cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Outcome of patients with pulmonary carcinoid tumors receiving chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy.

Abstract Study objectives: To determine the outcome of patients with pulmonary typical and atypical carcinoid tumors treated with chemotherapy with or without radiotherapy. Methods: Patients with pulmonary neuroendocrine tumors treated at our institution from 1990 to 2001 were identified. The medical records of patients with diagnoses of typical or atypical pulmonary carcinoids were reviewed for the presence of evaluable disease, treatment with chemotherapy with or without radiotherapy, response to these treatments, survival and cause of death. Results: Eighteen patients with typical ( n =8) or atypical ( n =10) pulmonary carcinoid tumors who were treated with chemotherapy with or without radiotherapy were identified. Of these, four received chemotherapy plus chest radiotherapy. Three of these had stable disease and one had a partial response. One of the patients with stable disease to chemoradiotherapy subsequently received chemotherapy alone, to which he had a complete response. Fourteen additional patients were treated with 18 chemotherapy regimens. There were two partial responses, eight stable disease, seven progressive disease and one allergic reaction precluding further treatment. The overall response rate to any chemotherapy was 3/15 (20%, 95% CI 0.07–0.45), and the best overall response rate to chemotherapy with or without chest radiotherapy was 4/18 (22%, 95% CI 0.09–0.45). Median overall survival was 20 months (95% CI 0–51 months). Conclusions: Patients with typical and atypical pulmonary carcinoid tumors can respond to chemotherapy with or without chest radiotherapy, though with response rates that appear less than those of small cell lung cancers. Further characterization of pulmonary carcinoid tumors and study of treatment alternatives for unresectable disease is warranted.
The Roles of Coping and Social Support in Battered Women’s Mental Health

Victims of interpersonal violence try many different strategies to reduce or eliminate threats to their physical safety and emotional well-being. However, little is known about the relationship between women’s coping strategies and their mental health. In what contexts do specific coping strategies improve mental health, and in what contexts are they harmful? This study investigated the role of social support—a critical contextual factor—as a moderator of the relationship between problem-focused coping, and post-traumatic stress disorder and depression among low-income, African American battered women. Problem-focused coping was associated with mental health symptoms only in women with lower levels of overall social support and in women whose closest supporters gave mixed advice or advice to stay with their partners, as opposed to clear advice to leave. The implications of these findings for research and practice are discussed.
A microcomputer-based system for automated EEG collection and scoring of behavioral state in cats☆☆☆

Abstract A data acquisition and analysis system based on an Apple II microcomputer has been developed for use in sleep studies in the adult cat. The system reliably counts delta, spindle, and EMG waveforms, PGO waves, and REMs using amplitude and frequency criteria. These data can be used to algorithmically score sleep-wake state with high reliability (>90% agreement with manual scoring). This method allows for automatic and quantitative analysis of selected EEG waveforms and sleep-wake states with less expense, more time savings, and greater convenience than manual scoring.
Development of modular products

Modular products refer to products, assemblies, and components that fulfill various functions through the combination of distinct building blocks. As companies strive to rationalize engineering design, manufacturing, and support processes and to produce a large variety of products at lower costs, modularity is becoming a focus. However, modularity has been treated in the literature at an abstract level, and it has not been satisfactorily explored in industry. Furthermore, the modular technology in electronics such as multichip modules (MCMs) aims at decreasing the average spacing between integrated circuits rather than increasing the variety of product characteristics of other types of designs. This paper develops a methodology for determining modular products while considering cost and performance. To interpret various types of modularity such as component-swapping, component-sharing, and bus modularity, a graphical representation of the product modularity is presented, while the module components of a product set are determined by a heuristic approach. With the module components known, a rule-based fuzzy representation of the module development problem is presented, while the tradeoff between performance and cost of modules is analyzed by a fuzzy neural network approach. The approach is illustrated with the example of an MCM.
Improving the Quality of Quantitative Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction Laboratory Reporting in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia

Molecular pathologists play a central role in monitoring disease response in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Imatinib, nilotinib, and dasatinib regimens have been shown to be highly effective therapies in the management of this disease. Optimal benefit from these agents depends on regular molecular monitoring of disease burden, achieved through measurements of transcript levels of the BCR-ABL chimeric gene. Major molecular response is a key milestone that correlates with improved long-term outcomes and has recently been shown to predict increased survival. Because of the clinical importance of accurate BCR-ABL monitoring, laboratory reports of BCR-ABL levels must be accurate, relevant, and readily understood by physicians. We discuss herein the key areas for optimizing BCR-ABL reports and emerging technologies for standardization and automation of these processes. * CML : chronic myeloid leukemia ABL1 : c-abl oncogene 1 BCR : breakpoint cluster gene Ph : Philadelphia chromosome NCCN : National Comprehensive Cancer Network ELN : European LeukemiaNet qRT-PCR : quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction MMR : major molecular response IRIS : International Randomized Study of Interferon and STI571 CMR : complete molecular response EAC : Europe Against Cancer ABL : Abelson B2M : beta-2-microglobulin GUSB : beta-glucuronidase IS : International Scale CAP : College of American Pathologists TKI : tyrosine kinase inhibitor LOD : limit of detection NCN : normalized copy number
Imagery-mediated habituation of the orienting reflex

