cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The relationship between space and mutual interaction: Kant contra Newton and Leibniz

AbstractKant claims that we cannot cognize the mutual interaction of substances without their being in space; he also claims that we cannot cognize a ‘spatial community’ among substances without their being in mutual interaction. I situate these theses in their historical context and consider Kant’s reasons for accepting them. I argue that they rest on commitments regarding the metaphysical grounding of, first, the possibility of mutual interaction among substances-as-appearances and, second, the actuality of specific distance-relations among such substances. By illuminating these commitments, I shed light on Kant’s metaphysics of space and its relation to Newton and Leibniz’s views.
Parent-Child Interaction Therapy in Child Welfare

Parent training programs are the most common type of service prescribed for parents in the child welfare system. Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), an evidence-based model originally developed as a parent-mediated treatment for disruptive behavior problems in preschool-age children, has been adapted as an intervention for maltreating parents of preschool- and school-age children. PCIT uses behavioral principles to: (a) increase positive parenting skills; (b) enhance the parent-child relationship; (c) establish effective and consistent behavior management strategies; and (d) decrease child behavior problems. The adapted version of PCIT for child welfare populations includes a motivational enhancement component which has been found necessary for reducing child welfare recidivism. Additional PCIT research findings indicate significant improvements in mental health and behavior among children in the child welfare system. The PCIT model is flexible and has been extended to home-based services and foster care settings. The fact that PCIT robustly delivers two types of benefits (i.e. reduced recidivism risk among abusive parents and improved wellbeing and behavior among children) in one compact and focused intervention makes it particularly appealing for child welfare service systems. This chapter describes PCIT and the adaptations that have been made for use in child welfare. The chapter also addresses cross-cultural adaptations of PCIT and summarizes some barriers and related implementation strategies.
Association of hypertension and treatment outcomes in advanced stage non-small cell lung cancer patients treated with bevacizumab or non-bevacizumab containing regimens.

Background Studies suggest that bevacizumab-induced hypertension is prognostic of better outcomes in bevacizumab-treated patients with metastatic colorectal, HER2-negative breast, kidney, and pancreatic cancer. Few have examined this correlation in metastatic non-small cell lung cancer and evaluated whether hypertension independent of bevacizumab can improve the treatment outcomes. Objectives The primary objective was to determine the effect of hypertension on the overall response of advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients from start of the first-line chemotherapy to maintenance therapy. Secondary objectives include the effect of hypertension on the overall survival in all patients and on the overall response in bevacizumab-treated patients. Methods A retrospective chart review for a single institution was conducted from 2008 to 2013 on all patients with advanced non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer who received ≥ 1 cycle of combination chemotherapy. Patients were divided into hypertension versus no hypertension and into bevacizumab versus non-bevacizumab groups. Results Of the 188 advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients evaluated, 62 were treated with bevacizumab-containing regimens. The mean age at diagnosis was 58 years in both the groups. Hypertension independent of bevacizumab did not lead to improved treatment outcomes. However, in the bevacizumab subgroup, hypertensive patients had significantly higher response rates versus non-hypertensive patients (36.7% vs. 12.5%; p = 0.02). There was no significant difference in the overall survival between hypertensive versus non-hypertensive patients. Conclusion While hypertension alone did not significantly improve the treatment outcomes, hypertension in bevacizumab-treated patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer led to significantly improved responses. Further prospective studies are needed to confirm the association of hypertension with improved treatment outcomes in metastatic NSCLC.
Cardiopatch platform enables maturation and scale-up of human pluripotent stem cell-derived engineered heart tissues

Despite increased use of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) for drug development and disease modeling studies, methods to generate large, functional heart tissues for human therapy are lacking. Here we present a "Cardiopatch" platform for 3D culture and maturation of hiPSC-CMs that after 5 weeks of differentiation show robust electromechanical coupling, consistent H-zones, I-bands, and evidence for T-tubules and M-bands. Cardiopatch maturation markers and functional output increase during culture, approaching values of adult myocardium. Cardiopatches can be scaled up to clinically relevant dimensions, while preserving spatially uniform properties with high conduction velocities and contractile stresses. Within window chambers in nude mice, cardiopatches undergo vascularization by host vessels and continue to fire Ca2+ transients. When implanted onto rat hearts, cardiopatches robustly engraft, maintain pre-implantation electrical function, and do not increase the incidence of arrhythmias. These studies provide enabling technology for future use of hiPSC-CM tissues in human heart repair.
Candida albicans FRE8 encodes a member of the NADPH oxidase family that produces a burst of ROS during fungal morphogenesis

