cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Ambiguous Geography of Imperial Citizenship: Opportunities and Constraints of African Membership in the British Empire in the 1930s

This paper examines the issue of citizenship in the British African protectorates and / colonies and the ways that Africans living in these territories understood and exercised their inclusion in the empire during the interwar years. It focuses on the case of E.S. Ajayi, a Nigerian student in England whom British authorities forced to return to Nigeria owing to the fact that he was a protected subject of a Nigerian protectorate territory and did not have the rights of colonial peoples elsewhere. Protectorate subjects were inhabitants of territories without a settled legal status, therefore, British authorities could therefore choose to include or exclude them in the empire as it suited their agenda. In 1933, Ajayi´s case was a cause celebre. It introduced new information about the limits of imperial inclusion-Africans born in the colony proper were members of the empire, but those born in the protectorate did not and were considered alien. This news seriously disrupted the plans of West African intellectuals who had been using their status as members of the empire to justify their interest in international and imperial affairs, including reform measures, and to support their claim for autonomy and participation in the affairs of the empire. His case offers an opportunity to examine the ways that different imperial geographies-protectorate and colony-provided both the colonial administration and colonial subjects with various platforms for decision and claim-making. At the same time, it allows us to see the ways that so-called stateless individuals like Ajayi worked within this circumstance to establish rights for themselves.
Discoid Medial Meniscus: A Case Report

ABSTRACT Objectives: Here we present a rare finding of a discoid medial meniscus. Methods: Clinical reports, radiographs, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) results, and intraoperative arthroscopic images highlight this rare clinical entity. Results: We have demonstrated successful treatment with arthroscopic partial meniscectomy and saucerization of discoid medial meniscus. Conclusions: Discoid medial menisci are a rare cause of medial knee pain and should be considered if classic MRI findings are associated with mechanical symptoms.
Epidemiology of Acute Childhood Leukemia

Approximately 10,700 children under the age of 15 years are newly diagnosed with cancer each year in the United States (American Cancer Society, 2008), including nearly 3,500 children with leukemia. Even with great advances in treatment over the last several decades, leukemia remains a major source of disease-related morbidity and mortality in children. Of the leukemias, acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML), comprise the vast majority in childhood, occurring at a frequency of approximately 76% and 18%, respectively (Ries et al. 1999). Other leukemias can occur in children, but are extremely rare, including biphenotypic or mixed lineage leukemia, chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML), and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). This review focuses on the epidemiology of childhood ALL and AML. Below, we provide an overview of the classification systems used, including how these entities may help define the timing of when the leukemia might have occurred. Second, international and national data with regard to incidence and survival rates, along with trends, are described. Further, risk factors associated with childhood leukemia are discussed including inherited syndromes, exposures and conditions, and genetic susceptibility as measured through single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Finally, we discuss challenges and potential future directions that may lead to more fruitful understanding of the underlying causes of childhood leukemia.
Hillville: A Haven of Refuge

AMERICAN rural life consists of at least two types of fX1 economies, the one producing for the market (the business man) and the other for a living (the yeoman). Many sub-types exist but these two are outstanding. Of late, interest in the yeoman type is reviving.2 Among the American yeomen many types of cultures exist. This paper is a case study of a psychological type found not infrequently in all communities but especially prevalent in yeoman communities near the great industrial centers. How much of our population consists of people like these is not known; probably at the present they are increasing. While few contentions or morals are drawn from this study, possibly it is not out of the way to suggest that "social action" concerning the yeoman type of rural resident will oftentimes get unanticipated results if the underlying psychological factors are not taken into consideration.
Integrated Computational Materials Engineering: Tools, Simulations and New Applications

Integrated Computational Materials Engineering (ICME) is a relatively new methodology full of tremendous potential to revolutionize in which science, engineering and manufacturing work together. ICME was motivated by the desire to derive greater understanding throughout each portion of the development life cycle of materials, while simultaneously reducing the time from discovery to implementation. 1,2 Irrespective of the execution, one chief characteristic of the ICME approach remains the incorporation of simulation tools in direct conjunction with experiments to either enhance or focus the experiments or processing to be performed. This integration has been shown to effectively drive material design in new ways while realizing significant savings in both development time and cost. 3 Notable examples have already been realized and documented in both the aircraft and automotive industries 4 with the materials community continually exploring new opportunities for ICME implementation. As examples of these efforts, Wiley has published at least two textbooks on the topic in 2012 alone, 5,6 while The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society (TMS), in the same year, instituted an archival, open-access journal titled, Integrating Materials and Manufacturing Innovation, with ICME topics serving as a substantial foci. 7 Additionally, TMS has convened three world congresses on the topic with the most recent instance occurring in 2015. As a brief highlight of a few exploratory research efforts not published within the collected proceedings but presented at this most recent congress, 8 the following articles have been assembled.
Independent risk factors for surgical site infection after cesarean delivery in a rural tertiary care medical center

