cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Populism and Imperialism: Politics, Culture, and Foreign Policy in the American West, 1890–1900. By Nathan Jessen. (Lawrence, KS: University Press of Kansas, 2017. Pp. x, 331. $39.95.)

Today the word “populist” has acquired the negative connotations of tribal nationalism, racism, sexism, and antipathy to all elites. Perhaps in response to this, historians have renewed their effor...
Intrinsic Motivation Paired with Community Outreach Strategies to Improve Student Success

AbstractEducators face numerous challenges when attempting to facilitate student learning. Students differ in how they obtain, retain, and apply newly acquired knowledge and skills, while teachers ...
The Ubiquity of Understanding: Dimensions of Understanding in the Social and Natural Sciences:

Taking my departure from the discussion of the concept of understanding in contemporary epistemology, I will suggest that we need to fine-tune the concept of explanatory understanding in order to c...
Teacher Internships as Professional Development in Career & Technical Education

In-service teacher training more commonly referred to as Professional Development (PD) is a critical part of education especially in career and technical education (CTE). CTE programs have rapidly changing technological foundations (Panella, 2007;Cho & Imel, 2003) and CTE teachers’ primary focus is to prepare students for entry-level positions in their occupational areas. As such, CTE teachers must ensure that their own technical knowledge and skills remain current in order to adequately prepare students for these technically enhanced work environments. This becomes even more critical now that theCarl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006(Perkins IV) links funding to student outcomes. Students must now demonstrate proficiency on technical assessments covering industry-recognized standards.
Direct medical cost of oropharyngeal cancer among patients insured by Medicaid in Texas.

Abstract Objectives The aim of this study was to estimate the direct 2-year mean incremental medical care costs for incident oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) from the perspective of the Texas Medicaid program. Methods OPC patients treated from 2008 to 2012 were selected in the Texas Medicaid database. Using a two-step 1:1 propensity score matching method, we selected controls to determine the differential cost associated with OPC. Monthly and yearly direct costs were estimated for 2 years after the cancer diagnosis. For patients without 2-year complete follow-up, a generalized linear model with gamma distribution and log link function was applied to predict costs for the censored months. Results A total of 352 patients with OPC and the same number of controls were included in the study. Among OPC patients, 204 (58%) were covered by Medicaid and Medicare, and 148 patients (42%) were insured under Medicaid only. The adjusted first- and second-year mean differential costs were $45,102 and $11,684 for Medicaid-only enrollees and $5734 and $2162 for Medicaid-Medicare dual-eligible enrollees, respectively. Being male, Hispanic, Medicaid-only eligible, living in the Harlingen region, and having more comorbidities were positively associated with monthly cost. Lubbock residents experienced lower costs. Conclusions The direct incremental medical costs associated with OPCs among patients insured by Texas Medicaid were substantial in the first 2 years after cancer diagnosis and should be considered in assessing the economic consequences of increasing the investment in HPV vaccination in Texas.
Two Rare Cases of Tinea Corporis Caused by Trichophyton verrucosum and Trichophyton interdigitale in a Teenage Girl.

We present two cases of tinea corporis caused by Trichophyton verrucosum and Trichophyton interdigitale in a teenage girl who works with farm animals. We describe the differences in presentation between zoophilic dermatophytes and anthropophilic dermatophytes. Also, we report some of the typical features of the two rare species, T. verrucosum and T. interdigitale. This case is significant to dermatology as it raises awareness about these uncommon zoophilic dermatophytoses and demonstrates the importance of educating patients about their mode of infection.
Stochastic Optimal Approach to the Steering of an Autonomous Vehicle through a Sequence of Roadways

This paper discusses the implementation of a stochastic optimal controller for steering a vehicle to robustly follow an unpredictably winding road. The controller is based on a bicycle model and the road is defined as a sequence of roadways. Each roadway has a fixed position, but its orientation is uncertain. To anticipate this uncertainty, we model the orientation with a Brownian stochastic process, which serves as a stochastic process model for the orientation observations. The stochastic controller based on such a model implicitly creates a robust road following controller. The control design is illustrated with numerical simulations and implemented for steering a car in a high-fidelity car simulator.
Dual-Task Interference Between Swimming and Verbal Memory.

