cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect on performance of learning a pilates skill with or without a mirror

Mirrors are often used in an instructional environment where precise movements must be learned (e.g., martial arts, Pilates, dance). The potential for mirrors in the learning environment of a Pilates class, to affect the subsequent performance of a Pilates star movement when mirrors are not present, was examined. Twenty subjects learned the Pilates star movement over seven weeks, either with (n=11) or without (n=9), mirrors present in the Pilates studio. Performance of the star without mirrors present was assessed quantitatively before and after the training, by video analysis of the degree of lateral straightness of the subject's body at the start, middle, and end of the star movement. Performance of the star movement without a mirror present improved similarly for both the group that learned with, and the group that learned without, mirrors present (p<0.05). These results indicate that the inclusion of mirrors in a learning environment, to provide immediate visual feedback during learning, does not necessarily enhance the subsequent performance of a skill when mirrors are not present.
What Should Be Learned through Service Learning

Service learning is typically distinguished from both community service and traditional civic education by the integration of study with hands-on activity outside the classroom, typically through a collaborative effort to address a community problem (Ehrlich 1999, 246). As such, service learning provides opportunities and challenges for increasing the efficacy of both the teaching and practice of democratic politics. To better understand these opportunities and challenges, it is necessary to make explicit the goals of service learning and to consider how these goals intersect those of more traditional approaches to teaching about government and politics. We believe that one place these sometimes competing models could find common ground is in the learning of factual knowledge about politics. Comments NOTE: At the time of publication, the author was affiliated with Columbia University. Currently January 2008, he is a faculty member of the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania. This journal article is available at ScholarlyCommons: http://repository.upenn.edu/asc_papers/8 What Should Be Learned through Service Learning?
Diagnostic Pressure Equation as a Weak Constraint in a Storm-Scale Three-Dimensional Variational Radar Data Assimilation System

A diagnostic pressure equation is incorporated into a storm-scale three-dimensional variational data assimilation (3DVAR) system in the form of a weak constraint in addition to a mass continuity equation constraint (MCEC). The goal of this diagnostic pressure equation constraint (DPEC) is to couple different model variablesto help build amore dynamic consistentanalysis,andtherefore improvethe data assimilation results and subsequent forecasts. Observational System Simulation Experiments (OSSEs) are first performed to examine the impact of the pressure equation constraint on storm-scale radar data assimilation using an idealized tornadic thunderstorm simulation. The impact of MCEC is also investigated relative to that of DPEC. It is shown that DPEC can improve the data assimilation results slightly after a given period of data assimilation. Including both DPEC and MCEC yields the best data assimilation results. Sensitivity tests show that MCEC is not very sensitive to the choice of its weighting coefficients in the cost function, while DPEC is more sensitive and its weight should be carefully chosen. The updated 3DVAR system with DPEC is further applied to the 5 May 2007 Greensburg, Kansas, tornadic supercell storm case assimilating real radar data. It is shown that the use of DPEC can speed up the spinup of precipitation during the intermittent data assimilation process and also improve the follow-on forecast in terms of the general evolution of storm cells and mesocyclone rotation near the time of observed tornado.
Adjunctive Corticosteroid Therapy Improves Lung Immunopathology and Survival During Severe Secondary Pneumococcal Pneumonia in Mice

Secondary bacterial pneumonia is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality during influenza, despite routine use of standard antibiotics. Antibiotic-induced immunopathology associated with bacterial cell wall lysis has been suggested to contribute to these poor outcomes. Using Streptococcus pneumoniae in a well-established murine model of secondary bacterial pneumonia (SBP) following influenza, we stratified disease severity based on pneumococcal load in the lungs via in vivo bioluminescence imaging. Ampicillin treatment cured mice with mild pneumonia but was ineffective against severely pneumonic mice, despite effective bacterial killing. Adjunctive dexamethasone therapy improved ampicillin-induced immunopathology and improved outcomes in mice with severe SBP. However, early dexamethasone therapy during primary influenza infection impaired lung adaptive immunity as manifest by increased viral titers, with an associated loss of its protective functions in SBP. These data support adjunctive clinical use of corticosteroids in severe cases of community-acquired pneumonia.
Computing the capacity of a MIMO fading channel under PSK signaling

We study the constrained capacity of a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) fading channel with a phase-shift keying (PSK) input alphabet and show a uniform prior distribution is capacity achieving. An expression for the capacity is derived which requires a single expectation and can be evaluated easily through simulation. The simulations are facilitated by analytical expressions for the eigenvalues and eigenvectors of a required covariance matrix. The derived expression is used to provide good approximations to the capacity at low signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) as well as to compare the input-constrained MIMO capacity to the unconstrained MIMO capacity.
The Influence of Cognitive Load on Learning from Hypertext

Advances in technology have enabled the development of hypertext-based instructional materials. These computerized information presentation systems are becoming increasingly popular as schools and businesses develop the technology infrastructure to support their use; however, before hypertext-based instruction completely takes over the classroom and the boardroom, a number of questions about the utility of this presentation medium must be answered. The present study is an examination of the effects of the cognitive load associated with using hypertext linking capabilities to “criss-cross the conceptual landscape” on student learning. Results indicate that extensive use of hyperlinks to compare and contrast concepts when reading hypertext may inhibit learning. Cognitive load theory is discussed as a possible explanation for these findings.
Update on pharmacotherapy guidelines for treatment of neuropathic pain.