Until recently, NADPH oxidase (NOX) enzymes were thought to be a property of multicellularity, where the reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by NOX acts in signaling processes or in attacking invading microbes through oxidative damage. We demonstrate here that the unicellular yeast and opportunistic fungal pathogen Candida albicans is capable of a ROS burst using a member of the NOX enzyme family, which we identify as Fre8. C. albicans can exist in either a unicellular yeast-like budding form or as filamentous multicellular hyphae or pseudohyphae, and the ROS burst of Fre8 begins as cells transition to the hyphal state. Fre8 is induced during hyphal morphogenesis and specifically produces ROS at the growing tip of the polarized cell. The superoxide dismutase Sod5 is co-induced with Fre8 and our findings are consistent with a model in which extracellular Sod5 acts as partner for Fre8, converting Fre8-derived superoxide to the diffusible H2O2 molecule. Mutants of fre8Δ/Δ exhibit a morphogenesis defect in vitro and are specifically impaired in development or maintenance of elongated hyphae, a defect that is rescued by exogenous sources of H2O2. A fre8Δ/Δ deficiency in hyphal development was similarly observed in vivo during C. albicans invasion of the kidney in a mouse model for disseminated candidiasis. Moreover C. albicans fre8Δ/Δ mutants showed defects in a rat catheter model for biofilms. Together these studies demonstrate that like multicellular organisms, C. albicans expresses NOX to produce ROS and this ROS helps drive fungal morphogenesis in the animal host.
Introduction: Avoidance of Spontaneously Occurring Errors in DNA

In order to perpetuate species homogeneity, DNA replication must be an exceptionally accurate process. Yet, a small number of mistakes in DNA replication must also be permitted to promote species evolution. The mechanism for achieving high fidelity with bacterial systems has been investigated extensively. The major contributors to accuracy are the DNA polymerases themselves. Alterations in DNA polymerases and associated proteins can modulate fidelity and effect mutagenesis. In animal cells, the accuracy of DNA replication is likely to be even higher than in bacteria. Measurements of spontaneous mutation frequencies in animal cells suggest that the average frequency of errors in DNA replication is in the range of 10−9 to 10−11 errors per base pair replicated. This value is the net result of errors made during DNA replication and repair minus the correction of these mistakes by processes such as mismatch correction.
Rural Health Disparities: The Economic Argument

The traditional understanding of mainstream economic activity is the speculation that such events occur separate from political power. This chapter argues this notion and provides evidence of the connections between political decision-making to the economic circumstances of rural populations. First, this chapter describes three distinct ways economic activities are articulated in the literature. This chapter then describes how each activity applies to and impacts rural health outcomes. This chapter will then end, how it began, with scientific justifications that economic activity and political decision-making are consistently juxtaposed.
Triceps Tendon Anatomic Repair Utilizing the "Suture Bridge" Technique.

Triceps tendon ruptures are uncommon injuries, but they typically require surgical repair. Multiple primary repair techniques are available, including transosseous, suture anchor, and anatomic repairs. The technique described here, the “suture bridge” repair, provides an anatomic repair of the distal triceps tendon to its footprint. It has the potential advantages of increased load to failure, better footprint coverage, higher load resistance, and allows for early motion.
Gender and Cartoons from Theaters to Television: Feminist Critique on the Early Years of Cartoons:

From adults to children, from theaters to television, cartoons are one of the few major popular art forms that have been able to consistently redefine their audience as they experiment and change a...
Security on Autopilot: Why Current Security Theories Hijack our Thinking and Lead Us Astray

Most current information systems security theories assume a rational actor making deliberate decisions, yet recent research in psychology suggests that such deliberate thinking is not as common as we would expect. Much of human behavior is controlled by nonconscious automatic cognition (called System 1 cognition). The deliberate rational cognition of System 2 is triggered when System 1 detects something that is not normal; otherwise we often operate on autopilot. When we do engage System 2 cognition, it is influenced by the System 1 cognition that preceded it. In this paper we present an alternative theoretical approach to information security that is based on the nonconscious automatic cognition of System 1. In a System 1 world, cognition is a sub-second process of pattern-matching a stimulus to an existing person-context heuristic. These person-context heuristics are influenced by personality characteristics and a lifetime of experiences in the context. Thus System 1 theories are closely tied to individuals and the specific security context of interest. Methods to improve security compliance take on a very new form; the traditional approaches to security education and training that provide guidelines and ways to think about security have no effect when behavior is controlled by System 1, because System 1 cognition is instant pattern matching not deliberative. Thus in a System 1 world, we improve security by changing the heuristics used by System 1's pattern matching and/or by changing what System 1 sees as "normal" so that it triggers the deliberate cognition of System 2. In this article, we examine System 1 and System 2 cognition, while calling for increased research to develop theories of System 1 cognition in the cybersecurity literature.
High-throughput field phenotyping in dry bean using small unmanned aerial vehicle based multispectral imagery

