cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Hierarchy of South Korean Elementary Teachers Knowledge for Teaching Mathematics

The purpose of this study is to develop a framework for understanding teachers’ knowledge for teaching mathematics (MKT) by examining a hierarchy of 317 South Korean elementary teachers’ knowledge for teaching mathematics. Through a web-based survey, the teachers were asked to rank order their beliefs about and use of knowledge subdomains for teaching mathematics. Findings show that teachers’ beliefs about knowledge for teaching mathematics are divergent from current research trends. Also, their beliefs about the subdomains of knowledge for teaching mathematics were ranked differently in comparison to their actual use of the subdomains. Their hierarchy for MKT presents suggestions for the type of curriculum that might be offered to teachers to develop their knowledge at the pre-and in-service level.
Evolutionary Dynamics on Scale-Free Interaction Networks

There has been a recent surge of interest in studying dynamical processes, including evolutionary optimization, on scale-free topologies. While various scaling parameters and assortativities have been observed in natural scale-free interaction networks, most previous studies of dynamics on scale-free graphs have employed a graph-generating algorithm that yields a topology with an uncorrelated degree distribution and a fixed scaling parameter. In this paper, we advance the understanding of selective pressure in scale-free networks by systematically investigating takeover times under local uniform selection in scale-free topologies with varying scaling exponents, assortativities, average degrees, and numbers of vertices. We demonstrate why the so-called characteristic path length of a graph is a nonlinear function of both scaling and assortativity. Neither the eigenvalues of the adjacency matrix nor the effective population size was sufficient to account for the variance in takeover times over the parameter space that was explored. Rather, we show that 97% of the variance of logarithmically transformed average takeover times, on all scale-free graphs tested, could be accounted for by a planar function of: 1) the average inverse degree (which captures the effects of scaling) and 2) the logarithm of the population size. Additionally, we show that at low scaling exponents, increasingly positive assortativities increased the variability between experiments on different random graph instances, while increasingly negative assortativities increased the variability between takeover times from different initial conditions on the same graph instances. We explore the mechanisms behind our sometimes counterintuitive findings, and discuss potential implications for evolutionary computation and other relevant disciplines.
Art's Global Stage: Revisiting Display Today

Keynote address from the symposium Exhibition Complex: Displaying People, Identity, and Culture, held October 18-20, 2012 at the Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Titan as an analog of Earth’s past and future

Titan, the second-largest moon in the solar system, is revealed by the joint ESA-NASA mission Cassini-Huygens to have a dense atmosphere of nitrogen and methane, lakes and seas of liquid methane and ethane, evidence for ﬂuvial (river-based) erosion, and vast equatorial expanses of dunes made of organic material. It also has an ocean, probably mostly of water, beneath its icy crust. The presence of organic material and episodes of melting of the icy crust or breaching to reveal the ocean beneath provides the possibility of chemistry replicating that leading to the origin of life, on scales of time and space much larger than can be achieved in the laboratory. In this sense Titan may replicate aspects of Earth’s past. But the methane cycle, which operates in the absence of a massive ocean covering Titan’s surface, more resembles the kind of hydrological cycle Earth might have in the far future as the brightness of the Sun increases and water begins to escape rapidly.
Translating physical activity recommendations into a pedometer-based step goal: 3000 steps in 30 minutes.

Background It is a public health recommendation to accumulate at least 150 minutes per week of moderate intensity physical activity. Although pedometers are widely used as a physical activity–monitoring tool, they are unable to measure activity intensity. Translating current physical activity recommendations into a pedometer-based guideline could increase the public health impact of physical activity interventions. Methods A community sample of 97 adults (60% women, with a mean age of 32.1 [±10.6] years and a mean BMI of 28.8 [±5.5]) completed four 6-minute incremental walking bouts on a level treadmill at 65, 80, 95, and 110 m·min –1 . A calibrated metabolic cart was used to measure energy expenditure at each speed. Steps were measured using a Yamax SW-200 pedometer. Step-rate cut points associated with minimally moderate-intensity activity (defined as 3 METs) were determined using multiple regression, mixed modeling, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. All data were collected and analyzed in 2006. Results For men, step counts per minute associated with walking at 3 METs were 92 step·min –1 (multiple regression); 101 step·min –1 (mixed modeling); and 102 step·min –1 (ROC curve). For women, step counts per minute associated with walking at 3 METs were 91 step·min –1 (multiple regression); 111 step·min –1 (mixed modeling); and 115 step·min –1 (ROC curve). However, for each analysis there was substantial error in model fit. Conclusions Moderate-intensity walking appears approximately equal to at least 100 step·min –1 . However, step counts per minute is a poor proxy for METs, and so 100 step·min –1 should be used only as a general physical activity promotion heuristic. To meet current guidelines, individuals are encouraged to walk a minimum of 3000 steps in 30 minutes on 5 days each week. Three bouts of 1000 steps in 10 minutes each day can also be used to meet the recommended goal.
Error resilience and recovery in streaming of embedded video

