cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Athletic Training Instructors: A Needs Assessment of Teaching Methodology Knowledge and Self-Perceived Competence

Objective: The objectives were to assess teaching backgrounds, self-perceived teaching methodology knowledge, and self-perceived competence of Athletic Training Education Program (ATEP) instructors to determine if there was a need for more instruction in teaching methodology (TM). Design & Setting: This was a quantitative design utilizing a discrepancy needs assessment model. A web-based survey was used to gather data. This was a total population study with no sampling. Subjects: The population studied was Certified Athletic Trainers (ATCs) in the United States who had obtained a master's degree and were working in a college/university setting. The instrument further defined the study population to those who were currently teaching (study conducted in Fall 2002) in approved or accredited ATEPs (N=149). Measurements: The items measured were each participant's educational and instructional background, their knowledge of 20 TM components, their self-perceived competence on those same 20 TM components, and th...
Facilitatory effects of anti-spastic medication on robotic locomotor training in people with chronic incomplete spinal cord injury

The objective of this study was to investigate whether an anti-spasticity medication can facilitate the effects of robotic locomotor treadmill training (LTT) to improve gait function in people with incomplete spinal cord injury (SCI). Individuals with chronic incomplete SCI were recruited and carried out a 4 week intervention of either locomotor treadmill training (LTT) alone (n = 26) or LTT combined with Tizanidine (TizLTT), an anti-spasticity medication (n = 22). Gait function was evaluated using clinical outcome measures of gait, speed and endurance. To better understand the underlying mechanisms of the therapeutic effects, maximal strength, active range of motion (AROM) and peak velocity (Vp) of ankle dorsi- and planter-flexor muscles were also measured. Differences were assessed using two-way mixed design analysis of variance. The number of subjects that achieved the minimal important difference (MID) for clinical scores was also measured for each group, and the results of those that did attain the MID were compared with those that did not. Both LTT and TizLTT resulted in significant improvements in walking speed and dorsiflexion maximum strength, with no significant differences between them, using group-averaging analysis. However, using the MID analysis, a higher proportion of subjects in the TizLTT group achieved the MID for walking speed (40%) compared with LTT alone (13%). Those that achieved the MID for walking speed were significantly higher functioning at baseline than those that did not in the TizLTT group, and the change in walking speed was associated with the change in dorsiflexion peak velocity (R2 = 0.40; P < 0.05). Tizanidine appears to facilitate the effects of LTT on gait function in individuals with chronic SCI that are higher functioning at baseline. We speculate that this may be due to restoration of inhibitory mechanisms by Tizanidine, resulting in greater stretch in the planterflexor muscles during the LTT.
Failure related dataflow dynamics in a highly parallel processor for L1 triggering

This paper studies how processor failures affect the dataflow of the Level 1 Trigger in the BTeV experiment proposed to run at Fermilab's Tevatron. The failure analysis is crucial for a system with over 2500 processing nodes and a number of storage units and communication links of the same order of magnitude. This paper is based on models of the L1 Trigger architecture and shows the dynamics of the architecture's dataflow. The dataflow analysis provides insight into how system variables are affected by single component failures and provides key information to the implementation of error recovery strategies. The analysis includes both short-term failures from which the system can recover quickly and long-term failures which imply a more drastic error-recovery strategy. The modeling results are supported by behavioral simulations of the L1 Trigger processing BTeV's GEANT Monte Carlo data.
You're in control: a urinary user interface

The You're In Control system uses computation to enhance the act of urination. Sensors in the back of a urinal detect the position of impact of a stream of urine, enabling the user to play interactive games on a screen mounted above the urinal.
Prevalence of Airflow Obstruction in U.S. Adults Aged 40–79 Years: NHANES Data 1988–1994 and 2007–2010

AbstractBackground: The study evaluated the change in the prevalence of airflow obstruction in the U.S. population 40–79 years of age from years 1988–1994 to 2007–2010. Methods: Spirometry data from two representative samples of the U.S. population, the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) conducted in 1988–1994 and 2007–2010, were used. The American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society (ATS/ERS) criteria were used to define airflow obstruction. Results: Based on ATS/ERS criteria, the overall age-adjusted prevalence of airflow obstruction among adults aged 40–79 years decreased from 16.6% to 14.5% (p < 0.05). Significant decreases were observed for the older age category 60–69 years (20.2% vs. 15.4%; p < 0.01), for males (19.0% vs. 15.4%; p < 0.01), and for Mexican American adults (12.7% vs. 8.4%; p < 0.001). The prevalence of moderate and more severe airflow obstruction decreased also (6.4% vs. 4.4%; p < 0.01). Based on ATS/ERS criteria, during 2007–2010, an estimated 18.3 ...
Indicators of Adolescent Depression and Relationship Progression in Emerging Adulthood

