cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Expatriate Coaching, Olympism and the Olympic Games

The practice of hiring foreign coaches to lead national teams has been on the rise and is especially visible at the Olympic Games. It has been criticised in both the receiving and the lending countries as a breach of patriotic duty. In a recent publication I defended expatriate coaching as a morally unobjectionable practice with many beneficial effects. In this article, I extend my defence of expatriate coaching into the realm of the Olympic Games. I argue that when articulated from the perspective of moderate patriotism this practice is not only compatible with Olympism, the philosophical vision that underpins the Olympic movement, but also that it enacts and advances the tenets of this vision. In the process, I provide a coherent explanation for the Olympic authorities' lack of an official stance on expatriate coaching and reflect on their disparate stand on the nationality of coaches and athletes.
Methods for Rapid and Effective PCR-Based Detection of ‘Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum’ from the Insect Vector Bactericera cockerelli: Streamlining the DNA Extraction/Purification Process

This study provides a protocol for rapid DNA isolation from psyllid vectors (Bactericera cockerelli and Diaphorina citri) that can be used directly with DNA-based methods for the detection of ‘Candidatus (Ca.) Liberibacter solanacearum,’ the bacterial causal agent of potato zebra chip disease and eventually for ‘Ca. Liberibacter asiaticus’ the causal agent of huanglongbing disease in citrus. The fast DNA extraction protocol was designed to work with conventional polymerase chain reaction (cPCR) DNA amplification as well as Loop mediated PCR DNA amplification. Direct cPCR of the psyllid 28S rDNA gene from samples prepared using the fast DNA extraction method was as reliable as from samples prepared using standard DNA purification (>97% from live insects) as tested in B. cockerelli. However, samples prepared using the fast DNA extraction method had to be diluted 1:100 in sterile water for reliable amplification, presumably to dilute PCR inhibitors in the crude extract. Similarly, both cPCR and loop mediated PCR DNA amplification detected ‘Ca. Liberibacter’ in psyllids infected with either the zebra chip or huanglongbing pathogen equally well from diluted samples prepared using the fast DNA extraction method or from samples prepared using a DNA purification step. In addition to being reliable, the time required to complete the fast DNA extraction for 10 samples was on average ≈5 min and required no special reagents or laboratory equipment. Thus, the fast DNA extraction method shows strong promise as a rapid, reliable, and expedient method when coupled with PCR-based analyses for detection of ‘Ca. Liberibacter’ pathogens in psyllids.
Temporal evolution of pattern disparity processing in humans

Stereo matching, i.e., the matching by the visual system of corresponding parts of the images seen by the two eyes, is inherently a 2D problem. To gain insights into how this operation is carried out by the visual system, we measured, in human subjects, the reflexive vergence eye movements elicited by the sudden presentation of stereo plaids. We found compelling evidence that the 2D pattern disparity is computed by combining disparities first extracted within orientation selective channels. This neural computation takes 10–15 ms, and is carried out even when subjects perceive not a single plaid but rather two gratings in different depth planes (transparency). However, we found that 1D disparities are not always effectively combined: When spatial frequency and contrast of the gratings are sufficiently different pattern disparity is not computed, a result that cannot be simply attributed to the transparency of such stimuli. Based on our results, we propose that a narrow-band implementation of the IOC (Intersection of Constraints) rule ([Fennema and Thompson, 1979][1]; [Adelson and Movshon, 1982][2]), preceded by cross-orientation suppression, underlies the extraction of pattern disparity. [1]: #ref-23 [2]: #ref-1
Starch/sucrose interactions by organic probe analysis: an inverse gas chromatography study.

The effect of freeze drying of high amylopectin starch was determined with samples of starch dispersed in water with or without solubilized sucrose. The X-ray diffraction data showed that this treatment disrupted crystalline structures of amylopectin and sucrose exposing additional sites for water sorption. This was shown also by sorption isotherms of the starch alone. The Hylon 7-sucrose freeze-dried samples produced a greater effect on sorption than did the corresponding Amioca freeze-dried mixtures. Organic probe analysis of the starch and starch-sucrose mixtures indicated that high amylose starches were more reactive with polar organic probes than high amylopectin starches when freeze-dried. Untreated high amylopectin starches were more reactive with probes in agreement with the water sorption data for a more branched polymer.
Local curvature analysis for classifying breast tumors: Preliminary analysis in dedicated breast CT

