cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
ACT Against Violence Parents Raising Safe Kids Program: Effects on Maltreatment-Related Parenting Behaviors and Beliefs

The ACT Against Violence Parents Raising Safe Kids program (ACT-PRSK) is an interactive violence prevention program developed by the American Psychological Association for parents of young children. The program teaches and supports parents in the areas of child development, roots and consequences of violence, anger management for adults and children, social problem solving, positive discipline, and the impact of media violence on children. Ninety-two parents/caregivers of young children participated in a study of the effects of the program on parenting behaviors. The first 50 participants were assigned to the intervention group and completed the ACT-PRSK program, and the remaining 42 parents/caregivers served as comparisons. Results indicated reduced spanking and reduced rate of hitting children with objects for the ACT-PRSK participants. Furthermore, the ACT-PRSK group evidenced improved knowledge, behaviors, and beliefs regarding violence prevention and parenting. Results provide support for the efficac...
Ureilite petrogenesis: A limited role for smelting during anatexis and catastrophic disruption

A popular model for ureilites assumes that during anatexis in an asteroidal mantle, pressure-buffered equilibrium smelting (partial reduction coincident with partial melting) engendered their conspicuous mafic-silicate-core mg diversity (75-96 mol%). Several mass-balance problems arise from this hypothesis. Smelting inevitably consumes a large proportion of any plausible initial carbon while generating significant proportions of Fe metal and copious proportions of CO gas. The most serious problem concerns the yield of CO gas. If equilibrium smelting produced the ureilites' entire 21 mol% range in olivine-core mg, the proportion of gas within the asteroidal mantle (assuming plausibly low pressure <∼80 bar) should have reached ≥85 vol%. Based on the remarkably stepwise cooling history inferred from ureilite texture and mineralogy, a runaway, CO-leaky process that can loosely be termed smelting appears to have occurred, probably triggered by a major impact. The runaway scenario appears likely because, by Le Châtelier's principle, CO leakage would tend to accelerate the smelting process. Also, the copious volumes of gas produced by smelting would have led to explosive, mass-leaky eruptions into the vacuum surrounding the asteroid. Loss of mass would mean diminution of interior pressure, which would induce further smelting, leading to further loss of mass (basalt), and so on. Such a disruptive runaway process may have engendered the ureilites' distinctive reduced olivine rims. But the only smelting, according to this scenario, was a short-lived disequilibrium process that reduced only the olivine rims, not the cores; and the ureilites were cooling, not melting, during the abortive "smelting" episode.
Trust in Education Professionals: Perspectives of Mothers of Children With Disabilities

This study extends the research on issues of trust in family—professional relationships by more fully examining, within a qualitative research design, the nature of trust between parents of children with disabilities and school personnel. The authors examined the trust-related perspectives of 16 mothers of children with various disabilities at all levels of the P—12 educational system. Analysis of the mothers' responses to face-to-face interview questions yielded three primary categories that seem to influence trust: family characteristics, teacher characteristics, and school characteristics. Discussion focuses on the mothers' difficulty in defining their levels of trust and on the roles of authentic caring, child-focused orientation, communication, knowledge about child characteristics, and school climate and teaming factors that appear to facilitate or inhibit trust. Discussion also addresses implications of these findings for school leadership and the establishment of healthy family—professional relati...
Real-time intraoperative detection of tissue hypoxia in gastrointestinal surgery by wireless pulse oximetry.

Dehiscence or leakage after bowel anastomoses is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Perfusion and local tissue oxygenation (StO2), independent of systemic oxygen saturation, are fundamental determinates of anastomotic viability. Because current technology is limited for monitoring local StO2 at bowel anastomoses, our goal was to construct a wireless pulse oximeter (WiPOX) to monitor real-time intraoperative tissue oxygenation, permitting identification of compromised anastomotic perfusion. We have: (a) designed a handheld device capable of real-time monitoring of serosal and mucosal StO2 through endoscopic ports with wireless data transmission to standard intraoperative monitors, (b) constructed the WiPOX using materials meeting FDA regulations for intraoperative use and reuse, (c) performed accuracy testing in humans by comparing the WiPOX to standard pulse oximeters, and (d) tested WiPOX efficacy for detecting early tissue hypoxia in stomach, intestines, and kidneys in anesthetized rats and swine. In humans, WiPOX demonstrated accuracy within 3% compared with commercially available pulse oximeters. Application of the WiPOX in rats and swine demonstrated normal serosal and mucosal StO2 and pulse rates in healthy small bowel and stomach. Within 30 s of compromised perfusion, the WiPOX detected bowel hypoxia over a wide range of oxygen saturation (p < 0.005). A greater degree of hypoxia was detected in mucosal versus serosal measurements during early ischemia, despite normal appearance of tissue. The onboard sensor-processor unit permitted noninvasive pulse oximetry and integration with current intraoperative monitoring. The contact pressure-sensing head allowed for consistent, high-quality StO2 waveform readouts despite the presence of body fluids. We have constructed, validated, and successfully tested a novel wireless pulse oximeter capable of detecting intraoperative tissue hypoxia in open or endoscopic surgery. This device will aid surgeons in detecting anastomotic vascular compromise and facilitate choosing an ideal site for bowel anastomosis by targeting well-perfused tissue with optimal healing capacity.
Visual Attention to Global and Local Stimulus Properties in 6-Month-Old Infants: Individual Differences and Event-Related Potentials.

