cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Image-guided non-invasive ultrasound liver ablation using histotripsy: Feasibility study in an in vivo porcine model

Hepatocellular carcinoma is one of the fastest growing cancers worldwide. Histotripsy is a non-invasive ablation method that fractionates soft tissue through the control of acoustic cavitation. In this study, we demonstrate the feasibility of using histotripsy for non-invasive liver ablation. Fourteen ~1cm3 lesions were created in the livers of eight pigs through the intact chest in vivo without using aberration correction. Complete fractionation of liver parenchyma was observed with <;500 μm sharp boundaries. In addition, two larger volumes of 18 cm3 and 60 cm3 were generated within 60 minutes. Histotripsy liver fractionation was self-limited at the boundaries of critical structures including the gallbladder and major vessels. The liver surrounding major vessels was completely fractionated while the vessels remained intact. This work demonstrates that histotripsy is capable of noninvasively fractionating liver tissue while preserving critical anatomical structures within the liver. Results suggest histotripsy has potential for the non-invasive ablation of liver tumors.
The Effectiveness of Developmentally Appropriate Compared with Developmentally Inappropriate Practices: Implications for Teacher Preparation

(1994). The Effectiveness of Developmentally Appropriate Compared with Developmentally Inappropriate Practices: Implications for Teacher Preparation. Journal of Early Childhood Teacher Education: Vol. 15, No. 1, pp. 8-12.
Recasting Qushayrī’s Risāla in Fifteenth-Century Egypt

Abstract The scholarly works of the Egyptian Sufi and chief qadi Zakariyyā al-Anṣārī (d. 926/1520) often reflect a late-medieval Muslim trend of subtle intellectual innovation—that is, innovation that cloaks itself in the received tradition while often diverging markedly from it. It is particularly his celebrated Iḥkām al-dalāla ʿalā taḥrīr al-Risāla, a commentary on ʿAbd al-Karīm al-Qushayrī’s (d. 465/1072) Risāla in Sufism, that embodies such an intellectual trend quite starkly. This study examines the Iḥkām to understand how Anṣārī adapted an eleventh-century Nishapuri handbook in Sufism to his own fifteenth-century Egyptian context. It argues that Anṣārī’s redirecting of Qushayrī’s Risāla occurs through three broad interpretative techniques: a recasting in content, a recasting in form, and a recasting in tone and objective of the original text. After exploring these techniques in depth, a few larger implications for the field of commentary theory are noted in a concluding section. A preliminary consideration of Anṣārī’s biography, particularly those biographical details related to his scholarly training and career, his background in Sufism, and the writing of his Iḥkām, appears as a preface to the textual analysis that comprises the second half of the study.
PERCEPTUAL KNOWLEDGE AND THE METAPHYSICS OF EXPERIENCE

There is a long-standing tradition in philosophy that certain metaphysical theories of perceptual experience, if true, would lead to scepticism about the external world, whereas other theories, if true, would develop a non-sceptical epistemology. I investigate these claims in the context of current metaphysical theories of sense-perception and argue that choice of perceptual ontology is of very limited help in developing a non-sceptical epistemology. Theorists who hold that perception is an intentional state have some advantage in explaining how perceptual experiences serve as justifying reasons for empirical beliefs. Alston and others have argued that a successful defence of a contemporary version of naive realism would secure further epistemological advantages. I argue that this is not the case. A complete explanation of experience's reason-giving power involves factors beyond the metaphysical nature of experience.
High-pressure properties of Na3ClO anti-perovskite from first principles: An exploratory study

We present the results of an exploratory theoretical study of Na3ClO in the anti-perovskite structure. The FLAPW method is used to calculate the static lattice properties, pressure equation of state, and the ferroic Flu phonon frequencies in the cubic Pm3m phase. We also compute the compression behavior of NaCl and Na2O and find that the lattice energy of Na3ClO at ambient pressure (static lattice) is only marginally larger than of products, in agreement with experiment. However, detailed calculations reveal M- and R-point phonon instabilities in the ideal cubic phase and suggest the existence of lower symmetry structure involving slight rotations of ONa6 octahedra.
Latina/o (Public/Legal) Intellectuals, Social Crises, and Contemporary Social Movements

