cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Adaptive mixed reality stroke rehabilitation: system architecture and evaluation metrics

This paper presents a novel system architecture and evaluation metrics for an Adaptive Mixed Reality Rehabilitation (AMRR) system for stroke patient. This system provides a purposeful, engaging, hybrid (visual, auditory and physical) scene that encourages patients to improve their performance of a reaching and grasping task and promotes learning of generalizable movement strategies. This system is adaptive in that it provides assistive adaptation tools to help the rehabilitation team customize the training strategy. Our key insight is to combine the patients, rehabilitation team, multimodal hybrid environments and adaptation tools together as an adaptive experiential mixed reality system.There are three major contributions in this paper: (a) developing a computational deficit index for evaluating the patient's kinematic performance and a deficit-training-improvement (DTI) correlation for evaluating adaptive training strategy, (b) integrating assistive adaptation tools that help the rehabilitation team understand the relationship between the patient's performance and training and customize the training strategy, and (c) combining the interactive multimedia environment and physical environment together to encourage patients to transfer movement knowledge from media space to physical space. Our system has been used by two stroke patients for one-month mediated therapy. They have significant improvement in their reaching and grasping performance (+48.84% and +39.29%) compared to other two stroke patients who experienced traditional therapy (-18.31% and -8.06%).
Strengthening of Glasses by Partial Leaching

A technique for strengthening certain alkali borosilicate glasses is described. Porous surface layers of a desired thickness are created on an article, taking advantage of the phase separation and leaching phenomena in such glasses. The semiporous composite is then heated to sinter the high-silica clad about the borosilicate core. On cooling, residual compressive stresses develop within the cladding. The mechanical properties of cylindrical specimens prestressed by this method were characterized by photoelastic measurements and moduius-of-rupture tests. Residual stresses as high as —410 MPa were observed and found to be in reasonable agreement with the form of a previously developed thermal-stress model. The roles played by thermal tempering and stress-relaxation effects are also discussed.
Stratified estimation of forest area using satellite imagery, inventory data, and the k-Nearest Neighbors technique

For two large study areas in Minnesota, USA, stratified estimation using classified Landsat Thematic Mapper satellite imagery as the basis for stratification was used to estimate forest area. Measurements of forest inventory plots obtained for a 12-month period in 1998 and 1999 were used as the source of data for within-stratum estimates. These measurements further served as calibration data for a k-Nearest Neighbors technique that was used to predict forest land proportion for image pixels. The continuum of forest land proportion predictions was separated into strata to facilitate stratified estimation. The k-Nearest Neighbors technique is carefully explained, five precautions are noted, and a plea is made for an objective approach to calibrating the technique. The variances of the stratified forest area estimates were smaller by factors as great as 5 than variances of the arithmetic mean calculated under the assumption of simple random sampling. In addition, when including all plots over a 5-year plot measurement cycle, the forest area precision estimates may be expected to satisfy national standards.
Differential admixture shapes morphological variation among invasive populations of the lizard Anolis sagrei

The biological invasion of the lizard Anolis sagrei provides an opportunity to study evolutionary mechanisms that produce morphological differentiation among non-native populations. Because the A. sagrei invasion represents multiple native-range source populations, differential admixture as well as random genetic drift and natural selection, could shape morphological evolution during the invasion. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) analyses reveal seven distinct native-range source populations for 10 introduced A. sagrei populations from Florida, Louisiana and Texas (USA), and Grand Cayman, with 2-5 native-range sources contributing to each non-native population. These introduced populations differ significantly in frequencies of haplotypes from different native-range sources and in body size, toepad-lamella number, and body shape. Variation among introduced populations for both lamella number and body shape is explained by differential admixture of various source populations; mean morphological values of introduced populations are correlated with the relative genetic contributions from different native-range source populations. The number of source populations contributing to an introduced population correlates with body size, which appears independent of the relative contributions of particular source populations. Thus, differential admixture of various native-range source populations explains morphological differences among introduced A. sagrei populations. Morphological differentiation among populations is compatible with the hypothesis of selective neutrality, although we are unable to test the hypothesis of interdemic selection among introductions from different native-range source populations.
X-RAY: A Non-Invasive Exclusive Caching Mechanism for RAIDs

RAID storage arrays often possess gigabytes of RAM forcaching disk blocks. Currently, most RAID systems use LRUor LRU-like policies to manage these caches. Since these arraycaches do not recognize the presence of file system buffer caches,they redundantly retain many of the same blocks as those cachedby the file system, thereby wasting precious cache space. In thispaper, we introduce X-RAY, an exclusive RAID array cachingmechanism. X-RAY achieves a high degree of (but not perfect) exclusivitythrough gray-box methods: by observing which files havebeen accessed through updates to file system meta-data, X-RAYconstructs an approximate image of the contents of the file systemcache and uses that information to determine the exclusive set ofblocks that should be cached by the array. We use microbenchmarksto demonstrate that X-RAY's prediction of the file systembuffer cache contents is highly accurate, and trace-based simulationto show that X-RAY considerably outperforms LRU andperforms as well as other more invasive approaches. The mainstrength of the X-RAY approach is that it is easy to deploy - allperformance gains are achieved without changes to the SCSI protocolor the file system above.
A case study for microbial biodegradation: anaerobic bacterial reductive dechlorination of polychlorinated biphenyls-from sediment to defined medium.

