cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Dental Remains

The Shanidar adults provide considerable data on Near Eastern Neandertal dental morphology and proportions. A total of 96 permanent teeth are preserved from 6 of the 7 adults and 2 of the individuals, Shanidar 1 and 2, preserve virtually complete dentitions. All the Shanidar Neandertals experienced extensive occlusal attrition and moderate degrees of interproximal wear so that many of the morphological details of their tooth crowns have been lost. This chapter presents the dimensions of the Shanidar permanent teeth and their degrees of occlusal wear and comparative dental metrics. The teeth from the Shanidar adults follow a consistent pattern. This involves absolutely and relatively large anterior teeth, moderately large posterior molars, and some elaborations of the occlusal morphology, such as the shoveling of the maxillary incisors and foveae on the molars. Most of the teeth show extensive occlusal wear and the posterior teeth of the older individuals exhibit considerable interproximal wear. In those individuals with advanced dental attrition, the anterior teeth are rounded, especially on their labial margins. This anterior labial attrition appears to have been produced or, at least, accentuated by the use of the incisors and canines as a vise during food preparation and/or nondietary activities. The total pattern is one of adaptation for a high-attrition environment in which the teeth were used for a variety of purposes.
Social Capital, Agency, and Creating Micro-enterprises: A Case of Entrepreneurship Education for Tanzanian Youth

How are some youth able to draw on their education to find employment or create jobs to improve their livelihoods while others are not successful? Entrepreneurship education has emerged as one solution to help youth gain academic and employment skills, and scholars have postulated that social capital can help youth find or create employment to improve their livelihoods. Drawing on critical conceptualizations of social capital and youth, this chapter illustrates how relationships with school peers served as important sources of social capital that youth agentically drew on to start their own micro-enterprises. This analysis draws on longitudinal data of youth coming from marginalized backgrounds who were attending two secondary boarding schools in Tanzania implementing an entrepreneurship education program. Analyses of these data revealed that youth agentically navigated both positive and negative peer support to create new micro-enterprises or improve existing micro-enterprises and further their livelihoods.
Time-driven activity-based costing of low-dose-rate and high-dose-rate brachytherapy for low-risk prostate cancer.

Abstract Purpose Cost estimates through traditional hospital accounting systems are often arbitrary and ambiguous. We used time-driven activity-based costing (TDABC) to determine the true cost of low-dose-rate (LDR) and high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy for prostate cancer and demonstrate opportunities for cost containment at an academic referral center. Methods and Materials We implemented TDABC for patients treated with I-125, preplanned LDR and computed tomography based HDR brachytherapy with two implants from initial consultation through 12-month followup. We constructed detailed process maps for provision of both HDR and LDR. Personnel, space, equipment, and material costs of each step were identified and used to derive capacity cost rates, defined as price per minute. Each capacity cost rate was then multiplied by the relevant process time and products were summed to determine total cost of care. Results The calculated cost to deliver HDR was greater than LDR by $2,668.86 ($9,538 vs. $6,869). The first and second HDR treatment day cost $3,999.67 and $3,955.67, whereas LDR was delivered on one treatment day and cost $3,887.55. The greatest overall cost driver for both LDR and HDR was personnel at 65.6% ($4,506.82) and 67.0% ($6,387.27) of the total cost. After personnel costs, disposable materials contributed the second most for LDR ($1,920.66, 28.0%) and for HDR ($2,295.94, 24.0%). Conclusions With TDABC, the true costs to deliver LDR and HDR from the health system perspective were derived. Analysis by physicians and hospital administrators regarding the cost of care afforded redesign opportunities including delivering HDR as one implant. Our work underscores the need to assess clinical outcomes to understand the true difference in value between these modalities.
Channel modeling in the next generation mmWave Wi-Fi: IEEE 802.11ay standard

The IEEE 802.11ay standard is an extension of the previous 802.11ad system in the 60GHz band, with new usage cases and scenarios, which require new approaches to the millimeter-wave channel description. The proposed for the IEEE 802.11ay standard channel modeling approach is based on, so-called, quasi-deterministic (Q-D) methodology exploiting the hybrid deterministic-stochastic description of the environment which allows simple introduction of scenario-specific geometric properties, reflection attenuation, ray blockage and mobility effects, as well as the proper MIMO channel models. In accordance with this methodology the 3D channel impulse response is represented as a sum of a few quasi-deterministic strong rays (D-rays) originating from main scenario-specific large reflecting surfaces and a number of relatively weak random rays (R-rays), which describe the real environment with random relatively small reflecting objects. The beam steerable virtual antenna array with synthetic aperture was applied for available experimental data to prove the efficiency of the Q-D channel modeling methodology.
A Framework for Applying CSFs to ERP Software Selection: An Extension of Fuzzy TOPSIS Approach