Event-related potentials (ERPs) were utilized in an investigation of 21 six-month-olds’ attention to and processing of global and local properties of hierarchical patterns. Overall, infants demonstrated an advantage for processing the overall configuration (i.e., global properties) of local features of hierarchical patterns; however, processing advantages were found to vary based on individual differences in look duration. Short-looking infants showed differences in the negative central ERP component and the late slow wave (LSW) indicating greater attention to and discrimination of changes in global properties. Analysis of the LSW revealed that long-looking infants discriminated changes in local features, but did not discriminate changes in global properties of visual stimuli. These findings indicate that short- and long-looking infants utilize different approaches when processing hierarchical patterns.
Seasonal variations in RNA–DNA ratios and in indicators of feeding, reproduction, energy storage, and condition in a population of bluegill, Lepomis macrochirus Rafinesque

Liver and epaxial muscle RNA concentrations and RNA-DNA ratios (RNA/DNA) of bluegill Lepomis macrochirus from a central Tennessee lake were maximum in the spring, low during the summer, high again in the fall, and low during the winter. Liver-somatic indexes and DNA concentrations indicated that liver cell volume and energy storage varied seasonally and were lowest during late spring and summer. Seasonal variations in gonosomatic indexes were typical of this species, and RNA/DNA decreased as gonads matured during the spring. RNA/DNA and energy storage in the liver decreased during the major spawning season. Seasonal variations in food consumption may have effected seasonal growth and energy storage. However, a summer depression in RNA/DNA may have been more closely associated with the effects of thermal stratification and dissolved oxygen stress.
Is High Sex Drive Associated With Increased Sexual Attraction to Both Sexes? It Depends on Whether You Are Male or Female

If sex drive is a generalized energizer of sexual behaviors, then high sex drive should increase an individual's sexual attraction to both men and women. If sex drive energizes only dominant sexual responses, however, then high sex drive should selectively increase attraction to men or to women, but not to both, depending on the individual's sexual orientation. Data from three studies assessing a total of 3,645 participants show that for most women, high sex drive is associated with increased sexual attraction to both men and women. For men, however, high sex drive is associated with increased sexual attraction to only one sex or the other, depending on the individual's sexual orientation. These results suggest that the correlates of sex drive and the organization of sexual orientation are different for women and men.
A technique for interconnecting millimeter wave integrated circuits using BCB and bump bonds

A low cost interconnection scheme for millimeter wave modules is presented. This technique allows the integration of hybrid components using an inexpensive micromachined silicon motherboard and benzocyclobutene (BCB) films. The excellent planarity of BCB allows vias to be formed using bumps fabricated prior to BCB application. This approach eliminates the need for laser drilling, plasma etching, and plated holes. Several representative GaAs pHEMT's were packaged using this technique. Measurements show minimal performance degradation from 1 GHz to 48 GHz.
Coordinated regulation of c-Myc and Max in rat liver development

The processes of liver development and regeneration involve regulation of a key network of transcription factors, the c-myc/max/mad network. This network regulates the expression of genes involved ...
An REU project on the design of a brushless DC machine for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles

This paper proposes a design methodology for the propulsion motor of a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle. This research was conducted through the Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program supported by National Science Foundation (NSF). The simulation of a representative plug-in hybrid electric vehicle has been performed using ADVISOR vehicle modeling software. The vehicle has been simulated over a set of specific drive cycles to determine the optimum parameters for the design of a brushless DC machine. Emphasis is placed on finding the ideal torque-speed profile for the electric propulsion machine and a brushless DC machine design is then proposed, which increases the fuel economy and the acceleration performance of the representative plug-in hybrid electric vehicle. A solid model of the machine design was created and analyzed using finite-element software.
The stigma of affirmative action: : A stereotyping- based theory and meta-analytic test of the consequences for performance.

