cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Expert system, fuzzy logic, and neural network applications in power electronics and motion control

Artificial intelligence (AI) tools, such as expert systems, fuzzy logic, and neural networks are expected to usher a new era in power electronics and motion control in the coming decades. Although these technologies have advanced significantly and have found wide applications, they have hardly touched the power electronics and machine drives area. The paper describes these AI tools and their application in the area of power electronics and motion control. The body of the paper is subdivided into three sections which describe, respectively, the principles and applications of expert systems, fuzzy logic, and neural networks. The theoretical portion of each topic is of direct relevance to the application of power electronics. The example applications in the paper are taken from the published literature. >
Developmental changes in sequential activation of laryngeal abductor muscle and diaphragm in infants.

In animals and human adults, upper airway muscle activity usually precedes inspiratory diaphragm activity. We examined the interaction of the posterior cricoarytenoid muscle (PCA), which abducts the larynx, and the diaphragm (DIA) in the control of airflow in newborn infants to assess the effect of maturation on respiratory muscle sequence. We recorded tidal volume, airflow, and DIA and PCA electromyograms (EMG) in 12 full-term, 14 premature, and 10 premature infants with apnea treated with aminophylline. In most breaths, onset of PCA EMG activity preceded onset of DIA EMG activity (lead breaths). In all subjects, we also observed breaths (range 6–61%) in which PCA EMG onset followed DIA EMG onset (lag breaths). DIA neural inspiratory duration and the neuromechanical delay between DIA EMG onset and inspiratory flow were longer in lag than in lead breaths (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively). The frequency of lag breaths was greater in the premature infants [33 +/- 4% (SE)] than in either the full-term in...
A bright shiny future

We know from viewing past predictions that short term predictions tend to be overly optimistic and long term predictions tend to be overly conservative. The author presents some short-term predictions that he feels pretty sure of, mainly because most of them are almost here now. These predictions include computers, display technology, applications and computer graphics.
Postnatal development and activation of L-type Ca2+ currents in locus ceruleus neurons: implications for a role for Ca2+ in central chemosensitivity

Little is known about the role of Ca2+ in central chemosensitive signaling. We use electrophysiology to examine the chemosensitive responses of tetrodotoxin (TTX)-insensitive oscillations and spike...
A microcomputer-based video-pattern generator for binocular vision test

This paper presents a hardware and software system for the generation of video patterns that can be used for various vision tests, particularly depth perception. Among the capabilities of the system is generation of static and dynamic random dot stereograms that can be used to test depth perception. The system generates the patterns in real time which provides the capability of moving the objects in the stereogram. This feature is very useful in testing depth perception among infants and noncommunicative people by correlating the movement of the eye with the movement of the object. The other patterns are the checkerboards, vertical and horizontal bars with a capability to sweep the size of the checkers and bars. These latter patterns are useful for testing vision acuity. The system is based on the TMS34010 graphics processor and is connected to a host computer through an RS-232C serial communication port. It has an RGB video output for connection to an RGB color video monitor to display the various video patterns. The application and system software is written in assembly language which is efficient for real-time applications. >
Spectral-decorrelation strategies for the compression of hyperspectral imagery

Several linear transforms with constructions more general than that of principal component analysis are considered for spectral decorrelation in the compression of hyperspectral imagery. Specifically, orthogonal nonnegative matrix factorization, generalized principal component analysis, and principal component analysis coupled with explicit segmentation based on spectral angle mapping are considered. These spectral- decorrelation techniques are employed in conjunction with wavelet-based spatial decorrelation for hyperspectral compression using a 3D version of the well-known SPIHT algorithm. A shape-adaptive wavelet transform and shape-adaptive SPIHT coder are used in the case of the latter two spectral-decorrelation techniques which segment the hyperspectral dataset into multiple distinct pixel classes. Experimental results reveal that, despite their general formulation, the proposed techniques fail to offer spectral-decorrelation performance superior to that of traditional principal component analysis.
Temperature measurements for powdered solids in reflected shock waves.

Measurements have been made to determine the temperature behind reflected shock waves from an aerodynamic shock in argon containing a sample of powdered material. Time-resolved temperatures were measured photoelectrically by the brightness-emissivity method which employs a short duration flash tube. The measured temperatures were consistent, and about 10% lower than the calculated temperature for pure argon, over a 9 eV range of atomic excitation energies, indicating that thermodynamic equilibrium has been achieved. Calculated and measured densities for the atoms of the powder indicate that approximately 40% of the sample was uniformly distributed behind the reflected shock wave.
A psychometric evaluation of Super's Work Values Inventory--Revised.

