cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
"The Right Woman in the Right Place": Mary Seacole and Corrective Histories of Empire

Wonderful Adventures of Mrs. Seacole in Many Lands, the 1857 autobiography and war memoir by Jamaican nurse Mary Seacole, has had a long and prolific afterlife in British and Caribbean public imaginations. This essay traces the “corrective histories” deployed to re-order Seacole’s narrative into more contemporary political frameworks of anti-racism, multiculturalism, and humanitarianism. In doing so, this article lays bare the constructions of postcolonial black experience, and suggests an interpretive methodology that conceptually allows for and indeed centers on the complex experiences of black women in the diaspora. This includes a recognition of the limits of current conceptual frames of inclusion, agency, and resistance in black postcolonial studies and studies of Empire.
Linking early life risk factors to frailty in old age: evidence from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study

Background exposures in childhood and adolescence may impact the development of diseases and symptoms in late life. However, evidence from low- and middle-income countries is scarce. In this cross-sectional study, we examined the association of early life risk factors with frailty amongst older adults using a large, nationally representative cohort of community-dwelling Chinese sample. Methods we included 6,806 participants aged $\ge$60 years from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. We measured 13 risk factors in childhood or adolescence through self-reports, encompassing six dimensions (education, family economic status, nutritional status, domestic violence, neighbourhood and health). We used multinomial regression models to examine the association between risk factors and frailty. We further calculated the absolute risk difference for the statistically significant factors. Results persons with higher personal and paternal education attainment, better childhood neighbourhood quality and better childhood health status had lower risk of being frail in old age. Severe starvation in childhood was associated with higher risk of prefrailty. The risk differences of being frail were 5.6% lower for persons with a high school or above education, 1.5% lower for those whose fathers were literate, 4.8% lower for the highest neighbourhood quality and 2.9% higher for worse childhood health status compared to their counterparts. Conclusions unfavorable socioeconomic status and worse health condition in childhood and adolescence may increase the risk of late-life frailty amongst Chinese older adults.
Pediatric Residency Obesity and Overweight Training Curricula: A Systematic Review:

Background. Pediatric obesity has become a significant public health concern. Pediatricians are the ideal group to help identify and treat this epidemic, but unfortunately, many pediatricians are not trained to discuss obesity with patients and their families. Standardized training initiatives for pediatric residents on prevention and/or management of obesity are needed to equip emerging pediatricians to combat the obesity epidemic. Objectives. This systematic literature review aims to examine the effectiveness of childhood obesity prevention/counseling resident training interventions. Methods. A comprehensive literature search was performed using preidentified search terms and limited to articles published prior to November 6, 2019. Articles were analyzed by 2 reviewers with a standardized evaluation tool. Results. A total of 698 articles were identified by the search. These were reduced to 111 articles after title review and 11 articles following abstract/full paper review. The 11 articles described 10 different obesity training interventions for residents. The articles varied in their size, length of training session, and study design. Despite these variations, all articles outlined positive outcomes, including an increase in physician confidence, positive changes in behavior, and/or improved electronic medical record documentation. Conclusions. With the continued increase in pediatric obesity, there is a need for practical, easy-to-implement, standardized trainings for pediatric residents on obesity prevention and treatment. More investigation needs to be done to look at long-term results of current interventions as well as other outcomes such as whether physicians are correctly identifying patients who are overweight or obese and whether there is improvement in patient follow-up.
Molecular basis of junctional current rectification at an electrical synapse

Rectifying electrical synapses (RESs) exist across animal species, but their rectification mechanism is largely unknown. We investigated why RESs between AVA premotor interneurons and A-type cholinergic motoneurons (A-MNs) in Caenorhabditis elegans escape circuit conduct junctional currents (Ij) only in the antidromic direction. These RESs consist of UNC-7 innexin in AVA and UNC-9 innexin in A-MNs. UNC-7 has multiple isoforms differing in the length and sequence of the amino terminus. In a heterologous expression system, only one UNC-7 isoform, UNC-7b, can form heterotypic gap junctions (GJs) with UNC-9 that strongly favor Ij in the UNC-9 to UNC-7 direction. Knockout of unc-7b alone almost eliminated the Ij, whereas AVA-specific expression of UNC-7b substantially rescued the coupling defect of unc-7 mutant. Neutralizing charged residues in UNC-7b amino terminus abolished the rectification property of UNC-7b/UNC-9 GJs. Our results suggest that the rectification property results from electrostatic interactions between charged residues in UNC-7b amino terminus.
Theoretical assessment of surface waviness on work function

