cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Measuring value‐added in higher education: conditions and caveats – results from using the Measure of Academic Proficiency and Progress (MAPP™)

The Commission on the Future of Higher Education in the USA emphasises accountability in higher education as one of its key areas of interest. A programme, called the Voluntary System of Accountability, was developed to evaluate the effectiveness of general public college education. This study examines how students progress in college, indicated by the performance difference between freshmen and seniors after controlling for admission scores, can be measured using the Measure of Academic Proficiency and Progress™ (MAPP™) test. A total of 6196 students from 23 institutions was included in this study. Results indicated that MAPP was able to differentiate between the performance of freshmen and seniors after controlling for SAT®/ACT scores. The institutions were classified into 10 groups on the basis of the difference in the actual versus expected MAPP performance. The assumptions and implications of linking student learning growth to institutional effectiveness are discussed. Methodological issues on value‐...
Instability of the flow between rotating cylinders: The wide-gap problem

An analytical investigation is carried out to determine the conditions for instability in a viscous fluid contained between rotating coaxial cylinders of arbitrary radius ratio. A solution method is outlined and then applied to cylinders having radius ratios ranging from 0·95 to 0·1. Consideration is given to both cases wherein the cylinders are rotating in the same direction and in opposite directions. Results are reported for the Taylor numbers and wave-numbers which mark the onset of instability. The present results are also employed to delineate the range of applicability of the closed-form instability predictions of Taylor and of Meksyn, which were derived for narrow-gap conditions.
System diagnosability analysis using model-based diagnosis tools

Computing the diagnosability of a discrete-valued system (such as an avionics system), or conversely, a set of test vectors to efficiently determine system diagnosability, is a well-known task within the area of system diagnostics. There are a number of approaches that have been adopted for this task, and many tools have been developed and are available commercially. This article describes a new approach for this task, using techniques developed within the model-based diagnostics (MBD) community. The benefits of this new approach are: (1) the same model used for system design and analysis can be used for diagnosability testing; and (2) a diagnosability model (or set of test vectors) can be compiled from the MBD model, without having to have a model for design and one for diagnosability.
Discrete-event Execution Alternatives on General Purpose Graphical Processing Units (GPGPUs)

Graphics cards, traditionally designed as accelerators for computer graphics, have evolved to support more general-purpose computation. General Purpose Graphical Processing Units (GPGPUs) are now being used as highly efficient, cost-effective platforms for executing certain simulation applications. While most of these applications belong to the category of timestepped simulations, little is known about the applicability of GPGPUs to discrete event simulation (DES). Here, we identify some of the issues & challenges that the GPGPU stream-based interface raises for DES, and present some possible approaches to moving DES to GPGPUs. Initial performance results on simulation of a diffusion process show that DES-style execution on GPGPU runs faster than DES on CPU and also significantly faster than time-stepped simulations on either CPU or GPGPU.
Students’ expectations on the surgery clerkship exceed those of residents and faculty

Abstract Purpose The perceptions and expectations of students on the surgery clerkship were evaluated and compared with those of surgical residents and faculty. Methods A voluntary and anonymous survey was distributed to third year medical students, general surgery residents, and surgery faculty. Statistical analysis was performed using the χ 2 and Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel tests ( P value Results Medical students, surgery residents and faculty largely agreed on student responsibilities during morning rounds. However, more students (96.9%) than residents (86.2%) and faculty (77.3%) believed they should be writing progress notes, and fewer students (85%) than residents (100%) and faculty (95.5%) thought they should be taught during morning rounds ( P P = 0.04, respectively). The expected and actual educational experience on the surgical clerkship was similar. The amount of instruction provided each week by residents and faculty was similar to the amount expected by students; each group believed that surgical residents were good educators. Students, residents, and faculty agreed on many essential skills for a student to learn by the clerkship’s end; however, more students (85.8%) than residents (58.6%) and faculty (68.2%) viewed identifying surgical complications as an essential skill ( P Conclusions Overall, the expectations of the medical students, surgical residents, and surgical faculty on the surgery clerkship were well matched. However, there were some instances where the students thought they should be more involved in patient care than did the residents and the faculty. It is important for surgical educators to be aware of these discrepancies to fully maximize the educational experience of medical students.
Review fluorescence correlation spectroscopy for probing the kinetics and mechanisms of DNA hairpin formation

This article reviews the application of fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) and related techniques to the study of nucleic acid hairpin conformational fluctuations in free aqueous solutions. Complimentary results obtained using laser-induced temperature jump spectroscopy, single-molecule fluorescence spectroscopy, optical trapping, and biophysical theory are also discussed. The studies cited reveal that DNA and RNA hairpin folding occurs by way of a complicated reaction mechanism involving long- and short-lived reaction intermediates. Reactions occurring on the subnanoseconds to seconds time scale have been observed, pointing out the need for experimental techniques capable of probing a broad range of reaction times in the study of such complex, multistate reactions.
Primate B-1 Cells Generate Antigen-Specific B Cell Responses to T Cell–Independent Type 2 Antigens