The history of anaerobic microbial polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) dechlorination is traced over 20 years using a case study of PCB dechlorination in the Housatonic River (Massachusetts) as an example. The history progresses from the characterization of the PCBs in the sediment, to cultivation in sediment microcosms, to the identification of four distinct types of PCB dechlorination, to a successful field test, to the cultivation in defined medium of the organisms responsible for extensive dechlorination of Aroclor 1260, and finally to the identification of a Dehalococcoides population that links its growth to the dechlorination of Aroclor 1260. Other PCB dechlorinators have also been identified. Two bacterial strains, o-17 and DF-1, that link their growth to the dechlorination of several PCB congeners belong to a novel clade of putative dechlorinating bacteria within the phylum Chloroflexi. Dehalococcoides ethenogenes strain 195 also dechlorinates several PCB congeners when grown on chlorinated ethenes. E...
The origins of radio network news commentary

The history of a mass medium is not merely a dry collection of names and dates. A context must be supplied, an order established, and, if we are fortunate, it should be possible to draw inferences from the information presented. The following article examines one aspect of the history of American broadcasting—radio network news commentary—and some of the ways in which the development of this form of programming was related to the social and political developments of the 1930's.
Structural and spectroscopic characteristics of ZnO and ZnO:Er3+ nanostructures

We report on the synthesis and characterization of ZnO and Er-doped ZnO nanostructures. ZnO powders were synthesized by the coprecipitation and the combustion techniques. ZnO powders prepared by the coprecipitation method exhibit sheet-like nanostructures. The sheet thickness is found to be less than 100 nm. The structural and spectroscopic properties of ZnO powders and sheet-like nanostructures have been investigated and discussed. The x-ray and Raman studies show the effects of Zn deficiency on sintering the ZnO samples at about 1300 °C in air. The luminescent properties of ZnO:Er3+ nanostructures have been illustrated through emission and Raman spectroscopy.
Actualizing concept learning: The challenge to curriculum planning

(1971). Actualizing concept learning: The challenge to curriculum planning. Theory Into Practice: Vol. 10, Concepts and Concept Learning, pp. 134-137.
Optical constants of Cu, Ag, and Au revisited

We have determined the optical constants in the energy range 0.1–6 eV for bulk Cu, Ag, and Au using Kramers–Kronig analysis of previously unpublished reflectance data. The results are compared to those commonly used from the literature.
Darwinian evolution in the light of genomics

Comparative genomics and systems biology offer unprecedented opportunities for testing central tenets of evolutionary biology formulated by Darwin in the Origin of Species in 1859 and expanded in the Modern Synthesis 100 years later. Evolutionary-genomic studies show that natural selection is only one of the forces that shape genome evolution and is not quantitatively dominant, whereas non-adaptive processes are much more prominent than previously suspected. Major contributions of horizontal gene transfer and diverse selfish genetic elements to genome evolution undermine the Tree of Life concept. An adequate depiction of evolution requires the more complex concept of a network or ‘forest’ of life. There is no consistent tendency of evolution towards increased genomic complexity, and when complexity increases, this appears to be a non-adaptive consequence of evolution under weak purifying selection rather than an adaptation. Several universals of genome evolution were discovered including the invariant distributions of evolutionary rates among orthologous genes from diverse genomes and of paralogous gene family sizes, and the negative correlation between gene expression level and sequence evolution rate. Simple, non-adaptive models of evolution explain some of these universals, suggesting that a new synthesis of evolutionary biology might become feasible in a not so remote future.
Jury Aversion and Voter Registration

Election officials often say that many Americans do not register to vote for fear of being called to jury duty. The only published study on the topic claims that aversion to jury service depresses turnout by more than seven percentage points. We use questions from the 1991 National Election Studies Pilot Study to ascertain beliefs about the sources of jury lists, and we relate those impressions to registration status. We find that barely half the public professes any knowledge of how juries are chosen, and just 42% believe that they come from voter registration records. Estimations from a multivariate analysis indicate that fear of jury service accounts for less than a one percentage point drop in turnout. We discuss the implications of this finding both for reform proposals and the rational choice theory of turnout.
Neural correlates of encoding in an incidental learning paradigm.

