cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Intra-cultural differences in the perception of visual illusions: an urban/rural comparison.

Urban and rural college students, men and women (n equal to 6 each, N equal to 24), were compared (2 x 2) on six geometric illusions using materials and procedures of Herskovits, Campbell, and Segall (1969). As expected, no significant differences in susceptibility were found for the Muller-Lyer, Sander parallelogram, or Poggendorf illusions. Rural subjects proved more susceptible to the perspective illusion; however, the urban group was more susceptible to the L-form of the horizontal-vertical illusion, but not to the T-form.
New World Aphaereta Species (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Alysiinae), with a Discussion of Terminology Used in the Tribe Alysiini

The genus Aphaereta Foerster is revised for the New World. A tabular comparison of the 16 included species is presented. Three new species ( A. lonchaeae, A. marshi , and A. megalops ) are described from North America, and one ( A. subtropicalis ) from the Dominican Republic. Three species are redescribed, and 4 are synonymized. Intraspecific variation and interspecific relationships are briefly discussed.
Luminescence properties of Eu3+:Y2O3 and Eu3+:Lu2O3 nanoparticles, ceramics and thin films

Eu3+ doped Y2O3 and Lu2O3 nanocrystalline powders were synthesized via combustion technique using urea as a fuel and the metal nitrates as oxidants. The compacted nanopowders were vacuum sintered in order to form the translucent ceramics. A significant enhancement of emission characteristics was observed from the ceramics synthesized from the nanoparticles by controlling the vacuum-sintering conditions. Although the processed ceramics display superior emission characteristics, the nanocrystalline phosphor powders also display reasonably good emission characteristics. Highly epitaxial Y2O3:Eu3+ and Lu2O3:Eu3+ films were deposited on various substrates under different growth and optimization conditions using pulsed-laser deposition technique using high-density translucent ceramic target. Superior spectroscopic performance was obtained on films grown on sapphire substrates due to high-quality and epitaxial nature of the film.
Law, and How It Is Made

The role of law in our society is to prevent disputes as well as to settle them. We are all familiar with that side of the law which settles disputes; it is dramatically depicted in our movies by presenting the lawyer who points an accusing finger at a cowering witness, or the robed judge solemnly instructing a jury. But in this book we are more concerned with the other side of the law: how it prevents disputes and avoids expensive lawsuits.
LP-based capacity planning in semiconductor manufacturing

The process of semiconductor manufacturing is highly complex and capital intensive.The complexity in semiconductor industry is mainly due to multiple product mix, complicated manu-facturing process, and requirement for high machine utilization. In this paper, we discuss how to uselinear programming to model the semiconductor assembly and test process. We demonstrate that,comparing with traditional manual work using spreadsheets, the LP-based system can significantlyreduce planning responsiveness time while improve the machine utilization of bottlenecks.
Insignificance of the enterobiliary circulation of lecithin in man.

The enterobiliary circulation of intact molecules of dietary lecithin was found to be insignificant. After a single feeding of a synthetic lecithin (labeled with JH in the 1-acyl position, and with 14C in the choline portion), the two isotopes were excreted in biliary lecithin at different rates. Similar amounts of radioactivity accumulated in biliary lecithin whether labeled lecithin, or labeled fatty acid and labeled choline were fed.
Vocal Sound Production and Acoustic Communication in Amphibians and Reptiles

