cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Validating data from instruments in harsh environments: the designer's dilemma

It is pointed out that data validation algorithms used in current nuclear power plant computer-based displays do not work well when large measurement errors are expected. The authors describe typical methods used to validate and combined data, illustrate the problems caused by large measurement errors, and suggest research areas where solutions to these problems might be found. As a possible solution, the authors suggest that designers of future computer-based displays acknowledge the problems inherent in high-error measurements and consider some of the following approaches: improved algorithms, analytical redundancy, algorithms that better reflect instrument performance, and instrument-health monitoring. >
Gluconeogenesis in Brain and Liver During Daily Torpor in Deer Mice (Peromyscus maniculatus)

Some of the most critical changes accompanying daily torpor are those governing energy supply and demand. The purpose of this study was to compare gluconeogenic and glycolytic enzyme maximal activities in brain and liver during the daily torpor cycle in deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus). Liver gluconeogenic and glycolytic enzyme maximal activities decreased significantly during torpor, coinciding with previous studies demonstrating reductions in liver metabolism. The five-fold increase in liver gluconeogenic enzyme activities during arousal may allow for glucose synthesis for immediate use by glucose-reliant tissues. Limited reductions in brain glycolytic enzyme activities during daily torpor indicate that the potential for carbohydrate metabolism in brain remains high in dormancy. Brain gluconeogenic enzymes had significantly higher activities during torpor and after arousal as compared to pre-torpor values. These findings suggest that an increase in brain gluconeogenic capacity is an important mechanism for maintaining carbohydrate metabolic function during daily torpor in deer mice.
Participation of Unwed Biological Fathers in Newborn Adoptions: Achieving Substantive and Procedural Fairness

In newborn adoptions in the United States, the participation rights of too many unwed, fit biological fathers are unfairly considered. Some fathers have little or uncertain information about their children prior to or at birth through no fault of their own, yet are denied participation rights. Other fathers have little guidance on the steps necessary under law to prompt an opportunity to participate. Governments do little truly to inform and guide, though the parental opportunity interest involves "one of mankind's most important rights," often accorded federal constitutional protection. As a matter of public policy, American state governments should treat unwed biological fathers more fairly by reforming their laws on participation rights in newborn adoptions.
Beta Decay of N 16

The positron-electron pair coincidence spectrum occurring in the beta decay of 7.4-sec ${\mathrm{N}}^{16}$ has been examined at 1.25% resolution with an intermediate-image pair spectrometer. A line is observed corresponding to internal pair conversion of the 6.14-Mev $E3$ transition from the 3---second excited state to the 0+ ground state of ${\mathrm{O}}^{16}$. The upper limit on the intensity of a 6.06-Mev nuclear pair line from the 0+ first excited state (electric monopole transition) is 10% relative to the 6.14-Mev line and this corresponds to an upper limit of 1.5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}4}$ for the fractional beta decay to the 6.06-Mev level. A lower limit of 8.2 is derived for the $log\mathrm{ft}$ value of this 2- \ensuremath{\rightarrow}0+ beta-ray branch as compared with the known $logft=6.7$ for the 2- \ensuremath{\rightarrow}0+. 10.4-Mev branch to the ground state.
Testosterone and cardiovascular disease: controversy or wake-up call?

In men with hypogonadism due to diseases of the hypothalamus, pituitary, or testis, testosterone therapy is generally safe and has been shown to induce beneficial effects. Conversely, in men with age-related low testosterone levels, the significance of this change and the effects of testosterone therapy are debatable. Studies have linked low testosterone levels with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, with testosterone therapy being reported to improve cardiovascular risk profiles. However, two recent retrospective studies have fueled the controversy on testosterone therapy by reporting increased cardiovascular events. Because placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trials on testosterone therapy in older men with age-related decline in testosterone levels are lacking, long-term cardiovascular health following testosterone therapy in this patient population remains unclear. Therefore, a careful approach should be adopted when considering therapy of hypogonadism and coexisting cardiovascular disease in older men. Adequately powered, long-term prospective randomized trials on testosterone in older men are urgently needed. Cardiovasc Endocrinol 00:000–000 © 2014 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
The Use of Glass Slides for Preparing Cross-Section TEM Samples of Discrete Transistors

A procedure for preparing cross-section samples of specific regions on an integrated circuit die is outlined. The procedure involves the use of glass slabs to prepare the sample stack used for cross-sectioning. The transparent glass slabs on the top surface of the die enable monitoring of the region of interest during the thinning process. This ensures that the region of interest will be located in the electron-transparent section used for TEM imaging. Samples prepared using this technique are sturdy enough to survive successive thinning and observation in a TEM. The glass slides do not give any charging problems and generally thin much slower than the silicon so as to provide added stability to the sample. An additional advantage is that the sample thickness can be accurately measured using the vernier attachment on an optical microscope during the sample thinning process. The imaging of specific NMOS transistors fabricated on buried oxide layers is illustrated.
Jus Ad Bellum in the Shadow of the 20th Century

A discussion of the attitudinal change over the course of the twentieth century regarding the use of force for the recovery of contract debt.
SATURNIID MOTHS AS MIMICS: AN ALTERNATIVE INTERPRETATION OF ATTEMPTS TO DEMONSTRATE MIMETIC ADVANTAGE IN NATURE.

