cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
IR ultraspectral remote sensing: efficient physical-statistical nonlinear sounding retrieval algorithms

Two solutions to the radiative transfer equation are described for profiling the atmosphere using ultraspectral infrared radiance measurements. The sounding retrieval algorithms are fast non-linear physical-statistical algorithms. The first solution described, applied to ground-based ultraspectral radiance measurements, is a statistical matrix inverse solution of the radiative transfer equation where the optimal matrix inverse stability factor is chosen by trial and error as that value which minimizes the RMS difference between the retrieval calculated radiance spectrum and the observed radiance spectrum. The second solution, applied to satellite and aircraft ultraspectral radiance observation, is a fast non-linear "Physical Dual-Regression " method trained to produce accurate retrievals for both clear and cloudy sky conditions. The second method relies on using Eigenvector Regression (EOF) "Clear-trained" and "Cloud-trained" retrievals of: surface skin temperature, surface emissivity PC-scores, CO2 concentration, cloud top altitude, effective cloud optical depth, and atmospheric temperature, moisture, and ozone profiles above the cloud and below thin or scattered cloud (i.e., cloud effective optical depth < 1.5 and a cloud induced temperature profile attenuation < 15 K. The "Clear-trained" regression is a relation relating a "clear sky equivalent" perturbed profile from a clouded radiance spectrum (e.g., an isothermal profile below an opague cloud cover) to the observed radiance spectrum. The "Cloud-trained" regression relates the true atmospheric profile, both above and below cloud level, to the observed radiance spectrum. Results from the application of both of these algorithms are presented in this paper.
Non-ophthalmologic findings of the diabetes controland complications trial*

Abstract The Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT) was a large and rigorously conductedtrial which definitively established that longterm hyperglycemia causes longterm -diabetic complications. In this review the author considers the non-ophthalmologic results of the DCCT and the applications of these findings to current and future care of diabetic patients. It is concluded that people with diabetes do not need to anticipate a future of diabetic complications, and that improved glycemic control can be achieved through the education and cooperation of physicians, patients, and health care payers.
Sameness-difference judgments inSaimiri sciureus based on volumetric cues

The rationale was to apply Piaget’s theory and methods to the study of the phylogenetic development of cognitive abilities. It was asked whether squirrel monkeys have the prerequisite skills for conservation of quantity, and, specifically, whether they might respond differentially to equivalent and unequivalent volumetric cues. All monkeys responded significantly and differentially to pairs of identical objects or pairs of objects similar only in volume vs. pairs of objects which differed in volume. It was concluded that squirrel monkeys have the prerequisite skills for the conservation of quantity. Discussion included methodological problems associated with demonstrating conservation in nonhumans as well as the potential usefulness of Piaget’s theory for phylogenetic studies of intelligence.
Establishment of biotic communities within a newly constructed ash settling basin and its drainage system

A newly constructed coal-ash settling basin and its drainage system at the 400D area power plant of the Savannah River Project, in Aiken, S.C., were studied from April 1977 to December 1978. The basin was filled in August1977 by a flow of 7500 litres/min that consisted of Savannah River water and coal ash. The effluent was released to an excavated canal approximately 300 m in length, which drained into an older stream (300 m long) and then into a 3-km 2 swamp area that had received effluent from a previous ash settling basin. Between March and August 1977, the stream and swamp received only runoff from rainfall. During this time, when no basin effluent was released to the stream and swamp, the water quality characteristics were altered, and aquatic biota were reduced throughout the system. The water quality characteristics were tested in the new ash settling system approximately every two months between April 1977 and December 1978. Samples were collected to determine the aerobic bacterial, phytoplankton, zooplankton, benthic invertebrate, and vertebrate populations at five stations in the basin system and one in the Savannah River at the pump station. During the period of study, there were no major changes in water quality characteristics within the new basin. Seasonal peaks occurred in the bacterial populations in warmer months, and the composition of those populations within the basin system was determined to be different from that in the Savannah River. Sparse planktonic populations within the basin increased in numbers and diversity as the basin stabilized. Benthic invertebrates were first collected in the new basin in December 1977 and then increased in density and diversity at each subsequent sampling. Tadpoles were first collected in the basin in April 1978, and mosquito fish were first collected in May 1978. Data obtained indicate that an efficient settling basin for coal ash has provided a suitable habitat for varied aquatic biotic communities, although some characteristics of the effluent have affected the normal balance and stability of communities within this environment. Such findings are important in that the suitability of receiving water habitats to aquatic life should be little affected by the release of effluent from such a basin.
Nonstoichiometry of ZrO2 and Its Relation to Tetragonal‐Cubic Inversion in ZrO2

The system Zr-O was studied in the composition range 50 to 66.7 at.% O by metallographic analysis, high-temperature X-ray analysis, and lattice parameter determinations at room temperature. The solubility of zirconium in zirconia was determined from 1200° to 2000°C, and the cubic-tetragonal inversion temperature of ZrO2 was shown to be lowered to approximately 1490°C for samples containing α-Zr and oxide phase. Alpha zirconium has greater solubility in the cubic phase than in the tetragonal phase, and the inversion is revealed, in samples quenched from the cubic field, by the exsolution of α-Zr, which is metallographically characterized as striations. At room temperature, the striations are oriented with the 111 and 11° planes of monoclinic zirconia.
Design and Evaluation of a Personalized Instruction Course in Behavioral Self-Control

