cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Accuracy and Inaccuracy in Teachers’ Perceptions of Young Children’s Cognitive Abilities: The Role of Child Background and Classroom Context

Teachers’ subjective understandings of their students’ cognitive abilities have important implications for classroom interactions, children’s access to resources and opportunities, and educational equity more broadly. Using nationally representative data and three-level hierarchical linear models, this study explored the links between teacher perceptions and children’s sociodemographic backgrounds. The authors find that teachers perceive substantial racial-ethnic, socioeconomic, and gender differences in children’s literacy skills. Roughly half of these disparities are explained by actual between-group differences. The remaining perceptual inaccuracies flow more from classroom characteristics than from teachers’ professional or personal backgrounds (e.g., their own race or ethnicity). Specifically, holding students’ social and academic backgrounds constant, the authors find that teachers in lower-socioeconomic-status and lower-achieving contexts more often underestimate their students’ abilities. These re...
Engineering of Improved Biocatalysts in Bioremediation

Over the past few decades enormous quantities of industrial pollutants have been released into the environment. A large number of them, particularly those structurally related to natural compounds, are readily degraded or removed by microorganisms found in soil and water. However, superimposed on the rich variety of pollutants present in the environment are an increasing number of novel industrial compounds not found extensively in nature. A significant amount of these industrial chemicals are released into the environment deliberately, to function as pesticides or to act as wood preservatives or electrical insulators. Many of these chemicals, produced on a large scale as part of the normal activities of industrialized societies, are considered hazardous to humans, plants and animals. These xenobiotic compounds are usually removed slowly and tend to accumulate in the environment (Gibson and Parales 2000). The local concentration of these contaminants depends on the rate at which the compound is released, its stability and mobility in the environment, and its rate of biological or non-biological removal (Harayama 1997; Ellis 2000; Janssen et al. 2001). Some of these chemicals have long half-lives in the soil, e.g. the environmental persistence of the insecticide DDT ranges between 3–10 years, chlordane ranges from 2–4 years and HCH persists for up to 11 years. Due to the high degree of toxicity, their accumulation can cause severe environmental problems.
Redescriptions of Brochymena and Parabrochymena (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomidae), Based Primarily on Male Genitalia, with Reclassification of Three Species and Description of New World Tribe (Halyini)

Abstract In two previous articles, we reported that the male genitalia of six species of Parabrochymena and 14 species of Brochymena were distinct, particularly the shape and length of the vesica, thus supporting the establishment of Parabrochymena. Here, we present genitalic and nongenitalic information on four of the remaining five species of these two genera. Because of the results of these analyses, and in combination with similar analyses of species described earlier, we have transferred three of the four species [i.e., Parabrochymena enigmatica (Ruckes), Parabrochymena inbio Lariviere, and Parabrochymena poeyi (Guerin-Meneville)] to Brochymena. Also, we have provided descriptions of Brochymena and Parabrochymena and the New World tribe (Halyini), which includes only these genera.
RELATION OF BODY FATNESS AND ITS DISTRIBUTION TO CARDIOVASCULAR RISK FACTORS IN YOUNG BLACKS AND WHITES THE ROLE OF INSULIN

Persons whose body fat is distributed predominantly in the abdomen compared with the hips are at increased risk of several chronic diseases. This study examined the cross-sectional relation of percent body fat, computed from skinfold thickness, and fat distribution, measured by the waist-to-hip girth ratio, to physiologic cardiovascular risk factors in a biracial sample (blacks and whites) of young adults aged 18-30 years. The subjects were persons who were examined at baseline (1984-1986) in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults Study in four US metropolitan areas. The two hypotheses tested were that 1) after adjusting for percent body fat, waist-to-hip girth ratio is associated with several physiologic risk factors, and 2) fasting concentrations of serum insulin partly explain such association. Percent body fat was significantly associated with all measured blood lipids, lipoproteins, apolipoproteins, uric acid, and blood pressure. Waist-to-hip girth ratio was significantly, although more weakly, associated in multivariate models with blood concentrations of triglycerides, high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, HDL2 cholesterol, apolipoproteins A-I and B, low density lipoprotein cholesterol (in women only), uric acid, and systolic blood pressure, but was not associated in either sex with total cholesterol, HDL3 cholesterol, or diastolic blood pressure. Fasting serum insulin concentrations were significantly associated with percent body fat (Pearson r = 0.45-0.53), waist-to-hip girth ratio (Pearson r = 0.18-0.27), and most of the physiologic risk factors. Inclusion of fasting insulin in multivariate models reduced, but rarely eliminated, associations between waist-to-hip girth ratio and the physiologic risk factors. These findings suggest that obese young adults, especially those with abdominal fat preponderance, carry a physiologic profile that places them at higher risk of cardiovascular disease, and that fasting insulin concentrations are only partly explanatory.
war, peace, and justice in panem: international relations and the hunger games trilogy