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to measure the effectiveness of local curvature measures as novel image features for classifying breast tumors. Methods: A total of 119 breast lesions from 104 noncontrast dedicated breast computed tomography images of women were used in this study. Volumetric segmentation was done using a seed-based segmentation algorithm and then a triangulated surface was extracted from the resulting segmentation. Total, mean, and Gaussian curvatures were then computed. Normalized curvatures were used as classification features. In addition, traditional image features were also extracted and a forward feature selection scheme was used to select the optimal feature set. Logistic regression was used as a classifier and leave-one-out cross-validation was utilized to evaluate the classification performances of the features. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC, area under curve) was used as a figure of merit. Results: Among curvature measures, the normalized total curvature (CT ) showed the best classification performance (AUC of 0.74), while the others showed no classification power individually. Five traditional image features (two shape, two margin, and one texture descriptors) were selected via the feature selection scheme and its resulting classifier achieved an AUC of 0.83. Among those five features, the radial gradient index (RGI), which is a margin descriptor, showed the best classification performance (AUC of 0.73). A classifier combining RGI and CT yielded an AUC of 0.81, which showed similar performance (i.e., no statistically significant difference) to the classifier with the above five traditional image features. Additional comparisons in AUC values between classifiers using different combinations of traditional image features and CT were conducted. The results showed that CT was able to replace the other four image features for the classification task. Conclusions: The normalized curvature measure contains useful information in classifying breast tumors. Using this, one can reduce the number of features in a classifier, which may result in more robust classifiers for different datasets.
Steady axisymmetric motion of deformable drops falling or rising through a homoviscous fluid in a tube at intermediate Reynolds number

The steady axisymmetric flow in and around a deformable drop moving under the action of gravity along the axis of a vertical tube at intermediate Reynolds number is studied by solving the nonlinear free-boundary problem using a Galerkin finite-element method. For the case where the drop and suspending liquid have the same viscosity, the ratio of the densities is 6/5 or 5/6, and the radius of the tube is equal to twice the radius of a sphere having the drop volume, four significant results are apparent in the computations. First, we compute drops showing much more deformation, and in particular the development of considerably more non-convexity, than those found in previous calculations for non-zero Reynolds number. The degree of non-convexity typically grows with the Reynolds number. Secondly, external recirculation zones can be attached to or disjoint from the drop. We find when there is a single external recirculation zone, that is disjoint (as found by Dandy & Leal), it can attach to the drop as the Reynolds number is increased. As the Reynolds number further increases, this is immediately followed by division of the drop into two adjacent recirculating regions. Thirdly, we sometimes find two recirculation zones in the suspending liquid. Finally, the drag coefficient, axis ratio, and normalized interfacial and frontal areas of the drop can vary non-monotonically with the Weber number, exhibiting as many as four local extrema. The results are compared to previous theoretical and experimental work, and implications for drop motion and heat and mass transfer are discussed.
Do Friends Perform Better?: A Meta-Analytic Review of Friendship and Group Task Performance

In the current paper, we develop and test a theoretical model aimed at understanding the relationship between friendship and group performance. Specifically, using data from 924 teams in 24 studies, we examined whether and how working with friends, versus non-friends, would influence group task performance. Results show that friendship has a positive effect on group task performance (d=0.45). Furthermore, this main effect was moderated by task interdependence (i.e., high versus low) and task focus/emphasis (i.e., maximizing versus optimizing). In addition to detailing which paths of the model were supported by the data, we also detail gaps in the literature and lay out future directions for research in this domain.
Aging Out of Care in Ethiopia: Challenges and Implications Facing Orphans and Vulnerable Youth

This interpretive study examines the experiences of 54 Ethiopian emerging adults who had aged out of institutional care facilities. Findings are derived from interviews and focus groups in which qu...
Susceptibility of cortisone-treated mice to infection with mouse hepatitis virus.

SummaryA small proportion of mice inoculated with cortisone alone died or developed ascites and/or liver lesions. Bacteria were isolated from some of the livers showing cortisone-induced lesions. Homogenates of such livers were not infective for normal suckling Swiss mice. Cortisone acetate reduced susceptibility of normally resistant weanling Swiss mice to infection with the Gledhill strain of mouse hepatitis virus. The effectiveness of cortisone in decreasing host resistance was enhanced as dosage of the steroid was increased. There was a decrease in this cortisone effect as the time interval between virus and cortisone administration was increased from 1 to 5 days.
Identification of human melanoma antigens recognized by T cells and their use for immuno-gene therapy

Human malanoma antigens and their epitopes recognized by T cells have been identified using a variety of methods. These antigens are classified as 1) melanocyte specific melanosomal proteins (MART-1, gp100, tyrosinase, TRP-1 and TRP-2), 2) proteins expressed in testis and a variety of cancers (MAGE-1, MAGE-3, BAGE and GAGE), 3) tumor specific mutated proteins (β-catenin, MUM-1 and CDK4), and 4) others (p15, GnT-V, PRAME). The HLA-A2 binding unmutated melanosomal epitopes were found to have a tendency to contain non-dominant anchor amino acids and have relatively low HLA-A2 binding affinity, suggesting that these epitopes are likely to be subdominant or cryptic self determinants. In addition, a variety of mechanisms for generating T cell epitopes on growing tumor cells have been discovered. Since a significant correlation between vitiligo development and tumor regression in the IL2 based immunotherapy was observed, autoreactive T cells specific for these self peptides may be involved in in vivo melanoma regression. Adoptive transfer of CTL recognizing these epitopes into patients resulted in tumor regression. Immunization with the MART-1, gp100 or tyrosinase peptides in conjunction with incomplete Freund adjuvant or GM-CSF also resulted in tumor regression in some patients. These observations suggest that these molecules may function as tumor rejection antigens.Melanoma reactive CTL were efficiently induced from PBL of patients by in vitro stimulation with PBMC pulsed with these epitopes and may be useful for the adoptive transfer protocol for treatment of melanoma patients. Therefore, these identified antigens may be useful for development of new immunotherapies for melanoma patients as well as for understanding the mechanisms of T cell recognition of autologous tumor cells.
Ultra-high vacuum scanning thermal microscopy for nanometer resolution quantitative thermometry

