cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The role of Fgf10 signaling in branching morphogenesis and gene expression of the rat prostate gland: lobe-specific suppression by neonatal estrogens

Brief exposure of rats to high-dose estrogen during the neonatal period interrupts prostate development in a lobe-specific manner and predisposes the gland to dysplasia with aging, a phenomenon referred to as developmental estrogenization. Our previous studies have revealed that these effects are initiated through altered steroid receptor expression; however, the immediate downstream targets remain unclear. We have recently shown that developmental expression of Shh-ptc-gli is downregulated in the dorsolateral prostate following estrogenization, and this is responsible, in part, for branching deficits observed in that prostatic region specifically. In the present study, we examine the role of Fgf10 signaling during rat prostate development and as a mediator of the developmental estrogenized phenotype. Fgf10 and FgfR2iiib localize to the distal signaling center of elongating and branching ducts in separate prostate lobes where they regulate the expression of multiple morphoregulatory genes including Shh, ptc, Bmp7, Bmp4, Hoxb13, and Nkx3.1. Ventral and lateral lobe organ cultures and mesenchyme-free ductal cultures demonstrate a direct role for Fgf10/FgfR2iiib in ductal elongation, branching, epithelial proliferation, and differentiation. Based on these findings, a model is proposed depicting the localized expression and feedback loops between several morphoregulatory factors in the developing prostate that contribute to tightly regulated branching morphogenesis. Similar to Shh-ptc-gli, neonatal estrogen exposure downregulates Fgf10, FgfR2iiib, and Bmp7 expression in the dorsolateral prostate while ventral lobe expression of these genes is unaffected. Lateral prostate organ culture experiments demonstrate that growth and branching inhibition as well as Fgf10/FgfR2iiib suppression are mediated directly at the prostatic level. Furthermore, exogenous Fgf10 fully rescues the growth and branching deficits due to estrogen exposure. Together, these studies demonstrate that alterations in Fgf10 signaling are a proximate cause of Shh-ptc-gli and Bmp7 downregulation that together result in branching inhibition of the dorsolateral prostate following neonatal estrogen exposure.
Transsaccadic Memory and Integration During Real-World Object Perception

What is the nature of the information that is preserved and combined across saccadic eye movements during the visual analysis of real-world objects? The two experiments reported investigated transsaccadic memory and transsaccadic integration, respectively In the critical condition, participants were presented with one set of contours from an object during one fixation and with a complementary set of contours during the next fixation In Experiment 1, participants could at best inconsistently detect contour changes across the saccade In Experiment 2, a change in visible contour had no influence on object identification These results suggest that a veridical representation of object contour is neither consistently preserved nor integrated across a saccade
Effects of Cherries, Honeydew, and Bird Feces on Longevity and Fecundity of Rhagoletis indifferens (Diptera: Tephritidae)

In laboratory experiments, western cherry fruit flies, Rhagoletis indifferens Curran, were exposed to sweet cherries, aphid honeydew, and bird feces to determine fly longevity and fecundity. Longevity was not sustained in females and males exposed to intact unripe cherries or no food, whereas it was in females exposed to intact, fully-ripe cherries, and in females and males exposed to opened unripe or ripe cherries. Females exposed to intact fully-ripe cherries alone usually survived as long as females exposed to sucrose-yeast diets, but fecundity of flies exposed to cherries (79.5–110.8 eggs/female) was lower than that of flies exposed continuously to sucrose-yeast diets (277.5–326.2 eggs/female). Longevity of flies exposed to aphid honeydew was sustained and was similar to that of flies exposed to intact ripe cherries, sucrose-yeast, and sucrose diets. However, exposure to aphid honeydew or bird feces in the absence of ripe cherries did not result in high fecundity (4.6–32.2 eggs/female). Despite the inability of flies to extract nutrients from unripe cherries and the moderate fecundity of flies that were exposed to intact ripe cherries alone, R. indifferens was clearly capable of using its principal host fruit for both sustained longevity and egg production. Results suggest cherries damaged by birds throughout the season and intact fully-ripe cherries later in the season can contribute about the same nutrition as honeydew to female longevity, but that cherries contribute significantly more than either honeydew or bird feces to fecundity in nature.
Joint Distribution of Several Random Variables

Multivariate statistical methods are useful when they offer some advantage over a variable by variable approach. In Example 1.1, we saw that considering one variable at a time may not be optimal for classification purposes. Hence, it is important that we establish some terminology and acquire a basic knowledge of bivariate and multivariate distribution theory. In particular, we shall discuss notions such as independence of random variables, covariance and correlation, marginal and conditional distributions, and linear transformations of random variables. In the spirit of keeping this chapter on an elementary level, we shall restrict ourselves to the case of two variables most of the time, and outline the general case of p ≥ 2 jointly distributed random variables only toward the end in Section 2.10.
Conceptual Changes to the Definition of Borderline Personality Disorder Proposed for DSM-5

