cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
THE DESCRIPTION OF TEACHERS’ STRESSOR AND MANIFESTATION OF SPECIAL NEEDS TEACHERS IN INCLUSIVE AND SPECIAL SCHOOLS IN JAKARTA

Teachers for special needs children are needed in inclusive and also in special schools (SLB). In inclusive schools, teachers who teach special needs children usually the class teacher or subject teacher. They usually have general pedagogic educational background. They were not specialized in teaching exceptional children. While on SLB, teacher had educational backgrounds from special education pedagogic. Both of them were dealing with different characteristics and their respective obligations demands. This situation could become a stressor that could affect learning. This research is a descriptive study. Characteristics of the sample in this study are that teachers who are between 20 and 65 years old, men and women, who teach at the elementary nation Inclusion and SLB. Participants obtained by the accidental sampling method were 67 people. Study showed that their stressor was from specific events relating to work. Source of their mild stress was setting time balance between personal time and work. A manifestation of stress occurs in the form of fatigue arising with regard to the perceived pressure. To reduce or minimize the stress that arises, necessary training and seminars to enrich their knowledge were needed, their also need good communication between the teacher and the school and build tolerance among co-workers. doi.org/10.24071/ijiet.2017.010107
Ethnic variations on gestational diabetes mellitus and evidence-based first-line interventions.

AbstractPurpose/Objectives: To analyze the cultural and ethnic impact of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), report the associated complications, and investigate how lifestyle interventions are effective in preventing these associated complications.Methods: A literature review was conducted using online databases like CINAHL and Cochrane review. Findings were limited to journal articles published between 2012 and 2017. Irrelevant and relevant articles were determined by research topic, specific population, and type of interventions.Results: Due to the growing rate of Hispanics, this ethnic group will have the most impact of GDM. There is a link between the prevalence of GDM and being classified as obese or overweight among women of childbearing age. Differences in perinatal outcomes were noted in different ethnicities especially between Hispanic and Caucasian women. Higher prevalence of GDM did not equal higher impact. In fact, the ethnicity with the highest rate tends to have the lowest impact. Lifestyl...
Linking invasive motility to protein expression in single tumor cells.

The invasion of malignant cells into tissue is a critical step in the progression of cancer. While it is increasingly appreciated that cells within a tumor differ in their invasive potential, it remains nearly unknown how these differences relate to cell-to-cell variations in protein expression. Here, we introduce a microfluidic platform that integrates measurements of invasive motility and protein expression for single cells, which we use to scrutinize human glioblastoma tumor-initiating cells (TICs). Our live-cell imaging microdevice is comprised of polyacrylamide microchannels that exhibit tissue-like stiffness and present chemokine gradients along each channel. Due to intrinsic differences in motility, cell subpopulations separate along the channel axis. The separated cells are then lysed in situ and each single-cell lysate is subjected to western blotting in the surrounding polyacrylamide matrix. We observe correlations between motility and Nestin and EphA2 expression. We identify protein–protein correlations within single TICs, which would be obscured with population-based assays. The integration of motility traits with single-cell protein analysis – on the same cell – offers a new means to identify druggable targets of invasive capacity.
Toward affect-sensitive virtual human tutors: The influence of facial expressions on learning and emotion

Affective support can play a central role in adaptive learning environments. Although virtual human tutors hold significant promise for providing affective support, a key open question is how a tutor's facial expressions can influence learners' performance. In this paper, we report on a study to examine the influence of a human tutor agent's facial expressions on learners' performance and emotions during learning. Results from the study suggest that learners' performance is significantly better when a human tutor agent facially expresses emotions that are congruent with the content relevancy. Results also suggest that learners facially express significantly more confusion when the human tutor agent provides incongruent facial expressions. These results can inform the design of virtual humans as pedagogical agents can inform the design of virtual humans as pedagogical agents and designing intelligent learner-agent interactions.
Searching as Learning: Exploring Search Behavior and Learning Outcomes in Learning-related Tasks

In this paper, we investigate the relationship between searching and learning, by conceptualizing information seeking as a learning process, and learning as an outcome of the information seeking process. We present the participants with four search tasks, each of them designed to represent different cognitive levels of learning. Through quantitative analysis of the participants» Web search logs, we examine how individual search behavior is influenced by different task complexity levels as we present the tasks in a hierarchical order. We also explore how the perceived learning outcomes and processes, and the different learning actions, are related to the levels of cognitive complexity. By analyzing the search logs, self-reports, interview data, and the reports, both quantitatively and qualitatively, we infer that searching and learning are not isolated but co-existing processes. Distinct search patterns and learning outcomes were observed in tasks of different cognitive complexities, and overlapping learning actions were observed for the different tasks.
Controlled Expansion of a Strong-Field Iron Nitride Cluster: Multi-Site Ligand Substitution as a Strategy for Activating Interstitial Nitride Nucleophilicity

