cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Transient Diapycnal Mixing and the Meridional Overturning Circulation

Abstract An idealized three-dimensional model of buoyancy-forced flow in a single hemisphere is used to investigate whether transient diapycnal mixing can sustain the meridional overturning circulation. In the annual mean, mixing transience had little effect on the meridional overturning. When mixing occurred on basin boundaries, the overturning strength was found to be insensitive to mixing transience. For mixing that was highly localized in space away from basin boundaries, oceanic meridional mass and heat transport decreased as mixing became more transient. The increased sensitivity in the highly localized case is likely due to the inhibition of surface heat flux into the thermocline. The dynamic response to transient mixing featured large-scale, internal oscillations that increased in amplitude with the transience of mixing but were confined to the Tropics and had little effect on the overturning cell through midlatitudes. These results indicate that transient diapycnal mixing, with a distribution sug...
Phosphorus and Vitamin D in Beef Finishing Diets

Abstract Two hundred eighty-three steer calves (mean BW = 290 ± 6 kg) were used to evaluate the effects of feeding two levels each of phosphorus and vitamin D on growth performance and carcass characteristics. The experimental design was a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of a randomized block design with approximately 71 steers per treatment. Steers were randomly assigned to one of four treatment groups. Each group consisted of six pens of 11 or 12 steers each. The four treatments were 1) Low P:low vitamin D (0.24% and 0 IU/kg, respectively) 2) Low P:high vitamin D (0.24% and 5,364 IU/ kg, respectively) 3) High P:low vitamin D (0.35% and 0 IU/kg, respectively) and 4) High P:high vitamin D (0.35% and 5,364 IU/kg, respectively). Starting diets contained 65% whole corn and increased to a final 89.9% whole corn finishing diet over a 4r-wk period. Overall DMI, ADG, and feed efficiency were not affected by supplementing with phosphorus and/or vitamin D in finishing diets. Off-test BW and hot carcass weight were numerically heavier for cattle supplemented with P and vitamin D. Supplementing P and/ or vitamin D to finishing calves had no significant benefit on growth performance or carcass characteristics.
Compression of Rubber Blocks

Abstract Many features of the compression of rubber blocks can be deduced by means of a simple analytical treatment which, although approximate, appears to give reasonably satisfactory predictions for stiffness and interfacial stresses. The theory has been redeveloped and refined many times; some principal contributions are noted in References 1–14. While the analysis has been frequently repeated, it is interesting to note that what is probably the first, and in some ways the most comprehensive, theoretical discussion, did not refer specifically to rubber blocks; it dealt with the elastic properties of the periodontal membrane in connection with the tightness of teeth. Apart from an extensive review in connection with the use of rubber compression springs for bridge bearings, general results for small compressions of rubber sheets and blocks have not been collected together previously in one easily-available place, as far as I am aware. A review is therefore given here, with some remarks on its limitation...
Idiosyncratic Risk of House Prices: Evidence from 26 Million Home Sales

This paper uses about 26 million home sales to measure house price idiosyncratic risk for 7,580 U.S. zip codes during three periods: (1) when the U.S. housing market was stable (1996–2000), (2) booming (2001–2007) and (3) busting (2007–2012), and investigates the determinants of house price risk. We find very strong relationships between risk and some basic housing market characteristics. There is a U-shaped relationship between risk and zip-code level median household income; risk is higher in zip codes with more appreciation volatility; and risk is not compensated with higher appreciation.
Daily rhythms in Fos activity in the rat ventrolateral preoptic area and midline thalamic nuclei.

The present experiment investigated the expression of the nuclear phosphoprotein Fos over the 24-h light-dark cycle in regions of the rat brain related to sleep and vigilance, including the ventrol...
Studies on Homoio Transplantation of Skin Flaps.

It has been our aim in this work: (1) To study the development of circulation in homoio transplantation of skin flaps, and (2) to determine the fate of the flap when the circulation has been established.Guinea pigs were used for our experiments. Skin flaps 2½” × 1½” were raised from flank and lateral wall of chest of one animal (Animal A) and applied to defect on back of other animal (Animal B). Entire thickness of skin was used. A flap thus applied from animal A would receive its blood supply from animal A until vascular communications had been established with B. The 2 animals were kept together, strapped with adhesive. At 24-hour intervals, for 14 days, animals were killed and sections including flap, adjoining skin, and underlying tissues of B, were removed for microscopic examination. Three such series of experiments were followed. Related and unrelated animals were used, and blood matching was done, before and after operation.The microscopic examination of the tissues at different stages of union re...
EFFECTS OF FLOW ANGULARITY ON NONLINEAR SUPERSONIC FLUTTER OF COMPOSITE PANELS