We propose two arguments in this paper: first, that the day-flying males of three species of attacine saturniid moths are Batesian mimics of Battus phizlenor (L.) and/or B. polydamas (L.), the two aristolochia swallowtails which occur in America north of Mexico; second, we suggest an alternative interpretation of the results of experiments designed by L. P. Brower and his associates (Brower et al., 1964; Brower et al., 1967; Cook et al., 1969) to measure the selective advantage of Batesian mimicry in the field. Brower et al. (1964) conceived the brilliant experimental strategy of using the day-flying males of Callosamia promethea (Drury), a North American saturniid palatable to birds, to test the efficacy of Batesian mimicry on Trinidad. Some males were painted to resemble unpalatable' butterflies which occur on Trinidad, while others, the controls, were marked with black paint which did not greatly alter their appearance. All were released, and many were recaptured in traps baited with pheromone-releasing, female C. promethea. It was justifiably assumed that differential recapture would be the result of differential predation. The Brower group concluded that they had not made a convincing demonstration of mimetic advantage. Cook et al. (1969) stated, "Taking all the evidence over the four years there is no significant advantage to either mimic or control moths . . . and no heterogeneity between years or between new and old sites, and perhaps it should be concluded that under wild conditions no
Surveillance on Acute Flaccid Paralysis Cases in Xuchang from 2010 to 2011

Objective To investigate the working status of surveillance system of acute flaccid paralysis(AFP) in Xuchang City,to analyze the problems occurred in the monitoring so as to provide a scientific basis for AFP prevention and control.Methods The epidemiological methods were applied to analyze the monitoring data about AFP cases collected in Xuchang from 2010 to 2011.Results There were 65 cases of AFP reported during the period of 2010-2011.The reported incidence rates of cases under 15 years occurred in 2010 and 2011 were 3.75/100,000 and 4.37/100,000,respectively.1 case was found without any immune history and the unknown history cases accounted for 2 of all 65 cases.The 48-hour survey rate of the incidence was 100%.The two-specimen-collection rate within 14 days and the collection rate of qualified specimen were both 76.9%.The specimen delivery rate within 7 days was 93.8%.The timely follow-up rate of paralysis within 75 days was 93.8%.Conclusions The surveillance system of AFP generally runs well,but there is still room for improvement.AFP cases without any immune history or with the unknown history still occur in Xuchang,it is necessary to reinforce the prophylactic immunization and management.
Development and Evaluation of an Electronic Health Record–Based Best-Practice Discharge Checklist for Hospital Patients

Article-at-a-Glance Background Checklists may help reduce discharge errors; however, current paper checklists have limited functionality. In 2013 a best-practice discharge checklist using the electronic health record (EHR) was developed and evaluated at Stanford University Medical Center (Stanford, California) in a cluster randomized trial to evaluate its usage, user satisfaction, and impact on physicians' work flow. Methods The study was divided into four phases. Results In Phase I, on the survey (N = 76), most of the participants (54.0%) reported using memory to remember discharge tasks. On a 0–100 scale, perception of checklists as being useful was strong (mean, 66.4; standard deviation [SD], 21.2), as was interest in EHR checklists (64.5, 26.6). In Phase II, the checklist consisted of 15 tasks categorized by admission, hospitalization, and discharge-planning. In Phase III, the checklist was implemented as an EHR "smart-phrase" allowing for automatic insertion. In Phase IV, in a trial with 60 participating physicians, 23 EHR checklist users reported higher usage than 12 paper users (28.5 versus 7.67, p = .019), as well as higher checklist integration with work flow (22.6 versus 1.67, p = .014), usefulness of checklist (33.7 versus. 8.92, p = .041), discharge confidence (30.8 versus 5.00, p = .029), and discharge efficiency (25.5 versus 6.67, p = .056). Increasing EHR checklist use was correlated with usefulness (r = .85, p Conclusions The EHR checklist reminded physicians to complete discharge tasks, improved confidence, and increased process efficiency. This is the first study to show that medicine residents use "memory" as the most common method for remembering discharge tasks. These data reinforce the need for a formalized tool, such as a checklist, that residents can rely on to complete important discharge tasks.
Localization of Anti-Leu-Ml (CD15) Binding Sitesin Hodgkin’s Diseaseby Immunoelectron Microscopic Examinatio

