cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Relating survival of fall-run Chinook Salmon through the San Joaquin Delta to river flow

Survival of juvenile fall-run Chinook Salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha from the San Joaquin River (SJR) during their migration through the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta of California has been low in recent years, and there is uncertainty about the role of river flow on survival. Five years (2010–2014) of acoustic telemetry data from juvenile hatchery-reared salmon offer spatially detailed survival information through this region. Multinomial regression and generalized linear models were used to relate survival to river flow in the SJR and its distributary, Old River (OR), on various spatial and temporal scales. Higher survival to Delta exit (rkm 77 from Golden Gate Bridge) was associated with higher root mean square of OR flow in the strongly tidal interior Delta (rkm 123; P < 0.0001), but not with higher SJR flow either entering the Delta from upstream (rkm 196; P = 0.2795) or measured in the Delta near the riverine/tidal interface (rkm 150; P = 0.3845). Survival in the upstream, more riverine region of the Delta was positively associated with SJR flow measured at rkm 150 and average net flow in the interior Delta (P ≤ 0.0001 for each), suggesting different mechanisms driving survival in the upstream versus downstream reaches of the Delta. The spatial complexity of the survival-flow relationship suggests that efforts to maximize total Delta survival should focus on a sequence of smaller regions, tailoring management strategies to each region rather than a single strategy for the Delta as a whole. Highly variable environmental conditions in this region combined with very low survival require more data to fully address the complex survival-flow relationship, both more years of data on various spatial scales and larger sample sizes of acoustic-tagged fish.
Integration on Manifolds

The purpose of this chapter is to generalize the theory of integration known for functions defined on open subsets of \(\mathbb {R}^n\) to manifolds. As a first step, we explain how differential forms defined on an open subset of \(\mathbb {R}^n\) are integrated. Then, if M is a smooth manifold of dimension n, and if ω is an n-form on M (with compact support), the integral ∫Mω is defined by patching together the integrals defined on small-enough open subsets covering M using a partition of unity. If (U, φ) is a chart such that the support of ω is contained in U, then the pullback (φ−1)∗ω of ω is an n-form on \(\mathbb {R}^n\), so we know how to compute its integral ∫φ(U)(φ−1)∗ω. To ensure that these integrals have a consistent value on overlapping charts, we need for M to be orientable. Actually, there is a more general notion of integration on a manifold that uses densities instead differential forms, but we do not need such generality.
Scaling planetarity: spacetime in the new modernist studies – Virginia Woolf, H.D., Hilma af Klint, Alicja Kwade, Kathy Jetn̄il-Kijiner

What might planetary modernisms mean if we incorporate non-human along with human dimensions of modernity? The essay challenges the prevailing anthropocentrism of modernist studies by focusing on t...
Green and scalable separation and purification of carbon materials in molten salt by efficient high-temperature press filtration

Abstract Molten salt electrochemical CO2 conversion to value-added materials is gaining momentum in large-scale industrialization for reducing global CO2 emissions. However, the adoption of this novel technology is being limited by the environmental impact of the product purification process. A typical prior separation of raw products from a carbonate electrolyte used hydrochloric acid to dissolve the carbonate salts, and then the insoluble carbon product is filtered, rinsed, and dried. We propose and demonstrate a green High-Temperature Press Filtration (HTPF) alternative method for scalable and sustainable separation and purification of carbon products from molten salts. In our optimized experiment , 95% of the electrolyte was extracted from the cathode when pressed at 750 °C and at 493 psi for 30 min directly with a filter configuration shown to be stable through many uses. After the filtration process, the electrolyte can be conveniently recycled back to the cell which preserves heat energy and reduces waste.
Physiological Data Models to Understand the Effectiveness of Drone Operation Training in Immersive Virtual Reality

AbstractData collection using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in construction and heavy civil projects is subject to compliance with strict operational rules and safety regulations. Both the US Fed...
Rebecca Harding Davis: Preserving History through the Art of Literary Journalism

Early efforts in the field of literary journalism are today generally attributed to male writers such as Stephen Crane, Mark Twain, and Richard Harding Davis, with few mentions of their female cont...
The value of health awareness days, weeks and months: A systematic review.

Abstract Objective The aim of this systematic review was to analyze the value of awareness days, weeks, and months as found in peer-reviewed research and highlight any related trends. Methods A systematic review was conducted across four electronic databases for articles published between 1970 and July 2020. The researchers reviewed articles which included awareness days, weeks, or months in the title or abstract and extracted articles which used quantitative analysis to assess the impact of such campaigns. Results The 73 included articles were separated into categories based on outcome measure(s) with 12 articles included in more than one category. Of the 31 articles which examined online activity outcomes, the vast majority reported the awareness day, week, or month in question positively correlated with increased activity. Of the 14 articles focused on knowledge outcomes, those which focused on specific day, week, or month sub-interventions with targeted populations had relatively greater success. The 29 studies that examined the impact of awareness days, weeks, and months on health outcomes reported mixed results. Another twelve studies provided treatment insights based on convenience sample research conducted during awareness days, weeks, and months. The majority of articles across all outcome categories did not examine costs. Conclusion Although online activity seemed to generally increase during the awareness days, weeks, and months studied, the relationship between this increase and improved health behaviors and outcomes remains unclear. In addition, there is a paucity of research pertaining to the cost and cost effectiveness of such campaigns. Future research in this area needs to focus more on health outcome impacts and include an examination of cost effectiveness when possible.
The Political Economy of Health: Revisiting Its Marxian Origins to Address 21st-Century Health Inequalities