Abstract Event-related brain potentials (ERPs) were recorded during an incidental learning paradigm. Recall and recognition were better for words initially presented in tasks requiring semantic decisions (i.e., ‘is it living?’ or ‘is it edible?’) than for words in tasks requiring non-semantic decisions. ERPs elicited during performance of these tasks were predictive of subsequent memory performance. A late positive ERP elicited by words later recalled or recognized was larger than that elicited by words later forgotten. This enhanced positivity for to-be-remembered words could be accounted for, in part, by the fact that words in semantic tasks were remembered better and elicited larger ERPs than did words in non-semantic tasks. Similarly, words followed by affirmative rather than negative decisions were associated both with better recognition and with larger ERPs. However, ERPs were sensitive to processes that influenced later memory performance even within an individual semantic task and within the affirmative decision condition. In addition, results showed that the ERP differences base on later memory performance did not necessarily arise from amplitude variation in P3 waves that occurred at the same time.
Slashed and Burned: The Debate Over Privatization of Q'eqchi' Lands in Northern Guatemala

The Guatemalan state offers lowlands Q'eqchi' Maya two land titling options: communal or individual. With the same goal of bequeathing land to their children, different communities make strategic choices regarding legalized property regimes. In interviews and ethnographic case studies, Q'eqchi' respondents rejected the state's two options because neither juridical form of land tenure affords the assemblage of rights and responsibilities that they lay claim to. My findings suggest that Q'eqchi' communities want two scales of rights: recognition of family plots, including the right to bequeath land; and state recognition of Q'eqchi' communities as corporate entities with the right to expel members, allocate land, and approve (or deny) land sales within the community. Existing legal mechanisms for communal and individual titles do not allow for these two scales of rights. My research shows how Q'eqchi' leaders challenge the state land titling agency to recognize their land management practices.
India's Regional and International Support for Democracy: Rhetoric or Reality?

Abstract In recent years, Indian leaders have elevated the prominence of democratic rhetoric in their regional and international political discourse. This paper examines India9s record of democracy promotion. It argues that India has much to gain by selectively supporting democracy in neighboring countries. Furthermore, participating in multinational efforts at democracy promotion offers India a potential vehicle for global leadership.
Clinical laboratory immunology: an indispensable player in laboratory medicine.

Objectives Clinical laboratory immunology affects practically every aspect of medicine. Accordingly, appropriately trained, board-certified clinical laboratory immunologists are key contributors to the diagnosis and management of patients with various immune-mediated conditions. This review highlights the availability of postdoctoral level training programs for clinical laboratory immunology and identifies possible career tracks. Methods Fundamental elements for doctoral level clinical laboratory immunologists are identified and the critical components of diagnostic immunology training as well as career opportunities in and out of academia are described. Results Relative to other disciplines in laboratory medicine, little emphasis has been given to clinical laboratory immunology in medical, graduate, and postgraduate training. Formal postgraduate fellowship programs and board certification examinations are available, yet there remains a significant lack of awareness in the medical education community about the value and necessity of training in this field. Conclusions It is anticipated that sharing this knowledge will increase awareness of the discipline of clinical laboratory immunology at the postdoctoral level with implications for the practice of laboratory medicine.
Capacity bounds on multi-pair two-way communication with a base-station aided by a relay

The multi-pair bi-directional relay network under consideration consists of one base-station, multiple (say m) terminal nodes and one relay, all of which are half-duplex, in which, contrary to prior work, each node has a direct link with every other node. Each of the m terminal nodes exchanges messages with the base-station in a bi-directional fashion, leading to 2m total messages to be communicated with the (possible) help of the relay. Our contributions are: 1) the introduction of three new temporal protocols which fully exploit the two-way nature of the data, over-heard side-information through network coding, random binning, and compress-and-forward terminal node cooperation, 2) derivations of achievable rate regions and 3) cut-set based outer bounds for the multi-pair network, and 4) a numerical evaluation of the derived regions in Gaussian noise which illustrate the performance of the proposed protocols.
Fault localization with nearest neighbor queries

We present a method for performing fault localization using similar program spectra. Our method assumes the existence of a faulty run and a larger number of correct runs. It then selects according to a distance criterion the correct run that most resembles the faulty run, compares the spectra corresponding to these two runs, and produces a report of "suspicious" parts of the program. Our method is widely applicable because it does not require any knowledge of the programinput and no more information from the user than a classification of the runs as either "correct" or "faulty". To experimentally validate the viability of the method, we implemented it in a tool, WHITHER using basic block profiling spectra. We experimented with two different similarity measures and the Siemens suite of 132 programs with injected bugs. To measure the success of the tool, we developed a generic method for establishing the quality of a report. The method is based on the way an "ideal user" would navigate the program using the report to save effort during debugging. The best results we obtained were, on average, above 50%, meaning that our ideal user would avoid looking at half of the program.
The liver is a peculiar organ when it comes to stem cells.