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)-5 Personality and Personality Disorders Work Group proposed the elimination of diagnostic criterion sets in favor of a prototype matching system that defines personality disorders using narrative descriptions. Although some research supports this general approach, no empirical studies have yet examined the specific definitions proposed for DSM–5. Given the wide interest in borderline personality disorder (BPD), it is crucial to determine how this methodological shift might affect the content and conceptualization of the diagnosis. Eighty-two experts on BPD provided ratings of the DSM–IV–TR or DSM–5 version of BPD in terms of 37 traits proposed for DSM–5. Analyses revealed significant and meaningful differences among the two constructs, with the DSM–5 version evincing increased interpersonal dependency but a decreased emphasis on antagonism and disinhibition. A second study within a clinical sample demonstrated that both antagonism and disinhibition mediated the relationships between DSM–IV BPD and impairment, suggesting that the proposed changes might have important consequences for BPD’s coverage, prevalence, and nomological network. More globally, our results illustrate that unanticipated shifts in diagnostic constructs can stem from seemingly minor revisions and suggest that research is needed to understand how these, or other changes, might affect our conceptualization, diagnosis, and treatment of BPD.
Recruitment Maneuver in ARDS: A Simple Technique to Improve Oxygenation

Markowitz DH. Recruitment maneuver in ARDS: a simple technique to improve oxygenation. J Intensive Care Med 2001;16:201–203.
Mate Choice Copying in Female Humpback Limia (Limia nigrofasciata, Family Poeciliidae)

Mate choice copying is a mechanism of non-independent mate choice that has important implications for models of evolution and sexual selection. In this study, we examined copying behavior in female humpback limia (Limia nigrofasciata). In three experiments, we allowed a focal female to choose between two males on opposite sides of an aquarium, then repeated the choice trial with the following modifications: (i) with no model female, (ii) with a model female added adjacent to the initially non-preferred male, or (iii) with the model female adjacent to the initially preferred male. In the absence of other females, focal females displayed consistent mate preferences, measured as a significantly higher amount of time spent near the preferred male in both parts of the trial. When a model female was added adjacent to the initially non-preferred male, focal females spent significantly more time near that male than they had in the first part of the trial, and significantly less time near the male they had initially preferred. When we placed the model female next to an initially preferred male as a control, the time spent by the focal female with the initially preferred or initially non-preferred male did not change significantly. We conclude that female mate choice copying may be important in humpback limia, causing focal females to spend more time in preference zones of males they had not at first preferred.
On dropping noisy packets in Kalman filtering over a wireless fading channel

We consider the wireless estimation problem in fading environments which is inherent to many mobile sensor networks. Previous works on wireless estimation in sensor networks have extended the same design principles of data networks by carrying out their analysis under the assumption that the erroneous packets are simply dropped. In this paper, we show that proper use of the information contained in all the packets, including the erroneous ones, can improve the performance considerably. We derive an analytical expression to evaluate the performance improvement, for one class of communication noise characteristics, when the information of all the packets is used in the receiver. We also prove that keeping all the packets can prevent the potential instability that is introduced if erroneous packets are dropped. This suggests that applying the same design principles of data networks to sensor networks can lead to performance degradation as sensor network applications are typically delay sensitive and therefore may require different design strategies. The work also highlights the importance of sharing information between the physical and application layers since extracting the information contained in all the packets would necessitate a cross layer design approach.
Molecular Adsorbent Recirculating System (MARS®) removal of piperacillin/tazobactam in a patient with acetaminophen‐induced acute liver failure

The objective of this study was to illustrate the pharmacokinetic removal of piperacillin/tazobactam in an anuric patient on Molecular Adsorbent Recirculating System (MARS(®)). The patient was a 32-year-old woman who presented to a medical intensive care unit with acute liver failure secondary to an acetaminophen overdose. While awaiting transplant, she was started on MARS therapy as a bridge to liver transplant and empirically started on piperacillin/tazobactam therapy. MARS is an extracorporeal hemofiltration device, which incorporates a continuous venovenous hemofiltration (CVVHD) machine linked to an albumin-enriched dialysate filter to normalize excess electrolytes, metabolic waste, and protein-bound toxins. In addition to protein-bound waste, MARS removes water-soluble, low molecular-weight molecules. The patient received piperacillin/tazobactam 4.5 g infused intravenously over 3 h. A steep decline in serum levels occurred between hours 4 and 6 while MARS continued and no antibiotic was infused. The elimination rate constant (k(e)) for the removal of piperacillin in this patent was 0.453 h(-1) and the half-life (λ) was 1.53 h. The k(e) was 2.9-fold higher than with CVVHD alone and the λ was 3.7-fold shorter. Low levels of piperacillin are achieved during MARS therapy, but in the treatment of more resistant organisms, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, these low levels may not be adequate to achieve bactericidal activity. Drug levels following a standard infusion of 30 min would likely be even lower. Formalized pharmacokinetic studies of piperacillin/tazobactam removal in patients on MARS therapy are necessary to make clear dosing recommendations.
Antigenic heterogeneity and molecular analysis of CopB of Moraxella (Branhamella) catarrhalis