Ab responses to T cell-independent type 2 (TI-2) Ags, such as bacterial capsular polysaccharides, are critical for host defense. In mice, B-1b cells expressing a CD11b(+)FSC(hi)CD21(lo/-)CD19(hi) phenotype play a key role in producing Abs against TI-2 Ags. In primates, a distinct IgM(+)CD27(+) "memory" B cell population is thought to generate TI-2 Ab responses, and evidence for a B-1b-like cell population participating in these responses is lacking. In this article, we demonstrate that nonhuman primates (NHPs; African green monkeys and cynomolgus macaques) harbor serosal B cells expressing a CD11b(+)FSC(hi)CD21(lo/-)CD80(+/-)CD19(hi) phenotype, constitutively active Stat3, and increased reactivity with phosphorylcholine, similar to murine peritoneal B-1a and B-1b cell populations. Like what is observed for murine B-1b cells, NHP CD11b(+)FSC(hi)CD21(lo/-)CD19(hi) B cells dominate the Ag-specific B cell response and Ab production against the TI-2 Ag trinitrophenyl-Ficoll. Although Ag-specific IgM(+) B cells expressing CD27 were not detected prior to immunization, Ag-specific CD11b(+)CD19(hi) B cells expressed and maintained an IgM(+)IgD(lo)CD27(+)CD80(+) phenotype following immunization. Thus, the murine and NHP B cell populations responding to trinitrophenyl-Ficoll are highly similar, with the main exception being that Ag-specific NHP B-1-like cells express CD27 following TI-2 Ag encounter. Therefore, murine B-1b and primate IgM(+)CD27(+) "memory" B cell subsets proposed to produce TI-2 Ab responses may be highly related, if not identical. Overall, these data not only support that B-1-like cells are present in NHPs but also provide evidence that these cells perform the same functions attributed to murine B-1b cells.
Arachidonic acid metabolites, hydrogen peroxide, and EDHF in cerebral arteries

We tested the hypotheses that EDHF in rat middle cerebral arteries (MCAs) involves 1) metabolism of arachidonic acid through the epoxygenase pathway, 2) metabolism of arachidonic acid through the l...
Neuroprotection Is Unlikely to Be Effective in Humans Using Current Trial Designs

What we need to carry out in the laboratory and at the bedside are experiments. If our experiments have been positive in the laboratory but negative at the bedside, it is logical to me that at the bedside we need to better emulate the conditions under which the laboratory experiment turns out positive; in other words, we need to do the “rat experiment” in man. Those clinical studies that have adhered to this dictum1–3 have been the only positive clinical trials to date. Figure 1 depicts the general design of the rat transient middle cerebral artery occlusion model that is most often used to test neuroprotective drugs. It also depicts the general design of the sort of clinical trial that I postulate must be done to get positive results in stroke patients. There are 4 main areas where clinical trials have departed most from this model. In rats, we take pains to produce lesions of standardized severity in order to better detect a treatment effect; we start by giving the drug soon after the onset of stroke and then determine how much this time to treatment (TTT) can be lengthened; we use models of temporary rather than permanent arterial occlusion; and we increase doses of drug until we see a therapeutic effect. Figure 1. Proposed algorithm for studying neuroprotective drugs in laboratory animals and human stroke patients. These factors must all be addressed in the design of future clinical trials, and they are listed in Figure 2 along with …
Bicameral Winning Coalitions and Equilibrium Federal Legislatures

I analyze the legislative interaction between representatives from big and small states in a bicameral legislature that decides on the allocation of a fixed resource among the states. I assume that the two houses are malapportioned and that the big states are underrepresented in the upper house. By studying the effect of this and other institutional features on the relative welfare of big and small states and on equilibrium coalitions, I find that, contrary to common belief, an increase in the representation of small states may reduce those states' expected payoff, ceteris paribus. Also, contrary to interpretations of minimum-winning-coalition theorems, I demonstrate that excess majorities may occur in one of the two houses. When proposal making tends to be dominated by big (small) states, excess majorities occur in the upper (lower) house. I also find that higher proposal power increases the payoff of a group of states. Changes in the majority requirements in the two houses and expansion to encompass more small (big) states have non-monotonic effects on the relative welfare of the two groups. I conclude my analysis with an empirical application using calibrations results for the 103d U.S. Congress and the legislative institutions of the European Union before and after the Treaty of Nice.
Managing research to predictable advantage

Research, or so the story goes, is too individual and creative an activity to be managed. And yet, at the same time, the sponsor of the research must justify its cost against some specific needs, whether they be for national defense, commercial competition or social purpose. Also, by the late 1960's, the number of researchers became large, the funding needs became large, and funding support began to limit.
Three-dimensional signal correction on U1traPeRL CZT detectors

