cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Interleukin-4 treatment restores cellular immunity after ethanol exposure and burn injury.

Background: Previous studies from this laboratory showed that the suppression of cell-mediated immunity after the combined injury of ethanol exposure and burn is mediated by increased presence of the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-6. IL-4 is a T-helper cell type 2 lymphocyte-derived cytokine that serves to down-regulate the inflammatory response. Therefore, the goal of this study was to evaluate the effects of ethanol exposure and burn injury on lymphocyte production of IL-4 and to determine whether administration of IL-4 could improve cellular immunity after ethanol exposure and burn injury through modulation of IL-6 levels. Methods: Mice were subjected to a 15% total body-surface area burn (or sham) injury 30 min after being given a single dose of alcohol (or saline) designed to achieve a blood alcohol level of 100 mg/dl. Thirty minutes after burn, mice were treated with IL-4 (or vehicle) and were killed 24 hr later. Results: Lymphocytes from ethanol/burn mice secreted significantly less IL-4 in comparison to all other groups of mice (p < 0.05). Administration of IL-4 resulted in a complete restoration of the delayed-type hypersensitivity (p < 0.01) and splenocyte proliferative responses (p < 0.05) and a significant reduction in circulating and splenic macrophage-derived IL-6 (p < 0.05). Addition of IL-4 (100 or 300 pg/ml) to cultures generated from ethanol/burn and vehicle mice resulted in a complete restoration of splenocyte proliferation and a concomitant attenuation of macrophage IL-6 production. Conclusions: These studies suggest that the loss of lymphocyte production of IL-4 after ethanol exposure and burn injury may contribute to the exaggerated production of IL-6, a known mediator of immune suppression after injury. Moreover, the administration of IL-4 may be beneficial for patients with injuries that are characterized by a dysregulated inflammatory response.
Why Catholic Universities Should Engage International Law

This article argues that Catholic universities should vigorously engage international law for at least three reasons. First, international law is an indispensable dialogue partner for Catholic Social Teaching (CST). Since CST belongs in Catholic higher education, so too does international law. Second, in numerous ways and on a global scale, international law raises the very questions of unity and diversity (disciplinary, perspectival, religious, and cultural) that Catholic universities, as universities , can and must address. Third, given its secular character, international law challenges Catholic universities, as Catholic , to engage, without sacrifice of faith-informed intellectual commitments, what Charles Taylor calls "a secular age."
The intersection of risk management and human resources: an illustration using genetic mapping

This research examines the intersection of organisational risk management and human resource responsibilities using the case of genetic mapping. Traditionally, risk management and human resource functions have operated in organisational isolation. In other words, these functional areas were not aware of each other's activities and their relative impact on the organisation as well as each other. Both areas have begun to adopt more strategic and holistic approaches to their areas of responsibilities. By discussing how genetic mapping is going to impact organisational human resource and risk management responsibilities, we illustrate how these activities must work together to maximise employee productivity while simultaneously minimising overall firm risk using a typology of both employer, employee and other stakeholder interests.
d-Serine is an endogenous ligand for the glycine site of the N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor

Functional activity of N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors requires both glutamate binding and the binding of an endogenous coagonist that has been presumed to be glycine, although d-serine is a more potent agonist. Localizations of d-serine and it biosynthetic enzyme serine racemase approximate the distribution of NMDA receptors more closely than glycine. We now show that selective degradation of d-serine with d-amino acid oxidase greatly attenuates NMDA receptor-mediated neurotransmission as assessed by using whole-cell patch–clamp recordings or indirectly by using biochemical assays of the sequelae of NMDA receptor-mediated calcium flux. The inhibitory effects of the enzyme are fully reversed by exogenously applied d-serine, which by itself did not potentiate NMDA receptor-mediated synaptic responses. Thus, d-serine is an endogenous modulator of the glycine site of NMDA receptors and fully occupies this site at some functional synapses.
Single-event burnout of n-p-n bipolar-junction transistors in hybrid DC/DC converters

Single-event-induced failure of the Lambda Advanced Analog AMF2805S DC/DC Converter has been traced to burnout of an n-p-n transistor in the MOSFET drive stage. The failures were observed during testing while in inhibit mode only. Modifications to prevent burnout of the drive stage were successfully employed. A discussion of the failure mechanism and consequences for DC/DC converter testing are presented.
Thermodynamics of energy production from biomass