Understanding energy dissipation at the nanoscale requires the ability to probe temperature fields with nanometer resolution. Here, we describe an ultra-high vacuum (UHV)-based scanning thermal microscope (SThM) technique that is capable of quantitatively mapping temperature fields with ∼15 mK temperature resolution and ∼10 nm spatial resolution. In this technique, a custom fabricated atomic force microscope (AFM) cantilever, with a nanoscale Au–Cr thermocouple integrated into the tip of the probe, is used to measure temperature fields of surfaces. Operation in an UHV environment eliminates parasitic heat transport between the tip and the sample enabling quantitative measurement of temperature fields on metal and dielectric surfaces with nanoscale resolution. We demonstrate the capabilities of this technique by directly imaging thermal fields in the vicinity of a 200 nm wide, self-heated, Pt line. Our measurements are in excellent agreement with computational results—unambiguously demonstrating the quanti...
What Do Indigenous Knowledges Do for Indigenous Peoples

This essay is written to address conversations about the best ways to engage in knowledge exchange on important sustainability issues between Indigenous knowledges and fields of climate, environmental and sustainability sciences. In terms of sustainability, a crucial facet of the self-determination of peoples such as Indigenous nations and communities is the responsibility and the right to make plans for the future using planning processes that are inclusive, well-informed, culturally-relevant, and respectful of human interdependence with nonhumans and the environment. Indigenous knowledges often play a crucial role in Indigenous planning processes. In my work, I have found that scientists often appreciate what I will call here the supplemental-value of Indigenous knowledges — the value of Indigenous knowledges as inputs for adding (i.e. supplementing) data that scientific methods do not normally track. In the domain of supplemental-value, Indigenous people’s planning processes will improve, in turn, by having access to the supplemented and hence improved science. But it is also the case that Indigenous knowledges have governance-value. That is, they serve as irreplaceable sources of guidance for Indigenous resurgence and nation-building. Scientists should appreciate governance-value because it suggests that for some Indigenous peoples in knowledge exchange situations, we need to be assured that the flourishing of our knowledges is respected and protected. I hope to make the case for why it is important for scientists who work with Indigenous peoples to understand governance value in the hopes that this understanding will improve their approaches to knowledge exchange with Indigenous peoples.
Early recognition is the key to success: pulseless electrical activity (PEA) as a manifestation of heparin-induced anaphylactoid reaction.

A 64-year-old man underwent mitral valve replacement. He was hospitalised 9 days later because of slurring of speech and left-sided facial weakness. During hospitalisation, unfractionated heparin (UFH) bolus and drip were initiated due to subtherapeutic international normalised ratio. Within 5 min of UFH bolus, the patient began to experience symptoms of dyspnoea, followed by pulseless electrical activity arrest. He was successfully resuscitated. A decline in platelet count >50% was noted immediately after UFH bolus and cardiac arrest. A diagnosis of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia and anaphylactoid reaction was considered (4Ts score of 7). Heparin was discontinued and argatroban was started. A platelet factor 4 (PF4) assay was strongly positive. Platelet counts subsequently improved following discontinuation of heparin.
Reduction Technique by Hands Treatment on Minitype Omphalocele in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Objective To simplify the therapy of minitype omphalocele.Methods Prospective data were collected of 16 cases with omphalocele from Jan.2004 to Jul.2008 in Women and Children 's Hospital of Guangdong Province.Seven cases reduced hernia content by hands(reduction group)in neonatal intensive care unit(NICU),under analgesia with sedation,and 9 cases operated conventional surgery(surgery group),included 2 cases of reduction failure.SPSS 16.0 software was used to analyze the data.Results In reduction group,the time of first stool was(0.29±0.49)days,the time of first feeding was(1.71±0.49)days,the time of full enteral feeding was(3.00±0.00)days,the time of hospital stay was(10.29±2.69)days and medical costs was(7 368.70±2 258.65)yuan.In surgery group,the time of first stool was(1.56±0.73)days,the time of first feeding was(6.00±2.96)days,the time of full enteral feeding was(10.11±3.48)days,the time of hospital stay was(15.00±2.24)days and medical costs was(12 125.00±3 173.11)yuan.Comparing the 2 groups,there were significant differences in the time of first stool(P=0.001),the time of first feeding(P=0.002),the time of full enteral feeding(P=0.000),the time of hospital stay(P=0.002)and the cost of hospitalization(P=0.005).Conclusion Reduction technique by hands in NICU is a simple and effective method for children with minitype omphalocele.
Epidemiology of hepatitis B--clinical implications.