This study describes the psychometric evaluation of Super's Work Values Inventory—Revised (SWVI-R), an instrument comprised of 12 scales measuring the relative importance placed on the following work-related value dimensions: Achievement, Coworkers, Creativity, Income, Independence, Lifestyle, Mental Challenge, Prestige, Security, Supervision, Work Environment, and Variety. These Work Values scales were internally consistent and showed predictable patterns of gender differences and similarities. Racial/ethnic differences in the relative emphasis placed on work values were also explored in this study. The factor analysis yielded four theoretically consistent underlying factors, as follows: Environment, Esteem, Excitement, and Safety. Furthermore, the scales and factors of the SWVI-R were related to the broader cultural value systems of individualism and collectivism. In addition, the Work Values scales demonstrated adequate discriminant validity with two aspects of social desirability. Limitations of this ...
Artificial Neural Network Method to Construct Potential Energy Surfaces for Transition Metal Nanoparticles: Pt, Au, and Ag

Potential energy surfaces (PESs) for transition metal nanoparticles of Pt, Au, and Ag were derived using the artificial neural network (ANN) method. Three feedforward neural networks were constructed to fit the nonlinear relationship between the binding energy and the nanoparticle information, i.e. size and atomic coordinates, based on the data obtained from density functional theory calculations. The test results demonstrated that the newly derived ANN PESs can successfully predict the binding energy at the local minima of the global potential energy surfaces. More promisingly, the ANN PESs may be used in the molecular dynamics simulations for studying transition metal nanoparticles that are larger in size than those being studied here.
Geographic distribution of neurospora spore killer strains and strains resistant to killing.

Spore killer strains, found in Neurospora, provided the first recognized example of meiotic drive in fungi. In the present study, natural populations throughout the world were examined for the presence of killer strains and strains that are resistant to killing. In N. intermedia, Sk-2 and Sk-3 are present but are rare. Killer strains were found at only five sites, in Borneo, Java, and Papua New Guinea. Nonkiller strains that are resistant to killing by Sk-2 or Sk-3 are frequent in that part of the world where the killer strains are present, but resistant stains were not found in regions where killers are absent. In N. sitophila, Sk-1 killer strains are common in nature, but only 1 of 392 nonkiller strains was resistant. In N. crassa, no killer strain was found among >500, but widely scattered Sk-2-resistant strains were present, suggesting the past or present existence of killers.
Super and inner: together at last!

In an object-oriented language, a derived class may declare a method with the same signature as a method in the base class. The meaning of the re-declaration depends on the language. Most commonly, the new declaration overrides the base declaration, perhaps completely replacing it, or perhaps using super to invoke the old implementation. Another possibility is that the base class always controls the method implementation, and the new declaration merely augments the method in the case that the base method calls inner. Each possibility has advantages and disadvantages. In this paper, we explain why programmers need both kinds of method redeclaration, and we present a language that integrates them. We also present a formal semantics for the new language, and we describe an implementation for MzScheme.
Palliative Care and Hospice in Advanced Heart Failure

Advanced heart failure (HF) is a disease process that carries a high burden of symptoms, suffering, and death. Palliative care can complement traditional care to improve symptom amelioration, patient-caregiver communication, emotional support, and medical decision making. Despite a growing body of evidence supporting the integration of palliative care into the overall care of patients with HF and some recent evidence of increased use, palliative therapies remain underused in the treatment of advanced HF. Review of the literature reveals that although barriers to integrating palliative care are not fully understood, difficult prognostication combined with caregiver inexperience with end-of-life issues specific to advanced HF is likely to contribute. In this review, we have outlined the general need for palliative care in advanced HF, detailed how palliative measures can be integrated into the care of those having this disease, and explored end-of-life issues specific to these patients.
Therapist Use of Client Strengths A Qualitative Study of Positive Processes

Gelso and Woodhouse highlight a lack of empirical efforts to bring a core identity of counseling psychology, the use of client strengths, into therapy. Additionally, the positive psychology movement is devoid of a system of positive therapeutic processes designed to help clients toward optimal human functioning. This investigation sought to explicitly identify positive processes thought to regularly occur in mainstream therapies by interviewing therapists. Interviews produced 266 significant statements leading to five themes: (a) amplification of strengths, (b) contextual considerations, (c) strength-oriented processes, (d) strength-oriented outcomes, and (e) positive meaning-making. Therapists reported using client strengths to broaden client perspectives and create hope and motivation, to create positive meanings through reframing and metaphors, to identify strengths through the interpersonal therapeutic process, to match client contexts through strengths, and to amplify strengths through encouragement ...
Blood storage XXIV: red blood cell 2,3-DPG and ATP maintenance for six weeks in CPD-adenine with higher phosphate, pyruvate, and dihydroxyacetone.