The three-dimensional (3-D) SPIHT coder is a scalable or embedded coder that has proved its efficiency and its real-time capability in compression of video. A forward-error-correcting (FEC) channel (RCPC) code combined with a single automatic repeat request (ARQ) proved to be an effective means for protecting the bitstream. There were two problems with this scheme: the noiseless reverse channel ARQ may not be feasible in practice; and, in the absence of channel coding and ARQ, the decoded sequence was hopelessly corrupted even for relatively clean channels. In this paper, we introduce a new method of partitioning wavelet coefficients into spatio-temporal (s-t) tree blocks to achieve error resilience. Each of these s-t blocks corresponds to the full 3-D image region, because roots of these trees are wavelet coefficients taken at fixed intervals in the root low-frequency subband. Previously, we reported on grouping contiguous root subband coefficients to generate s-t tree blocks that correspond to local 3-D regions. The new procedure brings higher error resilience, since lost coefficients can be concealed with the surrounding coefficients even if some of the coded s-t blocks are totally missing. The bitstreams of the coded s-t blocks are packetized and encoded with a channel code to correct errors and to prevent decoding of erroneous data after errors are detected. Because the separately encoded s-t blocks produce embedded bitstreams, the packets from the bitstreams are interleaved to generate an embedded composite bitstream. The embedded property, whereby successive compressed bits convey successively smaller value information, suggests unequal error protection, where earlier bits are more strongly protected by the channel code than later bits. Therefore, unequal error protection is also incorporated into our video bitstreams to bring an even higher degree of resilience to channel bit errors. Our claims are supported by extensive simulations with decoding of the various 3-D SPIHT bitstreams compared to each other and to MPEG-2. Superiority to MPEG-2 in noiseless and noisy channels, nnder equal conditions with or without FEC, is clearly demonstrated by the results of these simulations.
Investigation of the Defect Chemistry of CuInSe2 Single Crystals by DLTS Measurements

In a simple Bond Orbit Model the formation energies of all intrinsic defects (vacancies and antisite defects) in CuInSe2 are calculated. On the basis of this calculation the most likely majority defects are determined which are compatible with the stoichiometry of the specimens. The results are used to interpret defect level energies which are measured by DLTS in several p- and n-type CuInSe2 single crystals with different compositions. It is assumed that the most dominant defects are shallow acceptors and donors which mainly compensate each other, whereas some of the other defects with higher formation energies and lower concentrations are deep level defects observed by DLTS.
Exchange and Specialisation as a Discovery Process

In this paper we seek to identify some minimal structure necessary to support exchange and specialization. We develop a closed economy in which participants must even discover the ability to exchange, in addition to ascertaining what they are comparatively good at producing. As it turns out, many people demonstrate the ability to intuit comparative advantage, exhaust gains from trade, and effectively choose production that is consistent with the choices of others. However, not everyone becomes a specialist, even though full efficiency can only be achieved if everyone does so. Near-full efficiency does frequently occur bilaterally in these economies. That is, many subjects do fully specialize in the productive activity in which they have a comparative advantage, and when they do so it is typically because they have entered a stable trading relationship with a specialist in the other good. Such pairing does not necessarily give impetus to the formation of other pairs, nor are pairs typically open to the inclusion of a third party.
Cerebral Blood Flow Response to Hypercapnia in Children with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome.

Study objectives Children with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) often experience periods of hypercapnia during sleep, a potent stimulator of cerebral blood flow (CBF). Considering this hypercapnia exposure during sleep, it is possible that children with OSAS have abnormal CBF responses to hypercapnia even during wakefulness. Therefore, we hypothesized that children with OSAS have blunted CBF response to hypercapnia during wakefulness, compared to snorers and controls. Methods CBF changes during hypercapnic ventilatory response (HCVR) were tested in children with OSAS, snorers, and healthy controls using diffuse correlation spectroscopy (DCS). Peak CBF changes with respect to pre-hypercapnic baseline were measured for each group. The study was conducted at an academic pediatric sleep center. Results Twelve children with OSAS (aged 10.1 ± 2.5 [mean ± standard deviation] y, obstructive apnea hypopnea index [AHI] = 9.4 [5.1-15.4] [median, interquartile range] events/hour), eight snorers (11 ± 3 y, 0.5 [0-1.3] events/hour), and 10 controls (11.4 ± 2.6 y, 0.3 [0.2-0.4] events/hour) were studied. The fractional CBF change during hypercapnia, normalized to the change in end-tidal carbon dioxide, was significantly higher in controls (9 ± 1.8 %/mmHg) compared to OSAS (7.1 ± 1.5, P = 0.023) and snorers (6.7 ± 1.9, P = 0.025). Conclusions Children with OSAS and snorers have blunted CBF response to hypercapnia during wakefulness compared to controls. Noninvasive DCS blood flow measurements of hypercapnic reactivity offer insights into physiopathology of OSAS in children, which could lead to further understanding about the central nervous system complications of OSAS.
Evaluating Students’ Errors on Cognitive Tasks: Applications of Polytomous Item Response Theory and Log-Linear Modeling