Neuropathic pain is a common problem in our society affecting nearly 1.5% of the US population. There currently are five medications approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of neuropathic pain, which include gabapentin, pregabalin, duloxetine, 5% lidocaine patch, and carbamazepine. Other agents with proven efficacy in multiple randomized, placebo-controlled trials include opioids, tricyclic antidepressants, venlafaxine, and tramadol. All of these agents, both FDA-approved and off-label, have been recommended as first-line treatments for neuropathic pain. This article discusses these agents in detail as they relate to the treatment of neuropathic pain.
Structural Determinants of Clostridium difficile Toxin A Glucosyltransferase Activity

The principle virulence factors in Clostridium difficile pathogenesis are TcdA and TcdB, homologous glucosyltransferases capable of inactivating small GTPases within the host cell. We present crystal structures of the TcdA glucosyltransferase domain in the presence and absence of the co-substrate UDP-glucose. Although the enzymatic core is similar to that of TcdB, the proposed GTPase-binding surface differs significantly. We show that TcdA is comparable with TcdB in its modification of Rho family substrates and that, unlike TcdB, TcdA is also capable of modifying Rap family GTPases both in vitro and in cells. The glucosyltransferase activities of both toxins are reduced in the context of the holotoxin but can be restored with autoproteolytic activation and glucosyltransferase domain release. These studies highlight the importance of cellular activation in determining the array of substrates available to the toxins once delivered into the cell.
Bayesian approaches for the analysis of population genetic structure: an example from Platanthera leucophaea (Orchidaceae).

We describe four extensions to existing Bayesian methods for the analysis of genetic structure in populations: (i) use of β distributions to approximate the posterior distribution of f and θ θ θ B ; (ii) use of an entropy statistic to describe the amount of information about a parameter derived from the data; (iii) use of the Deviance Information Criterion (DIC) as a model choice criterion for determining whether there is evidence for inbreeding within populations or genetic differentiation among populations; and (iv) use of samples from the posterior distributions for f and θ B derived from different data sets to determine whether the estimates are consistent with one another. We illustrate each of these extensions by applying them to data derived from previous alloyzme and random amplified polymorphic DNA surveys of an endangered orchid, Platanthera leucophaea , and we conclude that differences in θ θ θ B from the two data sets may represent differences in the underlying mutational processes.
The crystal structure of 4'-fluoropyrrolnitrin.

The biosynthetic preparation of an anti-fungal agent assumed to be 4'-fluoropyrrolnitrin from 6-fluorotryptophan by Pseudomonas aureofaciens has been previously reported1, 2). We undertook the determination of the structure by X-ray crystallographic analysis in order to prove the position of the fluorine and to obtain information regarding the relative conformation of the two rings and the effect of substituent crowding in this unusual molecule.
Modeling of dual frequency capacitively coupled plasma sources utilizing a full-wave Maxwell solver: I. Scaling with high frequency

Dual frequency capacitively coupled plasma (DF-CCP) tools for etching and deposition for microelectronics fabrication typically use a high frequency (HF, tens to hundreds of MHz) to sustain the plasma and a low frequency (LF, a few to 10MHz) for ion acceleration into the wafer. With an increase in both the HF and wafer size, electromagnetic wave effects (i.e. propagation, constructive and destructive interference) can affect the spatial distribution of power deposition and reactive fluxes to the wafer. In this paper, results from a two-dimensional computational investigation of a DF-CCP reactor, incorporating a full-wave solution of Maxwell’s equations, are discussed. As in single frequency CCPs, the electron density transitions from edge high to center high with increasing HF. This transition is analyzed by correlating the spatial variation of the phase, magnitude and wavelength of the HF electric field to the spatial variation of the electron energy distributions and ionization sources. This transition is sensitive to the gas mixture, particularly those containing electronegative gases due to the accompany change in conductivity. The consequences of these wave effects on the ion energy distributions incident onto the wafer are also discussed. (Some figures in this article are in colour only in the electronic version)
Hawking radiation, the Stefan–Boltzmann law, and unitarization