Three-dimensional signal correction on pixellated CdZnTe (CZT) detectors for the UltraPeRL project has been studied using Monte Carlo simulations. Each 2 cm x 2 cm x 0.5 cm CZT detector has 8 x 8 pixellated anodes with a pitch of 2.4 mm. A depth and lateral correction algorithm has been developed in order to estimate both the depth of interaction (DOI) and the lateral position underneath the collecting pixel and therefore correct the signal amplitude. Using only the simple depth correction technique, the energy resolution can reach about 1.2% FWHM at 662 keV for single-pixel gamma-ray interactions. The relative detector-thickness photopeak efficiency is close to 79%. After lateral correction, the relative detector- thickness photopeak efficiency increased to about 88%, while the energy resolution changed little.
Thelastomatid Nematodes (Oxyurida: Thelastomatoidea) from the Peppered Cockroach, Archimandrita tesselata (Insecta: Blattaria) in Costa Rica

Abstract Six species of thelastomatid nematodes belonging to 6 different genera were collected from the peppered cockroach Archimandrita tesselata Rehn, 1903, at the Area de Conservacion Guanacaste, Costa Rica, from 2003 to 2006. We describe Aoruroides costaricensis n. sp. This species differs from the other described members of the genus in female cephalic morphology and male papillae arrangement as well as having different morphological dimensions including a shorter female esophagus than that of Aoruroides philippinensis (Chitwood and Chitwood, 1933) and Aoruroides queenslandensis Jex, Cribb, and Schneider, 2004, longer esophageal corpus and isthmus than in Aoruroides legionarius Kloss, 1966, and a much shorter male tail than that of A. legionarius Kloss, 1966. The 5 additional species recovered included Buzionema validum, Protrelleta floridana, Cranifera cranifera, Hammerschmidtiella diesingi, and an unidentified species from the family Thelastomatidae. These species are redescribed using light and sc...
Subependymal Giant Cell Astrocytoma

Subependymal giant cell astrocytomas (SEGAs) are benign tumors (WHO grade I) that occur almost exclusively in the setting of tuberous sclerosis (TS), a well-defined, multi-system genetic syndrome. Most commonly originating from the region of the caudate nucleus, these tumors may cause obstruction of cerebrospinal fluid circulation leading to hydrocephalus. Less frequently, they may hemorrhage spontaneously, causing precipitous neurological impairment [1]. Mutations of the TSC-1 and TSC-2 genes, both effectors of the mTOR pathway (originally mammalian Target of Rapamycin, now formally mechanistic Target of Rapamycin), lead to the variably expressed systemic manifestations of TS; cardiac rhabdomyoma, renal angiolipomas, facial adenoma sebaceum, cortical tubers of the brain, and SEGAs. The standard treatment of symptomatic or enlarging SEGAs is surgical excision. Pharmacological effectors of the mTOR pathway, rapamycin (aka sirolimus) and its analogs have recently been shown to induce rapid involution of SEGAs; however, the optimal timing, dosage, safety, and duration of treatment remain areas of active clinical research. SEGAs in the context of TS represent an example of an emerging paradigm: targeted molecular-oncologic therapy.
Thailand's Struggle for National Security

THE basis of Thailand's political security has been altered from time to time to meet the changing stresses and strains created by great powers in the Far East. In the process of political evolution the Thai people and their politicians have shown a great deal of flexibility. Until the middle of the nineteenth century Thailand regarded China as the principal political force in the Far East and accordingly arranged her policies and practices to dovetail with China's. There was no great power comparable to China in the Far East which could have been used to offset or balance the power of China. China was in fact as well as in name the "Middle Kingdom." From the middle of the nineteenth century until as late as 1932 the politically great in southeastern Asia were not oriental but occidental powersGreat Britain and France. By the end of the nineteenth century it became apparent that Britain was the primary and France the secondary power. Thailand's politicians consequently rested the security of the nation on their ability to balance the ambitions of these two great powers. It was not until 1932 that Thailand began to suspect that Japan was replacing France as the second most important power in southeastern Asia. And it was not until December, 1941 that it became evident that Japan was challenging Great Britain's position. Since 1941 Thailand has been forced to shift her basis of security from that of balancing two great powers to that of getting along with one great power-Japan. The history of Thailand's foreign policy illustrates Thai adaptability and gives some idea as to what may be expected from Thailand in the future. In the period preceding the nineteenth century, China regarded Thailand as a tributary nation and demanded annual tribute which the Thai paid irregularly. The practice of sending Thai envoys to China had been customary during the Sukhothai period (1257-1350), the Ayutthia period (13 50-1767), the Thonburi period (1767-1782), and during the reign of Rama I (17821809) .1
The Communication Capabilities of Partitioned Optical Passive Stars Networks

This chapter analyzes the communication capabilities of Partitioned Optical Passive Stars (POPS) networks. POPS is a topological approach to providing reconfigurable multiple data channels using multiple non-hierarchical couplers. POPS topologies provide an architecture which supports flexible design trade-offs between system complexity, network throughput, power budget, and control overhead. It is shown that high performance and high coupler utilization are achieved for random, as well as regular communication patterns. These qualities are maintained as the POPS topologies are scaled to large systems.
A Sequential Decision Model for Optimum Recognition

