cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Historian of Science Xu Liangying: A Short Biography

Xu Liangying( 1920 ~ 2013) was an eminent historian of science,a leading translator and exponent of Albert Einstien's works in China,and a founder of the Chinese study of dialectics of nature. Born in Linhai,Zhejiang Province,Xu graduated from the physics department of Zhejiang University in 1942,where he studied with the nuclear physicist Wang Ganchang. Xu joined the Communist Party of China( CPC) in 1946 and became one of the leaders of student movements at Zhejiang University and in Hangzhou,Zhejiang,during the 1940s,making significant contributions in developing the CPC organizations in Hangzhou. After the CPC took over Hangzhou in 1949,Xu was a member of the CPC Hangzhou Municipal Working Committee and took charge of youth affairs. In 1952,he was summoned to the headquarters of the Chinese Academy of Sciences( CAS) in Beijing, editing Chinese Science Bulletin. In 1956 Xu requested to be transferred to the Institute of Philosophy,where he suffered political persecution during the Anti-Rightist Campaign in 1957. In the following year,he was forced to return to his native rural hometown in Zhejiang Province,working as a peasant. During the next two decades,Xu led the translation and compilation of the three-volume Collected Works of Albert Einstein. In 1978,Xu returned to the CAS where he served as a research professor at the Institute for the History of Natural Sciences until his retirement in 1987. Xu's main research concentrated on Albert Einstein and the history of modern physics. He proposed that rationalism was a dominant influence in Einstein's scientific ideas and insisted that science and democracy were leading driving forces in modern society.
Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes derived from select B-cell lymphomas secrete granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in response to autologous tumor stimulation

Tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) were cultured from 17 B-cell lymphoma specimens derived from patients with predominantly low-grade malignancies. Specimens included 15 lymph-node biopsies, 1 malignant pleural effusion, and PBL from 1 patient with circulating lymphoma cells. The phenotypic and proliferative characteristics of TIL cultured in interleukin-2 (IL-2) were studied, as well as cytolysis and cytokine secretion in response to autologous tumor. Flow cytometry of fresh tumor suspensions showed that 50% of cells (median) were malignant B cells and 36% were infiltrating T lymphocytes. After culture for approximately 1 month, TIL were 75% +/- 8% CD3+ (mean +/- SEM), 47% +/- 8% CD4+ and 35% +/- 7% CD8+. TIL proliferation was modest in most cases: the median maximum expansion was 32-fold in 25 days. Lysis of autologous tumor in 4-hour 51Cr release assays was mediated by 2 of 12 TIL studied, but was nonspecific. However, these same two TIL, when cocultured with various tumor stimulators, preferentially secreted tumor necrosis factor-alpha and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor after autologous tumor stimulation; unstimulated TIL secreted undetectable or barely detectable levels of these cytokines. In one TIL culture, cytokines were secreted by purified CD4+ TIL but not by CD8+ cells, and secretion was completely abrogated by the anti-major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II antibody IVA12. Thus, although specific cytokine secretion by lymphoma TIL in response to autologous tumor was observed, it occurred in fewer than 20% of patients studied.
Supplier Role Conflict: An Investigation of Its Relational Implications and Impact on Supplier Accommodation

Existing research on supply chain relationships suggests that one of the underlying tensions between supply chain partners is that of opposing perspectives and goals in the customer−supplier relationship. In today's business world with requirements in constant flux, suppliers are often asked to accommodate “special” requests made by their customers, not part of the contractual agreement. Suppliers frequently fill requests to protect the relationship with the customer, even if they fall outside of what they consider their role as a supplier. Issues of supplier role conflict emerge when customers and suppliers have different views of what the supplier's role should entail. There is little research examining the potential for supplier role conflict in supply chains. Specifically, this research draws on literature from multiple disciplines to consider supplier role conflict that may stem from accommodation and the impact of this role conflict and supplier accommodation on the supply chain relationship and future accommodation behavior. Hypotheses are tested using two scenario-based experiments. Results suggest that supplier adaptation and flexibility both have positive relational effects. If suppliers perceive accommodation requests as outside of their contracted role, supplier role conflict can have detrimental effects on the supplier's relationship perceptions and their willingness for future accommodation.
Eyesafe, 1.55 μm, 1 μs pulse energy source for space-based remote sensing using optical parametric amplifiers in PPLN

We describe a 100 mJ/μs Nd:YAG master oscillator power amplifier system pumping optical parametric amplifiers in PPLN. These waveguide and bulk amplifiers yield 2-mJ, 1.55 μm, single frequency, μs-pulse radiation for remote wind sensing.
Compact Micellization: A Strategy for Ultrahigh T1 Magnetic Resonance Contrast with Gadolinium-Based Nanocrystals

