cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Performance characteristics of a compression-ignition engine using direct-injection ammonia–DME mixtures

Combustion and emissions characteristics of a compression-ignition engine using mixtures of ammonia and dimethyl ether (DME) are investigated. Ammonia can be regarded as a carbon-free fuel and is one of the world’s most synthesized chemicals. Its infrastructure is well established and it can be produced from renewable resources, making it an attractive energy carrier. In this study, a high-pressure mixing system is developed for blending liquid ammonia with DME, the latter serving to initiate combustion. The present engine uses a modified injection system without fuel return to prevent fuel mixture from vaporizing. Results using different mixtures of ammonia and DME show that ammonia causes longer ignition delays and limits the engine load conditions due to its high autoignition temperature and low combustion rate (e.g., flame speed). The inclusion of ammonia in the fuel mixture also decreases combustion pressure and temperature, resulting in higher CO and HC emissions. NOx emissions also increase due to the formation of fuel NOx when ammonia is used. However, improvements for the same operating conditions can be achieved by increasing the injection pressure. Exhaust ammonia emissions is on the order of hundreds of ppm under most of the conditions studied. Soot emissions are extremely low for all cases studied. Double injection schemes are also employed and their effects on the exhaust emissions vary with operating conditions.
Species-universal microstructure in the learned song of the swamp sparrow (Melospiza georgiana)

Abstract A swamp sparrow song is a 2-s string of about 10 identical syllables, each made up of two to five distinct notes. Naturally-occurring syllables are highly polymorphic. The development of syllable patterning is strongly influenced by imitation. Analysis of 452 songs indicates that, whether simple or complex, all syllables were assembled from the same species-universal set of note types, consisting of six basic categories. Two populations studied intensively, 1000 km apart, differed in the number of notes per syllable and the ordering of note types within a syllable. It appears that song dialects can be defined in the swamp sparrow by reference to these features. The process of song learning in the swamp sparrow thus consists of the selection of a particular number, timing and sequence of notes from a limited set of types. While some degree of selection of within-type note variants is possible, the structure of the major categories of swamp sparrow note types is in large degree genetically preordained.
Influence of adrenal steroids on self-stimulation rates in rats.

SummarySelf-stimulation rates in rats were altered 2 to 24 hours after a single subcutaneous injection of steroid in doses reported to inhibit acute release of ACTH. Dexamethasone exerted more profound effects than hydrocortisone. Self-stimulation rates were consistently increased in rats stimulating to electrodes in the LHA and/or MFB. Bilateral adrenalectomy produced increased rates of self-stimulation by the 5th postoperative week.
Prediction of side‐chain conformations on protein surfaces

An approach is described that improves the prediction of the conformations of surface side chains in crystal structures, given the main-chain conformation of a protein. A key element of the methodology involves the use of the colony energy. This phenomenological term favors conformations found in frequently sampled regions, thereby approximating entropic effects and serving to smooth the potential energy surface. Use of the colony energy significantly improves prediction accuracy for surface side chains with little additional computational cost. Prediction accuracy was quantified as the percentage of side-chain dihedral angles predicted to be within 40° of the angles measured by X-ray diffraction. Use of the colony energy in predictions for single side chains improved the prediction accuracy for χ1 and χ1+2 from 65 and 40% to 74 and 59%, respectively. Several other factors that affect prediction of surface side-chain conformations were also analyzed, including the extent of conformational sampling, details of the rotamer library employed, and accounting for the crystallographic environment. The prediction of conformations for polar residues on the surface was generally found to be more difficult than those for hydrophobic residues, except for polar residues participating in hydrogen bonds with other protein groups. For surface residues with hydrogen-bonded side chains, the prediction accuracy of χ1 and χ1+2 was 79 and 63%, respectively. For surface polar residues, in general (all side-chain prediction), the accuracy of χ1 and χ1+2 was only 73 and 56%, respectively. The most accurate results were obtained using the colony energy and an all-atom description that includes neighboring molecules in the crystal (protein chains and hetero atoms). Here, the accuracy of χ1 and χ1+2 predictions for surface side chains was 82 and 73%, respectively. The root mean square deviations obtained for hydrogen-bonding surface side chains were 1.64 and 1.81 A, with and without consideration of crystal packing effects, respectively.
Effects of Environmental Stress and Gender on Associations among Symptoms of Depression and the Serotonin Transporter Gene Linked Polymorphic Region (5-HTTLPR)

