cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of cooperative roadside and vehicle-based data collection for assessing intersection conflicts

Intersection collisions represent a significant portion of highway accidents. Recent research and development activities have suggested potential solutions to address this critical safety issue by supplying timely alerts to drivers of imminent collisions. These intersection decision support systems utilized sensor, communication and computer technologies to help drivers recognize risky conditions, thus actions can be taken to avoid collisions. A cooperative vehicle-infrastructure concept, built upon such premises, seek to combine the information available from vehicles and roadside in a synergistic framework so that a flexible yet sensible system can be deployed in the near future. The work presented in this paper represents an experimental effort conducted at a real-world intersection, by the use of an instrumented vehicle and roadside traffic monitoring, to explore technical challenges encountered in a vehicle-infrastructure integration approach.
Terrestrial Analysis of the Organic Component of Comet Dust

The nature of cometary organics is of great interest, both because these materials are thought to represent a reservoir of the original carbon-containing materials from which everything else in our solar system was made and because these materials may have played key roles in the origin of life on Earth. Because these organic materials are the products of a series of universal chemical processes expected to operate in the interstellar media and star-formation regions of all galaxies, the nature of cometary organics also provides information on the composition of organics in other planetary systems and, by extension, provides insights into the possible abundance of life elsewhere in the universe. Our current understanding of cometary organics represents a synthesis of information from telescopic and spacecraft observations of individual comets, the study of meteoritic materials, laboratory simulations, and, now, the study of samples collected directly from a comet, Comet P81/Wild 2.
ClC AND CFTR CHLORIDE CHANNEL GATING

Chloride channels are widely expressed and play important roles in cell volume regulation, transepithelial transport, intracellular pH regulation, and membrane excitability. Most chloride channels have yet to be identified at a molecular level. The ClC gene family and the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) are distinct chloride channels expressed in many cell types, and mutations in their genes are the cause of several diseases including myotonias, cystic fibrosis, and kidney stones. Because of their molecular definition and roles in disease, these channels have been studied intensively over the past several years. The focus of this review is on recent studies that have provided new insights into the mechanisms governing the opening and closing, i.e. gating, of the ClC and CFTR chloride channels.
Studies of the conformation of carboxymethyl amylose in aqueous solutions

In an attempt to clarify certain questions of the configuration of amylose in aqueous solution, carboxymethyl groups were introduced into corn amylose (degree of substitution ca. 0.8) and certain properties of the derivative (CMA) studied. The intrinsic viscosity exhibits a strong increase between pH 2 and 6 but remains constant at higher pH. A pH 6 and above, CMA exhibits typical polyelectrolyte behavior. CMA does not form a complex with iodine at pH 6 or above but does form a violet-colored complex at low pH. The absorption maximum of the CMA complex lies at a somewhat lower wavelength (550 mμ) than that of the complex formed by the parent amylose. The reduced viscosity and specific optical rotation of the CMA-iodine complex remains constant up to a concentration of 1.2 mg. iodine/100 mg. CMA, then both properties decrease with further increases of iodine content. All of the above results and hydrogen ion titration behavior are in agreement with the hypothesis that CMA exists as a coil of short helical segments in acid solution and that these helical segments break down on ionization of the carboxyl groups. The specific optical rotation of CMA increases between pH 2 and 6, remains constant between pH 6 and 12, and decreases above pH 12. This later result shows that the similar decrease in rotation seen in amylose cannot be attributed, at least entirely, to a helix-coil transition. There must be another effect on optical rotation, direct or indirect, of the ionization of hydroxyl groups.
The Linguistic Weighted Average

The focus of this paper is the linguistic weighted average (LWA), which is a generalization of the fuzzy weighted average (FWA) that is obtained by replacing the type-1 fuzzy inputs in the FWA by interval type-2 fuzzy sets (IT2 FSs). Consequently, the output of the LWA is an IT2 FS. In this paper, the relations between the LWA and the FWA are studied. It is shown that finding the LWA can be decomposed into finding two FWAs, where alpha-cuts and KM algorithms are used. Hence, the computational cost of a LWA is about twice that of a FWA. A flowchart for computing the LWA is also provided.
Using collaborative, modified peer led team learning to improve student success and retention in intro cs

It is common knowledge that enrollments in computer science have plummeted and educators are challenged to find ways to engage and promote success and retention of students while maintaining standards in introductory computer science courses. This study focuses on the implementation of a collaborative, modified peer-led team learning (PLTL) instructional approach in a large sized introductory computer science course. The site is a major southeastern university in the United States where all students are required to take one of three introductory computer science classes. The course version selected for this study specifically targets computer science majors and the study spans three years of data, and involves 591 students. Students who experienced the student-centered instruction and worked in small groups facilitated by a peer leader (treatment) in years 2006-07 and 2007-08 were compared with students who experienced a traditional recitation lecture section (control) in 2005-06. The content and the course owner was the same for all three years. Quantitative data analysis show marked and statistically significant improvements in student performance, for both male and female students. These findings suggest that using undergraduate leaders to implement a peer-led team learning model can be as effective in promoting achievement and retention in computer science education as it has shown to be in math and science classes over the past several years.
Prevention of HIV Transmission