Abstract Phenotyping traits in large field crop trials with numerous breeding lines is an arduous task. Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) based remote sensing is currently being investigated for high-throughput agricultural field phenotyping applications. The system is conducive for rapid assessment of crop response to the environment, at a desired spatio-temporal resolution. Therefore, objective of this study was to evaluate such technology towards monitoring responses of dry bean lines to drought and low nitrogen stress (i.e., two trials and two seasons) under field conditions. A semi-automated image processing protocol was developed to extract features such as: (i) average green normalized difference vegetation index (GNDVI); and (ii) canopy area (total number of plant pixels) from individual plots. The data were acquired at mid-pod fill and late-pod fill growth stages in 2014 season, and at flowering, mid-pod fill, and late-pod fill growth stages in 2015 season. The relationships between remotely sensed image features with that of crop response variables such as seed yield, days to flowering, days to harvest maturity, days to seed fill, and biomass rating (for drought trial only) were assessed temporally. Overall, in drought experiment, both average GNDVI and canopy area were significantly correlated with seed yield in all trials at 5% level of significance. The average GNDVI and canopy area at flowering growth stages and average GNDVI at mid-pod fill stage were consistently highly correlated (r > 0.73) with seed yield. The average GNDVI at flowering (r of −0.54 to −0.73) and mid-pod fill (r of −0.52 to −0.73) stages was highly correlated with biomass rating. Thus, average GNDVI could possibly be used as a viable phenotype for capturing biomass differences as well. A pilot thermal imaging of the sample breeding plots in drought trials also indicated its potential in capturing the temperature differences resulting from stress. For the nitrogen stress experiment, the correlations between remotely sensed image features and response variables were lower than in the drought experiment. The nitrogen from vegetative growth did not effeciently partition into seed production, which could have resulted in low correlations.
Language in Aged Persons

The ability to understand and remember language depends on a coordinated array of processing components that translate an orthographic or acoustic signal into meaning. Language production is similarly multifaceted, requiring message formulation from which a surface form is constructed. Aging brings both growth (e.g., knowledge) and decline (e.g., speed of processing) in computational capacity, resulting in a variety of changes in both of these aspects of language processing. Evidence for these changes can be found in behavioral data, event-related potentials, and imaging.
Economic Value Added, Future Accounting Earnings, and Financial Analysts' Earnings Per Share Forecasts

Empirical research to date on the relative effectiveness of Economic Value Added (EVA) and earnings per share (EPS) as measures of firm performance for stock valuation has been mixed. In contrast to prior research, which primarily focuses on the correspondence of these measures with shareholder value and changes therein, we examine their relative effectiveness in predicting future earnings and their role in enhancing the accuracy of analysts' forecasts. Our results indicate that EVA contains information that is incremental to EPS in predicting future earnings. In addition, we find that despite this potential for EVA to add incremental value to analysts' forecasts of future earnings, analysts do not use the information in reported EVA appropriately, but appear rather to overweigh it.
Critical fields and vortex structure of YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7 − δ derived from reversible magnetization

The magnetic-field and temperature dependence of the Ginzburg-Landau order parameter 〈f〉 is derived from magnetization studies for grain-aligned ${\mathrm{YBa}}_{2}$${\mathrm{Cu}}_{3}$${\mathrm{O}}_{7\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{\ensuremath{\delta}}}$ in the region of thermodynamic reversibility, based on the Hao-Clem model. The value of 〈f〉 at 5 T and 89 K is still 52.3% of the zero-field value. Fitting the magnetization data to the Hao-Clem theory reveals that ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\kappa}}}_{\mathit{c}}$ is a slowly decreasing function of temperature near ${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{c}}$. ${\mathit{H}}_{\mathit{c}}$(T) and ${\mathit{H}}_{\mathit{c}2}$(T) were determined with high precision along with the ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\kappa}}}_{\mathit{c}}$(T) values. The detailed shape of the order parameter is derived from ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\kappa}}}_{\mathit{c}}$(T) and ${\mathit{H}}_{\mathit{c}}$(T) data. Characteristic variables derived from the data are ${\mathit{H}}_{\mathit{c}}$(0)=1.18\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{4}$ Oe, ${\ensuremath{\lambda}}_{\mathit{a}\mathit{b}}$(0)=1.31\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{3}$ \AA{}, and ${\ensuremath{\xi}}_{\mathit{a}\mathit{b}}$(0)=18 \AA{}. The BCS fitting of ${\mathit{H}}_{\mathit{c}}$ reveals that the value of -${\mathit{dH}}_{\mathit{c}2}$/dT decreases from 2.25 T/K at T=82 to 1.9 T/K at ${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{c}}$ of 92.4 K.
Host clinical preceptors' perceptions of professionalism among learners completing global health electives.