Paramagnetic gadolinium (Gd3+)-based nanocrystals (NCs) with a large number of confined gadolinium ions can be expected to heavily enhance the longitudinal (T1) relaxation of water protons compared to clinical gadolinium complexes with only a single paramagnetic center. However, paramagnetic Gd3+-NCs reported to date show only a modest T1 relaxivity of ∼10 mM–1 s–1 per Gd3+ at 1.5 T, only about 3-times higher than clinical Gd3+ complexes. Here we demonstrate a strategy that achieves ultrahigh T1 relaxivity that is about 25-times higher than clinical Gd3+ complexes by controlling the proximity of water protons to a paramagnetic NC surface. Using NaGdF4 NCs (∼3 nm) coated with PEG-ylated phospholipid (DSPE-PEG) micelles, we show that the distance of water protons to the NCs surface can be tuned by controlling the NC-micelle sizes. Increasing the ratio of DSPE-PEG to NCs during micellization decreases the size of NC-micelles, enhancing the proximity of water to the NC surface. Using this strategy, we have ac...
New Member Socialization in the House of Representatives

Current socialization of freshman members of the House of Representatives reflects the entrepreneurial culture of that organization. The orientation programs central to socialization facilitate the...
The wound healing trajectory and predictors with combined electric stimulation and conventional care: one outpatient wound care clinic's experience

Background Electric stimulation (E-stim) has been found to be an effective treatment in improving wound healing rates. However, the wound healing trajectory and its related predictors for complete wound closure (CWC) have not been reported with E-stim treatment. Materials and methods This was a retrospective study. Data on 159 patients treated at an outpatient wound clinic utilizing combined intervention of E-stim and conventional care were included. The Kaplan–Meier healing curve together with linear regression models depicted the percentage of patients with CWC against time. Results With 100, 112 and 140 days of treatment, the percentages of patients with CWC were 59·12%, 61·01% and 65·41%, respectively. Linear regression models predicted that all patients would achieve CWC by 21·55, 22·26 and 24·80 weeks, respectively. The speed for the increase in the number and percentage of patients with CWC peaked between 50–75 days of treatment. To optimize timely healing, referral to other treatment facilities or change of treatment protocol is warranted around the peak time. With the combined intervention of E-stim and conventional care, positive predictors for CWC included a shorter wound duration at initial evaluation (P = 0·005, OR = 3·10), better compliance with appointments (P = 0·007, OR = 3·38) and the diagnosis of venous leg ulcer (P = 0·001, OR = 3·88). Conclusions This study provided preliminary data on wound healing trajectory and predictors with combined E-stim and conventional care. E-stim seemed to expedite wound healing; however, further research studies are needed.
Work, Health, And Worker Well-Being: Roles And Opportunities For Employers

Work holds the promise of supporting and promoting health. It also carries the risk of injury, illness, and death. In addition to harms posed by traditional occupational health hazards, such as physically dangerous workplaces, work contributes to health problems with multifactorial origins such as unhealthy lifestyles, psychological distress, and chronic disease. Not only does work affect health, but the obverse is true: Unhealthy workers are more frequently disabled, absent, and less productive, and they use more health care resources, compared to their healthy colleagues. The costs of poor workforce health are collectively borne by workers, employers, and society. For business as well as altruistic reasons, employers may strive to cost-effectively achieve the safest, healthiest, and most productive workforce possible. Narrowly focused health goals are giving way to a broader concept of employee well-being. This article explores the relationship between health and work, outlines opportunities for employe...
The Legalization of Higher Education

A complete discussion of intellectual property (IP), faculty rights, and the public good requires a thorough framing of higher education's legal context, from which the rise of legalistic criteria (or legalization) and current IP regime have grown.
Fashion Image: Interdisciplinary and Collaborative Approach to Portfolio Presentation

Fashion Image course provides opportunities to observe, analyze, create, and examine both figurative and literal function of fashion imagery. The core objective of Fashion Image is to showcase the multi-disciplinary skills and learning outcomes of students by combining theoretical and practical approaches in planning an editorial shoot. Methods include lectures, workshops, and collaborative field work with photography and videography students from other schools and disciplines. After hearing guest lectures from important-taste makers in the NYC fashion industry, students collaborate, work as a team, make equal contributions, adjust expectations, and openly speak about creative differences. Learning current industry professional practices aids students in trouble shooting, managing risks, and improvising while on location. Students are assessed by process boards, finished digital stills, videos, and artist's statements, all which provide dynamic enhancements to a traditional portfolio format. Fashion Image course serves as a catalyst for future collaborations in the professional fashion world
Role of Exosomic MicroRNAs in Cancer Cell Cross-Talk within the Tumor Microenvironment

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate gene expression in cells and are frequently dys-regulated in human cancers. Recent evidence indicates that miRNAs are released by normal and cancer cells within microves...
Time for a Paradigm Shift in Our Disciplinary Culture

