cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Using wavelets to categorize student attention patterns

Wavelet analysis is a pattern recognition technique that has been used to analyze signals and images such as medical scans and hyperspectral imagery. We hypothesize that wavelets can also be used to analyze educational data. We explore the use of Haar wavelets to differentiate various patterns in a student attention data set. The data consists of a very large set of binary attention data (on-task/off-task) for individual students that was electronically captured at 20-second intervals. The data set contains information for multiple large lectures of a first year engineering course and was captured over an entire semester. For each lecture within a course, there are approximately 200 student attention charts with 150 entries per student record (3 per minute for 50 minutes). We investigate the accuracy of using a Haar wavelet classification system to distinguish student attention patterns in a given lecture. Our results and discussion demonstrate the usefulness of applying traditional engineering analysis techniques to educational data
Nanoantenna arrays for infrared detection with single-metal nanothermocouples

Abstract Antenna-coupled nanothermocouples (ACNTC) for infrared detection have been widely studied. It has been shown that dipole antennas receive incident infrared radiation, and radiation-induced antenna currents heat the hot junction of the nanothermocouple, thus producing an electrical potential by the Seebeck effect. We have already demonstrated small thermopiles constructed from the series connection of ACNTCs. Here we study the infrared response of large-scale (N > 500) nanoantenna arrays constructed from ACNTCs, where the antennas are spaced over a range of 25–300% of the incident wavelength. COMSOL simulations show temperature oscillations, and both simulations and experiments show corresponding open-circuit voltage oscillations as a function of antenna spacing. When the distance between the antennas is less than 2λ, constructive and deconstructive interference leads to an enhancement or attenuation of the antenna currents. Our simulations and experimental results are in excellent agreement, and show that the open-circuit voltage response of the array depends on the inter-column distance of the array and the separation between the hot and cold junctions. Furthermore, we report polarization- and array-size-dependent measurements to confirm that the responses of the arrays are the result of the heating of the hot junction by the radiation-induced antenna currents.
Abstract B31: Sulfidogenic bacteria are an important diet-driven exposure promoting colorectal cancer in African Americans

Objectives. Colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence is higher in post-industrial cultures, and the incidences varies among different populations. In the US, there is a higher incidence of CRC in African Americans (AAs) compared to non-Hispanic whites (NHWs). Recent evidence links consumption of a diet high in animal protein and fat as an environmental risk factor for the development of CRC. The intestinal microbiota is postulated to modulate the effects of diet in promoting or preventing CRC development. Hydrogen sulfide, which is produced by normal members of the colonic microenvironment (sulfidogenic bacteria), triggers pro-inflammatory and hyper-proliferative pathways, and it is genotoxic. We hypothesized that the production of hydrogen sulfide by sulfidogenic bacteria is a key environmental carcinogen contributing to CRC risk. Design. The abundance of sulfidogenic bacteria via quantitative PCR (qPCR) was compared in non-involved colonic mucosa of 97 AA and 56 NHW CRC patients and in 100 AA and 76 NHW healthy controls. In addition, we performed 16S rDNA sequencing in 61 AA cases and 94 AA controls. Additionally, we tested correlations among race, dietary intake, disease status, and sulfidogenic bacterial abundance. Results. Overall, the functional gene for hydrogen sulfide production in sulfate-reducing bacteria, dissimilatory sulfate reductase (dsrA), was more abundant in AAs than in NHWs, in both cases and controls. In addition, AA CRC cases exhibited a significantly higher abundance of Bilophila wadsworthia-specific dsrA. Linear discriminant analysis of 16S rDNA sequencing results revealed several taxa that differed between AA cases and controls, including the known butyrate producer Faecalibacterium that was more abundant in AA controls, and the sulfidogenic Pyramidobacter that was more abundant in AA CRC cases. Importantly, we found that dietary intake of protein and fat was higher in AAs compared to NHWs, and these dietary components correlated with a higher abundance of sulfidogenic bacteria. Conclusion. There were significant differences in sulfidogenic bacterial abundance between AAs and NHWs, in both cases and controls, and implicate sulfidogenic bacteria as an important diet-driven environmental exposure that contributes to the increased risk of CRC in AAs. Replication studies are needed to test that effectiveness of using B. wadsworthia as a biomarker for increased CRC risk. Citation Format: Cemal Yazici, Patricia G. Wolf, Tzu-Wen Liu, Karin Vermillion, Timothy Carroll, Ece Mutlu, Lisa Tussing-Humphreys, Carol Braunschweig, Rosa M. Xicola, Barbara Jung, Xavier Llor, Nathan A. Ellis, H. Rex Gaskins. Sulfidogenic bacteria are an important diet-driven exposure promoting colorectal cancer in African Americans. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Ninth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2016 Sep 25-28; Fort Lauderdale, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2017;26(2 Suppl):Abstract nr B31.
Continuing a Culture of Evidence: Assessment for Improvement