The adage, “We learn from our mistakes,” is a familiar one. Most of us recognize that some of our most meaningful learning experiences have come about as a result of saying or doing the wrong thing. The value of mistakes, however, is dependent upon our ability to recognize them as such and to gather information from them that points us in a more positive direction. The errors that students make in classrooms can also be instructive if we acknowledge that mistakes typically arise from thoughtful, albeit misguided or incomplete, processing and if there is a systematic way to identify these mistakes and to unlock the diagnostic information they hold (Alexander, 1989; Alexander, Pate, Kulikowich, Farrell, & Wright, 1989).
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN STATE "DEATH" TAXES

The authors review recent developments in state "death taxes." The elimination of "death taxes" is another possible area of state competition, they write.
Rating US reservoirs relative to fish habitat condition

AbstractFish habitats in many aging US reservoirs have become degraded and require broad-scale assessment to rate their status and facilitate rehabilitation efforts. To help prioritize habitat projects in reservoirs, we assembled a rating system for large reservoirs in the contiguous United States. Using responses to an online questionnaire about fish habitat impairment in 1299 large US reservoirs, we applied multivariate analyses to identify combinations of habitat impairment descriptors that quantified broad impairment types (i.e., a construct). Resulting constructs reflected point source pollution, nonpoint source pollution, excessive nutrients, algae blooms, siltation, limited nutrients, mudflats and shallowness, limited connectivity to adjacent habitats, limited littoral structure, nuisance species, anomalous water regimes, and large water level fluctuations. Scores were summed across constructs to create a composite number that rated overall reservoir habitat impairment. Construct and composite scor...
Inorganic Electron Transfer: Sharpening a Fuzzy Border in Mixed Valency and Extending Mixed Valency across Supramolecular Systems

This article describes research from our laboratory on the chemistry and spectroscopic properties of inorganic mixed-valence complexes. After a brief review of the seminal work of Taube, Creutz, Day, Robin, Hush, and others in the 1960s and the confounding efforts to identify the borderline between class II and III mixed-valence systems in the 1990s and early 2000s, we describe our first experiments to observe and analyze the coalescence of ν(CO) band shapes in the 1D IR spectra of mixed-valence complexes of the type {[Ru3O(OAc)6(CO)(L)]2-BL}−, where L = a pyridyl ligand and BL = pyrazine or 4,4′-bipyridine, to estimate rate constants of intramolecular electron transfer (ET). The strong involvement of the bridging ligands in mixed-valence complexes of this type was first identified in the appearance of totally symmetric vibrational modes of pyrazine bridging ligands in the IR because of strong vibronic coupling within a three-state metal cluster–bridge–metal cluster model. Application of the Brunschwig–Cr...
Building a Radiosurgery Practice

Stereotactic radiosurgery is an important surgical tool for a variety of neurosurgical illnesses. As a minimally invasive, low-cost, and low-morbidity procedure, radiosurgery utilization has been increasing over the last several years. This chapter discusses the major issues regarding radiosurgery for resident training, physician credentialing, and practice development. Topics such as benefits to choosing to include radiosurgery in one’s practice, building a referral base, marketing, selecting a treatment platform, tackling space needs, and defining staff responsibilities, and reimbursement issues are addressed. Familiarity with the topics discussed should help the neurosurgeon successfully include radiosurgery in practice.
Effects of glucose–fructose versus glucose ingestion on stride characteristics during prolonged treadmill running

Scarce research has examined the effects of carbohydrate composition on running stride characteristics. On two occasions, 14 males and 6 females completed a 120-min sub-maximal run followed by a 4-mile time trial. Participants consumed glucose (GLU) or glucose-fructose (GLU-FRU) beverages supplying 1.3 g/min carbohydrate. Substrate use, psychological affect [Feeling Scale (FS)], and stride characteristics (stride frequency, stride length, and contact time) were assessed. Effects were expressed as Cohen's d (90% confidence limits [90% CL]). CLs for stride frequency differences at 53 min (90% CL = 0.04-0.21) and 113 min (90% CL = 0.02-0.24) did not cover 0, indicating a positive effect of GLU-FRU. However, effect sizes were small (d = 0.13) and likely-to-very-likely trivial. Energy expenditure differences at sub-maximal end were very likely trivial (d = 0.08; 90% CL = 0.00-0.17), while FS ratings were possibly higher for GLU-FRU at 50 (d = 0.19; 90% CL = -0.10-0.48) and 110 min (d = 0.16; 90% CL = -0.13-0.45). During the time trial, stride length was possibly higher with GLU-FRU (d = 0.13; 90% CL = -0.08-0.33). Glucose-fructose co-ingestion has no significant effect on stride characteristics during constant-velocity running but may result in slightly higher stride length during self-paced running.
Recent advances in molecular pathology: Arterial endothelium—Assessment of in vivo injury