Adolescent depression may be associated with future relationship problems that have long-term consequences given the developmental importance and health benefits of forming committed unions in emerging adulthood. The authors examined associations between emotional and behavioral indicators of adolescent depression (depressive symptoms, alcohol problems, and suicidal ideation) and romantic relationship and union formation and dissolution in emerging adulthood (n = 14,146) using the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. Adolescent alcohol problems were associated with more romantic relationships in emerging adulthood. Emerging adults with depressive symptoms or alcohol problems in adolescence were significantly more likely to enter into a cohabiting union, and those with adolescent alcohol problems were less likely to marry. Cohabiting emerging adults with a history of adolescent depressive symptoms were less likely to marry, whereas suicidal ideation was associated with a decreased likelihood of cohabitation dissolution. Implications for future research are discussed.
Structure clustering features on the Sfold Web server

Summary: The energy landscape of RNA secondary structures is often complex, and the Boltzmann-weighted ensemble usually contains distinct clusters. Furthermore, the minimum free energy structure often lies outside of the cluster containing the structure determined by comparative sequence analysis. We have developed procedures to characterize and visualize the Boltzmann-weighted ensemble, and have made them available on the Sfold Web server. The new features on the Web server include clustering statistics, ensemble and cluster centroids, multi-dimensional scaling display and energy landscape representation of the Boltzmann-weighted ensemble. Availability:http://sfold.wadsworth.org; http://www.bioinfo.rpi.edu/applications/sfold Contact: chanc@wadsworth.org
Importance of local tumour control in breast cancer

Summary The overall importance of local tumour control in the management of breast cancer, specifically the influence of local control on survival, remains one of the fundamental questions for oncologists. This review addresses the issues surrounding local tumour control, including the evolution of the concept of disease spread, the rationale for local control, the results of studies of radiotherapy after breast-conserving surgery and after mastectomy, and an interpretation of the recent data on post-mastectomy radiotherapy.
Naturally Occurring Altered Peptide Ligands Control Salmonella -Specific CD4 + T Cell Proliferation, IFN-γ Production, and Protective Potency

T cell activation required for host defense against infection is an intricately regulated and precisely controlled process. Although in vitro studies indicate that three distinct stimulatory signals are required for T cell activation, the precise contribution of each signal in regulating T cell proliferation and differentiation after in vivo infection is unknown. In this study, altered peptide ligands (APLs) derived from the protective Salmonella -specific FliC Ag and CD4 + T cells specific for the immune-dominant FliC 431–439 peptide within this Ag were used to determine how changes in TCR stimulation impact CD4 + T cell proliferation, differentiation, and protective potency. To explore the prevalence and potential use of altered TCR stimulation by bacterial pathogens, naturally occurring APLs containing single amino acid substitutions in putative TCR contact residues within the FliC 431–439 peptide were identified and used for stimulation under both noninfection and infection conditions. On the basis of this analysis, naturally-occurring APLs that prime proliferation of FliC-specific CD4 + T cells either more potently or less potently compared with the wild-type FliC 431–439 peptide were identified. Remarkably, despite these differences in proliferation, all of the APLs primed reduced IFN-γ production by FliC 431–439 -specific CD4 + T cells after stimulation in vivo. Moreover, after expression of the parental FliC 431–439 peptide or each APL in recombinant Listeria monocytogenes , only CD4 + T cells stimulated with the wild-type FliC 431–439 peptide conferred significant protection against challenge with virulent Salmonella . These results reveal important and unanticipated roles for TCR stimulation in controlling pathogen-specific CD4 + T cell proliferation, differentiation, and protective potency.
A novel non-coding RNA lncRNA-JADE connects DNA damage signalling to histone H4 acetylation

A prompt and efficient DNA damage response (DDR) eliminates the detrimental effects of DNA lesions in eukaryotic cells. Basic and preclinical studies suggest that the DDR is one of the primary anti-cancer barriers during tumorigenesis. The DDR involves a complex network of processes that detect and repair DNA damage, in which long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), a new class of regulatory RNAs, may play an important role. In the current study, we identified a novel lncRNA, lncRNA-JADE, that is induced after DNA damage in an ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM)-dependent manner. LncRNA-JADE transcriptionally activates Jade1, a key component in the HBO1 (human acetylase binding to ORC1) histone acetylation complex. Consequently, lncRNA-JADE induces histone H4 acetylation in the DDR. Markedly higher levels of lncRNA-JADE were observed in human breast tumours in comparison with normal breast tissues. Knockdown of lncRNA-JADE significantly inhibited breast tumour growth in vivo. On the basis of these results, we propose that lncRNA-JADE is a key functional link that connects the DDR to histone H4 acetylation, and that dysregulation of lncRNA-JADE may contribute to breast tumorigenesis.
Calmodulin Inhibitor W-7 Unmasks a Novel Electrocardiographic Parameter That Predicts Initiation of Torsade de Pointes

