cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The association among blood transfusions, white blood cell count, and the frequency of post-cardiothoracic surgery atrial fibrillation: a nested cohort study from the Atrial Fibrillation Suppression Trials I, II, and III.

Objective To evaluate the impact of postoperative red blood cell transfusions and white blood cell (WBC) counts on post–cardiothoracic surgery atrial fibrillation. Design A nested cohort study of 550 patients from the Atrial Fibrillation Suppression Trials I, II, and III. Setting A large urban teaching hospital. Participants Patients undergoing cardiothoracic surgery. Measurements and Results Endpoints included postoperative atrial fibrillation occurrence and maximum white blood cell counts during the first 5 days postoperatively. Multivariate logistic regression was used to control for potential confounders and calculate adjusted odds ratios (AOR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). Of the 173 patients (31.5%) who developed postoperative atrial fibrillation, 110 patients (63.5%) received postoperative transfusions and 63 patients (36.5%) did not (crude odds ratio = 1.89; 95% CI, 1.31-2.74; p = 0.001). Postoperative white blood cell counts were significantly greater in patients who developed atrial fibrillation on postoperative days 3 to 5. There were no differences in WBC between patients who did and did not receive transfusions. Upon multivariate logistic regression, the use of postoperative red blood cell transfusions was found to be associated with a 2-fold increase in postoperative atrial fibrillation (AOR 1.95; 95% CI, 1.24-3.06; p = 0.004). Similarly, the maximum white blood cell count also was associated with increased atrial fibrillation odds (AOR 1.09 K/μL; 95% CI, 1.04-1.13; p Conclusions Postoperative red blood cell transfusion use was found to be a strong independent predictor for the development of postoperative atrial fibrillation, although no direct link between red blood cell transfusion and an increased white blood cell count was seen.
The afterlife of an early medieval chapel: Giovanni Battista Ricci and perceptions of the Christian past in post-Tridentine Rome

This paper treats the afterlife of an early medieval chapel, the Oratory of Pope John VII (705–707) in Old St Peter's, in a painting by Giovanni Battista Ricci (1537/45–1625) remarkable for its inaccuracy. The oratory's original appearance can be reconstructed with some certainty based on the surviving fragments and other documentation, both written and visual. Ricci's painting, by contrast, clearly rearranges the chapel's furnishings and alters the arrangement, style, and iconography of its pictorial decoration. It is evident that the artist's aim was something other than simple documentation. When viewed in conjunction with Giacomo Grimaldi's writings on the oratory and contemporary debates about religious images, it becomes clear that Ricci's painting is a recreation that pictorially rewrites the oratory's biography in order that it might serve as a defence of images, most particularly of the Sudarium of Veronica, the miraculous holy image the chapel once housed. (pp. 686–698)
EDIBLE COATINGS FOR REDUCING OIL UPTAKE IN PRODUCTION OF AKARA (DEEP‐FAT FRYING OF COWPEA PASTE)

Recent trends in food processing have emphasized the development and improvement of reduced fat foods. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of edible coatings formulated from hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, methylcellulose, corn zein, and amylose in restricting oil absorption during deep-fat frying of akara, a traditional West African food made from whipped cowpea paste. Effectiveness of two methods of coating application (spraying and dipping) were examined. Portioned balls of akara paste were partially-fried in peanut oil for 100 s at 193C. Coatings were applied, dried, and the product was frozen at -18C. After thawing, samples were finish fried at 166C to an internal temperature of 70C. Total moisture content of all coated samples was significantly higher than the control. Coated akara absorbed significantly less oil than the control for both sprayed and dipped applications. For both applications, the coated samples appeared to be soggy and less brown when compared to the control samples.
Ability, Effort, and Performance Among First-Year Law Students at Brigham Young University

This study considers the relationships between first-year law students' admission credentials, the amount of time they spend in study, and the grades they receive on examination. Findings include that there is a significant drop in effort during the first year, that while effort invested in study pays off in improved grades this effort is much less significant in explaining grades than is student ability as measured by LSAT and undergraduate grades, that students in the middle and bottom of the class are helped more by substantial study than are those in the top, that class attendance is much more valuable in raising grades than is equivalent time in other study, and that none of the various study techniques examined could be linked with major differences in results.
The PUB Domain: A Putative Protein–Protein Interaction Domain Implicated in the Ubiquitin-Proteasome Pathway