The “political economy of health” is concerned with how political and economic domains interact and shape individual and population health outcomes. However, the term is variously defined in the pu...
Image-Guided Biopsy for Relapsed Neuroblastoma: Focus on Safety, Adequacy for Genetic Sequencing, and Correlation of Tumor Cell Percent With Quantitative Lesion MIBG Uptake.

PURPOSEMany novel therapies for relapsed and refractory neuroblastoma require tumor tissue for genomic sequencing. We analyze our experience with image-guided biopsy in these patients, focusing on ...
Antenatal Corticosteroids: Extending the Practice for Late-Preterm and Scheduled Early-Term Deliveries?

Respiratory distress in late-preterm and early term infants generally may warrant admission to a special care nursery or an intensive care unit. In particular, respiratory distress syndrome and transient tachypnea of the newborn are the two most common respiratory morbidities. Antenatal corticosteroids (ACS) facilitate surfactant production and lung fluid resorption. The use of ACS has been proven to be beneficial for preterm infants delivered at less than 34 weeks’ gestation. Literature suggests that the benefits of giving antenatal corticosteroids may extend to late-preterm and early term infants as well. This review discusses the short-term benefits of ACS administration in reducing respiratory morbidities, in addition to potential long term adverse effects. An update on the current practices of ACS use in pregnancies greater than 34 weeks’ gestation and considerations of possibly extending versus restricting this practice to certain settings will also be provided.
Pediatric Cartilage Imaging.

Abstract Epiphyseal, articular, and physeal cartilage play a crucial role in skeletal maturation. This chapter discusses growth and development of long bones highlighting the changing appearance of physeal and epiphyseal cartilage throughout childhood. The imaging appearance of normal structures will be described with a focus on MR (magnetic resonance) imaging. Optimal MR imaging sequences will be discussed as well as common injuries that affect maturing cartilage in children.
Review of THz-based semiconductor assurance

Terahertz radiation for inspection and fault detection has been of interest for the semiconductor industry since the first generation and detection of THz signals. Until recent hardware advances, THz systems lacked the signal quality and reliability for use as an effective nondestructive testing (NDT) method. Incremental advances in THz sources, detectors, and signal processing resulted in the successful applied-industrial use of THz NDT techniques on carbon fiber laminates, automotive coatings, and for detection of counterfeit pharmaceutical tablets. Semiconductor inspection and verification methods ensure the functionality and thereby safety of vital electronics for several critical industries. For this reason, the reliability and verification of a THz NDT method must exceed currently used inspection systems. With recent laboratory access to THz radiation, THz inspection methods are often compared with existing optical, electrical, and volumetric semiconductor verification techniques for their production monitoring and failure analysis viability. This review will cover THz techniques and their applications at the printed circuit board (PCB), integrated circuit (IC), and transistor/gate scales. The THz radiation gap spans between optical and electronic ranges with a millimeter-sized wavelength allowing for adequate penetration of plastic and ceramic and semiconductor materials. THz radiation can be used to determine structural features, electrical signatures in the THz range, and chemical information simultaneously. Cost and environmental limitations restricted the ability for THz NDT semiconductor inspection methods to escape the lab and succeed in the dynamic environment of a semiconductor fabrication environment. Hybridized metrology methods incorporating information from multiple inspection tools are a regime where THz spectral and structural data can be combined with existing methods such as optical, x-ray, or E-beam. THz can be used initially to offer support to the complex failure analysis and verification requirements of the semiconductor industry from nanoscale to macroscale features and components. For THz systems to become independent inspection tools used for semiconductor production monitoring, in the lab or fab, this will require a confident level of statistical process control for THz signal generation, detection, or processing. Applied industrial semiconductor device inspection will likely be a result of a combination of research into THz hardware, reconstruction techniques, and the widespread application of machine learning techniques. Many breakthroughs occurred over the years to enable successful nondestructive characterization and inspection of semiconductor devices from the nanoscale transistors to fully packaged integrated circuits and assembled PCBs.
Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) Predicts Clinical Outcomes in Patients with COVID-19.

