cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The derivation and experimental verification of clock synchronization theory

The objective of this work is to validate mathematically derived clock synchronization theories and their associated algorithms through experiment. Two theories are considered, the Interactive Convergence Clock Synchronization Algorithm and the Mid-Point Algorithm. Special clock circuitry was designed and built so that several operating conditions and failure modes (including malicious failures) could be tested. Both theories are shown to predict conservative upper bounds (i.e., measured values of clock skew were always less than the theory prediction). Insight gained during experimentation led to alternative derivations of the theories. These new theories accurately predict the clock system's behavior. It is found that a 100% penalty is paid to tolerate worst case failures. It is also shown that under optimal conditions (with minimum error and no failures) the clock skew can be as much as 3 clock ticks. Clock skew grows to 6 clock ticks when failures are present. Finally, it is concluded that one cannot rely solely on test procedures or theoretical analysis to predict worst case conditions. >
Significant life experiences and environmental justice: positionality and the significance of negative social/environmental experiences

Significant life experiences (SLE) research has been criticized for a disproportionate focus on privileged groups and positive experiences. In this paper, I use textual analysis to examine the SLEs within the Environmental Justice (EJ) literature. Theoretically, I blend feminist theory, the sociology of disaster, and research on EJ motives for activism to advance the notion of social/environmental positionality and marginality, characterized by toxic social/environmental relationships. Findings reveal that EJ activists describe the experience of EJ as three SLEs: the recognition of their social/environmental marginality, the embodied knowledge produced from their experiences, and the empowerment that comes from working with others in a community for EJ. These findings are compared to more traditional SLE’s and I conclude with a discussion about the importance of positionality and negative experiences for SLE research.
SALSA-MEX: a large scale Semi-Arid Land-Surface-Atmospheric Mountain Experiment

Quantification of water and energy fluxes in mountain environments presents significant scientific challenges that must be addressed in a multidisciplinary manner due to the complex interaction of the ecosystem with hydrology and meteorology in areas with large topographic gradients. Conceptualization of a multidisciplinary, regional-scale, mountain experiment to be conducted in the near future is presented to address a subset of these challenges for a semiarid region. A site description with preliminary scientific objectives and a discussion of other important site characteristics for an investigation of this type are included. A primary goal of the presentation is to generate feedback from the portion of the scientific community interested in land-atmosphere interactions in mountain regions. >
The Role of Arboreal Seed Dispersal Groups on the Seed Rain of a Lowland Tropical Forest1

Most tropical plants produce fleshy fruits that are dispersed primarily by vertebrate frugivores. Behavioral disparities among vertebrate seed dispersers could influence patterns of seed distribution and thus forest structure. This study investigated the relative importance of arboreal seed dispersers and seed predators on the initial stage of forest organization—seed deposition. We asked the following questions: (1) To what degree do arboreal seed dispersers influence the species richness and abundance of the seed rain? and (2) Based on the plant species and strata of the forest for which they provide dispersal services, do arboreal seed dispersers represent similar or distinct functional groups? To answer these questions, seed rain was sampled for 12 months in the Dja Reserve, Cameroon. Seed traps representing five percent of the crown area were erected below the canopies of 90 trees belonging to nine focal tree species: 3 dispersed by monkeys, 3 dispersed by large frugivorous birds, and 3 wind-dispersed species. Seeds disseminated by arboreal seed dispersers accounted for ca 12 percent of the seeds and 68 percent of the seed species identified in seed traps. Monkeys dispersed more than twice the number of seed species than large frugivorous birds, but birds dispersed more individual seeds. We identified two distinct functional dispersal groups, one composed of large frugivorous birds and one composed of monkeys, drop dispersers, and seed predators. These groups dispersed plants found in different canopy strata and exhibited low overlap in the seed species they disseminated. We conclude it is unlikely that seed dispersal services provided by monkeys could be compensated for by frugivorous birds in the event of their extirpation from Afrotropical forests.
A Generalized Measure and Probability Theory for the Physical Sciences

It is argued that a reformulation of classical measure and probability theory is necessary if the theory is to accurately describe the measurements of physical phenomena. The postulates of a generalized theory are given, the fundamentals of this theory are developed and possible applications and open questions are discussed. Specifically, generalized measure and probability spaces are defined, integration theory is considered, the partial order structure is studied and applications to hidden variables and the logic of quantum mechanics are given.
Pressure and Temperature Dependencies of Rate Coefficients for the Reaction OH + NO2 + M → Products.