The effect of repeatedly imagining a stimulus on later OR habituation to the real event was studied. Groups of college Ss imagined the occurrence of either a light or a tone for 10 trials. A third group received 10 500-Hz tones and a fourth group received no stimulation. All Ss then received 10 habituation trials to the 500-Hz tone. Ss who had imagined tones showed significantly greater habituation of the GSR component of the OR than Ss imagining a light or receiving no stimulation. This group was not significantly different from Ss who had received real tones prior to the habituation stimuli. The results suggest that the imagery process aided in the formation of a Sokolovian neuronal model which accelerated habituation. The results further suggest that OR habituation may be a component in various desensitization therapies which employ imagery techniques.
Use of piezoelectric materials as markers in ultrasound imaging

Piezoelectric materials can be used as a type of contrast agent and implanted marker in medical diagnostic ultrasound images. Their use depends on their generation of ultrasound evoked electrical potentials that can be detected by remote electrodes. When these potentials are introduced into the imaging circuits of real time ultrasound imaging machines, it can produce a high image contrast for the material. This approach is fundamentally different than the usual methods of producing contrast in diagnostic images because it depends on a different physical interaction process. The method appears suited to labeling objects, catheters, biopsy needles, and other kinds of objects used as implanted markers in the body.
ALUNITE, NATROALUNITE AND HYDRATED HALLOYSITE IN CARLSBAD CAVERN AND LECHUGUILLA CAVE, NEW MEXICO

Members of an alunite-natroalunite solid solution series occur in intimate association with hydrated halloysite in deposits within caves of the Guadalupe Mountains, namely Carlsbad Cavern and Lechuguilla Cave. The alunite and natroalunite crystals consist of cube-like rhombs; crystal diameters range from 0.5 to 8 p~m. This mineral association is found in sediments within bedrock pockets, solution cavity fills, floor deposits and wall residues. Sulfur stable isotope values (~345, CTD) for cave alunite and natroalunite are negative (+0.1 to -28.9 per mill (%o); n = 12 and mean = 16.8%~) and are comparable to the cave gypsum and native sulfur values reported by other investigators. The association of alunite/ natroalunite with hydrated halloysite in these cave deposits suggests that the cave-forming waters con- tained significant concentrations of sulfuric acid. Formation of these minerals is related to the excavation of the carbonate rocks that formed Carlsbad Cavern, Lechuguilla Cave and other caves of the Guadalupe Mountains. The sulfuric acid-bearing waters, when exposed to clay-rich sediments, converted clay min- erals and quartz to alunite/natroalunite and hydrated halloysite.
Lifting inequalities for polytopes

We present a method of lifting linear inequalities for the flag f -vector of polytopes to higher dimensions. Known inequalities that can be lifted using this technique are the non-negativity of the toric g-vector and that the simplex minimizes the cd-index. We obtain new inequalities for six-dimensional polytopes. In the last section we present the currently best known inequalities for dimensions 5 through 8.
Interference-tolerant time-difference-of-arrival estimation for modulated signals

A method for estimation of the difference in the times of arrival of wavefronts of two separate sensors is introduced. The method, called SPECCORR, exploits the spectral correlation property, called spectral coherence, that essentially all modulated signals exhibit to obtain estimates that are highly tolerant to severely corruptive noise and interference. This tolerance is explained theoretically and demonstrated with simulations. >
Model selection, zero‐inflated models, and predictors of primate abundance in Korup National Park, Cameroon

Determining the ecological and anthropogenic factors that shape the abundance and distribution of wild primates is a critical component of primate conservation research. Such research is complicated, however, whenever the species under study are encountered infrequently, a characteristic of many taxa that are threatened with extinction. Typically, the resulting data sets based on surveys of such species will have a high frequency of zero counts which makes it difficult to determine the predictor variables that are associated with species abundance. In this study, we test various statistical models using survey data that was gathered on seven species of primate in Korup National Park, Cameroon. Predictor variables include hunting signs and aspects of habitat structure and floristic composition. Our statistical models include zero-inflated models that are tailored to deal with a high frequency of zero counts. First, using exploratory data analysis we found the most informative set of models as ranked by Δ-AIC (Akaike's information criterion). On the basis of this analysis, we used five predictor variables to construct several regression models including Poisson, zero-inflated Poisson, negative binomial, and zero-inflated negative binomial. Total basal area of all trees, density of secondary tree species, hunting signs, and mean basal area of all trees were significant predictors of abundance in the zero-inflated models. We discuss the statistical logic behind zero-inflated models and provide an interpretation of parameter estimates. We recommend that researchers explore a variety of models when determining the factors that correlate with primate abundance. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Medical Students' First Male Urogenital Examination: Investigating the Effects of Instruction and Gender on Anxiety.