Anti-Leu-M1 (CD15) is a monoclonal antibody used in surgical pathology to diagnoses Hodgkin’s disease. By light microscopic immunohistochemistry, anti-Leu-Ml reacts with Reed-Sternberg cells and their variants, notably lacunar cells in nodular sclerosing Hodgkin’s disease, as well as granulocytes in Hodgkin’s disease. The immunostaining of Reed-Sternberg cells has been characteristically described as a diffuse cytoplasmic pattern with a prominent perinuclear globular component. In addition, irregular plasma membrane reactivity has been observed. To define the intracellular localization of Leu-MI precisely, the authors performed postembedding immunoelectron microscopy with the protein A-gold technique on sections embedded in Lowicryl K4M from a patient with nodular-sclerosing-type Hodgkin’s disease. At the electron microscopic level, gold particle staining indicative of Leu-M 1 binding was found within cytoplasmic granules and the Golgi apparatus, as well as focally at the plasma membrane. The cytoplasmic granules were located in a perinuclear region and in the cell periphery. Although the morphology of the granules was suggestive of lysosomal structures, immunolabel was not detected on serial sections of these granules with three different antibodies directed against lysosomal antigens.
Limiting amino acids in an 11% crude protein corn-soybean meal diet for growing pigs.

Three experiments were conducted to test the hypothesis that methionine, isoleucine, valine or nitrogen either singly or in combination are limiting in an 11% crude protein, lysine-tryptophan-threonine-supplemented, corn-soybean meal diet for growing pigs. A 16% crude protein diet was used as a positive control in each experiment and all amino acid additions were made, at a minimum, to equal requirements. Average initial weights were 21.3 kg, 23.0 kg and 19.1 kg in Exp. 1, 2 and 3, respectively. The experiments averaged 4 wk in duration. In Exp. 1 and 2, neither the addition of glutamic acid as a source of nitrogen, nor methionine to the 11% diet resulted in any improvement (P greater than .20) in rate or efficiency of growth. Addition of the combination of isoleucine and valine to the 11% diet resulted in an increase (P less than .05) in both growth rate and feed efficiency to a level not different (P greater than .20) from that of the pigs consuming the positive control diet. The addition of valine to the 11% crude protein diet with supplemental lysine, tryptophan and threonine (Exp. 3) caused an improvement in daily gain (P less than .05) but not feed efficiency (P greater than .10). Isoleucine addition tended to reduce pig performance. The results of these experiments suggest that an 11% crude protein, corn-soybean meal diet fortified with lysine, tryptophan and threonine is not limiting in sulfur amino acids or nitrogen. Valine may be the only limiting amino acid.
Surgical Methods and Experiences of Surgeons did not Significantly Affect the Recovery in Phonation Following Reconstruction of the Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve

We reported phonatory recovery in the majority of 88 patients after recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) reconstruction. Here we analyzed factors that might influence the recovery, in a larger patient series. At Kuma Hospital, 449 patients (354 females and 95 males) underwent RLN reconstruction with direct anastomosis, ansa cervicalis-to-RLN anastomosis, free nerve grafting, or vagus-to-RLN anastomosis; 47.4 % had vocal cord paralysis (VCP) preoperatively. Maximum phonation time (MPT) and mean airflow rate during phonation (MFR) were measured 1 year post surgery. Forty patients whose unilateral RLNs were resected and not reconstructed and 1257 normal subjects served as controls. Compared to the VCP patients, the RLN reconstruction patients had significantly longer MPTs 1 year after surgery, nearing the normal values. The MFR results were similar but less clear. Detailed analyses of 228 female patients with reconstruction for whom data were available revealed that none of the following factors significantly affected phonatory recovery: age, preoperative VCP, method of reconstruction, site of distal anastomosis, use of magnifier, thickness of suture thread, and experience of surgeon. Of these 228 patients, 24 (10.5 %) had MPTs <9 s 1 year after surgery, indicating insufficient recovery in phonation. This insufficiency was also not associated with the factors mentioned above. Approximately 90 % of patients who needed resection of the RLN achieved phonatory recovery following RLN reconstruction. The recovery was not associated with gender, age, preoperative VCP, surgical method of reconstruction, or experience of the surgeon. Performing reconstruction during thyroid surgery is essential whenever the RLN is resected.
“THE TERRIBLE MÄELSTROM OF DEBT”: CREDIT, CONSUMPTION, AND MASCULINITY IN OXBRIDGE FICTION, 1841–1911

In 1907, writer and Oxford graduate Lionel Portman began his novel The Progress of Hugh Rendal: A 'Varsity Story with an impassioned attack on the university system of fees and credit. “An unrighteous anomaly it seems that on entering Oxford University the first thing you have to do is to pay money,” Portman protests, Once entered, apparently, you may owe it to the limit of your taste. The shops smile “Credit;” the streets sing of it, the breezes whisper “Put it down”; the whole spirit of the place assumes it as a matter of course; and that so sweet a symphony should begin on so harsh a chord appears an outrage unpardonable. But so in the wisdom of most colleges it is ordained. Thirty pounds, “caution money,” must be paid to the Bursar before he will write your name in his book of the Elect. And till this is paid, be your other debts what they may, you cannot owe to College or University. (1) Upon enrolling in Oxford, the novel's earnest freshman hero Hugh is immediately subjected to a “baptism of debt,” and, by the end of his first year, he agonizes over the £58 in bills he owes to his grocer and other merchants (2, 102). Portman suggests that young undergraduates from families of modest means were ill-equipped to negotiate the consumer temptations that characterized the university experience and often met with painful – even disastrous – financial consequences. “What undergraduate,” the novelist asks his readers, “finding himself for the first time in the sublime position of having unlimited credit if very limited cash gives a thought to that distant but inevitable sunset, when he is informed that ‘The accounts of Mr. ––– have been placed in our hands for collection,’ etc., etc.?” (30).
Predictors of Transition to Hospice Care Among Hospitalized Older Adults With a Diagnosis of Dementia in Texas: A Population-Based Study.