The Hunger Games has become a pop culture phenomenon. To a greater extent than many of the other books in the young adult fiction genre, The Hunger Games series has themes relevant to the study of politics. This study explores the usefulness of The Hunger Games trilogy for teaching and learning about international relations. In particular, I examine The Hunger Games in relation to major paradigms of international relations and normative issues related to war. As a series rooted in conflict in the arena and more broadly in Panem, the trilogy raises a number of questions relevant to the study of war, peace, and justice.
Imaging of VMS activity during blood pressure challenges in awake and anesthetized goats

We examined scattered-light changes in a rostral ventral medullary surface (VMS) area from five goats after blood pressure challenges during waking and halothane anesthesia. Reflected 660-nm images were digitized at 1/s after baseline; intravenous saline; 5, 10, or 15 micrograms/kg phenylephrine administration; or sodium nitroprusside infusion sufficient to lower blood pressure by 50%. Phenylephrine elicited a dose-dependent, blood pressure elevation during both states and a substantial transient reflectance increase (interpreted as activity decline) during anesthesia, but only a minimal, long-latency, slow-reflectance decrease activity increase) during waking. Sodium nitroprusside elicited lowering of blood pressure and decreased reflectance in the rostral site during anesthesia. The magnitude of the reflectance change to depressor challenge increased 30%, and the onset latency shortened during waking. Isolated regions of enhanced reflectance changes appeared during both challenges. Activity in this rostral VMS site differentially responds to blood pressure elevation or lowering, and state markedly alters the responses. We speculate that VMS responses to depressor challenge represent reflex activation of respiratory regions.
Closed-Form Analytical Solutions for Thin-Walled Cylindrical Composite Shell Structures Subjected to Axial and Bending Loads Under Temperature Environment

This research discourse presents the development of a holistic mathematical model that is dedicated to showcase a set of analytical expressions for predicting global stiffness (axial stiffness, bending stiffness) and a material response characterization based on ply-per-ply in-plane stress investigations relevant to open-celled multidirectional curved cylindrical shell configurations. Additionally, the analytical model is shown to present the capability to mathematically determine the location of the centroid for thin-walled, composite cylindrical shells. The resulting centroidal expression for a composite system is essentially shown to be a primary function of material properties, composite stacking sequence, fiber orientation angle and the structural geometry as opposed to metal counterparts whose centroidal point is solely governed by their geometry.Analytical stress estimates are computed for thin-walled curved cylindrical shell constructions that are subjected to typical tension and longitudinal bending type loading conditions applied at the centroid under the presence and absence of a uniformly distributed thermal loading environment. A broad parametric investigation on the in-plane ply stresses (σx,σy,τxy) are conducted via choosing three fundamental parameters namely; varying mean radius of curvature, changing laminate thickness-to-mean radius ratio and increasing laminate thickness respectively. Three preferentially tailored variabilities in ply stacking sequence are established from a [(±45° / 0°]s symmetric-balanced composite lay-up to illustrate the effects on ply stresses.An ANSYS based finite element analysis scheme is employed to numerically determine the location of centroid and further substantiate the analytically acquired centroid predictions including and excluding the effects of temperature. The centroidal point is identified and its location is progressively reported for a fully open cross-sectioned curved strip to a fully closed cylindrical composite tube configuration by examining their distribution pattern as a function of circumferential arc angle (2α). FE tool is additionally utilized to compare the analytical stiffness predictions and analyze the validity of the in-plane analytical stress estimates. Excellent agreement is achieved in comparison between analytical solutions and computationally generated FE results. The central goal of this work is to demonstrate the potential of the formulated mathematical framework in accurately predicting the key mechanical attributes that dictates the structural behavior of curved composite shell members. This analytical model is designed to serve as a robustly efficient tool towards assisting structural design engineers in quickly gaining a broad fundamental understanding on the physical characteristics and structural response of such configurations by accurately conducting simple parametric studies during preliminary design phase prior to performing complex FE analyses.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Abstract 1235: The organic cation transporter SLC22A5 gene is regulated by the cooperative activity of the estrogen receptor and other transcription factors in breast cancer