Most amphibians and reptiles produce sounds with a larynx containing a pair of vocal cords. Clicking and hissing are common in both groups whereas tonal sounds are found most frequently in anurans and geckos. Calls can exceed 90 dB SPL at a distance of 1 m and they can have fundamental frequencies above 20 kHz. Calling is used mostly by males for courtship and territorial displays. Offspring and females call to synchronize hatching and to mediate maternal care. Adults and juveniles in many groups produce hissing when threatened. Amphibians and reptiles include more than 17,000 species. As a result of this diversity, major advances in the field of vocalization are made through exploratory research but also through careful experimentation and the use of novel technologies. Combining the study of vocal and auditory systems is important to explain issues such as the diversity of frequency tuning in the group. Many questions can also be answered through comparative studies in amphibians and reptiles because these groups have evolved independent solutions to common communication problems.
Abstract 4426: The PEAK1/ZEB1/ITGA1 pathway mediates survival, stemness and TGFbeta-induced EMT in pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States with a five-year survival rate of approximately 7%. Its highly invasive characteristics, lack of biomarkers for early detection, limited therapeutic targets and inherent resistance to chemotherapy are the central factors that lead to an overall poor prognosis for this malignancy. Since most cancer-related deaths are a result of metastatic tumors, we reasoned that our previously published proteomic signature of the cell pseudopodium (PD) may be a good pool from which to identify novel protein biomarkers or therapeutic targets in pancreatic cancer. We cross-referenced PD enriched proteins with Oncomine and identified 37 genes that are upregulated in pancreatic cancer. The function of integrin alpha 1 (ITGA1), a cell surface receptor for collagen and regulator of cell adhesion, has not been previously characterized in the context of PDAC. Our results indicate that ITGA1 is required for PDAC cell viability, promoting cell survival and tumor growth. We further analyzed ITGA1 cell-surface levels and discovered that ITGA1hi cells represent a subpopulation of Aldehyde Dehyrogenase high (ALDH1hi) cells, and that ITGA1 knockdown reduces the ALDH1hi cell population. One mechanism by which PDAC cells acquire metastatic potential is via epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Thus, we searched for prominent EMT genes among the top ITGA1 co-expressors using RNA-Seq data from the Cancer Bio Portal. Interestingly, ZEB1 (a transforming growth factor beta, TGFbeta, response gene and central regulator of EMT) and PEAK1 kinase (a protein we’ve shown to be required for pancreatic cancer progression and TGFbeta/ZEB1-induced EMT) co-expresses with ITGA1. We tested the function of ITGA1 on TGFbeta-induced EMT and found that ITGA1 is upregulated by TGFbeta during EMT, and required for metastasis and a complete EMT response to TGFbeta. We also demonstrate that PEAK1 is required for TGFbeta-induced ITGA1 in PDAC cells. Finally, we demonstrate that ITGA1 is responsible for collagen-induced spreading and an EMT-like shift in PDAC cell morphology. Taken together, these results point to a novel TGFbeta/PEAK1/ZEB1/ITGA1 signaling cascade that when targeted can abrogate PDAC cell survival, stemness, EMT and tumor growth/metastasis. Citation Format: Armen Gharibi, Sa La Kim, Daniel Brambilla, Yvess Adamian, Malachia Hoover, Joy Lin, Megan Agajanian, Laurelin Wolfenden, Jonathan A. Kelber. The PEAK1/ZEB1/ITGA1 pathway mediates survival, stemness and TGFbeta-induced EMT in pancreatic cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 4426.
Personal characteristics, local environmental conditions, and individual environmental concern: a multilevel analysis

Early research shows that the level of individual environmental concern correlates with some personal characteristics, such as gender, political orientation, and beliefs and values. Many studies, however, omit important social and contextual factors that may influence individual concern. This paper adds to the extant literature by situating survey respondents within their local environment to examine both personal and local environmental influences on citizens’ environmental concern. We use data from nationally representative surveys and government agency data, such as that provided by the Environmental Protection Agency. Using hierarchical linear modelling, we examine the extent to which local environmental stressors, such as air pollution and industrial waste, are related to individual environmental concern. Our results in reference to individual level predictors are consistent with extant literature. The environmental level results are mixed – local environmental incidents and air pollution are positiv...
Complex mixtures of Pesticides in Midwest U.S. streams indicated by POCIS time-integrating samplers

The Midwest United States is an intensely agricultural region where pesticides in streams pose risks to aquatic biota, but temporal variability in pesticide concentrations makes characterization of their exposure to organisms challenging. To compensate for the effects of temporal variability, we deployed polar organic chemical integrative samplers (POCIS) in 100 small streams across the Midwest for about 5 weeks during summer 2013 and analyzed the extracts for 227 pesticide compounds. Analysis of water samples collected weekly for pesticides during POCIS deployment allowed for comparison of POCIS results with periodic water-sampling results. The median number of pesticides detected in POCIS extracts was 62, and 141 compounds were detected at least once, indicating a high level of pesticide contamination of streams in the region. Sixty-five of the 141 compounds detected were pesticide degradates. Mean water concentrations estimated using published POCIS sampling rates strongly correlated with means of weekly water samples collected concurrently, however, the POCIS-estimated concentrations generally were lower than the measured water concentrations. Summed herbicide concentrations (units of ng/POCIS) were greater at agricultural sites than at urban sites but summed concentrations of insecticides and fungicides were greater at urban sites. Consistent with these differences, summed concentrations of herbicides correlate to percent cultivated crops in the watersheds and summed concentrations of insecticides and fungicides correlate to percent urban land use. With the exception of malathion concentrations at nine sites, POCIS-estimated water concentrations of pesticides were lower than aquatic-life benchmarks. The POCIS provide an alternative approach to traditional water sampling for characterizing chronic exposure to pesticides in streams across the Midwest region.
Impact of alcohol use disorder comorbidity on defensive reactivity to errors in veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder.

