cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Kinematic-based sedentary and light-intensity activity detection for wearable medical applications

A sedentary lifestyle is becoming common for many individuals throughout the United States; however, this comes with a health cost of various preventable diseases such as cardiovascular disease, colon cancer, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes. Many times, individuals are completely unaware of how his or her health has deteriorated because of the slow progression or the demands of a job. We seek to bring attention to these problems by identifying specific sedentary activities and propose that just-in-time interventions could be used to help individuals overcome some of these problems. Our solution involves wearable sensors and utilizes a kinematic-based activity recognition systems to identify sedentary and light-intensity activities. Our system is evaluated with a series of laboratory experiments that include data from 34 individuals and a total of over 1400 minutes of activity. Results indicate that our system has a classification accuracy of up to 95.4 percent across all activities.
Development and validation of the implicit information from Lewis structures instrument (IILSI): do students connect structures with properties?

Lewis structures are a simplified two dimensional “cartoon” of molecular structure that allow a knowledgeable user to predict the types of properties a particular substance may exhibit. However, prior research shows that many students fail to recognize these structure-property connections and are unable to decode the information contained in the structures, thus resulting in students' inability to use Lewis structures for their intended purposes. We have developed a survey instrument using responses from student interviews and open-ended questions from a previous research study to determine students' beliefs about the information that can be obtained from Lewis structures. The survey was found to be reliable and valid through multiple administrations to a total of 3203 students, including first- and second-semester general chemistry and organic chemistry students, junior/senior level undergraduate chemistry students, and graduate level chemistry students. We propose that this survey can be a useful informational tool for instructors for a wide range of courses where students' understanding of structure-function relationships is important.
Overcoming Challenges to Using Evidence-Based Interventions in Schools

The Center for School Mental Health Assistance at the University of Maryland recently completed a review of evidence-based prevention and treatment programs that can be used by school mental health clinicians. Based on the review, a school-based program operating in 22 Baltimore City schools has purchased and trained clinicians in a number of protocols for evidence-based interventions. We present findings from this review and make pragmatic recommendations for school mental health programs to overcome the challenges associated with the use of evidence-based interventions.
Analytic strategies in hospital epidemiology: case-control studies.

Case-control studies (sometimes referred to as casereferent studies) have long been important in epidemiologic research.L2 This technique has been instrumental in allowing researchers to discover the associations between cigarettes and lung cancer, thromboembolism and oral contraceptives, and s.tilbesterol and vaginal cancer, just to cite a few examples.' The case-control method is also a very useful technique for studies in hospital epidemiology. This article will briefly review this technique, its advantages, and some of its potential pitfalls. In contrast to longitudinal studies, in which subjects are grouped according to their exposure to a risk factor or an intervention and are then followed forward in time to assess one or more outcomes, the subjects in case-control studies are selected based on their outcomes. That is, subjects who have the outcome of interest (eg, an infection or a malignancy) are identified and become the cases. A group of subjects that does not have the outcome of interest is selected
Theoretical gain of strained-layer semiconductor lasers in the large strain regime

The theoretical gain of strained-layer semiconductor lasers is analyzed in the large strain regime based on the density-matrix method, taking into account the modification of both the valence bands and the transition dipole moments. The wave functions for the valence-band states for an arbitrary wave vector at the Gamma point in the presence of stain are derived from diagonalization of the strain Hamiltonian using the original wave functions obtained from the k-p method. These wave functions are then used to obtain the dipole moment matrix elements at the band edges, which are found to be independent of the wave vector. >
A simple one-dimensional model of the quantum theory of racemization

Abstract A simple one-dimensional model is used to determine the rate of racemization of handed molecules in a low-temperature atomic gas. The quantum nature of the relaxation process is derived, and the vanishing of the racemization in both the classical and very low-temperature quantum limits are exhibited.
Heavy Metal and Disinfectant Resistance of Listeria monocytogenes from Foods and Food Processing Plants

The persistence of Listeria monocytogenes in food processing plants and other ecosystems reflects its ability to adapt to numerous stresses. In this study, we investigated 138 isolates from foods and food processing plants for resistance to the quaternary ammonium disinfectant benzalkonium chloride (BC) and to heavy metals (cadmium and arsenic). We also determined the prevalence of distinct cadmium resistance determinants (cadA1, cadA2, and cadA3) among cadmium-resistant isolates. Most BC-resistant isolates were resistant to cadmium as well. Arsenic resistance was encountered primarily in serotype 4b and was an attribute of most isolates of the serotype 4b epidemic clonal group ECIa. Prevalence of the known cadmium resistance determinants was serotype associated: cadA1 was more common in isolates of serotypes 1/2a and 1/2b than 4b, while cadA2 was more common in those of serotype 4b. A subset (15/77 [19%]) of the cadmium-resistant isolates lacked the known cadmium resistance determinants. Most of these isolates were of serotype 4b and were also resistant to arsenic, suggesting novel determinants that may confer resistance to both cadmium and arsenic in these serotype 4b strains. The findings may reflect previously unrecognized components of the ecological history of different serotypes and clonal groups of L. monocytogenes, including exposures to heavy metals and disinfectants.
Deformation processes in the vicinity of metal—ceramic interfaces

