cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Application of Telehealth to Remote and Rural Australians With Chronic Neurological Conditions

Background Patients with chronic disease in rural and remote regions endure limited access to specialised medicine. Telehealth has addressed this issue with demonstrable benefits such as a reduction in costs to patients. Aim This study aimed to explore the patient satisfaction of Telehealth in Australia. Methods Patients from all around Australia, including Queensland, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, Australian Capital Territory and even Western Australia were referred to a Sydney based neurologist. After their initial face to face consultation, review consultations were performed by Telehealth. All had chronic diseases (trigeminal neuralgia, facial pain or Parkinson's disease) and received a standardised questionnaire comprising of demographics, satisfaction of technical aspects and quality of the consultation. The questionnaires were administered by the Practice Manager to remove observer bias. Results Twenty-nine (29) patient questionnaires were completed by thirteen (13) patients who had follow-up Telehealth consultations. 100% of patients reported satisfaction with the overall telehealth experience and would use it again. All were satisfied with the specialist and the privacy. The majority were satisfied with the voice quality (86%), visual quality (79%), ease of connectivity (93%) and length of the consultation (97%). In total, they saved nearly $17 000 in travel costs and on average, each patient avoided 937 km and saved $550. Conclusion Telehealth has proven to have multiple advantages, including improved access to health care, decreased costs, reduced inconvenience and improved management of chronic and complex conditions. The positive results advocate the use of Telehealth for follow-up of rural and remote patients with chronic disease. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
An edge-aware autonomic runtime for data streaming and in-transit processing

Abstract One of the major endeavors of modern cyberinfrastructure (CI) is to carry content produced on remote data sources, such as sensors and scientific instruments, and to deliver it to end users and workflow applications. Maintaining data quality, data resolution, and on-time data delivery and considering the increasing number of computing, storage, and network resources are challenging tasks that require a receptive system able to adapt to ever-changing demands. In this paper, we propose a mathematical model of such system by expressing the dynamic stages of different resources in the context of edge and in-transit computing. By considering resource utilization, approximation techniques, and user constraints, our proposed model generates mappings of different workflow stages on heterogeneous geographically distributed resources. Specifically, we propose an autonomic runtime management layer that adapts the data resolution being delivered to the users by implementing feedback loops over the resources involved in the delivery and processing of data streams. The implementation of our model is based on a subscription-based data streaming framework that enables the integration of large facilities and advanced CI. Moreover, the idea of stream or request aggregation is incorporated into our framework, which eliminates redundant data streams to save bandwidth. Experimental results show that dynamically adapting data resolution and stream aggregation can overcome bandwidth limitations in wide-area streaming analytics by leveraging the resources at the edge and in-transit.
Eyes for Ears—A Medical Education Podcast Feasibility Study

Background Downloadable audio files called podcasts have become popular within many areas of medical education. They can be a valuable supplement to traditional teaching methods. Medical educators may wish to incorporate podcasts into their curriculum and disseminate their work to a larger audience, but may not know how. Purpose We aim to describe the implementation of a novel medical education podcast series for ophthalmology medical student and resident education, and demonstrate feasibility, sustainability, and acceptance of this learning platform. Methods The Basic and Clinical Science Course (BCSC) textbooks and supplementary texts, were used to create a weekly series of ophthalmology review podcasts. Feasibility markers include time and cost of production. Sustainability measures included download markers over time. Acceptance was measured by reviews on Apple iTunes and Twitter followers. Results Forty-eight episodes were released from January 10, 2019 to March 31, 2020. Costs included $212.18 startup, and $29 monthly. The podcast has had 122,709 downloads to date (466/month January 2019, increased to 17,500/month February 2020). It obtained 331 Twitter followers, and 114 ratings on iTunes, with an average of 5.0 stars. Conclusions Medical education podcasts are a feasible way of disseminating educational materials to learners. We demonstrate sustainability and acceptance of this learning platform.
Imprecise global sensitivity analysis using bayesian multimodel inference and importance sampling

Abstract Global Sensitivity Analysis (GSA) aims to understand the relative importance of uncertain input variables to model response. Conventional GSA involves calculating sensitivity (Sobol’) indices for a model with known model parameter distributions. However, model parameters are affected by aleatory and epistemic uncertainty, with the latter often caused by lack of data. We propose a new framework to quantify uncertainty in probability model-form and model parameters resulting from small datasets and integrate these uncertainties into Sobol’ index estimates. First, the process establishes, through Bayesian multimodel inference, a set of candidate probability models and their associated probabilities. Imprecise Sobol’ indices are calculated from these probability models using an importance sampling reweighting approach. This results in probabilistic Sobol’ indices, whose distribution characterizes uncertainty in the sensitivity resulting from small dataset size. The imprecise Sobol’ indices thus provide a measure of confidence in the sensitivity estimate and, moreover, can be used to inform data collection efforts targeted to minimize the impact of uncertainties. Through an example studying the parameters of a Timoshenko beam, we show that these probabilistic Sobol’ indices converge to the true/deterministic Sobol’ indices as the dataset size increases and hence, distribution-form uncertainty reduces. The approach is then applied to assess the sensitivity of the out-of-plane properties of an E-glass fiber composite material to its constituent properties. This second example illustrates the approach for an important class of materials with wide-ranging applications when data may be lacking for some input parameters.
Artificial Neural Network Based Prediction of Control Strategies for Multiple Air-Cooling Units in a Raised-floor Data Center