It has been recognized in recent years that the problem of pattern recognition can be viewed as a test of statistical hypotheses. A concise explanation of this theoretical approach to the recognition problem may be obtained by considering the statistical decision process as a zero-sum two-person statistical game. The two players will be referred to as nature and the decision maker, i.e., the recognition system. A non-negative weighting function measures the loss incurred by the decision maker as a consequence of each possible decision. The aim of the decision maker is to minimize the expectation of the loss in recognition.
Microplankton trace element contents: implications for mineral limitation of mesozooplankton in an HNLC area

Mesozooplankton production in high-nutrient low-chlorophyll regions of the ocean may be reduced if the trace element concentrations in their food are insufficient to meet growth and metabolic demands. We used elemental microanalysis (SXRF) of single-celled plankton to determine their trace metal contents during a series of semi-Lagrangian drift studies in an HNLC upwelling region, the Costa Rica Dome (CRD). Cells from the surface mixed layer had lower Fe:S but higher Zn:S and Ni:S than those from the subsurface chlorophyll maximum at 22-30 m. Diatom Fe:S values were typically 3-fold higher than those in flagellated cells. The ratios of Zn:C in flagellates and diatoms were generally similar to each other, and to co-occurring mesozooplankton. Estimated Fe:C ratios in flagellates were lower than those in co-occurring mesozooplankton, sometimes by more than 3-fold. In contrast, Fe:C in diatoms was typically similar to that in zooplankton. RNA:DNA ratios in the CRD were low compared with other regions, and were related to total autotrophic biomass and weakly to the discrepancy between Zn:C in flagellated cells and mesozooplankton tissues. Mesozooplankton may have been affected by the trace element content of their food, even though trace metal limitation of phytoplankton was modest at best.
DISPERSAL AND GENETIC STRUCTURE IN KANGAROO RATS

We used spatial autocorrelation of allele frequencies to examine local structure in a population of bannertailed kangaroo rats for which Wright's isolation-by-distance model seems applicable, and for which we can estimate neighborhood size based on 10 years of data on de- mography and dispersal. The uniform dispersion and strong philopatric tendencies of this species provide a test case for the idea that restricted dispersal can lead to local genetic structure in small mammals. Whether we considered such complications as nonnormal dispersal distances, variation in lifetime reproductive success, fluctuating population density, and adult as well as juvenile dispersal, our estimate of effective population size was fewer than 15 animals. Nevertheless, data from four polymorphic allozyme loci analyzed over a range of separations between 50 m (ap- proximately one home range diameter) and 1,000 m detected no evidence for spatial clustering of alleles. One resolution of this apparent paradox is that "gamete dispersal," caused by the movements of males away from their residences during the breeding season, may be a significant (and un- measured) component of gene dispersal. Our analyses alsa demonstrate that a decline in population density may actually increase neighborhood size. A more general implication is that even extremely philopatric mammals have effective population sizes large enough to prevent the development of local genetic structure.
The Air Sacs of the Loon

AT irregular intervals during the past 100 years, there have been reports on the methods of study, general structure, modifications, and functions of the avian respiratory system. Most of the work has been done with the Pigeon, Columbia livia (Muller, 1908; Gilbert, 1939) and the Chicken, Gallus gallus (Locy and Larsell, 1916; McLeod and Wagers, 1939). These and other references in the literature serve merely as an introduction to the study of functions and variations in structure of avian respiratory systems. The state of knowledge as to the extent and positions of the air sacs of the Pigeon and the Chicken and the various terminologies used are well-covered by the references listed above, and will not be reviewed. This report is the first of a series being prepared in an effort to augment and clarify our store of knowledge on the morphology of air sacs so that an overall comparative picture is possible. This work was started under the direction of the late Dr. Will Scott at Indiana
Methyl Bromide Fumigation to Control the Oriental Fruit Moth (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in Nectarines

Responses of 24-h-old eggs and first through fifth in stars of the oriental fruit moth (OFM), Grapholita molesta (Busck), in artificially infested nectarines, Prunus persica (L.) Batsch var. nucipersica Schneid, to methyl bromide (MB) fumigation for 2 h at 21°C is reported. Eggs were least susceptible and first in stars were most susceptible when LC50’s and concentrations to cause 100% mortality were compared. A MB dose of 30 g/m3 resulted in 100% egg mortality. A currently used MB quarantine fumigation schedule of 32 g/m3 for 2 h at 16–26°C was determined to be efficacious against OFM in nectarines for export to British Columbia.
ZebOS-based Distributed Network Management Software Design

Facing to a large capacity OLT network management software development, this paper analyzes software architecture and its inner modules’ communication mechanism of ZebOS from IP Infusion Company, designs a new network management software which uses a master-subagent mode and integrates ZebOS and an open source mainstream network management software NetSNMP. Subagents are distributed at ZebOS’ inner modules, which improves system scalability and deployment flexibility, reduces communication complexity of system inner modules, and enhances software reliability. The master-subagent mode used in the system provides a reference for upgrading the existing equipment network management softwares or developing other similar large-scale equipment network management softwares.
Comparison of maternal serum lipids before and during parturition.

