cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effectiveness of self-monitored, home-based, moderate-intensity exercise training in middle-aged men and women

The effects of 6 months of self-monitored, home-based exercise training on maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max), body composition and plasma lipid levels of healthy, sedentary, middle-aged persons were evaluated in 60 men, aged 49 +/- 6 years, and 60 women, aged 47 +/- 5 years. Moderate-intensity training was performed 5 times per week in sessions of 47 +/- 7 minutes and 54 +/- 8 minutes for men and women, respectively. The individually prescribed range of heart rate corresponded to 65 to 77% of the peak value during symptom-limited treadmill testing (mean of 72% for men and 69% for women). Caloric expenditure per training session was approximately 345 kcal for men and 235 kcal for women. VO2 max increased 15% in men and 9% in women (both p less than 0.01). The greater increase in VO2 max in men than in women primarily reflected greater adherence to training in men (greater than or equal to 90% vs greater than or equal to 75%). The increase in VO2 max in women who showed very high adherence was comparable to that of men. Body weight decreased, by 1.5 +/- 10 kg, in men (p less than 0.05) but not in women undergoing training. No significant training-induced changes in plasma lipid levels were noted in either men or women. Baseline orientation and follow-up telephone calls required less than 1 hour of staff time per participant. Self-monitored, moderate-intensity, home-based exercise training significantly increases functional capacity in healthy, middle-aged men and women. Such training provides an alternative to group-based exercise training.
Analysis of the Unionization of Academic Advisors

Professionalladministrative personnel at colleges and universities must address not only the challenges of a changing student population but also their own personal and professional needs. The relatively small number in this “middle-management” group (e.g., academic advisors, career counselors, admissions counselors) has been a hindrance to its collective strength in obtaining economic, career, and professional goals. The professionalladministrative staff at Youngstown State University pursued an innovative course, unionization, in an attempt to achieve these desired goals. The question examined is whether unionization produced the outcomes these professionals had envisioned it would.
Determination of isopentenyl diphosphate and farnesyl diphosphate in tissue samples with a comment on secondary regulation of polyisoprenoid biosynthesis

A double-isotope dilution procedure is described for the determination of two isoprenoid precursors, isopentenyl and farnesyl diphosphate. Recovery of each is determined by the addition of the appropriate radioactive diphosphate to the tissue sample. After partial purification, each is coupled by a prenyltransferase with a cosubstrate of known specific activity. The products, doubly labeled farnesyl and geranylgeranyl diphosphates, are cleaved to the parent alcohols by alkaline phosphatase. The resulting polyprenols are isolated by reversed-phase thin-layer chromatography and their radioisotopic content is determined. The levels of these precursors have been measured in livers of rats and mice that have been maintained on several different diets. The concentration of each was about 0.5 mumol/g wet tissue and varied as much as 10-fold under the different test conditions. The levels of isopentenyl diphosphate isomerase, farnesyl diphosphate synthetase, and squalene synthetase were also measured in these animals. The changes in levels of these enzymes, in conjunction with the variation in substrate concentrations, are such that they could substantially influence the rate of cholesterol synthesis in liver.
SU‐FF‐T‐96: Analyzing Tertiary Multileaf Collimators Position Effect On the Dose Distribution in Irradiated Field Edge

Purpose: To study the varying of dose distribution at the irradiated field edge (IFE) affected by the relative position between jaw and MLC setting. Method and Materials: Varian 21EX linear accelerator with 80 MLC was used for this study. The dose distribution was measured with a 2D‐array Seven29 (PTW) ion chamber with 6 and 18 MV photon beam and field sizes (FS) 5×6, 10×10, 15×16 and 20×20cm2. Ion chamber array was set perpendicular to the central axis beam and placed at 100 cm SAD at Dmax. Dmax was built with a solid water phantom. Measurements were taken at following four field setting: (1) MLC aligned up with jaw, (2) MLC 1cm larger than the jaw setting, and (3) MLC 2cm larger than the jaw setting, and (4) MLC fully retracted. Dose comparison was done between the field setting (1) and the others at x‐axis and y‐axis IFE separately. To minimize the measurement device inaccuracy, dose was measured at 0° and 90° collimator angles with FS 10×10cm2 for the verification. To limit the setup error, each set data was measured at same setup. Results: There was not significant dose different observed from x‐axis direction. However, there were 2.8, 4.3, 6.3 and 7% lower dose observed from y‐axis direction with four measured FS from 18 MV beam, respectively. A similar result was observed from 6 MV beam. The difference amount other three settings was less than 1%. Conclusions: Relative jaw and MLC location affects a dose distribution significant at y‐axis IFE and this effect increased with the off central axis distance. We recommended that for a linac commissioning with jaws alone, when a tertiary MLC is used to shape an irradiated field, a 1cm extra distance should be provide from MLC at y‐axis direction to avoid the low dose at IFE.
A comparison of Eastern North America and Coastal New England magma suites: implications for subcontinental mantle evolution and the broad-terrane hypothesis