The well-known KISS principle of engineering — Keep It Simple, Stupid! — is also of value in cryptography. In certain subfields, such as lattice-based crypto and indistinguishability obfuscation, the proposed constructions pay little heed to the KISS principle. Even the descriptions of the proper functioning of the protocols are frightfully complicated (by comparison with RSA or ECC, for example), and the security analyses and guidelines for parameter selection are even more problematic.
How Often Does It Really Rain

AbstractThe perception about whether a place is a nice place to live often depends on how often it rains (or snows). The frequency relates to how dreary the weather appears, and it is the duration much more than the amount that clouds perceptions. Yet, information about the frequency of rainfall, or precipitation in general, is spotty at best. Here, we analyze a new near-global (60°N–60°S) dataset at hourly time scales and 0.25° resolution. The dataset, the newly calibrated Climate Prediction Center morphing technique (CMORPH), enables comparison of results with 3-hourly and daily data, which is what has previously been available, and seasonal aspects are also examined. The results are quite sensitive to both the spatial scales of the data and their temporal resolutions, and it is important to get down to hourly values to gain a proper appreciation of the true frequency. At 1° resolution, values are 35% higher than for 0.25°. At 3-hourly resolution, they are about 25% higher than hourly, and at daily reso...
Baby Boomers at Work: Growing Older and Working More

“Take the sum of human achievement in action, in science, in art, in literature – subtract the work of the men above 40, and while we should miss great treasures even priceless treasures, we would practically be where we are today … The effective, moving, vitalizing work of the world is done between the ages of 25 and 40” (Bliss, 1991, p. 323). Dr. William Osler – author, professor, and esteemed physician – spoke those words in 1905 when he was 55 years old and leaving the employment of Johns Hopkins for a prestigious position at Oxford University. He went on to say, “… the uselessness of men above 60 years of age, and the incalculable benefit it would be in commercial, political and in professional life if, as a matter of course, men stopped work at this age” (p. 323). Osler continued by alluding to a euthanasia scheme from Anthony Trollope’s novel, The Fixed Period. His comments were meant to cleverly reflect his humility for his own work and critique the status of universities that hired faculty for life. His sarcasm and subtleties were missed by much of the media reporting on the farewell address, and they assumed he was truly in favor of euthanasia (e.g., The New York Times, 1905). Despite Dr. Osler’s cynical intent, soon some older Americans feared being oslerized (Elster, 2006).
Assessing India’s drip-irrigation boom: efficiency, climate change and groundwater policy

This article draws on a case from the north-western Indian state of Rajasthan to examine whether drip irrigation saves water. Drip irrigation is being promoted to preserve groundwater and enhance resilience to climate change. However, the article finds that in the absence of regulations over groundwater abstraction, farmers acquire drip irrigation to intensify production rather than to conserve water. This occurs in a political and economic context where farmers are incentivized to do so, further exacerbating groundwater overdraft. The article concludes with a discussion of drip irrigation’s impact on farmers’ livelihoods and its implications for groundwater policy.
Use of somatic cell mutants to study the signal transduction function of the T cell antigen receptor.

The activation of thymus-derived lymphocytes (T cells) is regulated by cell surface molecules that may function in a stimulatory or inhibitory manner. Among the many plasma membrane proteins that have been implicated in T cell functional activities, the antigen receptor plays a central role in initiating T cell activation during an immune response. Upon appropriate interaction with antigen or anti-receptor antibodies that have been used to mimic antigen, the T cell receptor induces transmembrane signalling events that contribute to the subsequent cellular response. Such cellular activation is most commonly manifested by the appearance of cytolytic activity, production of lymphokines or proliferation of T cells.
A Community-Driven Graph Partitioning Method for Constraint-Based Causal Discovery

Constraint-based (CB) methods are widely used for discovering causal relationships in observational data. The PC-stable algorithm is a prominent example of CB methods. A critical component of the PC-stable algorithm is to find d-separators and perform conditional independence (CI) tests to eliminate spurious causal relationships. While the pairwise CI tests are necessary for identifying causal relationships, the error rate, where true causal relationships are erroneously removed, increases with the number of tests performed. Efficiently searching for the true d-separator set is thus a critical component to increase the accuracy of the causal graph. To this end, we propose a novel recursive algorithm for constructing causal graphs, based on a two-phase divide and conquer strategy. In phase one, we recursively partition the undirected graph using community detection, and subsequently construct partial skeletons from each partition. Phase two uses a bottom-up approach to merge the subgraph skeletons, ultimately yielding the full causal graph. Simulations on several real-world data sets show that our approach effectively finds the d-separators, leading to a significant improvement in the quality of causal graphs.
Cryo-EM and X-ray structures of TRPV4 reveal insight into ion permeation and gating mechanisms.