Background We aimed to determine the incidence of surgical site infection (SSI) after cesarean delivery (CD) and identify the risk factors in a rural population.
Label-Free Automated Cell Tracking: Analysis of the Role of E-cadherin Expression in Collective Electrotaxis

Collective cell migration plays an important role in wound healing, organogenesis, and the progression of metastatic disease. Analysis of collective migration typically involves laborious and time-consuming manual tracking of individual cells within cell clusters over several dozen or hundreds of frames. Herein, we develop a label-free, automated algorithm to identify and track individual epithelial cells within a free-moving cluster. We use this algorithm to analyze the effects of partial E-cadherin knockdown on collective migration of MCF-10A breast epithelial cells directed by an electric field. Our data show that E-cadherin knockdown in free-moving cell clusters diminishes electrotactic potential, with empty vector MCF-10A cells showing 16% higher directedness than cells with E-cadherin knockdown. Decreased electrotaxis is also observed in isolated cells at intermediate electric fields, suggesting an adhesion-independent role of E-cadherin in regulating electrotaxis. In additional support of an adhesion-independent role of E-cadherin, isolated cells with reduced E-cadherin expression reoriented within an applied electric field 60% more quickly than control. These results have implications for the role of E-cadherin expression in electrotaxis and demonstrate proof-of-concept of an automated algorithm that is broadly applicable to the analysis of collective migration in a wide range of physiological and pathophysiological contexts.
Intensive care for patients with AIDS: clinical and ethical issues.

Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) remains a common and morbid infection among patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Most patients who die of PCP do so because of respiratory failure. The survival after intubation and mechanical ventilation for PCP and respiratory failure has gone through three eras: Era I (1981-85), when the survival rate to hospital discharge was about 10%; Era II (1986-88), when the hospital survival rate rose to about 40%; and Era III (1989-present), when the hospital survival rate fell again to about 25%. Patients with CD4 counts of less than 50, patients who develop pneumothoraces while intubated, and patients spending more than 2 weeks in the ICU receiving mechanical ventilation appear to have very poor (< 10% survival) prognoses. As the survival rate has fallen in recent years, so too has the cost-effectiveness of ICU care for patients with severe PCP. It now costs about $200,000 (U.S.) to save a year of life through the use of the ICU in PCP, a relatively cost-ineffective intervention. Our present approach is to provide patients information about prognosis and options and allow them to make an informed choice about whether they would like ICU care should the medical need arise. Whether the high costs and low cost-effectiveness of intensive care should and will be factored into this decision are questions of great clinical and ethical importance for the future.
Major climatic influences on Yellowstone-region lake ecosystems suggested by synchronous transitions in Late-Glacial and early-Holocene diatom assemblages

Abstract Diatom assemblages that span the late-glacial and early-Holocene period were analyzed from three small lakes in the Greater Yellowstone region. The sites vary in surficial geology, elevation, vegetation, and precipitation seasonality, and these differences provide a tool to evaluate the importance of large-scale climatic change relative to localized catchment proces%s on aquatic ecosystem evolution. All assemblages underwent synchronous shifts in community structure in the intervals of 13.9-13.8, 13.2-13.1, 11.3-11.0 and 8.8-8.7 cal ka. The shift at 11.3-11.0 cal ka also is evident in other proxy records from these sites, such as pollen and charcoal, which suggests large-scale climatic influences on both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Because the shifts in diatom assemblages are synchronous in lakes with variable geological settings and local precipitation patterns, we infer that large-scale climatic change was the principal driver of aquatic ecosystem evolution in this region during the late-Glacial and early Holocene periods.
Urban Heartbeat: From Modelling to Applications

Sensors and actuators are finding their way into our lives and our surroundings at a very fast pace. These heterogeneous sensors deployed in the environment can prove to be useful in providing insights into the behavior and trends of the environment. In this work, we capture a part of that knowledge and propose a novel concept called Urban Heartbeat using data captured by various sensors that essentially identify periodic activities in the environment. The Urban Heartbeat can be leveraged to identify when an unexpected event has occurred or is about to occur to more effectively prepare the citizens. We first develop techniques to find couplings between sensors using multiple operators, in cases when direct measurement of a parameter is not possible. Next, we define an algorithm that can be used to find quasi-periodic patterns from time series data that has spatiotemporal deviations. We then introduce the notion of Urban Heartbeat, which leverages data from heterogeneous sensors to identify the normal heartbeat of the environment. The Urban Heartbeat can be used not only to differentiate between normal and abnormal trends thereby giving us the ability to detect anomalies but also in making predictions about the user or the environment behavior. We also show how we build heartbeat for a lab environment, learn useful information about the users and offer predictions about their behavior in the lab.
Glycoconjugate-Based Inhibitors of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis GlgE

Tuberculosis (TB) is the leading cause of death globally as a result of a single infectious disease. A staggering 6 million new cases were reported in the 2014. In order to eradicate the ongoing threat of TB and combat rising rates of TB drug resistance new therapeutics must be developed. In this chapter, we briefly review the history of TB, Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) cell wall structure, the enzymes involved in synthesizing cell wall, and the trehalose utilization pathways (TUP). We focus on the recent discovery of enzyme Mtb GlgE, a glycosyl hydrolase-like phosphorylase, which has been found to be essential for Mtb viability and the ongoing efforts to design inhibitors against this target.
Evolving prevalence and incidence trends of SCC of the anal canal: A SEER study.