This study aims to gain an understanding of the perceptions of host clinical preceptors in Malawi and Lesotho of the professionalism exhibited by short-term learners from the United States and Canada during short-term global health electives.
Hodgkin–Huxley Neuron and FPAA Dynamics

We present the experimental silicon results on the dynamics of a Hodgkin–Huxley neuron implemented on a reconfigurable platform. The circuit has been inspired by the similarity between biology and silicon, by modeling ion channels and their time constants. Another significant motivation behind this paper is to make the system available to circuit designers as well as users in the neuroscience community. The open-source tool infrastructure and a remote system ease the accessibility of our system to a number of users. We demonstrate the reproducibility of the results by replicating the dynamics across different boards along with responses from different inputs and with different parameters. The reconfigurability enables one to make use of a single primary design to obtain a variety of results. The measurements are taken from the system compiled on a field programmable analog array fabricated on a 350-nm process.
Mesh-Free Simulation of Spatially Inhomogeneous Aerosols in Arbitrary Geometries

AbstractWhile many issues affect the composition and quantity of the nuclear source term, one significant factor is the existence of aerosols. These aerosols, found in the containment structure and in the primary reactor vessel, are usually simulated with the assumption that they are spatially homogeneous. We describe here new investigations of the applications of the Direct Simulation Monte Carlo method and a mesh-free technique to spatially inhomogeneous aerosol evolution in a number of nonspherical and complex geometries. Deposition, coagulation, and condensation aerosol processes are included, and results are reported for a sphere, ellipsoid, torus, elliptical cylinder, cuboid, and a spherical geometry containing an internal obstruction. Our progress here is a precursor to construction of an MCNP-like code for simulating aerosol evolution.
Quality of Item Pool (QIP) Index: A Novel Approach to Evaluating CAT Item Pool Adequacy.

This article introduces the Quality of Item Pool (QIP) Index, a novel approach to quantifying the adequacy of an item pool of a computerized adaptive test for a given set of test specifications and...
Filling Adeno-Associated Virus Capsids: Estimating Success by Cryo-Electron Microscopy

Adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) have been employed successfully as gene therapy vectors in treating various genetic diseases for almost two decades. However, transgene packaging is usually imperfect, and developing a rapid and accurate method for measuring the proportion of DNA encapsidation is an important step for improving the downstream process of large scale vector production. In this study, we used two-dimensional class averages and three-dimensional classes, intermediate outputs in the single particle cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) image reconstruction pipeline, to determine the proportion of DNA-packaged and empty capsid populations. Two different preparations of AAV3 were analyzed to estimate the minimum number of particles required to be sampled by cryo-EM in order for robust calculation of the proportion of the full versus empty capsids in any given sample. Cost analysis applied to the minimum amount of data required for a valid ratio suggests that cryo-EM is an effective approach to analyze vector preparations.
Electromyographic changes with delayed auditory feedback of speech

Abstract: EMG recordings from selected laryngeal and supralaryngeal muscles of normal speakers were obtained during normal auditory feedback and delayed auditory feedback (DAF) conditions. The changes in muscle function were analyzed and compared to EMG recordings previously obtained from subjects who stutter. The main effect of DAF was to alter the timing of muscle activity. Prolongations and repetitions were sometimes manifest directly in prolonged and repeated peaks of activity while in other instances the changes were indirectly reflected in increased time between peaks and fragmentation of normally coherent peaks of activity. The amplitude of EMG activity was also altered by DAF but the direction of amplitude change varied with muscles and subjects. Similarities and differences were found between EMG patterns of normal speakers under DAF and EMG patterns of stutterers.
Short-term mortality risks among patients with oropharynx cancer by human papillomavirus status

BACKGROUND There is substantial variation in head and neck cancer (HNC) mortality and competing mortality among patients with HNC. In this study, the authors characterize the causes and risks of short-term mortality among patients with oropharynx cancer (OPC) and how these risks differ by human papillomavirus (HPV) status. METHODS A custom Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) data set with HPV status was used to identify 4930 patients with OPC who were diagnosed with nonmetastatic (M0) disease from 2013 to 2014, including 3560 (72.2%) HPV-positive patients and 1370 HPV-negative patients. Causes of death and cumulative incidence estimates for HNC-specific mortality, competing mortality, second-cancer mortality, and noncancer mortality were analyzed by HPV status. Risk factors for mortality events were determined using multivariable competing risk regression models. RESULTS Compared with HPV-negative patients, HPV-positive patients had a lower risk of 2-year cumulative incidence of all-cause mortality (10.4% vs 33.3%; P < .0001) and a lower risk of both HNC-specific mortality (4.8% vs 16.2%; P < .0001) and competing-cause mortality (5.6% vs 16.8%; P < .0001). Second-cancer mortality was the most common cause of non-HNC mortality among HPV-negative patients. Both second-cancer mortality and noncancer mortality were significantly higher among patients who had HPV-negative OPC (10.8% and 6.1%, respectively) compared with those who had HPV-positive OPC (2.4% and 3.2%, respectively; both P < .0001). The median follow-up was 11 months (range 1-23 months) in this cohort with known HPV-status. CONCLUSIONS Patients with HPV-positive and HPV-negative OPC have significantly different rates of both HNC mortality and competing mortality. HPV-negative patients are at substantial risk of competing mortality, even within 2 years of cancer diagnosis. These differences can inform power calculations for clinical trials and patient management in the acute and survivorship settings.
The Role of Social Support and Psychological Well-Being in STEM Performance Trends across Gender and Locality: Evidence from Ghana