The OH + NO_2 reaction is a critically important process for radical chain termination in the atm. with a major impact on the ozone budgets of the troposphere and stratosphere. Rate consts. for the reaction of OH + NO_2 + → products have been measured under conditions relevant to the upper troposphere/lower stratosphere with a Pulsed Laser Photolysis - Pulsed Laser Induced Fluorescence technique augmented by in situ optical spectroscopy for quantification of [NO_2]. The expts. are carried out over the temp. range of 230K - 330K and the pressure range 40-800 Torr of air and N_2. The reaction was studied under pseudo first-order conditions, monitoring the decay of OH in the presence of a large excess of NO_2. The obsd. pressure and temp. dependences are analyzed to quantify the falloff behavior and to derive parameters for Troe falloff expressions. The atm. implications are discussed.
Stereotype Threat Vulnerability: A Psychometric Investigation of the Social Identities and Attitudes Scale

The authors investigated the psychometric properties of the Social Identities and Attitudes Scale developed by Picho and Brown, which captures an individual’s vulnerability to Stereotype Threat effects. Confirmatory factor analyses and group invariance tests conducted on a diverse sample of 516 college students revealed adequate reliability and validity.
Increasing public support for food-industry related, obesity prevention policies: The role of a taste-engineering frame and contextualized values

Abstract Background Support for policies to combat obesity is often undermined by a public sense that obesity is largely a matter of personal responsibility. Industry rhetoric is a major contributor to this perception, as the soda/fast food/big food companies emphasize choice and individual agency in their efforts to neutralize policies that are burdensome. Yet obesity experts recognize that environmental forces play a major role in obesity. We investigate whether exposure to a taste-engineering frame increases support for food and beverage policies that address obesity. A taste-engineering frame details strategies used by the food industry to engineer preferences and increase the over-consumption of processed foods and sugary beverages. We also examine the effects of exposure to two contextualized values that have recently been promoted in expert discourse–consumer knowledge and consumer safety – on public support of policies. Our research shows how causal frames and contextualized values may effectively produce support for new obesity policies. Methods We use an online survey experiment to test the effects of exposure to a taste-engineering frame (TEF), the value of consumer knowledge (CK), or the value of consumer safety (CS), on level of support for a range of policies. A random sample of adults, age 18 + living in the United States was included in the study (N = 2580). Ordered logistic regression was used to measure the effects of treatment exposure. The primary outcome was level-of-support for four (4) food-industry related, obesity prevention policies (aka food and beverage policies): 1) require food-manufacturers to disclose the amount of additives in food products on food packaging; 2) require food-manufacturers to advertise food products in accordance with their actual nutritional value; 3) prohibit all high-fat, high-sugar food advertising on television programming watched primarily by children; and 4) increase healthy food availability in work sites, schools, and hospitals. Findings These data suggest that a taste-engineering frame and contextualized values significantly increase public support for many of the food and beverage policies tested. Conclusions Applying a taste-engineering frame and/or contextualized values to address obesity advances a population-based policy agenda to counteract the effects of food-industry strategies.
Factors Affecting Stability of the Balance of Power

S THE territorial boundary between the East and West begins to harden, there is some evidence that a balance of power, whether in fact or only in effect, soon will be established,1 with the Soviet Union and its satellites2 on one side and the United States and those nations which have accepted American economic aid or other forms of cooperation on the other.3 With the freezing or stabilizing of the frontiers, the limits of peaceful expansion will have been reached, and it is quite likely that the efforts of the super powers then will be turned, momentarily at least, to consolidation of their positions within their respective spheres of influence.4 This occurrence would follow the classic pattern of power politics, for it has been observed that in one stage of the struggle between great powers in a state of international anarchy-"that of alignment in preparation for the actual duel for supremacy" 5-nations effect ententes and alliances which often have resulted in the formation of the opposing groups into what was recognized as an equilibrium or balance of power.6
Dynamics and Rheology of Soft Colloidal Glasses

The linear viscoelastic (LVE) spectrum of a soft colloidal glass is accessed with the aid of a time–concentration superposition (TCS) principle, which unveils the glassy particle dynamics from in-cage rattling motion to out-of-cage relaxations over a broad frequency range 10–13 rad/s < ω < 101 rad/s. Progressive dilution of a suspension of hairy nanoparticles leading to increased intercenter distances is demonstrated to enable continuous mapping of the structural relaxation for colloidal glasses. In contrast to existing empirical approaches proposed to extend the rheological map of soft glassy materials, i.e., time–strain superposition (TSS) and strain–rate frequency superposition (SRFS), TCS yields a LVE master curve that satisfies the Kramers–Kronig relations which interrelate the dynamic moduli for materials at equilibrium. The soft glassy rheology (SGR) model and literature data further support the general validity of the TCS concept for soft glassy materials.
Classical and novel retinoids: their targets in cancer therapy

Retinoids are important mediators of cellular growth and differentiation. Retinoids modulate the growth of both normal and malignant cells through their binding to retinoid nuclear receptors and their subsequent activation. While retinoids have demonstrated therapeutic efficacy in the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia, their spectrum of activity remains limited. Other agents such as histone deacetylase inhibitors may significantly increase retinoid activity in a number of malignant cell types. The novel retinoids N-(4-hydroxyphenyl) retinamide (4-HPR) and 6-[3-(1-adamantyl)-4-hydroxyphenyl]-2-naphthalene carboxylic acid (CD437; AHPN) induce apoptosis in a wide variety of malignant cells. Their mechanism(s) of action remain unclear, although a number of potential targets have been identified. Whether the retinoid receptors are involved in 4-HPR and CD473/AHPN mediated apoptosis remains unclear. Both 4-HPR and CD437/AHPN display significant potential as therapeutic agents in the treatment of a number of premalignant and malignant conditions.
Futile medical treatment and patient consent.