Multimetallic clusters have long been investigated as molecular surrogates for reactive sites on metal surfaces. In the case of the μ4 -nitrido cluster [Fe4 (μ4 -N)(CO)12 ]- , this analogy is limited owing to the electron-withdrawing effect of carbonyl ligands on the iron nitride core. Described here is the synthesis and reactivity of [Fe4 (μ4 -N)(CO)8 (CNArMes2 )4 ]- , an electron-rich analogue of [Fe4 (μ4 -N)(CO)12 ]- , where the interstitial nitride displays significant nucleophilicity. This characteristic enables rational expansion with main-group and transition-metal centers to yield unsaturated sites. The resulting clusters display surface-like reactivity through coordination-sphere-dependent atom rearrangement and metal-metal cooperativity.
10 years of 25-hydroxyvitamin-D testing by LC-MS/MS-trends in vitamin-D deficiency and sufficiency.

Abstract In early 2000's vitamin-D deficiency was shown to be prevalent in several countries including the United States (US). Studies exploring the role of vitamin-D metabolism in diverse disease pathways generated an increased demand for vitamin-D supplementation and an immense public interest in measurement of vitamin-D metabolite levels. In this report, we review the role of vitamin-D metabolism in disease processes, clinical utility of measuring vitamin-D metabolites including 25-hydroxyvitamin-D (25(OH)D), 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin-D and 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin-D and discuss vitamin-D assay methodologies including immunoassays and liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) assays. We also provide examples of vitamin-D toxicity and insight into the trends in serum 25(OH)D levels in the US population based on 10 years of data from on serum 25(OH)D values from ~5,000,000 patients who were tested at the Mayo Medical Laboratories between February 2007–February 2017.
Military Moral Injury: An Evidence-Based and Intercultural Approach to Spiritual Care

How can spiritual care help veterans struggling with military moral injury? An evidence-based, intercultural approach to spiritual care is proposed. Evidence-based care uses research on military moral injury and religious and spiritual struggles to understand when religious and spiritual practices, beliefs, and values are helping or harming veterans. Intercultural spiritual care recognizes the complex, distinctive ways veterans’ values, beliefs, coping, and spiritual practices are shaped by interacting cultural systems, especially military training and cultures. Pastoral theologian Larry Graham’s (Sacred Spaces: The E-Journal of the American Association of Pastoral Counselors 5, 146–171, 2017) writing on moral injury and lamentation is used to develop two spiritual care strategies: sharing anguish and interrogating suffering. Spiritual care begins with lamenting the shared anguish of moral injury using intrinsically meaningful spiritual practices to help veterans compassionately accept the emotions arising from moral injury so intensely felt in their bodies. The second strategy is sharing the lament of interrogating suffering through exploring values, beliefs, and coping arising from moral injury. A literary case study of a young female veteran based on Cara Hoffman’s (2014) novel Be Safe, I Love You illustrates this evidence-based intercultural approach to spiritual care of military moral injury.
Collateral learning of mobile computing: an experience report

We wanted to cover mobile computing in our curriculum without incurring the costs of adding a new course to the curriculum or hiring a new instructor to the faculty roster. We did so through collateral learning, by incorporating mobile computing into the projects of two existing upper-level Computer Science courses: Organization of Programming Languages and Artificial Intelligence. We recount our experience using collateral learning of mobile computing over the last four years: motivation, logistics, course-specific details, reception by students, results of course evaluations, challenges faced and solutions devised. Our experience affirms that collateral learning is an excellent option for incorporating emerging topics such as drone programming, cybersecurity and parallel computing into the curriculum at resource-strapped Computer Science departments.
Multi-flow attacks against network flow watermarking schemes

We analyze several recent schemes for watermarking network flows based on splitting the flow into intervals. We show that this approach creates time dependent correlations that enable an attack that combines multiple watermarked flows. Such an attack can easily be mounted in nearly all applications of network flow watermarking, both in anonymous communication and stepping stone detection. The attack can be used to detect the presence of a watermark, recover the secret parameters, and remove the watermark from a flow. The attack can be effective even if different the watermarks in different flows carry different messages. We analyze the efficacy of our attack using a probabilistic model and a Markov-modulated Poisson process (MMPP) model of interactive traffic. We also implement our attack and test it using both synthetic and real-world traces, showing that our attack is effective with as few as 10 watermarked flows. Finally, we propose a countermeasure that defeats the attack by using multiple watermark positions.
Mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae possessing fully induced levels of urea amido-lyase in the absence of added inducer.