A data center cooling system consists of a hierarchy of systems with dedicated control algorithms dictating their operational states. There exists a wide range in spatial and temporal parameter space in an ensemble of non-linear dynamic systems, each executing a control task, while the global objective is to drive the overall system to an optimum operating condition i.e. minimum total operational power at desired rack inlet temperatures. Certainly, it is beneficial in optimizing workload migration at temporal scales but, solving the instability of the cooling systems operating at design points helps in understanding the whole system and make predictions to have better control strategies. Several techniques are available to realistically capture and make predictions. Datadriven modelling/Machine learning is one such method that is less expensive in terms of cost and time compared to other methods like validated CFD simulation/experimental setup.The objective of this study is to develop a control framework based on predictions made using machine learning techniques such as Artificial Neural Network (ANN) to operate multiple Computer Room Air Conditioning Units (CRAC) or simply Air-Cooling Units (ACU) in a hot-aisle contained raised floor datacenter. This paper focuses on the methodology of gathering training datasets from numerous CFD simulations (Scenarios) to train the ANN model and make predictions with minimal error.Each rack has a percentage of influence (zones) based on the placement of ACUs and their airflow behavior. These zones are mapped using steady state CFD simulation considering maximum CPU utilization and cooling provisioning. Using this map, ITE racks are targeted and given varying workload to force the corresponding ACU that is responsible for provisioning, to operate at set points. Number of such scenarios are simulated using the same CFD model with fixed bounds and constraints. Using large samples of data collected from CFD results, the ANN is trained to predict values that correspond to the activation of the desired ACU. Such efficient control network would minimize excessive cooling. The validated prediction points are used to model a control framework for the cooling system to quickly reach the operating point. These models can be used in real-time data centers provided; the training data is based on in-house sensor values.
Military experience in the management of pelvic fractures from OIF/OEF.

Introduction Pelvic fractures are a common occurrence in combat trauma. However, the fracture pattern and management within the most recent conflicts, i.e. Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), have yet to be described, especially in the context of dismounted complex blast injury. Our goal was to identify the incidence, patterns of injury and management of pelvic fractures. Methods We conducted a retrospective review on all combat-injured patients who arrived at our military treatment hospital between November 2010 and November 2012. Basic demographics, Young-Burgess fracture pattern classification and treatment strategies were examined. Results Of 562 patients identified within the study time period, 14% (81 of 562) were found to have a pelvic fracture. The vast majority (85%) were secondary to an improvised explosive device. The average Injury Severity Score for patients with pelvic fracture was 31±12 and 70% were classified as open. Of the 228 patients with any traumatic lower extremity amputation, 23% had pelvic fractures, while 30% of patients with bilateral above-knee amputations also sustained a pelvic fracture. The most common Young-Burgess injury pattern was anteroposterior compression (APC) (57%), followed by lateral compression (LC) (36%) and vertical shear (VS) (7%). Only 2% (nine of 562) of all patients were recorded as having pelvic binders placed in the prehospital setting. 49% of patients with pelvic fracture required procedural therapy, the most common of which was placement of a pelvic external fixator (34 of 40; 85%), followed by preperitoneal packing (16 of 40; 40%) and angioembolisation (three of 40; 0.75%). 17 (42.5%) patients required combinations of these three treatment modalities, the majority of which were a combination of external fixator and preperitoneal packing. The likelihood to need procedural therapy was impacted by injury pattern, as 72% of patients with an APC injury, 100% of patients with a VS injury and 25% of patients with an LC injury required procedural therapy. Conclusions Pelvic fractures were common concomitant injuries following blast-induced traumatic lower extremity amputations. APC was the most common pelvic fracture pattern identified. While procedural therapy was frequent, the majority of patients underwent conservative therapy. However, placement of an external fixator was the most frequently used modality. Considering angioembolisation was used in less than 1% of cases, in the forward deployed military environment, management should focus on pelvic external fixation±preperitoneal packing. Finally, prehospital pelvic binder application may be an area for further process improvement.
[18F]-Alfatide PET Imaging of Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) Through Noninvasive Measurement of Integrin αvβ3 in Preclinical Models