In this Essay, I seek to contribute briefly to this nascent (and renewed) discourse about the social relevance and action potential of critical sociolegal scholars-in particular those who affiliate with the LatCrit community/political project. In Part II, I explain why I chose to eschew reporting on my research into the intellectual history of the public intellectual or the abstracted definitional exercise of "being an intellectual." Further, I discuss why I chose to problematize the subject by historicizing it via brief evocations and vignettes about particular individuals who arguably "were" Latina/o intellectuals. Some of these Latina/o intellectuals were legally educated, and all engaged particular segments of the public as agents, actors and subjects of history. I then describe these individuals, highlighting their social contexts (especially the social movements that they engaged in) and citing to Chicana/Latino Studies literature that other critical sociolegal scholars may wish to consider. I conclude the Essay in Part III, asking the LatCrit community not to limit prematurely our inquiry about Latina/o intellectuals to sociolegal scholars. I suggest that we focus less on who might be usefully characterized as a Latina/o intellectual and more on studying and teaching about people who respond to particular situations in ways that combine critical theory with organized social change activities. In particular, I ask activists, scholars, students and others who affiliate with LatCrit theory to reflect on how their (our) intellectual work aids local community struggles and the larger social crises of our times. For example, where are we (including those who might be Latina/o intellectuals) in the struggle to reform immigration law and policy in 2010? Where are we (activists, scholars, and intellectuals of any outgroup) in the defense and organizing of impoverished people to obtain and preserve "substantive security" in a time of worldwide economic recession and disaster capitalism?
Scene simulation of millimeter-wave images

A mm wave image simulator is developed using a commercial ray-tracing package that is augmented with a custom Matlab package to determine expected image quality of both passive and active millimeter-wave imaging systems. To build accurate scene information, a library of material properties was assembled using data from literature and internal measurements.
HIV Transmission: Time for Translational Studies to Bridge the Gap

More than 7000 new HIV infections are documented each day worldwide. In this Perspective, we dissect new results from a large clinical trial showing that genital and plasma HIV-1 RNA loads predict the risk of heterosexual transmission and that genital tract viral RNA load does so independently of plasma viral load. Furthermore, beyond its defined study end points, this well-conducted trial identified new research directions that should be pursued in smaller intensive basic and translational studies.
Computation of Fourier transform quantities in Hartree–Fock calculations for simple crystals

An efficient method is presented to compute the Fourier transforms of lattice sums over Slater-type orbital products that arise in crystal Hartree–Fock calculations. Introduction of one-dimensional integral representations for the Fourier transforms of the STO'S enables a separation of the three infinite sums under the (two-dimensional) integral sign. This, in turn, makes it possible to calculate and store quantities associated with the three Fourier transform vector components separately. The orbital transform integrations are then performed numerically. The method is very advantageous when lattice sum transforms are needed for a large number of transform vectors. Formulas and results are presented for simple-cubic crystals when 1s, 2s, and 2p Slater orbitals are involved.
ObesiTV: How television is influencing the obesity epidemic

Obesity is a major public health concern in the United States. Over the last several decades, the prevalence of obesity among both adults and children has grown at an alarming rate and is now reaching epidemic proportions. The increase in obesity has been associated with rises in a host of other chronic conditions including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and some cancers. While the causes of obesity are multifaceted, there is growing evidence that television viewing is a major contributor. Results of numerous studies indicate a direct association between time spent watching television and body weight. Possible explanations for this relationship include: 1) watching television acts as a sedentary replacement for physical activity; 2) food advertisements for nutrient-poor, high-calorie foods stimulate food intake; and 3) television viewing is associated with "mindless" eating. In addition to decreasing physical activity and increasing the consumption of highly palatable foods, television viewing can also promote weight gain in indirect ways, such as through the use of targeted product placements in television shows; by influencing social perceptions of body image; and airing programs that portray cooking, eating and losing weight as entertainment. This paper will provide an interdisciplinary review of the direct and indirect ways in which television influences the obesity epidemic, and conclude with ways in which the negative impact of television on obesity could be reduced.
The Roles of Independent Self-Construal and Concerns for Face on Advising Rape Victims to Report to Police in Japanese and U.S. College Students

This study investigated differences in Japanese and U.S. college students' tendencies to advise a rape victim—whom they would consider to be their own sister—to seek help from police. It was found that U.S. participants tended to advise the victim to report the rape to the police more often than did Japanese participants. This difference was mediated by independent self-construal and moderated by concern for the victim's face. This study replicated, in a cross-cultural setting, others' findings that participants were less likely to advise victims to report a rape when the victim and offender were acquainted.
Implications of previously undetected incidental findings on 3D CT simulation scans for radiation therapy

Abstract Purpose To determine the frequency of significant incidental findings on diagnostic quality simulation computed tomographic (CT) scans for radiotherapy planning. Methods and Materials An institutional review board--approved retrospective review of radiation simulation CT scans with diagnostic radiology reports, performed between 2004 and 2006, was conducted to identify incidental findings, defined as previously unreported findings. An incidental finding was classified as a cancer-related finding (CRF) if it could potentially change the staging and treatment of the cancer. Other nonmalignant findings, not likely caused by cancer, were classified as noncancer findings (NCFs). Results Of the 580 CT scans performed for radiation planning, 61 (11%) NCFs and 45 (8%) CRFs were identified. Common NCFs included degenerative bone changes (20%), diverticulosis (15%), and lung (11%), kidney (10%), thyroid (10%), and vascular (7%) abnormalities. Two of the vascular NCFs were thrombi requiring anticoagulation. The CRFs included suspected local recurrence (22%); lymphadenopathy (18%); significant progression of local disease (16%); distant metastasis to the liver (16%), bone (11%), and other sites (16%); and malignancy not evident (2%). Eight CRFs prompted additional workup, all with negative results, causing 2 treatment delays. Three CRFs warranted change of treatment without further imaging, including the use of induction chemotherapy before radiation, an increase in radiation dose, and proceeding with surgery up front followed by radiation. The remaining 34 CRFs did not require additional action because the abnormalities were already addressed by the planned treatment (33%), were believed to be benign with further review (29%), or would have been better evaluated by additional imaging that had been scheduled prior to radiation simulation (13%). Overall, 7 of 580 (1%) scans prompted treatment alterations, including 2 treatment delays. Conclusion A comprehensive review of radiation planning CT scans by diagnostic radiologists resulted in a significant change in medical or cancer management in only a small percentage of cases.
Issues in the design of an executive controller shell for Space Station automation

