villain, The Joker, surfaced in posters and circulated on the internet—the single word “socialism” along the bottom of the frame reinscribed linkages between black and red in the national imaginary (Firas Alkhateeb, a college student, created the superimposed image in 2009. He uploaded it to his Flickr site where it was downloaded and modified by an unknown person who added the word “socialism” and distributed it as a poster. “Creator of Barack Obama ‘Joker’ Image was Bored Student,” The Telegraph, August 18 2009.). The whiteface makeup overlaid on the face of the first President of African descent reads as a disturbing reversal of blackface strategies while the bloodied, smiling, wound of a mouth simultaneously invokes the makeup of a nightmarish clown and the zombie-like figure of the socialist undead, or as one blogger put it, “a zombie cannibal blood-mouth malevolently committed to bringing socialism to America.” (Santi Tafarella, “Rush Limbaugh Wants President Obama Dead, Doesn’t He?,” http://santitafarella.wordpress.com/tag/rush-limbaugh/.) Anxieties about socialism and race revolution are simultaneously exposed and disavowed in the figure of Obama as the socialist undead. With its whiteface racism, the image is undoubtedly vindictive, but at the same time, the figure of the zombie-black-man-as-socialist-President betrays a recurring nightmare of conservative white America that has its roots in Haiti as the site of black revolution and remains deeply concerned about the possibilities of black political power in any context.
Detecting Cyberbullying using Latent Semantic Indexing

Cyberbullying has proven consequential to youth Internet users and previous methods relied heavily on the use of manually developed dictionaries. This project describes preliminary results for a system that uses Latent Semantic Indexing (LSI) for the detection of cyberbullying in a labeled collection of posts from Formspring.me. After preprocessing to account for variations in spelling and use of emoticons, a search system was developed. Our system significantly outperforms the baseline with a very simple query and is not dependent on a dictionary of bullying terms.
Real-time tracking of physical changes and optical anisotropy during drying of aqueous chitosan solution: Modeling of drying

Abstract The drying behavior of blade casting aqueous chitosan solution was investigated by means of a custom designed real time characterization system that can track the thickness, weight, temperature and in-plane and out-of-plane birefringence. Beyond a critical solvent concentration, initially isotropic cast solution rapidly develops optical anisotropy as detected by out of plane birefringence measurement while it remains isotropic in plane. Increasing drying temperature and air flow speed can both accelerate the drying rate but change the birefringence level in opposite directions. Lower birefringence was obtained at higher drying temperature while, higher birefringence was observed when the air flow speed is increased. This is due to the cumulative effects of the residual stress development in the film and polymer chains relaxation. Using a thermodynamically consistent model developed in the framework of classical irreversible thermodynamics, we quantitatively describe the drying kinetics and evolution of concentration and temperature profiles during the course of drying of the solvent. It was shown that the model can precisely describe the experimental data without using any fitting parameters.
Relationship between RUNX1 and AXIN1 in ER-negative versus ER-positive Breast Cancer

RUNX1 plays opposing roles in breast cancer: a tumor suppressor in estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) disease and an oncogenic role in ER-negative (ER-) tumors. Potentially mediating the former, we have recently reported that RUNX1 prevents estrogen-driven suppression of the mRNA encoding the tumor suppressor AXIN1. Accordingly, AXIN1 protein expression was diminished upon RUNX1 silencing in ER+ breast cancer cells and was positively correlated with AXIN1 protein expression across tumors with high levels of ER. Here we report the surprising observation that RUNX1 and AXIN1 proteins are strongly correlated in ER- tumors as well. However, this correlation is not attributable to regulation of AXIN1 by RUNX1 or vice versa. The unexpected correlation between RUNX1, playing an oncogenic role in ER- breast cancer, and AXIN1, a well-established tumor suppressor hub, may be related to a high ratio between the expression of variant 2 and variant 1 (v2/v1) of AXIN1 in ER- compared with ER+ breast cancer. Although both isoforms are similarly regulated by RUNX1 in estrogen-stimulated ER+ breast cancer cells, the higher v2/v1 ratio in ER- disease is expected to weaken the tumor suppressor activity of AXIN1 in these tumors.
The infant's developmental path in phonological acquisition

Research on how language acquisition begins has been fragmented both in terms of scientific communities and in terms of the phenomena that are taken to characterize developmental progress. In her article, Marilyn Vihman argues for an integrative approach that takes the child's efforts at speech production as primary, and notes that infants' knowledge of how words sound may accrue over a protracted period developmentally. Here, I briefly discuss how reconceptualization of the process can help integrate perspectives previously at odds.
An Ultraperformance LC-MS/MS Method for the Quantification of the Antimalarial Atovaquone in Plasma.

