cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Direct detection of calmodulin tuning by ryanodine receptor channel targets using a Ca2+-sensitive acrylodan-labeled calmodulin.

Calmodulin (CaM) activates the skeletal muscle ryanodine receptor (RyR1) at nanomolar Ca2+ concentrations but inhibits it at micromolar Ca2+ concentrations, indicating that binding of Ca2+ to CaM may provide a molecular switch for modulating RyR1 channel activity. To directly examine the Ca2+ sensitivity of RyR1-complexed CaM, we used an environment-sensitive acrylodan adduct of CaM. The resulting ACRCaM probe displayed high-affinity binding to, and Ca2+-dependent regulation of, RyR1 similar to that of unlabeled wild-type (WT) CaM. Upon addition of Ca2+, ACRCaM exhibited a substantial (>50%) decrease in fluorescence (KCa = 2.7 ± 0.8 μM). A peptide derived from the RyR1 CaM binding domain (RyR13614-43) caused an even more pronounced Ca2+-dependent fluorescence decrease, and a ≥10-fold leftward shift in its KCa (0.2 ± 0.1 μM). In the presence of intact RyR1 channels in SR vesicles, ACRCaM fluorescence spectra were distinct from those in the presence of RyR13614-43, although a Ca2+-dependent decrease in fluo...
Computerized expert system for evaluation of automated visual fields from the Ischemic Optic Neuropathy Decompression Trial: methods, baseline fields, and six-month longitudinal follow-up.

Purpose: To validate a computerized expert system evaluating visual fields in a prospective clinical trial, the Ischemic Optic Neuropathy Decompression Trial (IONDT). To identify the pattern and within-pattern severity of field defects for study eyes at baseline and 6-month follow-up. Design: Humphrey visual field (HVF) change was used as the outcome measure for a prospective, randomized, multicenter trial to test the null hypothesis that optic nerve sheath decompression was ineffective in treating nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy and to ascertain the natural history of the disease. Methods: An expert panel established criteria for the type and severity of visual field defects. Using these criteria, a rulebased computerized expert system interpreted HVF from baseline and 6-month visits for patients randomized to surgery or careful follow-up and for patients who were not randomized. Results: A computerized expert system was devised and validated. The system was then used to analyze HVFs. The pattern of defects found at baseline for patients randomized to surgery did not differ from that of patients randomized to careful follow-up. The most common pattern of defect was a superior and inferior arcuate with central scotoma for randomized eyes (19.2%) and a superior and inferior arcuate for nonrandomized eyes (30.6%). Field patterns at 6 months and baseline were not different. For randomized study eyes, the superior altitudinal defects improved (P = .03), as did the inferior altitudinal defects (P = .01). For nonrandomized study eyes, only the inferior altitudinal defects improved (P = .02). No treatment effect was noted. Conclusions: A novel rule-based expert system successfully interpreted visual field defects at baseline of eyes enrolled in the IONDT.
Genetics of ataxias: hereditary forms.

SCA : spinocerebellar ataxia Ataxia is a neurologic disorder in which there is loss of coordination of movement. It can result from dysfunction of the cerebellum and brain stem and their afferent or efferent pathways. The etiology of ataxia can be divided into 3 main categories: acquired,
Oxidative Stress and Vascular Disease

Growing evidence indicates that chronic and acute overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) under pathophysiologic conditions is integral in the development of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). These ROS can be released from nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (phosphate) oxidase, xanthine oxidase, lipoxygenase, mitochondria, or the uncoupling of nitric oxide synthase in vascular cells. ROS mediate various signaling pathways that underlie vascular inflammation in atherogenesis: from the initiation of fatty streak development through lesion progress to ultimate plaque rupture. Various animal models of oxidative stress support the notion that ROS have a causal role in atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular diseases. Human investigations also support the oxidative stress hypothesis of atherosclerosis. Oxidative stress is the unifying mechanism for many CVD risk factors, which additionally supports its central role in CVD. Despite the demonstrated role of antioxidants in cellular and animal studies, the ineffectiveness of antioxidants in reducing cardiovascular death and morbidity in clinical trials has led many investigators to question the importance of oxidative stress in human atherosclerosis. Others have argued that the prime factor for the mixed outcomes from using antioxidants to prevent CVD may be the lack of specific and sensitive biomarkers by which to assess the oxidative stress phenotypes underlying CVD. A better understanding of the complexity of cellular redox reactions, development of a new class of antioxidants targeted to specific subcellular locales, and the phenotype-genotype linkage analysis for oxidative stress will likely be avenues for future research in this area as we move toward the broader use of pharmacological and regenerative therapies in the treatment and prevention of CVD.
Population-specific gender biased hybridization between Dryopteris intermedia and D. carthusiana: evidence from chloroplast DNA