Converging lines of evidence suggest that individuals with comorbid posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD) may be characterized by heightened defensive reactivity, which serves to maintain drinking behaviors and anxiety/hyperarousal symptoms. However, it is important to note that very few studies have directly tested whether individuals with PTSD and AUD exhibit greater defensive reactivity compared with individuals with PTSD without AUD. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to test this emerging hypothesis by examining individual differences in error-related negativity (ERN), an event-related component that is larger among anxious individuals and is thought to reflect defensive reactivity to errors. Participants were 66 military veterans who completed a well-validated flanker task known to robustly elicit the ERN. Veterans were comprised of 3 groups: controls (i.e., no PTSD or AUD), PTSD-AUD (i.e., current PTSD but no AUD), and PTSD + AUD (i.e., current comorbid PTSD and AUD). RESULTS indicated that individuals with PTSD and controls generally did not differ in ERN amplitude. However, among individuals with PTSD, those with comorbid AUD had significantly larger ERNs than those without AUD. These findings suggest that PTSD + AUD is a neurobiologically unique subtype of PTSD, and the comorbidity of AUD may enhance defensive reactivity to errors in individuals with PTSD. (PsycINFO Database Record(c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved). Language: en
Subregion mosaicking applied to nonideal iris recognition

Image mosaicking technology, as an image processing technology that can aggregate the information from a sequence of images, has been used to process large size images. In this paper, we are trying to apply the mosaicking technology to nonideal iris recognition study. The proposed algorithm composes the information from a collection of iris images, and generates a “composite” image. The experiment includes the partial blinking iris and subregion of off-angle iris images. The contribution of this paper is to show the image mosaicking is an effective technology for nonideal iris recognition at the condition of limited pattern information.
Chymase-dependent production of angiotensin II: an old enzyme in old hearts.

Aging increases angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)-independent production of cardiac angiotensin II (Ang II), a response that is driven by chymase in an exercise-reversible manner. These findings ...
Trust and reliability for next-generation routers

To support the flexibility and the different protocol operations and applications provided by today's internet, modern routers rely on high-performance reliable general-purpose multi-core packet processing systems. Such processing systems are programmable and have replaced the traditional fixed-logic hardware in the data path of such routers. This programmability introduces a lot of vulnerabilities and faults which make such systems susceptible to attacks and failures. Particularly, it is a difficult task to detect whether a processing core behaves correctly or it has a failure resulting from errors or attacks. In this paper, we address this problem by proposing a novel approach to verify the correct operation of the network processor. We propose a secure, fault tolerant and reliable monitoring subsystem which functions in parallel with the processing core of the router and aids in the detection of attacks. We show that our system has the ability to detect the failure and restore securely the router's operation to a different, but functionally equivalent state.
Board Development Practices on Public Versus Nonprofit School Boards: Is There a Difference?

Governing boards are a critical asset for every public and nonprofit organization. Scholars have found that effective boards are associated with organizations that tend to perform better than those with ineffective boards, in the public and nonprofit sectors. The attention these boards receive because of their crucial missions demands the need for high-quality training and development activities to give them the best chance at high performance. In this study, we examined the extent to which school boards in Minnesota—both traditional public and nonprofit charter—engage in developmental activities, and we looked at differences between these board types in how they prioritize board development activities. Our findings indicate a number of significant differences between public and nonprofit boards in terms of the extent to which they engage in board development activities, the reasons for engaging in those development activities, and how these boards prioritize development activities. Subscribe to JNEL
The Mobility and Impact of Frailty in the Intensive Care Unit

Prevalence of pre-existing frailty in patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) is increasing. Critical illness leads to a catabolic state that further diminishes body reserves and contributes to frailty independent of age and prehospital functional status. Because early mobilization of patients in the ICU results in accelerated recovery and improvement in functional status and quality of life, frailty can severely affect the mobility of patients in ICU ultimately prolonging recovery. Understanding the concept of frailty and the association of frailty and its impact on mobility in the ICU, identifying patients, and timely resource allocation helps in optimum care and improves clinical outcomes.
Synthesis of sulfated oligosaccharides by cystic fibrosis trachea epithelial cells.

The mucin glycoproteins in tracheal mucus of patients with cystic fibrosis is more highly sulfated than the corresponding secretions from healthy individuals [16]. In order to further characterize these differences in sulfation and possibly also glycosylation patterns, we compared the structures of sulfated mucin oligosaccharides synthesized by continuously cultured human tracheal cells transformed by siman virus 40. The synthesis of highly sulfated oligosaccharide chains in mucins secreted by normal human epithelial and submucosal cell lines were compared with mucins formed by cystic fibrosis tracheal epithelial and submucosal cell lines.
Ambiguity and Disclosure in The Principal-Agent Model

A Principal-Agent model is examined in which the principal and the agent are ambiguity averse. With a risk neutral principal and a risk averse agent the presence of ambiguity aversion implies that the principal will not always fully insure the agent when effort is observable. Instead, risk may be introduced into the incentive scheme to take advantage of differences in ambiguity aversion. When effort is unobservable, depending on the relative ambiguity aversion of the principal and the agent, ambiguity aversion may increase or decrease the strength of the pay for performance relation relative to the standard model. A superiorly informed principal has an incentive to disclose information to the agent in order to alter the level of ambiguity perceived by the agent. Depending on the agent's risk aversion and on the relative levels of ambiguity aversion, the principal may have an interest in decreasing or increasing the ambiguity the agent perceives.
Palestinian literature and film in a postcolonial feminist perspective / Rhetorics of belonging: nation, narration, and Israel/Palestine

Anna Ball's Palestinian Literature and Film in a Postcolonial Feminist Perspective (2012; pbk 2017) and Anna Bernard's Rhetorics of Belonging: Nation, Narration, and Israel/Palestine (2013) appear ...
A Profile of Neuro-Ophthalmic Practice Around the World.