OBJECTIVE To investigate peripartum progesterone metabolism by measuring its lipid precursors. METHODS Serum was collected from eight pregnant women not in labor during the third trimester and again during active labor. Samples were analyzed using quantitative spectrophotometric absorbance techniques for apolipoprotein A-1, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), and total cholesterol. RESULTS Remote from labor, the mean gestational age antepartum was 35.6 weeks; during active labor it was 39.2 weeks. The amount of apolipoprotein A-1 present was 182.0 mg/dL before labor and 156.8 mg/dL during active labor; HDL cholesterol was 59.3 mg/dL before labor and 37.5 mg/dL during active labor, and total cholesterol was 226.6 mg/dL before labor and 144.1 mg/dL during active labor. All differences were significant at P < .05. CONCLUSION Maternal serum lipids associated with progesterone metabolism appear to decrease in the peripartum period. Progesterone metabolism and parturition may be correlated with these lipid changes, thus identifying patients about to enter labor.
Superconducting wires for electronic applications

For more than a decade, Superconducting QUantum Interference Device (SQUID) magnetometer and gradiometer systems have been used for high sensitivity magnetic field measurements in the laboratory. More recently, attempts to utilize these systems in an ambient field, mobile environment have uncovered hitherto ignored sources of noise which severely limit the ultimate sensitivity of these circuits. We have already learned that a significant source of noise arises from the effect of thermal fluctuations on magnetic field penetration in the superconducting shield surrounding the SQUID and coupling transformer.1,2 Measurements of different shielding materials and configurations have indicated that shields made from Nb3Sn are significantly better than the conventional Pb and Nb shields due primarily to its higher transition temperature. These measurements also found that surface condition plays a tremendous role in minimizing the depth of penetration of magnetic fields into a superconductor.3
The Geographic Information Science Body of Knowledge 2.0: Toward a New Federation of GIS Knowledge

Geographic Information Science is a relatively new discipline. Indeed the teaching of the technology of Geographic Information Systems did not really begin as a university subject until the US based National Center for Geographic Information Analysis developed a “Core Curriculum” in 1990. This Curriculum was revised in the late 1990s in an ongoing effort to provide educational resources for GIS university lecturers. Within the GIS community, a perceived need to update this Curriculum, on an ongoing basis, led to the development of a “Body of Knowledge” by representative organizations from academia (primarily the US University Consortium of Geographic Information Science), professional bodies (e.g., the Association of American Geographers) and the world-wide, industry leading GIS software manufacturing company, Esri. This Body of Knowledge was published in 2006 and it is now freely available online. However, it has become dated and originally there was no process implemented for keeping it current. As a consequence there is now a new project to develop the Body of Knowledge 2.0 (BoK 2.0). On April 13th, 2013, the first meeting of those involved in the development of BoK 2.0 will be held at the Association of American Geographers annual conference in order to plan a process for completing this project. The BoK 2.0 will be developed using collaborative technologies such as wikis. These will be facilitated by new immersive computer environments similar to the technology used in Second Life. This keynote talk will explore how these new technologies, including new developments arising from social media, will integrate a world-wide knowledge federation of Geographic Information Science. Links to these approaches and the Webble World environment will be explored and suggested.
Leveraging Internal knowledge at startups

This paper will discuss an implementable action plan for startups to capture and leverage their intellectual capital and identify the key players of the process. The paper will discuss the Knowledge Management deliverables that can help startups reduce the over-dependence on chief architects, reduce onboarding time for new employees, facilitate cross-functional team communication, and capture intellectual capital of the organization to safeguard against employee turnover.
Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus isolates in a hospital of shanghai.