As has been shown for many kinds of organisms, barriers to interspecific hybridization may differ in strength between reciprocal crosses, resulting in a bias in the probability that one or the other species may be the maternal or paternal parent of hybrids. The fern Dryopteris Xtriploidea, the ‘‘backcross’’ hybrid between the diploid D. intermedia and the tetraploid D. carthusiana, occurs in large numbers in nature, providing an opportunity to investigate whether such a bias exists. Differences in the chloroplast genome distinguishing the two parental species were discovered in the sequence of the trnL region following amplification by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), including a Mse I restriction site. This allowed rapid identification of the donor of the chloroplast genome, and therefore the maternal parent of each hybrid, assuming chloroplast DNA to be maternally inherited in Dryopteris. Analysis was carried out on 127 hybrids, shown to be of independent origin using allozymes, occurring at three localities in Virginia and West Virginia. When samples from all localities were pooled, 91 possessed the D. carthusiana trnL genotype and 36 possessed the D. intermedia genotype, a ratio that is significantly different (P , 0.001) from the null hypothesis of no gender bias. The strength of the bias differed significantly among the three sites, however, with bias at the West Virginia site much stronger (5.6:1 carthusiana:intermedia; P , 0.001) than at either Virginia site (1.55:1 and 1.43:1 carthusiana:intermedia, respectively; P . 0.05 in both cases). The cause of the strong bias in the West Virginia sample is unknown, as is the cause of the population differences. Causes of bias could include differences between the parental species related to their ploidy difference, including sizes of gametes and/or gametangia, sperm motility, breeding system (D. intermedia is outcrossing while D. carthusiana is selfing), or the nature and strength of interspecific isolating mechanisms.
Dynamic Reciprocity Between Cells and Their Microenvironment in Reproduction

Dynamic reciprocity (DR) refers to the ongoing, bidirectional interaction between cells and their microenvironment, specifically the extracellular matrix (ECM). The continuous remodeling of the ECM exerts mechanical force on cells and modifies biochemical mediators near the cell membrane, thereby initiating cell-signaling cascades that produce changes in gene expression and cell behavior. Cellular changes, in turn, affect the composition and organization of ECM components. These continuous interactions are the fundamental principle behind DR, and its critical role throughout development and adult tissue homeostasis has been extensively investigated. While DR in the mammary gland has been well described, we provide direct evidence that similar dynamic interactions occur in other areas of reproductive biology as well. In order to establish the importance of DR in the adaptive functioning of the female reproductive tract, we present our most current understanding of DR in reproductive tissues, exploring the mammary gland, ovary, and uterus. In addition to explaining normal physiological function, investigating DR may shed new light into pathologic processes that occur in these tissues and provide an exciting opportunity for novel therapeutic intervention.
Direct profiling and reversibility of ion distribution at a charged membrane/aqueous interface: An X-ray standing wave study

Thermodynamic reversibility of ion binding at a membrane/aqueous interface has been demonstrated using variable period X-ray standing waves generated above a gold mirror. The interface consists of ...
Lipopolyamines: Novel Antiendotoxin Compounds That Reduce Mortality in Experimental Sepsis Caused by Gram-Negative Bacteria

The interactions of lipopolyamines, a class of structurally unique compounds currently being used as transfection (lipofection) agents, with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) have been characterized. Our studies have demonstrated that 1,3-di-oleoyloxy-2-(6-carboxyspermyl)-propylamide), available commercially as DOSPER, binds to purified LPS with an affinity of about 1/10 that of polymyxin B. This essentially nontoxic compound inhibits, in a dose-dependent manner, LPS-induced activation of the Limulus clotting cascade and the production of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) interleukin-6 (IL-6), and nitric oxide from LPS-stimulated J774.A1 cells, a murine macrophage-like cell line. Cytokine inhibition is paralleled by decreased steady-state levels of TNF-α and IL-6 mRNA and inhibits the nuclear translocation of nuclear factor kappa B. These findings suggest that the lipopolyamine compound sequesters LPS, thereby blocking downstream cellular activation events that lead to the production of proinflammatory mediators. Administration of DOSPER to d-galactosamine-sensitized mice challenged either with LPS or with Escherichia coli organisms provided significant protection against lethality both with and without antibiotic chemotherapy. Partial protection is evident in LPS-challenged mice treated with DOSPER as late as 2 to 4 h following the endotoxin challenge. A greater degree of protection is observed in E. coli-challenged animals receiving ceftazidime than in those receiving imipenem, which is probably attributable to the higher levels of LPS released in vivo by the former antibiotic. Potent antiendotoxic activity, low toxicity, and ease of synthesis render the lipopolyamines candidate endotoxin-sequestering agents of potential significant therapeutic value.
The Video Lab

