cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Social Action Media Studies: Foundational Arguments and Common Premises

Media scholars claiming a “social action” perspective advance their work on the grounds of hermeneutic/interpretive empiricism that privileges ethnographic methods. Such scholarship tends only to allude to its theoretical influences (e.g., symbolic interactionism, phenomenology). In an effort to extrapolate principles by which social action media approaches (or their critiques) can be analyzed, this paper turns to a broad base of philosophical writings in the social action tradition that social action media scholars have identified as seminal influences. Six premises extrapolated from these works direct social science researchers to examine forms of collective signifying behaviors—or routines—through which media content is subsumed and interpreted. How signifying action gets interpreted and performed (and, hence, how “reality” is constructed and sustained) determines the “effects” associated with media content.
Designing security systems: Changing the way we think

Today's world demands new ways of thinking about security solutions. The problem space is complex and ambiguous. Solutions must be multi-dimensional, incorporating not only technology, but the social, economic, political, and religious dynamics of a security intervention. A facilitator-led experiential training program was designed for our technical staff that leads them out of the box. The course design is based upon the theories of cognitive flexibility and situated cognition, and uses a socio-constructivist approach. Participants are led by a senior systems engineer/facilitator through a series of exercises in which they observe contextually relevant right way/wrong way videos, engage in critical thinking assessments about what they observed, and solve logic puzzles. Group interaction and problem-solving is emphasized. As in the real world, there is no one "right" solution. Outcomes can include a broader understanding of the threat space, creative solutions that enable survival in spite of an evolving enemy, and a deeper sense of the complex dynamics involved in any security decision. Training impact is being evaluated using a mixed qualitative/quantitative approach. Survey data combined with ethnographic interviewing techniques will determine whether participants have transferred their new understandings to the work environment.
Perlecan is a component of cartilage matrix and promotes chondrocyte attachment

Aggrecan, a chondroitin/keratan sulfate-containing proteoglycan, is a major component of cartilaginous tissues. Immunolocalization studies, using antibodies directed to perlecan, a heparan sulfate proteoglycan first detected in basement membranes, and laminin (another major component of basement membranes), indicate that perlecan and laminin are also present in the matrices of hyaline cartilage in the nasal septum, the articular surface of the bone and the growth plate of the developing bone. Consequently, we used antibodies to both aggrecan and perlecan to characterize their synthesis and secretion by primary cultures of chondrocytes derived from the rat chondrosarcoma. Chondrocytes were pulsed for 20 minutes with [35S]methionine and then chased for up to six hours. The radiolabeled perlecan and aggrecan were immunoprecipitated and analyzed by SDS-PAGE. The results show that chondrocytes synthesize precursor proteins to both proteoglycans, but that only the aggrecan precursor protein is secreted as a proteoglycan. Perlecan was also secreted but with less posttranslational modifications than aggrecan. Northern blot analyses of the RNAs from immortalized rat chondrocytes indicated that the major mRNA encoding for perlecan was approximately 13 kb in length, similar in size to that expressed by other cell types, which synthesize 400 kDa core protein perlecan. Analyses of the proteoglycan fractions from the extracts of bovine articular surface indicated that perlecan in this tissue contains both chondroitin and heparan sulfate side-chains. Purified perlecan and laminin were found to promote attachment of immortalized rat chondrocytes in vitro. These studies indicated that perlecan, once thought to be a unique component of the basement membranes, is more widely distributed and is an important component of the cartilage matrix, where it may provide for cell adhesion to the matrix.
Magnetization reversal in the ferromagnetic layer, the antiferromagnetic layer and near the interface of exchange biased FeF2 and MnF2 systems

The formation of a parallel magnetic domain wall in the ferromagnetic (FM) Fe layer in Fe/FeF2 systems and antiferromagnetic (AF) FeF2 and MnF2 in Ni/FeF2 and Co/MnF2 bilayers as well as the magnetization reversal of uncompensated Fe interfacial moments in positively and negatively biased Ni/FeF2 was studied. Combining X-ray magnetic circular (XMCD) and linear dichroism (XMLD) measurements allows us to monitor the magnetic order in the FM and AF layers as well as to probe uncompensated interface spins.
Fluid pressure responses for a Devil's Slide‐like system: problem formulation and simulation

This study employs a hydrogeologic simulation approach to investigate subsurface fluid pressures for a landslide-prone section of the central California, USA, coast known as Devil's Slide. Understanding the relative changes in subsurface fluid pressures is important for systems, such as Devil's Slide, where slope creep can be interrupted by episodic slip events. Surface mapping, exploratory core, tunnel excavation records, and dip meter data were leveraged to conceptualize the parameter space for three-dimensional (3D) Devil's Slide-like simulations. Field observations (i.e. seepage meter, water retention, and infiltration experiments; well records; and piezometric data) and groundwater flow simulation (i.e. one-dimensional vertical, transient, and variably saturated) were used to design the boundary conditions for 3D Devil's Slide-like problems. Twenty-four simulations of steady-state saturated subsurface flow were conducted in a concept-development mode. Recharge, heterogeneity, and anisotropy are shown to increase fluid pressures for failure-prone locations by up to 18.1, 4.5, and 1.8% respectively. Previous estimates of slope stability, driven by simple water balances, are significantly improved upon with the fluid pressures reported here. The results, for a Devil's Slide-like system, provide a foundation for future investigations. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Ultra-High Power and Efficiency Space Traveling-Wave Tube Amplifier Power Combiner With Reduced Size and Mass for NASA Missions