The individual and collective effects of various phosphate, pyruvate and dihydroxyacetone concentrations on 2,3-DPG and ATP maintenance during blood storage with CPD-adenine (0.25 mM), were studied. Phosphate concentrations ranged from 2 to 100 mM. Low concentations were best for 2,3-DPG maintenance during the first three weeks, after which there was no difference. ATP concentrations were better maintained by the highest phosphate concentrations in the first week. After the second week the lower concentrations of phosphate were better. With pyruvate 40 and 60 mM were the best for 2,3-DPG levels through six weeks of storage. ATP concentrations were poorest with high pyruvate. Maintenance of 2,3-DPG was above half normal for six weeks of storage in the 60, 80 and 100 mM DHA preservatives. ATP concentrations were best maintained in the preservative lacking DHA. Combinations of phosphate, pyruvate and DHA in concentrations which had been found to be effective when used individually were studied. Best maintenance of 2,3-DPG (above half normal levels) for six weeks was afforded by pyruvate, phosphate and DHA, and by pyruvate and DHA. ATP maintenance was best afforded by CPD-adenine alone and CPD-adenine with pyruvate and phosphate. Pyruvate alone maintained ATP less well and the pyruvate- DHA was worst. Intermediate in maintenance of ATP was the preservative containing pyruvate, phosphate and DHA.
Accelerated PMM solutions via model-based parameter estimation and fast Fourier transform techniques

In this paper, an efficient spectral-domain PMM formulation is introduced for the accelerated analysis of large FSS problems. This PMM formulation incorporates the following techniques: (a) either a type of "smart" interpolation method known as model- based parameter estimation (MBPE) for efficient wide-band interpolation of the impedance matrices or an FFT-based method applied in calculating the impedance matrix elements, together with (b) an 0(N log N) FFT-based method for analyzing 3-D scattering problems, to speed up computation of the matrix-vector product within the iterative solver. The latter is possible due to the asymmetric multilevel block-Toeplitz structure [8] of the impedance-matrix that results from the uniform discretization of the FSS unit cell. Advantages of the proposed hybrid techniques are demonstrated through the presentation of several design examples.
The adaptable major histocompatibility complex (MHC) fold: structure and function of nonclassical and MHC class I-like molecules

The MHC fold is found in proteins that have a range of functions in the maintenance of an organism's health, from immune regulation to fat metabolism. Well adapted for antigen presentation, as seen for peptides in the classical MHC molecules and for lipids in CD1 molecules, the MHC fold has also been modified to perform Fc-receptor activity (e.g., FcRn) and for roles in host homeostasis (e.g., with HFE and ZAG). The more divergent MHC-like molecules, such as some of those that interact with the NKG2D receptor, represent the minimal MHC fold, doing away with the α3 domain and β2m while maintaining the α1/α2 platform domain for receptor engagement. Viruses have also co-opted the MHC fold for immune-evasive functions. The variations on the theme of a β-sheet topped by two semiparallel α-helices are discussed in this review, highlighting the fantastic adaptability of this fold for good and for bad.
Increase fab capacity: With predictive short-interval scheduling

The lithography cell is widely accepted as the most challenging area of a fab to manage cost effectively. Reticle coordination, re-entrant flows and frequent set-up changes create bottlenecks in the Litho module. There is a strong need to use optimization to better match lots and tools, keeping litho tools fully utilized and reducing wafer cycle time. A new solution, called Applied SmartSched™, for the first time integrates Real-Time Dispatching (APF RTD®) policies with locally optimized short-interval schedules to increase fab throughput and optimize litho tool utilization by converting ‘white space’ to available capacity. It produces a schedule whose output is executed by the RTD. Its predictive techniques determine precisely where work-in-process (WIP) and reticles will be to efficiently process the WIP. This novel technology is now being deployed in lithography modules of production fabs; initial results show over 2% increase in litho wafers out and litho tool utilization improvements greater than 1%. This advanced scheduling system looks upstream and downstream to see WIP status in order to better plan and schedule work in the litho area. SmartSched groups WIP better, increasing available capacity resulting in higher throughput. It has demonstrated a throughput improvement of 2.1% in a production litho module. Additionally the software is achieving a >1% improvement in litho tool utilization. The SmartSched technology uses 3 major components that share the work to better pick the best lot to process. • Real-time data generation • Simulation-based prediction • Optimized short-interval scheduling This advanced scheduling approach is providing manufacturers with dramatically improved results, in critical photolithography areas.
Electric discharges in air-gaps facing solid insulation in high-voltage equipment

The performance of high-voltage alternators under conditions of over-voltage is materially improved by the application of an insulating sheathing to exposed parts of the bare earthed metal. The authors first derive the physical explanation for this observation from experiments using auto-photographic recording methods. These experiments are then expanded to cover other phenomena observed with discharges between insulated electrodes and lead to problems of discharges in voids. In particular, two hitherto unexplained phenomena are considered: the increase of discharge current with rising voltage, and the origin of the long discharge-free range in the decaying part of alternating voltages. Both these observations can be explained by the loss of some of the surface charges left from earlier discharges due to local reversals of the electric field. Some of the explanations of the probable mechanism by which charges are lost must still be considered as tentative, and more experimental evidence will be needed for a complete clarification of the processes involved. The results give some information on the effect of harmonics on internal discharges, which have been observed to lead to accelerated ageing of dielectrics.
Imaging Hydrated Microbial Extracellular Polymers: Comparative Analysis by Electron Microscopy