Cytoplasmic peptide:N-glycanase (PNGase) is a de-N-glycosylating enzyme which may be involved in the proteasome-dependent pathway for degradation of misfolded glycoproteins formed in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) that are exported into the cytoplasm. A cytoplasmic PNGase found in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Png1p, is widely distributed in higher eukaryotes as well as in yeast (Suzuki, T., et al. J. Cell Biol. 149, 1039-1051, 2000). The recently uncovered complete genome sequence of Arabidopsis thaliana prompted us to search for the protein homologue of Png1p in this organism. Interestingly, when the mouse Png1p homologue sequence was used as a query, not only a Png1p homologue containing a transglutaminase-like domain that is believed to contain a catalytic triad for PNGase activity, but also four proteins which had a domain of 46 amino acids in length that exhibited significant similarity to the N-terminus of mouse Png1p were identified. Moreover, three of these homologous proteins were also found to possess a UBA or UBX domain, which are found in various proteins involved in the ubiquitin-related pathway. We name this newly found homologous region the PUB (Peptide:N-glycanase/UBA or UBX-containing proteins) domain and propose that this domain may mediate protein-protein interactions.
Balanced Amplification: A New Mechanism of Selective Amplification of Neural Activity Patterns

In cerebral cortex, ongoing activity absent a stimulus can resemble stimulus-driven activity in size and structure. In particular, spontaneous activity in cat primary visual cortex (V1) has structure significantly correlated with evoked responses to oriented stimuli. This suggests that, from unstructured input, cortical circuits selectively amplify specific activity patterns. Current understanding of selective amplification involves elongation of a neural assembly's lifetime by mutual excitation among its neurons. We introduce a new mechanism for selective amplification without elongation of lifetime: "balanced amplification." Strong balanced amplification arises when feedback inhibition stabilizes strong recurrent excitation, a pattern likely to be typical of cortex. Thus, balanced amplification should ubiquitously contribute to cortical activity. Balanced amplification depends on the fact that individual neurons project only excitatory or only inhibitory synapses. This leads to a hidden feedforward connectivity between activity patterns. We show in a detailed biophysical model that this can explain the cat V1 observations.
THE EFFECTS OF INCREASING AlN MOLE FRACTION ON THE PERFORMANCE OF AlGaN ACTIVE REGIONS CONTAINING NANOMETER SCALE COMPOSITIONALLY INHOMOGENEITIES

In this paper we report on the characterization of n-Al0.51Ga0.49N active regions and the fabrication of ultraviolet LEDs that contain self-assembled, nanometer-scale compositional inhomogeneities (NCI-AlGaN) with emission at ~290 nm. These active regions exhibit reduced integrated photoluminescence intensity and PL lifetime relative to 320 nm NCI-AlGaN active regions that have significantly lower AlN mole fraction, despite having more than an order of magnitude fewer threading dislocations, as measured by transmission electron microscopy. This behavior is attributed to nonradiative recombination associated with the presence of a larger density of point defects in the higher Al content samples. The point defects are ameliorated somewhat by the lower density of NCI AlGaN regions in the higher Al content samples, which leads to a larger concentration of carriers in the NCI and concomitant reduced radiative lifetime that may account for the high observed peak IQE (~ 25%). Prototype flip chip double heterostructure-NCI- ultraviolet light emitting diodes operating at 292 nm have been fabricated that employ a 50% NCI-AlGaN active region.
Imagined Communities Made Real: The Impact of Robert Schumann’s Neue Zeitschrift für Musik on the formation of Music Communities in the Mid-Nineteenth Century

In his book Imagined Communities, Benedict Anderson examined the power of the printed word in the establishment of large intellectual communities and showed how the ritualized reading of continuous publications such as daily newspapers and weekly magazines creates a sense of “imagined community” among readers. Anderson's concept of the imagined community can be used as a catalyst to explore the ideology behind Robert Schumann's creation of the Neue Zeitschrift fur Musik and to demonstrate the impact this journal had on the formation of smaller, although no less unified, intellectual music communities during the mid-nineteenth century—namely, the Copenhagen Davidsbund in Denmark and the Neu-Weimar-Verein in Germany.
Intratympanic steroid perfusion for refractory sudden sensorineural hearing loss.

Objective Patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL) can benefit from systemic steroid therapy. Unfortunately, some patients are not candidates for steroid therapy due to concern over possible complications. Furthermore, not all patients will benefit from steroid administration. This study evaluates the potential benefits and safety of treating patients with SSHL refractory to oral steroids with intratympanic steroid therapy. Methods A retrospective case review was performed on all patients who presented with sudden sensorineural hearing loss refractory to oral steroid therapy during the past year. Seventeen patients were identified. All patients underwent intratympanic steroid administration, via MicroWick placement and/or round window catheter placement. Results Nine patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss showed an improvement with intratympanic steroid therapy, consisting of MicroWick placement with dexamethasone drop (Decadron) administration for 1–2 weeks and/or round window catheter placement with steroid perfusion. Only one of the patients presenting with hearing loss present for greater than 8 weeks benefited from intratympanic therapy. Complications were few and included tympanic membrane perforation, chronic otitis media, dysequilibrium, and dysguesia. Conclusions Intratympanic steroid therapy can be beneficial in treating patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss refractory to oral steroid use. EBM rating: C.
Amorphastilbol, an antimicrobial agent from Amorpha nana