Background— We have shown that the calmodulin inhibitor W-7 suppresses torsade de pointes (TdP) without shortening the QT interval, which is consistent with other findings that QT prolongation, per se, is insufficient to generate TdP. ECGs were analyzed from a well-characterized animal model of TdP to identify more reliable predictors of this life-threatening ventricular arrhythmia. Methods and Results— TdP was induced using methoxamine and clofilium in 12 of 14 rabbits pretreated with vehicle control, whereas pretreatment with W-7 (50 μmol/kg), an inhibitor of the intracellular Ca2+-binding protein calmodulin, significantly suppressed TdP induction (1 of 11 rabbits with TdP, P<0.001). W-7 did not affect heart rate, increases in QT intervals, or dispersion compared with measurements in vehicle-treated control animals. However, a progressive and significant increase in the ratio of U-wave to T-wave amplitude (UTA) occurred before TdP onset in control animals, and this was prevented by W-7. Conclusions— Sel...
Schematic-based lumped parameterized behavioral modeling for suspended MEMS

Schematic-based lumped parameterized behavioral modeling and simulation methodologies have become available since the emergence of analog HDLs. They greatly ease iterative hierarchical multi-domain simulation, which is critical to the design of MEMS. NODAS is one of such tools, with models written in VerilogA and simulation performed within the Cadence framework. This paper focuses on several key modeling issues in NODAS, including schematic representation, element communication, linear, nonlinear and multi-domain modeling, and extensibility to new physical effects, processes and physical domains. A nonlinear beam model and an electrostatic gap model are discussed as examples. Simulation comparison to finite element analyses and experimental data verifies the accuracy of the models and validates the simulation methodology.
Fast algorithms for the discrete cosine transform

Several fast algorithms for computing discrete cosine transforms (DCTs) and their inverses on multidimensional inputs of sizes which are powers of 2 are introduced. Because the 1-D 8-point DCT and the 2-D 8*8-point DCT are so widely used, they are discussed in detail. Algorithms for computing scaled DCTs and their inverses are also presented. These have applications in compression of continuous tone image data, where the DCT is generally followed by scaling and quantization. >
Weighted sensitivity minimization for delay systems

In this paper we consider the weighted sensitivity minimization problem for delay systems. A new explicit solution is presented for the pure delay case.
Fitness of allozyme variants in Drosophila pseudoobscura. II. Selection at the Est-5, Odh and Mdh-2 loci.

We have studied the effects on fitness of allelic variation at three gene loci ( Est-5, Odh , and Mdh-2 )coding for enzymes in Drosophila pseudoobscura . Genotype has a significant effect on fitness for all six parameters measured (female fecundity, male mating capacity, egg-to-adult survival under near-optimal and under competitive conditions, and rate of development under near-optimal and under competitive conditions). No single genotype is best for all six fitness parameters; rather, genotypes with superior performance during a certain stage of the life-cycle may have low fitness at some other stage, or in different environmental conditions. Heterozygotes are sometimes best when all fitness parameters are considered. There are significant interactions between loci. The various forms of balancing selection uncovered in our experiments may account for the polymorphisms occurring in natural populations of D. pseudoobscura at the three loci studied.
Enhanced Glucose Sensor Linearity Using Poly(Vinyl Alcohol) Hydrogels

Background: High linearities, sensitivities, and low oxygen dependence constitute prime requisites for electrochemical glucose sensors. However, for implantable sensors the need to control tissue inflammation requires the use of outer membranes that permit inward analyte diffusion while continuously releasing anti-inflammatory drugs and other tissue response-modifying (TRM) agents. We have shown previously that while outer membranes based on layer-by-layer (LBL) assembly enhance linearity, poly(vinyl alcohol)(PVA) hydrogels loaded with TRM-containing microspheres enable a significant reduction in tissue inflammation. This article discusses the amperometric performance of glucose sensors coated with stacked LBL/PVA hydrogel outer membranes. Methods:
The cultural relevance of community support programs.