The short (s) variant of the serotonin transporter (5-HTT) gene linked functional polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR) is associated with depression. Stressful life events, gender, and race have been shown to moderate this association. We examined the relationship between 5-HTTLPR genotype and symptoms of depression in two samples. Study 1 = 288 participants from a study of caregiver stress; and Study 2 = 142 participants from a study examining psychosocial stressors, genetics, and health. Main effects of 5-HTTLPR on symptoms of depression were examined, along with moderation by stress (caregiving status or low childhood socioeconomic status (SES), gender, and race. The 5-HTTLPR × stress group × gender interaction was significant in both samples (P < 0.003, and P < 0.008, respectively). For females, the s allele, combined with caregiving stress (Study 1) or low childhood SES (Study 2), was associated with higher depression scores as compared to participants in the non-stressor group and those with the long (l) allele; whereas, in males, the l allele, combined with a stressor, was associated with higher depression scores as compared to those in the non-stressor group and those with the s allele. Findings from two independent samples suggest that the association of 5-HTTLPR with depression varies according to gender and stressful life events.
Bone marrow findings correlate with clinical outcome in systemic AL amyloidosis patients.

Aims Bone marrow sampling is a key investigation in the work-up of amyloid light chain (AL) amyloidosis, but the relationship between bone marrow findings and the varied phenotype and clinical outcome of AL amyloidosis is unclear. The aim was to determine if bone marrow pathological parameters at diagnosis were related to clinical behaviour in AL amyloidosis patients.Methods and results Bone marrow findings, clinical features and outcome of 80 patients referred with a diagnosis of systemic AL amyloidosis were evaluated; six patients were subsequently excluded due to re-categorization as other forms of amyloidosis. At latest follow-up (median 66 months), 11 of the 18 patients with no identifiable bone marrow neoplastic cells (61%) versus only seven of the 56 patients with neoplastic plasma cells or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (13%) were alive (P = 0.0046). However, neither the quantity of the neoplastic cells nor the serum light chain levels were correlated with amyloid burden or patient survival.Conclusions Identification of a neoplastic population in the bone marrow of AL amyloidosis patients by histology and immunohistochemistry correlates with poor outcome; however, the neoplastic cell burden is not prognostically significant, suggesting that additional factors are important in determining disease behaviour in AL amyloidosis.
Nursing in Cuba: population-focused practice.

Cuba, faced with an inadequate health care system at the time of its 1959 revolution, has brought about major health care reforms. Marked change in health status has occurred through the evolution of broader social change and the geographic distribution of health care to the entire population. The country was recently recognized as already having met the World Health Organization's mandate of “health for all by the year 2000,” and community health nursing has played a major role in achieving this goal. Cuba has implemented population-focused community health nursing practice, an approach to improve the health of the entire community.
Overcoming Barriers to Investigating Mother–Infant Interactions in the First Two Hours of Life:

As a result of the unexpected delays experienced in a study designed to investigate mother-infant interactions and infant cry patterns in the first 2 hours following delivery, the study was assessed to identify the barriers that the investigators had encountered in its planning and conduct. These barriers can be categorized as issues with (1) institutional review board approval, (2) participant recruitment and retention, (3) requirements for study personnel, (4) instrumentation, (5) potential observer and participant bias, and (6) budgeting. Each barrier is detailed, along with suggested solutions. It is hoped that that these experiences will be of value to other researchers, particularly those working in non-research-intensive institutions, as they gather data to contribute to the understanding of mother-infant interactions in the immediate postpartum period.
The mass spectra of 1,1,1‐trichloro‐2,4‐pentanedione and its Al(III), Cr(III), Fe(III), Mn(II), Co(II) and Cu(II) complexes

The compounds 1,1,1-trichloro-2,4-pentanedione, Cu(II)tca2, Co(II)tca2, Mn(II)tca2, Al(III)tca3, Cr(III)tca3 and Fe(III)tca3 (tca1,1,1-trichloro-2,4-pentanedionato, [CCl3COCHCOCH3]−) have been prepared and their mass spectra have been obtained. The mass spectral results have been compared with findings for comparable fluorinated and nonhalogenated compounds. Comparisons are made in terms of internal redox reactions and hard and soft acid base theory. Rearrangement of chloride from ligand to metal accompanied by the elimination of CO or other neutral even electron fragments emerges as an important reaction for the ions of these compounds. While the internal redox reactions characteristic of all previous β-diketonate complex mass spectra still occur, their importance appears reduced to some degree by the facility of the chlorine rearrangement.
Do random time schedules induce polydipsia in the rat