Abstract Bioassay-directed fractionation of Amorpha nana demonstrated that the anti Gram positive/antitubercular constituent is amorphastilbol. The chemical structure of amorphastilbol was confirmed by chemical transformation to known ( Radula variabilis ) dihydroamorphastilbol and its methyl ether. Inactive 3,5-dihydroxy-7,4′-dimethoxyflavone was detected in this plant for the first time and identified by interconversion with kaempferol. All compounds were evaluated in vitro for antimicrobial spectrum and potency.
On optimal analysis/synthesis filters for coding gain maximization

We consider the use of pre and postfilters in conjunction with M-channel, uniform-band paraunitary (orthonormal) filter banks. We show that given any orthonormal filter bank, the pre and postfilters that maximize the coding gain are determined entirely by the power spectrum of the input process regardless of the details of the orthonormal filter blank (which could be FIR, IIR, or even the ideal brickwall filter bank). The optimized coding gain, however, depends on the prefilter as well as the sandwiched orthonormal filter bank. The coding gain improvement due to pre and postfiltering is often significant as we demonstrate with numerical examples and comparisons. The validity of our results depends strongly on the orthonormality property of the filter bank in between the pre and postfilters. In the nonorthonormal case, most of these results are not true, as is demonstrated.
Effects of the N-Terminal Sequence of ACE on the Properties of Its C-Domain

Angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE, kininase II) has 2 active domains (N and C) in a single peptide chain. Because we found its N-domain more stable than its C-domain, we investigated the effect of the amino-terminus of human ACE on the C-domain with a molecular construct expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO) cells and transiently in HEK293 cells. This active N-deleted ACE contained only the first 141 amino acids of the human N-domain but not its active center and was linked to the active C-domain containing the transmembrane and cytosolic portions of ACE. The CHO cells were also transfected with human B(2) bradykinin receptor. ACE inhibitors (5 nmol/L or 1 micromol/L) augmented bradykinin (100 nmol/L) effects, elevated B(2) receptor numbers, and resensitized the receptor desensitized by agonist as measured by arachidonic acid release or [Ca(2+)](i) mobilization. Arachidonic acid release was mediated by pertussis toxin-sensitive G alpha(i), and [Ca(2+)](i) mobilization was mediated by pertussis-insensitive G alpha(q) protein receptor complex. The properties of the construct were compared with wild-type ACE and separate N- and C-domains. The N-deleted ACE differed from wild-type in activation by Cl(-) and [SO(4)](2-) ions, hydrolysis ratios of substrates (both short synthetic and endogenous peptides) and heat stability. Thus, the N-terminal peptide of ACE affected the characteristics of the C-domain active center. ACE inhibitors acting on N-deleted ACE, which had only a single C-domain active center anchored to plasma membrane, induced cross-talk between the enzyme and the B(2) receptor (eg, the inhibitors resensitized the receptor) independent of blocking bradykinin inactivation.
Separate Neural Systems Value Immediate and Delayed Monetary Rewards

When humans are offered the choice between rewards available at different points in time, the relative values of the options are discounted according to their expected delays until delivery. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we examined the neural correlates of time discounting while subjects made a series of choices between monetary reward options that varied by delay to delivery. We demonstrate that two separate systems are involved in such decisions. Parts of the limbic system associated with the midbrain dopamine system, including paralimbic cortex, are preferentially activated by decisions involving immediately available rewards. In contrast, regions of the lateral prefrontal cortex and posterior parietal cortex are engaged uniformly by intertemporal choices irrespective of delay. Furthermore, the relative engagement of the two systems is directly associated with subjects' choices, with greater relative fronto-parietal activity when subjects choose longer term options.
Metabolic effects of enteral formula feeding in alcoholic hepatitis.

The etiology of malnutrition and the metabolic effect of aggressive nutritional support by enteral feeding were evaluated in patients with moderately severe alcoholic hepatitis. Among 21 patients presenting with jaundice, ascites, coagulopathy and low grade encephalopathy, the mean digestibilities (intake – fecal excretion/intake × 100) of total energy and fat were subnormal at 74.6 ± 2.9 and 64.5 ± 4.4%, respectively, and nitrogen balance was negative in half the patients with a mean value of +0.74 gm per day ± 1.2. Based on initial ad libitum intake of hospital diet, patients were grouped as six patients with adequate caloric intake who underwent a repeated 3-day balance study to assess the effect of hospitalization (Group I) and eight anorectic patients who underwent a repeat balance study during constant nasoduodenal infusion of the liquid formula Isocal-HCN in an amount sufficient to provide 35 kcal per kg ideal body weight (Group II). During the initial phase of hospital tray diet, the mean digestibilities of energy, fat, protein and carbohydrate, and the mean nitrogen balance were similar in each group. The digestibilities of each diet constituent and nitrogen balance were similar in both phases of hospital tray diet in patients in Group I. On the other hand, the infusion of Isocal-HCN to patients in Group II resulted in significant increases over their baseline values in intakes of energy and protein and in digestibilities of energy, fat and protein, and in a 5-fold increase in nitrogen balance. Provision of essential nutrients by enteric infusion had no effect on fluid balance or degree of encephalopathy. These short-term studies provide a metabolic basis for enteric formula feeding in improving the intestinal absorption and nitrogen balance of anorectic patients with alcoholic hepatitis.
Endometrial cancer: multiplexed Luminex approaches for early detection.