A finite element formulation is presented for the effects of arbitrary flow direction on the large amplitude supersonic flutter of composite panels. The von-Karman large-deflection plate theory is used to account for large amplitude limit-cycle oscillations, the quasi-steady first-order piston theory aerodynamics is employed for aerodynamic loading, and the first-order shear deformation theory is used for laminated composite panels. An efficient solution procedure is presented by using the modal transformation to reduce the number of nonlinear panel flutter equations and then applying the linearized updated-mode with nonlinear time function approximation lo the reduced nonlinear panel flutter modal equations. A modal participation is ~defined and the minimum number of linear modes for accurate and converged limit-cycle response can be assured. Examples are given for isotropic and composite panels at yawed supersonic
Apoptosis, Autophagy, and Necrosis

Abstract The mechanisms by which a cell ends its existence are diverse. It has become clear that each form of cell death has a profound pathogenic relevance in systemic lupus erythematous. Apoptotic cell death provides autoantigens to fuel the aberrant immune response, and its impairment allows autoreactivity to thrive. Autophagy has implications for autoantigen presentation and survival of autoreactive B cells. Finally, necrotic cell death provides the inflammatory milieu to sustain autoimmunity. Our understanding of lupus pathogenesis has dramatically increased and has culminated in the first approval of a specific treatment after a hiatus of more than 50 years. Sophisticated manipulation of the various forms of cell death will lead to a further understanding of lupus and to innovative treatments for this still life-threatening disease.
Acute pancreatitis: Diagnosis and management

Acute pancreatitis is a clinical syndrome characterized by midepigastric pain, nausea and vomiting. Numerous etiologies have been linked with this entity, principally alcoholism and biliary disease. Once the clinical suspicion of pancreatitis is confirmed, supportive therapy with intravenous hydration and close observation is effective in the vast majority of patients. Lack of improvement may indicate the need to search for a local complication such as pseudocyst or abscess. Fine-needle aspiration of suspected infected collections should be performed under computed tomographic guidance. Surgical intervention may be required if infection is confirmed. Evidence of the systemic complications of pancreatitis mandates intensive care monitoring.
Differential effects off duplication-deficiency gametes from T(3;12) on embryonic development in the German cockroach

Differential embryonic development, as seen within egg cases of the German cockroach, serves to distinguish matings of interchange heterozygotes from those of wild type. In T (3;12), one group of fertilized eggs ceases development during stage I of embryonic development; a second group, during stage VII. The frequency of the two groups correlates closely with that of adjacent-1 vs adjacent-2 disjunction. It also does not differ significantly from the expected frequency if zygotes fertilized by one of the two types of adjacent-1 gametes reach a more advanced stage of development than those of the other three types of duplication-deficiency gametes. The absence of a sex difference in the stages of embryonic death indicates that it makes little difference whether aneuploid gametes are of maternal or paternal origin.
Older patients and the shifting focus of cancer care.

The review by Balducci provides an excellent overview of issues regarding the pharmacotherapy of anticancer therapy in older patients. The introduction to geriatrics emphasizes the need to be able to determine the patient’s physiologic age.
Eigenschaften und Anwendung eines neuartigen omnidirektionalen Klarschriftlesers

Zum Lesen von Klarschrift wird vom Markt eine breite Palette unterschiedlicher OCR-Leser (OCR = Optical Character Recognition) wie Seitenleser, Belegleser, Handleser, usw., angeboten. Alle diese Gerate haben ein gemeinsames Charakteristikum.
Increased activity of enzymes for de novo pyrimidine biosynthesis after orotic acid administration.

Administration of a purified diet supplemented with 1% orotic acid is attended by a marked elevation in the specific activities of liver aspartate transcarbamylase (ATC), ornithine transcarbamylase, and dihydroorotase (DHOase) and in alterations in the composition of the acid-soluble nucleotide pool. Return of the rats to the control diet is followed by an immediate reinstatement of the normal acid-soluble nucleotide composition and by a slower return of the enzyme activities to basal values. The half-life of the return has been calculated as 2.5 and 0.5 days, for ATC and DHOase, respectively. Both ATC and DHOase activities are augmented in regenerating liver derived from rats fed either control or orotic acid diet. The studies suggest that high intracellular concentrations of pyrimidine nucleotides may not "repress" the enzymes involved in the de novo synthesis of pyrimidines in mammalian liver.
Advanced Technologies for Detection and Elimination of Bacterial Pathogens

Illnesses resulting from contaminated fruits and vegetables are a continuing concern for the fresh produce industry. Conventional tools to identify where contamination problems exist have not given the industry adequate information to quickly and economically respond to potential problems. The lack of a reliable, broad-based, economical kill step (e.g., a treatment capable of inactivating human pathogens) suitable for use on fresh produce is a limiting factor in responding to the increased demands for more stringent food safety targets in the fresh produce arena. This chapter summarizes recent data in two critical areas of research. First, is a review of new detection tools and technologies that are being developed to enhance our ability to rapidly locate and quantify contamination when and where it occurs. Second, information is presented on new interventions and antimicrobial processes than can reduce or eliminate populations of human pathogens on fresh and fresh-cut fruits and vegetables. Also, this chapter will briefly discuss the applicability of these new technologies to the production and processing of organic fruits and vegetables, and will consider the challenge of technology development for this growing market segment.
Normalization in sustainability assessment: Methods and implications