Background: A primary modality in the treatment and prevention of malaria is the administration of antimalarial agents. Atovaquone (ATQ) has been used in single-drug and multidrug antimalarial applications; however, studies have demonstrated high interindividual drug variability. With the scarcity of analytical methodologies available in the literature, we have developed and optimized a rapid, ultraperformance (UP) LC-MS/MS method for the quantification of ATQ in human plasma. Methods: ATQ was extracted from 25 μL K2-EDTA human plasma via protein precipitation with acetonitrile. Sample solutions were separated on a Synergi 2.5-μm Polar-RP 100A (100 × 2 mm) column. ATQ and its internal standard were detected over 1.3 min on an API 4000 mass analyzer using an electrospray ionization source operated in negative ionization and selected reaction monitoring modes. The method was validated in accordance with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Guidance for Industry: Bioanalytical Method Validation recommendations. Results: Owing to pharmacokinetic parameters associated with ATQ, 2 calibration curves were generated to quantify the drug across a dynamic concentration range. Two standard curves were established ranging from 250 to 5000 ng/mL and 5000 to 50000 ng/mL, respectively. QC levels for both lower and higher concentration ranges prepared at low (750 ng/mL, 12000 ng/mL), mid (2000 ng/mL, 22500 ng/mL), and high (4250 ng/mL, 42500 ng/mL) concentrations yielded interassay precision ≤9.1% and accuracy ≤±9.4%. Dilutional, stability, and matrix effects studies were also performed, and results were within acceptability limits. Conclusions: This work describes the development and analytical evaluation of a UPLC-MS/MS method for ATQ quantification in plasma. The described method is sufficiently sensitive for ATQ quantification in plasma to support preclinical and clinical trials.
Effects of Community Service-Learning on Heritage Language Learners' Attitudes toward Their Language and Culture.

This study examined the effects of participation in a community service-learning experience on Spanish heritage language learners' attitudes toward their heritage language and culture. Quantitative and qualitative data from heritage language learners demonstrated that engagement in community service-learning activities as part of the Spanish heritage language program afforded students transformative experiences that enhanced the work done within the classroom walls.
Suppression of adipocyte differentiation and lipid accumulation by stearidonic acid (SDA) in 3T3-L1 cells

Increased consumption of omega-3 (ω-3) fatty acids found in cold-water fish and fish oil has been reported to protect against obesity. A potential mechanism may be through reduction in adipocyte differentiation. Stearidonic acid (SDA), a plant-based ω-3 fatty acid, has been targeted as a potential surrogate for fish-based fatty acids; however, its role in adipocyte differentiation is unknown. This study was designed to evaluate the effects of SDA on adipocyte differentiation in 3T3-L1 cells. 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were differentiated in the presence of SDA or vehicle-control. Cell viability assay was conducted to determine potential toxicity of SDA. Lipid accumulation was measured by Oil Red O staining and triglyceride (TG) quantification in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Adipocyte differentiation was evaluated by adipogenic transcription factors and lipid accumulation gene expression by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Fatty acid analysis was conducted by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). 3T3-L1 cells treated with SDA were viable at concentrations used for all studies. SDA treatment reduced lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. This anti-adipogenic effect by SDA was a result of down-regulation of mRNA levels of the adipogenic transcription factors CCAAT/enhancer-binding proteins alpha and beta (C/EBPα, C/EBPβ), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), and sterol-regulatory element binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c). SDA treatment resulted in decreased expression of the lipid accumulation genes adipocyte fatty-acid binding protein (AP2), fatty acid synthase (FAS), stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD-1), lipoprotein lipase (LPL), glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK). The transcriptional activity of PPARγ was found to be decreased with SDA treatment. SDA treatment led to significant EPA enrichment in 3T3-L1 adipocytes compared to vehicle-control. These results demonstrated that SDA can suppress adipocyte differentiation and lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells through down-regulation of adipogenic transcription factors and genes associated with lipid accumulation. This study suggests the use of SDA as a dietary treatment for obesity.
Variable speed hydrodynamic model of an AUV utilizing cross-tunnel thrusters