In the 2008 IEEE Microwave Theory and Techniques Society International Microwave Symposium Digest version of our paper, recent advances in high power and efficiency space traveling-wave tube amplifiers for NASA's space-to-Earth communications are presented. The RF power and efficiency of a new K-band amplifier are 40 W and 50% and that of a new K-band amplifier are 200 W and 60%. An important figure-of-merit, which is defined as the ratio of the RF power output to the mass (W/kg) of a traveling-wave tube (TWT), has improved by a factor of 10 over the previous generation Ka-band devices. In this paper, a high power high efficiency Ka -band combiner for multiple TWTs, based on a novel hybrid magic-T waveguide circuit design, is presented. The measured combiner efficiency is as high as 90%. In addition, at the design frequency of 32.05 GHz, error-free uncoded binary phase-shift keying/quadrature phase-shift keying (QPSK) data transmission at 8 Mb/s, which is typical for deep-space communications, is demonstrated. Furthermore, QPSK data transmission at 622 Mb/s is demonstrated with a low bit error rate of 2.4 times10-8, which exceeds the deep-space state-of-the-art data rate transmission capability by more than two orders of magnitude. A potential application of the TWT combiner is in deep-space communication systems for planetary exploration requiring transmitter power on the order of a kilowatt or higher.
QoS support in Data Vortex network with latency differentiated cylindrical paths

Differential latency paths are provided along the cylinders of data vortex network to support traffics of different levels of service. The simulation result demonstrates effective and improved routing performance in overall throughput and latency.
Innovations in Assessing ADHD: Development, Psychometric Properties, and Factor Structure of the ADHD Symptoms Rating Scale (ADHD-SRS)

This research involved the development of a behavior rating scale designed to measure ADHD and the investigation of the scale's psychometric properties and factor structure. This scale, the ADHD Symptoms Rating Scale (ADHD-SRS), was developed for the assessment of ADHD in the school-age (K-12) population. Participants were 1006 children and adolescents (in grades K-12) who were rated by their parents and/or teachers. The results indicate that the ADHD-SRS possesses strong internal consistency reliability and test-retest reliability and moderate cross-informant reliability. The data also suggest that the ADHD-SRS has strong content validity. Convergent validity of this instrument was also high, as demonstrated by correlations with three previously validated behavior rating scales. Significant age and gender differences in ADHD symptoms were found with both the parent and teacher respondent populations. Finally, the factor analysis of the ADHD-SRS suggested a two factor oblique rotation as the best fit for both the parent and the teacher data. After a visual inspection of the items which loaded on each factor, Factor 1 was named Hyperactive-Impulsive and Factor 2 was named Inattention. These two factors, along with the items which loaded on each factor, appear to be remarkably similar to the two categories listed in the DSM-IV for ADHD. Directions for future research, as well as clinical implications and limitations of the research are discussed.
Optimal scheduling of cooperative tasks in a distributed system using an enumerative method

Preemptive (resume) scheduling of cooperative tasks that have been preassigned to a set of processing nodes in a distributed system, when each task is assumed to consist of several modules is discussed. During the course of their execution, the tasks communicate with each other to collectively accomplish a common goal. Such intertask communications lead to precedence constraints between the modules of different tasks. The objective of this scheduling is to minimize the maximum normalized task response time, called the system hazard. Real-time tasks and the precedence constraints among them are expressed in a PERT/CPM form with activity on arc (AOA), called the task graph (TG), in which the dominance relationship between simultaneously schedulable modules is derived and used to reduce the size of the set of active schedules to be searched for an optimal schedule. Lower-bound costs are estimated, and are used to bound the search. An example of the task scheduling problem and some computational experiences are presented. >
Differential effects of paclitaxel treatment on cognitive functioning and mechanical sensitivity

Treatment for cancer has been indicated to negatively impact the quality of life for patients. Specifically, chemotherapy has been associated with fatigue, nausea, and peripheral neuropathy. More recently, chemotherapy has been found to be related to cognitive impairment in various domains including working memory, information processing speed, and visual attention. At this time, the mechanisms underlying cognitive impairment are not understood, and there is currently no treatment for this condition. The purpose of this study was to examine the development of chemotherapy-induced cognitive impairments and symptoms of peripheral neuropathy. While receiving the chemotherapeutic agent Taxol, animals were tested daily in the Five Choice Serial Reaction Time Task (5CSRTT), a task which requires animals to respond to a visually presented stimulus in order to obtain reinforcement. In addition, animals were tested for the development of peripheral neuropathy, measured by changes in sensitivity to mechanical stimulation. The results indicate Taxol treated animals developed mechanical sensitivity within 24 h after the first injection of chemotherapy. However, relative to control animals, Taxol treated animals did not exhibit alterations in cognitive function in the 5CSRTT. These differential findings may provide interesting insight into the mechanisms underlying chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment.
The effect of nasal decongestion on nasal patency and nasalance scores in subjects with normal speech.