Background To compare contrast neuro-ophthalmic practice in various countries, an 18-question survey was sent to the international North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society (NANOS) members in the spring of 2016. Methods At least 1 NANOS member was contacted for each non-US nation in the NANOS membership roster. If there were multiple NANOS members from 1 country, multiple were contacted. If responses were received from more than 1 person from a single country, the first response received was used as the source data. The survey (in English) was emailed to 47 NANOS members from 31 countries. Twenty responses were received representing members from 15 nations. Results In all 15 nations, at least half of the neuro-ophthalmologists were trained as ophthalmologists. In 60% of nations, at least half of the neuro-ophthalmologists were trained internally, whereas in 33% of countries, at least half were trained in the United States. The number of physicians who practiced a significant amount of neuro-ophthalmology ranged from low (0.08/million, India) to high (3.10/million, Israel). Countries having the highest percentage of neuro-ophthalmologists exclusively practicing neuro-ophthalmology also were those with better patient access to neuro-ophthalmic care. Requirement of approval to see a neuro-ophthalmologist or for imaging studies requested by neuro-ophthalmologists was not typical. In most nations, academic neuro-ophthalmologists were paid a straight salary. In no nation were neuro-ophthalmologists paid more than another ophthalmic subspecialty. Conclusions Individual national health care system designs and compensation models have had a profound influence on the rewards and challenges that face neuro-ophthalmologists. There seems to have been a connection between recognition of the discipline, financial rewards of neuro-ophthalmic practice, conditions that permit full-time neuro-ophthalmic practice, and patient access to care. A higher percentage of gross national product for health care did not seem to insure an adequate supply of neuro-ophthalmologists.
Neuronal activity organization features in human consciousness: summary of introductory remarks in a dialogue with neurological surgery residents

ABSTRACTAgreeing with Damasio’s statement defining the “process” of consciousness, we propose the self as created by mind-based knowledge and a combination of images of an organism’s intentional mo...
Metrics for macroscale invasion and dispersal patterns

The ability to quantitatively measure the continuum of macroscale patterns of species invasion is a first step toward deeper understanding of their causal factors. We took advantage of two centuries worth of herbarium data, to evaluate a set of metrics to measure macroscale patterns, allowing cross-species comparisons of invasive expansion across large geographic areas. We used herbarium specimens to reconstruct county-level invasion histories for two non-native plants (Alliaria petiolata and Lonicera japonica), with distinct spatiotemporal distribution patterns over the past two centuries. Using county centroids from species’ initial occurrences, we quantified point pattern metrics from multiple disciplines (e.g. urban crime analysis, landscape ecology etc.) that are historically used at smaller spatial scales, to evaluate their ability to detect macroscale spatial diffusion and amount of directional expansion. Metrics were further assessed for their ease of use, data requirements, independence from other metrics and intuitiveness of interpretation. We identified four suitable metrics for distinguishing differences in spatial patterns: (i) standard distance, (ii) number of patches, (iii) Euclidean nearest neighbor summary class statistic coefficient of variation and (iv) mean center that when applied to county-level presence data allowed us to determine the directions by which distributions expanded and if distributions increased via outward expansion, infilling and/or jump dispersal events. These metrics when compared during the same invasion phase are capable of quantifying macroscale variability among species in their distributional and dispersal patterns. Being able to quantify differences among species in these patterns is important in understanding the drivers of species dispersal patterns. These metrics therefore represent a simple yet thorough toolset for achieving this goal.
On the complex dynamics of savanna landscapes.

