cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Prevalence of Dementia in Older Latinos: The Influence of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Stroke and Genetic Factors

OBJECTIVES: To estimate dementia prevalence in older Mexican Americans, determine the distribution of dementia by etiology, and evaluate the contribution of type 2 diabetes mellitus, stroke, and apolipoprotein E (ApoE) genotype to dementia. DESIGN: Analysis of baseline data from an epidemiological cohort study. SETTING: Sacramento Valley, California. PARTICIPANTS: One thousand seven hundred eighty-nine Latinos aged 60 and older residing in targeted census tracts during 1998–99. MEASUREMENTS: Each subject was interviewed and screened for dementia and cardiovascular risk factors and diseases. Fasting blood samples were drawn for glucose, insulin, and lipids. Buccal cells were obtained for genetic analysis of ApoE. A three-stage process of screening was used to diagnose dementia, including cognitive testing, a clinical examination, and imaging to determine etiology. Presence of dementia was established according to National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke/Alzheimers and Related Disorders Association criteria and California Alzheimer's Disease Diagnostic and Treatment Criteria. RESULTS: Overall dementia prevalence was 4.8%. Prevalence in those aged 85 and older was 31%. Education and Anglo cultural orientation was negatively associated with dementia risk. Risk of dementia was nearly eight times higher in those with both type 2 diabetes mellitus and stroke. Forty-three percent of dementia was attributable to type 2 diabetes mellitus, stroke, or a combination of the two. ApoE allele frequency was E2 5.9%, E3 90.1%, and E4 4%. Those with any E4 and 4–4 combinations had a higher risk for dementia than those with the E3–3 combination. CONCLUSIONS: Dementia prevalence in this ethnic group is similar to that reported in Canadian and European studies but lower than in Caribbean-Hispanics residing in the United States. The etiological fraction of dementia attributable to type 2 diabetes mellitus and stroke is substantial and points toward the need for intervention research and treatment with the goal of reducing neurological sequelae in groups with high prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus. The allele frequency of ApoE was similar to that in other published studies on Mexican Americans. The low frequency of the E4 allele may contribute to the difference in etiology of dementia in older Mexican Americans and older people of European background. Dementia in this ethnic group may be related to preventable causes, with a smaller genetic component than in Europeans.
A Simple Two-Dimensional Model System to Study Electrostatic-Self-Assembly

This paper surveys the variables controlling the lattice structure and charge in macroscopic Coulombic crystals made from electrically charged, millimeter-sized polymer objects (spheres, cubes, and cylinders). Mechanical agitation of these objects inside planar, bounded containers caused them to charge electrically through contact electrification, and to self-assemble. The processes of electrification and self-assembly, and the characteristics of the assemblies, depended on the type of motion used for agitation, on the type of materials used for the objects and the dish, on the size and shape of the objects and the dish, and on the number of objects. Each of the three different materials in the system (of the dish and of the two types of spheres) influenced the electrification. Three classes of structures formed by self-assembly, depending on the experimental conditions: two-dimensional lattices, one-dimensional chains, and zero-dimensional ‘rosettes’. The lattices were characterized by their structure (disordered, square, rhombic, or hexagonal) and by the electrical charges of individual objects; the whole lattices were approximately electrically neutral. The lattices observed in this study were qualitatively different from ionic crystals; the charge of objects had practically continuous values which changed during agitation and self-assembly, and depended on experimental conditions which included the lattice structure itself. The relationship between charge and structure led to the coexistence of regions with different lattice structures within the same assembly, and to transformations between different lattice structures during agitation.
Roles in Cell-to-Cell Fusion of Two Conserved Hydrophobic Regions in the Murine Coronavirus Spike Protein☆

The spike (S) protein of coronavirus mouse hepatitis virus (MHV), mediates attachment and fusion during viral entry and cell-to-cell fusion later in infection. By analogy with other viral proteins that induce cell fusion the MHV S protein would be expected to have a hydrophobic stretch of amino acids that serves as a fusion peptide. Sequence analysis suggests that the S protein falls within the group of fusion proteins having internal rather than N-terminal fusion peptides. Based on the features of known viral fusion peptides, we identified two regions (PEP1 and PEP2) of MHV-A59 S2 as possible fusion peptides. Site-directed mutagenesis and an in viro cell-to-cell fusion assay were used to evaluate the roles of PEP1 and PEP2, as well as a third previously identified putative fusion domain (PEP3) in membrane fusion. Substitution of bulky hydrophobic residues with charged residues within PEP1 affects the fusion activity of the S protein without affecting processing and surface expression. Similar substitutions within PEP2 result in a fusion-negative phenotype; however, these mutant S proteins also exhibit defects in protein processing and surface expression which likely explain the loss of the ability to induce fusion. Thus PEP1 remains a candidate fusion peptide, while PEP2 may play a significant role in the overall structure or oligomerization of the S protein. PEP3 is an unlikely putative fusion peptide since it is not conserved among coronaviruses and nonconservative amino acid substitutions in PEP3 have minimal effects on cell-to-cell fusion.
Finite-difference time-domain modeling of nonperfectly conducting metallic thin-film gratings

