cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reducing eating disorder risk factors: A controlled investigation of a blended task-shifting/train-the-trainer approach to dissemination and implementation

Recent advances in psychological intervention research have led to an increase in evidence-based interventions (EBIs), yet there remains a lag in dissemination and implementation of EBIs. Task-shifting and the train-the-trainer (TTT) model offer two potential strategies for enhancing reach of EBIs. The Body Project, an EBI found to prevent onset of eating disorders, served as the vehicle for this dissemination/implementation study. The primary aim of this study was to determine if training of peer-leaders for the Body Project could be task-shifted to undergraduate students using a hybrid task-shifting/TTT model. Our secondary aim was to determine if subgroups of participants evidenced different trajectories of change through 14-month follow-up. Regarding the first aim, we found almost no evidence to suggest that a presence of a doctoral-level trainer yielded superior participant outcomes compared to training by undergraduates alone. Regarding Aim 2, almost all classes for all variables evidenced improvement or a benign response. Additionally, for three key risk factors (thin-ideal internalization, body dissatisfaction, and ED symptoms) virtually all trajectories showed improvement. This study provides initial support for the use of a blended task-shifting/TTT approach to dissemination and implementation within prevention generally, and further support for broad dissemination of the Body Project specifically.
Partition equilibrium of inhalation anesthetics and alcohols between water and membranes of phospholipids with varying acyl chain-lengths

From the depression of the phase-transition temperature of phospholipid membranes, the partition coefficients of inhalation anesthetics (methoxyflurane, halothane, enflurane, chloroform and diethyl ether) and alcohols (benzyl alcohol and homologous n-alcohols up to C = 7) between phospholipid vesicle membranes and water were determined. The phospholipids used were dimyristoyl-, dipalmitoyl- and distearoylphosphatidylcholines. It was found that the difference in the acyl chain length of the three phospholipids did not affect the partition coefficients of the inhalation anesthetics and benzyl alcohol. The actions of these drugs are apparently directed mainly to the interfacial region. In contrast, n-alcohols tend to bind more tightly to the phospholipid vesicles with longer acyl chains. The absolute values of the transfer free energies of n-alcohols increased with the increase of the length of the alkyl chain of the alcohols. The increment was 3.43 kJ per each carbon atom. The numerical values of the partition coefficients are not identical when different expressions for solute concentrations (mole fraction, molality and molarity) are employed. The conversion factors among these values were estimated from the molecular weights and the partial molal volumes of the phospholipids in aqueous solution determined by oscillation densimetry.
Spatial prefetching for out-of-core visualization of multidimensional data

In this paper we propose a technique called storage-aware spatial prefetching that can provide significant performance improvements for out-of-core visualization. This approach is motivated by file chunking in which a multidimensional data file is reorganized into multidimensional sub-blocks that are stored linearly in the file. This increases the likelihood that data close in the n-dimensional volume represented by the file will be closer together in the physical file. Chunking has been demonstrated to improve the typical access to such data, but it requires a complete re-organization of the file and sometimes efficient access is only achieved if multiple different chunking organizations are maintained simultaneously. Our approach can be thought of as on-the-fly chunking, but it does not require physical re-organization of the data or multiple copies with different formats. We also describe an implementation of our technique and provide some performance results that are very promising.
Simultaneous nitrification and denitrification with electricity generation in dual-cathode microbial fuel cells.

BACKGROUND: Nitrogen removal using microbial fuel cells (MFCs) is of great interest owing to the potential benefits of bioenergy production. In this study, simultaneous nitrification and denitrification in dual-cathode MFCs was investigated. RESULTS: The dual-cathode MFCs investigated were capable of generating electricity and removing nitrogen, influenced by operating methods, nitrogen loading rates and external resistance. Depending on the ammonium concentration in the anode chamber, 84–97% of the ammonium nitrogen was removed via nitrification in the aerobic cathode. The removals of nitrate and total nitrogen were relatively low (∼50%) at the influent ammonium concentration of 80 mg NH4+-N L−1, but were significantly improved to more than 90% at a lower ammonium input (40 and 20 mg NH4+-N L−1). When the electrode couples were electrically connected for different purposes, with high power output from the anode/aerobic cathode and high current generation from the anode/anoxic cathode, nitrogen removal was also improved. An investigation of aeration suggested that factors other than carbon supply, possibly inefficient reactor configuration, also limited the performance of the developed MFC. CONCLUSION: The experimental results demonstrated that the proposed pathway was feasible with effective nitrogen and organic removal. This study provided valuable information for the further development of a continuously operated dual-cathode MFC system. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry
LAUNCH VEHICLE BUFFETING WITH AEROELASTIC COUPLING EFFECTS