New England and Maritime Canada host two major suites of Mesozoic diabase dykes. The oldest is the Coastal New England dykes that were emplaced between 225 and 230 Ma. These rocks are dominantly al...
The Ties That Bind: Understanding the Impact of Sexual Assault Disclosure on Survivors' Relationships with Friends, Family, and Partners

A growing body of research suggests that the type of social reactions sexual assault survivors receive from others can have a profound impact on their health and well-being. Far less is known about the impact of social reactions on the ensuing relationship between survivors and the people to whom they disclose. The current study sought to address this gap in the literature by examining the impact of disclosure on survivors' relationships with friends, family members, and romantic partners. A total of 76 rape survivors described 153 different disclosures to informal support providers. Qualitative analysis suggested that most relationships either were strengthened or remained strong following the disclosure, but a substantial number of survivors described relationships that deteriorated or remained poor following the disclosure. These outcomes were related to the quality of the relationship prior to the disclosure and to survivors' perceptions of the reactions they received during the disclosure. Implications of these findings for research and practice are discussed.
Seasonal timing of N pulses influences N capture in a saltbush scrub community

Limiting resources are generally available in brief temporal pulses in arid systems. We compared the abilities of dominant shrubs in a saltbush scrub community to capture N from pulses and evaluated whether N capture and partitioning within this community is influenced by the seasonal timing of pulses. Based on previous research in agronomic systems we predicted that the ability of a species to capture N following a pulse would depend on when the pulse occurred in relation to plant growth rate and N demand. Supporting this hypothesis, Atriplex confertifolia and Sarcobatus vermiculatus, which had greater growth rates early in the growing season compared to Atriplex parryi, captured more N from early spring pulses than A. parryi. Atriplex parryi, which had higher growth rates later in the growing season, captured more N from mid- and late spring pulses than the other species. These temporal differences in N capture among species, however, also depended on the magnitude of the N pulse. These results suggest that temporal variation in N availability may differentially impact competitive abilities of coexisting species and potentially facilitate species coexistence in arid systems.
Teaching Basic Writing in a Web- Enhanced Environment

1is not a natural fit for basic writing students. Online learning places heavy demands on such students’ weaker skill areas—reading and writing—rather than building on their oral and aural strengths. It requires a level of technological skill that basic writers, especially older nontraditional students, often do not possess. It assumes a sense of independence and self-confidence that developmental students almost by definition have not attained. It also demands disciplined time management, which is an ongoing struggle for developmental students even in traditional class settings. Basic writing teachers considering a move to some form of blended course or to a distance learning environment, therefore, face quite a challenge, and yet despite copious literature on Internet-based education in general, remarkably little has been published on what works or does not work for online basic writing instruction.
Real time face and object tracking as a component of a perceptual user interface

As a step towards a perceptual user interface, an object tracking algorithm is developed and demonstrated tracking human faces. Computer vision algorithms that are intended to form part of a perceptual user interface must be fast and efficient. They must be able to track in real time and yet not absorb a major share of computational resources. An efficient, new algorithm is described here based on the mean shift algorithm. The mean shift algorithm robustly finds the mode (peak) of probability distributions. We first describe histogram based methods of producing object probability distributions. In our case, we want to track the mode of an object's probability distribution within a video scene. Since the probability distribution of the object can change and move dynamically in time, the mean shift algorithm is modified to deal with dynamically changing probability distributions. The modified algorithm is called the Continuously Adaptive Mean Shift (CAMSHIFT) algorithm. CAMSHIFT is then used as an interface for games and graphics.
Predictors of heartburn during sleep in a large prospective cohort study

Background and aims Nocturnal gastroesophageal reflux, which may result in nocturnal heartburn, has been demonstrated to be associated with a more severe form of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The aim of this study was to determine the clinical predictors of heartburn during sleep in a large prospective cohort study. Methods Study subjects were members of the parent cohorts from which the Sleep Heart Health Study (SHHS) recruited participants. SHHS is a multicenter, longitudinal, cohort study of the cardiovascular consequences of sleep-disordered breathing. As part of the recruitment process, parent cohort members completed a questionnaire that permitted an assessment of the relationships between heartburn during sleep, and patient demographics, sleep abnormalities, medical history, and social habits in nine community-based parent cohorts across the United States. All variables, significant at the p Results A total of 15,314 subjects completed the questions about heartburn during sleep, and of these, 3,806 subjects (24.9%) reported having this symptom. In four increasingly comprehensive multivariate models, increased body mass index (BMI), carbonated soft drink consumption, snoring and daytime sleepiness (Epworth sleepiness scale score), insomnia, hypertension, asthma, and usage of benzodiazepines were strong predictors of heartburn during sleep. In contrast, college education decreased the risk of reporting heartburn during sleep. Conclusions Heartburn during sleep is very common in the general population. Reports of this type of symptom of GERD are strongly associated with increased BMI, carbonated soft drink consumption, snoring and daytime sleepiness, insomnia, hypertension, asthma, and usage of benzodiazepines. Overall, heartburn during sleep may be associated with sleep complaints and excessive daytime sleepiness.
Studies concerning the behaviour of gas Čerenkov counters for electrons