583Background: The incidence of squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal (SCCA) has been rising in the last three decades. With changing patient demographics and behaviors, the trends in prevalenc...
The use of motivational interviewing in improving medication adherence for individuals with asthma: a systematic review.

Objective: This review was conducted to examine current literature on the use of motivational interviewing (MI) as a strategy to promote individuals with asthma to make behavioral changes and improve health outcomes. This article systematically reviews empirical MI studies which were used to promote asthma medication adherence in children, adolescents, and adults. Methods: Studies were obtained from several databases. We searched CINAHL, MEDLINE, PyscINFO, PubMed, and Cochrane database for articles on the use of MI to improve asthma medication adherence in individuals diagnosed with moderate to severe asthma. Various combinations of the following search terms were used: motivational interviewing, asthma, medication adherence, medication non-adherence, and MI. Results: MI intervention showed evidence of improved self-efficacy, asthma, self-management, and positive behavior change for individuals diagnosed with asthma. The results suggest that MI is a feasible and promising approach to improve attitudes toward asthma medication adherence. Conclusion: The generally favorable results indicate MI merged with other interventions and support is effective in improving medication adherence and is also more sustainable than MI as a stand-alone intervention. Additional research is necessary to assess the effectiveness of MI in ensuring individuals fill their prescriptions and use their medications as recommended.
Outcomes After Arthroscopic Management of Subspinous Impingement in Borderline Hip Dysplasia

Objectives:Arthroscopic management of femoroacetabular impingement in the setting of borderline hip dysplasia is controversial. There is concern for iatrogenic hip instability with rim-resection in...
Persistence of Cytotrophoblast

Villous cytotrophoblastic cells, which form a complete layer in early pregnancy, become dispersed beneath the syncytiotrophoblast as pregnancy progresses and are largely inconspicuous in late pregnancy. Histologically, at term gestation, cytotrophoblastic cell may indent beneath or apparently be embedded within the syncytial layer; rarely, a complete mantle of cytotrophoblast is present. There is currently no universally accepted definition of an excessive number of villous cytotrophoblastic cells; a proposed workable definition is presented. Further work is urgently needed to clarify the clinical significance of this morphologic feature.
Anaemia in heart failure patients: the prevalence of haematinic deficiencies and the role of ACE inhibitors and aspirin doses as risk factors

Background: Patients with heart failure often have comorbidities that alter the progression of heart failure and impact on prognosis. One such comorbidity is anaemia, and clinicians have started to appreciate the full gravity of its impact on heart failure patients. Yet, the extent of the problem is not fully understood, particularly the role of heart failure therapy itself as a risk factor for developing anaemia. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of anaemia in a cohort of heart failure patients. The impact of using different ACEIs and different doses of aspirin was also explored, together with the prevalence of haematinic deficiencies. Methods: Medication lists and pathology results were examined to establish the prevalence of ACEIs use, and the use of aspirin at its most common doses of 100mg and 150mg, together with haematinic deficiencies. Multinomial logistic regression and the Student’s t-test were utilised for the analysis of data. Statistical significance was pre-set at p<0.05. Results: Ninety-six patients were eligible for analysis, with 26% having anaemia. The use of ACEIs had a RR of 17.4 for the presence of anaemia. Perindopril was associated with a RR of 20.8, while the use of ramipril was not significantly associated with such a high RR. Haematinic anaemia occurred only at a rate of 3.3%, but borderline deficiencies were found in more than a third of all patients. An aspirin dose of 150mg was associated with a higher risk for anaemia, compared to a dose of 100mg. Conclusions: ACEIs are associated with the presence of anaemia, with perindopril posing more risk than ramipril when used in heart failure patients. The dose of aspirin may also be a factor in the development of anaemia, with lower doses being safer. Despite the lack of high prevalence of haematinic anaemia among this cohort of patients, borderline haematinic deficiencies were common.
Using cell cycle measurements with flow cytometry to predict the growth rate of Walleye Pollock Gadus chalcogrammus larvae