A major goal of NASA's Systems Autonomy Demonstration Project is to focus research in artificial intelligence, human factors, and dynamic control systems in support of Space Station automation. Another goal is to demonstrate the use of these technologies in real space systems, for both round-based mission support and on-board operations. The design, construction, and evaluation of an intelligent autonomous system shell is recognized as an important part of the Systems Autonomy research program. His paper describes autonomous systems and executive controllers, outlines how these intelligent systems can be utilized within the Space Station, and discusses a number of key design issues that have been raised during some preliminary work to develop an autonomous executive controller shell at NASA Ames Research Center.
Group B Streptococcal Infections in Elderly Adults

Elderly adults account for >40% of persons with invasive group B streptococcal (GBS) disease and for >50% of GBS-associated deaths in the United States. The prevalence of colonization among healthy elderly adults (approximately 25%) is similar to that among women of childbearing age. Delineating contributions of comorbid conditions, altered integrity of anatomical barriers, and abnormalities in immune responses caused by immune senescence to pathogenesis require further investigation. Delayed clinical recognition of illness may contribute to poor outcome. Skin and soft-tissue infections and bacteremia with no identified focus are common manifestations of infection in elderly adults and younger nonpregnant adults. Urinary tract infection and pneumonia are presentations more often encountered in elderly persons than in younger adults. The safety and immunogenicity of GBS serotype V-tetanus toxoid conjugate vaccine in healthy elderly persons suggest the potential for vaccination as an approach to prevention of invasive GBS infections in elderly persons.
Thermally Annealed GaN Nucleation Layers And The MOCVD Growth Of Si-Doped GaN Films On (00.1) Sapphire

The effect of epitaxial growth temperature in the range 985 - 1050°C on the preparation of device quality Si-doped GaN layers on self-nucleated (00.1) sapphire has been explored. Not unexpectedly, several device-related properties monotonically improve with increasing growth temperature, including: (a) carrier density; and, (b) volume fraction of heteroepitaxial domains. However, a number of equally important device-related properties show a local maximum or minimum and include: (a) optical second-harmonic generation intensity; (b) structural coherence; and, particularly (c) surface morphology. The antecedents of the first class is found in an increase in surface and bulk diffusion and a reduction in film defect incorporation and stress at the GaN/GaN (nucleation layer)/a-Al2O3 heterointerface (even for overlays with thicknesses near 1 μm). The second class apparently stems from the limited range over which the thermally annealed GaN nucleation layer stimulates pseudo two-dimensional growth of the overlayer.
Intrarenal Distribution of Blood Flow during Elevation of Ureteral Pressure in Dogs

The ^Kr method was used to determine the effect of elevated ureteral pressure on total cortical and outer medullary nutrient renal blood flow of pentobarbital-anesthetized dogs. Increased ureteral pressure during mild saline diuresis resulted in increased total nutrient blood flow from 316 to 402 ml/100 g/min. Autoradiographs demonstrated that the increased blood flow is confined to the renal cortex and that juxtamedullary cortical and outer medullary flow is unchanged. Elevated ureteral pressure decreased total renal blood flow from 473 to 381 ml/g/min during copious mannitol diuresis. This is due at least partly to decreased cortical blood flow; we were unable to measure juxtamedullary cortical plus outer medullary blood flow during mannitol diuresis. Isolated renal arteries relaxed when placed in a physiologic salt solution containing 70 mM mannitol. Renin release is increased during elevation of ureteral pressure. We concluded that the mechanism for increased renal blood flow during ureteral occlusion selectively involves the nutrient circulation of the renal cortex.
Stromally Derived Lysyl Oxidase Promotes Metastasis of Transforming Growth Factor-β–Deficient Mouse Mammary Carcinomas