With high quality petroleum running out in the next 50 years, the world governments and petrochemical industry alike are looking at biomass as a substitute refinery feedstock for liquid fuels and other bulk chemicals. New large plantations are being established in many countries, mostly in the tropics, but also in China, North America, Northern Europe, and in Russia. These industrial plantations will impact the global carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and water cycles in complex ways. The purpose of this paper is to use thermodynamics to quantify a few of the many global problems created by industrial forestry and agriculture. It is assumed that a typical tree biomass-for-energy plantation is combined with an efficient local pelleting facility to produce wood pellets for overseas export. The highest biomass-to-energy conversion efficiency is afforded by an efficient electrical power plant, followed by a combination of the FISCHER-TROPSCH diesel fuel burned in a 35%-efficient car, plus electricity. Wood pellet...
Large array electrospun PVDF nanogenerators on a flexible substrate

This paper presents PVDF (Polyvinylidene fluoride) based electrospun nanofibers as nanogenerators in series and/or in parallel to amplify harvested energy due to mechanical strain on a flexible substrate. A chemically resistive flexible polymer substrate has been used with patterned comb-shape gold electrodes by means of a conventional lithography process. A total of 500 parallel nanofibers have been fabricated and connected to amplify current outputs under repeated mechanical straining tests. Peak current of 35nA has been collected with a 0.2mV of peak voltage.
Promoting Active-Student Learning Using the World Wide Web in Economics Courses

In recent years, as the number of economics majors and students taking economics courses has declined, the issue of pedagogy in economic education has taken on increased importance. Economists have begun to think seriously about how economics is taught to college students, especially in introductory courses where students often experience economics for the first time. An important element in the current focus on teaching within the economics discipline is the recognition that current teaching practices, which rely heavily on the lecture format, are not doing enough to develop students' cognitive learning skills, attract good students to economics, and motivate them to continue coursework in the discipline. Some economists have argued that to increase the effectiveness of economic education, and at the same time increase undergraduate enrollment in economics courses, economics instructors need to reexamine and change their current mix of teaching methods. In particular, advocates of pedagogical change emphasize the need for greater use of activeand collaborative-learning exercises that encourage students to take greater responsibility for their learning. Learning theory and educational research suggest that teaching strategies that actively engage students in the learning process increase the academic performance of students and generate more positive attitudes about learning.' At the same time, changes in instructional technology, in particular the development of the Internet and the World Wide Web, are providing new opportunities for improving teaching and learning. The challenge for instructors of economics is how to use effectively these new technologies to develop an active-studentlearning environment in economics courses.' In the following sections, I discuss how this technology can be used to encourage and motivate students to become active participants in the learning process and describe two Web-based activelearning exercises that can be used in introductory economics courses. The examples illustrate how Web technology can be integrated with traditional teaching methods to enhance learning for students with a variety of learning styles, at the same time making economics more relevant, more interesting, and more fun for teachers and students alike.
Use of bioelectrical impedance in hydration status assessment: reliability of a new tool in psychophysiology research

Adequate hydration is crucial in maintaining optimal physical and mental functioning and the need for a fast and reliable hydration status assessment in behavioral medicine research has become increasingly important. The goal of this study was to determine the reliability of bioelectrical impedance assessment (BIA) in assessing total body water (TBW), extracellular water (ECW) and intracellular water (ICW) and to assess whether individuals can be reliably classified as being hypohydrated or hyperhydrated using lower and upper quartiles, respectively. TBW, ECW and ICW were assessed via BIA (Bodystat, Isle of Man, UK) in 52 male and 48 female college students on 2 separate days within 1 week. Results revealed strong test–retest reliability for TBW (rs0.983), ECW (rs0.972) and ICW (rs0.988 )( all P’s-0.001). Following the initial and follow-up assessments, participants were then classified as being either hypohydrated or hyperhydrated based on the percentage of body weight accounted for by TBW. Test– retest reliability of hydration status within classifications was then assessed by gender. Test–retest reliability was found for TBW, ECW and ICW among hypohydrated (rs0.985, rs0.972 and rs0.99, respectively) and hyperhydrated (rs0.994, rs0.989 and rs0.994, respectively) males (all P’s-0.001). Significant test–retest correlations were also found for females classified as being hypohydrated (rs0.97, rs0.956 and rs0.976, respectively) and hyperhydrated (rs0.973, rs0.976 and rs0.976, respectively )( all P’s-0.001). These findings suggest that hydration status, as indexed by bioelectrical impedance technique, is reliable across time and is also reliable within individuals who are chronically hyperhydrated or hypohydrated. 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
The relation of the conceptual self to recent and distant autobiographical memories

Based on the self-memory system model (SMS; Conway, Singer, & Tagini, 2004) of autobiographical memory, this study uses a large sample of young and middle-aged adults to investigate the relation between individuals’ current self-characteristics and the content of both their earliest childhood memory and a recent memory. In the first session, participants’ current self-characteristics were assessed. In the second session, individuals provided a written narrative of their earliest childhood memory and a more recent memory (within-participants design) and rated the self themes present in each memory. In keeping with the SMS model, findings show that current self-characteristics were reflected in individuals’ memories. As predicted, however, recent memories were more frequently linked to current self-characteristics than were earliest memories. All six current self-characteristics predicted the inclusion of these themes in recent memories, but only four self-characteristics were associated with memory themes ...
Developing an Educator Network: The Effect of a Teaching Scholars Program in the Health Professions on Networking and Productivity