Objective:A dual-task study was performed to explore the performance effects for swimming, word recall, and the combination of the two tasks performed simultaneously.Background:Dual-task interferen...
Oligonucleotide-functionalized hydrogels for sustained release of small molecule (aptamer) therapeutics

Natural and synthetic hydrogels have been widely investigated as biomaterial scaffolds to promote tissue repair and regeneration. Nevertheless, the scaffold alone is often insufficient to drive new tissue growth, instead requiring continuous delivery of therapeutics, such as proteins or other biomolecules that work in concert with structural support provided by the scaffold. However, because of the high-water content, hydrogels tend to be permeable and cause rapid release of the encapsulated drug, which could lead to serious complications from local overdose and may result in the significant waste of encapsulated therapeutic(s). To this end, we designed an oligonucleotide-functionalized hydrogel that can provide sustained and controlled delivery of therapeutics for up to 4 weeks. To prove this concept, we successfully achieved sustained release (for over 28 days) of model anti-Nogo receptor (anti-NgR) RNA aptamer from oligonucleotide-functionalized hyaluronic acid-based hydrogel by changing the complementarity between the short antisense sequences and the aptamer. Furthermore, the released aptamer successfully blocked neuro-inhibitory effects of myelin-derived inhibitors and promoted neurite outgrowth from rat dorsal root ganglia in vitro. Because antisense sequences can be designed to bind to proteins, peptides, and aptamer, our oligonucleotide-functionalized hydrogel offers a promising therapeutic delivery system to obtain controlled release (both bolus and sustained) of various therapeutics for the treatment of complex diseases and injury models, such as spinal cord injury. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Producing a therapeutic effect often requires the administration of multiple injections with high dosages. This regimen causes discomfort to the patient and raises cost of treatment. Additionally, systemic delivery of therapeutics often results in adverse effects; therefore, local delivery at the site of injury is desirable. Therefore, in this study, we designed an oligonucleotide-functionalized biomaterial platform using ssDNA oligonucleotides (immobile species) as antisense sequences to increase residence time and fine-tune the release of anti-nogo receptor aptamer (mobile species) for spinal cord injury application. Because antisense sequences can be designed to bind proteins, peptides, and aptamer, our hydrogel offers a promising delivery system to obtain controlled release of various therapeutics for the treatment of complex diseases and injury models.
Design of an Enhanced Public Health Surveillance System for Hepatitis C Virus Elimination in King County, Washington.

Introduction:With the goal of eliminating hepatitis C virus (HCV) as a public health problem in Washington State, Public Health–Seattle & King County (PHSKC) designed a Hepatitis C Virus Test and C...
Operative fusion of patients with metabolic syndrome increases risk for perioperative complications.

Abstract Metabolic syndrome is a clustering of clinical findings defined in the literature including hypertension, high glucose, abdominal obesity, high triglyceride, and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. The purpose of this study was to assess perioperative outcomes in patients undergoing spine fusion surgery with (MetS) and without (no-MetS) a history of metabolic syndrome. Included: Patients ≥18 yrs old undergoing spine fusion procedures diagnosed with MetS components with BL and 1-year follow-up were isolated in a single-center database. Patients in the two groups were propensity score matched for levels fused. 250 spine fusion patients (58 yrs, 52.2%F, 39.0 kg/m2) with an average CCI of 1.92 were analyzed. 125 patients were classified with MetS (60.2 yrs, 52%F, CCI: 3.2). MetS patients were significantly older (p = 0.012). MetS patients underwent significantly more open (Met-S: 78.4% vs No-MetS: 45.6%, p
IL-8 and cancer prognosis on immunotherapy.

Interleukin-8, produced by intratumoral and circulating myeloid cells, correlates with an immunosuppressive myeloid-enriched tumor microenvironment and adverse cancer prognosis.
Postsynaptic serine racemase regulates NMDA receptor function

Abstract D-serine is the primary NMDA receptor (NMDAR) co-agonist at mature forebrain synapses and is synthesized by the enzyme serine racemase (SR). However, our understanding of the mechanisms regulating the availability of synaptic D-serine remains limited. Though early studies suggested D-serine is synthesized and released from astrocytes, more recent studies have demonstrated a predominantly neuronal localization of SR. More specifically, recent work intriguingly suggests that SR may be found at the postsynaptic density, yet the functional implications of postsynaptic SR on synaptic transmission are not yet known. Here, we show an age-dependent dendritic and postsynaptic localization of SR and D-serine by immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy in mouse CA1 pyramidal neurons, as well as the presence of SR in human hippocampal synaptosomes. In addition, using a single-neuron genetic approach in SR conditional knockout mice, we demonstrate a cell-autonomous role for SR in regulating synaptic NMDAR function at Schaffer collateral (CA3)-CA1 synapses. Importantly, single-neuron genetic deletion of SR resulted in the elimination of LTP at one month of age. Interestingly, there was a restoration of LTP by two months of age that was associated with an upregulation of synaptic GluN2B. Our findings support a cell-autonomous role for postsynaptic neuronal SR in regulating synaptic NMDAR function and suggests a possible autocrine mode of D-serine action.
Whole-core transient analysis methodology for prismatic high temperature gas reactors