Outer membrane protein (OMP) CopB, an iron-repressible 81-kDa major OMP of Moraxella (Branhamella) catarrhalis has been a major focus of investigation. To assess CopB as a potential vaccine antigen, we elucidated the degree of antigenic and sequence heterogeneity in this protein among strains of M. catarrhalis. Two monoclonal antibodies, 1F5 and 2.9F, which bind to surface-exposed epitopes on CopB recognized 60 and 70% of the strains, respectively. The degree of sequence heterogeneity in CopB was assessed by cloning and sequencing the CopB gene from two different strains of M. catarrhalis and comparing with the published sequence. There was 92 to 96% homology between the sequences at the nucleotide level and 90 to 95% homology at the amino acid level. The variability in the protein sequence is confined mainly to three moderately variable regions. Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of the CopB genes obtained from 20 diverse strains by PCR was performed. Ninety percent of the potential restriction sites in the constant regions and 47% of the potential restriction sites in the variable regions were present in the 20 strains, indicating that the pattern of variable and constant areas in the CopB gene is a general pattern among strains of M. catarrhalis. We conclude that the CopB gene is largely conserved among strains of M. catarrhalis and contains discrete regions which show moderate heterogeneity among strains.
All-optical linear detection for optical CDMA communication systems

All-optical linear multiuser detectors for optical direct detection CDMA are presented. It is found that under certain constraints all the weights of a linear FIR filter detector are 0-1. The performance of these detectors is examined using large deviations theory. >
Discovering frequent itemsets in the presence of highly frequent items

This paper presents new techniques for focusing the discovery of frequent itemsets within large, dense datasets containing highly frequent items. The existence of highly frequent items adds significantly to the cost of computing the complete set of frequent itemsets. Our approach allows for the exclusion of such items during the candidate generation phase of the Apriori algorithm. Afterwards, the highly frequent items can be reintroduced, via an inferencing framework, providing for a capability to generate frequent itemsets without counting their frequency. We demonstrate the use of these new techniques within the well-studied framework of the Apriori algorithm. Furthermore, we provide empirical results using our techniques on both synthetic and real datasets - both relevant since the real datasets exhibit statistical characteristics different from the probabilistic assumptions behind the synthetic data. The source we used for real data was the U.S. Census.
Restoration of Circadian Rhythmicity by Transplants of SCN "Micropunches"

Although it is widely accepted that the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) of the hypothalamus serve as biological pacemakers regulating circadian rhythmicity, a number of studies suggest that some circadian rhythms may be controlled by extra-SCN structures. Transplantation of fetal anterior hypothalamic tissue containing the SCN restores circadian locomotor rhythms in SCN-lesioned hosts. Such transplants, however, contain substantial extra-SCN hypothalamic tissue. In the present study, the authors examined the recovery of circadian locomotor rhythms in animals implanted with small grafts harvested by taking "micropunches" from vibratome-sectioned brain slices. Micropunches were taken from three areas of the hypothalamus known to receive retinal input: the SCN, the subparaventricular zone, and the supraoptic nucleus. The results indicate that transplants restricted to the SCN region are necessary and sufficient for restoration of circadian locomotor activity rhythms and that micropunches of tissues from other s...
Global Transsaccadic Change Blindness During Scene Perception

Each time the eyes are spatially reoriented via a saccadic eye movement, the image falling on the retina changes. How visually specific are the representations that are functional across saccades during active scene perception? This question was investigated with a saccade-contingent display-change paradigm in which pictures of complex real-world scenes were globally changed in real time during eye movements. The global changes were effected by presenting each scene as an alternating set of scene strips and occluding gray bars, and by reversing the strips and bars during specific saccades. The results from two experiments demonstrated a global transsaccadic change-blindness effect, suggesting that point-by-point visual representations are not functional across saccades during complex scene perception.
Women and strenuous work.

Eight females (mean age 19.6 years) worked on a treadmill for a work day consisting of eight partially counterbalanced 45-minute periods (one of light work, two of moderate work, three of heavy wor...
A Novel Refrigebating Machine

In 1951 Professor K. W. Taconis of Leiden patented the novel refrigerating system to be discussed (U.S. P. 2,567,474). A very similar machine was patented by Vuilleumier in 1918 (U.S. P. 1,275, 507). Vannevar Bush patented a related machine in 1938 (U.S. P. 2, 127, 286). These machines have several features in common.
Capital Gains Taxes and Asset Prices: Capitalization or Lock-In?