The literature review studies on ERP system indicate two main areas of thrust: the study of critical success factors for the risk aversion in ERP implementation projects and the ERP system selection studies. However, ERP system selection is a tedious and a time-consuming activity. The critical success factors CSFs serve as vital input ingredients to the ERP selection Models. It is however notable that, that none of the CSFs listing propagated by the researchers find a straightforward application in the selection procedure. The paper bridges the gap between the two thrust areas by proposing a framework for applying the prioritized CSFs listed for direct utilization in the selection process. An exhaustive review on the ERP selection techniques reveals the focus on AHP and/or the Fuzzy Logic approaches to ERP selection problem. A new approach to ERP selection problem with the extensions of the Fuzzy-TOPSIS is subsequently introduced and is illustrated by a solved numerical example. Also, the computational simplicity of the extensions of Fuzzy TOPSIS is demonstrated.
Damage Detection and Characterization in Smart Material Structures

We present theoretical, computational and experimental findings in initial investigations related to methods for detection and geometric characterization of damage in piezoceramic based smart material structures. The feasibility of using self-exitation/self-sensing with piezoceramics in vibration nondestructive testing is demonstrated using a combination of experimental and simulated data computational tests.
Commensal bacteria make GPCR ligands that mimic human signalling molecules

Commensal bacteria are believed to have important roles in human health. The mechanisms by which they affect mammalian physiology remain poorly understood, but bacterial metabolites are likely to be key components of host interactions. Here we use bioinformatics and synthetic biology to mine the human microbiota for N-acyl amides that interact with G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). We found that N-acyl amide synthase genes are enriched in gastrointestinal bacteria and the lipids that they encode interact with GPCRs that regulate gastrointestinal tract physiology. Mouse and cell-based models demonstrate that commensal GPR119 agonists regulate metabolic hormones and glucose homeostasis as efficiently as human ligands, although future studies are needed to define their potential physiological role in humans. Our results suggest that chemical mimicry of eukaryotic signalling molecules may be common among commensal bacteria and that manipulation of microbiota genes encoding metabolites that elicit host cellular responses represents a possible small-molecule therapeutic modality (microbiome-biosynthetic gene therapy).
Photopigments and the dimensionality of animal color vision

Abstract Early color-matching studies established that normal human color vision is trichromatic. Subsequent research revealed a causal link between trichromacy and the presence in the retina of three classes of cone photopigments. Over the years, measurements of the photopigment complements of other species have expanded greatly and these are frequently used to predict the dimensionality of an animal’s color vision. This review provides an account of how the linkage between the number of active photopigments and the dimensions of human color vision developed, summarizes the various mechanisms that can impact photopigment spectra and number, and provides an across-species survey to examine cases where the photopigment link to the dimensionality of color vision has been claimed. The literature reveals numerous instances where the human model fails to account for the ways in which the visual systems of other animals exploit information obtained from the presence of multiple photopigments in support of their behavior.
TPCNN: Two-Phase Patch-Based Convolutional Neural Network for Automatic Brain Tumor Segmentation and Survival Prediction

The aim of this paper is to integrate some advanced statistical methods with modern deep learning methods for tumor segmentation and survival time prediction in the BraTS 2017 challenge. The goals of the BraTS 2017 challenge are to utilize multi-institutional pre-operative MRI scans to segment out different tumor subregions and then to use tumor information to predict patient’s overall survival. We build a two-phase patch-based convolutional neural network (TPCNN) model to classify all the pixels in the brain and further refine the segmentation results by using XGBoost and a post-processing procedure. The segmentation results are then used to extract various informative radiomic features for prediction of the survival time by using the XGBoost method.
REDUCING CARDIOVASCULAR RISK IN THE MEDICARE MILLION HEARTS RISK REDUCTION MODEL

The Million Hearts Cardiovascular Disease Risk Reduction Model provides financial incentives for practices to lower 10-year atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk for high risk (ASCVD >=30%) Medicare patients. We describe the potential impact of reducing modifiable risk factors on ASCVD
Can image-domain filtering of FBP CT reconstructions match low-contrast performance of iterative reconstructions?