Objectives: To investigate the effect that standardized instruction of the male urogenital examination had on the anxiety levels of students and to determine what influence, if any, the gender of the student had on this experience. Methods: One hundred thirty six second year medical students were asked to report their level of anxiety before and after participation in a small group teaching session on the male urogenital examination. We gathered both qualitative and quantitative information to better understand students’ anxiety surrounding this instruction. Results: Students had significantly lower state-anxiety scores following the instruction than before (F(1, 76)=102.353, p=.000, h2=.574) and female students were more likely to have greater state-anxiety than male students (F=6.952, p=.010, h2=.084). Ninety-nine percent of students reported that the teaching associates successfully reduced their anxiety. This decrease was attributed predominantly to the personal qualities of the teaching associates and to the format of the instruction. Conclusions: This study provides both quantitative and qualitative evidence that the use of male teaching associates to provide standardized instruction on the urogenital exam is effective at reducing students’ anxiety, particularly with regard to female students. Added standardized instruction may lead to increased confidence, skill, and future compliance with intimate physical exam screening practices. Keywords: Undergraduate medical education; Physical examination; Gender differences; Anxiety
Palladin Mediates Stiffness-Induced Fibroblast Activation in the Tumor Microenvironment

Mechanical properties of the tumor microenvironment have emerged as key factors in tumor progression. It has been proposed that increased tissue stiffness can transform stromal fibroblasts into carcinoma-associated fibroblasts. However, it is unclear whether the three to five times increase in stiffness seen in tumor-adjacent stroma is sufficient for fibroblast activation. In this study we developed a three-dimensional (3D) hydrogel model with precisely tunable stiffness and show that a physiologically relevant increase in stiffness is sufficient to lead to fibroblast activation. We found that soluble factors including CC-motif chemokine ligand (CCL) chemokines and fibronectin are necessary for this activation, and the combination of C-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CCR4) chemokine receptors and β1 and β3 integrins are necessary to transduce these chemomechanical signals. We then show that these chemomechanical signals lead to the gene expression changes associated with fibroblast activation via a network of intracellular signaling pathways that include focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K). Finally, we identify the actin-associated protein palladin as a key node in these signaling pathways that result in fibroblast activation.
Market Perception of Goodwill: Some Empirical Evidence

Abstract Accounting and reporting for goodwill has been on the agenda of the Financial Accounting Standards Board, the International Accounting Standards Committee, the UK's Accounting Standards Board, and the US Congress. Goodwill has also been the subject of Securities Exchange Commission rulings directed at specific companies. The attention directed towards goodwill would suggest that it is a material asset for a large number of firms. This article analyses the market perception of goodwill as an asset in the determination of the firm's valuation. Also explored is whether the market values goodwill to the same degree as it values other assets. The results of this study found that the market perceives goodwill as an asset and incorporates the information in the valuation of a firm. The findings of this study could be of importance to those involved in and affected by standard-setting deliberations involving goodwill.
Thrombocytopenic Syndromes Masquerading as Childhood Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura

Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is the most common cause of thrombocytopenia in children and adolescents. However, there are a number of other diagnoses that are often mistaken for ITP. A 10-year retrospective chart review was performed at the Children's Hospital of Alabama to characterize ITP. Initially, 492 patients who had the coded diagnosis of ITP (ICD 287.3) were identified. However, 83 (17%) of patients were found to have alternative diagnoses on chart review. Of the 83 patients, 13 patients (3%) represented coding errors or study classification errors. The 70 remaining patients (14%) had an alternative explanation for their thrombocytopenia, consisting of 31 different diagnoses. The most common diagnoses were familial thrombocytopenia (10%), systemic lupus erythematosus (9%), hypersplenism (9%), neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (7%), Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (7%), or systemic infection (6%). In total, 16 of the patients (23%) were ultimately diagnosed with one of a number of congenital syndromes with concurrent thrombocytopenia. Although this review confirms that most children with thrombocytopenia are diagnosed with ITP, 14% of the study population manifested other diagnoses. The clinician evaluating a child with thrombocytopenia must keep an open mind about the possible diagnosis and perform a comprehensive and thoughtful evaluation based on the clinical picture. ITP must be a diagnosis of exclusion as misdiagnosis in a child with thrombocytopenia may have a significant impact on morbidity and mortality.
Bestimmung von Blei in biologischen Stoffen