This paper examines the impact on asset prices from a reduction in the long-term capital gains tax rate using an equilibrium approach that considers both buyers' and sellers' responses. We demonstrate that the equilibrium impact of capital gains taxes reflects both the capitalization effect (i.e., capital gains taxes decrease demand) and the lock-in effect (i.e., capital gains taxes decrease supply). Depending on time periods and stock characteristics, either effect may dominate. Using the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 as our event, we find evidence supporting a dominant capitalization effect in the week following news that sharply increased the probability of a reduction in the capital gains tax rate and a dominant lock-in effect in the week after the rate reduction became effective. Non-dividend paying stocks (whose shareholders only face capital gains taxes) experience higher average returns during the week the capitalization effect dominates and stocks with large embedded capital gains and high individual ownership exhibit lower average returns during the week the lock-in effect dominates. We also find that the tax cut increases the trading volume in non-dividend paying stocks during the dominant capitalization week and in stocks with large embedded capital gains and high individual ownership during the dominant lock-in week.
Management of Parenteral Nutrition in Acutely Ill Patients With Hyperglycemia

Many hospital clinicians manage patients with hyperglycemia receiving nutrition support. Recent studies underscore the importance of tight glucose control in hospitalized patients. Over the short term, hyperglycemia can adversely affect fluid balance, immune function, inflammation, and outcome; glucose control can improve these effects. Because this appears to be true for patients with and without a known diagnosis of diabetes, hyperglycemia should be aggressively treated in all patients. Avoidance or minimization of hypoglycemia also is important. In general, the nutrition assessment, indications for nutrition support, and estimate of nutrition requirements for critically ill patients with hyperglycemia are similar to those of nondiabetic patients. Because overfeeding may cause hyperglycemia, appropriate provision of calories is essential. Although the technology to deliver tight glycemic control in intensive care unit settings is widely available, implementing a safe and effective program requires standardized approaches. Studies testing which insulin infusion safely achieves tight glucose control are limited. Further research should focus on the risks and benefits of parenteral nutrition use in this group of patients, as well as on optimal methods of achieving glucose control.
Reduced Antarctic meridional overturning circulation reaches the North Atlantic Ocean

[1] We analyze abyssal temperature data in the western North Atlantic Ocean from the 1980s–2000s, showing that reductions in Antarctic Bottom Water (AABW) signatures have reached even that basin. Trans-basin oceanographic sections occupied along 52°W from 1983–2003 and 66°W from 1985–2003 quantify abyssal warming resulting from deepening of the strong thermal boundary between AABW and North Atlantic Deep Water (NADW), hence a local AABW volume reduction. Repeat section data taken from 1981–2004 along 24°N also show a reduced zonal gradient in abyssal temperatures, consistent with decreased northward transport of AABW. The reduction in the Antarctic limb of the MOC within the North Atlantic highlights the global reach of climate variability originating around Antarctica.
The Role of Growth Factors in Tissue Repair II

Stanley Cohen described a protein isolated from the submaxillary glands of male mice that caused the premature eyelid opening and tooth eruption in neonatal mice (Cohen, 1962). On the basis of histologically apparent maturation and growth of the epidermis in the treated mouse tissues, Cohen and Elliott (1963) named the active fraction of the gland extract epidermal growth factor (EGF). Gray (1937) described a factor isolated from human urine that inhibited gastric acid secretion and named this factor urogastrone (Gray et al., 1939, 1940). Gregory (1975) reported that the amino acid sequence of urogastrone from human urine was very similar to that of the mouse EGF. Both proteins had cysteines in homologous positions and 27 of the 53 amino acids were identical (Gregory, 1975). Furthermore, the amino acid differences between EGF and urogastrone appeared to be relatively conservative. Because of the apparent functional equivalence of EGF and urogastrone, urogastrone in most instances is called human EGF and is so identified in the following discussion. A number of reviews on EGF have been recently published (King, 1985; Daughaday and Heath, 1984; Gregory, 1985; Stoscheck and King, 1986).
Public Willingness to Downsize Prisons: Implications From Oregon

AbstractAfter decades of the steady growth of inmate populations, the mass imprisonment movement has stalled and serious attempts are being undertaken to downsize prisons. At issue, however, is whether the American public will endorse this policy agenda. This issue is explored with data from a 2010 survey of 1,569 Oregon adults. On a broad level, the respondents favored a preventative-rehabilitative approach to crime control and endorsed a range of reentry services for inmates. Most significant, the sample supported specific policies, including community sanctions and several forms of early release, to reduce prison populations. Notably, however, they did not embrace downsizing for the purpose of lowering spending—a finding that should be explored in other states. These results indicate that, at least in Oregon, the public is willing to consider efforts to downsize prisons. Capitalizing on this public support remains the challenge to be addressed.
Chat bot: nifty assignment