What are a physician’s ethical responsibilities when a patient or surrogate demands futile life-saving treatment? Recent attempts to define medical futility have implications for physician responsibility and may create exceptions to acquiring patient consent. Wording is proposed for a "futility clause" for use in do-not-resuscitate policies.
Artificial insemination with donor semen: the necessity of frequent donor screening.

AbstractArtificial insemination with donor semen has become a well established alternative for couples with untreatable male factor infertility. Because of the widespread use of donor insemination, and the increasing awareness and prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases, the American Fertility Society recently redrafted procedural guidelines for the use of donor screening for insemination. Our series of donor screenings is reported to emphasize the necessity of donor evaluations at frequent intervals.From June 1986 through August 1987, 48 healthy male volunteers presented as potential semen donors for our donor program. Each was evaluated with a careful medical history, physical examination and 2 semen analyses for evidence of sexually transmitted disease.On initial evaluation, no donor presented with a positive human immunodeficiency virus antibody, abnormal karyotype, elevated serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, rapid plasma reagent, or positive cultures for Chlamydia or Mycoplasma. One potenti...
Quantifying electric vehicle battery degradation from driving vs. vehicle-to-grid services

Abstract The risk of accelerated electric vehicle battery degradation is commonly cited as a concern inhibiting the implementation of vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology. However, little quantitative evidence exists in prior literature to refute or substantiate these concerns for different grid services that vehicles may offer. In this paper, a methodology is proposed to quantify electric vehicle (EV) battery degradation from driving only vs. driving and several vehicle-grid services, based on a semi-empirical lithium-ion battery capacity fade model. A detailed EV battery pack thermal model and EV powertrain model are utilized to capture the time-varying battery temperature and working parameters including current, internal resistance and state-of-charge (SOC), while an EV is driving and offering various grid services. We use the proposed method to simulate the battery degradation impacts from multiple vehicle-grid services including peak load shaving, frequency regulation and net load shaping. The degradation impact of these grid services is compared against baseline cases for driving and uncontrolled charging only, for several different cases of vehicle itineraries, driving distances, and climate conditions. Over the lifetime of a vehicle, our results show that battery wear is indeed increased when vehicles offer V2G grid services. However, the increased wear from V2G is inconsequential compared with naturally occurring battery wear (i.e. from driving and calendar ageing) when V2G services are offered only on days of the greatest grid need (20 days/year in our study). In the case of frequency regulation and peak load shaving V2G grid services offered 2 hours each day, battery wear remains minimal even if this grid service is offered every day over the vehicle lifetime. Our results suggest that an attractive tradeoff exists where vehicles can offer grid services on the highest value days for the grid with minimal impact on vehicle battery life.
Understandings About Self

This chapter focuses on focalizing characters’ developing perceptions of themselves. Characters’ self-perceptions are discussed in terms of the six dimensions introduced in chapter 2: identifications, qualities, abilities, failings, feats, and efficacy. Yolonda Blue perceives herself as being able to control situations (efficacy), and Frances Cressen perceives herself as a disappointing child (quality, identification). Augmented, reconfigured, and emergent self-oriented thinking-patterns in five novels are examined in detail. Self-oriented thinking that focuses on the dimension of efficacy may be exclusively construed by thinking structures or partly construed by the focalizing character’s doing and speech.
Hamiltonian DAEs of Motion

In this chapter, a formulation of Hamilton’s equation is presented for constrained multidisciplinary systems. Models are formulated as semiexplicit, nonlinear, differential—algebraic equations (DAEs). The DAE structure allows a model to be obtained from energy functions, constraint equations, and a virtual work expression in a systematic manner. The semiexplicit form of Hamiltonian DAEs compares favorably to the descriptor form of Lagrangian DAEs, and may have superior numerical properties.
Impact on Pulmonary Function of Pre-Transplant Radiotherapy in Hodgkin Lymphoma Patients Undergoing Autologous Stem Cell Transplant (ASCT).