// Xiaoguang Wang 1 , Lin Ouyang 1 , Lingfei Luo 1 , Jiqian Liu 1 , Chiping Song 1 , Cuizhen Li 1 , Hongjing Yan 1 , Ping Wang 1 1 The Center for Disease Control and Prevention of Minghang District, Minghang District, Shanghai 201101, P.R. China Correspondence to: Ping Wang, email: wangpingdis@sina.com Keywords: methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), hospital-associated MRSA, mecA gene, panton-valentine leukocidin (PVL) gene Received: November 01, 2016 Accepted: December 13, 2016 Published: December 20, 2016 ABSTRACT Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains are now common both in the health care setting and in the community. Active surveillance is critical for MRSA control and prevention. Specimens of patients (200 patients with 1119 specimens) as well as medical staff and hospital setting (1000 specimens) were randomly sampled in a level 2 hospital in Shanghai from September 2011 to August 2012. Isolation, cultivation and identification of S. aureus were performed. Totally, 67 S. aureus strains were isolated. 32 S. aureus strains were isolated from patient samples; 13 (13/32, 40.6%) of the 32 S. aureus isolates were MRSA; sputum sample and patients in the department of general internal medicine were the most frequent specimen and patient group for S. aureus strains isolation. Remaining 35 S. aureus strains were isolated from the medical staff and hospital setting; 20 (20/35, 57.1%) of the 35 S. aureus isolates were MRSA; specimens sampled from doctors and nurses’ hands and nose and hospital facilities were the most frequent samples to isolate S. aureus . Resistant and virulent genes detection showed that, all 33 MRSA strains were mecA positive which accounts for 49.3% of the 67 S. aureus strains; 38 isolates were Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) gene positive which accounts for 56.7% of the 67 S. aureus strains; and 17 (17/67, 25.4%) isolates are mecA and PVL genes dual positive. Multidrug-resistant strains of MRSA and PVL positive S. aureus are common in patients, medical staff and hospital setting, the potential health threat is worthy of our attention.
The Fuzzy Concept of Applied Behavior Analysis Research

A seven-dimension framework, introduced by Baer, Wolf, and Risley in an iconic 1968 article, has become the de facto gold standard for identifying “good” work in applied behavior analysis. We examine the framework’s historical context and show how its overarching attention to social relevance first arose and then subsequently fueled the growth of applied behavior analysis. Ironically, however, in contemporary use, the framework serves as a bottleneck that prevents many socially important problems from receiving adequate attention in applied behavior analysis research. The core problem lies in viewing the framework as a conjoint set in which “good” research must reflect all seven dimensions at equally high levels of integrity. We advocate a bigger-tent version of applied behavior analysis research in which, to use Baer and colleagues’ own words, “The label applied is determined not by the procedures used but by the interest society shows in the problem being studied.” Because the Baer-Wolf-Risley article expressly endorses the conjoint-set perspective and devalues work that falls outside the seven-dimension framework, pitching the big tent may require moving beyond that article as a primary frame of reference for defining what ABA should be.
The Conserved Spore Coat Protein SpoVM Is Largely Dispensable in Clostridium difficile Spore Formation.

ABSTRACT The spore-forming bacterial pathogen Clostridium difficile is a leading cause of health care-associated infections in the United States. In order for this obligate anaerobe to transmit infection, it must form metabolically dormant spores prior to exiting the host. A key step during this process is the assembly of a protective, multilayered proteinaceous coat around the spore. Coat assembly depends on coat morphogenetic proteins recruiting distinct subsets of coat proteins to the developing spore. While 10 coat morphogenetic proteins have been identified in Bacillus subtilis, only two of these morphogenetic proteins have homologs in the Clostridia: SpoIVA and SpoVM. C. difficile SpoIVA is critical for proper coat assembly and functional spore formation, but the requirement for SpoVM during this process was unknown. Here, we show that SpoVM is largely dispensable for C. difficile spore formation, in contrast with B. subtilis. Loss of C. difficile SpoVM resulted in modest decreases (~3-fold) in heat- and chloroform-resistant spore formation, while morphological defects such as coat detachment from the forespore and abnormal cortex thickness were observed in ~30% of spoVM mutant cells. Biochemical analyses revealed that C. difficile SpoIVA and SpoVM directly interact, similarly to their B. subtilis counterparts. However, in contrast with B. subtilis, C. difficile SpoVM was not essential for SpoIVA to encase the forespore. Since C. difficile coat morphogenesis requires SpoIVA-interacting protein L (SipL), which is conserved exclusively in the Clostridia, but not the more broadly conserved SpoVM, our results reveal another key difference between C. difficile and B. subtilis spore assembly pathways. IMPORTANCE The spore-forming obligate anaerobe Clostridium difficile is the leading cause of antibiotic-associated diarrheal disease in the United States. When C. difficile spores are ingested by susceptible individuals, they germinate within the gut and transform into vegetative, toxin-secreting cells. During infection, C. difficile must also induce spore formation to survive exit from the host. Since spore formation is essential for transmission, understanding the basic mechanisms underlying sporulation in C. difficile could inform the development of therapeutic strategies targeting spores. In this study, we determine the requirement of the C. difficile homolog of SpoVM, a protein that is essential for spore formation in Bacillus subtilis due to its regulation of coat and cortex formation. We observed that SpoVM plays a minor role in C. difficile spore formation, in contrast with B. subtilis, indicating that this protein would not be a good target for inhibiting spore formation.
Exploring the exponential integrators with Krylov subspace algorithms for nonlinear circuit simulation

