cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Social group suggestion from user image collections

Photo-sharing services have attracted millions of people and helped construct massive social networks on the Web. A popular trend is that users share their image collections within social groups, which greatly promotes the interactions between users and expands their social networks. Existing systems have difficulties in generating satisfactory social group suggestions because the images are classified independently and their relationship in a collection is ignored. In this work, we intend to produce suggestions of suitable photo-sharing groups from a user's personal photo collection by mining images on the Web and leveraging the collection context. Both visual content and textual annotations are integrated to generate initial prediction of the events or topics depicted in the images. A user collection-based label propagation method is proposed to improve the group suggestion by modeling the relationship of images in the same collection as a sparse weighted graph. Experiments on real user images and comparisons with the state-of-the-art techniques demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approaches.
Brush border myosin-I structure and ADP-dependent conformational changes revealed by cryoelectron microscopy and image analysis

Brush border myosin-I (BBM-I) is a single-headed myosin found in the microvilli of intestinal epithelial cells, where it forms lateral bridges connecting the core bundle of actin filaments to the plasma membrane. Extending previous observations (Jontes, J.D., E.M. Wilson-Kubalek, and R.A. Milligan. 1995. Nature [Lond.]. 378:751-753), we have used cryoelectron microscopy and helical image analysis to generate three-dimensional (3D) maps of actin filaments decorated with BBM-I in both the presence and absence of 1 mM MgADP. In the improved 3D maps, we are able to see the entire light chain-binding domain, containing density for all three calmodulin light chains. This has enabled us to model a high resolution structure of BBM-I using the crystal structures of the chicken skeletal muscle myosin catalytic domain and essential light chain. Thus, we are able to directly measure the full magnitude of the ADP-dependent tail swing. The approximately 31 degrees swing corresponds to approximately 63 A at the end of the rigid light chain-binding domain. Comparison of the behavior of BBM-I with skeletal and smooth muscle subfragments-1 suggests that there are substantial differences in the structure and energetics of the biochemical transitions in the actomyosin ATPase cycle.
Quinone-sensitized steady-state photolysis of acetophenone oximes under aerobic conditions: kinetics and product studies.

Abstract Oxidation of oximes via photosensitized electron transfer (PET) results in the formation of the corresponding ketones as the major product via oxime radical cations and iminoxyl radicals. The influence of electron-releasing and electron-accepting substituents on these reactions was studied. The observed substituent effect strongly supports formation of iminoxyl radicals from the oximes via an electron transfer–proton transfer sequence rather than direct hydrogen atom abstraction. Correlation of the relative conversion of the oximes with Hammett parameters shows that radical effects dominate for the meta-substituted acetophenone oximes (ρrad/ρpol = 5.4; r2 = 0.93), whereas the para-substituted oximes are influenced almost equally by radical and ionic effects (ρrad/ρpol = −1.1; r2 = 0.98). From these data sets we conclude that the follow-up reactions proceed through a number of intermediates with both radical and ionic character. This was confirmed by product studies with the use of an isotopically...
Mapping the Germans: Statistical Science, Cartography and the Visualization of the German Nation: 1848−1914

This book begins with a cartographic anecdote that will appeal to readers interested in the history of maps. The author recollects that his chance sighting of the intricate boundaries on the Pan-Ge...
1H and 15N NMR Characterization of the Amine Groups of Heparan Sulfate Related Glucosamine Monosaccharides in Aqueous Solution

Glucosamine is an important constituent of the heterogeneous glycosaminoglycans heparin and heparan sulfate occurring in N-acetylated and N-sulfated forms, and as the unmodified amine. Though the 1H and 15N NMR chemical shifts of N-acetyl- and N-sulfoglucosamine residues have been extensively characterized, this study provides the first direct NMR characterization of the amine groups of glucosamine and 3-O-sulfoglucosamine in aqueous solution. The solvent exchange properties of the amine protons are examined, and the possibility of a salt bridge between the sulfate and amine groups of 3-O-sulfoglucosamine is explored through 1H NMR pKa measurements but is not supported by the experimental results.
Contact, Incorporation, and the North American Southeast

The broadening of the world-system, which involves the geographic expansion into previously external areas and integration of new economies into its network of economic relationships, is represented in world-system scholarship by two competing views. On the one hand, Wallerstein and his associates treat incorporation as being specifically contingent on the routine and systematic economic exchange for durable goods produced in the previously external area to the benefit of the core. In contrast, Hall and Chase-Dunn contend that incorporation is a synchronous process that takes different forms depending onthe relative locations within the hierarchical world-economy of both the previously external areas and the incorporating area. Using the sixteenth-century North American Southeast as an episode of incorporation, this study examines the contact relationship between early European explorers and the indigenous groups in the formerly external area. My goal is to illuminate more fully how contact may permanently alter the social organization and relations within the region and, consequently, the form taken by subsequent integration into the world-system.
The Holy Spirit in the Hebrew Scriptures