Tissue biology has emerged as an interesting field of study. Differentiation of cells in different tissues follows similar rules, although it involves different tissue-specific genes, proteins, and extracellular matrix components. In tissues such as skin, hematopoietic cells, intestinal mucosa, and the glands of prostate and bronchus, cell renewal is dependent on the presence and continual proliferation of tissue-specific stem cells, which reside in specific histological locations, clearly visible under microscopic examination. Bone marrow hematopoietic stem cells, although not easily identifiable in tissue sections, can be easily separated and studied using cell-sorting methods. The sole role of tissue-specific stem cells is the maintenance of the needed numbers of the fully differentiated epithelial cells, which are the hallmark of the organ’s identity and function. Cells derived from such tissue-specific stem cells, or progenitor cells, are not yet fully differentiated but continue to proliferate toward the terminal differentiated phenotype. Studies in liver growth biology have been tackling such issues, and much new knowledge has emerged. The article by Sekiya and Suzuki1 in this issue of The American Journal of Pathology highlights the complexity of hepatic biology in the context of liver growth. Despite several discussions concerning the existence and nature of liver-specific stem cells2 and identification of isolated candidate cells with aberrant biomarkers by electron microscopy or immunohistochemistry,3 there is no concrete evidence of a histologically demonstrable location for stem cells in hepatic lobules. Moreover, studies have shown that all mature and fully differentiated liver cell types participate in liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy, without the intervention of stem cells,4,5 raising questions about their existence.
Looking to the 1990s: Will shuttle compete?

The space shuttle is designed to be the major vehicle for manned United States space flight for the next several decades. The shuttle is also designed to be the major service vehicle for operating earth-orbiting experiments, satellites, and other payloads. The high development costs are having an influence on the entire space program and are likely to produce a new balance of geophysical, commercial, and military space applications. It is likely that as more commercial and military funding sources are called upon to support the missions, the payloads may reflect less of the scientific goals of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Shuttle 3, which lifted off this past March, carried numerous instruments for geophysical measurements; for example, the microabrasion foil experiment for obtaining data on micrometeorite densities and which was designed by a British group at the University of Kent and is the first experiment to originate from outside the United States. The current shuttle 4 has numerous experiments but also has a large classified package.
Optimal Positioning for Volar Plate Fixation of a Distal Radius Fracture: Determining the Distal Dorsal Cortical Distance

Distal radius fractures are currently among the most common fractures of the musculoskeletal system. With a population that is living longer, being more active, and the increasing incidence of osteoporosis, these injuries will continue to become increasingly prevalent. When operative fixation is indicated, the volar locking plate has recently become the treatment of choice. However, despite its success, suboptimal position of the volar locking plate can still result in radiographic loss of reduction. The distal dorsal cortical distance is being introduced as an intraoperative radiographic tool to help optimize plate position and minimize late loss of fracture reduction.
More Than a Nine-to-Five JobIssues of the Employed Caregiver.

During the past decade and a half, human service providers and policy planners have begun to attend to issues of family caregivers of the elderly. At the same time, interest in and concern for the employed caregiver has surfaced. Now, and increasingly in the future, "demographics are destiny"; indeed, the greying of America makes long-term care a critical concern. Specifically, the growth of the cohort of the old old, those 85 years of age and older, presents the greatest challenge for society. Elaine Brody, a prominent gerontologist, says that meeting the chronic care needs of older relatives has become "a normative family stress.'" This article draws on the extensive experience of The Brookdale Center on Aging of Hunter College (BCOA) related to caregiver concerns. In 1978, the Administration on Aging2 funded a pioneer program in which BCOA collaborated with the Community Service Society of New York to develop community-based caregiver support groups. Since that
The Timing, Magnitude and Composition of Shareholder Losses in Bankrupt Firms

We show that bankruptcy costs are severely understated if changes in shareholders' wealth are measured around the filing of bankruptcy. Only approximately 53% of the total shareholder loss over the restructuring period occurred in the three-day bankruptcy filing period. Furthermore, the differences in average cumulative losses over the restructuring period sustained by shareholders of emerged, liquidated and acquired firms impound two predictable cost components. The first cost component, equal to 34% of the cumulative loss in the 259-day period prior to the three-day bankruptcy filing period, reflects the cost of reorganization which would have been incurred had the firm restructured voluntarily. The second cost component, equal to $0.045 per 100 days the firm spent in bankruptcy, reflects the incremental direct and indirect costs incurred with the bankruptcy filing. Shareholder losses in the post-confirmation period also indicate that company performance did not improve.
Evaluation of the Efficacy of ME1111 in the Topical Treatment of Dermatophytosis in a Guinea Pig Model