Abstract A pair of gas Cerenkov counters, C 1 and C 2 of radiating length 35 cm and 40 cm respectively, were constructed by dividing optically the total radiating length (≈ 105 cm) of a gas holder for detection of electrons. The efficiency of the counters attains the maximum values at a pressure of 5 atm for Freon 13 at 20°C. The efficiency neither increases with higher gas pressure nor the ratio of the photomultiplier output voltage to the density of the gas remains constant. The latter effect was found to be due to the characteristic behaviour of large cathode photomultiplier, whereby the optimum focusing and accelerating voltages for a particular zone of a photocathode do not satisfy the requirements of an adjacent zone. The lowest values of the rejection ratio, i.e. the number of particles not detected by a counter to the number of particles registered by the scintillation counter telescope in coincidence, were 5 × 10 −3 for C 1 , 3 × 10 −3 for C 2 and 2.5 × 10 −4 for C 1 & C 2 (combined). These values could be attributed to the secondary processes in the material of the gas holder as well as in the radiating medium. It was also found that the rejection ratio of a counter could be arbitrarily increased by placing absorber in the beam and is affected by the presence of matter in the vicinity of the counter.
Development of an environmental virtual field laboratory

Laboratory exercises, field observations and field trips are a fundamental part of many earth science and environmental science courses. Field observations and field trips can be constrained because of distance, time, expense, scale, safety, or complexity of real-world environments. Our objectives were to develop an environmental virtual field laboratory to study environmental properties and processes that stimulate the higher-order cognitive skills of students. We considered the following criteria for our virtual field laboratory: (i) global access, i.e., web-based implementation; (ii) simulation of a variety of learning mechanisms; (iii) interactivity to engage students; (iv) compartmentalization and hierarchical organizational structure; (v) abstraction of 2D and 3D geographic objects (e.g. soils, terrain) and dynamic ecosystem processes (e.g. water flow) using geostatistics and scientific visualization techniques. Cognitive science was considered during the design of our computer-aided instructional tools to enhance the effectiveness for learning. Our virtual field laboratory mimicked the students' learning processes that operate during real field trips and/or field observations; and provided students with a simulation environment to study environmental processes in space and time that cannot be provided on a real field trip. We implemented the following learning mechanisms: (i) exploration-based learning; (ii) analogy-based learning; (iii) science inquiry learning; (iv) abstraction-based learning. To engage students in our environmental virtual field laboratory, we implemented multiple interactivity functions including the exploration of 3D models and adaptive selective simulations. We used Virtual Reality Modeling Language, Java, Java Script, and External Authoring Interface to develop the environmental virtual field laboratory for a 42-ha flatwood site in Florida for which extensive datasets existed. Our digital learning environment offers potential to enhance existing on-campus courses and/or distance education courses.
Influence of a filler on the fracture of a highly crosslinked polymer

Glassy composites were made by photopolymerization of a dimethacrylate paste containing silanated silicate particles (up to 50 μm). Minimum values of Vickers hardness number, stiffness, and yield stress were found for volume fractions of the filler in the range 0.03 to 0.05. Generally fracture surface morphology resembled classical results for inorganic glasses. In addition, tracks and features were observed of the kind reported previously for highly crosslinked organic glasses. Such morphology has been attributed to fortuitous changes in direction of the principal tensile stress just ahead of the crack tip. In the present work it was found that single tracks and features were associated with individual filler particles. This observation is consistent with the expectation that individual particles would act as stress concentrators and thereby serve to change the direction of the principal stress. Furthermore, stress concentration may be invoked to account for the minimum in mechanical properties but dewetting might also be involved.
Über die Synthese von Zinkit‐Einkristallen