The present experiments investigated the role of signals for pellet delivery in the development of polydipsia on random time schedules. In Experiment 1, when an explicit signal or auditory stimulation from pellet dispenser operation was available to the rats, polydipsia developed in all ofthe animals. In Experiment 2, animals receiving signaled pellet deliveries developed poly­ dipsia more quickly than those receiving unsignaled pellet deliveries. Furthermore, behavioral observations suggested that animals showing polydipsia in the unsignaled group may have been able to detect the operation of the pellet dispenser despite our attempt to mask such cues. In Experiment 3, the information value of pellet-dispenser cues was degraded by the operation of an empty pellet dispenser during the interpellet interval. Under these conditions, almost all animals did not develop polydipsia and the data suggest that for the few that did, pellet-dispenser cues were probably not responsible. Thus, the present findings suggest two conclusions: (1) In studies reporting polydipsia on random schedules, the animals may have been inadvertently provid­ ed with cues for pellet availability, and (2) although Pavlovian conditioning may be an impor­ tant modulator of adjunctive behavior, other factors must also be considered.
Creation of GPCR-based chemical sensors by directed evolution in yeast

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) form a class of biological chemical sensors with an enormous diversity in ligand binding and sensitivity. To explore structural aspects of ligand recognition, we subjected the human UDP-glucose receptor (P2Y14) functionally expressed in the yeast Saccharomyces to directed evolution. We sought to generate new receptor subtypes with ligand-binding properties that would be useful in the development of practical biosensors. Mutagenesis of the entire UDP-glucose receptor gene yielded receptors with increased activity but similar ligand specificities, while random mutagenesis of residues in the immediate vicinity of the ligand-binding pocket yielded mutants with altered ligand specificity. By first sensitizing the P2Y14 receptor and then redirecting ligand specificity, we were able to create mutant receptors suitable for a simple biosensor. Our results demonstrate the feasibility of altering receptor ligand-binding properties via a directed evolution strategy, using standard yeast genetic techniques. The novel receptor mutants can be used to detect chemical ligands in complex mixtures and to discriminate among chemically or stereochemically related compounds. Specifically, we demonstrate how engineered receptors can be applied in a pairwise manner to differentiate among several chemical analytes that would be indistinguishable with a single receptor. These experiments demonstrate the feasibility of a combinatorial approach to detector design based on the principles of olfaction.
Applications of a joint CO 2 and CH 4 climate debt metric: Insights into global patterns and mitigation priorities

Abstract The capacity for the concept of climate debt to inform the response to climate change has been underappreciated. International Natural Debt (IND) is a measure of accountability for climate change that straightforwardly and transparently attributes radiative forcing from extant emissions of the two most significant climate active pollutants (CAPs) – carbon dioxide from fossil fuels and methane – to individual entities such as countries or sectors. Here, we demonstrate how the IND metric readily operationalizes climate debt for a diversity of purposes. We characterize the vast range spanned by the global distribution of IND in total and per capita terms. Then, in a manner akin to carbon intensity, we consider the “efficiency” with which countries have accumulated IND in their pursuit of expanding economic output and diminishing ill-health, revealing priorities and pathways for countries to more effectively convert their future climate debt into income and/or health gains. Next, we forecast the IND consequences from countries achieving the ambitious goal of decreasing their CAP emissions to 80% of 1990 levels by 2050, exposing how the composition of IND, determined by the magnitude and timing of historical emissions, constrains each country’s capacity to reduce its climate debt. Lastly, we assess the IND implications from a hypothesized rapid displacement of coal by natural gas for power generation in the United States, identifying the combination of conditions under which such a substitution tilts positive or negative in terms of IND. These applications of IND reveal how the metric can both assess climate debt in comparison to other key metrics and investigate mitigation goals and strategies through scenario exercises. Ultimately, we seek to open an intellectual terrain for climate debt analyses and invite more participatory and inclusive discussions about the consequent political and economic implications of such a multiple CAP and accountability-based perspective.
HOIL-1 is not required for iron-mediated IRP2 degradation in HEK293 cells

Iron regulatory protein 2 (IRP2) binds to iron-responsive elements (IREs) to regulate the translation and stability of mRNAs encoding several proteins involved in mammalian iron homeostasis. Increases in cellular iron stimulate the polyubiquitylation and proteasomal degradation of IRP2. One study has suggested that haem-oxidized IRP2 ubiquitin ligase-1 (HOIL-1) binds to a unique 73-amino acid (aa) domain in IRP2 in an iron-dependent manner to regulate IRP2 polyubiquitylation and degradation. Other studies have questioned the role of the 73-aa domain in iron-dependent IRP2 degradation. We investigated the potential role of HOIL-1 in the iron-mediated degradation of IRP2 in human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK293) cells. We found that transiently expressed HOIL-1 and IRP2 interact via the 73-aa domain, but this interaction is not iron-dependent, nor does it enhance the rate of IRP2 degradation by iron. In addition, stable expression of HOIL-1 does not alter the iron-dependent degradation or RNA-binding activity of endogenous IRP2. Reduction of endogenous HOIL-1 by siRNA has no affect on the iron-mediated degradation of endogenous IRP2. These data demonstrate that HOIL-1 is not required for iron-dependent degradation of IRP2 in HEK293 cells, and suggest that a HOIL-1 independent mechanism is used for IRP2 degradation in most cell types.
Effects of Three-Step Prompting on Compliance with Caregiver Requests.