Microbe-mineral and -metal interactions represent a major intersection between the biosphere and geosphere but require high-resolution imaging and analytical tools for investigation of microscale associations. Electron microscopy has been used extensively for geomicrobial investigations, and although used bona fide, the traditional methods of sample preparation do not preserve the native morphology of microbiological components, especially extracellular polymers. Herein, we present a direct comparative analysis of microbial interactions by conventional electron microscopy approaches with imaging at room temperature and a suite of cryogenic electron microscopy methods providing imaging in the close-to-natural hydrated state. In situ, we observed an irreversible transformation of the hydrated bacterial extracellular polymers during the traditional dehydration-based sample preparation that resulted in their collapse into filamentous structures. Dehydration-induced polymer collapse can lead to inaccurate spatial relationships and hence could subsequently affect conclusions regarding the nature of interactions between microbial extracellular polymers and their environment.
Benefits of Activity-Level Certification for Continuing Medical Education Activities

Dear Sir, In response to the March 2013 Journal of European CME commentary, The benefits of accrediting institutions and organisations as providers of continuing professional education, the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) would like to provide additional context for consideration when evaluating the benefits of activity-level certification of Continuing Medical Education (CME) activities. (Published: 20 june 2013) DOI: 10.3109/21614083.2013.809578
Biochemical Identification of a Mutated Human Melanoma Antigen Recognized by CD4+ T Cells

CD4+ T cells play a critical role in generating and maintaining immune responses against pathogens and alloantigens, and evidence suggests an important role for them in antitumor immunity as well. Although major histocompatibility complex class II–restricted human CD4+ T cells with specific antitumor reactivities have been described, no standard method exists for cloning the recognized tumor-associated antigen (Ag). In this study, biochemical protein purification methods were used in conjunction with novel mass spectrometry sequencing techniques and molecular cloning to isolate a unique melanoma Ag recognized by a CD4+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) line. The HLA-DRβ1*0101–restricted Ag was determined to be a mutated glycolytic enzyme, triosephosphate isomerase (TPI). A C to T mutation identified by cDNA sequencing caused a Thr to Ile conversion in TPI, which could be detected in a tryptic digest of tumor-derived TPI by mass spectrometry. The Thr to Ile conversion created a neoepitope whose T cell stimulatory activity was enhanced at least 5 logs compared with the wild-type peptide. Analysis of T cell recognition of serially truncated peptides suggested that the mutated amino acid residue was a T cell receptor contact. Defining human tumor Ag recognized by T helper cells may provide important clues to designing more effective immunotherapies for cancer.
Induction of maturation in small Xenopus laevis oocytes.

Abstract The competence of Xenopus laevis oocytes in various stages of growth to respond to progesterone treatment was investigated. Full-grown (stage 6) oocytes undergo nuclear membrane dissolution and resume meiosis in response to progesterone exposure, while smaller oocytes (stages 3–5;
What Drives Ethnic Terrorist Campaigns

This paper examines the drivers of terrorist campaigns waged specifically for the sake of ethnic identity groups. The causes of this breed of political violence – “ethnic terrorism” – have traditionally been explained by pointing to intransigent nationalist fervors. However, nationalist movements are marked by various distinct features, including 1) political grievances; 2) economic grievances; 3) desires for self-rule; 4) and competition and outbidding between elites for ultimate control over the group. Thus far, research has not identified which of these characteristics matter most in provoking campaigns of ethnic terrorism. With a dataset at the ethnic group level of analysis and constructed with figures from the Minorities at Risk (MAR) and Global Terrorism Database (GTD) projects, I find that high political grievances, recent self-rule movements, and elite competition increase the likelihood of ethnic terrorism, while neither economic grievances nor the attainment of autonomy is associated with this form of violence. Post-estimation techniques provide tentative instruction on how to rank the impact of these factors, and the Basque Country and Euskadi ta Askatasuna (ETA) serves as a case to show one way through which these factors shape ethnic terrorist movements.
Methane Biocatalysis: Selecting the Right Microbe

Abstract Methane utilization has been demonstrated for a number of microbial species. Some of them, such as Methylococcus capsulatus Bath, Methylomonas spp., and Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b, became the catalytic platforms of choice for biotechnological explorations. These strains have been used for the production of single-cell protein, polysaccharides, polyhydroxyalkanoates, lipids, and carotenoids. Emerging biotechnologies for conversion of the abundant C1 alcane into next-generation chemicals/biofuels add extra requirements to the catalyst leading to a new quest for fast, efficient, and genetically tractable systems. Over the past few decades, a number of novel biochemical pathways for microbial methane utilization have been discovered. As a result, new methane-utilizing microbes have been brought into laboratory cultures. Today a wide spectrum of such microbes is available, including thermophilic and psychrophilic, alkaliphilic and acidophilic, and oligotrophic and halophilic variants. Methanotrophs have been isolated from landfills and garden soils, animal dung and rumen, groundwater and oil-drilling sites, thermal vents, and permafrost. These microbes are becoming new sources of chemicals and enzymes and offer new strategies for metabolic engineering of C1 metabolism. This review highlights some of the most recent discoveries in microbial utilization of methane and describes unique properties of well-established microbial catalysts side by side with their less explored comrades.
Captivity among the Maroons of Jamaica in the Seventeenth and Early Eighteenth Centuries: A Comparative Analysis