139 Background: Hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation, which is accompanied by increased expression of integrin αvβ3, is an important factor in liver fibrogenesis. Molecular imaging targeting the integrin αvβ3 could provide a non-invasive method for evaluating the expression and the function of the integrin αvβ3 on activated HSCs (aHSCs) in the injured liver, and thus provide important prognostic information. [18F]-Alfatide ([18F]-FAl-NOTA-RGD2) is a radiotracer specific for integrin αvβ3. In this study, we sought to compare differences in uptake of the [18F]-Alfatide between normal and injured liver to evaluate its utility for assessment of fibrogenesis. Methods: We used PET/CT to assess changes in integrin αvβ3 binding of [18F]-Alfatide in the livers of mice with 12 weeks CDAHFD (L-amino acid diet with 60 kcal% fat with 0.1% methionine without added choline) diet induced NASH compared with controls. We performed HE and Oil red O staining to assess steatosis, and Sirius red staining to assess liver fibrosis, immunofluorescence to identify the location of integrin αvβ3 expressed in NASH liver, and measured protein and messenger RNA expression of integrin αvβ3 and alpha smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in control and fibrotic livers. Results: HE, Oil red O and Sirius red staining showed a significant steatosis and liver fibrosis, indicating an advanced NASH (Fig. 1A). 60 min [18F]-Alfatide PET preformation demonstrated high uptake in NASH liver compared with controls. The accumulation of radioactivity in the livers increased significantly in all treatment groups compared with that of normal controls (Fig. 1B). Immunofluorescence-stained integrin αvβ3 (red), α-SMA (green) and DAPI (blue) shown that integrin αvβ3 have a high co-expression with α-SMA, which consisted FITC-RGD2 (green) staining (Fig. 1C). To our knowledge, this is the first study that systematically validates [18F]-Alfatide /PET imaging in NASH disease by performing a spatially precise correlative analysis of PET imaging, histopathology, integrin αvβ3 expression in preclinical rodent models Conclusions: [18F]-Alfatide is a promising candidate for noninvasive imaging of NASH in the integrin αvβ3 signaling pathway.
The Global Impact of Hepatitis E: New Horizons for an Emerging Virus

An appreciation of the role of the fifth human hepatitis virus, hepatitis E virus (HEV), as an important cause of acute, and occasionally chronic, hepatitis in humans has increased in recent years. Hepatitis viruses have long been implicated as the cause of substantial morbidity and mortality in the developing world, through both sporadic and epidemic disease. The predictable seasonal outbreaks, coincident with the monsoon rains, have provided numerous opportunities to study risk factors for HEV infection, the clinical course of hepatitis E disease, and the characteristics of the virus. In 1980, by excluding hepatitis A virus (HAV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) as causes of a large 1955 to 1956 hepatitis epidemic in India, two groups independently reported the hypothesis of a novel, enterically transmitted non-A, non-B (ET-NANB) virus. As HEV shares certain morphologic and biophysical properties with members of the Caliciviridae family, it was initially classified as a calicivirus. Electron microscopy has been used to detect virus-like particles in the livers of patients with HEV-attributable fulminant hepatitis. The age- and gender-matched control group in a case control study in Sudan found a high (18%) anti-HEV IgG seroprevalence among children in the general population. Immunologic changes of pregnancy, such as the down-regulation of TH1 cytokines, and hormonal changes may also influence pathogenesis. A recent case report of fulminant hepatitis due to infection with an HEV genotype 3 strain in a patient in Spain has suggested that an important cofactor was the usage of hormonal contraceptives.
Literature Review of Nosocomial Infections Passed Through Nurses' Personal Items

• Nosocomial infections are infections whose development is favored by a hospital environment • In 2011, CDC stated that there was 721,800 nosocomial infections • Nosocomial infections can develop due to nonadherence of isolation precautions, contaminated hospital equipment, or dirty room environment Center for Disease Control
Why the Tea Party? The Challenge of Progressive Politics in the US

In many advanced capitalist countries, the economic crisis has led to massive working-class protests. This has been notably true in France, Greece, and Portugal, but elsewhere as well. These protests have focused on defending the welfare state and demanding that government do more to support the standard of living. In the US, the crisis has led to the Tea Party, demanding that government do less and that basic social welfare programs be cut back drastically. This paper explores possible explanations for this difference between the US and other countries.Two kinds of explanations are examined, structural and cultural. The intent is not to decide which kind of explanation is “correct,” but to understand their interrelationship.Structurally, factors considered include the nature of the American two-party system, and the increasing domination of both parties by corporate interests; the weakened position of labor (and therefore the working class) as a political and social force; and the removal of virtually all limits on the use of corporate money in politics (a removal that began long before the Citizens United case).Culturally, the paper analyzes the battle to determine the meaning of a number of different phenomena, such as the cause of the crisis (unscrupulous investment bankers or unqualified mortgage borrowers?), the nature of the crisis (insufficient demand for consumer goods or overpaid and lazy workers?), and the role of the state (is Obama pro-corporate or is he a socialist?).Data for this analysis come from comparison of the statements and activities of the Tea Party and various progressive groups since the beginning of the crisis and recession in 2008.
Susceptibility of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to Carbenicillin