SUMMARY With screening of the blood supply and effective heat and chemical treatment of blood product derivatives, the overwhelming majority of newly acquired adult HIV infections will result from consensual acts, through the exchange of blood or sexual secretions. Societal relaxation about discussion of sex, death, homosexuality, drugs, and abortion is essential to prevent fuiiher deaths. Careful partner selection, use of condoms in conjunction with nonox- ynol-9 (a viricidal spermicide), and selected confidential HIV antibody testing could help decrease the number of infected persons. Efforts directed toward IV drug users to decrease initiation of drugs, make drug treatment more accessible, provide simple techniques for cleaning needles such as a quick rinsing with bleach and water, and emphasizing the risks of sharing needles could decrease the exponential rise of HIV infection in IV drug users. A substantial percentage of women infected with both HIV and hepatitis B are unaware of their infection. Information, counseling, and antibody testing of men and women prenatally with informed options could reduce infection in children. Health care providers must work through their own valid issues of fear and possible discomfort with various lifestyles to function effectively in the health professions.
PHASE-SENSITIVE DECONVOLUTION TO MODEL RANDOM PROCESSES, WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO ASTRONOMICAL DATA*

The practical problems in astronomical time series analysis are sometimes different from those in geophysics and related areas. One such is the determination of the wavelet shape, including phase characteristics, in a moving average process. This problem is of great importance because there are usually competing physical theories which make differing predictions for the wavelet. Conventional techniques discard the phase information, for example by introducing the autocorrelation function. They are therefore unable to determine the correct wavelet shape; an assumption such as minimum delay must be imposed in order for a unique solution to be determined. The phase information can be preserved with a new technique that directly searches for an independently distributed innovation (as opposed to the usual search for an uncorrelated, or white innovation). Details of the method, including the case of unevenly sampled data, are presented, along with results for a synthetic test case.
Spatial Prediction Filtering of Acoustic Clutter and Random Noise in Medical Ultrasound Imaging

One of the major challenges in array-based medical ultrasound imaging is the image quality degradation caused by sidelobes and off-axis clutter, which is an inherent limitation of the conventional delay-and-sum (DAS) beamforming operating on a finite aperture. Ultrasound image quality is further degraded in imaging applications involving strong tissue attenuation and/or low transmit power. In order to effectively suppress acoustic clutter from off-axis targets and random noise in a robust manner, we introduce in this paper a new adaptive filtering technique called frequency-space (F-X) prediction filtering or FXPF, which was first developed in seismic imaging for random noise attenuation. Seismologists developed FXPF based on the fact that linear and quasilinear events or wavefronts in the time-space (T-X) domain are manifested as a superposition of harmonics in the frequency-space (F-X) domain, which can be predicted using an auto-regressive (AR) model. We describe the FXPF technique as a spectral estimation or a direction-of-arrival problem, and explain why adaptation of this technique into medical ultrasound imaging is beneficial. We apply our new technique to simulated and tissue-mimicking phantom data. Our results demonstrate that FXPF achieves CNR improvements of 26% in simulated noise-free anechoic cyst, 109% in simulated anechoic cyst contaminated with random noise of 15 dB SNR, and 93% for experimental anechoic cyst from a custom-made tissue-mimicking phantom. Our findings suggest that FXPF is an effective technique to enhance ultrasound image contrast and has potential to improve the visualization of clinically important anatomical structures and diagnosis of diseased conditions.
Mock jurors’ expectations regarding the psychological harm experienced by rape victims as a function of rape prototypicality

ABSTRACTWe examined mock jurors’ judgments in a rape case that was either prototypical (late-night assault by a stranger in a public place) or non-prototypical (daytime assault by an acquaintance in a private home). We also varied the psychological harm experienced by the victim as a result of the rape (mild anxiety or posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)). We hypothesized that participants’ expectations regarding the level of harm the victim is likely to experience would mediate the effect of harm level on ratings of the victim’s credibility, and this indirect effect would be contingent on the prototypicality of the case. In a pilot experiment we demonstrated that people expect prototypical rape cases to be more traumatic for victims than non-prototypical cases. In the main experiment, and as predicted, participants in the Prototypical condition expected the victim to develop PTSD more than mild anxiety, but Non-Prototypical condition participants expected the opposite. In addition, a level of harm that ...
Feasibility study of the quantitative corrections for the brain input function imaging from the carotid artery images by an ultra-high resolution dedicated brain PET