The research and practice literature was examined to determine whether community support programs are responsive to ethnocultural issues and to derive strategies for developing culturally relevant programming. Great variation exists across cultures in family practices, conceptions of mental illness, stigma attributed to mental illness, and expectations of the provider system. Ethnic minority cultures are typically centered on the family, whereas Western European cultures are characterized as more individualistic and as valuing independence. Research shows that some rehabilitation approaches based on Western models may produce adverse effects when used with patients from ethnic minority groups. Interventions that incorporate family networks and use group modalities are considered culturally congruent. Clients from sociocentric cultures may have strong support networks and display prosocial behaviors that can be tapped in the rehabilitation process. Community support programs should incorporate cultural fac...
Reality check: revising theories of international politics in response to the end of the Cold War

The end of the cold war has produced a sustained debate on international relations theory. Some scholars argue that the unexpected and unexpectedly peaceful demise of the post-World War II international order undermines the entire research agenda of the subfield; others maintain that it warrants an adjustment of the balance between theories or theoretical traditions; and still others hold that it has little or no relevance to theory. This essay reviews the debate in light of the new evidence that has accumulated over the past five years. It finds that because scholars rarely make the empirical implications of their arguments explicit, the cascade of new information concerning the event cannot advance the debate. However, the natural focus provided by a sudden and unexpected event of seminal importance and the outpouring of new data suggest the possibility of empirically driven progress in one's understanding of change in world politics. The article concludes with guidelines designed to increase the likelihood of such progress by clarifying the debate in advance of new releases of primary data.
'There Oughtta Be a Law Against Bitches': Masculinity Lessons in Police Academy Training

This article draws on participant observation in a law enforcement academy to demonstrate how a hidden curriculum encourages aspects of hegemonic masculinity among recruits. Academy training teaches female and male recruits that masculinity is an essential requirement for the practice of policing and that women do not belong. By watching and learning from instructors and each other, male students developed a form of masculinity that (1) excluded women students and exaggerated differences between them and men; and (2) denigrated women in general. Thus, the masculinity that is characteristic of police forces and is partly responsible for women’s low representation on them is not produced exclusively on the job, but is taught in police academies as a subtext of professional socialization.
Part 7 – Geotechnical

This part explains the process of predicting the amount of settlement that will occur as a consequence of the many elements of a highway design. The roadway itself is an important element; however, even more important are the supports for bridges. It is also important to be able to determine the influence of settlement on elements such as culverts running underneath roadways. The process will be broken down into several major steps: (1) selection and collection of appropriate soil samples, (2) classification of those samples based on particle size and moisture retention, (3) determination of key properties needed to determine the settlement, (4) compaction testing and results, and (5) calculation of the expected settlement and the rate of settlement. Failure to follow a formal process that can be trusted could result in excessive settlement after the various elements are in place. The Tower of Pisa is probably the most famous example of excessive settlement. Correcting the consequences of excessive settlement is considerably more expensive than performing the original analysis correctly and in the most careful and professional manner.
Static and Dynamic Mechanics of the Lung and Chest

The lungs are not a simple tissue. Explanations of the mechanics of breathing have been difficult because of the difficulty in relating the properties of the lung to familiar common materials and because, in many cases, the structure of the lung has been incorrectly understood. Lungs are not perfectly elastic and their properties are poorly represented by the models that have been used. Most models rely on positive pressure for inflation and treat the alveoli as independent, bubblelike devices. In reality, neither of these assumptions is correct. Both lead to the misunderstanding of how the lungs work.
The Adult and Pediatric Spine. 3rd ed.

John W. Frymoyer and Sam W. Wiesel, editors-in-chief. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins; 2004. 2300 pages. $295.00. The new face on this classic book is a welcome sight, as it brings pediatric and adult spine disorders together in one textbook. The book serves as an up-to-date reference for health-care professionals who treat spinal affliction in patients of any age. The addition of Samuel Wiesel as coeditor-in-chief ensures a continuity of effort in the future, and the five new associate editors offer the youth and enthusiasm needed to maintain this book's excellent reputation. …
Effect of Wheat Germ on Creatinuria in Dermatomyositis and Progressive Muscular Dystrophy.

SummaryThe administration of large amounts of fresh wheat germ which was vacuum packed and sealed reduced the creatinuria in 3 patients with dermatomyositis. Other samples of wheat germ, stored in bulk, were ineffective. In another subject with progressive muscular dystrophy the creatinuria was diminished in one experiment and unaffected during a second period of wheat germ feeding. Wheat germ incubated in vitro with normal human gastric juice had more effect on creatinuria than had the fresh product. Prolonged extraction with ethyl ether reduced but did not remove completely the factor or factors in wheat germ that lower the output of creatine. On the other hand, wheat germ defatted by extraction with ethylene dichloride was entirely without effect on the creatinuria. Of various vitamins and other substances investigated only soy bean lecithin reduced the creatinuria.
Ethical and legal considerations in the care of the infant with end-stage renal disease whose parents elect conservative therapy: an American perspective