Abstract Growth rate during early life stages can be an important factor in the recruitment process of marine fishes, and in this study we develop a methodology based on cell cycle measurements to predict the growth rate of Walleye Pollock ( Gadus chalcogrammus ) larvae. Results from cell-cycle analysis of muscle cell nuclei of laboratory-reared Walleye Pollock larvae measured with flow cytometry were used as covariates in a generalized additive model to predict the growth rate (growth in length per day, mm d −1 ) of individual larvae from the day exogenous feeding began (first feeding) to the time of capture (r 2 = 0.79). Additional covariates used were temperature and standard length. A generalized additive model to classify a larva as fast- or slow-growing was also formulated using the same covariates. Validation testing with an independent set of 45 laboratory-reared larvae showed that 33% of the laboratory growth rates (i.e., growth rate based on age and size) fell within the 95% confidence interval of the predicted growth rates, and predicted growth rates were significantly less than otolith-derived growth rates. The growth classification model was more accurate than the growth rate model, correctly classifying the growth rate type (fast or slow growing) of 71% of the same set of larvae showing that flow cytometric cell cycle analysis may be better suited for classifying larvae as fast- or slow-growing rather than for predicting absolute growth rate. Predicted growth rates for larvae ≤11 mm in length collected from the Gulf of Alaska were within the range of published values for that area, and were not significantly different than corresponding otolith-derived growth rates. The growth rates of Gulf of Alaska larvae >11 mm were overestimated when compared to both otolith-derived growth rates and published values, and that may be due in part because those larvae were outside of the size range used to formulate the model. Predicted growth rate and growth classification of late-stage, field-collected Walleye Pollock larvae would be improved by adding larvae as large as 15 mm to the model to encompass the size range of larvae typically collected during spring ichthyoplankton surveys conducted in the Bering Sea or Gulf of Alaska. Flow cytometric cell cycle analysis offers promise as an alternative method for determining growth rate of fish larvae when otolith daily increments cannot be reliably counted.
Effect of pre-treatment and content of wheat straw on energy absorption capability of concrete

Abstract Wheat is an agricultural crop of sub-tropical regions. Straw is actually the by-product and waste of wheat crop. Straw are getting attention of many researchers and it’s use as reinforcement in composites is increasing now a day. But there is a need to explore the straw for civil engineering applications as well. For this purpose, wheat straw reinforced concrete (WSRC) needs to be explored in depth. In this study, the effect of pre-treatment and content of wheat straw on the energy absorption capability of concrete has been studied by evaluating its static properties after curing period. The properties of plain cement concrete (PC) are taken as reference. Almost 25 mm long straw having content of 1%, 2%, and 3%, by mass of wet concrete, are considered. Soaked, boiled and chemically treated wheat straw are used to make Soaked WSRC (SWSRC), Boiled WSRC (BWSRC) and Chemically treated WSRC (CWSRC), respectively. Micro-structural analysis of straw and it’s bond with concrete is also done to reveal the in-depth mechanism. Discussions on results are made. The study is concluded with an increase of 91%, 92%, and 105% in compressive, flexural and splitting-tensile toughness indices, respectively, of SWSRC with 1% content as compared to that of PC.
The Potential Market Value and Consumer Surplus Value of the Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) at 3550-3700 MHz in the United States

The Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) spans 3550-3700 MHz. It represents approximately a 16% expansion of licensed spectrum below 4 Ghz. Wireless services based on available wireless spectrum have been a substantial source of technological innovation and economic growth over the past few decades. Based on reasonable assumptions, the estimated market value of CBRS ranges from $7.5 to $15.6 billion. The estimated annual consumer surplus of CBRS ranges from $8 billion to $26 billion. The estimated net present value of consumer surplus ranges from $80 billion to $260 billion.
Propagating uncertainties in large-scale hemodynamics models via network uncertainty quantification and reduced-order modeling

Abstract Numerical simulations of the cardiovascular system are affected by uncertainties arising from a substantial lack of data related to the boundary conditions and the physical parameters of the mathematical models. Quantifying the impact of this uncertainty on the numerical results along the circulatory network is challenged by the complexity of both the morphology of the domain and the local dynamics. In this paper, we propose to integrate (i) the Transverse Enriched Pipe Element Methods (TEPEM) as a reduced-order model for effectively computing the 3D local hemodynamics; and (ii) a combination of uncertainty quantification via Polynomial Chaos Expansion and classical relaxation methods – called network uncertainty quantification (NetUQ) – for effectively propagating random variables that encode uncertainties throughout the networks. The results demonstrate the computational effectiveness of computing the propagation of uncertainties in networks with nontrivial topology, including portions of the cerebral and the coronary systems.
Graph-based Namespaces and Load Sharing for Efficient Information Dissemination in Disasters