Abstract The deformation processes in the vicinity of Pt-NiO metal—ceramic interfaces tested by the periodic cracking method were investigated by electron microscopy. Cracks in the NiO thin film were suggested to result from a mechanism where dislocations propagate from the interface and react to form immobile dislocations which act to nucleate microcracks. Some distance away from the cracks in the NiO, a dense wall of dislocations was present in the Pt about 1 μ m away from and parallel to the interface, with a low dislocation-density region between the wall and the metal—ceramic interface. The formation of the dislocation wall is explained qualitatively by considering reactions between dislocations originating from the bulk Pt and the interface.
Target Factor Analysis of the Ultraviolet Spectra of Unresolved Liquid Chromatographic Fractions

Target factor analysis error criteria are applied to the UV spectra of unresolved liquid chromatographic fractions. The method is used not only to determine the number of components contributing to an unresolved chromatographic peak but also to individually verify the presence of suspected components without requiring any knowledge of the other components. An actual experimental example is presented using mixtures of o-xylene, ethylbenzene, and p-xylene. Factor analysis criteria are used to indicate which one of the fractions contains a UV-absorbing impurity(ies).
Photosynthesis, Dark Respiration and Bud Sugar Concentrations in Pepper Cultivars Differing in Susceptibility to Stress-induced Bud Abscission

Abstract Pepper ( Capsicum annuum L.) cultivars differ in susceptibility to stress-induced abscission. Previous research indicates that the stress susceptible cultivar 'Shamrock' undergoes a larger reduction in net assimilation rate (NAR) under low light stress, and partitions less dry matter (DM) to reproductive structures and more to leaves than the more tolerant cultivar 'Ace'. To determine if photosynthetic rates under low light stress could explain NAR differences, photosynthesis was measured on 'Ace' and 'Shamrock'. Assimilate partitioning was compared through measurement of leaf and bud respiration rates and analysis of bud sugar concentrations. Photosynthetic rates per unit leaf area of leaves fully exposed to incident light revealed no cultivar differences under low light conditions. Bud respiration rates fell to a lower level in 'Shamrock' than 'Ace' in low light-stressed plants, while expanded leaves respired at higher rates in 'Shamrock' than 'Ace' under both full and low light. Bud sugar concentrations were significantly lower in 'Shamrock' than 'Ace' after 3 d of low light stress. Susceptibility to low light stress-induced abscission in 'Shamrock' appears to be associated with reduced assimilate partitioning to flower buds, which may be related to high assimilate consumption in maintenance of expanded leaves.
Safety in anesthesia

The specialty of anesthesiology has made extraordinary advances in anesthesia safety. Yet, anesthetic mortality and morbidity continue to be far from tolerable. Efforts to enhance safety in anesthesia must include adherence to explicit and implicit safety standards, must make use of equipment that offers modern safety features, must seek to detect and correct developing safety threats as early as possible and must have a structured system to analyze problems and to institute remedies to prevent their recurrence.
Calculations of the transport of neutrons and secondary gamma rays through concrete for incident neutrons in the energy range 15 to 75 MeV.

Abstract Earlier work by Alsmiller et al. considered coupled neutron and secondary-gamma-ray transport through a thick shield of silicon dioxide with 5% water by weight for neutron sources with energies of 50, 100, 200, 300 and 400 MeV. In that work, the approximation was made that gamma rays were produced only by neutron capture. In the present work, coupled neutron and secondary-gamma-ray transport through a thick shield of concrete for neutron sources with energies of 15, 25 and 75 MeV is considered. In this study, gamma-ray production for all interactions involving neutrons with energies up to 15 MeV was included; i.e., the approximation made here is that gamma-ray production can be neglected for interactions by neutrons with energies > 15 MeV. For incident neutron energies of 15, 25, 50, and 75 MeV, results of total and gamma-ray dose equivalents are given as a function of depth into the slab. For the 50- and 75-MeV incident neutron energies, the gamma-ray dose equivalent was found to be no more than 5% of the total dose equivalent at all depths considered (⩽ 1500 g/cm2). For the 15- and 25-MeV incident neutron energies, however, the gamma-ray dose equivalent dominates at greater depths into the slab. A conservative estimate of the effect of including gamma rays produced in interactions with neutrons of energies > 15 MeV indicates that the calculated total dose equivalent would increase by no more than 5%.
Energetically consistent invertible elasticity