When parents elect conservative treatment for infants with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), their choice is medically, ethically, and legally acceptable, since dialysis and transplantation for young infants are still in the range of innovative and experimental treatments. Pediatric nephrologists have been reluctant to view these treatments as standard for very young infants because of doubts about their efficacy, technical difficulties in providing them for tiny patients, uncertainty about their short-term and long-term risks, and the suffering that they can create. Because these renal replacement therapies are not yet established, it is the responsibility of parents to determine whether the benefits of treatment outweigh its burdens for their infants. Physicians have an obligation to ensure that parents make a well-considered decision, and to provide them with counsel and support.
Characterization of Contaminants by S-Sims Mapping for Magnetic Recording Devices

The magnetic storage industry moved from particulate to thin fdm disks during the 1980's due to the trend toward higher density media. The disk dimensions also shrunk, from 350 mm to 95 mm and are expected to go down to 62.5 mm. The head-disk fly height will be reduced from 35 nanometers to below 10 nanometers during the coming decade. Contamination build-up on the disk, the head, and at the head-disk interface can create problems and may ultimately lead to head crashing. Therefore, it is important to build hard disk drives using very clean components. Some of the important components are the disk, the bearing, the head, the actuator, the comb, and the spindle. Hydrocarbon contamination is ubiquitous. Lubricants used can be collected by the head and may cause head print problems. Depending upon the curvature of the head and asperities on the disk, there will be head-disk interactions which can lead to smears on the disk surface. Build-up of such smears on the head and disk can reduce fly height and cause performance problems. p]Static Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (S-SIMS) is a powerful technique used to analyze both organics (characteristic fragmentation pattern) and inorganics (by mass number, including isotopic ratio). This approach is not possible with other analytical techniques. Further, the technique is surface sensitive and the detection limit is very low. This paper discusses S-SIMS mapping of smears and head prints following contact/start/stop (CSS) testing. The roles played by individual file components in generating smears are identified. S-SIMS can also be extended to contaminant analysis on silicon wafers, printed board circuits, etc.
Analysis of measles antibody level of special population in Urumqi

Objective To determine serum IgG level of measles of child-bearing women and analyze reasons for incidence increase of adults and infants in recent years,so as to propose feasible prevention strategy of measles virus infection for child-bearing women and infants.Methods Women intending to be pregnant were carried out questionnaires and taken blood samples for quantitative detection for serum IgG level by ELISA.Results Positive rate of the serum antibody and GMC were 87.5% and 973.2 mIU/mL,respectively,among the 112 investigated women.It was mainly low and intermediate level,accounted for 42.0% and 45.5%,respectively.Susceptible level occupied 12.5%.Conclusions The positive rate of serum measles antibody is low in women intending to be pregnant.It makes measles antibody of infants to be born under protection level,and they become susceptible population.Therefore,it is a feasible strategy to strengthen measles vaccine inoculation in the population,in order to effectively decrease measles incidence rate in 8-month-old infants.
Contractile force and intracellular Ca2+ during relaxation of canine tracheal smooth muscle.

Muscle strips loaded with the Ca2+ indicator aequorin were studied in vitro to determine the effects of inhibitory stimuli on force and cytosolic free Ca2+. In muscles contracted isometrically with acetylcholine (ACh), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), carbachol, decreases in muscle force caused by isoproterenol (10(-5) M) or forskolin (10(-5) M) were accompanied by proportional decreases in aequorin luminescence. A similar relationship between decreases in muscle force and aequorin luminescence was observed when muscles were relaxed by stimulating Na+-K+-ATPase activity. These results suggest that the Ca2+ sensitivity of contractile proteins was not decreased during adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP)-dependent relaxation. However, aequorin luminescence did not decrease when muscles contracted by K+ depolarization were relaxed with isoproterenol. Incubation of muscles in forskolin depressed increases in both force and aequorin luminescence in response to 5-HT or ACh. Incubation of muscles in isoprotere...
Beyond the Checkboxes: Research Integrity for Regenerative Medicine Researchers

To preserve scientific integrity and maintain public trust in science, researchers must follow responsible conduct of research (RCR) guidelines. However, contemporary research integrity dilemmas may not fit neatly into discrete “checkboxes.” Furthermore, existing guidelines are largely based on conventional ways of conducting research, and may not meet the needs of contemporary interdisciplinary cell and molecular-based science and engineering. The chapter reviews existing and proposed new guidelines for general research integrity, with particular deference to the needs of regenerative medicine researchers. We also flag areas which need further attention. Just as scientists must know RCR principles, ethicists, policy makers, funders, and government officials must stay abreast of contemporary issues in scientific research, particularly in light of international collaborations and increasingly interdisciplinary and translational science.
Chapter 4 – Epigenetics and Animal Models: Applications in Cancer Control and Treatment