This paper presents a three degree of freedom (3DOF), variable speed REMUS 100 Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) model with forward and aft, horizontal and vertical cross-tunnel thrusters. The combination of modeling variable speed and cross-tunnel thrusters permits analysis of AUV docking maneuvers under various vehicle and oceanographic conditions. Hydrodynamic equations of motion are developed for depth/altitude control with an emphasis on reproducing accurate REMUS 100 motion over various velocities with and without the cross-tunnel thrusters. The model is validated with comparisons to missions conducted in Monterey Bay, CA.
Flores, Votos e Balas: O Movimento Abolicionista Brasileiro (1868–88)

Winner of the two most prestigious book awards in Brazil – the Jabuti Prize and the Brazilian Academy of Letters Award for best non-fiction book published in 2015 – Angela Alonso’s book provides th...
Not enough: critiques of Devos and expansive notions of justice

In this short paper, I will give examples of critiques of the new US administration members, including Devos, that are either practical critiques that highlight rights without justice or single axi...
A Full-System VM-HDL Co-Simulation Framework for Servers with PCIe-Connected FPGAs

The need for high-performance and low-power acceleration technologies in servers is driving the adoption of PCIe-connected FPGAs in datacenter environments. However, the co-development of the application software, driver, and hardware HDL for server FPGA platforms remains one of the fundamental challenges standing in the way of wide-scale adoption. The FPGA accelerator development process is plagued by a lack of comprehensive full-system simulation tools, unacceptably slow debug iteration times, and limited visibility into the software and hardware at the time of failure. In this work, we develop a framework that pairs a virtual machine and an HDL simulator to enable full-system co-simulation of a server system with a PCIe-connected FPGA. Our framework enables rapid development and debugging of unmodified application software, operating system, device drivers, and hardware design. Once debugged, neither the software nor the hardware requires any changes before being deployed in a production environment. In our case studies, we find that the co-simulation framework greatly improves debug iteration time while providing invaluable visibility into both the software and hardware components.
The Teleology of the Thumb: On Purpose and Design

The Andrew J. Weiland Medal is presented by the American Society for Surgery of the Hand to a midcareer researcher dedicated to advancing patient care in the field of hand surgery. The Weiland Medal for 2017 was presented to the author at the annual meeting of the American Society for Surgery of the Hand. The purpose of this article is to present current evidence on how biomechanics and morphology influence the pathophysiology of thumb carpometacarpal joint osteoarthritis.
Non-parametric MLE for Poisson species abundance models allowing for heterogeneity between species

The proper management of an ecological population is greatly aided by solid information about its species' abundances. For the general heterogeneous Poisson species abundance setting, we develop the non-parametric mle for the entire probability model, namely for the total number N of species and the generating distribution F for the expected values of the species' abundances. Solid estimation of the entire probability model allows us to develop generator-based measures of ecological diversity and evenness which have inferences over similar regions. Also, our methods produce a solid goodness-of-fit test for our model as well as a likelihood ratio test to examine if there is heterogeneity in the expected values of the species' abundances. These estimates and tests are examined, in detail, in the paper. In particular, we apply our methods to important data from the National Breeding Bird Survey and discuss how our methods can also be easily applied to sweep net sampling data. To further examine our methods, we provide simulations for several illustrative situations.
Apoptosis in Cerebral Vasospasm After Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