Background: Endometrial carcinoma is the most common gynecologic cancer. Despite the advances that have been made in other cancers, both the annual incidence of and the death rate associated with endometrial cancer appear to be rising, both in the US and around the world. In the US, ∼ 41,000 cases are diagnosed and about 7000 women die from the disease each year. Adenocarcinoma, which originates in surface cells of the endometrium, accounts for ∼ 90% of cases of endometrial cancer. At this time, there are no early detection tests or exams that can find endometrial cancer early in women without symptoms. Objective: There is growing interest in the use of biomarker approaches for the early detection of endometrial cancer. Endometrial cancer has been linked to altered growth factor signaling, immune inflammatory responses and angiogenesis. This article provides an overview of endometrial cancer and outlines the rationale and need for the clinical application of multiplexed ELISA-based assays for the early de...
Employee ownership and participation effects on outcomes in firms majority employee-owned through employee stock ownership plans in the US1:

This article compares sales per employee for a panel of over 300 US firms which are majority employee-owned through employee stock ownership plans with a panel of closely matched, traditionally owned firms. Responses from a survey of firm work practices are used to estimate worker participation effects. Comparing matched firms, sales per employee are substantially and significantly higher for the employee-owned group of firms. This ‘employee-owned advantage’ is significantly greater among smaller firms, and (holding firm size constant) improves as the average employee’s ownership stake in firm stock goes up. Holding both firm size and employee stake constant, the employee-owned advantage is substantially (though not significantly) greater in the large group of firms which are 100 percent owned by their ESOP trusts. Holding firm size constant, increased production–worker influence on three facets of firm innovation also improves the advantage.
Assessing Released Inmates for Substance-Abuse-Related Service Needs

High rates of substance abuse and recidivism and limited in-prison and postrelease treatment access and transitional planning complicate community reintegration. Moreover, drug-related health and social problems are related to treatment outcomes. In the framework of risk-responsivity theory and structured, integrated reentry models, this article argues for new, psychometrically sound assessment tools that are multidimensional, facilitate risk management and service linkages, and combine static and dynamic factors and multiple time frames. The organizational complexity of reentry increases the urgency to develop tools to accurately identify parolee service needs. Such tools will increase knowledge about factors determining or mediating postrelease outcomes.
Impact of Medicare reimbursement on influenza vaccination rates in the elderly.

Abstract Background . Influenza is responsible for significant morbidity, mortality, and medical costs, but immunization rates in the elderly remain low. Methods . As part of a demonstration project in rural Pennsylvania, 1,989 community-dwelling Medicare beneficiaries, 65-79 years old, completed a health risk appraisal including questions about flu shots. Participants were randomized to two experimental (hospital or physician) or control groups. Experimental groups were offered free flu shots for the 1990-91 flu season. Follow-up interviews to determine vaccination rates were completed about 1 year later. Results . Baseline immunization rates were almost identical for the hospital-based (41.2%), physician-based (41.3%), and control group not offered free immunizations (40.6%). Follow-up rates for the groups offered immunizations rose significantly to 63.6 and 69.1% for hospital and physician groups, respectively, while the control group also increased significantly to 54.1%. Individuals who were more educated, were older, and had greater chronic diseases history (myocardial infarction, hypertension, and pulmonary disease) were more likely to be immunized. Male and married elderly were more likely to be immunized as a result of the demonstration. Conclusions . Increasing community education and providing immunizations free through Medicare will increase immunization rates among elderly. The elderly are more likely to receive flu shots provided through physicians′ offices than through hospital-based clinics.
The Fugelli Tactic