Three-step prompting is a procedure commonly used in behavioral assessments and interventions; however, little research has evaluated the effects of this procedure on increasing children's compliance with caregiver requests. In this study, caregivers of children who demonstrated low levels of compliance were trained to use three-step prompting when presenting task requests to their children. Results indicated that training caregivers to implement this procedure decreased the frequency of caregiver-delivered prompts and increased compliance by the children.
The Vanishing Problem

The applications of behaviour modification techniques in schools have undergone many changes in recent years. The original model of one or two disruptive pupils in a class being treated by the teacher, whilst independent observers recorded the changes in behaviour, has been considerably widened. The kinds of behaviour selected for treatment, the number of pupils involved, the types of contingencies managed, and the methods of recording have all become diversified; and this diversification has been facilitated by the emergence of more complex designs, which complement the original design of BASELINE, TREATMENT and REVERSAL.
Three-dimensional effects in directional solidification in Hele - Shaw cells

We consider the one-sided model of directional solidification of a binary alloy in a Hele–Shaw cell and study the linear stability and nonlinear evolution of an initially curved solid–liquid interface whose shape is determined by the contact–angle condition at the wall. For the values of the angle close to 1/2π we use a perturbation expansion to obtain the corrections to the known stability criterion of the planar front under various assumptions about the non–dimensional thickness of the Hele–Shaw cell and both static and dynamic contact–line conditions. A boundary–integral method is used to find stability criteria for arbitrary contact angle. Weakly nonlinear analysis is also carried out; it is shown that subcritical bifurcation can be promoted and the appearance of three–dimensional structures can be delayed due to the contact–angle conditions.
Recent Advances in Optoelectronic Semiconductor Devices

Semiconductor laser diodes of AlGaAs/GaAs have been in commercial use for over a decade [1]. The first heterojunction laser, the single heterojunction device, is still used as a source of high pulsed power. This relatively simple device, which incorporates two epitaxial layers deposited on a GaAs substrate, was followed by lasers of increasing complexity in order to address various applications. Lasers are now being built with as many as seven epitaxial layers, some of which are deposited on selective areas of the wafer surface. From the original liquid phase epitaxial technology, which is still the predominant one for laser diode fabrication, researchers have branched into vapor phase epitaxy and molecular beam epitaxy in the search for techniques allowing potentially improved control of the sub-micron thick epitaxial layer composition and thickness. In fact, the ability to reproducibly grow heterostructures with extremely thin active regions has led to “quantum well heterostructure” lasers with interesting new properties [2].
Hot Flashes: A Review of Pathophysiology and Treatment Modalities

Many therapies are being studied for the treatment of hot flashes for individuals with cancer, yet few studies have demonstrated safe and effective clinical benefit for those who suffer from this distressing symptom. The purpose of this paper is to assess the current options for the management of hot flashes, examining key endpoints from recent clinical trials and reviewing future directions. Hot flashes are a common stressful symptom for individuals with cancer, particularly women with a history of breast cancer and men with prostate cancer. Lifestyle modifications are proposed as the first step in the management of less severe hot flashes. Several publications have addressed nonhormonal agents as a treatment option for hot flashes. Newer antidepressant and anticonvulsant agents have been studied and show potential in treating vasomotor symptoms. Although many complementary and alternative therapies, including herbal medications and phytoestrogens, have been studied for the treatment of hot flashes, none are clinically recommended at this time. Additionally, further evidence is needed for supportive exercise such as yoga and relaxation techniques. Acupuncture may warrant further investigation in the reduction and severity of hot flashes in both men and women. Hormonal therapies, including estrogens and progestogens, are the most well-known and efficient agents in alleviating hot flashes; however, the safety of these agents is disputable.
The educational value of improvisational actors to teach communication and relational skills: Perspectives of interprofessional learners, faculty, and actors

Abstract Objective To assess the educational value of improvisational actors in difficult conversation simulations to teach communication and relational skills to interprofessional learners. Methods Surveys of 192 interprofessional health care professionals, and 33 teaching faculty, and semi-structured interviews of 10 actors. Descriptive statistics, Fisher's exact test and chi-square test were used for quantitative analyses, and the Crabtree and Miller approach was used for qualitative analyses. Results 191/192 (99.5%) interprofessional learners ( L ), and 31/33 (94%) teaching faculty ( F ) responded to surveys. All 10/10 actors completed interviews. Nearly all participants found the actors realistic (98% L , 96% F ), and valuable to the learning (97% L , 100% F ). Most felt that role-play with another clinician would not have been as valuable as learning with actors (80% L , 97% F ). There were no statistically significant differences in perceived value between learners who participated in the simulations (47%) versus those who observed (53%), or between doctors, nurses, or psychosocial professionals. Qualitative assessment yielded five actor value themes: Realism, Actor Feedback, Layperson Perspective, Depth of Emotion, and Role of Improvisation in Education. Actors independently identified similar themes as goals of their work. Conclusions The value attributed to actors was nearly universal among interprofessional learners and faculty, and independent of enactment participation versus observation. Authenticity, feedback from actors, patient/family perspectives, emotion, and improvisation were key educational elements.
Enhanced boiling heat transfer from microporous surfaces: effects of a coating composition and method