The work function may affect the physical, electrical, and chemical behavior of surfaces, making it important for numerous applications and phenomena, including field emission, gas breakdown, and nanotechnology. Despite this importance, studies examining the impact of surface roughness on the work function have only examined the amplitude and not the period of the waviness, which becomes increasingly important with reduced device size. This paper extends these previous scanning Kelvin probe (SKP)-based mathematical models for predicting the work function of a metallic surface with surface waviness by explicitly including the period. For a given ratio of surface roughness amplitude to the distance from the SKP to the center of the waviness, increasing the period or reducing the SKP step distance reduced the surface’s effective work function. In the limit of infinite period (or low SKP step size) and low surface roughness amplitude, the work function approached that expected with a concomitant reduction in the gap distance with no surface roughness. The effective surface work function approaches zero and may become negative as the SKP tip approaches the surface, suggesting the importance in these corrections for nanoscale measurements. As the SKP step size approaches the surface roughness period, the effective work function becomes infinitely large. Implications of these results on gas breakdown, field emission, and nanoscale device design will be discussed.
Social Influences on Child Health.

1. Michael Weitzman, MD* 1. *Department of Pediatrics and Environmental Medicine, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, and Department of Global Public Health, New York University College of Global Public Health, New York, NY Social issues are among the most common and important influences on children’s physical and mental health, on how they develop and function, with consequences both during childhood and across the entire life span. In a widening spiral, children’s health problems in their turn may themselves result in social consequences that have further health-related effects. Pediatricians, other child health professionals, teachers and psychologists, and especially parents and other family members regularly encounter numerous social forces that affect a child’s health. For any particular child, some are noticed and others go unrecognized; some are acted on, others are not. Many, such as family and poverty, have been known about for some time. Others, such as racism, have only recently been widely recognized or fully acknowledged. Still others, such as relatively new digital technologies (eg, computers, tablets, and smartphones), as well as social media, exert strong influences on child attitudes and behavior; although many of their effects are recognized, others are still poorly understood. Still newer ones, particularly the social isolation, homeschooling, and increased screen time resulting from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, are only now emerging. The concept of adverse childhood experiences and the development of a scale to measure some such experiences are more than 20 years old. The scale consists of 10 items, most relating to early experiences in the child’s family: physical, sexual, or emotional abuse; neglect; and exposure to mental illness, substance abuse, incarceration, discord, or divorce. Research clearly demonstrates how frequently children encounter such experiences and the wide array of adverse health consequences associated with them, many the result of biologic changes involving inflammatory and neuro-endocrine responses. Sixty percent of all children in the …
Super ccCA (s-ccCA): an approach for accurate transition metal thermochemistry

Computational chemistry provides a powerful route to determine thermochemical properties. For transition metal thermochemistry, typically, high-level quantum methodologies are required. Ab initio c...
Overview of the U.S.-Israel Tax Treaty, as Amended by the 1993 Protocol

On January 26, 1993, the United States and Israel signed a protocol to the income tax convention between the two countries which had been signed on November 20, 1975 (the "Proposed Treaty"). Although the Proposed Treaty had been amended by an earlier protocol signed on May 30, 1980 (the "First Protocol"), and been given the advice and consent of the U.S. Senate, the Proposed Treaty has never been ratified by Israel. It is the intention that the Proposed Treaty signed in 1975, as amended by the First Protocol and the protocol signed on January 26, 1993 (the "Second Protocol"), will become the first Income Tax Treaty between the United States and Israel. The Treaty will enter into force after an exchange of the instruments of ratification has taken place.
La relation patient-thérapeute : impacts de la théorie de l’attachement, de la fonction réflexive et de la recherche

Dans cet article, les auteurs tentent d’illustrer comment les questions liees a l’attachement sont au coeur de la psychotherapie focalisee sur le transfert (PFT), une psychotherapie psychodynamique manualisee pour le traitement des personnes ayant un trouble de la personnalite limite (TPL). Les auteurs mettent en evidence que la facon dont le psychotherapeute prend conscience de ces questions liees a l’attachement peut l’aider a mieux comprendre les processus psychopathologiques occasionnes par les troubles de l’attachement et, plus particulierement, comment le lien patient-therapeute peut favoriser la desorganisation de l’attachement ou la gener passablement.
TU-F-BRB-03: Clinical Implementation of MR-Based Motion Management