Where does Hawking radiation originate? A common picture is that it arises from excitations very near or at the horizon, and this viewpoint has supported the “firewall” argument and arguments for a key role for the UV-dependent entanglement entropy in describing the quantum mechanics of black holes. However, closer investigation of both the total emission rate and the stress tensor of Hawking radiation supports the statement that its source is a near-horizon quantum region, or “atmosphere,” whose radial extent is set by the horizon radius scale. This is potentially important, since Hawking radiation needs to be modified to restore unitarity, and a natural assumption is that the scales relevant to such modifications are comparable to those governing the Hawking radiation. Moreover, related discussion suggests a resolution to questions regarding extra energy flux in “nonviolent” scenarios, that does not spoil black hole thermodynamics as governed by the Bekenstein–Hawking entropy.
Climate for Creativity

There are many organizational factors that influence creativity and innovation. One of the most important factors for fostering creativity is establishing a climate for creativity. A group or organization's climate is defined by individuals' perceptions of organizational conditions that influence their behavior. With regard to creativity, climate may influence perceptions that are related to motivation, team interactions, dispositional factors, or a combination of these, that ultimately impact creative efforts. In this article we review frameworks for understanding creative climate, outcomes of creating it, conditions that may moderate these outcomes, and methods for assessing and developing the climate.
Reversal of alcohol dependence-induced deficits in cue-guided behavior via mGluR2/3 signaling in mice

Alcohol use disorders are associated with deficits in adaptive behavior. While some behavioral impairments that are associated with alcohol use disorders may predate exposure to drugs of abuse, others may result directly from exposure to drugs of abuse, including alcohol. Identifying a causal role for how alcohol exposure leads to these impairments will enable further investigation of the neurobiological mechanisms by which it acts to dysregulate adaptive behavior. In the present study, we examined the effects of chronic intermittent ethanol exposure (CIE) on the use of reward-paired cues to guide consummatory behaviors in a mouse model, and further, how manipulations of mGluR2/3 signaling—known to be dysregulated after chronic alcohol exposure—may alter the expression of this behavior. Adult male C57B/6J mice were trained to self-administer 10 % ethanol and exposed to CIE via vapor inhalation. After CIE exposure, mice were trained in a Pavlovian task wherein a cue (tone) was paired with the delivery of a 10 % sucrose unconditioned stimulus. The use of the reward-paired cue to guide licking behavior was determined across training. The effect of systemic mGluR2/3 manipulation on discrimination between cue-on and cue-off intervals was assessed by administration of the mGluR2/3 agonist LY379268 or the antagonist LY341495 prior to a testing session. Exposure to CIE resulted in reductions in discrimination between cue-on and cue-off intervals, with CIE-exposed mice exhibiting significantly lower consummatory behavior during reward-paired cues than air controls. In addition, systemic administration of an mGluR2/3 agonist restored the use of reward-paired cues in CIE-exposed animals without impacting behavior in air controls. Conversely, administration of an mGluR2/3 antagonist mimicked the effects of CIE on cue-guided licking behavior, indicating that mGluR2/3 signaling can bidirectionally regulate the ability to use reward-paired cues to guide behavior. Together, these data suggest that chronic ethanol exposure drives impairments in the ability to use reward-paired cues to adaptively regulate behavior and that mGluR2/3 receptors represent a therapeutic target for restoration of these deficits in behavioral control in the alcoholic.
The PPACA is Just a Band-Aid: Healthcare Reform Cannot Be a One-Sided Solution

It is well recognized that the United States healthcare system has continuously failed to provide the American people with access to affordable quality healthcare. The World Health Organization (WHO) ranked the health systems of 191 nations, and the United States ranked only thirty-seventh in overall healthcare, despite ranking the highest in health spending. Americans spend twice as much on healthcare as residents of other developed countries, but get lower quality, less efficiency and have the least equitable system. Congress realized the desperate need for healthcare reform and enacted the Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act (PPACA) as the solution. The PPACA’s major goal was to reach near universal health insurance coverage in the United States by improving access to affordable insurance coverage. In order to achieve this goal the PPACA focused primarily on regulating consumers. However, the ability of states to opt-out of Medicaid expansion, along with other limitations, caused a coverage gap that put a substantial dent in the original plan, as its success was fundamentally dependent upon every citizen obtaining some type of health insurance coverage. Due to the limitations placed on the PPACA, and the subsequent loss of almost half of the Act's originally anticipated patient population, there has been considerable volatility in the healthcare market, resulting in the further increase of insurance prices. Therefore, it is apparent that successful reform cannot be achieved by increasing insurance coverage alone. This makes it vital for Congress to consider other avenues for achieving its goal. This includes regulating those responsible for setting and controlling the costs, mainly the insurance companies, healthcare providers and pharmaceutical companies, and not just regulating those left to pay those costs and subsequently punishing them when they cannot afford it. The only way to lower the total costs paid by patients is to lower the actual cost charged for care. Although there are current regulations imposed on these industries, there are many factors that contribute to the cost of healthcare that can be better regulated to ensure viable care to all citizens. It is without question that the participation of as many people as possible in the health-insurance market is an important aspect of lowering the cost of overall healthcare; however, it is also without question that it is only one of many factors that must be addressed.
Radiation Dosimetry of the Fibrin-Binding Probe ⁶⁴Cu-FBP8 and Its Feasibility for PET Imaging of Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism in Rats.