Abstract Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of pharmacological decongestion on nasalance scores. Participants: The participants were 20 adults with normal speech and resonance. Methods: Nasal patency was first determined by measuring the mean minimal cross-sectional area of the nasal passages by acoustic rhinometry. Each participant then read two passages as two predecongestion nasalance scores were obtained. A nasal decongestant was then administered to each nostril without removing the separation plate. Ten minutes later, nasalance scores were repeated. Finally, the separation plate was removed and the mean minimal cross-sectional area was obtained again. Main Outcome Measures: The outcome measures were the pre- and postdecongestion measurements of nasal patency and nasalance scores. Results: Minimal cross-sectional area increased significantly from 0.53 cm2 before decongestion to 0.66 cm2 after decongestion. For the Turtle Passage, the group mean nasalance for the two pr...
Dramatis Personae and the Main Theorem

In this chapter the main objects of interest: local Morse data, normal Morse data, and tangential Morse data will be defined. The main theorems are stated in Sects. 3.7, 3.8, and 3.9.
New Perspectives on the Disposal of Western Lands in Nineteenth Century America

Professor McClelland reviews two book on land speculation, a traditional historical study by Malcom J. Rohrbough and another which falls in the category of “new economic history” by Robert Swierenga.
Society for Vascular Surgery limb stage and patient risk correlate with outcomes in an amputation prevention program.

Objective Clinical decision making and accurate outcomes comparisons in advanced limb ischemia require improved staging systems. The Society for Vascular Surgery Lower Extremity Threatened Limb Classification System (Wound extent, Ischemia, and foot Infection [WIfI]) was designed to stratify limb outcomes based on three major factors-wound extent, ischemia, and foot infection. The Project or Ex-Vivo vein graft Engineering via Transfection III (PREVENT) III (PIII) risk score was developed to stratify patients by expected amputation-free survival (AFS) after surgical revascularization. This study was designed to prospectively assess limb and patient-based staging for predicting outcomes of hospitalized patients in an amputation prevention program. Methods This study undertook a retrospective analysis of prospectively gathered registry data of consecutive patients with limb-threatening conditions admitted to a fully integrated vascular/podiatry service over a 16-month period. Upon admission, limb risk was stratified using the WIfI system and patient risk was categorized using PIII classification. Patients were assessed for perioperative and postdischarge outcomes, and their relationship to staging at admission was analyzed. Results There were 174 threatened limbs (143 hospitalized patients) stratified by WIfI stage (1%-12%, 2%-28%, 3%-24%, 4%-28%, 5%-3%, unstaged-5%) and PIII risk (34% low, 49% moderate, and 17% high risk). Diabetes and end-stage renal disease were associated with WIfI stage ( P = .006 and P = .018) and PIII risk ( P = .003 and P P P P = .018), reduced limb salvage ( P = .037), and decreased AFS ( P = .048). In contrast, PIII risk category was associated with mortality ( P P P = .025), and surgical revascularization was associated with improved limb salvage among the most severely threatened limbs (WIfI stage 4: 95% limb salvage for open bypass vs 68% limb salvage for endovascular; P = .026). Conclusions Among patients hospitalized with limb-threatening conditions and treated by a multidisciplinary amputation prevention team, PIII risk correlates with mortality whereas WIfI stage strongly predicts initial hospital duration of stay, and key mid-term limb outcomes. Surgical revascularization performed best in the limbs at greatest risk (WIfI stage 4), and autogenous vein bypass was the preferred conduit for open bypass. These data support the use of WIfI and PIII as complementary staging tools in the management of chronic limb-threatening ischemia.
Present Research and Progress of the Organic Green Synthesis

Progress of green chemical reactive technology was depicted.Present and progress of atom economic reactions,high effective synthetic reactions,enzyme-catalyzed reactions,solvent reactions and environmentally friendly catalyst were emphasized in this article.
Development and Application of Video Monitoring System for Long Span Transmission Lines

The video monitoring system for long span transmission lines mainly realizes the visual monitoring of long span river-crossing channels and towers.It provides decision-making assistance for condition-based maintenance,and monitors the operation of key devices of line units,such as pole and tower,ground wire,and insulators.The system consists of three parts:front end system,monitoring platform and client terminal.Front end system includes cameras,video storage devices,and remote control units.Monitoring system is composed by server software and application software.Client terminal has two forms:professional client and web client.The system realizes a powergrid-device-oriented monitoring pattern,reduces the workload of monitoring staff,and promotes the monitoring efficiency and pertinence.It largely raises the utilization efficiency of cameras by presetting camera position.
Anesthetic considerations in neonatal neurosurgical patients