Introduction For many Christians, speaking about the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament seems like an oxymoron (contradiction) and anachronism (mistiming) for two reasons: (1) Their presupposition that this Gift of God is only with believers after the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (according to Acts 2) and His activities afterward (Acts 3-28). Against this claim stands plentiful material about the work of the Spirit of the Lord/God in the Hebrew Bible. (2) Their misunderstanding of Jesus’s statement: “Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified” (John 7:39). Christ’s proclamation does not mean that the Holy Spirit was not present, active, and engaging during the Old Testament period (ample evidence testifies against this popular standpoint), but it signifies that the Spirit of the Lord could
Inadvertent Hyperventilation During Intraoperative Anesthetic Care in the Pediatric Population

Background. Recent clinical data suggest that inadvertent intraoperative hyperventilation may have long-lasting deleterious effects during the postoperative period with the potential for exaggerating the respiratory depressant effect of opioids. The current study identified the incidence of inadvertent hyperventilation during intraoperative anesthetic care in a cohort of pediatric patients. Methods. A retrospective review of the electronic medical record system was performed on patients undergoing posterior spinal fusion. These patients were chosen as arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis is routinely performed for such cases. ABG data were analyzed for the occurrence of hyperventilation, defined as alkalosis (pH ≥ 7.45) concurrent with hypocarbia (PaCo2 ≤ 35 mm Hg). Results. The study cohort included 166 patients who ranged in age from 22 months to 21 years. There were a total of 452 ABG samples obtained. Hyperventilation with the combination of alkalosis and hypocarbia was noted in 40 of the 452 (9%) ABG sa...
THE FORECAST ICING POTENTIAL ALGORITHM

The Forecast Icing Potential (FIP) algorithm was developed at the National Center for Atmospheric Research under the Federal Aviation Administration's Aviation Weather Research Program. The FIP examines output from a numerical weather prediction model to calculate the potential for in-flight aircraft icing conditions. This icing potential demonstrates the confidence that a three-dimensional atmospheric location, represented by a model grid box, will contain icing conditions. The algorithm uses a combination of weather scenarios and fuzzy logic membership functions to compute the icing potential.
The upper theatre at Balboura

The archaeological survey of Balboura in northern Lycia conducted between 1985 and 1990 under the direction of J. J. Coulton permitted the recording of a number of architectural monuments including two theatres. The first, located at the edge of the valley 200 metres south of the Roman town, was studied during the 1987 season and has been presented in a previous issue of Anatolian Studies as an unfinished monument of the late Roman period. The second theatre, situated on the steep southern slope of the acropolis hill some 70 metres above the floor of the gorge, was surveyed in the summer of 1990 and is the subject of this paper (Figs. 1, 2, 3).The monument was first described—briefly and without drawings—by Spratt and Forbes who made a hurried survey of the city site in 1842. Peterson and Von Luschan came through in 1882 and later published without comment the first photograph showing the impressive levelling platform that supported the scene building. The only study in modern times has been that of de Bernardi Ferrero which appeared in the second volume of her monumental corpus of classical theatres in Asia Minor. Time apparently did not permit a thorough survey which is hardly surprising considering the enormous scope of her undertaking but her observations, as far as they go, are sound, and her photographs numerous and well chosen. De Bernardi Ferrero's graphic documentation is inadequate, however, especially as regards the original appearance of the stage building which, although almost thoroughly denuded, provides more surface clues than her drawings indicate. Her late Hellenistic designation for the building, which remains unexcavated and has produced no inscriptions, is, in any case, accepted here.
Exploring African American Women's Perceptions of a Social Marketing Campaign to Promote HIV Testing

We tested the reliability of a new perceived effectiveness scale for HIV testing media messages and examined whether perceived effectiveness of the Take Charge. Take the Test campaign is predictive...
Falls in Patients With Heart Failure: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Many heart failure patients show fall-related signs/symptoms including postural hypotension, cerebellar injury, and cognitive impairments. Falls contribute to injuries, increased healthcare use, and death, but falls have been understudied in this population. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this review is to identify fall rates, fall injuries, and risk factors for falls in heart failure patients. METHODS: A systematic literature review was conducted using MEDLINE, CINAHL, PubMed, PsycINFO, and Cochrane Library to identify publications from August 1973 to June 2013. Keywords were accidental falls, heart failure, fall rates, fall injuries, and fall risk. Inclusion criteria were publications that were primary data based, included heart failure sample, had falls/fall risk as study variables, and were written in English language. Exclusion criteria were quality improvement/evaluation, case reports/studies, news, opinions, narrative reviews, meeting reports, reflections, and letters to editors. Data were abstracted using a standardized data collection form. RESULTS: Four publications met the inclusion criteria. In the first study, fall rate was 43%, which is higher than the fall rates among community-dwelling older adults. Fall-related injuries were not examined in any of studies. Benzodiazepines and digoxin were identified as medications that increased risk of falls in 1 case-control study. Loop diuretics were not significantly associated with falls in 1 cohort study. In the fourth study, patients who had poor gait and balance were at greater risk of falling. CONCLUSIONS: Future studies are needed to determine factors associated with falls, characterize injuries resulting from falls, and most importantly design testable interventions to prevent falls in heart failure patients. Language: en
Special Functions of Sorbitol on Rice Somatic Cell Culture