The solute carrier family 22 member 5 (SLC22A5) gene encodes a polyspecific organic cation transporter that is associated with many diseases. However, the regulation of SLC22A5 and its relationship with breast cancer is not clearly defined. In a previous global gene expression analysis from our group, SLC22A5 was identified as an estrogen-regulated gene. In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanism by which estrogen receptor (ER) and other transcription factors regulate SLC22A5 gene expression in breast cancer. SLC22A5 is highly expressed in ER-positive breast cancer cell lines and ER-positive mammary tumor tissues compared to ER-negative cells and tissues. SLC22A5 expression is also correlated with the levels of ER expression in breast cancer cell lines and in mammary tumor tissue specimens. SLC22A5 mRNA expression is induced in MCF-7 breast cancer cells within half an hour after estrogen treatment and remains elevated for over 24 hours. Actinomycin D, but not cycloheximide, can inhibit this estrogen induction, indicating new protein synthesis is not needed for induction. These results suggest that estrogen directly activates SLC22A5 transcription. We next cloned the 6kb SLC22A5 promoter and luciferase experiments demonstrated that this portion of the SLC22A5 promoter is not responsive to estrogen treatment. However, we discovered that an intronic enhancer located approximately 9kb from the transcriptional start site confers estrogen responsiveness when inserted downstream of the SLC22A5 gene promoter-luciferase reporter construct. Several transcription factors binding sites, such as a cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) response element (CRE), an estrogen-response element (ERE), an activator protein-1 (AP-1) site and a half ERE, are juxtaposed in the middle of this intronic enhancer. Mutation or deletion of these elements abolishes the estrogen responsiveness. Chromatin-immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay demonstrates the recruitment of the transcription factors onto the intronic enhancer region in an estrogen-dependent manner. We next investigated the effect of SLC22A5 knockdown on breast cancer cell growth. Results from these studies show that shRNA knockdown of SLC22A5 inhibits the proliferation of MCF-7 cells. This reduced proliferation is accompanied by decreased cyclin D1 levels. These results suggest that SLC22A5 is an estrogen-induced gene that is involved in regulating breast cell growth. Our results also suggest that this estrogen induction is mediated by a complex intronic enhancer. This estrogen-induced gene may serve as a novel breast cancer biomarker that may be targeted for improved treatment and prevention of breast cancer. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1235.
Aerothermal Design for the HIFiRE-1 Flight Vehicle

This paper summarizes aerothermal computations and ground tests of the Hypersonic International Flight Research and Experimentation (HIFiRE) 1 flight vehicle. The HIFiRE1 vehicle incorporates boundary-layer transition and shock-boundary-layer interaction experiments. The test geometry consists of a 7-degree half angle cone with 2.5 mm nose radius followed by a cylinder and flare. The experiment test window is between Mach 7.2 and 7.4. Results of ground testing show good agreement between laminar CFD and ground test data for this configuration at zero angle of attack. Reynolds-averaged Navier Stokes (RANS) calculations for the shock-boundary-layer interaction are highly-sensitive to details of the turbulence modeling. Fine-tuning of coefficients in the turbulence models can improve agreement of the computations with experiment, but the generality of these modifications remains an open issue. RANS prediction of turbulent heating downstream of transition also requires careful attention to turbulence modeling for best results. Boundarylayer transition wind tunnel results at zero angle of attack are well-correlated with linear parabolized stability equation computations.
RNASEQ IDENTIFIES DIFFERENTIAL EXPRESSION OF PLATELET TRANSCRIPTS IN SUBJECTS WITH PERIPHERAL ARTERY DISEASE

Platelets play an important role in the pathogenesis of peripheral artery disease (PAD), and inhibition of platelet activity reduces cardiovascular events. We hypothesized that subjects with PAD would have a unique platelet transcription profile compared to subjects without PAD. Ten subjects with
Neurodevelopmental outcomes in children in relation to placental abruption.

Objective Placental abruption has a profound impact on perinatal mortality, but implications for neurodevelopment during childhood remain unknown. We examined the association between abruption and neurodevelopment at 8 months and 4 and 7 years and evaluated the extent to which these associations were mediated through preterm delivery. Design Secondary analysis of a multicenter prospective cohort study. Setting Multicenter US National Collaborative Perinatal Project (1959–76). Population Women that delivered singleton live births. Methods Analyses of IQ scores were based on marginal structural models (MSM) to account for losses to follow-up. We also carried out a causal mediation analysis to evaluate if the association between abruption and cognitive deficits was mediated through preterm delivery, and performed a sensitivity analysis for unobserved confounding. Main outcome measures We evaluated cognitive development based on the Bayley scale at 8 months (Mental and Motor Scores), and intelligent quotient (IQ) based on the Stanford–Binet scale at 4 years and the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children at 7 years. Results The confounder and selection-bias adjusted risk ratio (RR) of abnormal 8-month Motor and Mental assessments were 2.35 (95%CI 1.39, 3.98) and 2.03 (95%CI 1.13, 3.64), respectively, in relation to abruption. The associations at 4 years were attenuated and resolved at 7 years. The proportion of children with abruption-associated neurological deficits mediated through preterm delivery ranged from 27 to 75%. Following adjustment for unobserved confounding the proportion mediated through preterm delivery was attenuated. Conclusion The effect of abruption on neurodevelopmental outcomes appears restricted to an effect that is largely mediated through preterm delivery. Tweetable abstract Increased risk of cognitive deficits in relation to abruption appears to be mediated through preterm delivery.
Early MRI features of neonatal arterial ischemic strok in full term newborns