Ninety clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were examined for susceptibility to carbenicillin by the broth dilution and disc diffusion methods. Inhibition zone diameters varied at given minimal inhibitory concentration levels of the antibiotic. Nevertheless, the results obtained allowed the proposal of the following tentative criteria for the interpretation of inhibition zones. Pseudomonadaceae yielding zones of inhibition measuring at least 10 and 16 mm in diameter around 25-and 100-μg discs, respectively, are sensitive to this antibiotic when examined by the standardized Bauer-Kirby method of disc susceptibility testing. Isolates characterized by zones of less than 100 mm in diameter around 25-μg discs should be tested with 100-μg discs before they are reported as sensitive or resistant to carbenicillin.
A Microscopic and Spectroscopic View of Quantum Tunneling of Magnetization

This chapter takes a microscopic view of quantum tunneling of magnetization (QTM) in single-molecule magnets (SMMs), focusing on the interplay between exchange and anisotropy. Careful consideration is given to the relationship between molecular symmetry and the symmetry of the spin Hamiltonian that dictates QTM selection rules. Higher order interactions that can modify the usual selection rules are shown to be very sensitive to the exchange strength. In the strong coupling limit, the spin Hamiltonian possesses rigorous D 2h symmetry (or C ∞ in high-symmetry cases). In the case of weaker exchange, additional symmetries may emerge through mixing of excited spin states into the ground state. Group theoretic arguments are introduced to support these ideas, as are extensive results of magnetization hysteresis and electron paramagnetic resonance measurements.
Diffusion and Resistivity

The infinite, homogeneous plasmas assumed in the previous chapter for the equilibrium conditions are, of course, highly idealized. Any realistic plasma will have a density gradient, and the plasma will tend to diffuse toward regions of low density. The central problem in controlled thermonuclear reactions is to impede the rate of diffusion by using a magnetic field. Before tackling the magnetic field problem, however, we shall consider the case of diffusion in the absence of magnetic fields. A further simplification results if we assume that the plasma is weakly ionized, so that charge particles collide primarily with neutral atoms rather than with one another. The case of a fully ionized plasma is deferred to a later section, since it results in a nonlinear equation for which there are few simple illustrative solutions. In any case, partially ionized gases are not rare: High-pressure arcs and ionospheric plasmas fall into this category, and most of the early work on gas discharges involved fractional ionizations between 10−3 and 10−6, when collisions with neutral atoms are dominant.
In Defense of IP: A Response to Pettigrew

Back in 2008 I argued that Lewis misstated his own Principal Principle when he formalized it. His verbal statement said simply that if one knows what the chance of e is then one should (barring magical information from the future) adopt it as one’s credence. There was nothing in that statement about conditionalization on the truth of ur-chance functions. And I pointed out that ur-chance functions of the kind one finds in physics do not come with assignments of probability to propositions asserting the truth of ur-chance functions. Nor does anything in their epistemic use require that they be extended to deliver such assignments. Then I introduced IP as a natural generalization of PP that said that if you don’t know what the correct ur-chance function is, you obtain your credences from a weighted mixture of the chances assigned by epistemically possible ur-chance functions.2 My response to Pettigrew’s criticism of my proposal can be quick, since he has acknowledged that the problems that he adduces for IP don’t arise unless ur-chance functions are extended to assign probabilities to propositions of the form [Cch]. I will give a brief defense of the epistemology implicit in IP, motivate the restriction against extending ur-chance functions, and point out a mistake in his argument that a reductionist about chance must reject the restriction. First a bit of terminology:
Failed Up-Regulation of the Inhibitory IgG Fc Receptor FcγRIIB on Germinal Center B Cells in Autoimmune-Prone Mice Is Not Associated with Deletion Polymorphisms in the Promoter Region of the FcγRIIB Gene

FcγRIIB, a low-affinity FcR for IgG, inhibits BCR-mediated activation when these two receptors are cocross-linked by Ags and IgG-containing immune complexes. Although a role for FcγRIIB in the germinal center (GC) reaction has been proposed, conflicting results have been published regarding the levels of FcγRIIB expressed on GC B cells in normal and autoimmune-prone mice and humans. In the present study, we investigate this issue in detail in mice by using multiple GC B cell markers, two different antigenic systems, primary and secondary GC responses, and by excluding the influence of splenic influx of immature B cells and passive acquisition of FcγRIIB from follicular dendritic cells. Our results are in concordance with previous data indicating that FcγRIIB expression is up-regulated on GC B cells in normal mice. In contrast, we observe comparable levels of FcγRIIB on GC and non-GC B cells in New Zealand White, New Zealand Black, and B6.Sle1 autoimmune-prone strains. Therefore, we suggest that these strains exhibit failed up-regulation of FcγRIIB on GC B cells, rather than down-regulation, as previously suggested. Also, in contrast to previous indications, this perturbed regulation is not uniquely associated with deletion polymorphisms in the promoter region of the Fc γ RIIB gene but does appear to be independent of genetic background. Finally, we present evidence indicating that FcγRIII, a low-affinity activating IgG FcR, is expressed on the GC B cells of normal but not autoimmune-prone mice.
The relative performance of various mapping algorithms is independent of sizable variances in run-time predictions