Quantitative PET imaging usually requires the arterial blood sampling, which is an invasive measure and may introduce risks or other complications to patients. People are trying several non-invasive methods to obtain the quantitative tracer concentrations by measuring the reconstructed intensity of the artery in the PET imaging. However, all these methods have certain limitations for brain study due to difficulties such as the partial-volume-effect (PVE), no artery big enough in the FOV for obtaining the required data as the cardiology does, etc. Here we carried a simulation study on the feasibility of the quantitative corrections by carotid artery with an ultra-high resolution, large axial FOV dedicated brain PET system. This brain PET has a detector ring diameter of 48 cm and the axial length of 25 cm. The large AFOV ensures that the camera could cover both the brain and the carotid artery region at the same time for dynamic study. The detectors are the 1.4×1.4×11 mm3 LYSO crystals. The conservative estimation of the resolution is 1.7 to 2.0 mm, which is about 1/3 of the human carotid artery inner diameter. To evaluate the PVE on the quantitative results, a head-and-neck phantom with different-sized sources (5 to 20 mm) embedded that has a 6:1 concentration ratio between source and background is studied using Monte Carlo simulations. As the comparison, a whole-body PET — Siemens TruePoint scanner is also studied. From the reconstructed source intensities we find that with this brain PET, the recovery coefficient could reach 76% to 86% for a typical human carotid artery size source with the diameter between 5 to 7 mm; with the TruePoint scanner the recovery coefficient is only 34% to 54%. The simulation shows that with the help of an ultra-high resolution large axial FOV brain PET camera, the goal of non-invasive quantitative corrections by carotid artery for the brain dynamic study is feasible, which is not possible with other commercial whole-body scanners current available.
Biogeographic significance of low-elevation records for Neotoma cinerea from the northern Bonneville Basin, Utah

The existence of low-elevation populations of Neotoma cinera in the northern Bonneville Basin shows either that these mammals can survive thousands of years in xeric habitats or that they can move across xeric lowlands far more readily than has been appreciated, or both. Current models of Great Basin small mammal biogeography are far too static to encompass properly the interaction of the wide range of geographical and biological variability that has produced the modern distribution of those mammals that have, for several decades, been treated as ""montane"" within the Great Basin.
Galactocerebrosides, Essential for Hematopoietic Progenitor Mobilization, Regulate SDF-1 (CXCL12)-Mediated Attraction to Bone.

Abstract The exact mechanisms mediating G-CSF-induced hematopoietic progenitor cell (HPC) egress from the bone marrow (BM) are incompletely understood. Recent studies have suggested that the degradation of SDF-1 in the BM by G-CSF-induced proteolysis may play an important role. We previously hypothesized that endogenous galactocerebrosides (GCs) might be involved in HPC trafficking since certain sulfogalactolipids share biological properties with fucoidan, a sulfated fucose polymer endowed with mobilization activity, and showed that G-CSF fails to induce HPC mobilization in mice lacking UDP-galactose:ceramide galactosyl transferase (CGT) (Blood 2001 98:811a), the enzyme necessary for GC synthesis. To gain further mechanistic insights, we assessed protease activity and found no difference in elastase release from BM cells and in the degradation of exogenous SDF-1 in BM extracellular fluid (BMEF) between CGT−/− and +/+ littermates. Furthermore, endogenous SDF-1 levels in BMEF of CGT−/− and +/+ mice showed a similar reduction after G-CSF stimulation (>50% in CGT−/− mice, n=7–9, p bone marrow is not essential for G-CSF-induced mobilization. To evaluate the spacial distribution of SDF-1 expression in mouse BM, we stained SDF-1 using the tyramide amplification system. We found that SDF-1 staining was sparsely distributed in the BM but, surprisingly, strong homogenous staining was observed in the surrounding bone. Staining specificity was confirmed by ELISA (2.6±0.5 vs 5.8±1.0 ng SDF-1 per femur for BMEF and bone protein extracts, respectively, n=8, p bone SDF-1, rather than that of BM, may regulate HPC mobilization. The abnormal regulation of bone SDF-1 and reduced osteoblastic activity in CGT−/− mice strongly suggest that bone SDF-1 originates from osteoblasts and that a rapid downregulation of osteoblastic activity may play a key role in the egress of stem cells from BM.
The dextrose, levulose, sucrose, and acid content of the juice from 39 grape clones