The effects of sorbitol and mannitol as carbon source on callus induction, plantlet regeneration and haploidchromosome doubling in diploid and haploid young panicle culture of indica rice line TC90 were studied. The results showedthat 2% or 4% sorbitol as medium carbon source could efficiently maintain explants alive at least for 25 days, and plantlet regeneration frequency reached 52. 6% and 90. 0% respectively, and haploid doubling rate reached as high as 30. 5%. On thecontrary, the explants did not produce any callus, became pale, shrunk and died out after being cultured seven days when 2%or 4% mannitol used as carbon source.
The value of sentinel lymph node biopsy in Merkel cell carcinoma.

The review of sentinel lymph-node biopsy (SLNB) in 721 patients with Merkel Cell Carcinoma (MCC) by Gunaratne and co-workers (1) is a valuable addition to the literature, but reflects many of the dilemmas surrounding the use of SLNB in malignant melanoma (2). Thus it is impossible to draw any conclusions from this review as to whether SLNB followed by completion lymphadenectomy in positive cases confers any survival advantage over observation, as no randomized trial has been performed in patients with MCC, and retrospective comparisons are invalid for the reasons pointed out by the authors. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
H-2 Genes in TMEV-Induced Demyelination, A Model for Multiple Sclerosis

Theiler’s murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV) is a natural enteric pathogen of mice which, upon entry into the CNS, sets up a persistent infection that, in some strains of mice, results in an immunologically-mediated, progressive chronic demyelinating disease with histopathological and clinical similarities to human multiple sclerosis. Although the CNS virus infection persists in all strains, only some go on to develop the demyelinating disease. This susceptibility has a strong genetic basis which involves both H-2 and non-H-2 loci. Comparisons involving different combinations of susceptible and resistant strains indicate the involvement of numerous loci, not all of which are apparent in any given comparison. The differences between the susceptible DBA/2J and resistant C57BL/6 and C57BL/10 strains are primarily dependent upon H-2 genotype and at least one non-H-2 gene, with resistance being dominant to susceptibility. The D region of H-2 has a strong influence (H-2 b associated with resistance and H-2 d with susceptibility) and substitution, in appropriate hybrids, of single gene mutations of the H-2D b gene abrogates resistance. This may mean that resistance is, in fact, an active process mediated, for example, by specific suppression.
On the degradation of superhydrophobic surfaces: A review

Abstract A review of the superhydrophobicity of engineering surfaces with particular emphasis on the effect of friction and wear on the wetting characteristics is presented. Different theoretical aspects, experimental practices, and numerical modeling techniques are discussed. The problem of stability and durability of superhydrophobic surfaces from both theoretical and practical points of view is emphasized. Also reviewed are recent developments in producing mechanically-durable superhydrophobic surfaces.
Novel Model of Stimulation-Responsive Splicing for Generation of Immunogenic Isoforms of Tumor Antigens and Autoantigens.

Alternative splicing is a process that removes introns and alters exons to generate multiple isoforms from a single pre-mRNA transcript. Alternative splicing is the major mechanism by which a small number of human genes (6 × 104) can encode the larger complexity of the human proteome (1 × 106 proteins). Previously we demonstrated that alternative splicing of apoptosis-regulatory protein transcripts regulates immune responses by modulating lymphocyte survival ( Immunity, 1997; Mol. Immunol. 2002; J Exp Med , 2002; Oncogene 2005; Biochem J, 2005). To examine the hypothesis that alternative splicing plays a role in selection of nonmutated self-protein isoforms for tumor antigens and autoantigens, recently, we showed that alternative splicing is a major mechanism in regulation of the immunogenicity of tumor antigen CML66 ( J. Immunol . 2004). In addition, we found that alternative splicing occurs in 100% of the autoantigen transcripts. This is significantly higher than the approximately 42% rate of alternative splicing observed in the 10,000 randomly selected human gene transcripts ( p <0.001) [ J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. , 2004 (cover article)]. Here, we report that essential alternative splicing factor ASF/SF2 expression in samples from patients with chronic inflammation is lower than that of the healthy controls ( p <0.05). In addition, TNF-a significantly downregulates ASF/SF2 expression (7 folds) in cultured cells in comparison to the expression variations of b-actin control. These findings demonstrate that ASF/SF2, presumably affecting splicing of self-antigen transcripts, is downregulated in autoimmune inflammatory disease potentially via a TNF-a-mediated pathway. Collectively, we propose for the first time a novel model of “stimulation-responsive splicing”, which emphasizes that stimulation-responsive splicing plays a critical role in selection of nonmutated self-protein isoforms to become tumor antigens and autoantigens ( Clin. Immunol. Invited Review, in press, 2006). The new model for the definition of immunogenic isoforms of tumor antigens and autoantigens is significant in facilitating the development of: 1. immunogenic antigen isoform microarrays for disease diagnosis and prognosis; 2. autoantigen-tolerizing therapy and splicing-redirection therapy for autoimmune diseases; and 3. immunogenic antigen isoforms-based immunotherapy for tumors.
A New Subfamily of Wasps Recorded for Trinidad, West Indies (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae: Astatinae)