Objective:To study the early features of conventional MRI,DWI and MRA of neonatal arterial ischemic stroke(NAIS)in full term newborns as well as their clinical significance.Methods:The clinical records and imaging studies of 15patients with NAIS admitted to our ward between August 2008and August 2012were reviewed.All cases underwent MRI examination during 2to 7days after birth including conventional MRI and DWI examination;7patients underwent MRA examination to evaluate the cerebral vessels.Results:In the first series of conventional MRI images,there were hypointensity on T1WI in the affected areas(4cases)and slight hypointensity(10cases);there were hyperintensity on T2WI in the affected areas(11cases),slight hyperintensity(4cases)and with poor differentiation of grey and white matter.First series of DWI images showed distinct hyperintensity in 15cases in affected areas,the edge of the lesions were clearer than routine MRI.In addition,DWI found more lesions than routine MRI including the genu and splenium of corpus callosum,thalamus,posterior limb of internal capsule and cerebral peduncle.7patients had MRA examination at the same time.6patients showed increasing and dilatation of cortical branches in the affected areas.Conclusion:Conventional MRI can help to evaluate the course of the disease and DWI can diagnose NAIS early and find small lesions in the deep brain,especially the corticospinal tract.The early MRA mostly show the increasing of cortical branches in the affected areas,which is different from arteriostenosis or occlusion in adults.
Disability evaluation following stroke.

Stroke is one of the leading causes of adult disability in the United States and is primarily a condition affecting the elderly. There are, however, younger patients who, after a stroke, return to the work force. This article reviews some of the issues regarding prognosis and timing of disability evaluation in this patient population. Most patients already are retired or go into retirement after stroke. The disability evaluation system used is Social Security; although there are occasions when other systems such as private disability insurance and the American Medical Association guides are used. There, however, is no standardized evaluation system for stroke patients to return to work. This article reviews two cases to illustrate disability evaluations in stroke patients.
Strategies for Mapping Large Regions of Mammalian Genomes

In many instances, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) is used to construct a map of a large region from the human or mouse genome. Sometimes, a gene or a gene-complex are very large, as in the case of the Duchenne muscular dystrophy gene (1) or the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) (2,3). Frequently, such a study is initiated because there is evidence that a disease-causing gene is localized in a particular region. Before starting such elaborate molecular techniques as chromosome walking, YAC-cloning (see Chapter 16 ), cutting bands out of PFGEs ( Chapter 21 ), and so on, it is important to know the size of the region of interest. In addition, PFGE is used to determine the order of markers more precisely than possible with genetic linkage analysis, and with a PFGE map available, new markers can be quickly localized within that region. Since the construction of a PFGE map is not trivial, this chapter will not so much deal with the techniques to generate the data for mapping, but focus on the construction of a PFGE map and on strategies how to generate data efficiently. Whenever possible, I refer to the relevant chapters in which the techniques are discussed in detail.
PHD3 Loss in Cancer Enables Metabolic Reliance on Fatty Acid Oxidation via Deactivation of ACC2

While much research has examined the use of glucose and glutamine by tumor cells, many cancers instead prefer to metabolize fats. Despite the pervasiveness of this phenotype, knowledge of pathways that drive fatty acid oxidation (FAO) in cancer is limited. Prolyl hydroxylase domain proteins hydroxylate substrate proline residues and have been linked to fuel switching. Here, we reveal that PHD3 rapidly triggers repression of FAO in response to nutrient abundance via hydroxylation of acetyl-coA carboxylase 2 (ACC2). We find that PHD3 expression is strongly decreased in subsets of cancer including acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and is linked to a reliance on fat catabolism regardless of external nutrient cues. Overexpressing PHD3 limits FAO via regulation of ACC2 and consequently impedes leukemia cell proliferation. Thus, loss of PHD3 enables greater utilization of fatty acids but may also serve as a metabolic and therapeutic liability by indicating cancer cell susceptibility to FAO inhibition.
Slowing the spread of Bluetooth-based malware in mobile tactical networks

Cyber-attacks in mobile tactical networks are increasingly being recognized as a threat to mission assurance and tactical capability. Some recent cyber-attacks have exploited short-range radio communication such as Bluetooth to propagate malware, thereby circumventing traditional cyber network defenses and evading detection. The spread of such self-propagating malware in mobile tactical networks is strongly impacted by the spatio-temporal properties of networked devices. In this paper, we use a hierarchical model to represent the coordinated, structured movement of military units, and evaluate the effectiveness of several defensive strategies in slowing the spread of Bluetooth-based malware using agent-based simulation.
Radio frequency silicon photonics at Sandia National Laboratories