The author studies the performance of four mapping algorithms. The four algorithms include two naive ones: opportunistic load balancing (OLB), and limited best assignment (LBA), and two intelligent greedy algorithms: an O(nm) greedy algorithm, and an O(n/sup 2/m) greedy algorithm. All of these algorithms, except OLB, use expected run-times to assign jobs to machines. As expected run-times are rarely deterministic in modern networked and server based systems, he first uses experimentation to determine some plausible run-time distributions. Using these distributions, he next executes simulations to determine how the mapping algorithms perform. Performance comparisons show that the greedy algorithms produce schedules that, when executed, perform better than naive algorithms, even though the exact run-times are not available to the schedulers. He concludes that the use of intelligent mapping algorithms is beneficial, even when the expected time for completion of a job is not deterministic.
Design of an analog converter for use in colorimetry.

A simple analog circuit, incorporating commercially available components, has been used to convert the output of a colorimeter photocell into units directly related to concentration. The converter is useful for analyses that obey Beer’s law approximately, with continuous-flow automatic analyzers or other colorimetric systems. The results obtained by analog conversion agree within 1% with the photocell output read out in the usual manner.
High-Throughput Lens-Free Blood Analysis on a Chip

We present a detailed investigation of the performance of lens-free holographic microscopy toward high-throughput on-chip blood analysis. Using a spatially incoherent source that is emanating from a large aperture, automated counting of red blood cells with minimal sample preparation steps at densities reaching up to ∼0.4 × 106 cells/μL is presented. Using the same lens-free holographic microscopy platform, we also characterize the volume of the red blood cells at the single-cell level through recovery of the optical phase information of each cell. We further demonstrate the measurement of the hemoglobin concentration of whole blood samples as well as automated counting of white blood cells, also yielding spatial resolution at the subcellular level sufficient to differentiate granulocytes, monocytes, and lymphocytes from each other. These results uncover the prospects of lens-free holographic on-chip imaging to provide a useful tool for global health problems, especially by facilitating whole blood analys...
Short-term effects of sidestream smoke on respiratory epithelium in mice: cell kinetics.

Abstract Short-Term Effects of Sidestream Smoke on Respiratory Epithelium in Mice: Cell Kinetics. Rajini, P., and Witschi, H. P. (1994). Fundam. Appl. Toxicol. 22, 405-410. Male strain A/J and C57BL/6 mice were exposed on five consecutive days, for 6 hr a day, to sidestream smoke generated from Kentucky 1R4F reference cigarettes. Chamber concentrations were 1 mg/m 3 of total suspended particulate matter and 528 to 549 μg/m 3 of nicotine. Cumulative labeling indices in the airways and in the pulmonary parenchyma were measured following 1, 3, or 5 days exposure to unfiltered or filtered sidestream smoke. A significantly increased labeling index was found in A/J mice in the epithelium lining large intrapulmonary airways and terminal bronchioles after 3 and 5 days exposure to unfiltered smoke, whereas following exposure to filtered smoke labeling indices remained normal. The alveolar labeling index was not increased following smoke exposure. In C57BL/6 mice, sidestream smoke did not produce signs of increased cell proliferation in the respiratory tract. It is concluded that the response to sidestream smoke inhalation in mice may depend upon the strain of mice examined.
A Stochastic Approach for Radiative Exchange in Enclosures With Nonparticipating Medium

A stochastic method is developed for calculating radiation interchange in enclosures with a finite number of isothermal surfaces but without a participating medium. Different types of surface properties are considered. They are diffuse and specular surfaces. In this work, a stochastic n model is proposed that is based on the Markov chain theory and leads to some explicit matrix relationships for the absorption factor from which the heat transfer characteristics of the enclosure can be determined. The present approach provides an exact solution as long as the necessary view factors can be determined. The accuracy of approximate solutions can be improved as n increases.
Effects of the December 1983 tornado on forest vegetation of the Big Thicket, southeast Texas, U.S.A.

Abstract On December 10, 1983, a large tornado touched down in southwestern Tyler County in southeastern Texas, U.S.A., causing major damage to two areas of forest in the Big Thicket National Preserve (BTNP). The sizes of the disturbed areas were 31.1 ha in the Hickory Creek Unit and 10.4 ha in the Turkey Creek Unit of the BTNP. Canopy cover at Hickory Creek was reduced by 83%, live basal area declined by 66.7%, and live density declined by 33.6%. At Turkey Creek, canopy cover was reduced by 46%, live basal area declined by 37.8% and live density declined by 14.4%. Large percentages of surviving trees at both sites were badly damaged: 31.3% at Hickory Creek and 48.9% at Turkey Creek. Tornado mortality was strongly concentrated in the large size classes and, for this reason, the primary short-term effect on forest composition at both sites was to select strongly against the previously dominant canopy species.
A bayesian mixture model with linear regression mixing proportions