The treatment of dermatophytoses, including onychomycosis, has come a long way over the past few decades with the introduction of oral antifungals (e.g., terbinafine and itraconazole). However, with these advancements in oral therapies come several undesirable effects, such as kidney and liver toxicity, along with drug-drug interactions. Consequently, there is a need for new topical agents that are effective against dermatophytosis. ME1111 is a topical antifungal under development. In this study, thein vivoefficacy of ME1111 was compared to that of ciclopirox in the topical treatment of dermatophytosis caused byTrichophyton mentagrophytesusing a guinea pig model. Animals were treated with the topical antifungals starting at 3 days postinfection, with each agent being applied once daily for seven consecutive days. After the treatment period, the clinical and mycological efficacies were evaluated. The data showed that both antifungals demonstrated significant clinical and mycological efficacies; however, ME1111 showed clinical efficacy superior to that of ciclopirox (46.9% and 25.0%, respectively, with aPvalue of <0.001). The potent efficacy of ME1111 could be attributed to its properties, such as low keratin binding.
Nominal Diameter of Floc Related to Oxygen Transfer

Nominal diameters of activated sludge floc have been determined on samples obtained from eight activated sludge plants. These plants ranged in size from a large conventional plant to a small contact stabilization package plant. To obtain dry densities of the floc, pycnometer analyses were made on activated sludge samples. The wet densities, dry weights, and number of floc per unit volume were also measured to yield average wet floc volumes. By assuming the floc particles were spherical, the nominal diameters were calculated to range from 21 to 115 microns. These nominal diameters were then used to estimate the range of limiting oxygen concentrations to be expected in activated sludge plants.
Legal Strategies to Manage Obesity and Increase Physical Activity

Protecting the public's health and safety is a core function of government. The governments of the original colonies enforced public health laws before the American Revolution and their powers were retained by the states when the Constitution was ratified. In 1850, the first demographic study of deaths in the United States, the Report of the Sanitary Commission of Massachusetts (the Shattuck Report), found that the average life expectancy in the United States was between 25 and 35 years. The major cause of mortality was infectious disease spread through inadequate sanitation. The Report led to a model public health law that formed the basis of a national sanitation movement. Over the next 100 years, life expectancy more than doubled. The sanitation movement, combined with vaccinations and measures to control tuberculosis and other diseases that are spread through person-to-person contact, reduced the burden of infectious diseases in the United States. Law was integral to this public health revolution.As individuals live longer, chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer displace infectious diseases as the major risk to individual health. These diseases are exacerbated by increases in the prevalence of obesity and physical inactivity. Alarmingly, the most dramatic changes in obesity and physical activity levels occur in children. There are aspects of these conditions that fit the public health model and should be subject to interventions based on well-understood public health law paradigms. Other aspects may demand a hybrid approach of behavioral change through education coupled with legal interventions, as has been required for conditions such as alcoholism.This White Paper begins with an analysis of the legal authority and mechanisms for federal, state, and local public health law interventions. Public health law is a complex mix of federal, state, and local regulations, and there are many useful approaches beyond seeking specific legislation. It is critical to understand how the different levels of public health authority interrelate when one is planning regulatory strategies. In many cases, agencies have the flexibility to implement new strategies without new legislation. This saves time and allows a more flexible response. The White Paper concludes with a review of sample strategies targeted to different aspects of the problem. This is augmented with tables to allow a quick overview of the legal principles and strategies.
THE PROFILE OF SURVIVORS OF COMMUNITY PEDIATRIC SUDDEN CARDIAC ARREST

Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) in an apparently healthy child is a rare event with a reported incidence of ~3.5/100,000/yr. In the past, death or severe neurologic injury after SCA was common. However with the increasing prevalence of automatic external defibrillators in the community, survival with
Early radiographic differentiation of infantile tibia vara from physiologic bowing using the femoral-tibial ratio.