Within the last 10 years there has been considerable interest in vascular endothelium, and in part this is because of the critical role that the endothelial monolayer plays in atherosclerosis (Ross and Glomset, 1976; Ross et al., 1977; Ross, 1981). A widely held concept in atherosclerosis research is that loss of endothelium precipitates intimal lesion development through the interaction of platelets and their mitogens on the underlying cells in the denuded vessel. A break in the integrity of the endothelium therefore becomes an important issue, and considerable research efforts have been concentrated on what factors are capable of injuring the endothelium. The purpose of this article however is not to review which agents lead to endothelial injury and denudation, but rather to concentrate on the criteria by which we make the assumption that all is not well with the endothelium. At first sight it may seem obvious that endothelial loss is the only meaningful criteria to assess any disruption of the endothelium, but due to circumstances such as size of injury, speed of endothelial repair, nonthrombogenic smooth muscle, as well as just sampling error, this obvious event can be overlooked. The purpose of this article, therefore, is to review the various criteria by which endothelial injury and loss have been assessed and also to examine what happens to the underlying vessel wall after these injuries.
Proliferation Rate and Transit Time of Mucosal Cells in Small Intestine of the Diabetic Rat

Streptozotocin-induced diabetes in the rat alters intestinal function, causes hyperphagia and arrests body growth, but stimulates intestinal growth, particularly in the mucosa. Therefore we measured several indices of epithelial cell proliferation to gain insight on possible factors responsible for the increased mucosal cell mass in the small intestine. We examined epithelial cell proliferation in upper jejunum and terminal ileum of weight-matched control and diabetic rats pair fed or eating ad libitum. Cell proliferation was measured two ways: (1) isolating whole crypts 1 hr after injection of [3H]thymidine ([3H]TdR) and calculating disintegrations per minute per crypt (dpm per crypt), and (2) autoradiography of mucosal sections to obtain labeled cells per crypt, total cells per crypt-villus column, and cell migration rates. Autoradiography showed diabetes: (1) increased cell number of crypt-villus columns and increased labeled cells per crypt section, primarily jejunum, and (2) did not alter cell migration except for an increase in the ileum of diabetics eating ad libitum. Cell proliferation measured as dpm per crypt virtually doubled in diabetics in both segments regardless of dietary regimen. Dpm per crypt is a three-dimensional measurement based on the whole crypt. The increase in cell number and labeled cells per crypt in jejunal sections is also consistent with increased cell division, but shows a much smaller effect. The nature of the histological technique (two-dimensional) limits its usefulness for measuring morphological changes, and this may explain the discrepancy. Hence, the primary effect of diabetes is increased DNA synthesis (dpm per crypt) and this appears to be the main explanation for stimulated mucosal growth.
Biodistribution of the 18F-FPPRGD2 PET radiopharmaceutical in cancer patients: an atlas of SUV measurements

The aim of this study was to investigate the biodistribution of 2-fluoropropionyl-labeled PEGylated dimeric arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD) peptide (PEG3-E[c{RGDyk}]2) (18F-FPPRGD2) in cancer patients and to compare its uptake in malignant lesions with 18F-FDG uptake. A total of 35 patients (11 men, 24 women, mean age 52.1 ± 10.8 years) were enrolled prospectively and had 18F-FPPRGD2 PET/CT prior to treatment. Maximum standardized uptake values (SUVmax) and mean SUV (SUVmean) were measured in 23 normal tissues in each patient, as well as in known or suspected cancer lesions. Differences between 18F-FPPRGD2 uptake and 18F-FDG uptake were also evaluated in 28 of the 35 patients. Areas of high 18F-FPPRGD2 accumulation (SUVmax range 8.9 – 94.4, SUVmean range 7.1 – 64.4) included the bladder and kidneys. Moderate uptake (SUVmax range 2.1 – 6.3, SUVmean range 1.1 – 4.5) was found in the choroid plexus, salivary glands, thyroid, liver, spleen, pancreas, small bowel and skeleton. Compared with 18F-FDG, 18F-FPPRGD2 showed higher tumor-to-background ratio in brain lesions (13.4 ± 8.5 vs. 1.1 ± 0.5, P < 0.001), but no significant difference in body lesions (3.2 ± 1.9 vs. 4.4 ± 4.2, P = 0.10). There was no significant correlation between the uptake values (SUVmax and SUVmean) for 18F FPPRGD2 and those for 18F-FDG. The biodistribution of 18F-FPPRGD2 in cancer patients is similar to that of other RGD dimer peptides and it is suitable for clinical use. The lack of significant correlation between 18F-FPPRGD2 and 18F-FDG uptake confirms that the information provided by each PET tracer is different.
Cognitive impacts of cross-cultural communication adjustment over general behavior

Cross-cultural communication is basic for organizations that have a differing workforce and take an interest in the worldwide economy. It is vital for representatives to comprehend the elements that are a piece of a powerful, assorted workforce. An adjusted diverse preparing system furnishes members with the learning, comprehension, and abilities they have to impart and collaborate successfully crosswise over social boundaries. Preparing projects may be directed either freely of or in pair with remote dialect preparing. The cognitive aspects of the cross-cultural communication skills have been highlighted via this study report.
Bone turn-over biomarker: Emerging role of 18F-NaF-PET/CT