Affirmative action plans (AAPs) are designed to facilitate workplace success for members of the groups they target (e.g., women, ethnic minorities), yet may have the ironic effect of stigmatizing AAP targets and, in turn, decreasing their performance outcomes. Prior work has focused on the stigma of incompetence as the primary mechanism that links AAPs to performance; however, the broader social psychological literature suggests that additional mechanisms may also play a role. We use stereotyping theories to develop a more comprehensive model of the pathways through which AAPs limit targets’ performance outcomes. Drawing from the stereotype content model, we propose that the negative effect of AAPs on others’ evaluations of targets’ performance is driven by perceptions of incompetence and low warmth. Drawing from stereotype threat theory, we propose that the negative effect of AAPs on targets’ self-evaluated and objective performance is driven by perceptions of low self-competence, negative state affect, and perceived stereotyping by others. Meta-analytic path analyses support our hypotheses. Our theory and findings demonstrate that multiple mechanisms explain the negative consequences of AAPs for targets’ performance outcomes, highlight differences in reactions to AAP targets by others versus the self, and provide insight into preventing the unintended negative effects of AAPs.
Distributed MIMO radar using compressive sampling

A distributed MIMO radar is considered, in which the transmit and receive antennas belong to nodes of a small scale wireless network. The transmit waveforms could be uncorrelated, or correlated in order to achieve a desirable beampattern. The concept of compressive sampling is employed at the receive nodes in order to perform direction of arrival (DOA) estimation. According to the theory of compressive sampling, a signal that is sparse in some domain can be recovered based on far fewer samples than required by the Nyquist sampling theorem. The DOAs of targets form a sparse vector in the angle space, and therefore, compressive sampling can be applied for DOA estimation. The proposed approach achieves the superior resolution of MIMO radar with far fewer samples than other approaches. This is particularly useful in a distributed scenario, in which the results at each receive node need to be transmitted to a fusion center.
Piece-wise convex spatial-spectral unmixing of hyperspectral imagery using possibilistic and fuzzy clustering

Imaging spectroscopy refers to methods for identifying materials in a scene using cameras that digitize light into hundreds of spectral bands. Each pixel in these images consists of vectors representing the amount of light reflected in the different spectral bands from the physical location corresponding to the pixel. Images of this type are called hyperspectral images. Hyperspectral image analysis differs from traditional image analysis in that, in addition to the spatial information inherent in an image, there is abundant spectral information at the pixel or sub-pixel level that can be used to identify materials in the scene. Spectral unmixing techniques attempt to identify the material spectra in a scene down to the sub-pixel level. In this paper, a piece-wise convex hyperspectral unmixing algorithm using both spatial and spectral image information is presented. The proposed method incorporates possibilistic and fuzzy clustering methods. The typicality and membership estimates from those methods can be combined with traditional material proportion estimates to produce more meaningful proportion estimates than obtained with previous spectral unmixing algorithms. An analysis of the utility of using all three estimates produce a better estimate is given using real hyperspectral imagery.
Ellipsoidal Toolbox (ET)

Ellipsoidal Toolbox is the first free MATLAB package that implements the operations of ellipsoidal calculus: geometric (Minkowski) sums and differences of ellipsoids, intersections of ellipsoids, and ellipsoids with hyperlanes and polyhedra. The toolbox uses ellipsoidal methods to compute forward and backward reach sets of continuous- and discrete-time piecewise affine systems. Forward and backward reach sets can be also computed for continuous-time piece-wise linear systems with disturbances.
Mild visual acuity disturbances are associated with performance on tests of complex visual attention in MS.

Because MS patients frequently report visual acuity disturbances, neuropsychologists often screen patients for severe visual acuity disturbances and tailor test batteries that minimize the need for intact vision. Less is known about how mild visual acuity disturbances may influence neuropsychological test performance. This study examined the extent to which mild visual acuity disturbances influence performance on visually-based tests of complex attention. Relapsing-remitting and secondary progressive MS patients who reported adequate vision were recruited for this study. A battery was administered that included the oral version of the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT), the Visual Elevator (VE) subtest from the Test of Everyday Attention, and a reduced near vision eye chart. Results suggested that, in addition to measuring higher order cognitive processes, visual tests of attention are sensitive to mild primary visual disturbances in MS. (JINS, 2007, 13, 544–548.)
“Local” control as a model or myth? The westinghouse-bloomington superfund clean-up

Abstract The Bloomington PCB Consent Decree marked the largest hazardous waste settlement ever reached in Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) history. It requires the Westinghouse Corporation to clean up four Superfund sites, five streams, a sewage treatment plant, and a county landfill, only a portion, however, of the property Westinghouse was implicated in contaminating. Furthermore, the agreement provides the multinational corporation with an opportunity to design, construct, operate, and test an innovative technology. The agreement includes cooperative oversight of the permitting procedures and cleanup implementation among the parties: Westinghouse and those entities which had sued the corporation—the EPA, the State of Indiana, the City of Bloomington, and Monroe County. Although there were several attempts to prevent the Not-In-My-Backyard (NIMBY) syndrome, we will assess why public opposition continues by focusing on the policy process over 12 years: the 8 years of out-of-court negotiations (1976–1984) and the years since the settlement was reached (1984–present).
Aspirin and concomitant idiosyncrasies in adult asthmatic patients