SUMMARY The authors hypothesized that the ratio of the femoral to tibial metaphyseal-diaphyseal angles (femoral-tibial ratio [FTR]) more accurately differentiates physiologic bowing from infantile tibial vara than the tibial metaphyseal-diaphyseal angle (TMDA). The purpose of this study was threefold: to determine the false-negative and false-positive error rate of the FTR and TMDA; to determine to the effect of rotation on the FTR and TMDA; and to determine the reliability of the FTR and TMDA measurements. An FTR 13 degrees resulted in a false-negative error rate of 23% and a false-positive error rate of 10%. The difference between internal and external rotation was not significant for the FTR, whereas it was for the TMDA. The FTR was found to have good interobserver and intraobserver reliability (0.78 and 0.98, respectively).
Social Capital and Sexual Risk-Taking Behaviors Among Older Adults in the United States

Using the General Social Survey (GSS) 2012, a national household-based probability sample of non-institutionalized U.S. adults, this study examined the association of social capital and sexual risk...
Effect of bacterial cell-free supernatants on infectivity of norovirus surrogates

Bacterial metabolic products were evaluated for inhibitory effects on viral propagation in cell culture. Cell-free supernatants (CFS) were prepared from growth of Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 19433, Pseudomonas fluorescens ATCC 13525, Escherichia coli 08, Staphylococcus epidermidis ATCC 12228, Bacillus subtilis 168, Bacillus coagulans 185A, B. coagulans 7050, Clostridium sporogenes PA3679, and a commercial probiotic mixture of Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Bifidobacterium bifidum, Lactobacillus salivarius, and Streptococcus thermophilus in microbiological medium or milk. The inhibitory effects of CFS on the propagation of murine norovirus 1 and Tulane virus in RAW 264.7 and LLCMK2 cells, respectively, were evaluated in the continuous presence of CFS or after exposure of host cells to CFS. Slight inhibition of viral propagation was observed for murine norovirus and Tulane virus in the continuous presence of CFS of B. subtilis 168 and E. faecalis 19433, respectively. CFS cytotoxicity was also determined by microscopic examination. Virus persisted in the CFS that demonstrated cytotoxic effects, suggesting a lack of direct effect of CFS on virions. The viral propagation indicates a general lack of competitive inhibition by bacterial extracellular products and bears significance in understanding the persistence of virus in food and human systems shared by bacteria that are recognized for their colonization and competitive capabilities.
Characterization of organic and black carbon aerosol formation during coal combustion: An experimental study in a 1 MW pilot scale coal combustor

Abstract Combustion is a main source of atmospheric aerosols, including organic carbon (OC) and black carbon (BC). A pilot-scale coal combustor was used to investigate the formation of organic carbon (OC) and black carbon (BC) aerosols under various combustion conditions. It was found that BC aerosol formation was extremely sensitive to the fuel–oxidizer equivalence ratio: its concentration decreased from 236 μg/m 3 to 2.4 μg/m 3 , when the equivalence ratio was reduced from 0.92 to 0.80. However, the emissions of inorganic and OC aerosols were not sensitive to the fuel–oxidizer equivalence ratio. The formation of OC aerosols seemed to be enhanced by decreasing the fuel–oxidizer equivalence ratio, which was opposite to the change of BC aerosol formation. Coal was also combusted in oxygen-rich environments. Inorganic submicrometer particle formation was greatly enhanced in the oxygen-rich combustion mode, compared to conventional air firing. Significant concentrations of OC aerosol were still present in the exhaust gas, while concentrations of black carbon aerosol were under detection limit. The different trends of BC and OC aerosol formation indicate that the formation pathways of OC aerosol are very different from that of BC aerosol formation.
Neu-Sibirische Inseln

Am 23.5.1820 sandte Johann Erdmann (1778-1846), Medizinprofessor an der Universitat Dorpat, dem heutigen estnischen Tartu, der Redaktion der Neuen Allgemeinen Geographischen Ephemeriden in Weimar eine Karte mit einer Begleitnotiz.
The effects of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug therapy in early rheumatoid arthritis on serum levels of soluble interleukin 2 receptor, CD4, and CD8.

Objective Cell surface molecules can be shed by activated T lymphocytes and measured in serum to assess in vivo T cell activation. To evaluate the relationship between these serum markers and disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), we determined levels of soluble interleukin 2 receptor (sIL-2R), CD4 (sCD4), and CD8 (sCD8) in sera from a well characterized group of 26 patients with active RA treated with a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug (NSAID) alone. Methods A retrospective, blinded determination of sIL-2R, sCD4, and sCD8 levels in serum samples from patients with early, active RA participating in 2 trials of NSAID therapy. Commercially available enzyme linked immunosorbent assays were employed. Data analysis included nonparametric techniques and correction for multiple comparisons. Results The patients with RA had significantly elevated levels of sIL-2R at baseline compared with age matched healthy controls. During NSAID therapy, mean sIL-2R levels among responders decreased to lower levels while nonresponder levels increased, although these trends did not reach statistical significance. Patients with RA did not differ from controls in baseline measures of serum sCD4 or sCD8 levels. Moreover, the serum sIL-2R, sCD4, and sCD8 levels among patients did not vary significantly from their baseline measures during NSAID therapy, irrespective of response. Conclusion Our results suggest that elevated levels of serum sIL-2R in early RA likely reflect generalized immune system activation, not always associated with elevated serum sCD4 or sCD8 levels or varying with other measures of disease activity in RA.
Building High Integrity Applications with SPARK