Background: Teaching Scholars Programs are designed to enhance productivity and faculty retention. The formation of an increased network may be a facilitative mechanism. Purposes: This study determined if participants increased their educational network and if the increase affected productivity. Methods: Researchers interviewed Teaching Scholars participants for pre- and postparticipation members of their educational network and issues related to network formation and conducted a structured vita analysis. Researchers used social network analysis (SNA) to describe the networks and regression to determine the relationship between network and productivity. Results: Educational networks increased with participation (p <.001) but showed little or no effect on productivity. SNA revealed a decrease of participants with no network, increase in connections among participants, and increase in connections to central services personnel. Researchers identified six themes from the participants' comments. Conclusions: T...
New higher order spectra and time-frequency representations for dispersive signal analysis

For an analysis of signals with arbitrary dispersive phase laws, we extend the concept of higher order moment functions and define their associated higher order spectra. We propose a new higher order time-frequency representation (TFR), the higher order generalized warped Wigner distribution (HOG-WD). The HOG-WD is obtained by warping the previously proposed higher order Wigner distribution, and is important for analyzing signals with arbitrary time-dependent instantaneous frequency. We discuss links to prior higher order techniques and investigate properties of the HOG-WD. We extend the HOG-WD to a class of higher order, alternating sign, frequency-shift covariant TFRs. Finally, we demonstrate the advantage of using the generalized higher order spectra to detect phase coupled signals with dispersive instantaneous frequency characteristics.
Myocardial ischemia in the absence of epicardial coronary artery disease in Friedreich's ataxia

We present the first in vivo detection of microvascular abnormality in a patient with Friedreich's ataxia (FA) without epicardial coronary artery disease using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR). The patient had exertional chest pain and dyspnea prompting referral for cardiac evaluation. These symptoms were reproduced during intravenous adenosine infusion, and simultaneous first-pass perfusion imaging showed a significant subendocardial defect; both symptoms and perfusion deficit were absent at rest. Epicardial coronaries were free of disease by invasive angiography; together, these findings support the notion of impaired myocardial perfusion reserve in FA.
Development of HER2 expressing adenoviral vectors for cancer immunotherapy

Proc Amer Assoc Cancer Res, Volume 46, 2005 6037 Cancer vaccines targeting tumor antigens such as HER2/ neu have been demonstrated to activate low level antigen-specific immune responses in vivo . We and others have observed that the most potent platform for immunization involves modifying dendritic cells (DC) with viral vectors. In this study, we propose to modify DC with adenoviral vectors encoding the tumor antigen HER2/ neu , which is often overexpressed in aggressive breast cancers. Murine bone marrow was extracted from the long bones of 8-week-old C57BL/6 mice and cultured for ten days in IL-4 (10 ng/mL) and GM-CSF (10 ng/mL) to differentiate DC. After 10 days, adherent DC were infected with the Ad[E1-]HER2 vector at a multiplicity of infection (MOI) ranging from 0 to 4000 particles per cell. Following 48 hour infection, DC were stained (HER2, CD11c, CD80) and analyzed on flow cytometry for HER2 expression. The Ad[E1-]HER2 vector reproducibly achieved transduction efficiencies of up to 65% in these mouse bone marrow derived GM-CSF and IL-4 cultured DC at the higher MOI. The next step is to examine the effectiveness of these vectors in a recently developed human HER2-transgenic mouse model (Piechocki et al. , 2003) by treatment of established tumors using a human HER2 expressing mouse mammary tumor line (4T1-huHER2: Chong et al. , unpublished). It is hoped that information gleaned from the mouse model system will be useful in designing human clinical trials with Ad-vector modified DC. Reference: Piechocki MP, Ho YS, Pilon S, Wei WZ. Human ErbB-2 (Her-2) Transgenic Mice: A Model System for Testing Her-2 Based Vaccines. J Immunol. 2003;171(11):5787-94. Gabriel Chong is a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Medical Student Research Training Fellow.
Beyond Youth ‘Inclusion’: Intergenerational Politics In Post-Conflict Bali