Abstract A new transient thermalhydraulic method for simulating prismatic high temperature gas cooled reactors (HTGRs) during a loss-of-forced-circulation (LOFC) accident is presented. Whole-core, three-dimensional temperature profiles are computed at an individual fuel pin and lattice assembly block levels. A method that computes the fluid mass, velocity (momentum), and energy throughout a transient is implemented using a well-documented, semi-implicit pressure-correction scheme. Models for reactor cavity cooling system (RCCS) heat transfer and decay heat generation are also included. Pressurized (P-LOFC) and de-pressurized (D-LOFC) accidents are simulated. This method provides two significant advantages over available thermalhydraulic analysis techniques. The first is its ability to compute whole-core results and capture the important transient core-level phenomena such as bypass flow and heat redistribution into the reflector assemblies after reactor SCRAM. The second is its ability to compute each fuel assembly in detail, computing the heat rates and temperature profiles for every fuel pin, graphite, and coolant channel. These features produce realistic, 3-D transient results for prismatic HTGRs during a LOFC. A RELAP model is also developed and implemented for the HTGR. The limitations of existing methods for the simulation of the prismatic fuel are identified and the need for and novelty of the present method are highlighted.
Cardiac Arrhythmia Detection in an ECG Beat Signal Using 1D Convolution Neural Network

The change in the normal rhythm of a human heart can lead to different cardiac arrhythmia. To monitor the functionality of the cardiovascular system by electrocardiogram (ECG) is used reliably. Recently, the accurate categorization of the heartbeats is accepted to be a very concerned incident. In this paper, we applied convolution neural network (CNN) to classify five classes of human heartbeat category and had used the generated classified output for information fusion towards a smart heart monitoring system (SHMS) that consist a smart-phone application with few patient-friendly features for individuals. We evaluated the system on Physio Net's several datasets. According to the findings, the system can classify five different types of heart rhythm with an average accuracy of 98:28%. This project aims to maintain optimum growing conditions of the human electrocardiogram frequently.
On the maximum general sum-connectivity index of trees with a fixed order and maximum degree

The general sum-connectivity index of a graph G, denoted by χα(G), is defined as χα(G) =∑uv∈E(G)(d(u) + d(v))α, where uv is the edge connecting the vertices u,v ∈ V (G), d(w) denotes the degree of ...
CRISPR/Cas9-constructed pseudorabies virus mutants reveal the importance of UL13 in alphaherpesvirus escape from genome silencing

Latent and recurrent productive infection of long-living cells, such as neurons, enables alphaherpesviruses to persist in their host populations. Still, the viral factors involved in these events remain largely obscure. Using a complementation assay in compartmented primary peripheral nervous system (PNS) neuronal cultures, we previously reported that productive replication of axonally delivered genomes is facilitated by pseudorabies virus (PRV) tegument proteins. Here, we sought to unravel the role of tegument protein UL13 in this escape from silencing. We first constructed four new PRV mutants in the virulent Becker strain using CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene replacement: (i) PRV Becker defective for UL13 expression (PRV ΔUL13), (ii) PRV where UL13 is fused to eGFP (PRV UL13-eGFP), and two control viruses (iii and iv) PRV where VP16 is fused with mTurquoise at either the N terminus (PRV mTurq-VP16) or the C terminus (PRV VP16-mTurq). Live-cell imaging of PRV capsids showed efficient retrograde transport after axonal infection with PRV UL13-eGFP, although we did not detect dual-color particles. However, immunofluorescence staining of particles in mid-axons indicated that UL13 might be cotransported with PRV capsids in PNS axons. Superinfecting nerve cell bodies with UV-inactivated PRV ΔUL13 failed to efficiently promote escape from genome silencing compared to UV-PRV wild type and UV-PRV UL13-eGFP superinfection. However, UL13 does not act directly in the escape from genome silencing, as adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated UL13 expression in neuronal cell bodies was not sufficient to provoke escape from genome silencing. Based on this, we suggest that UL13 may contribute to initiation of productive infection through phosphorylation of other tegument proteins.IMPORTANCE Alphaherpesviruses have mastered various strategies to persist in an immunocompetent host, including the induction of latency and reactivation in peripheral nervous system (PNS) ganglia. We recently discovered that the molecular mechanism underlying escape from latency by the alphaherpesvirus pseudorabies virus (PRV) relies on a structural viral tegument protein. This study aimed at unravelling the role of tegument protein UL13 in PRV escape from latency. First, we confirmed the use of CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene replacement as a versatile tool to modify the PRV genome. Next, we used our new set of viral mutants and AAV vectors to conclude the indirect role of UL13 in PRV escape from latency in primary neurons, along with its spatial localization during retrograde capsid transport in axons. Based on these findings, we speculate that UL13 phosphorylates one or more tegument proteins, thereby priming these putative proteins to induce escape from genome silencing.
Constructive Obligations and Past Practice

Accounting standards require companies to recognize a liability when a pattern of past practice creates a constructive obligation. We conduct two experiments to test whether financial statement users believe that a company’s past practice gives rise to obligations. Consistent with theory on descriptive and injunctive norms, and using both frequentist and Bayesian hypothesis testing, we find that users rely on past practice to predict a company’s future activities, but they do not believe past practice alone is sufficient to create obligations. However, we find that users do believe past practice can play a role in creating obligations, for example when others rely on the past practice. Overall, users’ beliefs about the role of past practice in creating obligations are consistent with applying a legal standard to identify obligations. Our results suggest that additional guidance is necessary to help financial statement users understand how and when obligations arise from past practice.
Implementing the US Department of Health and Human Services definition of multimorbidity: a comparison between billing codes and medical record review in a population-based sample of persons 40-84 years old.