Background: Decedent older adults with dementia are increasingly less likely to die in a hospital, though escalation of care to a hospital setting, often including critical care, remains common. Although hospice is increasingly reported as the site of death in these patients, the factors associated with transition to hospice care during end-of-life (EOL) hospitalizations of older adults with dementia and the extent of preceding escalation of care to an intensive care unit (ICU) setting among those discharged to hospice have not been examined. Methods: We identified hospitalizations aged ≥ 65 years with a diagnosis of dementia in Texas between 2001 and 2010. Potential factors associated with discharge to hospice were evaluated using multivariate logistic regression modeling, and occurrence of hospice discharge preceded by ICU admission was examined. Results: There were 889,008 elderly hospitalizations with a diagnosis of dementia during study period, with 40,669 (4.6%) discharged to hospice. Discharges to hospice increased from 908 (1.5%) to 7,398 (6.3%) between 2001 and 2010 and involved prior admission to ICU in 45.2% by 2010. Non-dementia comorbidities were generally associated with increased odds of hospice discharge, as were development of organ failure, the number of failing organs, or use of mechanical ventilation. However, discharge to hospice was less likely among non-white minorities (lowest among blacks: adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 0.67; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.65 - 0.70) and those with non-commercial primary insurance or the uninsured (lowest among those with Medicaid: aOR (95% CI): 0.41 (0.37 - 0.46)). Conclusions: This study identified potentially modifiable factors associated with disparities in transition to hospice care during EOL hospitalizations of older adults with dementia, which persisted across comorbidity and severity of illness measures. The prevalent discharge to hospice involving prior critical care suggests that key discussions about goals-of-care likely took place following further escalation of care to ICU. Together these findings can inform system- and clinician-level interventions to facilitate timely and consistent use of hospice to meet patients’ goals of care. J Clin Med Res. 2017;9(1):23-29 doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/jocmr2783w
Awareness and Acceptability of Pre-exposure HIV Prophylaxis Among Men Who have Sex with Men in Baltimore

This paper assessed characteristics associated with awareness of and willingness to take pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among Baltimore men who have sex with men (MSM). We used data from BESURE-MSM3, a venue-based cross-sectional HIV surveillance study conducted among MSM in 2011. Multivariate regression was used to identify characteristics associated with PrEP knowledge and acceptability among 399 participants. Eleven percent had heard of PrEP, 48% would be willing to use PrEP, and none had previously used it. In multivariable analysis, black race and perceived discrimination against those with HIV were significantly associated with decreased awareness, and those who perceived higher HIV discrimination reported higher acceptability of PrEP. Our findings indicate a need for further education about the potential utility of PrEP in addition to other prevention methods among MSM. HIV prevention efforts should address the link between discrimination and potential PrEP use, especially among men of color.
Engraftment Syndrome Following Unrelated Cord Blood Transplant in Pediatric Patients.

Abstract Engraftment syndrome or hyper-acute graft versus host disease like syndrome describes a constellation of symptoms that occur prior or during neutrophil recovery after both allogeneic and autologous stem cell transplant. The usual symptoms are high grade fever and diffuse erythematous rash. There are no prior published reports describing the incidence and clinical implications of engraftment syndrome in recipients of unrelated cord blood transplant. There were 326 patients ≤ 18 years of age with malignant (N=229) or non-malignant (N=97) diseases enrolled on a prospective National Heart Lung Blood Institute (NHLBI) sponsored cord blood transplant study between 1999 and 2003. Dataset was abstained after signed agreement with the NHLBI and local IRB approval. All patients received myeloablative preparative regimen with either total body irradiation or busulfan based regimens with cyclosporine and prednisone GVHD prophylaxis. All patients received anti-thymocyte globulin as part of their conditioning regimen. ES was defined as high grade fever and diffuse erythematous rash without documented infections. The median age was 4.65 years (range 0.04 – 17.90) with 127 (60%) male, 264 (81%) had a performance status of ≥ 90. Two hundred twenty eight (70%) of the patients had malignant diseases and 179 (55%) received a cord blood unit matched at 3/6 or 4/6 HLA antigens and 147 (45%) received a cord blood unit matched at 5/6 or 6/6 HLA antigens. The median total nucleated cell dose per kg infuses was 6.94 x 107/kg (range 0.08–809.4 x 107/kg). Sixty-four patients (20%) developed engraftment syndrome at a median of 10 days (range 5–24) post transplant. All patients developed engraftment syndrome prior to engraftment and were treated with high dose steroids. Patients who developed engraftment syndrome had a median age of 2.47vs. 5.57 years, 48% had nonmalignant disease versus 25%, compared to those who did not develop engraftment syndrome respectively. The median pre-cyopreserved total nucleated cells infused was 8.58x107/kg (range 1.54x107 to 27.49 x107) in those who developed engraftment syndrome compared to 6.68x107/kg (range 0.08 x107 to 80.91x107) to those who did not. A multivariable analysis using Cox regression analysis using engraftment syndrome as a time dependent co-variable was performed including patients age, sex, performance status (
Agricultural inputs, outputs, and population density at the country-level in Latin America: decadal changes augur challenges for sustained food production and forest conservation