AbstractIncreased attention to the predicaments and potential of youth in conflict has moved the conflict resolution field in important new directions. However, our understandings of and approaches to youth in conflict have been limited by an emphasis on the inclusion of youth in peacebuilding projects without a correspondingly thorough analysis of the often-contested social categories of youth in conflicts. Drawing on in-depth ethnographic work with youth in post-conflict Bali, Indonesia, where attempts to promote a local project to memorialise victims of mass violence exposed deep-seated intergenerational tensions around the meaning and relevance of ‘youth’, this article offers both an analytic reframing of youth in conflict and suggestions for more effective and reflective conflict resolution practice.
Parental psychological control and aggression in youth: Moderating effect of emotion dysregulation

Abstract Previous research shows that parent psychological control and child emotion dysregulation are both associated with the development of aggression in children. This longitudinal study sought to clarify these relations by examining emotion dysregulation as a moderator of the associations between psychological control and relational and physical aggression. Participants were 271 elementary school students ages 8–12 (M = 9.31 years; SD = 0.98) and their primary classroom teachers. Children completed measures of parental psychological control and emotion dysregulation at T1, while teachers rated children's relational and physical aggression at T1 and six months later at T2. Emotion dysregulation significantly moderated the association between psychological control and both forms of aggression, with no sex differences evident. Results suggest that psychologically controlling parenting strategies contribute to increased relational and decreased physical aggression among emotionally well-regulated children and the opposite pattern among emotionally dysregulated children. Implications for intervention and future research are discussed.
Multi-Disciplinary Design of an Advanced Narrow-Body Transport Aircraft

This study considers the performance possibilities of a clean-sheet, conventionally configured Boeing 737/Airbus A320 class single-aisle transport aircraft. It demonstrates that significant efficiency improvements can be achieved without a radical reconceptualization of the basic wing-body configuration. This study applies ModelCenter to perform singleobjective and multi-objective optimization of an ultra-high bypass ratio powered wing-bodytail aircraft. The broad design goals are consistent with NASA’s earlier N+1 study objectives: low emissions, transcontinental range, and unrestricted operations from airports such as LGA, BUR, or DCA. A collection of linked industry standard tools including NASA’s NPSS propulsion system simulation along with NASA’s EDET and VORLAX aerodynamic estimation codes substantiated the final design. The optimizer suggested design meets and/or exceeds NASA’s range, efficiency, and airport compatibility requirements with a conventionally configured, but carefully tailored specification. It should be noted that this was achieved with thrust loading, cruise altitude, and cruise Mach number elevated above customary expectations. However, the aircraft successfully utilized its inherent aerodynamic capability, even on short flights, cruising efficiently in the neighborhood of 44,000-ft.
CFD for Next Generation Hardware: Experiences with Proxy Applications.

Production-level computational fluid dynamics application codes need significant changes to run efficiently on the next generation of computing systems employing many core processors and accelerators. In this work, we evaluate our production turbulent compressible flow application for suitability in a MPI+X parallel programming model, identify potential bottlenecks, and perform a preliminary evaluation of a surrogate proxy application, MiniAero. The proxy application is evaluated on four platforms without code modifications, comparing MPI+X to standard MPI only, where applicable. In these initial results using MiniAero, MPI only exhibits the best performance on the Intel Xeon architecture, but for Blue Gene/Q, the Nvidia K20X, and the Intel Xeon Phi, MPI+X shows significantly better performance than MPI only.
Load Sensitivity Studies in Power Systems With Non-Smooth Load Behavior

One of the most important aspects of time-domain simulations for power system planning studies is load modeling. For a realistic representation of the load, the Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC) model validation and working group developed the composite load model. The composite load model represents the aggregation of different types of loads at the substation level. However, there exists some uncertainty in determining the load parameters and the percentage composition of the different components. Trajectory sensitivity (TS) analysis provides a systematic approach to study the impact of parameter uncertainty on power system response to disturbances. The non-smooth nature of the composite load model may present some additional challenges to sensitivity analysis in a realistic power system. This paper presents an application of TS analysis to study the impact of load parameter uncertainty on the system response. The impact of the non-smooth nature of load models on the sensitivity analysis is also addressed. This paper further suggests a method to determine the perturbation size limit for which accurate linear approximations can be made. The study was performed using the WECC system model.
Analysis of Life Risk in a Public Building Fire

Combined with the factors affecting life safety in public building fire at home,a typical method about analyzing life risk in public buildings was proposed.In this method,the casualty rate could be calculated according to time threshold and mathematical equation of evacuation.This casualty rate can be used as a parameter to evaluate the life risk level,then the main factors affecting life safety can be analyzed and countermeasures to diminish casualty rate can be proposed accordingly.The results show that this method can estimate the casualties in public building fires quickly and find out ways to reduce casualties.
The distal radioulnar joint

A phylogenic review shows the DRUJ to be a highly evolved and specialized structure. The diarthrodial joint, in combination with the TFCC, ligament complex, and oblique fibers of the distal interosseous membrane, permit rotation while preserving stability and transmitting the load borne by the radiocarpal joint to both bones of the forearm. Our improved, yet imperfect, understanding of the anatomy, biomechanics, and pathophysiology of the region, abetted by new imaging modalities and wrist arthroscopy, permit more precise diagnosis and thus more rational treatment. The persistent inconsistency of our results belies our imperfect comprehension. Thus humbled, consider Goethe's admonition as a call to further scrutiny and investigation, "Theory and experience are opposed to each other in constant conflict. Only action can reconcile them."
Community physicians' strategies for patients with medically unexplained symptoms.