The nasal and respiratory symptoms observed after oral challenge to aspirin (ASA), tartrazine, and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory substances are best described as idiosyncratic reactions. A positive response to oral challenge, defined as a 20% fall in forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1) from baseline for up to 4 hr, occurred in 44 of 230 patients with ASA, 11 of 277 with tartrazine, 2 of 93 with sodium salicylate, and 2 of 69 with acetaminophen. No one had a positive response to tartrazine, sodium salicylate, or acetaminophen who was not also positive to ASA. The dose of ASA causing a positive response was less than 5 grains in 95% of the patients. Of 50 patients with a suspicious history studied in detail, 96% of those with ASA idiosyncrasy had sinusitis and 71% had nasal polyps. Methacholine challenges and random circulating and sputum eosinophils did not differentiate patients with a negative challenge from those with a positive challenge. However, patients with a positive history and positive challenge had significantly more random nasal eosinophils than those with negative aspirin challenges. The term "aspirin triad" has outlived its usefulness since ASA idiosyncrasy can exist in patients lacking certain components of the triad. ASA idiosyncrasy is unsuspected in many patients and possibly overdiagnosed in others.
Measuring focused Gaussian beam spot sizes: a practical method

The rapidly growing use of the laser in experimental work has created a need for accurately recording the laser power density for comparison and duplication purposes. This paper presents a straightforward procedure for measuring the focused Gaussian beam diameter.
Validation of ocean surface wind vector sensing using combined active and passive microwave measurements

A new ocean surface wind vector measurement has been developed using combined active and passive microwave measurements from the TRMM satellite. In this method, collocated ocean normalized radar backscatter from the Precipitation Radar (PR) and retrieved wind speeds from the TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI) are used to derive ocean wind direction. Since PR provides only a single azimuth look, multiple wind direction solutions exists; but we compare the "closest" retrieved wind direction with near-simultaneous surface truth from three ocean buoy networks, namely; National Data Buoy Center (NDBC), Tropical Atmosphere Ocean (TAO), and Pilot Research moored Array in the Tropical Atlantic (PIRATA). Comparisons are also presented for QuikSCAT wind vector retrievals.
Design criterion for radial flow fixed-bed reactors

Obtention de ce critere en resolvant le probleme de mecanique des fluides pertinent par des methodes asymptotiques
Trace Element Levels in Southern New Jersey Drinking Waters

The New Jersey State Department of Environmental Protection has established potable water standards for use in the administration of the laws and regulations relating to water used for drinking and/or cooking purposes within the State (1). These standards require the owner of a public supply assure that the water is periodically tested for bacteriological quality and make the results of these tests available to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, the New Jersey Department of Health or the local board of health. Although the potable water standards include a section on chemical quality, no direct statements are made regarding responsibility for determining chemical quality, the frequency of chemical evaluations or the agency to which the results of the chemical quality evaluations are to be reported. Considering the lack of a direct statement in the standards, the large number of municipalities in the State and the complexities of local, county and state authorities, we initiated a survey of the chemical quality of potable water in southern New Jersey.
Far-Infrared Measurement of the Energy Gap of V 3 Si

We have measured in the far infrared (2-70 cm/sup -1) the difference at various temperatures. The radiation was transmitted through a nonresonant cavity containing several single crystal slabs of V/sub 3/Si usi ng a lamellar grating interferometer in conjunction with a /sup 3/He-cooled tor from the nonresonant cavity. Temperature-dependence measurements have been made up to 30 deg K and no change in the surface impedance was ic phase transition at 21 deg K. There was a alve of the energy gap, extending, at 4.2 deg K, from 12 cm/sup -1/ ( 2 DELTA / sub min = l.0KT/sub c/) to 46 cm/sup -1/ (2 DELTA /sub max/ = 3.8kT/sub c/). (auth)
Blest Be the Ties that Bind: Covenant and Community in Puritan Thought

Perry Miller once called the Biblical idea of covenant “the marrow of Puritan divinity." In seventeenth century England and America, this covenant idea was also the "marrow" of Puritan community. It was used to describe not only the relation between God and man, but also the multiple relations among men. "We are by nature covenant creatures," wrote a leading Puritan divine in 1624, "bound together by covenants innumerable and together bound by covenant to our God. Such is our human condition. Such is this earthly life. Such is God's good creation. Blest be the ties that bind us." This Article analyzes briefly the transformation of the idea of covenant from a subsidiary Biblical theme to an organizing principle of Puritan thought. Part I analyzes Puritan innovations in traditional theology which radically expanded the covenant into a unified doctrine. Part II traces certain applications of this theological doctrine of covenant to Puritan concepts of human community and of moral and legal obligation.
Angiotensin II regulates H(+)-ATPase activity in rat cortical collecting duct