Sandia National Laboratories has developed a toolkit of RF photonic devices. These devices have been used in the development of multielement RF photonic circuits and in support of MPW runs. In this talk I will discuss Sandia's silicon photonic process and RF photonic device performance.
Patent Reviews: 6,636,300; 6,646,743; 6,650,416; 6,650,425; 6,654,125; 6,661,574; 6,665,486

The patent number, date of issuance by the U.S. Patent Office, and classification are shown on the first line. The filing date is that of the first application (although some patents may derive from earlier applications with earlier claim dates). Any opinions expressed are those of the reviewers and do not reflect the opinions of the organizations with which they are associated, the Optical Society of America, or this journal. Printed copies of these patents may be ordered from the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, DC 20231: telephone (703) 557-3158, URL http://patents.uspto.gov. Inquiries about patents should be addressed to the Patents Office, not to this journal or to OSA.
Cancer Chemoprevention by Phytochemicals: Nature’s Healing Touch

Phytochemicals are an important part of traditional medicine and have been investigated in detail for possible inclusion in modern medicine as well. These compounds often serve as the backbone for the synthesis of novel therapeutic agents. For many years, phytochemicals have demonstrated encouraging activity against various human cancer models in pre-clinical assays. Here, we discuss select phytochemicals-curcumin, epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), resveratrol, plumbagin and honokiol-in the context of their reported effects on the processes of inflammation and oxidative stress, which play a key role in tumorigenesis. We also discuss the emerging evidence on modulation of tumor microenvironment by these phytochemicals which can possibly define their cancer-specific action. Finally, we provide recent updates on how low bioavailability, a major concern with phytochemicals, is being circumvented and the general efficacy being improved, by synthesis of novel chemical analogs and nanoformulations.
Recent Liquid Chromatographic Approaches and Developments for the Separation and Purification of Carbohydrates.

Carbohydrate purification remains a bottleneck in securing analytical standards from natural sources or by chemical or enzymatic synthesis. This review highlights the scope and remaining limitations of recent approaches and methods development in liquid chromatography for robust and higher-throughput carbohydrate separation and isolation.
AI amusements: my favorite marvin

Solve this acrostic puzzle by filling answers to the clues on the left into the dashed spaces to the right. Copying the letter above each numbered space into the same-numbered space in the grid above will yield a quotation from a work whose title and author will be spelled out in the first letter of each of your answers. Words are separated in the quotation grid by black squares, and as such may wrap between grid rows.
Cell Adhesion Molecules as Targets of Developmental Toxicants

Cell adhesion molecules of the cadherin and immunoglobulin cell adhesion molecule (IgCAM) families play critical roles in the regulation of cell–cell interactions during all phases of embryonic development as well as in maintaining the integrity of adult tissues. These critical morphogenetic molecules are receiving increased attention as potential targets of developmental toxicant action, since many of these compounds may exert their deleterious effects on development through modulation of cell adhesion molecule expression and function. This chapter discusses recent evidence for such interactions, in particular the experimental analysis of heavy metal and organic solvent effects on cadherins and IgCAMs. The accumulating evidence provides strong experimental support for such interactions and underscores the need for further studies into the underlying mechanisms in order to lead to better preventive and therapeutic interventions to ameliorate the effects of these important gene–environment interactions involving these environmental developmental toxicants.
Exogenous salicylic acid improves freezing tolerance of spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) leaves.

Salicylic acid (SA)-treatment has been reported to improve plant tolerance to various abiotic stresses. However, its effect on freezing tolerance has not been well investigated. We investigated the effect of exogenous SA on freezing tolerance of spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) leaves. We also explored if nitric oxide (NO) and/or hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-mediation was involved in this response, since these are known as primary signaling molecules involved in many physiological processes. A micro-centrifuge tube-based system used to apply SA to petiolate spinach leaves (0.5 mM over 4-d) was effective, as evident by SA content of leaf tissues. SA-treatment did not hamper leaf growth (fresh and dry weight; equatorial and longitudinal length) and was also not significantly different from 25% Hoagland controls vis-a-vis growth. SA application significantly improved freezing tolerance as evidenced by reduced ion-leakage and alleviated oxidative stress (lower accumulation of O2·- and H2O2) following freeze-thaw stress treatments (-6.5, -7.5, and -8.5 °C). Improved freezing tolerance of SA-treated leaves was paralleled by increased proline and ascorbic acid (AsA) accumulation. A 9-d cold acclimation (CA) treatment also improved leaf freezing tolerance (compared to non-acclimated control) and was accompanied by accumulation of SA and proline. Our results indicate that increased freezing tolerance may be associated with accumulation of compatible solutes (proline) and antioxidants (AsA). Notably, the beneficial effect of SA on freezing tolerance was abolished when either H2O2- or NO-scavenger (1 μM N-acetylneuraminic acid, NANA or 100 μM hemoglobin, HB, respectively) was added to SA as pretreatment. Our data suggest that SA-induced freezing tolerance in spinach may be mediated by NO and H2O2 signaling.
Testing environment shape differentially modulates baseline and nicotine-induced changes in behavior: Sex differences, hypoactivity, and behavioral sensitization.