Im Verlauf von Untersuchungen uber das Ausmas und die Bedeutung der Bleiaufnahme und Ausscheidung beim Menschen (7–12) sind in unserem Laboratorium drei deutlich voneinander unterschiedene analytische Verfahren angewandt worden. Das fruheste (im nachstehenden als Carbazidmethode bezeichnete) setzt sich aus zahlreichen zeitxaubenden chemischen Trennungen und einer colorimetrischen Endbestimmung des Bleis mit Hilfe von s-Diphenylcarbazid (10) zusammen. Es war bekannt, das diese Methode zu niedrige Resultate ergab (9, 12). Ein spektrographisches Verfahren, das nur wenig Handgriffe erforderte (2, 3), bot ein befriedigenderes Hilfsmittel zur Bestimmung von winzigen Mengen Blei; es hat in den letzten Jahren ausgedehnte Anwendung gefunden. Da der Wunsch bestand, diese Methode durch eine chemische von gleicher Empfindlichkeit und Genauigkeit zu erganzen, wurden die Verfahren, die fur eine Bestimmung von Blei mittels Dithizon [Diphenylthiocarbazon (1, 4, 5, 14–17)] entwickelt worden waren, einer eingehenden Prufing unterworfen. Die schlieslich eingeschlagene Methode (6), eine Abanderung der „Mischfarbenmethode“ von Clifford und Wichmann (4), hat sich in unseren Handen als sehr zufriedenstellend erwiesen.
Grappling with Multiplicity: A Framework for Teacher Formation

On enrolment in a teacher education course, pre-service teachers embark on a complex voyage of self and professional discovery. In an attempt to assist them grapple with the multiple definitions of a ‘good’ teacher, the authors developed a conceptual framework that captures core elements of change, transition and transformation. Frameworks, whether descriptive, explanatory or predictive, inform the knowledge base for educational research and practice. Irrespective of the degree of sophistication of the framework, from a simple concept to a more multi-layered consideration, there is the capacity to present complexity in a more manageable form. The ideas, concepts and constructs charted through the authors’ framework include notions of teacher, teacher identity, professionalism, theory-practice divides, critical reflection and professional teaching standards. Grounded in the concepts of ‘self, ‘other’, and ‘context’, the framework provides a pedagogical tool for addressing all aspects of a mandatory unit of study related to professional classroom practice.
Parental directiveness and responsivity toward young children with complex communication needs.

AbstractPurpose: The aim of the present study was to determine if parent responsiveness to their children with complex communication needs (CCN) during naturalistic play changed over an 18-month period and determine if any such changes were influenced by the child’s overall level of receptive and expressive language development, motor development or differing play contexts. This longitudinal information is important for early intervention speech-language pathologists and parents of children with developmental disabilities for whom the use of parent-directed responsivity interventions may be encouraged.Method: Over an 18-month period, 37 parents of young children who had physical and/or neurological disabilities participated in three home-based parent–child play episodes. Videotapes of each play episode were extracted and coded.Result: Results indicated parents who were initially responsive showed a significant tendency to continue to be so. Early on, parents were significantly more likely to be directive ...
A Rejoinder to “Another Perspective on Foreign Policy Making and Foreign Policy Research”

Andriole is an "insider" who no doubt has a wealth of knowledge about all the intricacies and vagaries of governmentsponsored foreign affairs research. And, indeed, he makes a number of interesting and insightful comments about the government research effort, particularly the realities that affect funding. As "outsiders," we simply had to rely on the raw facts as presented to us by FAR. Although Andriole challenges our data as "inaccurate in spots," they are drawn from the government's own FAR inventory. We have no reason to question his data, but it is a different collection of data based on different reporting procedures (and definitions of "foreign affairs") from what we used. As for the data's being dated, we made no claim for its currency, although we have reason to believe our overall conclusions would stand up even in the present fiscal year. Andriole accuses us of some "distortions" and then proceeds to distort our own arguments. For example, he suggests that we had argued naively that high-level "policy makers" are the prime consumers of internal and external research when, in fact, in our conclusion we made precisely the point he makes
The association between meal timing and frequency with cardiometabolic profile in patients with bipolar disorder.

Objective The goal of this study was to explore the association of timing of and frequency of meals with markers of cardiometabolic risk in patients with bipolar disorder in out-patient maintenance treatment. Methods We used Pittsburgh Sleep Diary and actigraphy measures for individuals with bipolar I disorder. Linear and logistic regression analyses were used to determine whether dinnertime, instability of dinnertime, and/or interval between meals were associated with metabolic syndrome and its components. Results Later dinnertime was associated with greater waist circumference (β = 0.25, P = 0.02) after adjusting for age, sex, dinner-to-bed interval, and sleep duration. Longer breakfast-to-lunch intervals were also associated with greater waist circumferences (β =−.35, P = .002) after adjusting for age, sex, and sleep duration. Neither instability of dinnertime nor number of meals per day was associated with the metabolic syndrome or its components. Conclusion Weight gain is often perceived as inevitable side-effect of medications. While patients often need to be on medication to function, a more careful lifestyle assessment with attention to social rhythms and timing of activities may be critical not only for mood stability, but also to reduce cardiovascular risk.
Effect of rolling process on comprehensive properties of corrosion resistant steel for bottom plate of cargo oil tanks