Neonatal neurosurgery patients have specific considerations throughout the perioperative course in addition to the usual care of neonates undergoing other surgical procedures. Prematurity, with its associated comorbidity, temperature, and glucose control are important topics to consider in this age group. This article addresses practical aspects of preoperative assessment, intraoperative management, and postoperative care. Because CSF shunting and myelomeningocele repair are common neonatal procedures, these specific procedures are the focus of this article.
Impacts of 2,4‐dichlorophenoxyacetic acid aquatic herbicide formulations on reproduction and development of the fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas)

The authors studied the effects of 2 formulations of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, dimethylamine salt (2,4-D) herbicide on fathead minnow reproduction, embryonic development, and larval survival. Groups of reproductively mature fathead minnows were exposed for 28 d to 0.00 ppm, 0.05 ppm, 0.50 ppm, and 2.00 ppm 2,4-D (target) in a flow-through system. Weedestroy® AM40 significantly (p ≤ 0.05) depressed male tubercle presence and significantly increased female gonadosomatic index, and there were statistical trends (0.05 ≤ p ≤ 0.10) for effects on fecundity and hepatic vitellogenin mRNA expression in females and males. The herbicide DMA® 4 IVM also significantly depressed male tubercle presence. Gonads of females exposed to DMA 4 IVM exhibited significantly depressed stage of oocyte maturation, significantly increased severity of oocyte atresia, and a significant presence of an unidentified tissue type. Also, DMA 4 IVM significantly decreased larval survival. It had no impact on hepatic vitellogenin mRNA expression or gonadosomatic index. No significant effects on fertilization, hatchability, or embryonic development were observed in either trial. The formulations tested exhibited different toxicological profiles from pure 2,4-D. These data suggest that the formulations have the potential for endocrine disruption and can exert some degree of chronic toxicity. The present use of 2,4-D formulations in lake management practices and their permitting based on the toxicological profile of 2,4-D pure compound should be reconsidered. Environ Toxicol Chem 2016;35:1478-1488. © 2015 SETAC.
Limit theorems for inverse process Tn of Hawkes process

We consider linear Hawkes process N t and its inverse process T n . The limit theorems for N t are well known and studied by many authors. In this paper, we study the limit theorems for T n . In particular, we investigate the law of large numbers, the central limit theorem and the large deviation principle for T n . The main tool of the proof is based on immigration-birth representation and the observations on the relation between N t and T n .
Toxic Soil Contamination and Its Mitigation in Ukraine

From the days of the Soviet Union, Ukraine inherited many abandoned stores of pesticide and herbicide, their use-by dates long expired, and dumps of toxic waste. These sites are health hazards and a serious factor for regional environmental instability, polluting soils and water resources. Impetus for dealing with them came with ratification, in 2004, of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) aimed at reducing and phasing-out particularly toxic compounds, and the National Plan for the Stockholm Convention on POPs (2011). Four thousand five hundred dumps of obsolete pesticides and waste products were recorded in Ukraine in 2010; by the end of 2014, these had been cut to 1033. Details are given of the state of hazardous waste from the organochlorine plant operated in Kalush in western Ukraine that illustrates examples of successful removal and disposal of large amounts of toxic wastes but, still, many unresolved issues.
PROMOTING ADL INDEPENDENCE IN VULNERABLE ELDERLY: SIX-MONTH FOLLOW-UP OF A PILOT COMPARATIVE TRIAL

Muscle strength is essential but insufficient to reduce ADL disability in older adults. A parallel-group randomized controlled trial was conducted to compare whether adding functional and task-oriented training to resistance exercise would generate a greater improvement on ADL performance relative to resistance exercise alone. Fifty-two older adults who showed muscle weakness, lived a sedentary life style, and had ADL difficulty were recruited from local subsidized housing properties. They received 10 weeks of resistance exercise or the 3-Step Workout for Life, which included practicing functional movements and ADL tasks at home in addition to resistance exercise. The Box and Blocks test, Timed Up and Go, and Assessment of Motor and Process Skills were used to measure physical function and ADL performance. At six-month follow-up, all three outcomes in the 3-Step Workout for Life group were not different from the baseline while the resistance exercise only group showed a significant decline (mean change in the Box and Blocks = -4.05, p = 0.02; mean change in the Timed Up and Go = 1.84, p = 0.01; mean change in the Assessment of Motor and Process Skills = -0.25, p = 0.01). More importantly, the 3-Step Workout for Life group showed a greater improvement in ADL performance when compared to the resistance exercise only group (group mean difference = 0.37, p < 0.01). Adding functional, task-oriented training to resistance exercise may help retain physical function and delay the decline of ADL performance after six months of detraining in vulnerable older adults.
An ecological study on means of transportation to work and obesity: Evidence from U.S. states