(1976). Design and Evaluation of a Personalized Instruction Course in Behavioral Self-Control. Teaching of Psychology: Vol. 3, No. 2, pp. 81-84.
A recursive construction of the set of binary entropy vectors

The primary contribution is a finite terminating algorithm that determines membership of a candidate entropy vector in the set of binary entropy vectors Φ N . We outline the relationship between Φ N and its unbounded cardinality discrete random variable counterpart f N (or its normalization Ω N ). We discuss connections between Φ N and Ω N . For example, for any outer bound, say the Shannon outer bound P N , to Ω N , we provide a finite terminating algorithm to find a polytopic inner bound on Ω N that agrees on tight faces of the outer bound.
Centrifugation-based assay for examining nanoparticle–lipid membrane binding and disruption

Centrifugation-based assays are commonly employed to study protein–membrane affinity or binding using lipid bilayer vesicles. An analogous assay has been developed to study nanoparticle–membrane interactions as a function of nanoparticle surface functionalization, membrane lipid composition, and monovalent salt concentration (NaCl). Anionic (carboxylic acid, Ag–COOH), cationic (amine, Ag–NH), and polyethylene glycol coated (Ag–PEG) silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were examined based on their surface plasmon resonance (SPR), which was used to determine the degree of binding to anionic, cationic, and zwitterionic membrane vesicles by analyzing supernatant and sediment phases. SPR was also used to examine AgNP aggregation in solution and at membrane–water interfaces, and direct visualization of AgNP–membrane binding, vesicle aggregation, and vesicle disruption was achieved by cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM). The extent of AgNP binding, based on AgNP + vesicle heteroaggregation, and vesicle disruption was dependent upon the degree of electrostatic attraction. Because of their biological and environmental relevance, Ag–PEG + anionic vesicles systems were examined in detail. Cryo-TEM image analysis was performed to determine apparent membrane–water partition coefficients and AgNP aggregation states (in solution and bound to membranes) as a function of NaCl concentration. Despite possessing a PEG coating and exhibiting a slight negative charge, Ag–PEG was able to bind to model anionic bacterial membranes either as individual AgNPs (low salt) or as AgNP aggregates (high salt). The centrifugation assay provides a rapid and straightforward way to screen nanoparticle–membrane interactions.
IRANO-TURCICA: THE KHAZAR SACRAL KINGSHIP REVISITED *

The ruling house and core tribes of the Khazar empire did not share the same tribal or, in many instances, ethnic origins as those of the Qaganate’s diverse subject population. The Khazar rulers were heirs of the Turk qaganal charisma. Although aspects of sacral rule and dual kingship can be seen in the Turk and other Inner Asian nomad-based empires, it was only in Khazaria that the Qagan became a sacralised, tabuised figure. This transformation occurred in the 9th century and may reflect the influence of the Ors, the Khwârazmian-Iranian guard of the Qagan and the chief minister drawn from their ranks.
Seismic Isolation Systems for Developing Countries

Abstract This paper describes an experimental and theoretical study of the feasibility of using fiber reinforcement to produce lightweight low-cost elastomeric isolators for application to housing, schools and other public buildings in highly seismic areas of the developing world. The theoretical analysis covers the mechanical characteristics of multi-layer elastomeric isolation bearings where the reinforcing elements, normally steel plates, are replaced by a fiber reinforcement. The fiber in the fiber-reinforced isolator, in contrast to the steel in the conventional isolator (which is assumed to be rigid both in extension and flexure), is assumed to be flexible in extension, but completely without flexure rigidity. This leads to an extension of the theoretical analysis on which the design of steel-reinforced isolators is which accommodates the stretching of the fiber-reinforcement. Several examples of isolators in the form of long strips were tested at the Earthquake Engineering Research Center Laborator...
The application of bulk polymerized acrylic and methacrylic interpenetrating polymer networks to noise and vibration damping

Novel acrylic/methacrylic interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) were examined by dynamic mechanical spectroscopy for their damping capabilities. While simple homopolymers exhibit high damping properties only over a 20–30°C range, multicomponent polymer systems with controlled degree of miscibility, such as IPNs, may exhibit high damping properties over temperature ranges as broad as approximately 100°C. Two series of IPNs based on poly(n-butyl acrylate) and poly(n-butyl methacrylate) were synthesized and the dynamic mechanical properties were investigated using a Rheovibron. Graphite was incorporated into the poly(n-butyl acrylate) homopolymer and a few IPNs to measure the change in the damping properties. For important IPN compositions, tan δ values between 0.4 and 0.85 were observed over a 75°C plus temperature range. Graphite increased the damping properties of poly(n-butyl acrylate) and the IPNs, as indicated by the tan δ values.
The Modeling and Synthesis of Bus Systems