The diagnosis of deep venous thromboembolic disease is still challenging despite the progress of current thrombus imaging modalities and new diagnostic algorithms. We recently reported the high target uptake and thrombus imaging efficacy of the novel fibrin-specific PET probe 64Cu-FBP8. Here, we tested the feasibility of 64Cu-FBP8 PET to detect source thrombi and culprit emboli after deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism (DVT-PE). To support clinical translation of 64Cu-FBP8, we performed a human dosimetry estimation using time-dependent biodistribution in rats. Methods: Sprague–Dawley rats (n = 7) underwent ferric chloride application on the femoral vein to trigger thrombosis. Pulmonary embolism was induced 30 min or 2 d after DVT by intrajugular injection of a preformed blood clot labeled with 125I-fibrinogen. PET imaging was performed to detect the clots, and SPECT was used to confirm in vivo the location of the pulmonary emboli. Ex vivo γ counting and histopathology were used to validate the imaging findings. Detailed biodistribution was performed in healthy rats (n = 30) at different time points after 64Cu-FBP8 administration to estimate human radiation dosimetry. Longitudinal whole-body PET/MR imaging (n = 2) was performed after 64Cu-FBP8 administration to further assess radioactivity clearance. Results:64Cu-FBP8 PET imaging detected the location of lung emboli and venous thrombi after DVT-PE, revealing significant differences in uptake between target and background tissues (P
Performance analysis of prioritized parallel transmission MAC protocol in all-IP wireless WAN: Research Articles

Prioritized parallel transmission MAC (PPTM) protocol is proposed for all-IP wireless wide area network (WAN). In this paper, we analyse its performance and compare it with modified channel load sensing protocol (MCLSP). We model PPTM as a non-preemptive priority queueing system and obtain a close form of transmission time delay for each priority class, throughput of the scheme, and number of packets in the queue in the Poisson arrival case. We find that PPTM achieves less transmission time delay than MCLSP does for high priority data. Hence, the overall performance of the system using PPTM is significantly improved. We verify the conclusions with simulation via a simplified all-IP wireless WAN. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Chinese Fashion Designers: Questions of Ethnicity and Place in the Twenty-First Century

AbstractAs Asian-American fashion designers have become better known in the USA and globally the media has highlighted their achievements collectively. What, this article asks, are the implications of second- and third-generation Asian-Americans having attracted such attention? If new, young fashion designers are being identified on the basis of their ethnicity how might they enter into or negotiate a position within a larger global fashion world, and what impact might this have on the identification of other Asian designers, not least those from mainland China, whose work is little known in the West? The argument is framed by the concept of habitus, seen from two perspectives, one the significance of place in the global fashion industry, and the other related to the discourse of “ethnicity” that surrounds the designers. Examples are discussed of Asian-American and mainland Chinese fashion designers whose work has become known more widely through the press, exhibitions, and commercial activity. We are, it...
Socializing the Crowd: Learning to Talk in Citizen Science

Crowdsourced initiatives rely on contributions from experienced and non-experienced contributors rather than on permanent workers. Such new organizational forms challenge existing theories of organ...
Effects and clinical significance of exogenous thyroxine therapy in patients with circulating thyroid hormone autoantibodies

The effects of exogenous L-thyroxine therapy (0.2-0.3 mg/day) on spontaneously occurring thyroid hormone autoantibodies (THAA) and on serum levels of thyroxine (T4), triiodothyronine (T3) and reverse triiodothyronine (rT3) are described in a boy with lymphocytic thyroiditis. Prior to T4 medication, THAA bound virtually all thyroid hormones as noted by serum gamma globulin binding of tracer hormones. During T4 therapy, however, gamma globulin binding of tracer thyroid hormones decreased markedly. T4 and T3 levels as determined by radioimmunoassay (RIA) were grossly distorted prior to thyroxine therapy and bore no relation to clinical status, the single antibody technics yielding falsely low values whereas the double antibody procedures spuriously exaggerating serum hormone concentration. That spontaneously occurring THAA interfered in RIA hormone measurements was clearly shown by the lack of inconsistencies in laboratory and clinical evaluation when hormone determinations were performed in protein free serum extracts (to remove circulating THAA), or when RIAs were carried out in sera during thyroxine therapy when THAA were saturated by exogenous hormones. The thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) level prior to therapy was 300 microunits/ml which decreases to less than 3 microunits/ml during T4 medication (0.3 mg/day). There was a gross inverse correlation between TSH secretion and T4 antibody saturation. The marked inhibition of antibody binding of tracer thyroid hormones observed during therapy suggested possible masking of thyroid hormone antibody activity during T4 treatment; experiments involving addition of tracer thyroid hormones to hormone stripped serums from thyroxine treated patients confirmed the hypothesis in two cases of hypothyroidism--one of which was diagnosed in the boy with chronic thyroiditis and the other a woman with postradioactive iodine-induced hypothyroidism. The pathophysiologic significance of thyroid hormone autoantibodies in the transport of thyroid hormones is briefly discussed.
A common p53 mutation (R175H) activates c-Met receptor tyrosine kinase to enhance tumor cell invasion