1273 Learning Objectives To review the role of 18F-NaF PET in assessing bone turn over. The gold standard method for assessing bone metabolic activity is bone hystomorphometry, which is invasive, expensive and limited to iliac crest, while the most current practical method is measurement of biomedical markers of bone resorption in serum and urine. A limitation of biochemical markers for monitoring individual patients is that any changes may be masked by the relatively large day to- day variation in the measurements, including the presence of significant diurnal rhythm for some markers. In contrast, the functional imaging technique of 18F-NaF-PET/CT allows direct quantitative assessment of bone metabolism both globally and at clinically important sites of the skeleton such as lumbar spine and hip. The advantage of this technique is that it is non-invasive, readily applicable in clinical settings and adaptable to both whole body skeleton and region-specific imaging. In this discussion, we will review the following items: 1. Current methods for evaluating bone metabolic activity and their limitations: i) Bone histomorphometry done by bone biopsy and double tetracycline labeling (gold standard) a) Invasive b) Expensive c) Limited to iliac crest ii) Measurement of biomedical markers of bone resorption in serum and urine (most practical) a) Day-to-day variation in measurement b) Reflects the whole skeleton iii) Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) 2. 18F-fluoride PET (18 F-PET) and evaluation of bone metabolic activity i) Semi-quantitative analysis, which includes standardized uptake value (SUV) ii) Absolute quantitative analysis: a) Three compartment method (Hawkins method) b) Patlak graphical analysis and derived methods
Bedside Laparoscopy in the ICU

Diagnostic laparoscopy has been described as an alternative evaluation method for the critically ill population who are at risk for developing acute intra-abdominal processes. The most common indication for diagnostic laparoscopy occurs in the setting of unexplained sepsis with clinical suspicion for an intra-abdominal process or secondary process. Despite its technical challenges, bedside laparoscopy should be considered by the critical care team, particularly in multi-organ failure as a safe alternative to exploratory laparotomy which carries a much higher risk of mortality (Peris et al., Critical Care 13(1):R25, 2009; Srivastava and Niranjan, J Minim Access Surg 6(4):91–94, 2012; Henny and Hoflank, Surg Endosc 19(9):1163–1171, 2005). The Advanced Care Provider should be aware of the indications, potential complications, and the absolute and relative contraindications of the procedure.
Sjögren Syndrome: Why Do Clinical Trials Fail?

Sjogren syndrome (SS) comprises glandular and extraglandular manifestations. Double-blind prospective trials of traditional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs and biologics have failed because they have not improved benign symptoms, the major cause of lowered quality of life. Rituximab has proven effective in SS patients with associated mixed cryoglobulinemia, parotid gland swelling, lymphocytic interstitial pneumonitis, thrombocytopenia, and other manifestations. There were few of these SS patients in the trials required for FDA approval. Most patients had benign symptoms and did not show benefit, leading to failure of the study. This article examines the reasons for these failures and proposes future directions.
3D Multi-Copter Navigation and Mapping Using GPS, Inertial, and LiDAR

As the use of unmanned aerial vehicles has become more prevalent, the need for a reliable three-dimensional positioning and navigation capability is required to enable operation in challenging environments where the Global Positioning System (GPS) may not be available. For many of these environments, there may not be one particular method to solve the positioning navigation problem. Therefore, we have selected a set of dissimilar sensor technologies and implemented an integrated navigation method that can support reliable operation in an outdoor and structured indoor environment. The integrated navigation design is based on three types of sensors: a GPS receiver, an inertial measurement unit, and three laser scanners. This paper will show that decimeter-level relative positioning accuracies can be achieved for structured indoor operations and that when segments are included where GPS is available, the platform's trajectory is globally anchored with meter-level accuracy. A secondary goal of the proposed method is the generation of a three-dimensional map of the environment. Copyright © 2016 Institute of Navigation Copyright © 2016 Institute of Navigation
When to Use Prophylactic Antibiotics in Neutropenic Patients.

Current guidelines recommend antimicrobial prophylaxis with fluoroquinolones in patients at high risk for infection-related morbidity and mortality, but this practice provides a short-term benefit to individual patients.
An interchangeable surgical instrument system with application to supervised automation of multilateral tumor resection

Many surgical procedures require a sequence of different end-effectors but switching tools for robot-assisted minimally-invasive surgery (RMIS) requires time-consuming removal and replacement through the trocar port. We present an interchangeable instrument system that can be contained within the body cavity. It is based on a novel mounting mechanism compatible with a standard RMIS gripper and a tool-guide and sleeve to facilitate automated instrument switching. Experiments suggest that an Intuitive Surgical system using these interchangeable instruments can perform a multi-step tumor resection procedure that uses a novel haptic probe to localize the tumor, standard scalpel to expose the tumor, standard grippers to extract the subcutaneous tumor, and a fluid injection tool to seal the wound. Design details and video are available at: http://berkeleyautomation.github.io/surgicaltools.
Characteristics of drift pumice from New Caledonia beaches