The 120 known species of Crabronidae represent a substantial component of the aculeate Hymenoptera of Trinidad, West Indies (Starr and Hook 2003). This world- wide family of solitary wasps is divided into eight sub- families (Pulawski 2006), of which four are recorded from Trinidad. My purpose here is to report the first record of a fifth subfamily, Astatinae, for the Trinidad fauna.
Evaluation of a concentric biopsychosocial model of well-being in persons with spinal cord injuries.

OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to evaluate a concentric biopsychosocial model of well-being in individuals with spinal cord injuries (SCI). METHOD Adults (N = 235) with SCI participated in this study. A cross-sectional design with hierarchical regression and Andrew Hayes' (2013) PROCESS mediation analysis procedure was used to evaluate the model. RESULTS Each step of the hierarchical regression on life satisfaction, in which biological variables were entered first, social variables were entered second, and psychological variables were entered third, was significant. Examining the standardized partial coefficients, pain, interpersonal self-efficacy, social support, hope-agency, and self-esteem were all significantly associated with life satisfaction, controlling for variables in each outward ring of the concentric model. Four serial mediational analyses were also conducted in which the social and psychological variables significantly partially mediated the relationship between pain and life satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS The results provide support for a concentric biopsychosocial model of well-being in persons with SCI. Rehabilitation interventions should focus on augmenting biopsychosocial factors to allow for maximum improvement in well-being outcomes in individuals with SCI. (PsycINFO Database Record
A multiparametric approach to improve upon existing prostate cancer screening and biopsy recommendations.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW To provide an overview of how genetic, serum, and urine biomarkers can help identify men at high risk for prostate cancer (PCa) and aggressive disease and men who would benefit from prostate biopsy. RECENT FINDINGS Screening for PCa is controversial because of concerns about overdiagnosis and overtreatment of nonlife-threatening tumors. Therefore, an approach to screening that includes a detailed family history with genetic testing of risk single nucleotide polymorphisms and high-penetrance genetic variants should be considered. After an elevated serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level has been confirmed, obtaining additional information (family history, biomarkers, and imaging) should be considered before recommending a prostate biopsy. SUMMARY There are now genetic tests that can help identify men who would benefit from PSA testing. Additional biomarker and imaging tests should be offered to those men who are confirmed to have elevated PSA values. These new biomarkers and imaging tests can improve the specificity of PSA testing while missing a small percentage of high-grade tumors. The path forward involves a multiparametric risk assessment based on clinical data and these new tests.
George Demko, 1933–2015: Engaging, Emphatic, Empowering

Our memorial to a longtime friend, George Demko, looks at his career accomplishments through the eyes of some of his former students, colleagues, and a publisher. In their own words, rather than ou...
Abstract WP407: Assessing Quality of Patient Care in Pediatric Stroke Hospitalizations: An Analysis of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample

Introduction: The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services hospital-acquired conditions (HACs) and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality patient safety indicators (PSIs) are quality metr...
DNA Supercoiling and Gene Expression

The supercoiling of intracellular DNA and its influence on gene expression is briefly reviewed. In prokaryotes such as Escherichia coli, the degree of supercoiling is maintained by the actions of at least two DNA topoisomerases: an ATP-dependent enzyme DNA gyrase which reduces the linking number (negative supercoiling) and an ATP-independent enzyme DNA topoisomerase I which relaxes negatively supercoiled DNA. The expression of different genes is affected differently by supercoiling of the DNA; as the DNA becomes more negatively supercoiled, the expression of some genes is enhanced, while that of others is depressed or relatively unaffected. In eukaryotes, the existence of a gyrase-like enzyme that actively supercoils intracellular DNA is uncertain. Indirect evidence suggests, however, that DNA supercoiling may also occur and may have strong effects on gene expression. Some possibilities are raised that DNA supercoiling does not necessarily require a gyrase-type activity; in particular, the possibility that the transcription process itself in eukaryotes may cause supercoiling is discussed.
Thermal Control of Confined Crystallization within P3EHT Block Copolymer Microdomains