Genetically engineered tumor-prone mouse models have proven to be powerful tools in understanding many aspects of carcinogenesis, including epigenetics. This article focuses on cancer because, compared to other diseases, cancer epigenetics has been studied extensively, from diagnostics to prognosis to therapy to survival. Translation of epigenetic information in a clinical setting is also included.
Visual Limit-Push Training Alters Movement Variability

In both movement training and neurorehabilitation, there have been numerous examples of how average performance can be manipulated through practice using enhanced visual feedback. Objective : Rather than just influencing the mean, our objective was to use a novel feedback technique called limit-push to influence the trial-to-trial variability of motion by distorting vision. Method : Limit-push was previously done using robotic forces; the present study employed only visual distortions that imitated the limit-push approach. Results : Like the robotic force treatment, our results showed how subjects significantly shifted the distributions of their motions. This effect was even greater than that of the original limit-push experiment that used robotic forces. Significance : Such visual distortion interventions do not require a robot for enhanced training. Conclusion : The visual limit-push technique appears to be able to selectively alter both the central tendency and variability in performance training applications.
Initial contact angle measurements on variously treated dental/medical titanium materials.

Abstract The cell attachment to bioapplicable titanium surfaces is an important parameter in the area of clinical implant dentistry and medicine. A major consideration in designing implants has been to produce surfaces that promote desirable responses in the cells and tissues contacting the implants. In this study, three titanium materials (commercially pure titanium - CPT -, Ti-6Al-4V, and TiNi) were treated mechanically, chemically, mechano-chemically, and thermally to produce concave surfaces with varying roughness. Using four media (distilled water, 1% NaCl aqueous solution, a suspension of human neutrophils, and a suspension of the MG-63 osteoblast-like cells), the initial contact angles were measured. Six readings (three drops each measured by two observers) were collected for each material and for each medium. The interclass correlation coefficients were used for the group comparisons. A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey's HSD (honestly significant difference) statistical analyses were employed. It was found, for CPT, that (1) statistically, there were no significant differences among four media in contact angles, (2) the contact angle increased linearly with average roughness when the angles were higher than 45 degrees, and (3) the contact angle decreased linearly with roughness when the angle was less than 45 degrees.
Data-driven simulation for fast prediction of pull-up process in bottom-up stereo-lithography

Abstract Cohesive finite element simulation is a mechanics-based computational approach that can be used to model the pull-up process in bottom-up stereo-lithography (SLA) system to significantly increase the reliability and through-put of the bottom-up SLA process. This modeling relates the pull-up velocity and separation of the fabricated part during the pull-up process. However, finite element (FE) simulation of the pull-up process for the individual part is computationally very expensive, time-consuming, and not amenable to online monitoring. This paper outlines a computationally efficient data-driven scheme to predict the separation stress distribution in bottom-up SLA process. The proposed scheme relies on 2D shape context descriptor, neural network (NN), and a limited number of offline FE simulations. Towards this end, FE models and results for the cross-section of n -fold symmetric shapes form our databases. The 2D shape context descriptor represents different shapes through log-polar histograms in our database. A backpropagation (BP) neural network is trained using the log-polar histograms of the geometric shapes as inputs and the FE simulated stress distributions as outputs. The trained NN can then be used to predict the separation stress distribution of a new shape. The results demonstrate that the proposed data-driven method can drastically reduce computational costs and apply to any general databases. The comparison between the predicted results by the data-driven approach and the simulated FE results on new shapes verify the validity of the proposed method.
Community Studies in Japan

Studies of Japan and the Japanese have tended to deal in large proportion with phenomena and problems of the nation as a whole rather than with its component parts. In contrast, community studies focus upon some of the smallest social units of a nation. Community studies have been attempted as an approach to understanding Japan and the Japanese only recently and by relatively few foreign scholars. Moreover, even though a recent survey of work done by the Japanese lists 126 localities from which data at the community level have been gathered, no fully rounded community study has yet been finished by Japanese social scientists. Western scholars, following beaten paths, simply have not ventured into communities for small scale studies, whereas in the case of the Japanese the partial intellectual isolation which delayed the arrival of some of the concepts basic to community studies seems largely responsible for the low returns from so much field research.
A Path to Scalability and Efficient Performance

We have developed a programming and execution environment for the implementation of highly flexible applications. Applications in our environment are structured so as to be able to take advantage of their maximum intra-application parallelism, while still being able to be run when fewer resources are available Furthermore, our environment is machine independent and so are the applications that it supports.
Human Decency and the Limitations of Kantianism

As I write this paper in December of 1992, armed forces (mainly from the United States of America) are landing in Somalia for the stated purpose of helping to get food to the countless persons in that region who are facing starvation. For present purposes I will simply assume that the stated purpose is the true purpose and will regard this as a humanitarian intervention in Somalian affairs. Action of a similar sort is being contemplated for other regions—e.g., Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Whole earth measurements