Abstract We have isolated strains of S. cerevisiae that are resistant to the growth inhibitory effects of methylamine and found them to be insensitive to nitrogen repression. However, our mutants could additionally be divided into three groups with respect to inducibility of urea amido-lyase. The first class of strains resembled the wild-type and had very little enzyme activity in the absence of inducer. The second class had significantly increased basal levels of activity while the third class possessed fully induced levels of urea amido-lyase in the absence of added inducer. The procedures we used may be applicable to the generation of similar mutants in other inducible-repressible transport and degradative enzyme systems as well.
“21st-Century Skills”

There is no single set of “21st-Century Skills” and hundreds have been suggested. Many lists include life skills (agility, flexibility, and adaptability), workforce skills (collaboration, leadership initiative, and responsibility), applied skills (accessing and analyzing information, effective communication, and determining alternative solutions to problems), personal skills (curiosity, imagination, critical thinking, and problem solving), interpersonal skills (cooperation and teamwork), and noncognitive skills (managing feelings) (adapted from Saavedra & Opfer, 2012).
Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (Adrenogenital Syndrome)

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) is due to a variable deficiency of any one of the enzymes necessary for the synthesis of cortisol (the major human glucocorticoid) from 7-dehydrocholesterol. The low levels of blood cortisol result in a positive feedback on the secretion of corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH) by the hypothalamus and of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) by the anterior pituitary. The high concentrations of ACTH produce adrenal hyperplasia and hypersecretion of steroid precursors. Hence, the symptomatology of the various forms of CAH is related not only to cortisol deficiency but also to precursor overproduction. In addition, the specific mutation of the specific gene will be responsible for the degree of deficiency.
Carbene Ligands and Metal-Carbon-Sulfur Ring Compounds of Tungsten and Iron

The syntheses and reactivities of complexes with the following types of ligands are discussed: Open image in new window Type C complexes generally react like normal terminal carbenes by undergoing nucleophilic addition to the carbene carbon to give rather unique carbene-adduct products. Although type D complexes do not contain a carbene group, an iron derivative is proposed to exist in equilibrium with the carbene-mercaptide form: Open image in new window lH NMR and chemical evidence supports this proposal.
The Gospel of John and the Future of Israel

The Gospel of John is renowned for the challenges it presents to interpreters: its historical complexity, theological and literary unity, and its consistently critical stance toward characters known as 'the Jews'. There is abundant scholarly literature on each of these challenges, and yet there are very few studies that consider the Gospel as a whole in light of these pressing issues. Mark Blumhofer offers a fresh approach to understanding the Fourth Gospel, one that draws together the insights of scholarship in all of these areas. He shows that a historically sensitive, ethically attuned, and theologically and literarily compelling reading of the Fourth Gospel lies before us in the synthesis of the approaches that have long been separated. Unlike studies that consider only a narrow portion of the Gospel, Blumhofer's unique approach draws on most of it and shows how common themes and interests run throughout the narrative of John.
Feasibility intervention to increase exercise outcome expectations among breast cancer survivors.

e21584Background: Exercise is associated with decreased mortality and recurrence risk and improved quality of life for breast cancer survivors (BCS). Roughly 1/3 of BCS exercise enough to experienc...
Topological defects in tubular network block copolymers

Abstract Materials based on the double gyroid multicontinuous tubular structure can exhibit exotic properties due to the unique 3D network structure. The nature, frequency and potential influence of topological defects present in the interpenetrating gyroid networks on various physical properties is an open question. We examined a polystyrene – polydimethylsiloxane diblock copolymer possessing the double gyroid morphology in order to identify and classify the types of topological defects present. The large volume reconstructions were made by sequentially ion beam milling and low voltage electron beam imaging. Different types of local point-like topological defects were found including node functionality defects, network breaks and network-network joints (bridges) as well as two types of intra-network loop defects. Such topological defects will influence properties ranging from charge and mass transport, to wave propagation and band gaps, and battery performance in materials with the gyroid structure.
Macroeconomics As Systems Theory

This essay is the penultimate draft of Chapter 1 of a book that carries the working title Macroeconomics as Systems Theory: Emergence, Institutions, and Economic Process. This book examines the material of macroeconomic theory by looking through a different analytical window from what most theorists use. The conventional analytical window shows a national economy as a collection of such aggregate variables as output, employment, investment, and a price level, and seeks to develop theoretical relationships among those variables. The macro level of an economy is accessed directly through the variables created through the national income and product accounts and similar series of aggregate data. In contrast, I treat the relation between micro and macro theories as a relation between the parts of something and the entirety of that thing. Hence, the analytical object to which macro theory pertains entails a higher order of complexity than that of micro theory. Where micro variables are aptly characterized as objects of choice, macro variables are not. To the contrary, macro variables are products of emergent interaction and spontaneous ordering. Furthermore, there is no position of “policymaker” who stands outside the macro system, for all economizing action occurs inside the economic system.
Dynamic Response of a Lined Rigid Inclusion

A theoretical analysis is made to predict the dynamic response of an elastically lined cylindrical rigid inclusion subjected to plane compressional sinusoidal stress waves. Solutions in the form of infinite series involving Hankel functions of the first and second kinds for the wave equations are determined from the prescribed boundary conditions. The nondimensional parameters are then identified and typical material properties are used in numerical calculations. It is found that the angular distribution of the maximum dynamic stresses follows a certain pattern depending on the wave number. In addition, the lining-inclusion density ratio and the lining thickness also have strong influence on the critical stresses. The translation of the rigid inclusion, although having similar response characteristics against wave number as the stresses, always reaches its critical value at a lower wave number than do the stresses.
Vector competence studies with hard ticks and Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato spirochetes: A review.