This study focuses on trends in STEM performance and inclusiveness. We examine performance trajectories in STEM subjects, the predictive role of social support and psychological well-being of students, and variations across student gender and school locality (rural vs urban). We used three waves of data from 135 junior high school students in Ghana. Multilevel growth curve modeling was used to assess the trajectories and the socio-environmental predictors of STEM performance, and posthoc power calculation was used to confirm the adequacy of the sample size. Results show that overall, students’ STEM performance improves over time. Minimal gender differences exist but depend on the subject area and evolve with time. We observed a nuanced “urban advantage,” with rural students starting well but declining over time. Among various indicators of social support and psychological well-being, teacher support was the strongest positive predictor of STEM performance. The study highlights the need to focus on the structural and cultural impediments to STEM education at the lower levels of education in order not to risk excluding marginalized groups early in the education system. Further, STEM interventions may do well to incorporate long-term measures to sustain girls’ interest, motivation, and efforts in STEM.
An experimental investigation of the Rossby two-slit problem

The problem of the transmission of wave energy through small gaps arises in a variety of physical contexts. Here we consider the problem of Rossby waves encountering a barrier with two small gaps. In contrast to waves encountering a barrier with one small gap, in which very little wave energy is predicted to transmit across the barrier, when there are two or more gaps linear theory predicts that the barrier may be surprisingly inefficient at blocking the transmission of Rossby wave energy, owing to the requirement that circulation be conserved around individual segments of the barrier. However, the theory neglects viscosity in the main basin interiors and nonlinear effects in the basins and the gaps. To examine these effects, here we present the results of a series of laboratory experiments in which Rossby basin modes interact with a barrier with zero, one or two gaps. We find that the large-scale waves are able to transmit across the barrier with two gaps as predicted by the theory. However, while the linear theory captures the large-scale flow structures, viscosity and nonlinearity significantly affect the flow along the boundaries and near the gaps in the barrier.
Modern Military Justice: Cases and Materials: Chapter One

This textbook is about the modern military justice system of the United States. It covers court-martial procedures, substantive criminal law, and nonjudicial punishment under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, in addition to the Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act, which gives federal courts jurisdiction over certain acts committed abroad. The Third Edition includes several recent cases and updates that address the significant changes made in the 2019 Manual for Courts-Martial, the Military Justice Act of 2016, and other recent legislation.
Mathematical modelling of the use of insecticide-treated nets for elimination of visceral leishmaniasis in Bihar, India

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a deadly neglected tropical disease caused by a parasite Leishmania donovani and spread by female sand flies Phlebotomus argentipes. There is conflicting evidence reg...
Improving the Pediatric Floor Discharge Process Following Tonsillectomy.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS Over 300,000 tonsillectomies are performed nationwide every year. In 2017, half of children undergoing tonsillectomy at our institution were admitted to the pediatric floor, with only 10.4% being discharged before 11 AM on postoperative day 1 (POD1). Our primary objective was to increase the percentage of patients discharged before 11 AM on POD1 to at least 50% within 1 year. STUDY DESIGN Prospective observational (quality improvement). METHODS A multidisciplinary quality improvement (QI) team was assembled. The primary outcome was "timely discharges," defined as percentage of patients discharged before 11 AM on POD1; secondary outcomes were percentage of patients discharged before 1 PM and mean length of stay (hours). Seven-day readmission rate served as our balancing measure. Prior year data served as baseline. A process map, Ishikawa diagram, and Pareto chart were utilized to identify specific target areas for improvement. Key interventions included announcement of our initiative, an electronic health record-based handoff text prompt, discharge checklist, automated discharge instructions, encouragement to place discharge orders by 9 AM and implementation of early POD1 rounds. Data were collected on a biweekly basis and the primary and secondary outcomes were plotted on control charts and analyzed using rules for special cause variation. RESULTS Within 12 months, POD1 discharges before 11 AM and before 1 PM increased to 44.9% and 83.8%, respectively, with sustained improvement for the first 6 months of the subsequent year. Mean length of stay decreased, and 7-day readmission rates were unchanged. CONCLUSIONS By understanding the factors influencing timely POD1 discharges after tonsillectomy, key interventions were implemented to achieve an increase in timely discharges. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III Laryngoscope, 2021.
Ensiling Poultry Manure as a Feedstuff for Ruminants

The nutritional value of poultry manure has been well documented by many researchers but Fontenot, et al., at Virginia Polytechnic Institute has done more in recent years to substantiate the nutritional value of poultry manure in ruminant feeding.
An open-source method for analysis of confocal calcium imaging with sparse cells