Objective To assess the validity of the US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) definition of multimorbidity using International Classification of Diseases, ninth edition (ICD-9) codes from administrative data. Design Cross-sectional comparison of two ICD-9 billing code algorithms to data abstracted from medical records. Setting Olmsted County, Minnesota, USA. Participants An age-stratified and sex-stratified random sample of 1509 persons ages 40–84 years old residing in Olmsted County on 31 December 2010. Study measures Seventeen chronic conditions identified by the US DHHS as important in studies of multimorbidity were identified through medical record review of each participant between 2006 and 2010. ICD-9 administrative billing codes corresponding to the 17 conditions were extracted using the Rochester Epidemiology Project records-linkage system. Persons were classified as having each condition using two algorithms: at least one code or at least two codes separated by more than 30 days. We compared the ICD-9 code algorithms with the diagnoses obtained through medical record review to identify persons with multimorbidity (defined as ≥2, ≥3 or ≥4 chronic conditions). Results Use of a single code to define each of the 17 chronic conditions resulted in sensitivity and positive predictive values (PPV) ≥70%, and in specificity and negative predictive values (NPV) ≥70% for identifying multimorbidity in the overall study population. PPV and sensitivity were highest in persons 65–84 years of age, whereas NPV and specificity were highest in persons 40–64 years. The results varied by condition, and by age and sex. The use of at least two codes reduced sensitivity, but increased specificity. Conclusions The use of a single code to identify each of the 17 chronic conditions may be a simple and valid method to identify persons who meet the DHHS definition of multimorbidity in populations with similar demographic, socioeconomic, and health care characteristics.
Gust mitigation with an oscillating airfoil at low Reynolds number

The encounter between micro-aerial vehicles (MAVs) and gusts is often detrimental and mitigating the effects of the gust is important for operating MAVs under severe environmental conditions. This study investigates the impact of vertical gusts on stationary and oscillating NACA0012 (National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics) airfoils at low Reynolds numbers using high-order computational fluid dynamics methods, and identifies key dynamics that dominate gust mitigation. The interaction of the gusts with the stationary airfoil generates large unsteady forces, which exceed the peak static lift coefficient. A simple pitch-down maneuver and oscillating airfoil motion were tested as methods for mitigating the effects of the gusts. A rapid and significant pitch-down maneuver is observed to inadvertently cause a stall event by exceeding the negative stall angle. A stepwise change in the angle of attack (AoA), as the gust develops, is shown to be more effective at mitigating the gust effect. However, this gust mitigation strategy is still not effective if the gust continues to grow in magnitude. Low amplitude wing oscillations were then tested as a novel method for gust mitigation. Increasing the reduced frequency of the oscillating airfoil is shown to dominate the gust and results in a predictable oscillatory lift and drag/thrust behavior. Results also show that this effect is relatively insensitive to variations in the Strouhal number. These results suggest there may be gust mitigation strategies leveraging oscillating wing behaviors on MAVs.
A feature-based affine registration method for capturing background lung tissue deformation for ground glass nodule tracking

Apparent changes in lung nodule size assessed via simple image-based measurements from computed tomography (CT) images may be compromised by the effect of the background lung tissue deformation on ...
Sophocles and the Politics of Tragedy: Cities and Transcendence

Introduction. 1. Tragic Insights Part I 2. Parallax and Politics in Ajax 3. Death and Desire in Antigone 4. Friendship and Necessity in Philoctetes Part II 5. Medieval Visions and the Early Modern Project 6. The Tragic Politics of John Locke 7. Karl Jaspers and the End of Tragedy Conclusion.
Automated System-Level Test Development for Mixed-Signal Circuits

While in the digital domain, test development is primarily conducted with the use of automated tools, knowledge-based, ad hoc test methods have been in use in the analog domain. High levels of design integration and increasing complexity of analog blocks within a system necessitate automated system-level analog test development tools. We outline a methodology for specification-based automated test generation and fault simulation for analog circuits. Test generation is targeted at providing the highest coverage for each specified parameter. The flexibility of assigning analog test attributes is utilized for merging tests leading to test time reduction with no loss in test coverage. Further optimization in test time is obtained through fault simulations by selecting tests that provide adequate coverage in terms of several components and dropping the ones that do not provide additional coverage. A system-level test set target in the given set of specifications, along with fault and yield coverages in terms of each targeted parameter, and testability problems are determined through the proposed methodology.
The Roles of Profession and Gender in Some PIM Tasks