Abstract Launch vehicle structural responses can couple with transonic flow state transitions at the nose of payload fairings. This self-sustained coupling yields a nonlinear equation of motion that can be analyzed using the force–response relationship and the periodicity condition. The traditional analysis approach for this phenomenon, however, linearizes the equation of motion by converting the alternating flow forces into an aerodynamic damping term and defines a stability criterion as the response amplitude that yields zero net system damping. This work clarifies the relationship between the present and traditional methods, and compares results and conclusions. The feasibility of modifying a launch vehicle response analysis of buffeting (random pressure fluctuations caused by turbulent flow) to include aeroelastic coupling effects is also explored. The aerodynamic stiffness and damping terms formulated herein are consistent with trends observed in wind-tunnel test data. It is shown, however, that the modified buffet analysis can be inaccurate, particularly when the aeroelastic coupling contribution does not dominate the system response.
Mechanized guniting of the lining of steelcasting ladles

A method has been developed and equipment constructed for guniting steelcasting ladles without any manual labor. Experiments and tests were carried out with compositions based on quartzite, Chasov-Yar semiloamy sand, and fine-ground chamotte. The industrial-scale guniting tests showed that the durability of the lining of 130-ton steelcasting ladles increases by 30% (4.7 melts) on average with one guniting per ladle campaign.
An evolutionary algorithm for optimization of affine transformation parameters for dose matrix warping in patient-specific quality assurance of radiotherapy dose distributions

Patient-specific quality assurance for sophisticated treatment delivery modalities in radiation oncology, such as intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), necessitates the measurement of the delivered dose distribution, and the subsequent comparison of the measured dose distribution with that calculated by the treatment planning software. The degree to which the calculated dose distribution is reproduced upon delivery is an indication that the treatment received by the patient is acceptable. A new method for the comparison between the planned and delivered dose distributions is introduced; it assesses the agreement between planar two-dimensional dose distributions. The method uses an evolutionary algorithm to optimize the parameters of the affine transformation, consisting of translation, rotation, and dilation (or erosion), that will warp the measured dose distribution to the planned dose distribution. The deviation of the composite transformation matrix from the identity matrix is an indication of an average geometrical error in the delivered dose distribution, and represents a systematic error in dose delivery. The residual errors in radiation dose at specific points are local errors in dose delivery. The method was applied to IMRT fields consisting of horizontal intensity bands. Analysis shows the method to be a promising tool for patient-specific quality assurance.
Heat transfer and gas holdup studies in a bubble column: Air‐water‐sand system

Air-holdup and heat transfer coefficient data are reported for the air-water and air-water-sand system as a function of air velocity in the temperature range 297-343 K as measured in a 0.305 m diameter bubble column operating in semi-batch mode and equipped with either a five- or seven-tube bundle. A 65 μm average size sand powder is used at concentrations of 5 and 10 mass percent in the slurry. Available correlations of gas holdup and heat transfer coefficients are examined on the basis of these data. These are found inappropriate and inadequate for representing these experimental data. Gas holdup data are well represented by an approach based on Nicklin's (1962) work, and heat transfer data are adequately represented by a simple semi-empirical expression. Accurate experimental data on additional systems are needed to develop a reliable heat transfer theory particularly for process representation at temperatures higher than ambient. On presente des donnees sur la retention d'air et le coefficient de transfert de chaleur pour les systemes air-eau et air-eau-sable en fonction de la vitesse de l'air a des temperatures comprises entre 297 et 343 K telles qu'elles ont ete mesurees dans une colonne de 0,305 m de diametre fonctionnant en mode semi-discontinu et munie d'un faisceau de cinq ou sept tuyaux. Du sable tres fin d'un diametre moyen de 65 μm a ete utilise a des concentrations de 5 et 10 pour cent en masse dans la suspension. Des correlations existantes sur la retention du gaz et le coefficient de transfert de chaleur ont ete examinees a partir de ces donnees. On a trouve qu'elles etaient inappropriees et inadequates pour representeer les donnees experimentales. Il est possible de bien representer les donnees de retention de gaz en utilisant une methode s'appuyant sur le travail de Nicklin (1962); les donnees sur le transfert de chaleur sont quant a elles bien representees par une expression semi-empirique simple. Des donnees experimentales precises sur d'autres systemes sont necessaires pour mettre au point une theorie du transfert de chaleur fiable, en particulier pour la representation des procedes a des temperatures plus elevees que la temperature ambiante.
EMG control of robotic reaching by people with tetraplegia improved through proprioceptive and force feedback