The current clinical standard of organ respiratory imaging, 4D-CT, is fundamentally limited by poor soft-tissue contrast and imaging dose. These limitations are potential barriers to beneficial “4D” radiotherapy methods which optimize the target and OAR dose-volume considering breathing motion but rely on a robust motion characterization. Conversely, MRI imparts no known radiation risk and has excellent soft-tissue contrast. MRI-based motion management is therefore highly desirable and holds great promise to improve radiotherapy of moving cancers, particularly in the abdomen. Over the past decade, MRI techniques have improved significantly, making MR-based motion management clinically feasible. For example, cine MRI has high temporal resolution up to 10 f/s and has been used to track and/or characterize tumor motion, study correlation between external and internal motions. New MR technologies, such as 4D-MRI and MRI hybrid treatment machines (i.e. MR-linac or MR-Co60), have been recently developed. These technologies can lead to more accurate target volume determination and more precise radiation dose delivery via direct tumor gating or tracking. Despite all these promises, great challenges exist and the achievable clinical benefit of MRI-based tumor motion management has yet to be fully explored, much less realized. In this proposal, we will review novel MR-based motion management methods and technologies, the state-of-the-art concerning MRI development and clinical application and the barriers to more widespread adoption. Learning Objectives: 1. Discuss the need of MR-based motion management for improving patient care in radiotherapy. 2. Understand MR techniques for motion imaging and tumor motion characterization. 3. Understand the current state of the art and future steps for clinical integration. Henry Ford Health System holds research agreements with Philips Healthcare. Research sponsored in part by a Henry Ford Health System Internal Mentored Grant.
Parent stress and child behaviour among young children with type 1 diabetes.

Background Parents of young children with type 1 diabetes (T1D) are responsible for executing a complex daily management regimen and are at risk for elevated levels of stress. Normative misbehaviour during the preschool years can complicate T1D management, and interpretation of behavioural concerns may vary because of child health status and parent stress. Within a paediatric transactional model framework, child characteristics (e.g. behaviour problems, metabolic control) and parent functioning (e.g. parenting stress, anxiety) likely impact one another. Methods Parents of 2- to 6-year-old children with T1D completed self-report measures, including the Pediatric Inventory for Parents (PIP), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory (ECBI), and 24-h Recall Interviews. Medical data were obtained by parent report and medical record review. It was hypothesized that greater parent stress and child blood glucose variability would be significantly associated with greater parent-reported child behaviour concerns. Results Moderate levels of parent stress and child behaviour problems were endorsed; however, parents perceived children's misbehaviour as problematic, particularly with relation to tasks relevant to diabetes management (e.g. bedtimes and mealtimes). Structural equation modelling indicated that greater general anxiety and paediatric parenting stress was associated with parent report of more problematic child behaviour. Blood glucose variability did not significantly contribute to this relationship. Conclusions The stress experienced by parents of young children with chronic illness appears to relate to their perception of their children's behaviour problems. Parents' experiences with developmentally normative misbehaviour may interfere with disease management and exacerbate parents' stress and the subsequent impact on well-being. Implications for supporting parents and children with T1D are discussed.
Organising the Hombre Nuevo Gay: LGBT Politics and the Second Sandinista Revolution

The LGBT or sexual diversity movement in Nicaragua, which was repressed by the FSLN in the 1980s, is currently supported by that party. I argue that this change in the FSLN's policy responds to shifting international frames regarding sexuality and human rights as well as to efforts to separate the LGBT movement from its allies in the feminist movement, and efforts to incorporate the LGBT movement into the FSLN's clientelistic networks. Despite real gains for LGBT activists as a result of these new policies, ultimately the FSLN has offered sexual diversity activists far more in the area of culture than rights.
Binge eating in rats with limited access to vegetable shortening.

In this protocol, binge-type eating is induced in non-food-deprived rats by providing limited access to an optional source of dietary fat: vegetable shortening. The protocol is simple and inexpensive, and the binge behavior is robust, reliable, and maintainable across extended periods of time. Two peptides that normally affect fat intake in rats have no effect on fat intake under limited-access conditions. However, recent results with a GABAB receptor agonist and with progressive-ratio responding suggest that the behavior induced by the limited-access binge protocol may share similarities with substance abuse. This protocol is designed to model the kind of excessive behavior that characterizes bingeing-related eating disorders and certain addictions. Keywords: animal models; binge; bulimia; eating disorders; food intake; limited access; restriction
DIFFERENTIAL REGULATION OF THE COEXPRESSED CALCITONIN/ALPHA-CGRP AND BETA-CGRP NEUROENDOCRINE GENES

The rat calcitonin/alpha-CGRP and beta-CGRP genes are members of a neuroendocrine gene family that are coexpressed in a distinct cell-specific pattern. The alpha- and beta-CGRP gene sequences predict highly related peptides that differ by only a single amino acid. Using rat medullary thyroid carcinoma cells as an in vitro system for testing hormone responsiveness, we have shown that the calcitonin/alpha-CGRP and beta-CGRP genes are differentially regulated. The synthetic glucocorticoid, dexamethasone, caused a 2- to 5-fold increase in calcitonin and alpha-CGRP mRNAs due to an increase in the nuclear transcription rate. In contrast, the levels of beta-CGRP mRNA did not significantly change following dexamethasone treatment. Differential regulation within neuroendocrine gene families might be a common mechanism for generating functionally similar peptides in response to a variety of hormonal signals.
Plaquing of Toxoplasma gondii in Secondary Cultures of Chick Embryo Fibroblasts

Abstract A tissue culture system that employed chick embryo fibroblasts was described for plaquing of the obligate intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii. High plaquing efficiency and reproducibility were accomplished by the use of secondary rather than primary cultures and the use of toxoplasma obtained from disrupted peritoneal cells of mice infected 48 hr earlier. The monolayers were cultured in a special medium which maintained the fibroblasts until the maximal number of plaques was produced. Optimal plaque formation was obtained in 5 days, and the plaques were easily counted macroscopically.
Multi-level Control for Animated Autonomous Agents: Do the Right Thing...Oh, Not That..