A bus oriented interconnection of registers and data operators is the dominant mode of design for the data paths of digital systems. A study of ten processor implementations, ranging in size from microprocessors to large mainframes, spanning almost 20 years in the practice of digital design, indicated a strong similarity. From this study bus style primitives and generic bus models were developed. The generic bus models were simplified to match each of the ten processors composing the study. An algorithm for generating a bus style design is presented. The algorithm is used to generate the data paths of the PDP-11/40 resulting in lower cost and shorter delays than the original implementation. Finally, the paper concludes with a discussion of the bus synthesis algorithm's implementation and its role in the CMU functional-to-hardware Design Automation System.
Label Selection on Graphs

We investigate methods for selecting sets of labeled vertices for use in predicting the labels of vertices on a graph. We specifically study methods which choose a single batch of labeled vertices (i.e. offline, non sequential methods). In this setting, we find common graph smoothness assumptions directly motivate simple label selection methods with interesting theoretical guarantees. These methods bound prediction error in terms of the smoothness of the true labels with respect to the graph. Some of these bounds give new motivations for previously proposed algorithms, and some suggest new algorithms which we evaluate. We show improved performance over baseline methods on several real world data sets.
Suppression of estrogen-related receptor α and medium-chain acyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase in the acute-phase response

Fatty acid oxidation provides energy in tissues with high metabolic demands. During the acute-phase response (APR) induced by infection and inflammation, fatty acid ox- idation is decreased associated with hypertriglyceridemia. Little is known about the mechanism by which the APR decreases fatty acid oxidation. Therefore, we investigated whether the APR affects the expression of medium-chain acyl- coenzyme A dehydrogenase (MCAD), its regulator the estro- gen-related receptor � (ERR � ), and a key coactivator of ERR � , the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptorcoactivator- 1 � (PGC-1 � ). mRNA levels of PGC-1 � , ERR � , and MCAD are markedly reduced in the liver, heart, and kidney of mice during the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced APR. The de- creases were rapid and occurred at very low doses of LPS. MCAD activity in liver was also reduced. Furthermore, bind- ing of hepatic nuclear extracts to the ERRresponse ele- ment found in the promoter region of MCAD was signifi- cantly decreased during the APR, suggesting the decreased transcription of the MCAD gene. The binding activity was identified as ERRby supershift with antibody to ERR � . Similar decreases in mRNA levels of these genes occur dur- ing zymosan- and turpentine-induced inflammation, indicating that suppression of the PGC-1 � , ERR � , and MCAD pathway is a general response during infection and inflammation. Our study provides a potential mechanism by which the APR decreases fatty acid oxidation. —Kim, M. S., J. K. Shi- genaga, A. H. Moser, K. R. Feingold, and C. Grunfeld. Suppression of estrogen-related receptorand medium- chain acyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase in the acute-phase re- sponse. J. Lipid Res. 2005. 46: 2282-2288.
NHE3 inhibition activates duodenal bicarbonate secretion in the rat

We examined the effect of inhibition of Na+/H+ exchange (NHE) on duodenal bicarbonate secretion (DBS) in rats to further understand DBS regulation. DBS was measured by using the pH-stat method and ...
Representation of noise in linear two-ports

The equivalent noise circuit of a linear two-port can often be put in a more convenient form than the one given in the report by the IRE Subcommittee 7.9 on Noise issued in 1960.
Dobutamine enhances both contractile function and energy reserves in hypoperfused canine right ventricle

Although the β1-adrenergic agent dobutamine is used clinically to provide inotropic support to the failing myocardium, it could jeopardize the myocardium by depleting energy reserves. This investig...
Local Zoning and Environmental Justice: An Agent-Based Model Analysis

This article presents an agent-based computational analysis of the effects of externality zoning on environmental justice (EJ). We experiment with two ideal types of externality zoning: proactive and reactive. In the absence of zoning, environmental injustice emerges and minority agents have lower average environmental quality than majority agents. With proactive zoning, which allows polluting firms only in designated zones, EJ problems are less severe and appear more tractable. With reactive zoning, which creates buffering zones around polluting firms, environmental injustice tends to emerge more quickly as compared with proactive zoning but tends to decline over time. This analysis examines a possible policy tool available for cities to ameliorate environmental injustice.
DNA Vaccine Encoding Hemagglutinin Provides Protective Immunity against H5N1 Influenza Virus Infection in Mice