For patients (pts) with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) undergoing initial treatment with chemotherapy, often in conjunction with radiation therapy (RT), the rate of relapse ranges from 10 to 15 % in favorable prognosis stage I-II disease to 30 to 40 % in advanced disease. Patients with poor prognosis after first relapse, those with a second relapse, and pts with progressive disease are candidates for high dose chemotherapy followed by ASCT. A noted risk factor in HL patients following ASCT is development of pulmonary toxicity. The effect of prior conditioning regimens and RT on lung function has been implicated. Scant data is available regarding whether proximity of RT to time of transplant increases the risk for development of subsequent pulmonary toxicity. To address this question we retrospectively reviewed 172 sequential HL patients with pre-and post-transplant pulmonary function data who underwent ASCT at the Cleveland Clinic between 1985 and 2008 using a prospectively maintained, IRB approved, database. Bu/Cy/VP was the preparative regimen in 83% of pts (n=142), BCNU/Cy/VP in 13% of pts (n=22), and Melphalan in 4% of pts (n=7). The post-transplant change in pulmonary function (percent predicted DLCO and FEV 1 ) in pts who received RT prior to ASCT was compared to those who did not receive RT. The timing of the RT was also examined. Statistical analysis was performed using the Wilcoxon rank sum test. 67 pts (39%) received pre-transplant RT at a median of 14.1 months prior to ASCT; 10 pts received RT ≤6 months prior to ASCT, 50 pts received RT >6 months before, and timing was unknown for seven pts. Overall, pts experienced a median 3.2% decline in DLCO (range 53.7% decline to 137.5% improvement) and a 2.9% decline in FEV 1 (range 71.8% decline to 33.3% improvement) following transplant. The decline in DLCO and/or FEV 1 was significant (>25%) in 16% of patients. The change in DLCO post-ASCT was not significantly different between pts who did or did not receive pre-transplant RT (median declines of 2.7% vs. 3.7%, respectively, p=1.0). There was, however, a significant difference with respect to FEV 1 . Pts who had prior RT experienced a median 6.4% decline in FEV 1 following ASCT compared to a median 1.1% decline in pts who did not have prior RT (p=.03). The proportion of pts in whom the decline in FEV 1 was significant however was similar in the two groups (7% vs. 6% respectively, p=1.0). Pts treated with pre-transplant RT within 6 months of ASCT tended to have greater declines in both DLCO and FEV 1 following ASCT than patients not treated with RT (median declines: DLCO: 8.8% versus 0%; FEV 1 : 7.7% versus 4.8%, respectively); however the differences were not significant (p=.25 and .98, respectively). Conclusions: Pts treated with RT prior to ASCT experience a greater decline in FEV 1 post-transplant than RT-naive patients. The decline, however, is not generally of clinical significance, and the proportion of pts with clinically significant impairment of pulmonary function is similar in the two groups.
One for All or All for One: Does the Category Captain Play Favorites

Category management is challenging for retailers that sell thousands of products across hundreds of categories and often lack the resources and capabilities to manage all of them intensively. Picking one supplier to be the category captain (CC) to manage the category – including rival’s brands – through pricing and merchandising is a recent retail management initiative that aims at improving a retailer’s overall performance in a product category. Despite tremendous retailer and manufacturer interest in CC and its adoption in the industry, much uncertainty exists about the consequences of CC. This paper empirically examines the role of CC by utilizing a unique data set on ready-to-eat cereals category, characterized by high concentration and market power, before and after the transition into category captain management. We find that after the transition, CC acted to improve its own market shares and those of private labels. A private label is designating a product under the name of the retailer rather than the name of the manufacturer and often offers higher profit margins for the retailer. In addition, CC improved its market shares by focusing on its core competency brands at the expense of some of its smaller brands while CC improved private labels’ market shares through an uniform increase across all private label brands. Using estimates from a structural model, we find consumer welfare is increased by 8.8% after the transition into category captain management.
Overcoming being Overwhelmed in the Trump Era

This piece offers a teaching strategy to help students overcome the sense of being overwhelmed by the 2016 election and its immediate aftermath. I emphasize the importance of understanding Trump in a broader historical context yet with a sharper analytical focus. By attending to the specificity of language, separating policy from rhetoric, and recognizing the limitations of the current political spectrum, students learn to avoid the pitfalls of caricature and exceptionality. Ultimately this empowers them to imagine and engage in a wider, more creative and transformative world of politics.
The Consumption Models

Seven separate consumption models are developed and tested, including total consumption and consumption of only domestically produced goods and services. Key determinants were found to be disposable income, “crowd out” due to government deficits (which reduces consumer borrowing), interest rates, wealth, population growth, past savings, and access to borrowing. Other models developed and tested include consumption of imports, durable goods, nondurables, consumption of services, and one model describing what determines the level of consumer borrowing. Initial findings are tested exhaustively to ensure they hold up when testing other time periods or when other variables are included in the model. This is how the book ensures its results represent good science.
Optical fiber sensors for the quantitative measurement of strain in concrete structures