A simulation tool based on the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) technique is developed to model the electromagnetic interaction of a focused optical Gaussian beam in two dimensions incident on a simple model of a corrugated dielectric surface plated with a thin film of realistic metal. The technique is a hybrid approach that combines an intensive numerical method near the surface of the grating, which takes into account the optical properties of metals, with a free-space transform to obtain the radiated fields. A description of this technique is presented along with numerical examples comparing gratings made with realistic and perfect conductors. In particular, a demonstration is given of an obliquely incident beam focused on a uniform grating and a normally incident beam focused on a nonuniform grating. The gratings in these two cases are coated with a negative-permittivity thin film, and the scattered radiation patterns for these structures are studied. Both TE and TM polarizations are investigated. Using this hybrid FDTD technique results in a complete and accurate simulation of the total electromagnetic field in the near field as well as in the far field of the grating. It is shown that there are significant differences in the performances of the realistic metal and the perfect metal gratings.
A NEW CLASS OF MODELS OF SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION

We analyze a new class of models of spatial distribution, developing mathematical properties and performing empirical tests. The models are based on a simple colonization rule operating on a rectangular grid. Two special cases within the class are traditional random placement and negative binomial models. Over three large data sets, these two cases are strongly outperformed by more flexible models within the class, in particular, models that allow more general patterns of aggregation. The models are simple and broadly applicable, with only one adjustable parameter, representing aggregation. Shortcomings of the colonization rule are studied, and extensions and applications of the models are discussed.
Upregulation of RANTES in nasal polyps from patients with cystic fibrosis

Background Nasal polyps in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) are believed to be phenotypically different than polyps affecting non-CF patients. The aim of this study was to investigate differences in cell cycle regulatory mechanisms between these 2 groups. In this prospective study at a tertiary care academic medical center, multiple techniques were used to confirm the upregulation of antiapoptotic Bcl-2 family proteins in CF polyps. Methods Nasal polyps were prospectively obtained from CF and non-CF patients. The Sigma Panorama Protein Microarray for Cell Signaling was used to identify differences in protein expression between the 2 polyp groups. Western blot analysis confirmed altered expression of a subset of these proteins. Immunohistochemical staining was performed on archived tissue to further investigate B-cell lymphoma 2 protein (Bcl-2) expression. Following review by a pathologist, slides were digitized using an Aperio™ ScanScope XT system and staining intensity was quantified with the Positive Pixel Count algorithm. The mean staining intensity for each polyp group was compared. Results The protein microarray suggested a greater than 2-fold upregulation of Bcl-xl in CF polyps relative to non-CF polyps. Western blot analysis confirmed the upregulation in CF polyps of Bcl-2, a more commonly studied protein analog of Bcl-xl. The CF polyp group was noted to have a higher quantitative intensity of immunohistochemical staining for Bcl-2 compared to the non-CF group (p < 0.05). Conclusion Through multiple modalities of protein investigation, we have demonstrated an upregulation of Bcl-2 family proteins in CF polyps relative to polyps from non-CF patients.
Thermal Stability of MHC Class I-β2-Microglobulin Peptide Complexes in the Endoplasmic Reticulum Is Determined by the Peptide Occupancy of the Transporter Associated with Antigen Processing Complex

Once MHC class I heavy chain binds β2-microglobulin (β2m) within the endoplasmic reticulum, an assembly complex comprising the class I heterodimer, TAP, TAPasin, calreticulin, and possibly Erp57 is formed before the binding of high affinity peptide. TAP-dependent delivery of high affinity peptide to in vitro translated Kbβ2m complexes within microsomes (TAP+/TAPasin+) was studied to determine at which point peptide binding becomes resistant to thermal denaturation. It was determined that the thermal stability of Kb-β2m-peptide complexes depends on the timing of peptide binding to Kbβ2m relative to TAP binding high affinity peptide. Premature exposure of the TAP complex to high affinity peptide before its association with class I heavy chain results in Kbβ2m-peptide-TAP complexes that lose peptide upon exposure to elevated temperature after solubilization away from microsome-associated proteins. These findings suggest that the order in which class I heavy chain associates with endoplasmic reticulum-resident chaperones and peptide determines the stability of Kbβ2m-peptide complexes.
Simulation of the structural steel erection process