In Hong Kong in 1997, a highly lethal H5N1 avian influenza virus was apparently transmitted directly from chickens to humans with no intermediate mammalian host and caused 18 confirmed infections and six deaths. Strategies must be developed to deal with this virus if it should reappear, and prospective vaccines must be developed to anticipate a future pandemic. We have determined that unadapted H5N1 viruses are pathogenic in mice, which provides a well-defined mammalian system for immunological studies of lethal avian influenza virus infection. We report that a DNA vaccine encoding hemagglutinin from the index human influenza isolate A/HK/156/97 provides immunity against H5N1 infection of mice. This immunity was induced against both the homologous A/HK/156/97 (H5N1) virus, which has no glycosylation site at residue 154, and chicken isolate A/Ck/HK/258/97 (H5N1), which does have a glycosylation site at residue 154. The mouse model system should allow rapid evaluation of the vaccine’s protective efficacy in a mammalian host. In our previous study using an avian model, DNA encoding hemagglutinin conferred protection against challenge with antigenic variants that differed from the primary antigen by 11 to 13% in the HA1 region. However, in our current study we found that a DNA vaccine encoding the hemagglutinin from A/Ty/Ir/1/83 (H5N8), which differs from A/HK/156/97 (H5N1) by 12% in HA1, prevented death but not H5N1 infection in mice. Therefore, a DNA vaccine made with a heterologous H5 strain did not prevent infection by H5N1 avian influenza viruses in mice but was useful in preventing death.
Transport at Intermediate and High Reynolds Numbers

Highly accurate closed-form analytical and perturbation solutions for flow description and transport are available for many low Reynolds number (creeping flow) situations where the nonlinear inertial effects are weak. However, fluid motion and transport at intermediate Reynolds numbers [Re ~ O(1) — O(100)] or even higher values are much more complicated. For example, at higher values of the translational Reynolds number, the external flow may separate as it moves toward the rear of the particle and the internal motion may also consist of secondary vortices. Under such circumstances, various transport mechanisms are set into play and the accurate determination of the magnitude of transport becomes a challenging task. Numerical and experimental studies with a drop have shown that at higher values of the Reynolds number, a recirculatory wake is formed with dimensions that are comparable to the drop size [62,63,87]. In such cases, wake effects may have to be taken into account to ascertain accurately the magnitude of transport quantities. It is well acknowledged that both analytical modeling and numerical evaluations of wake effects are in general difficult due to their elliptic nature. In such situations, we rely on semianalytical or fully numerical solutions to the governing equations. With sophisticated numerical methods and super-computers, it is possible to develop sufficiently accurate and physically realizable solutions to problems in the intermediate and high Reynolds number flow regimes.
Clinical Efficacy of Diphenylcyclopropenone in Alopecia Areata: Retrospective Data Analysis of 50 Patients

Diphenylcyclopropenone (DPCP) is widely considered the most effective topical immunotherapy for refractory or extensive alopecia areata (AA), but questions regarding how long to try DPCP therapy before terminating and what factors are prognostic of therapeutic success still remain unanswered. In this retrospective study of 50 AA patients, we evaluated DPCP efficacy and identified patient factors predictive of therapeutic success/failure. The median duration of DPCP treatment was 3 years, with 47% patients experiencing their first regrowth in the first 6 months of DPCP therapy, 20% between 6 months-1 year, and 8% between 1-2 years. In our study, treatment success, defined as ⩾50% terminal hair regrowth, was reached in 71% of alopecia totalis patients and in 56% of alopecia universalis patients. Three factors were statistically significant predictors of poor treatment outcome-extent of hair loss before DPCP treatment, history of thyroid disease, and extent of body hair involvement. Relapse was observed in 44% of patients and significantly associated with history of thyroid disease. Common side effects were itching, rash, and local lymphadenopathy. The results of this study support our belief that DPCP therapy is a viable treatment option, can be successfully accomplished at home, and should not be terminated before 2 years.
Evaluating trust-based fusion models for participatory sensing applications

Participatory sensing is a specialized form of crowdsourcing for mobile devices in which the users act as sensors to report on local environmental conditions, such as traffic, pollution, and wireless signal strength. This computing framework has great promise as a tool for urban planners, but deploying new applications is a challenge since the overall performance can be sensitive to the specific user population. This paper describes the process of prototyping a mobile phone crowdsourcing app for monitoring parking availability on a large university campus.
Kinetics of the C49 to C54 Phase Transformation in TiSi2 Thin Films on Deep-Sub-Micron Lines

The kinetics of the TiSi2 C49 to C54 phase transformation in thin films on patterned deep-sub -micron lines, were studied to obtain the full time, temperature and linewidth dependence of the fraction transformed during rapid thermal annealing. A Johnson-Mehl-Avrami kinetic analysis was performed, obtaining Avrami exponents of 0.8±0.2 for all sub-micron lines and 1.9±0.2 for a 40 μm side square structure, indicating heterogeneous nucleation followed by one dimensional growth for the narrow lines, and two dimensional growth for the square structure. The activation energy, of 3.9 eV, was independent of linewidth in the sub-micron range. Transformation times increased dramatically for decreasing linewidth, as the linewidth approached the grain size of the starting C49 phase. A kinetic model based on the density of nucleation sites as a function of linewidth and C49 grain size is proposed and shown to fit the data, for samples with two different C49 grain sizes.
Current status and research progress in gel bait control of Blattella germanica in China

Blattella germanica is one of the prevailing pests that are most difficult to manage in urban China. Gel bait has been extensively used in the control of B. germanica. This study reviews the current situation and research development of gel bait application in controlling B. germanica, including its main active ingredients, dosage, protocol, on.site killing effect, palatability,and chain killing efficacy, in order to find a more scientific and practical way in gel bait.based control of B. germanica.
Mosquito surveillance in fluctuating zones of the Three Gorges Reservoir region, China, in 2010