IntroductionPoint-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) may detect the cardiopulmonary manifestations of COVID-19 and expediently predict patient outcomes. MethodsWe conducted a prospective cohort study at four medical centers from 3/2020-1/2021 to evaluate POCUS findings and clinical outcomes with COVID-19. Our inclusion criteria included adult patients hospitalized for COVID-19 who received cardiac or lung POCUS with a 12-zone protocol. Images were interpreted by two reviewers blinded to clinical outcomes. Our primary outcome was ICU admission incidence. Secondary outcomes included intubation and supplemental oxygen usage. ResultsN=160 patients (N=201 scans) were included. Scans were collected a median 23 hours (IQR:7-80) from emergency department triage. Triage POCUS findings associated with ICU admission included B-lines (OR 4.41 [95% CI:1.71-14.30]; p<0.01) or consolidation (OR 2.49 [95% CI:1.35-4.86]; p<0.01). B-lines were associated with intubation (OR 3.10 [95% CI:1.15-10.27]; p=0.02) and supplemental oxygen usage (OR 3.74 [95% CI:1.63-8.63; p<0.01). Consolidations present on triage were associated with the need for oxygen at discharge (OR 2.16 [95% CI: 1.01-4.70]; p=0.047). A normal lung triage scan was protective for ICU admission (OR 0.28 [95% CI:0.09-0.75; p<0.01) or need for supplemental oxygen during the hospitalization (OR 0.26 [95% CI:0.11-0.61]; p<0.01). Triage cardiac POCUS scans were not associated with any outcomes. DiscussionLung POCUS findings detected early in the hospitalization may provide expedient risk stratification for important COVID-19 clinical outcomes, including ICU admission, intubation, or need for oxygen on discharge. A normal admission scan appears protective against adverse outcomes, which may aid in triage decisions of patients.
Induction of colonic epithelial cell apoptosis by p47-dependent oxidants.

Abstract Exogenous oxidants appear capable of initiating both proliferative and death signals, but the role of endogenous oxidants in either tumorigenesis or tumor suppression is unclear. We found that expression of the NAD(P)H oxidase adapter p47phox was suppressed in human colon carcinoma specimens relative to adjacent normal colon. Overexpression of p47phox increased apoptosis in colon cancer cell lines independent of p53 and mismatch-repair competency. p47phox was found to interact with the c-Abl adapter Abl interactor-1 (ABI-1), and p47phox coprecipitated with both ABI-1 and c-Abl. Ectopic expression of p47phox in colon cancer cells increased oxidant production with phosphorylation and activation of nuclear c-Abl and consequent apoptosis. Colonic epithelial p47phox may be specifically targeted to a c-Abl-containing complex that serves a physiologic tumor suppressing function.
Altered membrane structure in transfected mouse L-cell fibroblasts expressing rat liver fatty acid-binding protein

Mouse L cell fibroblasts were transfected with cloned cDNA encoding rat liver fatty acid binding protein (L-FABP) also known as sterol carrier protein. Stable transfectant cell lines were selected and expression of L-FABP determined using Western blot analysis. The nontransfected controls and low expression cells did not differ significantly in any of the properties examined. All cell lines showed similar doubling times but cells expressing high levels of L-FABP attained 2-fold higher cell saturation density and differed significantly in their lipid metabolism as indicated by 1) higher cholesterol ester and phospholipid content, and 2) decreased sterol/phospholipid ratio. The observed changes in the lipid composition predicted a lower degree of membrane-lipid order (higher fluidity) in the plasma membranes of cells expressing high levels of L-FABP. Therefore, fluorescent molecule, 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene, and multifrequency (1-250 MHz) phase and modulation fluorometry were used to probe the effect of L-FABP expression on membrane structure. Steady-state polarization and limiting anisotropy of diphenylhexatriene were significantly lower in the isolated plasma membrane vesicles from the high expression clones. The observed changes in L-cells as a result of de novo expression of L-FABP are consistent with the ability of this protein to bind sterols and fatty acids, stimulate sterol esterification, and stimulate phospholipid biosynthesis. This evidence is supportive of a physiologic role for L-FABP in modulating cellular lipid metabolism and membrane structure.
Distributing Relevance Feedback in Content Based Image Retrieval Systems

Most Content Based Image Retrieval (CBIR) systems use low level features such as texture, color and shape to formulate the query. Relevance feedback (RF) from the environment has also been used as a means of training CBIR systems and improving the performance of feature based query schemes. Query schemes based on feature extraction methods generally make recognition errors of different types, and hence a scheme that would exploit this "error independence" among these schemes could be used to improve the performance of a combined system using these features. We propose a scheme for combining results from a number of low level feature based image classifiers based on the relative relevance of the features and distributing RF from the environment to each of the low level classifiers to improve their performance.
Group Processes, Social Psychology of

Groups lie at the core of the human experience. Group processes encompass such a wide range of phenomena that the social psychological study of group processes has many different focuses. The study of group processes, in general, concerns the cognitive and social causes and consequences of human aggregation. This article provides a history and review of group processes research including information on group formation, group performance, and group decision making; of how people are socialized into groups and roles within groups; and of how groups influence their members through persuasion, leadership, and norms.
mu opiate receptor. Charged transmembrane domain amino acids are critical for agonist recognition and intrinsic activity.