In this paper, the roles of selected individual difference factors were examined in some personal information management (PIM) tasks. A questionnaire was completed by 295 participants regarding their personal characteristics, retrieval of previously saved information, and selective use of multiple computers. Clustering of individual difference factors suggested further analysis of profession and gender as classifiers. Profession seemed to modulate the behaviors and attitudes of users in these PIM tasks. And certain gender difference in PIM tasks could be explained by different expectations or standards.
Human factors of database systems

The usability of software is becoming an increasingly important issue with vast economic implications. Indeed, the productivity and satisfaction of end-users can be a determining factor for the success of database systems.
Autonomic Nervous System and Immune System Interactions

The present review assesses the current state of literature defining integrative autonomic-immune physiological processing, focusing on studies that have employed electrophysiological, pharmacological, molecular biological, and central nervous system experimental approaches. Central autonomic neural networks are informed of peripheral immune status via numerous communicating pathways, including neural and non-neural. Cytokines and other immune factors affect the level of activity and responsivity of discharges in sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves innervating diverse targets. Multiple levels of the neuraxis contribute to cytokine-induced changes in efferent parasympathetic and sympathetic nerve outflows, leading to modulation of peripheral immune responses. The functionality of local sympathoimmune interactions depends on the microenvironment created by diverse signaling mechanisms involving integration between sympathetic nervous system neurotransmitters and neuromodulators; specific adrenergic receptors; and the presence or absence of immune cells, cytokines, and bacteria. Functional mechanisms contributing to the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway likely involve novel cholinergic-adrenergic interactions at peripheral sites, including autonomic ganglion and lymphoid targets. Immune cells express adrenergic and nicotinic receptors. Neurotransmitters released by sympathetic and parasympathetic nerve endings bind to their respective receptors located on the surface of immune cells and initiate immune-modulatory responses. Both sympathetic and parasympathetic arms of the autonomic nervous system are instrumental in orchestrating neuroimmune processes, although additional studies are required to understand dynamic and complex adrenergic-cholinergic interactions. Further understanding of regulatory mechanisms linking the sympathetic nervous, parasympathetic nervous, and immune systems is critical for understanding relationships between chronic disease development and immune-associated changes in autonomic nervous system function.
Drowning in the data deluge: digital library challenges for Asia

Scholarly communication no longer consists merely of papers and publications. Research data have become valuable objects to be captured, documented, and shared. Funding agencies are requiring "data management plans" for all new proposals. Libraries, universities, and research institutes are assessing how to manage those data in ways that can be leveraged for future value. But what are "data"? We are drowning in them without being able to define what they are. This talk will explore the shifting landscape of scholarly information, with special attention to how these shifts may influence digital libraries in Asia. Research is disseminated by many formal and informal means, not only by libraries and publishers but also by new media such as preprint repositories and tweets. Access may be faster - if one can separate signal from noise amidst the plethora of communication channels. These changes are the result of the transition from a closed scholarly world to the open Web, the shift in content and context of networked information, the shift in focus from information services for readers to those for authors, and differences between publications and data. If future scholars are to use the scholarly content of yesterday, today, and tomorrow, the digital library community must reclaim information retrieval, rethink partnerships throughout the information life cycle, share responsibility for the information infrastructure, and address policy and incentive issues.
Isolation and characterization of two 3-phosphatases that hydrolyze both phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate and inositol 1,3-bisphosphate.

Inositol-polyphosphate 3-phosphatase catalyzes the hydrolysis of the 3-position phosphate bond of inositol 1,3-bisphosphate (Ins(1,3)P2) to form inositol 1-monophosphate and inorganic phosphate (Bansal, V.S., Inhorn, R.C., and Majerus, P.W. (1987) J. Biol. Chem. 262, 9444-9447). Phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphatase catalyzes the analogous reaction utilizing phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate (PtdIns(3)P) as substrate to form phosphatidylinositol and inorganic phosphate (Lips, D.L., and Majerus, P.W. (1989) J. Biol. Chem. 264, 19911-19915). We now demonstrate that these enzyme activities are identical. Two forms of the enzyme, designated Type I and II 3-phosphatases, were isolated from rat brain. The Type I 3-phosphatase consisted of a protein doublet that migrated at a relative Mr of 65,000 upon sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The Mr of this isoform upon size-exclusion chromatography was 110,000, suggesting that the native enzyme is a dimer. The Type II enzyme consisted of equal amounts of an Mr = 65,000 doublet and an Mr = 78,000 band upon SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. This isoform displayed an Mr upon size-exclusion chromatography of 147,000, indicating that it is a heterodimer. The Type II 3-phosphatase catalyzed the hydrolysis of Ins(1,3)P2 with a catalytic efficiency of one-nineteenth of that measured for the Type I enzyme, whereas PtdIns(3)P was hydrolyzed by the Type II 3-phosphatase at three times the rate measured for the Type I 3-phosphatase. The Mr = 65,000 subunits of the two forms of 3-phosphatase appear to be the same based on co-migration on SDS-polyacrylamide gels and peptide maps generated with Staphylococcus aureus protease V8 and trypsin. The peptide map of the Mr = 78,000 subunit was different from that of the Mr = 65,000 subunits. Thus, we propose that the differing relative specificities of the Type I and II 3-phosphatases for Ins(1,3)P2 and PtdIns(3)P are due to the presence of the Mr = 78,000 subunit of the Type II enzyme.
Automatic Raag Classification of Pitch-tracked Performances Using Pitch-class and Pitch-class Dyad Distributions