The tumor stromal environment can dictate many aspects of tumor progression. A complete understanding of factors driving stromal activation and their role in tumor metastasis is critical to furthering research with the goal of therapeutic intervention. Polyoma middle T-induced mammary carcinomas lacking the type II TGF-β receptor (PyMT(mgko)) are highly metastatic compared with control PyMT-induced carcinomas (PyMT(fl/fl)). We hypothesized that the PyMT(mgko)-activated stroma interacts with carcinoma cells to promote invasion and metastasis. We show that the extracellular matrix associated with PyMT(mgko) tumors is stiffer and has more fibrillar collagen and increased expression of the collagen crosslinking enzyme lysyl oxidase (LOX) compared with PyMT(fl/fl) mammary carcinomas. Inhibition of LOX activity in PyMT(mgko) mice had no effect on tumor latency and size, but significantly decreased tumor metastasis through inhibition of tumor cell intravasation. This phenotype was associated with a decrease in keratin 14-positive myoepithelial cells in PyMT(mgko) tumors following LOX inhibition as well as a decrease in focal adhesion formation. Interestingly, the primary source of LOX was found to be activated fibroblasts. LOX expression in these fibroblasts can be driven by myeloid cell-derived TGF-β, which is significantly linked to human breast cancer. Overall, stromal expansion in PyMT(mgko) tumors is likely caused through the modulation of immune cell infiltrates to promote fibroblast activation. This feeds back to the epithelium to promote metastasis by modulating phenotypic characteristics of basal cells. Our data indicate that epithelial induction of microenvironmental changes can play a significant role in tumorigenesis and attenuating these changes can inhibit metastasis. Cancer Res; 73(17); 5336-46. ©2013 AACR.
Electrochemical Investigation of Surface Reactions for Chemical Mechanical Planarization of Tantalum in Oxalic Acid Solutions

Oxalic acid OA-based nonalkaline solutions of H2O2 are found to support chemically mediated removal of Ta–oxide surface films on Ta. The associated surface reactions are critical for chemical mechanical planarization CMP of Ta barrier layers in the fabrication of interconnect structures. In the present work, we probe the underlying mechanisms of these reactions using dc and ac electrochemical techniques. A Ta coupon electrode is used as a model system in abrasive-free solutions of 1 wt % OA + x wt % H2O2 at pH 3.0 and 6.0 x = 0, 1, and 5, where the chemical component of CMP is selectively examined in the absence of mechanical abrasion. These nonalkaline solutions are essential for preventing chemical damage to low-k dielectrics underlying Ta barriers in interconnects. The electrochemical data presented here explain the recently reported findings of Ta CMP experiments using OA solutions, and provide the necessary framework to put forward a reaction scheme for the chemically mediated disintegration of Ta2O5 films formed on Ta in such solutions. A comparison of the dc and ac electrochemical data helps to identify the relative roles of the different chemical additives in these CMP solutions.
The β1 Cytoplasmic Domain Regulates the Laminin-binding Specificity of the α7X1 Integrin

During muscle development, the laminin-specific α7 integrin is alternatively spliced in the putative ligand-binding domain to yield either the α7X1 or the α7X2 variant. The relative level of α7X1 and α7X2 is developmentally regulated. Similarly, the partner β1 integrin cytoplasmic domain is converted from the β1A to the β1D splice variant. To determine whether β1D modulates the activity of the α7 receptor, cells were transfected with α7X1 and β1D cDNA. α7X1 coupled with β1A failed to adhere to laminin-1, whereas cotransfectants expressing α7X1 and β1D showed strong adhesion. Interestingly, α7X1 complexed with β1A and β1D displayed the same level of poor adhesion to laminin-2/4 or strong adhesion to laminin-10/11. These findings indicate that α7 function is regulated not only by X1/X2 in its extracellular domain but also by β1 cytoplasmic splice variants. It is likely that expression of β1D alters α7X1 binding to laminin isoforms by a process related to ligand affinity modulation. Functional regulation of α7β1 by developmentally regulated splicing events may be important during myogenic differentiation and repair because the integrin mediates adhesion, motility, and cell survival.
Evaluating the Psychometric Integrity of Instruments Used in Early Intervention Research The Battelle Developmental Inventory

Researchers in early intervention recognize that instruments used to measure child developmental status should yield reliable and valid data. Many test manuals, however, present little empirical ev...
Weight-Loss Intervention by Telephone: Lessons Learned

The dramatic rise in the prevalence of obesity and type 2 diabetes is clearly a strain on health care systems globally (1). Recently published guidelines on obesity management indicate that a sustained weight loss of 3–5% is likely to result in clinically meaningful reductions in triglycerides, blood glucose, and A1C (2). However, the 2013 Obesity Guidelines noted achieving more weight loss (∼10%) will also reduce blood pressure, improve LDL cholesterol and HDL cholesterol, and reduce the need for medications required to control cardiometabolic risk (2). The Look AHEAD (Actions for Health in Diabetes) trial provides evidence, specific to diabetes, that an intensive lifestyle intervention can achieve a 5–10% weight loss and can improve sleep apnea quality-of-life indices, achieve cardiometabolic biomarker improvements, and reduce need for medications (3–6). These benefits are emphasized in the 2013 Obesity Guidelines (2). Challenges to providing an intensive intervention in primary care practice setting, as required to achieve the suggested outcomes, include the lack of staffing and resources required to adhere to the schedule for the intensive follow-up. In this regard, telephone contact, along with other technologies that have the potential to provide frequent contact with a lower staff and patient burden, is …
From Phishing To Advanced Persistent Threats: The Application Of Cybercrime Risk To The Enterprise Risk Management Model