Angiotensin II (ANG II) plays an important role in the regulation of solute transport in the kidney, and its effect on proximal tubule sodium and fluid transport has been studied extensively. Although there is evidence that ANG II receptors are present also in the distal nephron and collecting duct, little is known about the physiological role of ANG II in these segments of the renal tubule. Preliminary studies in our laboratory suggest that ANG II may have both structural and functional effects on intercalated cells in the cortical collecting duct (CCD). Therefore, the present study examines the effect of ANG II on H(+)-adenosinetriphosphatase (H(+)-ATPase) and H(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity in individual CCD segments microdissected from collagenase-treated rat kidneys. The H(+)-ATPase was measured as bafilomycin-sensitive ATPase activity, and H(+)-K(+)-ATPase was measured as Sch-28080-sensitive ATPase activity, by a fluorometric microassay. Preincubation of CCD segments with ANG II, 10(-10)-10(-5) M, caused a dose-dependent decrease in H(+)-ATPase activity with maximum inhibition at 10(-8) M of ANG II. The inhibitory effect of ANG II was abolished when tubules were incubated with ANG II in the presence of 10(-6) M losartan, indicating that the inhibition was mediated via specific AT1 receptors. The AT2-receptor antagonist, PD-123319, had no effect on the ANG II-mediated inhibition of H(+)-ATPase activity. Preincubation of CCD segments with 10(-10) or 10(-7) M ANG II had no effect on H(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Evidence And Medicare's Coverage Of Interventions.

Evidence And Medicare’s Coverage Of Interventions James D. Chambers and coauthors (Feb 2015) find that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) raised its evidentiary bar for coverage between 1999 and 2012. The authors express concern that CMS’s requirements should not be “so burdensome as to discourage future innovation.” CMS has recently initiated a parallel review process with the Food andDrug Administration to expedite the development and coverage of medical innovations. However, high-quality data are essential to ensure that new interventions meet the statutory requirement of “reasonable and necessary” in section 1862(a) of the Social Security Act. The critical questions not addressed by Chambers and coauthors are: Was there evidence of improved health outcomes in the positive coverage decisions? How often was evidence of benefit lacking in the negative decisions? Requiring evidence does not stifle innovation. Instead, it distinguishes beneficial medical treatments from those that may harm patients. Coverage with evidence development has had multiple successes, including facilitating enrollment in a trial of the Wingspan device for intracranial stenting. This study was prematurely stopped because of increased stroke and death with Wingspan, thus preventing unnecessary harm to Medicare beneficiaries.
European agricultural biotechnology preferences and policy: trade creation or diversion?

This paper addresses one of the European restrictive trade policies imposed on the agricultural biotechnology products imported from the rest of the World. EU's ban on these products to conform with consumer preferences is likely to have some impact on the trade flows between EU and its trading partners. The purpose of this paper is to determine whether EU restrictive trade policies against biotech products have led to a trade creation or diversion. Gravity model and augmented gravity model are used as methodology to assess trade impacts of EU's restrictive trade policies on the agricultural biotechnology goods. The results show that there is a trade creation in Food and live animals. However, trade diversion, and not creation, is found in Beverages and tobacco, and Animal and vegetable oils and fats. The results also show that it is costly for EU when it imposes restrictive trade policies on agricultural biotech goods and crops that are heavily influenced by consumer preferences and not by biotechnology.
Gaming Simulation as Health and Safety Training for Home Health Care Workers

Abstract Background The demand for home health care services is rapidly increasing and is driving a need for additional trained home health care professionals (HHPs). HHPs need effective training for managing personal health and safety hazards encountered when providing health care services in the home environment. The purpose of this article was to describe the process used for developing and evaluating an interactive virtual simulation training system (VSTS) to educate HHP. Sample Sixty-eight HHPs, including nurses, home health aides, occupational and physical therapists, administrators, and health and safety educators, participated in the study. Methods A mixed methods design that included an interdisciplinary, participatory design methodology was used to develop a VSTS to train HHP to identify and manage health and safety hazards in the home using a gaming simulation learning approach. Results This approach has yielded a training package that includes modules addressing electrical and fire hazards; environmental hazards; and lift, slip, and trip hazards routinely encountered by HHP. Conclusions Participatory methods are a useful and effective way to design a VSTS that is interactive, engaging, and informative.
Hand-foot-mouth Disease in Xishan District of Wuxi,2008-2010

Objective To understand the epidemiological characteristics of hand-food-mouth disease(HFMD) in Xishan district of Wuxi from 2008 to 2010.Methods The epidemic data was analyzed by using descriptive epidemiology method.Results Totally 2 334 HFMD cases were reported in Xishan district of Wuxi from 2008 to 2010,the average annual incidence rate was 108.56/105,the annual incidence rate in each year was 70.16/105,185.60/105 and 70.82/105 respectively,with 1 fatal case.The incidence peaked in April and November.Cases were mainly in the people under the age of 3,which accounted for 66.93% of the total;the male to female ratio was 1.47∶1;the mainly composition of cases were scattered children,which accounted for 58.31% of the total.Test of 203 samples found 125 positive cases,in which 56 positive cases were EV71 positive(44.8%).
Vibration Isolation Technique Application and Prospect in Power Apparatus

Except enhancing traditional anti-seismic design,it is necessary to enhance development and application of power equipment vibration isolation techniques. Taking an engineering practice in which the technique is used for a certain machine rotation vibration control as an example,the vibration isolator stiffness,damping and geometric size are decided based on isolator configuration principles. The maximum vibration linear displacement and isolation efficiency of spring-damping vibration isolation system are calculated by the self-composed program. Finally,the paper gives a forecast of its application in turbine-generator foundation and substation.
The Research on the Marketing Strategy of Competitive Aerobics Performance