One approach to assessing progress towards sustainability makes use of multiple indicators spanning the environmental, social, and economic dimensions of the system being studied. Diverse indicators have different units of measurement, and normalization is the procedure employed to transform differing indicator measures onto similar scales or to unit-free measures. Given the inherent complexity entailed in interpreting information related to multiple indicators, normalization and aggregation of sustainability indicators are common steps after indicator measures are quantified. However, it is often difficult for stakeholders to make clear connections between specific indicator measurements and resulting aggregate scores of sustainability. Motivated by challenges and examples in sustainability assessment, this paper explores various normalization schemes including ratio normalization, target normalization, Z-score normalization, and unit equivalence normalization. Methods for analyzing the impacts of normalization choice on aggregate scores are presented. Techniques are derived for general application in studying composite indicators, and advantages and drawbacks associated with different normalization schemes are discussed within the context of sustainability assessment. Theoretical results are clarified through a case study using data from indicators of progress towards bioenergy sustainability.
Age-related change of hepatic uridine diphosphate glucuronosyltransferase and sulfotransferase activities in male chickens and pigs.

The hepatic activities of uridine diphosphate glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) and sulfotransferase (SULT) of male Ross 708 broiler chickens at the age of 1, 7, 14, 28, and 56 days and male Camborough-29 pigs at the age of 1 day and 2, 5, 10, and 20 weeks were investigated. Glucuronidation and sulfation of 4-nitrophenol were used to evaluate the activities. Porcine hepatic UGT and SULT activities were low at birth, peaked at around 5-10 weeks, and then declined. Both hepatic UGT and SULT activities of chickens were high at hatch and declined. Chicken hepatic UGT activity had a peak at the age of 28 days. Affinity of hepatic SULT to 4-nitrophenol is similar in chickens and pigs, but the affinity of hepatic UGT in pigs was about 10 times higher than that in chickens. 4-nitrophenol was predominantly conjugated by SULT instead of UGT in chicken livers from hatch to day 56. Conversely, hepatic UGT contributed predominantly in 4-nitrophenol conjugation than the SULT in pigs from birth to 20 weeks. Therefore, age has significant impact on hepatic activities of UGT and SULT, and the importance of UGT and SULT on conjugation is different in chickens and pigs.
Developing Analytical Procedures for Calibrating the Highway Safety Manual Predictive Methods

Performance-based safety goals and objectives are more attainable with the use of the Highway Safety Manual (HSM). However, the safety performance functions (SPFs) in the HSM may not be accurate when used with local jurisdictions. Each SPF and crash modification factor (CMF) assume a set of base site conditions that might not be realistic or representative of local highways. The calibration procedures provided in Part C, Appendix A, of the HSM should therefore be modified to accommodate local data availability as well as roadway, traffic, and crash characteristics. Furthermore, a set of base conditions applicable to local highways should be determined. Results show that the HSM models underestimate the total average number of crashes on highway segments for all rural highway facility types in South Dakota. To quantify highway safety performance better, this study analyzed the underlying factors contributing to the underestimation and proposed procedures to improve crash prediction accuracy. The HSM calibr...
NMR structure of the HIV-1 reverse transcriptase thumb subdomain

The solution NMR structure of the isolated thumb subdomain of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) has been determined. A detailed comparison of the current structure with dozens of the highest resolution crystal structures of this domain in the context of the full-length enzyme reveals that the overall structures are very similar, with only two regions exhibiting local conformational differences. The C-terminal capping pattern of the αH helix is subtly different, and the loop connecting the αI and αJ helices in the p51 chain of the full-length p51/p66 heterodimeric RT differs from our NMR structure due to unique packing interactions in mature RT. Overall, our data show that the thumb subdomain folds independently and essentially the same in isolation as in its natural structural context.
Plasma adiponectin concentrations and risk of incident breast cancer.