In large part from concerns about radiation exposure from computed tomography (CT), iterative reconstruction (IR) has emerged as a popular technique for dose reduction. Although IR clearly reduces image noise and improves resolution, its ability to maintain or improve low-contrast detectability over (possibly post-processed) filtered backprojection (FBP) reconstructions is unclear. In this work, we have scanned a low contrast phantom encased in an acrylic oval using two vendors’ scanners at 120 kVp at three dose levels for axial and helical acquisitions with and without automatic exposure control. Using the local noise power spectra of the FBP and IR images to guide the filter design, we developed a two-dimensional angularly-dependent Gaussian filter in the frequency domain that can be optimized to minimize the root-mean-square error between the image-domain filtered FBP and IR reconstructions. The filter is extended to three-dimensions by applying a through-slice Gaussian filter in the image domain. Using this three-dimensional, non-isotropic filtering approach on data with non-uniform statistics from both scanners, we were able to process the FBP reconstructions to closely match the low-contrast performance of IR images reconstructed from the same raw data. From this, we conclude that most or all of the benefits of noise reduction and low-contrast performance of advanced reconstruction can be achieved with adaptive linear filtering of FBP reconstructions in the image domain.
A High-Isolation Two-Port Planar Antenna System for Communication and Radar Applications

This paper presents a novel approach to achieve a very high level of isolation between the two ports of a compact antenna system for communication and radar applications. Orthogonal polarization and a special symmetric arrangement of two-element arrays of transmitter and receiver antennas are used to achieve high isolation levels. Identical rectangular patch antennas are designed for operation at 6 GHz, and are arranged in a square grid configuration with 90° rotational symmetry in this design. A pair of transmitters and a pair of receivers are fed perfectly out of phase with 180° couplers. The entire system is simulated and fabricated. We measure the prototype antenna’s isolation, and use the absolute gain measurement technique and standard far field antenna pattern measurement technique to characterize it’s realized gain and radiation pattern. It is found that exploiting symmetry in this manner leads to isolation of 63.7 dB. This indicates that carefully designed and constructed systems could reasonably exhibit isolation on the order of 70 dB or more using this method.
Household Food Waste Solutions for Behavioral Economists and Marketers

Household food waste originates in three predictable stages – when shopping, storing, and serving. That is, food can be purchased and never prepared, prepared and never served, or served and never ...
Genetic and environmental parameters for mature weight in Angus cattle.

Genetic and environmental variances and covariances and associated genetic parameters were estimated for weaning weight, asymptotic mature weight, and repeated mature weights. Data consisted of a set of weight measurements of 3,044 Angus cows born between 1976 and 1990. Mature weight was predicted by individually fitting Brody growth curves (asymptotic weight) and by using weights repeatedly measured after 4 yr of age. Variance and covariance components for mature weight were estimated by REML from a single-trait animal model with asymptotic weight, a two-trait animal model with asymptotic and weaning weight, and a two-trait animal model with repeated weights and weaning weight. Weaning and cow contemporary groups were defined as fixed effects. Random effects for weaning weight included direct genetic, maternal genetic, and permanent environmental effects; and for mature weight, direct genetic and repeated measurements (if in the model). Heritability estimates for weaning weight were similar for both two-trait models (.53 and .59). Estimates of heritability for mature weight were .44, .52, and .53 for the single-trait model with asymptotic weight, two-trait model with asymptotic weight, and two-trait model with repeated measures weights, respectively. The estimate of the genetic correlation between mature and weaning weight was higher for the repeated measures model (.85 vs. .63). A lower heritability estimate for mature weight from the single-trait model was likely due to postweaning culling. Therefore, a genetic evaluation of mature weight from field data should include a trait recorded earlier in life that is less subjected to selective data reporting.
Transparency and the audit industry? Not in the U.S. Evidence on audit production costs, profitability and partner compensation from the U.K.

Abstract In the U.S., the investing public can readily access a great deal of information about publicly-traded companies. However, the large private accounting firms that audit those companies—and that are just as economically significant—provide very little information. This paper provides insight into the audit markets by taking a novel, descriptive approach to explore the cost of performing audits, an under-examined area in the literature due to lack of data. The analyses explore audit production costs, profitability, and partner compensation at the audit-firm level, using publicly available data from the U.K. The findings suggest interesting potential differences in audit production functions between the Big Four firms, an important factor when considering the competitiveness of the audit market. Taking this analysis and applying it to the U.S. setting, an estimate of the average profitability per domestic Big Four partner is approximately $1.2 million for the year 2013. This paper intends to stimulate discussion about how public accounting firms are regulated in the U.S.
Model Identification of Inverter Nonlinear Control Dynamics

To comprehensively predict in silico potential disruptive dynamic performance of converter-based generation and develop solutions, the application of electromagnetic transient programs is desirable. However, these accurate simulations highly depend on inverter models of actual field implementations, which are often unavailable because they are proprietary. To address this problem, we propose a time-domain model identification method that can be used to determine the control models of inverters in continuous time from multiple experimental studies. The focus is on identifying the dynamic representation of controls because they dominate the dynamic response of renewable assets. To illustrate the applicability of the technique, we consider a subclass of inverter controllers for autonomous grid applications that rely on nonlinear oscillators.
The Veil of Appearance. Phenomenological Inquiries on Husserlian Methodology