We provide a smooth extension of arbitrary isotropic hyperelastic energy density functions to inverted configurations. This extension is designed to improve robustness for elasticity simulations with extremely large deformations and is analogous to the extension given to the first Piola-Kirchoff stress in [ITF04]. We show that our energy-based approach is significantly more robust to large deformations than the first Piola-Kirchoff fix. Furthermore, we show that the robustness and stability of a hyperelastic model can be predicted from a characteristic contour, which we call its primary contour. The extension to inverted configurations is defined via extrapolation from a convex threshold surface that lies in the uninverted portion of the principal stretches space. The extended hyperelastic energy density yields continuous stress and unambiguous stress derivatives in all inverted configurations, unlike in [TSIF05]. We show that our invertible energy-density-based approach outperforms the popular hyperelastic corotated model, and we also show how to use the primary contour methodology to improve the robustness of this model to large deformations.
Teaching and learning in live online classrooms

Online presence of information and services is pervasive. Teaching and learning are no exception. Courseware management systems play an important role in enhancing instructional delivery for either traditional day, full-time students or non-traditional evening, party-time adult learners enrolled in online programs. While online course management tools are with no doubt practical, they limit, however, live or synchronous communication to "chat" rooms, whose discourse has little in common with face-to-face class communication. A more recent trend in online teaching and learning is the adoption and integration of web conferencing tools to enable live online classrooms and recreate the ethos of traditional face-to-face sessions.In this paper we present the experience we have had with the adoption of the LearnLinc® web conferencing tool, an iLinc Communications, Inc. product. We have coupled LearnLinc with Blackboard®, for the online and hybrid computer science courses we offered in the past academic year in the evening undergraduate and graduate computer science programs at Rivier College. Twelve courses, enrolling over 150 students, have used the synchronous online teaching capabilities of LearnLinc. Students who took courses in the online or hybrid format could experience a comparable level of interaction, participation, and collaboration as in traditional classes.We solicited student feedback by administering a student survey to over 100 students. The 55% response rate produced the data for this paper's study. We report on the study's findings and show students' rankings of evaluation criteria applied to hybrid and online instructional formats, with or without a web conferencing tool. Our analysis shows that students ranked favorably LearnLinc live sessions added to Blackboard-only online classes. In addition, how they learned in live online classrooms was found to be the closest to the hybrid class experience with regard to teaching practices they perceived as most important to them, such as seeking instructor's assistance, managing time on task, and exercising problem solving skills.
Drum queueing model

This paper deals with the analysis of queues at drums in a computer system. For this analysis the computer system may be viewed as being composed of two units; (1) central processing unit and (2) the auxiliary storage devices (drum subsystem). Requests for the drum subsystem originate from the central processing unit (CPU). In a multiprogramming environment, a number of jobs are concurrently active in the system. Each job may be either waiting or being serviced by one of these units. I/O requests generated by CPU may compete for the services provided by a single drum subsystem. Concurrent requests by the CPU cause queues in front of a drum subsystem. Queuing conflicts cause delays in servicing a request and reduce maximum throughput capability of the system. These conflicts may be reduced by applying one or more of the following techniques.1. Increasing the number of channels to a subsystem.2. Varying the number of devices to a subsystem.3. Increasing the speed of a subsystem.4. Better file organization. etc.
A new class of periodic solutions in the restricted three body problem

Three body problem periodic solutions, considering near equilibrium conservative Hamiltonian system consisting of two harmonic oscillators with rationally related frequencies
Determination of MeHg in Environmental Sample Matrices Using Hg−Thiourea Complex Ion Chromatography with On-line Cold Vapor Generation and Atomic Fluorescence Spectrometric Detection

A novel system for mercury speciation analysis using high-pressure ion chromatography (IC) has been developed and validated. Its chemistry permits separation of the two most abundant forms of Hg in natural waters, soils, sediments, and biota-monomethyl Hg (CH3Hg+) and mercuric Hg (Hg2+)-on the basis of the difference in charge of their respective thiourea (S=C(NH2)20) complexes. Once separated, both species are converted to Hg0 on-line and quantified by cold-vapor atomic fluorescence spectrometry (CVAFS). A column containing thiol-functionalized silica resin installed in the sample loop of the IC system traps Hg2+ and CH3Hg+ from prepared sample solutions without retaining interfering sample matrix components. The resulting matrix-independent chemistry permits external calibration of the system and a high sample throughput ( approximately 6 samples per hour). The system's accuracy has been validated with environmentally relevant reference materials. Figures of merit for the system, an average precision of approximately 2.5% and an absolute detection limit of <1 pg, are comparable to state-of-the-art gas chromatography approaches for Hg speciation analysis (ethylation/GC-CVAFS) and meet or exceed those of all extant LC systems. Low relative detection limits are attainable through preconcentration onto the thiol resin.
Simultaneous observations of transient decreases of Earth's far-ultraviolet dayglow with two cameras