Classic mixture models assume that the prevalence of the various mixture components is fixed and does not vary over time. This presents problems for applications where the goal is to learn how complex data distributions evolve. We develop models and Bayesian learning algorithms for inferring the temporal trends of the components in a mixture model as a function of time. We show the utility of our models by applying them to the real-life problem of tracking changes in the rates of antibiotic resistance in Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The results show that our methods can derive meaningful temporal antibiotic resistance patterns.
An Academic Publisher’s Response to Plagiarism

Plagiarism strikes at the heart of academe, eroding the fundamental value of academic research. Recent evidence suggests that acts of plagiarism and awareness of these acts are on the rise in academia. To address this issue, a vein of research has emerged in recent years exploring plagiarism as an area of academic inquiry. In this new academic subject, case studies and analysis have been one of the most influential methodologies employed. Case studies provide a venue where acts of plagiarism can be discussed and analyzed in a constructive manner, and that is the primary purpose of this article. Unlike previous studies, however, we focus on the role of the publisher, a key player in dealing with acts of plagiarism, but one who has received little attention in the academic literature. Specifically, we examine how an academic publisher addressed allegations of plagiarism and how the publisher’s decision-making affected the outcome. We analyze the case by applying the guidelines from different frameworks and ethical theory and develop recommendations from the lessons evidenced, the second main objective of our article. This analysis advances the dialog on academic plagiarism by exploring the role of the publisher from a deontological perspective of ethical absolutism.
Teacher Evaluation within a Community of Truth: Testing the Ideas of Parker Palmer.

Parker Palmer, in The Courage to Teach (1997), proposed an alternative approach to traditional teaching evaluations, one deeply rooted in a holistic view of education which focuses on the potential for creating self-knowledge and relationships between colleagues. This article describes a project in which we studied these claims and tested the feasibility of an open-door evaluation process. Our main purpose was to determine whether Palmer's methods could help us to improve our teaching. In addition, we asked whether this holistic approach may influence summative evaluations that affect personnel decision-making and its potential for influencing the culture of teaching in higher education.
Different developmental trajectories across feature types support a dynamic field model of visual working memory development

Research on visual working memory has focused on characterizing the nature of capacity limits as “slots” or “resources” based almost exclusively on adults’ performance with little consideration for developmental change. Here we argue that understanding how visual working memory develops can shed new light onto the nature of representations. We present an alternative model, the Dynamic Field Theory (DFT), which can capture effects that have been previously attributed either to “slot” or “resource” explanations. The DFT includes a specific developmental mechanism to account for improvements in both resolution and capacity of visual working memory throughout childhood. Here we show how development in the DFT can account for different capacity estimates across feature types (i.e., color and shape). The current paper tests this account by comparing children’s (3, 5, and 7 years of age) performance across different feature types. Results showed that capacity for colors increased faster over development than capacity for shapes. A second experiment confirmed this difference across feature types within subjects, but also showed that the difference can be attenuated by testing memory for less familiar colors. Model simulations demonstrate how developmental changes in connectivity within the model—purportedly arising through experience—can capture differences across feature types.
Modern Display and Storage of Large Steam Turbine-Generator Data

Display and storage of large steam turbine generator operating data have traditionally been done in a segmented fashion for the turbine, generator and boiler feedpump system. The distributed, microcomputer-based turbine generator supervisory equipment described in, this paper presents a method of handling turbine, generator, and boiler feedpump system measurements with a single system. The result is a modern, reliable, and efficient means of measuring, displaying, and storing large amounts of information.
Estrogenic arousal of aggressive behavior and masculine sexual behavior in male and female mice

Abstract This experiment sought to determine the extent to which estrogenic stimulation of gonadectomized male and female mice could mimic the well-established effects of androgen replacement therapy on the display of aggressive behavior and masculine sexual behavior. Administration of estradiol benzoate (EB) to castrated male mice resulted in enhanced aggressive behavior and enhanced masculine copulatory behavior. EB injections given to ovariectomized female mice failed to arouse either aggressive behavior or masculine-like copulatory behavior. Apparently, the neural tissues mediating aggressive behavior and masculine sexual behavior in the male are not exclusively specific to androgens.
Role of indium-111 chloride imaging in osteoid osteoma

Indium-111 chloride imaging plays an important role in differentiating intracortical osteoid osteoma from chronic cortical abscess. The study also may be useful in the detection of intramedullary osteoid osteoma. Four patients who greatly benefited from indium-111 chloride imaging are presented.
Geomorphological limits to self-organization of alpine forest-tundra ecotone vegetation

Abstract Feedback in the establishment of vegetation has been shown to produce spatial patterns that differ from the geomorphological basis for resources. The dynamics of these spatial patterns have been characterized as self-organization because local processes produce them at landscape scales. Geomorphic patterns could, however, enhance or disrupt the processes that lead to patterns and the interpretation of self-organization. A simulation model that showed such indication of self-organization at alpine forest-tundra ecotones is modified to incorporate a geomorphic feature commonly seen in this environment – solifluction steps – as an exogenous condition in the model. Analyses linking spatial patterns and rates of advance of vegetation indicate that such geomorphic patterns do not alter the dynamics of vegetation until the size of the patterns is about double that of the dimension within which endogenous dynamics operate. The sizes of some geomorphic patterns incorporated in the model are probably larger than any realistic solifluction feature at such ecotones in western North America.
Sensitivity of the developing chick myocardium to the positive inotropic effects of calcium and isoproterenol.