5668 Adiponectin is an adipocyte-derived peptide hormone, which is inversely associated with adiposity, particularly central adiposity, and is a strong indicator of insulin sensitivity. Previous retrospective case-control studies have suggested that adiponectin is inversely associated with breast cancer risk; however no prospective studies have been conducted. Therefore, we performed a prospective case-control study nested within the Nurses9 Health Study (NHS) cohort to examine the association between plasma adiponectin concentrations and risk of breast cancer among premenopausal and postmenopausal women. Blood samples were collected in 1989–1990 and adiponectin was measured by RIA. The analysis included 616 cases of breast cancer diagnosed after blood collection and before June 1996, who had one or two controls (n=812) matched on age, menopausal status, postmenopausal hormone use, fasting status, and time of day and month of blood collection. We used conditional logistic regression for primary analyses and unconditional regression for stratified analyses; all models were adjusted for body mass index at age 18, weight change from age 18 to blood draw, family history of breast cancer, history of benign breast disease, duration of postmenopausal hormone use, age at first birth, and parity. Overall, we found an inverse association between adiponectin and breast cancer risk, with a relative risk (RR) of 0.63 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.43–0.93, p-trend=0.02) comparing the top versus bottom quartiles, which appeared to be confined to postmenopausal women (RR=0.68, 95% CI: 0.46–1.02, p-trend=0.13). Among postmenopausal women, adiponectin appeared to be more strongly inversely associated with ductal versus lobular tumors (p-heterogeneity=0.02) and possibly with tumors diagnosed within 3.5 years of blood collection (p-heterogeneity=0.11). Further, in postmenopausal women, adiponectin was more strongly inversely associated with breast cancer risk among physically active women; however the association did not vary by body mass index or waist-to-hip ratio at blood collection. Overall, our results suggest that adiponectin may be inversely associated with postmenopausal breast cancer risk.
Network Optimization of Functional Connectivity Within Default Mode Network Regions to Detect Cognitive Decline

The rapid aging of the world’s population is causing an increase in the prevalence of cognitive decline and degenerative brain disease in the elderly. Current diagnoses of amnestic and nonamnestic mild cognitive impairment, which may represent early stage Alzheimer’s disease or related degenerative conditions, are based on clinical grounds. The recent emergence of advanced network analyses of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data taken at cognitive rest has provided insight that declining functional connectivity of the default mode network (DMN) may be correlated with neurological disorders, and particularly prodromal Alzheimer’s disease. The goal of this paper is to develop a network analysis technique using fMRI data to characterize transition stages from healthy brain aging to cognitive decline. Previous studies primarily focused on inter-nodal connectivity of the DMN and often assume functional homogeneity within each DMN region. In this paper, we develop a technique that focuses on identifying critical intra-nodal DMN connectivity by incorporating sparsity into connectivity modeling of the $k$ -cardinality tree (KCT) problem. Most biological networks are efficient and formed by sparse connections, and the KCT can potentially reveal sparse connectivity patterns that are biologically informative. The KCT problem is NP-hard, and existing solution approaches are mostly heuristic. Mathematical formulations of the KCT problem in the literature are not compact and do not provide good solution bounds. This paper presents new KCT formulations and a fast heuristic approach to efficiently solve the KCT models for large DMN regions. The results in this paper demonstrate that traditional fMRI group analysis on DMN regions cannot detect any statistically significant connectivity differences between normal aging and cognitively impaired subjects in DMN regions, and the proposed KCT approaches are more sensitive than the state-of-the-art regional homogeneity approach in detecting significant differences in both left and right medial temporal regions of the DMN.
The scaling of urban surface water abundance and impairment with city size

Abstract Urbanization alters surface water compared to nonurban landscapes, yet little is known regarding how basic aquatic ecosystem characteristics, such as the abundance and impairment of surface water, differ with population size or regional context. This study examined the abundance, scaling, and impairment of surface water by quantifying the stream length, water body area, and impaired stream length for 3520 cities in the United States with populations from 2500 to 18 million. Stream length, water body area, and impaired stream length were quantified using the National Hydrography Dataset and the EPA's 303(d) list. These metrics were scaled with population and city area using single and piecewise power-law models and related to biophysical factors (precipitation, topography) and land cover. Results show that abundance of stream length and water body area in cities actually increases with city area; however, the per person abundance decreases with population size. Relative to population, impaired stream length did not increase until city populations were > 25,000 people, then scaled linearly with population. Some variation in abundance and impairment was explained by biophysical context and land cover. Development intensity correlated with stream density and impairment; however, those relationships depended on the orientation of the land covers. When high intensity development occupied the local elevation highs (+ 15 m) and undeveloped land the elevation lows, the percentage of impaired streams was less than the opposite land cover orientation (− 15 m) or very flat land. These results show that surface water abundance and impairment across contiguous US cities are influenced by city size and by biophysical setting interacting with land cover intensity.
Gambling involvement among Native Americans, Blacks, and Whites in the United States