The Loebner Prize Competition is held every year to evaluate artificial intelligence chat programs, or chat bots, using the Turing Test. In this assignment students create their own chat bot based on the Jabberwacky chat bot that has competed in and won the Loebner Prize. The chat bot uses an associative array that relates phrases with appropriate chat responses. For example, it may associate "Hi, how are you?" with "I'm doing well".
Factors Contributing to the Psychosocial Adjustment of Ugandan Preschool Children with HIV/AIDS

This chapter examines the internalizing, externalizing, and total behavior problems of 119 preschool-age children with HIV/AIDS in Uganda. Variables are examined according to an ecological model of stress and coping consistent with the co-constructivist approach proposed by Li (Psychol Bull 129:171–194, 2003). Specifically, the context in which the child is living (e.g., health variables, demographic variables, home environment, and caregiver variables represented by who is caring for the child, caregiver anxiety and depression, and child outcomes (internalizing, externalizing, and total behavior concerns) are examined. A dynamic relationship between the context and child was discovered. Nearly 45 % of the children within the sample exhibited internalizing behavior concerns. The caregiving environment, as well as caregiver adjustment (anxiety and depression), was predictive of child internalizing behaviors. Furthermore, child characteristics and demographic variables (gender, medication status, and socioeconomic status) contributed to the adjustment of the caregiver. These findings demonstrate the dynamic and reciprocal relationship between young children with HIV/AIDS in Uganda and the context in which they live.
Neuropsychiatric Aspects of Lupus

Systemic lupus erythematosus is one of the autoimmune disorders affecting the nervous system. However, in the field of clinical neuroimmunology, lupus presents a particularly complex problem in that it affects the nervous system at multiple levels, with a possible separate neuropathological process underlying each. Clinically, the neurologist and the psychiatrist have to consider SLE in the differential diagnosis of the commonest neuropsychiatric symptoms. In addition, both neurologists and psychiatrists are called upon in consultation to diagnose and manage nervous system complications due to the involvement of other organ systems, or secondary to therapy. Most of the neuropsychiatric symptoms seen in patients with lupus are a result of metabolic complications of the disease or hypertension, or opportunistic infections secondary to immunosuppressive therapy (or the side effects of therapy).
Vestigial Wings in Diacamma (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

The genus Diacamma includes thirteen or more species of Ponerine ants which are geographically confined to India, Ceylon, southern China, the Malay Archipelago, New Guinea and the northern portion of Australia. Most of the species have large black or bronzy workers and pale yellow or reddish yellow males. The workers have a pair of spines on the pedicel directed backward and an oval cavity in the pleural region hetween the first and second thoracic spiracles. Emery monographed this genus in 1897 and it was an examination of his paper which prompted further investigation by the writer.
Simulating the Atmosphere

How is the atmosphere modeled? What are the energy flows, the circulation, and the behavior of water as it freezes and evaporates? Different types of atmosphere models are described. The atmosphere is important for connecting the different parts or components of the earth system. Two of these connections are related to greenhouse gases: the water (or hydrologic) cycle, and the carbon cycle. The similarities and differences between models used to simulate climate and those used to simulate weather are discussed. Details about the challenges involved in simulating the future are presented. As an example, atmospheric models are applied to studying tropical cyclones (hurricanes).
Review of the Film No Más Bebés (No More Babies)

The film No Mas Bebes (No More Babies), directed and produced by Renee Tajima-Pena and produced by Virginia Espino, is an important intervention in the explicit marginalization of Latina and Chican...
Modulatory compartments in cortex and local regulation of cholinergic tone

Neuromodulatory signaling is generally considered broad in its impact across cortex. However, variations in the characteristics of cortical circuits may introduce regionally-specific responses to diffuse modulatory signals. Features such as patterns of axonal innervation, tissue tortuosity and molecular diffusion, effectiveness of degradation pathways, subcellular receptor localization, and patterns of receptor expression can lead to local modification of modulatory inputs. We propose that modulatory compartments exist in cortex and can be defined by variation in structural features of local circuits. Further, we argue that these compartments are responsible for local regulation of neuromodulatory tone. For the cholinergic system, these modulatory compartments are regions of cortical tissue within which signaling conditions for acetylcholine are relatively uniform, but between which signaling can vary profoundly. In the visual system, evidence for the existence of compartments indicates that cholinergic modulation likely differs across the visual pathway. We argue that the existence of these compartments calls for thinking about cholinergic modulation in terms of finer-grained control of local cortical circuits than is implied by the traditional view of this system as a diffuse modulator. Further, an understanding of modulatory compartments provides an opportunity to better understand and perhaps correct signal modifications that lead to pathological states.
The Type II Secretion System of Legionella pneumophila Dampens the MyD88 and Toll-Like Receptor 2 Signaling Pathway in Infected Human Macrophages.