Per Fugelli, a physician–scientist at the Institute of Public Health in Oslo, Norway, advised fellow physicians at a conference on social medicine to respond proactively to the increasing competition they now face from practitioners of alternative medicine. The theme of his speech was that nonmedical practitioners have become highly successful competitors in the health care marketplace because they do some things better than medical doctors. “Patient satisfaction with alternative practitioners may mirror specific dissatisfactions with doctors in biomedicine,” was the way he put it. To that extent, Fugelli merely stated a truism. What is thought-provoking is that on that basis he urged doctors to learn as much as they can about whatever it is that makes alternative practitioners more effective, not, as one would hope, in order to facilitate the creation of integrated practices, but rather, in order to compete more effectively in maintaining their biomedical monopoly as health care providers. He urged them to adapt what they learn to their own clinical practice. A physician who pursues this option, he emphasized, can avoid losing patients. In Fugelli’s view, which is highly critical of every kind of alternative therapy, what is worth emulating is almost entirely limited to social skills, that is, to patient management techniques. Other physicians have been favorably impressed with the clinical benefits alternative competitors are able to offer and have imitated therapies as such, including the practice of spinal manipulation. When James Fisk initiated his practice of medicine in rural New Zealand in the early 1960s, for example, he discovered, as he recalls, “I was considered (like the rest of my fellow practitioners), to be ‘no good with backs.’ I found that I was being bypassed in favor of the services of local chiropractors.” And this, he agreed, was not without reason. “When a doctor first enters general practice, the most he can usually offer patients with back and neck pain is referral elsewhere, liniment, and pain killers.” So Fisk put what I have termed the Fugelli tactic into practice. In his words, he acted on the adage, “if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em.” He became highly skilled, and eventually published a practical guide to which other physicians might refer. (Fisk, 1977: ix, 3) So Fugelli articulated a recommendation that has already been implemented in many parts of the world, and it is not limited to interpersonal skills that improve patient satisfaction. I report here on how I encountered a patient’s response to the Fugelli tactic in Denmark, where I have at times lived, studied, and carried out anthropological fieldwork since 1949. This research endeavor began with a conversation held in 1999 with Kaj Brandt Thomsen in a small city in rural Jutland. Mr. Brandt Thomsen happens to be my cousin.
Copernicus studies of interstellar material in the Perseus II complex. III - The line of sight to Zeta Persei

Ultraviolet spectrophotometric data obtained with Copernicus are used to analyze the distribution, composition, density, temperature, and kinematics of the interstellar material along the line of sight to Zeta Persei. The far-UV extinction curve for the star is evaluated along with the kinematics of the interstellar gas, observations of atomic and molecular hydrogen, curves of growth for neutral and ionized species, atomic abundances and depletions, ionization equilibria, and observations of CO and OH lines. The results show that there are apparently three clouds along the line of sight to Zeta Persei: a main cloud at approximately +13 km/s which contains most of the material and forms all the neutral and molecular lines as well as most of the ionic lines, a second component at +22 km/s which must contribute to the strong UV lines of most ions, and a third component at roughly +2 km/s which gives rise to a strong Si III line at 1206 A. It is also found that the UV extinction curve has a somewhat steep far-UV rise, indicating the presence of a substantial number of small grains, and that about 30% of the hydrogen nuclei over the entire line of sight are in molecular form.
Pairing-specific, activity-dependent presynaptic facilitation at Aplysia sensory-motor neuron synapses in isolated cell culture

Synapses made by Aplysia sensory neurons onto motor- and interneuron followers in the intact nervous system exhibit an associative form of synaptic facilitation that is thought to contribute to classical conditioning of the animal9s gill and siphon withdrawal reflex (Hawkins et al., 1983; Walters and Byrne, 1983). Here we demonstrate that a similar associative facilitation can be induced between individual sensory and motor neurons isolated in culture. Pairing tetanic stimulation with either of two facilitatory transmitters, 5-HT or small cardioactive peptide, considerably prolongs facilitation compared to either tetanus or transmitter alone. When corrected for the depression that occurs simply in response to low-frequency testing, the facilitation produced by one pairing trial does not decay for more than 20 min after training. This facilitation requires the temporal pairing (0.5 sec forward interstimulus interval) of the two stimuli, tetanus and 5-HT. Delivering the same two stimuli in an unpaired fashion (1 min forward interval) fails to produce the long-lasting effect. Measurements of spontaneous transmitter release during either paired or unpaired training reveal no changes in unitary mEPSP or mEPSC (“mini”) amplitude, indicating that the facilitation involves a presynaptic mechanism. While both forms of training dramatically increase the initial frequency of spontaneous release, mini frequency does not remain elevated as long as the evoked EPSP following paired training, nor does paired training specifically enhance spontaneous release frequency. Pairing-specific facilitation was not blocked by the protein kinase C inhibitor H7. In contrast, the same training procedure produced pairing-specific increases of sensory neuron excitability and action potential width, suggesting that cAMP-mediated processes are involved in the paired effect. Although Ca2+ influx is necessary for the associative effect (Abrams, 1985), we find that the facilitation does not require influx through L-type voltage-gated Ca2+ channels, since the effect was not blocked by the dihydropyridine antagonist nitrendipine. Together, these findings indicate that the mechanism underlying associative, activity-dependent facilitation is intrinsic to the sensory neuron synapse, that it is presynaptically mediated by processes unique to evoked synaptic transmission, and that it appears to involve a pairing-specific broadening of the presynaptic action potential, allowing enhanced Ca2+ influx through the dihydropyridine- insensitive channels responsible for release.
Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma in a Mouse Model: Assessment of Tumor Response to Percutaneous Ablation by Using Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Antagonists