Simple mathematical models can exhibit rich and complex behaviors. Prototypical examples of these drawn from biology and other disciplines have provided insights that extend well beyond the situations that inspired them. Here, we explore a set of simple, yet realistic, models for savanna–forest vegetation dynamics based on minimal ecological assumptions. These models are aimed at understanding how vegetation interacts with both climate (a primary global determinant of vegetation structure) and feedbacks with chronic disturbances from fire. The model includes three plant functional types—grasses, savanna trees, and forest trees. Grass and (when they allow grass to persist in their subcanopy) savanna trees promote the spread of fires, which in turn, demographically limit trees. The model exhibits a spectacular range of behaviors. In addition to bistability, analysis reveals (i) that diverse cyclic behaviors (including limit and homo- and heteroclinic cycles) occur for broad ranges of parameter space, (ii) that large shifts in landscape structure can result from endogenous dynamics and not just from external drivers or from noise, and (iii) that introducing noise into this system induces resonant and inverse resonant phenomena, some of which have never been previously observed in ecological models. Ecologically, these results raise questions about how to evaluate complicated dynamics with data. Mathematically, they lead to classes of behaviors that are likely to occur in other models with similar structure.
Haemophilus ducreyi: Chancroid

Haemophilus ducreyi is a small, Gram-negative coccobacillus that causes the genital ulcer disease known as chancroid. Chancroid increases the risk for transmission and acquisition of HIV-1. The prevalence of the disease is unknown due to syndromic management of genital ulcer disease, but outbreaks continue to be reported in developing countries and in populations with high numbers of sexual partners. Patients with chancroid seek medical care several weeks after acquiring the infection when they become symptomatic and complain of painful genital ulcers that are often associated with suppurative inguinal lymphadenopathy. Research has focused on identifying virulence factors, the most notable of which play roles in adherence to extracellular matrix components and resistance to both phagocytosis and complement-mediated killing. Single-dose antibiotic therapy with macrolides or third-generation cephalosporins or with fluoroquinolones remains effective for the treatment of chancroid, but patients remain susceptible to reinfection as protective immunity does not develop.
Cardiac Restraint and Support Following Myocardial Infarction

Myocardial infarction occurs when blood supply to a region of the myocardium is interrupted or eliminated, leading within seconds to loss of active contraction in the affected region and within minutes to cardiomyocyte death. Unable to contract, the infarct stretches passively each time the heart generates pressure, creating an immediate mechanical disadvantage and, if the infarct is large, triggering a cascade of pathological ventricular remodeling that eventually leads to heart failure. Therefore, a variety of therapies have been explored to mechanically reinforce the infarcted heart in the hopes of improving cardiac function and limiting adverse remodeling. This chapter will discuss two major strategies for mechanical support post-MI: globally restraining one or both ventricles, or locally reinforcing only the infarct area. Several ventricular restraint devices and a variety of local reinforcement approaches are compared and evaluated for their ability to reduce left ventricular remodeling and improve cardiac function following myocardial infarction. A variety of metrics used to quantify cardiac function are discussed, including limitations of frequently used functional indices. Differences in efficacy between synthetic and cell-seeded or tissue engineered patches for local reinforcement are investigated, followed by a brief discussion of the importance of patch material properties. Finally, methods for optimizing the type and degree of reinforcement are presented, including both experimental and computational approaches.
In the Mix: The Early Sixth Generation Cinema

This chapter analyzes the stylistic features of the early Sixth Generation cinema. As the pioneers of the second art wave, the core members of the narrowly defined Sixth Generation directors started independent production in the early 1990s. Although their privileged BFA lineage and confrontational stance toward the authorities largely overshadowed their aesthetic innovations, their first films had already manifested early signs of realist and expressionist styles. The two pioneering independent works—Zhang Yuan’s Beijing Bastards (1993) and Wang Xiaoshuai’s The Days (1993)—display realist and expressionist tendencies, respectively. Zhang Yuan’s Mama (1990) and Lou Ye’s Suzhou River (2000) blend the two tendencies to fascinating effect. Overall, these films paved the way for the appearance of more radical stylistic positions of aesthetic realist and expressionist films in the field.
Substrate-dependent and cyclophilin D-independent regulation of mitochondrial flashes in skeletal and cardiac muscle.

Abstract Mitochondrial flashes (mitoflashes) are stochastic events in the mitochondrial matrix detected by mitochondrial-targeted cpYFP (mt-cpYFP). Mitoflashes are quantal bursts of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production accompanied by modest matrix alkalinization and depolarization of the mitochondrial membrane potential. Mitoflashes are fundamental events present in a wide range of cell types. To date, the precise mechanisms for mitoflash generation and termination remain elusive. Transient opening of the mitochondrial membrane permeability transition pore (mPTP) during a mitoflash is proposed to account for the mitochondrial membrane potential depolarization. Here, we set out to compare the tissue-specific effects of cyclophilin D (CypD)-deficiency and mitochondrial substrates on mitoflash activity in skeletal and cardiac muscle. In contrast to previous reports, we found that CypD knockout did not alter the mitoflash frequency or other mitoflash properties in acutely isolated cardiac myocytes, skeletal muscle fibers, or isolated mitochondria from skeletal muscle and the heart. However, in skeletal muscle fibers, CypD deficiency resulted in a parallel increase in both activity-dependent mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake and activity-dependent mitoflash activity. Increases in both mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake and mitoflash activity following electrical stimulation were abolished by inhibition of mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake. We also found that mitoflash frequency and amplitude differ greatly between intact skeletal muscle fibers and cardiac myocytes, but that this difference is absent in isolated mitochondria. We propose that this difference may be due, in part, to differences in substrate availability in intact skeletal muscle fibers (primarily glycolytic) and cardiac myocytes (largely oxidative). Overall, we find that CypD does not contribute significantly in mitoflash biogenesis under basal conditions in skeletal and cardiac muscle, but does regulate mitoflash events during muscle activity. In addition, tissue-dependent differences in mitoflash frequency are strongly regulated by mitochondrial substrate availability.
Resolving the Progressive Paradox: Conservative Value Framing of Progressive Economic Policies Increases Candidate Support