ABSTRACT Previously, we reported that mutants of Legionella pneumophila lacking a type II secretion (T2S) system elicit higher levels of cytokines (e.g., interleukin-6 [IL-6]) following infection of U937 cells, a human macrophage-like cell line. We now show that this effect of T2S is also manifest upon infection of human THP-1 macrophages and peripheral blood monocytes but does not occur during infection of murine macrophages. Supporting the hypothesis that T2S acts to dampen the triggering of an innate immune response, we observed that the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and nuclear transcription factor kappa B (NF-κB) pathways are more highly stimulated upon infection with the T2S mutant than upon infection with the wild type. By using short hairpin RNA to deplete proteins involved in specific pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP) recognition pathways, we determined that the dampening effect of the T2S system was not dependent on nucleotide binding oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptors (NLRs), retinoic acid-inducible protein I (RIG-I)-like receptors (RLRs), double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)-dependent protein kinase receptor (PKR), or TIR domain-containing adaptor inducing interferon beta (TRIF) signaling or an apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD (ASC)- or caspase-4-dependent inflammasome. However, the dampening effect of T2S on IL-6 production was significantly reduced upon gene knockdown of myeloid differentiation primary response 88 (MyD88), TANK binding kinase 1 (TBK1), or Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2). These data indicate that the L. pneumophila T2S system dampens the signaling of the TLR2 pathway in infected human macrophages. We also document the importance of PKR, TRIF, and TBK1 in cytokine secretion during L. pneumophila infection of macrophages.
Thriving in the New Normal: Strategies for Managing the Scarcity Mindset

The scarcity brought about by the economic downturn has significantly and negatively impacted Libraries' abilities to adapt to change. A key component of this is our staff’s ability to cope with increased demands and subsequent stress while still finding their work meaningful on a professional level. This article will make the distinction between resource scarcity - an economic issue - and the mindset that resource scarcity creates. It will conclude with strategies for helping staff and library leaders to manage this scarcity mindset, lowering workplace stress while improving overall organizational health.
Livestock Grazing Shapes the Vegetation Structure and Subsequent Habitat Use by the Endangered Skipper Pyrgus ruralis lagunae (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae)

Many species adapted to alpine and montane meadow ecosystems are at risk of extinction. The skipper Pyrgus ruralis lagunae Scott is a mountaintop butterfly restricted to San Diego County, CA, a federally listed endangered species, and is in imminent risk of extinction. Historically, P. r. lagunae was found in the Laguna and Palomar mountains. We did not detect the skipper in the Laguna Mountains, and the species has likely been extirpated from this area, which represents half of its historical range and is the type locality. We studied three populations on Palomar Mountain. Skippers primarily occupied areas close to creeks or in adjacent ravines at two nongrazed sites. The third site is grazed by cattle, and skippers were found close to the forest edge. At nongrazed locations, creek areas had higher cover of intermediate-height vegetation, more bare ground, and more flowers compared with unoccupied areas of the same meadow. The vegetation at occupied and unoccupied areas within the grazed meadow were similar. Even so, skippers occupied areas with more bare ground as well as greater species richness of flowering plants. A grazing exclosure was previously installed in an attempt to protect and enhance skipper habitat, but skippers did not use the dense grasslands that developed inside the exclosures. Contrary to the prevailing theory, protection from grazing did not improve skipper habitat. This illustrates how management based on inadequate biological information can hinder well-intentioned conservation efforts.
Real-Time Data Collection Using Text Messaging in a Primary Care Clinic.

Abstract Background: The use of text messaging is nearly ubiquitous and represents a promising method of collecting data from diverse populations. Introduction: The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility and acceptability of text message surveys in a clinical setting and to describe key lessons to minimize attrition. Methods: We obtained a convenience sample of individuals who entered the waiting room of a low-income, primary care clinic. Participants were asked to answer between 17 and 30 survey questions on a variety of health-related topics, including both open- and closed-ended questions. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize the participants and determine the response rates. Bivariate analyses were used to identify predictors of incomplete surveys. Results: Our convenience sample consisted of 461 individuals. Of those who attempted the survey, 80% (370/461) completed it in full. The mean age of respondents was 35.4 years (standard deviation = 12.4). Respondents were predominan...
The experience of learning/teaching qualitative research approaches: An ethnographic autobiography

The purpose of this paper is to use reflexive methodology to describe the emotions and experiences of doctoral students and a professor who collaboratively conducted a research study using triangulated qualitative research data. The study was the major learning strategy in a doctoral seminar focusing on qualitative research approaches. In using an ethnographic autobiography, the authors were the subjects of their own research. Data were examined from journals kept by the students and the instructor during the semester. Four themes are discussed: learning by risk-taking, learning by doing, learning by working together, and learning by reflection. The value of examining learners' emotions and implications for teaching research methods using experiential learning are addressed.
Addressing needs of diverse stakeholders: Twelve tips for leaders of health professions education programs