Abstract The video lab allows students to enact an interview and then to reflect upon and critique this videotaped encounter within a tutorial framework. This contributes to students' clinical learning, including: (1) processing the interview: engaging in a dialogue between student-as-client, student-as-therapist, and instructor; (2) learning to cope with relationship issues and intersubjectivity; (3) experiencing “mutual discovery” and “playfulness” in therapy and in learning; (4) observing their own strengths and difficulties as clinicians; and (5) sharpening skills in observing nonverbal communication. This is illustrated by excerpts from a video of two students participating in a video lab.
A new isolated current-fed PWM DC-DC Converter with small inductance and no deadtime operation

A new isolated current-fed PWM DC-DC converter with small inductance and no deadtime operation is presented and analyzed. The new topology has 3.5 times smaller inductance than that of current-fed full-bridge converter, thus having faster transient response speed. Other characteristics include simple self-driven synchronous rectification and housekeeping, smaller output filter capacitance, and lower voltage stress on all primary side power switches. Additionally, it has no start-up problem that traditional current-fed full-bridge topologies suffer. A 48 V/100 W prototype DC-DC converter has been tested for the verification of the principles. Both simulations and experiments verify the feasibility and advantages of the new topology.
Bridging the Gap: A Hybrid Model to Link Efficacy and Effectiveness Research in Substance Abuse Treatment

Many behavioral and pharmacologic treatments for which there is strong empirical support are rarely used in clinical practice in the treatment of substance dependence. In an effort to facilitate greater emphasis on issues such as utility, practicality, and cost earlier in the evaluation of promising therapies, the authors propose a hybrid model to link efficacy and effectiveness research. A hybrid model may foster broader use of empirically validated treatments in substance abuse treatment programs and enhance the scientific yield of effectiveness research. The hybrid model retains essential features of efficacy research (randomization, use of control conditions, independent assessment of outcome, and monitoring of treatment delivery) while expanding the research questions to also address issues of importance in effectiveness studies. Such issues include diversity in settings, clinicians, and patients; cost-effectiveness of treatment; training issues; and patient and clinician satisfaction.
Using active learning to teach concepts and methods in quantitative biology

This article provides a summary of the ideas discussed at the 2015 Annual Meeting of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology society-wide symposium on Leading Students and Faculty to Quantitative Biology through Active Learning. It also includes a brief review of the recent advancements in incorporating active learning approaches into quantitative biology classrooms. We begin with an overview of recent literature that shows that active learning can improve students' outcomes in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Education disciplines. We then discuss how this approach can be particularly useful when teaching topics in quantitative biology. Next, we describe some of the recent initiatives to develop hands-on activities in quantitative biology at both the graduate and the undergraduate levels. Throughout the article we provide resources for educators who wish to integrate active learning and technology into their classrooms.
Production of Prostaglandins and Leukotrienes by Pathogenic Fungi

These studies demonstrate that pathogenic fungi (dermatophytic, subcutaneous, and systemic) have the ability to produce eicosanoids both from simple metabolites and from arachidonic acid. Host-derived eicosanoids have been previously demonstrated to enhance fungal colonization and atopic disease development. Thus, fungus-derived eicosanoids represent a potential class of novel virulence factors.
The Curious Eclipse of Prison Ethnography in the Age of Mass Incarceration

This article first takes the reader inside the Los Angeles County Jail, the largest detention facility in the `Free World', to give a ground-level sense of how the entry portal of the US detention system operates by way of prelude to this special issue on the ethnography of the prison. A survey of the recent sociology and anthropology of carceral institutions shows that field studies depicting the everyday world of inmates in America have gone into eclipse just when they were most needed on both scientific and political grounds following the turn toward the penal management of poverty and the correlative return of the prison to the forefront of the societal scene. Accordingly, this issue seeks to reinvigorate and to internationalize the ethnography of the carceral universe understood both as a microcosm endowed with its own material and symbolic tropism and as vector of social forces, political nexi, and cultural processes that traverse its walls. Field researchers need to worry less about `interrupting t...
The Role of Social Work Leadership: Mount Sinai Care, the Accountable Care Organization, and Population Health Management

In July 2012, The Mount Sinai Medical Center was selected by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid to join the first cohort of Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) in this country under its Medicare Shared Savings Program. A critical component of an ACO is care coordination of patients, which is a complex concept, intertwined with other concepts related to quality, delivery and organization of health care. This article provides an overview of the development, structure and functionality of Mount Sinai Care, the ACO of The Mount Sinai Health System, and how it was the beginning of its work in population health management. It describes the important role of social work leadership in the development and operation of its care coordination model. The model's successes and challenges and recommendations for future development of care coordination and population health management are outlined.
A Comparison of Tax Distribution Tables: How Missing or Incomplete Information Distorts Perspectives