While polls show progressive economic policies are popular, progressive candidates typically lose elections in the U.S. One explanation for this progressive paradox is that the opponents of progressive candidates often win through “symbolic politics,” successfully harnessing values and ideologies that receive broad support from the general public. Here we explore one solution to the progressive paradox, testing whether progressive candidates achieve greater support by framing their policy platforms in terms of values and ideologies that resonate beyond the progressive base. We tested this claim in two experiments (total N=4,138), including one pre-registered experiment conducted on a nationally representative sample. We found that a presidential candidate who framed his progressive economic platform to be consistent with more conservative value concerns like patriotism, family, and respect for tradition – as opposed to more liberal value concerns like equality and social justice – was supported significantly more by conservatives and, unexpectedly, by moderates as well. These effects were mediated by perceived value similarity with the candidate. Furthermore, a manipulation of how progressive the candidate’s platform was had weak and inconsistent effects, and did not interact with the framing of the platform. These findings indicate that in our experiments framing mattered more than policy, suggesting that moral reframing could be an effective alternative to policy centrism for candidates seeking broader support. Our results illustrate the important effects of value framing of economic policy, offering a solution to the longstanding puzzle regarding the gap between progressive policy and candidate support.
Sonographic Detection of a Torsed Meckel’s Diverticulum Misinterpreted as Acute Appendicitis

A 38-year-old female presented to the emergency department (ED) with acute-onset right lower quadrant abdominal pain following two days of nausea and vomiting. Physical examination revealed right lower quadrant tenderness to palpation, rebound tenderness, and guarding. Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) of the right lower abdomen was performed and interpreted as probable appendicitis. However, upon laparoscopic examination of the abdomen, a benign-appearing appendix was visualized. Further investigation revealed the source of the patient’s pain to be a torsed Meckel’s diverticulum. Although rare, a torsed and inflamed Meckel’s diverticulum can be visualized by POCUS in the ED without the need for further imaging or delay.
Skeletal Muscle Fiber Type and Morphology in a Middle-Aged Elite Male Powerlifter Using Anabolic Steroids

Powerlifting regularly exposes athletes to extreme stimuli such as chronic heavy resistance training (HRT), and many powerlifters choose to augment their performance with anabolic–androgenic steroids (AAS). However, little is known about the myocellular adaptations that occur from long-term HRT and AAS use, especially into middle age. We were presented with the unique opportunity to study muscle cells from an elite-level powerlifter (EPL; age 40 years) with ≥ 30 years of HRT experience and ≥ 15 years of AAS use. The purpose of this case study was to identify myocellular characteristics [myosin heavy chain (MHC) fiber type, fiber size, and myonuclear content] in EPL, as well as compare these data to existing literature. The participant underwent a resting vastus lateralis muscle biopsy and single fibers were analyzed for MHC content via SDS-PAGE. A subset of fibers underwent MHC-specific imaging analysis via confocal microscopy to identify cell size (cross-sectional area, CSA) and myonuclear domain (MND) size. MHC fiber type distribution was 9% I, 12% I/IIa, 79% IIa, and 0% other isoforms. This pure MHC IIa (fast-twitch) fiber content was amongst the highest reported in the literature. Imaging analysis of MHC IIa fibers revealed a mean CSA of 4218 ± 933 μm2 and MND of 12,548 ± 3181 μm3. While the fast-twitch fiber CSA was comparable to values in previous literature, mean MND was smaller than has been reported in untrained men, implying greater capacity for growth and repair. These findings showcase the unique muscle cell structure of an elite powerlifter, extending the known physiological limits of human muscle size and strength.
Uncovering the True Potentials of the Internet of Things (IoT)

The integration of standards and technologies and the ability to connect massive smaller devices, objects and sensors, inexpensively and easily has created a world that is hyper connected with bridging the virtual and physical things to generate, process, exchange and consume data for the Internet of Things (IoT). The IoT is a union of standards, technologies and connection of devices in the real world that communicate in the online realm. This type of technology is useful in data generation, processing, exchanging and decision-making. IoT is widely considered one of the larges revolutions in the Information age. IoT has several issues related to addressing, regulation, security and privacy, and standardization. Once these issues have been resolved, development and growth of complex IoT applications will take place. This paper discusses the future of intelligent devices and pervasive connectivity, data sharing and creation of partnerships, overcoming interoperability issues, security and regulations, technology and applications whilst experiencing waves of new technology advancement.
Between the Religious Act and Art Commodity: The Evolution and Commercialization of Rebgong Tibetan Thangka Paintings