The use of extrinsic Fizeau fiber interferometric (EFFI) sensors attached to and embedded within concrete structures is described. The sensor heads consist of hollow tubes used to align the end surfaces of fibers which form the Fizeau cavities. Interrogation using two sensor heads allows determination of axial displacement and temperature. Three dimensional arrays of sensors were embedded in concrete to allow monitoring of the fabrication process and slippage between the matrix and internal reinforcement rods. Similar arrays have been attached to a reinforced concrete bridge and used to monitor dynamic strains.
Overview and Trends of Luminescent Research

After briefly considering some nigh points in the history of research on luminescence and defining some terms specific to this discipline, we consider general characteristics of current research as regards materials, experimental methods and phenomena, and theory. Current research on luminescence involves a diversity of materials, extremal conditions for experiments, and sophisticated theoretical studies. Examples of both fundamental and applied research are discussed. In general luminescence research is advancing on a broad front, involving advanced experimental and theoretical methods with increasing interactions with other branches of solid state and molecular science.
Recent Studies on the Binding of Opiate Narcotics to Possible Receptor Sites

It is not known yet if the theme of this conference, Neurotransmitter Regulation, is relevant to the problem of narcotic tolerance and dependence. In 1961, Dr. Dora B. Goldstein and I (1961) proposed a unitary theory of tolerance and dependence, based upon the Jacob-Monod (1961) concepts of repression and derepression of protein synthesis as fundamental mechanisms of biochemical regulation. In the same year, Shuster (1961) advanced virtually the same idea independently. Collier (1965) later advanced a somewhat different but related theory. And subsequently, our ideas were further refined and generalized (Goldstein and Goldstein, 1968).
Electron microscopic identification of the yeast spliceosome.

Abstract We have partially purified the yeast spliceosome by differential sedimentation in glycerol gradients. By electron microscopy we have identified a particle in these fractions that is the spliceosome. In 100 mM KCl buffer, the yeast spliceosome is an ovoid disc with the dimensions of 20 x 23.5 nm with a central indentation. To verify that these ovoid particles were spliceosomes, specific labels were used to tag them. These tagged spliceosomes were then identified in the electron microscope. The salt dependent shift of sedimentation rate for the spliceosome can be explained by a change in size of the particle.
Parent and Family Involvement in the Education of Children with Special Needs

The process by which families are active participants in their children’s education, and become more autonomous as consumers of services for their children with special needs is complex. To reach the goal of educating their children, families must have a reciprocal relationship of support and cooperation from the school. Educators can be a vehicle for empowering parents when they understand the system within which these families exist and function. Ultimately, the child benefits when the family is intimately and actively involved in the educational process, and the family’s participation is facilitated by educators and service providers.
Seasonal dynamics and exports of elements from a first‐order stream to a large inland lake in Michigan

Headwater streams are critical components of drainage systems, directly connecting terrestrial and downstream aquatic ecosystems. The amount of water in a stream can alter hydrologic connectivity between the stream and surrounding landscape and is ultimately an important driver of what constituents headwater streams transport. There is a shortage of studies that explore concentration–discharge (C‐Q) relationships in headwater systems, especially forested watersheds, where the hydrological and ecological processes that control the processing and export of solutes can be directly investigated. We sought to identify the temporal dynamics and spatial patterns of stream chemistry at three points along a forested headwater stream in Northern Michigan and utilize C‐Q relationships to explore transport dynamics and potential sources of solutes in the stream. Along the stream, surface flow was seasonal in the main stem, and perennial flow was spatially discontinuous for all but the lowest reaches. Spring snowmelt was the dominant hydrological event in the year with peak flows an order of magnitude larger at the mouth and upper reaches than annual mean discharge. All three C‐Q shapes (positive, negative, and flat) were observed at all locations along the stream, with a higher proportion of the analytes showing significant relationships at the mouth than at the mid or upper flumes. At the mouth, positive (flushing) C‐Q shapes were observed for dissolved organic carbon and total suspended solids, whereas negative (dilution) C‐Q shapes were observed for most cations (Na+, Mg2+, Ca2+) and biologically cycled anions (NO3−, PO43−, SO42−). Most analytes displayed significant C‐Q relationships at the mouth, indicating that discharge is a significant driving factor controlling stream chemistry. However, the importance of discharge appeared to decrease moving upstream to the headwaters where more localized or temporally dynamic factors may become more important controls on stream solute patterns.
Exploring feasibility of wrist gestures for non-visual interactions with wearables

The emergence of wearable devices such as smartwatches is spurring new user interface designs and interaction modalities for these devices. One such new input modality for interacting with smartwatches is wrist gestures. Smartwatches are beginning to support a set of wrist gestures using which users can do a range of one-handed interactions with these devices. Wrist gestures are particularly appealing for people with vision impairments (PVIs) as touch-based interaction with smartwatch screens is quite challenging for them. However, the question of how accessible are wrist gestures for PVIs to interact with wearable devices, remains unexplored. To this end, we conducted a user study to explore this question. The study reveals the accessibility barriers of the current generation of wrist gestures and sheds insight on how to make them accessible for PVIs.
Detecting and discriminating between different types of bacteria with a low-cost smartphone based optical device and neural network models