Background and Objectives This paper examines risk factors of gambling and problem gambling among racial subgroups in the U.S. population, namely Native Americans and blacks, for whom research data are lacking. Methods Findings are based on a large representative general population survey (n = 3,474) of gambling in the U.S. with an oversample of Native Americans (n = 549). Multiple domains were assessed including sociodemographic factors; ecological factors (census-defined neighborhood disadvantage, geocoded density of casinos within 30 miles of respondents’ homes, and perceived gambling convenience); impulsivity; and alcohol abuse. Results After controlling for all variables in the study, neighborhood disadvantage has a significantly greater effect on overall gambling, frequent gambling, and problem gambling for Native Americans than for the rest of the U.S. population. In addition, the relationship between frequent gambling and heavier drinking is much stronger for blacks than for the rest of the U.S. population. Discussion and Conclusions There is a lack of research on gambling involvement among minority groups in the U.S. Blacks and Native Americans are at a higher risk for problem gambling as compared with the rest of the population. Furthermore, social factors and alcohol abuse may show a stronger co-occurrence with gambling involvement among minority groups than among whites. Scientific Significance This study is a large representative U.S. sample with sizeable numbers of Native Americans and blacks. Thus, prevalence rates and risk factors can be assessed for these important population subgroups. This will allow for targeted intervention programs for Native Americans and blacks with problem gambling and alcohol abuse. (Am J Addict 2017;XX:1–9)
Ruralism and Regionalism: Myths and Misgivings Regarding the Homogeneity of Rural Populations

Rural areas are frequently envisioned as non-changing and homogeneous communities immune to the difficulties associated with modern urban life. In this chapter, we first explore some of the powerful stereotypes of rural communities that have influenced the development of social and health policy in the past century. Second, we try to show the diversity among rural environments and its importance in mental health policy and service development. Third, we identify potential processes and structures by which public mental health services may be organized. The Community Mental Health Centers Act of 1963 in the United States is reconsidered as an effort to develop a locally controlled mental health system, and recent infrastructure consistent with the Affordable Care Act in the context of schools is discussed. Because educational systems are a common institutional presence in most, if not all, rural areas, they provide reasonable and potentially equitable vehicles for thoughtful, context-driven mental health service collaboration and delivery for children and families.
Modulation of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase by vasopressin and calcitonin in cultured porcine renal LLC-PK1 cells.

We have previously demonstrated that a cultured porcine kidney cell, LLC-PK1, maintains the characteristics of a polar renal epithelial cell in culture, and responds to salmon calcitonin and [arginine]vasopressin by increasing cyclic AMP content. To demonstrate the usefulness of this cell line as a model for the study of the biochemical events distal to cyclic AMP production, the activation of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase was examined. Intact cells in monolayer demonstrated progressive increases in cyclic AMP content and activation of protein kinase in response to [arginine]vasopressin (2–200nm) and salmon calcitonin (0.03–30nm) with both hormones fully activating the enzyme at a cell cyclic AMP content of 35pmol/mg of protein. Of the total cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity, 80% was found in the 27000g supernatant fraction of sonicated cell material, and this soluble protein kinase could be fully activated by hormone. Conversely, the 27000g pellet contained a significant proportion of cyclic AMP-independent protein kinase and only 20% of total cell cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase; the latter showed little response to hormone. On the basis of DEAE-cellulose chromatography, type II protein kinase was the predominant isoenzyme in both soluble and particulate fractions of the LLC-PK1 cells and the soluble fractions of rat and guinea-pig renal medulla. Thus, the LLC-PK1 cell line can serve as a model for hormonal modulation of protein kinase and as a potential source for defining the endogenous substrates for these enzymes.
Daily Activity Measured With Wearable Technology as a Novel Measurement of Treatment Effect in Patients With Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction: Substudy of a Randomized Controlled Crossover Trial

Background: Digital wearable devices provide a “real-world” assessment of physical activity and quantify intervention-related changes in clinical trials. However, the value of digital wearable device-recorded physical activity as a clinical trial outcome is unknown. Objective: Because late sodium channel inhibition (ranolazine) improves stress laboratory exercise duration among angina patients, we proposed that this benefit could be quantified and translated during daily life by measuring digital wearable device-determined step count in a clinical trial. Methods: We conducted a substudy in a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, crossover trial of participants with angina and coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) with no obstructive coronary artery disease to evaluate the value of digital wearable device monitoring. Ranolazine or placebo were administered (500-1000 mg twice a day) for 2 weeks with a subsequent 2-week washout followed by crossover to ranolazine or placebo (500-1000 mg twice a day) for an additional 2 weeks. The outcome of interest was within-subject difference in Fitbit Flex daily step count during week 2 of ranolazine versus placebo during each treatment period. Secondary outcomes included within-subject differences in angina, quality of life, myocardial perfusion reserve, and diastolic function. Results: A total of 43 participants were enrolled in the substudy and 30 successfully completed the substudy for analysis. Overall, late sodium channel inhibition reduced within-subject daily step count versus placebo (mean 5757 [SD 3076] vs mean 6593 [SD 339], P=.01) but did not improve angina (Seattle Angina Questionnaire-7 [SAQ-7]) (P=.83). Among the subgroup with improved angina (SAQ-7), a direct correlation with increased step count (r=.42, P=.02) was observed. Conclusions: We report one of the first studies to use digital wearable device-determined step count as an outcome variable in a placebo-controlled crossover trial of late sodium channel inhibition in participants with CMD. Our substudy demonstrates that late sodium channel inhibition was associated with a decreased step count overall, although the subgroup with angina improvement had a step count increase. Our findings suggest digital wearable device technology may provide new insights in clinical trial research. Trial Registration: Clinicaltrials.gov NCT01342029; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01342029 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6uyd6B2PO)
Compartmentalization of catalases in Escherichia coli