The construction industry's growth and the adoption of newer means, methods, and materials of construction have resulted in an increase in complexity of on-site construction processes. Consequently, the construction industry's need for advanced tools and techniques to study, plan, and manage these complex construction processes has developed. The paper illustrates a Petri net based hierarchical and modular modeling and analysis technique that can be used for simulation of complex construction processes. Through the use of hierarchy, modularity, and resource modeling, Petri nets provide clear advantages in the modeling of complex construction processes. The paper highlights the advanced features of Petri nets and their utilization in the modeling and analysis of a structural steel erection process.
City Life West African Communities in New York

This article focuses on the relevance of the notion of community to contemporary urban studies. The results of a six-year ethnographic study of West African traders in New York City suggest that th...
Applying large AC drive configurations

Little information is available on how to apply different AC adjustable speed drive (ASD) configurations and the best options for specific applications. Special attention is given to the advantages and disadvantages of different configurations. Application rules for the different types of ASDs are included. Specific features of each ASD type are discussed. Some general guidelines are given. >
Teres minor denervation on routine magnetic resonance imaging of the shoulder

To try to define an association between clinical history and the finding of isolated teres minor denervation on routine magnetic resonance (MR) examination of the shoulder. A retrospective review of all shoulder MR examinations performed at our institution over a 2-year period (n=2,563) All patients and MR examinations demonstrating isolated denervation of the teres minor muscle as determined by review of this subset of patients (n=61) A 3% incidence of isolated teres minor denervation was found. No patient had a clinical history concerning the classic quadrilateral space syndrome, and no patient had a structural lesion in the quadrilateral space. Isolated teres minor denervation is not an uncommon finding on routine shoulder MR imaging and may be associated with pathology other than a structural lesion in and about the axillary neurovascular structures, such as rotator cuff injuries and traction injury on the axillary nerve sustained during a glenohumeral joint translational event.
Thermal spray: a case history for the integration of materials science and thermo-fluid dynamics

The thermal spray process involves the injection of particulates into a high flux environment so that momentum and heat transfer can take place. The particles are then accelerated within the gaseous effluent and within several milliseconds impact and splash against a suitably prepared substrate. In this fashion a coating rapidly grows over a time period that may range from minutes to hours. The materials engineering concept comes into play when it is appreciated that the temperature, velocity, and chemical nature of the spray effluent controls the dispersion, impact phenomenon, and, therefore, the precise nature of the microstructure which is being formed in situ and in real time. Unsurprisingly, this is a somewhat random and chaotic process that is seeking practical and theoretical solutions so that some manner of engineering control can be employed. This paper explores the scientific relationship between materials engineers and mechanical engineers so that a functional product can evolve. This relationship includes (i) the use of diagnostic equipment to monitor the spray process, (ii) the dynamic impact behavior of particulates, (iii) modeling of thermal fluxes and the resultant mechanical stress state, and (iv) the way in which the microstructure evolves. The eventual aim of this vast body of work is to enable real time feedback loops for the thermal spray process so that predictable and engineered structures can be manufactured.
Age differential between outcomes of carotid angioplasty and stent placement and carotid endarterectomy in general practice

Background Data derived from prospective randomized clinical trials suggest differential comparative benefit between carotid angioplasty and stent (CAS) placement and carotid endarterectomy (CEA) in various age strata. We sought to investigate the impact of age on outcomes of CAS and CEA in general practice. Methods We analyzed the data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), which is representative of all admissions in the United States from 2005 to 2008. The primary end point was occurrence of stroke, cardiac complications, or death during the postprocedural period. Outcomes of interest were compared between patients aged ≥70 years and Results Of the total 495,331 estimated patients who received treatment for CAD during the study period, 88% underwent CEA and the remaining 12% underwent CAS. Of the total procedures, 41% of the procedures were performed in patients aged Conclusion Our analysis suggests that most CAS and CEAs are performed in patients aged ≥70 years in general practice, and higher rates of postoperative complications are observed among these patients regardless of procedure choice.
The Role of the Ionosphere in Radio Wave Propagation

WHEN Marconi electrified the world in 1901 by sending radio signals across the Atlantic Ocean, he incidentally proved that the upper atmosphere is electrified. Diffraction was insufficient to explain the bending of the electromagnetic waves around the 30 degrees of the earth's curved surface. The waves could not penetrate the earth. So there was only one way they could go the incredible distance, and that was by reflection from one or more conducting strata in the atmosphere. So reasoned Professor A. E. Kennelly, and he published the idea a few months after Marconi's demonstration. Oliver Heaviside reached the same conclusion and published2 it at nearly the same time; his paper however mentioned only a single layer. This postulated layer was known for a number of years as the Kennelly-Heaviside layer, and the entire ionized region in the upper atmosphere which affects the transmission of radio waves is now called the ionosphere. Radio waves transmitted by means of it are called sky waves, in contradistinction to the ground waves, those which are propagated along the earth's surface.
MediaBrowser: reclaiming the shoebox

Applying personal keywords to images and video clips makes it possible to organize and retrieve them, as well as automatically create thematically related slideshows. MediaBrowser is a system designed to help users create annotations by uniting a careful choice of interface elements, an elegant and pleasing design, smooth motion and animation, and a few simple tools that are predictable and consistent. The result is a friendly, useable tool for turning shoeboxes of old photos into labeled collections that can be easily browsed, shared, and enjoyed.
Liraglutide Versus Exenatide Once Weekly: Persistence, Adherence, and Early Discontinuation.