Abstract Obesity has become a public health problem in the United States. Policymakers are concerned with effective ways of encouraging better nutrition and more physical exercise to combat increasing levels of obesity and overweight residents. Commuting to work can be an important means for regular physical activity. Based on an ecological approach, this paper examines the effects of means of transportation to work on the prevalence of overweight and obesity at the U.S. state level. This analysis extends the previous literature by including a series of transportation variables in a regression model examining state prevalence of overweight and obesity using the most recent panel data from 2004 to 2013. We find that increased automobile usage contributes to the rising trend in the prevalence of obesity and overweight among states. In contrast, active transportation to work (public transportation and walking) has a negative impact on state prevalence of obesity and overweight. The paper concludes with policy suggestions for combating obesity and overweight by integrating public health objectives into the transportation planning and investment process.
Parenting, childcare, and children’s pre-kindergarten skills: exploring moderation by race and ethnicity

ABSTRACTThis study evaluated whether parenting and childcare experience across infancy and toddlerhood were associated with children’s reading, math, and social–behavioural skills prior to kindergarten entry. Analyses also examined whether race or ethnicity moderated associations. A representative sample of Hispanic, Black, and White children from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study – Birth Cohort (N = 4550) was used. Parents’ responsiveness in infancy and supportiveness in toddlerhood, as well as the home learning environment in toddlerhood, related to academic and social–emotional and behavioural readiness. Associations between certain parenting behaviours and child outcomes varied as a function of race. Additionally, compared to parent-only childcare, attendance in centre-based care at two years of age related to higher early math skills. Findings highlight the need for culturally specific early intervention to support parents in shaping early social–emotional skills in children, and suggest that ex...
Swabbing Prairie Dog Burrows for Fleas That Transmit Yersinia pestis: Influences on Efficiency.

Scientists and health-care professionals sometimes use a swabbing technique to collect fleas from rodent burrows, and later test the fleas for Yersinia pestis, the causative agent of plague. Detection of Y. pestis is enhanced when large pools of fleas are available. The following study investigated factors that might affect the rate at which fleas are collected from burrows in colonies of black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus). Data were collected from 13 colonies in New Mexico during 0600-1000 hours, June-August 2010-2011. Fleas were scarce on swabs inserted into burrows that were not actively used by prairie dogs; fleas are presumably suppressed in burrows that are void of hosts and might have begun to collapse due to a lack of maintenance. Fleas were scarce on swabs inserted into burrows with little sunlight entering the tunnel; many species of fleas use changes in light intensity to locate objects, but if light is limited, it might be difficult to locate a swab. Fleas were scarce on swabs inserted to shallow depths underground, especially during hot mornings, and during the hottest portions of mornings; when conditions are hot above ground, ectothermic fleas might migrate into the deep components of burrows, or become less willing to jump onto hosts, making it difficult to collect the fleas with swabs. If the swabbing technique is used to survey for Y. pestis on colonies of black-tailed prairie dogs, investigators might use the results of this study to modify their methods and increase the number of fleas collected.
More than a Phase: Planning, Bargaining, and Implementation in Theories of Negotiation

Organizational scholars have systematically studied the negotiation process to guide the development of general descriptive and prescriptive theory. We examine whether these theories sufficiently address the entire process, comprising the planning, bargaining, and implementation phases. We do so by looking for patterns of measurement in many published quantitative studies. We find that the field converged upon measuring and modeling the bargaining phase using experimental methods, to the relative exclusion of other phases and methods. Theories generated by experts of specific contexts elaborate more on planning and implementation phases. To facilitate developing a truly general behavioral theory of negotiation, we identify necessary extensions and complications to organizational theories. This includes more expansive conceptualizations of key concepts such as best alternatives, the counterpart, and the value of negotiated agreement. To facilitate empirical research on the planning and implementation phases, we provide recommendations inspired by analogous work in other branches of social science.
Comparison of different types of phacoemulsification tips. III. Morphological changes induced after multiple uses in an ex vivo model

Purpose To assess the ultrastructural morphologic changes in the surface's micro-roughness for single-use and multiple-use phaco tips after multiple phacoemulsification cycles in an ex vivo animal model. Setting John A. Moran Eye Center and Utah Nanofab, College of Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. Design Experimental study. Methods Eight types of phaco tips were studied using an identical experimental protocol. Two tips of each type were used to emulsify porcine cataractous lenses of moderate hardness for 2 minutes. This cycle was then repeated 5 consecutive times for each phaco tip. Scanning electron microscopy and white-light interferometry were used to analyze each tip for potential ultrastructural damage. Results No significant structural damage was noted on either single- or multiple-use tips after 5 cycles of experimental use. There was a trend toward increased surface micro-roughness at the tip opening after multiple procedures. Most tips had salt crystals on their surface and deposits of organic material composed of carbon and oxygen, which were consistent with porcine tissue that had not been cleaned from the tip surface. Conclusions No significant ultrastructural damage was detected after repeated experimental use of phaco tips in a porcine cataract model. There was no significant difference when phaco tips labeled for single use or multiple uses were compared.
Quantifying Symmetrically Methylated H4R3 on the Kaposi’s Sarcoma-associated Herpesvirus (KSHV) Genome by ChIP-Seq