Siliceous drift pumice was collected from a total of 40 beaches around the main island of New Caledonia, Southwest Pacific, in order to determine its provenance. New Caledonia is enclosed by a barrier reef lagoon whose 2008 designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site brought attention to the environmental degradation caused by a century of open cast nickel mining. The frequent, voluminous pumice eruptions in the Southwest Pacific provide ample source material that is somewhat durable, highly transportable in water, and easy to collect and analyze. Geochemical and mineralogical analyses were used to identify the source of the pumice in order to map the transport vector across the open ocean and into the lagoon. Drift pumice was sampled during 2008 and 2010. The mineral assemblage of the pumice was consistently calcic plagioclase, clinopyroxene, orthopyroxene, and opaque minerals. All of the pumice was of fairly uniform geochemistry: low in mafic elements, low in alkalis, with LILE enriched compared to HFSE, and negative Eu, Ti, and Zr anomalies. The pumice is predominately dacitic and tholeiitic. This geochemical signature was consistent with published data from the Tonga arc, which is further supported by the mineralogy. With the exception of two samples (which probably came from either the Kermadec arc or Vanuatu) all of the pumice comes from the Tonga arc. The samples from 2008 are consistent with pumice erupted from Metis Shoal in 2006, and the majority of 2010 samples are consistent with pumice erupted from an unnamed volcano (0403-091) that erupted in 2001.
A modified protocol for in vitro maturation of mouse oocytes from secondary preantral follicles

A 2-step culture system was designed and tested for the in vitro maturation efficiency of oocytes from pre-puberty preantral follicles of FVB/N inbred mice. The following modifications were made: 1) The concentration of ITS was reduced by half in the basal MIF medium to minimize uncoordinated growth between oocyte and GC cells; 2) Heterogeneous preantral follicles were cultured in groups of 3 - 5 follicles in hanging drops of medium with reduced concentration of ITS for six days to induction follicular aggregation. This hanging drop method mimics a 3-D IVM culture system at the early stage of cultivation in which the sphere structure of each follicle is well maintained. It also enables follicles in each aggregate to communicate with each other, synchronize their growth, and thus prevent immature follicular rupture; 3) Medium was further supplemented with retinoic acid to enhance developmental capacity of meiotically arrested oocytes. After a 14-day culture in vitro, ~37% of the collected inbred preantral follicles completed nuclear maturation. Approximately 94% of the mature oocytes tested were able to be fertilized; and 77% of them developed into healthy embryos. These results demonstrate that our IVM system is reliable to produce a satisfactory number of high quality oocytes. In addition, multiple cytoplasmic parameters, including gene expression of key regulators, chromosome/spindle organization, mitochondrial proliferation and distribution, and total ATP content were explored to characterize the supportive and limiting components of our IVM system so that the culture system can be further optimized.
The Antioxidant n-Acetylcysteine Blocks Direct Regulatory T Cell Mediated Suppression of CD4+ Effector T Cells In Vitro

Abstract Abstract 2765 Background: CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) employ a range of suppressive strategies including factors that are cytotoxic to target CD4+CD25−FOXP3− effector T cells (Teff) such as perforin and granzyme B and those that suppress proliferation, differentiation and/or cytokine production including TGF-beta1, IL-10 and CTLA-4. The relative contribution of each of these mechanisms to Treg function is unclear but from the available data their importance appears context specific. Because T cells are very sensitive to the redox state of the microenvironment, and display a pattern of impaired activation under conditions of oxidative stress, we investigated the potential contribution of an oxidant dependent suppressive pathway on direct Treg mediated suppression of Teff in vitro using the antioxidant n-acetylcysteine (NAC) to block reactive oxidants. Methods: Tregs and Teff were derived from the spleens of 2–4 month old C57BL/6 mice maintained in pathogen free conditions. T cell subsets were isolated using magnetic bead based techniques. Purity was assessed by flow cytometry. For suppression assays, Tregs were co-cultured with CFSE-labeled Teff at the indicated ratios and stimulated with anti-CD3/CD28 coated beads for 3 days. Proliferation was measured by flow cytometric evaluation of CFSE dilutional staining. Suppression was calculated by comparing proliferation of Teff cultured alone to those co-cultured with Tregs (% suppression= 1 − Tregs:Teff/Teff alone). In other experiments, CFSE-labeled Teff were cultured alone in the indicated conditions with TGF-beta +/− NAC and proliferation was assessed by CFSE staining. Intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) were measured by flow cytometry using the redox sensitive cell permeable indicator dye 5-(and-6)-chloromethyl-2‘,7‘-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate, acetyl ester (DCFDA). Results: The presence of NAC prevented Treg suppression of Teff in a dose dependent fashion at Treg:Teff ratios of 1:2, 1:1 and 2:1 (see figure). Suppression was significantly decreased at 0.1mM NAC (p Conclusion: NAC blocks Treg mediated TGF-beta dependent suppression in vitro. This suggests that TGF-beta may function to suppress proliferation of Teff via a ROS dependent mechanism and raises the possibility that targeted delivery of antioxidants may have clinical utility for modulating the effects of Tregs in vivo. Download : Download high-res image (219KB) Download : Download full-size image Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Spatiotemporal coupling effects in ultrashort pulses and their visualization