Abstract Purpose This study examines real-world, evidence-based comparisons of persistence and adherence to daily versus weekly glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists for the treatment of type 2 diabetes (T2D). Methods This retrospective observational study used U.S. insurance claims data to compare persistence and adherence to GLP-1 receptor agonists in patients with T2D initiating once weekly (QW) exenatide or daily liraglutide over a 6-month follow-up period. Eligible patients had ≥2 diagnoses of T2D, were 18 years of age or older, initiated a new prescription of either the index drug between February 1, 2012 (market availability launch date of exenatide QW) and March 31, 2013, and had ≥6 months continuous eligibility in the pre- and postindex periods. A 1:1 propensity score match was used to account for selection bias. Outcome measures included persistence as measured by the percentage of patients who continued to take the index drug over an index period of 182 days with an allowable gap of 60 days and adherence as measured by the proportion of days covered (PDC). The percentage of patients achieving PDC ≥0.8 and ≥0.9 was also calculated. Findings There were no significant differences between baseline characteristics after propensity score matching. Each matched cohort included 12,306 patients. The overall persistence observed with liraglutide was 66% compared with 63% for exenatide QW. The mean (SD) PDC adherence during the 6-month follow-up period was 0.694 (0.309) for the exenatide QW cohort and 0.689 (0.286) for the liraglutide cohort. The PDC threshold of ≥0.8 during the 6-month follow-up period was met by 6309 (51%) and 5820 (47%) patients in the exenatide QW and liraglutide cohorts, respectively. For the exenatide QW cohort, 76% of patients treated previously with BID exenatide continued treatment in the 6-month follow-up period compared with 59% who were not previously treated with exenatide BID. For the liraglutide cohort, 77% of previous exenatide BID patients continued treatment versus 63% of patients who were not previously treated with exenatide BID. Implications These results reveal slight differences in persistence and adherence rates in patients receiving exenatide QW versus patients receiving liraglutide daily that vary by outcome and previous incretin-based therapy used. Differences may be due to dosing device differences for exenatide QW and liraglutide, which, in the case of liraglutide, allows the opportunity for daily self-titration dosing. Implications of these findings for clinical practice are that persistence is determined by the broader context of treatment and medications being used and should be considered when prescribing GLP-1 receptor agonists.
HLA Matching in Liver Transplant Immunity

The role of HLA in transplantation has been generally viewed that HLA matching is good for transplant outcome. This is demonstrated with the higher survival rates of kidney and heart transplants from donors with increased HLA matching. However, this concept seems less applicable to liver transplantation and it has become apparent that the effect of HLA is considerably more complex.
Multiscale mapper: topological summarization via codomain covers

Summarizing topological information from datasets and maps defined on them is a central theme in topological data analysis. Mapper, a tool for such summarization, takes as input both a possibly high dimensional dataset and a map defined on the data, and produces a summary of the data by using a cover of the codomain of the map. This cover, via a pullback operation to the domain, produces a simplicial complex connecting the data points.The resulting view of the data through a cover of the codomain offers flexibility in analyzing the data. However, it offers only a view at a fixed scale at which the cover is constructed. Inspired by the concept, we explore a notion of a tower of covers which induces a tower of simplicial complexes connected by simplicial maps, which we call multiscale mapper. We study the resulting structure, and design practical algorithms to compute its persistence diagrams efficiently. Specifically, when the domain is a simplicial complex and the map is a real-valued piecewise-linear function, the algorithm can compute the exact persistence diagram only from the 1-skeleton of the input complex. For general maps, we present a combinatorial version of the algorithm that acts only on vertex sets connected by the 1-skeleton graph, and this algorithm approximates the exact persistence diagram thanks to a stability result that we show to hold.
Development of a Computational Model for a Prototype Testing Room With Integrated ABE System