This paper explores the role of appearance in Husserl’s theory of knowledge, stressing its importance and its necessity. Far from being an accident that clarity, evidence or reality can evacuate, appearance is constitutive of our experience and of our approach of its grounding principles. In the light of this idea of appearance, the contingent aspects of our lived experience become an expression of the sense-formation process supporting and transforming it. This paper is a contribution to a larger discussion – including, among others, Eugen Fink, Michel Henry and Jean-Paul Sartre – about the relationship between phenomenology and ontology, about the nature of our knowledge and our experience of freedom.
Conformity evaluation and L1-norm principal-component analysis of tensor data

Multi-modal tensor data sets arise with increasing frequency in modern day scientific and engineering applications, for example in biomedical sciences and autonomous engineered systems. Over the past twenty years, tensor-domain data analysis has been attempted primarily in the context of standard (L2-norm) eigenvector decompositions across tensor domains. The algorithms are not joint-tensor-domain optimal and exhibit the familiar sensitivity to faulty/corrupted/missing measurements that characterizes all L2-norm principal-component analysis methods. In this work, we present a robustified method to evaluate the conformity of tensor data entries with respect to the whole accessible data set. Conformity evaluation is based on a continuously refined sequence of calculated L1- norm tensor subspaces. The theoretical developments are illustrated in the context of a multisensor localization application that indicates unprecedented estimation performance and resistance to intermittent disturbances. An electroencephalogram (EEG) data analysis experiment is also presented.
Testing the Robustness of Inquiry Practices Once Scaffolding Is Removed.

Intelligent tutoring systems (ITS) with simulated and virtual labs have been designed to enhance students’ science knowledge, including content and inquiry practices; some systems do this via real-time scaffolding. Prior studies have demonstrated that scaffolding can benefit students’ learning and performance. The present study aims to examine the robustness of scaffolding, delivered by a pedagogical agent by providing scaffolding on one activity, removing it, and then evaluating students’ inquiry performance both over multiple time periods (in 40 days, 80 days, and 170 days) and across different topics, thereby addressing far transfer. 107 middle school students in grade 6 received adaptive scaffolding on the first inquiry topic (i.e. Animal Cell) in the intelligent tutoring system, Inq-ITS. Then they received no scaffolding for three topics, namely, Plant Cell, Genetics, and Natural Selection. Results showed that after removing scaffolding, students demonstrated continued growth of inquiry performance from time 1 to time 2, to time 3, and to time 4 for the practices of hypothesizing and collecting data, as well as from time 1 to time 2 and to time 4 for the practice of warranting claims. This pattern was not found in students’ performance on the practice of interpreting data. These findings have implications for designers and researchers regarding the design of scaffolds for the NGSS’ inquiry practices so that they can be effectively transferred. These data also point to the need for additional work to address content practice interactions.
P203 Breaking the Vicious Cycle of Health Literacy and Related Health Outcomes: A Systematic Review

Background The goal to address health literacy issues and in turn improve health related outcomes has increased; however, evidence-based studies divulging the aspects that strengthen health literacy interventions in underserved populations is limited. Objective The purpose of this systematic review is to determine the factors that contribute to efficacy of health literacy interventions based on studies that were published between 2012 and 2018. Study Design, Settings, Participants Following the PRISMA guidelines, relevant studies were obtained through Medline, PubMed, Science Direct, and Scopus databases. Five authors screened and determined the quality of the studies using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) system and extracted the data from the articles. Measurable Outcome/Analysis A total of ten studies were reviewed. Results Factors identified as important contributors to efficacy of health literacy interventions included: comprehensive baseline assessment, tailoring messages based on the assessment, distinguishing health knowledge versus health literacy, applying recommended strategies for health literacy and affording adequate duration and dosage for the intervention. Conclusions Based on this review, studies that were successful in achieving their health literacy goals conducted comprehensive baseline interventions, utilized the results of the assessment to inform the intervention, and employed best practices for health literacy beyond the use of plain language. Most importantly, they allocated adequate dosage and duration as a commitment to change the desired behaviour. Funding None.
Personalized, Adaptive Tutorials for Program Tracing Skills

Two large multinational studies show more than 60% of students incorrectly answer questions about the execution of basic programs. Past work has explored writing-focused curricula, but little work explores a reading-first pedagogy, teaching and assessing programming language semantics before teaching learners to write code. The hypothesis of my thesis is "An adaptive and motivating reading-first tutorial helps people learn program tracing skills and improves later learning of writing and debugging skills." Towards that goal, I built and evaluated a reading-first tutorial (PLTutor) with a fixed, non-adaptive curriculum, showing 60% higher learning gains (3.9 vs 2.4 on the Second CS1 Assessment (SCS1)) than the writing-focused tutorial Codecademy. I designed and did initial validity studies for a formative assessment for program tracing skills, based on a new formal knowledge model. Next, I will build an adaptive version of PLTutor and evaluate it. In the Koli DC I hope to refine my thesis' framing and narrative, get advice on my academic job search, and connect with and potentially help other PhD students and researchers.
Does Changing Residency Obstetric Call to a Group Model Significantly Impact Patient Continuity