We examine country-level data for agricultural inputs and outputs for Latin America. We examine data demonstrating a steeply increasing use of resources for agriculture and contrast this with the modest increases in output. We analyse the connection between these processes and a measure of rural population density, and finally discuss the agricultural dominance of Brazil and Mexico in the region. We conclude that the evidence continues to point to both Malthusian and Boserupian processes at work simultaneously in the region, and that global demographic, political and economic factors are increasing in importance relative to local population production and demand.
Pharmacy student engagement in the evaluation of medication documentation within an ambulatory care electronic medical record.

Abstract Background and purpose An abundance of literature supports the benefits of electronic medical records (EMR) for improving overall healthcare quality. Identifying preventative care opportunities, reducing medical and medication related errors and incorporating clinical practice guidelines are just a few attributes of EMR implementation. The goals of this study were to engage experiential pharmacy students in the assessment of medication related documentation discrepancies in a newly implemented EMR system and to provide exposure to various aspects of conducting research. Educational Activity and Setting Pharmacy students screened patient charts over a three-month period to identify documentation discrepancies, including omissions of medications and medical problems and duplication of medications. Students conducted medication reconciliation for a total of one-hundred thirty-four patients. Findings Medication omissions were identified for 46% of patients, medical problem omissions were identified for 38% of patients, and thirty-two duplicate medications were identified. Summary Engaging pharmacy students in the quality improvement project afforded an interactive learning experience, highlighting firsthand the challenges associated with electronic documentation and the associated potential negative implications to patient care. Additionally, students gained exposure to various components of research including data collection, assessment, entry, analysis and future implications.
Teaching Evolution Using Live Animals and Inquiry-Based, Self-Guided Kits

The authors describe their experiences with evolution and science education and how this led to their interest in inquiry-based teaching. Inquiry-based evolution education programs should be effective but are relatively uncommon, likely because of the resources and expertise required to create them. University/K-12 collaborations may be a solution but tend to be limited in their reach. Kit-based teaching allows inquiry-based evolution programs to be more broadly disseminated. Kits may also improve engagement and science self-efficacy since students take ownership of their learning and independently master science tasks. We describe an inquiry-based kit that we developed in collaboration with local teachers and an Education and Outreach Center at Colorado State University. We used three populations of locally adapted fish, Trinidadian guppies, to illustrate important concepts in evolution. Students work through the self-guided kit and booklet to complete inquiry and authentic science experiments and observations. These activities allow them to discover each concept and the definition of evolution at the end of the program. We describe the kit in detail and reflect on the challenges and successes associated with its creation and implementation.
Nature-inspired design of strong, tough glass-ceramics

Since the discovery of glass-ceramics by Stookey in the 1950s, there has been increasing demand for glass-ceramics with high strength and toughness for medical, structural, and consumer electronics markets. This article reviews recent developments in composition, microstructure, and mechanical properties of glass-ceramics, with an emphasis on their mechanical performance. It reveals that glass-ceramics with strength and toughness comparable to structural ceramics, such as Al2O3, have been successfully developed. Meanwhile, efforts are being devoted to creating glass-ceramics with further improved damage resistance. With inspiration from natural materials such as jade, baddeleyite, bone, and nacre, glass-ceramics with unique microstructures and properties have been obtained. Further progress is needed in the design of novel compositions, microstructures, and phase assemblages to activate multiple toughening mechanisms in glass-ceramics for significant improvements in strength and toughness.
The role of eosinophils and neutrophils in helminth-induced keratitis