From 2006 to 2008, Educational Testing Service (ETS) produced a series of reports titled A Culture of Evidence, designed to capture a changing climate in higher education assessment. A decade later, colleges and universities already face new and different challenges resulting from societal, technological, and scientific influences. This new series of reports describes current issues and trends in assessment and how they relate to the needs of higher education institutions. In this report, we discuss the shift from accountability-based assessment to improvement-based assessment. When conducted for improvement, assessment is more inclusive of institutional faculty and staff, more informative to colleges and universities, and—it is hoped—focused on enhancing instruction and learning. However, these positive outcomes do not come without challenges. Ultimately, assessment-for-improvement has implications for many of the people, processes, and tools used to measure student learning.
Revision of the polytypic electric fish Gymnotus carapo (Gymnotiformes, Teleostei), with descriptions of seven subspecies

The banded knife fish Gymnotus carapo is among the most widely distributed, broadly adapted (eurytopic), and phenotypically variable fish species in South America, with a geographic range of about 14 million km 2 , from the Llanos of Venezuela to the Pampas of northern Argentina. Here we assess the structure of phenotypic variation in G. carapo across this vast range from a study of 486 specimens representing the G. carapo clade, including 175 specimens of G. carapo collected from across the continental platform. We use multivariate statistics to quantify phenotypic differences within and among subspecies and species in aspects of pigmentation, caliper-based morphometrics, geometric morphometrics, meristics, and osteology. Our results demonstrate significant, but not diagnostic, differences among specimens representing seven new subspecies: G. c. australis from the La Plata (Parana-Paraguay) basin, G. c. caatingaensis from the Parnaiba basin in the Brazilian state of Piaui, G. c. carapo from Suriname and French Guiana, G. c. madeirensis from the upper Madeira basin, G. c. occidentalis from the western Amazon, Negro, and Essequibo basins, G. c. orientalis from the eastern Amazon, Tocantins and Trombetas basins, and G. c. septentrionalis from the Orinoco basin and Trinidad Island. These results support the use of the subspecies, but not the species, rank to recognize and name these regionally delimited taxonomic entities.
On mitigating collinearity through mixtures

ABSTRACTIn linear models having near collinear columns of X, ridge and surrogate estimators often are used to mitigate collinearity. A new class of estimators is based on mixtures, either of X and a design minimal in an ordered class or of the Fisher information and a scalar matrix. Comparisons are drawn among choices for the mixing parameter, and the estimators are found to be admissible relative to ordinary least squares. Case studies demonstrate that selected mixture designs are perturbed from the original design to a lesser extent than are those of the surrogate method, while retaining reasonable efficiency characteristics.
Review of Laurel Thatcher Ulrich, A House Full of Females: Plural Marriage and Women’s Rights in Early Mormonism, 1835-1870 , New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2017, 484 pp., ISBN 9780307594907

Book Review of A House Full of Females: Plural Marriage and Women's Rights in Early Mormonism, 1835-1870
Entropy analysis of frequency and shape change in horseshoe bat biosonar

Echolocating bats use ultrasonic pulses to collect information about their environments. Some of this information is encoded at the baffle structures-noseleaves (emission) and pinnae (reception)-that act as interfaces between the bats' biosonar systems and the external world. The baffle beam patterns encode the direction-dependent sensory information as a function of frequency and hence represent a view of the environment. To generate diverse views of the environment, the bats can vary beam patterns by changes to (1) the wavelengths of the pulses or (2) the baffle geometries. Here we compare the variability in sensory information encoded by just the use of frequency or baffle shape dynamics in horseshoe bats. For this, we use digital and physical prototypes of both noseleaf and pinnae. The beam patterns for all prototypes were either measured or numerically predicted. Entropy was used as a measure to compare variability as a measure of sensory information encoding capacity. It was found that new information was acquired as a result of shape dynamics. Furthermore, the overall variability available for information encoding was similar in the case of frequency or shape dynamics. Thus, shape dynamics allows the horseshoe bats to generate diverse views of the environment in the absence of broadband biosonar signals.
The Standardized Normal Ivy Bleeding Time and Its Prolongation by Aspirin

A standardized, reproducible Ivy bleeding time technic has been described which permits one to obtain accurate bleeding time data in man. The technic was used to standardize an aspirin tolerance test in which 60 normal males had a control bleeding time; were given, on a double blind basis, either placebo or 1 Gm. of aspirin, and had a second bleeding time 2 hours later. The control values were: mean, 5 min.; mean ± 2 st. dev., 2 min., 30 sec. to 10 min. The values after placebo were: mean, 5 min., 30 sec.; mean ± 2 st. dev., 2 min., 30 sec. to 11 min. The values after aspirin were: mean, 9 min., 30 sec.; mean ± 2 st. dev., 4 min. to 21 min. The difference between the mean bleeding time after placebo and after aspirin was highly significant (p < 0.001). The distribution of the bleeding times after aspirin suggested that normal subjects do not respond to aspirin as a single population. The degree of prolongation of the bleeding time and the large size of the drops of blood observed in some subjects suggested to us that small amounts of aspirin may exert a significant effect upon hemostasis in normal individuals.
Complications of neonatal extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: Collective experience from the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization

Since 1973, 7667 neonates have been treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for severe respiratory failure and their cases reported to the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization Registry. The overall survival was 81% in these neonates, who were thought to have a survival of 20% without extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. A total of 4322 mechanical complications (0.56 +/- 0.84 per case) and 13,827 patient complications (1.80 +/- 2.12 per case) were reported overall. The most common mechanical complications included clots in the circuit (19%), cannula placement (9%), oxygenator failure (4%), and others (9%). Common patient complications included cardiopulmonary (43%), neurologic (35%), bleeding (35%), metabolic (32%), renal (25%), and renal (25%), and infectious (9%). From the initial experience to 1988 the average number of mechanical complications per case was 0.27 per case and this significantly increased during 1990 to 1992 to 0.75 per case (p < 0.05). Likewise, from 1973-1985 to 1988 the average patient complications per case were 1.44 per case and this significantly increased during 1990 to 1992 to 2.10 per case. During the same periods, patient survival significantly decreased from 84% (1973-1985 to 1988, n = 2463) to 80% (1990 to 1992, n = 4005). Venovenous double-lumen single cannula extracorporeal membrane oxygenation had a higher survival than venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (91% versus 81%) and a lower rate of major neurologic complications. The incidence and survival with seizures (6% and 89% venovenous versus 13% and 61% venoarterial) or cerebral infarction (9% and 69% venovenous versus 14% and 46% venoarterial) was significantly lower with the venovenous method and appeared to have a substantial impact on overall survival. The correlation of patient complication rate and total complication rate with survival was highly significant, however, causality cannot be established. Explanations for the increase in complications, relative to a decrease in survival, despite a growing nationwide experience include (1) increased complexity of cases as many programs expand entry criteria (more premature infants, infants with grade 1 or 2 intracranial hemorrhage, and complex congenital diaphragmatic hernia), (2) a growing number of programs with fewer cases per program, yet greater accessibility, (3) less reluctance to report complications encountered during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation as group experience grows, and (4) changes in the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization data form to be more inclusive of more minor complications.
Strontium in Human Dental Enamel

During the last 20 years some aspects of dental research have been concerned with the role of trace elements, other than fluoride, in the dental caries process. One element which has attracted attention has been Sr2+, which from both human and animal studies appears to have an association with low caries prevalence. The close relationship of Sr2+ to Ca2+ in the periodic table, with very similar properties, means that it can readily be substituted for Ca2+ in the hydroxyapatite crystal of human enamel (3). The possible influence of Sr2+ in increasing a tooth’s ability to resist dissolution by incorporation in the hydroxyapatite is appealing, and is currently emphasized in dental research.
Tissue Microarrays as a Tool in the Discovery and Validation of Tumor Markers

Tissue microarrays are a platform of condensed histopathology that has revolutionized the translation of basic science to clinical utility. Tissue microarrays have resulted in a paradigm shift from histopathology to immunopathology and moved analysis of small selected samples sets of tens of specimens to a high-throughput environment of hundreds of specimens. Tissue microarrays have influenced validation strategies, but have a role in discovery as well, allowing a pathways approach to analysis of tumors.
Resampling Strategies for Model Assessment and Selection

The advent of DNA microarrays and proteomics technology has stimulated the development and use of classification algorithms for biomedical studies. In oncology, for example, a common application is predicting response to treatment based on expression profiling of tumor tissue. Such a classifier could be used as an aid in treatment selection for future patients based on the expression profiles of their tumors. In developing such a classifier, it is important to estimate the predictive accuracy that can be expected for future application of the classifier.
Breast Milk: A Postnatal Link Between Maternal Life Choices and the Prevention of Childhood Obesity

The prevention of diabetes and obesity in the young starts with the prevention and treatment of modifiable maternal risk factors encompassing the period from before conception until weaning. Major modifiable variables are characteristics and behaviors that include prepregnancy weight, gestational weight gain, glycemia, and intensity and duration of breastfeeding. Much of the early programming of resistance or vulnerability to age-related diseases is influenced by the integrated balance of maternal hormones transferred to the offspring by milk. This whole-body programming/reprogramming of milk recipient (infant) and milk donor (mother) may be involved in the dose effect of human milk on a healthier body composition and metabolic function in the mother-infant pair following the period of exposure. The pattern and trajectory of weight and metabolic characteristics vary between the active period of exposure and postexposure. In addition, the optimal hormone ranges in maternal circulation and milk need to be determined beyond the observation that extremely high and extremely low concentrations may be detrimental for the mother-infant pair. This commentary discusses the metabolic implications of breastfeeding for this pair.
Comparative copper toxicity impact and enzymatic cascade effect on Biosorption Activated Media and woodchips for nutrient removal in stormwater treatment.