Hepatitis B continues to be a global public health problem despite large-scale efforts to eliminate this chronic viral disease via education, screening, and vaccination programs. It is currently estimated that 400 million people worldwide have chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.[1] Patients with chronic hepatitis B have a 15% to 40% risk of developing cirrhosis, liver failure, or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)[2] and a 15% to 25% risk of dying from HBV-related liver disease.[3] Chronic HBV infection is responsible for 60% to 80% of HCC and 500,000 to 1.2 million deaths every year, and is the 10th leading cause of death worldwide.[4] Readers are encouraged to respond to George Lundberg, MD, Editor of MedGenMed, for the editor's eye only or for possible publication via email: ten.epacsdem@grebdnulg
Geometrical scaling of jet fragmentation photons

Abstract We discuss jet fragmentation photons in ultrarelativistic heavy-ion collisions. We argue that, if the jet distribution satisfies geometrical scaling and an anisotropic spectrum, these properties are transferred to photons during the jet fragmentation.
Langevin Simulation of Turbulent Combustion

A review is presented of modern developments in Langevin simulation of turbulent reacting flows. The filtered density function (FDF) methodology is the subject of main focus as it has proven very effective for stochastic simulations in turbulent combustion. The most recent contributions in mathematical modeling of FDF, its numerical solution, and its optimization for large scale simulations are reviewed.
Message, method and messenger – a literature survey and typology for planning strategic advocacy

This review of the literature on the evolution of strategic communications in international development provides a framework for assessing advocacy strategies and tools and reviews the current challenges to influencing local sanitation budgets and expenditures through the use of such tools. Effective advocacy is often necessary to achieving changes in budgetary allocations, and shaping how programs or policies are implemented. However, nongovernmental and community-based organizations rarely tailor their communication to overcome specific implementation barriers, or rigorously evaluate the effectiveness of their messages and strategies. This review first provides a brief overview of how communication goals and methods have evolved and been utilized to change local policymaking, programming and budgetary allocations in developing countries, focusing on water, sanitation, and hygiene. Based on this review, it provides an effective and useful typology of advocacy based on the barriers to policy change. The typology may be used to diagnose the need for and potential of an advocacy and communications strategy. Finally, the review summarizes the current literature on public input into and review of the budgetary process in, the literature on influencing revenue generation, and the opportunities for advocacy and lobbying in both respects in selected sub-Saharan African countries.
Encryption-based privacy protection for police body-worn cameras

Police body cameras are increasingly being used in many places. While body cameras do promote accountability, there are concerns over the loss of privacy as a result of these cameras. Police departments have tried to balance these two concerns by training officers on what incidents to record, and what not to record. However, the existing approach is error prone. This paper describes an encryption-based approach that protects privacy, while still ensuring relevant videos are always captured. Our preliminary investigations suggest that our approach is feasible on existing mobile hardware.
Variations in Preoperative Use of Bone Scan Among Medicare Beneficiaries Undergoing Radical Cystectomy.

Objective To examine factors associated with bone scan use in patients undergoing radical cystectomy and to assess trends in use over time. Materials and Methods Using Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare data, we identified 5573 patients who underwent radical cystectomy from 2004 to 2011. The primary outcome was completion of a bone scan within 6 months prior to surgery. Demographic, regional, and clinicopathologic predictors of bone scan use were examined using a mixed logit model with health service area as a random effect. Results Among radical cystectomy patients, 1754 (31%) completed a preoperative bone scan. Urologists ordered most of these studies (69%). The adjusted probability of a patient undergoing a bone scan decreased from 0.40 in 2004 to 0.29 in 2011 (P = .01). Compared with patients in the northeast region, those in the south, central, and west regions were less likely to have a bone scan (P Conclusion Despite a recent decline, bone scans are used frequently in the preoperative staging of bladder cancer. Although some clinical factors are associated with bone scan use, significant regional and provider variation suggest areas to improve standardization of practice.
Outpatient Office Wait Times And Quality Of Care For Medicaid Patients

The time patients spend in a doctor’s waiting room prior to a scheduled appointment is an important component of the quality of the overall health care experience. We analyzed data on twenty-one million outpatient visits obtained from electronic health record systems, which allowed us to measure time spent in the waiting room beyond the scheduled appointment time. Median wait time was a little more than four minutes. Almost one-fifth of visits had waits longer than twenty minutes, and 10 percent were more than thirty minutes. Waits were shorter for early-morning appointments, for younger patients, and at larger practices. Median wait time was 4.1 minutes for privately insured patients and 4.6 minutes for Medicaid patients. After adjustment for patient and appointment characteristics, Medicaid patients were 20 percent more likely than the privately insured patients to wait longer than twenty minutes, with most of this disparity explained by differences in practices and providers they saw. Wait times for Me...
A recursive doubling algorithm for solution of tridiagonal systems on hypercube multiprocessors