Composition studies (coating component and mixing ratio variations) of micro-porous coatings are performed to produce higher boiling enhancement from the flush-mounted, square heater. Two different coating methods are researched and nearly identical boiling performances are obtained with the optimized coating composition. The physical strength of the micro-porous coating is examined through a durability test and an adhesion test. Finally, the boiling performance of a micro-porous-enhanced surface is compared with that of the commercial High Flux surface.
Approaches to professionalism - a codified body of knowledge

Professionalism is a recurrent topic of discussion - formally and informally - among technical communication scholars and practitioners. In the diversity among our programs and approaches to technical communication, the difficult issues surrounding certification in technical communication is a professional goal that major stakeholders have typically considered too complex to be addressed. Increasingly, however, many of these stakeholders agree that we can no longer continue to ignore these complex issues. In an earlier article, the author have described twelve issues that must be addressed and tasks that must be undertaken to move the profession towards meaningful certification. In that discussion, the author also suggests approaches to begin the work on each of these steps. In this present discussion, the author addresses the first of this steps-codification of the bodies of knowledge through the development of an encyclopedia of technical and professional communication. In order to accomplish this, the author describes the categories of knowledge in the field and the editorial and organizational structure of the project.
Evaluation of Clinical Education Centers in Physical Therapy

The purpose of this research was to test a set of 20 physical therapy clinical education standards and three related evaluation forms that were published in 1976 by Moore and Perry. Mail questionnaires and telephone interviews with 134 Academic Coordinators of Clinical Education, 708 Center Coordinators of Clinical Education, 15 Clinical Instructors, and 52 students were used to collect data reported here. The resulting standards and evaluation forms were found to be practical, reliable, and valid for use by personnel of physical therapy and physical therapist assistant educational programs responsible for selecting clinical education centers for part-time and full-time students. We recommend that the standards and evaluation forms be used by personnel of physical therapy educational programs, clinical education centers, and selected committees of the American Physical Therapy Association because the standards and forms incorporate aspects of clinical education currently believed important to providing high-quality learning experiences in physical therapy practice.
Singular Perturbation Analysis for Trajectory Linearization Control

Trajectory linearization control (TLC) is a nonlinear control design method, which combines an open-loop nonlinear dynamic inversion and a linear time-varying feedback stabilization. TLC achieves exponential stability along the nominal trajectory, therefore it provides robust stability and performance. In this paper, stability analysis of TLC with regular perturbation is presented. By integrating the Lyapunov second method with the linear time-varying (LTV) system spectra theory, which is a first method of Lyapunov. The analysis assesses stability robustness of TLC and identifies its relationship with the closed-loop PD-eigenvalues. Thus the analysis provides a guideline to design and real-time tuning of the time-varying closed-loop PD-eigenvalues.
Exploring NVIDIA-CUDA for video coding

Today, world is rapidly turning to high definition multimedia. From engineering and programming point of view, this usually means more computation is needed and more memory space is required to achieve these higher qualities. In this paper we explore the use of parallelization opportunities in graphics processors to accelerate video encoding. We evaluate the NVIDIA CUDA[1] toolkit and evaluate the performance of motion estimation in video encoding. The main goal of this paper is to evaluate the capabilities of NVIDIA/CUDA and develop a process for implementing video/multimedia applications. We have discovered that the difference in performance when CUDA is not used properly can be over 100x. We show how we were able to use CUDA capabilities to reduce the motion estimation time from 7000 milli seconds to 70 milli seconds.
RNA secondary structure: a complete mathematical analysis

Using a rigorous mathematical analysis, the prediction of RNA secondary structure as a function of free energy is obtained. The iterative method effectively allows a search over the entire configuration space of the RNA molecule not possible by earlier methods. The approach also allows for the direct inclusion of the nearest neighbor or stacking energies.
Diet breadth and anti-predator strategies in desert locusts and other Orthopterans