The Polar spacecraft carries two cameras which are capable of viewing Earth's far-ultraviolet dayglow. One of these two cameras was programmed into a special operating mode during 12 April and 30 July 1996 in order to obtain simultaneous images of transient decreases of dayglow emissions from atomic oxygen at 130.4 nm. During the 76 minutes of usable imaging the two cameras acquired five sets of frames for which a transient decrease was detected by each camera, and the transient decrease occurred at the same geographical position in the dayglow. These series of observations provide strong evidence for the identification of atmospheric holes as a geophysical phenomenon.
A new look at 2-D time-domain elastodynamic Green's functions for general anisotropic solids

Abstract 2-D time-domain elastodynamic displacement Green's functions for general anisotropic solids are obtained by a new method. This method is based on the use of a cosine transform with respect to time and exponential Fourier transforms with respect to both spatial coordinates. By use of a change of variables and the homogeneity and symmetry of the problem, the inverse transforms are reduced to an integral which can be evaluated by a simple use of redidue calculus. The solutions are expressed in terms of three wave fields. The field inside a wavefront corresponds to a complex root of a polynomial of order six with real coefficients. A simple relation between the spatial and time derivatives is found, and is used to reduce the corresponding stresses to a form that is directly applicable to the boundary element method. Numerical implementations are explained in some detail and are demonstrated by three examples.
The Naming Drama of the Ga People

The processes and ceremonies that mark the progress of an individual's life cycle in traditional African society are fraught with rhetorical, dramatic, and symbolic qualities. When these ceremonies are structurally analyzed, they often yield salient elements of dramatic form: personae, setting, action, theme, dialog, poetry, music, song, and dance. However, in many previous works on such "rites de passage" (Van Guennep, 1908) the tendency has been to explicate them primarily as indices to indigenous African notions of cosmology, puberty, and sexuality.' Their creative, dramatic, and rhetorical dimensions are thereby obscured. In what follows, an attempt will be made to analyze one such rite, that of infant naming, practiced by the Ga2 people of Ghana. The analytical stress will be laid on the Ga naming ceremony as a multifaceted communicative system through which the people express, not only their ideas of personhood, self, and group identities, but world view, aesthetics, creativity, moral, social, and religious values as well. The ceremony in which a newly born child acquires a name in traditional Ga society is called Bi Kpojiemo (child out-taking)3. It is so called because the day (kpojiemo gbi) on which the ceremony takes place is the day the infant is taken out of isolation and privacy since birth to establish initial contact in the public realm with individuals and groups, families, and family friends-among
Atrial Fibrillation in the Elderly

Atrial fibrillation is the most common arrhythmia in the United States, whose incidence is greatest in the elderly population. This rhythm disorder can be paroxysmal or chronic and is associated with a range of clinical conditions from palpitations and dyspnea to stroke and death. In the elderly the mainstay of treatment of atrial fibrillation should utilize drug therapy. The main goals of drug therapy should be effective rate control to avoid tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy, anticoagulation to reduce the risk of stroke and thromboembolism, and maintenance of sinus rhythm to prevent adverse atrial remodeling. In those patients in whom effective rate control cannot be achieved, catheter ablation of the atrioventricular node and implantation of a permanent pacemaker should be considered. Catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation by targeting pulmonary venous foci or pulmonary venous isolation currently remains investigational and we advocate its use be limited to symptomatic patients who have failed traditional therapy.
Similar dependence on dilute O concentration of void formation in ion-irradiated Nb and some properties of unirradiated Nb

Abstract The dependence on oxygen concentration of the void diameter, void number density, and void volume fraction in 3.0 MeV 58 Ni + ion-irradiated Nb was determined at 1050, 1200, 1240 and 1270 K. Also, the dependence of the lattice parameter and the yield stress of unirradiated Nb on oxygen concentration was determined for 0.001 to 1.0 a/o oxygen. The void diameter and lattice parameter data are shown to have a similar dependence on oxygen concentration. Also, the void number density and the yield stress of Nb are shown to have a similar dependence on O concentration. The interpretation of these results is based on the observation of microstructural features in irradiated and unirradiated Nb by transmission electron microscopy.
Expression of lysyl oxidase isoforms in MC3T3-E1 osteoblastic cells

Abstract Covalent intermolecular cross-linking of collagen is initiated by the action of lysyl oxidase (LOX) on the telopeptidyl lysine and hydroxylysine residues. Recently, several LOX isoforms, i.e., LOX-like proteins 1–4 (LOXL1–4), have been identified but their specific tissue distribution and functions are still largely unknown. In this study, mRNA expression of LOX and LOXL1–4 in MC3T3-E1 osteoblastic cells was screened by RT-PCR and quantitatively analyzed by real-time PCR during cell differentiation and matrix mineralization. The results demonstrated that LOX and all LOXLs, except LOXL2, were expressed in this cell line and that the expression pattern during cell differentiation and matrix mineralization was distinct from one another. This indicates that the expression of LOX and its isoforms is highly regulated during osteoblast differentiation, suggesting their distinct roles in collagen matrix stabilization and subsequent mineralization.
Frame-fuzzy points and membership