Autonomous animated characters can play an important role in Interactive Story Systems by freeing the director from the details of time-step to time-step control. However, to be truly useful, the director must be able to control the character at a number of different levels of abstraction, and levels of influence. We have presented a system which shows how these ideas may be integrated into an architecture for autonomous animated characters.
Abstract 473: Development of High-throughput ABCA1, ABCG1 and SR-BI Mediated HDL Efflux Assays

Studies have shown an inverse association between HDL-efflux capacity and cardiovascular disease (CVD). The efflux of cholesterol from cells to HDL can occur by several mechanisms, including unmediated aqueous diffusion and ABCA1, ABCG1 and SR-BI specifically mediated process. We developed a high throughput assay to measure pathway specific HDL efflux capacity using BHK cells expressing inducible ABCA1, ABCG1, or SR-BI in 96-well plate format. We found that ABCA1-mediated cholesterol efflux in BHK cells correlated significantly with that of J774 macrophages when apoA-I, HDL or 2% apoB-depleted serum were used as acceptors (R2=0.98 to 0.99, p<0.0001). Compared with J774 macrophages, ABCA1-mediated efflux using BHK cells is more sensitive, consistent and has better reproducibility (Intro-assay CV=3.0%, R2=0.99; Inter assay CV=3.2%, R2=0.98). The consistence and reproducibility for ABCG1 and SR-BI mediated cholesterol efflux were also excellent as judged by intro-assay and inter-assay CV and R2. When pathway...
Compulsive water drinking treated with high dose propranolol.

A patient with recurrent, life-threatening water intoxication secondary to compulsive water drinking is described. This patient responded well to nearly 1 g of propranolol daily with a decrease in her drinking behavior, reduced sensation of thirst, and a reduction in her delusional thinking. The rat
Enzymatic assay and glucose and amino-acid uptake of intestinal biopsy specimens

1. An approach to the evaluation of human intestinal function is presented, based on the use of tissue segments obtained by peroral biopsy or surgical removal. Such segments possess the ability to take up radioactive amino acids and glucose in vitro. Homogenates of human intestinal tissue were utilized to estimate enzyme activities, thus allowing a “biochemical biopsy.” Correlation of the histologic appearance of intestinal tissue with its accumulative ability and enzyme content may provide an index of gut function. 2. Comparison of the mesenteric and antimesenteric halves of the hamster small intestine did not reveal statistically significant differences in amino-acid uptake, glucose uptake, or lactic-dehydrogenase activity. Hence although intestinal activities may vary with length, there is no clear evidence that they depend upon radial direction.
Advertising and US alcoholic beverage demand: system-wide estimates

The effects of advertising on consumption of alcoholic beverages in the US are analysed. The goal is to obtain evidence on the importance of advertising at the level of beverage demand(beer, wine, spirits) and for total consumption of alcohol (per capita gallons of ethanol). A three-equation conditional demand system is estimated that includes own- and cros-beverage advertising as explanatory variables. Four models of the differential demand system are estimated, including the Rotterdam, AID, CBS, and NBR models, using annual US data for the period 1964-90 on beverage consumption, prices, expednitures, and real advertising. Estimates are obtained of the complete matrix of own- and cross-elascities for each beverage’ price and advertising. At the beverage level, the results indicate a positive butr very small effect of advertising on beverage consumption, with most of the impact due to wine advertising and non due to beer advertising. There is no efect of advertising in the composite demand function for al...
A Multivariate Logistical Model for Identifying the Compressive Sensitivity of Single Rat Tactile Receptors as Nanobiosensors.