Background: The research in the neuroscience field has evolved to use complex imaging and computational tools to extract comprehensive information from data sets. Calcium imaging is a widely used technique that requires sophisticated software to get precise and reproducible results. Many laboratories struggle to adopt computational methods due to the lack of computational knowledge and paywalls for software. New Method: Here we propose a calcium imaging analysis method using TrackMate, an open-source Fiji plugin, to track neurons at single-cell resolution, detect regions of interest (ROIs), and extract fluorescence intensities. For confocal images, this method uses the maximal value to represent the cell intensity for each z stack. This method can be done without coding or be combined with Python or Jupyter Notebook scripts to accelerate the analysis. Results: This method is validated in fly larval cool neurons, whose calcium changes in these neurons respond to temperature fluctuation. It also identifies potential problems in approaches that extract signals from maximal projection images. Comparison with existing methods: This method does not depend on programming knowledge and/or commercial software but uses open-source software and requires no coding abilities. Since TrackMate automatically defines ROIs, this method greatly avoids human error and increases reproducibility. In addition, practice images and a step-by-step guide are provided to help users adopt this method in their experiments. Conclusions: Therefore, this open-source method allows for the analysis of calcium imaging data at single-cell resolution with high reproducibility and has the potential to be applied in various cell types and animal models by researchers with different programming abilities.
On the Journey to a Contemplative Library: Reflections from a Professional Community of Practice

This perspective article acquaints readers with the creation of a professional community of practice around contemplative pedagogy (CP), a rationale for CP in libraries, and how CP and mindfulness ...
Predictors of Population Awareness of Cancer Genetic Tests: Implications for Enhancing Equity in Engaging in Cancer Prevention and Precision Medicine.

Racial and ethnic disparities in genetic awareness (GA) can diminish the impact of personalized cancer treatment and risk assessment. We assessed factors predictive of GA in a diverse population-based sample to inform awareness strategies and reduce disparities in genetic testing. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted from July 2019 to August 2019, with the survey e-mailed to 7,575 adult residents in southeastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Constructs from National Cancer Institute Health Information and National Trends Survey assessed cancer attitudes or beliefs, health literacy, and numeracy. Characteristics were summarized with mean ± standard deviation for numeric variables and frequency counts and percentages for categorical variables. Comparison of factors by race or ethnicity (non-Hispanic White and non-Hispanic Black) and sex was conducted by t-tests, chi-square, or Fisher's exact tests. Multivariate logistic regression models were conducted to identify factors independently predictive of GA. Results Of 1,557 respondents, data from 940 respondents (the mean age was 45 ± 16.2 years, 35.5% males, and 23% non-Hispanic Blacks) were analyzed. Factors associated with higher GA included female gender (P Conclusion This population-based study conducted in the precision medicine era identified novel modifiable factors, importantly perceptions of cancer genetics and medical literacy, as predictive of GA, which informs strategies to promote equitable engagement in genetically based cancer care.
Anesthesia in the Presence of Complications

Pathologic conditions associated with pregnancy and coincidental maternal diseases pose special problems which need to be considered in providing analgesia-anesthesia to the parturient. The scope of this brochure and space limitations preclude consideration of all the complications that may be encountered in clinical practice. The following conditions will be considered in this chapter: toxemia of pregnancy, heart disease, diabetes mellitus, prematurity, and fetal distress.
Stereo with Verging Cameras

Computing range from stereo requires first matching the images taken by the left and right cameras to determine disparities, and then transforming these into absolute distances. A great deal of research in computer vision, robotics, photogrammetry, psychology, and neurophysiology has addressed both of these problems. Our contribution to this research is to develop and analyze a practical system for computing range from stereo for a particular camera system with a pair of verging cameras. Other approaches to stereo ranging with verging cameras are explored in [102, Appendix B], and in [35, 116].
A Bag Full of Snakes: Negotiating the Challenges of Multimodal Composition

Abstract Because of the vast changes to the communication landscape over the last two decades, along with the influence of emerging technologies on students’ writing practices, empirical studies that describe students’ experiences in multimodal composing are required to determine how the goals and practices of composition teaching might be better supported and reimagined. In response to this exigency, this article presents findings from an empirical study of graduate and undergraduate writers’ multimodal composing processes. Findings from focus group interviews and written reflections show that students’ attempts to draw on their print-based rhetorical knowledge while composing multimodally worked well when they perceived print-based and multimodal composing tasks as similar, but they faced significant difficulties when they perceived the need to adapt their print-based composing knowledge to suit new or unfamiliar aspects of multimodal composing. Specifically, students found it difficult to conceptualize an audience and negotiate the multiple semiotic resources afforded by multimodal composing. In an effort to mitigate such challenges, we provide two conceptual frameworks that help students move more fluidly between print-based and multimodal composing. These pedagogical approaches enable writing specialists to better support students’ efforts to engage successfully in multimodal composition tasks.
Secure Data Management in Decentralized Systems

The field of database security has expanded greatly, with the rapid development of global inter-networked infrastructure. Databases are no longer stand-alone systems accessible only to internal users of organizations. Today, businesses must allow selective access from different security domains. New data services emerge every day, bringing complex challenges to those whose job is to protect data security. The Internet and the web offer means for collecting and sharing data with unprecedented flexibility and convenience, presenting threats and challenges of their own. This book identifies and addresses these new challenges and more, offering solid advice for practitioners and researchers in industry.
Contradictory relationship between Hurst parameter and queueing performance (extended version)