Background and objectives Group sharing of prenatal care and inpatient obstetric (OB) call is increasingly replacing single-provider longitudinal models including in family medicine (FM) residencies. Such change in care models could impact continuity of prenatal and delivery care.The University of Rochester's family medicine residency program changed the resident maternal care coverage to an obstetric group model from a single-provider model in 2016 to improve work-life balance, which provided an opportunity to examine how these two practice styles impacted provider continuity. Methods We performed a retrospective chart review of family medicine resident-assigned obstetric patients receiving care at the University of Rochester's residency clinic. The study evaluated provider continuity differences in two models of prenatal care and obstetric call: (1) single provider model (SPM) with one primary provider and one backup support resident vs (2) OB group-provider model (GPM) with three to four resident providers and one primary provider. Results The average number of different providers seen significantly increased in the GPM vs SPM (3.47 vs 2.87, P=.02), however the average percentage of prenatal visits with either a primary or designated backup provider was not statistically different (83.1% vs 90.1%, P=.07). Among delivery continuity measures, there was no significant difference between models in the percentage of deliveries attended by the primary or designated backup residents compared with nongroup providers. (76.9% vs 82.3%, P=.51). Conclusions This study provides quantitative evidence on how differing models of residency maternal care coverage impact continuity of care. Study findings did not show an inferiority of an OB group-provider model compared to a single-provider model when considering how often patients were seen prenatally and delivered by providers from their continuity group.
Interplay between wax and polyphosphoric acid and its effect on bitumen thermomechanical properties

Abstract Most bitumen contains some level of wax, and the widespread use of wax-based additives in asphalt industry further increases bitumen’s wax content. Wax-based additives reduce viscosity at high temperatures, facilitating the mixing and compaction of asphalt mixtures. However, the added wax leads to increased stiffness and physical hardening at low temperatures. In addition, wax may have an interplay with other bitumen additives and modifiers such as polyphosphoric acid (PPA), which is typically used by refineries and asphalt blending terminals. PPA has been shown to enhance high-temperature properties without negatively impacting the low-temperature performance of asphalt pavement. However, due to the interplay between wax and PPA, it is hypothesized that the presence of wax may moderate PPA-bitumen interactions. This paper uses laboratory experiments and computational modeling to investigate mechanisms of interaction between PPA and bitumen in the absence and presence of wax. The results of a molecular dynamics simulation showed that PPA has a strong interaction with fused aromatics such as those classified as resins in bitumen, such interactions lead to reduced solubility of resins in heptane, causing them to precipitate out in heptane and fall into the asphaltene category. The presence of wax appears to reduce the efficacy of PPA on increasing bitumen’s elasticity, as evidenced by lower complex modulus and higher creep compliance compared to those of no-wax bitumen doped with PPA. This was further observed in our computational analysis, which showed a good interaction between resin molecules and PPA molecules. However, the interaction between resins and PPA was reduced when wax was added, causing resins to become more scattered, as evidenced by a significant reduction in the radial distribution function of resin molecules. The study results help inform formulators and manufacturers about interplay between bitumen additives such as wax and PPA which may lead to unwanted consequences on pavement performance.
Mobile Offshore Drilling Units

Mobile offshore drilling units are ocean-going vessels used to drill, complete and workover wellbores in marine environments. The fleet has grown and evolved over time into larger more sophisticated rigs in response to operator’s movement into deeper water and more challenging environments. The fleet that exists today includes both old and new technologies built to wide ranging specifications. The purpose of this introductory chapter is to describe rig classifications and their technical specifications. We conclude with a description of the activity states through which a rig transitions over its lifecycle.
Responding in a time of crisis: Assessing extension efforts during COVID-19

Extension was forced to rapidly adjust its efforts and program delivery methods to respond to clientele needs during the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020. The pandemic presents a range of unique challenges to Extension including revisions to resource allocations and shifts in programmatic focus. Guided by a needs assessment framework, this paper assesses the rapid response of Utah State University (USU) Extension to meet residents needs during COVID-19. This correlational study gathered data from 199 Extension professionals (n = 199) at USU Extension. Findings show Extension professionals had good capacity to implement outreach activities related to online education, engaging residents, and external partnerships. Further, Extension took rapid actions in several areas in response to COVID-19, including providing online learning activities for youth, and conducting online classes in place of traditional face-to-face classes. Findings show professionals’ outreach capacity was positively related to the total number of actions taken in response to COVID-19. Extension professionals addressed COVID-19 topics such as telehealth, temporary homeschooling kids, and stress management. This study demonstrates the adaptability of Extension to an unpredictable event and provides a framework to assess response. Findings are geared towards effective resource allocation to support Extension’s role in meeting residents’ needs during COVID-19.
[3H]Dopamine Uptake through the Dopamine and Norepinephrine Transporters is Decreased in the Prefrontal Cortex of Transgenic Mice Expressing HIV-1 Transactivator of Transcription Protein.