Abstract Copper, a commonly occurring heavy metal in stormwater runoff, was tested for its inhibitory effects on key nitrogen cycle bacteria in Biosorption Activated Media (BAM) and woodchip. The information in this paper is used to show that copper can enhance the denitrification process through enzyme cascade reactions since nitrous reductase is the enzyme responsible for the last step of denitrification and is largely dependent on copper as its cofactor. However, media characteristics are critical for assessing multi-enzymatic cascade reactions from the microbial ecology point of view. Moreover, both media showed significant copper removal through various mechanisms at 30 cm depth. The bioactivity evaluation indicates that other bacteria (fermentative bacteria, etc.) can be largely depressed with the presence of copper, hence the biofilm structure would be more vulnerable under shearing effects, which may result in holistic depression on the microbial community.
The influence of acculturation level and family relationships on quality of life among U.S. Chinese older adults

The present study examined the influence of acculturation level and family relationships (i.e., positive family support and negative family strain) on quality of life (QOL), using the data from the...
CROSSLINKING OF SBR COMPOUNDS FOR TIRE TREAD USING BENZOCYCLOBUTENE CHEMISTRY

ABSTRACT This research investigates the potential of benzocyclobutene (BCB) chemistry for crosslinking styrene-butadiene rubber in conjunction with sulfur curatives with the objective of achieving ...
A Queer, Feminist Bioethics Critique of Facial Feminization Surgery

Dubov and Fraenkel embrace the current “scientific community’s understanding of gender identity” (Dubov and Fraenkel 2018, XX). In contrast, Queer, Feminist bioethics questions the basis for the sc...
Synthesis of 6, 13‐diazadibenz [a,h] anthracene

6,13-Diazadibenz[a,h]anthracene (XIa) was synthesized in 15% overall yield for four steps beginning with 2, 5-diphenyl-1,4-benzoquinone. Miscellaneous reactions which led to side products are also described.
Unwelcomed? The Effects of Statelessness on Involuntary Refugee Repatriation in Bangladesh and Myanmar

Refugees are among the most vulnerable populations, often denied rights of residency, treated as hostile intruders, even forced into unsafe camps. This has been particularly true of the Rohingya, a...
Impact of cisplatin-related hearing loss (HL) and tinnitus on patient functioning.

e23085Background: Patients given cisplatin-based chemotherapy (CBC) experience HL and tinnitus. However, the impact of these toxicities on psychosocial and physical functioning in cancer survivors ...
Simultaneous extraperitoneal laparoscopic radical prostatectomy and intraperitoneal inguinal hernia repair with mesh.

OBJECTIVE This report depicts the feasibility of the concomitant repair of a large direct inguinal hernia with mesh by using the intraperitoneal onlay approach after extraperitoneal laparoscopic radical prostatectomy. METHODS A 66-year-old man with localized adenocarcinoma of the prostate was referred for laparoscopic radical prostatectomy. The patient also had a 4-cm right, direct inguinal hernia, found on physical examination. To minimize the risk of infection of the mesh, an extraperitoneal laparoscopic prostatectomy was performed in the standard fashion after which transperitoneal access was obtained for the hernia repair. The hernia repair was completed by reduction of the hernia sac, followed by prosthetic mesh onlay. In this fashion, the peritoneum separated the prostatectomy space from the mesh. A single preoperative and postoperative dose of cefazolin was administered. RESULTS The procedure was completed with no difficulty. Total operative time was 4.5 hours with an estimated blood loss of 450 mL. The final pathology revealed pT2cN0M0 prostate cancer with negative margins. No infectious or bowel complications occurred. At 10-month follow-up, no evidence existed of recurrence of prostate cancer or the hernia. CONCLUSION Concomitant intraperitoneal laparoscopic mesh hernia repair and extraperitoneal laparoscopic prostatectomy are feasible. This can decrease the risk of potential infectious complications by separating the mesh from the space of Retzius where the prostatectomy is performed and the lower urinary tract is opened.
Uncertainty analysis and field implementation of a fault detection method for residential HVAC systems

The vast majority of fault detection and diagnosis (FDD) methods for air conditioning systems are developed for packaged commercial systems. This paper presents a method for obtaining key operating...
Accounting for the uncertainty due to chemicals below the detection limit in mixture analysis

Simultaneous exposure to a mixture of chemicals over a lifetime may increase an individual's risk of disease to a greater extent than individual exposures. Researchers have used weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression to estimate the effect of multiple exposures in a manner that identifies the important (etiologically relevant) components in the mixture. However, complications arise when an experimental apparatus detects concentrations for each chemical with a different detection limit. Current strategies to account for values below the detection limit (BDL) in WQS include single imputation or placing the BDL values into the first quantile of the weighted index (BDLQ1), which do not fully capture the uncertainty in the data when estimating mixture effects. In response, we integrated WQS regression into the multiple imputation framework (MI-WQS). In a simulation study, we compared the BDLQ1 approach to MI-WQS when using either a Bayesian imputation or bootstrapping imputation approach over a range of BDL values. We examined the ability of each method to estimate the mixture's overall effect and to identify important chemicals. The results showed that as the number of BDL values increased, the accuracy, precision, model fit, and power declined for all imputation approaches. When chemical values were missing at 10%, 33%, or 50%, the MI approaches generally performed better than single imputation and BDLQ1. In the extreme case of 80% of all the chemical values were missing, the BDLQ1 approach was superior in some examined metrics.
Gauge capability studies for high-density data: SPC Phase 0

In manufacturing, advanced measurement systems (e.g., 3D laser scanners) are continually being incorporated into modern quality control (QC) systems to provide high-density (HD) data. A significant amount of research efforts has been placed in the development of QC tools, such as Phase I and II statistical process control (SPC) approaches using HD data. However, the effectiveness of SPC tools highly depends on measurement system adequacy. The study of the quality and adequacy of a measurement system, known as measurement capability or Phase 0 in SPC applications, is a prerequisite to implementing any SPC tool; which has mostly been neglected for HD data. This paper proposes a holistic Gauge study approach for HD data obtained from 3D laser scanners (e.g. point clouds) by using spatial statistics data models. The main objectives of this work are two-fold: 1) Study how to analyse the repeatability and reproducibility of a point cloud and 2) Quantify the uncertainty associated with a point cloud under different factors involved in acquiring point clouds from 3D laser scanners.
Psychometric Analyses of the Eating and Food Literacy Behaviors Questionnaire with University Students.