Long Range Dependent (LRD) network traffic does not behave like the traffic generated by the Poisson model or other Markovian models. From the network performance point of view, the main difference is that LRD traffic increases queueing delays due to its burstiness over many time scales. LRD behavior has been observed in different types and sizes of networks, for different applications (e.g., WWW) and different traffic aggregations. Since LRD behaviour is not rare nor isolated, accurate characterization of LRD traffic is very important in order to predict performance and to allocate network resources. The Hurst parameter is commonly used to quantify the degree of LRD and the burstiness of the traffic. In this paper we investigate the validity and effectiveness of the Hurst parameter. To this end, we analyze the UCLA Computer Science Department network traffic traces and compute their Hurst parameters. Queueing simulation is used to study the impact of LRD and to determine if the Hurst parameter accurately describes such LRD. Our results show that the Hurst parameter is not by itself an accurate predictor of the queueing performance for a given LRD traffic trace.
Studies on the control of fatty acid synthesis. I. Stimulation by (+)-palmitylcarnitine of fatty acid synthesis in liver preparations from fed and fasted rats.

Abstract Hepatic long chain fatty acid synthesis from labeled acetate but not labeled malonyl coenzyme A was greatly increased by dl-palmitylcarnitine or (+)-palmitylcarnitine. Only long chain fatty acyl carnitine derivatives were effective in stimulating lipogenesis. The increase induced by 50 µm (+)-palmitylcarnitine was approximately 5-fold in liver supernatant fractions prepared from fed rats and 10-fold in preparations from fasted animals. (-)-Carnitine and (-)-palmitylcarnitine also increased fatty acid synthesis from acetate, but to a considerably lesser extent. Deoxycarnitine decreased acetate incorporation into fatty acids. Rates of acetate incorporation into fatty acids by fasted liver preparations supplemented with (+)-palmitylcarnitine were higher than those obtained in nonsupplemented livers from fed rats, but were still less than values achieved in (+)-palmitylcarnitine-treated livers from fed animals. Stimulation of fatty acid synthesis by (+)-palmitylcarnitine was shown to be at the level of malonyl-CoA formation. Partially purified preparations of acetyl-CoA carboxylase were activated equally well by either (+)- or (-)-palmitylcarnitine at all citrate concentrations tested, provided that enzyme preparations were free of carnitine palmityltransferase activity. Palmityl-CoA inhibition of acetyl-CoA carboxylase was partially relieved by (+)-palmitylcarnitine in the presence or absence of citrate or malonate. It was concluded that inhibition of hepatic fatty acid synthesis observed in fasted rats could not be accounted for by a decrease in enzyme capacity. Enzymes required for lipogenesis were present but masked in livers from fasted animals. It appeared that acetyl-CoA carboxylase in the complex system was inhibited by a factor (factors) such as palmityl-CoA which could be reversed by (+)-palmitylcarnitine addition, but not by citrate or malonate. (+)-Palmitylcarnitine stimulation of fatty acid synthesis could not be accounted for by invoking inhibition of carnitine palmityltransferase. The possible role of (-)-palmitylcarnitine formation from palmityl-CoA and relationships between effects of the two fatty acyl derivatives on the control of fatty acid synthesis are discussed.
Time‐resolved measurements of pyrolysis and combustion products of PMMA

We studied transient chemical speciation during high-temperature solid material pyrolysis and combustion in air. Our objective was to develop a database of chemical burn signatures. The material tested was the thermoplastic PMMA. Material samples were heated in an infrared furnace until they pyrolyzed, ignited, and combusted in air. Time-resolved quantitative measurements of the exhaust species CO2, O2, hydrocarbons, and CO along with exhaust gas temperature were obtained. Two categories of experiments were conducted: (1) pyrolysis tests in which there was no combustion; (2) combustion tests with chemical reaction and heat release. During heating, the sample underwent numerous processes that appear as diagnostic sequences. In the pyrolysis tests, as the furnace temperature was raised, the CO and hydrocarbon (HC) signals underwent transition from one peak to two peaks. In the combustion tests, spontaneous ignition occurred at higher test temperatures as evidenced by an exothermic reaction reported by the thermocouples, leading to three-peak CO and HC profiles. The measured O2/CO2 ratio of 1.3 ± 0.1 agreed with stoichiometric methyl-methacrylate monomer decomposition. Calculations of the power output using two independent methods supported (1) that combustion was experimentally observed in the furnace, and (2) the accuracy of the combustion gas analysis. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Intermediate Energy Metabolism of Leptospira