Abstract: The recursive doubling algorithm as developed by Stone can be used to solve a tridiagonal linear system of size n on a parallel computer with n processors using O(log n ) parallel arithmetic steps. In this paper, we give a limited processor version of the recursive doubling algorithm for the solution of tridiagonal linear systems using O( n / p + log p ) parallel arithmetic steps on a parallel computer with p processors. The main technique relies on fast parallel prefix algorithms, which can be efficiently mapped on the hypercube architecture using the binary-reflected Gray code. For p ≪ n this algorithm achieves linear speedup and constant efficiency over its sequential implementation as well as over the sequential LU decomposition algorithm. These results are confirmed by numerical experiments obtained on an Intel iPSC/d5 hypercube multiprocessor.
Influence of osmotic drying with an aqueous poly(ethylene glycol) liquid desiccant on alumina objects gelcast with gelatin

Abstract Gelcasting and liquid desiccant drying are novel forming and drying methods used to mitigate common issues associated with the fabrication of complex advanced ceramic objects. In this study, the molecular weight and osmotic pressure of aqueous poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) desiccant solutions were simultaneously varied to understand their influence on the net mass loss rates of gelcast alumina samples prepared using gelatin as a gelling agent. Additionally, the amount of PEG diffusion and water diffusion to and from the ceramic samples after 150 min of immersion in the liquid desiccant was correlated to the solution properties as was the final bulk density of the sintered samples. Solutions with high molecular weight and low osmotic pressure resulted in low PEG gain and low water loss, while solutions with low molecular weight and high osmotic pressure resulted in high PEG gain and high water loss. In some cases, more than 40 wt% of the total water per sample was removed through the liquid desiccant drying process.
Chronic actinic dermatitis: successful treatment with psoralen-ultraviolet A photochemotherapy.

Chronic actinic dermatitis (CAD) is a debilitating photodermatosis. First line therapy consists of strict photoprotection and topical corticosteroids. Second line therapy uses systemic immunosuppression. However an alternative is needed for patients with severe CAD who cannot use systemic immunosuppressants.1,2 Case reports and small case series suggest that PUVA may be effective.3-6 This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.+
Effect of draining and rinsing on the sodium and water soluble vitamin content of canned vegetables

Public health advocates are urging people to reduce their sodium intake. While many manufacturers are reducing the sodium content of their products, consumers can also reduce the sodium content. Th...
Phenotypic Clusters Predict Outcomes in a Longitudinal Interstitial Lung Disease Cohort

Background The current interstitial lung disease (ILD) classification has overlapping clinical presentations and outcomes. Cluster analysis modeling is a valuable tool in identifying distinct clinical phenotypes in heterogeneous diseases. However, this approach has yet to be implemented in ILD. Methods Using cluster analysis, novel ILD phenotypes were identified among subjects from a longitudinal ILD cohort, and outcomes were stratified according to phenotypic clusters compared with subgroups according to current American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society ILD classification criteria. Results Among subjects with complete data for baseline variables (N = 770), four clusters were identified. Cluster 1 (ie, younger white obese female subjects) had the highest baseline FVC and diffusion capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (Dlco). Cluster 2 (ie, younger African-American female subjects with elevated antinuclear antibody titers) had the lowest baseline FVC. Cluster 3 (ie, elderly white male smokers with coexistent emphysema) had intermediate FVC and Dlco. Cluster 4 (ie, elderly white male smokers with severe honeycombing) had the lowest baseline Dlco. Compared with classification according to ILD subgroup, stratification according to phenotypic clusters was associated with significant differences in monthly FVC decline (Cluster 4, –0.30% vs Cluster 2, 0.01%; P P P Conclusions Among adults with diverse chronic ILDs, cluster analysis using baseline characteristics identified four distinct clinical phenotypes that might better predict meaningful clinical outcomes than current ILD diagnostic criteria.
Class attendance and academic performance: A subgroup analysis

Abstract My paper contributes in two ways to the existing literature that examines the impact of attendance on exam performance. First, I analyze new, longitudinal data on students from a large public university in the US. Second, I investigate whether the average attendance effect varies by a student’s race, gender and level of preparedness for the course. My results suggest that attending class has a positive and significant effect on exam performance. This effect is robust across specifications. Additionally, I find that the average attendance effect is not uniform across subgroups of students. Males, Non-whites, students who have completed the prerequisite class at another institution, received a lower grade in the prerequisite, taken the prerequisite a while back, or have a lower overall GPA to begin with enjoy higher returns from attending class. The results suggest a role for policies that encourage attendance, preferably through active learning techniques.
Evaluation of anammox biocathode in microbial desalination and wastewater treatment