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is one of the most aggressive forms of human cancer with poor prognosis due to late diagnosis and metastasis. Common genomic alterations in ESCC include p53 mutation, p120ctn inactivation, and overexpression of oncogenes such as cyclin D1, EGFR, and c-Met. Using esophageal epithelial cells transformed by the overexpression of EGFR and p53R175H, we find novel evidence of a functional link between p53R175H and the c-Met receptor tyrosine kinase to mediate tumor cell invasion. Increased c-Met receptor activation was observed upon p53R175H expression and enhanced further upon subsequent EGFR overexpression. We inhibited c-Met phosphorylation, resulting in diminished invasion of the genetically transformed primary esophageal epithelial cells (EPC-hTERT-EGFR-p53R175H), suggesting that the mechanism of increased invasiveness upon EGFR and p53R175H expression may be the result of increased c-Met activation. These results suggest that the use of therapeutics directed at c-...
Bulging Fontanelle and Need for Lumbar Puncture

Etiologies of bulging fontanelle and fever and clinical evidence for lumbar puncture were determined from medical records of 153 infants treated at Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Israel.
Statistical models for multilevel skewed physical activity data in health research and behavioral medicine.

OBJECTIVE Researchers who study physical activity often use outcome variables that have a lower bound of zero and are positively skewed (e.g., minutes of physical activity in a day). Researchers also often use statistical methods that assume the outcome is normally distributed or transform the outcome as an attempt to make it more normal, both of which can be problematic. In this article, the authors describe multilevel 2-part models that use a mixture of logistic regression-to predict whether a person was active-and gamma regression-to predict amount of activity if there was activity. METHOD The authors contrast the 2-part models to a linear multilevel model using data from a longitudinal study of physical activity (N = 113; 2,305 observations). The dependent variable was minutes of moderate-to-vigorous activity in a day and the predictor variables were day, satisfaction, and gender. RESULTS The 2-part models outperform the linear model and provide researchers critical information that is conceptually relevant, such as distinguishing between predictors of whether activity occurred and of how much activity occurred. CONCLUSIONS Two-part models represent a flexible and useful addition to the analysis repertoire of health researchers. To assist researchers in learning these methods, the online supplemental materials provide additional technical information as well as annotated computer code for estimating these models. (PsycINFO Database Record
Abstract 4563: Role of ezrin in PKA dependent colorectal cancer cell fate

Introduction: Metastasis is the main cause of cancer related death in CRC. However, the molecular basis of CRC metastasis is poorly understood. Ezrin is a known cAMP dependent AKAP. We have found ezrin hyperphosphorylation at T567 is critical for CRC cell survival. In this study we evaluated the dependency of PKA activation with ezrin phosphorylation at T567 on its downstream cell survival mechanisms. Methods: Small molecule ezrin kinase inhibitor NSC668394 was used to test the effect of inhibition of ezrinT567 phosphorylation on PKA activation and its downstream cell survival signaling. A genetic knockdown approach was utilized to further confirm the result. In another approach, growth factor mediated activation of ezrin T567 phosphorylation was performed and ezrin/PKA signaling was then analyzed for its downstream cell survival effects. To further confirm the findings ezrin phospho-mimetic (T567D) and phospho-deficient (T567A) mutants were generated through site directed mutation approaches. Results: We demonstrated that dephosphorylation of ezrin at T567 activates PKA in a cAMP independent manner and leads to CRC cell death through inhibition of XIAP and survivin. Moreover, the stable knockdown of ezrin showed similar result. Interestingly, ligand mediated ezrin hyperphosphorylation at T567 has the opposite effect in which there is cAMP dependent PKA activation leading to CRC survival through upregulation of XIAP and survivin. This was further confirmed with ezrin T567 phospho-mimetic and phospho-deficient mutants which demonstrate PKA activation by cAMP dependent and independent mechanisms respectively leading to different CRC cell fates. Therefore, ezrin signaling demonstrated two opposing pathways in which both requires activation of PKA and yet result in different CRC cell fates by regulating XIAP and survivin expression. Conclusions: Two different ezrin signaling dependent pathways were identified which are dependent on the same enzymatic activity but with opposite effects on CRC cell fates. Therefore, ezrin might be a novel target that could be utilized for the development of new therapeutic strategies and further understanding the mechanism of ezrin/cAMP-PKA activation and its role in CRC cell survival could have potential impact for treatment of distant metastasis in CRC. Citation Format: Premila Leiphrakpam, Michael G. Brattain. Role of ezrin in PKA dependent colorectal cancer cell fate. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 4563.
Short-circuit protection for low-voltage DC microgrids based on solid-state circuit breakers