The mu opiate receptor is a principal brain site for activities of morphine, other opiate drugs, and opioid peptides in modulating pain and altering mood. Recent cloning of cDNAs encoding rat and human mu receptors reveals charged amino acid residues within putative transmembrane domains (TMs) II, III, and VI, a substantial N-terminal extracellular domain, and a C-terminal intracellular domain. Deletion of 64 N-terminal amino acids produced little effect on receptor function (Wang, J.B., Imai, Y., Eppler, C.M., Gregor, P., Spivak, C.E., and Uhl, G.R. (1993) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 90, 10230-10234). Further deletion of 33 C-terminal amino acids yielded a receptor at which morphine, but not the substituted enkephalin DAMGO ([D-Ala2,MePhe4,Glyol5]enkephalin), inhibited adenylate cyclase. Alanine substitution for each charged TM residue in the N-terminally deleted receptor reduced affinities for morphine, DAMGO, and the opiate antagonist naloxone. Replacement of TM II Asp114 with asparagine or glutamic acid increased mu receptor affinity for naloxone. TM II and TM III glutamic acid substitutions for Asp114 and Asp147 reduced agonist binding affinities but allowed full inhibition of adenylate cyclase at high agonist concentrations. TM VI histidine substitution with alanine yielded a receptor that produced almost twice the cyclase inhibition displayed by the wild type receptor in parallel transient expression assays. These findings underscore the importance of charged residues in TM II, III, and VI for different receptor functions and the modest involvement of extensive portions of N- and C-terminal receptor domains in these processes.
Identifying Dark Matter Through the Constraints Imposed by Fourteen Astronomically Based 'Cosmic Constituents'

Mankind has not yet explained dark matter, the accelerating expansion of the Universe, the 'knee' and 'ankle' of the cosmic ray energy spectrum graph, the low star formation rates of low surface brightness (LSB) dwarf galaxies, the ignition of hydrogen fusion reactions in the first generation stars or the departing locations of earthbound high-energy cosmic ray protons. A new research hypothesis has been developed by the author based upon finding astronomically based 'cosmic constituents' of the Universe that may be created or influenced by or have a special relationship with possible dark matter candidates. A list of 14 relevant and plausible 'cosmic constituents' of the Universe was developed by the author, which was then used to establish a list of constraints regarding the nature and characteristics of the long-sought dark matter particles. A dark matter candidate was then found that best conformed to the 14 constraints established by the 'cosmic constituents.'
Colloquium : Transport in strongly correlated two dimensional electron fluids

An overview of the measured transport properties of the two dimensional electron fluids in high mobility semiconductor devices with low electron densities is presented as well as some of the theories that have been proposed to account for them. Many features of the observations are not easily reconciled with a description based on the well understood physics of weakly interacting quasiparticles in a disordered medium. Rather, they reflect new physics associated with strong correlation effects, which warrant further study.
Comparative evaluation of the effects of taurine and thiotaurine on alterations of the cellular redox status and activities of antioxidant and glutathione-related enzymes by acetaminophen in the rat.

The present study was carried out to ascertain the impact of replacing the sulfonate group of TAU with thiosulfonate, as present in thiotaurine (TTAU), on the protective actions of TAU against hepatocellular damage and biochemical alterations related to oxidative stress and glutathione redox cycling, synthesis, and utilization caused by a high dose of acetaminophen (APAP). To this end, male Sprague-Dawley rats, 225–250 g, were intraperitoneally treated with a 2.4 mmol/kg dose of TAU (or TTAU), followed 30 min later by 800 mg/kg of APAP. A reference group received 2.4 mmol/kg of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) prior to APAP. Naive rats served as controls. The animals were sacrificed 6 h after receiving APAP and their blood and livers were collected. Plasma and liver homogenates were analyzed for indices of cell damage (plasma transaminases, plasma lactate dehydrogenase), ­oxidative stress (malondialdehyde = MDA, reduced glutathione = GSH, glutathione disulfide = GSSG, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase), glutathione cycling (glutathione reductase), utilization (glutathione S-transferase), and synthesis (γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase) activities. APAP increased MDA formation and lowered the GSH/GSSG ratio and all enzyme activities, especially those of antioxidant enzymes. In general, TTAU was equipotent with NAC and more potent than TAU in protecting the liver. Taken into account the results of a previous study comparing the actions of TAU and hypotaurine (HTAU), the sulfinate analog of TAU, it appears that the sulfinate and thiosulfonate analogs are somewhat more effective than the parent sulfonate TAU in counteracting APAP-induced hepatic alterations in the liver and plasma.
Twisted localization of weight modules

We discuss how the twisted localization functor leads to a classification of the simple objects and a description of the injectives in various categories of weight modules. The article is a survey on existing results for finite-dimensional simple Lie algebras and superalgebras, affine Lie algebras, and algebras of differential operators.
The impact of executive coaching and 360 feedback on leadership effectiveness