Rebgong, located in Huangnan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Qinghai, China, has become one of the most productive areas of Tibetan Thangka painting since the 1980s. Why has Rebgong, a place outside the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR), become the stronghold of Thangka commercialization? How have Thangka Buddhist painters reacted to the commercialization of their work? I chose to focus on the changes in the past decades in the transmission and commercialization models of Rebgong Thangka. Based on my analysis of both Chinese and English textual sources as well as three weeks of fieldwork conducted in Rebgong, consisting of observation and interviews with key players such as local Thangka masters, students, government officials and dealers, I argue that the models of technique transmission and commercialization have both drastically changed over the past decades, despite the continuation of some features of traditional master-disciple transmission. To justify these changes and compensate for the traditions they betrayed, the key players employed several moral strategies and negotiated with the Buddhist community to maintain a balance between Thangka as a religious object and as a pure commodity. Meanwhile, the sales of Thangka are essentially dependent on its religious meaning. The project attempts to contribute to our understanding of the transformation of religious art alongside modernization, especially the marketization of the economy, and problematize the dichotomy of its religious function and commodity nature. Equally intriguing in this case is how changes in the realm of religious art fundamentally reshaped a specific place and the associated social relations of particular religious and ethnic natures in modern China.
Does the Propensity to Take Risks Influence Human Interactions with Autonomous Systems

Technological development towards automation has been taking place for years and a wide range of autonomous systems (AS) have been introduced in homes and retailing spaces. Although these AS seem to be riskless, if they are exploited they can endanger private information of users, which opens a new stage for the security of AS. Humans have an initial and positive bias towards automation that might lead to errors related to unintentional actions or lack of actions. Therefore, the effective adoption of AS relies on users’ attitudes, like the propensity to take risks and the calibration of human trust to avoid situations of mistrust, over trust, and distrust, increasing the systems’ security. This study conducted an online questionnaire to investigate the relationship between an individual’s propensity to take risks and trust in automation. We found that participants with low risk seeking tendencies will trust more in AS when compared to high risk seeking participants. Moreover, other individual differences like age, gender, and education led to interesting results. Thus, our study provides valuable information about the human factors that mediate human and autonomous systems interactions and thereby influence trust.
Metabolomic Profiling in Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder Biomarker Discovery

There is no specific test for diagnosing neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), a disabling autoimmune disease of the central nervous system. Instead, diagnosis relies on ruling out other related disorders with overlapping clinical symptoms. An urgency for NMOSD biomarker discovery is underscored by adverse responses to treatment following misdiagnosis and poor prognosis following the delayed onset of treatment. Pathogenic autoantibiotics that target the water channel aquaporin-4 (AQP4) and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) contribute to NMOSD pathology. The importance of early diagnosis between AQP4-Ab+ NMOSD, MOG-Ab+ NMOSD, AQP4-Ab− MOG-Ab− NMOSD, and related disorders cannot be overemphasized. Here, we provide a comprehensive data collection and analysis of the currently known metabolomic perturbations and related proteomic outcomes of NMOSD. We highlight short chain fatty acids, lipoproteins, amino acids, and lactate as candidate diagnostic biomarkers. Although the application of metabolomic profiling to individual NMOSD patient care shows promise, more research is needed.
Three Decades of Research: The Case for Comprehensive Sex Education.

Abstract Purpose School-based sex education plays a vital role in the sexual health and well-being of young people. Little is known, however, about the effectiveness of efforts beyond pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease prevention. The authors conducted a systematic literature review of three decades of research on school-based programs to find evidence for the effectiveness of comprehensive sex education. Methods Researchers searched the ERIC, PsycINFO, and MEDLINE. The research team identified papers meeting the systematic literature review criteria. Of 8,058 relevant articles, 218 met specific review criteria. More than 80% focused solely on pregnancy and disease prevention and were excluded, leaving 39. In the next phase, researchers expanded criteria to studies outside the U.S. to identify evidence reflecting the full range of topic areas. Eighty articles constituted the final review. Results Outcomes include appreciation of sexual diversity, dating and intimate partner violence prevention, development of healthy relationships, prevention of child sex abuse, improved social/emotional learning, and increased media literacy. Substantial evidence supports sex education beginning in elementary school, that is scaffolded and of longer duration, as well as LGBTQ–inclusive education across the school curriculum and a social justice approach to healthy sexuality. Conclusions Review of the literature of the past three decades provides strong support for comprehensive sex education across a range of topics and grade levels. Results provide evidence for the effectiveness of approaches that address a broad definition of sexual health and take positive, affirming, inclusive approaches to human sexuality. Findings strengthen justification for the widespread adoption of the National Sex Education Standards.
Risk factors associated with medication ordering errors.