We explore Krylov subspace algorithms to calculate φ functions of exponential integrators for circuit simulation. Higham [1] pointed out the potential numerical stability risk of φ functions computation. However, for the applications to circuit analysis, the choice of methods remains open. This work inspects the accuracy of matrix exponential and vector product with Krylov subspace methods, and identifies the proper approach to achieving numerically stable solutions for nonlinear circuits. Empirial results verify the quality of the proposed methods using various orders of φ functions. Furthermore, instead of Newton-Raphson (NR) iterations in conventional methods, an iterative residue correction algorithm is devised for nonlinear system analysis. The stability and efficiency of our methods are illustrated with experiments.
Case 9—When Parents Contest an Adult Child’s Advance Directive

The patient was a 25-year-old woman admitted to the hospital from hospice care with end-stage cardiomyopathy. She had an advance directive which specified a limited trial of ventilator support, which the patient’s schizophrenic mother successfully contested in court.
Partitioned Matrices, Rank, and Eigenvalues

We begin with the elementary operations on partitioned (block) matrices, followed by discussions of the inverse and rank of the sum and product of matrices. We then present four different proofs of the theorem that the products AB and BA of matrices A and B of sizes m × n and n × m, respectively, have the same nonzero eigenvalues. At the end of this chapter we discuss the often-used matrix technique of continuity argument and the tool for localizing eigenvalues by means of the Ger?sgorin discs.
Neoplastic Intestinal Disease

Polyps of the gastrointestinal tract are usually removed endoscopically by a single incision at the base of the polyp stalk. Although these specimens lack the size and complexity of more extended bowel resections, they are delicate structures that require meticulous processing. First, obtain relevant clinical information such as the patient’s history, the endoscopic findings, and the anatomic site from which the polyp was removed. Next, turn your attention to the specimen itself. The polypectomy specimen poses three important questions to the surgical pathologist: (1) Are adenomatous changes present? (2) Is infiltrating carcinoma present, and if it is, does it infiltrate into the stalk? (3)Do any of the neoplastic changes extend to the resection margin at the base of the stalk? Clearly, the polypectomy specimen must be carefully oriented and processed so that these issues can be addressed.
Renewable Energy on Campus at the University of Wyoming

The University of Wyoming, though located in a state whose economy is perhaps more dependent on fossil energy resources than any other state and many other countries (and a state with very low energy prices and thus minimum incentives for renewable energy projects), has nevertheless developed a respectable array of “green” infrastructure, research projects which mitigate carbon emissions and which address renewable energy, public outreach, and educational opportunities. The School of Energy Resources hosts two renewable energy centers among its eight centers of excellence, and faculties in chemistry, engineering, physics, and geology and geophysics participate in renewable energy research. Recent building projects, including the new Visual Arts Facility, have received LEED gold and LEED platinum ratings from the U.S. Green Building Council. This level of commitment can be regarded as a benchmark for sustainable development on a campus within a broader environment of minimal incentives.
Transport of Wild-Type and Recombinant Nucleopolyhedroviruses by Scavenging and Predatory Arthropods

Wild-type and recombinant nucleopolyhedroviruses (NPVs) were compared in their capability to be transported over limited distances by the predator Podisus maculiventris (Say) and scavengers Sarcophaga bullata (Parker) and Acheta domesticus (Linnaeus) in Trichoplusia ni (Hubner) larvae infesting collards in a greenhouse microcosm. Viruses tested were variants of Autographa californica (Speyer) NPV (AcNPV): wild-type virus (AcNPV.WT), AcNPV expressing a scorpion toxin (AcNPV.AaIT), and AcNPV expressing juvenile hormone esterase (AcJHE.SG). Podisus maculiventris transported AcNPV.WT and S. bullata transported AcNPV.WT and AcNPV.AaIT. Prevalence and transport of AcNPV.WT were greater than those of AcNPV.AaIT and AcJHE.SG, regardless of whether the nontarget organism carriers were present or absent. Podisus maculiventris and S. bullata transported recombinant and wild-type NPVs at a rate of up to 62.5 cm/day, and A. domesticus transported wild-type NPV at 125 cm/day. The infected host insects, T. ni, undoubtedly contributed to viral transport in the current research. In every experiment, both the wild-type and recombinant virus spread to some degree in the plots without predators or scavengers. The relative amounts of NPVs that accumulated in soil, as indicated by bioassay mortality percentages, generally exhibited spatial patterns similar to those of T. ni mortality due to NPV on the collards plants. Thus, the predator and scavengers in the current research demonstrated some capacity to transport wild-type as well as recombinant viruses at significant rates in a greenhouse microcosm.
Aplastic and Hypoplastic Anemias