Tactile sensation is a complex manifestation of mechanical stimuli applied to the skin. At the most fundamental level of the somatosensory system is the cutaneous mechanoreceptor. The objective here was to establish a framework for modeling afferent mechanoreceptor behavior as a nanoscale biosensor under dynamic compressive loads using multivariate regression techniques. A multivariate logistical model was chosen because the system contains continuous input variables and a singular binary-output variable corresponding to the nerve action potential. Subsequently, this method was used to quantify the sensitivity of ten rapidly adapting afferents from rat hairy skin due to the stimulus metrics of compressive stress, strain, their respective time derivatives, and interactions. In vitro experiments involving compressive stimulation of isolated afferents using pseudorandom and nonrepeating noise sequences were completed. An analysis of the data was performed using multivariate logistical regression producing odds ratios (ORs) as a metric associated with mechanotransduction. It was determined that cutaneous mechanoreceptors are preferentially sensitive to stress (mean OR max = 26.10), stress rate (mean OR max = 15.03), strain (mean OR max = 12.01), and strain rate (mean OR max = 7.29) typically occurring within 7.3 ms of the nerve response. As a novel approach to receptor characterization, this analytical framework was validated for the multiple-input, binary-output neural system.
Long optical path length cell for thin-layer spectroelectrochemistry

This paper describes the design and construction of a thin-layer spectroelectrochemical cell with a long optical path length. This cuvette-based cell, which can be reproducibly filled by capillary action, facilitates the use of metal thin-film electrodes such as those constructed on glass, silicon, and mica substrates. Electrochemical and spectroscopic data are presented that demonstrate the thin-layer behavior of the cell and other important performance characteristics (e.g., optical sensitivity, electrolysis time, and oxygen exclusion capability).
Compressibility and Rarefaction Effects on Drag of a Spherical Particle

A review of compressibility and rarefaction effects on spherical particle drag was conducted based on existing experimental data, theoretical limits, and direct simulation Monte Carlo method results. The data indicated a nexus point with respect to effects of Mach number and Knudsen number. In particular, it was found that a single drag coefficient (of about 1.63) is obtained for all particle conditions when the particle Reynolds number is about 45, and is independent of compressibility or rarefaction effects. At lower Reynolds numbers, the drag is dominated by rarefaction, and at higher Reynolds numbers, it is dominated by compressibility. The nexus, therefore, allows construction of two separate models for these two regimes. The compression-dominated regime is obtained using a modification of the Clift-Gauvin model to specifically incorporate Mach number effects. The resulting model was based on a wide range of experimental data and showed superior prediction robustness compared with previous models. For the rarefaction-dominated regime, the present model was constructed to directly integrate the theoretical creeping flow limits, including the incompressible continuum flow limit (Stokes drag), the incompressible weak rarefaction limit (Basset-Knudsen correction), and the incompressible free-molecular flow limit (Epstein theory). Empirical correlations are used to extend this model to finite particle Reynolds numbers within the rarefaction-dominated regime.
Evaluation of proton‐binding capabilities of polyether and pyridyl ligands

The competitive proton-binding abilities of a series of pyridyl and polyether ligands were examined by application of ligand-exchange and collisionally activated dissociation (CAD) methods. Many of the ligands of interest are multidentate, thus giving them enhanced capabilities for coordinating the proton, and they also may undergo a substantial loss of entropy, predominantly in rotational and vibrational modes of freedom, when binding a proton because the electrostatic interactions between donor atoms and the proton create a degree of organization of the ligand. The presence of dominant mixed-dimer complexes formed during the ligand-exchange reactions provides key evidence that multiple hydrogen-bond formation is operative for one or both ligands. Although CAD provides some insight into the factors which influence proton-binding strengths of the ligands in dimers, several general issues emerge when applying the CAD (i.e. the kinetic method) to estimate proton affinities of multidentate ligands. Owing to the severe impact of entropic effects upon dissociation of the dimers involving multidentate ligands, the ratio of product ions does not reflect the order of proton affinities of the ligands involved in the dimer. The CAD experiments give the order of gas-phase basicities at a higher temperature in which the entropy term is much more significant. This effect is especially significant when one of the ligands is floppy and multidentate and the other is rigid or monodentate. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
NMR studies of amorphous phosphorous

Abstract Linewidth, chemical shift, and relaxation time measurements have been made in amorphous phosphorous at 77 and 300 K. It is found that the chemical shift and T 2 measurements indicate that the short-range structure of amorphous phosphorous is similar to the short-range structure of black phosphorous. The T 1 measurements indicate that the spin-lattice relaxation is dominated by impurities, and that disorder mode relaxation is not effective in amorphous phosphorous, indicating either that the density of disorder modes in amorphous phosphorous is small or that the disorder mode coupling to the nuclear spin is weak.
Transients in a resistively loaded linear antenna compared with those in a conical antenna and a TEM horn

The receiving and transmitting transient responses of the resistively loaded linear antenna, the TEM horn, and the conical antenna are investigated theoretically and experimentally using the fast Fourier transform (FFT) technique. The receiving transient response of the resistively loaded linear antenna indicates that the shape of a 70-ps impulse is well preserved.
Ore-type conditions implying 2-factors consisting of short cycles

For every graph G, let @s"2(G)=min{d(x)+d(y):[email protected]?E(G)}. The main result of the paper says that every n-vertex graph G with @s"2(G)>=4n3-1 contains each spanning subgraph H all whose components are isomorphic to graphs in {K"1,K"2,C"3,K"4^-,C"5^+}. This generalizes the earlier results of Justesen, Enomoto, and Wang, and is a step towards an Ore-type analogue of the Bollobas-Eldridge-Catlin Conjecture.
Transition Metal Ion Initiated Chain Reactions between tert-Butyl Hydroperoxide and Rhodium Hydrides. Rapid Hydrogen Atom Abstraction from Rhodium Hydrides by Methyl Radicals.