Use of emerging technology allowing for identification of genetic material from pathogens and endosymbionts in ticks collected from humans, domestic animals, wildlife, or the environment has resulted in an avalanche of new data on tick-microorganism associations. This rapidly growing stream of new information is a tremendous resource but also presents challenges, including how detection of pathogen genetic material in ticks should best be interpreted. There is a tendency in the more recent published literature to incorrectly use the term "vector" based on detection of pathogen genetic material from tick species not experimentally confirmed to serve as vectors of the pathogen in question. To serve as a vector of a horizontally maintained pathogen, such as a Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) Lyme borreliosis spirochete, the tick species in question must be capable of acquiring the pathogen while feeding in the larval or nymphal stage on an infectious host, maintaining it transstadially through the molt, and then transmitting the pathogen to a naive host while feeding in the subsequent nymphal or adult stage. This review examines the experimental evidence for and against species of hard (ixodid) ticks from different genera to serve as vectors of B. burgdorferi s.l. spirochetes. Of the 18 Ixodes species ticks evaluated to date, 13 were experimentally confirmed as vectors of B. burgdorferi s.l. spirochetes. These studies focused primarily on the three major Lyme borreliosis agents: Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto, Borrelia afzelii, and Borrelia garinii. In striking contrast, none of 8 tick species from other genera (1 Amblyomma species, 5 Dermacentor species, and 2 Haemaphysalis species) evaluated to date were unequivocally experimentally confirmed as vectors of B. burgdorferi s.l. spirochetes. The strength of the evidence for or against each tick species to serve as a vector of B. burgdorferi s.l. spirochetes is discussed together with key knowledge gaps and research challenges.
JAK-ing into M1/M2 Polarization SteErs Salmonella-Containing Macrophages Away from Immune Attack to Promote Bacterial Persistence.

Despite decades of study, the molecular basis for granuloma formation and restriction of chronic pathogens remains murky. Three articles reveal how Salmonella rewires macrophage polarization (Panagi et al. and Gibbs et al.) to shift the balance between M1 and M2 granuloma macrophages and resist TNF-mediated clearance (Pham et al.).
How does the brain remove its waste metabolites from within

The brain is the command center of the body that regulates the vital functions of circulation, respiration, motor function, metabolic activities, or autonomic nervous system outcomes. The brain coordinates these continuous activities at the expense of huge energy utilization. This energy demand is achieved by active transport of nutrients across the endothelial blood-brain barrier (BBB). This review discusses the barrier interfaces in the CNS that include the BBB, blood-spinal cord barrier, the epithelial choroid plexus, and the epithelial arachnoid. While transporting of nutrients across the BBB is a normal physiological function, the trafficking of xenobiotics and inflammatory cells/agents across these interfaces is harmful to brain cells. This leads to production of waste metabolites in the brain. Clearance of these waste metabolites maintains the normal brain homeostasis, while aggregation is detrimental to neurological complications. Since the CNS lacks lymphatic system, the CSF serves as the clearance path for water-soluble peptides/solutes, but not large size waste metabolites like Aβ protein. In particular, this review will focus on the mechanisms of waste metabolites clearance paths in the CNS. This will include the recently discovered waste metabolites movement from interstitial space (IS) directly into perivascular clearance (PVC), or via IS-CSF-PVC, and its exchange from PVC to circulation. Concluding remarks will discuss the therapeutic approach to improve the clearance mechanisms for ameliorating neurological diseases.
Our Family is A Team: A Structural Family Therapy Tool for Counselors

Working with children can be a difficult and intimidating task for many family counselors, especially when attempting to discuss complex issues of the family structure. Using a construct children a...
A Framework for Cross-Cultural Curriculum Development

This article questions meanings and understandings of “global” and “international” framework through the acknowledgement, existence, and validity of multiple onto-epistemologies. It seeks to provide insight to the questions, “What is ethical cross-cultural curriculum development?” and “How can practitioners engage in ethical cross-cultural curriculum development processes?” Through de Sousa Santos’ (2007) “globalized localisms” and “localized globalisms”, power asymmetries in “what counts as knowledge” (Apple, 2000) is illuminated and a cross-cultural curriculum development framework, addressing hegemonic concerns is presented. This framework integrates Taba’s (1962) curriculum development framework with a critical negotiation framework in the hopes that “global” and “international” education engages from a pluralistic standpoint. Finally, practical recommendations for each stage of the curriculum development process are presented.
The Profits of Infringement: Richard Posner v. Learned Hand