1. Suzie A. Noronha, MD* 1. *Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY * Abbreviations: AA: : aplastic anemia AML: : acute myeloid leukemia ANC: : absolute neutrophil count ARC: : absolute reticulocyte count CBC: : complete blood cell DBA: : Diamond-Blackfan anemia DC: : dyskeratosis congenita FA: : Fanconi anemia GPI: : glycosylphosphatidylinositol HSCT: : hematopoietic stem cell transplant MCV: : mean corpuscular volume MSD: : matched sibling donor MUD: : matched unrelated donor OS: : overall survival PNH: : paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria PRCA: : pure red cell aplasia SDS: : Shwachman-Diamond syndrome TEC: : transient erythroblastopenia of childhood 1. Anemia is a common finding in general pediatrics, but knowing when to refer a patient can be challenging. 2. Pediatricians do not always order reticulocyte counts as part of the evaluation of anemia. The reticulocyte count, interpreted in the context of the mean corpuscular volume, is very useful in the development of differential diagnoses for anemia and determination of urgency of referral. 3. Pediatricians (and subspecialists) may not realize that diagnosis of malignancy, particularly head and neck cancers, at an unexpectedly early age may be associated with an inherited bone marrow failure. After completing this article, readers should be able to: 1. Assess the need for referring a patient with anemia based on whether anemia is isolated or accompanied by other hematologic or physical anomalies. 2. Recognize that anemia in the setting of congenital anomalies may signify an inherited bone marrow failure disorder. 3. Understand that inherited bone marrow failure disorders confer a higher risk of malignancy. Children with anemias often initially present to their pediatricians. Anemia may result from blood loss, a destructive process (ie, hemolysis), nutritional deficiency, or poor production (eg, ineffective erythropoiesis or hypoplastic or aplastic marrow) (Table). Hemolytic and nutritional anemias have been discussed elsewhere and are referenced briefly in this article. (1)(2)(3)(4) This review focuses on the broad differential diagnosis for anemia associated with poor production. These anemias can lead to chronic morbidity and require subspecialty care, whereas others may be managed effectively in primary care. This review offers a framework to guide evaluation and the need for subspecialty investigation. View this table: TABLE . Classification of Anemias by Mechanism and Notable Associated Laboratory Data Aplastic and hypoplastic anemias are characterized …
Embryological studies in lentibulariaceae

Embryology ofUtricularia smithiana has been studied and its systematic position as a species separate fromUtricularia caerulea has been justified.
Recurrent Subcutaneous Teratoma in an Adult Red-crowned Amazon Parrot (Amazona viridigenalis)

An approximately 42-year-old, wild-caught, red-crowned Amazon parrot (Amazona viridigenalis) was evaluated for a subcutaneous mass to the right of the keel. Cytologic examination of a fine needle aspirate of the mass were suggestive of granulomatous inflammation. The mass was surgically excised, and the parrot was treated with oral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Histologically, the mass was diagnosed as a teratoma with stratified squamous epithelial and neuroectodermal components. Tumor cells extended to surgical margins. Two years later, the neoplasm recurred, with regrowth of only the neuroectodermal component. The neoplasm was again removed surgically, but it recurred again 14 months later, necessitating a third surgery. Histopathologic examination confirmed recurrence of the original neoplasm in both instances, with incomplete margins on both excisions.
The Kingly-Bureaucratic State: The Integration of Larger Political Areas

The office of war chief became “Kingship” when the high priests empowered it with godliness. The Kings conquered large territories, and the Kings were worshiped as divine – descended from the gods and embodying the gods. The kings ruled with the help of the high priests and hundreds of state officials. This divine Kingship was so effective in integrating and stabilizing multicultural territories that it became institutionalized in the great civilizations of Mesopotamia, Egypt, India, and China (also in the Mayan, Inca, and Aztec civilizations). Where the divine Kingship became deeply institutionalized and long lived, democracy, not only disappeared, but became inconceivable.
The Use of Technology to Support Precision Health in Nursing Science.

Purpose This article outlines how current nursing research can utilize technology to advance symptom and self-management science for precision health and provides a roadmap for the development and use of technologies designed for this purpose. Approach At the 2018 annual conference of the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) Research Centers, nursing and interdisciplinary scientists discussed the use of technology to support precision health in nursing research projects and programs of study. Key themes derived from the presentations and discussion were summarized to create a proposed roadmap for advancement of technologies to support health and well-being. Conclusions Technology to support precision health must be centered on the user and designed to be desirable, feasible, and viable. The proposed roadmap is composed of five iterative steps for the development, testing, and implementation of technology-based/enhanced self-management interventions. These steps are (a) contextual inquiry, focused on the relationships among humans, and the tools and equipment used in day-to-day life; (b) value specification, translating end-user values into end-user requirements; (c) design, verifying that the technology/device can be created and developing the prototype(s); (d) operationalization, testing the intervention in a real-world setting; and (e) summative evaluation, collecting and analyzing viability metrics, including process data, to evaluate whether the technology and the intervention have the desired effect. Clinical relevance Interventions using technology are increasingly popular in precision health. Use of a standard multistep process for the development and testing of technology is essential.
Foreseeing the endgame: who are the students who take the final exam at the beginning of a MOOC?

Massive open online courses (MOOCs) show highly irregular participation behaviour among users. In this study, using data from Computer Science 50x of HarvardX, we investigated one extreme, yet comm...