Abstract Objectives This study developed and validated a questionnaire to measure young adults’ perceived food literacy and behaviors toward food and created an explanatory model. Design Cross-sectional. Setting Large southeastern US university. Participants A total of 1,896 students, aged 18–30 years, were recruited. Data from 1,813 were analyzed. Variables Measured Health and nutrition, taste, food preparation, planning and decision-making, and convenience. Analysis Exploratory factor analysis, test-retest reliability, confirmatory factor analysis, and structural equation modeling were performed. Results Exploratory factor analysis returned 5 factors with acceptable internal structure. Test-retest reliability coefficients ranged from 0.63 to 0.92. Confirmatory factor analysis suggested that a 5-factor model was an appropriate fit for the data (χ2 = 588.05; degrees of freedom = 142; root mean square error of approximation = 0.06; comparative fit index = 0.98; Tucker-Lewis Index = 0.97; standardized root mean square residual = 0.05). Structural equation modeling revealed relationships from health and nutrition to food preparation (0.25, P Conclusions and Implications Young adults consider food literacy-related factors and behavioral concerns when making food choices.
A Framework for Evaluating Sustainable Jean Attributes

Denim accounts for theworld’s largest segment of the clothing industry with jeans making up themajority of denim usage (Research and Markets, 2017). Prized for its durabilityand strength, denim is considered one of the most versatile fabrics in fashion.But the production of a single pair has an enormous environmental footprintusing an average 2,113 gallons of water, 48 kilowatts of energy, (Levi’sStrauss, 2015), and 1.1 pounds of toxic andcorrosive chemicals (Candiani Report, 2016). The demand for sustainabledenim is growing and fashion brands are making efforts to improve jeansproduction by reducing environmental and social footprint of this product.Thus, it is timely to ensure that sustainability claims are neither deceptive normisleading but are compliant with laws and are premised on justifiable sustainabilitymetrics. This paper provides a framework for retailers and consumers to betterunderstand sustainability information.
Can a pandemic make people more socially conservative? Political ideology, gender roles, and the case of COVID-19.

The first months of 2020 rapidly threw people into a period of societal turmoil and pathogen threat with the COVID-19 pandemic. By promoting epistemic and existential motivational processes and activating people's behavioral immune systems, this pandemic may have changed social and political attitudes. The current research specifically asked the following question: As COVID-19 became pronounced in the United States during the pandemic's emergence, did people living there become more socially conservative? We present a repeated-measures study (N = 695) that assessed political ideology, gender role conformity, and gender stereotypes among U.S. adults before (January 25-26, 2020) versus during (March 19-April 2, 2020) the pandemic. During the pandemic, participants reported conforming more strongly to traditional gender roles and believing more strongly in traditional gender stereotypes than they did before the pandemic. Political ideology remained constant over time. These findings suggest that a pandemic may promote the preference for traditional gender roles.
Toward Simulating Dire Wildfire Scenarios

AbstractRecent extreme wildfires are motivating unprecedented evacuation planning. A critical need is to consider dire scenarios that allow less time to clear an area than required. Although these ...
Bergamottin a CYP3A inhibitor found in grapefruit juice inhibits prostate cancer cell growth by downregulating androgen receptor signaling causing cell cycle block and apoptosis

Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer related death in American men. Several therapies have been developed to treat advanced prostate cancer, but these therapies often have severe side effects. To improve the outcome with fewer side effects we focused on the furanocoumarin bergamottin, a natural product found in grapefruit juice and a potent CYP3A inhibitor. Our recent studies have shown that CYP3A5 inhibition can block androgen receptor (AR) signaling, critical for prostate cancer growth. We observed that bergamottin reduces prostate cancer (PC) cell growth by decreasing both total and nuclear AR (AR activation) reducing downstream AR signaling. Bergamottins role in reducing AR activation was confirmed by confocal microscopy studies and reduction in PSA levels. Further studies revealed that bergamottin promotes cell cycle block and accumulates G0/G1 cells. The cell cycle block was accompanied with reduction in cyclin D, cyclin B, CDK4, P-cdc2 (Y15) and P-wee1 (S642). We also observed that bergamottin triggers apoptosis in prostate cancer cell lines as evident by TUNEL staining and PARP cleavage. Our data suggest that bergamottin may be used as an adjunctive nutritional supplement to suppress prostate cancer growth and is of relevance to AA patients carrying wild type CYP3A5 often presenting aggressive disease.
Coronary-Bronchial Fistula: Coil the Steal.