The local, nanoscale organization of crystallites in conjugated polymers is often critical to determining the charge transport properties of the system. Block copolymer geometries, which offer controlled nanostructures with tethering of chains at interfaces, are an ideal platform to study the local organization of conjugated polymer crystallites. The model conjugated polymer poly(3-(2′-ethyl)hexylthiophene) (P3EHT) features a depressed melting temperature relative to the widely studied poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT), which allows it to robustly form microphase-separated domains that confine the subsequent P3EHT crystallites. Importantly, P3EHT crystallization in confinement is coupled to a rubbery second block via interfacial tethering, mechanical properties, and chain stretching. Here, the impact of thermal processing on the diblock copolymer structure is examined to elucidate the key driving forces controlling the final coupled diblock copolymer and crystalline structures. Surprisingly, the diblock copol...
MRI Contrast Agents

The goal of most MRI contrast agents is to shorten the T1 of water in an imaged voxel. By shortening the T1, the signal intensity of the voxel increases on T1-weighted images, thereby making the signal brighter. This is applied for both vascular enhancement as well as increasing the conspicuity of tumors. Unlike CT contrast agents, the contrast agents are not imaged directly in MRI but rather the contrast agents affect the adjacent water molecules in a way that shorten their T1. The use of MRI contrast agents in oncological PET/MRI applications is discussed in this chapter. We will review the available gadolinium contrast agents used clinically, as well as additional agents that can be used to provide contrast in MRI.
Decoration of Cotton Fibers with a Water-Stable Metal-Organic Framework (UiO-66) for the Decomposition and Enhanced Adsorption of Micropollutants in Water

We report on the successful functionalization of cotton fabrics with a water-stable metal-organic framework (MOF), UiO-66, under mild solvothermal conditions (80 °C) and its ability to adsorb and degrade water micropollutants. The functionalized cotton samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). UiO-66 crystals grew in a uniform and conformal manner over the surface of the cotton fibers. The cotton fabrics functionalized with UiO-66 frameworks exhibited an enhanced uptake capacity for methylchlorophenoxypropionic acid (MCPP), a commonly used herbicide. The functionalized fabrics also showed photocatalytic activity, demonstrated by the degradation of acetaminophen, a common pharmaceutical compound, under simulated sunlight irradiation. These results indicate that UiO-66 can be supported on textile substrates for filtration and photocatalytic purposes and that these substrates can find applications in wastewater decontamination and micropollutant degradation.
Breast Hormone Concentrations in Random Fine-Needle Aspirates of Healthy Women Associate with Cytological Atypia and Gene Methylation

Sex steroid hormones contribute to breast cancer development, but data on concentrations of these within breast tissue are limited. We performed simultaneous multi-parameter measurement of breast sex steroids, breast epithelial cytology, and DNA methylation in 119 healthy women (54 pre- and 65 postmenopausal) without a history of breast cancer. Random fine needle aspiration (rFNA) of the breast was performed simultaneously with blood collection. Breast samples were analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry for estrone, estradiol, progesterone, androstenedione, and testosterone. Blood samples were assayed for estradiol and progesterone by immunoassay. Cytomorphology was classified using the Masood Score, and DNA methylation of eight genes was analyzed using quantitative multiplexed methylation-specific PCR, and expressed as the cumulative methylation index (CMI). Serum and breast concentrations of estradiol and progesterone showed significant correlation (Spearman r= 0.34, adjusted p= 0.001 and r= 0.69, adjusted p l 0.0006, respectively). Progesterone concentration was significantly higher in the premenopausal breast (adjusted p l 0.0008), and showed a luteal surge. Breast estrone and estradiol concentrations did not differ significantly by menopause, but androstenedione concentration was higher in the breasts of postmenopausal women (p= 0.026 and adjusted p= 0.208). Breast androgens were significantly correlated with breast density (Spearman r = 0.27, adjusted p= 0.02 for testosterone) and CMI (Spearman r= 0.3, adjusted p= 0.038 for androstenedione). Our data indicate that future larger studies of breast steroid hormones along with other parameters are feasible. Significant associations of breast androgen concentrations with breast density and gene methylation warrant future study.
Effects of Intranasal Oxytocin on Stress-Induced Cigarette Craving in Daily Smokers