Timely, flexible and accurate information dissemination can make a life-and-death difference in managing disasters. Complex command structures and information organization make such dissemination challenging. Thus, it is vital to have an architecture with appropriate naming frameworks, adaptable to the changing roles of participants, focused on content rather than network addresses. To address this, we propose POISE, a name-based and recipient-based publish/subscribe architecture for efficient content dissemination in disaster management. POISE proposes an information layer, improving on state-of-the-art Information-Centric Networking (ICN) solutions such as Named Data Networking (NDN) in two major ways: 1) support for complex graph-based namespaces, and 2) automatic name-based load-splitting. To capture the complexity and dynamicity of disaster response command chains and information flows, POISE proposes a graph-based naming framework, leveraged in a dissemination protocol which exploits information layer rendezvous points (RPs) that perform name expansions. For improved robustness and scalability, POISE allows load-sharing via multiple RPs each managing a subset of the namespace graph. However, excessive workload on one RP may turn it into a “hot spot”, thus impeding performance and reliability. To eliminate such traffic concentration, we propose an automatic load-splitting mechanism, consisting of a namespace graph partitioning complemented by a seamless, loss-less core migration procedure. Due to the nature of our graph partitioning and its complex objectives, off-the-shelf graph partitioning, e.g., METIS, is inadequate. We propose a hybrid partitioning solution, consisting of an initial and a refinement phase. Our simulation results show that POISE outperforms state-of-the-art solutions, demonstrating its effectiveness in timely delivery and load-sharing.
Epigenetic effects of low-level sodium arsenite exposure on human liver HepaRG cells

Chronic exposure to inorganic arsenic is associated with a variety of adverse health effects, including lung, bladder, kidney, and liver cancer. Several mechanisms have been proposed for arsenic-induced tumorigenesis; however, insufficient knowledge and many unanswered questions remain to explain the integrated molecular pathogenesis of arsenic carcinogenicity. In the present study, using non-tumorigenic human liver HepaRG cells, we investigated epigenetic alterations upon prolonged exposure to a noncytotoxic concentration of sodium arsenite (NaAsO2). We demonstrate that continuous exposure of HepaRG cells to 1 µM sodium arsenite (NaAsO2) for 14 days resulted in substantial cytosine DNA demethylation and hypermethylation across the genome, among which the claudin 14 (CLDN14) gene was hypermethylated and the most down-regulated gene. Another important finding was a profound loss of histone H3 lysine 36 (H3K36) trimethylation, which was accompanied by increased damage to genomic DNA and an elevated de novo mutation frequency. These results demonstrate that continuous exposure of HepaRG cells to a noncytotoxic concentration of NaAsO2 results in substantial epigenetic abnormalities accompanied by several carcinogenesis-related events, including induction of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, damage to DNA, inhibition of DNA repair genes, and induction of de novo mutations. Importantly, this study highlights the intimate mechanistic link and interplay between two fundamental cancer-associated events, epigenetic and genetic alterations, in arsenic-associated carcinogenesis.
High-Risk Groups for Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver and Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis Development and Progression

This paper reviews the pathophysiology of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease/non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NAFLD/NASH) development and the clinical and genetic risk factors associated with its progression. Lipotoxicity underlies the development and progression of NAFLD/NASH. Obesity, insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, ethnicity, and genetics are associated with the severity and progression of NAFLD/NASH. Personalized approaches to NAFLD/NASH management should take these “high-risk” categories of NAFLD/NASH progression into account in order to reduce NAFLD/NASH-associated morbidity and mortality.
Venous Circulation: A Few Challenging Concepts in Goal-Directed Hemodynamic Therapy (GDHT)

A decrease in circulating blood volume means a decrease in stressed volume (Vs). Any vasodilation (veno-dilation), iatrogenic (i.e. spinal or epidural anesthesia) or resulting from pathologic processes (e.g., sepsis), might lead to an increase in unstressed volume (Vu) and a decrease in Vs. There are two ways to increase Vs. One is to infuse fluid. If the infused fluid does not exert transmural pressure (Ptm) above 0, it is still Vu. This might be the reason for the lack of fluid responsiveness. When/if infused fluid increases Ptm above zero, this would increase Ptm, increasing BP and/or CO. The second way to increase Vs is to administer a small dose of a vasopressor to constrict veins, decrease venous capacity, squeeze blood out of compliant veins, and increase Vs. Combining an alpha-1 adrenergic agonist with a beta-2 adrenergic agonist might be useful, because that would speed up the conversion of Vu to Vs (mainly within the splanchnic system). Therefore, if small doses increase BP and/or CO, it is reasonable to assume that this was the result of conversion of part of the Vu into Vs. This might have the benefit of preventing excessive fluid load.
Uncertain Self in a Changing World: A Foundation for Radicalisation, Populism, and Autocratic Leadership

We live in a changing world that can create uncertainty about who we are, and make extremist groups, identities and ideologies attractive to us. This article invokes uncertainty-identity theory to ...
The Effect of Serving “Breakfast After-the-Bell” Meals on School Absenteeism: Comparing Results From Regression Discontinuity Designs:

With the rise in the availability of absenteeism data, it is clear that students are missing a staggering amount of school. Policymakers have focused efforts on identifying school programs that mig...
Oral Cavity and Oropharynx