Owners of infringed trademarks and copyrights can be awarded the defendant's profits from the infringement. The statutes are silent on the definition of profits, and the federal Courts of Appeals split on how profits are computed. In the Second Circuit, a 1939 decision written by Judge Learned Hand establishes a practice of allocating a portion of the infringer's overhead to the costs of infringing production. In the Seventh Circuit, the controlling case, written by Judge Richard Posner, stipulates that only costs that vary as a consequence of infringement may be considered in computing profits. While the variable-costs-only rule would appear to reflect the teaching of economics, the correct rule would credit the defendant for the incremental opportunity cost of the infringement. Because the use of fixed facilities for infringing production will generally foreclose other opportunities, a variable-cost-only rule will not reflect the true incremental costs of infringement. A rule that allocates the costs of these assets cannot precisely reflect the opportunity cost of using them, however the optimization condition that determines the firm's use of these assets implies that on average, marginal factor costs will equal the value of their marginal product, which is to say their marginal opportunity cost. Consequently, an allocated-fixed-cost rule provides a reasonable proxy for the incremental costs of infringement. Thus Judge Hand's rule provides a suitable implementation of Judge Posner's economic principle.
Hankel operators on domains with bounded intrinsic geometry

In this paper we consider Hankel operators on domains with bounded intrinsic geometry. For these domains we characterize the $L^2$-symbols where the associated Hankel operator is compact (respectively bounded) on the space of square integrable holomorphic functions.
Communication: Capturing protein multiscale thermal fluctuations

Existing elastic network models are typically parametrized at a given cutoff distance and often fail to properly predict the thermal fluctuation of many macromolecules that involve multiple characteristic length scales. We introduce a multiscale flexibility-rigidity index (mFRI) method to resolve this problem. The proposed mFRI utilizes two or three correlation kernels parametrized at different length scales to capture protein interactions at corresponding scales. It is about 20% more accurate than the Gaussian network model (GNM) in the B-factor prediction of a set of 364 proteins. Additionally, the present method is able to deliver accurate predictions for some large macromolecules on which GNM fails to produce accurate predictions. Finally, for a protein of N residues, mFRI is of linear scaling (O(N)) in computational complexity, in contrast to the order of O(N3) for GNM.
AUTOMATED HIGHWAY SYSTEMS: THE SMART WAY TO GO

Abstract This paper describes the Automated Highway System (AHS) design, as developed at PATH over the past five years, focusing in the control architecture and some questions of implementation. It discuses in detail the design and safety verification of the onboard vehicle control system and the design of the link layer traffic flow controller. The paper also provides a brief summary of the NAHSC, which is a six-year United States Department of Transportation funded program, whose goal is to demonstrate parts of AHS technologies and design a prototype AHS system.
Milk yield differences between 1× and 4× milking are associated with changes in mammary mitochondrial number and milk protein gene expression, but not mammary cell apoptosis or SOCS gene expression

Milking frequency is known to affect milk production and lactation persistence in dairy cows. Despite this, the mechanisms underlying this effect are only partially understood. Previous work in dairy cows examining increases in milk yield due to increased milking frequency have identified changes in apoptosis and expression of genes regulating cytokine signaling. In addition, changes in mitochondrial biogenesis and function have been suggested to play a role during the lactation cycle in regulating milk production. The goal of this study was to test the hypothesis that, when maintained over an entire lactation, extreme differences in milking frequency would be reflected in differences in apoptosis, mammary mitochondrial number, and the mammary expression of genes known to inhibit cytokine signaling. Primiparous Holstein cows (n=6) were assigned to the study 40d before parturition after which 1 udder half was milked once daily (1×) and the other 4 times daily (4×) Mammary biopsies were collected at 15, 60, 120, and 230d of lactation. Average milk yield from the 4× side was 3 times higher than from the 1× side. Analysis of milk composition revealed that protein, lactose, and solids-not-fat percentages were lower in 1× than 4× udder halves. Mammary cell apoptosis was not affected by milking frequency. Mammary cell mitochondrial number, as estimated by succinate dehydrogenase staining, was higher in early lactation, decreasing as days in milk increased, and with increased milking frequency. Although mammary expression of α-lactalbumin (LALBA) and β-casein (CSN2) was significantly increased in 4× glands, the expression of suppressors of cytokine signaling were similar between 1×- and 4×-milked halves. These results support the conclusion that changes in milk production in response to extreme differences in milking frequency may be related to alterations in mitochondrial number and lactose synthesis, but not apoptosis.
Biopsychosocial typologies of pain in a cohort of patients with systemic sclerosis.