Abstract Coronary artery fistula is a rare coronary anomaly with communication between the coronary artery and either the cardiac chamber or other vessels. We present a case of coronary-to–bronchia...
Food-Borne Viruses-State of the Art

This chapter reviews the current knowledge of food-borne viruses and describes the hurdles to better understanding and ultimate prevention of bacterial illnesses and enteric viral infections. Rapid antigen detection assays for the detection of noroviruses (NoV) in clinical samples, such as those used for rotavirus detection, are commercially available but as yet do not have the required sensitivity for widespread clinical use. Rapid assays for antigen detection of NoVs in clinical samples, such as enzyme immunoassays (EIA), offer an attractive alternative to expensive and technically demanding molecular detection assays. NoV infection causes acute-onset vomiting and diarrhea, typically after an incubation period of 12 to 48 h. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, headaches, nausea, abdominal cramps, and occasionally a low-grade fever. Intestinal biopsies have demonstrated that NoV infects the jejunum, causing blunting of intestinal villi, vacuolation of villous epithelial cells, and mononucleocyte infiltration of the lamina propria but leaving an intact mucosa. Food-borne outbreaks of NoV are often associated with salads, sandwiches, bakery products, and other foods which are handled and contaminated by infected food handlers just before being served. Waterborne outbreaks of NoV gastroenteritis in developed countries have been associated with recreational water and with sewage contamination of drinking water. Studies of oysters have shown that NoVs bind specifically to carbohydrate receptors related to human blood group A antigens in the oyster intestine.
The material assemblage of 16th century Spanish Florida

From 1976 through 1978, testing and extensive excavations were carried out at four 16th century Hispanic sites in St. Augustine, Florida, in order to delineate and define the previously unknown archeological data base (ie features and artifacts) of that period. The assemblage reported here is based on 3,810 items from 75 contexts dating between 1572 and 1600. While the primary purpose of this study is to establish the archaeological data base, in terms of which test implications might be formulated and processual hypotheses tested; inter-site variability in patterning is discussed, and the suggestion that this is due to socioeconomic factors is offered as a focus for the continuing 16th century research in St. Augustine.
Shared Memory Parallelization of Decision Tree Construction Using a General Data Mining Middleware

Decision tree construction is a very well studied problem in data mining, machine learning, and statistics communities [3,2,7,8,9]. The input to a decision tree construction algorithm is a database of training records. Each record has several attributes. An attribute whose underlying domain is totally ordered is called a numerical attribute. Other attributes are called categorical attributes. One particular attribute is called class label, and typically can hold only two values, true and false. All other attributes are referred to as predictor attributes.
The respiratory pyramid: From symptoms to disease in World Trade Center exposed firefighters.

Background This study utilizes a four-level pyramid framework to understand the relationship between symptom reports and/or abnormal pulmonary function and diagnoses of airway diseases (AD), including asthma, recurrent bronchitis and COPD/emphysema in WTC-exposed firefighters. We compare the distribution of pyramid levels at two time-points: by 9/11/2005 and by 9/11/2010. Methods We studied 6,931 WTC-exposed FDNY firefighters who completed a monitoring exam during the early period and at least two additional follow-up exams 9/11/2005–9/11/2010. Results By 9/11/2005 the pyramid structure was as follows: 4,039 (58.3%) in Level 1, no respiratory evaluation or treatment; 1,608 (23.2%) in Level 2, evaluation or treatment without AD diagnosis; 1,005 (14.5%) in Level 3, a single AD diagnosis (asthma, emphysema/COPD, or recurrent bronchitis); 279 (4.0%) in Level 4, asthma and another AD. By 9/11/2010, the pyramid distribution changed considerably, with Level 1 decreasing to 2,612 (37.7% of the cohort), and Levels 3 (N = 1,530) and 4 (N = 796) increasing to 22.1% and 11.5% of the cohort, respectively. Symptoms, spirometry measurements and healthcare utilization were associated with higher pyramid levels. Conclusions Respiratory diagnoses, even four years after a major inhalation event, are not the only drivers of future healthcare utilization. Symptoms and abnormal FEV-1 values must also be considered if clinicians and healthcare administrators are to accurately anticipate future treatment needs, years after initial exposure. Am. J. Ind. Med. 56:870–880, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Polyamine Limitation of Growth Slows the Rate of Polypeptide Chain Elongation in Escherichia coli

The rate of polypeptide chain elongation during steady-state, polyamine-limited growth of a mutant of Escherichia coli was measured by two independent techniques. Analysis of polysome patterns gave values of 17.5 and 9.5 amino acids per s at 37 C in unstarved and polyamine-limited cells, respectively. From the kinetics of entry of labeled amino acids into polypeptides of defined molecular weights, values at 30 C of 10.1 and 5.8 amino acids per s were obtained for unstarved and polyamine-limited cultures, respectively. Correction of these values to 37 C resulted in rates of 15.0 and 8.7 amino acids per s. These results support the previous conclusion, based on the kinetics of β-galactosidase induction, that polyamine starvation decreases the rate of protein synthesis by limiting the velocity of polypeptide chain elongation.
The Content Validity of Cognitively Oriented Tests: Commentary on Schmidt ()