Zur Klarung struktureller und wachstumskinetischer Fragen wurden Kristallisationsversuche an Zinkit mit verschiedenen Methoden durchgefuhrt. Nach den bereits fruher angewendeten Verfahren der Reaktion von ZnF2 mit Luftsauerstoff und der Kristallisation aus Schmelzlosungen des Systems ZnO-PbF2, ferner durch Sublimation und mit Hilfe chemischer Transportreaktionen wurden ZnO-Einkristalle gezuchtet. Als Wachstumsformen konnten die fur den Wurtzittypus charakteristischen Gleichgewichtsformen { 0001 }, { 1010 }, { 1011 } und die entsprechenden polaren Gegenformen bestatigt werden. Wahrend diese Kombination bei den verschiedenen physikalisch-chemischen Wachstumsbedingungen im wesentlichen stabil bleibt, variiert der Habitus in recht weiten Grenzen. Es finden sich Whisker (Sublimation), lineare (chem. Transport, Reaktion von ZnF2) und planare Habitustypen (Schmelzlosung). Das morphologische Verhalten des Zinkits wird auf Grund der Wachstumsmechanismen, die bei Kristallarten des Wurtzittyps zu erwarten und zu beobachten sind, ohne weiteres verstandlich. Rontgenographische Untersuchungen zeigen, das alle gezuchteten ZnO-Kristalle unabhangig von den verschiedenen Wachstumsbedingungen und unabhangig von der unterschiedlichen morphologischen Ausbildung ausschlieslich die 2H-Struktur (Wurtzittypus) besitzen. Polytype Strukturen und auch die kubische Modifikation waren nicht nachzuweisen. Beide Erscheinungen konnen auf Grund des ausgepragten elektrovalenten Bindungsanteils beim ZnO gedeutet werden. Crystallization of ZnO was accomplished by different methods in order to study several problems of structure and growth kinetics. Zincite was grown by reaction of ZnF with air, by crystallization from a molten salt solution (system ZnO—PbF2), procedures already known, further on by sublimation and by chemical transport reaction. Crystals developed equilibrium forms characteristic for wurtzite type structure; that are the forms { 0001 }, { 1010 } and { 1011 } with bipolar developement. While this combination is stable under different physico-chemical conditions the crystal habit varies in a wide range. Whiskers were found that had grown by sublimation as well as linear (by chemical transport reaction od ZnF2) and planar types crystals, the latter having been grown from molten salt solvents. The described variations of morphology may be well understood on the basis of growth mechanisms that are to be expected and observed for wurtzite type crystals. X-ray analysis confirms the 2H-structure (wurtzite) for all the crystals grown by several methods independent from variations in growth conditions and habit. Polytypes and the cubic modification could not be observed. The facts dealt with may be explained in terms of ionic portions in valence.
Extremum seeking for motion optimization: From bacteria to nonholonomic vehicles

What do E. coli bacteria and GPS-denied unmanned vehicles have in common? In the absence of position and attitude measurements, both bacteria and autonomous vehicles have to rely on solving real-time optimization problems based on other available signal measurements, such as concentration of chemical agents, thermal or light intensity, or other environmental signals such as acoustic or electomagnetic. We overview extremum seeking, a method for non-model based optimization that we have been developing over the last ten years, and its applications to autonomous vehicles. The use of extremum seeking for navigating vehicles in GPS-denied environments is a rather challenging technical problem because the nonholonomically constrained vehicle kinematics violate the standard assumptions of exponential stability of the plant in the classical theory of extremum seeking. We review applications to nonholonomic vehicles in both two and three dimensions.
Preliminary Diagenetic Model of Carbonate Beach Sequences: ABSTRACT

Detailed studies of Cretaceous Edwards carbonate beaches revealed striking vertical sequences of first generation, early diagenetic fabrics which are thought to represent the diagenetic imprint of the original hydrologic regimen on the sediments during and soon after their deposition. The classic environmental zones of the beach can be recognized in the Cretaceous prograding beach sequences and contain, from top to bottom, the following diagenetic features. The backshore zone contains penecontemporaneous dolomite, dedolomite, montmorillonite-caliche paleosoil zones; all evidence points to a meteoric-vadose diagenetic environment. The foreshore zone contains much moldic porosity, micrite rims on grains, beach rock cemented during deposition by metastable carbonates; all intragranular cements have a low iron content indicating an oxidizing vadose cementation environment. These features indicate the influence of both meteoric and marine hydrologic conditions. The lower foreshore zone is characterized by dominant inversion textures preserving shell structure of original aragonite grains, the notably poor development of micrite rims, the presence of early metastable carbonate cementation (beach rock) and relatively high iron content of intragranular cements. These features indicate reducing phreatic, dominantly marine hydrologic conditions during diagenesis. The offshore zone contains high iron intragranular cements, multiple bored, and inverted bored surfaces. The diagenetic environment was no doubt marine phreatic. Companion studies of Holocene carbonate beach sediments, rocks, and interstitial water confirm to a remarkable degree, the diagenetic patterns found in the foreshore and upper offshore zones of the Edwards carbonate beaches, which lends strong support to the use of these patterns as a preliminary model of carbonate diagenesis in the beach environment. End_of_Article - Last_Page 354------------
Device physics and technology of complementary silicon MESFET's for VLSI applications

The development of a complete complementary MESFET technology is presented. The state-of-the-art, fully implanted, CMOS-like process uses Shannon implants together with a refractory silicide Schottky-gate material to combine high gate barrier heights with ease of fabrication. To minimize parasitic resistances, a unique sidewall structure and sidewall spacers are utilized to allow for self-aligned implantation of the source/drain regions. A self-aligned titanium silicidation technique is employed to minimize sheet and contact resistance of the source/drain regions. The SUPREM process simulator was employed extensively. The performance and modeling of device parameters (e.g., threshold voltage, gate leakage, and short-channel effects) and circuit parameters (e.g. standby current, noise margin, and speed) were accomplished through analytic formulations, the PISCES two-dimensional device simulator, and the SPICE circuit simulator. >
Conduits of Faith: Reinhold Niebuhr's Liturgical Thought