Abstract A density-dependent change from a cryptic to an aposematic antipredator strategy has recently been suggested as a possible functional explanation for phase change in the desert locust (Schistocerca gregaria Forskal). Predators learn to avoid locusts that have fed on toxic plants faster when they are in the brightly colored gregarious phase than when they are green and solitarious. We review recent work comparing acquisition of a defensive compound via food selection between solitarious, transiens (solitarious locusts in transition to the gregarious phase) and gregarious locusts. Lab experiments showed that solitarious locusts were deterred at first contact with hyoscyamine, a plant compound that protects against predators, but later habituated to the compound and incorporated it into the diet (albeit at a low rate). By contrast, gregarious and transiens locusts fed readily on the compound. A computer simulation showed how low-density, solitarious locusts would not benefit much from consuming the ...
Travel needs revisited

The reasons for human desire to wander away from the normal environment for pleasure purposes have long been the focus of academic attention. Empirical studies revealed many scales for assessing needs in different contexts and for different groups of travelers. The objective of the current study is to develop and validate a comprehensive yet concise Travel Needs Scale (TNS) with a general applicability in different types of travels. The initial pool of items is developed from the literature, followed by a survey design applied on an online research platform. The results of the confirmatory factor analysis support the psychometric property of the scale. The resultant TNS, comprised of self-actualization, social affiliation, arousal, and escape, reflects the fundamental needs of various types of travelers and provides a framework to guide future research. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
NIVISON AND THE PHILOSOPHICAL STUDY OF CONFUCIAN THOUGHT: IN MEMORY OF DAVID S. NIVISON (1923–2014)

One of David S. Nivison's (1923–2014) most important contributions is his work in bridging philological studies and philosophical inquiry. His methodological approach resonates in spirit with an approach to the study of Chinese thought advocated by Confucian thinkers such as Zhu Xi and Tang Junyi, who both emphasize jing toward early thinkers. He pays careful attention to textual details, is respectful of cultural context, and seeks to preserve the distinctive features of Chinese traditions of thought and avoid imposing on them western philosophical conceptions. In doing so, he exemplifies the spirit of jing, a serious and cautious attitude dedicated to a proper understanding of early thinkers in their cultural context.
Characterization of the induction of persistent I-A expression by macrophages from Bcgr mice

Peritoneal macrophages from mice that are resistant to Mycobacterium bovis (strain BCG) [Gros et al., J. Immunol. 127,2417, 1981] can be induced to express persistently or transiently major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II glycoproteins. The induction of persistent expression is dependent on the dose of recombinant interferon-gamma (rIFN-gamma). High doses of rIFN-gamma (100 U) induce persistent Ia expression, whereas lower doses induce only transient Ia expression. Once induced, the persistent expression of Ia does not require its continued synthesis. We show that the expression of Ia by macrophages that transiently express MHC class II glycoproteins is reduced by the addition of cycloheximide or monensin, whereas Ia expression by macrophages that persistently express Ia is not affected. The differential sensitivity of Ia expression to cycloheximide was used to study the induction of persistence that is linked to the Bcg gene. Macrophages were primed with low doses of rIFN-gamma in order to induce transient, cycloheximide-sensitive Ia expression. The cells were then treated with high doses of rIFN-gamma in order to induce persistent, cycloheximide-resistant Ia expression. We found that the induction of persistent Ia expression requires at least 3 hr of exposure to rIFN-gamma. Furthermore, the addition of rIFN-gamma to primed macrophages is followed by a short burst of protein synthesis that is independent of the production of new mRNA. The rapidity with which persistent Ia expression is induced is consistent with the rapid onset of innate resistance to Mycobacterium following injection of BCG.
A metric to identify gerrymandering

Because the US judicial system relies upon subjective evaluations, we set aside the notion of establishing an objectively-determined metric to identify gerrymandering and identify a metric that well represents human judgment. We consider several metrics for political district shapes to measure the presence of the undesirable geometric characteristics of puncturedness, elongation, indentation, and separation, each of which is a hallmark of gerrymandering as per Taylor (1973). Considering a set of 16 shapes that represent the possible combinations of these characteristics, we compare 80 different combinations of characteristic metrics and selected techniques to combine them into a single measurement, as they relate to the results of a survey-based subjective weighting. We show that several are highly correlated, with our superlative metric exhibiting a correlation coefficient of 0.804. Finally, we propose a method to calibrate this metric using recently adjudicated redistricting plans to identify whether litigation is appropriate to contest suspected gerrymandering.
The immediate and long-term effect on runway performance of reversing ethanol and dextrose conditions

Shifting from alcohol to dextrose or dextrose to alcohol conditions produced the following results: At the reversal point, shifts in either condition resulted in no performance decrement. After the reversal, running speed increased if shifted from alcohol to dextrose, and decreased if shifted from dextrose to alcohol.
Current applications of GPR in forest research