We hypothesize that the mechanism of cerebral vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage may not be a delayed and prolonged vascular response to certain spasmogens but a more complicated cascade, including contraction, cell death, and proliferation. This study was undertaken to demonstrate the apoptotic cell death induced by oxyhemoglobin in cultured endothelial cells in vitro, apoptosis in endothelium in vivo in a canine double hemorrhage model of experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage, and apoptosis in cerebral endothelial cells in a patient who died of cerebral vasospasm. (1) Oxyhemoglobin-produced endothelial apoptotic cell was demonstrated by apoptotic bodies [transmission electron microscopy (TEM)] and DNA ladders. (2) Endothelial cell damage and detachment were observed in dog middle cerebral arteries 5 days after blood injection. (3) In a patient who died 20 days after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrahge, endothelial detachment and apoptotic endothelial cells were demonstrated by TEM and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) reaction. These studies demonstrated that apoptosis may be an important step in vasospasm development. They opened a new avenue for treatment of vasospasm.
Ethics of international research: what does responsiveness mean?

International clinical research should be responsive to the needs of and establish close partnerships with the host country community, and the research should benefit the host community. Virtual Mentor is a monthly bioethics journal published by the American Medical Association.
Transcranial Doppler sonography reveals sustained attention deficits in young adults diagnosed with ADHD

The National Institute of Mental Health has recently launched the Research Domain Criteria framework that seeks to inform clinical classification schemes by elevating the status of neuroscience research in the diagnosis of mental disorders. The current research seeks to contribute to that initiative by using a neurophysiological measure, transcranial Doppler sonography that has been shown to be sensitive to decrements in sustained attention and may provide an additional biomarker of executive dysfunction in ADHD. Twenty-seven participants performed a 12-min vigilance task while cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFV) was recorded. Thirteen participants were included in an ADHD condition if they had been formally diagnosed with ADHD. The remaining 14 participants who had never been formally diagnosed with ADHD were included in the control condition. Participants that had been diagnosed with ADHD demonstrated a steeper decrement in performance accuracy, a steeper decrement in perceptual sensitivity, and employed a more liberal response bias over time as compared to the control participants. Critically, the decrement in CBFV was steeper for participants previously diagnosed with ADHD than those who were not. Moreover, CBFV was found to better predict decreases in sensitivity and hit rate, as well as increases in liberal responding above and beyond self-reported ADHD symptoms. Results suggest that CBFV can be used to index failures of executive control in ADHD and can predict response strategy, and that the measure may provide an additional index of the sustained attention deficits associated with ADHD compared to traditional diagnostic methods.
Genome-wide Association Study of Alcohol Consumption and Use Disorder in Multiple Populations (N = 274,424)

Although alcohol consumption level and alcohol use disorder (AUD) diagnosis are both moderately heritable, their genetic risks and overlap are not well understood. We conducted genome-wide association studies of these traits using longitudinal Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test-Consumption (AUDIT-C) scores (reflecting alcohol consumption) and AUD diagnoses from electronic health records (EHRs) in a single, large multi-ancestry Million Veteran Program sample. Meta-analysis across population groups (N = 274,424) identified 18 genome-wide significant loci, 5 of which were associated with both traits and 13 with either AUDIT-C (N = 8) or AUD (N = 5). A significant genetic correlation between the traits reflects this overlap. However, downstream analyses revealed biologically meaningful points of divergence. Cell-type group partitioning heritability enrichment analyses indicated that central nervous system was the most significant cell type for AUDIT-C and the only significant cell type for AUD. Polygenic risk scores (PRS) for both traits were associated with alcohol-related disorders in two independent samples. Genetic correlations for 188 non-alcohol-related traits were significantly different for the two traits, as were the phenotypes associated with the polygenic risk scores. We conclude that EHR-derived, longitudinal, repeated measures of alcohol consumption level and AUD diagnosis can facilitate genetic discovery and help to elucidate the relationship between drinking level and AUD risk. Finally, although heavy drinking is a key risk factor for AUD, it is not a sufficient cause of the disorder.
Developing Knowledge for Teaching Graphing of Bivariate Categorical Data

Due to the increased role of statistics in current curriculum standards, there is at present a call for attention to secondary teachers’ knowledge for teaching statistics in teacher education. This...
Improvements in episodic future thinking methodology: Establishing a standardized episodic thinking control