Metabolic studies were performed on three representative serotypes of Leptospira: a water isolate designated B16 and two pathogenic serotypes, pomona and schueffneri. Examination of whole cells of B16 for their ability to oxidize various substrates revealed that oleate significantly stimulated oxygen uptake. The respiratory quotient of 0.7 implied that oleate was degraded to carbon dioxide and water. Other substrates, such as carbohydrates, alcohols, intermediates of the citric acid cycle, and short-chain acids, including selected amino acids, did not stimulate endogenous respiration of whole cells. No oxygen uptake could be measured when cell-free extracts were tested with the substrates used with whole cells. Enzymatic analyses of cell-free extracts of the three strains demonstrated enzymes of the citric acid cycle, enzymes of the glycolytic and pentose pathways, and the general acyl coenzyme A dehydrogenase required for β-oxidation of fatty acids. Strain B16 and the two pathogenic serotypes appeared to possess similar metabolic capabilities. Enzymatic data might also explain the apparent inability of B16 to oxidize other substrates; kinases necessary for activation of common nonphosphorylated compounds were not detected in leptospiral extracts. These findings emphasized the dependence of leptospiral growth upon long-chain fatty acids.
Dental pulp fluid—I: Relationship between dental pulp fluid and blood plasma in protein, glucose and inorganic element content

Abstract When a hole is drilled in the dog's tooth with a Cavitron or an Airdent, the pulp chamber can be reached or approximated without injury to the pulpal blood vessels. A capillary tube is inserted in the hole and cemented in place, whereupon a clear, colourless fluid begins to rise in the tube. Over a period of several hours a sufficient quantity of the fluid, designated as dental pulp fluid, can be collected for chemical analysis. The protein content of the dental pulp fluid is about one-fifth that of the blood plasma, whereas the glucose concentration is in equilibrium with the concentration in arterial blood plasma. Spectrographic analysis of dental pulp fluid and blood plasma showed that magnesium, iron, calcium, phosphorus, copper and sodium are present in both fluids.
Software quality assurance engineering at NASA

As our missions on the ground and into space expand to reach new horizons, the complexities and importance of software to mission success also increase. Software has taken on a new, enhanced role and now directly impacts not only mission success, but also the safety of the missions. Software Quality Assurance (SQA) is critical to the success of every mission at NASA, but the roles and responsibilities are often misunderstood. SQA covers all phases of the software development process, with specific activities to assure both the processes used and the products developed. It also includes areas such as safety, reliability, IV&V, and metrics. The purpose of this paper is to explain what software quality assurance entails for both the processes and the products.
Mobile IP in a heterogenous environment

Mobile IP is a network layer protocol that enables mobility across IP networks without having to change any configuration parameters or IP addresses. It is specified as an IETF standard and appears in two versions, MIPv4 and MIPv6. This paper describes a testbed and some experiments that were conducted to ascertain the functionality of an implementation of MIPv4. The testbed incorporated heterogenous bearers such as a satellite link and HF radio links. The link layer independence of MIP was also tested. Finally, the operation of a military application in the presence of MIP was tested with success. MIPv4 was found to be a fairly robust protocol, in the sense that successful operation was observed even in the presence of relatively low signal-to-noise ratios.
Immunologic Mimicry Between Mouse Tissue and Enterobacterial Common Antigen

Organs of Swiss white albino and C57BL/6Ha mice were assessed for an antigen (CRA) which cross-reacts with common enterobacterial antigen (CA) of To this end, supernatant fluids (HKS) and ethanol-soluble fractions (ES) of heated homogenates of spleens, kidneys, and livers were examined for their capacities to react with CA hemagglutinins and to engender humoral and cellular events in the rabbit. The immunogenicity of CRA in the rabbit can not be predicted on the basis of CA hemagglutinin neutralization studies alone; although CRA was identified in the liver extracts of both mouse strains, according to this parameter, only the liver fraction of Swiss white albino mice elicited significant numbers of rosette-forming cells (RFC) in the spleens of rabbits. Also, kidney fractions, which primed the rabbits for booster with CA, were less effective in stimulating RFC in the spleens of the identical animals. Moreover, although extracts of mouse spleens failed to inhibit CA hemagglutination and did not prime rabbit...
Empirical Normalization for Quadratic Discriminant Analysis and Classifying Cancer Subtypes

We introduce a new discriminant analysis method (Empirical Discriminant Analysis or EDA) for binary classification in machine learning. Given a dataset of feature vectors, this method defines an empirical feature map transforming the training and test data into new data with components having Gaussian empirical distributions. This map is an empirical version of the Gaussian copula used in probability and mathematical finance. The purpose is to form a feature mapped dataset as close as possible to Gaussian, after which standard quadratic discriminants can be used for classification. We discuss this method in general, and apply it to some datasets in computational biology.
Scholastic Effort: An Empirical Test of Student Choice Models

A measure of student effort based on time and the efficiency of its use was found to be significant in several learning models. The report discusses variations of a generalized learning model, different definitions of student input, and the use of pre-TUCE scores as a variable. The authors ask whether the pre-TUCE is more appropriate as a measure of economic knowledge or as a proxy for student aptitude. The findings and methodology should be of considerable interest to others doing research on student effort.