The oral cavity and oropharynx play an important role in speech, swallowing, respiration, and other vital physiologic functions. Any visit to a medical professional that includes a physical examination often includes the classic instruction to open the mouth and say “ah.” Traditionally, a handheld flashlight or head mirror and/or light may provide sufficient illumination for adequate examination of these areas. However, with optical endoscopes, we may be able to visualize these areas with greater detail and educate our patients with visual images.
Using Multi-Level Precueing to Improve Performance in Path-Following Tasks in Virtual Reality

Work on VR and AR task interaction and visualization paradigms has typically focused on providing information about the current step (a cue) immediately before or during its performance. Some research has also shown benefits to simultaneously providing information about the next step (a precue). We explore whether it would be possible to improve efficiency by precueing information about multiple upcoming steps before completing the current step. To accomplish this, we developed a remote VR user study comparing task completion time and subjective metrics for different levels and styles of precueing in a path-following task. Our visualizations vary the precueing level (number of steps precued in advance) and style (whether the path to a target is communicated through a line to the target, and whether the place of a target is communicated through graphics at the target). Participants in our study performed best when given two to three precues for visualizations using lines to show the path to targets. However, performance degraded when four precues were used. On the other hand, participants performed best with only one precue for visualizations without lines, showing only the places of targets, and performance degraded when a second precue was given. In addition, participants performed better using visualizations with lines than ones without lines.
Exact Delay Computation

Having introduced a timing formalism, TBF’s, we now apply it to the problem of computing the exact delays oe digital circuits.For a combinational circuit, we are interested in knouing hou long the cirult takes to comoute its outpurs from its inputs,or the delay of the circuit.the delay of a circuit given an inpue is the earliest time the circuie’s delay ie the latest setting time over all possible inputs.So a circuir’s delay ie the minimum amount of time after which the circuit’s outputs are guaranteed to br valid.Obviously,an upper bounf on the delay of a circuit is the length oe the longest path(s)all inouts have reached after the input’s outputs.
Quality of Life in the United States

The United States is a diverse and complex landscape across all dimensions impacting quality of life – economic, political, sociological, and ecological. The variety of issues and situations facing the nation’s residents run the gamut and can vary widely from state to state, between regions and communities. However, the overall aggregate in the US is very high, with quality of life rated in the top tier of countries across the globe in some studies. Part of the reason is that average household income is at the highest level among countries, conveying economic benefits. However, quality of life is not only concerned with the economic dimension; other influences are explored in this chapter to gain a better understanding of the overall situation, including distribution, of quality of life in the US.
Good Intentions, Unintended Consequences, and Unrealized Benefits

The extraction of colchicine from the corm (bulb-like root) of the autumn crocus is a practice that has existed for thousands of years. The product was initially used in Egypt for its emetic properties, and about 3,000 years ago began to be used for the treatment of acute gout in Greece. The drug has been formulated into a tablet and sold to treat gout since the nineteenth century.1
Weathering Risk: Uncertainty, Weather Forecasting, and Expertise

Bridging the sociology of uncertainty and weather, this review paper provides a sociological examination of the weather forecasting enterprise in order to illustrate how expert decision makers negotiate high uncertainty. It begins with an outline of the literature on uncertainty and risk, particularly as it regards the modern experience. It then fleshes out and expands the discussion through an examination of weather forecasting practice. The final section reprises the theme of expert decision making under uncertainty, this time focusing on the communication of risk and uncertainty, and it concludes with a few thoughts on the future of the field.
High-performance IIR QMF banks for speech subband coding

In this paper, two high-performance implementations of IIR QMF banks for speech coding are proposed. The first implementation involves a perfect reconstruction (PR) QMF bank while the second is a tree-structured filter bank. In contrast to existing implementations of PR QMF banks, our approach does not require the transmission of initial conditions nor the design of synthesis filters which are more complex than their analysis counterparts. In systems with delay constraints, the tree structured IIR QMF bank can be used; a 4-channel scheme shows a low delay of about 1.9 ms (15 samples) at an 8 kHz sampling rate. No existing FIR QMF banks can achieve this low delay. Moreover, the phase distortion of the low-delay filter bank does not appear to affect the perceptual quality of the processed speech signals. Subjective tests were conducted to evaluate the speech quality. >
The Role of T Cell Subsets and Cytokines in the Pathogenesis of Helicobacter pylori Gastritis in Mice