A new kind of corrosion resistant steel for cargo oil tanks (COT) was developed. The influences of final rolling temperature, cooling rate, and final cooling temperature on microstructure were investigated. The proper rolling process parameters were obtained through multi-pass thermal simulation test. The final rolling temperature is about 820 °C, the final cooling temperature is about 600 °C, and the cooling rate should be controlled between 10 °C/s and 20 °C/s. Based on the above analysis of the results, three groups of rolling samples by thermo mechanical control process are prepared. The tensile strength, yield strength, and toughness of the corrosion resistant steel are measured, which meet the requirements of DH36 steel, it can instruct the actual rolling production. The corrosion behaviour is also researched by weight loss and electrochemical impedance spectroscopic method, and it is found that the steel has good corrosion resistance performance, the best one is No.3 steel, the corrosion rate of which is about 1/4 of the accepted criterion.
Determination of bromine in workplace air with spectrophotometry of methyl red fading reaction

Objective:The quantity of bromine in air of workplace was determined by spectrophotometry with fading reaction of methyl red.Methods:The solution of methyl red was fading after the bromine in air was absorbed,and the quantity of bromine was determined with the fading level compared to the standard under the wavelengh of 518 nm.Results:With the range of 0.5 to 20 μg,the regression equation between bromine quanlity and absorbance ratio was Y=-0.0395X+0.8207,the correlation coefficient was 0.9990~0.9999,and the relative standard deviation(RSD) 1.27%~4.39%(n=6),which fortified recoveries 95.2%~101.5%.Conclusion:This method is easy,quick,stable and of less interference,which is an ideal method to determine the bromine in air of workplace.
Internship and Empathy: Variations Across Time and Specialties.

Objectives To assess whether any differences exist in Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) scores among postgraduate year 1 (PGY-1) residents across specialties. Methods PGY-1 residents representing 11 specialties at our academic institution were invited to take a Web-based IRI survey at three time points. The specialties were condensed into several binary groups for analysis: internal medicine (IM) versus non-IM; primary care (IM, family medicine) versus nonprimary care; emergency medicine (EM, including the combined IM/EM) versus non-EM; surgical specialties (general surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, otolaryngology, orthopedics, urology) versus nonsurgical specialties (EM, family medicine, IM, neurology, pathology, and psychiatry); men versus women; and age groups. A repeated-measures generalized-estimating equations approach was taken to analyze the effect of specialty and time on each of the four IRI subscales. Results Of 94 PGY-1 residents invited to participate at each time point, 74 (77.1%) completed the survey at least once. Response rates at each time point were similar (mean 47.9%). When comparing the IM (n=35) and non-IM (n=39) groups, the perspective-taking subscale was found to be significantly lower in the non-IM group (P=0.006). Among male (n=46) versus female residents (n=26), the personal-distress subscale was significantly different overall (P=0.041) but not among time points. No other significant differences were found between groups. The conglomerate subscale scores throughout the year did not show a dramatic change. Conclusions Our study of IRI subscales in PGY-1 residents showed no major difference among specialties across 1 year except for IM residents, who scored significantly higher (more favorably) in the perspective-taking subscale. Contrary to previous studies, we did not observe a substantial decline in the empathic concern subscale IM residents over their first year.
Structural Determinants and Binding Properties of the Neurite Outgrowth Inhibitor (NOGO)

Compelling evidence indicates that repair of damage to the central nervous system (CNS) is inhibited by the presence of protein factors within myelin that prevent axonal regrowth. Myelin growth inhibitors and their common receptor have been identified as targets in the treatment of spinal cord injury, MS, ALS and stroke. We have determined the NMR structure of one of the myelin growth inhibitors, the neurite outgrowth inhibitor (Nogo). We studied the structure of this protein alone and in the presence of dodecylphosphocholine micelles to mimic the natural cell membrane environment. To understand interactions between Nogo and lipid, we hypothesize that aromatic groups and a negative charge hyperconserved among this family of proteins drive the remarkably strong association of Nogo-66 with a phosphocholine surface. We modeled the docking of dodecylphosphocholine (DPC) with Nogo-66 and found that a lipid choline group could form a stable salt bridge with Glu26 and serve as a membrane anchor point. To test the role of the Glu26 anion in binding choline, we mutated this residue to alanine and assessed the structural consequences, the association with lipid and the affinity for the Nogo receptor. Paramagnetic probes allowed us to define portions of the growth inhibitor that are accessible to solvent (and consequently the Nogo receptor). Using computational docking methods, NMR data and mutagenesis results, we calculated the optimal protein-protein interface between our structure of Nogo and the Nogo receptor. This model has inspired the development of compounds that can bind and block Nogo.
Pre- and Poststimulation Study on the Phonatory Aerodynamic System on Participants with Dysphonia.