Designing and evaluating health professions educational programs require a range of skills in a rapidly changing educational and healthcare environment. Not all program directors possess all the required leadership skills. In this twelve tips article, we describe a systematic approach to effectively address the complexity facing program leadership, implement robust programs and meaningfully evaluate their impact. They also offer a roadmap for managing diverse stakeholders with often competing demands. The tips are categorized under three domains: Planning, Initial Implementation, and Monitoring. Specific recommendations are provided on addressing context, organizational culture, and key relationships along with practical techniques adapted from continuous quality improvement programs. An outcomes-based approach ensures that program leaders balance competing demands. The tips provide a structure for educational leaders worldwide to reflect on what is feasible in their own context, understand and address complexities in program design and evaluation, regardless of the resources at their disposal.
A signal quality index for ballistocardiogram recordings based on electrocardiogram RR intervals and matched filtering

Detection of noisy ballistocardiogram (BCG) mea­surements with a matched filter is investigated. The BCG signal is segmented by the RR intervals of the concurrently recorded electrocardiogram (ECG). These segments are called BCG heartbeats and are averaged to estimate a parent template and sub-templates of BCG heartbeats leveraging the quasi-periodic nature of the heart. All BCG heartbeats in the measurement are used to estimate the parent template BCG heartbeat. By contrast, sub-templates are estimated using subsets of BCG heartbeats that extend over several breaths to capture the vari­ations in the phase of the BCG heartbeat due to the breathing cycles. The parent template BCG heartbeat in a recording is regarded as the subject-specific matched filter. Finally, the average correlation coefficient between sub-templates and the parent template BCG heartbeat in a recording is proposed as the signal quality index (SQI). A seven-step experiment was performed among thirteen subjects. For reliable parent template estimation, at least 40 BCG heartbeats should be recorded. For detection of noisy BCG measurements, the area under the receiver operating characteristics curve was presented for conditions of motion artifacts, speaking, and deep breathing. Motion artifacts could be detected with lower false positive rates for the same constraint on the detection rate, when compared to speaking and deep breathing cases. This work may facilitate online detection of noisy BCG recordings.
Mitigating Fatigue in Cantilevered Overhead Sign Structures

Cantilevered overhead sign structures (COSSs) are widely used across highways in the United States. Several cases of excessive vibrations and failures caused by fatigue wind loads from natural and truck-induced wind gusts have been reported. Not enough research has included the effect of making structural design modifications on the fatigue performance of COSSs. Under fatigue wind-induced loads, the dynamic characteristics (frequency and damping) of COSSs are important parameters affecting their structural behavior. When frequencies of wind load and the structure match, resonance may occur, causing excessive vibrations, depending on the frequency value. If accompanied fatigue stresses exceed the fatigue endurance limit, failure occurs after a certain number of loading cycles. The objective of this study was to investigate stiffness and mass distribution of COSSs to control the structural frequency, thus mitigating fatigue caused by wind-induced gusts. For this purpose, modifications in the members’ shape,...
Navigating the Performance Arts in a Globally Networked Classroom

Using elements of Jazz—improvisation and managing uncertainty—teams at North Carolina Central University, University of South Africa, and the Royal Academy of Music in Aarhus, Denmark collaborated on a course that challenged students to explore Jazz in other cultures. In this chapter, the team members document their experiences of planning and managing a course at three very different universities on three continents in real-time. They outline challenges and reveal strategies employed in the design and implementation of this course.
Reflective Thinking in Adulthood

Reflective thinking is a complex form of cognition almost exclusively associated with adulthood and adult development. It was first defined by John Dewey as “active, persistent, and careful consideration of any belief or supposed form of knowledge in the light of the grounds that support it, and the further conclusions to which it tends” (1910/1991, p. 6). The key elements of Dewey’s definition—the use of evidence and reasoning, the questioning of knowledge and beliefs, and the active pursuit of justifiable conclusions—constitute the basis for most contemporary theories that address, in whole or in part, the development of reflective thinking.
The VIS-SWIR spectrum of skylight polarization.