Molecular targeting of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by using percutaneous injection of an inhibitor, 3-bromopyruvate, or short hairpin RNA blocks tumor progression, which demonstrates the therapeutic potential of targeting GAPDH in HCC.
Affect Regulation, Mirror Neurons, and the Third Hand: Formulating Mindful Empathic Art Interventions

Visual empathy through empathic art interventions are discussed in this article with respect to attachment theory; recent research on the mirror neuron system; art, empathy, and mindfulness; and an artistic strategy for crafting third-hand interventions (Kramer, 1986). A case vignette demonstrates the art therapist's applied use of visual art responses that help to organize complex information and reflect back the emotional center of a client's communications. With careful attunement, art therapists can develop unique, aesthetic forms of empathic resonance that will help clients feel deeply seen and develop empathy for themselves and compassion for others.
Fine-grained sharing of sensed physical activity: a value sensitive approach

Personal informatics applications in a variety of domains are increasingly enabled by low cost personal sensing. Although applications capture fine-grained activity for self reflection, sharing is generally limited to high level summaries. There are potential advantages to fine-grained sharing, but also potential harms. To help investigate this complex design space, we employ Value Sensitive Design to consider whether and how to share fine grained step activity. We identify key values and value tensions, and we develop scenarios to highlight these. We then design a set of data transformations that seek to maximize the benefits while minimizing the harms of detailed sharing. These include a novel approach to interactive modification of fine grained step data, allowing people to remove private data and using motif discovery to generate realistic replacement data. Finally, we conduct semi structured interviews with 12 participants examining these scenarios and transformations. We distill results into a set of design considerations for fine-grained physical activity sharing.
A Framework for the Analysis of Airframe/Engine Interactions and Integrated Flight/Propulsion Control

Potential sources of airframe/engine interactions are explored for aircraft subject to the study of integrated flight/propulsion control. A quasi-linear framework for the analysis of these dynamical interactions between the airframe and engine systems is presented. This analysis can be used to quantify, in a meaningful way, the magnitude of the interactions between the airframe and engine systems, determine if these interactions are significant to warrant further consideration in the control law synthesis, and if so, what are the critical frequency ranges where problems may occur due to these interactions. Justification for the use of this method, along with the assumptions, conditions and restrictions that apply are discussed. Sample results of this analysis are used to illustrate issues brought forth in its development. Also, a comparison is made between another frmework for analysis in integrated flight and propulsion control, reported elsewhere, and the framework presented in this paper.
A severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mouse model for infection with Entamoeba histolytica.

We used severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice to study resistance to invasive infection with Entamoeba histolytica. Seven of seven SCID mice developed liver abscesses when challenged intrahepatically with virulent HM1:IMSS strain E. histolytica trophozoites. Only one of seven similarly challenged immunocompetent congenic C.B-17 mice developed an abscess. Adoptive transfer of polyclonal rabbit anti-E. histolytica antiserum, but not preimmune rabbit serum, completely protected 7 of 12 SCID mice from intrahepatic challenge with ameba. These results demonstrate that lymphocyte-based immunity is important in protection against amebic liver abscess, and that anti-E. histolytica antibody can protect against amebic infection in this system. The SCID mouse may provide a powerful model for studying the components of protective immunity to invasive amebiasis.
Robust Linearized Image Reconstruction for Multifrequency EIT of the Breast

Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) is a developing imaging modality that is beginning to show promise for detecting and characterizing tumors in the breast. At Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, we have developed a combined EIT-tomosynthesis system that allows for the coregistered and simultaneous analysis of the breast using EIT and X-ray imaging. A significant challenge in EIT is the design of computationally efficient image reconstruction algorithms which are robust to various forms of model mismatch. Specifically, we have implemented a scaling procedure that is robust to the presence of a thin highly-resistive layer of skin at the boundary of the breast and we have developed an algorithm to detect and exclude from the image reconstruction electrodes that are in poor contact with the breast. In our initial clinical studies, it has been difficult to ensure that all electrodes make adequate contact with the breast, and thus procedures for the use of data sets containing poorly contacting electrodes are particularly important. We also present a novel, efficient method to compute the Jacobian matrix for our linearized image reconstruction algorithm by reducing the computation of the sensitivity for each voxel to a quadratic form. Initial clinical results are presented, showing the potential of our algorithms to detect and localize breast tumors.
Adaptive semi-unsupervised weighted oversampling (A-SUWO) for imbalanced datasets