The dextrose, levulose, sucrose and acid contents of the juice from 39 grape clones were determined to obtain information for use in breeding improved varieties. The 39 clones represented a survey of Vitis comprising native American species, American-type, French hybrid, and vinifera varieties. Wide variation existed in the percentages of each sugar, in pH, titratable acidity, and buffer systems. Sucrose was present in significant amounts only in clones which were derivatives of V. labrusa . The levulose-dextrose ratio varied from 0.81 to 1.49; in only one clone was it less than 1.00. The per cent of acid ranged from 0.35 to 4.74; the pH from 2.69 to 4.05. The desirability of the standardization of sampling, extraction, and analytical methods in order that valid comparisons may be made between the results of various investigations is pointed out. Certain aspects of the potential use of the information from these data in the development of improved grape varieties is presented.
Monitoring with Data Automata

We present a form of automaton, referred to as data automata, suited for monitoring sequences of data-carrying events, for example emitted by an executing software system. This form of automata allows states to be parameterized with data, forming named records, which are stored in an efficiently indexed data structure, a form of database. This very explicit approach differs from other automaton-based monitoring approaches. Data automata are also characterized by allowing transition conditions to refer to other parameterized states, and by allowing transitions sequences. The presented automaton concept is inspired by rule-based systems, especially the Rete algorithm, which is one of the well-established algorithms for executing rule-based systems. We present an optimized external DSL for data automata, as well as a comparable unoptimized internal DSL (API) in the Scala programming language, in order to compare the two solutions. An evaluation compares these two solutions to several other monitoring systems.
The influence of perceived job flexibility and spousal support on the marital satisfaction of parents of children with special needs

Parents of children with special needs can experience more stress in their marriage than parents of children without special needs. Divorce rates are higher for parents of children with special nee...
Relationship of Past US/RF Nuclear Material Safety Management Activities to Workshop Goals

The Russian MINATOM graciously hosted a team of US DOE scientist and engineers, enabling them to acquire first-hand knowledge of the accident at Tomsk in April 1993.
Incremental Attribute Evaluation for Ordered Attribute Grammars

By far the most involved of the algorithms employed in the Synthesizer Generator are its algorithms for incremental attribute updating. In generated editors, incremental attribute updating is carried out by one of several change-propagation algorithms. One of the algorithms used is described in [Reps82], [Reps83], and Chapter 5 of [Reps84], which works for arbitrary noncircular attribute grammars. Alternatively, when the grammar falls into the class of ordered attribute grammars [Kastens80], a much more efficient algorithm specialized to that class can be used.
A Systematic Literature Review for Human-Computer Interaction and Design Thinking Process Integration

Human-computer interaction (HCI) has been challenged in recent years because of advanced technology requiring adoption of new applications and investigations of connection with other disciplines, to enhance its theoretical knowledge. Design thinking (DT), an innovative and creative problem solving process, provides potential answers to the kind of knowledge and techniques designers can bring into HCI. This paper reports a systematic review of comparison between HCI design process and DT process. A total of 72 peer-reviewed research papers were reviewed published between 1972 and 2017 towards answering the following question: How do HCI and DT processes overlap, differ, and can learn from each other? Synthesizing the findings revealed a description and taxonomy of the variations, success factors, and practices between the two problem solving processes. The review highlights shared process phases with different goals in each suggesting that the two domains could complement each other in various ways, for applications in academia and industry.
Tax Policy and the Fiscal Cost of Disasters: New York and 9/11

This report is a modified version of the fiscal section of an earlier paper with the same title, which appeared in the National Tax Journal, National Tax Association Symposium, vol. 59, no. 3, Sept. 2006, and was coauthored with Andrew Haugwout. The author looks at how New York City's fiscal system coped with the effects of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Asynchronous Speech Recognition Affects Physician Editing of Notes

Objective Clinician progress notes are an important record for care and communication, but there is a perception that electronic notes take too long to write and may not accurately reflect the patient encounter, threatening quality of care. Automatic speech recognition (ASR) has the potential to improve clinical documentation process; however, ASR inaccuracy and editing time are barriers to wider use. We hypothesized that automatic text processing technologies could decrease editing time and improve note quality. To inform the development of these technologies, we studied how physicians create clinical notes using ASR and analyzed note content that is revised or added during asynchronous editing. Materials and Methods We analyzed a corpus of 649 dictated clinical notes from 9 physicians. Notes were dictated during rounds to portable devices, automatically transcribed, and edited later at the physician's convenience. Comparing ASR transcripts and the final edited notes, we identified the word sequences edited by physicians and categorized the edits by length and content. Results We found that 40% of the words in the final notes were added by physicians while editing: 6% corresponded to short edits associated with error correction and format changes, and 34% were associated with longer edits. Short error correction edits that affect note accuracy are estimated to be less than 3% of the words in the dictated notes. Longer edits primarily involved insertion of material associated with clinical data or assessment and plans. The longer edits improve note completeness; some could be handled with verbalized commands in dictation. Conclusion Process interventions to reduce ASR documentation burden, whether related to technology or the dictation/editing workflow, should apply a portfolio of solutions to address all categories of required edits. Improved processes could reduce an important barrier to broader use of ASR by clinicians and improve note quality.
Marine n−3 Fatty Acids and Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease and Cancer