Let us take a very commonplace, often discussed and critical topic within our conversations regarding critical environmental issues: Are we detecting a Greenhouse Effect, and related to this, is it exacerbated by "homogenic factors," i.e., human actions? At this occasion I suspect that most would be inclined to give a positive answer to both of these questions. But, if pushed philosophically, what would be the evidence, and how well grounded would it be for such affirmations?
Mitochondrial redox state as a “Gold Standard” of tissue hypoxia

The need for a “gold standard” of tissue oxygenation is apparent from the difficulty of ascertaining a “critical level” of tissue sufficent to support biological function. Two measures of mitochondrial capability to produce ATP at low oxygen tensions are available: 1) NMR measurement of PCr/ P1 2) Optical measurement of the flavoprotein/ pyridine nucleotide redox state of the mitochondrial matrix. The latter is directly related to the membrane potential, and ATP synthesis, and the calcium uptake capabilities.
Differentiating Physical from Psychiatric Disorders

In 1980, the American Psychiatric Association restated the need for careful medical evaluation of psychiatric patients by incorporating physical disorders as one of three diagnostic axes. In its third edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-III), the diagnostic criteria further require the exclusion of physical causes of mental symptoms: the clinician must determine that the diagnoses of Axis I are “not due to an organic mental disorder.” The impact of these changes is profound: the psychiatrist must consider the effects that an underlying medical disorder may have in producing specific psychiatric symptoms, and he or she must examine and further evaluate patients to rule out such disorders.
ROBOTICS AND MATH: USING ACTION RESEARCH TO STUDY GROWTH PROBLEMS

An action research case study was conducted to investigate the effects of incorporating LEGO robotics into a seventh-grade mathematics curriculum focused on the development of proportional reasoning through the lens of Social Constructivist Theory. This research, which was part of a larger study, reports the findings when LEGO EV3 robots were incorporated to help students gain an understanding of proportional reasoning in the domain of growth problems. The qualitative data analysis provides insight into how students develop proportional reasoning skills as they use LEGO robotics to navigate among a series of technological stages during collaborative work inclusive of prescribed tasks, discourse and problem-solving. Overall, the inclusion of robotics was productive for learning; however, future studies should be completed to improve the reliability of the findings and continue to improve the curriculum.
Cardiovascular Risk in Middle-Aged and Older Immigrants: Exploring Residency Period and Health Insurance Coverage.

Purpose It is reported that while immigrants are, initially, healthier than the native-born upon resettlement, this advantage erodes over time. In the United States, uninsured aging immigrants are increasingly experiencing severe complications of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The purpose of this study was to compare overall CVD risk and explore the importance of health insurance coverage on CVD risk relative to other health access barriers, from 2007 to 2012, in recent and long-term immigrants >50 years of age. Methods This study was based on secondary cross-sectional analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (N = 1,920). The primary outcome, CVD risk category (high or low), was determined using the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association Pooled Cohort equation. Differences between immigrant groups were examined using independent-samples t tests and chi-square analysis. The association between insurance and CVD risk was explored using a hierarchical block logistic regression model, in which variables were entered in a predetermined order. Changes in pseudo R2 measured whether health insurance explained variance in cardiac risk beyond other variables. Results Recent immigrants had lower overall CVD risk than long-term immigrants but were twice as likely to be uninsured and had higher serum glucose and lipid levels. Based on regression models, being uninsured contributed to CVD risk beyond other health access determinants, and CVD risk was pronounced among recent immigrants who were uninsured. Conclusions Health insurance coverage plays an essential part in a comprehensive approach to mitigating CVD risk for aging immigrants, particularly recent immigrants whose cardiovascular health is susceptible to deterioration. Clinical relevance Nurses are tasked with recognizing the unique social and physical vulnerabilities of aging immigrants and accounting for these in care plans. In addition to helping them access healthcare coverage and affordable medication, nurses and clinicians should prioritize low-cost lifestyle interventions that reduce CVD risk, especially diet and exercise programs.
Gastrointestinal Bleeding as a Result of Portal Hypertension

TIPS (transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt) was first performed in the early 1980s to treat esophageal varices, but additional indications for the procedure have developed since then. In acute variceal hemorrhage, TIPS is currently implemented in the setting of failed endoscopic intervention and has demonstrated low procedural complication rates, low rebleeding rates, excellent primary patency of the TIPS stent, and low rates of TIPS-induced encephalopathy. Additional techniques have been developed to manage those patients with poor hepatic anatomy and those patients with complicated gastric varices.
Decentralized community composting feasibility analysis for residential food waste: A Chicago case study