The food industry such as meat producers and plant product processors have tremendous interest in detecting pathogenic organisms such as E.coli, Listeria, and Salmonella in very low concentrations down to a single cell. These pathogenic organisms when they are in the right environment can start multiplying exponentially. For example, E.coli cells can double every 20 minutes posing a tremendous danger for their growth in over many hours. We have designed an optical device that attaches to a smartphone providing an imaging and processing device that achieves an optical resolution of 1 micron. The optics is engineered to reduce aberrations in the system. We also developed a smartphone application that can track microbeads and bacteria in the video frames in real time using computer vision algorithms. We extract individual bacterial image segments in these videos to train neural network models to detect and differentiate different types of bacteria such as E.coli and B.subtilis. These trained models can detect and discriminate E.coli from B.subtilis with high accuracy of more than 80%. This approach has the potential to train different types of bacteria with a multiclass neural network classifier by training them with images from different genera and species of bacteria. Such a classifier can detect them in a wild sample containing many types of bacteria with low-cost smartphone optical device.
Electromyographic study of the jaw muscles during speech

Abstract: An investigation of the role of the mandibular muscles during the production of speech is reported here. Electromyographic (EMG) recordings from superficial and deep masseter, anterior and posterior temporalis, medial pterygoid, superior and inferior lateral pterygoid, and the anterior belly of the digastric muscles were obtained for four speakers of American English. For one of the speakers, mandibular movement was monitored simultaneously with the EMG recordings using a modified thyroumbrometer (Ewan & Krones, 1974). The subjects read lists of nonsense words containing the vowels /a/, /i/ and /u/ in VCV combination with the consonants /p/, /t/, /k/ and /f/. The results indicate that the traditional classification of masseter, temporalis and medial pterygoid as jaw elevators, and lateral pterygoid and anterior belly of digastric as jaw depressors is not adequate for describing control of the jaw in speech.
Half the sky: interwoven resilience processes of women political leaders in China

Applying communication theory of resilience (CTR), this study examines how women leaders in China’s politics enact resilience throughout their long career journey. We draw upon in-depth interviews ...
Wittgenstein on ethics: working through Lebensformen

In his Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus, Wittgenstein conveyed the idea that ethics cannot be located in an object or self-standing subject matter of propositional discourse, true or false. At the sa...
End-To-End Generation of Talking Faces from Noisy Speech

Acoustic cues are not the only component in speech communication; if the visual counterpart is present, it is shown to benefit speech comprehension. In this work, we propose an end-to-end (no pre- or post-processing) system that can generate talking faces from arbitrarily long noisy speech. We propose a mouth region mask to encourage the network to focus on mouth movements rather than speech irrelevant movements. In addition, we use generative adversarial network (GAN) training to improve the image quality and mouth-speech synchronization. Furthermore, we employ noise-resilient training to make our network robust to unseen non-stationary noise. We evaluate our system with image quality and mouth shape (landmark) measures on noisy speech utterances with five types of unseen non-stationary noise between -10 dB and 30 dB signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) with increments of 1 dB SNR. Results show that our system outperforms a state-of-the-art baseline system significantly, and our noise-resilient training improves performance for noisy speech in a wide range of SNR.
Protein higher-order-structure determination by fast photochemical oxidation of proteins and mass spectrometry analysis

The higher-order structure (HOS) of proteins plays a critical role in their function; therefore, it is important to our understanding of their function that we have as much information as possible about their three-dimensional structure and how it changes with time. Mass spectrometry (MS) has become an important tool for determining protein HOS owing to its high throughput, mid-to-high spatial resolution, low sample amount requirement and broad compatibility with various protein systems. Modern MS-based protein HOS analysis relies, in part, on footprinting, where a reagent reacts ‘to mark’ the solvent-accessible surface of the protein, and MS-enabled proteomic analysis locates the modifications to afford a footprint. Fast photochemical oxidation of proteins (FPOP), first introduced in 2005, has become a powerful approach for protein footprinting. Laser-induced hydrogen peroxide photolysis generates hydroxyl radicals that react with solvent-accessible side chains (14 out of 20 amino acid side chains) to fulfill the footprinting. The reaction takes place at sub-milliseconds, faster than most of labeling-induced protein conformational changes, thus enabling a ‘snapshot’ of protein HOS in solution. As a result, FPOP has been employed in solving several important problems, including mapping epitopes, following protein aggregation, locating small molecule binding, measuring ligand-binding affinity, monitoring protein folding and unfolding and determining hidden conformational changes invisible to other methods. Broader adoption will be promoted by dissemination of the technical details for assembling the FPOP platform and for dealing with the complexities of analyzing FPOP data. In this protocol, we describe the FPOP platform, the conditions for successful footprinting and its examination by mass measurements of the intact protein, the post-labeling sample handling and digestion, the liquid chromatography–tandem MS analysis of the digested sample and the data analysis with Protein Metrics Suite. This protocol is intended not only as a guide for investigators trying to establish an FPOP platform in their own lab but also for those willing to incorporate FPOP as an additional tool in addressing their questions of interest. Footprinting reports solvent accessibilities of a protein or protein complex. This protocol describes a fast photochemical oxidation of proteins platform for footprinting, with laser-initiated H2O2 photolysis and mass spectrometry analysis.
Effect of instrument timbre on musical emotion recognition in normal-hearing listeners and cochlear implant users