The general theory of first-order spatiotemporal distortions provides a very helpful framework for understanding beam couplings in ultrashort pulses. The theory describes both real and imaginary coupling terms between 4 pairs of dimensions. The imaginary coupling terms are difficult to understand and visualize because they are difficult to plot in a meaningful way. In general, plotting the spatiotemporal intensity and phase of pulses in in two and three dimensions is a difficult problem. Our work on pulse visualization provides an unprecedented opportunity to study spatiotemporal couplings in ultrashort pulses. We create movies of pulses as they would appear naturally, with all of their evolving spatial, temporal, and spectral structure readily apparent.
Four and a Half Axioms for Finite-Dimensional Quantum Probability

It is an old idea, lately out of fashion but now experiencing a revival, that quantum mechanics may best be understood, not as a physical theory with a problematic probabilistic interpretation, but as something closer to a probability calculus per se. However, from this angle, the rather special C *-algebraic apparatus of quantum probability theory stands in need of further motivation. One would like to find additional principles, having clear physical and/or probabilistic content, on the basis of which this apparatus can be reconstructed. In this paper, I explore one route to such a derivation of finite-dimensional quantum mechanics, by means of a set of strong, but probabilistically intelligible, axioms. Stated very informally, these require that systems appear completely classical as restricted to a single measurement, that different measurements, and likewise different pure states, be equivalent (up to the action of a compact group of symmetries), and that every state be the marginal of a bipartite non-signaling state perfectly correlating two measurements. This much yields a mathematical representation of (basic, discrete) measurements as orthonormal subsets of, and states, by vectors in, an ordered real Hilbert space – in the quantum case, the space of Hermitian operators, with its usual tracial inner product. One final postulate (a simple minimization principle, still in need of a clear interpretation) forces the positive cone of this space to be homogeneous and self-dual and hence, to be the state space of a formally real Jordan algebra. From here, the route to the standard framework of finite-dimensional quantum mechanics is quite short.
From Playgrounds to Plavix: Civil Cases in the Supreme Court’s October 2016 Term

Commissioned by the American Judges Association, this article provides an overview of the most significant civil cases decided by the Supreme Court during the October 2016 Term.
Embolization of a contraceptive implant into the pulmonary vasculature in an adolescent female.

Abstract Nexplanon is a long-acting 4 cm radio-opaque rod shaped contraceptive device implanted in the subdermal layer of the inner, upper arm. Complications from implantation are uncommon and mostly local and minor, including infection at the implantation site with resulting cellulitis or abscess, hematoma, abnormal scar formation, or local damage to nerves and blood vessels. Intravascular insertion is estimated to be at 1.3 per million Nexplanon implants, and migration and embolization is a rare complication of this device. We present a case report of a 16 year old female who presented to the pediatric emergency department with subjective dyspnea and an embolized contraceptive device within a subsegmental branch of the left lower lobe pulmonary artery. After discussion with consultants, interventional radiology was able to successful retrieve the device without complication.
Using models to correct data: paleodiversity and the fossil record

Despite an enormous philosophical literature on models in science, surprisingly little has been written about data models and how they are constructed. In this paper, I examine the case of how paleodiversity data models are constructed from the fossil data. In particular, I show how paleontologists are using various model-based techniques to correct the data. Drawing on this research, I argue for the following related theses: first, the ‘purity’ of a data model is not a measure of its epistemic reliability. Instead it is the fidelity of the data that matters. Second, the fidelity of a data model in capturing the signal of interest is a matter of degree. Third, the fidelity of a data model can be improved ‘vicariously’, such as through the use of post hoc model-based correction techniques. And, fourth, data models, like theoretical models, should be assessed as adequate (or inadequate) for particular purposes.
Are Human Rights Practices Improving

Has government protection of human rights improved? The answer to this and many other research questions is strongly affected by the assumptions we make and the modeling strategy we choose as the basis for creating human rights country scores. Fariss (2014) introduced a statistical model that produced latent scores showing an improving trend in human rights. Consistent with his stringent assumptions, his statistical model heavily weighted rare incidents of mass killings such as genocide, while discounting indicators of lesser and more common violations such as torture and political imprisonment. We replicated his analysis, replacing the actual values of all indicators of lesser human rights violations with randomly generated data, and obtained an identical improving trend. However, when we replicated the analysis, relaxing his assumptions by allowing all indicators to potentially have a similar effect on the latent scores, we find no human rights improvement.
Inner Product Spaces

In making the definition of a vector space, we generalized the linear structure (addition and scalar multiplication) of R2 and R3.
Guiding the New Teacher: Induction of First-Year Teachers in Japan

What a stressful day for Yoko Matsubara. In the eighth month of her first year of teaching, she still has much to learn — about teaching, about her pupils and about herself. She cannot spend much time thinking about these issues now, because she must prepare for the many visitors coming to her classroom. This afternoon, her guiding teacher, a supervisor from the pre-fectural in-service center, the principal, vice-principal and several teachers from her school will visit her classroom to watch her teach a science lesson. In addition, two American educators will be in attendance. And after the lesson they want to interview her. What could she possibly tell them? Yet, because her principal has asked her to co-operate, she has agreed.
Education, engagement, and MIPS: The new era of accountability.