Dysregulation of dopamine neurotransmission has been linked to the development of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND). To investigate the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon, this study used an inducible HIV-1 transactivator of transcription (Tat) transgenic (iTat-tg) mouse model, which demonstrates brain-specific Tat expression induced by administration of doxycycline. We found that induction of Tat expression in the iTat-tg mice for either 7 or 14 days resulted in a decrease (∼30%) in the Vmax of [3H]dopamine uptake via both the dopamine transporter (DAT) and norepinephrine transporter (NET) in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), which was comparable to the magnitude (∼35%) of the decrease in Bmax for [3H]WIN 35,428 and [3H]nisoxetine binding to DAT and NET, respectively. The decreased Vmax was not accompanied by a reduction of total or plasma membrane expression of DAT and NET. Consistent with the decreased Vmax for DAT and NET in the PFC, the current study also found an increase in the tissue content of DA and dihydroxyphenylacetic acid in the PFC of iTat-tg mice after 7 days’ administration of doxycycline. Electrophysiological recordings in layer V pyramidal neurons of the prelimbic cortex from iTat-tg mice found a significant reduction in action potential firing, which was not sensitive to selective inhibitors for DAT and NET, respectively. These findings provide a molecular basis for using the iTat-tg mouse model in the studies of NeuroHIV. Determining the mechanistic basis underlying the interaction between Tat and DAT/NET may reveal novel therapeutic possibilities for preventing the increase in comorbid conditions as well as HAND. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 infection disrupts dopaminergic neurotransmission, leading to HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HANDs). Based on our in vitro and in vivo studies, dopamine uptake via both dopamine and norepinephrine transporters is decreased in the prefrontal cortex of HIV-1 Tat transgenic mice, which is consistent with the increased dopamine and dihydroxyphenylacetic acid contents in this brain region. Thus, these plasma membrane transporters are an important potential target for therapeutic intervention for patients with HAND.
Initial changes in peak aortic jet velocity and mean gradient predict progression to severe aortic stenosis

Abstract Background There is significant interindividual variability in the rate of aortic stenosis (AS) progression that is not accounted for in the current surveillance algorithms. We sought to examine the association between changes in peak aortic jet velocity (Vmax) and mean gradient (MG) among patients with mild or moderate AS and risk of progression to severe disease. Methods Adult subjects referred for echocardiography at a single academic referral center with a diagnosis of mild or moderate AS and ≥2 additional surveillance echocardiograms were included in the study. Changes in Vmax and MG between the first two echocardiograms were indexed to time and tested for association with future progression to severe AS. Results Among three hundred and sixty-four subjects, the median time between first and second echocardiograms was 1.3 years and initial changes in Vmax and MG indexed to time were +0.16 m/s per year and +1.44 mmHg per year, respectively. Fifty-three (15%) and fifty-six (15%) subjects progressed to severe AS defined by Vmax and MG, respectively. In multivariable logistic regression, initial increase in Vmax (OR = 4.19, 95% CI 1.93–9.10, p Conclusions Initial changes in Vmax and MG among patients with mild or moderate AS are strongly associated with risk of progression to severe AS and may help guide individualized surveillance strategies.
The Tyranny of Tensions: The Myth that is Corporate Sustainability

The notion of tensions in corporate sustainability has for long served as an excuse to limit action and therefore further exacerbate the sustainability issues we face. While concepts like the Tripl...
Experience selectively alters functional connectivity within a neural network to predict learned behavior in juvenile songbirds.

Abstract One of the central questions of neuroethology is how specialized brain areas communicate to form dynamic networks that support complex cognitive and behavioral processes. Developmental song learning in the male zebra finch songbird (Taeniopygia guttata) provides a unique window into the complex interplay among sensory, sensorimotor, and motor network nodes. The foundation of a young male's song structure is the sensory memory he forms during interactions with an adult "tutor." However, even in the absence of tutoring, juveniles produce a song-like behavior. Thus, by controlling a juvenile male's tutor exposure, we can examine how tutor experience affects distributed neural networks and how network properties predict behavior. Here, we used longitudinal, resting-state fMRI (rs-fMRI) functional connectivity (FC) and song analyses to examine known nodes of the song network, and to allow discovery of additional areas functionally related to song learning. We present three major novel findings. First, tutor deprivation significantly reduced the global FC strength of the caudomedial nidopallium (NCM) subregion of the auditory forebrain required for sensory song learning. Second, tutor deprivation resulted in reduced FC between NCM and cerebellar lobule VI, a region analogous to areas that regulate limbic, social, and language functions in humans. Third, NCM FC strength predicted song stereotypy and mediated the relationship between tutoring and stereotypy, thus completing the link between experience, neural network properties, and complex learned behavior.
A Novel Approach to Mapping Wi-Fi and Aiding Inertial Navigation Systems: Exploring Indoor Applications