Comparing tax distribution tables released by several different organizations, this study discusses how the design and presentation of data within tax distribution tables can be designed and presented in manners which fail to advance a balanced and accurate perspective of tax policy. Unless there is greater public recognition of both the art and the science of distributional analysis, tax policy will be unduly influenced by incomplete or misleading tax distribution tables. Although what is considered fair or equitable depends on philosophical and ethical judgments over which people can disagree, this study shows how the presentation of tax data within distribution tables often hides or omits much of the important information that is required in order to effectively evaluate the merits of any tax legislation. The debate surrounding President George W. Bush's tax plan of 2001 provides a prime example of how the use of tax distribution tables can provide an incomplete picture. Numerous distribution tables were prepared by governmental organizations, advocacy groups and think tanks. These tables were routinely published in major newspapers around the country. However, without a proper understanding of what these distribution tables did and did not show, many important issues were misinterpreted or ignored altogether. These same issues are sure to rise again as tax policy proposals are debated during the 108th Congress and beyond. By comparing distribution tables that provide alternative perspectives of President Bush's tax plan of 2001, this study examines how tax distribution tables often can provide misleading results about the impact of pending tax legislation. These tables rely excessively on comparisons of various income groups and are typically used to oppose broad income tax relief and foster class warfare notions in tax policy. However, tax distribution tables typically are defective in several ways that once recognized raise serious questions about their value to policymakers and the public.
Contrasting Approaches for Forecasting the S&P 500 Index

This paper develops and compares several methods of forecasting the S&P 500 Index using only data based on the closing value and trained over a six-decade data set. The methodologies include a C5.0 decision tree, a neural network, and a group of forecasts based on training set patterns of directional change from one to seven days in length. Methods are compared by using the number of correct forecast directions, and by calculating the amount of gain/loss. We find that the neural network yielded the most gain, but the six-day string pattern did best predicting that the Index would move up.
Radial immunodiffusion of spinal fluid: diagnostic value in multiple sclerosis.

Spinal fluid gamma globulin (IgG) was measured by radial immunodiffusion and its percentage of cerebrospinal fluid protein (% IgG) was calculated. Increased % IgG provides a significant aid in diagnosing multiple sclerosis (MS). Of 200 patients tested, 39 were clinically diagnosed as possibly or probably having multiple sclerosis. Of these MS patients, 35.9% had marked elevations of % IgG (greater than 16% of the total protein), and 38.4% had slight elevations (11 to 16% IgG). Of the non-MS patients, fewer than 1% had marked elevations of % IgG, and 26.7% had slight elevations. In 59 patients, % IgG (% gamma globulin) was measured both by radial immunodiffusion and by electrophoresis. The results of these two methods correlated very closely, validating the immunodiffusion results. Radial immunodiffusion is a rapid and simple method of measurement of IgG levels in cerebrospinal fluid, requiring no special technic or equipment. No dialysis or pre-concentration of the spinal fluid is necessary. The sensitivity of the procedure (to 1 mg. per 100 ml. IgG) is adequate for the measurement of cerebrospinal fluid IgG.
Systematic Relationships and Historical Zoogeography of the Desert Pocket Gopher, Geomys arenarius

Evolutionary relationships of peripheral populations of pocket gophers of the genus Geomys in New Mexico were investigated using karyotypic and allozymic data. Analysis of previously undescribed karyotypes from populations geographically intermediate between G. bursarius knoxjonesi (2N = 70, FN = 70) and G. arenarius arenarius (2N = 70, FN ≈ 102) revealed an intermediate chromosomal complement (2N = 70, FN ≈ 88). Allozymic variation among populations of the two nominal species was generally of a smooth clinal nature, and no fixed allelic differences were detected, indicating the existence of gene flow between the two taxa. Based on these data, coupled with consideration of previous morphometric and ectoparasitic studies, G. arenarius is synonymized under G. bursarius. Geomys from the Rio Grande Valley in southern New Mexico and adjacent Texas and Chihuahua are herein referred to G. b. arenarius ; populations from the Tularosa Basin and adjacent Jornada del Muerto in New Mexico are collectively referred to G. b. brevirostris . These peripheral populations apparently represent relicts of an expansion of G. bursarius into the area during more mesic Wisconsinan times.
GROUP SELECTION AND THE EVOLUTION OF DISPERSAL.

Different animals and plants have widely differing dispersal abilities. This is a matter of major ecological importance, for it determines the gradational difference between colonizing and equilibrium species. The former sacrifice competitive ability and resistance to predation for the sake of dispersal, while for equilibrium species dispersal is secondary. There is also a third kind of species in this classification represented by such organisms as halophilic bacteria and rock-encrusting lichens, which emphasize survival in habitats that few species can tolerate. These may be called resistant species. Resistant and colonizing species form alternative beginnings to ecological successions. There are several ways to look at the evolution of dispersal ability. One of these simply takes a species with its present characteristics and asks why the observed dispersal is adequate but not too large for the observed spatiotemporal distribution of density of individuals. A more sophisticated variant of this approach, as in the preceding paragraph, uses a balance between dispersal and other desirable features that would be reduced by an optimization of dispersal. Another approach adjusts dispersal so as to equalize the probability of survival for individuals that do and do not disperse. THE THEORY
China's Accounting Reform Project Ten Years Of Progress And Challenges

In 1992, China was committed developing a complete set of accounting and auditing standards that would meet international accounting standards. This article summarizes the progress made in the area of accounting, auditing standards and securities regulation from 1992- 2002 and highlights some of the challenges that remain for China.
Plasma syndecan-1 levels identify a cohort of patients with severe sepsis at high risk for intubation after large-volume intravenous fluid resuscitation.