For a frame L the collection of L-fuzzy subsets of a set X forms a locale. The localic definition of points gives rise to L-fuzzy points xλ where x ϵ X and λ is a prime element of L. Membership is defined in terms of ⪕/. A satisfactory local theory of L-fuzzy topology emerges from this, supplemented for some purposes by continuity of L.
Tickling the monster: Jealousy induction in relationships

This study develops a general model of jealousy induction in romantic relationships. The model posits that the goals of jealousy induction predict jealousy-induction tactics, which in turn predict partner responses to jealousy, which in turn predict strategic outcomes. Measures were developed for this study to assess jealousy-induction goals, induction tactics, and strategic outcome (i.e., tactical efficacy). Exploratory factor analysis revealed two types of jealousy-induction goals(i.e., relational rewards, relational revenge), three types of jealousy-induction tactics (i.e., relational distancing, flirtation facade, relational alternatives), and three types of partner response to jealousy (i.e., aggressive, withdrawal, relational compensation). Using relational outcome variables representing tactical efficacy and relational improvement, structural equation modeling demonstrated partial support for the model, but with modifications to several components. Specifically, the jealousy responses did not funct...
Are Success Learning Experiences and Self-Efficacy Beliefs Associated With Occupational Interests and Aspirations of At-Risk Urban Youth?:

To help increase access to educational and occupational options for a growing yet underrepresented population of low-income, culturally diverse, urban middle school students, we need to increase ou...
Pleiotropic effects in Hereford, Limousin, and Piedmontese F2 crossbred calves of genes controlling muscularity including the Piedmontese myostatin allele.

Objectives were to determine 1) effects on traits measured from birth to slaughter in F2 cross calves from sire breeds that differ in potential for lean tissue growth but have similar mature BW and 2) the gene action of the mutant Piedmontese myostatin al- lele. Hereford (normal muscling, H), Limousin (moder- ate increase in muscling, L), and Piedmontese (muscu- lar hypertrophy, P) sires (20 to 25 per breed) were bred at random to crossbred cows to produce F1 calves that were inter se-mated within sire breed to produce F2 calves that were grown out, finished, and slaughtered. Piedmontese-cross calves were genotyped for the G-A transition mutation at the myostatin locus characteris- tic of P (msP). Genotypes were classified on the basis of having zero (P0), one (P1), or two (P2) copies of msP (H, n = 227; L, n = 207; P0 ,n = 40; P1 ,n = 107; and P2, n = 37). Limousin-cross F2 calves had heavier birth (but dystocia was not affected) and weaning weights, gained faster, had more muscle, less fat, larger pelvic area, and more efficient feed conversion than Hereford-cross F2 calves. Normal-muscled Piedmontese-cross F2 calves (P0) were similar to Hereford-cross F2 calves except that they required less assistance at birth in heifer dams, had less fat, gained slower, were less efficient, and had larger pelvic area. Addition of msP alleles (P1 and P2) consistently increased muscle through hyperplasia, de- creased fat, and increased adjusted efficiency, but many of those changes were not linear. Residual variances for breed were heterogeneous for most traits related to muscularity. This heterogeneity was caused by in- creased variances for L and P and(or) lower variances for H. Accounting for the msP alleles decreased the variance for P in most traits, but heterogeneity re- mained for most traits among the five genotypes be- cause L remained high, H was low, and(or) P2 was low. We conclude that differences in muscularity affect most traits, and when differences in muscularity include the msP allele, there is an incremental, but not equal, change in most traits with the addition of each copy of the msP allele. Advantages of L could be captured through normal crossbreeding and selection schemes but with some caution because of potential problems from increased variability. Advantages of P could be best captured through more complex breeding and se- lection programs that would lessen potential negative impacts and through marketing systems that do not penalize for very low fat.
Oligo-Miocene climate change and mammal body-size evolution in the northwest United States: a test of Bergmann's Rule

Whether or not climate plays a causal role in mammal body-size evolution is one of the longest-standing debates in ecology. Bergmann's Rule, the longest-standing modeladdressing this topic, posits that geographic body-mass patterns are driven by temperature, whereas subsequent research has suggested that other ecological variables, particularly precipitation and seasonality, may be the major drivers of body-size evolution. While paleoecological data provide a unique and crucial perspective on this debate, paleontological tests of Bergmann's rule and its corollaries have been scarce. We present a study of body-size evolution in three ecologically distinct families of mammal (equids, canids, and sciurids) during the Oligo-Miocene of the northwest United States, an ideal natural laboratory for such studies because of its rich fossil and paleoclimatic records. Body-size trends are different in all three groups, and in no case is a significant relationship observed between body size and any climatic variable, counter to what has been observed in modern ecosystems. We suggest that for most of the Cenozoic, at least in the Northwest, body mass has not been driven by any one climatic factor but instead has been the product of complex interactions between organisms and their environments, though the nature of these interactions varies from taxon to taxon. The relationship that exists between climate and body size in many groups of modern mammals, therefore, is the exception to the rule and may be the product of an exceptionally cool and volatile global climate. As anthropogenic global warming continues and ushers in climatic conditions more comparable to earlier intervals of the Cenozoic than to the modern day, models of corresponding biotic variables such as body size may lose predictive power if they do not incorporate paleoecological data.
Leucine Supplementation of a Low-Protein Meal Increases Skeletal Muscle and Visceral Tissue Protein Synthesis in Neonatal Pigs by Stimulating mTOR-Dependent Translation Initiation