Background Cigarette smoking is a well-known public health concern, and there is an urgent need to develop new treatments to reduce smoking or facilitate abstinence. One factor that is known to contribute to relapse is stress, making the stress response an important target for treatment. The neuropeptide oxytocin (OT) is believed to have stress-reducing effects, and in addition there is evidence that it reduces drug craving. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of intranasal OT on stress-induced cigarette craving in regular smokers after 12 h of abstinence. Method Daily smokers (n = 48) completed a stress induction task and a nonstressful control task at two different sessions, receiving intranasal OT (40 IU) or placebo (PBO) before or after the task. Subjects were randomly assigned to one of three groups: Group PP (n = 16) received PBO before and after the stress/control tasks, Group OP (n = 16) received OT before the tasks and PBO after, and Group PO (n = 16) received PBO before the tasks and OT shortly after completing the tasks. Cigarette craving as well as subjective and physiological responses to stress was assessed. Results OT did not alter responses to stress, whether it was administered before or after the stressful task, on measures of cigarette craving, anxiety, heart rate, blood pressure, and cortisol levels. Conclusions The current study findings do not support several previous reports that OT reduced either stress or drug craving. Implications This study finds a null result of the neuropeptide oxytocin on stress-induced cigarette craving. Reporting null findings is part of the process of identifying potential treatments for addictive disorders.
Biology and integrated pest management of Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Schrank) infesting dry cured hams

Abstract The biology and physiology of Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Schrank) (Sarcoptiformes: Acaridae), also known as the ham, cheese or mold mite, is reviewed along with methods that have been evaluated for managing and controlling this pest. This review was conducted because the ham mite is an important target pest of the dry cured ham industry. Methyl bromide has been historically used to control mite infestations, but is now banned or being phased out of use in most countries because it is an ozone-depleting substance. Only commercially available stockpiles and quarantine and pre-shipment methyl bromide are available for use in countries that require such action. This review compares the effectiveness and feasibility of recently investigated methods to control mite infestations on dry cured ham and to discuss integrated pest management plans for ham mites. The review also proposes methods for conducting a prevention and monitoring-based integrated pest management program that relies on definitive mitigation such as fumigation only when mite numbers exceed a critical action threshold.
Maize Transposable Element Dynamics

Transposable elements (TEs) are among the most important factors in the evolution of gene and genome structure/function in plants. All plant genomes contain mostly quiescent TEs that are activated, independently by family, in currently unpredictable timeframes by largely unknown phenomena. Different reawakened or horizontally transferred TE families can remain active for as little as a few years to as much as a few million years, and the reasons for these duration-of-activity differences are also not known. The maize lineage has seen extraordinary TE activity, and changes in TE activity, over the last few million years, and much of this dynamic continues to be ongoing. Hence, studies of TE biology have been particularly informative in maize, and will continue to be so. This review describes the history of TE activity over the last few million years in the maize lineage, briefly mentions the extensive literature regarding maize TE regulation, and suggests approaches for characterizing the processes that determine which TEs are active: where, when, how and why.
Interruptions: Reflecting-in-Action in Preservice Math Methods Courses

ABSTRACTThis article responds to what seems a nearly ubiquitous call for teachers to be reflective practitioners. Despite near consensus that self-reflection benefits the classroom teacher, teacher...
SeeingVR: A Set of Tools to Make Virtual Reality More Accessible to People with Low Vision

Current virtual reality applications do not support people who have low vision, i.e., vision loss that falls short of complete blindness but is not correctable by glasses. We present SeeingVR, a set of 14 tools that enhance a VR application for people with low vision by providing visual and audio augmentations. A user can select, adjust, and combine different tools based on their preferences. Nine of our tools modify an existing VR application post hoc via a plugin without developer effort. The rest require simple inputs from developers using a Unity toolkit we created that allows integrating all 14 of our low vision support tools during development. Our evaluation with 11 participants with low vision showed that SeeingVR enabled users to better enjoy VR and complete tasks more quickly and accurately. Developers also found our Unity toolkit easy and convenient to use.
Experience-Driven Congestion Control: When Multi-Path TCP Meets Deep Reinforcement Learning

In this paper, we aim to study networking problems from a whole new perspective by leveraging emerging deep learning, to develop an experience-driven approach, which enables a network or a protocol to learn the best way to control itself from its own experience (e.g., runtime statistics data), just as a human learns a skill. We present design, implementation and evaluation of a deep reinforcement learning (DRL)-based control framework, DRL-CC (DRL for Congestion Control), which realizes our experience-driven design philosophy on multi-path TCP (MPTCP) congestion control. DRL-CC utilizes a single (instead of multiple independent) agent to dynamically and jointly perform congestion control for all active MPTCP flows on an end host with the objective of maximizing the overall utility. The novelty of our design is to utilize a flexible recurrent neural network, LSTM, under a DRL framework for learning a representation for all active flows and dealing with their dynamics. Moreover, we, for the first time, integrate the above LSTM-based representation network into an actor-critic framework for continuous (congestion) control, which leverages the emerging deterministic policy gradient to train critic, actor, and LSTM networks in an end-to-end manner. We implemented DRL-CC based on the MPTCP implementation in the Linux kernel. The experimental results show that 1) DRL-CC consistently and significantly outperforms a few well-known MPTCP congestion control algorithms in terms of goodput without sacrificing fairness, 2) it is flexible and robust to highly-dynamic network environments with time-varying flows, and 3) it is friendly to regular TCP.
Gel filtration studies of serum B12 binding: an abnormal pattern in patients with vitamin B12 deficiency.