Active Building Envelope (ABE) systems are a new enclosure technology which integrate photovoltaic (PV) and thermoelectric (TE) technologies. In ABE systems, a PV system is used to transfer solar energy directly into electrical energy, which is used to power a TE heat-pump system for space cooling or heating. In this study, we have built a computational model to predict the indoor temperature of an outdoor testing room and its integrated ABE system. The computational model uses the finite differential method, and includes the computation of solar radiation, heat transfer through the testing room surfaces and the ABE-window, and a model for the indoor air. We have verified the model’s accuracy by comparing the simulation results of this model with actual temperature data. We have found that there was good correlation between the model’s prediction for indoor temperature, and the actual temperature measurements for our testing room. The model will be used in further studies to assess the effectiveness of the ABE system.© 2006 ASME
Immunization Effect of Polysaccharide Vaccine against Neisseria meningitides Serogroup A

Objective To study specific antibody level in people who were administrated with polysaccharide vaccine against Neisseria meningitides serogroup A.Method ELISA method was applied to detect the serum antibody level of 32 workers and 147 students before and twenty days after being administrated with the polysaccharide vaccine against Neisseria meningitides serogroup A.Result Twenty days after being administrated with the vaccine,the antibody positive rate of the workers raised from 18.75% to 87.50%,and GMT raised from 2.65 to 21.60,while the positive rate of the students raised from 41.50% to 80.95%,and GMT raised from 4.21 to 15.85.Statistically,there was a significant difference between the postive rates before and after administration(P 0.001) .Conclusion Administrating of the vaccine can raise the overall antibody level rapidly in epidemic area caused by Neisseria meningitides,which can protect susceptible people and prevent further spreading of the disease.
Investigation and Research on Kiwifruit Industry Development in Hubei Province

The scientific research advantages and ecological superiority of kiwifruit industry development in Hubei province as well as the disadvantages were analyzed based on the investigation into the current situation.Countermeasures for vigorous development of the kiwifruit industry in Hubei province aiming at healthy and sustainable development were proposed.
Insider/Outsider The Unique Nature of the Sociological Perspective and Practice

Sociologists and other social scientists confront a number of trends in American society and even inside the academic world such as anti-intellectualism and a preference for Science, Technology, En...
Controversies in prehospital care.

Summary Many controversies exist in prehospital care. The most visible from a physiologic point of view are what is done in the field, how thorough medical accountability should be, and what amount of education is required for EMTs to perform their jobs correctly. The bottom line is good patient care. Such care cannot be achieved without the proper ingredients. These include a knowledgeable EMT, an involved medical director, and community support.
Studying long-term, large-scale grassland restoration outcomes to improve seeding methods and reveal knowledge gaps

Summary Studies are increasingly investigating effects of large-scale management activities on grassland restoration outcomes. These studies are providing useful comparisons among currently used management strategies, but not the novel strategies needed to rapidly improve restoration efforts. Here we illustrate how managing restoration projects adaptively can allow promising management innovations to be identified and tested. We studied 327 Great Plains fields seeded after coal mining. We modelled plant responses to management strategies to identify the most effective previously used strategies for constraining weeds and establishing desired plants. Then, we used the model to predict responses to new strategies our analysis identified as potentially more effective. Where established, the weed crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum L.) increased through time, indicating a need to manage establishment of this grass. Seeding particular grasses reduced annual weed cover, and because these grasses appeared to become similarly abundant whether sown at low or high rates, low rates could likely be safely used to reduce seeding costs. More importantly, lower than average grass seed rates increased cover of shrubs, the plants most difficult to restore to many grassland ecosystems. After identifying grass seed rates as a driver, we formulated model predictions for rates below the range managers typically use. These predictions require testing but indicated atypically low grass seed rates would further increase shrubs without hindering long-term grass stand development. Synthesis and applications. Designing management around empirically based predictions is a logical next step towards improving ecological restoration efforts. Our predictions are that reducing grass seed rates to atypically low levels will boost shrubs without compromising grasses. Because these predictions derive from the fitted model, they represent quantitative hypotheses based on current understanding of the system. Generating data needed to test and update these hypotheses will require monitoring responses to shifts in management, specifically shifts to lower grass seed rates. A paucity of data for confronting hypotheses has been a major sticking point hindering adaptive management of most natural resources, but this need not be the case with degraded grasslands, because ongoing restoration efforts around the globe are providing continuous opportunities to monitor and manage processes regulating grassland restoration outcomes.
In vitro Antiviral Activity of Ribavirin against Picornaviruses

The in vitro antiviral activity of ribavirin (Rbv; 1-β-D-ribofuranosyl-1,2,4-triazole-3-carboxamide) against selected members of the Picornaviridae is described. When antiviral activity was determined by reduction of infectious virus progeny, Rbv was active against human rhinovirus type 2 (HRV-2) and poliovirus type 1 (Polio-1) in both a drug concentration and multiplicity of infection-(MOI) dependent response. However, an antiviral activity rating assay based on the reductions of cellular cytopathic effects (CPE) indicated that Rbv was active against human rhinoviruses, but was less active against polioviruses
Troponin-Guided Heart Failure Therapy: Are We There Yet?