Objective To investigate the species composition and population density of mosquitoes before impoundment and after recession in the fluctuating zones of the Three Gorges Reservoir region and to provide a basis for surveillance of mosquito vector and mosquito?borne diseases. Methods Four surveillance sites were established in the typical fluctuating zones at upper, middle, and lower streams of the Three Gorges Reservoir region. For each surveillance site, 3 lamp trapping cages were placed at each of the three different altitudes (10 m altitude difference). The surveillance was carried out before impoundment and after recession in 2010. Results In 2010, a total of 101 mosquitoes were captured with 90 lamp?times, which belonged to 4 species: Culex tritaeniorhynchus, which accounted for 21.78% (n=22); Anopheles sinensis, which accounted for 16.83% (n=17); Cx. pipiens, which accounted for 16.83% (n=17); Armigeres subalbatus, which accounted for 6.93% (n=7); other species, which accounted for 37.63% (n=38). Conclusion The fluctuating zones of the Three Gorges Reservoir region provide breeding sites for mosquitoes. Mosquito density is low in these areas, and shows a decreasing trend with increasing altitude. Vector of Japanese encephalitis, Cx. tritaeniorhynchus, and malaria vector, An. sinensis, exist in these areas.
Der Knochen im Behandlungsfokus

Bereits vor Beginn einer Hormontherapie haben Prostatakarzinompatienten in der Regel eine niedrigere Knochenmineraldichte, die unter einer kontinuierlichen, mehrjahrigen Hormontherapie weiter abnimmt. Im fortgeschrittenen Erkrankungsstadium kommen metastasenbedingte Knochenkomplikationen noch hinzu. Um die Lebensqualitat der Betroffenen in dieser Situation zu verbessern, ist eine zielgerichtete Behandlung gefragt.
Anesthetic Management of Donor Organ Retrieval in a Multiorgan Donor

Anesthesiologists play an important role in caring for the multiorgan donor, both during preparation in the intensive care unit and throughout organ procurement in the operating room. As demands for organs for transplantation continue to grow, organ supply frequently fails to meet such demands. Given the limited numbers of potential donors, appropriate care of such donors is critical. Despite the fact that use of donation after cardiac death (DCD) donors has increased in recent years, brain-dead, heart-beating patients continue to represent the majority of multiorgan donors. The onset of brain death leads to progressive hemodynamic instability, endocrine and electrolyte disturbances, impaired temperature regulation, and coagulopathy. All of these effects must be anticipated and appropriately treated in order to improve donor management and organ viability.
Reproducing Figured Worlds of Literacy Teaching and Learning: Examining the “Language-In-Use” of an Inservice and Preservice Teacher Enacting the Practice of Literacy Planning

ABSTRACTThere are international calls for teacher preparation programs to increase the quantity and quality of field experiences. The belief is that spending additional time in the field being mentored by inservice teachers will develop high-quality preservice teachers. However, the figured worlds of teacher education and the knowledge base of inservice teachers are largely left unexamined. This study took place within an urban Professional Development School and used critical discourse analysis to examine the “language-in-use” between one inservice teacher and one preservice teacher as they engaged in the planning of a literacy lesson. The authors identified the figured worlds of teacher, literacy teaching and learning, and mentoring, as interpreted from this discourse event. Findings include figured worlds of (1) teacher as the giver and withholder of knowledge; (2) literacy teaching and learning that appears inauthentic, contrived, and teacher centered; and (3) an understanding of mentoring as inservic...
Bilateral robotic transabdominal adrenalectomy in a patient with intestinal malrotation

Bilateral adrenalectomy is the preferred surgical approach for patients with failed treatments for pituitary-based Cushing’s syndrome. Intestinal malrotation (IM) is a rare congenital anatomic variant that rarely affects adults. The abnormal abdominal anatomy is concerning to surgeons planning elective procedures in such patients. Here, we describe a bilateral robotic transabdominal adrenalectomy (RTA) in a patient with IM. A 29-year-old female presented with refractory pituitary-based Cushing’s syndrome and was found to have IM on preoperative CT scan. The RTA was performed using one 10–12 mm camera trocar, two 8 mm robotic trocars per side and two midline 5 mm assistant ports. The 8 mm robotic cardiere forceps and the 8 mm robotic cautery hook were used on the left and right ports, respectively. Total operation time was 165 min (62 min on the right, 93 min on the left and 21 min for re-positioning). Total console time was 114 min (45 min on the right and 69 min on the left). Blood loss was minimal and there were no complications. She was discharged on post-operative day one. Anatomic variations were noted and the procedure modified. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of bilateral RTA in a patient with IM. Surgeons should always review the anatomy on preoperative imaging. During the procedure, care should be taken to avoid damage to the multiple loops of small bowel located in the right upper quadrant. On the left side, the colonic splenic flexure is not encountered making access to the underlying left adrenal and kidney easier. The vascular anatomy was normal.
Pilot Test of an Integrated Sexual Risk Reduction Intervention for Women with a History of Childhood Sexual Abuse