57CoB12 was added to serum in vitro to study its binding by the three known serum B12-binders in patients with vitamin B12 deficiency and in normal controls. Gel filtration through columns of Sephadex G-200 was used to separate the low (beta) and high (alpha1 and beta) molecular weight B12-binding fractions. Electrophoresis on filter paper was used to separate the alpha1- and beta-globulins. The alpha1-globulin fraction in the serum of B12-deficient patients bound more of the added 57CoB12 than did this fraction in normal serum, presumably because this binder of the serum endogenous vitamin B12 is much less saturated in B12-deficiency. However, the total B12 binding capacity of the alpha1-globulin (for endogenous plus added vitamin B12) was lower in B12-deficient than in normal serum. The low molecular weight beta-binder bound more added 57CoB12 in B12-deficient than in normal serum, whereas the high molecular weight beta binder had a much lower B12-binding capacity in deficient than in normal serum. These abnormalities were independent of the cause of the vitamin B12 deficiency and disappeared after successful treatment with vitamin B12.
Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of clodronate disodium evaluated in plasma, synovial fluid and urine.

Background Clodronate is a non-nitrogenated bisphosphonate approved for use in horses. There are no peer-reviewed published reports describing the pharmacokinetics or evaluating renal health indices and urinary excretion patterns in conjunction with plasma and synovial fluid concentration following the systemic administration of clodronate to horses. Objectives Describe clodronate concentrations in plasma, urine and synovial fluid and evaluate the effects on renal indices after intramuscular administration to healthy horses. Study design Experimental study with repeated measures. Methods Six healthy adult horses received a single intramuscular dose of clodronate (1.8 mg/kg). Blood, synovial fluid and urine were collected prior to and after administration of clodronate up to 72, 48 and 168 hours respectively. Drug concentrations were measured using LC-MS/MS and noncompartmental pharmacokinetic analysis was performed. Renal function indices were also evaluated. Results Clodronate was quantifiable for up to 24 hours in plasma and 48 hours in synovial fluid and detected at all time points in urine. Maximum plasma concentration of clodronate 210 ± 68.2 ng/mL occurred at approximately 34.8 ± 0.2 minutes after administration, while peak synovial concentration (57.7 ± 32.8 ng/mL) occurred at 2.67 ± 2.32 hours after administration and peak urine concentration (88 358.2 ± 79 521.4 ng/mL) occurred at 2.67 ± 2.58 hours post administration. Terminal half-life in plasma was 3.32 ± 1.25 and was 4.8 ± 3.05 hours in synovial fluid. Creatinine concentrations rose significantly after treatment but remained within normal adult reference ranges at all times. Main limitations Limited number of animals and sampling times and the absence of urine collection for determination of concentration beyond 7 days. Conclusions Clodronate is rapidly cleared from the blood and synovial fluid. It has variable and biphasic urinary excretion. While significant increase in blood creatinine concentrations was present after a single intramuscular dose of clodronate, values were never above the normal reference range. Further studies are warranted in horses undergoing exercise and those undergoing multiple dosing schemes.
Selection driven tumor evolution involving non-cell autonomous environmental engineering leads to patterns of clonal expansion consistent with neutral evolution

Tumors arise and progress according to the laws of Darwinian evolution. i.e., an interplay between mutational diversification and environmental selection. While the mutational component of somatic evolution is relatively well understood, the nature of the selection forces acting on populations of tumor cells, and how these forces are impacted by interactions between subclonal populations as they cooperate and compete for limited resources, remains poorly understood. As space is the key growth-limiting resource, both the ability to create this resource through engineering, achieved by degrading extracellular matrix, and the ability to utilize this resource effectively through maximizing proliferation, are likely to be under strong selection. While the ability to proliferate is a cell-intrinsic property, degradation of ECM is achieved through secretion of matrix-degrading enzymes, representing public good, which can benefit both producers and non-producers. Assuming the well-established principle of evolutionary tradeoff, we used agent-based modeling to explore the interplay between engineering and consumption strategies in evolving populations of tumor cells, as well as the impact of this interplay on tumor heterogeneity and clonal composition in space and time. We found that that this interplay results in ecological succession, enabling generation of large, heterogenous and highly proliferative populations. Surprisingly, even though in our simulations both engineering and consumption strategies were under strong positive selection, their interplay led to sub-clonal architecture that could be interpreted as neutral evolution with sampling strategies commonly used in tumor genome analyses. Our results warrant more careful interpretation of inferences from sequencing cancer genomes and highlight the importance of consideration of ecological aspects of somatic evolution.
The Risk of Incarceration During Nonoperative Management of Incisional Hernias: A Population-based Analysis of 30,998 Patients.