The transient receptor potential (TRP) channel TRPV4 participates in multiple biological processes, and numerous TRPV4 mutations underlie several distinct and devastating diseases. Here we present the cryo-EM structure of Xenopus tropicalis TRPV4 at 3.8-A resolution. The ion-conduction pore contains an intracellular gate formed by the inner helices, but lacks any extracellular gate in the selectivity filter, as observed in other TRPV channels. Anomalous X-ray diffraction analyses identify a single ion-binding site in the selectivity filter, thus explaining TRPV4 nonselectivity. Structural comparisons with other TRP channels and distantly related voltage-gated cation channels reveal an unprecedented, unique packing interface between the voltage-sensor-like domain and the pore domain, suggesting distinct gating mechanisms. Moreover, our structure begins to provide mechanistic insights to the large set of pathogenic mutations, offering potential opportunities for drug development.
Disturbances of Sleep and Alertness in Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder. Sleep dysfunction is one of the most common non-motor manifestations of PD that has gained significant interest over the past two decades due to its impact on the daily lives of PD patients, poorly understood mechanisms, and limited treatment options. In this review, we discuss the most common sleep disorders in PD and present recent investigations that have broadened our understanding of the epidemiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment of disturbed sleep and alertness in PD. The etiology of impaired sleep-wake cycles in PD is multifactorial. Sleep dysfunction in PD encompasses insomnia, REM sleep behavior disorder, sleep-disordered breathing, restless legs syndrome, and circadian dysregulation. Despite the high prevalence of sleep dysfunction in PD, evidence supporting the efficacy of treatment strategies is limited. We are at the opportune time to advance our understanding of sleep dysfunction in PD, which will hopefully lead to mechanisms-driven interventions for better sleep and allow us to approach sleep as a modifiable therapeutic target for other non-motor and motor manifestations in PD.
Novel bacterial ratio for predicting faecal age

This study presents an extension of ongoing research into the utility of the ratio of colonies isolated on membrane filters during the total coliform test using m-Endo broth media. Investigations into the relative shifts in concentrations of indicator bacterial populations over time, in laboratory-based survival studies conducted with filtered river water, were undertaken. Also, analysis of Kentucky River water quality data collected from the inlet of a local water treatment plant was carried out. Survival studies found that the ratio between the raw concentrations of atypical colonies (AC) and total coliform colonies (TC) was directly related to the amount of time coliform spiked river water had been held in open jars in the laboratory. The AC/TC ratio in the jars would rise from 200 within 4d. The rise in AC/TC ratio with time in river water was confirmed in the analysis of two years of Kentucky River water quality data where the average AC/TC ratio during months with high river flow (rain) was 3.37 and rose to an average of 27.58 during months with low flow. The average AC/TC ratio during high flow months compared to that of raw human sewage (3.9) and the ratio increased to values associated with animal impacted urban runoff (18.9) during low flow months.
Immune Response and Immunotherapy in GIST

Imatinib mesylate, a small molecule inhibitor of KIT and PDGFRA, dramatically improves the prognosis of patients with metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) and serves as a paradigm for targeted molecular therapy. However, imatinib is rarely curative, and recurrent or resistant disease often develops. Immune-checkpoint blockade is a promising new approach to cancer therapy. Correlative research in human GIST specimens has suggested that certain characteristics of the immune infiltrate affect GIST prognosis. Using a genetically engineered mouse model of GIST, we have demonstrated that the therapeutic efficacy of imatinib is partially dependent on the immune system, and imatinib synergizes with multiple immunotherapies. In this chapter, we review the basics of current GIST therapy, detail the macrophage and T cell immune responses in GIST, summarize relevant preclinical GIST immunotherapy research, highlight ongoing and completed clinical trials with immunotherapeutic agents, and suggest future areas for immune therapy in GIST.
Life takes place: phenomenology, lifeworlds, and place making

It has been a long time since this reviewer read such an interesting and intellectually stimulating book about the essence of geography, place. I strongly recommend it for any reader wishing to con...
Using subpopulation EAs to map molecular structure landscapes

The emerging view in molecular biology is that molecules are intrinsically dynamic systems rearranging themselves into different structures to interact with molecules in the cell. Such rearrangements take place on energy landscapes that are vast and multimodal, with minima housing alternative structures. The multiplicity of biologically-active structures is prompting researchers to expand their treatment of classic computational biology problems, such as the template-free protein structure prediction problem (PSP), beyond the quest for the global optimum. In this paper, we revisit subpopulation-oriented EAs as vehicles to switch the objective from classic optimization to landscape mapping. Specifically, we present two EAs, one of which makes use of subpopulation competition to allocate more computational resources to fitter subpopulations, and another of which additionally utilizes a niche preservation technique to maintain stable and diverse subpopulations. Initial assessment on benchmark optimization problems confirms that stabler subpopulations are achieved by the niche-preserving EA. Evaluation on unknown energy landscapes in the context of PSP demonstrates superior mapping performance by both algorithms over a popular Monte Carlo-based method, with the niche-preserving EA achieving superior exploration of lower-energy regions. These results suggest that subpopulation EAs hold much promise for solving important mapping problems in computational structural biology.
Preventing Attrition: Critical Interventions to Close the Racial Gap in Non-Transfer Attrition