A new oversampling method for imbalanced dataset classification is presented.It clusters the minority class and identifies borderline minority instances.Considering majority class during minority class clustering improves oversampling.Cluster size after oversampling should be dependent on its misclassification error.Generated synthetic instances improved subsequent classification. In many applications, the dataset for classification may be highly imbalanced where most of the instances in the training set may belong to one of the classes (majority class), while only a few instances are from the other class (minority class). Conventional classifiers will strongly favor the majority class and ignore the minority instances. In this paper, we present a new oversampling method called Adaptive Semi-Unsupervised Weighted Oversampling (A-SUWO) for imbalanced binary dataset classification. The proposed method clusters the minority instances using a semi-unsupervised hierarchical clustering approach and adaptively determines the size to oversample each sub-cluster using its classification complexity and cross validation. Then, the minority instances are oversampled depending on their Euclidean distance to the majority class. A-SUWO aims to identify hard-to-learn instances by considering minority instances from each sub-cluster that are closer to the borderline. It also avoids generating synthetic minority instances that overlap with the majority class by considering the majority class in the clustering and oversampling stages. Results demonstrate that the proposed method achieves significantly better results in most datasets compared with other sampling methods.
Insufficient methodologically-sound evidence exists for the use of computer-based interventions to teach communication skills to individuals with autism

Ramdoss, S., Lang, R., Mulloy, A., Franco, J., O’Reilly, M., Didden, R., & Lancioni, G. (2011). Use of computer-based instructions to teach communication skills to children with autism spectrum disorders: A systemic review. Journal of Behavioral Education, 20, 55–76.Sources of Funding and Declaration of Interests: No source of funding was reported and no conflicts of interests were reported.
Modeling the Effects of Planetary Wave Breaking in the Stratosphere

Planetary waves are known to “break” in the stratosphere, that is, to dissipate through nonlinear interactions which cascade wave properties to small scales. Planetary wave breaking exerts a strong influence on the dynamics, thermal structure, and distribution of trace chemical species in the winter stratosphere because it drives the mean meridional circulation and promotes quasi-horizontal mixing. In principle, the mechanism of wave breaking can be simulated only with high resolution numerical models that are able to capture the nonlinear cascade to small scales. However, Garcia (1991) has shown that it is possible to parameterize the effects of planetary wave breaking by an approach similar to that advocated by Lindzen (1981) for mesospheric gravity waves. This parameterization, and its implementation in a numerical model of the middle atmosphere, are discussed in this paper. It is shown that including parameterized wave breaking leads to more realistic simulations of the dynamical and chemical structure of the stratosphere than are possible with conventional two-dimensional models.
A picture is worth a thousand questions is OCT ready for routine clinical use

Imaging technologies, including those that combine the existing ones [(1)][1], are being introduced at an ever increasing rate, and the imaging and interventional community shows great enthusiasm for incorporating them into routine patient care. These new imaging modalities have a few things in
The Fairness Hearing: Adversarial and Regulatory Approaches

At the conclusion of every class action lawsuit, a judge must hold a fairness hearing and assess the reasonableness of the outcome. The fairness hearing contains the promise of providing real monitoring of class counsel, but in practice, it has not fulfilled this promise. In this Article, I provide a sustained investigation of the fairness hearing, arguing that since it will inevitably take place, we ought to perfect not abandon it. To that end, I explore four mechanisms that might assist the judge at the fairness hearing: a devil's advocate, employed by the court to argue against the settlement; bonds, posted by the settling parties and used to pay the attorneys' fees of private objectors who raise valid concerns; labels, like the food nutrition labels, compelled by a public agency to provide more transparency to the elements and quality of the settlement; certification marks, like the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval, created by an independent private group to signal class members and judges as to the adequacy of the settlement terms. Examining this new set of disparate proposals enables an assessment of the underlying question of institutional design: namely, whether adversarial or regulatory, public or private, approaches are likely to be most efficacious at identifying and curtailing problematic settlements and hence controlling class counsel. Given that at a fairness hearing the judge reviews two distinct sets of concerns - the process by which the settlement was achieved and the content of the settlement in light of the strengths or weaknesses of the plaintiffs' claims - I conclude that the proposed settlement of a class action should trigger a two-part process involving both a judicial assessment of the value of the claims and a regulatory assessment of the process of settlement.
Biological control and nutrition: Food for thought

Abstract Biological control agents including a wide range of organisms such as predators, parasitoids, and entomopathogens (bacteria, fungi, nematodes, and viruses) are frequently used to control insect pests. Despite commercial availability of these biocontrol agents their widespread use is limited due to biological and economic difficulties. Efficient mass-production relies heavily on the environment in which the agent is grown. Nutrition can play a significant role in important biocontrol traits such as colonization and survival, tolerance to environmental stress, reproduction, and longevity. Therefore, to increase biocontrol potential nutritional aspects should be considered prior to commercial production. This review aims to explore the role nutrition plays in the production and efficacy of biocontrol agents by summarizing the effect nutrition has on important biocontrol traits, specifically traits in organisms that target insect pests including predators, parasitoids, and microbial agents.
Using Geriatric Standardized Patients and Technology to Teach Counseling and Health Science Students How to Work Interprofessionally