Abstract Purpose Sepsis damages the endothelial glycocalyx, contributing to fluid extravasation, organ injury, and death. Our goal was to determine if syndecan-1 level is associated with the risk of intubation and modifying effect of intravenous fluids (IVFs) in these patients. Methods Syndecan-1 was measured at enrollment in patients underdoing protocolized resuscitation for severe sepsis or septic shock. The primary outcome was difference in syndecan-1 based on subsequent intubation status, with in-hospital mortality and acute kidney injury serving as secondary outcomes. Logistic regression was performed to evaluate the effect of IVF volume on each outcome. Results Syndecan-1 was measured in 175 patients. Twenty-two percent met the primary outcome, 21% died, and 57% developed kidney injury. Syndecan-1 was nonsignificantly higher in intubated patients and was significantly higher in nonsurvivors and those with kidney injury. High syndecan-1 was defined as >240 ng/mL. The IVFs did not differ significantly between high and low syndecan-1 groups. Fluid volume was not associated with intubation in patients with a low syndecan-1 level but was associated with intubation in those with high syndecan-1 levels. Conclusions Syndecan-1 is elevated in emergency department sepsis nonsurvivors. Patients with high syndecan-1 may represent a cohort at particular risk for intubation after large-volume fluid administration.
Child-directed and nutrition-focused marketing cues on food packaging: links to nutritional content.

Objective We tested whether the presence of both child-targeted and nutrition-focused (i.e. parent-targeted) marketing cues on food packaging was associated with the nutritional content of these products. Design We conducted a quantitative content analysis of 403 food packages chosen randomly from the supermarket’s online portal along with all products (n 312) from the cereal aisle in a supermarket from the Southeastern USA. We examined main and interaction effects for cues on nutritional content (e.g. energy density, sugar, sodium, fibre). Setting A regional supermarket chain in the Southeastern USA. Results Tests of main effects indicated that increased presence of nutritional cues was linked to more nutritious content (e.g. less sugar, less saturated fat, more fibre) while the increased presence of child-targeted cues was uniformly associated with less nutritious content (e.g. more sugar, less protein, less fibre). Among the interaction effects, results revealed that products with increased nutrition-focused and child-targeted cues were likely to contain significantly more sugar and less protein than other products. Conclusions Products that seek to engage children with their packaging in the supermarket are significantly less nutritious than foods that do not, while product packages that suggest nutritional benefits have more nutritious content. More importantly, the study provides evidence that those products which try to engage both child and parent consumers are significantly less healthy in crucial ways (e.g. more sugar, less fibre) than products that do not.
The Ethics of Entertainment Television

Abstract Paul Ricoeur's Spiral of Mimesis accounts for how viewers complete television texts by asking, “Does this narrated world share a horizon with my world?” Only when the answer is “yes” does the text seem authentic. Creators of television content who configure narrative from the meaning they have taken from their ordinary existence may produce authentic texts.
Agricultural transformations: Climate change adaptation and farmer decision-making

Over the long-term, global climate change is projected to have negative impacts on agricultural productivity in the U.S. Corn Belt. Climate change will also exacerbate problems with soil loss through wind and water erosion in addition to environmental externalities associated with current land use practices, thus driving greater vulnerability of the Corn Belt agroecosystem. There is minimal research that examines how Corn Belt farmers will respond to climate change stressors and whether subsequent adaptive responses will alleviate or further exacerbate challenges in meeting production and conservation goals. This dissertation research explores farmer decision making in the context of climate change adaptation through the adoption and use of key management practices that can have soil and water conservation benefits. This research examines three distinct but connected studies that include qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods analyses. Quantitative data include a survey of large-scale Corn Belt farmers (n=4,778) sampled from 22 six-digit Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC6) watersheds and secondary data from the 2012 Agricultural Census. Qualitative data were collected via in-depth interviews with 159 farmers across nine states in the Midwest (Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, Ohio, South Dakota, and Missouri). Findings from the quantitative research suggest that farmers who believe they should adjust their practices to protect their farm from the negative impacts of increased weather variability are more likely to increase their use of no-till farming, cover crops, and tile drainage. Additionally, visiting with other farmers to observe their practices was positively associated with farmers increased use of the adaptive strategies examined. Famers with experience using no-till farming, cover crops, and tile drainage were also more likely to plan on increasing their use of these practices in response to climate
Inducible knockdown of pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A gene expression in adult female mice extends life span.