This article examines the practices of captivity among the Maroons of Jamaica during the early colonial period. In this paper, I argue that the practice of holding people in bondage in Maroon communities, which was strongly influenced by the West African customs of their ancestors, had much in common with the southern Native American nations in the United States before the mid-1800s. Through a comparative analysis, I draw conclusions about the nature of captivity among the Jamaican Maroons almost a century before the first slave was documented in the Maroon census records. I conclude that captives in Maroon villages experienced a range of rights and obligations and even those held in chattel-like servitude had mechanisms for social inclusion.
Carbon isotope fractionation in reactions of 1,2-dibromoethane with FeS and hydrogen sulfide.

EDB (1,2-dibromoethane) is frequently detected at sites impacted by leaded gasoline. In reducing environments, EDB is highly susceptible to abiotic degradation. A study was conducted to evaluate the potential of compound-specific isotope analysis (CSIA) in assessing abiotic degradation of EDB in sulfate-reducing environments. Water containing EDB was incubated in sealed vials with various combinations of Na2S (<0.7 mM) and mackinawite (FeS) (180 mM). Degradation rates in vials containing FeS exceeded those in Na2S-only controls. In the presence of FeS, first-order constants ranged from 0.034 ± 0.002 d–1 at pH 6 to 0.081 ± 0.005 d–1 at pH 8.5. In the presence of FeS, products from reductive debromination (ethylene) and from SN2 substitution with S(II) nucleophiles were detected (1,2-dithioethane, DTA). Relatively high yields of DTA suggested that the SN2 reactions were not mediated by HS– only but likely also included reactions mediated by FeS surface. Significant carbon isotope effects were observed for n...
Tabanid Hosts in Estuarine and Alluvial Areas of Louisiana

Cattle, horses, and deer were identified as the primary hosts of tabanids (Diptera: Tabanidae) in Louisiana estuarine and alluvial areas when extracts from fieldcollected, engorged flies were submitted to the capillary precipitin test for identification of blood meals. Some feeding occurred on small vertebrates such as rabbits.
Effect of photoperiod on time of blastocyst implantation in the rat.

SummaryRats were exposed to 1, 12, or 24 hr of light per day for two estrous cycles, then were mated. On Days 6, 7, or 8 following the appearance of sperm in the vaginal smear, the animals were anesthetized, injected with Indian ink to mark implantation sites, and killed. The number and diameter of implantation sites were recorded and the uteri weighed. Although short exposure to light had no effect on day of implantation, 11 of 21 animals failed to complete two normal estrous cycles. Animals exposed to continuous light showed delayed implantation.
Corrigendum to abnormalities in personal space and parietal-frontal function in schizophrenia.

It has come to our attention that one sentence in the published abstract of this article (“This hyper-responsivity was predicted by…”) is incorrect in its description of the results of the correlational analyses.
Honey Bee Alarm Pheromone: Another Function

When a dequeened swarm is offered a choice of its own and a foreign queen, workers finding their own queen release Nassanoff scent and fan with their wings while those finding the foreign queen attack her and release alarm odor. Nassanoff scent attracts bees; alarm odor stops and/or prevents scenting. In this way a swarm of bees identifies and joins their own queen or rejects a foreign queen or one from another swarm.
Studies on Oxygen Transfer in Submerged Fermentations: Part I. Applications of Gas Analyzers to the Studies on and the Performances of Submerged FermentationsPart II. Determination of Oxygen Transfer Rate of Fermentors Using Oxygen Analyzers

This paper refers to the application of gas analyzers for the determination of oxygen transfer rate, showing examples in the studies and the performances of submerged fermentations. Oxygen and carb...
Cold-Start Recommendation with Provable Guarantees: A Decoupled Approach