The present results show that the sensitivity of the chick myocardium to the positive motropic effect of Ca++ decreases during development and that the Ca++ concentration of the physiological solution used must be lowered below ‘normal’ to study the effects of positive inotropic agents in preparations from younger embryos. Isoproterenol elicits positive inotropic responses in 7–9-day embryonic ventricle and in newborn chick atria; however, the 4-day embryonic myocardium is unresponsive to isoproterenol.
Experimental Verification and Measurement of Recompaction Waves Induced by Bulk Cavitation

A brief review of an existing theory is given for the fluid motion following reflection of an underwater shock wave from a free surface. This one-dimensional theory is tested against experimental data obtained from simple apparatus designed for laboratory simulation of underwater shock. Correlation between theory and experiment is good.
Polypharmacy and Comorbidity Are Associated with a Lower Early Virologic Response in Hepatitis C Patients Treated with First Generation Protease Inhibitor Triple Therapy: A Preliminary Analysis

The protease inhibitors (PIs) boceprevir and telaprevir are currently standard treatment as part of triple therapy regimens (TTx) for chronic HCV genotype 1 (GT1) patients. In this preliminary analysis, we have compared demographic variables, polypharmacy, and Charlson’s comorbid index (CCI) with Rapid Virological Response (RVR) and extended RVR (eRVR) rates in HCV GT1 patients receiving PI containing TTx. Retrospective descriptive cohort study. Among 74 HCV patients (46 M, 28 F; age: 54.43 ± 9.52 years; African Americans: 59.5 %) in this initial analysis, 44 % achieved RVR. All these RVR patients also achieved eRVR. Patients achieving RVR and eRVR were 50 ± 11.7 (mean ± SD) years old, compared to 58 ± 5.2 years without an RVR (p < 0.005). The average number of medications taken by patients achieving RVR and eRVR was 5 ± 2.7 compared to 9.24 ± 3.4 in patients not achieving RVR and eRVR (p < 0.005). Twenty-five percent of patients who were not on CYP3A4 inhibitors had an RVR and eRVR compared to 63.2 % who were taking CYP3A4 inhibitors (p = 0.001). Patients achieving RVR and eRVR had a lower CCI (1.61 ± 1.37) compared to those not achieving RVR and eRVR (2.8 ± 2.7; p = 0.02). Multivariate analysis also revealed a significant correlation between increased polypharmacy and CCI with lower RVR and eRVR rates. These preliminary treatment data demonstrate that increased polypharmacy and higher degrees of comorbidity decrease RVR and eRVR rates among patients receiving first generation PI-containing TTx regimens.
Advertising Budget Allocation under Uncertainty

This article presents a model for the allocation of an advertising budget to geographic market segments, or territories, when the sales response to advertising in each segment is characterized by a probability distribution. It is shown that allocation decisions that are based on the expected sales response may be associated with a relatively large degree of risk and, therefore, non-optimal to a risk-averse manager. The model derives an "efficient frontier" in terms of the expected profit and its variance resulting from alternative budget allocations. The manager then chooses the optimal allocation based on his/her preference function.
Optimizing complex building design for annual daylighting performance and evaluation of optimization algorithms

Abstract We address the challenging problem of optimizing building design for daylighting performance to minimize lighting loads, which is one of the two largest sources of energy consumption in buildings, besides thermal loads. We present a methodology to optimize complex building design for daylighting performance that uses dynamic climate-based lighting simulations. We compare four optimization algorithms as implemented in GenOpt: Simplex Algorithm of Nelder and Mead with the Extension of O’Neill (SA), Hooke Jeeves (HJ), Particle Swarm Optimization using Inertia Weight (PSOIW), and a hybrid PSO Constriction/Hooke Jeeves (PSOC/HJ) algorithm. The results indicate that the design space region of optimum performance is typically found quickly by all algorithms, but converge is sometimes slow. SA and HJ typically reached convergence in fewer function evaluations than PSOIW and PSOC/HJ; however, they did not consistently find solutions close to the overall best solution found. PSOIW found the best overall solution and consistently found other solutions close to it, but always took longest to converge. PSOC/HJ reached convergence more quickly than PSOIW and consistently found solutions slightly below the overall best solution found. While our work presented here focused on optimizing for daylighting performance in isolation of thermal envelope loads, the best daylighting design had annual summed lighting and thermal loads 33% lower than the best design optimized for thermal performance without consideration for daylighting.
Effect of simple stress on the glass transition of polymers at high pressures.