This paper examines the issues of cybercrime in the context of risk to organizations. In particular, it considers the control frameworks most commonly used by U.S. public companies to benchmark their internal controls over financial reporting. It discusses the market for stolen identities, looking at the sources from which many of those identities are stolen. It reviews the available internal control frameworks and explains how a firm’s risk of cybercrime might be classified as a material weakness under Sarbanes-Oxley Section 404. It models how the use of COSO’s Enterprise Risk Management model could improve an organization’s chances of avoiding a serious incident.
Veterans' Service Utilization Patterns After Alcohol and Opioid Detoxification in VHA Care.

Objective:This study aimed to examine detoxification-related service utilization in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA).Methods:VHA data for 266,908 patients were used to examine rates and predictors of receiving detoxification, attending post-detoxification appointments, and entering specialty treatment. Multilevel, mixed-effects logistic regressions were used to examine associations between patient and facility characteristics and service utilization.Results:Nationally, 8.0% of VHA patients with alcohol or opiate dependence received detoxification in fiscal year 2013 (facility range=.1%−20.4%); 43.1% of detoxified patients received follow-up (11.1%−76.4%), and 49.9% entered specialty treatment (13.0%−77.2%). In adjusted analyses, detoxification was more likely among male, younger, white, and homeless patients with documented alcohol or opiate disorders and comorbid general medical conditions but without previous addiction treatment. Detoxification was also more likely in facilities with fewer vacan...
On the scalability of ad hoc wireless networks

This dissertation considers the problem of scaling ad hoc wireless networks now being applied to urban mesh and sensor networks scenarios. Ad hoc networks involve multi-hop communication which has inherent scaling problems in that throughput per node drops as the square root of the number of nodes in the network. We investigate mechanisms for improving performance and scalability of multi-hop wireless networks, with focus on system architecture and routing protocol aspects. First we propose a generalized multi-tier hierarchical hybrid network with three tiers of radio nodes: low-power end-user mobile nodes (MN) at the lowest tier, higher power radio forwarding nodes (FN) that support multi-hop routing at intermediate level, and wired access points (AP) at the highest level. We present an analytical model for the capacity of the proposed network and identify conditions on transmission range and node density for scalability to be maintained. From the derived upper and lower bounds, it is shown that the low-tier capacity increase linearly with the number of FN’s, and the high-tier capacity grows linearly with the number of AP’s in the scaling region. The analytically obtained capacity results are validated with detailed system simulations for dense network scenarios. The simulation study also examines the allocation of separate channels to avoid the increased protocol overhead which arises in the single channel case. A heuristic distributed channel assignment algorithm is proposed to achieve conflict-free transmissions in the network. Next, we investigate cross-layer adaptive routing as another type of scaling mechanism. An adaptive routing framework, which allows introduction of adjustable parameters and programmable routing modules, is described. The proposed framework can support various cross-layer mechanisms including those based on integrated routing metrics that incorporate PHY and MAC information. We investigate a PHY/MAC aware routing metric (PARMA) which incorporates physical layer link speed and MAC congestion. Design and implementation of PARMA are outlined, and simulation results for typical multi-rate 802.11 ad hoc network scenarios show that PARMA helps improve throughput and decrease congestion by selecting paths with high bit-rate links while avoiding MAC congestion areas.
The Life History Cycle of Limulus polyphemus in the Great Bay Estuary, New Hampshire U.S.A.

The overall goal of this chapter is to provide an overview of the life history cycle of the American horseshoe crabs (Limulus polyphemus) that reside in the Great Bay Estuary, New Hampshire, U.S.A. Great Bay horseshoe crabs generally spawn during high tides in the spring. Based on recent work and studies, spawning appeared to be triggered by increases in water temperature, and animals seemed to prefer to spawn in the warmest sections of the estuary. However, in contrast to horseshoe crabs in some other areas of the U.S.A., peaks of spawning activity did not necessarily correspond with the new and full moons, or with the highest tides, and similar numbers of animals were observed spawning during day and night high tides. Once the eggs hatch, it is hypothesized that their planktonic larvae are likely transported to the upper regions of the estuary where they settle on the expansive mudflats that characterize most of the Great Bay Estuary. At ~9 years (about the 17th instar stage), males appear to reach sexual maturity, while it appears that females molt one more time before reaching sexual maturity. This difference, along with a tendency for males to approach mating beaches more often than females, may contribute to a sex ratio that is skewed towards males at most spawning beaches in the estuary.
Creasable Batteries: Understanding Failure Modes through Dynamic Electrochemical Mechanical Testing.