The mid twentieth century was an important period of theological and liturgical change for mainline Protestants. Theologically, the optimistic liberalism of the turn of the century came under sharp critique from a variety of theologians who sought to give greater attention tc the historic Christian doctrines. Liturgically, the practices of evangelicalism were compared to historic models of Christian worship and found wanting. No American was more prominent in the theological critique than Reinhold Niebuhr (1892–1971). After rising to national prominence as a preacher and essayist while serving as a pastor ir Detroit, Michigan, he joined the faculty of Union Theological Seminary in New York City in 1928 and gained an international reputation as a social ethicist, preacher, and advocate of a theological perspective known variously as “Christian realism” or “neo-orthodoxy.” It is less well known that as part of his theological program Niebuhr advocated liturgical reform. From his days in Detroit when he confessed devoting an entire fall “to a development of our worship services” to the height of his career when he warned that “a church without adequate conduits of traditional liturgy” is “without the waters of life,” Niebuhr was vitally concerned with “the weakness of common worship in American Protestantism.”
Fatigue of Yttria‐Stabilized Zirconia: I, Fatigue Damage, Fracture Origins, and Lifetime Prediction

~Uniaxial tension-compression fatigue behavior of 3-mol%yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystals was investigated. Hysteresis in the stress-plastic strain curve featured cumulative plastic strain and weakened elastic stiffness. Fracture statistics in terms of cycle-to-failure depends strongly on the maximum stress and less on the stress amplitude. Preexisting processing flaws were identified as the fracture origins in all cases. We suggest that microcracking is the dominant mechanism of fatigue damage, that nucleation of fatigue crack is usually not necessary, and that fatigue lifetime is primarily controlled by crack propagation, which is most sensitive to the maximum stress. [Key words: fatigue, fracture, zirconia, cracks, stress.]
Broadly-specific Cytotoxic T Cells Targeting Multiple HIV Antigens Are Expanded From HIV+ Patients: Implications for Immunotherapy

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is unable to eradicate human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop novel therapies for this disease to augment anti-HIV immunity. T cell therapy is appealing in this regard as T cells have the ability to proliferate, migrate, and their antigen specificity reduces the possibility of off-target effects. However, past human studies in HIV-1 infection that administered T cells with limited specificity failed to provide ART-independent, long-term viral control. In this study, we sought to expand functional, broadly-specific cytotoxic T cells (HXTCs) from HIV-infected patients on suppressive ART as a first step toward developing cellular therapies for implementation in future HIV eradication protocols. Blood samples from seven HIV+ patients on suppressive ART were used to derive HXTCs. Multiantigen specificity was achieved by coculturing T cells with antigen-presenting cells pulsed with peptides representing Gag, Pol, and Nef. All but two lines were multispecific for all three antigens. HXTCs demonstrated efficacy as shown by release of proinflammatory cytokines, specific lysis of antigen-pulsed targets, and the ability to suppress HIV replication in vitro. In conclusion, we are able to generate broadly-specific cytotoxic T cell lines that simultaneously target multiple HIV antigens and show robust antiviral function.
Axonal Damage in Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis

Investigators from Georg August University, Gottingen, Germany, analyzed axonal pathology in brain biopsy and autopsy samples from 19 children with early multiple sclerosis (MS).
Analytical Methods for the Measurement of Legacy and Emerging Persistent Organic Pollutants in Complex Sample Matrices

Abstract Despite continuous evolution of methods for the analysis of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in complex matrices for over four decades, accurate and precise determination of these chemicals continue to be a challenge, and the demand for measurement in small sample volumes is increasing. As the list of Stockholm Convention POPs continues to grow, novel analytical methods are expected to improve our understanding of the fate and effects of POPs in the environment. In this chapter, an overview of the methodology used in the analysis of POPs in environmental matrices, which includes sampling design, transport and storage of samples, and analytical methods for various types of environmental matrices, has been described. We placed emphasis on the recent developments in analytical techniques for a rapid, high-throughput, and “greener” method of analysis of samples. The merits and demerits of traditional and contemporary methods of sample extraction, purification, and instrumental analysis have been discussed.
Dinuclear silylium-enolate bifunctional active species: remarkable activity and stereoselectivity toward polymerization of methacrylate and renewable methylene butyrolactone monomers.

Novel dinuclear silylium-enolate active species, consisting of an electrophilic silylium catalyst site and a nucleophilic silicon enolate initiating site that are covalently linked as single molecules, and their unique polymerization characteristics and kinetics are reported. Such unimolecular, bifunctional propagating species are conveniently generated from activation of ethyl- and oxo-bridged disilicon enolate (i.e., disilyl ketene acetal, di-SKA) compounds with [Ph3C][B(C6F5)4]. Both the ethyl- and oxo-bridged dinuclear species are much more active for the polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) than the mononuclear SKA-based active species, exhibiting an approximate rate enhancement by a factor of 12 and 44, respectively. The oxo-bridged silylium-enolate species is considerably more active and controlled than the ethyl-bridged one, with their differences being even more pronounced in polymerizing a renewable monomer, γ-methyl-α-methylene-γ-butyrolactone. The polymerization by the oxo-bridged silyl...
Metabolomics studies identify novel diagnostic and prognostic indicators in patients with alcoholic hepatitis.