Summary Pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) knockout (KO) mice, generated through homologous recombination in embryonic stem cells, have a significantly increased lifespan compared to wild-type littermates. However, it is unknown whether this longevity advantage would pertain to PAPP-A gene deletion in adult animals. In the present study, we used tamoxifen (Tam)-inducible Cre recombinase-mediated excision of the floxed PAPP-A (fPAPP-A) gene in mice at 5 months of age. fPAPP-A mice, which were either positive (pos) or negative (neg) for Tam-Cre, received Tam treatment with quarterly boosters. Only female mice could be used with this experimental design. fPAPP-A/neg and fPAPP-A/pos mice had similar weights at the start of the experiment and showed equivalent weight gain. We found that fPAPP-A/pos mice had a significant extension of life span (P = 0.005). The median life span was increased by 21% for fPAPP-A/pos compared to fPAPP-A/neg mice. Analysis of mortality in life span quartiles indicated that the proportion of deaths of fPAPP-A/pos mice were lower than fPAPP-A/neg mice at young adult ages (P = 0.002 for 601–800 days) and higher than fPAPP-A/neg mice at older ages (P = 0.004 for >1000 days). Thus, survival curves and age-specific mortality indicate that female mice with knockdown of PAPP-A gene expression as adults have an extended healthy life span.
Aging in the face of technology: the surveillance of bio-Others

As a result of improvements in health care, and increased life expectancies, older adults represent the most rapidly growing segment of society, with estimates suggesting that by 2030, 20% of the US population will be over the age of 65 (U.S. Census Bureau (2014). An aging nation: The older population in the United States. Retrieved from https://www.census.gov/prod/2014pubs/p25-1140.pdf). Technology is one reason why we are living longer, but it is also changing the ways that we age. While older adults may represent an increased portion of our population, sociologists of sport have taken little interest in their sport, exercise, and health experiences. This paper explores what the future of aging bio-Others (Rail, G. (2015). The wellbeing imperative: On bio-Others, rescue missions and social justice. Paper presented at the meeting of the International Sociology of Sport Association, Paris, France) could look like. Will technology aid in independence and capacity? Or will it increase surveillance of bio-Others who are deemed dependent? With increasing concerns about the “burden” of older adults on the health care system, the medical community is increasingly turning to technology to address the issues of caring for older adults. How can wearable devices, robots, and self-driving cars change the ways that we monitor, and control the experience of aging?
Examples of seismic diffraction imaging from the Austin Chalk and Eagle Ford Shale, Maverick Basin, South Texas

Abstract Diffraction events are recorded along with reflection data during seismic acquisition. However, after processing, final migrated stack data are devoid of diffraction events, which have been collapsed to discrete points, smoothed out, and overshadowed by reflection events. Thus, diffraction events that ought to be available for analysis of the subsurface are lost. In this study, we extract diffractions from 3D stack and then build a 3D diffraction volume that not only images faults but also contains amplitude information used to examine lithological composition in fault zones within the Austin Chalk and Eagle Ford Shale in South Texas. We then transform the diffraction data into amplitude envelope volume. This seismic attribute, together with clay volume (V clay ) data, is extracted along interpreted horizons and fault planes. Cross plots between seismic attributes and V clay show that V clay increases with increasing diffraction energy. In addition, we observe that the higher the diffraction energies, the higher the fluid saturation, suggesting higher impedance contrast at diffraction points. Furthermore, cross plots between instantaneous dominant frequencies extracted from the diffraction-image volume and amplitude envelope show that within the hydrocarbon-saturated zones, the dominant frequency is approximately constant and in the low-frequency range between 25 and 33 Hz. However, outside the hydrocarbon zones, the dominant frequency increases as the amplitude envelope decreases. Maps of instantaneous dominant frequency extracted from the upper and lower Eagle Ford Shale reveal that areal distribution of low-dominant-frequency zones is coincident with high diffraction energy and hydrocarbon saturation. Based on the foregoing, we conclude that by analyzing diffraction data, it is possible to infer likely sediment variation and hydrocarbon sweet spots within the Eagle Ford Shale and other shale resource plays.
Laser-Induced Surface Modification at Anatase TiO2 Nanotube Array Photoanodes for Photoelectrochemical Water Oxidation

Nanostructured titanium dioxide (TiO2) presents considerable potential as a photoanode in low cost, sustainable photoelectrochemical systems for solar water splitting. The wide band gap combined with the presence of trap states and reduced water oxidation kinetics limit, however, the photocurrent performance to only ∼1 mA cm–2. Increasing the disorder of the crystal structure at the surface, on the other hand, has been proven to increase light absorption via band gap narrowing, and conversion efficiency. In this work, anodized TiO2 nanotubes have been irradiated with a pulsed UV laser in deionized water environment to introduce lattice disorder. As a result, the photocurrent improved by 1.6-fold under simulated sunlight compared with pristine TiO2 nanotube arrays at 1.23 VRHE. For all samples the water oxidation reaction kinetics is determined to be the limiting step for the solar-to-current conversion at low bias (0.5–0.7 VRHE), while modified nanotube arrays display a 78% water oxidation selectivity at ...
They tell us "we don't belong in the world and we shouldn't take up a place": HIV discourse within two-spirit communities.