Based on the brief introduction of the definition of performance market and marketing for sports games,this paper analyzed the necessity for China's competitive aerobics at present to carry out marketing.Then,the paper put forward the suggestions on the competitive aerobics' marketing in our country.
In vitro evaluation of osteoblast responses to carbon nanotube-coated titanium surfaces

The effects of surface roughness and carboxyl functionalization of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) mixed with collagen coated onto titanium (Ti) substrates on MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts were evaluated. The proliferation, differentiation, and matrix mineralization were investigated using (1) smooth-surfaced Ti discs, (2) Ti discs coated with collagen and MWCNT (Ti-MWCNT), and (3) Ti discs coated with collagen and MWCNT-COOH (Ti-MWCNT-COOH) for applications in orthodontic mini screw implants (MSIs). The coatings were uniform when analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and surface roughness was evaluated by surface profilometry that demonstrated similar surface roughness (R a , mean ± SD) in the MWCNT (0.83 ± 0.02 μm) and MWCNT-COOH (0.84 ± 0.01 μm) groups. MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-Yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay was performed after days 1, 3, and 7 to assess proliferation. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP)-specific activity was assessed after day 7 to quantify differentiation. Alizarin red staining was measured after day 28 to quantify matrix mineralization. All data were analyzed with JMP Pro11 software (SAS, USA) with a statistical significance of p < 0.05. Surface profilometry demonstrated similar surface roughness (R a , mean ± SD) in the MWCNT (0.83 ± 0.02 μm) and MWCNT-COOH (0.84 ± 0.01 μm) groups. On day 7, ALP assay showed that MWCNT-COOH (mean ± SD 0.98 ± 0.26 U/μg of protein) enhanced cell differentiation when compared to the uncoated group (p = 0.05). Alizarin red staining after 28 days of cell culture revealed that MWCNT-COOH (mean ± SD 1.5 ± 0.2 OD405) increased (p = 0.03) matrix mineralization when compared to the uncoated group (0.9 ± 0.09 OD405). This study showed that coatings containing MWCNT-COOH (increased hydrophilic surface chemistry) influence osteoblast proliferation, differentiation, and matrix mineralization and should be further studied for applications in orthodontic MSIs.
AutoLabel: labeling places from pictures and websites

Most location based services require semantic place names such as Staples, rather than physical coordinates. Past work has mostly focussed on achieving localization accuracy, while assuming that the translation of physical coordinates to semantic names will be done manually. This paper makes an effort to automate this step, by leveraging the presence of a website corresponding to each store and the availability of a repository of WiFi-tagged pictures from different stores. By correlating the text inside the pictures, against the text extracted from store websites, our proposed system, called AutoLabel, can automatically label clusters of pictures, and the corresponding WiFi APs, with store names. Later, when a user enters a store, her mobile device scans the WiFi APs and consults a lookup table to recognize the store she is in. Experiment results from 40 different stores show recognition accuracy upwards of 87%, even with as few as 10 pictures from a store, offering hope that automatic large-scale semantic labeling may indeed be possible from pictures and websites of stores.
On the source of silicon minority-carrier lifetime degradation during molecular beam heteroepitaxial growth of III-V materials

A major hindrance to the development of devices integrating III-V materials on silicon is the preservation of its electronic quality. In this contribution, we report on the severe decrease in silicon bulk minority-carrier lifetime after heteroepitaxial growth of gallium phosphide, in our molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) system. The drop in lifetime occurs after annealing silicon above 500°C; we assign the increased recombination rate to extrinsic defect originating from highly mobile impurities diffusing from the MBE chamber. We show that the contaminant can be gettered by phosphorous diffusion. We investigate two approaches to protect the Si bulk lifetime by containing the contaminant to a part of the silicon that can be removed by etching. This provides a path to successful III-V growth on silicon.
Ultrasound-Guided Interscalene Brachial Plexus Nerve Block With an Ultralow Volume of Local Anesthetic for Post-Thoracotomy Shoulder Girdle Pain.