Objective We utilized a computerized order entry system-integrated function referred to as "void" to identify erroneous orders (ie, a "void" order). Using voided orders, we aimed to (1) identify the nature and characteristics of medication ordering errors, (2) investigate the risk factors associated with medication ordering errors, and (3) explore potential strategies to mitigate these risk factors. Materials and methods We collected data on voided orders using clinician interviews and surveys within 24 hours of the voided order and using chart reviews. Interviews were informed by the human factors-based SEIPS (Systems Engineering Initiative for Patient Safety) model to characterize the work systems-based risk factors contributing to ordering errors; chart reviews were used to establish whether a voided order was a true medication ordering error and ascertain its impact on patient safety. Results During the 16-month study period (August 25, 2017, to December 31, 2018), 1074 medication orders were voided; 842 voided orders were true medication errors (positive predictive value = 78.3 ± 1.2%). A total of 22% (n = 190) of the medication ordering errors reached the patient, with at least a single administration, without causing patient harm. Interviews were conducted on 355 voided orders (33% response). Errors were not uniquely associated with a single risk factor, but the causal contributors of medication ordering errors were multifactorial, arising from a combination of technological-, cognitive-, environmental-, social-, and organizational-level factors. Conclusions The void function offers a practical, standardized method to create a rich database of medication ordering errors. We highlight implications for utilizing the void function for future research, practice and learning opportunities.
Deep Learning for a Low-Data Drug Design System

Molecule design is the process of discovering potential compound candidates for drug discovery. Deep learning technique shows significant advantages in data mining and can be used for molecule design. However, most drug discovery projects are limited to low-data situations, and it is difficult to train deep learning neural networks. This paper proposes a novel drug design system that is based on deep learning. It adopts one-shot learning and reinforcement learning, and it can operate under low-data conditions. Once trained, the system can generate new molecules with the desired properties.
Commercial Breaks: Intra-spectacular Public Art

This chapter turns to curatorial initiatives to bring art into mediated advertising spaces. A historical narrative of interventions in New York’s Times Square from the 1980s to the present considers how and if art can produce meaningful moments of encounter within an overwhelmingly commercial space. Beginning with Messages to the Public in the 1980s and concluding with Midnight Moment in the 2010s, I argue that these initiatives develop a kind of intra-spectacular practice that works within the shifting commercial screen landscape to productively point to its edges. Artists explored include Jenny Holzer, Pipilotti Rist, Jeremy Blake, and others.
Cortical Representations of Concrete and Abstract Concepts in Language Combine Visual and Linguistic Representations

Abstract The human semantic system stores knowledge acquired through both perception and language. To study how semantic representations in cortex integrate perceptual and linguistic information, we created semantic word embedding spaces that combine models of visual and linguistic processing. We then used these visually-grounded semantic spaces to fit voxelwise encoding models to fMRI data collected while subjects listened to hours of narrative stories. We found that cortical regions near the visual system represent concepts by combining visual and linguistic information, while regions near the language system represent concepts using mostly linguistic information. Assessing individual representations near visual cortex, we found that more concrete concepts contain more visual information, while even abstract concepts contain some amount of visual information from associated concrete concepts. Finally we found that these visual grounding effects are localized near visual cortex, suggesting that semantic representations specifically reflect the modality of adjacent perceptual systems. Our results provide a computational account of how visual and linguistic information are combined to represent concrete and abstract concepts across cortex.
Neutralization/recovery of lactic acid from Lactococcus lactis: effects on biomass, lactic acid, and nisin production

Besides lactic acid, many lactic acid bacteria also produce proteinaceous metabolites (bacteriocins) such as nisin. As catabolite repression and end-product inhibition limit production of both products, we have investigated the use of alternative methods of supplying substrate and neutralizing or extracting lactic acid to increase yields. Fed-batch fermentation trials using a stillage-based medium with pH control by NH4OH resulted in improved lactic acid (83.4 g/l, 3.18 g/l/h, 95% yield) and nisin (1,260 IU/ml, 84,000 IU/l/h, 14,900 IU/g) production. Removing particulate matter from the stillage-based medium increased nisin production (1,590 IU/ml, 33,700 IU/g), but decreased lactic acid production (58.5 g/l, 1.40 g/l/h, 96% yield). Removing lactic acid by ion exchange resins stimulated higher lactic acid concentrations (60 to 65 g/l) and productivities (2.0 to 2.6 g/l/h) in the filtered stillage medium at the expense of nisin production (1,500 IU/ml, 25,800 IU/g).