Does executive coaching really work? Does it help improve leadership effectiveness and productivity? This action research study answers these questions by tracking the progress of 281 executives participating in a six‐month coaching and 360 feedback process. The results suggest that the combination of multi‐rater feedback and individual coaching do increase leadership effectiveness up to 60 per cent ‐‐ according to direct report and peer post‐survey feedback. Implications of the results for future executive development programs are discussed, and specific recommendations are provided.
Analyzing the Impact of Drugs, Violence, and Sex in the Media

Abstract Objectives: Have students select a form of media that depicts drug use, violence, and/or sexual reference; analyze media for potential influences of drug, violence and sexual content; present the analysis to the class in an effective manner; and respond to questions from teacher and students about the media. Target Audience: Middle school to college.
Automatic control of film-deposition rate with the crystal oscillator for preparation of alloy films☆

Abstract The frequency shift of oscillating quartz crystals, being proportional to the mass deposited, provides a means for measuring film thickness and deposition rate. Theory and sensitivity of the crystals are discussed, and it is shown how frequency shifts due to temperature variations of the crystal can be reduced by a holder with cooling facilities. An electronic feedback circuit was developed to permit automatic control of the deposition rate. The degree of control is sufficient for the deposition of alloys by simultaneous evaporation from two sources. The experimental results show that the chemical composition of the alloy films can be predicted to ±0.5 per cent by setting of the dials on the electronic circuitry.
Acute appendicitis in childhood leukemia

Acute appendicitis was found in 6 of 22 consecutive necropsies of children with acute leukemia. The pathologic changes in the appendix consisted of extensive infarction and necrosis with minimal exudate. All patients with appendicitis had sepsis due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa or Escherichia coli. Four of them had 6-mercaptopurine toxicity within one month before death. There was no correlation between the presence of appendicitis and age, sex, race, length of survival, or hematologic status. A child with acute leukemia in relapse, with an acutely inflamed appendix, was successfully treated surgically.
OFDM subcarrier interference cancellation for non-linear PA distortion

OFDM offers high bandwidth efficiency and low receiver equalization complexity; consequently OFDM is growing in popularity for adoption into robust high data rate services in wireless multipath channels. While these advantages have been proven for many wireless applications (including numerous IEEE wireless standards), one potential disadvantage of OFDM is that it exhibits high peak-to-average power ratios (PAPR). The high PAPR characteristic of OFDM can induce in-band and out-of-band distortions when the peaks of the OFDM waveform enter the compression region of the transmitter power amplifier (PA). Several techniques exist to reduce the PAPR and, in addition, signal pre-distortion can be applied prior to the PA to linearize the signal; however, significant distortion can still reach the receiver. We introduce a PA subcarrier interference cancellation (SCIC) method that improves upon previous receive-side non-linear interference cancellation (NLIC) techniques and show the resulting improvement using actual PA devices. Initially we derive theoretical performance analysis that enables us to predict the performance analytically and confirm the improvements via simulation of our SCIC technique. We demonstrate at least a 5 dB SNR improvement, at 0 dB input backoff of the PA, using our OFDM design with SCIC. We conclude that robust channel estimation, using optimized pilot design for OFDM with null edge subcarriers, and SCIC are jointly critical for improving OFDM's robustness when transmitted through nonlinear PA devices.
Evaluation of bepridil for the treatment of angina pectoris: evidence for preservation of left ventricular function.

Abstract The efficacy of bepridil (400 mg once a day) was assessed in 15 patients with exertional angina pectoris. All 15 patients reported substantial clinical improvement during bepridil treatment compared with placebo treatment. Episodes of angina were 11.8 ± 4.1 (mean ± standard error of the mean)/ week with placebo and 3.8 ± 1.6 with bepridil (p
Diagnosis and Management of Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis, a chronic degenerative process that causes medial plantar heel pain, is responsible for approximately 1 million physician visits each year. Individuals with plantar fasciitis experience pain that is most intense during their first few steps of the day or after prolonged standing. The authors provide an overview of the diagnosis and management of a common problem encountered in the primary care setting. Routine imaging is not initially recommended for the evaluation of plantar fasciitis but may be required to rule out other pathologic conditions. Overall, plantar fasciitis carries a good prognosis when patients use a combination of several conservative treatment modalities. Occasionally, referral to a specialist may be necessary.
Automated approach for quantitative analysis of complex peptide mixtures from tandem mass spectra