Objective Despite being a common problem in systemic sclerosis (SSc; scleroderma), the extant literature on pain has primarily focused on biomedical correlates, or bivariate relationships with a few psychological characteristics. There is a need to investigate the more heuristic biopsychosocial model, which incorporates the simultaneous contributions of medical, psychological, and social variables in understanding pain. Methods Patients with SSc (n = 333) received clinical examinations and completed self-report surveys at enrollment in the Genetics versus Environment in Scleroderma Outcome Study. Latent profile analysis was used to derive biopsychosocial profiles of patients using skin thickening, percent predicted forced vital lung capacity, perceived physical health, health worry, mental health, and social support. The profiles were examined in relation to pain and pain medication usage. Results A 3-profile solution provided the best fit to the data. Based on the biopsychosocial indicators, the profiles were characterized as managing (n = 217), resilient (n = 86), and distressed (n = 30). Between-group differences for pain emerged, with the distressed group, whose disease was less severe than the resilient group, reporting the highest pain and the greatest utilization of pain medication. Conclusion Clinicians should consider biopsychosocial characteristics as contributing factors to the experience of pain in patients with SSc. Patients who are similar to those in the distressed profile may be at an increased risk for pain and would likely benefit from a referral to a behavioral health or other ancillary service provider for pain management, rather than relying solely on pharmacologic therapies.
Microwave Technology—Chemical Synthesis Applications

Microwave-accelerated chemical syntheses in various solvents as well as under solvent-free conditions have witnessed an explosive growth. This technology, which is still in its growth phase, has found widespread application predominantly exploiting the inexpensive unmodified household microwave (MW) ovens although the use of dedicated MW equipment has been rapidly gaining ground. Of special interest is the environmentally friendlier solventless approach that often involves exposure of neat reactants to MW irradiation or employs supported reagents on recyclable inorganic oxides or catalysts and has been adequately demonstrated in several MW-assisted condensation, deprotection, rearrangement, cyclization, reduction, and oxidation reactions. The rapid one-pot preparation of heterocyclic compounds from in situ generated reactive intermediates and the general application to multicomponent reactions, that are adaptable for building a library of compounds, have been accomplished using this MW technique. More recently, the strategy has been extended to combinatorial chemistry and the synthesis of a newer class of solvents, ionic liquids that are essentially molten salts with barely measurable vapor pressure. The salient features of these high yield protocols, namely, the selectivity, experimental ease of manipulation, and the enhanced reaction rates are discussed. Keywords: Microwave-assisted organic synthesis; solvent-free organic synthesis; supported reagents; green chemistry; oxidation reactions; reduction reactions; condensation reactions; protection–deprotection reactions; isomerization reactions; heterocyclic compounds; combinatorial chemistry; ionic liquids; enzyme-catalyzed reactions
High Oxygen Packaging System Negatively Affects Color Stability and Sensory Attributes of Beef Cuts

Beef steaks stored in high-oxygen modified atmosphere packaging (HiOx-MAP) had more discoloration, lipid oxidation, and lower tenderness, juiciness, and flavor during 9 days display compared to the steaks packaged in vacuum (VAC). Therefore, MAP systems with lower oxygen mixture or incorporation of antioxidants through injection enhancement to meat in HiOx-MAP are recommended to minimize oxidation-induced quality deteriorations of beef round muscles.
Introduction to the Mathematical Background of Classical Potential Theory

In this chapter some of the mathematical ideas of classical potential theory are introduced, under simplifying assumptions. The basic space is Euclidean N space ℝ N . For a ball B\( (\xi ,\delta ) \) in ℝ N $$ \begin{gathered} {{l}_{{N - 1}}}(\partial B(\xi ,\delta )) = {{\pi }_{N}}{{\delta }^{{N - 1}}},\quad {{\pi }_{N}} = 2{{\pi }^{{N/2}}}\Gamma {{\left( {\frac{N}{2}} \right)}^{{ - 1}}} \hfill \\ {{l}_{N}}(B(\xi ,\delta )) = \frac{{{{\pi }_{N}}{{\delta }^{N}}}}{N}. \hfill \\ \end{gathered} $$ (1.1) .
Possible Large Carbon and Nitrogen Abundance Variations on the Horizontal Branch of M92

Model stellar atmospheres have been constructed to investigate the effects of the continuous opacity of CI, NI and OI on the Balmer jump of late-B horizontal branch stars. The large opacity of CI and NI in the ultraviolet raises the Balmer continuum through back warming without changing the Paschen continuum, while OI has little effect. The models provide an explanation for the variations in the Balmer jump which have been observed from star to star by Oke near 12,500°K on the horizontal branch of the globular cluster M92. We conclude that some stars in M92 appear to have an atmospheric C and/or N content between one hundred and one thousand times the cluster average. The same effect of the opacities of CI and NI may also explain Newell’s gap NI in the [(U-B)-(B-V)]-diagram for blue stars in the galactic halo.
A Review of Precision Oscillators