Abstract Background Higher intake of marine n−3 (also called omega-3) fatty acids has been associated with reduced risks of cardiovascular disease and cancer in several observational studies. Whether supplementation with n−3 fatty acids has such effects in general populations at usual risk for these end points is unclear. Methods We conducted a randomized, placebo-controlled trial, with a two-by-two factorial design, of vitamin D3 (at a dose of 2000 IU per day) and marine n−3 fatty acids (at a dose of 1 g per day) in the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease and cancer among men 50 years of age or older and women 55 years of age or older in the United States. Primary end points were major cardiovascular events (a composite of myocardial infarction, stroke, or death from cardiovascular causes) and invasive cancer of any type. Secondary end points included individual components of the composite cardiovascular end point, the composite end point plus coronary revascularization (expanded composite of ca...
Child-Adult Relationship Enhancement for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: CARE Connections

An estimated 1 in 59 children in the USA is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD; CDC, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Surveillance Summaries 67(6):1–23, 2018). While all children diagnosed with ASD experience some level of difficulty with social communication and restricted, repetitive interests, many also exhibit problematic disruptive behaviors across settings. Parents and other adults in the children’s lives (e.g., family members, teachers, medical and mental health professionals, community members) are important in helping children with ASD meet their potential. Although several interventions exist that target children with ASD, their parents, and teachers, there are no widely available, evidence-based programs designed to help other adults who interact with children with ASD but who do not have a major caretaking role. Child-Adult Relationship Enhancement (CARE) is an intervention for all adults in provider roles based on evidence-based parenting programs (including Parent-Child Interaction Therapy; PCIT) designed to strengthen social relationships and improve child compliance for minor to moderate difficulties. Early findings related to CARE show that it is a promising intervention for improving relationships and behavior in several populations. Specifically, CARE Connections is an adaptation developed for all adults interacting with children with ASD. CARE Connections incorporates adult learning principles, live feedback, and ASD-specific examples to increase program uptake and implementation for care providers in a child’s life. CARE Connections may be an important step for all adults to learn more effective means of communicating with children with ASD with the goal of improving the child’s overall development (e.g., social development).
Elevated Maximum Core Body Temperature During Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemoperfusion (HIPEC) is Associated with Increased Postoperative Complications.

Hyperthermia enhances the cytotoxicity of chemotherapeutic agents used during cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemoperfusion (HIPEC). However, this may result in an elevated core body temperature (CBT), with unintended effects on surgical morbidity. This study evaluates the relationship of maximum CBT during CRS/HIPEC on postoperative outcomes. A retrospective review of patients undergoing CRS/HIPEC from January 2011 to July 2017 was performed. Outcomes were stratified according to maximum CBT reached during HIPEC. Primary study endpoints were 30-day morbidity and 30-day complication severity. Overall, 135 consecutive CRS/HIPEC cases were reviewed; 36 (27%) had a maximum CBT ≥ 39.5 °C during the 90-min HIPEC. CBT ≥ 39.5 °C was associated with an increase in 30-day postoperative complications (58% vs. 34%, p = 0.01) and severe Clavien–Dindo grade III or higher complications (22% vs. 11%, p = 0.04). On multivariate analysis, the adjusted odds ratio of having any complication was 3.77 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.56–9.14) and a Clavien–Dindo grade III or higher complication was 3.46 (95% CI 1.10–10.95) when maximum CBT reached 39.5 °C. Flow rates ≥ 2.35 L/min were associated with lower average CBT (p = 0.05) and improved peritoneal heating (p = 0.02). Maximum CBT ≥ 39.5 °C is associated with an increased risk of postoperative morbidity. Higher flow rates are associated with improved intraperitoneal heating, lower CBT, and may contribute to optimizing the therapeutic benefit of HIPEC.
Clinical Impact of Next-generation Sequencing in Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Patients: A Single-institutional Experience

The implementation of next-generation sequencing (NGS) in pediatric neuro-oncology may impact diagnosis, prognosis, therapeutic strategies, clinical trial enrollment, and germline risk. We retrospectively analyzed 58 neuro-oncology patients (31 boys, 27 girls, average age 7.4 years) who underwent NGS tumor profiling using a single commercially available platform on paraffin-embedded tissue obtained at diagnosis (20 low-grade gliomas, 12 high-grade gliomas, 11 embryonal tumors, four ependymal tumors, three meningeal tumors, and eight other CNS tumors) from May 2014 to December 2016. NGS results were analyzed for actionable mutations, variants of unknown significance and clinical impact. Seventy-four percent of patients (43 of 57) had actionable mutations; 26% had only variants of uncertain significance (VUS). NGS findings impacted treatment decisions in 55% of patients; 24% were given a targeted treatment based on NGS findings. Seven of eight patients with low-grade tumors treated with targeted therapy (everolimus, trametinib, or vemurafenib) experienced partial response or stable disease. All high-grade tumors had progressive disease on targeted therapy. Forty percent of patients had a revision or refinement of their diagnosis, and nine percent of patients were diagnosed with a previously unconfirmed cancer predisposition syndrome. Turnaround time between sample shipment and report generation averaged 13.4 ± 6.4 days. One sample failed due to insufficient DNA quantity. Our experience highlights the feasibility and clinical utility of NGS in the management of pediatric neuro-oncology patients. Future prospective clinical trials using NGS are needed to establish efficacy.
(White) women on the move: Suffrage memory and the 1977 International Women’s Year Conference