Trajectory decoding from neural signals may be useful for the restoration of reach to paralyzed arms through functional electrical stimulation or the control of robotic arms or computer interfaces. Electromyograms (EMGs) are a popular non-invasive choice of signal source for neuroprosthetic interfaces but continuous trajectory control is challenging, especially when the set of muscles that can be recorded from is limited. One reason for this difficulty is that many applications provide only visual feedback to the users. In addition to motor impairments, spinal cord injury (SCI) may alter or eliminate sensation in the arm below the level of injury. We tested an EMG-controlled robot-assisted reaching task, in which the arm was moved in congruence with the output of the decoder, in 5 individuals with cervical SCI and 5 healthy controls. We also evaluated remote control of the robot, where the congruent sensory feedback at the arm was removed. We found a significant drop in performance without feedback at the arm that was larger for the individuals with SCI. Despite their sensory impairments, moving their arms as part of the task enabled functional control of reach that was impossible without the additional sensory information.
Photoperiodic control of antler cycles in deer. I. Phase shift and frequency changes

When subjected to reversed light cycles, deer antlers are shed and regenerated six months out of phase with respect to the outdoor environment. They respond solely to the lighting conditions, not to temperature changes. Deer exposed to accelerated years grow antlers more frequently than normal, but in no cases do they produce them more often than every three months. When the annual light cycle is prolonged to 24 months, deer tend to grow antlers every other year in accordance with the artificial cycle. In general, deer forced to grow antlers more frequently than normal produce stunted outgrowths owing to the abbreviated years. Those maintained on extra long light cycles, however, do not grow extra large antlers. Analysis of these data suggests that the onset of antler growth is entrained by increasing day lengths in deer previously sensitized by decreasing days. However, older animals can sometimes express an endogenous yearly antler growth cycle irrespective of certain prevailing artificial lighting conditions.
Comparisons of clear coating degradation in NaCl solution and pure water

Abstract Organic coating's degradation behavior is essential to its corrosion protective function and has been widely studied. A main function of anti-corrosive organic coatings is acting as barriers to water uptake and ion diffusion. It is of great fundamental importance to study the influence of different working fluids on the degradation of organic coatings. In this study, a 3.5 wt% NaCl solution and the pure water are adopted as the working fluids based on their distinct properties. The commercially available polyurethane and epoxy based clear coatings are chosen for evaluation. The coating degradation is monitored by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurement. Equivalent circuit models are employed to interpret the EIS spectra. The time evolution of coating resistance, capacitance, and water volume fraction of the coating is analyzed. Besides the fact that the coating's barrier property is deteriorated by the percolating of both NaCl solution and pure water, we also discover that pure water leads to faster coating degradation, demonstrated by a more substantial decrease in coating resistance, a more prominent increase in coating capacitance, and a greater saturated water volume fraction.
Survol d’une historiographie irlando-québécoise en développement

Depuis peu, des colloques et des publications ont agite le monde de l’historiographie irlando-quebecoise en y insufflant une vigueur nouvelle. Les recherches recentes se concentrent sur deux axes principaux : celui de la comparaison Irlande et Quebec et celui des relations intranationales qui ont eu cours depuis les annees 1820 entre Irlando-Quebecois et Canadiens francais. L’univers academique irlando-quebecois est en voie de retoucher les theses revisionnistes irlando-canadiennes — bien etablies au Canada anglais depuis le debut des annees 1980 —, en plus de corriger certaines lacunes historiographiques au sujet du Quebec. La premiere moitie de l’article tracera l’evolution de l’historiographie irlando-quebecoise, justement en rapport avec celle du Canada anglais. La deuxieme moitie, davantage portee sur les questions politiques, visera a eclairer le potentiel de ce champ academique encore en developpement.
G-quadruplex recognition activities of E. Coli MutS

Background Guanine quadruplex (G4 DNA) is a four-stranded structure that contributes to genome instability and site-specific recombination. G4 DNA folds from sequences containing tandemly repetitive guanines, sequence motifs that are found throughout prokaryote and eukaryote genomes. While some cellular activities have been identified with binding or processing G4 DNA, the factors and pathways governing G4 DNA metabolism are largely undefined. Highly conserved mismatch repair factors have emerged as potential G4-responding complexes because, in addition to initiating heteroduplex correction, the human homologs bind non-B form DNA with high affinity. Moreover, the MutS homologs across species have the capacity to recognize a diverse range of DNA pairing variations and damage, suggesting a conserved ability to bind non-B form DNA.
Mechanisms of lead, copper, and zinc retention by phosphate rock