Abstract In those who use nicotine, the likelihood of dependence, negative health consequences, and failed treatment outcomes differ as a function of gender. Women may be more sensitive to learning processes driven by repeated nicotine exposure that influence conditioned approach and craving. Sex differences in nicotine's influence over overt behaviors (i.e. hypoactivity or behavioral sensitization) can be examined using passive drug administration models in male and female rats. Following repeated intravenous (IV) nicotine injections, behavioral sensitization is enhanced in female rats compared to males. Nonetheless, characteristics of the testing environment also mediate rodent behavior following drug administration. The current experiment used a within-subjects design to determine if nicotine-induced changes in horizontal activity, center entries, and rearing displayed by male and female rats is detected when behavior was recorded in round vs. square chambers. Behaviors were recorded from each group (males-round: n = 19; males-square: n = 18; females-square: n = 19; and females-round: n = 19) immediately following IV injection of saline, acute nicotine, and repeated nicotine (0.05 mg/kg/injection). Prior to nicotine treatment, sex differences were apparent only in round chambers. Following nicotine administration, the order of magnitude for the chamber that provided enhanced detection of hypoactivity or sensitization was contingent upon both the dependent measure under examination and the animal's biological sex. As such, round and square testing chambers provide different, and sometimes contradictory, accounts of how male and female rats respond to nicotine treatment. It is possible that a central mechanism such as stress or cue sensitivity is impacted by both drug exposure and environment to drive the sex differences observed in the current experiment. Until these complex relations are better understood, experiments considering sex differences in drug responses should balance characteristics of the testing environment to provide a complete interpretation of drug-induced changes to behavior.
Particle size analyses of porous silica and hybrid silica chromatographic support particles. Comparison of flow/hyperlayer field-flow fractionation with scanning electron microscopy, electrical sensing zone, and static light scattering.

Abstract Porous silica and hybrid silica chromatographic support particles having particle diameters ranging approximately from 1 μm to 15 μm have been characterized by flow/hyperlayer field-flow fractionation (FFF). The particle size accuracy has been improved significantly in this work by a second-order polynomial calibration. Very good agreement between the FFF data and scanning electron microscopic (SEM) results has been achieved. The effects of particle porosity, pore sizes, and particle sizes on the particle size accuracy in electrical sensing zone (ESZ) analyses have been discussed. It has been demonstrated by computer simulation and experimental measurements that false peaks can be generated in certain particle size regions when the static light scattering (SLS) technique is applied to tightly distributed spherical chromatographic support particles.
On integer-magic spectra of caterpillars

For any h 2 IN; a graph G = (V;E) is said to be h-magic if there exists a labeling l : E(G) i! ZZ h i f0g such that the induced vertex set labeling l + : V (G) i! ZZ h deflned by l + (v) = X uv2E(G) l(uv)
Real-time Machine Learning Prediction of an Agent-Based Model for Urban Decision-making (Extended Abstract)

CityMatrix, an urban decision support system has been developed to facilitate more collaborative and evidence-based urban decision-making process for both experts and non-experts. Machine learning techniques have been applied to achieve real-time prediction of an agent-based model (ABM) of city traffic. The prediction with a shallow convolutional neural network (CNN) is significantly faster than performing the original ABM, and has enough accuracy for decision-making. The result is a versatile, quick, accurate, and computationally efficient approach to provide real-time feedback and optimization for urban decision-making.
Sex-biased survival contributes to population decline in a long-lived seabird, the Magellanic Penguin.