Escherichia coli possess three catalase genes: katG codes for protein HPI and katE codes for HPII; katF is also needed for HPII but may be a positive regulatory gene for katE. We have assayed for HPI and HPII in the outer cell membrane, the periplasmic space, the inner membrane, and in the cytoplasm of E. coli. Following synthesis of catalase in the cytoplasm the active katG gene product (HPI) was found in the periplasmic and in the cytoplasmic membrane fractions. HPII remained in the cytoplasm.
Developing measurable cultural competence and cultural humility: An application of the cultural formulation.

Training professional psychologists in a time of increasingly complex diversity-related issues requires innovative approaches to teaching cultural competency and cultural humility at the doctoral level. However, there is currently little empirical evidence to support effective teaching techniques in cultural competency training. To address this pedagogical need, the authors implemented and tested the utility of a 2-stage, developmental approach to using cultural formulation (CF) assignments. Students in a doctoral-level course on cultural competency were given a CF assignment at the course midpoint and a second assignment at the end of the academic term. Students were given extensive feedback after CF1, with the goal of providing direction for improvement of their cultural considerations in CF2. Using a thematic content analysis approach, each set of CF assignments were coded into themes demonstrating core competencies for cultural competence and cultural humility, and tallied to assess improvement in levels of competency across the 2 assignments. Results demonstrated several emergent themes: perspective taking, acknowledging intersections of identity, cultural self-awareness, scientific mindedness, and unsupported cultural statements. Related tallies reflect an overall improvement between the 2 assignments. This article therefore provides support for the use of 2-stage CF assignments as a tool for developing and measuring dimensions of cultural competence and cultural humility. Limitations and implications of the findings for clinical training are discussed.
Metal-Organic Framework (MOF) Nanorods, Nanotubes, and Nanowires.

New mechanisms for the controlled growth of one-dimensional (1D) metal-organic framework (MOF) nano- and superstructures under size-confinement and surface-directing effects have been discovered. Through applying interfacial synthesis templated by track-etched polycarbonate (PCTE) membranes, congruent polycrystalline zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) solid nanorods and hollow nanotubes were found to form within 100 nm membrane pores, while single crystalline ZIF-8 nanowires grew inside 30 nm pores, all of which possess large aspect ratios up to 60 and show preferential crystal orientation with the {100} planes aligned parallel to the long axis of the pore. Our findings provide a generalizable method for controlling size, morphology, and lattice orientation of MOF nanomaterials.
Comparisons of mandatory and discretionary lane changing behavior on freeways

Abstract This research performs comparative analyses on drivers’ behavior during mandatory and discretionary lane changes. We do this by examining the statistical properties of four lane changing decision variables that describe the gaps between the subject vehicle and the surrounding vehicles. Mandatory and discretionary lane changes in NGSIM’s I-80 Freeway and U.S. Highway 101 data collection sites were identified. First, for each variable at the same site, descriptive statistics for the two types of lane changes were compared, and hypothesis tests on the difference between two means were conducted. Then, for each decision variable at the same site, the observed cumulative distributions between the mandatory and discretionary lane changes were compared by means of the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test. This test was repeated for the fitted distributions of the same decision variable at the same site. The results show that, for the three decision variables associated with gaps in the target lane, the means and distributions between the two types of lane changes are not significantly different. The only variable found to have significant differences in means and distributions is the gap between the subject vehicle and the preceding vehicle in the original lane. This may be because this variable is not an important input in mandatory lane change decisions. This finding provides statistical justification for researchers to develop models with different inputs for mandatory and discretionary lane changes in driver assist systems, in autonomous vehicles, and in microscopic traffic simulation tools.
Sampling and the Sampling Theorem

When we do the Fourier or Laplace transform, or when we do their inverse transform we inevitably sample the signal—either in the time domain (former) or frequency domain (latter). The moment we migrate from equations to numbers sampling happens. Question then arises—how fine of a resolution does sampling needs to happen at? As a demonstrate vehicle we assume a time signal of finite bandwidth ω b . We show in the chapter that in order for us to be able to reconstruct the signal back from the Fourier transform the signal must have been sampled at a frequency at least twice the bandwidth frequency ω b . Sampling in the time domain is tantamount of multiplying by the train delta function. The time train function has a Fourier transform which is also a train function, but now in the frequency domain. By making the spacing of the delta functions close enough in the time domain, the spacing in the frequency domain becomes larger. If this spacing is large enough then the spectrum of the sampled signal is repeated (via convolution in the frequency domain) in such a way that each copy of the spectrum which is centered at one of the frequency delta functions does not interfere with the other. As such, doing a low-frequency filtering should enable us to extract the original transform and use to figure the inverse transform (i.e., reconstruct the signal). We show real examples that demonstrate—numerically and graphically—how under-sampling results in problems and over-sampling works perfectly fine.
In Search of the Dream Team: Temporally Constrained Multi-Armed Bandits for Identifying Effective Team Structures