Although the matrix completion paradigm provides an appealing solution to the collaborative filtering problem in recommendation systems, some major issues, such as data sparsity and cold-start problems, still remain open. In particular, when the rating data for a subset of users or items is entirely missing, commonly known as the cold-start problem, the standard matrix completion methods are inapplicable due the non-uniform sampling of available ratings. In recent years, there has been considerable interest in dealing with cold-start users or items that are principally based on the idea of exploiting other sources of information to compensate for this lack of rating data. In this paper, we propose a novel and general algorithmic framework based on matrix completion that simultaneously exploits the similarity information among users and items to alleviate the cold-start problem. In contrast to existing methods, our proposed recommender algorithm, dubbed DecRec, decouples the following two aspects of the cold-start problem to effectively exploit the side information: (i) the completion of a rating sub-matrix, which is generated by excluding cold-start users/items from the original rating matrix; and (ii) the transduction of knowledge from existing ratings to cold-start items/users using side information. This crucial difference prevents the error propagation of completion and transduction, and also significantly boosts the performance when appropriate side information is incorporated. The recovery error of the proposed algorithm is analyzed theoretically and, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first algorithm that addresses the cold-start problem with provable guarantees on performance. Additionally, we also address the problem where both cold-start user and item challenges are present simultaneously. We conduct thorough experiments on real datasets that complement our theoretical results. These experiments demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm in handling the cold-start users/items problem and mitigating data sparsity issue.
Development and Psychometric Testing of the Childhood Obesity Perceptions (COP) Survey Among African American Caregivers: A Tool for Obesity Prevention Program Planning

Currently, public health practitioners are analyzing the role that caregivers play in childhood obesity efforts. Assessing African American caregiver's perceptions of childhood obesity in rural communities is an important prevention effort. This article's objective is to describe the development and psychometric testing of a survey tool to assess childhood obesity perceptions among African American caregivers in a rural setting, which can be used for obesity prevention program development or evaluation. The Childhood Obesity Perceptions (COP) survey was developed to reflect the multidimensional nature of childhood obesity including risk factors, health complications, weight status, built environment, and obesity prevention strategies. A 97-item survey was pretested and piloted with the priority population. After pretesting and piloting, the survey was reduced to 59-items and administered to 135 African American caregivers. An exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted to test how well the survey items represented the number of Social Cognitive Theory constructs. Twenty items were removed from the original 59-item survey and acceptable internal consistency of the six factors (α=0.70-0.85) was documented for all scales in the final COP instrument. CFA resulted in a less than adequate fit; however, a multivariate Lagrange multiplier test identified modifications to improve the model fit. The COP survey represents a promising approach as a potentially comprehensive assessment for implementation or evaluation of childhood obesity programs.
Expanding Aminoglycoside Resistance Enzyme Regiospecificity by Mutation and Truncation

Aminoglycosides (AGs) are broad-spectrum antibiotics famous for their antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, as well as mycobacteria. In the United States, the most prescribed AGs, including amikacin (AMK), gentamicin (GEN), and tobramycin (TOB), are vital components of the treatment for resistant bacterial infections. Arbekacin (ABK), a semisynthetic AG, is widely used for the treatment of resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Asia. However, the rapid emergence and development of bacterial resistance are limiting the clinical application of AG antibiotics. Of all bacterial resistance mechanisms against AGs, the acquisition of AG-modifying enzymes (AMEs) by bacteria is the most common. It was previously reported that a variant of a bifunctional AME, the 6′-N-AG acetyltransferase-Ie/2″-O-AG phosphotransferase-Ia [AAC(6′)-Ie/APH(2″)-Ia], containing a D80G point mutation and a truncation after amino acid 240 modified ABK and AMK ...
The Unhappy Divorce of Sociology and Psychoanalysis: Diverse Perspectives on the Psychosocial

Since divorce is generally not a happy event, why does this title claim that the separation of sociology from psychoanalysis (or vice-versa) is a particularly unhappy one? Because, say Lynn Chancer...
Secondhand smoke exposure, illness severity, and resource utilization in pediatric emergency department patients with respiratory illnesses.

ABSTRACTObjective: Hospital-based data reveal that children who have secondhand smoke exposure (SHSe) experience severe respiratory illnesses and greater resource utilization. Our objective was to assess the relationship between SHSe and illness severity/resource utilization among children presenting to the pediatric emergency department (PED) with three common respiratory conditions—asthma, bronchiolitis, and pneumonia. Methods: A retrospective review of a yearlong consecutive sample of PED patients with SHSe status documentation and asthma, bronchiolitis, or pneumonia diagnoses was performed. PED illness severity/resource utilization variables included triage categorization, initial oxygen saturation, evaluation/testing (influenza A & B, respiratory syncytial virus, chest X-ray), procedures/interventions performed (supplemental oxygen, suctioning, intubation), medications administered, and disposition. Logistic and linear regression models were conducted to determine differences in each diagnosis group ...
Biocompatible Polymeric Analogues of DMSO Prepared by Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization.