PURPOSE. Intrastromal injection of mice with antigens from the parasitic helminth that causes river blindness (Onchocerca volvulus) induces eosinophil recruitment to the corneal stroma at the time of maximum corneal opacification and neovascularization. The present study was conducted to examine the role of eosinophils and neutrophils in onchocercal keratitis in control C57B1/6 mice and in interleukin-5 gene knockout (IL-5 -/- ) mice. METHODS. C57B1/6 and IL-5 -/- mice were immunized subcutaneously and injected intrastromally with soluble O. volvulus antigens. Mice were killed at various times thereafter. Development of keratitis was assessed by slit lamp examination, and inflammatory cells in the cornea were identified by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS. A biphasic recruitment of inflammatory cells was observed in C57Bl/6 mice; neutrophils predominated during the first 72 hours after intrastromal injection and subsequently declined, whereas eosinophil recruitment increased as time elapsed and comprised the majority (90%) of cells in the cornea by day 7. In contrast, neutrophils were the predominant inflammatory cells in IL-5 -/- mice at early and late time points and were associated with extensive stromal damage and corneal opacification and neovascularization. Eosinophils were not detected in these mice at any time. CONCLUSIONS. In the absence of eosinophils, neutrophils can mediate keratitis induced by helminth antigens. Together with the early neutrophilic infiltrate in control animals, these observations indicate that neutrophils have an important role in onchocercal keratitis.
Depersonalization, adversity, emotionality, and coping with stressful situations

ABSTRACTDepersonalization is defined as persistent or recurrent episodes of feeling detached or estranged from a sense of self and the world. This study addressed the primary question: Do nonclinical individuals who endorse high symptomatic depersonalization have inherently more intense emotional responses, along with more childhood adversity and past trauma? In this IRB approved study, participants who met clinical levels of depersonalization (n = 43, 16.3%) were compared to a group without clinical levels of depersonalization (n = 221, 83.7%). Adverse childhood experiences, adult traumatic events, emotional overexcitability, coping strategies under stress, and anxiety were examined in both groups. The variables to assess depersonalization severity included the Dissociative Experience Scale-II, Cambridge Depersonalization Scale, and Multiscale Dissociation Inventory. The results indicated that clinical levels of depersonalization were identified in 16.3% of the sample. The high depersonalization group ha...
Solving the Local-Minimum Problem in Training Deep Learning Machines

The local-minimum problem in training deep learning machines (DLMs) has plagued their development. This paper proposes a method to directly solve the problem. Our method is based on convexification of the sum squared error (SSE) criterion through transforming the SSE into a risk averting error (RAE) criterion. To alleviate numerical difficulties, a normalized RAE (NRAE) is employed. The convexity region of the SSE expands as its risk sensitivity index (RSI) increases. Making the best use of the convexity region, our method starts training with a very large RSI, gradually reduces it, and switches to the RAE as soon as the RAE is numerically feasible. After training converges, the resultant DLM is expected to be inside the attraction basin of a global minimum of the SSE. Numerical results are provided to show the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Implementing Project Based Learning Pedagogy in Concrete Industry Project Management

The objective of this study was to carry out a mixed methods construction education study seeking to improve student learning. This study uses project-based learning (PrBL) and milestone deliverabl...
Equilibria and Weighted Complementarity Problems

We review some results about market equilibria and weighted complementarity problems (wCP). The latter problem consists in finding a pair of vectors (x, s) belonging to the intersection of a manifold with a cone, such that their product in a certain algebra, \(x\circ s\), equals a given weight vector w. When w is the zero vector, then wCP reduces to a Complementarity Problem (CP). The motivation for introducing the more general notion of a wCP lies in the fact that several equilibrium problems in economics can be formulated in a natural way as wCP. Moreover, those formulations lend themselves to the development of highly efficient algorithms for solving the corresponding equilibrium problems. For example, Fisher’s competitive market equilibrium model can be formulated as a wCP that can be efficiently solved by interior-point methods. The Quadratic Programming and Weighted Centering problem, which generalizes the notion of a Linear Programming and Weighted Centering problem proposed by Anstreicher, can also be formulated as a special linear monotone wCP. The paper summarizes some previous results about the convergence of two interior-point methods for general monotone linear wCP and a corrector-predictor method for sufficient linear wCP. Some recent smoothing Newton methods for monotone linear wCP are also presented.
Mental Health Treatment Modalities for the Mentally Retarded

Contemporary literature is replete with information concerned with the rehabilitation of the mentally retarded and an infinite fund of knowledge exists regarding the treatment of mental illness per se. However, little attention has been focused upon the problems and challenges inherent in the treatment of the individual who possesses the dual diagnosis of mental illness plus mental retardation. The mentally retarded account for roughly three percent of the population. Available statistics suggest that at least thirty percent of these individuals suffer from some form of mental illness compared to an estimated sixteen to twenty percent of the general population.
Effects of Evaluation on Creativity

Of the creative individuals whose first-person accounts were considered in Chapter 1, none appears to have been so strongly influenced by external constraints as was Sylvia Plath. And of those constraints that impeded her work, none was so devastating as evaluation— particularly competitive evaluation: “Yes, I want the world’ s praise, money, and love, and am furious with anyone ... getting ahead of me” (Hughes & McCullough, 1982, p. 305). “I want ... to feel my work good and well-taken. Which ironically freezes me at my work, corrupts my nunnish labor of work-for-itself-as-its-own-reward” (p. 305). In this chapter, I will present empirical evidence demonstrating that evaluation can, in fact, undermine creativity.
Citizen Engineering: Evolving OSS Practices to Engineering Design and Analysis