Summary Purpose The purpose of this preliminary investigation was to examine the sensitivity of the Phonatory Aerodynamic System (PAS) in an exploratory investigation that looked at the effects of stimulation training (pre and post stimulation) on 20 participants with vocal complaints. The following parameters were tested: subglottal pressure, sound pressure level, airflow, and fundamental frequency. Methods A total of 20 participants with vocal complaints performed the Voicing Efficiency protocol on the (PAS). The participants spoke into a mask and repeated the utterance /papapa/ five times on a single breath for three sets (pausing between sets). Measurements of the parameters were recorded on the PAS. Subsequently, the participants were given stimulation training involving the coordination of respiration and phonation and purposely engaging the abdominal muscles upon phonation. They repeated the same PAS task, using the training. Their parameters after training were compared to normal values to determine improvements post stimulation results. Results The participants showed improvement in a number of parameters post stimulation, especially subglottal pressure and fundamental frequency (i.e., closer to normal values in comparison with pre-stimulation results) and on the graphic readouts; the respiratory waveforms showed greater consistency and evenness on certain parameters compared with those in the pre-training graphs. Perceptually, the participants' voices revealed reduced noise and strain. Conclusion Post stimulation, a number of parameters improved towards normal values; the respiratory graphic waveforms were more consistent and even, and perceptually improved vocal quality was noted by judges and participants.
Critical insights for advanced bridge scour detection using the natural frequency

Abstract Scour around bridge foundations is regarded as one of the predominant causes of bridge failures. The concept of vibration-based real-time bridge scour detection has been explored in recent years by investigating the change in the natural frequency spectrum of a bridge or a bridge component with respect to the scour depth. Despite the progress, significant issues still remain unsolved in the application of this concept. This paper investigates three unsolved issues in the current framework of scour detection using the natural frequency spectrum: the physical meaning of the measured predominant natural frequency, the location of sensor installation, and the influence of the shape of scour holes, which are easily neglected but critical to the further implementations of the natural frequency spectrum-based bridge scour detection. Firstly, in-depth discussions of these three major issues were made separately by numerically modeling the scour progression of a typical and documented laboratory test. Laboratory tests were then performed to validate the conclusions made in the discussions. It was found that for an eigenproblem of the system with soil-structure interaction, the physical meaning of the natural frequency obtained from modal analysis can be understood by comparing the modal natural frequency with the natural frequency calculated from the dynamic response of the test component in that system. The results also verified that the obtained predominant natural frequency of the pier body greatly varies with the location of the pier body where a sensor is mounted for signal pickup. The shape of the scour hole affects the predominant natural frequency of the pier, causing difficulties in practical measurements. To address such a problem, a new criterion was proposed to identify the depth of unsymmetrical scour holes for the first time, which is of practical significance to advance the natural frequency spectrum-based scour detection framework.
Toward the development of standards for yellow flashing lights used in work zones

Flashing yellow warning lights are important for worker and driver safety in work zones. Current standards for these lights do not address whether and how they should be coordinated to provide course-way information to drivers navigating through work zones. A field study in which the intensities and flash patterns of warning lights along a simulated work zone were varied during daytime and nighttime, was conducted to assess drivers' responses to different configurations, leading to several conclusions. During the daytime, driver responses were relatively insensitive to warning light characteristics, although they preferred sequential and synchronized flash patterns over random, uncoordinated flashing. At nighttime, a temporal peak intensity of 25 cd with a sequential flash pattern was optimal for providing course-way information. A single initial warning light having a higher intensity may help drivers detect the work zone without creating unacceptable visual discomfort.
Of Great Vampire Squids and Jamming Blood Funnels: A Socially Constructed and Historically Situated Perspective on Organizational Corruption:

In this essay, I propose an eventful way to approach corruption as socially constructed and historically situated. First, I describe how deep (socially constructed) and long (processual, historical...
Malfunction of a Ventriculo-Peritoneal Shunt

This is a condition of paraparesis secondary to a malfunction of ventriculo-peritoneal shunt for hydrocephalus resulting in acute expansion of cervical syrinx.
Do Auto Recalls Benefit the Public

The benefits of personal transportation in the United States come at significant costs to society. Reducing the costs, both in terms of lives and economics, should be the primary mission of transportation safety policy. One opportunity to do this involves vehicle safety recalls. In rare cases, recalls can save lives and reduce injuries. In many cases however, recalls just generate additional costs with little or no benefit.
A Model for Quantitatively Analyzing Representations of Social Class in Screen Media

Content analyses of prime-time television provide a picture of predominant cultural stereotypes and social trends. The present research is a quantitative content analysis of social class in popular...
Plato’s Sons and the Library of Magnesia