This essay examines how the 1977 International Women’s Year Conference (IWY), a historic gathering of women in Houston, Texas—tasked to put forward a series of policy recommendations, many informed...
Atomistic Simulations of Dislocation Pileup: Grain Boundaries Interaction

Using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, we studied the dislocation pileup–grain boundary (GB) interactions. Two Σ11 asymmetrical tilt grain boundaries in Al are studied to explore the influence of orientation relationship and interface structure on dislocation activities at grain boundaries. To mimic the reality of a dislocation pileup in a coarse-grained polycrystalline, we optimized the dislocation population in MD simulations and developed a predict-correct method to create a dislocation pileup in MD simulations. MD simulations explored several kinetic processes of dislocations–GB reactions: grain boundary sliding, grain boundary migration, slip transmission, dislocation reflection, reconstruction of grain boundary, and the correlation of these kinetic processes with the available slip systems across the GB and atomic structures of the GB.
Polyvinyl alcohol-montmorillonite composites for water purification: Analysis of clay mineral cation exchange and composite particle synthesis.

Abstract Municipal and residential water purification rely heavily on activated carbon (AC), but regeneration of AC is costly and cannot be performed at the point-of-use. Clay minerals (CMs) comprise a class of naturally abundant materials with known capacities for analyte adsorbance. However, the gel-forming properties of CMs in aqueous suspension pose problems for these materials being used in water-purification. In this study, we have taken three main steps to optimize the use of CMs in these applications. First, we produced several variants of montmorillonite CMs to evaluate the effect of interstitial cation hydrophobicity on the ability of the CM to uptake charge-carrying organic pollutants. These variants include CMs with the following cations: sodium, hexyl(triphenyl)phosphonium, hexyadecyl(triphenyl)phosphonium, and hexyl(tributyl)phosphonium. Second, we synthesized polymer–clay mineral composite films composed of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), crosslinked in the presence of a CM variant. These films were evaluated for their ability to uptake malachite green (MG). Finally, we developed a one-pot synthetic method for the generation of polymer–clay particles for use in a continuous column process. We synthesized polymer–clay mineral particles using the highest performing CM (based on the film experiments) and evaluated the equilibrium capacity and kinetics of MG uptake from solution.
Coevolutionary modeling of cyber attack patterns and mitigations using public datasets

The evolution of advanced persistent threats (APTs) spurs us to explore computational models of coevolutionary dynamics arising from efforts to secure cyber systems from them. In a first for evolutionary algorithms, we incorporate known threats and vulnerabilities into a stylized "competition" that pits cyber attack patterns against mitigations. Variations of attack patterns that are drawn from the public CAPEC catalog offering Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classifications. Mitigations take two forms: software updates or monitoring, and the software that is mitigated is identified by drawing from the public CVE dictionary of Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures. In another first, we quantify the outcome of a competition by incorporating the public Common Vulnerability Scoring System - CVSS. We align three abstract models of population-level dynamics where APTs interact with defenses with three competitive, coevolutionary algorithm variants that use the competition. A comparative study shows that the way a defensive population preferentially acts, e.g. shifting to mitigating recent attack patterns, results in different evolutionary outcomes, expressed as different dominant attack patterns and mitigations.
Demultiplexing of Projection Data in Adaptive Brain SPECT with Multi-Pinhole Collimation