We developed a Hidden Markov mark-recapture model (R package marked) to examine sex-specific demography in Magellanic Penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus). Our model was based on 33 yr of resightings at Punta Tombo, Argentina, where we banded ~44,000 chicks from 1983 to 2010. Because we sexed only 57% of individuals over their lifetime, we treated sex as an uncertain state in our model. Our goals were to provide insight into the population dynamics of this declining colony, to inform conservation of this species, and to highlight the importance of considering sex-specific vital rates in demographic seabird studies. Like many other seabirds, Magellanic Penguins are long-lived, serially monogamous, and exhibit obligate biparental care. We found that the non-breeding-season survival of females was lower than that of males and that the magnitude of this bias was highest for juveniles. Biases in survival accumulated as cohorts aged, leading to increasingly skewed sex ratios. The survival bias was greatest in years when overall survival was low, that is, females fared disproportionality worse when conditions were unfavorable. Our model-estimated survival patterns are consistent with independent data on carcasses from the species' non-breeding grounds, showing that mortality is higher for juveniles than for adults and higher for females than for males. Juveniles may be less efficient foragers than adults are and, because of their smaller size, females may show less resilience to food scarcity than males. We used perturbation analysis of a population matrix model to determine the impact of sex-biased survival on adult sex ratio and population growth rate at Punta Tombo. We found that adult sex ratio and population growth rate have the greatest proportional response, that is, elasticity, to female pre-breeder and adult survival. Sex bias in juvenile survival (i.e., lower survival of females) made the greatest contribution to population declines from 1990 to 2009. Because starvation is a leading cause of morality in juveniles and adults, precautionary fisheries and spatial management in the region could help to slow population decline. Our data add to growing evidence that knowledge of sex-specific demography and sex ratios are necessary for accurate assessment of seabird population trends.
Successful treatment of a child with definite Meniere's disease with the migraine regimen

Emerging evidence suggests substantial overlap between the symptoms of Meniere's disease (MD) and migraine-related cochlear/vestibular disorders. We report a 5-year-old girl with a 6-month history of left-sided hearing loss followed by daily episodes of vertigo, headache, and vomiting who met the criteria for definite MD. The patient became symptom-free and gained near normal hearing levels after starting on a 6-week migraine diet/lifestyle regimen with riboflavin and magnesium. We believe that the symptoms of MD may be primarily due to a vestibular migraine phenomenon. Pediatric MD patients may benefit from migraine lifestyle/dietary changes with control of both cochlear and vestibular symptoms.
Safety, Feasibility, and Efficacy of Early Rehabilitation in Patients Requiring Continuous Renal Replacement: A Quality Improvement Study

Abstract Objective Early rehabilitation in critically ill patients is associated with improved outcomes. Recent research demonstrates that patients requiring continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) can safely engage in mobility. The purpose of this study was to assess safety and feasibility of early rehabilitation with focus on mobility in patients requiring CRRT. Design Mixed methods analysis of a quality improvement protocol. Setting ICU at a tertiary medical center. Interventions Safety was prospectively recorded by incidence of major adverse events including dislodgement of CRRT catheter, accidental extubation, bleeding, and hemodynamic emergency; and minor adverse events such as transient oxygen desaturation >10% of resting. Limited efficacy testing was performed to determine if rehabilitation parameters were associated with clinical outcomes. Measurements and main Results 67 patients (54 ± 15.6 y/o, 44% female, BMI 29.2 ± 9.3 kg/m2) received early rehabilitation under this protocol. The median days of CRRT were 6.0 (IQR 2-11) and 72% patients were on mechanical ventilation concomitantly with CRRT at the time of rehabilitation. A total of 112 rehabilitation sessions were performed out of 152 attempts (74% completion rate). No major adverse events occurred. Patients achieving higher levels of mobility were more likely to be alive at discharge (p = 0.076). The provision of early rehabilitation in critically ill patients requiring CRRT is safe and feasible. Further, these preliminary results suggest that early rehabilitation with focus on mobility may improve patient outcomes in this susceptible population.
Impact of Beta-Lactam Allergy on Treatment of Outpatient Infections

Abstract Purpose The most commonly reported medication allergies in the United States involve beta-lactam antibiotics, creating an important consideration for prescribers when choosing optimal treatment of infections. Currently, few data exist on outpatient prescribing patterns in response to patients with a beta-lactam allergy. This study sought to evaluate the appropriateness of outpatient antibiotic therapy in patients with documented beta-lactam allergies within a Veterans Affairs health care system to evaluate areas of improvement in prescribing practices. Methods Patients receiving outpatient oral antibiotics were prospectively identified through real-time electronic alerts from June 2017 through February 2018. Prescriptions were then reviewed retrospectively to identify appropriateness of antibiotic, drug choice, dose, and duration based on current guideline recommendations. Data were compared between patients with a listed beta-lactam allergy and patients without a beta-lactam allergy to determine the impact on prescribing patterns and outcomes. Baseline characteristics were compared by using descriptive statistics. Significant risk factors for inappropriate prescribing were identified through a multivariable analysis. Findings The cohort included 1844 antibiotic prescriptions (documented beta-lactam allergy, 221; no beta-lactam allergy, 1623). Appropriate drug, dose, and duration for antibiotics prescribed in patients reporting a beta-lactam allergy versus nonallergic patients were 44.3% versus 53.0% (P = 0.02), 91.4% versus 86.2% (P = 0.03), and 75.1% versus 76.2% (P = 0.83), respectively. Patients with a reported beta-lactam allergy were 31% less likely to receive the correct drug for indication empirically (95% CI, 0.52–0.92) in the multivariable regression model when adjusted for fluoroquinolone use. In addition, patients reporting a beta-lactam allergy were 2.2 times (95% CI, 1.6–3.0) more likely to receive a fluoroquinolone antibiotic. Antibiotics were considered overall inappropriate based on at least one aspect of therapy in 79.6% of patients reporting a beta-lactam allergy and in 71% of nonallergic patients. Implications Antibiotic therapy in patients with a documented beta-lactam allergy was less likely to be appropriate overall, suggesting an area of improvement for prescribing habits. Future interventions should focus on prescriber education regarding first-line and alternative treatments for patients with beta-lactam allergies to ensure that optimal treatment is being provided.
Importance of State and Local Variation in Black–Brown Attitudes: How Latinos View Blacks and How Blacks Affect Their Views