Software is pervasive in our lives. We are accustomed to dealing with the failures of much of that software - restarting an application is a very familiar solution. Such solutions are unacceptable when the software controls our cars, airplanes and medical devices or manages our private information. These applications must run without error. SPARK provides a means, based on mathematical proof, to guarantee that a program has no errors. SPARK is a formally defined programming language and a set of verification tools specifically designed to support the development of software used in high integrity applications. Using SPARK, developers can formally verify properties of their code such as information flow, freedom from runtime errors, functional correctness, security properties and safety properties. Written by two SPARK experts, this is the first introduction to the just-released 2014 version. It will help students and developers alike master the basic concepts for building systems with SPARK.
Contextual Inquiry Methods

Abstract Contextual inquiry studies add value to medical device development in that they clearly identify opportunities for new product development, clarify user needs, the user, the environment and the task. The impact of conducting studies intended for global market release or multiple environments of use can be invaluable as the learnings will include key differences between cultures. In addition, contextual inquiry studies have a direct impact on the HFE dossier for agency submission and are recommended as best practice. This chapters discusses contextual inquiry purpose and rational; the process of conducting a contextual inquiry study, best practices including tips for conducting a study in the UK. It concludes with a description of data analysis methodology, the development of insights as well as visualizing information.
Structure of bacterial communities in soil following cover crop and organic fertilizer incorporation

Incorporation of organic material into soils is an important element of organic farming practices that can affect the composition of the soil bacterial communities that carry out nutrient cycling and other functions crucial to crop health and growth. We conducted a field experiment to determine the effects of cover crops and fertilizers on bacterial community structure in agricultural soils under long-term organic management. Illumina sequencing of 16S rDNA revealed diverse communities comprising 45 bacterial phyla in corn rhizosphere and bulk field soil. Community structure was most affected by location and by the rhizosphere effect, followed by sampling time and amendment treatment. These effects were associated with soil physicochemical properties, including pH, moisture, organic matter, and nutrient levels. Treatment differences were apparent in bulk and rhizosphere soils at the time of peak corn growth in the season following cover crop and fertilizer application. Cover crop and fertilizer treatments tended to lower alpha diversity in early season samples. However, winter rye, oilseed radish, and buckwheat cover crop treatments increased alpha diversity in some later season samples compared to a no-amendment control. Fertilizer treatments and some cover crops decreased relative abundance of members of the ammonia-oxidizing family Nitrosomonadaceae. Pelleted poultry manure and Sustane® (a commercial fertilizer) decreased the relative abundance of Rhizobiales. Our data point to a need for future research exploring how (1) cover crops influence bacterial community structure and functions, (2) these effects differ with biomass composition and quantity, and (3) existing soil conditions and microbial community composition influence how soil microbial populations respond to agricultural management practices.
NAILFOLD CAPILLAROSCOPY FOR THE IDENTIFICATION OF MICROVASCULAR DISEASE IN AFRICAN-AMERICANS

Background: Nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NFC) is a non-invasive imaging technique that is used clinically in the rheumatology arena in order to directly visualize capillaries for the identification of microvascular abnormalities related to systemic sclerosis. More recently, this technique has been
Effects of acute exercise on fear extinction in rats and exposure therapy in humans: Null findings from five experiments

Abstract Background Exposure therapy is an established learning-based intervention for the treatment of anxiety disorders with an average response rate of nearly 50%, leaving room for improvement. Emerging strategies to enhance exposure therapy in humans and fear extinction retention in animal models are primarily pharmacological. These approaches are limited as many patients report preferring non-pharmacological approaches in therapy. With general cognitive enhancement effects, exercise has emerged as a plausible non-pharmacological augmentation strategy. The present study tested the hypothesis that fear extinction and exposure therapy would be enhanced by a pre-training bout of exercise. Methods We conducted four experiments with rats that involved a standardized conditioning and extinction paradigm and a manipulation of exercise. In a fifth experiment, we manipulated vigorous-intensity exercise prior to a standardized virtual reality exposure therapy session among adults with fear of heights. Results In experiments 1–4, exercise did not facilitate fear extinction, long-term memory, or fear relapse tests. In experiment 5, human participants showed an overall reduction in fear of heights but exercise did not enhance symptom improvement. Conclusions Although acute exercise prior to fear extinction or exposure therapy, as operationalized in the present 5 studies, did not enhance outcomes, these results must be interpreted within the context of a broader literature that includes positive findings. Taken all together, this suggests that more research is necessary to identify optimal parameters and key individual differences so that exercise can be implemented successfully to treat anxiety disorders.
The 21st-century challenge to neurocritical care: the rise of the superbug Acinetobacter baumannii. A meta-analysis of the role of intrathecal or intraventricular antimicrobial therapy in reduction of mortality