Protein synthesis and eukaryotic initiation factor (eIF) activation are increased in skeletal muscle of neonatal pigs parenterally infused with amino acids. Leucine appears to be the most effective single amino acid to trigger these effects. To examine the response to enteral leucine supplementation, overnight food-deprived 5-d-old pigs were gavage fed at 0 and 60 min a: 1) low-protein diet (LP); 2) LP supplemented with leucine (LP+L) to equal leucine in the high-protein diet (HP); or 3) HP diet. Diets were isocaloric and equal in lactose. Fractional protein synthesis rates and translation initiation control mechanisms were examined in skeletal muscles and visceral tissues 90 min after feeding. Protein synthesis rates in longissimus dorsi, gastrocnemius, and masseter muscles, heart, jejunum, kidney, and pancreas, but not liver, were greater in the LP+L group compared with the LP group and did not differ from the HP group. Feeding LP+L and HP diets compared with the LP diet increased phosphorylation of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), 4E-binding protein 1, ribosomal protein S6 kinase-1, and eIF4G and formation of the active eIF4E·eIF4G complex in longissimus dorsi muscle. In all tissues except liver, activation of mTOR effectors increased in pigs fed LP+L and HP vs. LP diets. Our results suggest that leucine supplementation of a low-protein meal stimulates protein synthesis in muscle and most visceral tissues to a rate similar to that achieved by feeding a high-protein meal and this stimulation involves activation of mTOR downstream effectors.
Modern calibration and historical testing of small-area, fire-interval reconstruction methods

Accuracy of small-area, fire-interval estimation methods has been inadequately assessed, thus we conducted modern calibration and historical testing of the traditional composite-fire-interval and a newer all-tree-fire-interval method for estimating population mean fire intervals. We tested in eight areas, at four scales, using 30 small plots across ponderosa pine forests on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. In modern calibration, individual-plot all-tree-fire-intervals were equal to population mean fire intervals in all plots. Across the eight areas, a mean-plot version of the all-tree-fire-interval method never failed, whereas mean-plot versions of composite-fire-intervals failed in 37.5–100% of areas. Pooled composite-fire-intervals, the traditional method, failed in all subareas. In historical testing, pooled and mean-plot all-tree-fire-interval methods and two variations of a mean-plot composite-fire-interval method had the lowest mean relative errors. Again, pooled composite-fire-intervals performed poorly across the eight areas. Overall, in modern and historical tests, the mean-plot all-tree-fire-interval method outperformed all others, but highly filtered mean-plot composite-fire-intervals were fairly accurate in historical tests. Both could be reliable methods, if replicated in small plots averaged over 600–1000-ha landscapes, but for small areas, the all-tree-fire-interval method outperformed others. However, for general use, there may be more value in spatially explicit, landscape-scale methods, rather than any small-area method.
High-throughput screening identifies inhibitors of DUX4-induced myoblast toxicity

Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is caused by epigenetic alterations at the D4Z4 macrosatellite repeat locus on chromosome 4, resulting in inappropriate expression of the DUX4 protein. The DUX4 protein is therefore the primary molecular target for therapeutic intervention. We have developed a high-throughput screen based on the toxicity of DUX4 when overexpressed in C2C12 myoblasts, and identified inhibitors of DUX4-induced toxicity from within a diverse set of 44,000 small, drug-like molecules. A total of 1,280 hits were then subjected to secondary screening for activity against DUX4 expressed by 3T3 fibroblasts, for absence of activity against the tet-on system used to conditionally express DUX4, and for potential effects on cellular proliferation rate. This allowed us to define a panel of 52 compounds to use as probes to identify essential pathways of DUX4 activity. We tested these compounds for their ability to protect wild-type cells from other types of cell death-inducing insults. Remarkably, we found that 60% of the DUX4 toxicity inhibitors that we identified also protected cells from tert-butyl hydrogen peroxide, an oxidative stress-inducing compound. Compounds did not protect against death induced by caspase activation, DNA damage, protein misfolding, or ER stress. Encouragingly, many of these compounds are also protective against DUX4 expression in human cells. These data suggest that oxidative stress is a dominant pathway through which DUX4-provoked toxicity is mediated in this system, and we speculate that enhancing the oxidative stress response pathway might be clinically beneficial in FSHD.
Neurological Manifestations of Medical Child Abuse