The effect of instrument timbre (e.g., piano, trumpet, organ, and violin) on musical emotion recognition was tested in normal-hearing (NH) listeners and cochlear implant (CI) users. NH performance was best with the piano, and did not change when melodies were normalized with a fixed tempo. CI performance was significantly better with the piano and trumpet than with the violin and organ when both tempo and mode cues were preserved, but not for the tempo-normalized melodies. The sharper temporal onsets of piano and trumpet may enhance CI users' perception of tempo cues important for musical emotion recognition.
Activity of Omadacycline and Other Tetracyclines Against Contemporary Gram-Negative Pathogens from New York City Hospitals

Antibiotic-resistant Enterobacteriaceae and Acinetobacter baumannii are problematic pathogens, with few treatment options for multidrug-resistant (MDR)-A. baumannii and few oral options for extende...
How important are product attributes for U.S. lamb imports

The U.S. lamb industry has changed in the last decade, impacting the structure of imports, which have become necessary to meet domestic demand. Product differentiation plays an important role in de...
Optimizing the Implementation of Surgical Coaching Through Feedback From Practicing Surgeons.

Importance Surgical coaching is maturing as a tangible strategy for surgeons' continuing professional development. Resources to spread this innovation are not yet widely available. Objective To identify surgeon-derived implementation recommendations for surgical coaching programs from participants' exit interviews and ratings of their coaching interactions. Design, setting, and participants This qualitative analysis of the Surgical Coaching for Operative Performance Enhancement (SCOPE) program, a quality improvement intervention, was conducted at 4 US academic medical centers. Participants included 46 practicing surgeons. The SCOPE program ran from December 7, 2018, to October 31, 2019. Data were analyzed from November 1, 2019, to January 31, 2020. Interventions Surgeons were assigned as either a coach or a coachee, and each coach was paired with 1 coachee by a local champion who knew the surgeons professionally. Coaching pairs underwent training and were instructed to complete 3 coaching sessions-consisting of preoperative goal setting, intraoperative observation, and postoperative debriefing-focused on intraoperative performance. Main outcomes and measures Themes from the participants' exit interviews covering 3 major domains: (1) describing the experience, (2) coach-coachee relationship, and (3) facilitators and barriers to implementing surgical coaching. Surgeons' responses were stratified by the net promoter score (NPS), a scale ranging from 0 to 10 points, indicating how likely they were to recommend their coaching session to others, with 9 to 10 indicating promoters; 7 to 8, passives; and 0 to 6, detractors. Results Among the 46 participants (36 men [78.3%]), 23 were interviewed (50.0%); thematic saturation was reached with 5 coach-coachee pairs (10 interviews). Overall, coaches and coachees agreed on key implementation recommendations for surgical coaching, including how to optimize coach-coachee relationships and facilitate productive coaching sessions. The NPS categories were associated with how participants experienced their own coaching sessions. Specifically, participants who reported excellent first sessions, had a coaching partner in the same clinical specialty, and were transparent about each other's intentions in the program tended to be promoters. Participants who described suboptimal first sessions, less clinical overlap, and unclear goals with their partner were more likely detractors. Conclusions and relevance These exit interviews with practicing surgeons offer critical insights for addressing cultural barriers and practical challenges for successful implementation of peer coaching programs focused on surgical performance improvement. With empirical evidence on optimizing coach-coachee relationships and facilitating participants' experience, organizations can establish effective coaching programs that enable meaningful continuous professional development for surgeons and ultimately enhance patient care.
Heterocycles in drug discovery: Properties and preparation

Abstract In recent years, understanding ways to improve the value and impact of heterocycles, in drug discovery and medicinal chemistry has increased with understanding of the multitude ways this fragment can influence properties. This chapter defines heterocycles as aromatic and non-aromatic rings containing one or more non-carbon atoms. Accompanying this is an expansion of the routes for synthesis that can be applied generally and more specifically to individual examples to efficiently deliver key building blocks used in drug discovery. This chapter will highlight recent examples of applications of heterocycles to favorably improve drug candidates in a range of therapeutic areas. In addition, synthetic methodology to access these heterocycles, including a discussion of late stage functionalization as a means to create new molecules will be presented.
The Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Resident Education and Wellness: A National Survey of Plastic Surgery Residents.