Schmidt (International Journal of Selection and Assessment, 20, 1–13 (2012)) argues that it is possible for scores based on measures of general cognitive ability (GCA) to have content validity evidence. This commentary examines this argument further. I first decompose the various lines of validity evidence that may exist for GCA scores. Next, I consider whether GCA scores can have content validity evidence and whether they cannot. I conclude with several observations about the meaning of content validity within GCA research and practice. The bottom line is that although I agree with Schmidt that GCA scores can have content validity evidence, I am not sure such evidence tells us much about the overall validity of GCA.
Crosstalk between lungs and bone marrow during allergic inflammation (HYP7P.278)

We used an established model of asthma that involves intranasal administration of the fungal extract of Alternaria. Upon lung exposure to Alternaria, IL-33 was released by epithelial cells within one hour, followed by increased production of IL-5 in the lungs. We also found elevated serum levels of IL-5 in response to Alternaria exposure, which reached a peak at 6 hours post Alternaria administration. After prolonged exposure to Alternaria over 6 days, a significant increase in mature eosinophils was observed in bone marrow. In addition, the serum from mice challenged with Alternaria was able to stimulate bone marrow cells to undergo eosinophil maturation in vitro. Intraperitoneal administration of IL-5-blocking antibody in vivo decreased eosinophil maturation in bone marrow in response to intranasal Alternaria below intranasal PBS baseline levels. We have shown the source of IL-5 is by type 2 innate lymphoid cells directly through IL-5 reporter mice, and indirectly through IL-5 serum levels in CD127 knockout mice. Taken together, this study illustrates that the type 2 innate immune responses in the lungs leads to enhanced production of eosinophils in the bone marrow through the increase in lung and blood levels of IL-5. Thus, distant organs communicate during allergic inflammation by using cytokines as mediators. This concept will aid in the identification of novel therapeutic strategies to alleviate symptoms of asthma and allergic diseases.
Surface NMR Using Laser-Polarized129Xe under Magic Angle Spinning Conditions

Abstract NMR signals of surface nuclei of solids may be enhanced by the transfer of spin polarization from laser-polarized noble gases. Until now such experiments have not been feasible under conditions of magic angle spinning. In the present contribution it is shown that laser-polarized 129 Xe can be inserted into a spinning rotor under continuous-flow conditions using helium as a carrier gas. Effective adsorption of xenon on the sample occurs at temperatures of about 163–173 K making possible the observation of a spin polarization induced nuclear Overhauser effect (SPINOE) from the laser-polarized 129 Xe to surface 1 H nuclei of SiO 2 (AEROSIL300). This technique opens the way to selectively enhanced high-resolution multinuclear surface NMR experiments.
The human CD8β isoforms differentially affect signal transduction pathways and monoubiquitination of the M4 isoform regulates signaling through the mTORC1/2/pathway (IRM4P.497)

The CD8αβ coreceptor contributes to T cell signaling by bringing the tyrosine kinase p56lck associated with CD8α to theTCR-CD3 complex. Four isoforms (M1 to M4) of the CD8β chain exist in the great apes and humans that differ in the amino acid sequence of their cytoplasmic tails and their expression pattern. We previously found that the M1 isoform, equivalent to murine CD8β, is the predominant isoform in naive CD8+ T cells, while the M4 isoform is predominant in effector memory T cells. We expressed each isoform in either T cell tumor lines or peripheral blood T cells, stimulated the cells by crosslinking with anti-CD8 or anti-CD3 antibodies and determined effects on signal transduction pathways using phosphoflow. Differences were observed with anti-CD8 crosslinking. For instance, the M1 isoform showed greater amounts of phospho-Erk (2-3 fold) and the M4 isoform showed greater amounts of phospho-Akt (2-3 fold). In addition, because the M4 isoform uniquely binds the adaptor protein AP-2 and is mono-ubiquitinated on lysines, we analyzed mutant forms of the M4 isoform in signal transduction as well. Mono-ubiquitination appears to be a regulator of the mTORC1/2/pathway important in metabolism as the lysine mutant demonstrated a large increase in phosphorylation of the ribosomal protein S6, in the mTORC1 pathway. This supports the hypothesis that the different CD8β isoforms evolved to make unique contributions to CD8 coreceptor function.
Photochemical reduction of uranyl nitrate by tri-n-butyl phosphate—III: Production of U(V)

Solutions of U(V) can be produced by photolysis of UO2(NO3)2-TBP solutions containing very small amounts of uncomplexed TBP. Concentrations are estimated.
Modelling Markets for Sports Memorabilia