Multiplexing of projection images is a potential solution to increasing detection sensitivity in multi-pinhole (MPH) SPECT systems. However, the ambiguity caused by overlapped projections can generate artefacts in the reconstructed images. Therefore, multiplexing has been generally avoided in MPH SPECT systems at the cost of sensitivity loss. We are developing a new-generation brain-dedicated stationary SPECT scanner, AdaptiSPECT-C. In this study, we employed a prototype design of the AdaptiSPECT-C consisting of 25 square detectors arranged in a truncated spherical geometry. Each detector is equipped with an MPH collimator having 5 pinhole apertures. Each aperture can be independently opened or closed utilizing a shuttering mechanism. There is intentionally a significant amount of multiplexing when multiple apertures are opened. In this study, we propose an innovative approach to demultiplex projection data from multiple pinholes in the AdaptiSPECT-C. We used our MPH analytic simulation and iterative reconstruction software to investigate two acquisition schemes for an XCAT phantom emulating N-isopropyl-p-(I -123)iodoamphetamine (I-123-IMP) brain-perfusion agent distribution. In this approach, a small portion of imaging time (herein, 20%) is used for acquiring a set of non-multiplexed data by opening only central pinholes in each MPH collimator. The proposed algorithm can then demultiplex the projections acquired thereafter using an estimate of the activity distribution reconstructed from the non-multiplexed data. The results are promising for demultiplexing the projections when compared with simulated non-multiplexed ground truth. We expect this demultiplexing will result in substantial enhancement of the reconstructed images. This and variations in the acquisition schemes will be explored in our future studies.
Emotion Down- and Up-Regulation Act on Spatially Distinct Brain Areas: Interoceptive Regions to Calm Down and Other Affective Regions to Amp Up

Abstract Prior studies on emotion regulation identified a set of brain regions specialized for generating and controlling affect. Researchers generally agree that when up- and down-regulating emotion, control regions in the prefrontal cortex turn up or down activity in affect-generating areas. However, the assumption that turning up and down emotions produces opposite effects in the same affect-generating regions is untested. We call this assumption the ‘affective dial hypothesis.’ Our study tested this hypothesis by examining the overlap between the sets of regions activated during up-regulation and those deactivated during down-regulation in a large number of participants (N=105). We found that up- and down-regulation both recruit regulatory regions such as the inferior frontal gyrus and dorsal anterior cingulate gyrus but act on distinct affect-generating regions. While up-regulation increases BOLD signal in regions associated with emotion such as the amygdala, anterior insula, striatum and anterior cingulate gyrus as well as in regions associated with sympathetic vascular activity such as periventricular white matter, down-regulation decreases signal in regions receiving interoceptive input such as the posterior insula and postcentral gyrus. These findings indicate that up- and down-regulation do not generally exert opposing effects on the same affect-generating regions. Instead, they target different brain circuits. Significance Statement Many contexts require modulating one’s own emotions. Identifying the brain areas implementing these regulatory processes should advance understanding emotional disorders and designing potential interventions. The emotion regulation field has an implicit assumption we call the affective dial hypothesis: that both emotion up- and down-regulation modulate the same emotion-generating brain areas. Countering the hypothesis, our findings indicate that up- and down-modulating emotions target different brain areas. Thus, the mechanisms underlying emotion regulation differ more than previously appreciated for up- versus down-regulation. In addition to their theoretical importance, these findings are critical for researchers attempting to target activity in particular brain regions during an emotion regulation intervention.
Interaction in asynchronous discussion boards: a campus-wide analysis to better understand regular and substantive interaction

Discussion boards can provide a glimpse into the regular and substantive interaction required in online courses. Advances in technology and an increased interest in learning analytics now provides researchers with billions of data points about instructor and student interaction within a learning management system (LMS). This study used LMS data to explore the frequency of interaction between instructors and students in discussion boards in online courses at one institution. Overall, 415 courses were analyzed spanning two semesters. Results from the study found that the average number of posts by an instructor was 32.9. The average instructor interaction was 1.49 instructor posts per student. 23% of courses had no instructor posts. Student posts averaged 470 per course and the average posts per student was 19.9. Based on the discussion board activity, the most discussion interaction occurred during the first two weeks of the semester. Results also suggested that there is no relationship between student satisfaction and the number of total posts in a course. The paper concludes with implications for research and practice.
Energy releasing efficacy of graded levels of a commercial microbial phytase

SUMMARY An experiment was conducted to determine the energy release of a commercial phytase fed to broilers at multiple doses in basal diets that varied in ME. Dietary treatments included 3 negative controls (NC; 0.75% calcium and 0.30% non-phytate phosphorus) formulated at 3 ME levels (2,701, 2,868, and 3,000 kcal/kg). A commercial phytase product was added to each NC diet at 1,500, 4,500, 13,500, and 30,000 FTU/kg, creating a total of 15 dietary treatments. The phytase utilized was a phytase sourced from an Escherichia coli species bacterium expressed in a Trichoderma reesei fungus. Treatments were arranged in a 5 (phytase dose) × 3 (ME level) factorial in a randomized complete block design with 9 replications of 10 male broilers fed each of 15 dietary treatments for 21 d. On d 7, 14, and 21, birds provided the 3,000 kcal/kg diet had the lowest bird FI, and birds provided the 2,701 and 2,868 kcal/kg diets had the highest (P
Every Girl Is a Leader: Organizing for Political Life in Chicago