Gastritis due to Helicobacter pylori in mice and humans is considered a Th1-mediated disease, but the specific cell subsets and cytokines involved are still not well understood. The goal of this study was to investigate the immunopathogenesis of H. pylori -induced gastritis and delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) in mice. C57BL/6- Prkdc scid mice were infected with H. pylori and reconstituted with CD4 + , CD4-depleted, CD4 + CD45RB high , or CD4 + CD45RB low splenocytes from wild-type C57BL/6 mice or with splenocytes from C57BL/6 IFN-γ −/− or C57BL/6 IL-10−/− mice. Four or eight weeks after transfer, DTH to H. pylori Ags was determined by footpad injection; gastritis and bacterial colonization were quantified; and IFN-γ secretion by splenocytes in response to H. pylori Ag was determined. Gastritis and DTH were present in recipients of unfractionated splenocytes, CD4 + splenocytes, and CD4 + CD45RB high splenocytes, but absent in the other groups. IFN-γ secretion in response to H. pylori Ags was correlated with gastritis, although splenocytes from all groups of mice secreted some IFN-γ. Gastritis was most severe in recipients of splenocytes from IL-10-deficient mice, and least severe in those given IFN-γ-deficient splenocytes. Bacterial colonization in all groups was inversely correlated with gastritis. These data indicate that 1) CD4 + T cells are both necessary and sufficient for gastritis and DTH due to H. pylori in mice; 2) high expression of CD45RB is a marker for gastritis-inducing CD4 + cells; and 3) IFN-γ contributes to gastritis and IL-10 suppresses it, but IFN-γ secretion alone is not sufficient to induce gastritis. The results support the assertion that H. pylori is mediated by a Th1-biased cellular immune response.
Stakeholder governance of organ transplantation: A desirable model for inducing evidence-based medicine?

Medical governance should secure and apply appropriate expertise, accommodate stakeholder interests, and promote social values. The most common form of governance, public (agency) rulemaking by government agencies, usually involves supplementing in-house expertise through advisory committees. An alternative, private (stakeholder) rulemaking, involves delegating the authority for developing rules directly to stakeholders, who often command relevant expertise, including that arising out of tacit knowledge. The possible advantages and disadvantages of agency and stakeholder rulemaking in medical governance can be assessed both from what we know about these forms in general and from experience with a prominent example of stakeholder rulemaking; that is, governance of the US organ transplantation system. It appears that this governance has been exceptionally successful in promoting evidence-based medicine. The stakeholder role in the governance of transplantation could be replicated in other areas by creating meaningful stakes to engage stakeholders and by increasing isolation from legislative politics through an independent funding source and circumscribed oversight.
Assessing the liver to predict outcomes in heart transplantation

For highly selected patients with progressive heart failure symptoms and worsening clinical status, cardiac transplantation remains the standard of care for treatment of advanced heart disease. Guidelines for selecting patients for heart transplant include absolute and relative contraindications, which may vary from center to center and across regions and countries. Definitions of severe or irreversible organ dysfunction have been proposed (Table 1), but specific criteria must be evaluated in the context of individual patient disease trajectory, including the presence or absence of inotropic or mechanical circulatory support. Much is known about the prevalence and effect of renal dysfunction in the setting of advanced heart failure, but the understanding of cardiohepatic interactions remains less clear. In the setting of cardiogenic shock, Samsky et al postulate that acute cardiogenic liver injury is linked to a combination of hepatic congestion from elevated hepatic venous pressure and impaired perfusion (i.e., both are required). Chronic passive congestion (or “congestive hepatopathy”), however, may be associated with advanced biventricular heart failure, restrictive cardiomyopathy, and/ or severe tricuspid regurgitation and presents with more subtle signs and symptoms. In the middle are patients admitted with acute decompensated heart failure in whom symptoms and laboratory abnormalities may be confused with primary gastrointestinal or hepatobiliary conditions. Cardiohepatic interactions, whatever the cause, may have overlapping pathology that may be silent with current imaging (Table 2). During the past 10 years, the prognostic importance of acute and chronic liver dysfunction in patients with advanced heart disease has been illuminated. Most of the studies, however, have focused on easily accessible, routine
Atomic structure of DX centers: theory

A structural model forDX centers in Al x Ga1-x As alloys which explains their unusual properties in terms of two distinct bonding configurations for donor impurities is proposed. The results of ourab initio self-consistent pseudopotential calculations showDX to be a “negative-U” defect center. It results from a large lattice relaxation which is different for a Group IV than a Group VI donor. The proposed structural model provides a satisfactory explanation of the properties ofDX centers.
Representations of everyday travel experiences: Case study of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metropolitan Area

Disparity of access to transportation also affects access to essential urban resources, particularly for lower income populations and minorities. Studies have shown how current transportation planning practices are dominated by the notion of planners as experts that produce the knowledge of future transportation needs using a series of analytical steps and computer modeling. Consequently, existing practices such as transport modeling perpetuate barriers to mobility and lack of accessibility, and therefore, there is a need to make explicit how these existing practices exclude particular population groups. Using the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) Metropolitan Area as a case study, this paper makes a stronger connection between the assumptions planners make regarding transportation needs and goals with everyday travel experiences of a variety of residents. This research utilizes travel diaries to provide in-depth understandings of individual’s travel experiences from various neighborhoods in the DFW Region to understand how differences in mobility and accessibility affect access to places.
The functional equivalence of mental images and errors of movement