The solid-liquid interface reaction between phosphate rock (PR) and metals (Pb, Cu, and Zn) was studied. Phosphate rock has the highest affinity for Pb, followed by Cu and Zn, with sorption capacities of 138, 114, and 83.2 mmol/kg PR, respectively. In the Pb-Cu-Zn ternary system, competitive metal sorption occurred with sorption capacity reduction of 15.2%, 48.3%, and 75.6% for Pb, Cu, and Zn, respectively compared to the mono-metal systems. A fractional factorial design showed the interfering effect in the order of Pb>Cu>Zn. Desorption of Cu and Zn was sensitive to pH change, increasing with pH decline, whereas Pb desorption was decreased with a strongly acidic TCLP extracting solution (pH = 2.93). The greatest stability of Pb retention by PR can be attributed to the formation of insoluble fluoropyromorphite [Pb(10)(PO(4))(6)F(2)], which was primarily responsible for Pb immobilization (up to 78.3%), with less contribution from the surface adsorption or complexation (21.7%), compared to 74.5% for Cu and 95.7% for Zn. Solution pH reduction during metal retention and flow calorimetry analysis both supported the hypothesis of retention of Pb, Cu, and Zn by surface adsorption or complexation. Flow calorimetry indicated that Pb and Cu adsorption onto PR was exothermic, while Zn sorption was endothermic. Our research demonstrated that PR can effectively remove Pb from solutions, even in the presence of other heavy metals (e.g. Cu, Zn).
Syllable use in apraxia of speech: Preliminary findings

Background: Apraxia of speech (AOS) is an acquired sensorimotor disorder characterised by an impairment in the ability to program purposeful movements for speech in the absence of muscle weakness or paralysis. Due to motor programming difficulties, individuals with AOS make more errors as the complexity of a phoneme, syllable, word, or phrase increases. They also tend to produce short words and exhibit "syllabic speech", the production of syllables lacking prosody with intersyllabic pauses. While the syllable is a fundamental unit of speech in AOS, little is known about the syllable shapes used by individuals with AOS in discourse. Aims: The aim of this study was to determine if individuals with AOS produce shorter words with simpler syllable structure in spontaneous speech compared to neurologically normal individuals. Methods & Procedures: Five speakers with AOS and Broca's aphasia and five gender- and age-matched neurologically normal individuals participated in the study. One hundred conversational tu...
Perspective: fundamental and clinical concepts on stem cell homing and engraftment: a journey to niches and beyond

In many ways, the homing of hematopoietic stem cells to bone marrow and other tissues defines these cells and their immediate and long-term fates Once homed, an inevitable series of proliferative and differentiative events presumptively follows. These comments, of course, hold for both homing to marrow, or alternatively, to other nonmarrow tissues. In this review, we will specifically focus on homing and engraftment to bone marrow because this is the best-studied and clinically applicable system.
Rippled-pattern sebaceous trichoblastoma.

Background: There is a large spectrum trichoblastoma; of which, several histologic variants have been described including a rippled-pattern variant. Three cases of rippled-pattern trichoblastoma are described which also exhibited definitive foci of sebaceous differentiation. Methods: Three cases were retrieved from the archives of the Dermatopathology Laboratory at the University of California Irvine (Orange, CA, USA). All specimens were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E). In addition, sections were submitted for immunohistochemical studies with epithelial membrane antigen (EMA). Results: All three biopsies were composed of well-circumscribed multiple variously sized tumor lobules present in the upper to deep dermis comprised of with rounded or slightly elongated basaloid cells with scant eosinophilic cytoplasm. The lobules were separated by a slightly hyalinized stroma. The unique finding present in all three specimens was a peculiar arrangement of the basaloid cells in linear rows parallel to one another. This gave the tumors a rippled pattern similar to the palisading of nuclei of Verocay bodies seen in schwannomas. In addition all three biopsies showed definite sebaceous differentiation. Conclusions: Three additional cases of rippled-pattern trichoblastoma are presented. All three were located on the scalp and showed additional features of foci of sebaceous differentiation. No associations with Muir-Torre Syndrome were found in these patients. Because this appears to be a distinct variant within the large spectrum of trichoblastoma, the term rippled-pattern sebaceous trichoblastoma is suggested.
Preliminary investigation of a two-zone swirl flow combustor

The effect of full-annular swirling-flow on a flow-zone combustor design is investigated. Swirl flow angles of 25, 35, and 45 degrees were investigated in a combustor design envelope typical of those used in modern engines. The two-zone combustor had 24 pilot-zone fuel injectors and 24 main-fuel injectors located in the centerbody between the pilot and swirl passage. Combustor performance was determined at idle, and two parametric 589 K inlet temperature conditions. Combustor performance was highest with the 45 degree swirl vane design; at the idle condition, combustion efficiency was 99.5 percent. The 45 degree swirl vane also produced the lowest pattern factor of the three angles and showed a combustor lean blowout limit below a 0.001 fuel-air ratio. Combustor total pressure drop varied from a low of 4.6 percent for the 25 degree swirl to a high of 4.9 percent for the 45 degree swirl. Previously announced in STAR as N84-22565
Wireless source localization based on time of arrival measurement

Wireless source localization has found a number of applications in wireless sensor networks. In this work, we investigate source localization based on the practical time of arrival (TOA) measurement model. Unlike most existing works that transform TOA measurement into time differences before processing, we consider the original measurement model and investigate three methods for direct source localization. We also derive the Cramer-Rao lower bound (CRLB) under the TOA model and establish its connection with the CRLB under the more commonly used time-difference of arrival (TDOA) signal model. We present results that illustrate the performance advantage of source localization based on the original TOA model over the commonly used TDOA pre-processing.
RNA synthesis in the follicular epithelium of the milkweed bug ovary.