A simple hedonic pricing model is developed for baseball cards, of the type often used successfully to model prices for artworks. The model is constructed based on insights contributed by both the sports psychology and finance literatures and is estimated for a dataset of twelve well-known players observed at eight points in time over a span of twenty years. Dummy variables are used to capture various relevant characteristics of the player or card. Tobit estimates perform extremely well, explaining most differences among baseball card prices for the cards in the sample. Among extrinsic variables that represent specific players and card characteristics that differentiate cards issued during the same season, race had a significant positive effect on price for black players. Batting average and number of World Series appearances had significant positive impacts on price, but surprisingly, rookie cards tended to be worth relatively less than non-rookie cards. Similarly unexpected findings with respect to players' death and elevation to the Hall of Fame may result from trying to estimate too many characteristics simultaneously on a limited dataset. Results suggest famous players' cards generally are extremely attractive investment instruments.
Hydraulic Fracturing on Federal and Indian Lands: An Analysis of the Bureau of Land Management's Revised Proposed Rule

The federal government controls 700 million acres of subsurface rights (plus 56 million subsurface acres of Indian mineral estate) across 24 states, making it the largest landowner in the nation, and therefore in a position to negotiate lease terms and shape regulations of oil and gas development. The federal Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) rules on how drilling activity can take place on federal lands essentially dictate terms, making BLM the largest “regulator” of drilling activity in the country. BLM last revised its oil and gas regulations (the Onshore Orders) in the 1980s and early 1990s, well before the recent rapid expansion of shale gas development. To date there are two rounds of proposed revisions, the first issued in 2012 and the most recent issued in May 2013, after BLM received 177,000 comments on the first round. This paper examines the 2013 proposal in several key respects, including the scope and requirements of the new proposal, the substantial changes from the 2012 proposal, and a comparison of BLM’s proposed rules with rules in states with shale gas development and significant federal land holdings, based on earlier work. We find that BLM’s proposal addresses some apparent gaps in state-level regulation and that, generally, BLM rules do not appear to impose significant requirements beyond existing state regulations, at least across the regulatory elements we analyzed and in those states with large federal land holdings.
Cohort Analysis of a Pharmacokinetic-Modeled Methadone Weaning Optimization for Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome.

Objective To evaluate neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) treatment outcomes achieved using an optimized methadone weaning protocol developed using pharmacokinetic (PK) modeling compared with standard methadone weaning. Study design This pre-post cohort study evaluated 360 infants who completed pharmacologic treatment for NAS with methadone as inpatients at 1 of 6 nurseries in southwest Ohio between January 2012 and March 2015. Infants were initially treated with a standard methadone weaning protocol (n = 267). Beginning in July 2014, infants were treated with a revised methadone weaning protocol developed using PK modeling (n = 93). Linear mixed models were used to calculate adjusted mean primary outcomes, including total duration of methadone treatment, total administered methadone dosage, and length of inpatient hospital stay, which were compared between weaning protocols. The use of adjunctive therapy for NAS treatment was examined as a secondary outcome. Results Infants who received NAS treatment with the revised protocol experienced a shorter duration of methadone treatment (13.1 vs 16.4 days; P P P = .97) or in the use of adjunctive therapy (22.6% vs 25.5%; P = .68) between groups. Conclusion Refinement of a standard methadone weaning protocol using PK modeling was associated with reduced duration of opioid weaning and shortened length of stay for pharmacologic treatment of NAS.
Undergraduates Writing Publishable Cases: The Trials, The Tribulations, And The Real-World Learning

If given the chance, undergraduates have the ability to write excellent case studies worthy of being published. This essay describes the benefits, challenges, and process of undergraduate case writing.
Modelling the potential role of forest thinning in maintaining water supplies under a changing climate across the conterminous United States

The goal of this study was to test the sensitivity of water yield to forest thinning and other forest management/disturbances and climate across the conterminous United States (CONUS). Leaf area index (LAI) was selected as a key parameter linking changes in forest ecosystem structure and functions. We used the Water Supply Stress Index model to examine water yield response under 18 scenarios that combine hypothetical LAI changes (+10%, ±20%, −50%, and −80%), uniform increases in temperature (+1 °C and +2 °C) and precipitation change (±10%), and four climate change scenarios projected by general circulation models (GCMs) for the year 2050. Approximately 2100 large basins produced approximately 2003 billion cubic metres of water annually from 2002 to 2007. Forest lands covered 23% of the land surface area, but contributed 43% of the total water yield for the CONUS. As a whole, water yield increased by 3%, 8%, and 13% when LAI was reduced 20%, 50%, and 80%, respectively, while water yield decreased by 3% when LAI increased by 20%. Temperature increases of 2 °C alone could decrease water yield by 11%. A reduction of precipitation by 10% and 20% could result in a decrease of water yield by 20% and 39%, respectively. The direction and magnitude of water yield response to the combinations of LAI (+10%), climate warming (+1 °C), and precipitation change (±10%) were dominated by the change in precipitation. Climate change projected by the four GCMs (CSIROMK2 B2, CSIROMK3.5 A1B, HADCM3 B2, and MIROC32 A1B) resulted in a large change in water yield (+18% to −64%) by 2045–2055 when compared with the baseline. A 50% reduction in forest LAI under the four GCMs scenarios could greatly mitigate or exacerbate future climate change impacts on water yield in forest-dominated watersheds with high precipitation. This study provides the first quantitative estimate of the effects of forest thinning options on water yield under future climate across the CONUS. Effective forest water management for climate mitigation should focus on those watersheds identified. Published 2015. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.