Open Source Software (OSS) development has much in common with concepts such as crowdsourcing, citizen science, collective intelligence, human-based computation, and what we call “Citizen Engineering (CE)”. We report on several pilot projects that apply these shared principles of OSS development to engineering activities beyond software engineering. CE models harness human computing power from open communities, which commonly consist of a cohort of geographically and/or institutionally scattered citizens - professionals or amateurs - to collaboratively solve real-world problems. In most cases, the problems targeted are challenging to computers, but manageable or trivial to human intelligence. In these systems, while humans play fundamental roles, whether they are project architects or problem solvers, the implementation of CE is greatly facilitated by the advance of information technology, particularly the Internet, considered as “creative mode of user interactivity, not merely a medium between messages and people” [10]. In this paper, we characterize existing citizen engineering practices into 6 major categories, followed by a discussion of 4 ongoing projects, aiming to provide new perspectives and insights for achieving successful CE project designs.
Skin Cancer, Polyphenols, and Oxidative Stress

Abstract The characteristics of malignancy are cell growth and remodelling of the extracellular matrix for angiogenesis and metastasis. One of the major causes of skin cancer (melanoma and nonmelanoma) is the cellular accumulation reactive oxygen species (ROS), which outbalances the cellular antioxidant system, causing oxidative stress with intrinsic aging but more so with the exposure of skin to environmental pollutants and ultraviolet (UV) radiation. The ROS damage DNA, proteins, and lipids, and activate inflammatory cytokines that activate the signal transduction pathways of the mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK), nuclear factor-kappa beta (NF-κB)/p65, and JAK/STAT (Signal Transduction and Activation of Transcription), which in turn activate factors such as activator-1 (AP-1) transcription factor. The activation of these pathways results in the increased expression of matrixmetalloproteinases (MMPs), Transforming Growth Factor-β (TGF-β), and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF), which collectively remodel the extracellular matrix (ECM) for tumor growth, angiogenesis, and metastasis. Polyphenols are effective in anticarcinogenesis largely because of their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Polyphenols include the classes of flavonoids, anthocyanins, catechins, lignans, proanthocyanidins, tannins, and more; and the hydroxyl groups attached to their aromatic rings may be active in scavenging the free radicals. The effectiveness of polyphenols in preventing tumor growth, angiogenesis, and metastasis also lies in their ability to counteract/repair DNA damage, induce tumor suppressor genes, and inhibit the MAPK, NF-kB, and JAK/STAT pathways that induce the expression of MMPs, TGF-β, and VEGF. Polyphenols, and their combination, would be effective in the prevention of cancer or as supplements in the treatment of cancer.
Attack of the Clones: Detecting Cloned Applications on Android Markets

We present DNADroid, a tool that detects Android application copying, or “cloning”, by robustly computing the similarity between two applications. DNADroid achieves this by comparing program dependency graphs between methods in candidate applications. Using DNADroid, we found at least 141 applications that have been the victims of cloning, some as many as seven times. DNADroid has a very low false positive rate — we manually confirmed that all the applications detected are indeed clones by either visual or behavioral similarity. We present several case studies that give insight into why applications are cloned, including localization and redirecting ad revenue. We describe a case of malware being added to an application and show how DNADroid was able to detect two variants of the same malware. Lastly, we offer examples of an open source cracking tool being used in the wild.
Indigenous Language Immersion Schools for Strong Indigenous Identities.

This article examines evidence from indigenous language immersion programs in the United States and makes the case that these immersion programs are vital to healing the negative effects of colonialism and assimilationist schooling that have disrupted many indigenous homes and communities. It describes support for immersion programs by American Indian leaders and how these programs are furthering efforts to decolonize indigenous education and helping further United Nations policies supporting the rights of indigenous peoples. The fit between place-, community-, and culture-based education and immersion language programs is described with examples from Apache, Ojibwe, Dine (Navajo), Hawaiian, and Blackfeet language programs illustrating how traditional indigenous values are infused into language programs to help build strong positive identities in indigenous students and their communities.
Multicompartment Polymeric Nanoreactors for Non-Orthogonal Cascade Catalysis

Spatial confinement of multiple catalysts presents an effective strategy for performing sequential or tandem chemical transformations in a one-pot reaction. These methods may be used to catalyze numerous reactions in conditions that are otherwise incompatible between catalyst and solvent, different catalysts, or reagents. Appropriate site isolation or support structure design will lead to significant advantages in atom economy, purification, and costs; the development of the interface between a catalyst and its confined microenvironment is paramount for realizing the next generation of nanoreactors. Polymer scaffolds can create tailor-made microenvironments resulting in catalyst compartmentalization. Through the optimization of a number of variables such as size, solubility, functionality, and morphology of the nanoreactor, catalyst activity and selectivity can be tuned. In this feature article, design principles and early strategies for polymer supports for catalyst site-isolation are introduced, and current strategies toward multicompartment polymer nanoreactors for non-orthogonal cascade catalysis are discussed. Future design trends in this burgeoning field are outlined in the conclusion.
Empowering Diverse Populations: Family Practice in the 21st Century:

The rapid increase around the world in interactions among persons of diverse cultural and social backgrounds along with (1) major shifts in how family is defined and (2) increasing fragmentation an...
The Current State of Research Capacity in US Family Medicine Departments.