To take advantage of the potential quantitative benefits offered by tandem mass spectrometry, we have modified the method in which tandem mass spectrum data are acquired in 'shotgun' proteomic analyses. The proposed method is not data dependent and is based on the sequential isolation and fragmentation of precursor windows (of 10 m/z) within the ion trap until a desired mass range has been covered. We compared the quantitative figures of merit for this method to those for existing strategies by performing an analysis of the soluble fraction of whole-cell lysates from yeast metabolically labeled in vivo with 15N. To automate this analysis, we modified software (RelEx) previously written in the Yates lab to generate chromatograms directly from tandem mass spectra. These chromatograms showed improvements in signal-to-noise ratio of approximately three- to fivefold over corresponding chromatograms generated from mass spectrometry scans. In addition, to demonstrate the utility of the data-independent acquisition strategy coupled with chromatogram reconstruction from tandem mass spectra, we measured protein expression levels in two developmental stages of Caenorhabditis elegans.
Using Race and Gender as a Counseling Intervention in The Buffalo Soldier

For many years, scholars of the men’s movement have struggled to understand what it means to be a man. Numerous cultural variables and perspectives have been explored in the hope that one day the many issues and crises that men face can be understood so that counselors can better respond to their needs. The character of Alfred, an African American foster child in Chris Bohjalian’s novel The Buffalo Soldier, is offered as a “case” to suggest how a counselor might understand and intervene with such a “client” to address the needs of the child, in particular his understanding of what it means to “be a man” in his community.
Fatigue and its impact on patients with myasthenia gravis.

We have examined fatigue in myasthenia gravis (MG) by administering a measure of cognitive and physical fatigue to patients and control subjects before and after administration of a lengthy cognitive battery. Subjects also completed a scale that assessed the impact of fatigue on physical, social, and cognitive function. Results of the study revealed that MG patients experience significantly more cognitive and physical fatigue than do control subjects, and the patients' perceptions of both cognitive and physical fatigue increased significantly following completion of demanding cognitive work. Control subjects reported no significant change in fatigue. Furthermore, MG patients reported that fatigue produced mild to moderate effects on cognitive and social function and moderate effects on physical function. Results from this study indicate that cognitive fatigue is an important symptom of MG and that fatigue produces pervasive impairments in important aspects of patients' lives. Additional studies are needed to understand the neurobehavioral determinants of cognitive fatigue in this population.
An Efficient GPS Position Determination Algorithm

: A direct, closed-form and efficient new position determination algorithm that exploits the closed-form solution of the GPS trilateration equations and works in the presence of pseudorange measurement noise and for an arbitrary number of satellites in view is developed. A two-step GPS position determination algorithm that (1) entails the solution of a linear regression and (2) updates the solution based on one nonlinear measurement equation is derived. In step 2, only two or three iterations are required, as opposed to the five iterations that are normally required in the standard iterative least-squares (ILS) algorithm currently used. The mathematically derived stochastic modeling – based solution algorithm for the GPS pseudorange equations is assessed and compared with the conventional ILS algorithm. Good estimation performance is achieved even under high geometric dilution of precision (GDOP) conditions.
Detection of in situ activation of transglutaminase during apoptosis: correlation with the cell cycle phase by multiparameter flow and laser scanning cytometry.

Background One of the hallmarks of apoptosis is activation of tissue transglutaminase (Tgase; also called transglutaminase type 2 [TGase 2]). Its activation causes cross-linking of cytoplasmic proteins, making them insoluble and presumably less immunogenic. Several biochemical and cytochemical methods to detect activity of TGase 2 exist, but none has been adapted for multiparameter flow or image cytometry. Methods Apoptosis of HL-60 or U-937 leukemic cells was induced by camptothecin, tumor necrosis factor α, hyperthermia, or the cytotoxic RNase onconase. Two different approaches to detect TGase 2 activation were developed: (a) the unfixed cells were treated with 4′,6′-diamidino-2-phenylindole, and sulforhodamine 101 in solutions of nonionic detergents; (b) the TGase 2 substrate fluoresceinated polyamine cadaverine (F-CDV) was administered into the cultures for several hours before cell harvesting. The cells were then fixed and their DNA counterstained with propidium. Cellular fluorescence was measured by flow or laser scanning cytometry. Results (a) Exposure of nonapoptotic cells to detergents caused their full lysis, resulting in preparation of isolated nuclei devoid of cytoplasm. Conversely, the cross-linking of cytoplasmic protein by activated TGase 2 in apoptotic cells provided resistance to detergents: the nuclei or nuclear (chromatin) fragments of apoptotic cells remained attached to the cytoplasmic protein, embedded within the proteinaceous “shell.” Such cells were identified by their high protein content: intensity of fluorescence after staining with the protein fluorochrome sulforhodamine 101 was markedly higher than that of isolated nuclei. (b) Activation of TGase 2 was also detected by virtue of intense cell labeling with fluoresceinated polyamine cadaverine. Interestingly, in many cells apoptosis progressed without evidence of activation of TGase 2, suggesting that this event may not be a prerequisite for completion of apoptosis. Conclusions Activation of TGase 2 can be detected simply by cell resistance to detergents or in situ reactivity with F-CDV. Both methods allow one to correlate activation of TGase 2 with the cell cycle position. However, because activation of TGase 2 is not always detected during apoptosis, the lack of the activation cannot be considered a marker of nonapoptotic cells. Hence, an apoptotic index based solely on TGase 2 activation may underestimate incidence of apoptosis. Cytometry 49:83–89, 2002. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Self-Propulsion of a Capsule on a Viscous Surface