Team structures---roles, norms, and interaction patterns---define how teams work. HCI researchers have theorized ideal team structures and built systems nudging teams towards them, such as those increasing turn-taking, deliberation, and knowledge distribution. However, organizational behavior research argues against the existence of universally ideal structures. Teams are diverse and excel under different structures: while one team might flourish under hierarchical leadership and a critical culture, another will flounder. In this paper, we present DreamTeam: a system that explores a large space of possible team structures to identify effective structures for each team based on observable feedback. To avoid overwhelming teams with too many changes, DreamTeam introduces multi-armed bandits with temporal constraints: an algorithm that manages the timing of exploration--exploitation trade-offs across multiple bandits simultaneously. A field experiment demonstrated that DreamTeam teams outperformed self-managing teams by 38%, manager-led teams by 46%, and teams with unconstrained bandits by 41%. This research advances computation as a powerful partner in establishing effective teamwork.
The Pharmacology of Cocaine

Cocaine has enjoyed a special mystique in the history of medicine, literature, and civilizations. The fathers of modern surgery and psychiatry were proponents of the use of cocaine.
Iqbal, Twombly, and the Lessons of the Celotex Trilogy

This Essay compares the Twombly/Iqbal line of cases to the Celotex trilogy and suggests that developments since the latter offer lessons for the former. Some of the comparisons are obvious: decreased access and increased judicial discretion. However, one important similarity has not been well understood: that the driving force in both contexts has been the lower courts rather than the Supreme Court. Further, while we can expect additional access barriers to be erected in the future, our focus should be on lower courts, rather than other institutional players, as the likely source of those barriers.
Evidence for the induction of iodide transport in bovine thyroid cells treated with thyroid-stimulating hormone or dibutyryl cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate.

In isolated bovine thyroid cells, incubation with TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) brought about a slowly developed stimulation of iodide accumulation. This stimulation was associated with an increase in the Vmax of the system that transports iodide ion into the cell. During the course of development of the stimulatory response, the presence of TSH was required only during the first 1 to 2 hours. After this initial period, the TSH could be removed, but full stimulation would still occur. During this same period, the stimulatory response could be completely blocked by addition of actinomycin D; whereas beyond it, addition of actinomycin D was without effect. It appears, therefore, that the TSH induced the synthesis of a specific RNA, and that this RNA accumulated sufficiently during the initial 2 hours to provide for the subsequent development of the full stimulatory response. When cycloheximide was added along with the TSH, stimulation was completely inhibited. However, if the cycloheximide and TSH were washed out at the end of the initial 2-hour period, and the incubation of the cells continued, full stimulation of the iodide pump developed even in the absence of further additions of TSH. Evidently, the induced specific RNA was accumulated in the cycloheximide-blocked cells, and when the cycloheximide was removed, this RNA became effective in inducing the formation of a specific stimulatory protein. Treatment of the thyroid cells with dibutyryl cyclic AMP (cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate) in place of TSH, faithfully reproduced all the effects of TSH in every detail. Moreover, the cyclic AMP content of the cells was found to be acutely responsive to increases and decreases in the concentration of TSH added to the incubation media. We conclude from the present findings that the first action of TSH is the activation of adenyl cyclase so that cyclic AMP production is augmented. Then the production of a specific RNA is induced, which in turn induces the formation of a specific stimulatory protein. The function of this protein in the stimulation of the iodide pump remains to be elucidated.
The Role of Necrosis and Inflammation in the Response of Cerebral Edema to Steroids

The effect of steroids on the edema associated with lesions induced by focal cerebral freezing in monkeys was assessed. The animals were sacrificed 48 h after injury. In one group treatment was begun 48 h prior to injury and in a second group treatment was begun after injury but the lesion size was reduced. The degree of edema was assessed through measurements of changes in the concentrations of tissue water, sodium, chloride, potassium, and iron and by the increase in weight of the damaged hemisphere. In addition to this the uptake of serum albumin and Evans blue was also measured. No indication of any effect on edema in either group was found.
Assessment of ethanol intake: Current tests and new assays on the horizon