Abstract Four experiments are reported demonstrating that mental images are functionally equivalent to physical errors of movement in producing changes in visual-motor coordination, at both central and peripheral levels of the visual-motor system. In the first experiment, subjects in one condition pointed at a target seen through laterally displacing prisms and were instructed to imagine pointing errors identical to those recorded previously for subjects in a separate condition who actually observed their pointing errors. Changes in pointing accuracy during adaptation procedures and visual-motor aftereffects following these procedures for subjects who imagined their errors were proportional to visual-motor shifts and aftereffects for subjects who observed their errors. In the second experiment, these same imagery instructions resulted in identical pointing shifts and aftereffects even in the case where prisms did not displace the target. The third experiment showed that when subjects believe that their mental images of pointing errors do not correspond to their actual pointing errors, pointing aftereffects result that are characteristic of the processing of error information at peripheral, but not central, levels of the visual motor system. The final experiment showed that when subjects do believe that their images of pointing errors correspond to actual pointing errors, but imagine the pointing movement itself in addition to their errors, pointing aftereffects result that are characteristic of the processing of error information at central, but not peripheral, levels of the visual-motor system. Contributions to visual-motor aftereffects from these two levels appear to be additive. Another significant result was that, in the imagery feedback conditions of each experiment, subjects who gave high ratings of vividness to their mental imagery showed the greatest magnitude of pointing aftereffects. These findings establish that mental images for errors of movement can produce stable visual-motor changes that cannot be accounted for simply by subjects' expectations regarding the actual consequences of their actions.
The chemistry of aqueous iron

Bei der Berechnung der Loslichkeiten des zwei-und des dreiwertigen Eisens mussen neben den Fe+2 und Fe+3 Ionen auch die Eisen(II)- und Eisen(III)-Hydroxokomplexe ([Fe(OH)]+, [Fe(OH)]2+, [Fe(OH)2]+, [Fe(OH)3] (d), und [Fe(OH)4]−) berucksichtigt werden. Die Loslichkeit des zweiwertigen Eisens in naturlichen (Bikarbonat enthaltenden) Wassern ist in der Regel durch die Loslichkeitsgleichgewichte des Eisenkarbonats beschrankt, wahrend die Loslichkeit des dreiwertigen Eisens durch die Loslichkeitsgleichgewichte des Eisen(III)-Hydroxyds bestimmt wird (Abbildungen 2 und 4). Die Loslichkeitsverhaltnisse konnen durch Komplexbildung, vor allem mit organischen Basen, verandert werden.
A Newly Described Control Mechanism of Complement Activation in Patients with Mixed Cryoglobulinemia (Cryoglobulins and Complement)

Levels in serum of components of complement were studied in a group of 10 patients with mixed cryoglobulinemia. The profiles found in most patients showed decreased levels of the early complement components C1, C4, and C2, with normal levels of C3. Experiments performed to define the mechanism(s) responsible for this unusual complement profile showed that activation of the early complement components in serum was due to the activation of the classical pathway by mixed cryoglobulins. They also showed that the characteristic lack of effect on C3 was due to the action of a previously unrecognized regulatory mechanism upon C3 convertase of the classical pathway mediated by 2 normal serum proteins, namely, the C4 binding protein (C4-bp) and the C3b inactivator (C3bINA).
Semianalytical Solutions for One-Dimensional Unsteady Nonequilibrium Suspended Sediment Transport in Channels with Arbitrary Eddy Viscosity Distributions and Realistic Boundary Conditions

AbstractThis paper presents a new semianalytical approach for the solution of suspended sediment transport in channels under uniform conditions using generalized integral transform technique (GITT). Comparing with previous analytical work, this new approach is not limited by the sediment diffusivity distribution and boundary conditions. Instead, it solves the suspended sediment transport equation with arbitrary distribution of eddy diffusivity. The solutions also consider realistic boundary conditions at the free surface and the bed. The new solutions converge fast and compare well with previous analytical solutions as well as numerical solutions from a high-resolution spectral code. With this new analytical approach, a library of solutions for suspended sediment concentration can be developed. It gives deeper insight into the physical process of the problem and provides benchmarks for the validation of numerical models.
Rapid detection of progesterone by commercially available microelectrode chips

This work presents rapid detection of progesterone by utilizing a commercially available surface acoustic wave (SAW) resonator chip in coordination with an impedance affinity sensing method developed in our group. Interdigitated microelectrodes from the SAW chips were coated with anti-progesterone polyclonal antibody to capture progesterone and subsequently exposed to a solution containing progesterone. With the help of alternating current electrokinetics (ACEK) effects, binding of progesterone to the immobilized antibody was accelerated and, within two minutes, could be detected by continuous reading of the interfacial capacitance change over the microelectrodes. This ACEK-based capacitive sensor is of low cost, highly portable and easy to use, makes it perfect for point-of-care applications.