We propose a mechanical model for a capsule containing a piezoelectric actuator. The interfacial interaction between the capsule and a surface is assumed to be viscous. Nonlinearity in the interfacial force such as shear thickening is assumed to be present. When periodic excitations are applied to the piezoelectric actuator, the capsule is shown to propel itself. The self-propulsion is confirmed through an experimental setup.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
Action of the tunicate locus on maize floral development

The co-dominant Tunicate (Tu) mutation in maize causes nonreproductive structures in both the male and female inflorescences to be enlarged. This mutation also affects sex determination, permitting the development of pistils in the normally staminate tassel. In order to characterize the role of the normal tu gene product, we have analysed genetic interaction between Tu and other mutations that perturb specific stages of floral development. Synergistic interactions observed suggested that the tu product functions in at least three stages of floral development–determination of spikelet primordia, differentiation of non-reproductive organs and pistil abortion in the tassel. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Government and Social Innovation: Current State and Local Models

of Social Entrepreneurship, putting his state at the forefront of a growing national trend of government-led efforts to spur social innovation and better match resources with results. In establishing this office, Landrieu aimed to make Louisiana “the most hospitable place in the country for those who are launching and testing the best, most effective new program models for social change.” Landrieu’s launch took place at a time when government leaders across the nation were looking for a better way to address social problems. Faced with steep budget deficits and minimal appetite for higher taxes, plus historically low approval ratings of government—all exacerbated by a lagging economy that has created greater need among citizens—government leaders set out to do more with less. A number of them began to cast their eyes toward the nonprofit sector and explore partnership opportunities with nonprofits, foundations, and corporations. Meanwhile, the nonprofit sector—particularly nonprofits and foundations dedicated to social entrepreneurship and performance measurement—was increasingly recognizing the influence of government on its work. The innovative service delivery models that social entrepreneurs had developed, and that some foundations were supporting, had often evolved as a direct reaction to what they saw as failed government policies and systems, but now these organizations
OODLE: a prototype Object-Oriented Design Learning Environment

Stottler Henke Associates Inc.'s Object-Oriented Design Learning Environment (OODLE) is an early prototype intelligent tutoring system aimed at teaching object-oriented design skills by coached practice with realistically complex design problems. OODLE's pedagogical approach is based on the instructional practices of Craig Larman, author of Applying UML and Patterns.
Impact damage resistance of graphite/epoxy laminated composites

Damage in graphite/epoxy laminated composites resulting from low-velocity impact was studied. The impact damage mechanisms and mechanics were first investigated by adopting the impactors with a line-nosed head from which the damage was simplified from a complicated three-dimensional pattern to a two-dimensional one. Based on the results of the line-loading impact study, a model was developed for predicting the impact damage in the materials resulting from point-loading impact. The model consists of a stress analysis for calculating transient dynamic stresses during impact and a failure analysis for predicting the extent of delaminations resulting from the impact. A computer code, “3DIMPACT”, was developed based on the model during the investigation. The predictions from the code agreed fairly well with the test data.
Analytical control of SISO nonlinear processes with input constraints

A new method of controlling nonlinear processes with actuator saturation nonlinearities is presented. Two nonlinear control laws are derived for single-input, single-output nonlinear processes. Whether input constraints are present or not, each of these dynamic control laws can minimize the mismatch between the closed-loop output response and the nominal linear output response that the same control law induces when there are no constraints. The control laws offer great flexibility to obtain a desirable closed-loop output response in the presence of active input constraints, and they inherently compensate for windup. They allow one to adjust the time period during which an input constraint is active and the decay rate of the mismatch between the constrained output response and the nominal linear unconstrained output response. Conditions under which the constrained closed-loop system is asymptotically stable are given. The connections between the developed control laws and the modified internal model control are established. The performance of the control laws is demonstrated by numerical simulations of chemical and biochemical reactor examples.
Cryptic crustal events elucidated through zone imaging and ion microprobe studies of zircon, southern Appalachian Blue Ridge, North Carolina–Georgia