Background The coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had a profound effect on surgical training programs, reflecting decreases in elective surgical cases and emergency restructuring of clinical teams. The effect of these measures on U.S. plastic surgery resident education and wellness has not been characterized. Methods An institutional review board-exempted anonymous survey was developed through expert panel discussion and pilot testing. All current U.S. plastic surgery trainees were invited to complete a cross-sectional 28-question survey in April of 2020. Respondents were queried regarding demographic information, educational experiences, and wellness during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results A total of 668 residents responded to the survey, corresponding to a 56.1 percent response rate. Sex, training program type, postgraduate year, and region were well represented within the sample. Nearly all trainees (97.1 percent) reported restructuring of their clinical teams. One-sixth of respondents were personally redeployed to assist with the care of COVID-19 patients. A considerable proportion of residents felt that the COVID-19 pandemic had a negative impact on their education (58.1 percent) and wellness (84.8 percent). Residents found virtual curriculum effective and meaningful, and viewed an average of 4.2 lectures weekly. Although most residents did not anticipate a change in career path, some reported negative consequences on job prospects or fellowship. Conclusions The COVID-19 pandemic had a considerable impact on U.S. plastic surgery education and wellness. Although reductions in case volume may be temporary, this may represent a loss of critical, supervised clinical experience. Some effects may be positive, such as the development of impactful virtual lectures that allow for cross-institutional curriculum.
Do contrast-enhanced and advanced MRI sequences improve diagnostic accuracy for indeterminate lipomatous tumors?

PURPOSE Benign, intermediate-grade and malignant tumors sometimes have overlapping imaging and clinical characteristics. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the added value of contrast-enhanced sequences (dynamic contrast enhancement (DCE)), diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), and chemical shift imaging (CSI) to noncontrast MRI sequences for the characterization of indeterminate lipomatous tumors. MATERIALS AND METHODS Thirty-two consecutive patients with histologically proven peripheral lipomatous tumors were retrospectively evaluated. Two musculoskeletal radiologists recorded the MRI features in three sessions: (1) with noncontrast T1-weighted and fluid-sensitive sequences; (2) with addition of static pre- and post-contrast 3D volumetric T1-weighted sequences; and (3) with addition of DCE, DWI, and CSI. After each session, readers recorded a diagnosis (benign, intermediate/atypical lipomatous tumor (ALT), or malignant/dedifferentiated liposarcoma (DDL)). Categorical imaging features (presence of septations, nodules, contrast enhancement) and quantitative metrics (apparent diffusion coefficient values, CSI signal loss) were recorded. RESULTS For 32 tumors, the diagnostic accuracy of both readers did not improve with the addition of contrast-enhanced sequences, DWI, or CSI (53% (17/32) session 1; 50% (16/30) session 2; 53% (17/32) session 3). Noncontrast features, including thick septations (p = 0.025) and nodules ≥ 1 cm (p < 0.001), were useful for differentiating benign tumors from ALTs and DDLs, as were DWI (p = 0.01) and CSI (p = 0.009) metrics. CONCLUSION The addition of contrast-enhanced sequences (static, DCE), DWI, and CSI to a conventional, noncontrast MRI protocol did not improve diagnostic accuracy for differentiating benign, intermediate-grade, and malignant lipomatous tumors. However, we identified potentially useful imaging features by DCE, DWI, and CSI that may help distinguish these entities.
Learning and Motivation in the Postsecondary Classroom

Dedication. About the Author. Preface. 1 My Attempt to Motivate You to Learn About Learning. 2 Helping Students Learn the Content. 3 Helping Students Understand. 4 Helping Students Develop Skills, Including Intellectual Skills. 5 Helping Students Retain and Use What They've Learned in Other Settings. 6 Helping Students Help Themselves. 7 Motivating Students to Learn. 8 What to Do About Individual Differences in Learning. 9 Ptting It All Together. Appendix: The Theories in a Nutshell. Bibliography. Index.
Fifty years chlorpromazine: a historical perspective.

Chlorpromazine was synthesized in December 1951 in the laboratories of Rhone-Poiulenc, and became available on prescription in France in November 1952. Its effectiveness was reflected in the transformation of disturbed wards; its commercial success stimulated the development of other psychotropic drugs. Recognition of chemical mediation at the site of the synapse, followed by the introduction of the spectrophotofluorimeter first, and receptor assays subsequently, led to the demonstration that chlorpromazine blocks dopamine receptors. Treatment with chlorpromazine focused attention on the heterogeneity of schizophrenia in terms of responsiveness to treatment. By the mid-1980s there was sufficient evidence to believe that resolving this heterogeneity is a prerequisite for developing more effective treatments. Chlorpromazine was instrumental in the development of neuropsychopharmacology, a new discipline dedicated to the study of mental pathology with the employment of centrally acting drugs.