Post-translational modifications to histone tails contribute to the three-dimensional structure of chromatin and play an important role in detegrmining the relative expression of nearby genes. One such modification is symmetric di-methylation of arginine residues, which may exhibit different effects on gene expression including blocking the binding of transcriptional activators, or recruiting repressive effector molecules. Recent ChIP-Seq studies have demonstrated the importance of cross-talk between different histone modifications in gene regulation. Thus, to acquire a comprehensive understanding of the combined efforts of these epigenetic marks, ChIP-Seq must be utilized for identifying specific enrichment on the chromatin. Tumorigenic herpesvirus KSHV, employs epigenetic mechanisms for gene regulation, and by evaluating relative abundance of multiple histone modifications in a thorough, unbiased way, using ChIP-Seq, we can get a superior insight concerning the complex mechanisms of viral replication and pathogenesis.
Recent advances in the use of MRI to assess early human cortical development

Over the past decade, a number of advanced magnetic resonance-based methods have been brought to bear on questions related to early development of the human cerebral cortex. Herein, we describe studies employing analysis of cortical surface folding (cortical cartography), cortical microstructure (diffusion anisotropy), and cortically-based functional networks (resting state-functional connectivity MRI). The fundamentals of each MR method are described, followed by a discussion of application of the method to developing cortex and potential clinical uses. We use premature birth as an exemplar of how these modalities can be used to investigate the effects of medical and environmental variables on early cortical development.
Abstract 55: Disruption of PCSK9 Using a Targeted Base Editing Strategy

Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) increases blood low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol by acting as an LDL receptor antagonist, thereby impairing LDL particle clearance. Since genetic disruption of PCSK9 is linked to reduced risk of coronary heart disease (CHD), our recent work has sought to permanently knock out the gene by using new genome editing technology. Recently reported “base editors” introduce point mutations at specific locations in the genome without the need for DNA double-strand breaks and, thus, with a lowered incidence of off-target effects. These base editors build on the CRISPR-Cas9 system by tethering an RNA-editing domain to a nickase version of Cas9, allowing for specific CT and/or GA base alterations. In this study, we used the “BE3” base editor (which uses the APOBEC-1 RNA-editing domain) to specifically target codons encoding tryptophans (TGG) or glutamines (CAG or CAA) to introduce nonsense mutations (producing stop codons TAG, TGA, or TAA) into human PCSK9 . The number of testable targets was increased by introducing specific point mutations into the BE3 construct (D1135V, R1335Q, T1337R in the Cas9 portion of BE3) to alter the protospacer adjacent motif (PAM) from NGG to NGA. Using HEK293 cells, we individually targeted a number of codons spanning the first seven exons in PCSK9 and identified several efficient targets. Most notably, the codons encoding glutamine 278 and glutamine 302 could be altered to stop codons in ~50% of alleles, as determined by the CEL-I nuclease mismatch assay and Sanger sequencing. We then targeted glutamine 278 in human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and demonstrated base editing to introduce nonsense mutations into PCSK9 , albeit at a lower efficiency than in HEK293 cells. As a next step towards translation to human patients, we are targeting Pcsk9 in the mouse liver in vivo with BE3. Base editing may prove to be an efficient, safer strategy than standard CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing and holds promise as a strategy for the prevention of CHD.
Ceramic Based Resistive Sensors

This paper reviews the current status and research trends of two types of ceramic based resistive sensors, thermistors and gas sensors. The issues and challenges associated with their development for high temperature applications are examined and discussed. Worldwide research efforts in ceramic based resistive sensors, devoted mostly to resolve the issues of selectivity and stability, are also reviewed. These efforts tend to integrate the results obtained from both empirical and basic science approaches, and focus on various stages of sensor development, including development of new material systems, sensor fabrication and manufacturing techniques, and smart sensor arrays.
Fecal stanols show simultaneous flooding and seasonal precipitation change correlate with Cahokia's population decline

A number of competing hypotheses, including hydroclimatic variations, environmental degradation and disturbance, and sociopolitical disintegration, have emerged to explain the dissolution of Cahokia, the largest prehistoric population center in the United States. Because it is likely that Cahokia's decline was precipitated by multiple factors, some environmental and some societal, a robust understanding of this phenomenon will require multiple lines of evidence along with a refined chronology. Here, we use fecal stanol data from Horseshoe Lake, Illinois, as a population proxy for Cahokia and the broader Horseshoe Lake watershed. We directly compare the fecal stanol data with oxygen stable-isotope and paleoenvironmental data from the same sediment cores to evaluate the role of flooding, drought, and environmental degradation in Cahokia's demographic decline and sociopolitical reorganization. We find that Mississippi River flooding and warm season droughts detrimental to agriculture occurred circa (ca.) 1150 CE and possibly generated significant stress for Cahokia's inhabitants. Our findings implicate climate change during the Medieval Climatic Anomaly to Little Ice Age transition as an important component of population and sociopolitical transformations at Cahokia, and demonstrate how climate transitions can simultaneously influence multiple environmental processes to produce significant challenges to society.
Is the Flipped Classroom a Panacea for Medical Education