Biomarkers are widely used in medicine and the natriuretic peptides are the prototypical biomarker for heart failure aiding in diagnosis, prognosis, and biomarker-guided therapy. Cardiac troponins are mostly known for their role in diagnosing acute coronary syndrome, but they also play an important role in heart failure management. Current guidelines support using troponin for diagnosing ischemia as the cause of heart failure decompensation and prognosticating the risk for morbidity and mortality in acute and chronic heart failure. Recently, novel heart failure therapies have been shown to reduce troponin levels with a concurrent reduction in morbidity and mortality suggesting serial troponin measurements can be used as a surrogate for effectiveness of therapy. Troponin is prognostic for morbidity and mortality in heart failure and may provide a means for assessing the effectiveness of therapies. Recent studies suggest troponin could be used for guiding heart failure therapy, but further studies are needed specifically testing this role.
Enhancing protective role-playing behaviors through avatar-based scenarios

This paper describes a virtual environment, called CollegeLiVE that presents users with an experience centered on realistic social interactions that first-year college students likely encounter. The virtual characters and settings present participants with typical situations that can challenge them to address peer pressure surrounding alcohol consumption and related situations from walking or driving while inebriated as well as determining how best to handle undue pressure placed on others to drink or engage in sexual activity. The employment of digital puppeteering in addition to agent-based control of virtual characters (avatars) makes this virtual environment potentially helpful in enhancing protective skills meant to reduce risky drinking practices and associated behaviors. The presence of a human-in-the-loop avoids the shortcomings of pure agent-based control, affording an experience in which avatars respond appropriately to both verbal and nonverbal cues in dialogues with a user. Reflection (self assessment of how one handled different situations) and after-action review (feedback about one's performance from a coach) enhances learning from the experience.
Impacts of Antibiotic and Bacteriophage Treatments on the Gut-Symbiont-Associated Blissus insularis (Hemiptera: Blissidae)

The Southern chinch bug, Blissus insularis, possesses specialized midgut crypts that harbor dense populations of the exocellular symbiont Burkholderia. Oral administration of antibiotics suppressed the gut symbionts in B. insularis and negatively impacted insect host fitness, as reflected by retarded development, smaller body size, and higher susceptibility to an insecticide, bifenthrin. Considering that the antibiotics probably had non-lethal but toxic effects on host fitness, attempts were conducted to reduce gut symbionts using bacteriophage treatment. Soil-lytic phages active against the cultures of specific Burkholderia ribotypes were successfully isolated using a soil enrichment protocol. Characterization of the BiBurk16MC_R phage determined its specificity to the Bi16MC_R_vitro ribotype and placed it within the family Podoviridae. Oral administration of phages to fifth-instar B. insularis, inoculated with Bi16MC_R_vitro as neonates had no deleterious effects on host fitness. However, the ingested phages failed to impact the crypt-associated Burkholderia. The observed inactivity of the phage was likely due to the blockage of the connection between the anterior and posterior midgut regions. These findings suggest that the initial colonization by Burkholderia programs the ontogeny of the midgut, providing a sheltered residence protected from microbial antagonists.
Assessing problem-solving skills in construction education with the virtual construction simulator

The ability to solve complex problems is an essential skill that a construction project manager must possess when enteringthe architecture, engineering, and construction industry. Such ability requires a mixture of problem-solving skills,composed of lower and higher-order thinking skills, which include the ability to develop and evaluate constructionplans and manage the execution of such plans. However, introducing students to such complex problems can be a challengein a typical construction educational program. To support this challenge, the traditional methodology of delivering design,engineering, and construction instruction has been going through a technological revolution, due to the rise of computer-based technology. For example, in engineering classrooms, and other disciplines, educational simulation games are used tosupport the development of problem-solving skills. This paper presents evidence to support the contention thateducational simulation games can help the learning and retention of transferable problem-solving skills, which are crucialto solve complex construction problems. A sample group of 34 architectural engineering students, from a 4th yearconstruction class, participated in a quasi-experiment where they had to play the three modules of the Virtual ConstructionSimulator 4 (VCS4). A crossover repeated measures quasi-experimental design assessed the gains in problem solving skillsthat construction students gained from playing the VCS4. The participants completed all three learning modules of theVCS4, and they were assessed before and after each treatment. Based on a series of analyses of the results, the researcherswere able to conclude that the students gained and transferred problem-solving skills from playing all of the VCS4modules. This study provides evidence that the implementation of educational simulation games can support the gain ofproblem-solving skills necessary to solve complex construction problems.
Ultrafast microscopy captures the dynamics of bound excitons in twisted bilayer van der Waals materials