In the absence of catalysts, there is no reaction between t-BuOOH and macrocyclic rhodium hydrides LRhH2+ (L1 = [14]aneN4, L2 = Me6-[14]aneN4). The addition of Feaq2+ to such solutions results in r...
A phenomenological approach to teaching engineering ethics

Despite evidence that undergraduate engineering students do not affectively engage in the study of ethics, the way we teach engineering ethics remains substantially unchanged. Engineering ethics pedagogy traditionally uses case studies to examine professional engineering conduct against three standards of ethics: the rules-based NSPE Code of Ethics, a virtue-based approach, and a formulaic cost-benefit consequentialist approach that seeks the greatest good for the greatest number. For this research, I hypothesized that a phenomenological method of inquiry could improve the emotional engagement of undergraduate engineering students with the study of ethics. Phenomenology is a philosophical and research method that investigates and describes phenomena as they are consciously experienced in the real world. In a pilot ethics course using a phenomenological approach, students demonstrated significantly improved ethical reasoning scores based on the Defining Issues Test-2 (DIT-2). To test the impact of a phenomenology-based ethics pedagogy on a larger scale, we are introducing a revised four-module Ethics curriculum in the first-year Engineering Fundamentals course at Michigan Tech. Student sections are divided into those who use the revised Ethics modules (~250 students) and a control group (~400 students) that uses the existing traditional Ethics modules. All students will take pre and post- DIT-2 tests. Additionally, qualitative research using student essays will help determine if students express differences in their understanding of what it is to be an ethical engineer and if these differences signify stronger engagement with the study of ethics. Results are expected in spring 2014
A general optimization strategy for sound power minimization

A general approach for minimizing radiated acoustic power of a baffled plate excited by broad band harmonic excitation is given. The steps involve a finite element discretization for expressing acoustic power and vibration analysis, analytical design sensitivity analysis, and the use of gradient-based optimization algorithms. Acoustic power expressions are derived from the Rayleigh integral for plates. A general methodology is developed for computing design sensitivities using analytical expressions. Results show that analytical sensitivity analysis is important from both computational time and accuracy considerations. Applications of the optimization strategy to rectangular plates and an engine cover plate are presented. Thicknesses are chosen as design variables.
The development of the U.S. EPA health effects research laboratory frozen blood cell repository program

Abstract We have suggested that proper blood-cell freezing and storage is necessary in longitudinal studies with reduced between tests error, for specimen sharing between laboratories and for convenient scheduling of assays. Our present purpose is to describe the design and use of a prototype computer program, Cryovial, for data-based management of frozen cell repositories. We are pleased to provide, free of charge upon request, a 5.25″ (specify 0.36 or 1.2 MB) disk containing all files required to run Cryovial.
Fuel Bed Alterations by Thinning, Chipping, and Prescription Fire in a Sierra Nevada Mixed Conifer Stand

Thinning using cut-to-length harvesting coupled with on-site slash chipping and redistribution and followed by prescribed underburning were assessed for their impacts on downed and dead fuels in an eastern Sierra Nevada mixed conifer stand. California white fir (Abies concolor var. lowiana [Gord.] Lemm.) dominated stand composition and was targeted in the thinning operation while Jeffrey pine (Pinus jeffreyi Grev. & Balf.), sugar pine (Pinus lambertiana Dougl.), incense-cedar (Libocedrus decurrens Torr.), and California red fir (Abies magnifica A. Murr.) were less prevalent. Thinning increased total fuel loading 6% and bed depth 14% but the chipping operation confined the additions to the 1+10-hr and 100-hr timelag categories. Subsequent underburning consumed the fuels produced by the mechanical treatments plus a substantial portion of the preexisting load, and the resulting reduction in total loading was almost twice that combusted in the absence of the thinning and chipping operations. Among an array of...
Nonmetal excitation in helium, neon, and argon microwave plasmas

Abstract This study has determined which nonmetal emission wavelengths are excited in microwave induced plasmas operated in argon, helium, and neon. Evaluation of the excitation energies associated with the nonmetal wavelengths observed relative to the energies of the rare gas metastable species which may be present in each instance indicates that collisional excitation by the rare gas molecule in the triplet state is most consistent with the data. Although this conclusion is the same as that proposed by B eenakker ( Spectrochim. Acta 32B , 173 (1977)), a detailed consideration shows that other excitation mechanisms may contribute to the observed spectra.
Dynamic transition control structure for a class of SISO nonlinear systems [chemical processes]