Compositional zoning reveals multistage growth histories and resorption events in zircon from a high-grade terrane in the eastern Blue Ridge of North Carolina and Georgia. These zoning patterns were used to guide high-resolution ion microprobe dating that places important constraints on the evolution of the southern Appalachian crust. Zircons from granulite facies metapelite have unzoned rims that yield concordant U-Pb ages of 495 ± 14 Ma. We interpret this as the time of rim growth, which occurred during peak metamorphism early in the protracted orogenic history of the region. Detrital cores, characterized by truncated euhedral zoning, are of Grenville age (1.04–1.26 Ga). Zircons from the Whiteside and Rabun plutons have well-defined, rounded, inherited cores and euhedral, oscillatory-zoned magmatic rims. Rims of Rabun zircons record magmatic crystallization at 374 ± 4 Ma, whereas Whiteside rims yield a 466 ± 10 Ma crystallization age. Cores from both plutons include 1.1–1.3 Ga and 2.6–2.7 Ga ages. These data indicate that there was no single, voluminous episode of plutonism in this area, that similar material underpinned the region at least from 370 to 470 Ma, and that previously unrecognized Archean basement or Archean basement–derived sedimentary rock was present in the southern Appalachians. Results of this study verify the value of combining zoning and ion microprobe studies: Using conventional U-Pb methods or ion microprobe dating without knowledge of zoning would have made interpreting the events recorded in these zircons and the ages that they yield difficult or impossible.
Comparison of Radical Prostatectomy and Iodine 125 Interstitial Radiotherapy for the Treatment of Clinically Localized Prostate Cancer: A 7-Year Biochemical (PSA) Progression Analysis

Abstract Objectives. To evaluate the relative efficacy of brachytherapy to radical prostatectomy, we compared biochemical progression rates from a published series of men who underwent iodine 125 ( 125 I) interstitial radiotherapy for localized prostate cancer to a similar group of men who underwent anatomic radical prostatectomy using appropriate end points. Methods. Seventy-six men who underwent anatomic radical prostatectomy between 1988 and 1990 were carefully matched for Gleason score and clinical stage to a recently reported contemporary series of patients treated at another institution with 125 I brachytherapy without adjuvant treatment. The definition of biochemical progression was a serum PSA level greater than 0.2 ng/mL after anatomic radical prostatectomy and greater than 0.5 ng/mL for brachytherapy-treated patients. Results. The 7-year actuarial PSA progression-free survival following anatomic radical prostatectomy was 97.8% (95% confidence interval [CI], 85.6% to 99.7%) for this group of men selected to match the brachytherapy group, compared to 79% (95% CI not published) for men treated with 125 I interstitial radiotherapy. Conclusions. Using comparative end points for biochemical-free progression, failure rates may be higher following 125 I interstitial radiotherapy compared to anatomic radical prostatectomy. These data provide a better comparison of biochemical progression than previously published studies and emphasize the need for caution in interpreting the relative efficacy of brachytherapy in controlling localized prostate cancer.
NFAT and CREB Regulate Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus-Induced Cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2)

COX-2 has been implicated in Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) latency and pathogenesis (A. George Paul, N. Sharma-Walia, N. Kerur, C. White, and B. Chandran, Cancer Res. 70:3697-3708, 2010; P. P. Naranatt, H. H. Krishnan, S. R. Svojanovsky, C. Bloomer, S. Mathur, and B. Chandran, Cancer Res. 64:72-84, 2004; N. Sharma-Walia, A. G. Paul, V. Bottero, S. Sadagopan, M. V. Veettil, N. Kerur, and B. Chandran, PLoS Pathog. 6:e1000777, 2010; N. Sharma-Walia, H. Raghu, S. Sadagopan, R. Sivakumar, M. V. Veettil, P. P. Naranatt, M. M. Smith, and B. Chandran, J. Virol. 80:6534-6552, 2006). However, the precise regulatory mechanisms involved in COX-2 induction during KSHV infection have never been explored. Here, we identified cis-acting elements involved in the transcriptional regulation of COX-2 upon KSHV de novo infection. Promoter analysis using human COX-2 promoter deletion and mutation reporter constructs revealed that nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) and the cyclic AMP (cAMP) response element (CRE) modulate KSHV-mediated transcriptional regulation of COX-2. Along with multiple KSHV-induced signaling pathways, infection-induced prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) also augmented COX-2 transcription. Infection of endothelial cells markedly induced COX-2 expression via a cyclosporine A-sensitive, calcineurin/NFAT-dependent pathway. KSHV infection increased intracellular cAMP levels and activated protein kinase A (PKA), which phosphorylated the CRE-binding protein (CREB) at serine 133, which probably led to interaction with CRE in the COX-2 promoter, thereby enhancing COX-2 transcription. PKA selective inhibitor H-89 pretreatment strongly inhibited CREB serine 133, indicating the involvement of a cAMP-PKA-CREB-CRE loop in COX-2 transcriptional regulation. In contrast to phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and protein kinase C, inhibition of FAK and Src effectively reduced KSHV infection-induced COX-2 transcription and protein levels. Collectively, our study indicates that mediation of COX-2 transcription upon KSHV infection is a paradigm of a complex regulatory milieu involving the interplay of multiple signal cascades and transcription factors. Intervention at each step of COX-2/PGE2 induction can be used as a potential therapeutic target to treat KSHV-associated neoplasm and control inflammatory sequels of KSHV infection.
Artificial Intelligence Basic Research Directions at the U.S. Air Force

This survey gives a review of recent artificial intelligence-related research directions that are considered priority areas by the U.S. Air Force and targeted for basic research funding by Air Forc...