Background and objectives This qualitative study examined the management strategies that community primary care physicians use for patients with medically unexplained symptoms (MUS). Methods Volunteer community physicians identified patients with chronic MUS. The physicians and patients were interviewed separately about management strategies used and their effectiveness. Thematic analyses were used to categorize these strategies. Results Thirty-six physicians and 49 of their patients completed interviews. Physician strategies considered effective by physicians and patients included medical treatment, exploring causes of symptoms with tests and referrals, attentive listening, validating complaints, demonstrating commitment over time (eg, assuring patients of continued care, allowing extended office visits, and returning phone calls), providing clear explanations of symptoms and management, and providing explanatory models for the linkage between psychosocial factors and physical symptoms. Strategies used that conflict with published recommendations included ordering potentially unnecessary diagnostic tests, scheduling patients on demand, and prescribing narcotics. Physicians expressed concerns about these strategies but considered the benefits for specific patients worth the costs and risks. Conclusions Physicians used some strategies recommended in the medical literature and others not recommended. The ability to effectively implement certain strategies may depend on having a long-term relationship with a patient and a health care environment that permits extensive patient-physician interaction.
Closed-loop shape control of a Haptic Jamming deformable surface

A Haptic Jamming tactile display, consisting of an array of thin particle jamming cells, can change its shape and mechanical properties simultaneously through a combination of vacuuming individual cells, pressurizing the air chamber beneath the surface, and pinning the nodes between the cells at various heights. In previous particle jamming devices for haptics and soft robotics, shape has typically been commanded open-loop or manipulated directly by a human user. A new algorithm was designed for the three types of actuation inputs for a Haptic Jamming surface, using the depth map provided by an RGB-D sensor as shape feedback for closed-loop control to match a desired surface input. To test the closed-loop control accuracy of the system, a mass-spring model of the Haptic Jamming device generated three unique surface shapes as desired inputs into the controller with a mean height range of 25.1 mm. The average correlation coefficient between the desired input shape and the experimental output generated by the controller on the actual device across four trials for each shape was 0.88, with an average height error of 2.7 mm. When the desired input surface is generated from a 3D model of an object that a Haptic Jamming surface cannot necessarily re-create, the difference between the input and the output increases substantially. However, simulation of a larger array suggests that a Haptic Jamming surface can provide a compelling match for these more complicated shapes.
Decreased length of stay and earlier oral feeding associated with standardized postoperative clinical care for total gastrectomies at a cancer center.

Background Standardization of postoperative care has been shown to decrease postoperative length of stay. Methods In June 2009, we standardized postoperative care for all gastrectomies at our institution. Four years’ worth of total gastrectomies (2 years prior to standardization and 2 years after standardization) were reviewed to determine the effect of standardization on postoperative care, length of stay, complications, and readmissions. Results Between June 2007 and July 2011, 99 patients underwent curative intent open total gastrectomy: 51 patients prior to standardization, and 48 patients poststandardization. Patients were predominantly male (70%); median age was 63; and median body mass index was 26. Standardization of postoperative care was associated with a decrease in median time to beginning both clear liquids and a postgastrectomy diet, earlier removal of epidural catheters, earlier use of oral pain medication, less time receiving intravenous fluids, and decreased length of stay (all P Conclusion Institution of standardized postoperative orders for total gastrectomy was associated with a significantly decreased length of stay and earlier oral feeding without increasing postoperative complications, early postoperative outpatient visits, or readmissions.
Mexico on Main Street: Transnational Film Culture in Los Angeles before World War II