Proper short-circuit protection in dc microgrids has provided a sturdy challenge to researchers as the development of commercially-viable equipment providing fast operation, coordination and reliability still continues. In this paper, issues associated with short-circuit protection of low-voltage dc (LVDC) microgrids are analyzed, a short-circuit protection methodology based on solid-state circuit breakers (SSCBs) that provides fault-current limiting (FCL) is evaluated, several fault-detection techniques are considered, and certain topics related to the SSCB design are addressed. Simulation results for a simple 1kV dc microgrid system illustrate that SSCB solutions based on integrated gate-commutated thyristors (IGCT) are feasible for low-voltage microgrids but requires connecting several devices in parallel to open fast-rising fault currents.
Autonomous Control of Continuum Robot Manipulators for Complex Cardiac Ablation Tasks

Continuum manipulators enable minimally-invasive surgery on the beating heart, but the challenges involved in manually controlling the manipulator’s tip position and contact force with the tissue result in failed procedures and complications. The objective of this work is to achieve autonomous robotic control of a continuum manipulator’s position and force in a beating heart model. We present a model-less hybrid control approach that regulates the tip position/force of manipulators with unknown kinematics/mechanics, under unknown constraints along the manipulator’s body. The algorithms estimate the Jacobian in the presence of heartbeat disturbances and sensor noise in real time, enabling closed-loop control. Using this model-less control approach, a robotic catheter autonomously traced clinically relevant paths on a simulated beating heart environment while regulating contact force. A gating procedure is used to tighten the treatment margins and improve precision. Experimental results demonstrate the capabilities of the robot (1.4±1.1mm–1.9±1.4mm tracking error) while user demonstrations show the difficulty of manually performing the same task (2.6±2.0mm–4.3±3.9mm tracking error). This new, robotically-enabled contiguous ablation method could reduce ablation path discontinuities, improve consistency of treatment, and therefore improve clinical outcomes.
A system dynamics model of clinical decision thresholds for the detection of developmental-behavioral disorders

Clinical decision-making has been conceptualized as a sequence of two separate processes: assessment of patients’ functioning and application of a decision threshold to determine whether the evidence is sufficient to justify a given decision. A range of factors, including use of evidence-based screening instruments, has the potential to influence either or both processes. However, implementation studies seldom specify or assess the mechanism by which screening is hypothesized to influence clinical decision-making, thus limiting their ability to address unexpected findings regarding clinicians’ behavior. Building on prior theory and empirical evidence, we created a system dynamics (SD) model of how physicians’ clinical decisions are influenced by their assessments of patients and by factors that may influence decision thresholds, such as knowledge of past patient outcomes. Using developmental-behavioral disorders as a case example, we then explore how referral decisions may be influenced by changes in context. Specifically, we compare predictions from the SD model to published implementation trials of evidence-based screening to understand physicians’ management of positive screening results and changes in referral rates. We also conduct virtual experiments regarding the influence of a variety of interventions that may influence physicians’ thresholds, including improved access to co-located mental health care and improved feedback systems regarding patient outcomes. Results of the SD model were consistent with recent implementation trials. For example, the SD model suggests that if screening improves physicians’ accuracy of assessment without also influencing decision thresholds, then a significant proportion of children with positive screens will not be referred and the effect of screening implementation on referral rates will be modest—results that are consistent with a large proportion of published screening trials. Consistent with prior theory, virtual experiments suggest that physicians’ decision thresholds can be influenced and detection of disabilities improved by increasing access to referral sources and enhancing feedback regarding false negative cases. The SD model of clinical decision-making offers a theoretically based framework to improve understanding of physicians’ behavior and the results of screening implementation trials. The SD model is also useful for initial testing of hypothesized strategies to increase detection of under-identified medical conditions.
Review of Evidence for Zoonotic Listeriosis