Abstract This study presents the use of an autotrophic microorganism, Anammox bacteria, as a sustainable biocatalyst/biocathode in microbial desalination cells (MDCs) for energy-positive wastewater treatment. We report the first proof of concept study to prove that anammox mechanism can be beneficial in MDCs to provide simultaneous removal of carbon and nitrogen compounds from wastewater while producing bioelectricity. A series of experiments were conducted to enrich and evaluate the anammox mechanism and the process performance in continuous, fed-batch mode conditions. Coulombic efficiency of MDCs and nitrite and ammonium removal of wastewater increased in successive batch studies. A maximum power density of 0.092 Wm−3 (or a maximum current density of 0.814 A m−3) with more than 90% of ammonium removal was achieved in this system. We calculated the Nernst potential for the nitrite reduction in the anammox biocathode chamber and compared with experimental values. Sequential removal of carbon and nitrogen compounds in anode and cathode chambers respectively, was also evaluated. Further, the inhibition effect of high nitrogen concentrations and the variations in microbial community profiles, especially, anammox presence was studied at different carbon and ammonia concentrations. Experimental studies and microbial community analysis are presented in detail.
Development and Psychometric Evaluation of the Cat Care and Needs Scale (CCANS)

The objective of this study was to develop a brief scale, primarily intended for research applications, that measures how well people report meeting the welfare needs of their pet cats. The practice of keeping cats as a companion animal has increased, and despite their popularity, many cats...
Peripartum Cardiomyopathy: The Value of Endomyocardial Biopsy in Diagnosis, Prognostication, and Therapy

Abstract We describe the case of a 21-year-old black female who was readmitted postpartum because of increasing exertional dyspnea, orthopnea, pleuritic chest pain, and pedal edema. The patient underwent a successful course of clinical treatment for peripartum cardiomyopathy consisting of a regimen of digoxin, diuretics, captopril, and heparin. The results of an endomyocardial biopsy done at readmission were normal: there was no evidence of inflammation, necrosis, or fibrosis; the endocardium, intramural arterioles, mitochondria, and ultrastructure were normal, as was the amount of glycogen; nuclear chromatin were evenly dispersed; and no antibodies were found. Previous studies have shown that approximately half of patients who suffer from peripartum cardiomyopathy recover, while half develop a more severe form of dilated cardiomyopathy. We venture to speculate that normal endomyocardial biopsy findings during the acute stage of the disease may be predictive of recovery. With more certainty, we propose that histologic findings from material taken during an acute episode can and should guide the course of therapy. (Texas Heart Institute Journal 1988;15:55-58)
Apraxia: Upper Limb

Limb apraxia, the inability to correctly perform skilled purposeful movements, has several forms. Patients with these disorders can lose dexterity, fail to move the limb in the correct spatial pattern, being unable to correctly sequence acts, and do not know the mechanical advantages that tools afford.
Limits and Continuous Functions

Determine in each case whether the given sequence has a limit, and if it does, prove that your stated value is a limit.
Bm-iAANAT3: Expression and characterization of a novel arylalkylamine N-acyltransferase from Bombyx mori.

Abstract The arylalkylamine N-acyltransferases (AANATs) are enzymes that catalyze the acyl-CoA-dependent formation of N-acylarylalkylamides: acyl-CoA + arylalkylamine → N-acylarylalkylamides + CoA-SH. Herein, we describe our study of a previously uncharacterized AANAT from Bombyx mori: Bm-iAANAT3. Bm-iAANAT3 catalyzes the direct formation of N-acylarylalkylamides and accepts a broad range of short-chain acyl-CoA thioesters and amines as substrates. Acyl-CoA thioesters possessing an acyl chain length >10 carbon atoms are not substrates for Bm-iAANAT3. We report that Bm-iAANAT3 is a “versatile generalist”, most likely, functioning in amine acetylation – a reaction in amine inactivation/excretion, cuticle sclerotization, and melanism. We propose a kinetic and chemical mechanism for Bm-iAANAT3 that is consistent with our steady-state kinetic analysis, dead-end inhibition studies, determination of the pH-rate profiles, and site-directed mutagenesis of a catalytically important amino acid in Bm-iAANAT3. These mechanistic studies of Bm-iAANAT3 will foster the development of novel compounds targeted against this enzyme and other insect AANATs for the control of insect pests.
The darkening nation: race, neoliberalism and crisis in Argentina

Recent studies on race in Argentina have identified this nation’s 2001 economic crisis as an important turning point in its national and racial discourses. If Argentines had long boasted that they ...
Digital Knowledge Mapping as an Instructional Strategy to Enhance Knowledge Convergence: A Case Study