Abstract Sucrose density gradient analysis of the synthesis of ribosomal RNA during follicle cell maturation has revealed two distinct peaks of synthesis. The first of these is the largest and occurs during the transition from the delta to the gamma stages of oocyte development. It is postulated that this increase in ribosomal synthesis is associated with both yolk uptake and subsequent growth of the follicular epithelium. A second, smaller, increase in the rate of synthesis occurs during the transition from the beta to the alpha 1 condition and this appears to be associated with the synthesis of the chorion by the follicular epithelium.
The Future of Orthodontic Diagnostic Records

The use of 3-dimensional (3D) diagnostic records can be an extremely valuable tool. These records can accurately reproduce a patient dataset in a secondary environment, and when appropriately interfaced, allow the practitioner the ability to create and manipulate these records as a 3D "virtual patient." Stereophotogrammetry images were obtained from the 3dMD system (Atlanta, GA), and this system produces a full-face image in 1.5 ms by the use of an active stereo approach. Cone beam computed tomography images from the Sirona Galileos System (Charlotte, NC) provide the base and internal volume onto which a 3dMD image can be overlaid. In both image acquisition systems, natural head posture was adopted for all subjects, as this has been proven to be clinically reproducible. 3dMDvultus was the software platform that allowed visualization and fusion of the 2 imaging modalities. In vivo Dental was used to create the cone beam computerized tomography study models. The relative ease of reconstructing the 3D virtual represents the right step forward in orthodontic diagnosis and treatment planning. With the cost and increase in speed for acquiring and reproducing images, 3D virtual record will one day replace current methods of orthodontic record taking.
Chemical bath method to grow precipitated nanorods of iridium oxide on alumina membranes

High aspect ratio iridium (IV) oxide nanorods have been successfully grown on a copper thin film by a chemical co-precipitation method. A porous anodised aluminium oxide (AAO) template was implemented to assist the growth of the well aligned and densely packed iridium oxide (IrO2) nanostructures. Nanorods with an aspect ratio of 22 can be synthesised within 45 min. X-ray diffraction measurement unveiled the crucial role of the AAO template in the orientation-aligned growth of IrO2 nanorods along the [110] crystallography direction. The large surface area of IrO2 nanostructures exhibiting a high capacitive property can be utilised in supercapacitors or sensing applications. Owing to the simpler fabrication processes, IrO2 nanorods can be mass produced in a short period of time.
Small Animal Model for Myocardial Infarction

Myocardial infarctions were produced in rats by electro-cauterization of the left anterior descending artery, and the extent of myocardial damage was measured by serial serum levels of creatine phosphokinase activity utilizing spectrophotometric analysis. All animals were also evaluated for myocardial damage by electrocardiographic wave alterations. A correlation between myocardial infarct size and serum creatine phosphokinase was demonstrated. Significant arrhythmias and death occurred only in experimental groups where myocardial infarction had been produced. This small animal model offers a quick, inexpensive, and simple method for screening therapeutic agents that alter infarct size.
Economic Aspects of Rail Access to Airports

Increasing air traffic volumes at major metropolitan airports, combined with increasing congestion on the regional highway systems serving the airports, is leading to landslide capacity constraints at many airports. Faced with limited options for significant improvements in highway travel time or capacity, the construction of airport rail access links is being proposed in several urban areas. This paper examines the factors affecting the use and economics of airport rail access links, including the characteristics of airport access traffic and the need to consider alternative ways to provide access services. The economic and developmental factors influencing the feasibility of constructing airport rail links are examined by means of two case studies that review recent proposals for rail access projects in the San Francisco Bay Area and the New York region. The paper concludes that the economic feasibility of rail access projects is greatly enhanced when airport rail service can be provided as part of a re...
Development and validation of a method for removal of normal paraffin hydrocarbon in radioactive waste samples prior to analysis of semivolatile components

A method has been developed at Pacific Northwest Laboratory (PNL) to remove normal paraffin hydrocarbon (NPH) from radioactive waste samples prior to gas chromotography/mass spectrometry analysis of semivolatile components. The effectiveness of the cleanup procedure was demonstrated for all the EPA semivolatile target list compounds. Blanks and spiked actual waste samples were utilized in the development and validation study. Approximately 95% of the NPH was removed from the single-shell tank samples. The recoveries were good for most of the target compounds. Results were compared with those obtained by utilizing EPA method 3630. The recoveries were much better for the PNL-developed method.
The neuroscience of musical improvisation