HIV and childhood sexual abuse (CSA) are intersecting public health problems for women. We pilot tested an integrated sexual risk reduction intervention for women with a history of CSA that addressed both the consequences of CSA [based on the Traumagenic Dynamics (TD) framework] and the antecedents of sexual risk behavior (based on the Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills [IMB] model). Women with a history of CSA who were attending a public STI clinic (n = 84) were randomly assigned to a five-session integrated TD/IMB (experimental) group intervention or to a time-matched IMB-guided sexual risk reduction (control) group intervention. Preliminary findings indicated that women in the integrated TD/IMB intervention reduced their average number of episodes of unprotected sex with a primary partner, their alcohol use, and their likelihood of being in a violent relationship, relative to women in the IMB-only group. Our findings suggest that sexual risk reduction interventions that address both the consequences of CSA and the antecedents of sexual risk behavior may be efficacious in reducing sexual risk behavior among women who were sexually abused.
Diabetes, Prediabetes, and Brain Volumes and Subclinical Cerebrovascular Disease on MRI: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Neurocognitive Study (ARIC-NCS).

OBJECTIVE To examine the associations of prediabetes, diabetes, and diabetes severity (as assessed by HbA1c and diabetes duration) with brain volumes and vascular pathology on brain MRI and to assess whether the associations of diabetes with brain volumes are mediated by brain vascular pathology. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Cross-sectional study of 1,713 participants in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Neurocognitive Study (ARIC-NCS) (mean age 75 years, 60% female, 27% black, 30% prediabetes, and 35% diabetes) who underwent 3T brain MRI scans in 2011–2013. Participants were categorized by diabetes-HbA1c status as without diabetes ( RESULTS In adjusted analyses, compared with participants without diabetes and HbA1c 0.05), but those with diabetes and HbA1c ≥7.0% had smaller total brain volume (β −0.20 SDs, 95% CI −0.31, −0.09), smaller regional brain volumes (including frontal, temporal, occipital, and parietal lobes; deep gray matter; Alzheimer disease signature region; and hippocampus [all P 0.05). CONCLUSIONS More-severe diabetes (defined by higher HbA1c and longer disease duration) but not prediabetes or less-severe diabetes was associated with smaller brain volumes and an increased burden of brain vascular pathology. No evidence was found that associations of diabetes with smaller brain volumes are mediated by brain vascular pathology, suggesting that other mechanisms may be responsible for these associations.
A 50 kDa Membrane Protein from Bovine Kidney Cells is a Putative Receptor for Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus (BVDV)

A 50 kDa cell surface protein from MDBK cells has been identified as a putative receptor for bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) by using a BVDV specific anti-idiotypic antibody (Anti-D89). This study delineates further characterization of the receptor protein. Protease treatment of cultured MDBK cells adversely affected the receptor thus abolishing the binding of anti-D89 to the cells. However, pretreatment of the cells with either phospholipases or glycosidases did not significantly alter the extent of anti-D89 binding. Additionally, pretreatment of cell monolayers with proteases decreased BVDV attachment and replication in the cells. These results suggested that the receptor for BVDV is a protein in nature, and glycosylation and phosphorylation of the receptor protein may not play a direct role in BVDV attachment to cells. The BVDV receptor protein gradually regenerated on cells when they were maintained in culture following protease treatment. The purified 50 kDa receptor protein also significantly inhibited BVDV infection in a plaque reduction assay.
CLAW: A Multifunctional Handheld Haptic Controller for Grasping, Touching, and Triggering in Virtual Reality

CLAW is a handheld virtual reality controller that augments the typical controller functionality with force feedback and actuated movement to the index finger. Our controller enables three distinct interactions (grasping virtual object, touching virtual surfaces, and triggering) and changes its corresponding haptic rendering by sensing the differences in the user's grasp. A servo motor coupled with a force sensor renders controllable forces to the index finger during grasping and touching. Using position tracking, a voice coil actuator at the index fingertip generates vibrations for various textures synchronized with finger movement. CLAW also supports a haptic force feedback in the trigger mode when the user holds a gun. We describe the design considerations for CLAW and evaluate its performance through two user studies. The first study obtained qualitative user feedback on the naturalness, effectiveness, and comfort when using the device. The second study investigated the ease of the transition between grasping and touching when using our device.
SecuPAN: A Security Scheme to Mitigate Fragmentation-Based Network Attacks in 6LoWPAN