Inertial navigation systems (INSs) provide a robust method for obtaining position, velocity, and attitude (PVA). Unfortunately, these systems suffer from drift in the solution due to noise inherent in the inertial sensors used. By leveraging signals of opportunity, this drift may be bounded, and the INS solution becomes more reliable. In this article, we present a novel approach: using Wi-Fi signals to aid INSs. Unlike existing techniques that require accurate measurements and mapping of the radio-frequency (RF) environment, our approach requires minimal calibration based off of a 360d walk around the area of interest with a clear sky background to allow for positional measurements by a GPS unit. A model based on Wi-Fi signals of opportunity is generated to aide the INS. Applications include aiding personnel or autonomous robots in global navigation satellite systems (GNSS)-denied environments with more accurate positioning information.
The Evolution of Output in Transition Economies: Explaining the Differences

What are the relative roles of macroeconomic variables, structural policies, and initial conditions in explaining the time path of output in transition and the large observed differences in output performance across transition economics? Using a sample of 26 countries, this paper follows a general-to-specific modeling approach that allows for differential effects of policies and initial conditions on the private and state sectors and for time-dependent effects of initial conditions. While showing some fragility to model specification, the results point to the preeminence of structural reforms over both initial conditions and macroeconomic variables in explaining cross-country differences in performance and the timing of the recovery.
Purification and Characterization of Multiple Forms of Terminal Transferase from Human Leukemic Cells

Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase catalyzes the polymerization of deoxynucleoside triphosphates onto the 3’-OH terminus of a single stranded oligo(≥3 residues) or polydeoxynucleotide initiator. This non-template directed DNA polymerase was first detected in calf thymus tissue. Terminal transferase carries out, in the presence of divalent cation (Mg+2), a linear condensation polymerization reaction which is dependent solely on the concentration of 3’-OH groups and deoxynucleotide monomer. As a biochemical reagent, terminal transferase has enjoyed widespread popularity in the synthesis of defined oligomers and polymers, in recombinant DNA technology and in sequence analysis of oligodeoxynucleotides (reviewed by Bollum, 1981).1 The enzyme was purified to apparent homogeneity from calf thymus tissue by Chang and Bollum2 and was found to have an average native molecular weight of 32,000 and subunit molecular weights in SDS of 24,000 (β) and 8000 (α).
New Approach to Strategic Planning: The Impact of Leadership and Culture on Plan Implantation via the Three Cs: Cooperation, Collaboration and Coordination

Strategic approach to management in general and strategic planning in particular has gained popularity and application in today’s competitive and volatile environment. Increasingly in the present complex world, leaders and managers in public and nonprofit organizations feel the need to be strategic in their planning in order to fulfill the organizational mission and enhance stakeholders’ satisfaction, Many problems though arise in successful implementation of such plans even if such plans are designed effectively. This paper will explore the most recent literature findings on the crucial role of three processes of collaboration, cooperation and coordination, known as the three C, play in successful implementation of such plans. Two major dimensions of the organization’s internal capability, Leadership and Culture will be examined along with those 3 major factors for jump starting a successful strategic plan and securing the support of key stakeholders.
The role of phylogeny in desert rodent community assembly

Recent advances in molecular genetics and phylogenetic reconstruction have the potential to transform ecology by providing new insights into the historical evolution of ecological communities. This study by Stevens and collaborators complements decades of previous research on desert rodents, by combining data from a field study and a phylogenetic tree for Mojave Desert rodents to address patterns and processes of community assembly. The number of coexisting rodent species is positively correlated, and the average phylogenetic distance among these species is negatively correlated with perennial plant species richness. As rodent species diversity increases along a gradient of increasing environmental heterogeneity, communities are composed of increasingly related species: there is a consistent pattern of phylogenetic structure from over-dispersed through random to clumped. I discuss this pattern in the light of complementary results of previous studies. This paper is noteworthy for calling attention to still unanswered questions about how the historical events of speciation, colonization, extinction, and trait evolution and their relationship to past climates and vegetation have given rise to current patterns of community organization.
Design of a Statistical Model of Brain Shape