The number of tests used for the detection of ethanol ingestion is increasing. The field is rapidly moving beyond ethanol alone as a marker of ethanol intake. The combined measurement of carbohydrate deficient transferrin, FAEEs, 5-HTOL/5-HIAA, acetaldehyde adducts, and phosphatidylethanol may one day be used to approximate the time and amount of ethanol ingestion. The ultimate configuration of a panel of tests for monitoring ethanol intake awaits the results of studies that identify the clinical usefulness of each marker.
The Impact of Country Characteristics on Civic Knowledge and Political Participation

Political participation scholars have argued for years over whether or not civic education has any effect on political participation, with no clear conclusion being drawn, despite a variety of analyses. These analyses tend to ignore the country characteristics and structural factors that influence the relationship between civic education and political participation. This article seeks to address the gap in the literature by using data from the International Civic and Citizen Study and other sources to show through quantitative analysis that country characteristics such as low economic development, stable state authority structures, and high inequality play a clear role in how effective civic education is in encouraging political participation. The article concludes by discussing limitations of the research and suggestions for future research.
Sustainable Waste-to-Energy Technologies: Gasification and Pyrolysis

Abstract Food waste generation is expected to increase with increased population and demand for food in the 21st century. More efficient food systems are needed to utilize and valorize pre- and postconsumer food waste and food processing by-products to create a closed-loop sustainable bioeconomy and reduce the amount of food waste. Food waste characteristics vary, depending on where it is generated, and utilization technologies vary based on these characteristics. Source-separated food wastes can provide better options for utilization; however, mixed waste valorization pathways are also emerging. Thermochemical conversion technologies appear to be a viable option to valorize pre- or postconsumer generated food waste. This chapter provides an overview of the application of gasification and pyrolysis technologies in converting suitable feedstocks into value-added products (energy, chemicals, nutrients, and clean water). Recent research demonstrates that syngas generated from gasification of food waste can either be utilized as a clean sustainable energy source or converted into liquid fuels and/or chemicals. Similarly, pyrolysis technology can convert viable food waste feedstocks into bio-oil from which chemical components can be extracted and utilized as intermediaries for the chemical industry, in addition to bio-oil’s potential to be utilized as fuel after appropriate cleanup. Pyrolysis-generated biochar can also be utilized as an affordable potable water cleaning medium, especially in developing parts of the world.
L1 adaptive sampled-data control for uncertain multi-input multi-output systems

This paper develops a sampled-data (SD) controller for uncertain multi-input multi-output (MIMO) systems, possibly with non-minimum phase zeros, using the L1 adaptive control architecture. The proposed controller compensates for disturbances and uncertainties within the bandwidth of a low-pass filter. Sufficient conditions for robust stability are obtained for the closed-loop system with SD controller, where the input/output signals are held constant over a sampling period. It is shown that the hybrid closed-loop system can recover the performance of a continuous-time reference system as the sampling time of the SD controller tends to zero. Simulation examples are provided to validate the theoretical findings.
Did Global Financial Crisis Impact the Islamic Banking Efficiencies? Evidence from Malaysian Islamic Banks

First, this paper investigated the loan and deposit efficiencies of Malaysian Islamic banks during 2008-2013 applying the non-parametric technique, Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), and found that the average technical efficiency (TE) of loan financing was 83%, 88%, 87%, 95%, 100%, and 94% and the average technical efficiency for deposit mobilizations was 87%, 94%, 94%, 96%, 92%, and 96%. Only four banks in 2008, two bank in 2009, three banks in 2010, two banks in 2011-2013 are both technically and scale efficient in loan production. On the other hand, only four banks in 2008 and 2009, five banks in 2010 and 2011, three banks in 2012, and five banks in 2013 are both technical and scale efficient in deposit mobilizations. Second, the paper compares the efficiencies of Islamic banks between the global financial crisis (GFC) and the post global financial crisis (PGFC) in determining whether the efficiencies of banks between the GFCP and PGFCP are stable. Both parametric and non-parametric tests found no significant difference in the efficiencies between the two periods suggesting that the efficiencies of the Malaysian Islamic banks were stable.
Exploring the Relevance and Energy Usage Implications of Fixed Computer Labs in Electrical Engineering Education

This Research Paper examines the question of whether fixed computer labs are still a necessary or important facet of the Electrical Engineering Laboratory Environment. Large academic computer labs stocked with high performance computing workstations have long been a major feature of Electrical and Computer Engineering programs. Historically they have been used throughout the curriculum for everything from running complex image processing algorithms in Matlab to simulating and synthesizing advanced digital designs with CAD tools like Vivado. As the cost of computation has declined, however, and as students increasingly bring their own high performance computing devices to the lab, it is no longer clear that workstation-based computer labs provide a significant benefit for student learning. This paper explores this topic by looking at student in-lab computer usage patterns and preferences for an introductory digital design course at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo. Our research also quantifies the potential environmental savings institutions can achieve by moving away from workstation-based labs by comparing average energy usage from students using lab computers versus those using their own laptops.