Foodborne transmission, especially by milk and milk products and raw vegetables, appears to be the major means of zoonotic transmission of listeriosis. Four major foodborne outbreaks of listeriosis were reported in the United States and Canada 1979-1985. Implicated foods were cabbage, pasteurized milk, and Mexican-style soft cheese. Circumstances of the outbreaks and the implicated foods support the concept of zoonotic transmission of listeriosis.
Risk attitudes and heterogeneity in simultaneous and sequential contests

We prove existence and uniqueness of equilibrium in rent-seeking contests in which players are heterogeneous in both risk preferences and production technology. Given identical linear production technology, if the number of risk-loving players is large enough, the aggregate investment in equilibrium will exceed the rent and all risk-neutral and risk-averse players will exit the contest. In simultaneous and sequential contests with two players, we can identify the favorite and underdog based on both players’ preference parameters. Our theoretical results suggest that subjects in some recent contest experiments behaved as if they were risk-loving.
A Multipatient Simulation Session: Evaluation of Six Simulated Patients with Different Shock Syndromes

Introduction This multipatient simulation exercise was designed for second-year medical students to illustrate the four different categories of shock (hypovolemic, cardiogenic, obstructive, distrib...
Training pathways and competency assessment in peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM)

Abstract Peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) is a minimally invasive natural orifice endoscopic surgical procedure initially developed for treatment of achalasia. Recent studies have shown excellent clinical and safety outcomes in all types of achalasia, and even spastic esophageal disorders. POEM is a complex and technically challenging procedure with risk of potentially serious adverse events. Hence, appropriate training is essential for POEM, even for advanced endoscopists with extensive experience in interventional endoscopy. A few studies have suggested preclinical training using ex vivo and live animal models, with successful transition to human cases but standardized training pathways have not been defined yet. As with other new techniques, there is a learning curve for training in POEM and the number of procedures required to master the technique varies depending on prior endoscopic experience and skill. Procedure time has been shown to improve with case volume, though competence may not be defined only by procedure time and number of procedures performed. In this report, we evaluate training avenues for POEM and suggest competency assessment metrics. Further studies are required to define objective measures of performance and quality metrics for this new endoscopic surgical procedure.
A Case Study of Process Servers in Clark County, Nevada in the District Attorney Criminal Division

In 1996 the job classification of Process Server was created in the Clark County District Attorney Criminal Division in Las Vegas, Nevada. It was implemented by DA Stewart L. Bell as a cost-saving measure meant as a reclassification of the position of Investigator. Since the initial job posting, the duties appropriate to the position of Process Server have been and remain in question. No written, measurable job performance standards have been established and no consistent training or supervision provided. A review of the literature suggests wide variance in what may be considered appropriate job duties for this classification, though the majority of Process Servers in the literature serve civil process, not criminal, and work primarily for their own private business enterprises. In an effort to capture employee concerns in regards to training, supervision, and job classification, a survey of the 13 Process Servers currently employed, and 3 prior-employed, by the DA Criminal Division was conducted on March 13, 1999. The results of the survey of these 16 individuals are the basis for this case study.
Putting Textbooks in Students’ Hands

Recent studies show that many students do not buy textbooks due to rising and prohibitive costs. There are a number of solutions for the textbook cost crisis, but it may take years for these soluti...
Graft-versus-myeloma effect: proof of principle

The presence of a graft-versus-tumor effect has been well established in leukemia but not in multiple myeloma. A 40-year-old patient with myeloma refractory to standard chemotherapy and autologous transplantation received a matched unrelated T-cell-depleted transplant after conditioning with fractionated total-body irradiation, thiotepa, and cyclophosphamide. This procedure resulted in a transient and incomplete response with evidence of rapidly progressive disease within 2.5 months posttransplantation. The patient then received a small number of donor peripheral blood (PB) mononuclear cells (CD3 cells 1.2 x 10(6)/kg) without any further cytotoxic therapy. A complete remission was attained, lasting now for more than 14 months. The procedure was associated with severe acute and subsequently limited chronic graft- versus-host disease (GVHD). This report provides the first direct evidence of a graft-versus-myeloma effect after allogenic transplantation.
Partial Differential Equations in the Life Sciences

In Section 1.4 we introduced simple advection and diffusion models to describe the motion of organisms, cells, and chemicals in a biological science context. In this chapter we extend these ideas to more complicated phenomena involving age structure of a population, the propagation of epidemic waves, and the relationship between spatial pattern formation and chemical instability. These advanced models will show why PDEs have vast application in the life sciences. The mathematical methods we introduce to analyze these problems will extend the ideas and techniques presented in the earlier chapters. The reader can find extensive applications of PDEs to life science problems in Edelstein-Keshet (1988), Kot (2001), Britton (2003), and Murray (2003).
Playing by the Rules

Student elections—opportunity for learning or just politics as usual? A student government adviser reports on controversies—and lessons—from recent student elections, and Susan Hopp, a director of ...
The Impact of Overweight/Obesity Duration and Physical Activity on Medical Multimorbidity: Examining the WATCH Paradigm.