The synthesis of a sulfoxide-based water-soluble polymer, poly(2-(methylsulfinyl)ethyl acrylate) (polyMSEA), a polymeric analogue of DMSO, by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) is reported. Well-defined linear polymers were synthesized using relatively low amounts of copper catalyst (1000 or 100 ppm). Two types of star polymers were synthesized by either an “arm-first” approach or a “core-first” approach using a biodegradable β-cyclodextrin core. The glass transition temperatures of both the linear polymer (16 °C) and star polymer (32 °C) were determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of poly(MSEA) was estimated to be ca. 140 °C by extrapolating the LCST of a series of copolymers with NIPAM. Cytotoxicity tests revealed that both the linear and star polymers have low toxicity, even at concentrations up to 3 mg/mL.
Developing awareness and use of compliments in the Chinese homestay: A longitudinal case study

The study abroad homestay enjoys a widespread reputation as a key context for language learning. However, a homestay advantage has been difficult to prove in large-scale quantitative studies. Few qualitative studies examine the long-term developmental processes that can take place in home-stays at the micro-ethnographic level. This paper focuses on how one participant, John, gradually developed awareness of the role of compliments and ability to use them for various purposes. Drawing on Vygotskian sociocultural theory, this study analyzes qualitative changes in John's use of compliments from informal interaction in two homestays across a year. Over time, John learned to use compliments for an array of purposes: expressing appreciation for food, maintaining his hosts' positive face, developing cordial relationships, and defusing potential conflict. Development in John's case is evident as he internalized this speech act that he once grappled with, and used it to mediate the behavior of the others when confronted with interactionally and emotionally challenging situations. This process led to John's ability to participate appropriately as a guest at the Chinese homestay dinner table and to appreciate the subtleties of interpersonal communication that includes unstated expressions of affection.
The Ethics of Dissent: Can President Trump Survive Guerrilla Government?

“Guerrilla government” is Rosemary O’Leary’s term for public servants who work against the wishes—either implicitly or explicitly communicated—of their superiors in order to do what they think is right. This form of dissent is usually carried out by those who are dissatisfied with the actions of public organizations, programs, or people, but typically, for strategic reasons, choose not to go public with their concerns in whole or in part. She compares the cases of Chelsea Manning, an Army private, and Edward Snowden, a contract employee with the National Security Administration (NSA), with previous cases of guerrilla government. O’Leary hypothesizes that big data, hyper social media, and contracting-out will increase the incidence of guerrilla government, as will President Trump’s efforts to control the federal bureaucracy.
Ethics of community engagement in field trials of genetically modified mosquitoes

Effective community engagement is an important legal, ethical, and practical prerequisite for conducting field trials of genetically modified mosquitoes, because these studies can substantially impact communities and it is usually not possible to obtain informed consent from each community member. Researchers who are planning to conduct field trials should develop a robust community engagement strategy that meets widely recognized standards for seeking approval from the affected population, such as timeliness, consent, information sharing, transparency, understanding, responsiveness, mutual understanding, inclusiveness, and respectfulness. Additional research is needed on the effectiveness of different methods of engaging communities in field trials of genetically modified mosquitoes and how to respond to public opposition to genetically modified organisms. For research programs involving the genetic modification of disease vectors to move forward, they must have public acceptance and support, which cannot be achieved without effective community engagement.
High-Performance and Resilient Key-Value Store with Online Erasure Coding for Big Data Workloads

Distributed key-value store-based caching solutions are being increasingly used to accelerate Big Data applications on modern HPC clusters. This has necessitated incorporating fault-tolerance capabilities into high-performance key-value stores such as Memcached that are otherwise volatile in nature. In-memory replication is being used as the primary mechanism to ensure resilient data operations. However, this incurs increased network I/O with high remote memory requirements. On the other hand, Erasure Coding is being extensively explored for enabling data resilience, while achieving better storage efficiency. In this paper, we first perform an in-depth modeling-based analysis of the performance trade-offs of In-Memory Replication and Erasure Coding schemes for key-value stores, and explore the possibilities of employing Online Erasure Coding for enabling resilience in high-performance key-value stores for HPC clusters. We then design a non-blocking API-based engine to perform efficient Set/Get operations by overlapping the encoding/decoding involved in enabling Erasure Coding-based resilience with the request/response phases, by leveraging RDMA on high performance interconnects. Performance evaluations show that the proposed designs can outperform synchronous RDMA-based replication by about 2.8x, and can improve YCSB throughput and average read/write latencies by about 1.34x - 2.6x over asynchronous replication for larger key-value pair sizes (>16KB). We also demonstrate its benefits by incorporating it into a hybrid and resilient key-value store-based burst-buffer system over Lustre for accelerating Big Data I/O on HPC clusters.
Balance Screening of Vestibular Function in Subjects Aged 4 Years and Older: A Living Laboratory Experience.