This chapter discusses the effectiveness of digital knowledge mapping as an instructional strategy in an online graduate-level course at a North American university. Digital concept mapping tools would help students in constructivist online learning settings to collect ideas and generate and organize knowledge. The creation of digital knowledge maps enhances the cognitive processes, management, structuring, and restructuring of knowledge. Concept maps have proven to be a valuable cognitive tool in a variety of learning and instructional settings. An online course was designed using a knowledge-building Community of Practice (CoP) learning environment. A community is defined as a group of individuals who share experiences, learn together, and engage in regular interaction though discussion and knowledge sharing activities relevant to their domain. An online CoP may foster a high level of student interaction through group discussions and collaborative activities (Draper, The instructional effects of knowledge based communities of practice learning environments on student achievement and knowledge convergence. Ph.D. dissertation, Pennsylvania State University, 2010). In a moderated online instructional setting, graduate students collaborated and shared information to construct digital knowledge maps of instructional technology theories and concepts, which represent a shared meaning of complex theoretical concepts and content. This newly shared meaning represented knowledge convergence. This chapter begins by describing knowledge management, digital knowledge maps, communities of practice, and facilitator best practices, and then provides a document review and content analysis approach to evaluate the artifacts to determine common themes. Finally, suggestions and future research are provided.
Twenty-Five Years and Still Recovering: A Brief Reflection on NAFTA’s Impact on Southside, Virginia

The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) has had a detrimental effect on Southside, Virginia. Southside, Virginia, particularly Martinsville, VA and Henry County, VA served as a hub for the furniture and textile industries, such as Bassett Furniture and Bassett-Walker Apparel, in the United States. After NAFTA’s implementation, these companies eliminated jobs and moved manufacturing overseas to China or across the border to Mexico where they could exploit low wage workers. Neglecting the social responsibility that these corporations had to the workers that had built their companies and made their products world renown, manufacturers closed their doors leaving workers without any other job prospects. Since NAFTA began its assault on Southside, Virginia, areas such as Martinsville, have suffered from mass unemployment and brain drain. A shimmer of hope was found by some workers that took advantage of NAFTA-Trade Adjustment Assistance under the 1974 Trade Act. These individuals attempted to go back to school and obtain new job skills but then found that jobs were still not available to them despite their newly acquired job skills and education. Others had no other option but to leave their homes and uproot their families in search of new job opportunities. Even though Martinsville and surrounding areas are beginning to “recover” from the losses inflicted by NAFTA, the area still continues to feel its effects and may feel those effects once again with the enactment of the recently signed United State-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).
Behavior of Breached Pressurized Water Reactor Spent-Fuel Rods in an Air Atmosphere between 250 and 360°C

Oxidation tests on spent-fuel fragments and rod segments were conducted between 250 and 360/sup 0/C to relate temperature and defect size to fuel oxidation rate and time-to-cladding-splitting. Defect sizes from an equivalent circular diameter of 8 ..mu..m (the approximate size of a stress-corrosion-cracking-type breach) to 760 ..mu..m were used. Samples, held at temperature in a flowing air atmosphere, were frequently weighed and visually observed to determine the oxidation rate and effects of oxidation. Both the size and shape of the defect appear to influence the time-to-cladding-splitting. Above 283/sup 0/C, time-to-cladding-splitting was longer for the sharp small defect than for the large circular defect, an effect that diminished as the temperature decreased. By 250/sup 0/C the sharp small defects split open before the large circular defects, indicating that, at lower temperatures, the defect's shape and not its size may be more important when determining time-to-cladding-splitting. At both 283 and 295/sup 0/C, the defects in fuel rod segments with lower burnups propagated sooner than those in rod segments with higher burnup from the same parent rod. The cumulative damage fraction approach, using a reasonable decreasing time/temperature profile, was applied to determine time-to-cladding-splitting for pressurized water reactor (PWR) fuel with a burn upmore » >640 MWh/kg of uranium. Breached PWR fuel rod will not split open from fuel oxidation during 100 yr of storage if the rod is not exposed to air until the temperature drops below 230/sup 0/C. Lower burnup fuel apparently requires lower temperature limits. The temperature limits appear to depend more on the time/temperature profile in the storage container than on oxidation rates.« less
La villa de César Aira y la imaginación melodramática latinoamericana

Este articulo se ocupa del papel del melodrama en la novela La villa (2001) de Cesar Aira. Segun Jesus Martin-Barbero, el melodrama ha sido una forma de expresion politica y cultural para las clase...
Injury Burden in the United States: Accurate, Reliable, and Timely Surveillance Using Electronic Health Care Data

Current injury surveillance systems in the United States, including the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS), are unable to draw reliable subnational and subannual incidence estim...
The Differential Effects of College Experiences on Cognitive Outcomes Among First-Generation Subpopulations

Study purpose was to evaluate how select college experiences affect cognitive outcomes among racial/ethnic populations of first-generation students. A nationwide dataset consisting of the 2006 The Freshman Survey (TFS) and the 2010 College Senior Survey (CSS) was utilized to address the research question. Findings from this study suggest that select college experiences positively affect cognitive outcomes, but the magnitudes of these effects vary for racial/ethnic subpopulations.
Neonatal Compartment Syndrome and Compound Presentation at Birth