111Background: As 2017 marked the start of CMS’ new Quality Payment Program (QPP), a national network of hospitals worked together with its physician practices to ensure maximum participation and benefit. Each practice consisted of multi-specialists collaborating in the treatment of oncology patients and reporting through the American Society of Clinical Oncology qualified data registry. Methods: A team was created with the primary tasks of 1) transitioning and ensuring readiness; 2) selecting and reporting on measures of interest associated with two QPP categories, Quality and Improvement Activities (IAs) and 3) educating its practices on the merits of participation. This included the creation of infographics titled MACRA 101, 201, 301 and a detailed Q&A tool for maintaining information exchange. The former was a progressive approach to educating on the law, that success is a team sport, and that public reporting of performance data is here to stay, concluding with a call to action. Results: Oncology mea...
Ocular volume and common carotid occlusion in the rabbit.

The influence of common carotid occlusion on intraocular pressure was studied in rabbits by perfusion and tonographic techniques. Bilateral common carotid occlusion caused a greater ocular volume change than homolateral occlusion. If homolateral occlusion was followed by contralateral occlusion, there was consistently an additional fall in intraocular pressure. The initial fall in intraocular pressure after homolateral or bilateral occlusion was not infrequently followed by a rise of the pressure level to a new plateau. A quantitative relationship was demonstrated between ocular volume change and common carotid occlusion. For intraocular pressures between 20 and 40 mm. Hg there is a semilogarithmic relationship between the ocular blood volume change induced by common carotid occlusion and either perfusion pressure or tonometric pressure. With intraocular pressures greater than 40 to 50 vim. Hg the semilogarithmic relationship no longer holds, probably due to critical closure of intraocular vessels.
The Response of Floral Traits Associated with Pollinator Attraction to Environmental Changes Expected under Anthropogenic Climate Change in High-Altitude Habitats

Premise of research. While climate change will affect all plant species, those in high-altitude habitats cannot move to a more suitable habitat and must therefore adjust to their new environment. T...
Facilitating Lithium-Ion Conduction in Gel Polymer Electrolyte by Metal-Organic Frameworks

Gel polymer electrolytes (GPL) that comprise polymer, lithium salts, and organic plasticizers hold great promise for safer lithium-ion batteries, because of liquid-like ionic conductivity, as well ...
Improving Healthcare Access in the States After COVID-19

From the Document: The speed and scope of COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] took the United States by surprise No state was adequately prepared to handle the pandemic, and no federal agencies had enough knowledge to offer sufficient guidance As the country continues to cope with the crisis, the extent to which regulatory restrictions on healthcare access have hindered, and continue to hinder, states' ability to respond is increasingly obvious Both patients with COVID-19 and patients with other health problems have suffered from restrictions on access to medical professionals and services--restrictions imposed long before the crisis hit Now is the time to review these problematic restrictions and take action so that the states will be better prepared if and when a future crisis occurs Implementing reforms will benefit patients and providers even in the absence of a crisis COVID-19 (Disease);Healthcare
PWM and PFM Hybrid Modulation Scheme for Dual-input LLC Resonant Converter

This paper proposes a pulse-width-modulation (PWM) and pulse-frequency-modulation (PFM) hybrid modulation scheme to minimize the light load switching loss of a dual-input LLC resonant converter for photovoltaic (PV) applications. The converter voltage gain is controlled by adjusting the duty cycle at light load and varying the operating frequency at heavy load. Zero-voltage-switching (ZVS) is realized in all primary switches and zero-current-switching (ZCS) is achieved in secondary diodes over the entire range of source voltages and load conditions. In addition, voltage stress across switches does not exceed the input PV voltage. The dual-input LLC converter with proposed control scheme was established in L Tspice+PSIM softwares to analyze the performance. A 500-W dual-input LLC prototype was built to experimentally demonstrate the performance of the proposed hybrid modulation scheme. The input voltage range was selected to be 25 V to 50 V with an output voltage regulated at 200 V DC. Experimental results are closely matching the simulation results. With the proposed modulation scheme, the converter light load efficiency can be improved by maximum 6% while maintaining the conversion efficiency above 90% for the entire power range.
Perspectives on Policing: Cynthia Lum

The Editorial Committee of the Annual Review of Criminology has launched a new section within the journal in which we invite one or more authors to write a more personal and yet scholarly article t...