Metabolomics studies identify novel diagnostic and prognostic indicators in patients with alcoholic hepatitis
327 WHAT HELPS AND WHAT HURTS SIGNIFICANT RELATIONSHIPS DURING RESIDENCY.

Purpose Residency is a very stressful time that affecting all aspects of life, including significant relationships. Our objective was to investigate house staff and their significant others9 perceptions of challenges along with what has helped them as a couple during residency. Methods During a retreat addressing stress in residency 29 internal medicine house staff and their significant others were asked to independently write responses to the following question: What are your most significant challenges as a couple during residency and what has helped with these challenges? Using qualitative methods two raters independently examined responses for themes. Results Major challenge themes included time (83%), especially couple9s time (43%), sharing of domestic responsibilities (33%), decreased contact with family/friends (22%), fatigue/irritability (22%), and work/home boundary issues (20%). Less prevalent ( Conclusions Limited time appeared to be the major challenge to couples. Common challenges to residents in general such as financial or relocation were much less prevalent. To help overcome challenges, couples primarily worked together using planning, communication, and drawing on the strength of the relationship. Other than support of families/friends, couples reported little utilization of outside resources. Efforts tailored to help couples spend more quality time together as well as facilitating access to outside resources may be beneficial in reducing stress experienced during residency.
Comment: Toward a physiology of eating disorder in frontotemporal dementia.

Abnormalities of eating behavior, of which there are a variety, are signal features of frontotemporal dementia (FTD), as exemplified by their stipulation in contemporary diagnostic criteria. The study by Ahmed et al.1 examines physiologic correlates of eating disorder in behavior-variant FTD (bvFTD) and semantic-variant primary progressive aphasia (svPPA) by analyzing linkages among body mass index (BMI), peptide hormones, and hypothalamic volumes.1 The contrasts with Alzheimer disease (AD) are informative, but more might have been learned from comparisons with counterparts who did not have an eating disorder.
Effects of inhibitors of Cl conductance on Cl self-exchange in rabbit cortical collecting tubule.

Electroneutral vs. conductive pathways of Cl transport were examined by measuring transepithelial conductance (GT) and the lumen-to-bath 36Cl rate coefficient (KCl). Experimental conditions minimized both Cl-HCO3 exchange [HCO3/CO2-free, N-2-hydroxyethylpiperazine-N'-2-ethane-sulfonic acid (HEPES)-buffered solutions] and the electrical driving force for paracellular Cl diffusion (amiloride in the perfusate, transepithelial voltage near zero). Two agents known to inhibit Cl conductances in other epithelia, anthracene-9-carboxylate (9AC, 1 mM) and diphenylamine carboxylate (DPC, 0.1-0.5 mM) reversibly reduced GT and KCl when added to the bath. Both reduced KCl to values consistent with paracellular diffusion. Bath DPC had no effect on GT in the presence of 4 mM lumen Ba2+, suggesting that the DPC-sensitive conductance is in series with an apical K conductance, i.e., resides on the basolateral membrane. Lumen DPC also reduced GT and KCl, but was less potent than bath DPC. Because the lumen DPC effect on GT w...
Parameterization of Tabulated BRDFs

Measured or simulated data for bidirectional reflectance distribution functions (BRDFs) of various materials is typically stored in a tabulated form by discretizing incoming and outgoing directions over the hemisphere. Since reflected radiance is usually strongly nonuniform over the hemisphere, a uniform discretization of a BRDF usually leads to poor quality at a given memory cost. Unfortunately, there is no universally optimal nonuniform parameterization. In this paper, we provide a mathematical framework for analyzing them with respect to the BRDFs they represent. We use our framework to motivate a parameterization based on Bezier curves: a novel approach that adapts to any given BRDF. Our test results using measured and analytical BRDF models show that it provides superior computational and spatial efficiency for equal quality, as compared to simpler alternatives.
Global Mental Health: An Introduction.

In this introductory paper to the Global Mental Health volume, the inception and development of the filed in the last 15 years is reviewed, placing an emphasis on a series of pivotal turning points. A critical delivery strategy, task-shifting is briefly described, as well as the fundamental principles of Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT), an evidence-based psychotherapy being adapted and delivered in low-resource settings. Nine case studies by the trainees, supervisors, or local providers from India, the United States, Haiti, Israel, Colombia, and Kenya, presented in this volume, illustrate the prevention and treatment processes or in-depth assessment of “psychological distress” as locally defined and expressed.
Cushing’s Disease in Children and Adolescents: Diagnosis and Management