Papadopoulos explains why Plato, unlike his Socrates, wrote philosophic texts and founded a school. His paper brings together the Phaedrus and Laws in an attempt to show how Socrates’s critique of writing is met by the Athenian Stranger’s prescriptions for the preservation and study of texts in Magnesia. Papadopoulos reflects on the possible ways in which Plato’s writing can be construed as a kind of philosophic care or philanthropy.
Thematic Minireview Series: Metals in Biology 2010

Metals are present in nearly one-half of protein structures analyzed to date and play important roles in many of these enzymes. This prologue introduces the third of the Thematic Minireview Series on Metals in Biology, which is focused on iron homeostasis. The four minireviews in the current series deal with redox cycling in iron metabolism, the biogenesis and assembly of iron-sulfur centers (two articles), and the assembly of iron into heme.
Treatment of latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection with 12 once weekly directly-observed doses of isoniazid and rifapentine among persons experiencing homelessness.

Objectives To investigate treatment outcomes and associated characteristics of persons experiencing homelessness who received 12-weekly doses of directly observed isoniazid and rifapentine (3HP/DOT) treatment for latent TB infection (LTBI). Methods Among homeless persons treated with 3HP/DOT during July 2011 –June 2015 in 11 U.S. TB programs, we conducted descriptive analyses of observational data, and identified associations between sociodemographic factors and treatment outcomes. Qualitative interviews were conducted to understand programmatic experiences. Results Of 393 persons experiencing homelessness (median age: 50 years; range: 13–74 years), 301 (76.6%) completed treatment, 55 (14.0%) were lost to follow-up, 18 (4.6%) stopped because of an adverse event (AE), and 19 (4.8%) stopped after relocations or refusing treatment. Eighty-one (20.6%) had at least one AE. Persons aged ≥65 were more likely to discontinue treatment than persons aged 31–44 years. Programs reported difficulty in following up with persons experiencing homelessness because of relocations, mistrust, and alcohol or drug use. Conclusions This study demonstrates the feasibility of administering the 3HP/DOT LTBI regimen to persons experiencing homelessness, a high-risk population.
On the Covariability of Cloud and Rain Water as a Function of Length Scale

AbstractMicrophysics parameterizations in large-scale models often account for subgrid variability in the calculation of process rates by integrating over assumed subgrid distributions of the input...
THE PROTEOLYTIC ENZYMES OF THE K-1 STRAIN OF STREPTOMYCES GRISEUS OBTAINED FROM A COMMERCIAL PREPARATION (PRONASE). XI. EVOLUTIONARY IMPLICATIONS

Abstract: Different Pronase proteolytic components show genetic relationships with either mammalian or microbial proteases. Three endopeptidases are homologous with pancreatic serine endopeptidases; they are a trypsin and two enzymes named chymoelastases because of activities resembling both chymotrypsin and elastase. These three endopeptidases have diverged in structure and function during phylogeny. Pronase trypsin, like the bovine homolog, cannot be acetylated at the single α-amino residue. In contrast each chymoelastase can be acetylated at the single amino terminus without significant change in activity. A fourth serine enzyme possesses properties which are very similar to those of the subtilisins. A carboxypeptidase has been purified and shows characteristics which strongly suggest homology with bovine pancreatic carboxypeptidase A. Like the bovine enzyme, Pronase carboxypeptidase is a zinc containing protein. These studies suggest that the association of the chymotrypsin enzyme family with pancratic carboxypeptidase was established very early during the course of evolution. Two Pronase aminopeptidases have been purified and studies reveal that they are probably products of single gene origin with limited proteolysis generating two microheterogeneous forms.
Transactional concurrency control for intermittent, energy-harvesting computing systems

Batteryless energy-harvesting devices are computing platforms that operate in environments where batteries are not viable for energy storage. Energy-harvesting devices operate intermittently, only as energy is available. Prior work developed software execution models robust to intermittent power failures but no existing intermittent execution model allows interrupts to update global persistent state without allowing incorrect behavior or requiring complex programming. We present Coati, a system that supports event-driven concurrency via interrupts in an intermittent software execution model. Coati exposes a task-based interface for synchronous computations and an event interface for asynchronous interrupts. Coati supports synchronizing tasks and events using transactions, which allow for multi-task atomic regions that extend across multiple power failures. This work explores two different models for serializing events and tasks that both safely provide intuitive semantics for event-driven intermittent programs. We implement a prototype of Coati as C language extensions and a runtime library. Using energy-harvesting hardware, we evaluate Coati on benchmarks adapted from prior work. We show that Coati prevents failures when interrupts are introduced, while the baseline fails in just seconds. Moreover, Coati operates with a reasonable run time overhead that is often comparable to an idealized baseline.
Evaluation of the Major Steps in the Conventional Protocol for the Alkaline Comet Assay