This study explores Latino perceptions of commonality and competition with African Americans across the country, focusing on the South. Using the Latino National Survey (LNS), we test the existing inter-group relation theories using an original measurement approach. With the creation of relative measures of commonality and competition of Latinos toward Blacks, we find that Latinos perceive co-ethnics as a greater source of competition than Blacks when our relative measure is used to interpret Latino perceptions of competition with African Americans. Moreover, our results suggest that Latinos in the South have similar perceptions of commonality to Blacks as Latinos more generally, across both approaches that measure perceptions of commonality. Most importantly, we find that when the relative competition measure is employed, Latinos who live in Southern states do in fact have higher perceptions of competition with Blacks than Latinos at large. These trends provide a valuable addition to the extant literature focused on inter-group relations by emphasizing that not only place and context matter, but also the way perceptions of competition and commonality are measured and operationalized.
Narratives of queer men of color in culturally-based fraternities making meaning of masculinities

This constructivist grounded theory study examined how Queer Men of Color in culturally-based fraternities made meaning of their masculinities. Through two intensive interviews and a reflection jou...
Hybrid density functional study of optically active Er3+ centers in GaN

Understanding the luminescence of GaN doped with erbium (Er) requires a detailed knowledge of the interaction between the rare-earth dopant and the nitride host, including intrinsic defects and other impurities that may be present in the host material. We address this problem through a first-principles hybrid density functional study of the structure, energetics, and transition levels of the Er impurity and its complexes with N and Ga vacancies, substitutional C and O impurities, and H interstitials in wurtzite GaN. We find that, in the interior of the material, ErGa is the dominant Er3+ center with a formation energy of 1.55 eV, ErGa–VN possesses a deep donor level at 0.61 eV which can assist in the transfer of energy to the 4f -electron core. Multiple optically active Er3+ centers are possible in Er-doped GaN. (© 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH &Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Communal and Corporate Transformation: Hayward Magic in the Era of Globalized Sport Culture

The following is a history of Hayward Field at the University of Oregon, including the rise of the term ‘Hayward Magic’ and the repercussions for that communal understanding of place as the field i...
Expansion, Compilation, Abbreviation: Some Thoughts on the Construction of Buddhist Texts

Studies of the form and textual history of various Buddhist texts show that they tend to undergo three types of developmental processes. First, some texts, especially verse compilations, are expanded by the insertion of pattern variants, sometimes at great length. Second, shorter texts such as sūtras are prone to be absorbed into larger compilations and thus lose their status as independent texts. Third, voluminous texts sometimes come to be represented in manuscripts in abbreviated forms, for example containing only the first text unit, which are evidently considered to sufficiently represent the entirety of the text. These patterns are discussed with reference to texts such as the Udānavarga, Anavatapta-gāthā, and Mahāvastu, and on the basis of evidence from Sanskrit and Gāndhārī manuscripts.
A Geometric Derivation of the Cantor Distribution

For students of probability and statistics, the Cantor distribution provides a useful example of a continuous probability distribution on the real line which cannot be obtained by integrating its d...
Privacy-Preserving Data Mining

A significant amount of application data is of a personal nature. These kind of data sets may contain sensitive information about an individual, such as his or her financial status, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and medical history. The knowledge about such personal information can compromise the privacy of individuals. Therefore, it is crucial to design data collection, dissemination, and mining techniques, so that individuals are assured of their privacy.
Understanding technologies of terror

The variety of weapons of mass destruction are intended to create the maximum possible fear, death, destruction, and general terror in the target region or nation, particularly with new and creative ways of using them. An understanding of how these weapons work, the ways they may be used, and the scope of their destruction can contribute to effectively combating their effects. This article examines these weapons—nuclear, electromagnetic pulse, radiological, chemical and biological technologies—as well as policy approaches to defending against them. The development of national programs directed toward the understanding, potential use, and response to weapons of mass destruction by the United States, Japan and the Soviet Union are reviewed and compared, as are the international agreements that have thus far addressed the possible use of such weapons. q 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.