ABSTRACTObjectives: We investigated how HIV discourse is negotiated and given meaning in the lives of young, male two-spirit leaders, when considering their communities’ and their own health and wellness. These men are also unique in that they have always lived under the specter and dominant discourse of HIV; that is, they are part of a second generation since the time of HIV/AIDS. Methods: We conducted a discourse analysis of six qualitative interviews from the HONOR Project, a multi-site, mixed-methods study of the two-spirit community across the United States, foregrounding the relationships among trauma, coping, and health. Results: HIV functions discursively in four ways: as a shadow presence, professionalized identity, health sub-/priority, and vehicle for belonging and (re)claiming. Conclusions: This study is important to social work as well as HIV prevention and care as it affords voice to two-spirit men, a highly marginalized community and one often silenced in scientific discourse. And, it centr...
Not a Myth: Quakers and Racial Justice*

This article deals with issues of Quaker racial inclusivity and action regarding abolitionism and civil rights issues. The article utilizes a case study of the Institute for Colored Youth to complicate the narrative of paternalism and segregation within Quaker meetings. I argue that while there are issues of paternalism throughout the history of the Religious Society of Friends, members made an invaluable contribution to the advancement of education and other rights for African Americans in nineteenth-century Philadelphia and that African American students and teachers were able to shape the institution created by Quakers for their own use and opportunity.
Proceedings of the ninth ACM SIGPLAN symposium on Principles and practice of parallel programming

This proceedings contains the papers presented at PPoPP'03, the ACM Symposium on Principles and Practice of Parallel Programming 2003, held in San Diego, California as part of the Federated Computing Research Conference (FCRC'03).The program committee selected 20 papers for presentation at the conference out of 45 papers submitted for review. All of the papers received at least three reviews, with the vast majority receiving four or more. There were good papers that we were unable to accept for presentation because of the conference format.Each paper was judged with respect to its originality, technical contribution, and presentation. The final published version of each paper may differ, in some cases substantially, from the initial submission. The conference selection process does not constitute a complete review of the work. It is expected that many of the papers published in PPoPP'03 will be further revised and published in archival journals.
A Quantized Training Method to Enhance Accuracy of ReRAM-based Neuromorphic Systems

Deep neural networks (DNNs) are tremendously applied in artificial intelligence field. While the performance of DNNs is continuously improved by more complicated and deeper structures, the feasibility of deployment on embedded system remains as a critical problem. Neuromorphic system designs based on resistive random-access memory (ReRAM) provide an opportunity for power-efficient DNN employment. However, it encounters the challenge of limited programming resolution. A quantized training method is proposed in this paper to enhance the performance of neuromorphic systems based on ReRAM. Different from previous methods in which a dedicated regularization term is used in loss function to constrain parameter distribution, our quantized training method deals with training and quantization at the same time to alleviate the impact of limited parameter precision. Models with discrete parameters obtained after training can be directly mapped onto ReRAM devices. We implement experiments on image recognition tasks using multi-layer perceptron (MLP) and convolution neural network (CNN). The results verify that the quantized training method can approximate the accuracy of full-precision training, e.g., a two-layer MLP based on binary ReRAM only decreases the classification accuracy by 0.25% for MNIST dataset. In addition, we carefully investigate and present the importance of layer size under the ReRAM's low programming resolution, the different parameter resolution demands for convolution layer and fully connected layer, and system robustness to ReRAM variations after quantized training. The codes are available at https://github.com/qingyangqing/quantized-rram-net.
Intimacy in Non-Western Discourses of Terrorism: An Analysis of Three Bollywood Films

The role of terrorism and the War on Terror have become increasingly prominent within political climates. As research into social media and mass media has grown with the ability to leverage Interne...
The potential impact of DGEBA/amine reaction kinetics on interphase formation in glass fiber composites