Most chemical processes are nonlinear in nature and large setpoint changes or load disturbances make such processes more challenging for control. Earlier a simple transition control structure was introduced so that the tradeoff between nominal performance and robust stability of the model with large uncertainties is converted into the development of several models with small uncertainties in such a way that the former problem can be solved satisfactorily. In this work, a modification to that transition control structure is proposed to address nonlinear systems. The performance of this transition control structure is demonstrated on a nonlinear pH neutralization process. The simulation results show that the proposed structure has good properties not only for setpoint changes but also for disturbance rejection.
Behavioral effects of acrylamide in the mouse

Abstract The behavioral toxicity of acrylamide was characterized in the mouse by comparing standard measures of toxicity such as body weight loss and mortality with measures of hindlimb grip strength, locomotor activity, and appetitive behaviors including episodic milk-licking. In the latter test, the mouse received 15-min access daily to a highly palatable, nonessential food substance (10% sweetened milk) that was not available in the maintenance diet. Two strains of mice, CD-1 and C57BL 6J , were injected ip five times weekly with either saline, 20, 60, or 100 mg/kg of acrylamide. Subchronic, but not acute, administration of 100 mg/kg produced weight loss, a severe neuropathy within 3 days, and 100% mortality within 2 weeks. Mice receiving 60 mg/kg subchronically had only a slight loss of body weight but developed a neuropathy within 3 weeks of dosing at which time there was a 50% mortality. Preceding these signs of toxicity, there was a highly significant increase in episodic milk-licking; this increase was significant in both strains of mice by Day 2 and remained elevated throughout the dosing period. The 20 mg/kg dose of acrylamide decreased hindlimb grip strength after 5 weeks of dosing but did not affect milk-licking or body weight even after 7 weeks of dosing. The new use of this test of appetitive behavior has documented a robust effect of acrylamide which preceded other signs of toxicity. The appearance of the various toxic signs was better predicted by the magnitude of the daily dose than the cumulative dose. This study also demonstrated the feasibility of using the mouse in behavioral toxicology.
Physical activity and immunity in HIV-infected individuals.

The purpose of this study was to determine what relationship exists among physical activity levels and viral load and CD4� / cell count in HIV-infected individuals. Increased viral load is associated with disease progression and symptom severity. A convenience sample of 66 male and female subjects between the ages of 18 and 64 years of age (mean 399 /8) was recruited from a hospital-based HIV/AIDS clinic. Components of PA were assessed for three continuous days using a mini-motion logger wrist actigraph. These components included mean PA level, and PA index and acceleration index. Pearson's correlational analysis was used to test the strength of association between PA components and viral load or CD4� / cell count. A significant inverse relationship was found between mean PA level and viral load (p � /0.047). An inverse relationship was also observed between PA index and viral load (p � /0.0061). Neither mean PA nor PA index scores correlated with CD4� / cell counts. Acceleration index, a measure of PA intensity, showed no correlation to viral load or CD4� / cell counts. These findings suggest that increasing levels of physical activity might have beneficial effects on viral load in HIV-infected individuals.
Promoting Happiness and Life Satisfaction in School Children

Studies in positive psychology, including happiness, well-being, and life satisfaction, are reviewed. The preponderance of the research literature on the promotion of positive psychology tends to focus on broad social competences. However, there is an emerging body of evidence that supports employing specific techniques that are more amenable to school-based practice, can also promote happiness and life satisfaction in children and adolescents. An exploratory study conducted by McCabe-Fitch (2009) is included that exemplified the use of the specific techniques of the Gratitude Letter and Three Good Things in Life.
Anti-inflammatory effects of angiotensin-(1-7) in ischemic stroke

Previously we demonstrated that central administration of angiotensin-(1-7) [Ang-(1-7)] into rats elicits significant cerebroprotection against ischemic stroke elicited by endothelin-1 induced middle cerebral artery occlusion. Ang-(1-7), acting via its receptor Mas, reduced cerebral infarct size, and rats exhibited improved performance on neurological exams. These beneficial actions of Ang-(1-7) were not due to inhibition of the effects of endothelin-1 on cerebral vasoconstriction or effects on cerebral blood flow, and so we considered other potential mechanisms. Here we investigated the possibility that the Ang-(1-7)-induced cerebroprotection involves an anti-inflammatory effect, since stroke-induced cerebral damage includes an excessive intracerebral inflammatory response. Our quantitative RT-PCR analyses revealed that central Ang-(1-7) treatment attenuates the increased expression of mRNAs for inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), several pro-inflammatory cytokines and cluster of differentiation molecule 11b (microglial marker) within the cerebral cortex following endothelin-1 induced stroke. Western blotting confirmed similar changes in iNOS protein expression in the cerebral cortex. In support of these observations, immunostaining revealed the presence of immunoreactive Mas on activated microglia within the cerebral cortical infarct zone, and in vitro experiments demonstrated that lipopolysaccharide-induced increases in nitric oxide production in glial cultures are attenuated by Ang-(1-7) acting via Mas. Collectively these findings demonstrate an anti-inflammatory action of Ang-(1-7) in the brain, and suggest that the cerebroprotective action of this peptide in ischemic stroke may involve effects on nitric oxide generation by microglia.
Evaluation of an observational method for estimation of remanent magnetization