Thin-film batteries that can be folded, bent, and even repeatedly creased with minimal or no loss in electrochemical performance have been demonstrated and systematically evaluated using two dynamic mechanical testing approaches for either controlled bending or creasing of flexible devices. The results show that mechanically robust and flexible Li-ion batteries (Li4Ti5O12//LiFePO4) based on the use of a nonwoven multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWNT) mat as a current collector (CC) exhibited a 14-fold decrease in voltage fluctuation at a bending strain of 4.2%, as compared to cells using traditional metal foil CCs. More importantly, MWNT-based full-cells exhibited excellent mechanical integrity through 288 crease cycles, whereas the foil full-cell exhibited continuously degraded performance with each fold and catastrophic fracture after only 94 folds. The enhancements due to MWNT CCs can be attributed to excellent interfacial properties as well as high mechanical strength coupled with compliancy, which allow ...
The Soil Microfungi of Open Bogs and Conifer Swamps in Wisconsin

SUMMARYThe soil microfungi in five northern Wisconsin open bogs and ten conifer swamps have been surveyed. Two hundred isolates from eight sites in each community were identified or characterized a...
Structures in solution of adducts of 2,8-dioxa-5-aza-1-phosphabicyclo[3.3.0]-octane and substituted benzils

Abstract Adducts of 2,8-dioxa-5-aza-1-phosphabicyclo[3.3.0]octane and p,p′-dimethylbenzil, p-methoxy-p′-fluorobenzil, p-fluorobenzil, p,p′-difluorobenzil, p-nitrobenzil and p,p′-dinitrobenzil have been prepared. Although these materials could not be isolated in pure form because of rapid decomposition, the 31P and other NMR spectral data indicate that all of these materials are pentacoordinate in solution. The NMR data also indicate that all of these adducts undergo rapid intramolecular ligand reorganization at room temperature. Variable temperature NMR measurements indicate that these rearrangements can be slowed and that they all have virtually the same activation energies, δG† 11.4–11.9 kcal/mole. The barrier to ligand reorganization is associated with the 5-membered dioxa containing ring adopting a diequatorial disposition. These results are discussed and compared to other systems.
An Efficient Joint Formulation for Bayesian Face Verification

This paper revisits the classical Bayesian face recognition algorithm from Baback Moghaddam et al. and proposes enhancements tailored to face verification, the problem of predicting whether or not a pair of facial images share the same identity. Like a variety of face verification algorithms, the original Bayesian face model only considers the appearance difference between two faces rather than the raw images themselves. However, we argue that such a fixed and blind projection may prematurely reduce the separability between classes. Consequently, we model two facial images jointly with an appropriate prior that considers intra- and extra-personal variations over the image pairs. This joint formulation is trained using a principled EM algorithm, while testing involves only efficient closed-formed computations that are suitable for real-time practical deployment. Supporting theoretical analyses investigate computational complexity, scale-invariance properties, and convergence issues. We also detail important relationships with existing algorithms, such as probabilistic linear discriminant analysis and metric learning. Finally, on extensive experimental evaluations, the proposed model is superior to the classical Bayesian face algorithm and many alternative state-of-the-art supervised approaches, achieving the best test accuracy on three challenging datasets, Labeled Face in Wild, Multi-PIE, and YouTube Faces, all with unparalleled computational efficiency.
A STUDY OF DETERMINE POSSIBLE DIFFERENCES IN THE FORMED BLOOD ELEMENTS OF NORMAL AND SCHIZOPHRENIC SUBJECTS.

The cognitive and motor deficits associated with human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) infection have been studied using neurological examination and neuropsychological tests. However, drug users with HIV-1 infection generally have been excluded from such studies. Forty-four well-characterized drug users stratified by Centers for Disease Control staging were administered a standardized neurological examination and a battery of neuropsychological tests under single-blind conditions designed to minimize the acute effects of psychoactive substances. The results of the blind neurological examination were consistent with the previously ascertained clinical staging of HIV-1 infection. The pattern of neuropsychological deficits across HIV-1 states was similar to those found in cohorts of homosexual men.
Anna Freud: Observation and Development

Anna Freud taught the importance of observation, suggesting that students jot down their observations in a systematic manner. She urged observers to amplify their notes, which were later discussed ...
Alternative Food Movement

There are arguably several alternative food movements (AFMs) rather than a singular one. Most exist to challenge the negative consequences of the industrial food system. Geographers and allied scholars have been central to a number of scholarly debates about AFMs centered on neoliberalism, accessibility, and the wellbeing of farmers and farmworkers within them. Organic, fair trade, civic agriculture and sustainable community food systems, food justice, and food sovereignty all form important parts of current AFMs. Each has its own history and dynamics, and one major challenge for AFMs is to find and cultivate unity in diversity. Keywords: agriculture; capitalism; food, farming, and agrarian geographies; indigenous peoples; localization; sustainability
A cognitively motivated algorithm for rapid response in emergency situations