The inspiration that can be found in the emergence of grass-roots leadership movements is continued in this chapter. It is unfortunate that the literature on leadership focuses almost exclusively on adults. In the process, much of the relational dynamic that informs grass-roots leadership movements are lost from sight. McCartney analyses the emergence of leadership in girls between the ages of 12 and 23 in community-based organizations that address horrendous challenges in poor communities. These women self-organize and lead within their communities rather than depending on more institutional and top-down interventions, and do so with surprising success. They thus demonstrate the tenacity and capabilities of women even in adverse conditions. What characterize these leadership initiatives is its basis in caring relationships, and the clear message it sends that any girl can, and should be a leader.
USING VHDL BASED MODELING, SYNTHESIS, AND SIMULATION IN AN INTRODUCTORY COMPUTER ARCHITECTURE LABORATORY

Using VHDL based modelling, synthesis, and simulation in an introductory computer architecture laboratoryIn many existing curricula, there is a notable lack of recent research advances in CAD tools and rapid prototyping using logic synthesis. This paper describes a novel introductory computer architecture laboratory that utilizes these new developments. VHDL based logic synthesis and timing simulations are used to design a RISC processor.
Designing Education to Improve Care

Article-at-a-Glance Background Educators in all health care disciplines are increasingly aware of the importance and value of teaching improvement as an integral part of health professional development. Although faculty and learners can often identify needed changes in the clinical setting, many educators are not sure how to teach the improvement principles and methods needed to achieve and sustain those changes. Defining and Developing Competency in QI Five developmental levels apply to physicians, nurses, and other members of an interprofessional quality improvement (QI) team: novice, advanced beginner, competent, proficient, and expert. For example, the expert develops a vast repertoire of skills and a capacity for situational discrimination, performs tasks on a more intuitive level, and recognizes and immediately addresses essential problems. Improvement is an action, and learning about improvement must be action based. Certain skills and knowledge are required at each stage in this learning process so that students in the health professions achieve competence in QI before entering practice. General Principles for Educational Experiences in Health Care Improvement Four principles, which apply at any developmental level, can help answer educators' questions about where to start: (1) The Learning Experience Should Be a Combination of Didactic and Project-Based Work; (2) Link with Health System Improvement Efforts; (3) Assess Education Outcomes; and (4) Role Model QI in Educational Processes. Conclusion As educators teach future health professionals about improving care, the dissemination of exemplary models and emerging best practices will be increasingly important. Sustainability of improvements in patient outcomes will be dependent on both the value systems and skills of health professionals entering practice.
Quinazoline folate analogs inhibit the catalytic activity of thymidylate synthase but allow binding of 5-fluorodeoxyuridylate.

Abstract We have investigated some unusual aspects of the inhibition of mammalian thymidylate synthase (TS) by the folate antimetabolite, 10-propargyl-5,8-dideaza-folic acid (CB 3717). From our results, we conclude that binding of CB 3717 metabolites to one subunit of L1210 TS modified the conformation of the second active site of this enzyme so that it retained the ability to bind 5-fluro-2'-deoxyuridine-5'-monophosphate (FdUMP) but not its catalytic activity. Exposure of intact mouse L1210 cells to CB 3717 resulted in inactivation of cellular TS activity, yet desalted cytosol preparations from these cells retained the ability to bind FdUMP. The same effect was found with several analogs of CB 3717. Complexes of FdUMP formed in vitro with TS from cells exposed to CB 3717 were covalent and co-migrated on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with complexes of FdUMP, folate cofactor, and TS from cells not exposed to CB 3717. In the presence of dUMP, a tightly bound complex rapidly formed between isolated pure TS and the pentaglutamate of CB 3717 but not the monoglutamate form of this compound. Binding experiments using CB 3717 pentaglutamate-inhibited TS suggested a stoichiometry of 1 mol of FdUMP bound per mol of dimeric TS.
Patient Radiation Safety and Risk

Everyone is concerned about patient radiation dose. From 1993 through 2008, ­radiation dose attributed to medical radiation rose 82% from 0.54 to 3 mSv per capita. The largest component of the medical patient radiation dose was CT scanning (49%). This is despite the fact that CT scanning makes up only 17% of the total medical procedures that contributes to a patient radiation dose (NCRP Report 160).
Creativity in Therapy

Abstract In this article the manner in which creativity guides the psychotherapy process is explored. The three major components of the study of creativity are explored and applied to the psychotherapy process. The person(including both the therapist and client), the process(the interaction between the client and therapist), and the product(therapeutic change) are all explored as components of creativity. In addition, the authors maintain that in the psychotherapy process, divergent thinking, convergent thinking, and intuition are all necessary ingredients of creativity. It is proposed that creativity is not a trait, but a learned activity in which therapists engage frequently. Relational dynamics influencing these creative components are explored. The creative therapeutic process is explored with case examples provided.