Neonatal compartment syndrome is a rare condition. Early diagnosis and timely surgical intervention are paramount to optimize outcome. Time to fasciotomy is the most important prognostic factor. The purposes of this study were to describe a case presentation of neonatal compartment syndrome associated with a compound birth presentation and to perform a literature review. In this case, the neonate’s fingers were noted to be present on maternal cervical examination 24 hours before delivery. The patient then was noted to have a sentinel skin lesion. A diagnosis of neonatal compartment syndrome was suspected, and she underwent urgent fasciotomy. Literature review identified a total of 60 patients from 26 studies. Most patients were managed operatively. All patients presented with a sentinel skin lesion, emphasizing the importance of this clinical sign in diagnosis. Manometry is not routinely performed and no standards are available for acceptable pressure gradients.
Assessment of Radiation Therapy Technologists' Workload and Situation Awareness: Monitoring 2 Versus 3 Collocated Display Monitors.

Abstract Purpose This study aimed to assess the effect of monitoring 2 versus 3 collocated displays on radiation therapist technologists’ (RTTs) workload (WL) and situation awareness (SA) during routine treatment delivery tasks. Methods and Materials Seven RTTs completed 4 simulated treatment delivery scenarios (2 scenarios per experimental condition; 2 vs 3 collocated displays) in a within-subject experiment. WL was subjectively measured using the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Task Load Index, and objectively measured using eye activity measures. SA was subjectively measured using the SA rating technique, and objectively measured using the SA global assessment technique. Two-tailed paired t tests were conducted to test for differences in means when parametric assumptions were satisfied, otherwise Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were conducted. A .05 level of significance was applied to all statistical tests. Results No statistically and clinically significant differences were observed between monitoring 2 versus 3 monitors on eye tracking measures (blink rate: 9.4 [4.8] vs 9.6 [4.0]; task evoked pupillary response: 0.16 [0.14] vs 0.21 [0.15]; NASA Task Load Index: 34.7 [19.8] vs 35.3 [20.4]; SA rating technique: 19.3 [6.2] vs 19.5 [7.0]; and SA global assessment technique scores: 100 [0] vs 100 [0]). Conclusions Our preliminary findings suggest that monitoring 3 collocated displays by 1 RTT does not impact WL and SA compared with monitoring 2 collocated displays. Only 2 of many possible configurations were investigated. If institutions removed the 3rd display based on the results of this study, there could be unforeseen error(s) if that display helped in situations not assessed in this study.
'Wreaking Extraordinary Destruction': Defendant's Irreplaceability as Presumptively Reasonable Grounds for Downward Departure in Sentencing Note

Despite the media attention afforded to the recent family separation crisis at the southern border of the United States, there is a much more prevalent and common form of family separation: parental incarceration. The United States is the largest incarcerator worldwide, and the surge in the incarceration of women has meant a dramatic increase in the incarceration of parents who are primary caregivers. United States federal sentencing law allows for consideration of family support and caregiving, but such consideration is limited in scope and usage. In the U.S. Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which are not binding but are advisory for federal judges, Section 5H1.6 states that a defendant’s “family ties and responsibilities are not ordinarily relevant” to a downward departure analysis. The current federal sentencing structure in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) allows for some consideration of a defendant’s history and characteristics, but judges often employ an analysis similar to the “not ordinarily relevant” inquiry. Unclear parameters for evaluating a defendant’s role as a family supporter and caregiver under these statutes, and inconsistent applications of the “not ordinarily relevant” test, have resulted in disparate outcomes across the country. While numerous solutions have been offered to create better policies, more uniform application, and less unnecessary incarceration of parents, many require too much work for implementation on a mass scale. This Note advocates for a pattern already employed by several federal courts, in which a defendant’s irreplaceability as a caretaker or provider is the primary factor in a family ties and responsibilities downward departure analysis. By solidifying a presumption that a defendant’s status as an irreplaceable caretaker of dependent(s) is reasonable grounds for downward departure, courts can continue following a path of precedent that works to ensure parents will not be unnecessarily incarcerated, and their children and dependents will not be needlessly separated from their loved ones.
Tandem In 2 O 3 -Pt/Al 2 O 3 catalyst for coupling of propane dehydrogenation to selective H 2 combustion

Tandem catalysis couples multiple reactions and promises to improve chemical processing, but precise spatiotemporal control over reactive intermediates remains elusive. We used atomic layer deposition to grow In2O3 over Pt/Al2O3, and this nanostructure kinetically couples the domains through surface hydrogen atom transfer, resulting in propane dehydrogenation (PDH) to propylene by platinum, then selective hydrogen combustion by In2O3, without excessive hydrocarbon combustion. Other nanostructures, including platinum on In2O3 or platinum mixed with In2O3, favor propane combustion because they cannot organize the reactions sequentially. The net effect is rapid and stable oxidative dehydrogenation of propane at high per-pass yields exceeding the PDH equilibrium. Tandem catalysis using this nanoscale overcoating geometry is validated as an opportunity for highly selective catalytic performance in a grand challenge reaction.