Forests, both naturally regenerated stands and plantations are complex, long-lived systems, which can be difficult to assess and monitor over time. This is especially true of belowground biomass and internal features of trees which are inaccessible except by destructive sampling. Traditional methods are expensive, destructive, time-consuming, usually yield a small sample size and are not conducive to long-term monitoring. Since GPR was first used to map tree roots ten years ago, a variety of new applications have been introduced. On soils suitable for radar studies, root biomass surveys have been valuable means to quantify belowground biomass, spatial distribution of roots, measure root diameters and even map individual roots. Methods include collecting linear transects in reflection mode, interlacing grids of transects in order to create 3D reconstructions of roots and applying high frequency borehole antennas used in transmission mode to model vertically oriented roots. One of the more difficult problems we are currently considering is how to analyze permanently marked transects over time to monitor root development while soil moisture, temperature and surface conditions change seasonally. In a departure from subsurface analysis, we have recently employed a method using GPR to detect defects and moisture gradients in stems. Introduction Forests are complex, long-lived systems which present many challenges to analysis and inventory. Over the past hundred years, numerous methods of inventorying aboveground biomass have been developed ranging from allometric equations used to extrapolate wood volume from tree diameter to satellite-based sensors which can measure canopy height and density over a wide area. Methodology to quantify belowground biomass has lagged behind, until recently destructive excavations were the only option. Unlike annual crops; trees live for decades or longer, so destructive sampling is usually undesirable and not repeatable. The investment trees make in roots is considerable, up to half of the biomass in trees may be hidden belowground. Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) has been demonstrated to be a rapid means of detecting tree roots and measuring lateral root mass in well-drained, electrically resistive soils (Butnor et al. 2001; Butnor et al. 2003; Barton and Montagu 2004; Cox et al. 2005; Stover et al. 2007; Samuelson et al. 2008). Today, tree root biomass studies provide valuable insight into belowground productivity in forest systems and are used to test the effect of tree species, genetic selection, and subsequent management on carbon (C) allocation. In this paper we discuss several successful applications where GPR was used to quantify root mass, map root distribution, assess vertically oriented tap roots with borehole radar and detect defects in stems. Our purpose is to present how the technology is currently being used and highlight areas where the research is headed.
Spatiotemporal Clustering of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex Genotypes in Florida: Genetic Diversity Segregated by Country of Birth

Background Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by members of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC). Although the MTBC is highly clonal, between-strain genetic diversity has been observed. In low TB incidence settings, immigration may facilitate the importation of MTBC strains with a potential to complicate TB control efforts.
Acute dyspnoea due to an incarcerated right-sided Bochdalek's hernia.

AbstractWe present the case of a 76-year-old man with a right-sided Bochdalek hernia, admitted acutely with dyspnoea, abdominal distension and constipation. A chest radiograph and computed tomogram of the abdomen revealed marked elevation of the right hemidiaphragm caused by herniation of the colon. At laparotomy, strangulation of a portion of transverse colon was identified at the site of the foramen of Bochdalek. The contents of the hernia were reduced and a primary repair of the hernial orifice was performed. The segment of necrosed colon was resected and an end-to-end handsewn anastomosis was constructed.A symptomatic Bochdalek hernia typically presents as a cardiorespiratory emergency in the neonatal period. It can remain silent and present in adulthood with chronic gastro-intestinal or respiratory symptoms. Occasionally it presents with acute dyspnoea or abdominal pain. Early detection and intervention is of the utmost importance to decrease related morbidity and mortality in adults.
True villous adenoma of the jejunum.

True villous adenoma of the jejunum is a rare lesion, first described by Keeley and Gottlieb in 1969. Our case is similar in that it was benign and presented with intermittent intussusception. An important difference was the presence of multiple gastrointestinal neoplasia, thereby resembling villous adenomas of the colon. The pathological differentiation of true villous adenoma and adenomatous polyp is discussed.
The work compatibility improvement framework: Defining and measuring the human-at-work system: Research Articles

This article is one in a series of articles demonstrating the foundations of the work compatibility model (WCM) as an engineering approach to improve human performance in organizations. Previous work has concentrated on defining the core elements that constitute the model, moving beyond constructs of work stress and job satisfaction. In this article, the work environment is explained in terms of protective and risk effects that comprise both physical and nonphysical elements (e.g., psychosocial, organizational, cultural, and financial).The authors introduce the first two phases of the work compatibility improvement framework (WCIF) based on the DMAIC (define-measure-analyze-improve-control) cycle, that is, “define” and “measure.” The objective is to identify the elements that constitute the human-at-work system and explain how the work compatibility model characterizes the system to obtain the compatibility indices (i.e., performance measures of the system). A cross-sectional feasibility study was conducted of three small manufacturers, which measured the work environment characteristics and the health status of the respondents. Two measurement methods were proposed to measure the compatibility level: a discrete transformation with one index and a continuous transformation with two indices (yield ratio and efficiency ratio). Demand and energizer levels showed significant differences across work environment domains. The two compatibility indices also show some differences as each method is sensitive to different variance causes. For company A, a descriptive analysis relating the compatibility indices and disorder cases shows that there is an increase in the number of musculoskeletal and stress disorder cases for low-compatibility levels. The trend shown by musculoskeletal disorders and compatibility indices is consistent with the assertion that higher compatibility level will decrease the likelihood of musculoskeletal and stress disorders in the workplace. The WCM is a worthwhile concept that should be further tested to understand the etiologic interaction between work environment characteristics and the health status of the people in the organization.The identification of discrete and continuous performance indices shows that is it feasible to provide measures that comprise multiple elements of the work environment and can be related to health outcomes. In subsequent research, such a relationship will be statistically tested to understand the underlying effects that relate physical and nonphysical factors (analyze), and a systematic tool will be devised to set action plans and improve the current states (improve). A tracking tool would be put in place to ensure that the improvements are sustainable (control). © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Hum Factors Man 17: 163–226, 2007.
A conversation with Dr. Greg Campbell