The purpose of this review is to describe the flipped classroom, its advantages and disadvantages, its use specifically in medical education, and directions for future research. The flipped classroom is an instructional model in which the traditional lecture is delivered in a video format before class. The in-class time is spent on active, inquiry-based learning facilitated by an instructor. The flipped classroom is rapidly gaining in interest and popularity, and being increasingly implemented in medical education at all levels. Despite its many theoretical advantages, there are a variety of pros and cons that educators should consider when adopting this methodology. Overall, research findings to date support use of the flipped classroom in regard to learner preference and satisfaction; however, further studies are needed to determine its true effect on learning outcomes. The flipped classroom is a relatively new educational modality that can potentially promote learner-centered, self-directed, active learning. There is significant potential for educational researchers who wish to develop assessment tools capable of evaluating deeper learning, particularly within the flipped classroom framework.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma In Situ With Occult Invasion: A Tertiary Care Institutional Experience.

BACKGROUND The rate of occult invasive disease within biopsy-proven squamous cell carcinoma in situ (SCCIS) is not well defined. OBJECTIVE To examine the rate of occult invasion in SCCIS. METHODS An institutional-wide pathology database was retrospectively searched for "squamous cell carcinoma in situ" over a 6-year period, and the treatment modality and final pathology results were analyzed for evidence of invasion. In addition, consecutive tumor blocks from Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) cases of SCCIS were prospectively analyzed for invasion. RESULTS The rate of occult invasion for biopsy-proven SCCIS treated with excision was 4.0% (N = 49) and for the MMS margins was 3.5% (N = 310). For the prospective MMS tumor block analysis, the rate of occult invasion was 10.1% (N = 69). No clinical factors (age, sex, location, or size) correlated with increased risk of invasion. All invasive SCCs detected were superficial and well differentiated. CONCLUSION The rate of occult invasion for biopsy-proven SCCIS ranged from 3.5% to 10.1%. The detected rate of invasion varies based on the method of excision and pathology processing of specimens. The rate of invasion should be considered when managing SSCIS.
Reducing Sampling Ratios Improves Bagging in Sparse Regression.

Bagging, a powerful ensemble method from machine learning, improves the performance of unstable predictors. Although the power of Bagging has been shown mostly in classification problems, we demonstrate the success of employing Bagging in sparse regression over the baseline method (L1 minimization). The framework employs the generalized version of the original Bagging with various bootstrap ratios. The performance limits associated with different choices of bootstrap sampling ratio L/m and number of estimates K is analyzed theoretically. Simulation shows that the proposed method yields state-of-the-art recovery performance, outperforming L1 minimization and Bolasso in the challenging case of low levels of measurements. A lower L/m ratio (60% - 90%) leads to better performance, especially with a small number of measurements. With the reduced sampling rate, SNR improves over the original Bagging by up to 24%. With a properly chosen sampling ratio, a reasonably small number of estimates K = 30 gives satisfying result, even though increasing K is discovered to always improve or at least maintain the performance.
Fetal hemoglobin and F-cell variance in mobilized CD34+ cell-transplanted rhesus monkeys

Elevated fetal hemoglobin (HbF) is associated with reduced severity of sickle cell disease. Therefore, γ-globin protein levels and F-cell (HbF-positive red blood cell) percentages are used for estimation of clinical benefit. Here, we monitored transplantation-related changes in HbF and F-cell percentages for rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) following total body irradiation or busulfan conditioning prior to CD34+ cell transplantation. HbF protein expression peaked in the first 4–9 weeks posttransplant (0.99%–2.53%), and F-cells increased in the first 6–17 weeks posttransplant (8.7%–45.3%). HbF and F-cell ratios gradually decreased and stabilized to levels similar to those of control animals (1.96 ± 1.97% for F cells and 0.49 ± 0.19% γ-globin expression) 4–7 months post-transplant. These findings confirm and expand on previous reports of transient induction in HbF and F-cell percentages in rhesus macaques following CD34+ cell transplantation, an observation that must be taken into consideration when evaluating therapeutic strategies that aim to specifically elevate HbF expression, which are currently in clinical development.
Evaluating the Utility of Carbon Isotope Discrimination for Wheat Breeding in the Pacific Northwest