In the early decades of the twentieth-century, Main Street was the heart of Los Angeles s Mexican immigrant community. It was also the hub for an extensive, largely forgotten film culture that thrived in L.A. during the early days of Hollywood. Drawing from rare archives, including the city s Spanish-language newspapers, Colin Gunckel vividly demonstrates how this immigrant community pioneered a practice of transnational media convergence, consuming films from Hollywood and Mexico, while also producing fan publications, fiction, criticism, music, and live theatrical events."Mexico on Main Street" locates this film culture at the center of a series of key debates concerning national identity, ethnicity, class, and the role of Mexicans within Hollywood before World War II. As Gunckel shows, the immigrant community s cultural elite tried to rally the working-class population toward the cause of Mexican nationalism, while Hollywood sought to position them as part of a lucrative transnational Latin American market. Yet ironically, both Hollywood studios and Mexican American cultural elites used the media to present negative depictions of working-class Mexicans, portraying their behaviors as a threat to middle-class respectability. Rather than simply depicting working-class immigrants as pawns of these power players, however, Gunckel reveals their active participation in the era s film culture. Gunckel s innovative approach combines media studies, urban history, and ethnic studies to reconstruct a distinctive, richly layered immigrant film culture. "Mexico on Main Street" demonstrates how a site-specific study of cultural and ethnic issues challenges our existing conceptions of U.S. film history, Mexican cinema, and the history of Los Angeles."
Real-time Predictive Analytics for Improving Public Transportation Systems' Resilience.

Public transit systems are a critical component of major metropolitan areas. However, in the face of increasing demand, most of these systems are operating close to capacity. Under normal operating conditions, station crowding and boarding denial are becoming a major concern for transit agencies. As such, any disruption in service will have even more severe consequences, affecting huge number of passengers. Considering the aging infrastructure of many large cities, such as New York and London, these disruptions are to be expected, amplifying the need for better demand management and strategies to deal with congested transit facilities. Opportunistic sensors such as smart cards (AFC), automatic vehicle location systems (AVL), GPS, etc. provide a wealth of information about system's performance and passengers' trip making patterns. We develop a hybrid data/model-driven decision support system, using real-time predictive models, to help transit operators manage and respond proactively to disruptions and mitigate consequences in a timely fashion. These models include station arrival and origin-destination predictions in real-time to help transit agencies, and predictive information systems for assisting passengers' trip making decisions.
Deep neural network framework and transformed MFCCs for speaker's age and gender classification

Abstract Speaker age and gender classification is one of the most challenging problems in speech processing. Although many studies have been carried out focusing on feature extraction and classifier design for improvement, classification accuracies are still not satisfactory. The key issue in identifying speaker's age and gender is to generate robust features and to design an in-depth classifier. Age and gender information is concealed in speaker's speech, which is liable for many factors such as, background noise, speech contents, and phonetic divergences. The success of DNN architecture in many applications motivated this work to propose a new speaker's age and gender classification system that uses BNF extractor together with DNN. This work has two major contributions: Introduction of shared class labels among misclassified classes to regularize the weights in DNN and generation of transformed MFCCs feature set. The proposed system uses HTK to find tied-state triphones for all utterances, which are used as labels for the output layer in the DNNs for the first time in age and gender classification. BNF extractor is used to generate transformed MFCCs features. The performance evaluation of the new features is done by two classifiers, DNN and I-Vector. It is observed that the transformed MFCCs are more effective than the traditional MFCCs in speaker's age and gender classification. By using the transformed MFCCs, the overall classification accuracies are improved by about 13%.
An electrically small antenna for underwater applications

An underwater wireless communication system based on an innovative electrically small antenna is presented. The proposed system employs a novel electrically small magnetic antenna with specific near-field characteristics which makes it an effective radiator in the lossy sea water medium. The prototyped antenna is tuned at 2.95 MHz which has a reactive near-field of approximately 12 feet under sea water. A battery operated swiping source is designed and integrated with the antenna and the entire system is sealed in a waterproof case for the experiment. The prototyped system is submerged in Claytor Lake at different depths. The receiving antenna detects a −65 dBm signal on the surface of water when a 0 dBm input signal is fed to the antenna port 12 feet under water.
Advanced endoscopic imaging: Polyps and dysplasia detection

Colonoscopy is the cornerstone of colorectal cancer screening, diagnosis, and management. Adenomatous polyps are precancerous lesions that have risk for adenocarcinoma transformation. Adenoma detection is the key to screening and prevention of colorectal cancer. Several technological advances have been made to improve polyp detection. Some advances have been made to help distinguish normal mucosa from abnormal, while others improve the field of view. Chromoendoscopy improves the visualization of the mucosal pattern. Various other accessory devices or novel colonoscopes flatten folds or are able to look behind folds for improved visual field. Some of these advances will be discussed here.
Evidence of long-range dependence in power grid

Analyzing the voltage stability of the smart grid requires accurate mathematical models of the load. Several static and dynamic load models were proposed, but most of them did not incorporate the frequency component. In order to build more accurate dynamic load models in the power system, we must examine the mathematical characteristics (short range versus long range dependence) of the power system variables. Toward this end, we demonstrate that the voltage magnitude, frequency, and voltage phase angle of Phasor Measurement Unit data exhibits long-range dependence. Our findings call for the development of a fractal modeling approach of the smart grid.
Lado, Robert (1915–1995)