Stacking and twisting 2D van der Walls (vdW) materials can create unique electronic properties that are not accessible in a single sheet of material. When two sheets of van der Waals material such as graphene are stacked in an off-axis angle, in a twisted bilayer graphene (tBLG) configuration, electronic properties are modified from interlayer orbital hybridization effects. For instance, in tBLG we can access both massless and massive chiral quasiparticles characteristics of graphene and bilayer graphene, as well as angle tunable optical resonances that are not present in graphene or bilayer graphene. In addition, first principle simulation predicts that upon optical resonant excitation of tBLG, bound exciton formation is a possibility due to cancelation of exciton-continuum coupling from anti-symmetric superposition of degenerate resonant transitions. In order to study possible bound exciton formation, we map out the electronic structure of single grain tBLG using multi-photon transient absorption microscopy. Surprisingly, upon resonant optical excitations, tBLG shows enhanced transient response with longer carrier compared to AB stacked bilayer graphene. Further, we find that the origin of this unexpected optical response can be best explained by the presence of a lower lying bound exciton state predicted by recent theoretical simulations. This suggests that tBLG is a novel 2D hybrid material that enables the creation of both strongly-bound excitons along-side highly-conductive continuum states. Recently, the family of 2D vdW materials has grown appreciably. As such, there are countless possibilities for stacking and twisting 2D vDw materials to produce similar interlayer electronic states for next generation optoelectronics.
A descoberta de uma identidade pós-colonial em Esse cabelo , de Djaimilia Pereira de Almeida

In this essay I analyze the way in which the representation of hair, the part of the body chosen by Djaimilia Pereira de Almeida to be the focal point of her novel Esse cabelo (2015), enables a dialog among questions of gender, sexuality, class, race and ethnicity in Post-colonial Portugal. --- DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.22409/abriluff.2017n18a371
A novel approach to estimating density of American badgers (Taxidea taxus) using automatic cameras at water sources in the Chihuahuan Desert

American badgers (Taxidea taxus) are large members of the weasel family Mustelidae. Badgers are important predators and creators of burrows in ecosystems in which they occur, but they are not well studied. Their range occurs over most of North America; however, most studies of badgers have occurred in California and the northern portions of their range, while few have occurred in southern habitats. Badger density has been estimated in Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, and British Columbia with no estimates from desert habitats. To measure badger density in a desert habitat, we placed automatic cameras at anthropogenic water sources (drinkers) in the Chihuahuan Desert, identified individual badgers by their dorsal head stripes, and estimated density using spatially explicit capture-recapture analysis. We modeled the detection process for individuals as a function of time, survey region, a learned and trap-specific behavioral response, and a finite mixture model. We then hypothesized that soil composition, soil depth, and land cover influence variation in badger density. From 1,282 camera-nights, we recorded 301 badger visits (23.5 visits per 100 camera-nights) and identified 30 individuals 170 times. The top model included a trap-specific behavioral effect for λ0, a finite mixture model for the σ parameter, which controls the spatial scale over which the expected number of detections declines, and indicated that soil depth was an important covariate explaining variation in badger density. Estimated badger density was 0.10 badgers/km2 (95% CI = 0.03–0.31), which is considerably less than the reported density estimates for nonendangered nondesert populations. Our method helps provide researchers with an ability to estimate density for American badgers in arid ecosystems. With modification, our method may be used across the geographic range of badgers, facilitating better understanding of an understudied species.
Engineering multicellular systems: Using synthetic biology to control tissue self-organization

Abstract The control of multicellular systems in general and of tissue formation in particular is a frontier for regenerative medicine and basic biological research. Current manipulations of multicellular systems such as tissue engineering, in vitro organoid development, and stem cell differentiation are revolutionizing the field, yet remain confronted with difficulties controlling precision, complexity, and functional integration. New methodologies and tools are needed to address these issues before the ambitious goal of building complex, customizable organs and tissues can be achieved. One promising approach is starting to make gains in this area: the genetic engineering of cellular signaling to directly or indirectly affect cellular self-organization. This review will focus on genetic manipulations that make use of, and/or are modeled after, the self-organization programs that multicellular systems use during development and regeneration. In particular, current examples and future directions of the following three areas will be explored: (i) Engineering developmental trajectories in non-developmental systems, with an example for epithelial patterning; (ii) Engineering control in developmental systems, with an example of increasing cellular composition complexity in stem cell differentiation; (iii) Engineering regeneration in non-regenerating systems, with an example from limb regeneration with engineered cells. The use of synthetic biology to control the genetic layer of these three areas will undoubtedly uncover important rules dictating cellular self-organization, putting us one step closer to a powerful approach for building multicellular systems, one we will call synthetic tissue development. In the future, we anticipate that convergence of this approach with more established approaches to multicellular system control will lead to improved functional tissue formation in vitro and the possibility of transformative advances in regenerative medicine.
Standardized reporting of appendicitis-related findings improves reliability of ultrasound in diagnosing appendicitis in children.