Law schools are losing students of color to non-transfer attrition at a rate nearly 19% higher than that of white students. This racial disparity is unacceptable, and law schools must take concrete steps to eliminate it. In order to do so, law schools will have to take action both inside and outside of the classroom. Faculty must be more directly engaged in the teaching of metacognitive and academic skills. Student Affairs Offices must work with Academic Affairs Offices to develop programs that foster and sense of belonging, and assist students with navigating the challenges of law schools. Finally, the entire law school community must work to address the mental health and substance abuse issues that are far too prevalent in the legal academy and the legal profession. It is only by treating each student as an individual capable of growth and academic success, that law schools will be able to close the attrition gap. Part I of this article addresses interventions that faculty can undertake to help students improve their own learning process. Part II focuses on enhancing the law school community for student success. Part III addresses the pervasive problem of mental health and substance abuse concerns among law students and legal professionals, which also leads some law students to leave law school.
Evaluation of excised porcine larynx frequency changes due to changing vocal fold elastic properties

The work presented in this study investigates the impact of changing vocal fold elastic properties on the frequencies of vibration during phonation. Excised porcine larynx tests were conducted to examine the relationship between porcine vocal fold anterior-posterior strain and the resulting changes in the phonation frequency. During each test, two high speed cameras (4000 FPS) and a microphone (44100 Hz) were used to record changes in vocal fold dynamics while a servo motor stretched the tissue in the anterior-posterior direction. A digital image correlation tracking method was then used to measure anterior-posterior strain on the exposed porcine vocal fold superior surface. Strain measurements were related to changes in vocal fold elasticity based on previously reported mean elastic parameters which describe porcine vocal fold elasticity from 0%–40%. Additionally, an aeroelastic model of phonation which incorporates the measured vocal fold geometry, elastic properties, and air flow characteristics was implemented to further study the impact of changing porcine vocal fold elasticity on the vibration frequency. Phonation was first observed at a strain of 0.18 mm/mm with a fundamental frequency of 246 Hz and increased to 404 Hz at a strain of 0.35 mm/mm. Airflow conditions were kept constant during all experimental tests.The work presented in this study investigates the impact of changing vocal fold elastic properties on the frequencies of vibration during phonation. Excised porcine larynx tests were conducted to examine the relationship between porcine vocal fold anterior-posterior strain and the resulting changes in the phonation frequency. During each test, two high speed cameras (4000 FPS) and a microphone (44100 Hz) were used to record changes in vocal fold dynamics while a servo motor stretched the tissue in the anterior-posterior direction. A digital image correlation tracking method was then used to measure anterior-posterior strain on the exposed porcine vocal fold superior surface. Strain measurements were related to changes in vocal fold elasticity based on previously reported mean elastic parameters which describe porcine vocal fold elasticity from 0%–40%. Additionally, an aeroelastic model of phonation which incorporates the measured vocal fold geometry, elastic properties, and air flow characteristics was im...
To attend, or not to attend: Examining caregiver intentions and study compliance in a pediatric, randomized controlled trial:

Background/AimsThe Intent to Attend is a brief questionnaire recommended by the National Research Council to address dropout concerns and improve prediction of missing data in clinical trials, alth...
Beyond reirradiation: Efficacy and safety of three or more courses of radiation for head and neck malignancies.

Abstract Purpose Recurrent head and neck cancers are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Outcomes of multiple courses of radiation have not yet been described. Methods and Materials A single institution database was queried to retrospectively review treatment plans and select patients who underwent ≥ 3 courses of radiation to the head and neck region. Results Thirty-three patients were found to have ≥ 3 courses of radiation with overlapping fields. Median local recurrence free survival after last course of reirradiation was 9.1 months and median overall survival was 10 months. Grade 3 and above toxicities were reported in 15 patients (45%). Grade 4 and above toxicities were reported in seven patients (21%). There was no grade 5 toxicity. 20 patients (61%) underwent subsequent therapies following completion of repeat reirradiation. Conclusions Repeat reirradiation to the head and neck region is feasible and carries significant risks that are most appropriately managed with a multi-disciplinary team and must be balanced against the potential for local control and opportunities for emerging systemic therapies.
Estimating Environmental Parameters in Connected Electric Powertrains using Set-Membership Filtering

This paper presents a novel approach to assessing some of the electric vehicles(EVs) critical environmental conditions without relying on physical sensors. The proposed approach employs distributed estimation in networked vehicles to estimate parameters that characterize the EV's environmental conditions which impact the range of an EV. The parameters to be estimated are the highly uncertain quantities such as wind speed and rolling resistance. Key to this approach is the setmembership filtering (SMF) method, which is quite different from the traditional adaptive filtering methods. The SMF aims to meet a specification on the filtering error magnitude, instead of minimizing the time average or ensemble average of the squared errors. Moreover, the SMF algorithms feature datadependent selective update of parameter estimates, which is very useful in estimating the environmental parameters of networked vehicles. The estimation schemes developed here use a vehicle longitudinal model and commonly available vehicle sensor signals. Simulations are performed to demonstrate the advantages of the proposed algorithms in terms of computational complexity, residual parameter uncertainties, and steadystate mean-squared errors in comparison to existing algorithms.
Analysis of Sampling Techniques Towards Epileptic Seizure Detection from Imbalanced Dataset