Objectives To evaluate the efficacy of ultrasound-guided interscalene nerve block using an ultralow volume of local anesthetic (5 mL of ropivacaine, 0.75%) for the management of post-thoracotomy shoulder girdle pain. Design Open-cohort, prospective, single-center study. Setting University hospital. Interventions Patients with post-thoracotomy shoulder girdle pain (visual analog scale [VAS] ≥5) received an ultrasound-guided interscalene nerve block. Measurements and Main Results Thirty minutes after block implementation, the VAS was used to quantify pain across the shoulder girdle. The index (I) was calculated to indicate improvement of pain as follows: I = VAS before interscalene nerve block – VAS after interscalene nerve block / VAS before interscalene nerve block × 100 Nerve bocks resulting in I ≥75% were considered excellent. Total tramadol consumption 36 hours after nerve blocks, patients’ satisfaction, and complications related to the procedure also were assessed. Patients were segregated in the following 2 groups: group A, which comprised patients with pain in the shoulder area (glenohumeral and acromioclavicular joints) (n = 30), and group B, which comprised patients with pain in the scapula (n = 17). I was significantly greater in group A (88.3% ± 14%) than in group B (43.2% ± 22%). In groups A and B, 90% and 11% of patients, respectively, demonstrated excellent pain control. Total tramadol consumption in group A, 25 (0-100) mg, was significantly less that of group B, 250 (150-500) mg. Patients’ satisfaction also was significantly higher in group A compared with group B. No complications were recorded. Conclusions Ultrasound-guided interscalene nerve block can substantially alleviate post-thoracotomy pain in the shoulder but not in the scapular area.
Improvement of board level reliability for fine pitch PoP

With the rapid growth in the mobile industry, Package-on-Package (PoP) technology has been widely adopted for the 3D integration of logic and memory devices within mobile handsets and other portable multimedia products. The PoP solution offers significant advantages, including increased density through stacking logic and memory devices in the same formfactor and a high degree of flexibility for variable memory devices. Recently, a thinner PoP structure is strongly required with finer memory interface (MIF) pitch for mobile applications. Currently, a 0.35 mm MIF pitch for Through Mold Via (TMV®) is in production and fine MIF less than 0.35 mm pitch is under development for higher memory I/O density. However, as package thickness gets thinner and the MIF pitch gets finer, warpage control and interconnection reliability performance become more critical. In this paper, a comprehensive study has been performed including package design, structure, materials with process conditions. As a result, advanced PoP structure is proposed that enables minimum warpage and better board level reliability (BLR) performance.
Levels of EMR Adoption in U.S. Hospitals: An Empirical Examination of Absorptive Capacity, Institutional Pressures, Top Management Beliefs, and Participation

Technology adoption literature generally focuses on behavioral and structural changes necessary for successful adoption. Little explored in that literature is the factors impacting the level of adoption which will be achieved within the organization. This healthcare industry research demonstrates that higher levels of technology adoption in organizations require the influences of both internal absorptive capabilities and external institutional pressures impacting the organization. We surveyed U.S. healthcare employees to assess top management beliefs, top management participation, absorptive capacity, institutional pressures, and level of electronic medical records (EMR) adoption in clinics and hospitals. Our results indicate no direct influence of mimetic and coercive pressures on the level of EMR adoption. Normative and mimetic pressures indirectly influence EMR adoption level through top management participation. Absorptive capacity enhances top management beliefs and participation associated with EMR adoption process, resulting in higher levels of EMR adoption in U.S. hospitals.
An Approach of Text-Based and Image-Based Multi-modal Search for Online Shopping

Nowadays, more and more people prefer online shopping to physical store shopping for its convenience, cheapness and timesaving. Customers visit some commercial shopping websites, and select their favorite commodities by accessing links or retrieving by search box. However, in our real life, most online shopping websites provide a simple and single text retrieval method only, to some extent it’s difficult for customers to submit query and retrieve satisfactory results. In this paper, a multi-modal search approach combining text-based and image-based search techniques is presented. Besides text search, a two-stage image search approach is proposed, which utilizes basic features consisting of color and textural features to filter mismatching images in first stage, and further uses SIFT features for accurate search in second stage. Moreover, a prototype system has been developed for multi-modal search on online shopping websites. By submitting some words, phrases, images or their combination, customers can search out what they want. The experiments compared with traditional algorithms based on single visual feature validate that our approach and multi-modal search prototype system are effective, and the retrieval results can satisfy customers’ requirements well for online shopping.
Using Mathematica to Compose Music and Analyze Music with Information Theory

In this paper we present two case studies for the application of the technical computing software Mathematica in the domain of music creation and music research. The first section describes an experimental interface for the usage of random points, parametric curves and other mathematical objects in the role of three-dimensional musical scores. Similar to the technology of the old-fashioned player piano roles which encode any arbitrary piece for mechanical player piano in three basic dimensions (onset, pitch, duration) we provide an interface where a 3-dimensional score is created, visualized and played. With this software the scores can be created with the assistance of a rich arsenal of mathematical functions and also the sound of each single note can be controlled in terms of mathematical functions. The aim of this software is the creation of experimental musical pieces which explore the musical potential of certain mathematical functions. In this paper we restrict ourselves to sketch the interface. The more interesting aspects, namely the ‘musicality’ of concrete sonifications of certain mathematical objects, are subject to our live demonstrations in Berlin.
Neuromuscular determinants of slip-induced falls and recoveries in older adults

Do falls and recoveries possess distinct neuromuscular features? We identified differences in neuromuscular control between older adults who fell and those who recovered from a “feet-forward” slip....
Abstract # 3175 Mycobacterium vaccae immunization protects aged rats from surgery-elicited neuroinflammation and cognitive dysfunction