Robust response to crisis situations involving complex, large-scale networks with rapidly changing operational conditions is a fundamental task to be addressed in various task domains, including power systems, computer networks, public health, and many other areas. There are many manifestations of rapid, flexible responses to sudden changes in biological systems, from which we can derive basic principles to design robust technical systems for emergency response. In this work we outline the lessons learnt from brains as they respond to sudden changes basic principles of how the brain responds to environmental stimuli. We describe a hierarchical, multi-level model motivated by the structure and function of the brain and indicate possible applications in engineering designs.
Lipid Gene Transfer and Clinical Gene Therapy

There are several features of liposome-mediated DNA transfer that make it a viable delivery system for clinical gene therapy. 1) In contrast to viral delivery systems, contamination with exogenous protein or other nucleic acid is minimal, so the potential for immunity is significantly reduced, making repeated administration more feasible. 2) The components can be easily produced on a large scale. 3) The components can be easily manipulated and there is theoretically no size restriction on the DNA that can be delivered.
From Skepticism to Scholarship: Learning and Living Self-Study Research in a Doctoral Seminar

AbstractTeacher education doctoral seminars can provide a space for students to collaborate, reflect and support each other as they transition from teacher to teacher educator. These spaces also provide a forum for the learning of new research methodologies. This collaborative self-study chronicles how one group of doctoral students learned self-study research and fostered a scholarly identity in a doctoral seminar focused on learning about teacher education practices through self-study research. The participants shared autobiographies, journals, and critical summaries of assigned readings, and they questioned each other’s understanding and development in the context of their shared experiences. Through this process, they overcame concerns regarding self-study as they developed their understanding of the components of self-study research and accepted their new role as self-study researchers. This study provides insights into the benefits of using doctoral seminars as a space to develop a scholarly identit...
Real-time self-explanatory simulation

We present Pika, an implemented self-explanatory simulator that is more than 5000 times faster than SimGen Mk2 [Forbus and Falkenhainer, 1992], the previous state of the art. Like SimGen, Pika automatically prepares and runs a numeric simulation of a physical device specified as a particular instantiation of a general domain theory, and it is capable of explaining its reasoning and the simulated behavior. Unlike SimGen, Pika's modeling language allows arbitrary algebraic and differential equations with no prespecified causal direction; Pika infers the appropriate causality and solves the equations as necessary to prepare for numeric integration.
The speed of memory errors shows the influence of misleading information: Testing the diffusion model and discrete-state models.

Abstract In this report, we evaluate single-item and forced-choice recognition memory for the same items and use the resulting accuracy and reaction time data to test the predictions of discrete-state and continuous models. For the single-item trials, participants saw a word and indicated whether or not it was studied on a previous list. The forced-choice trials had one studied and one non-studied word that both appeared in the earlier single-item trials and both received the same response. Thus, forced-choice trials always had one word with a previous correct response and one with a previous error. Participants were asked to select the studied word regardless of whether they previously called both words “studied” or “not studied.” The diffusion model predicts that forced-choice accuracy should be lower when the word with a previous error had a fast versus a slow single-item RT, because fast errors are associated with more compelling misleading memory retrieval. The two-high-threshold (2HT) model does not share this prediction because all errors are guesses, so error RT is not related to memory strength. A low-threshold version of the discrete state approach predicts an effect similar to the diffusion model, because errors are a mixture of responses based on misleading retrieval and guesses, and the guesses should tend to be slower. Results showed that faster single-trial errors were associated with lower forced-choice accuracy, as predicted by the diffusion and low-threshold models.
Modelling minimum-time manoeuvering with global optimisation of local receding horizon control

In this paper, we explore the notion that a human driver uses a receding horizon model predictive control (MPC) scheme for minimum-time manoeuvering. However, MPC is an inherently sub-optimal contr...
From the Old New Republic to a Great Community: Insights and Contradictions in John Dewey’s Public Pedagogy

This article draws from John Dewey’s philosophy of education, ideas about democracy and pragmatist assumptions to explain how his articles for The New Republic functioned pedagogically. Taking media as a mode of public pedagogy, and drawing extensively from Dewey’s Democracy and Education , as well as from his book The Public and its Problems , the article explores the relationships between communication, education and democracy using the expanded conceptions of all the aforementioned advanced by Dewey. Borrowing insights from Randolph Bourne, who used Dewey’s own ideas to criticize his mentor’s influence on intellectuals who supported US involvement in World War I, the analysis explores the contradictions within Dewey’s public pedagogy. The article suggests Dewey’s relevance as a public intellectual in the liberal-progressive press, his view of the State and some of his related presuppositions produced a tension in his thought, delimiting democratic possibilities while simultaneously pointing toward greater democratic potentials. The essay concludes by suggesting that learning from both Dewey and Bourne prompts us to get beyond the former’s public/private dualism to realize what he called the “Great Community” by communicating and practicing the Commons.
The Mind's Theorist