To better understand the various individual factors that contribute to balance and the relation to fall risk, we performed the modified Romberg Test of Standing Balance on Firm and Compliant Support, with 1,174 participants between 4 and 83 years of age. This research was conducted in the Living Laboratory® at the Museum of Science, Boston. We specifically focus on balance test condition 4, in which individuals stand on memory foam with eyes closed, and must rely on their vestibular system; therefore, performance in this balance test condition provides a proxy for vestibular function. We look for balance variations associated with sex, race/ethnicity, health factors and age. We found that balance test performance is stable between 10-39 year of age, with a slight increase in the failure rate for participants 4-9 years of age, suggesting a period of balance development in younger children. For participants 40 years and older, the balance test failure rate increases progressively with age. Diabetes and obesity are the two main health factors we found associated with poor balance, with test condition 4 failure rates of 57% and 19%, respectively. An increase in the odds of having fallen in the last year was associated with a decrease in the time to failure; once individuals dropped below a time failure of 10 seconds, there was a significant 5.5-fold increase in the odds of having fallen in the last 12 months. These data alert us to screen for poor vestibular function in individuals 40 years and older or suffering from diabetes, in order to undertake the necessary diagnostic and rehabilitation measures, with a focus on reducing the morbidity and mortality of falls.
Enthalpimetry of Olefins in the Nanomolar Region

One of the strongest features of direct injection enthalpimetry, developed by Jordan, Ewing, Wasi lewski and others (1–3) is that, while there is nothing theoretically impossible about a reaction with a zero enthalpy change, experience tells us that they are very rare. Thus almost all reactions can, in principle/be used as the basis for a direct enthalpimetric determination of any of the reactants. In practice, we place more severe limitations on the reactions we choose; normally we require them to be fast, to go to completion, be fairly specific and to have a rather large heat of reaction so that the enthalpimetric method will have sensitivity great enough to be competitive with other methods. Hydrogenation represents a good compromise among these several characteristics we seek as it is specific for nonaromatic unsaturation under the conditions we describe and the reaction goes to completion in virtually every case studied. Further, it is exothermic to the extent of about 30 kcal/mole, quite a high value in comparison to almost any other reaction except combustion which is not used because it is almost totally nonspecific.
A Conversation with Walter J. Karplus

I remember Prof. Karplus as a man of few words — very few words. In my forty some years of association with him, I recall only one occasion on which I had an extended conversation with him. I will come to that in a moment.
Recurrent binge ethanol is associated with significant loss of dentate gyrus granule neurons in female rats despite concomitant increase in neurogenesis.

Abstract Binge drinking is becoming increasingly common among American women and girls. We have previously shown significant cell loss, downregulation of neurotrophins and microgliosis in female rats after a single 4-day ethanol exposure. To determine whether recurrent binge exposure would produce similar effects, we administered ethanol (5 g/kg) or iso-caloric control diet once-weekly for 11 weeks to adult female rats. As we have previously shown exercise neuroprotection against binge-induced damage, half the rats were given access to exercise wheels. Blood ethanol concentration (BEC) did not differ between sedentary and exercised groups, nor did it change across time. Using stereology, we quantified the number and/or size of neurons in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG), as well as the number and activation state of microglia. Binged sedentary rats had significant cell loss in the dentate gyrus, but exercise eliminated this effect. Compared to sedentary controls, sedentary binged rats and all exercised rats showed increased neurogenesis in the DG. Number and nuclear volume of neurons in the mPFC were not changed. In the hippocampus and mPFC, the number of microglia with morphology indicative of partial activation was increased by recurrent binge ethanol and decreased by exercise. In summary, we show significant binge-induced loss of DG granule neurons despite increased neurogenesis, suggesting an unsuccessful compensatory response. Although exercise eliminated cell loss, our results indicate that infrequent, but recurrent exposure to clinically relevant BEC is neurotoxic.
Antihypertensive drug use and blood pressure control among stroke survivors in the United States: NHANES 2003-2014

Understanding the patterns of antihypertensive drug use and blood pressure (BP) control among stroke survivors in the "real-world" setting is important to identify gaps in treatment and control, if any. The objective of our study was to assess trends and patterns in antihypertensive drug use and BP control among stroke survivors in the United States. We performed a retrospective cross-sectional analysis of the 2003-2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Stroke and hypertension diagnoses were self-reported. Information regarding the use of antihypertensive drugs was collected during an in-person interview. Measurement of BP was performed by trained medical professionals in mobile examination centers. A total 1244 adult stroke survivors (equating to 6 232 215 stroke survivors nationwide) were identified, of which 956 had hypertension. Antihypertensive drug use increased from 2003 (79.5%) to 2014 (92.2%; P for trend < 0.001). The prevalence of drug use was lower (52%) among survivors aged 20-39 years compared with older age groups. Use of ≥2 antihypertensive drugs was prevalent (63.8%), but diuretics alone or in combination with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors were underutilized (22.4%). More than one-third of the survivors were not at BP goal (ie, BP < 140/90 mm Hg). Males were more likely to attain BP goal than female stroke survivors (odds ratio [OR] = 2.02; 95% CI: 1.34-3.05). Our findings suggest that despite improvements in antihypertensive drug use in the recent years, BP is not adequately controlled in a significant proportion of stroke survivors. Further research focusing on understanding the reasons for unmet BP goal in stroke survivors is needed.