Abstract Cushing’s syndrome is a rare disorder caused by prolonged exposure to high levels of cortisol. Cushing’s syndrome can be divided into exogenous (often iatrogenic) or endogenous [adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)–dependent] categories. Approximately 10% of new diagnoses each year are in children. The most common pathophysiology of endogenous Cushing’s syndrome in children is ACTH overproduction from a pituitary adenoma and is, thus, designated as Cushing’s disease. Early recognition of the typical features of Cushing’s disease is crucial to permit a prompt diagnosis and effective treatment. There are some striking differences in the clinical presentation of Cushing’s disease among children and adults. The classic cushingoid appearance is usually not the initial presentation seen in children with Cushing’s disease. The earliest and most reliable indicator of hypercortisolism in children is the combination of excessive weight gain and growth failure. The first step in the diagnosis of Cushing’s syndrome is to document hypercortisolism. Once the diagnosis of Cushing’s syndrome is confirmed, it is necessary to distinguish ACTH-dependent disease (Cushing’s disease) from ACTH-independent causes. The most important initial imaging when Cushing’s disease is suspected is pituitary magnetic resonance imaging. Transsphenoidal adenomectomy is the preferred surgical procedure in children or adolescents with Cushing’s disease. Although a more recent addition, the endonasal endoscopic transsphenoidal procedure is available, neurosurgeons have less experience with this technique, especially in children and adolescents. The initial results, however, are quite promising, and it appears at least as successful as the older transsphenoidal technique.
Middle and high school teachers' implementation reflections of photonics and optics curriculum in a qualitative study

The purpose of this paper is to describe middle and high school science teachers’ self-reported experiences learning and adopting novel optics and photonics content. The hybrid teacher professional development program design, theoretical framework, methodology, findings, and implications related to teachers’ adoption decisions of optics and photonics content will be reported in the paper.
PCL-based Shape Memory Polymers with Variable PDMS Soft Segment Lengths

Thermoresponsive shape memory polymers (SMPs) are stimuli-responsive materials that return to their permanent shape from a temporary shape in response to heating. The design of new SMPs which obtain a broader range of properties including mechanical behavior is critical to realize their potential in biomedical as well as industrial and aerospace applications. To tailor the properties of SMPs, "AB networks" comprised of two distinct polymer components have been investigated but are overwhelmingly limited to those in which both components are organic. In this present work, we prepared inorganic-organic SMPs comprised of inorganic polydimethyl-siloxane (PDMS) segments of varying lengths and organic poly(e-caprolactone) (PCL) segments. PDMS has a particularly low T(g) (-125 °C) which makes it a particularly effective soft segment to tailor the mechanical properties of PCL-based SMPs. The SMPs were prepared via the rapid photocure of solutions of diacrylated PCL(40)-block-PDMS(m)-block-PCL(40) macromers (m = 20, 37, 66 and 130). The resulting inorganic-organic SMP networks exhibited excellent shape fixity and recovery. By changing the PDMS segment length, the thermal, mechanical, and surface properties were systematically altered.
On the Relationship between Fracturing of a Microcracking Solid and Its Effective Elastic Constants

It is argued that, contrary to the spirit of many damage models, there is no simple correlation between fracturing of a brittle microcracking solid and the change of its effective elastic moduli. Physically, the absence of such a correlation is explained by the fact that the fracture-related properties (like stress intensity factors) are determined by local fluctuations of the microcrack field geometry whereas the effective elastic constants are the volume average quantities, relatively insensitive to such fluctuations.
Differentiating Rice Varieties by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry Chemical Profiling with Singular Value Decomposition Background Correction

As a global staple, rice has an increasing demand for differentiation and authentication, considering both fraud and health aspects for consumers. The complexity of rice urges a rapid, labor-saving, effective, and economical rice differentiation method. A semi-quantitative method using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP–MS) for fast and high-throughput analysis of rice entire elements with singular value decomposition (SVD) background correction (BC) was developed. The SVD BC method is the first time that it has been used with ICP–MS to minimize the effect of instrumental drift. Other data preprocessing methods, normalization (NM), error scaling (ES), and standard normal variate (SNV) were evaluated by principal component analysis (PCA) and projected difference resolution (PDR). A fuzzy rule-building expert system (FuRES), super partial least squares discriminant analysis (sPLS-DA), support vector machine (SVM), and SVM classification tree (SVMTreeG) classifiers gave 98.1 ± 0.0, 99.8 ± 0.4, 99.8 ± 0.4, and 100.0 ± 0.0% prediction rates with all of the data preprocessing methods (NM, SVD BC with one component to reconstruct the background, ES, and SNV) for the differentiation of the nine rice-digested samples, respectively.
Pooled functional genomic screens for intracellular calcium effectors

Cytoplasmic calcium transients relay cellular signals on timescales from milliseconds to hours, and the dynamic nature of calcium signals has slowed functional genomic screening for cellular calcium effectors. Here, we present a new strategy to identify calcium handling genes via a pooled knockdown employing the calcium-sensitive photo-switchable fluorescent protein, CaMPARI. This assay, cal-Seq, enabled identification of regulators for both cellular desensitization and histamine induced calcium signaling including GPR99, a leukotriene binding receptor, with implications in asthma treatment.
A minimally invasive hybrid approach for cardiac resynchronization of the systemic right ventricle.