Advanced age is a major risk factor for developing postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD). Age-related neuroinflammatory “priming” may contribute to POCD: peripheral immune stimuli (e.g., infection or surgery) cause exaggerated pro-inflammatory responses in the aged brain that can elicit pathology. Exposure to micro-organisms with immunoregulatory and anti-inflammatory properties may be a promising strategy to quell neuroinflammatory priming. We hypothesized that immunization with Mycobacterium vaccae (M. vaccae; NCTC11659) would reduce neuroinflammation and cognitive impairments in aged rats post-surgery. Aged (24mos) and adult (3mos) male F344XBN rats received subcutaneous injections of heat-killed M. vaccae (3 injections, once per week) and then 5 days following the final M. vaccae injection rats underwent a laparotomy or sham (anesthesia control) procedure. Three days post-surgery, rats were trained in a fear conditioning paradigm or tissue was collected. Aged (but not young) rats showed post-operative memory deficits. Prophylactic treatment with M. vaccae protected aged rats from surgery induced-cognitive impairments. Furthermore, M. vaccae treatment shifted the aged pro-inflammatory hippocampal microenvironment (increased IL-1beta and NFKBIA) towards an anti-inflammatory phenotype (increased IL-4 and Arg1). Microglia may mediate the anti-inflammatory effects of M. vaccae in the brain: prior in vivo treatment with M. vaccae reduced hyperinflammatory responses to ex vivo lipopolysaccharide in microglia isolated from aged rats. Overall, our novel data suggest that M. vaccae can re-direct a primed neuroimmune environment in aged rats and prevent POCD.
Postoperative Care of the Patient With Pulmonary Hypertension

CASE: SH is a 46-year-old woman with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) (World Health Organization [WHO] Group 1), New York Heart Association functional class (NYHA FC) I, treated wi...
“Why Are All the White Students Sitting in the Back of Class?” A Critical Race Theory Approach to Race Dialogue in Ethnic Studies

Ethnic Studies classrooms in many respects are spaces wherein healing, solidarity, and social change occur, particularly surrounding discussions about race. The discussion around race is a language in itself—complete with levels of engagement. Students from privileged groups may not have many opportunities to explore the language of race and marginalization, thus being an “outsider” to the language of these experiences. This often times leads to miscommunication and missing meaningful engagement toward collective social action and change in classroom spaces. As a result, students have powerful emotional responses to these topics, and if students’ affective and intellectual responses are not acknowledged and respected, teachers can be met with what is perceived as impermeable resistance. Drawing from the framework of Critical Race Theory, this qualitative work presents tenets of race as a language that allows for understanding identity formation and entry point into conversations of race and ethnicity. Furthermore, consistent dialogue as a way of gaining proficiency and a space for marginalized identities to share their lived experiences as a way to build upon their proficiency. This research assists in expanding the work in the pedagogy of Ethnic Studies as a space to radically connect, heal, and implement social change.
Rhamnus prinoides (gesho): A source of diverse anti-biofilm activity.

Abstract Ethnopharmacological relevance Rhamnus prinoides (gesho) is an evergreen shrub from East Africa traditionally used for the treatment of illnesses including atopic dermatitis, ear, nose and throat infections, pneumonia, arthritis, brucellosis, flu, indigestion and fatigue. Aim of the study Several of the conditions for which gesho is traditionally used are associated with communities of surface-attached microorganisms, or biofilms. We hypothesized that gesho has anti-biofilm activity. The principal aim of this study was to evaluate gesho-associated anti-biofilm activity and identify active compounds. Materials and methods Lyophilized ethanol and aqueous extracts were prepared from dried Rhamnus prinoides stems and leaves. Biofilm inhibition was measured by crystal violet staining and subsequent viability assays were conducted on growth agar. Chemical fractionation, chemical testing, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) were used to isolate and identify active compounds. Results Leaf and stem ethanol extracts significantly inhibited Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis and Streptococcus mutans biofilm formation up to 99.9% and reduced planktonic cell growth up to 10 log units relative to untreated controls. The anti-biofilm activity of the ethanol stem extracts was due to a biocidal or bacteriostatic mechanism while bacteriostatic or anti-pathogenic mechanisms were attributed to the leaf ethanol extract. Gesho extracts showed activity against all three species tested but the treatment efficacy and mechanism were species dependent. Chemical fractionation and activity screens of the leaf ethanol extract identified ethyl 4-ethoxybenzoate and 4-hydroxy 4-methyl pentanone to be compounds with anti-biofilm activity. Ethyl 4-ethoxybenzoate activity was potentiated by DMSO. Notably, concentrations of both compounds were identified where biofilm formation was prevented without inhibition of cell growth; i.e. anti-pathogenic characteristics were evident. Conclusion Gesho leaf ethanol extract contains chemicals with anti-biofilm and bactericidal activities. This work lends support to the traditional use of gesho for treating topical infections and warrants further investigation into Rhamnus prinoides as a source of antibacterial and anti-biofilm agents.