Experimental studies, which have been carried out in this laboratory, showed the yield strength in tension, compression, and shear in the rubbery and the glassy states increased with increasing hydrostatic pressure. Moreover, the Young's modulus also increased with pressure and the amount of the increase across the glass transition temperature (Tg) at a given pressure can be as large as three orders of magnitude in the case of elastomers. An extension of the Gibbs-Dimarzio theory is proposed to account for the effect of applied stress on the glass transition temeprature of glass-forming polymers. When a simple stress, such as tensile, compressive or shear stress, is applied to a polymer, the Tg will decrease, compared to a polymer without applied stress. A glass-forming polymer in the vicinity of the transition would behave differently from that predicted by rubber elasticity. The partition function taking into account the effect of stress is suggested to be $$\Gamma = \Sigma W(f, n_0 ){\text{ }}\exp {\text{ }}[ - \beta (PV + U - \sigma V\varepsilon )]$$ where the strain ɛ=σ (f − f0) in which f and f0 are the fraction of flexed bonds with and without stress, respectively. Furthermore, by this model, the Young's modulus across the transition, EL and EG, can be evaluated. The Young's modulus increases with increasing pressure at lower and moderate pressure range but the increase is rather small at very high pressure range.
The Kβ5/Kβ2 and the Kβ2/Kβ1 radiative transition rates for Ga, Ge, and Nb

Abstract The radiative transition rates Kβ5/Kβ2 and Kβ2/Kβ1 for the elements Ga, Ge, and Nb were measured and a computer fit was used to obtain their numerical values. The agreement between the experimental and the best available theoretical results is generally good, except for the Kβ5/Kβ2 of Nb where the experimental value is some 80% higher than the theoretical result.
Transmission of Salmonella typhimurium among feedlot cattle after oral inoculation.

Fifteen six-eight month old steers and bulls weighing approximately 160 kg were inoculated orally with a virulent strain of Salmonella typhimurium. Three or four inoculated animals were confined in each of four pens, immediately after inoculation, with approximately 22 uninoculated cattle. The pen size in the experimental feedlot was 23 x 46 m. The 15 intentionally inoculated animals all became infected and excreted Salm. typhimurium in their faeces. Two of them died of salmonellosis and more than half the cattle penned with the inoculated animals became infected within 8 d after exposure. Twenty-four of the animals were still excreting salmonellas 71 d after initiation of the experiment.
The ternary phase diagram of lecithin, cholesteryl linolenate and water: Phase behavior and structure

Abstract The ternary phase diagram of cholesteryl linolenate-egg lecithin-water has been determined by polarizing light microscopy, calorimetry and X-ray diffraction at 23 °C. Hydrated lecithin forms a lamellar liquid-crystalline structure into which small amounts of cholesteryl linolenate are incorporated. The maximum incorporation of cholesterol ester into this lamellar structure varies with the degree of hydration. Increasing the water concentration from 10 to 15% (w/w) increased the limiting molar ratio of cholesteryl linolenate to lecithin in the lamellar phase from 1:50 to 1:22. At intermediate concentrations (15 to 30% water) the cholesteryl linolenate:lecithin ratio remains constant at 1:22. When water is increased to 42.5%, the maximum water content in the lamellar phase, the molar ratio decreased to 1:32. At low water concentrations the cholesterol ester appears to be entirely in the apolar region of the lecithin bilayer, while at higher water concentrations the ester groups of cholesteryl linolenate may be located at the lipid-water interface. At high water concentrations the ester appears to disorder the alkyl chains of the lecithin, giving rise to a thinner lipid layer and an increased surface area per lipid molecule when compared to the lecithin-water system in the absence of cholesteryl linolenate. The lamellar phase is the only phase (except at water concentrations less than 5%) in which all three components mutually interact. All mixtures of the three components having compositions outside the one-phase (lamellar) zone produce additional phases of cholesteryl linolenate or water, or both. Between 23 °C and 60 °C only minor changes in the phase diagram are observed.
Histone acetyltransferases: Rising ancient counterparts to protein kinases

Protein kinases catalyze phosphorylation, a posttranslational modification widely utilized in cell signaling. Histone acetyltransferases (HATs) catalyze a counterpart posttranslational modification of acetylation which marks histones for epigenetic signaling but in some cases modifies non-histone proteins to mediate other cellular activities. In addition, recent proteomic studies have revealed that thousands of proteins are acetylated throughout the cell to regulate diverse biological processes, thus placing acetyltransferases on the same playing field as kinases. Emerging biochemical and structural data further supports mechanistic and biological links between the two enzyme families. In this article, we will review what is known to date about the structure, catalysis and mode of regulation of HAT enzymes and draw analogies, where relevant, to protein kinases. This comparison reveals that HATs may be rising ancient counterparts to protein kinases. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 99: 98–111, 2013.
Strain differences in neophilia in the rat

Latencies to approach a novel physical object and a novel human hand placed in the home cage were obtained for 599 rats from 12 inbred strains: ACI, A990, A35322, F344, INR, IR, MNR/Har, MNRA, MR/Har, TS1, TS3, WAG. Comparison with results of other studies of these strains show consistencies among different measures of exploratory behavior where differences might have been expected. The results also provide parametric data for methodological use and add to the standardization of these strains as behaviorally defined lines.