Researchers have recently begun to examine the neural basis of musical improvisation, one of the most complex forms of creative behavior. The emerging field of improvisation neuroscience has implications not only for the study of artistic expertise, but also for understanding the neural underpinnings of domain-general processes such as motor control and language production. This review synthesizes functional magnetic resonance imagining (fMRI) studies of musical improvisation, including vocal and instrumental improvisation, with samples of jazz pianists, classical musicians, freestyle rap artists, and non-musicians. A network of prefrontal brain regions commonly linked to improvisatory behavior is highlighted, including the pre-supplementary motor area, medial prefrontal cortex, inferior frontal gyrus, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, and dorsal premotor cortex. Activation of premotor and lateral prefrontal regions suggests that a seemingly unconstrained behavior may actually benefit from motor planning and cognitive control. Yet activation of cortical midline regions points to a role of spontaneous cognition characteristic of the default network. Together, such results may reflect cooperation between large-scale brain networks associated with cognitive control and spontaneous thought. The improvisation literature is integrated with Pressing's theoretical model, and discussed within the broader context of research on the brain basis of creative cognition.
Unnatural experiments: the case of television game shows

Economists often use television game shows as ‘natural experiments’ to test theories on risk aversion. This article demonstrates that some of these natural experiments may not be so natural after all. Using data from Jeopardy!, we show that contestants are chosen to maintain a gender balance, with the result that men outperform women across several dimensions. This selection bias suggests that caution should be exercised in generalizing findings based on these shows to the population as a whole.
Analysis of flexible substrates for clinical translation of laser-generated shockwave therapy

Bacteria biofilms in chronically infected wounds significantly increase the burden of healthcare costs and resources for patients and clinics. Because biofilms are such an effective barrier to standard antibiotic treatment, new methods of therapy need to be developed to combat these infections. Our group has demonstrated the potential of using Laser Generated Shockwaves as a potential therapy to mechanically disrupt the bacterial biofilms covering the wound. Previous studies have used rigid silica glass as the shockwave propagation medium, which is not compatible with the intended clinical application. This paper describes the exploration of five candidate flexible plastic films to replace the glass substrate. Each material measured 0.254 mm thick and was used to generate shockwaves of varying intensities. Shockwave characterization was performed using a high-speed Michelson displacement interferometer and peak stress values obtained in the flexible substrates were compared to glass using one-way nested Analysis of Variance and Tukey HSD post-hoc analysis. Results demonstrate statistically significant differences between substrate material and indicate that polycarbonate achieves the highest peak stress for a given laser fluence suggesting that it is optimal for clinical applications.
Hearing things: music and sounds the traveller heard and didn't hear on the grand tour

For Charles Burney, as for other Enlightenment scholars engaged in historicising music, the problem was not only how to reconstruct a history of something as ephemeral as music, but the more intractable one of cultural boundaries. Non-European music could be excluded from a general history on the grounds that it was so much noise and no music. The music of Egypt and classical antiquity, on the other hand, were likely ancestors of European music and clearly had to be accorded a place within the general history. But before that place could be determined, Burney and his contemporaries were faced with a stunning silence. What was Egyptian music? What were its instruments? What its sound? The paper examines the work of scholars like Burney and James Bruce and their efforts to reconstruct past music by traveling to exotic places. Travel and a form of historical reenactment emerge as central not only to eighteenth-century historical method, but central, too, to the reconstruction of past sonic worlds. This essay argues that this method remains available to contemporary scholars as well.
Host-parasite interactions of tropical bats in Puerto Rico

Bats are receiving increasing attention in the parasitological world due to their potential role as reservoir hosts for zoonotic pathogens. However, details of the macroparasitic fauna (helminths and ectoparasites) are currently recorded and studied. Here, we start to address this paucity of data by detailing a study where we have documented the macroparasite fauna of a sample of tropical bats (Mormoops blainvillei, Pteronotus quadridens, and Monophyllus redmani) from Puerto Rico. Additionally, we investigated the possible host characteristics influencing the prevalence and intensity of macroparasite infection. Macroparasites were collected and identified from three species of bat, which were thoroughly washed and dissected. The overall parasite community of all three bat species consisted of a range of ectoparasites as well as the cestode Vampirolepis christensoni and the nematode Capillaria pusilla, although there was considerable variation in the parasite community of each individual species. We discovered bat flies of a previously undescribed species of the Nycterophilia genus as well as new parasite records for all three species of bats. All parasites had an aggregated distribution within the host population. Differences were observed in the intensity of the helminths between bat species, but not for ectoparasite prevalence. As the helminth intensity increased so the ectoparasite intensity decreased. Overall, the helminth intensity was female-biased and increased, for both sexes with increasing body mass; no sex-bias or body mass effects were associated with ectoparasite prevalence.
Fault Zone along Northern Boundary of Western Snake River Plain, Idaho