The need for health care providers with geriatric-specific training in the United States is growing. This qualitative article focuses on the reflections of interprofessional health and behavioral science students' involvement participating in a unique 1-day standardized patient experience. Results indicated the experience was positive and meaningful for students.
GIS-based channel flow and sediment transport simulation using CCHE1D coupled with AnnAGNPS

ABSTRACTThe Center for Computational Hydroscience and Engineering one-dimensional model simulates unsteady free-surface flows with nonequilibrium, nonuniform sediment transport in dendritic channel networks. Since the early 1990s, this channel network model and its software packages have been developed and continuously maintained and upgraded. Applications show that the channel network model is a useful tool for the assessment of the performance of best-management practices in a watershed when coupled with watershed modelling. In this study, version 3.0 of the channel network model has been integrated with version 5.41 of the Annualized AGricultural Non-Point Source model and the ArcGIS control module is developed to replace the ArcView GIS control module resulting in a new version, the Center for Computational Hydroscience and Engineering 1-Dimensional model version 3.2. A case study, performed for the Goodwin Creek Watershed, shows that time-series of flow discharges and observed annual sediment accumul...
The Application of Weather Radar to Aviation Meteorology

During the Second World War, two major technological advances occurred that were to have a revolutionary impact on aviation weather: the development of radar use in weather detection and, simultaneously, the development of a greatly expanded use of aircraft. The use of weather radar in aviation was to prove revolutionary over the next 40 years by providing previously unavailable resolution regarding the nature of storms, events that in the early days of aviation took a high toll in lives.
Simplifying the preevacuation testing strategy for patients with molar pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: To review our institution's preevacuation testing strategy for suspected molar pregnancy to determine whether a simplified approach might be indicated. STUDY DESIGN: Patients diagnosed with molar pregnancy from 1999 to 2004 were identified. Clinical data were retrospectively extracted from medical records. RESULTS: One hundred fifty-eight women diagnosed (mean age, 24 years) underwent dilatation and curettage. Molar pregnancy was suspected at presentation in 111 (70%); 47 (30%) cases were presumed miscarriages, and the diagnosis was confirmed only after histologic evaluation of the specimen. Initial testing included complete blood count (CBC) (87%), liver function tests (LFT) (63%), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) level (72%), clotting function studies (26%) and chest radiograph (84%). One patient with right upper quadrant pain had elevated LFTs and a coagulopathy that resolved after evacuation. One woman with a palpably enlarged goiter and elevated TSH level was diagnosed with thyroid carcinoma. No chest radiograph demonstrated metastatic disease. CONCLUSION: We advocate a simplified approach to preevacuation testing for suspected molar pregnancy that includes a CBC and blood type with antibody screen. Clinical assessment should prompt additional evaluation in the rare patient with suspicious signs and symptoms.
Film Theory: Some Current Problems and Issues.

Traditional film theorists, in their attempt to identify intrinsic cinematic qualities, have often had a limiting effect on the potentialities of cinema by confining it to an aspect of its development, practice, or function. Film theorists have also underestimated the importance of cultural and psychological contexts, and the impact of audience on the evolving and recurrent patterns of film cycles, conventions, and styles as a time‐space phenomenon. Problems of film theory should be treated within a context of film as a hybrid and evolving cultural product existing in a symbiotic relationship with other art forms, and the culture in which it is created.
Travel Medicine, Vaccines, and Transplant Tourism

As their overall health improves after transplant, transplant recipients may wish to experience foreign travel (including visiting friends and relatives). Such travel may entail exposures to endemic and sometimes unexpected pathogens. Transplant recipients are more likely to have complications from travel-related infections, are less likely to develop protection from vaccines, and are at higher risk for having drug interactions when they take new medications [Kotton et al. Am J Transplant. 13(Suppl 4):337–47, 2013]. In addition, active infections and vaccines are immunomodulatory and could potentially impact immunologic tolerance. This review will summarize the medical literature regarding travel medicine and travel-related vaccines in the adult transplant recipient population. “Transplant tourism” (involving travel of either the organ donor or recipient strictly for purposes of organ transplantation) will also be covered here.
Influence of deviation in central wavelengths of both a seed laser and a pump LD on the output features of a DPAL-MOPA system

A master oscillator power amplifier (MOPA) is thought to be a suitable equipment to realize the power scaling for a diode pumped alkali laser (DPAL). In fact, the characteristics of a DPAL-MOPA system strongly depend on the central wavelengths of both a seed laser and a pump laser due to the extremely narrow nature linewidth for atomic alkali. In this report, a theoretical model of an end-pumped DPAL-MOPA system is first developed to study the influence of deviations in central wavelengths on the output features. Then, the relationship between the environmental parameters and the output linewidth as well as the output power is analyzed. The results reveal that the deviation in central wavelengths of both a seed laser and a pump LD will lead to a dramatic decrease of the output power for a DPAL-MOPA system. The conclusions are thought to be helpful for design of an end-pumped DPAL with high powers.