Objective The aim of the study was to quantify the risk of incarceration of incisional hernias. Background Operative repair is the definitive treatment for incisional ventral hernias but is often deferred if the perceived risk of elective operation is elevated secondary to comorbid conditions. The risk of incarceration during nonoperative management (NOM) factors into shared decision making by patient and surgeon; however, the incidence of acute incarceration remains largely unknown. Methods A retrospective analysis of adult patients with an International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision or Tenth Revision diagnosis of incisional hernia was conducted from 2010 to 2017 in 15 hospitals of a single healthcare system. The primary outcome was incarceration necessitating emergent operation. The secondary outcome was 30-, 90-, and 365-day mortality. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to determine independent predictors of incarceration. Results Among 30,998 patients with an incisional hernia (mean age 58.1 ± 15.9 years; 52.7% female), 23,022 (78.1%) underwent NOM of whom 540 (2.3%) experienced incarceration, yielding a 1- and 5-year cumulative incidence of 1.24% and 2.59%, respectively. Independent variables associated with incarceration included: age older than 40 years, female sex, current smoker, body mass index 30 or greater, and a hernia-related inpatient admission. All-cause mortality rates at 30, 90, and 365 days were significantly higher in the incarceration group at 7.2%, 10%, and 14% versus 1.1%, 2.3%, and 5.3% in patients undergoing successful NOM, respectively. Conclusions Incarceration is an uncommon complication of NOM but is associated with a significant risk of death. Tailored decision making for elective repair and considering the aforementioned risk factors for incarceration provides an initial step toward mitigating the excess morbidity and mortality of an incarceration event.
Deriving coordinate nouns with Merge and Principles of efficient computation

We analyze coordinate nouns in English and derive their properties from Merge and Principles of efficient computation. The proposed analysis relies on extended projections for the coordinate conjunction and provides derivations to the interfaces with consequences for the externalization of the coordinator and the semantic interpretation of the coordinate nouns. The proposed analysis challenges associative theories of learning. It also challenges the view that apparently simplex forms, two-words expressions, are remnants of a previous stage in the evolution of language. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- DERIVANDO NOMES COORDENADOS COM MERGE E PRINCIPIOS DE COMPUTACAO EFICIENTE Analisamos nomes coordenados em ingles e derivamos suas propriedades a partir de Merge e de Principios de computacao eficiente. A analise proposta baseia-se em projecoes estendidas para as conjuncoes coordenadas e fornece derivacoes para as interfaces com consequencias para a externalizacao do coordenador e a interpretacao semântica dos nomes coordenados. A analise proposta desafia as teorias associativas de aprendizagem. Tambem desafia a visao de que formas aparentemente simples, expressoes de duas palavras, sao resquicios de um estagio anterior na evolucao da linguagem. --- Original em ingles.
Timely Family Feedback to Guide Family Engagement in the Intensive Care Unit.

BACKGROUND Organizations motivated to provide high-quality care in the intensive care unit are exploring strategies to engage families in patient care. Such initiatives are based on emerging evidence that family engagement improves quality and safety of care. OBJECTIVE To gather family feedback to guide future nurse-led quality improvement efforts to engage families in the intensive care unit setting. METHODS The Critical Care Family Satisfaction Survey, which consists of 20 items rated from 1 (very dissatisfied) to 5 (very satisfied), was paired with open-ended questions and administered to families during the intensive care unit stay from March through December 2017. Content analysis was used to identify themes regarding the family experience. RESULTS Responses were collected from 178 family members. The mean (SD) score on the survey was 4.65 (0.33). Five themes emerged regarding the delivery of family care in the intensive care unit: family interactions with the interdisciplinary team, information sharing and effective communication, family navigation of the intensive care unit environment, family engagement in the intensive care unit, and quality of patient care. CONCLUSIONS This quality improvement project provided foundational information to guide family engagement efforts in the intensive care unit. Real-time solicitation of feedback is essential to improving the family experience and guiding family-centered care delivery in this practice environment.
Liquid Metasurface Antennas

This paper describes a novel design of a fully reconfigurable modulated metasurface (MTS) antenna. Current proposed MTS antennas offer limited radiation pattern reconfiguration, which is a crucial design tuning capability for antennas compatible with next-generation communication systems. The proposed MTS antenna consists of individual cylindrical dielectric casings filled with a liquid material, mounted on a ground plane. The dielectric casings are arranged in a regular lattice inside of a circular domain. The proposed design uses additive manufacturing materials, such as ABS and PLA, allowing for rapid-prototyping and decreased production costs. The performance of the antenna has been verified by full-wave simulations, and will be fabricated and tested in the future for further verification.