Objective Delay discounting (DD) is the choice of a smaller immediate reward over a larger delayed reward, which has been associated with a number of maladaptive behaviors. Episodic future thinking (EFT), the ability to project oneself into the future, is an intervention designed to reduce DD. EFT has reliable effects on DD, but the size of the effect varies, which could be due in part to the use of different control groups. Episodic recent thinking (ERT) serves as a common control for many EFT studies, but the temporal window of "recent" cues ranges from 24 hours ago to 12 days past. Since prior research has shown that retrospection can lead to prospection, it may be important to ensure that EFT controls do not inadvertently lead to prospection for some participants thereby increasing the variability of the control condition. The present study sought to develop a comparison group that standardizes the time frame and experiences that are the basis for the recent thinking control. Methods Participants (n = 53, 18-45) were randomized to one of three conditions: EFT, ERT, or standardized episodic thinking (SET). Participants attended a laboratory appointment where they played mobile application games, created cues, and completed a DD task. Results There was a significant difference between groups (p 0.05). Conclusion This study established that SET provides an alternative control in EFT studies and provides the advantage of standardizing the participant's recent experience without changing the relationship between EFT and recent thinking controls.
What Happens after Students Are Expelled? Understanding Teachers' Practices in Educating Persistently Disciplined Students at One Alternative Middle School.

BackgroundFederal zero-tolerance policies require the exclusion of students exhibiting violent behaviors, with the intent of maintaining a safe school environment for other students to learn. In Ca...
SGLT Inhibitors for Type 1 Diabetes: Proceed With Extreme Caution

Intensive insulin management is currently the only option for effective treatment of type 1 diabetes. Recent data from the T1D Exchange (T1DX) registry (1), which comprises leading U.S. diabetes treatment centers, show that despite the widespread availability of insulin analogs and increasing use of insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitoring systems, only about 20% of adult patients achieve the A1C target of <7% (53 mmol/mol) recommended by the American Diabetes Association (2). It is reasonable to assume that glycemic control of patients receiving care outside of major centers might be even worse. The T1DX registry has also shown that nearly 5% of adult participants experienced one or more episodes of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) within the past 12 months (3), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently reported a 6.3% annual increase in hospitalization rates for DKA from 2009 to 2014, with highest rates in persons aged <45 years (4). Moreover, the majority of patients are either overweight or obese, potentially increasing their risk of cardiovascular disease (1). There is clearly an unmet need for noninsulin adjunctive therapies that improve glycemic control without increasing the risk of hypoglycemia or contributing to weight gain, and it is noteworthy that among nearly 50,000 pediatric and adult participants in the T1DX registry in the U.S. and the Prospective Diabetes Follow-up (DPV) registry in Germany and Austria, two large consortia of diabetes centers, adjuvant medications are being used off-label by 5.4% of participants in T1DX and 1.6% in DPV (5). Sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors block the SGLT2 transporter in the proximal renal tubule resulting in glucosuria and natriuresis and are approved and indicated for type 2 diabetes. Dual SGLT1+2 inhibitors have the additional effect of inhibiting SGLT1 in the gastrointestinal tract, thereby delaying intestinal absorption of glucose and galactose. Owing to …
Multichannel stroboscopic videography (MSV): a technique for visualizing multiple channels for behavioral measurements.

ABSTRACT Biologists commonly visualize different features of an organism using distinct sources of illumination. Such multichannel imaging has largely not been applied to behavioral studies because of the challenges posed by a moving subject. We address this challenge with the technique of multichannel stroboscopic videography (MSV), which synchronizes multiple strobe lights with video exposures of a single camera. We illustrate the utility of this approach with kinematic measurements of a walking cockroach ( Gromphadorhina portentosa ) and calculations of the pressure field around a swimming fish ( Danio rerio ). In both, transmitted illumination generated high-contrast images of the animal9s body in one channel. Other sources of illumination were used to visualize the points of contact for the feet of the cockroach and the water flow around the fish in separate channels. MSV provides an enhanced potential for high-throughput experimentation and the capacity to integrate changes in physiological or environmental conditions in freely-behaving animals.