Abstract Purpose Our objective was to increase ultrasound reliability for diagnosing appendicitis in an academic children's hospital emergency department (ED) through a multidisciplinary quality improvement initiative. Methods A retrospective review of ultrasound use in patients diagnosed with appendicitis in our ED from 1/1/2011 to 6/30/2014 established a baseline cohort. From 8/1/2014 to 7/31/2015 a diagnostic algorithm that prioritized ultrasound over CT was used in our ED, and a standardized template was implemented for the reporting of appendicitis-related ultrasound findings by our radiologists. Results Of 627 patients diagnosed with appendicitis in the ED during the retrospective review, 46.1% (n=289) had an ultrasound. After implementation of the diagnostic algorithm and standardized ultrasound report, 88.4% (n=236) of 267 patients diagnosed with appendicitis had an ultrasound (p Conclusions Ultrasound reliability for the diagnosis of appendicitis in children can be improved through standardized results reporting. However, these changes should be made as part of a multidisciplinary quality improvement initiative to account for the initial learning curve necessary to increase experience. Level of Evidence Level II, Study of Diagnostic Test.
Conclusion: Future Directions in Measuring Well-Being

The studies in the present volume point to several facts that we have learned about defining and measuring well-being. First, we know with a degree of certainty that there are separable components of well-being, such as life judgments versus positive emotions, and we know some of the factors that are more likely to be more associated with certain components versus others. Lucas, Diener, and Suh (1996) showed clearly in a multi-trait multi-method study that several types of wellbeing are discriminable, and the Diener, Kahneman, et al. chapter in this volume shows that these types of well-being are sometimes predicted by very different factors.
Challenges with simulator development for ultrasonography training: developing hardware - software interface

This paper discusses the challenges of optimizing the hardware - software interface in developing an ultrasonography simulator training tool. The tool will be used to train medical clinicians whose practice involves comprehensive and problem-specific physical examination of the patient with the use of ultrasound. Ultrasonography is a user-dependent technology; operators must possess both physical and cognitive ultrasonography capability to include mechanical manipulation of the transducer and image capture and interpretation. There are three major challenges in developing a simulator training tool that provides both physical (hardware) and cognitive (software-visualization) learning experiences: 1) interface design, 2) hardware utilization, and 3) the integration of software for simulating volume of ultrasound beams and visualization of images. Multi-disciplinary expertise and numerous iterations of integrating hard- and software capabilities have brought about the success of both mechanical components and visualization capability of this ultrasonography simulator training tool.
Generalized Linear Differential Systems and Associated Boundary Problems

Publisher Summary This chapter explores all the basic properties and applications of the generalized linear differential systems and associated boundary problems. The intimate relationship between scalar second-order linear homogeneous differential equations and systems of difference equations is well known. The chapter described three types of applications: (1) systems with interface conditions, (2) boundary problems involving integrodifferential systems, and (3) some related differential and difference systems. In the real self-adjoint case, the existence of analogous comparison and oscillation properties of solutions dates from the work of Sturm.
Neutron Drift in Heterogeneous Media

It is shown that in a medium consisting of asymmetric cells, neutrons can ''drift,'' or diffuse, in a special preferred direction. The drift is caused by selective asymmetric changes in the cross sections in each cell. Several physical mechanisms are described that produce a drift, and a possible application in a reflector design is discussed. (A reflector constructed of asymmetric cells, oriented so that the drift is always directed toward the reactor core, would be more efficient than a homogeneous driftless reflector.) The theoretical treatment consists of an asymptotic analysis of the one-dimensional neutron transport equation. A simple modification of the diffusion equation describes the neutron drift, and numerical results for several problems are provided. The solution of an initial value problem for the transport equation in an asymmetric cellular medium is compared to the corresponding diffusion theory problem. The results are in reasonably good agreement for both short and long times.
QoS-Guided Bandwidth Management in Differentiated Time Scales

This paper presents an integrated approach to QoS-guided network bandwidth allocation where each traffic flow requires a sufficient bandwidth allocation to support its mean traffic rate and to meet a delay requirement. Under the assumption that the peak rate of each traffic flow is decreasing with the time interval within which the rate is measured, we derive an analytical relationship between the delay bound and the bandwidth requirement for each individual flow. Then, based on a Gaussian aggregate traffic model, we show that two key controllable parameters, the coefficient of variation and the provision for variation for the aggregate traffic flow, determine all three fundamental QoS attributes (throughput, delay, and loss). We illustrate by examples that these results can be used to design admission policies. We demonstrate also quantitatively a remarkable QoS advantage of larger channel bandwidth in a statistical multiplexing environment. The analytical contributions are expected to be generally useful in QoS-guided bandwidth management in broadband networks.