Abstract Background Medical child abuse occurs when a child receives unnecessary and harmful, or potentially harmful, medical care at the instigation of a caretaker through exaggeration, falsification, or induction of symptoms of illness in a child. Neurological manifestations are common with this type of maltreatment. Objectives We sought to review common reported neurological manifestations that may alert the clinician to consider medical child abuse. In addition, the possible sequelae of this form of child maltreatment is discussed, as well as practice recommendations for establishing the diagnosis and stopping the abuse once it is identified. Methods A review of the medical literature was conducted regarding the reported neurological presentations of this entity. Results Neurological manifestations of medical child abuse include false reports of apparent life-threatening events and seizures and reports of induction of symptoms from poisoning. Failure to correlate objective findings with subjective complaints may lead to unnecessary and potentially harmful testing or treatment. This form of child maltreatment puts a child at significant risk of long-term morbidity and mortality. Conclusions A wide variety of neurological manifestations have been reported in cases of medical child abuse. It is important for the practicing neurologist to include medical child abuse on the differential diagnosis.
Computed tomography planned interstitial brachytherapy for recurrent gynecologic cancer.

Abstract Purpose To report outcomes and identify predictors of toxicity in patients undergoing reirradiation with interstitial brachytherapy (ISBT) for recurrent cancers of the female reproductive tract. Methods and Materials Twenty-one patients received ISBT performed using 192 Ir sources (10 low dose rate and 11 high dose rate) at our institution between 2009 and 2013. Demographic, disease specific, treatment, toxicity, and outcome data were collected. Kaplan–Meier and proportional hazard models were used to estimate survival and logistic regression to model toxicity. A least absolute shrinkage and selection operator penalty was used to identify relevant predictors of outcome and toxicity. Results Eleven patients had uterine cancer, 7 patients had cervical cancer, and 3 patients had vulvar cancer. One-year actuarial freedom from local–regional failure, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival were 71.5%, 66.0%, and 82.2%, respectively. Tumor size was a significant predictor of worse PFS and overall survival (1 cm increase in tumor size = hazard ratio [HR], 1.61; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.16, 2.62 for PFS; HR, 2.02; 95% CI: 1.21, 3.38). Grade 3 or higher vaginal, urinary, and rectal toxicity occurred in 28.5%, 9.5%, and 19% of patients, respectively. Urethra D 0.1cc predicted for grade 2 or higher urinary toxicity (one equivalent dose in 2 Gy fraction increase = HR, 1.156; 95% CI: 1.001, 1.335). Conclusions Reirradiation with ISBT is both safe and effective. In patients with recurrent cancer, urethra D 0.1cc predicts for increased urinary toxicity. Increased tumor size is a negative prognostic factor in patients receiving ISBT for cancer recurrence.
Identification of chains of events leading to catastrophic failures of power systems

Catastrophic failures have been traditionally treated as rare events. However, in view of the manner in which power systems have been evolving over the past decade, and the frequency with which catastrophic failures have occurred in this period, it is imperative that systematic approaches be devised to identify the likely chains of events that lead to these failures, so that appropriate countermeasures - strategic and tactical - may be designed and implemented. The paper discusses the recent body of work on structural issues, such as hidden failures and failure sequences, and identifies the need to explore further how chains conspire to form, and how the transition rates of the dependent events might change as the chain evolves. The paper then proceeds to develop a genetic algorithm based method that searches through the state space to identify likely event trees that connect healthy system states to catastrophic failure states. The method is illustrated via a small test system. The simplicity of the system enables an intuitive understanding of the mechanics of the method.
Participation in Community Walking Following Stroke: Subjective Versus Objective Measures and the Impact of Personal Factors

Background Mobility, specifically community walking, is important, but often limited among survivors of stroke. The factors that influence the recovery of community walking are not clearly understood. Objective The purpose of this research was to examine mobility disability following stroke, specifically: (1) the association between subjective and objective measures of participation in community walking and (2) the association between personal factors and participation in community walking. Design A cross-sectional study design was used. Methods Fifty community-dwelling survivors of stroke, aged 50 to 79 years, were enrolled in the study. Participation in community walking was measured subjectively (perceived difficulty and satisfaction) and objectively using self-report data (number of trips and walking-related activities) and step data (pedometer). The association between subjective and objective measures of participation was analyzed using Pearson correlation. The association of personal factors (age, sex, number of comorbidities, fatigue, depression, balance and fall self-efficacy, and importance of walking) with measures of participation was analyzed using multiple linear regression. Results Subjective and objective measures of participation were weakly associated. Self-efficacy was the only personal factor that was strongly associated with both subjective and objective measures of participation. Personal factors explained 27% to 55% of the variability in participation in community walking. Limitations Limitations included a small sample size and limited diversity among participants. Reliability of the pedometer used in this study has not been established in the stroke population. Conclusions Subjective and objective measures of participation in community walking were only weakly correlated, suggesting that they measure different aspects of mobility; thus, to fully capture participation, it is critical to measure both. Personal factors were associated with subjective and objective measures of participation and are important in explaining variability in community walking following stroke.
Quality by any other name?: a comparison of three profiling systems for assessing health care quality.