Gravity, seismic, and geologic studies indicate that at least 9000 ft of aggregate throw along a zone of northwest-trending, high-angle faults has displaced the western Snake River Plain downward relative to highlands on the north. At least 5000 ft of movement occurred between the early and middle Pliocene. Progressively diminishing movement since then amounts to 4000 ft.
Concurrent Change in Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate and Functional Performance in the Oldest Old: Results From the Cardiovascular Health Study All Stars Study

IN humans, the adrenal cortex secretes dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), a steroid hormone, as a precursor to other sex steroid hormones. It has been hypothesized that DHEAS could be a biomarker of aging because in humans it decreases by 80%–90% between the third decade of life and older age (1–3). To test this hypothesis, previous researchers traditionally determined the association of a single DHEAS measurement with mortality in observational studies. Though low DHEAS has been associated with mortality in some human studies (4–7), the relationship remains unclear (4,6–10) and might even be U-shaped (11). Departing from previous study designs, Cappola and coworkers examined if the slope or variability of DHEAS was associated with mortality in participants aged more than 65 years in the Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS). The results demonstrate that a smaller slope or less variability in DHEAS decline was predictive of lower mortality (12). Furthermore, prediction was independent of baseline DHEAS level, which itself was not associated with mortality. These results call into question how previous studies have modeled DHEAS, either as a single measurement, slope, or variance, and if the potential value of DHEAS as a biomarker of aging might be realized by modeling its change over the life span. In addition to modeling DHEAS differently, it would be prudent to study the association of DHEAS to markers of aging other than mortality, such as functional decline. Here, we examine if DHEAS change tracks with change in cognitive and physical performance, clinically relevant measures of health status in the elderly participants. To do so, we measured these factors in 1996–1997 and 2005–2006 in the Cardiovascular Health Study All Stars (CHS-All Stars) study, which was established to study functional aging in very old adults who participated in the CHS. Specifically, we hypothesized that DHEAS decline, but not baseline DHEAS, would be associated with functional decline.
Positive effects of redundant descriptions in an interactive semantic speech interface

Spoken language interfaces based on interactive semantic language models allow probabilities for hypothesized words to be conditioned on the semantic interpretation of these words in the context of some interfaced application environment. This conditioning may allow users to avoid recognition errors in an intuitive way, by adding extra, possibly redundant description. This paper evaluates the effect on error reduction of redundant descriptions in an interactive semantic language model. In order to evaluate the effect in natural use, the model is run on rich domains, supporting references to sets of individuals (instead of just individuals themselves) arranged in multiple continuous dimensions (a 2-D floorplan scene). Results of these experiments suggest that an interactive semantic language model allows users to achieve significantly higher recognition accuracy by providing additional redundant spoken description.
Gene therapy rescues cone function in congenital achromatopsia

The successful restoration of visual function with recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV)-mediated gene replacement therapy in animals and humans with an inherited disease of the retinal pigment epithelium has ushered in a new era of retinal therapeutics. For many retinal disorders, however, targeting of therapeutic vectors to mutant rods and/or cones will be required. In this study, the primary cone photoreceptor disorder achromatopsia served as the ideal translational model to develop gene therapy directed to cone photoreceptors. We demonstrate that rAAV-mediated gene replacement therapy with different forms of the human red cone opsin promoter led to the restoration of cone function and day vision in two canine models of CNGB3 achromatopsia, a neuronal channelopathy that is the most common form of achromatopsia in man. The robustness and stability of the observed treatment effect was mutation independent, but promoter and age dependent. Subretinal administration of rAAV5-hCNGB3 with a long version of the red cone opsin promoter in younger animals led to a stable therapeutic effect for at least 33 months. Our results hold promise for future clinical trials of cone-directed gene therapy in achromatopsia and other cone-specific disorders.
Mechanisms and Molecules that Control Growth Cone Guidance

Neuronal growth cones traverse long distances along appropriate pathways to find their correct targets. This review presents an overview of the mechanisms and molecules that control these events. Secreted and cell surface ligands in the growth cone's environment bind to receptors on the growth cone's surface, trigger second-messenger signals, and lead to appropriate steering decisions. Growth cones appear to be guided by at least four different mechanisms: contact-mediated attraction, chemoattraction, contact-mediated repulsion, and chemorepulsion. These mechanisms are mediated by many different families of guidance molecules, including neural cell adhesion molecules of the immunoglobulin superfamily, netrins, and semaphorins, all of which appear to be highly conserved from worms and fruitflies to mice and humans. We are just beginning to gain insights into the functions of these and other molecules in the developing organism by the use of genetic analysis.
Nutrition Support for the Mechanically Ventilated Patient