BACKGROUND Patients with systemic right ventricle (RV) often develop progressive heart failure and may benefit from cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT); however, the optimal strategy for CRT has not been defined. METHODS A retrospective review of all the patients with systemic RV failure undergoing a hybrid transcatheter-surgical approach was performed. Procedural technique and outcomes are reported. RESULTS Six patients underwent detailed electroanatomical mapping of the systemic RV followed by a new hybrid approach targeting latest endocardial activation, which was followed by focused epicardial mapping. The exact site of latest endocardial activation was variable but localized to the basolateral RV in all cases. Sites of latest activation tended to be more superior during contralateral ventricular pacing versus intact atrioventricular conduction (P = 0.06). Latest endocardial activation at the targeted site occurred at 157 ms (interquartile range [IQR] = 120-181 ms) and corresponding epicardial activation at 174 ms (IQR = 140-198 ms), after the onset of the QRS complex. Following the hybrid CRT, the QRS duration decreased from a median of 193 to 147 ms and the fractional area of change increased from a median of 15.5% to 30% (P < 0.001). Patients were discharged to home after a median of 4 days. Of the three patients who were initially referred for transplant evaluation, two (66%) of them no longer met the criteria following CRT. CONCLUSIONS Whereas latest endocardial activation for the systemic RV appears to localize to the basolateral region, the optimal lead position may be variable. An approach utilizing endocardial mapping followed by a limited surgical incision and confirmation of latest activation may result in minimally invasive surgery and a favorable acute CRT response.
An automated program to find animals and crop photographs for individual recognition

Abstract Detailed data on individual animals are critical to ecological and evolutionary studies, but attaching identifying marks can alter individual fates and behavior leading to biases in parameter estimates and ethical issues. Individual-recognition software has been developed to assist in identifying many species from non-invasive photographic data. These programs utilize algorithms to find unique individual characteristics and compare images to a catalogue of known individuals. Currently, all applications for individual identification require manual processing to crop images so only the area of interest remains, or the area of interest must be manually delineated in each image. Thus, one of the main bottlenecks in processing data from photographic capture-recapture surveys is in cropping to an area of interest so that matching algorithms can identify the individual. Here, we describe the development and testing of an automated cropping program. The methods and techniques we describe are broadly applicable to any system where raw photos must be cropped down to a specific area of interest before pattern recognition software can be used for individual identification. We developed and tested the program for use with identification photos of wild giraffes.
An energy flow approach for progressive collapse assessment

Abstract This paper explains the correlation of energy flow and the rate energy flow to the susceptibility of progressive collapse (PC) for typical mid-rise steel framed buildings. Energy-time histories of structural members were analysed to determine the energy flow behaviour throughout the structural system. All structural elements, including all connections, were represented numerically to (more accurately) determine the building’s susceptibility to PC, including the sequence of failing members. Assessing PC susceptibility with the incorporation of the rate of energy flow for a structure that accounts for the effects of connection resistance functions constitutes a novel approach. Advanced nonlinear transient dynamic finite element simulations were used to reveal the energy flow and its flow rate, and the de facto relationship with building response and failure. In addition, the efficacy of the current DOD approaches for PC assessment are examined in a comparative study with the proposed energy flow approach.
Site-Selective Protein Immobilization on Polymeric Supports through N-Terminal Imidazolidinone Formation

Protein immobilization techniques on polymeric supports have enabled many applications in biotechnology and materials science. Attaching the proteins with controlled orientations has inherent advantages, but approaches for doing this have been largely limited to cysteine or noncanonical amino acid targeting. Herein, we report a method to attach the N-terminal positions of native proteins to polymer resins site-specifically through the use of 2-pyridinecarboxyaldehyde (2PCA) derivatives. For high protein loadings and practical synthesis, we initiated this work by preparing highly reactive 2PCA derivatives using Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling amination. The resulting compounds were attached to amine-containing polyethylene glycol acrylamide resin (PEGA-NH2), which subsequently reacted with the N-termini of proteins to produce linkages that were stable over the long term but could be reversed through the addition of hydroxylamine. We envision that this site-selective, 2PCA-based protein immobilization can provide a simple and generalizable immobilization protocol.
"I Can Math!": Reducing Math Anxiety and Increasing Math Self-Efficacy Using a Mindfulness and Growth Mindset-Based Intervention in First-Year Students.

Math anxiety is a debilitating problem that affects many community college students. Neuropsychological research suggests that negative rumination when anticipating math situations substantially ex...
Design of a Power Corridor Distribution Network

In this paper, we develop an early-stage design tool to model the energy distribution system of an all-electric warship. The development of a design model is now possible because we have adopted the concept of space reservation in the form of integrated modular power corridors. Our initial study focuses only on a subsystem of the energy distribution system; namely, the shipboard electric bus, the load centers in the ship, and the converters needed to transform the bus power to the power needed by the load. Our design procedure starts by selecting the number of corridors (N where $\mathrm {N} \gt 1)$, and dividing the ship’s electric bus equally among the corridors. Our objective is to develop a balanced network of connections that can deliver full power between the generators and the loads using any of the N-1 corridors.