Objective. Many performance measurement systems are designed to identify differences in the quality provided by health plans or facilities. However, we know little about whether different methods of performance measurement provide similar answers about the quality of care of health care organizations. To examine this question, we used three different measurement approaches to assess quality of care delivered in veteran affairs (VA) facilities. Data Sources/Study Setting. Medical records for 621 patients at 26 facilities in two VA regions. Study Design. We examined agreements in quality conclusions using: focused explicit (38 measures for six conditions/prevention), global explicit (372 measures for 26 conditions/prevention), and structured implicit review physician-rated care (a single global rating of care for three chronic conditions and overall acute, chronic and preventive care). Trained nurse abstractors and physicians reviewed all medical records. Correlations between scores from the three systems were adjusted for measurement error in each using multilevel regression models. Results. Intercorrelations of scores were generally moderate to high across all three systems, and rose with adjustment for measurement error. Site-level correlations for prevention and diabetes care were particularly high. For example, adjusted for measurement error at the site level, prevention quality was correlated at 0.89 between the implicit and global systems, 0.67 between implicit and focused, and 0.73 between global and focused systems. Conclusions. We found moderate to high agreement in quality scores across the three profiling systems for most clinical areas, indicating that all three were measuring a similar construct called “quality.” Adjusting for measurement error substantially enhanced our ability to identify this underlying construct.
Product Platform Development: An Approach for Products in the Conceptual Stages of Design

Most design for Manufacturing (dfM) applications to date have focused on a particular model of a product. Recent drive for faster times-to-market are drawing attention of companies like ABB, BMW, Ebara, Nissan and Toshiba to product architecture, i.e., achieving platforms that cover diverse market segments over multiple generations. The trend in industry also has shown two major types of platform development activity: architecture innovation and platform refinement. Architecture innovation addresses new products as well as amorphous products such as system and service products. Platform refinement concerns mostly existing products and involves identifying current platform base, and optimizing its structure. The critical steps in platform design are the definition of specific drivers, and the identification of complexity and requirement metrics. Complexity and requirement metrics contribute to developing the value model under specific drivers for the desired platform. This paper discusses the past platform related work from academia in these perspectives, proposes a 5-step methodology co-developed with Toshiba along with their pilot examples, and a future research agenda.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Characterization of optical integrated neuron

This paper introduces an analytical expression for the output power of a recently developed GaAs MESFET integrated optical neuron. Our expression shows that output power depends on the threshold voltage and device parameters of driving MESFET. Analytical results are compared with experimental values of NASA scientists. Agreement is satisfactory. >
What Are We Measuring in the Zooarchaeological Record of Prehispanic Fishing Strategies in the Georgia Bight, USA?

ABSTRACT People promote environmental change through behaviors such as habitat alteration and over-exploitation; they adapt to environmental changes for which they are not responsible; and they implement cultural changes that may be either causes or consequences of local environmental conditions. Thus, communities and populations could be impacted by interactions and feedbacks to stimuli and responses of both anthropogenic and non-anthropogenic origin. Given the complexity of these phenomena, many archaeologists and ecologists focus on one or two variables. Due to growing interest in the long-term historical record offered by archaeological data, it is timely to pose the question: “What are we measuring in the zooarchaeological record of fishing strategies?” Our answer is that we are measuring interrelated social and ecological patterns and processes influencing long-term social and ecological dynamics. We demonstrate the complexity of these measurements with a case study focusing on zooarchaeological dat...
Quantifying and Testing Indirect Effects in Simple Mediation Models When the Constituent Paths Are Nonlinear

Most treatments of indirect effects and mediation in the statistical methods literature and the corresponding methods used by behavioral scientists have assumed linear relationships between variables in the causal system. Here we describe and extend a method first introduced by Stolzenberg (1980) for estimating indirect effects in models of mediators and outcomes that are nonlinear functions but linear in their parameters. We introduce the concept of the instantaneous indirect effect of X on Y through M and illustrate its computation and describe a bootstrapping procedure for inference. Mplus code as well as SPSS and SAS macros are provided to facilitate the adoption of this approach and ease the computational burden on the researcher.
Determination of the Location of NG, NG-Dimethylarginine in a Glycine-Rich Region of Nucleolar Protein C23

A variety of nonribosomal, nonhistone proteins are involved in the organization of the nucleolus and in the assembly of ribosomes. One of the more extensively characterized polypeptides, designated C23 by Orrick et al.,1 has a molecular weight of approximately 110,000 and has properties which suggest that it performs these functions; e.g., it is predominantly localized to the fibrillar regions within the nucleolus,2,3 it has a high affinity for silver as do the chromosomal nucleolus organizer regions (NORs)4 and has been localized at the NORs5.