Precision oscillators used in PTTI applications include quartz crystal, rubidium gas cell, cesium beam, and hydrogen maser oscillators. A general characterization and comparison of these devices is given including accuracy, stability, environmental sensitivity, size, weight, power consumption, availability and cost. Areas of special concern in practical applications are identified and a projection of future performance specifications is given. An attempt is made to predict physical and performance characteristics of new designs potentially available in the near future.
Keynote speakers: Ultrafast pattern recognition and tracking in FLIR imagery

Pattern recognition and tracking in forward looking infrared (FLIR) imagery is a challenging problem due to various factors such as low resolution, low signal-to-noise ratio, different 3D orientations of the targets, effects of global motion, and close proximity with similar objects. In this keynote, we will review the recent trends and advancements in distortion-invariant pattern recognition followed by the development of a novel data fusion algorithm for single/multiple object detection and tracking in FLIR imagery. Each detection/tracking algorithm utilizes various properties of objects and image frames of a given FLIR sequence. The data fusion algorithm employs complementary features of two or more of the aforementioned algorithms to achieve significantly better detection/tracking accuracy. Test results using real life FLIR image sequences confirm the effectiveness of the proposed technique.
A new model reference control architecture: Stability, performance, and robustness

Summary In this paper, we develop a new model reference control architecture to effectively suppress system uncertainties and achieve a guaranteed transient and steady-state system performance. Unlike traditional robust control frameworks, only a parameterization of the system uncertainty given by unknown weights with known conservative bounds is needed to stabilize uncertain dynamical systems with predictable system performance. In addition, the proposed architecture's performance is not dependent on the level of conservatism of the bounds of system uncertainty. Following the same train of thought as adaptive controllers that modify a given reference system to improve system performance, the proposed method is inspired by a recently developed command governor theory that minimizes the effect of system uncertainty by augmenting the input signal of the uncertain dynamical and reference systems. Specifically, a dynamical system, called a command governor, is designed such that its output is used to modify the input of both the controlled uncertain dynamical and reference systems. It is theoretically shown that if the command governor design parameter is judiciously selected, then the controlled system approximates the given original, unmodified reference system. The proposed approach is advantageous over model reference adaptive control approaches because linearity of the uncertain dynamical system is preserved through linear control laws, and hence, the closed-loop performance is predictable for different command spectrums. Additionally, it is shown that the architecture can be modified for robustness improvements with respect to high frequency content due to, for example, measurement noise. Modifications can also be made in order to accommodate actuator dynamics and retain closed-loop stability and predictable performance. The main contribution of this paper is the rigorous analysis of the stability and performance of a system utilizing the command governor framework. A numerical example is provided to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed architecture. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Modified Ultrafiltration Reduces Postoperative Morbidity After Cavopulmonary Connection

Abstract Background . Modified ultrafiltration reduces the deleterious effects of cardiopulmonary bypass in children. Patients undergoing repair of single-ventricle cardiac anomalies may be particularly sensitive to these adverse effects, and benefit from the use of modified ultrafiltration. Methods . From January 1995 to June 1996, 120 consecutive cavopulmonary operations were performed at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Procedures included lateral tunnel fenestrated Fontan (n = 50), extracardiac Fontan (n = 5), hemi-Fontan (n = 60), and bidirectional Glenn shunt (n = 5). Modified ultrafiltration was performed after cardiopulmonary bypass in 41 patients, and results were compared by t test with a control group of 79 patients in whom modified ultrafiltration was not used. Results . There was one death for an operative (30-day) mortality of 0.8%. Age, weight, diagnosis, ischemic arrest time, and cardiopulmonary bypass time were similar between the modified ultrafiltration and control groups. Postoperative blood use, chest tube output, the incidence of pleural and pericardial effusions, and hospital stay were all significantly decreased when modified ultrafiltration was used. Conclusions . By lowering the perioperative morbidity of staged cavopulmonary operations, modified ultrafiltration makes an important contribution to improving outcome after the correction of single-ventricle cardiac anomalies.
Phase stability of bcc Zr in Nb/Zr thin film multilayers

A change in phase stability from hcp Zr to bcc Zr occurs in Nb/Zr multilayers when the bilayer thickness is reduced to the nanometer scale. This phase stability in these multilayers has been described using a model based on classical thermodynamics. Using a previously reported experimental observation of hcp to bcc transformation in these multilayers, a phase stability diagram (referred to as the biphase diagram) has been proposed. Subsequently, a range of multilayers with varying volume fractions and bilayer thicknesses have been sputter deposited. The crystal structures in these multilayers have been determined using X-ray and electron diffraction. The hcp and bcc Zr phases within the Nb/Zr multilayers are in agreement with the predictions afforded by the proposed biphase diagram. The sequence of the Zr bcc phase stability was accomplished by forming its β-Zr (high temperature bcc phase) prior to forming a bcc coherent interface with Nb. First approximations of the structural and chemical contributions to the interfacial energy accompanying the changes in hcp to bcc phase stability for Zr have been evaluated.
A simple continuous-flow respirometer for comparative respiratory changes in medium-sized aquatic organisms

Abstract A continuous-flow respirometer was designed to accommodate medium-sized aquatic organisms for comparative respiratory studies. The apparatus is simple in design, easily constructed and can be adapted to various flow rates, aquatic organisms and experimental designs. The system was tested with golden shiners. Notemigonous crysoleucas Mitchill, and with the blue crab. Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, and found to be a useful tool in physiological studies.
Molecular regulation of membrane resealing in 3T3 fibroblasts.