A system was constructed to automatically identify raags using pitch-class (PCDs) and pitch-class dyad distributions (PCDDs) derived from pitch-tracked performances. Classification performance was 94% in a 10-fold cross-validation test with 17 target raags. Using PCDs alone, performance was 75%, and 82% using only PCDDs. Best performance was attained using a maximum a posteriori (MAP) rule with a multivariate normal (MVN) likelihood model. Each raag was divided into non-overlapping 30 second segments and pitch tracked using the Harmonic Product Spectrum (HPS) algorithm. Pitch tracks were then transformed into pitch-class sequences by segmenting into notes using a complex-domain detection function. For each note, pitch-class was determined by taking the mode of the detected pitches from the onset of the note to the next onset. For the given tuning, the nearest pitch was found based on a just-intoned chromatic scale. The comparison was made in the log-frequency domain. PCDs and PCDDs were estimated from each segment leading to 12 PCD features and 144 PCDD features. Thus, each segment was represented by a 156-dimensional feature vector, representing the relative frequency of pitch-classes and pitch dyads. It was found that performance improved significantly (+15%) when principal component analysis was used to reduce the feature vector dimension to 50. The study suggests that PCDs and PCDDs may be effective features for raag classification. However, the database size must be expanded in size and diversity to confirm this more generally.
Energy metabolism of rabbit retina as related to function: high cost of Na+ transport

Experiments designed to examine the energy requirements of neurophysiological function were performed on isolated rabbit retina. Function was altered by photic stimulation or by function-specific drugs, and the response of energy metabolism was assessed by simultaneous measurements of O2 consumption and lactate production. In other experiments, the supply of O2 or glucose was reduced and the effect on energy metabolism and electrophysiological function was observed. Energy requirements under control conditions in darkness were high, with O2 consumption (per gm dry wt) at 11.3 mumol min-1, with lactate production at 14.8 mumol min-1, and with the derived value for glucose consumption at 9.3 mumol min-1 and for high-energy phosphate (approximately P) generation at 82.6 mumol min-1. Energy reserves were small. Removing glucose abolished the b-wave of the electroretinogram (ERG) with a t1/2 of 1 min, but did not immediately affect O2 consumption or the PIII of the ERG. Removing O2 caused increases of up to 2.7-fold in glycolysis (Pasteur effect) and caused both PIII and b-wave to fail, with a t1/2 of about 5 min. Neurotransmission through the inner retina was supported almost entirely by glycolysis, as evidenced by large increases in lactate production in response to flashing light and decreases in response to transmitter blockers (2.3-fold overall change), with no change in O2 consumption. Phototransduction, on the other hand, was normally supported by oxidative metabolism. The dark current accounted for 41% of the retina's O2 consumption. With O2 reduced, the dark current was partially supported by glycolysis, which accounts (at least in part) for the large Pasteur effect. Na+ transport by NaK ATPase accounted for about half of all energy used, as evidenced by the response to strophanthidin, that is, for 49% of the oxidative energy and 58% of the glycolytic energy. The t1/2 for the turnover of intracellular Na+ was calculated from these data to be less than 1 min. Changes in temperature caused changes in the amplitude of light-evoked electrical responses of 6.5% per degree and caused changes in both O2 consumption and glycolysis of 6.8% per degree (Q10 = 1.9). A surprisingly large fraction of oxidative energy, corresponding to about 40% of the total energy generated, could not be assigned to phototransduction, to neurotransmission, to Na+ transport for other purposes, or to vegetative metabolism. We cannot account for its usage, but it may be related to the (previously reported) rapid turnover of the gamma-phosphate of retinal GTP, the function of which also remains unknown.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
A 1.1-Gbit/s 10-GHz Outphasing Modulator With 23-dBm Output Power and 60-dB Dynamic Range in 45-nm CMOS SOI