The American descriptivist Robert Lado (1915–1995) wrote on second language acquisition and on language pedagogy and testing. With Charles C. Fries, he is credited with having developed the Oral Approach to teaching languages. Lado emphasized the importance of comparing a learner's native language with the target language, although his responsibility for what has come to be known as the Contrastive Analysis Hypothesis is sometimes misconstrued.
Practices and Perceived Value of Proficiency Testing in Clinical Laboratories

Background: Proficiency testing (PT) can have regulatory and nonregulatory uses, providing an effective tool for quality improvement. Clinical laboratories were surveyed to determine how they perceive PT and how they use PT results and materials to improve laboratory testing quality. Methods: All laboratories certified to perform nonwaived testing under the CLIA regulations expected to perform required PT were invited to participate in the survey. We examined respondents9 use of PT from 5 laboratory types: hospital, independent, public health, physician office, and “all other.” Respondents9 awareness of resources about PT was also examined. Several questions allowed responses on a categorical scale. Results: Varying proportions of the respondents (n = 769) used PT to identify problems in the preanalytic (48%), analytic (86%), and postanalytic (76%) phases of testing. Responses also showed that PT was important for demonstrating personnel competency (93%), inappropriate specimen handling (80%), incorrect result interpretation (84%), and other uses. Respondents purchased PT even when not required to do so (77%). Based on all responses, most considered PT worth the cost (65%). Conclusions: Laboratories, regardless of type, have found ways of using leftover PT samples and the information from PT event summaries to help improve laboratory quality. Our findings suggest many laboratories are not taking full advantage of PT to improve testing quality. Additionally, the study suggests a need to improve awareness of resources about PT.
Anatomy and pathomechanics of shoulder instability

The mechanisms contributing to glenohumeral stability are complex and varied. The rotator cuff is the dominant contributor to stability through the mid arcs of motion through concavity compression. At the end ranges of motion, the capsular ligamentous system becomes responsible for shoulder stability. As the shoulder position varies from adduction to abduction and internal to external rotation, varying components of the capsular ligamentous system become responsible for static shoulder stability. The nature of the individual ligament contribution to overall static stability has become better known through biomechanical cutting studies of cadaveric shoulders. Further insight into the pathoanatomy of shoulder instability can be gleaned from MR imaging studies that defined which tissues have been injured and which have not. This more detailed understanding of the capsular ligamentous system will eventually result in a more precise nomenclature of defining shoulder instability. The current use of the words anterior shoulder instability is not unlike the use of the term internal derangement of the knee from the late 1970s. In the future, there will be discussions of clinical diagnoses of IGHLC injury or incompetence. The more precisely we know all the details of the mechanisms of shoulder stability, the more precisely we can clinically define the various injuries and syndromes that afflict our patients.
An exploratory study on the intergenerational transmission of obesity and dieting proneness

There is a paucity of research exploring individuals’ memories of parental dieting behavior, engagement in “fat talk”, or criticism of weight or eating behavior in childhood. This exploratory study utilized a community sample to further characterize the retrospective report of parenting dieting behavior. A total of 507 participants (78.1% females; 20.7% males; and 1.2% transgender) were recruited to participate in an online, self-administered survey. Forty percent (216) of participants reported maternal dieting in their family of origin and 34% (182) reported maternal fat talk, 24% (120) reported paternal dieting, and 11% recalled paternal ‘fat talk’ (58). Subgroup analyses suggest that both male and female participants had greater odds of remembering maternal rather than paternal weight or shape criticism and encouragement to diet (OR = 58.1; and OR = 3.12; p < 0.0001 for male and female participants, respectively). Retrospective report of indirect parental behaviors (e.g. parental dieting) also appears to be associated with direct parental behaviors (e.g. encouraging children to diet). Additionally, participants who recalled maternal encouragement to diet reported a significantly higher adult BMI (β = 1.31, SE = 0.32, p < 0.0001). Results provide preliminary evidence that a sizeable percentage of both adult male and female participants recalled that their parents engaged in fat talk and dieting. In addition, participants recalled parental criticism of their own weight or eating behaviors, which was associated with recall of parental dieting and fat talk. Level V, Descriptive Study.
Extended defect localization in sparsity-based guided wave structural health monitoring

Defect localization in thin-walled structures using guided waves has been recently cast within the sparse reconstruction framework. The general approach utilizes a linear model relating the measurements with the scene reflectivity under the assumption of point-like defects. Most structural defects, however, are not point-like in nature. Rather, they tend to occupy a physical extent within the structure. In this paper, we present a sparse reconstruction approach to guided-wave structural health monitoring which takes into account the extent of the defects. We develop the signal model through construction of a dictionary focusing on the propagation of the fundamental anti-symmetric wave mode. The model accounts for the associated dispersion inherent in guided wave propagation in thin-walled structures. The defects are then localized with their extent captured through an inversion of the model using group sparse reconstruction. Supporting simulation results for localization of crack-like defects on the surface of a thin Aluminum plate are provided.
Effect of Critical Thinking Education on Epistemically Unwarranted Beliefs in College Students