Epileptic Seizure is a neurological disorder that occurs due to abnormal activities of brain neurons. Epilepsy can affect patients' health and can lead to life-threatening emergencies. Predicting epilepsy before the initiation of the onset is highly effective to avoid the seizure by medication. machine learning algorithms have been implemented in classifying epilepsy from Electroencephalograms (EEG) data. Machine learning algorithms experience reduced performance when classes are imbalanced. The imbalance class problem can be handled by different sampling techniques including oversampling minority class, undersampling majority class, and combined of both. In this paper, both traditional and state-of-the-art sampling techniques have been experimented and evaluated for their capability of improving the imbalance ratio. A Deep Neural Network (DNN) based framework is also presented in this paper. The classification performance has been investigated by applying several ML approaches with the effect of different balancing ratio. We performed experiments on Epileptic Seizure Recognition dataset. The experimental results show that the sampling techniques improve the imbalance class ratio as well as the classification performance.
Reforming Anti-Judaism in a Church Called to Communion

The church’s call to be a sign and instrument of unity amid the diversity of the world is seriously impeded by the church’s long and violent history of rejecting the religious difference embodied in Christianity’s primary other—Judaism. Twentieth century ecclesial statements repudiating supersessionism and the deicide charge have been significant steps, but they are not sufficient in themselves to overcome the anti-Judaism that remains in the New Testament and is implicit in much Christian thought and practice. At a time when the world badly needs an ecclesial witness of unity-in-diversity, it is essential that the church learn (finally!) to make theological room for the difference of Judaism and ultimately other forms of religious diversity within and beyond the church.
How Other- and Self-Compassion Reduce Burnout through Resource Replenishment

The average employee feels burnt out, a multidimensional state of depletion likely to persists without intervention. In this paper, we consider compassion as an agentic action by which employees ma...
Quantitative trait locus mapping combined with variant and transcriptome analyses identifies a cluster of gene candidates underlying the variation in leaf wax between upland and lowland switchgrass ecotypes

Mapping combined with expression and variant analyses in switchgrass, a crop with complex genetics, identified a cluster of candidate genes for leaf wax in a fast-evolving region of chromosome 7K. Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) is a promising warm-season candidate energy crop. It occurs in two ecotypes, upland and lowland, which vary in a number of phenotypic traits, including leaf glaucousness. To initiate trait mapping, two F2 mapping populations were developed by crossing two different F1 sibs derived from a cross between the tetraploid lowland genotype AP13 and the tetraploid upland genotype VS16, and high-density linkage maps were generated. Quantitative trait locus (QTL) analyses of visually scored leaf glaucousness and of hydrophobicity of the abaxial leaf surface measured using a drop shape analyzer identified highly significant colocalizing QTL on chromosome 7K (Chr07K). Using a multipronged approach, we identified a cluster of genes including Pavir.7KG077009, which encodes a Type III polyketide synthase-like protein, and Pavir.7KG013754 and Pavir.7KG030500, two highly similar genes that encode putative acyl-acyl carrier protein (ACP) thioesterases, as strong candidates underlying the QTL. The lack of homoeologs for any of the three genes on Chr07N, the relatively low level of identity with other switchgrass KCS proteins and thioesterases, as well as the organization of the surrounding region suggest that Pavir.7KG077009 and Pavir.7KG013754/Pavir.7KG030500 were duplicated into a fast-evolving chromosome region, which led to their neofunctionalization. Furthermore, sequence analyses showed all three genes to be absent in the two upland compared to the two lowland accessions analyzed. This study provides an example of and practical guide for trait mapping and candidate gene identification in a complex genetic system by combining QTL mapping, transcriptomics and variant analysis.
Finite-difference time-domain formulation of an inverse scattering scheme for remote sensing of conducting and dielectric targets: Part II - Two dimensional case

This paper introduces a technique for time-domain electromagnetic inverse scattering based upon the use of a two-dimensional, finite-difference time-domain (FD-TD) forward scattering field representation in numerical feedback loop with a nonlinear optimization routine. Causality is exploited to reconstruct the actual target surface contour in a sequential and cumulative manner as the illuminating wavefront sweeps across the target. This approach appears to require a minimum amount of scattered field information. A number of examples are reported where the only data needed is the time waveform of a scattered pulse for the transverse magnetic (TM) polarization case, observed at just a single point in the near field. These examples include the reconstruction of two-dimensional conducting and homogeneous dielectric target shapes such as triangles, rectangles, and trapezoids. A dielectric target with reentrant features, resembling the letter "J" is also reconstructed from a single point observation. The effect...
Identification and characterization of the fis operon in enteric bacteria.