This paper evaluates an observational method proposed by Zietz and Andreasen (1967) for estimating the remanent magnetization of a body from aeromagnetic data. Their method uses the position and relative intensity of the maximum and minimum produced by the causative body to infer the declination δ and inclination i of the total magnetization vector of the body. A series of plots which summarize over 800 modeled fields is presented which illustrate the utility and limitations at main field inclinations of 0, 30, 60, 75, and 90 degrees. As a general rule, the method is relatively insensitive for the estimation of δ and i near the geomagnetic equator, but it becomes increasingly sensitive toward the geomagnetic poles. However, the sensitivity is a complicated function of both δ and i at any magnetic latitude. Examination of the applicability of this method indicates that under limited circumstances magnetization declination δ can be estimated, but due to the zero‐level ambiguity inclination of the magnetizat...
A SARS DNA vaccine induces neutralizing antibody and cellular immune responses in healthy adults in a Phase I clinical trial.

Background The severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) virus is a member of the Coronaviridae (CoV) family that first appeared in the Guangdong Province of China in 2002 and was recognized as an emerging infectious disease in March 2003. Over 8000 cases and 900 deaths occurred during the epidemic. We report the safety and immunogenicity of a SARS DNA vaccine in a Phase I human study.
The Design and Implementation of an Integrated Distribution Automation Scheme

According to the statistic of the distribution network operation, distribution network fault is generally located on line branch, rather than the main line. In view of the structure and characteristics of the current distribution automation system, combining the distribution network reformation and construction practice, this paper puts a comprehensive distribution automation solution that the branch line is equipped with distribution automation terminal which integrates protection and reactive power compensation function. It can achieve the rapid isolation of the distribution network failures and the power supply reliability, and dynamically improve the quality of power supply.
Annual Costs of Investments

Abstract An annual cost is a constant yearly amount of money which pays for purchasing, owning, and maintaining an investment. Comparisons of annual costs can lead to more profitable investment decisions by dairymen. This guideline describes for dairymen expenditures which influence annual costs and provides a method for calculating annual costs of investments. An example and tables of interest are included with estimates of years of life and rates of repair and insurance costs for common dairy buildings and equipment.
Evaluation of lower limb cross planar kinetic connectivity signatures post-stroke

Following stroke, aberrant three dimensional multijoint gait impairments emerge that present in kinematic asymmetries such as circumduction. A precise pattern of cross-planar coordination may underlie abnormal hemiparetic gait as several studies have underscored distinctive neural couplings between medio-lateral control and sagittal plane progression during walking. Here we investigate potential neuromechanical constraints governing abnormal multijoint coordination post-stroke. 15 chronic monohemispheric stroke patients and 10 healthy subjects were recruited. Coupled torque production patterns were assessed using a volitional isometric torque generation task where subjects matched torque targets for a primary joint in 4 directions while receiving visual feedback of the magnitude and direction of the torque. Secondary torques at other lower limb joints were recorded without subject feedback. We find that common features of cross-planar connectivity in stroke subjects include statistically significant frontal to sagittal plane kinetic coupling that overlay a common sagittal plane coupling in healthy subjects. Such coupling is independent of proximal or distal joint control and limb biomechanics. Principal component analysis of the stroke aggregate kinetic signature reveals unique abnormal frontal plane coupling features that explain a larger percentage of the total torque coupling variance. This study supports the idea that coupled cross-planar kinetic outflow between the lower limb joints uniquely emerges during pathological control of frontal plane degrees of freedom resulting in a generalized extension of the limb. It remains to be seen if a pattern of lower limb motor outflow that is centrally mediated contributes to abnormal hemiparetic gait.
Repeated Presentation of Stimuli and Production of Original Responses.

An analysis of the responses of 50 junior and senior men and women in undergraduate educational psychology classes using alternate forms of Onomatopoeia and Images as tests of originality and of 27 graduate students in a seminar on creative behavior using Form I of Sounds and Images and Form I of Onomatopoeia and Images shows increasing originality with each repetition of the stimuli. The break away from perceptual set for the production of original responses seems to be effective in both instances and the results support the present mode of presentation of Onomatopoeia and Images and Sounds and Images. Results also support the idea that original thought requires considerable effort.