A 10-GHz outphasing modulator is implemented in a 45-nm CMOS silicon-on-insulator process. The modulator is designed to provide high linearity and can operate at high data rates by using 256-QAM while maintaining low error vector magnitude (EVM). Four high-speed 10-bit digital-to-analog converters (DACs) are integrated with dual in-phase and quadrature upconverters. To deliver high output power to an off-chip power amplifier, stacked field-effect transistor current buffers are used to isolate the modulator from the load and mitigate device breakdown. As a result, this modulator delivers 23 dBm to a differential 100- $\Omega$ load. The high-resolution DACs provide a fine control of the phase between the outphased signals and support more than 60 dB of dynamic range and power steps smaller than 1 dB over the entire output power range. The outphasing modulator demonstrates an EVM of 2.2% at 80 Mbit/s and an EVM of 3.4% at 1.1 Gbit/s for 256-QAM. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of an outphasing modulator operating above 1 Gb/s.
The Twelve Promises of Alcoholics Anonymous: Psychometric measure validation and mediational testing as a 12-step specific mechanism of behavior change

Abstract Background Empirical support for the recovery utility of 12-step mutual-help organizations (MHOs) has led to increased investigation of how such organizations confer benefit. The Twelve Promises of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) feature prominently in 12-step philosophy and culture and are one of the few documented explications of the cognitive, affective, and behavioral benefits that members might accrue. This study investigated the psychometric properties of a measure of AA's Twelve Promises and examined whether it mediated the effect of 12-step participation on abstinence. Method Young adults ( N = 302, M age 20.4 [1.6], range 18–25; 27% female; 95% White) enrolled in an addiction treatment effectiveness study completed assessments at intake and 3-, 6-, and 12-months post treatment including a 26-item, Twelve Promises Scale (TPS). Factor analyses examined the TPS’ psychometrics and lagged mediational analyses tested the TPS as a mechanism of behavior change. Results Robust principal axis factoring extraction with Varimax rotation revealed a 2-factor solution explaining 45–58% of the variance across three administrations (“Psychological Wellbeing” = 26–39%; “Freedom from Craving = 17–21%); internal consistency was high (alpha = .83–.93). Both factors were found to increase in relation to greater 12-step participation, but significant mediation was found only for the Freedom from Craving factor explaining 21–34% of the effect of 12-step participation in increasing abstinence. Conclusions The TPS shows potential as a conceptually relevant, and psychometrically sound measure and may be useful in helping elucidate the extent to which the Twelve Promises emerge as an independent benefit of 12-step participation and/or explain SUD remission and recovery.
Access to the General Curriculum: Systems Change or Tinker Some More?.

Special education as practiced today remains firmly anchored in the original logic of the Amendments to the Education of the Handicapped Act (PL 94-142). Subsequent reauthorizations of the statute have included language designed to increase access to the general curriculum by special needs students but have not addressed the underlying medical-model logic, a product of the “age of specialization” that was in full bloom in the 1970s. This article presents an argument for replacing the medical model with prevention logic that, at present, is embodied in the emerging applications of school-wide response to intervention (RTI). This replacement logic is described and exemplified by a school that has completed the transformation from a categorical, self-contained special education delivery system to an RTI-driven, fully integrated system that serves all students in grade-level, general education. A case example of a student at the school with extensive support/service needs is examined. Finally, the article off...
Evidence for a susceptibility gene, SLEV1, on chromosome 17p13 in families with vitiligo-related systemic lupus erythematosus.

Both systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and vitiligo are autoimmune disorders that have strong evidence of complex genetic contributions to their etiology, but, to date, efforts using genetic linkage to find the susceptibility genes for either phenotype have met with limited success. Since autoimmune diseases are thought to share at least some of their genetic origins, and since only a small minority (16 of 92) of the European-American pedigrees multiplex for SLE in our collection have one or more affected members with vitiligo, we hypothesized that these pedigrees might be more genetically homogeneous at loci important to both SLE and vitiligo and, hence, have increased power for detection of linkage. We therefore evaluated genomewide microsatellite-marker–scan data for markers at an average marker density of ∼11 cM in these 16 European-American pedigrees and identified a significant linkage at 17p13, where the maximum multipoint parametric LOD score was 3.64 ( P −5 ) and the nonparametric linkage score was 4.02 ( P −5 ), respectively. The segregation behavior of this linkage suggests a recessive mode of inheritance with a virtually homogeneous genetic effect in these 16 pedigrees. These results support the hypotheses that SLE and vitiligo may share important genetic effects and that sampling on the basis of clinical covariates dramatically improves power to identify genetic effects.
Health literacy: a concept/dimensional analysis.

Abstract The terms “health” and “literacy” form a powerful concept that has evolved from the 1970s to one that has garnered the attention of a wide range of disciplines; most notably, education and health care, but also library science, public health, and the mental health arena. There are many definitions of health literacy, but none that encompass the totality by which the concept is constructed. This paper presents an analysis of the concept of health literacy using the technique of concept/dimensional analysis. A clear understanding of the concept is essential as health literacy has implications that are far-reaching and impact both the individual and society.
Cluster ion emission in the interaction of slow highly charged ions with surfaces