The highest-order function of the mind is as a theorist. The memory system accumulates information about the outside world. The mind’s theorist must sort through the information to formulate a theory about that world. The basic component of the system for theory building is a process called trolling. When the conscious mind is not being bombarded by external stimuli, or during certain stages of sleep, the mind’s theorist trolls through memory searching for traces that contain similar information. If several traces are identified, analysis may yield information that was not evident when each was examined individually; reification of this sort can add new information to memory. The trolling process, and its ability to form new memory traces in the absence of external stimulation, is key to understanding many psychological phenomena.
Time to refine key climate policy models

Ambition regarding climate change at the national level is critical but is often calibrated with the projected costs — as estimated by a small suite of energy–economic models. Weaknesses in several key areas in these models will continue to distort policy design unless collectively addressed by a diversity of researchers.
A review of metabolism-associated biomarkers in lung cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Lung cancer continues to be the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Early detection has proven essential to extend survival. Genomic and proteomic advances have provided impetus to the effort dedicated to detect and diagnose the disease at an earlier stage. Recently, the study of metabolites associated with tumor formation and progression has inaugurated the era of cancer metabolomics to aid in this effort. This review summarizes recent work regarding novel metabolites with the potential to serve as biomarkers for early lung tumor detection, evaluation of disease progression, and prediction of patient outcomes. We compare the metabolite profiling of cancer patients with that of healthy individuals, and the metabolites identified in tissue and biofluid samples and their usefulness as lung cancer biomarkers. We discuss metabolite alterations in tumor versus paired non-tumor lung tissues, as well as metabolite alterations in different stages of lung cancers and their usefulness as indicators of disease progression and overall survival. We evaluate metabolite dysregulation in different types of lung cancers, and those associated with lung cancer versus other lung diseases. We also examine metabolite differences between lung cancer patients and smokers/risk-factor individuals. Although an extensive list of metabolites has been evaluated to distinguish between these cases, refinement of methods is further required for adequate patient diagnosis and treatment. We conclude that with technological advancement, metabolomics may be able to replace more invasive and costly diagnostic procedures while also providing the means to more effectively tailor treatment to patient-specific tumors.
The Seven Challenges® Comprehensive Counseling Program: Effectiveness for Adults with Substance Use Problems:

This study examined the acceptability and effectiveness of The Seven Challenges®, a comprehensive substance use counseling program focused on decision making, compared with commonly provided, or “s...
The Commander-in-Chief after 9/11

One of the most contested questions of constitutional law after September 11 has been the meaning of Article II, Section 2’s first clause: “The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States.”1 This chapter aims to answer three questions: What disputes over the meaning of the so-called Commander-in-Chief Clause did post-9/11 policies and practices incite? Why did such controversies arise? And, how will such debates about the Commander-in-Chief Clause’s meaning likely be settled in the future?
Considerations in deciding when and how to evaluate provider group interventions

Interventions aimed at changing clinician behavior are increasingly focused on the practice environment in which care is delivered. Such interventions are therefore often targeted, at least in part, at provider groups. When the target of an intervention is a provider group, and not an individual, a number of conceptual and methodological issues arise. The purpose of this paper is first to offer insights into when a formal evaluation is appropriate in such instances, and second, assuming a formal evaluation is appropriate, to offer suggestions as to how to design and conduct an effective evaluation when the unit of assignment is a provider group.
Knee Range of Motion as a Discriminatory Tool Indicating Potential Meniscal Tears.

Background: Primary care physicians often encounter patients with knee pain and are faced with the dilemma of whether to refer patients to a specialist. Meniscal tears are the most common intraarticular knee injury but are challenging to accurately diagnose because of a lack of quantitative, accurate, and easy-to-administer tests. We conducted a retrospective medical record review to evaluate whether measurement of knee range of motion (ROM) via goniometry could discriminate between healthy and meniscus-altered knees. Methods: A total of 110 adult patients met the inclusion criteria: age ≥18 years; no history of contralateral knee pain, injury, or surgery; ROM data collected using a goniometer on both knees at the time of diagnosis; and a confirmed diagnosis of meniscus tear via magnetic resonance imaging. The following variables were obtained from medical records: age, sex, body mass index (BMI), ROM for both knees, surgical treatment, insurance coverage, Ahlback x-ray grades, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), and the Oxford Knee Score (OKS). Results: The majority of patients (96.4%) exhibited a ≥10° difference in flexion between asymptomatic and symptomatic knees. No significant relationships were observed between age, BMI, and the decision to undergo surgery and the difference in flexion or extension ROM. Both the WOMAC and the OKS were significantly correlated with the degree of loss of flexion ROM. Conclusion: The results suggest that knee flexion ROM may be a valuable tool for determining which patients presenting with new-onset ipsilateral knee pain should be referred to a specialist. Further investigation to determine the reliability and accuracy of knee ROM as a screening measure is warranted.
“You Intimidate Me” as a Microaggressive Controlling Image to Discipline Womyn of Color Faculty

ABSTRACTThis essay rectifies limitations in existing microaggression literature by theorizing a particular controlling image as microaggressive. A controlling image operating within the academy is ...