Dr. Gregory Campbell received his PhD in Mathematical Statistics from the Florida State University in 1976. After his completion of graduate studies, Dr. Campbell took a faculty position as an assi...
Hierarchical Supervoxel Graph for Interactive Video Object Representation and Segmentation

In this paper, we study the problem of how to represent and segment objects in a video. To handle the motion and variations of the internal regions of objects, we present an interactive hierarchical supervoxel representation for video object segmentation. First, a hierarchical supervoxel graph with various granularities is built based on local clustering and region merging to represent the video, in which both color histogram and motion information are leveraged in the feature space, and visual saliency is also taken into account as merging guidance to build the graph. Then, a supervoxel selection algorithm is introduced to choose supervoxels with diverse granularities to represent the object(s) labeled by the user. Finally, based on above representations, an interactive video object segmentation framework is proposed to handle complex and diverse scenes with large motion and occlusions. The experimental results show the effectiveness of the proposed algorithms in supervoxel graph construction and video object segmentation.
Optimal causal filtering for 1 /f α -type noise in single-electrode EEG signals

Understanding the mode of generation and the statistical structure of neurological noise is one of the central problems of biomedical signal processing. We have developed a broad class of abstract biological noise sources we call hidden simplicial tissues. In the simplest cases, such tissue emits what we have named generalized van der Ziel-McWhorter (GVZM) noise which has a roughly 1/fα spectral roll-off. Our previous work focused on the statistical structure of GVZM frequency spectra. However, causality of processing operations (i.e., dependence only on the past) is an essential requirement for real-time applications to seizure detection and brain-computer interfacing. In this paper we outline the theoretical background for optimal causal time-domain filtering of deterministic signals embedded in GVZM noise. We present some of our early findings concerning the optimal filtering of EEG signals for the detection of steady-state visual evoked potential (SSVEP) responses and indicate the next steps in our ongoing research.
Gene therapy: Gene-editing therapy for neurological disease

Guide RNA-mediated CRISPR–Cas nucleases are a powerful technology for the engineering of mammalian genomes. CRISPR–Cas9-dependent editing of mutated genes that cause Huntington disease and fragile X syndrome was recently achieved in cell-based models, heralding the first step towards developing this technology into viable therapeutics for neurological diseases.
msocket: System support for mobile, multipath, and middlebox-agnostic applications

Despite the explosive growth of mobile devices and applications in recent years, today's Internet provides little intrinsic support for seamless mobility. Prior solutions to addressing this problem either handle only a subset of endpoint mobility scenarios or require nontrivial changes to legacy infrastructure. In this paper, we present the design and implementation of msocket, a system that allows communicating endpoints to move across network locations arbitrarily while maintaining disruption-tolerant connectivity without any change to legacy operating systems or network infrastructure. msocket supports pre-lookup, connect-time, individual, and simultaneous mobility of one or both endpoints across multihomed network addresses, and enables seamless mobile-to-mobile communication despite the presence of address-translating middleboxes. We have implemented msocket as a user-level socket library and our evaluation shows that: (1) msocket recovers from mobility of one or both endpoint(s) in roughly two round-trips; (2) msocket's multipath scheduler greatly enhances user-perceived performance or power consumption in multihomed settings; and (3) msocket imposes little additional overhead over traditional TCP/IP sockets.
Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia/cardiomyopathy

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia/cardiomyopathy is an inherited cardiomyopathy characterised by ventricular arrhythmias and an increased risk of sudden cardiac death. Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia/cardiomyopathy diagnosis is based on criteria that take into account electrical and structural cardiac abnormalities, as well as mutation analysis. Appropriate pharmacological therapy and the prevention of sudden death with implantable defibrillators are important in the management of these patients. Exercise is considered an important environmental factor for the development and progression of the disease.