OBJECTIVE Neurosurgical infections due to multidrug-resistant organisms have become a nightmare that neurosurgeons are facing in the 21st century. This is the dawn of the so-called postantibiotic era. There is an urgent need to review and evaluate ways to reduce the high mortality rates due to these infections. The present study evaluates the efficacy of combined intravenous plus intrathecal or intraventricular (IV + IT) therapy versus only intravenous (IV) therapy in treating postneurosurgical Acinetobacter baumannii infections. METHODS The authors performed a meta-analysis of all peer-reviewed studies from the PubMed, Cochrane Library database, ScienceDirect, and EMBASE in accordance with the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. Five studies were finally included in the present analysis: 126 patients were studied who had postneurosurgical A. baumannii infection. The Cochrane collaboration tool was used to evaluate risk of bias, and a test of heterogeneity was performed. The I2 statistic was calculated. The patients were divided into 2 groups: the IV group received only intravenous therapy and the IV + IT group received both intravenous and intrathecal or intraventricular antimicrobial therapy. The outcome was mortality attributed specifically to A. baumannii infection in postneurosurgical cases. The pooled data were analyzed using the Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel method in a fixed-effects model. RESULTS The total number of patients in the IV-only group was 73, and the number of patients in the IV + IT group was 53. The mean duration of intravenous therapy was 27 days. The mean duration of intrathecal colistin was 21 days. The intravenous dose of colistin ranged from 3.75 to 8.8 MIU per day. The dose of intrathecal colistin ranged between 125,000 and 250,000 IU per day. The overall calculated odds ratio for mortality for the IV + IT group after pooling the data was 0.16 (95% CI 0.06-0.40, p < 0.0001). The patients who received IV + IT therapy had an 84% lower risk of dying due to the infection compared with those who received only IV therapy. CONCLUSIONS There is an 84% lower risk of mortality in patients who have been treated with combined intrathecal or intraventricular plus intravenous antimicrobial therapy versus those who have been treated with intravenous therapy alone. The intrathecal or intraventricular route should be strongly considered when dealing with postneurosurgical multidrug-resistant A. baumannii infections.
Terminology of Liver Anatomy and Resections: The Brisbane 2000 Terminology

In December 1998, at its meeting in Berne, Switzerland, the Scientific Committee of the International Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association (IHPBA) established a Terminology Committee to deal with the confusion in terminology of hepatic anatomy and liver resections. The impetus for doing so came from an article published in 1997, which challenged the existing terminology. After nearly 18 months of work, the recommendations of the committee were presented to the Scientific Committee at the biannual meeting of the IHPBA in Brisbane, Australia, in May, 2000. These recommendations, consisting of a new terminology, The Brisbane 2000 Terminology of Liver Anatomy and Resections, were unanimously accepted by the Scientific Committee of the IHPBA and were presented to the membership as the official terminology of the IHPBA. The recommendations were published in the official journal of the IHPBA in 2000, and it has recently been shown that they have been widely adopted throughout the world. The terminology shown is based on the universally accepted anatomy of the ramification of the hepatic artery and bile duct, which is coincident with the ramification of the portal vein as described by Goldsmith and Woodburne. Although a terminology based on the division of the portal vein according to Couinaud was added as an addendum in the original description, it is not presented here.
Implementation and evaluation of a sterile compounding robot in a satellite oncology pharmacy.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to quantify the impact of robotic technology on efficiency, accuracy, and cost in a satellite oncology pharmacy. Methods A 33-week quasi-experimental study was conducted at an academic, quaternary care institution with 1,119 licensed beds from June 2016 to February 2017 to evaluate the turnaround time (TAT) for preparations compounded by automated robotic compounding technology (ARCT) versus historical procedures. Secondary endpoints included mean preparation time and percentage of doses with a TAT of Results Data for 1,453 preparations were included for analysis. The mean ± S.D. preimplementation TAT was 64.1 ± 27.9 minutes, which decreased to 53.2 ± 32.2 minutes after ARCT implementation ( p Conclusion Adoption of ARCT for compounding of admixtures containing 4 oncology agents reduced TAT and preparation time and led to lower expenditures for CSTDs.
Deep Learning Enhances Mobile Microscopy

We introduce a deep learning based approach that uses a neural network to enhance the image resolution and color accuracy of a smartphone microscope, mitigating the gap between low cost mobile imaging devices and high end benchtop microscopes.