Abstract A distinctive region known as the fiber-matrix (F-M) interface/interphase (I/I) is formed between the matrix and fiber during composite manufacture. This region is assumed to be created in thermoset matrices by chemistry perturbations induced during the cure reaction. These perturbations occur at the un-sized or sized fiber surface, with the sized surface typically engineered to promote adhesion between matrix and fiber. Given the importance of this region to composite performance, potential chemistry perturbations that may arise are discussed, focusing on epoxy/amine reaction kinetics. These perturbations are linked to morphology changes that arise during fiber fracture. It is hoped that these ideas will facilitate a more complete understanding of the F-M I/I region and promote strategies for developing tougher composites.
Performance Bounds for Quantized Spatially Coupled LDPC Decoders Based on Absorbing Sets

Absorbing sets are known to be the primary factor in the error-floor performance of low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes with message passing decoders over the additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) channel. Besides showing excellent waterfall performance, spatially coupled LDPC (SC-LDPC) codes that are constructed by an edge spreading technique are known to have fewer cycles and absorbing sets than their block code counterparts, and therefore to exhibit better error-floor performance. Based on our previously obtained results for quantized LDPC block decoders, we derive lower bounds on the performance of quantized SC-LDPC decoders, including both a flooding schedule decoder and a sliding window decoder. Numerical simulation results confirm the accuracy of the obtained bounds and show that, for quantized decoders, properly designed SC-LDPC codes have better error-floor performance than their underlying LDPC block codes.
Practitioner Perceptions of Algebra Strategy and Intervention Use to Support Students With Mathematics Difficulty or Disability in Rural Texas

Students with mathematics difficulties and disabilities require evidence-based instructional strategies and interventions to improve their mathematical performance. Dissemination of these practices...
How URPE Helped This “Tenured Radical” Thrive in a Non-radical Economics Department:

I joined URPE when it was first formed in 1968 and found a strong support group in the Springfield-Northampton-Amherst area of Western Massachusetts when I got my first teaching job. I was at a tea...
Author Correction: Information-based autonomous reconfiguration in systems of interacting DNA nanostructures.

The original version of this Article omitted a reference to previous work in ‘Stojanovic, M. N. & Stefanovic, D. A deoxyribozyme-based molecular automaton. Nat. Biotechnol. 21, 1069–1074 (2003)’. This has been added as reference 42. The following has been added after the third sentence of the fifth paragraph of the Discussion: ‘Integration could also allow more sophisticated information processing, for example as shown by the classic deoxyribozyme-based automaton that plays tic-tac-toe42, to direct structural reconfiguration (Supplementary Discussion)’. This has been corrected in the PDF and HTML versions of the Article.
Damage Control: Changes in Disclosure Tone after Financial Misconduct

This paper examines whether managers attempt to mitigate the negative outcomes of financial misconduct by altering the tone of required disclosures. Using a series of difference-in-differences analyses, we show that following fraudulent activity, managers use more negative and litigious words in disclosures, as compared to a matched sample of control firms. We find managers that have a larger set of negative outcomes, such as those with foreknowledge of the fraud committed, are more aggressive in altering disclosure when compared to peer firms. Our results also suggest that negative outcomes due to financial misconduct, such as monetary fines and reputation loss, are mitigated by altering the tone in financial disclosures. Altogether, we conclude that managers alter disclosures to reduce the set of negative outcomes they face following securities law violations.
Compressive demodulation of mutually interfering signals

The challenge of Multiuser Detection (MUD) is that of demodulating mutually interfering signals given that at any time instant the number of active users is typically small. The promise of compressed sensing is the demodulation of sparse superpositions of signature waveforms from very few measurements. This paper considers signature waveforms that are are drawn from a Gabor frame. It describes a MUD architecture that uses subsampling to convert analog input to a digital signal, and then uses iterative matching pursuit to recover the active users. Compressive demodulation requires K logN samples to recover K active users whereas standard MUD requires N samples. The paper provides theoretical performance guarantees and consistent numerical simulations.
Genotypic variability and stability of poplars and willows grown onnitrate-contaminated soils

Phyto-recurrent selection is an established method for selecting tree genotypes for phytoremediation. To identify promising Populus (poplar) and Salix (willow) genotypes for phytotechnologies, our objectives were to (1) evaluate the genotypic variability in survival, height, and diameter of poplar and willow clones established on soils heavily contaminated with nitrates; and (2) assess the genotypic stability in survival and diameter of selected poplar clones after one and eleven growing seasons. We tested 27 poplar and 10 willow clones planted as unrooted cuttings, along with 15 poplar genotypes planted as rooted cuttings. The trees were tested at an agricultural production facility in the Midwestern, United States. After 11 growing seasons, using phyto-recurrent selection, we surveyed survival and measured the diameter of 27 poplar clones (14 unrooted, 13 rooted) that were selected based on superior survival and growth throughout plantation development. Overall, willow exhibited the greatest survival, while poplar had the greatest height and diameter. At 11 years after planting, superior clones were identified that exhibited above-average diameter growth at the establishment- and rotation-age, most of which had stable genotypic performance over time. Selection of specific clones was favorable to genomic groups, based on the geographic location and soil conditions of the site.