Many wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production regions are threatened annually by drought stress. Carbon isotope discrimination (Δ) has been identified as a potentially useful trait in breeding for improved drought tolerance in certain environments. Broad use of Δ as a selection criterion is limited, however, mainly due to an inconsistent relationship observed between grain yield and Δ and, to a lesser extent, because of the high resource demand associated with phenotyping. The efficiency of selection may be improved by the identification and verification of molecular markers for use in marker-assisted selection (MAS), and a reliable relationship to grain yield may be established based on a location’s total amount and distribution of precipitation over the growing season. Given the environmental variability in precipitation dynamics, it is necessary to evaluate this relationship in target breeding environments. In this study, grain Δ was collected on a panel of 480 advanced soft white winter wheat varieties grown in five Pacific Northwest environments. A genome-wide association study approach was used to evaluate the amenability of grain Δ to MAS. The genetic architecture of grain Δ was determined to be characterized by multiple, small effect marker-trait associations with limited repeatability across environments, suggesting that MAS will be ineffective at improving Δ selection efficiency. Further, the relationship between grain yield and Δ ranged from neutral ( ) to moderately positive ( ) in the target environments. Such moderate correlations, coupled with variability in this relationship, indicate that direct selection for Δ may not be beneficial.
Variation in Head Shape and Color at the Range Boundary of Gulf Coastal Slimy Salamanders (Plethodon glutinosus Complex), USA

Taxonomists currently recognize 16 cryptic species within the Plethodon glutinosus complex revealed by allozyme analysis but that typically do not differ in morphology or color pattern. Two putative species, P. grobmani and P. mississippi, are distributed across the Gulf Coastal Plain, with geographic ranges that are separated by Mobile Bay and the Alabama River. Character divergence is thought to distinguish the two species, with P. grobmani (east of Mobile Bay) having a short snout and extensive patches of white coloration, and P. mississippi (west of Mobile Bay) having an elongate snout and lacking extensive patches of white coloration. However, specimens used to characterize these two species were examined in life, were collected mainly from areas adjacent to Mobile Bay, and were evaluated by a single investigator. Additionally, the two traits (snout shape and color) were combined into a single variable, masking the contribution of each trait to individuating the two species. To test the utility of these characters, we applied identical measurements of the two traits to preserved specimens representing an east–west transect across the geographic ranges of the two putative species. Data were generated by three investigators who measured each specimen twice, a design that allowed examination of reproducibility within and among investigators. Traits were evaluated separately and as a combined score. Both snout shape and color were found to be traits that are reproducible for measurements within individual investigators and the measurement of these traits did not differ among investigators. Specimens from east of Mobile Bay had more extensive white coloration and higher total scores than those west of Mobile Bay; snout shape did not differ across Mobile Bay. Longitude was a significant correlate of color and total score, with the slope of the relationship differing on each side of Mobile Bay. Color and total score of specimens west of Mobile Bay had a positive association with longitude, while scores of specimens east of Mobile Bay had a negative association. Thus, rather than exhibiting character divergence across Mobile Bay, slimy salamanders converge on a phenotype with extensive white coloration at Mobile Bay. We find no color or morphological feature that distinguishes putative P. grobmani from putative P. mississippi, a line of evidence suggesting that those populations are a single species with regional change in color.
Cortical Brain Age from Pre-treatment to Post-chemotherapy in Patients with Breast Cancer

Chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment and associated brain changes may reflect accelerated brain aging; however, empirical evidence for this theory is limited. The purpose of this study was to measure brain aging in newly diagnosed patients with breast cancer treated with chemotherapy (n = 43) and compare its longitudinal change to that of controls (n = 50). Brain age indices, derived from cortical measures, were compared between women with breast cancer and matched healthy controls across 3 timepoints (time 1: pre-surgery, time 2: 1 month following chemotherapy completion, and time 3: 1-year post-chemotherapy). The breast cancer group showed a significant decrease in cortical thickness across the 3 timepoints (p < .001) and a trend towards significant increase in predicted brain age especially from pre-treatment (time 1) to post-chemotherapy (time 2) compared to controls (p = 0.08). Greater increase in predicted brain age was related to several clinical factors (HER-2 status, surgery type, and history of neoadjuvant chemotherapy) and greater decrease in cortical thickness was associated with greater decrease in performance on a verbal learning task from time 1 to time 3 (r = − 0.48, p < .01). This study demonstrated evidence of increased cortical brain aging in middle-aged patients with breast cancer following chemotherapy treatment that was associated with decreased verbal memory performance.
Response to letter to the editor “Statin use in patients with diabetes: one drug, multiple benefits”

Q: Should we reconsider/revise the guidelines at some stage to include more patients with T2DM who should be started earlier on a statin? Is it a time for more individualization of treatment? We wo...
CHAPTER 1 – THE FOUNDATIONS OF ALGEBRA

Publisher Summary This chapter presents the foundations of algebra—polynomials, exponents, and radicals. A polynomial is an algebraic expression of a certain form. Polynomials play an important role in the study of algebra as many word problems translate into equations or inequalities that involve polynomials. Therefore, manipulative and mechanical aspects of polynomials serve as background for dealing with their applications. Two polynomials are equal if all like terms are identical and the degree of the product of two nonzero polynomials is the sum of the degrees of the polynomials. One of the central problems in algebra is that of finding solutions to a given polynomial equation. There is no real number that satisfies a simple polynomial equation.