6LoWPAN is a widely used protocol for communication over IPV6 Low-power Wireless Personal Area Networks. Unfortunately, the 6LoWPAN packet fragmentation mechanism possesses vulnerabilities that adversaries can exploit to perform network attacks. Lack of fragment authentication, payload integrity verification, and sender IP address validation lead to fabrication, duplication, and impersonation attacks. Moreover, adversaries can abuse the poor reassembly buffer management technique of the 6LoWPAN layer to perform buffer exhaustion and selective forwarding attacks. In this paper, we propose SecuPAN - a security scheme for mitigating fragmentation-based network attacks in 6LoWPAN networks and devices. We propose a Message Authentication Code based per-fragment integrity and authenticity verification scheme to defend against fabrication and duplication attacks. We also present a mechanism for computing datagram-tag and IPv6 address cryptographically to mitigate impersonation attacks. Additionally, our reputation-based buffer management scheme protects 6LoWPAN devices from buffer reservation attacks. We provide an extensive security analysis of SecuPAN to demonstrate that SecuPAN is secure against strong adversarial scenarios. We also implemented a prototype of SecuPAN on Contiki enabled IoT devices and provided a performance analysis of our proposed scheme.
Polyposis and Familial Cancer Syndromes

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States. Each year approx 130,000 Americans are diagnosed with the disease and 50,000 will die of it (1). The cumulative lifetime risks of CRC and mortality from CRC are approx 3–6% and 2%, respectively. The majority of CRCs occur in individuals over 60 yr old, whom have no previous personal or family history of the disease. The major risk factors for these sporadic cases are advancing age and environmental exposures, most importantly diet. Approximately 20–25% of CRCs are in younger individuals or in those with a personal or family history of cancer, suggesting a heritable susceptibility (2).
Rediscovering Models of Sabbath Keeping: Implications for Psychological Well-Being:

There is a growing interest in Sabbath keeping in America as a counterbalance to our culture's consumerism, exhaustion, and loss of segmentation between work and other life arenas. We describe thre...
Investigation of Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of apple using green fluorescent protein: high transient expression and low stable transformation suggest that factors other than T-DNA transfer are rate-limiting.

To investigate early events of Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of apple cultivars, a synthetic green fluorescent protein gene (SGFP) was used as a highly sensitive, vital reporter gene. Leaf explants from four apple cultivars (‘Delicious’, ‘Golden Delicious’, ‘Royal Gala’ and ‘Greensleeves’) were infected with Agrobacterium EHA101 harboring plasmid pDM96.0501. Fluorescence microscopy indicated that SGFP expression was first detected 48 h after infection and quantitative analysis revealed a high T-DNA transfer rate. Plant cells with stably incorporated T-DNA exhibited cell division and developed transgenic calli, followed by formation of transgenic shoots at low frequencies. The detection of SGFP expression with an epifluorescence stereomicroscope confirmed the effectiveness of SGFP as a reporter gene for detection of very early transformation events and for screening of putative transformants. The efficiency of the transformation and regeneration process decreased ca. 10000-fold from Agrobacterium infection to transgenic shoot regeneration, suggesting that factors other than Agrobacterium interaction and T-DNA transfer are rate-limiting steps in Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of apple.
Disorders of Sign Language

Sign language can be disrupted by brain damage due to stroke, trauma, or disease. Problems with sign language can occur at the level of phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, or discourse. Even though sign language is quite different from spoken language in how it is produced (hands instead of voice) and perceived (vision instead of hearing), brain damage affects it in ways similar to spoken language. Parkinson's disease causes disorders at the level of phonetics; left hemisphere brain damage causes disorders in phonology, morphology, syntax, and semantics; and right hemisphere brain damage causes disorders at the level of discourse.
Differing Views of Transference

The gap between Rhoads’s perspective and mine seems to me so wide that I despair of making any genuine contact. I come to that conclusion in large measure because of the many indications of the gulf between us in our understanding of transference. I say this despite the fact that he does agree that a transference relationship develops in every therapy, whatever the approach, that even a referral has meaning in the transference, and that he cites problems in which behavioral methods cannot be more than partially successful at best.
A cross-cultural study of depressive symptomology

Black (N = 26), white (N = 26) and Overseas Chinese (N = 32) college students were surveyed with Zung's Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS). With the exception of two items where marginally significant differences were found, there were no quantitative differences in the results across these ethnic groups. Inter-item analyses, factor analyses and comparison of factor profiles indicated that the items clustered in different configurations for the three groups. The factors contributing the most variances differed in their item contents across the ethnic groups: a mixture of affective and somatic complaints characterizes the black group; existential and cognitive concerns characterize the white group and somatic complaints characterize the Overseas Chinese group. Discussion was focused on issues concerning cultural conception of psychological difficulties, communication styles used to communicate these difficulties and situational variables affecting performances on psychological diagnostic tests.
Chemical Foundations of Physiology II: Concentration and Kinetics

This chapter begins with a description of the atomic mass unit, or dalton, defined as 1/12 the mass of a carbon-12 atom. It then proceeds to define molecular weight, in daltons, and the gram molecular weight. It then discusses the mole in chemistry and Avogadro’s number. This chapter then defines concentration in terms of molarity and how to make up solutions and dilutions of solutions to achieve desired concentrations. It describes the Fick dilution principle for determining unknown volumes. This chapter then considers kinetics in terms of forward and reverse rate constants, defining the equilibrium constant as the ratio of forward to reverse rate constants. It discusses kinetics in terms of potential energy along the reaction coordinate, the distance along the minimum free-energy path from reactants to products. This chapter then derives the Michaelis–Menten formula for enzyme kinetics and discusses how enzymes, in general, catalyze reactions. It ends with a derivation of the double-reciprocal plot for enzyme kinetics.
The Profession and Professionalism