This paper describes a statistical shape model of the brain extending through the whole organ. The variability in a normal population is described by global deformation modes. The model is based on the analysis of homologous deformations mapping similar structures in brain images.
Cohomology of the Mumford quotient

Let X be a smooth projective variety acted on by a reductive group G. Let L be a positive G-equivariant line bundle over X. We use a Witten type deformation of the Dolbeault complex of L, introduced by Tian and Zhang, to show, that the cohomology of the sheaf of holomorphic sections of the induced bundle on the Mumford quotient of (X, L) is equal to the G-invariant part on the cohomology of the sheaf of holomorphic sections of L. This result, which was recently proven by C. Teleman by a completely different method, generalizes a theorem of Guillemin and Sternberg, which addressed the global sections. It also shows, that the Morse-type inequalities of Tian and Zhang [[11]] for symplectic reduction are, in fact, equalities.
The Impact of Parents “Friending” Their Young Adult Child on Facebook on Perceptions of Parental Privacy Invasions and Parent–Child Relationship Quality

This study examined whether a parent “friending” his/her child on Facebook.com influenced the parent–child relationship and perceptions of parental privacy invasions. One hundred and eighteen parent–young adult child dyads were randomly assigned to an experimental group where the parent was asked to create a Facebook account, “friend” his/her child, and use the account over 2 months or a control group where the parent did not have a Facebook account. Having a parent on Facebook did not result in perceptions of greater privacy invasions, but was associated with decreased conflict in the parent–child relationship. When the parent and child had a more conflicted relationship prior to the parent joining Facebook, the parent's presence on Facebook also enhanced the child's closeness with the parent.
Bayesian belief networks for fault identification in aircraft gas turbine engines

Describes the methodology for usage of Bayesian belief networks (BBNs) in fault detection for aircraft gas turbine engines. First, the basic theory of BBNs is discussed, followed by a discussion on the application of this theory to a specific engine. In particular, the selection of faults and the means by which operating regions for the BBN system are chosen are analyzed. This methodology is then illustrated using the GE CFM56-7 turbofan engine as an example.
Measurement Instruction in the Context of Scientific Investigations with Diverse Student Populations.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of a hands-on science curriculum, which integrates mathematics and supports English language development, on third-grade students' mathematics achievement—specifically the measurement subscale of the statewide assessment. The data drew from a larger five-year research and development project consisting of reform-based science curriculum units and teacher workshops designed to promote effective science instruction while integrating mathematics and supporting English language development. The third-grade curriculum places a strong emphasis on measurement skills in the context of science inquiry. The third-grade students' performance on the measurement subscale of the statewide mathematics assessment in the treatment schools was compared with that of comparison schools using a hierarchical linear model. Students at the treatment schools performed significantly higher than students at the comparison schools. The results provide evidence that an integrated approach to mathematics and science instruction can benefit diverse student groups.
Effects of Interpolated Stimulation on Retention of Habituation in the Earthworm

Summary The effects of light stimulation interpolated during a rest interval were studied in a three-phase investigation of retention of habituation of the contraction response to air puff in the earthworm, L. terrestris (N = 48). Worms were assigned 16 per group to three conditions (zero, 24, or 48 air puffs) in Phase 1; half were given five stimulations of white light, and the others rested in Phase 2; in Phase 3 all animals received air puffs to habituation criterion. Results showed that original habituation with air puff decreased responses to light, and habituation with light decreased responses to air puff in Phase 3. Thus evidence indicated intermodal stimulus generalization of habituation, but not dishabituation.
Spatial and non-spatial visual discrimination learning in zebrafish ( Danio rerio )

Zebrafish (Danio rerio) provide an excellent model for assessment of molecular processes of neurodevelopment. To determine the functional importance of molecular events during neurodevelopment, we have developed methods for assessing learning in zebrafish in a three-chambered fish tank. In the first study, simple escape response was assessed. Zebrafish tested with a moving net learned to escape to another chamber more rapidly over the six sessions of training than the fish with the still net which did not learn. Upon reversal of the contingencies, the fish switched to the inactive net rapidly learned to suppress the escape response and fish formerly in the inactive net condition learned to avoid the moving net. In the second study, spatial discrimination learning was assessed. Zebrafish were trained on a right-left position discrimination to avoid the active net. Zebrafish showed significant improvement in escape responses over six sessions of training with three trials per session. In the third study, red-blue non-spatial discrimination learning was assessed. There was a significant improvement over the first six training sessions. With the reversal of contingencies, there was a significant decline of performance. With continued training, the fish again significantly improved avoidance. These studies found an effective motivational stimulus and procedure for studying escape behavior in zebrafish; a procedure whereby zebrafish would learn both spatial and non-spatial discrimination. These methods are being developed to help determine the functional importance of molecular events during zebrafish neurodevelopment.