The small DNA binding protein Fis is involved in several different biological processes in Escherichia coli. It has been shown to stimulate DNA inversion reactions mediated by the Hin family of recombinases, stimulate integration and excision of phage λ genome, regulate the transcription of several different genes including those of stable RNA operons, and regulate the initiation of DNA replication at oriC. fis has also been isolated from Salmonella typhimurium, and the genomic sequence of Haemophilus influenzae reveals its presence in this bacteria. This work extends the characterization of fis to other organisms. Very similar fis operon structures were identified in the enteric bacteria Klebsiella pneumoniae, Serratia marcescens, Erwinia carotovora, and Proteus vulgaris but not in several nonenteric bacteria. We found that the deduced amino acid sequences for Fis are 100% identical in K. pneumoniae, S. marcescens, E. coli, and S. typhimurium and 96 to 98% identical when E. carotovora and P. vulgaris Fis are considered. The deduced amino acid sequence for H. influenzae Fis is about 80% identical and 90% similar to Fis in enteric bacteria. However, in spite of these similarities, the E. carotovora, P. vulgaris, and H. influenzae Fis proteins are not functionally identical. An open reading frame (ORF1) preceding fis in E. coli is also found in all these bacteria, and their deduced amino acid sequences are also very similar. The sequence preceding ORF1 in the enteric bacteria showed a very strong similarity to the E. coli fis P region from −53 to +27 and the region around −116 containing an ihf binding site. Both β-galactosidase assays and primer extension assays showed that these regions function as promoters in vivo and are subject to growth phase-dependent regulation. However, their promoter strengths vary, as do their responses to Fis autoregulation and integration host factor stimulation.
Rate of rise of the carotid pulse: An investigation of observer error in a common clinical measurement

Abstract Bedside estimation of the rate of rise of the carotid pulse is a standard clinical observation whose reliability has not been determined. To ascertain interobserver agreement (primary objective) and compare the velocity of rise of the carotid displacement (not pressure) pulse (supplementary objective), three blinded observers evaluated, ranked and palpated the velocity of rise of carotid pulse as “unremarkable,” “slow” or “rapid” in 20 consecutive patients. The relative rate of rise of the recorded carotid pulse was represented by the angle between baseline and the initial carotid peak at a standard paper speed of 100 mm/s. Chi-square analyses yielded no significant interobserver agreements (probability [p] 0.22 to 0.51). There was also no correlation of observers' ranking of rise of carotid pulse with the ranking from independent measurement of the recorded pulse rise velocity (p = 0.10 to 0.99). Observer agreement was unanimous only four times and even in these instances was consistent with the recorded carotid pulse rise velocity only once. The results suggest that unbiased observers cannot reliably discriminate slow from “normal” velocity of rise of carotid pulse.
Hemoglobin Kansas, a Human Hemoglobin with a Neutral Amino Acid Substitution and an Abnormal Oxygen Equilibrium

The structure of an abnormal human hemoglobin with a low affinity for oxygen and little heme-heme interaction has been determined. Threonine replaces asparagine in position 102 of the β chain, which is the fourth residue of the G helix. Although this is a neutral substitution, the hemoglobin is nevertheless chromatographically and electrophoretically distinguishable from normal human hemoglobin. No other abnormality has been found. The tetrameric hemoglobin dissociates at least to a dimer upon oxygenation at neutral pH and at protein concentrations at which normal hemoglobin does not dissociate significantly.
Rapid method for processing soil samples for polymerase chain reaction amplification of specific gene sequences

Abstract Bacterial cells can be differentially separated from soil colloids on the basis of their buoyant densities. By using this principle, a modified sucrose gradient centrifugation protocol has been developed for separating bacterial cells from most of the soil colloids. Since the bacterial cell suspension still contained some colloidal soil particles, which inhibited polymerase chain reaction amplification, a new "double" polymerase chain reaction method of analysis was adopted for amplification of Tn5-specific gene sequences. This new protocol allowed rapid detection of small numbers (1 to 10 CFU/g) of bacterial cells present in soil samples.
Effect of potential vorticity on flow rate through a gap

[1] Mathematical solutions for constant potential vorticity critically controlled flow through ocean passages are complicated and not available in simple form. Therefore, to provide formulas for numerical circulation and ocean climate models, two simple formulas for volume flux are developed here. They are fitted to numerical values of the critical flux for constant potential vorticity flow over a flat bottom through a constriction. The two formulas of increasing complexity agree with the numerical values to better than 6% and 1.4%. These flux values are up to 24% less than the values of flux from zero potential vorticity formulas presently applied to ocean passages. The most precise new formula is used to predict flux magnitude through nine ocean passages that have current meter measurements. The size of the revisions compared to zero potential vorticity predictions is a few percent in the direction of better agreement. For further improvement between prediction and observation, other factors such as realistic bottom topography, friction, mixing, waves, and eddies must be included.
Stress relaxation in amorphous alloys