Both a science and an art, medical practice is the day-by-day application of the treasury of wisdom passed to us by those who have gone before—from ancient Chinese and Hindu healers, to Hippocrates and his contemporaries, to those who innovate and practice today. The profession of medicine brings both power and privilege, it brings the joy described by Sir William Osler, and it carries the obligation to act with honor and dignity. The physician owes a duty both to the patient and to the society that bring trust to the healing relationship.
Heuristics for Analyzing Download Time in MDS Coded Storage Systems

There has been a growing interest, in both theory and practice, in using the available redundancy in storage systems for mitigating stragglers in content download. This paper is concerned with MDS coded storage systems and studies (n, k) data access model. When $k$ = n, system is equivalent to a fork-join queue, which is known to be notoriously hard to analyze, while system with $k$ = 1 has been previously shown to be equivalent to an M/G/1 queue. We here argue that the system with $k$ = 2 is of practical interest, and then present a method that approximates the system as an M/G/1 queue. Approximated download time is shown to be more accurate than the bounds available in the literature. We also note that the presented method can be used for approximating systems that employ other newly designed and deployed storage codes.
A Unified Method for Constructing PBIB Designs Based on Triangular and L2 Schemes

SUMMARY A general and simple method for constructing triangular and L2 type partially balanced incomplete block (PBIB) designs is presented. This method unifies several well-known methods and produces many new series of designs. The idea is based on a well-known relation between triangular and L2 type PBIB designs and line graphs. Triangular or L2 type PBIB designs can often be obtained by suitably "symmetrizing" a given initial block.
Students' Perceptions of Career Counselling: An Examination of a Graduate Curriculum in the United States.

Despite its importance as a core counselling competency, less attention is given to career counselling than to other counselling specialties and it is often dismissed as a non-essential category in...
How Can Phytoplankton Pigments Be Best Used to Characterize Surface Ocean Phytoplankton Groups for Ocean Color Remote Sensing Algorithms

High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) remains one of the most widely applied methods for estimation of phytoplankton community structure from ocean samples, which are used to create and validate satellite retrievals of phytoplankton community structure. HPLC measures the concentrations of phytoplankton pigments, some of which are useful chemotaxonomic markers for phytoplankton groups. Here, consistent suites of HPLC phytoplankton pigments measured on global surface water samples are compiled across spatial scales. The global dataset includes >4,000 samples from every major ocean basin and representing a wide range of ecological regimes. The local dataset is composed of six time series from long-term observatory sites. These samples are used to quantify the potential and limitations of HPLC for understanding surface ocean phytoplankton groups. Hierarchical cluster and empirical orthogonal function analyses are used to examine the associations between and among groups of phytoplankton pigments and to diagnose the main controls on these associations. These methods identify four major groups of phytoplankton on global scales (cyanobacteria, diatoms/dinoflagellates, haptophytes, and green algae) that can be identified by diagnostic biomarker pigments. On local scales, the same methods identify more and different taxonomic groups of phytoplankton than are detectable in the global dataset. Notably, diatom and dinoflagellate pigments group together on global scales, but dinoflagellate marker pigments always separate from diatoms on local scales. Together, these results confirm that HPLC pigments can be used for satellite algorithm quantification of no more than four phytoplankton groups on global scales, but can provide higher resolution for local-scale algorithm development and validation.
Spatial variability of produced-water quality and alternative-source water analysis applied to the Permian Basin, USA

Interest in both environmental impact and potential beneficial uses of produced water (PW) has increased with growth in unconventional oil and gas production, especially in semi-arid regions, e.g. the Permian Basin, the most productive tight-oil region in the USA. Characterization of PW compositional variability is needed to evaluate environmental impact, treatment, and reuse potential. Geochemical variability of PW from Guadalupian (Middle Permian) to Ordovician formations was statistically and geostatistically evaluated in the western half of the Permian Basin (Delaware Basin, Central Basin Platform, and Northwest Shelf) using the US Geological Survey’s Produced Waters Geochemical Database and the New Mexico Water and Infrastructure Data System. Mean total dissolved solids (TDS) of PW increased with depth in the Delaware Basin and Central Basin Platform to the Delaware and Wolfcamp formations (Guadalupian age). Mean TDS decreased with further increases in depth. In contrast, the mean salinity of PW was significantly higher within the shallow, younger formations (largest mean TDS in the Artesia Formation); TDS decreased with depth below Guadalupian age formations in the Northwest Shelf. Kriged contour maps of TDS and major ions illustrated spatial variability across the three geo-structural regions as a function of depth. The occurrence of meteoric waters in upper and deeper formations across the three regions was significant, and was attributed to Laramide Orogeny and Basin and Range extension uplifting and tilting effects and recent water flooding. These results quantify PW composition variability, and suggest that upon treatment, PW would support some uses such as onsite reuse and mining.