Abstract In the United States of America (U.S.) almost all of the food waste generated is ends up in landfills. Centralized systems of composting have been effective at diverting large volumes of food waste. However, they require considerable capital investments and face operational challenges. As solid waste planning practices vary across national geographies, this study primarily focuses on the application of decentralized composting within the U.S. This study advocates decentralized composting for its anticipated benefits of outreach, landfill diversion, and cost savings. Using Chicago as a case study, the recovery potential and challenges of using a portion of public parks for community composting are explored. Community characteristics are incorporated in the numerical and spatial analysis of food waste generation and capture potential. This study also conducts a preliminary cost and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions impact analysis, comparing the proposed community composting to current food waste processing systems. The results demonstrate the viability of decentralized composting to divert substantial volumes of food waste, as a complementary strategy to other landfill diversion programs. Policy recommendations are provided to facilitate the implementation and increase the efficiency of decentralized composting programs.
Internal state language and resolution strategies in preschoolers’ narratives about sad experiences

The present study explored preschoolers’ internal state language and resolution strategies in sad stories that shifted to a positive emotional tone. Fifty-four 3-, 4-, and 5-year-olds attending a l...
Universality of the Fractional Quantum Hall State-to-Nematic Phase Transition at Half-Filling in the Second Landau Level

To gain further insight into the underlying mechanism of the fractional quantum Hall state-to-nematic transition, we also studied the filling factor ν = 7∕2, the closely related cousin of ν = 5∕2, under pressure. The fractional quantum Hall state at ν = 7∕2 is expected to share the same physics as the ν = 5∕2 fractional quantum Hall state. Importantly, we find that ν = 7∕2 also undergoes the fractional quantum Hall state-to-nematic transition. Although there are key differences between the two transitions, this observation highlights the similar physics of these two states.
Site-Specific Inhibitors of Gluconeogenesis

The synthesis of carbohydrate in mammalian liver and kidney is precisely regulated to provide the requisite supply of blood glucose. Elucidating the nature of the regulatory processes is a challenging task to anyone interested in fundamental mechanisms as well as to those who seek more effective means of treating metabolic disorders such as diabetes.
Improved prediction of brain age using multimodal neuroimaging data

Brain age prediction based on imaging data and machine learning (ML) methods has great potential to provide insights into the development of cognition and mental disorders. Though different ML models have been proposed, a systematic comparison of ML models in combination with imaging features derived from different modalities is still needed. In this study, we evaluate the prediction performance of 36 combinations of imaging features and ML models including deep learning. We utilize single and multimodal brain imaging data including MRI, DTI, and rs-fMRI from a large data set with 839 subjects. Our study is a follow-up to the initial work (Liang et al., 2019. Human Brain Mapping) to investigate different analytic strategies to combine data from MRI, DTI, and rs-fMRI with the goal to improve brain age prediction accuracy. Additionally, the traditional approach to predicting the brain age gap has been shown to have a systematic bias. The potential nonlinear relationship between the brain age gap and chronological age has not been thoroughly tested. Here we propose a new method to correct the systematic bias of brain age gap by taking gender, chronological age, and their interactions into consideration. As the true brain age is unknown and may deviate from chronological age, we further examine whether various levels of behavioral performance across subjects predict their brain age estimated from neuroimaging data. This is an important step to quantify the practical implication of brain age prediction. Our findings are helpful to advance the practice of optimizing different analytic methodologies in brain age prediction.
Hypoparathyroidism in Children

Hypoparathyroidism is a very uncommon endocrine disorder in children. In contrast to adults, in whom most cases of hypoparathyroidism are due to neck surgery, in children and adolescents, hypoparathyroidism is typically due to a genetic etiology. Identifying the genetic basis for hypoparathyroidism has important implications for both the patient and their family and can guide treatment as well as facilitate screening for anticipated comorbidities. Treatment and management can be challenging, especially in infancy. It is important to monitor treatment of hypoparathyroidism regularly in order to reduce the risk of developing nephrocalcinosis and nephrolithiasis. For at least some children with hypoparathyroidism who do not optimally respond to conventional therapy, PTH and PTH analogs represent an alternative treatment option.
Down's Syndrome

Down's syndrome, the most frequent form of mental retardation caused by a microscopically demonstrable chromosomal aberration, is characterized by well defined and distinctive phenotypic features and natural history. It is caused by triplicate state (trisomy) of all or a critical portion of chromosome 21.
Letters and Ping Pong: North Korean Diplomatic Offensive towards the United States in the Late 1970s

This paper unveils North Korean diplomatic offensive towards the U.S. in the late 1970s that began with the inauguration of president Jimmy Carter. Throughout 1976-1977, Chairman Kim Il Sung sought...