Membrane resealing in mammalian cells after injury depends on Ca2+-dependent fusion of intracellular vesicles with the plasma membrane. When cells are wounded twice, the subsequent resealing is generally faster. Physiological and biochemical studies have shown the initiation of two different repair signaling pathways, which are termed facilitated and potentiated responses. The facilitated response is dependent on the generation and recruitment of new vesicles, whereas the potentiated response is not. Here, we report that the two responses can be differentially defined molecularly. Using recombinant fragments of synaptobrevin-2 and synaptotagmin C2 domains we were able to dissociate the molecular requirements of vesicle exocytosis for initial membrane resealing and the facilitated and potentiated responses. The initial resealing response was blocked by fragments of synaptobrevin-2 and the C2B domain of synaptotagmin VII. Both the facilitated and potentiated responses were also blocked by the C2B domain of synaptotagmin VII. Although the initial resealing response was not blocked by the C2AB domain of synaptotagmin I or the C2A domain of synaptotagmin VII, recruitment of new vesicles for the facilitated response was inhibited. We also used Ca2+ binding mutant studies to show that the effects of synaptotagmins on membrane resealing are Ca2+-dependent. The pattern of inhibition by synaptotagmin C2 fragments that we observed cannot be used to specify a vesicle compartment, such as lysosomes, in membrane repair.
Detection of organophosphate flame retardants in furniture foam and U.S. house dust.

Restrictions on the use of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) have resulted in the increased use of alternate flame retardant chemicals to meet flammability standards. However, it has been difficult to determine which chemical formulations are currently being used in high volumes to meet flammability standards since the use of flame retardant formulations in consumer products is not transparent (i.e., not provided to customers). To investigate chemicals being used as replacements for PentaBDE in polyurethane foam, we analyzed foam samples from 26 different pieces of furniture purchased in the United States primarily between 2003 and 2009. Samples included foam from couches, chairs, mattress pads, pillows, and, in one case, foam from a sound-proofing system of a laboratory-grade dust sieve, and were analyzed using gas chromatography mass spectrometry. Fifteen of the foam samples contained the flame retardant tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TDCPP; 1−5% by weight), four samples contained tris(1-ch...
Multi-zone building energy management using intelligent control and optimization

Abstract Intelligent buildings are a trend of next-generation's buildings, which facilitate intelligent control of the building to fulfill occupants’ comfort demands. The primary objective in building control is to achieve a comfortable building environment with high energy efficiency. By dividing the whole building into several zones, a multi-zone building model is built for developing an effective energy management scheme. This study proposes a multi-agent control system coupled with an intelligent optimizer for intelligent building control. Particle swarm optimization (PSO) is utilized to optimize the building energy management by enhancing the intelligence of the multi-zone building during its operations. A case study of multi-zone building control is carried out and the corresponding simulation results are presented in this paper.
Cytochrome P450 expression and activities in rat, rabbit and bovine tongue.

Xenobiotic metabolism in the tongue has received little attention in the literature. In the present study, we report a comparative analysis of constitutive cytochrome P450 (CYP) expression and activities in the tongue. First we compared catalytic activities of rabbit, rat and bovine tongue samples using the probe substrates 4-nitrophenol, 1-phenylethanol, caffeine and 7-ethoxycoumarin. Rabbit tongue samples showed the highest activities for all substrates. We then compared the activities in rat and rabbit tongue with those in the rabbit liver, along with the effects of P450 inhibitors on specific activities. Combined, the activity studies indicate that CYP1A1 is active in rabbit tongue cells, but CYP1A2, CYP3A6 and CYP2E1 are below limits of detection. RT-PCR was also used to compare mRNA levels of 11 different rabbit and six different rat P450 isoforms in the tongue to those in the liver of these two species. Only CYP2E1, CYP1A1 and CYP4A4 were detected at significant levels in the rabbit tongue. None of the six rat isoforms probed were observed in the tongue. Although 4-nitrophenol activity was observed in the rabbit tongue samples, the kinetic parameter Km was inconsistent with the involvement of CYP2E1. We suggest that although CYP2E1 is expressed in the tongue, it is rapidly degraded in this organ, and the nitrophenol hydroxylation and caffeine hydroxylation we observe is the result of activity of CYP1A1.