Purpose:The “fat-but-fit” paradigm has been evaluated. However, the duration of overweight/obesity within the “fat-but-fit” paradigm (ie, assessing body mass at more than 1 time point) has not been...
An Evaluation of the Rotator Cuff Repair Research Pipeline.

Background:We conducted a study of recommendations from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) guideline, “Optimizing the Management of Rotator Cuff Problems.” Using these recommendati...
Integrating Optical and Microwave Satellite Observations for High Resolution Soil Moisture Estimate and Applications in CONUS Drought Analyses

In this study, optical and microwave satellite observations are integrated to estimate soil moisture at high spatial resolution and applied for drought analysis in the continental United States. To estimate soil moisture, a new refined model is proposed to estimate soil moisture (SM) with auxiliary data like soil texture, topography, surface types, accumulated precipitation, in addition to Normalized Difference Vegetation Index and Land Surface Temperature (LST) used in the traditional universal triangle method. It is found the new proposed SM model using accumulated precipitation demonstrated close agreements with the U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM) spatial patterns. Currently, the USDM is providing a weekly map. Recently, “flash” drought concept appears. To obtain drought map on daily basis, LST is derived from microwave observations and downscaled to the same resolution as the thermal infrared LST product and used to fill the gaps due to clouds in optical LST data. With the integrated daily LST available under nearly all weather conditions, daily soil moisture can be estimated at relatively high spatial resolution, thus drought maps based on soil moisture anomalies can be obtained at high spatial resolution on daily basis and made the flash drought analysis and monitoring become possible.
Exact Correction of the Self-Force Problem in Monte Carlo Device Simulation

The self-force is a specific problem of self-consistent Monte Carlo-Poisson simulation resulting in an un-physical field component acting on a particle coming from the particle itself (the self-force). Several approaches have been proposed in literature to mitigate this problem, but all of them suffer to some extent of approximations and/or limitations. In this paper we propose a new and mathematically exact correction of the self-force problem based on a numerical approach. Although computationally expensive, it has no restriction and can be always applied. The new method has been tested on the difficult problem of plasma oscillation simulation providing the expected plasma energy from theory. Moreover, the same mathematical framework introduced here for the self-force correction can be readily applied also for the exact calculation of the reference force in the Particle-Particle-Particle-Mesh (P3M) method. The accuracy of such approach to P3M method is demonstrated by simulating the bulk low field mobility dependence on doping concentration.
Clues to Clovis mobility from geochemical sourcing of bifaces in the Hogeye Cache, Texas

Abstract The purpose of this paper is to discuss the recent geochemical analysis of three bifaces from the Hogeye Clovis period cache recovered in Bastrop, Texas with the geochemistry of 302 geologic samples. These samples are derived from seven primary sources spread through the Edwards Plateau region and adjacent areas. The results of this analysis and comparison suggest that the three bifaces may be derived from chert resources geochemically similar to those found at the Gault Site in Central Texas. The results also hint that the Hogeye Cache may have served as either an insurance cache or a communal contribution from multiple groups living near the Gault Site and Buttermilk Creek.
Portable Doppler/FSK/FMCW Radar Systems for Life Activity Sensing and Human Localization

This paper presents recent progress on portable Doppler, frequency-shift keying (FSK) and frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) radar systems for life activity sensing and human localization. It starts from a software-based calibration technology that significantly improves the accuracy and reliability of millimeter-wave interferometry radar front-end for physiological motion and vocal vibration detection. Then, the operation principle and unique features of FSK and FMCW radar, such as RF/digital beamforming, for human-aware sensing and localization will be presented. To reject clutter noise, which is a common challenge for practical deployment of short-range radar system, intermodulation radar technique will be discussed. Then, machine learning will be presented as an efficient approach to make the radar system smart for automatic classification and decision making. Finally, challenges for biomedical radar systems and future development directions will be discussed.
Ras Tanura Refinery desalination plant case study towards operational excellence

Abstract Ras Tanura Refinery desalination plants production has been historically limited for a number of factors. Major obstacles for low performance were heat transfer, plugging of spray nozzles, operating under severe scaling process, brine and distilled water level control, seawater velocity, chemical dosing, and poor strainers performance. Major challenges for the low performance in desalination plants were discussed for both Multi-Stage Flash unit (MSF) and Multi-Effects Desalination unit (MED). Based on the resulted outputs, discussion and analysis, it was concluded that thermal desalination process is sensitive process where many factors can lead to performance reduction. However, thermal desalination process is easy to be maintained and restore its production capacity. The paper includes troubleshooting, analysis, actions taken, and the results. The conclusion includes nine recommended tips to enhance the performance and restore the desalination units’ production.