The degree to which students hold epistemically unwarranted beliefs, beliefs not founded on reliable reasoning or credible data, can be used as a measure of critical thinking skills. To this end, college students (n = 806) were surveyed at the beginning and end of a semester. Epistemically unwarranted beliefs were pervasive. Several sections of a critical thinking class that specifically and directly addressed pseudoscience, taught by three different instructors, produced a large and significant reduction of those beliefs, but research methods classes and unrelated general education classes did not. Most likely to be reduced were beliefs in health pseudoscience and extraordinary life forms. Conspiracy theories were least likely to change. Demographic variables (gender, race, SES) were associated with beliefs at pre-test, but not related to reduction of belief as a result of the class. Similarly, academic indicators that suggest intelligence were related to belief at pre-test, but not change. The one exception was that reduction of belief in health pseudoscience was widespread in all groups at pre-test, but showed the greatest reduction among students with indicators of academic aptitude and achievement. We conclude that the educational approach of directly addressing pseudoscience is effective for changing beliefs, not just increasing knowledge, and that it works for most college students, not just a select subset.
Complications of Endovascular Interventions of Superficial Femoral Artery

Endovascular complications are generally divided into three categories: access site complications, complications related to the passage of catheters and devices, or intervention-specific complications. In this chapter, we will focus on endovascular complications specific to the superficial femoral artery. Endovascular complications in the SFA may include dissection, perforation, and formation of pseudoaneurysm.
Tools for the Diagnosis of Renal Disease

Kidney function abnormalities are associated with increased morbidity and mortality in critically ill ICU patients. Even modest increases in serum creatinine of 0.3–0.4 mg dL−1 lead to a 70% greater risk of death compared with patients without an increase. Physiologic changes that occur during illness may affect solute and water handling as well as renal function. These changes can easily be assessed using a combination of readily available clinical and laboratory data or what can be considered diagnostic tools. These tools can be used to do the following: Determine the appropriateness of the renal response for a particular clinical circumstance. Make or confirm a diagnosis. Guide and monitor therapy.
You can't always get what you want: Capacity constraints in a choice-based school system

Abstract Centralized school enrollment is designed to improve the allocation of seats in choice-based systems. We study the quality of K-12 public school placements relative to revealed family preferences using data from New Orleans, where a market-based school system allocates most seats through a centralized enrollment lottery. We propose a theory of family utility maximization under school choice systems with and without guaranteed placements. Using an instrumental variables strategy, we estimate the causal effect of losing a school placement lottery on the school quality a student receives. We find a significant gap between preferred and actual school quality for students who do not win a first-choice assignment, some of which is regained when multiple rounds of assignment are offered. From the supply side, this allows schools of choice to operate with weak demand by enrolling students who fail to win assignment to oversubscribed schools of greater quality and higher preference ranking.
An investigation about origins: A brief history of the PCAOB'S regulatory model

Abstract The scandals involving Enron, WorldCom, and Arthur Andersen are frequently cited as among the principal reasons for the passage of the Sarbanes–Oxley Act [Pub.L. 107–204, 116 Stat. 745, enacted July 30, 2002] (SOX) as well as the genesis of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB). The PCAOB is a relatively new agency that was created to a play vital role as the regulator for auditors of U.S. public companies. For such an important organization, its background remains relatively unexamined. This paper seeks to extend the existing literature by examining the historical origins of the PCAOB and identifying the regulatory influences and prototypes of this regulatory agency. Was the organization's regulatory structure chosen arbitrarily? Were there various events as well as exemplar entities in the preceding decades that played an integral role in the eventual creation of the PCAOB? This research seeks to answer these questions.
Role of circulating tumor cells by rare cell enumeration system in predicting response of non-small cell lung cancers to therapy.

e24058Background: We aim to investigate role of circulating tumor cells (CTC) as supplementary marker to imaging to predict response to therapy in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients (pt). ...
Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Portal Pressure Measurement

A growing number of studies have explored endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided vascular catheterization due to the relative proximity of the gastrointestinal tract to the major blood vessels of the mediastinum and abdomen. In particular, EUS-guided access of the portal vein (PV) may be favorable given the relative difficulty of PV access via standard percutaneous routes. Two major diagnostic applications of EUS-guided vascular access include angiography and assessment of intravascular pressure. This review will outline the different devices and techniques employed to obtain angiographic visualization and/or direct pressure measurements of the portal circulation. Ease of access, safety, and important lessons learned from each approach will be highlighted.