Single cell gel electrophoresis, also known as the comet assay, has become a widespread DNA damage assessment tool due to its sensitivity, adaptability, low cost, ease of use, and reliability. Despite these benefits, this assay has shortcomings, such as long assay running time, the manipulation of multiple slides, individually, through numerous process steps, the challenge of working in a darkened environment, and reportedly considerable inter- and intra-laboratory variation. All researchers typically perform the comet assay based upon a common core approach; however, it appears that some steps in this core have little proven basis, and may exist, partly, out of convenience, or dogma. The aim of this study was to critically re-evaluate key steps in the comet assay, using our laboratory's protocol as a model, firstly to understand the scientific basis for why certain steps in the protocol are performed in a particular manner, and secondly to simplify the assay, and decrease the cost and run time. Here, the shelf life of the lysis and neutralization buffers, the effect of temperature and incubation period during the lysis step, the necessity for drying the slides between the electrophoresis and staining step, and the need to perform the sample workup and electrophoresis steps under subdued light were all evaluated.
Review of Experimental Social Behavioral Interventions for Preschool Children: An Evidenced-Based Synthesis:

Preschool students are expelled from educational settings at higher rates than any other students, and this may serve to be problematic across their lifespan. One of the primary reasons reported is...
Indole butyric acid induces regeneration of phenotypically normal apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) plants from immature embryos

A prerequisite for most transformation systems is an efficient and reliable method to regenerate phenotypically normal plants. Immature embryos or cotyledons were cultured at three developmental stages (stage 1, 2 and 3, PF=3, 30–60, and 100, respectively) from two unrelated apricot genotypes, ‘Zard’ and ‘NJA82’. Explants were cultured on MS media supplemented with either BA or TDZ at four concentrations (0, 0.5, 5.0 or 20 μM) and 2,4-D at 0 or 1 μM. Stage 1 embryos cultured on MS medium without growth regulators formed embryoid-like structures. Shoot primordia induction was greatest with stage 2 cotyledons on media containing 5–20 μM TDZ and 1 μM 2,4-D, although shoot morphology was abnormal, especially with the highest level of TDZ. In another factorial experiment, stage 2 cotyledons were cultured on media containing TDZ (0, 5, 7.5, 10, 15 or 20 μM) in combination with either no auxin, 1 μM 2,4-D, 1 μM IBA, or 5 μMIBA. Regeneration percentages of 80% or more were observed on media containing 1–5 μM IBA and 5–10 μM TDZ. The medium containing 5 μM IBA and no TDZ exhibited the highest frequency of phenotypically normal plantlet regeneration.
The Influence of the Food and Drug Administration Pregnancy and Lactation Labeling Rule on Drug Information Resources.

BackgroundDrug information resources are commonly used by health-care providers answering pregnancy-related medication questions. In 2015, the United States Food and Drug Administration approved a ...
Realistic Microstructure Simulator (RMS): Monte Carlo simulations of diffusion in three-dimensional cell segmentations of microscopy images

Abstract Background Monte Carlo simulations of diffusion are commonly used as a model validation tool as they are especially suitable for generating the diffusion MRI signal in complicated tissue microgeometries. New method Here we describe the details of implementing Monte Carlo simulations in three-dimensional (3d) voxelized segmentations of cells in microscopy images. Using the concept of the corner reflector, we largely reduce the computational load of simulating diffusion within and exchange between multiple cells. Precision is further achieved by GPU-based parallel computations. Results Our simulation of diffusion in white matter axons segmented from a mouse brain demonstrates its value in validating biophysical models. Furthermore, we provide the theoretical background for implementing a discretized diffusion process, and consider the finite-step effects of the particle-membrane reflection and permeation events, needed for efficient simulation of interactions with irregular boundaries, spatially variable diffusion coefficient, and exchange. Comparison with existing methods To our knowledge, this is the first Monte Carlo pipeline for MR signal simulations in a substrate composed of numerous realistic cells, accounting for their permeable and irregularly-shaped membranes. Conclusions The proposed RMS pipeline makes it possible to achieve fast and accurate simulations of diffusion in realistic tissue microgeometry, as well as the interplay with other MR contrasts. Presently, RMS focuses on simulations of diffusion, exchange, and T1 and T2 NMR relaxation in static tissues, with a possibility to straightforwardly account for susceptibility-induced T 2 * effects and flow.
State Competence to Regulate Corporate Takeovers: Lessons from State Takeover Statutes

This Article reveals two very different lessons about state competence to regulate corporate takeovers. The first lesson is that some states are enacting anti-takeover legislation for the protectionist purpose of sheltering large local employers. The Article contends that the appropriate response to this legislation is for courts to invalidate it under the Commerce Clause. The second lesson is that some states, most notably Delaware, are enacting anti-takeover legislation to protect a state’s corporate chartering industry. In this instance, federal preemptive intervention is necessary to ensure that state law does not unduly favor management interests at shareholder expense.