Cluster ion emission from a variety of surfaces upon impact of highly charged ions is investigated by time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry. The yield of cluster ions as a function of cluster size for and surface follow a power law decline with exponent approaching the -2 limit of the ”equilibrium” and ”shock wave” cluster emission models. While the decline of the cluster ion emission with cluster size is an exponential decay for highly oriented pyrolytic graphite upon impact, the decline is more gradual than for impact, such that at the relative cluster yield is 1000 times higher.
Surface shortwave aerosol radiative forcing during the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Mobile Facility deployment in Niamey, Niger

[1] The Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Program's Mobile Facility (AMF) was deployed to Niamey, Niger, during 2006. Niamey, which is located in sub-Saharan Africa, is affected by both dust and biomass burning emissions. Column aerosol optical properties were derived from multifilter rotating shadowband radiometer, measurements and the vertical distribution of aerosol extinction was derived from a micropulse lidar during the two observed dry seasons (January–April and October–December). Mean aerosol optical depth (AOD) and single scattering albedo (SSA) at 500 nm during January–April were 0.53 ± 0.4 and 0.94 ± 0.05, while during October–December mean AOD and SSA were 0.33 ± 0.25 and 0.99 ± 0.01. Aerosol extinction profiles peaked near 500 m during the January–April period and near 100 m during the October–December period. Broadband shortwave surface fluxes and heating rate profiles were calculated using retrieved aerosol properties. Comparisons for noncloudy periods indicated that the remote sensing retrievals provided a reasonable estimation of the aerosol optical properties, with mean differences between calculated and observed fluxes of less than 5 W m−2 and RMS differences less than 25 W m−2. Sensitivity tests showed that the observed fluxes could be matched with variations of <10% in the inputs to the radiative transfer model. The calculated 24-h averaged SW instantaneous surface aerosol radiative forcing (ARF) was −21.1 ± 14.3 W m−2 and was estimated to account for 80% of the total radiative forcing at the surface. The ARF was larger during January–April (−28.5 ± 13.5 W m−2) than October–December (−11.9 ± 8.9 W m−2).
microRNAs in Gliomas: Small Regulators of a Big Problem

Gliomas are the most common form of primary brain tumors and are associated with a poor clinical outcome. The molecular mechanisms that contribute to gliomagenesis have become increasingly clear in recent years, yet much remains to be learned. This is particularly true for the role of microRNAs in gliomagenesis, as an appreciation for the significance of aberrant miRNA expression in human cancer has only emerged in the last 5 years. It is now evident that microRNAs regulate a wide variety of tumorigenic processes including cellular proliferation, differentiation, angiogenesis, invasion, and apoptosis. Here we review the current state of knowledge related to the role of microRNAs in glial tumor development. This is a rapidly evolving field and it is likely that we have only begun to appreciate the involvement of microRNAs in relation to glioma formation, and the therapeutic potential of microRNAs to improve outcome for glioma patients.
Gynecomastia as a precipitant of eating disorders in adolescent males.

Two male adolescents with gynecomastia, who engaged in daily self-induced vomiting in an attempt to decrease their breast size, are presented. Both adolescents had previously used exercise and dieting in initial attempts at weight control, and one of the adolescents appeared to have some questions regarding his sexual identity. These are the first two cases reporting an association between gynecomastia and eating disorders in males. Relevance of this association to the understanding of eating disorders in males, implications for screening and management, and etiologic considerations are discussed.
Perceptions of Sibling Qualities and Activities of Early Adolescents

The purpose for this study was to address the ways in which conflictual and positive relationship qualities in the sibling relationship differ at different grade levels during early adolescence. Th...
Reputation and Dynamic Stackelberg Leadership in Infinitely Repeated Games

Abstract The paper studies a repeated game in which a long-run player without discounting ?faces another long-run player with strict discounting. The game is perturbed so that there is uncertainty in the patient player's strategy choice: she may be a rational player, but she may also be one of many irrational types who are committed to various repeated game strategies. The rational patient player's equilibrium payoff in this perturbed game is analyzed. In particular, it is shown that the lower bound on her payoff in the set of (extensive-form) trembling-hand perfect equilibria is given by her Stackelberg payoff in a dynamics sense. Journal of Economic Literature : Classification Numbers: C72, D82.
Playing with the System: Fragmentation and Individualization in Late Pre-colonial Mīmāṃsā

Studies of Indian philosophy have generally overemphasized the con-sistency of philosophical systems over time, and consequently slighted later works as derivative. This paper seeks to reassess the “system” as a basic category for analyzing Sanskrit philosophy, in particular by examining the changes that took place in hermeneutics, or Mīmāṃsā, in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, when it became commonplace for Mīmāṃsā authors to criticize long established Mīmāṃsā positions. At first this criticism is selective and largely directed at more recent authors, but the margins of acceptable criticism are gradually broadened to the point when even the foundational works of the tradition are routinely attacked, and works are produced whose sole purpose appears to be to attack established Mīmāṃsā tenets, sometimes without even attempting to replace them with a more workable set of views. It becomes increasingly difficult to see what if anything one must believe to be considered a Mīmāṃsaka.