Nutrition support is a hotly debated topic in most intensive care units. Is enteral nutrition or TPN best? Is gastric or small-bowel feeding safer? Are specialized formulas needed? These are only some of the issues, and the fact remains that there is a paucity of clear, solid data. Folklore has become the standard of practice in many areas of medicine; it is richly found in nutrition support. We must be careful not to get caught up in the trappings of our beliefs about nutrition support. Instead, we must continue to evaluate our own practices and fine-tune our skills of clinical assessment and common sense.
Blind identification of nonlinear channels excited by discrete alphabet inputs

Hidden Markov models (HMMs) are employed to describe digital communication channels, and their parameters are estimated in a blind fashion. General nonlinear channels can be accommodated which are not restricted to be of the Volterra type. Contrary to standard HMM parameter estimation techniques, which resort to nonlinear optimization of the likelihood function, the proposed method is based on a graph theoretic approach. We exploit the De Bruijn property of the channel's state transition graph, and develop computationally efficient blind estimation procedures involving shortest path searches. We show the identifiability of the associated graph problem and discuss convergence issues. Finally, some illustrative simulations are presented.
Nonpharmacological Cognitive Interventions in Aging and Dementia

There have been increasing efforts to develop cognitive interventions to ameliorate cognitive problems experienced by older adults. In healthy elderly populations, cognitive training has centered on the enhancement of memory and speed of processing, with the goal of maximizing current function and reducing the risk of cognitive decline. Among elderly persons with nonprogressive neurological conditions such as traumatic brain injury (TBI) and stroke, there has been an emphasis on rehabilitation to help restore function. Most recently, there has been increased attention on the development of new cognitive techniques to treat persons with progressive neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer disease. The literature is reviewed on current approaches to cognitive interventions in elderly healthy populations, and a particular emphasis is placed on the most recent strides in progressive neurocognitive conditions, particularly Alzheimer disease. Important issues such as study design, the use of ecologically and functionally valid outcome measures, the need to examine heterogeneous populations and cross-cultural variables, and the incorporation of technologically based systems are examined. It is concluded that cognitive interventions in the elderly show considerable promise and deserve further study.
Efficient subdivision-based image and volume warping

Warping is fundamental to multiple algorithms in computer vision and medical imaging such as image and volume registration. Warping is performed by determining a continuous deformation map and applying it to a given image or volume. In registration the deformation map is determined based on correspondence between two images. It is often the case that the deformation map can only be determined at discrete locations and so has to be interpolated. The discrete locations where the deformation map is determined form irregular sampling of the unknown continuous deformation map. Thin-plate splines are commonly used to perform the interpolation and provide an optimal solution in the sense of bending energy minimization. Assuming N samples of the deformation map and n2 image pixels, thin plate splines require solving a N times N dense linear system with O(N3) complexity for determining spline coefficients and N computations per pixel with O(Nn2) complexity for determining interpolated values. When N and n are large as in the case of volumetric medical image analysis this cost becomes prohibitive. The approach proposed in this paper is based on subdivision surfaces and is capable of achieving similar quality results with O (N log N) complexity for co efficient determination and O(n2) complexity for computing interpolated values. Experimental results demonstrate two orders of magnitude performance improvement on actual clinical data.
PATHWAY REGULATORY ANALYSIS IN THE CONTEXT OF BAYESIAN NETWORKS USING THE COEFFICIENT OF DETERMINATION

To effectively intervene when cells are trapped in pathological modes of operation it is necessary to build models that capture relevant network structure and include characterization of dynamical changes within the system. The model must be of sufficient detail that it facilitates the selection of intervention points where pathological cell behavior arising from improper regulation can be stopped. What is known about this type of cellular decision-making is consistent with the general expectations associated with any kind of decision-making operation. If the result of a decision at one node is serially transmitted to other nodes, resetting their states, then the process may suffer from mechanistic inefficiencies of transmission or from blockage or activation of transmission through the action of other nodes acting on the same node. A standard signal-processing network model, Bayesian networks, can model these properties. This paper employs a Bayesian tree model to characterize conditional pathway logic and quantify the effects of different branching patterns, signal transmission efficiencies and levels of alternate or redundant inputs. In particular, it characterizes master genes and canalizing genes within the quantitative framework. The model is also used to examine what inferences about the network structure can be made when perturbations are applied to various points in the network.
Universities and incubators: key factors driving entrepreneurship and socioeconomic development

Economic diversification is an utterly important factor for regions that are directly or indirectly related to any productive mechanisms and seek to strengthen their foundations for the generation of jobs and income. Within this context, to invest in business preparation and maturation, especially in the ones related to the technological area, turns out to be an interesting mean of diversifying a regional economy that is facing the risk of stagnation. This study considers the importance of the role taken on by universities and their incubators in driving entrepreneurship and supporting the creation of new companies and the innovative capacity of a country through knowledge transfer amongst universities and companies, generating benefits and socioeconomic progress in a country. It also conducts a case study on a company of the information technology area, recently incubated and whose major objective consists in becoming part of this economic diversification basis.