Background and objectives Capacity for conducting family medicine research has grown significantly since the specialty was founded. Many calls to increase this capacity have been published, but there has been no consistent, systematic, and longitudinal assessment. This survey was designed to gather baseline data with an easily replicable set of measures associated with research productivity that can guide and monitor the impact of efforts to build research capacity in US departments of family medicine (DFMs). Methods We surveyed family medicine department chairs regarding departmental research capacity using well-established empirical measures of capacity (trained research faculty, infrastructure, research leadership, and funding) and a self-assessment. We used bivariate analyses to assess correlation between the empirical measures and the self-assessed stage of research capacity. Results Self-assessed capacity was significantly associated with every empirical measure. High-capacity departments have more research-trained faculty, more faculty effort, utilize more research "laboratories," have more faculty serving on federal peer-review panels, more faculty as principal investigators, devote more internal funding to research, and garner larger amounts of funding from more external funding sources than moderate or minimal-capacity departments. Conclusions US DFMs have made great strides over the past half century in building research capacity. However, much more capacity in family medicine and primary care research is needed to produce new knowledge necessary to improve the health and health care of the nation. Periodic measurement using the simple, replicable, and valid minimum measures of this study provides an opportunity to establish longitudinal tracking of change in research capacity in US DFMs.
Comparison of Conventional and Alternative Nursery Field Management Systems: Tree Growth and Performance

Abstract The effects of 5 nursery field maintenance systems (cultivation, herbicide management, legume (bird's-foot trefoil) companion crop, winter cereal (rye) cover crop/mulch, and mixed grass so...
Italy and the environmental humanities: Landscapes, natures, ecologies

This edited volume includes a bundle of loosely related, in both content and methodology, yet fascinating essays focusing on a motley array of issues concerning ecology and literature in twentieth-...
Systems Savvy: Practical Intelligence for Transformation of Sociotechnical Systems

Systems savvy, a new construct derived from foundations of practical intelligence, is the capacity to see the interdependence of technological and social/organizational systems and to construct synergies between them. Understanding systems savvy is valuable for managing the changes that go along with rapidly evolving technical and social/organizational systems that are part of the group decision and negotiation landscape. We first define the construct of systems savvy and position it in recent research on practical intelligence and tacit knowledge. We differentiate it from several other individual characteristics often used in research and practice. We use a critical incident technique with 13 subject matter experts to create a situational judgment test measure of systems savvy that can be used for research or assessments to support training. Preliminary validation of the measure uses a sample of 39 successful professionals and 182 novices. Systems savvy represents a contribution to research streams focused on understanding technology with implications at the team and organizational levels of analysis. We conclude with a discussion of the limitations of the current research and offer possible next steps toward using the systems savvy construct for understanding and supporting the future of work, especially within teams.
Comments on “Elucidation of molecular interactions between ionic liquid [Emim][triflate] with 2-methoxyethanol & N-methylpyrrolidone: Experimental and COSMO-RS studies”

Abstract Errors were noted pertaining to the volumetric properties reported in the published by Aangothu and coworkers. Partial molar volumes of the individual mixture components in Table 4 were found to be inconsistent with the limiting values reported in Table 5. Excess molar volumes reported in the paper were found to be inconsistent with the partial molar volumes of the individual mixture components.
Thermal Inactivation Kinetics of Three Heat-Resistant Salmonella Strains in Whole Liquid Egg

The heat resistance of three heat-resistant strains of Salmonella was determined in whole liquid egg (WLE). Inoculated samples in glass capillary tubes were completely immersed in a circulating water bath and held at 56, 58, 60, 62, and 64°C for predetermined lengths of time. The recovery medium was tryptic soy agar with 0.1% sodium pyruvate and 50 ppm of nalidixic acid. Survival data were fitted using log-linear, log-linear with shoulder, and Weibull models using GInaFiT version 1.7. Based on the R2 and mean square error, the log-linear with shoulder and Weibull models consistently produced a better fit to Salmonella survival curves obtained at these temperatures. Contaminated WLE must be heated at 56, 60, and 64°C for at least 33.2, 2.7, and 0.31 min, respectively, to achieve a 4-log reduction of Salmonella; 39.0, 3.1, and 0.34 min, respectively, for a 5-log reduction; and 45.0, 3.5, and 0.39 min, respectively, for a 6-log reduction. The z-values calculated from the D-values were 3.67 and 4.18°C for the log-linear with shoulder and Weibull models, respectively. Thermal death times presented in this study will be beneficial for WLE distributors and regulatory agencies when designing pasteurization processes to effectively eliminate Salmonella in WLE, thereby ensuring the microbiological safety of the product.