The skylight degree of linear polarization (DoLP) was previously shown to vary primarily with aerosol optical depth and underlying surface reflectance for visible-to-near-infrared (VNIR) wavelengths. This paper extends the study of skylight polarization to 2.5 μm in the short-wave infrared (SWIR). A successive-orders-of-scattering radiative transfer code was used to model skylight polarization with measured inputs that included aerosol properties retrieved from a ground-based solar radiometer (extrapolated into the SWIR) and spectral surface reflectance from a handheld spectrometer. The modeled DoLP depended heavily on the aerosol size distribution at SWIR wavelengths and on the aerosol optical depth at VNIR wavelengths. Once the aerosol optical depth became greater than the Rayleigh optical depth, the predicted polarization deviated significantly from Rayleigh scattering theory. The SWIR polarization spectrum generally decreased at wavelengths beyond 1 μm at a rate dependent on the aerosol size distribution. The surface reflectance affected the polarization in the same manner throughout the visible (VIS)–SWIR spectrum, with higher reflectance decreasing the skylight polarization. Validation measurements of SWIR skylight polarization in a 1.5–1.8 μm band are also shown. These measurements were made on clean and smoky days using a SWIR imaging polarimeter. In both simulations and measurements, the SWIR skylight polarization was greater in the smoky atmosphere than in the clean atmosphere.
Evaluating Optimal Spray Timing, Planting Date, and Current Thresholds for Lygus lineolaris (Hemiptera: Miridae) in Virginia and North Carolina Cotton

Economically damaging infestations of Lygus lineolaris (Palisot de Beauvois) (Hemiptera: Miridae), the tarnished plant bug, have been increasing in North Carolina and Virginia cotton since 2009. We conducted experiments to compare prophylactically timed sprays based on cotton phenology and current action thresholds based on sweep net and drop cloth sampling. In the second year of the study, we included planting date as a factor, with early and late-planted cotton. We found L. lineolaris nymph densities were reduced by at least 60% in North Carolina and 74% in Virginia in threshold plots when compared with the untreated control. Protecting the crop from first square through the fourth week of bloom afforded at least 30% control across planting dates in Virginia and at least 40% control in North Carolina. Economic returns were two to three times greater in early-planted cotton than in late-planted cotton. Treating cotton at action threshold or using prophylactic sprays from first square until the sixth week of bloom in early-planted cotton yielded over $500/ha in net returns in both North Carolina and Virginia. This study supports previous research that shows controlling L. lineolaris infestations during squaring and early weeks of flowering is critical for maximizing yield potential. Our findings also suggest that prebloom and bloom thresholds based on adult and nymphal density devised in the Mid-South may need revision in North Carolina and Virginia.
Disciplining China's Trade Practices at the WTO: How WTO Complaints Can Help Make China More Market-Oriented

The Trump administration has argued that the World Trade Organization (WTO) has failed to address China's "unfair" trade practices. While it is true that China's economic rise poses a unique challenge to the world trading system, WTO dispute settlement has more potential to address China's practices than the administration believes. If the Trump administration really does want the Chinese economy to be more market-oriented, it should consider making better use of WTO rules by filing more complaints against China. While it is often accused of flouting the rules, China does a reasonably good job of complying with WTO complaints brought against it. There are a number of policy areas where additional complaints are possible. The U.S. Trade Representative's Office (USTR) has been gathering detailed information on China's practices for years, and should file complaints on this basis, coordinating these efforts with key allies. And for those areas that are not well covered by WTO rules, such as state-owned enterprises, the United States should work with these allies to develop new rules. So far, the Trump administration has mainly relied on unilateral tariffs to open the Chinese market, but these are likely to hurt Americans, while not having much effect on Chinese trade practices. The multilateral route is a better approach to disciplining these trade practices and making China more market-oriented.
Functional concerns and treatment priorities among veterans receiving VHA Primary Care Behavioral Health services.

INTRODUCTION The Primary Care-Mental Health Integration program is a component of the Veterans Health Administration's patient-centered medical home, which emphasizes comprehensive, patient-centered care. One model of primary care-mental health integration, known as Primary Care Behavioral Health (PCBH), positions trained behavioral health providers as members of the primary care team. Whereas patient perspectives are essential to effective patient-centered care, little empirical information exists regarding patients' goals and priorities for addressing their biopsychosocial concerns in PCBH. METHOD A regional mail survey of Veterans Health Administration patients was used. We collected data from 281 veterans (27% response rate) who received PCBH services in a northeastern region. RESULTS Respondents identified difficulty with sleep (80%), low energy/amotivation (78%), and managing stress (72%) as the most prevalent individual concerns, although the majority endorsed concerns in multiple domains of functioning. Overwhelmingly, patients who endorsed any biopsychosocial problem area reported that they did (53-93%) or would like to (56-81%) address that concern with a behavioral health provider. Respondents most frequently identified anger as a top priority for future care, followed by stress management, energy/motivation, and sleep disturbance. Whereas sample means signaled neutral or better quality of life in most individual domains, total Quality of Life Inventory scores suggested very low (32%) to average (30%) overall quality-of -life ratings for most participants. DISCUSSION In addition to symptom-focused PCBH assessments, providers should gather biopsychosocial data to identify and monitor functional and quality-of -life concerns and evaluate patient preferences in addressing these concerns over the course of clinical care. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).