Abstract The anelastic stress relaxation was measured as a function of time and temperature for amorphous Fe 40 Ni 40 P 14 B 6 . An initial fast relaxation occurred which was not resolvable, followed by a slower, first-order rate process with an activation energy of 0.5 eV. It is suggested that this activation energy is controlled by hole migration. Anelastic stress relaxation was also measured after heating for 2 h at 225 °C for a number of amorphous alloys series: Fe x Ni 80− x P 14 B 6 , Fe x Ni 80− x B 20 , Fe x Ni 80− x P 14 C 6 , Fe 40 Ni 40 B 20− x P x , Fe 80 B 20− x Si x , Fe 85 B 15− x Si x , Fe 85− x P 15 B x , Fe 85− x P 15 Al x , Fe 85− x P 15 Si x , Fe 85− x B 15 Si x , Fe 85− x B 15 P x and Fe 100− x B x . Glass temperatures of some of these series were measured and some obtained from the literature. In all cases the stress relaxation rate increased with decrease in T g . This relation cannot be explained by the free volume quenched in at T g , but can be explained by the change in the structure during the relaxation in the secondary cooling period below T g , or by the change in viscosity of the solid with temperature below T g . The stress relaxation rate was found to increase with increase in the temperature of the melt, followed by a decrease. This increase was interpreted as showing the retention of the increasingly disordered structure of the liquid with increasing temperature. Increasing the contact time of the ribbon with the wheel, which increases the secondary cooling, also increased the stress relaxation rate. This is consistent with the effect of the structure relaxation, during the secondary cooling time, on the stress relaxation rate. Decreasing the ribbon thickness increased the ribbon relaxation rate, consistent with the view that a more disordered structure was initially quenched in.
Initial Clinical Experience with Microwave Breast Imaging in Women with Normal Mammography

Rationale and Objectives We have developed a microwave tomography system for experimental breast imaging. Materials and Methods In this article, we illustrate a strategy for optimizing the coupling liquid for the antenna array based on in vivo measurement data. We present representative phantom experiments to illustrate the imaging system’s ability to recover accurate property distributions over the range of dielectric properties expected to be encountered clinically. To demonstrate clinical feasibility and assess the microwave properties of the normal breast in vivo, we summarize our initial experience with microwave breast exams of 43 women with negative mammography according to the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS 1). Results The clinical results show a high degree of bilateral symmetry in the whole breast average microwave properties. Focal assessments of microwave properties are associated with breast tissue composition evaluated through radiographic density categorization verified through magnetic resonance image correlation in selected cases. Specifically, both whole-breast average and local microwave properties increase with increasing radiographic density, in which the latter exhibits a more substantial rise. Conclusion These findings support our hypothesis that water content variations in the breast play an influential role in dictating the overall dielectric property distributions and indicate that the microwave properties in the breast are more heterogeneous than previously believed based on ex vivo property measurements reported in the literature.
The QT > QS2 syndrome: A new mortality risk indicator in coronary artery disease☆

In the normal population the duration of electrical systole (QT) is shorter (mean −26 ± 13 ms, 1 standard deviation) than that of electromechanical systole (QS2), which it closely parallels throughout the range of resting heart rate. This close association prompted the hypothesis that the duration of QT may be more closely linked physiologically to QS2 than to the heart rate and hence may provide a more potent prognostic indicator than the relation of QT to heart rate. The present study was designed to test this hypothesis. One hundred stable patients 14 months after myocardial infarction were followed up an average of 43 months. Twenty patients had prolongation of QT relative to QS2 (QT > QS2) and 13 patients had long QT corrected for heart rate (QTc). There were 20 deaths (16 sudden). The cumulative 5 year survival rate was 35 % in patients with QT > QS2 and 91% in patients with QT QS2 with known risk factors, clinical descriptors, drug therapy, systolic time intervals (preejection period/left ventricular ejection time), and frequency of 1, 2, and 3 vessel coronary occlusive artery disease revealed that only the presence of abnormal preejection period/left ventricular ejection time added significantly to the presence of QT > QS2 in stratifying 5-year survival into high and low risk groups. Thus, in patients with coronary artery disease, the presence of QT > QS2 provides a new risk indicator that is more potent than QT corrected for heart rate.
Adenocarcinoma of the Esophagus and Cardia: A Review of the Disease and Its Treatment

Background Over the past 50 years there has been a remarkable change in the epidemiology of esophageal cancer. Previously rare, adenocarcinoma of the esophagus and gastroesophageal junction is now the most common esophageal cancer, and in the United States the incidence is increasing faster than that of any other malignancy. Surveillance in patients with Barrett’s esophagus is identifying adenocarcinoma at an earlier, more curable stage in many patients, and at the same time new endoscopic and surgical options are available for the therapy of these localized tumors.